Cast Member's appearance

[Pig Pen]

Are managers required to carry "trash claws" when walking around the parks? And are female managers required to wear heels? I was amazed at the number of them clattering through the parks in killer shoes. I was in pain just watching them.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Are managers required to carry "trash claws" when walking around the parks?

In some areas, yes.

 

[joelkfla]

For males in an on-stage role, hair must be cut above the ear and off the back of the collar with no defined cut or lines and must be a natural color. Males should be clean-shaven and may have a mustache that should not extend past the corners of the lip. No earrings, necklaces or bracelets may be worn. One ring on each hand and a wristwatch are acceptable.

Clearly, this does not apply to Imagineers -- Joe Rohde:

 

[dburg30]

LOL that was EXACTLY what I was going to post!!!

Clearly, this does not apply to Imagineers -- Joe Rohde:

 

[fairestoneofall]

nothing against joe rodhe. but my ears ALWAYS hurt when i see him.

 

[Cinderella94]

Take for example the designation of "cast member," I would bet that is not just a cute name like Disney claims. Under the designation of being "on stage" they can pick and choose the look of any employee to "fit a certain roll." Lets be honest...a red haired/ green eyed boy cant play Tiana, so Disney can claim that a waiter needs to look a certain way because he is playing a part in their "show." Those CMs that never encounter visitors are probably not bound by such regulations. They are called CMs but I am sure they are contracted as standard employees.

Just what I was getting ready to say.

 

[tony609]

I was going to say that Disney CM's that are Character..primarily face ones in shows and parades etc..might have different contract than those that are fur or masked characters. When I was a performer somewhere else we had "contracts" that dictacted our appearance...which included but not limited to weight,hair length and color and style... visable piercings..(face,hands,ears..etc..) facial hair..some could have it some not depending on the role. Even teeth could become an issue..if you were hired without braces and suddenly needed them..well that was an "appearace" issue or could be. If you gained or lost weight (significant)...all these items were under your contract...everyones was different and you could have been let go as breech of contract if you violated it. Example..If a girl was hired who was over weight and lost lets say 20lbs...she might not have been what the company needed and she could be re-cast (if something was available) or even let go.

 

[NLD]

OMG this thread is bringing back flashes of my Christian school dress code days. (Shudder!!!!!!!!!!) It's so.... Stepford.

I wore shorts and a tee shirt and sandals to work today. On a Thursday. We have zero dress code. If I've got a meeting with a state official, it's business casual. If I'm presenting a training to a bunch of people with lots of initials behind their names, business casual. A training to people who actually use public health services... jeans (maintaing mutuality, not coming off as pretentious). Staying in the office all day and arranging catering and sending emails and working on PowerPoints... shorts and tees.

Thank GOODNESS society is loosening up.

Someday I hope to see a CM with bright pink streaks of hair and a nose piercing.

 

[WDWprincessloyola]

I worked at The Disney Store in Chicago on Michigan Ave when I was in college. During the interview the manager starting running through the dress code then took a full head to toe look at me and said "Just come as you are". I only worked there for a year, but they typically put me at the front of the store onstage as a Greeter as opposed down in the basement working inventory where those CMs weren't seen unless something needed to be restocked.

The same strict dress code applied to WDW/DL/college programs, etc. applied to us. When wearing our provided Disney Store shirt we were allowed to wear a black, or white (colors which matched the Disney Store logo) tank top under it. It we were then we would have three buttons undone on our Disney Shirt, if we were not wearing a tank top then only two buttons could be undone. For women our shoe heel could only be so high (if you weren't wearing the correct footwear you were guaranteed to be working the register), neutral makeup, natural looking hair, neutral nails, our hair ties were allowed to be neutral, black, or white. One cast member there went on vacation and he came back with a full mustache and said "Well if I am going to take a week off, I might as well grow a mustache instead of taking a week off TO grow a mustache.

I really was surprised that the costume rules were as strictly enforced as they were. The managers definately did not let anything slide and reminded us "This is the DISNEY store on MICHIGAN AVE". So we all had a handbook, used the Disney lingo, and only Disney films were played in the breakroom.

 

[Luvchefmic]

I believe the original thought of No facial hair was to have a family oriented place but not the old carnival or carney scrubby look that the traveling carnival or amusement park employees used to have...anyone else hear that somewhere?

yes thought so..found the reference:

AP Online
03-25-2000
Disney Relaxes Facial Hair Rules

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Worried about finding workers in a tight labor market, Walt Disney executives are relaxing the company's long-standing ban against theme park employees having facial hair, The Orlando Sentinel reported Saturday.

Mustaches will be OK, although beards will still be taboo.

Walt Disney adopted its clean-cut code for Disneyland employees in 1957, requiring men to be clean shaven and to keep their hair short.

Though he sported a mustache himself, the company's founder thought the prohibition was necessary to change the image of amusement parks from that of sleazy carnivals

 

[Lintasare]

Hey Wonders I gotta ask...when in 02 did you do your CP and where?

I was Fall Advantage and worked at the Brown Derby. Now there was a costume for you. Black polyesters skirt that fell mid calf, long sleeve white tuxedo shirt, polyester blouse and a black bow tie. Try being outside for any length of time in the summer in that skirt. I was miserable but eventually got used to it. I had my hair red when I started my CP, very natural looking. But I had to keep it red the entire time I was there. However a lot of people thought it was natural. So yay me.

 

[Brandis]

I think the loosening of rules first started with Disneyland Paris. I have a "Disney Look" book from Paris from the opening year and the rules were pretty much identical to the US parks. But the French were complaining about the strict rules and the french unions even went to court about it.

I also gave a WDW Disney look book from the 90's, it's funny to see the recommended hair styles, very conservative.

On my last visit, I was quite shocked to see a Disney security guard with a visible army style tatoo on his forearm. Not sure how he got away with that.

 

[Sam'sMom0126]

As far as overweight CM working in unattractive areas....they are sometimes put in locations that have costumes to fit their size. I had 1 roommate on CP who was very overweight, she was supposed to work merchandise in one area and then was moved to where the costume could accomodate her after her orientation. Another CP'er I knew was VERY well endowded....she started working merchandise at YC/BC but the shirt wouldn't fit comfortably so she was moved to BW merchandise.

 

[chartle]

Clearly, this does not apply to Imagineers -- Joe Rohde:

I think it does.

He has became so larger than life to point that he is now playing a face character called Joe Rohde.

 

[WDSearcher]

Clearly, this does not apply to Imagineers -- Joe Rohde:

Imagineers are contract employees, technically, and are also designated "creative". Contract and creative CMs have different guidelines.

 

[WDSearcher]

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

And the opposite is probably true of Jay. He's probably now wearing ties every day, when he didn't so much before.

I think the parks being the parks, that's a very logical adaptation. I mean, put Tom Staggs in a suit and tie and having him walking the parks and everyone pretty much will look at him, notice him, know who he is. Put him in slacks and a polo shirt and he blends in much better. If the point of being in the parks is to see and / or participate in the "guest experience", or to meet & greet CMs, that's easier to do when you're not sticking out as the only guy in Fantasyland wearing a tie.

 

[Praise2Him]

Those CMs that never encounter visitors are probably not bound by such regulations. They are called CMs but I am sure they are contracted as standard employees.

No, not true. My DD works at DHS in a backstage role (costuming) and never interacts with guests, but she still has to maintain the Disney Look.
Now the 3rd shift employees that work when the park is closed in maintenance and such may not have the same rules, I don't know about that.

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

No, not true. My DD works at DHS in a backstage role (costuming) and never interacts with guests, but she still has to maintain the Disney Look.
Now the 3rd shift employees that work when the park is closed in maintenance and such may not have the same rules, I don't know about that.

My husband is a ride mechanic, and whether working 1st, 2nd, or 3rd shift it's the same dress code and Disney Look guidelines for them regardless of shift, location, etc.
Now even though they have the same guidelines he tells me stuff that just makes my head spin. (I was merchandise once upon a time) Stuff like most of them not wearing their name tags, walking around playing apps on their iphones, etc. All backstage, ofcourse, but where I worked you wouldn't dare go without a name tag, and if you weren't on break then that phone never left your pocket, or locker.

 

[Wonders10]

Hey Wonders I gotta ask...when in 02 did you do your CP and where?

I was Fall Advantage and worked at the Brown Derby. Now there was a costume for you. Black polyesters skirt that fell mid calf, long sleeve white tuxedo shirt, polyester blouse and a black bow tie. Try being outside for any length of time in the summer in that skirt. I was miserable but eventually got used to it. I had my hair red when I started my CP, very natural looking. But I had to keep it red the entire time I was there. However a lot of people thought it was natural. So yay me.

I did summer advantage...May 2002 through very beginning of January 2003. I worked at the now deceased Wonders of Life (RIP), hence my screen name. Our costume was horrid to look at but surprisingly comfortable. It was basically neon blue elastic waist pants and a neon blue t-shirt with neon yellow and pink on the sleeves and collar. Essentially sweats.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Maintenance came to our rooom at 2:45 one morning at POR and they were obviously in maintenance type uniform.

Suzanne