CMs chewing gum

[shh]

When you look at how time has adjusted, history is not as kind to companies of decades ago with their practices of not only hiring but "standards". It's something I think people tend to forget when looking so fondly back in the past. That isn't to say "oh look we can chew gum now" but more thinking more in depth about why hiring practices were changed over time and it's not necessarily for the worse. Meticulous takes on a new meaning when you realize that.

Reading articles of the past for instance on size restrictions for women to even be working at Disney World; one article from 2021 states "On-stage “hostesses” were available in sizes 6-14 for women from 5 feet 2 inches to 5 feet 10 inches in height, according to the 1971 brochure, while men’s “host” costumes had waist sizes of 28-40 inches and jacket sizes from 36-44."

A person from a 2014 article discussed their experiences working at Disneyland in the 70s saying that while pregnant women could still work once they started showing and the outfit didn't fit you had to take a leave of unpaid absence. Also if you had any sort of physical impairment (they mentioned a wheelchair, eye patch, cast, etc) you could not be onstage and had to take a backstage position IF one existed at the time. Whether this was formal policy I don't know but that is them giving their experiences as an employee. They also point out that looks were the main factor in hiring practices which isn't a stretch as we know even today at DLR and WDW face characters for instance have stricter rules. Forget inclusiveness of disabilities in hiring practices.

I'm not sure we want to use past decades ago policies for benchmarks of today.

valid points, for sure. There was good and bad...times have changed.

 

[shh]

My first thought was of Nathan Lane in "The Birdcage" when he screams "He's chewing gum!" about the young guy he's rehearsing with.

 

[CynBeth]

I think it is unprofessional to chew gum but would never say anything. I feel customer service has gone way down many places especially if you have to call the company since a lot of it is outsourced. I call insurance companies for my job and a lot of times I hear people eating and drinking or cooking or doing dishes among other things. Also I have been called rude and other names when I call about a claim and the person won’t look into it just says if you disagree appeal and I insist the person researches what exactly they are saying the denial is and if it denied incorrectly to send it back.

 

[fla4fun]

I personally have never understood the attraction of chewing gum. It makes me nauseous, tastes horrible once the initial blast of flavor is gone, and I just find it generally unpleasant. I am much, much more likely to reach for a breath mint than a stick of gum when dealing with other people (such as eating a breath mint before going to a store). I know my dad used gum to quit smoking, so I suppose it has a few genuine purposes but whenever I see someone chewing gum, I get sympathetic nausea on their behalf.

I wouldn’t say anything directly to someone chewing gum. If they were in a professional setting and blowing bubbles or snapping their gum it would really bug me though, and if I got a survey later I would probably mention it as a general comment.

 

[jeneric997]

I would notice the gum, think it was odd, but I would not say anything. I was at WDW last week, and spent a day in the parks by myself. I noticed so many CMs with several tattoos, guys with beards that were long and unkempt and lots of guys with long hair that was not kept back and covering their name tags. Anywhere else but Disney, I wouldn't notice it at all, but since I've seen the look book over several years and have a kid who has had to adhere to it, I notice. Disney let some things go, and people took advantage. I don't ever say anything other than to my family and here now. It's more that I know it's "against the rules", than that it bothers me.

 

[shh]

I would notice the gum, think it was odd, but I would not say anything. I was at WDW last week, and spent a day in the parks by myself. I noticed so many CMs with several tattoos, guys with beards that were long and unkempt and lots of guys with long hair that was not kept back and covering their name tags. Anywhere else but Disney, I wouldn't notice it at all, but since I've seen the look book over several years and have a kid who has had to adhere to it, I notice. Disney let some things go, and people took advantage. I don't ever say anything other than to my family and here now. It's more that I know it's "against the rules", than that it bothers me.

I agree with you...in an effort to let everyone express their true selves, I feel it's gone a bit overboard. At the end of the day, CMs are a big part of the "on stage" magic and the WDW brand look. Their appearance and demeanor contributes so much to that.

I do miss some of the stricter rules of the past. (I'm not talking about regulating uniform/body size or any apparel requirements that conflict with the heat or someone's health.)

I guess most here would call me outdated, but we can agree to disagree. Everything new or modern is not automatically better.

 

[lovin'fl]

As a person who's number 1 pet peeve is mouth sounds (chewing, slurping, heavy breathing, etc) I would have noticed the gum chewing and been icked out and quick to finish the interaction. But wouldn't have said anything to them. Just would take a mental note and shake my head.

 

[cabanafrau]

You comment that you really aren’t a Karen, but you seem to invest a lot of energy in this issue of some cast member chewing gum. I know we all have pet peeves, but I feel your focus on this is extreme! Why not put that energy towards a good cause like fighting poverty, homelessness, substance abuse or domestic violence? Why waste time mulling over this minuscule issue and all its ramifications when there are so many more worthy places to place your efforts? You are a Karen, plain and simple. Just chill.

I'd include sexual abuse to the list. Definitely has a lot more potential for lifelong ramifications than gum chewing.

 

[Mle8308]

Also a former CM and have close friends who are still CM's. It was forbidden when I was working there, and ironically, I was texting with one of my friends who still works there about an upcoming trip as I was reading this post so I asked. It is definitely still NOT allowed. Considered bad show.

 

[MIGrandma]

Wouldn’t bother me seeing the CM chewing gum, and even if it did I certainly wouldn’t reprimand them for it as it’s really none of my (your) business.

 

[disneydreamer781]

I chew gum and it was recommended by an ENT physician for my acid reflux so this could also be the case for others.

 

[DizneyFamof4]

I get dry mouth a lot and chewing gum helps with preventing it. I do not do it often but I also do not really think twice about what others think.