Isn't this a VERY Big No-No???

[Disneynut25]

I enjoyed it. Unless they come out with a African American princess at the parks most of us will never know what goes on.

What does that mean?

 

[BellAbbeys Mom]

You mean the characters aren't the real deal? Wow, first I learn there's no Santa Claus, then I find that Milli Vanilli didn't really sing on their records, now this?! I'm crushed.

Bill From PA

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

Even though most kids won't be reading it- this could somewhat jeopardize her position there. I auditioned to be a character performer and the first thing we were told was to not tell about the audition process. Obviously we could tell our family and close friends, but other than that they said to keep the details quiet. I even remember the casting director saying not to do interviews with local papers or news stations. And it was also said that if we did receive a job we should always say we are "friends with ____."

 

[29apr00]

Yeah, there obviously isn't anything anti-disney in this article but I think I know what the OP is trying to say. Aren't CMs who play characters not supposed to say they are? I met a CM and the WoD in NYC who was very exciting because she got the call to go work in WDW and when I asked her what she said she was going be friends with a princess. As much as adults know that real people play princesses, it was always the Disney way not to discuss casting and things like that. I thought CMs were not allowed to do interviews or talk about the process and such.

Technically, this is a no no. Just like you cannot tag any photos of yourself on Myspace or Facebook in your character costume. No little kids are on Facebook but it still is not allowed.

Also, a girl got in trouble for making a comment about wearing a princess costume in orlando on Jay Leno last year. She never even said the word Disney and got in trouble. No little kids are watching Leno.

It is just not allowed. Hence the statement... 'I am a friend of ___________'

YES! Thank you! That's what I thought, you're not allowed to say that you are a character. Usually it's just "I work in Entertainment" and that's it. It's not like you can just walk up to someone and have them say "Yeah, I'm Mickey Mouse Tuesdays and Thursday from 6-8pm." It seems like the great lenghts that Disney goes thru to keep the magic alive and make sure that characters and handlers never get out of character, to have this girl just blatently state that she is Ariel just seems very wrong.

 

[TerrytownGrl]

You mean the characters aren't the real deal? Wow, first I learn there's no Santa Claus, then I find that Milli Vanilli didn't really sing on their records, now this?! I'm crushed.

Bill From PA

Thanks for the laugh, Bill!

 

[Cool-Beans]

The no-nos for Disney have changed.

If their teenage stars can send people naked pictures of themselves and have them all over the internet or pose for thisclose to porn pics, I think this girl is pretty safe saying she plays Ariel.

 

[KGH]

That's so strange... it was always heavily emphasised that you were to say you were friends with a character...

 

[fakereadhed]

The no-nos for Disney have changed.

If their teenage stars can send people naked pictures of themselves and have them all over the internet or pose for thisclose to porn pics, I think this girl is pretty safe saying she plays Ariel.

Um, you have a point there.

 

[LilGMom]

then I find that Milli Vanilli didn't really sing on their records, now this?!

But they did sing!! I have a CD that proves it!!

 

[Wishing0nStars88]

The no-nos for Disney have changed.

If their teenage stars can send people naked pictures of themselves and have them all over the internet or pose for thisclose to porn pics, I think this girl is pretty safe saying she plays Ariel.

Haha ... that is true!

 

[selina4disney]

But they did sing!! I have a CD that proves it!!

You know, you coulda got a refund for that!

 

[pixiedust23]

Seriously? This is an issue? Some girl decided to save her parents money b/c she didn't know what she wanted to do with her life. I think it's inspirational to other kids her age; letting them know that there are other alternatives out there other than college. As a high school teacher, I think getting her story and other stories like hers out there is a great thing. If someone gets their panties in a bunch b/c of the reality of the fact that the characters aren't real, they have major issues. I think Disney should be more concerned with inspiring people to follow their dreams, then if some girl gave an interview to a local paper!

 

[abc999]

Isn't Disney all about dreams? This young lady is doing what many people dream of. I see no issues with this article.

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

I havent read the entire thread, but according to the posts of other CMs and reading a few Disney Hospitality books, I have learned that it is Disneys rule that you are only allowed to use the following. However, I'm not sure of enforcement or punishment of not following as she did.

If I were Ariel, as she is, I would only be allowed to say this about my job as a character: "I am a friend of Ariels". That being said any small children would think nothing of it, and the ones in the know would know.

However, I don't care, but I just hope that there is no trouble with her and Disney, as I also have read that any disclosure of Disney employment practices are to be released only with the permission of Disney reps. So I hope she, if this article is true, because several websites and books disclose the same information, got this okay'ed by the Mouse HOuse first. I'd hate for her to get flamed by her boss or even higher ups. *crosses fingers*

But how lucky is she!!!????

 

[sarah_n_brian2006]

I enjoyed it. Unless they come out with a African American princess at the parks most of us will never know what goes on.

I think they may start auditions soon for the Princess and the Frog (I think) Princess. I mean it's out in theaters soon right? You could look into it!

 

[xDressedinlove]

I don't see an issue with it. How many children young enough to still believe that the characters are real read the newspaper?

p.s. I'm from Indiana too!

 

[WDWguru]

It's borderline, but interesting and I doubt many little kids are reading a newspaper article over their Cheerios.

Speaking of, as a newspaper employee I DO have a problem with the fact that you posted the entire article here. That is a violation of copyright. Fair use dictates that you can post a headline, byline and summary or first paragraph of the text, then link to the rest.

Not trying to be "that guy" but it is a peeve of mine and you can get in trouble for it.

 

[29apr00]

It's borderline, but interesting and I doubt many little kids are reading a newspaper article over their Cheerios.

Speaking of, as a newspaper employee I DO have a problem with the fact that you posted the entire article here. That is a violation of copyright. Fair use dictates that you can post a headline, byline and summary or first paragraph of the text, then link to the rest.

Not trying to be "that guy" but it is a peeve of mine and you can get in trouble for it.

I posted the link to the entire article, doesn't that count?

 

[futreWDI]

I don't think the issue here should be whether or not the rule is okay. Everyone has opinions on whether Disney should have such a rule and they will always be differing. The issue at hand is that she was hired by Walt Disney World. The day she auditioned she signed a paper accepting her role and all of the rules that come with it.

She broke a rule.

If this article was not approved by Disney before it was printed she does have a chance of losing her status with the Company.

When I was a Campus Rep at my school, WVU, for the College Program (we recruit students to go work in the World) it was very difficult to get approval for a news article about the program. Our recruiter who is stationed in Orlando and travels her area (which was WV and a few other states) would have to either be part of the interview or get the questions and the Reps answers for approval. We also had textbook answers we could give. This wasn't even an issue of breaking the magic and princesses. This was about the program and the option for kids to take a semester and work in Disney.
The reason I am saying all of this is because I do not believe Disney would ever give approval for such an article.

It sucks, and like I said, you may not agree with the rule itself but it is a rule.

 

[FigmentFinder]

But they did sing!! I have a CD that proves it!!

Admit it. You probably had a record or cassette of Milli Vanilli singing, not a CD.