CM's wearing their uniforms off property

[PeterPan09]

I think guests are just asking out of curoiusity. I have guests ask me all the time if I live on property or if I commute from my home state

I was once in Starbucks on my way home from work and as I waited for my drink I was tapped on my shoulder. A woman was standing there and she said "You must have had a long day at work and be very tired" I responded that I did and I was and then she pointed to my name tag and said she understood and that was why my name tag was still on. So I took it off and stuffed it into my pocket. It happens...no big deal.

I had that happen in Publix! It was the week btw Christmas and New Years and I was so tired my hair hurt. The deli server noticed and said "Really bad there this week?" and kind of nodded her head towards my left shoulder. Most of the locals know we're not supposed to have the tags on and will happily give a gentle reminder. I've done it for other folks too.

 

[Arielle22]

But as GUESTS....why is it any of our business.???..

AKK

Because we are curious?

When DH and I did a tour 5 years ago, we saw the costume room in Epcot. The process for checking out and returning costumes was explained.

So even Disney realizes people are curious about the procedures.

 

[World Showcaser]

But as GUESTS....why is it any of our business.???..

AKK

Because we are curious. So? It's the same reason that people go on behind the scene tours.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Because we are curious. So? It's the same reason that people go on behind the scene tours.

Sorry but I totally disagree. This is every day people, off duty..not on property and not in the *magic*.....Would you want someone checking out your movements or private live....just because they are curious?

One guy was busy posting some restuerant/ bar where some CM's hang out.......Would you want some fool toursit checking you out and maybe taking pictures!: reporting back to Disney?...confused3

AKK

 

[mom2of2]

Sorry but I totally disagree. This is every day people, off duty..not on property and not in the *magic*.....Would you want someone checking out your movements or private live....just because they are curious?

One guy was busy posting some restuerant/ bar where some CM's hang out.......Would you want some fool toursit checking you out and maybe taking pictures!: reporting back to Disney?...confused3

AKK

I gotta laugh because it's no different then a message board where guests use not only our location but our name...CM so and so did such and such to this and that and OMG what would Walt say???? Of course THAT would never get us in trouble cause the powers that be NEVER read forums We're expected to preserve the magic no matter where we are, in costume or out, off duty or on..

 

[livndisney]

I gotta laugh because it's no different then a message board where guests use not only our location but our name...CM so and so did such and such to this and that and OMG what would Walt say???? Of course THAT would never get us in trouble cause the powers that be NEVER read forums We're expected to preserve the magic no matter where we are, in costume or out, off duty or on..

LOL
CM's are supposed to be like teachers and have no lives outside work and never have to go to the bathroom

 

[PeterPan09]

LOL
CM's are supposed to be like teachers and have no lives outside work and never have to go to the bathroom

I know!

I've had guests actually look shocked when a CM leaves for break! Do they not think that we should eat lunch or use the restroom? I'm sure they do on their jobs.

 

[Berlioz70]

Sorry but I totally disagree. This is every day people, off duty..not on property and not in the *magic*.....Would you want someone checking out your movements or private live....just because they are curious?

I think that's the point... where is the line between on and off duty?

If a CM is in costume (with or without a nametag, on or off the clock) they are still expected to demonstrate Disney behaviors. We ask them to remove their nametags as a visual demonstration that they are off the clock.

You may notice in my first post that I mentioned CMs may visit the grocery store or get gas, this will not result in discipline.

It is the CMs that demonstrate non Disney behaviors (i.e., drinking alcohol) that can lead to discipline.

With a costume on, a CM is instantly recognizable, they do not get to enjoy their personal life until the costume is removed (sort of like a celebrity). Keep in mind that locker rooms are provided at work locations, but the CM has to change on his or her own time. It falls on the CM to make the best decision for him or her.

But with that costume on, Guests will watch and judge our CM behaviors. I never say, oh, it's okay they are swearing, they're off the clock. Nope, if that CM is still in costume and swearing it still destroys the magic off site.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I gotta laugh because it's no different then a message board where guests use not only our location but our name...CM so and so did such and such to this and that and OMG what would Walt say???? Of course THAT would never get us in trouble cause the powers that be NEVER read forums We're expected to preserve the magic no matter where we are, in costume or out, off duty or on..

Well Thank you for proving my point......costumes on or off WDW property is between the Cast Members and Disney.....not the business of nosey/curious guests.

AKK

 

[PeterPan09]

I think that's the point... where is the line between on and off duty?

If a CM is in costume (with or without a nametag, on or off the clock) they are still expected to demonstrate Disney behaviors. We ask them to remove their nametags as a visual demonstration that they are off the clock.

You may notice in my first post that I mentioned CMs may visit the grocery store or get gas, this will not result in discipline.

It is the CMs that demonstrate non Disney behaviors (i.e., drinking alcohol) that can lead to discipline.

With a costume on, a CM is instantly recognizable, they do not get to enjoy their personal life until the costume is removed (sort of like a celebrity). Keep in mind that locker rooms are provided at work locations, but the CM has to change on his or her own time. It falls on the CM to make the best decision for him or her.

But with that costume on, Guests will watch and judge our CM behaviors. I never say, oh, it's okay they are swearing, they're off the clock. Nope, if that CM is still in costume and swearing it still destroys the magic off site.

Exactly and we got that warning from day 1. And if you're going to put that CM sticker on your car you'd better remember it's there.

 

[CM1988]

When I worked there we could NOT take our costumes off of Disney. We weren't even allowed to go to other areas of the park in our land specific costumes. We had to check our costumes in and out before/after shift. There was security in place to make sure the costumes were not taken off property. That said, I wish I had that costume now. It was SOOO cute. LOL I worked in Fantasyland in 1989 and we had cute like german dirndl outfits....

I worked at the canoes in '89 and also had to change out costumes with wardrobe every day. I don't think we got paid to change, but I do remember getting paid something like 20 minutes "walk time" to get from the lockers to Frontierland. If we got soaked from rain, we could go back and pick up a dry costume.

I'm sure times have changed quite a bit in 20+ years.

I suppose the next thing you're going to tell me is that you can't go to the cafeteria and get a steak dinner for less than $5 or get a $1 Beast in a mason jar at the "Big Bamboo" and then head over to a party at Snow White Village?

 

[Oglet]

I think that's the point... where is the line between on and off duty?

If a CM is in costume (with or without a nametag, on or off the clock) they are still expected to demonstrate Disney behaviors. We ask them to remove their nametags as a visual demonstration that they are off the clock.

You may notice in my first post that I mentioned CMs may visit the grocery store or get gas, this will not result in discipline.

It is the CMs that demonstrate non Disney behaviors (i.e., drinking alcohol) that can lead to discipline.

With a costume on, a CM is instantly recognizable, they do not get to enjoy their personal life until the costume is removed (sort of like a celebrity). Keep in mind that locker rooms are provided at work locations, but the CM has to change on his or her own time. It falls on the CM to make the best decision for him or her.

But with that costume on, Guests will watch and judge our CM behaviors. I never say, oh, it's okay they are swearing, they're off the clock. Nope, if that CM is still in costume and swearing it still destroys the magic off site.

I also believe that is true with non Disney employees. Regardless of the company or if the employee is on or off the clock, while in uniform they are a representative of that company and should act in a manor which does not tarnish the companies public image.

When I was growing up we had to wear school uniforms, we also used public bus transportation which we shared with the public. Although we were sometimes in town waiting for a transfer bus to come we were held accountable by the school for our actions although we were nowhere near the school.

For some reason we are held to higher standards off the clock than other people, when was the last time Joe from the electric company had something written about him wearing his work clothes off the clock on the way home. I sometimes feel that people forget we are just ordinary people and have lives outside of Disney.

 

[World Showcaser]

Sorry but I totally disagree. This is every day people, off duty..not on property and not in the *magic*.....Would you want someone checking out your movements or private live....just because they are curious?

One guy was busy posting some restuerant/ bar where some CM's hang out.......Would you want some fool toursit checking you out and maybe taking pictures!: reporting back to Disney?...confused3

AKK

There is a big difference between stalking CMs off-duty (which would be bad) and talking about Disney policy because you're a Disneyphile and are interested in details of how a corporation you love operates on a message board. I don't think anyone in this thread is suggesting that you follow around off-duty CMs and try to get them in trouble. The guy who posted where CMs hang out, I do believe was a CM.

 

[kaligal]

I think that's the point... where is the line between on and off duty?

If a CM is in costume (with or without a nametag, on or off the clock) they are still expected to demonstrate Disney behaviors. We ask them to remove their nametags as a visual demonstration that they are off the clock.

You may notice in my first post that I mentioned CMs may visit the grocery store or get gas, this will not result in discipline.

It is the CMs that demonstrate non Disney behaviors (i.e., drinking alcohol) that can lead to discipline.

With a costume on, a CM is instantly recognizable, they do not get to enjoy their personal life until the costume is removed (sort of like a celebrity). Keep in mind that locker rooms are provided at work locations, but the CM has to change on his or her own time. It falls on the CM to make the best decision for him or her.

But with that costume on, Guests will watch and judge our CM behaviors. I never say, oh, it's okay they are swearing, they're off the clock. Nope, if that CM is still in costume and swearing it still destroys the magic off site.

Destroys the magic for whom? For a few people who are living the delusion that the Disney staff aren't just people doing jobs?

Seriously. Most people know that those folks aren't peppy, bubbly, "I'm so happy doing my job that I could just burst!" people who never swear or drink or have the s-e-x. Most people know that they're paid to act like that just like accountants are paid to find out where that $.13 came from and mechanics are paid to be patient when women explain their car trouble by saying, "It's going WOOOOOOOO."

If the "magic" includes people believing things that simply cannot be true...well, the magic is well lost, in that case.

I think that it is great that Disney chooses to focus on customer service. I think they should do more of it. All those people ought to be nice to rude customers and smile at tired ones, etc. They're on the job, they're getting paid to do it - they ought to.

But when they punch out, they're done. They don't have to pretend to be Mary Poppins any longer.

If Disney wants to pay people to change, then I can see them requiring that people change. Otherwise, Disney has to live with the fact that their employees will be wearing the uniforms elsewhere. They cannot dictate where people go once they're gone. That's nuts.

 

[livndisney]

Instead of being "shocked" when you see a CM "off property in their costume", why not give them a smile and thank them for the magic they help create everday? If you see a CM in line at McDonalds to buy coffe before starting their shift, why not offer to buy them a cup?

Much better idea than complaining on a message board about how seeing them off property "ruins" the magic for you.

 

[Cherinva]

We saw a cast member on a bus to the TTC one time....didn't bother me....I assumed her shift was over and she was on her way to her car. She had no name tag on and the bus wasn't full.

Disney CMs are regular people off the clock, and if they have to wear the uniform (costume) home...then so be it.

 

[RabFlmom]

I'm guessing to check for any latent heart issues caused by the poison apple induced coma?

never even crossed my mind at the time. Just thought it was col to see her there.

 

[frndshpcptn]

When I worked there we could NOT take our costumes off of Disney. We weren't even allowed to go to other areas of the park in our land specific costumes. We had to check our costumes in and out before/after shift. There was security in place to make sure the costumes were not taken off property. That said, I wish I had that costume now. It was SOOO cute. LOL I worked in Fantasyland in 1989 and we had cute like german dirndl outfits....

That's how it was when I worked there too...Epcot in 1998 and Magic Kingdom in 1999

 

[frndshpcptn]

To answer your question. It depends, if you're the opening crew on the boats. If you are the opening crew you clock in at cast services and walk to the marina. If your shift starts after the boats are in the park, you hop on a bus and then clock in at the I.G. dock.

Source: ME a friendship boat captain, and yes I wear my outfit off-site if I need something at the store, or need to fill up on gas.

Awwww! I was a Friendship Boat captain on the College Program (see my screen name) in 1998! Loved that job

 

[Oglet]

Instead of being "shocked" when you see a CM "off property in their costume", why not give them a smile and thank them for the magic they help create everday? If you see a CM in line at McDonalds to buy coffe before starting their shift, why not offer to buy them a cup?

Much better idea than complaining on a message board about how seeing them off property "ruins" the magic for you.

I love it and just incase anyone is interested I will be at Olive Garden on 192 tomorrow evening from 6 - 7 pm if anyone wants to pay for my meal ;-)

J/k