Disney workers fired over sweaty costumes

[PxyShan]

Havig been a character performer at Disney and then another theme park, let me say that I did not have my own set of tights even in the early 2000s, but every costume is washed between people so it was never a big deal to me. At the second theme park I worked at, we rotated costumes throughout the day. There were days people came in sick and I would have to put on their costume less than half an hour after they wore it with no sanitation in between.

For the "fur" characters, you wear shorts, a shirt, and socks underneath. The shirt is changed every set and the shorts several times a day. The heads are sterilized with a chemical called Ster Bac but every performer does it on their own. We even shared the velcro shoes, but used a chemical called Asepticare in between performers.

Some costumes could not be washed, so those had linings. SPectromagic costumes were that way. THe lining snapped onto the garment and let me tell you, even with a washable lining, there were times that those costumes started to get a real funk to them. Whenever that happened, our managers went out ofthe way to try to find a solution, but sometimes you just had to wear the funky smelling costume.

They are very strict with their characters and you are made aware of it when you train. Decide you don't want to wear a chin strap and your head falls off? Fired. Talk in costume in front of guests? Fired. Refuse to go on set for not a good reason? Fired.

From my friends that work there now, the actual working conditions in entertainment are not that much different from what they were in the early 2000's. Based on the wording of the story, this sounds like a bogus reason to refuse the show. IF they costumes were on another rack and they were pushed together, how soiled could the costumes have possibly been? THey do realize that they share the same furniture with the sweaty people in between shows right? If you're going to get something, that is how it will happen. IF as presented, I am on Disney's side on this one.

Yep, yep, and yep. I was also a character performer at Disney. You just get used to some nasty situations with the costumes. And with getting sick all the time (colds and such). Not that Disney shouldn't try harder to make things better, but you don't get to be a performer in FOLK without knowing how things go in the disney character world.

And for a show like FOLK there are not a lot of backup options, if any, at a moments notice, especially if it was a later in the day show. Costuming can only do so much. As a performer you're told all the time that it is your own responsibility to maintain your costume that you have for the day- any issues regardless of whose fault they are are your own to deal with. Again, not ideal, but Disney is clear and consistent about their regulations.

As many have said already, there are so many pieces missing from this story. If I had to guess the three performers who were fired probably had other marks or reprimands on their records, and this was their third strike. Really, its harder than you would think to be fired from Disney, unless you took your head off onstage or something like that. I wonder how their case will go seeing how the article notes that other performers were willing to perform with the soiled costumes.

 

[middlechild]

First and foremost, there is not enough information here to judge the actions of the actors. I have seen FOTLK (my DD was brought up on stage to boot) and admire their work very much. Hats off to an awesome show.
One point no one has brought up yet is the union's decision to take this to arbitration. The article points out that taking this issue up to arbitration when there is so much fear surrounding contagions that they might just win. And if they win they get a lot more power.

Call me cynical, I don't think this is about costumes touching each other at all, but about taking full advantage of public opinion to change the relationship.

-- Middle

 

[olwyngdh]

You only wear what Disney allows. In many of the FOLK costumes a flesh colored unitard would be noticeable.

Ok. For some reason I was thinking the costumes were long sleeve and long legged so it wouldn't show-- unless you mean a panty line showing.

 

[Friend of a Mouse]

There can be lines underneath, the necklines might show it, etc. As a company, stocking leotards in every skin color and size that might be needed is just not feasible. Whenever possible, you do wear something underneath, not sure what the FOLK characters do. Disney is one of few parks that actually provides the underneath wear for their characters. At the other park I worked at, we provided our own shorts and shirts to wear underneath and most did not change between sets.

Yes, there is always room for improvement. But in my experience, Disney is one of the most accommodating parks when it comes to the cleanliness of the costumes and performers. I only once felt there was a costume issue (a parade head had a nasty funk) and they gave me the option of not going on it was that bad. I went on anyway. THe other park... I definitely got sick from wearing costumes after other people.