Cast Member's appearance

[AmberHeartsDisney]

When i worked at Walmart they didn't let people have facial piercings (in less religion) but then we had everyone running around saying it was for religion....

 

[Purseval]

In the preshow of the Simpsons ride at Universal Studios they make fun of that policy with a segment on "highly qualified teens who have extensive training and don't wear facial hair"

 

[WDSearcher]

True...I doubt you'd ever see a Snow White who was 300 lbs because they probably do not have a costume that would fit her. However, a typical CM running an attraction or working in a shop could probably find a costume in, duh, Costuming. I've never seen so many shorts and shirts and skirts and dresses in my life - big, small, tall, short. On my first day of training, I had a fitting and from then on I knew what size tops and bottoms I'd need to check out.

Actually, you'll never see a 300lb Snow White because Snow White doesn't weigh 300 lbs.

There is a distince difference between a "character" costume (that is, a costume designed for a specific, known character with a specific look) and a "CM" costume (a costume designed for the position, not the person).

 

[mjkacmom]

Honestly, mustaches and mullets should be forbidden for every man!

 

[bradk]

many things are protected and can fall under ADA with obesity (or weight in general) being one of them, although highly disputed

that said, I don't believe appearance discrimination is illegal. it's not practical for most businesses to engage in it, but if they chose to, it's technically allowed as far as i'm aware. employers are also entitled to dictate and an enforce dress codes - that's actually one of the key factors to distinguish an employee vs a contractor.

to me, it's far more fascinating how Hooters can discriminate against men under Title VII's BFOQ, but I digress. Then again, Snow White would fall under BFOQ too. Various attributes of being Snow White, including being a woman, are required by definition of the position.

a far as costuming at WDW goes, it goes far beyond simply finding a costume that fits. if you can't find one, costuming will actually custom-fabricate multiple sets for you.

 

[+Rosetta+]

Many of the height & weight & other requirements are also based on the costume the cast member wears. Disney doesn't do "custom made" costumes, even for waiters & hosts & store clerks. (And of course this is particularly true of characters, both fur & face.) If they don't have a costume that will fit you, you don't get the job.

If you're a Cast Member (excluding the entertainment department) they will make you a custom set of costumes for your size if you are bigger or smaller than the basic sizes in Costuming. I think I heard more about some women needing this service b/c they were too small than large though.

 

[delaneyc52]

Honestly, mustaches and mullets should be forbidden for every man!

 

[Hook's Girl]

it was only until recently that the disney look was relaxed again to allow for not forcing pantyhose

Not for everyone though some ladies STILL have to wear them in specific costumed areas. Ugh.

 

[LipglossAndLetdown]

Wow, that's a stricter dress code than even my hospital has. But dress codes aren't a bad thing..it seems like no one dresses nicely or appropriately anymore.

I have to agree. Even in the dept. store where I work, which is mid-upper scale, people dress like bums even though it's against the dress code and management is always "too busy", or maybe afraid, to actually deal with it. Not even 7-8 years ago they were very strict, only dress slacks (no pockets) no t-shirt material type tops, always had to be 2 pieces for the top (like a shell and a blazer or dressy cardigan), but now people come in white sneakers, faded black jeans, and a flimsy cotton type top.

How people look and dress does affect customers' perception of the business.

 

[sydneysmom]

Lol to the PP, because when I interviewed at the Disney Store like 7 years ago I had hot pink streaks in my hair, earrings all up my ears plus my nose and tongue ring. When they started talking about dress code I was like "So I'll just be leaving then..."

that's hilarious !!!!

 

[Wonders10]

Actually, you'll never see a 300lb Snow White because Snow White doesn't weigh 300 lbs.

There is a distince difference between a "character" costume (that is, a costume designed for a specific, known character with a specific look) and a "CM" costume (a costume designed for the position, not the person).

True, I thought of that difference after I already posted. Just trying to make a point...they will hire you to work HM for example if you are qualified regardless of your weight. The face characters and fur characters gave different qualifications completely. Someone 6ft can't be Mickey-ever.

I will say on one visit I saw a particularly chunky Snow White. Not huge or anything but def bigger than most ideals of what she'd look like.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Just want to chime in that in some cases CMs are assigned to a role based on the type of costume they are able to wear. I knew two people who had tattoos and were assigned their job locations to hide them--a woman with a tattoo on her ankle assigned to a location with a costume that included pants rather than a skirt, and a man with a tattoo on his bicep assigned to a location with a costume that included elbow-length short sleeves (my costume, for example, had mid-upper-arm-length short sleeves that wouldn't have covered it).

I was very gratified on recent visits to see that managers are no longer required to wear long-sleeved suit jackets when out in the parks.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Just want to chime in that in some cases CMs are assigned to a role based on the type of costume they are able to wear. I knew two people who had tattoos and were assigned their job locations to hide them--a woman with a tattoo on her ankle assigned to a location with a costume that included pants rather than a skirt, and a man with a tattoo on his bicep assigned to a location with a costume that included elbow-length short sleeves (my costume, for example, had mid-upper-arm-length short sleeves that wouldn't have covered it).

I was very gratified on recent visits to see that managers are no longer required to wear long-sleeved suit jackets when out in the parks.

That's awesome, and gives me (and my six tattoos) hope, LOL.

 

[Wonders10]

Just want to chime in that in some cases CMs are assigned to a role based on the type of costume they are able to wear. I knew two people who had tattoos and were assigned their job locations to hide them--a woman with a tattoo on her ankle assigned to a location with a costume that included pants rather than a skirt, and a man with a tattoo on his bicep assigned to a location with a costume that included elbow-length short sleeves (my costume, for example, had mid-upper-arm-length short sleeves that wouldn't have covered it).

I was very gratified on recent visits to see that managers are no longer required to wear long-sleeved suit jackets when out in the parks.

When did they require this? I don't remember any of my managers every having a jacket on back in 2002.

 

[bradk]

i contend you all have tom staggs to thank/blame for all the recent relaxations by the way.

the first thing he did when he transitioned from CFO to Parks was to lose the tie.

never saw him without one as cfo, never saw him with one at Parks & Resorts

 

[TillyMarigold]

When did they require this? I don't remember any of my managers every having a jacket on back in 2002.

I was a CM in 1998-1999 and all managers, male and female both, were required to wear long-sleeved suit jackets when onstage. I was in the College Program for the first few months of that time and CP participants who were in the "extra" elements of the program like orientations and mentorships were required to adhere to the same dress code. As a college student, I had to buy my very first suit jacket for that job.

 

[Wonders10]

I was a CM in 1998-1999 and all managers, male and female both, were required to wear long-sleeved suit jackets when onstage. I was in the College Program for the first few months of that time and CP participants who were in the "extra" elements of the program like orientations and mentorships were required to adhere to the same dress code. As a college student, I had to buy my very first suit jacket for that job.

Interesting, none of my managers did that in 2002. One of my female managers wore a jacket sometimes, more so for fashion than for a dress code. One of my other managers always looked particulary un-manager like...long sleeve dress shirt with sleeves rolled up and no tie. Ugly unprofessional shoes. He always had this disheveled look about him.

I personally wish workplaces, particularly the school I work at, would be more strict with their dress code. I am not old and prudish by any means, but find it completely inappropriate when some of the younger (and by younger I mean under 30 since I myself am 30) wear clothes that I would think belong in a club/bar and not a classroom. But that's another thread entirely.

 

[chartle]

Just want to chime in that in some cases CMs are assigned to a role based on the type of costume they are able to wear. I knew two people who had tattoos and were assigned their job locations to hide them--a woman with a tattoo on her ankle assigned to a location with a costume that included pants rather than a skirt, and a man with a tattoo on his bicep assigned to a location with a costume that included elbow-length short sleeves (my costume, for example, had mid-upper-arm-length short sleeves that wouldn't have covered it).

I was very gratified on recent visits to see that managers are no longer required to wear long-sleeved suit jackets when out in the parks.

But can we still call them suits?

When did they require this? I don't remember any of my managers every having a jacket on back in 2002.

In 2006 we did a band trip and was in contact with a number of suits. While they did not wear suit jackets they did wear ties.

This year we did the same trip and the suits no longer wore ties, but dressed in a more business casual style.

This most likely reflects the fact that more and more businesses are going business casual. What I wear now during the week is what I used to wear on casual Fridays. Casual Fridays now are more jeans and Hawaiian shirts or even shorts.

 

[Disney1976]

I may be mistaken, but I think Disney has just recently allowed (at least at DCA, if not WDW as well) CM's to have the "corn row" hair style, after a careful review of trends in society and in other workplaces.

And for some reason, I couldn't help but wonder what Walt Disney would have looked like with corn rows in his hair.

 

[chartle]

I may be mistaken, but I think Disney has just recently allowed (at least at DCA, if not WDW as well) CM's to have the "corn row" hair style, after a careful review of trends in society and in other workplaces.

And for some reason, I couldn't help but wonder what Walt Disney would have looked like with corn rows in his hair.

Yes I read it on the appearance manual thats on the CP website https://www.wdwcollegeprogram.com/sap/its/mimes/zh_wdwcp/disneylook/disneylook.html

Also I met at least two CMs with this hair style last trip.