From another thread: all the CM's names at MS are "cast names"?

[lat]

From another thread at the resort board, people were saying that CMs were given names so that no two people have the same names in that department.

I thought is was odd for some of the names at MS, ie "Dale", a GREAT CM, but always thought that was her real name, also, I never ran into someone with the same first name at MS.

It is a little surprise to me. I know the characters are not real, but I did not know even the CM's names are not real!!!!!!

 

[KelNottAt]

When I was in college, I spent my summer waitressing at the beach. It was a HUGE restaurant with about 50 waitresses + busboys + bartenders + hostesses, etc. Each and every one of us had to wear a different name tag so the customers could tell us apart.

The most senior employees got to keep their real names while the rookies had to pick a pseudonym. It was then that I realized my name, Kelley, was a very common name for babies born in the '60's. There were 4 of us with the same name. Even though each was a different spelling, 3 of us had to change. I picked Kirsten. Only worked there 2 summers, so never reached the coveted status of using my real name.

When I organized my company's employee picnic (11,000 people) at Hershey Park (PA.) the sales rep said they have unique name tags, too.

Kelley

 

[lenshanem]

At hubby's work if anyone comes on board with the same name as someone else they promptly have to change their name and go by something else. It would cause a lot of confusion otherwise. Funny thing is many that have changed their names actually start to go by that name outside work!

 

[pmcpmc]

.

 

[rocketriter]

And speaking of cast members: the acting unions (Actors Equity and the Screen Actors Guild) require that no two people have the same name, or even names that can be easily confused. That's one reason why actors so often have different professional than personal names.

 

[cmwilson523]

I'm not sure if Disney "backed off" this policy, but a few years ago, all of the CMs who work as waitstaff at Whispering Canyon Cafe went by "cast names." They had some great ones too - Penny Ante is one that jumps to mind, and Ben Crazy is one of my favorite CMs there! -- but Disney made them start wearing their "real" nametags so that guests would know their waiter's/waitress's real name. You can tell who the old time CMs are when you go there - they wear pins near their name tags with their "stage names" on them, and sometimes will say "Hi, I am Joe, but you can call me Crazy Pete."

I always liked this "something special" about the cast at WCC -- having names that they came up with for their characters. I hope Disney has indeed relaxed on their view on this. It was a really nice touch.

I haven't heard anything about the CMs at MS, though. I am not sure what in the theme of the ride would necessitate name changes, unless they were going by "space-y" names. Unlike Victoria and Albert's, there is nothing that jumps out that would say "hey, we need special names here."

Although it is a good point, I don't think that an acting union has anything to do with this situation. Disney CMs are probably not considered actors in the sense of SAG or AE, although they have to do a lot of acting in their roles at the theme parks!

 

[Disney Doll]

I think that when you call CRO you get "stage names" as well. I have called and spoken to pooeple named "Ohio" and "Phoenix". I know there are folks out there that have named their kids unusual names, but it seems like EVERY time I call CRO I get someone with a very unusual name. It would seem to me that there can't be THAT many folks with unusual names who ALL happened to get a job for WDW CRO!!

 

[DoeWDW]

From what I remember, CRO makes sure that each person has a unique name, so that a guest can identify a particular person. I would think that MS for DVC does the same thing. I believe this is common practice for any call center.