CM Question

[AdventureGuru]

I was just thinking...when we were at the parks in 2004 CMs were dressed in polyester and looked really really warm! What kind of time frame do they have to stay in their costumes? Do they rotate them out so that they stay hydrated and get to cool off?

Have you seen the costumes for Tower of Terror? They seem like they are a terror to wear!

Just curious thanks!

 

[JennyDrake]

According to my CM friend, they work a standard business day with 2, 15 minute breaks per 8 hour shift + lunch. Disney provides and launders the constumes.

Characters have different horus in costume.

 

[Joanna71985]

It depends on the role. For example, in Fantasyland ops you get rotated around so you are inside enough.

 

[jadyson]

OK I have a question...
Did you see what happened on Seinfeld when the Yankees uniforms were changed from Polyester to cotton, per George's concern?
Better just leave them be. HA HA HA!!

 

[AdventureGuru]

I'm glad they get breaks...although I would think that 2 15 minute breaks in 8 hours isnt enough when you're in dark colored polyester....IMHO...they're brave~

 

[Feralpeg]

The CMs in the shops often don't get both of their breaks. If they are really busy, they can't get away.

Not all CMs have Disney do up their costumes. They have the option of doing them up themselves. It takes time to drop the costume off and pick another up. That time is off the clock so they are not getting paid while picking up or returning their costume.

There is no guarantee they will get back the same clothes they dropped off. They will just get the costume appropriate for their job in their size. Some of the costumes are in better shape than others. My sister, who is a CM, has two sets of her costume. She does them up herself so that she doesn't have to go in early enough to pick up another outfit and she can make sure her costume stays in good shape.

 

[CDSTapisRouge]

I'm glad they get breaks...although I would think that 2 15 minute breaks in 8 hours isnt enough when you're in dark colored polyester....IMHO...they're brave~

You missed the +lunch part If you are working an 8 hour shift you get two 15 minute breaks plus a 30 minute lunch (in most areas, some areas do a whole hour at once, some areas do 45 min lunches and just make you stay an extra 15 minutes on the end)... Also in some locations you end up getting two 20 mintue breaks and a 40 lunch just because of the way the ride works (Riverboat, WDW Railroad, and Jungle for example at MK). It really is not that bad and you do get used to it. We always joke about the fact that we wear long sleeves and jeans on our days off, in the middle of the summer because we are used to being hot... My worst "polyster in the heat" experience would have to be the Haunted Mansion costume while working day parade in Liberty Square... That is HOT!!! Working engineer on the railroad (where it is always over 130 degrees in the locomotive) does not compare to the Mansion costume in the Blazzing sun at 3pm...

 

[Syrreal]

Also, sometimes in ops, depending on rotation and deployment, you get more breaks than the standard 2 15 min ones.

 

[AdventureGuru]

TOT has some seriously bad costumes too...yikes...I'd pass out! I'd be deydrated and just feel icky...
Thank you CMs for enduring the heat and sweat and itchy uniforms!!!

 

[katerkat]

Don't you know what EPCOT stands for?
Experimental Polyester Costumes of Torture!

I can't speak for the parks, but at the water parks, we worked a 6-7 hour shift with 1 15-minute break and one 30-minute lunch. Of course, we wore suits and weren't required, as guards, to wear the rest of the costume.

 

[AdventureGuru]

I'm glad to see they make exceptions