Just Back....Strange Observance

[MinnieJay]

When I was in DL in May a CM told me that their costumes are now RFID tagged. He said it was being done so that they "could keep track of 'them.'" Any one know if this in place in WDW?

When he said "them", did he mean like people? Or "Them" such as uniforms? Because the costumes are tagged so wardrobe can say "this cm has X amount of small pants, X amount of shirts, one belt and one jacket". And when you turn one shirt back in , it lets you check out another.

 

[Epeyon]

Are you sure they were costumes from different lands? Or are you freaking out because somebody from Living with the Land was over talking to a CM at Soarin'? Or a Haunted Mansion servant was talking with a merchandise hostess outside? Or was it a train conductor talking to a Splash Mountain host?

Remember it's only against the rules if it's completely out of their land. That is somebody in Tomorrowland costume in Frontierland. And this rule doesn't even apply to Studios or Animal Kingdom since CMs must go through onstage areas to access their locations. And in costume as now there is only a central locker room for changing near costuming for each park.

And please don't blame the CMs for this fact. Years ago CMs were given 12 minutes of paid time at the beginning and end of their shift so they could walk to their location and then change. But during union contract negotiations management decided that this was useless and it would be better to get rid of that time and free up those locker rooms for other purposes.

Also the story goes that during those same contract negotiations a union rep CM asked them what about when a cast member is asked a question while walking to or from their location. The answer shocked everybody in the room, "Tell your employees they can take their name tag off and tell the guest to go ask somebody else." That folks is The Walt Disney Company management today.

 

[elphie101]

I just wanted to apologize for over generalizing. In my experience, it was normally the CPs that were standing around socializing, but I know not ALL CPs are like that. I felt the same way when I was an overly responsible college student and people acted like all college students were crazy partiers, so I'm sorry if I offended you

Not offensive to me - it's like they say, stereotypes exist for a reason, and there are plenty of college kids who do the CP as a chance to get away from school for the semester and goof off. It's just nice to have people remember that we're not all like that - there were plenty of times I would be in conversation with another CM somewhere in a park on my day off and when I mentioned I was a CP you could see THAT look on their face when they made their assumptions. Definitely not all, but just sad that some bad eggs have to ruin the reputation for the rest of us.

 

[luvthemouse71]

You really feel that way? Apparently Disney (yes for real) is ok with the wearing of the costumes (without the name tag) away from the World. I think it's a little much to expect a CM to change in and out of their costume before and after work before heading home and maybe doing an errand or two. There would be no extra pay for that time in and out of the costume. I mean really they probably don't want to wear them for hours on end -just an errand here and there.

I often see people at the store in Speed Lube uniforms, scrubs, all sorts of people wearing nametags, McDonald's uniforms, Steak n Shake, etc and I never consider them showing a lack of respect for the branding. I think, "oh they must be on their way to or from work!"

I find it odd to set such a high standard for a likely minimum wage worker (or just a bit over) that they can't even drive home in costume without jarring the general public and being considered rude to the branding.

Liz

Speaking as someone who wears scrubs at work, we have a policy against leaving the hospital with scrubs on and I wouldn't do it anyway. It takes 5 minutes to change- it's not a hardship.

I don't think that a CM leaving work with a uniform on is all that bad, but I get tired of the "they don't make that much, so cut them slack" argument. I make a good living now, but worked plenty of minimum wage jobs before I became a nurse. No one twists your arm to make you work as a CM.

 

[littlewitch34]

Speaking as someone who wears scrubs at work, we have a policy against leaving the hospital with scrubs on and I wouldn't do it anyway. It takes 5 minutes to change- it's not a hardship.

I don't think that a CM leaving work with a uniform on is all that bad, but I get tired of the "they don't make that much, so cut them slack" argument. I make a good living now, but worked plenty of minimum wage jobs before I became a nurse. No one twists your arm to make you work as a CM.

I think part of the "cut them some slack" argument is that for a lot of CMs, you must return to some location to use a locker room to change. I would get a reprimand for using my work location to change out of my costume and into my "street clothes." To change, I was supposed to walk back to the locker room (an extra 5-8 minute walk) and then go to my locker, go into the bathroom/changing room, and change. That's about 15 minutes to change out of my costume. For a CP, that's missing a bus and an extra hour-long wait to get home. For someone driving, it's just another 15 minutes where they are not getting paid to pass from location to location so they can change into their "street clothes."

I changed in the locker room all the time because I sweat a lot and don't like wearing my sweaty costumes home... but only if it meant I would not miss my bus back to my apartment.

 

[Feralpeg]

I think part of the "cut them some slack" argument is that for a lot of CMs, you must return to some location to use a locker room to change. I would get a reprimand for using my work location to change out of my costume and into my "street clothes." To change, I was supposed to walk back to the locker room (an extra 5-8 minute walk) and then go to my locker, go into the bathroom/changing room, and change. That's about 15 minutes to change out of my costume. For a CP, that's missing a bus and an extra hour-long wait to get home. For someone driving, it's just another 15 minutes where they are not getting paid to pass from location to location so they can change into their "street clothes."

I changed in the locker room all the time because I sweat a lot and don't like wearing my sweaty costumes home... but only if it meant I would not miss my bus back to my apartment.

While I do think it takes a little something away from the show, it makes sense. However, if you are off duty and in costume, you are supposed to remove your nametag. I see more and more CMs in costume in restaurants and stores in full costume and wearing their nametags. It doesn't really bother me, but having worked for Disney, I know it is against the rules.

 

[littlewitch34]

While I do think it takes a little something away from the show, it makes sense. However, if you are off duty and in costume, you are supposed to remove your nametag. I see more and more CMs in costume in restaurants and stores in full costume and wearing their nametags. It doesn't really bother me, but having worked for Disney, I know it is against the rules.

My nametag would be the first thing to come off! No offense to guests, but I don't want the whole world knowing my name when I'm off-duty.

 

[Traveliz]

Speaking as someone who wears scrubs at work, we have a policy against leaving the hospital with scrubs on and I wouldn't do it anyway. It takes 5 minutes to change- it's not a hardship.

I don't think that a CM leaving work with a uniform on is all that bad, but I get tired of the "they don't make that much, so cut them slack" argument. I make a good living now, but worked plenty of minimum wage jobs before I became a nurse. No one twists your arm to make you work as a CM.

Great that works for you. I just said scrubs because I noticed that at the mall yesterday. The poster who explained it just isn't a 5 minute delay is correct. For some cast members where they work, break, have lockers (and some don't have anything more than a shelf), clock in and out and leave the property are not at all close together.

Liz

 

[VAN]

I'm responding based on the original post and not on any comments ... Walt Disney was VERY CONCERNED about maintaining the magic and it was his intent that CM did not appear in a costume that was not appropriate for a particular area of the park.

I too started seeing this during my last visit. During parades, they had people dressed for main street selling things during the parade in all of the various lands. In other words in the middle of Frontierland, there was a CM in a "gay '90's" outfit selling trinkets from a cart !!!!

In the past, you would have NEVER seen this. I am a die-hard Disney fan and am frankly shocked that WDW has sunk so low. It does, indeed, lessen the magic and dilutes the intent that Walt had to maintain the magic.

Very, very sad .....

 

[SRUAlmn]

I don't think you were over-generalizing, and I don't think you meant to offend anyone. You were simply making an observation, and a fair one at that. I agree with you and others, we hold Disney to a higher standard. Just like we would not want to see our kids' schoolteachers "out of line" when out of school, same goes for the behavior of Cast Members both on and offstage. We respect CM's and know they work hard to keep the magic alive!

Why do we hold Disney to a higher standard? Because Walt himself did.

Thanks! I'm a teacher, and I know all too well that my whole LIFE I'm a teacher, not just while I'm at school. I live in the community where I teach, so I always have to be sure to conduct myself respectfully.

ITA with your last two lines too. I think often people refer to CMs as just being minimum wage workers, like that's all we should expect from them, but Disney began on a principle of higher standards and expectations. Like a PP said. They're called CMs, not employees. They're "on stage," not on the clock. Things like that. It's a shame that people are starting to feel like we should lower our expectations for Disney because the people working there are making minimum wage. I can tell you, I had plenty of minimum wage jobs before and during college, and most of them were working with young children. I'm pretty sure a parent wouldn't have been ok with me "breaking rules" or acting like I should only do work equivalent to what I was getting paid.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Are you sure they were costumes from different lands? Or are you freaking out because somebody from Living with the Land was over talking to a CM at Soarin'? Or a Haunted Mansion servant was talking with a merchandise hostess outside? Or was it a train conductor talking to a Splash Mountain host?

Yes, they were in different lands, and I'm not freaking out, just curious

Also the story goes that during those same contract negotiations a union rep CM asked them what about when a cast member is asked a question while walking to or from their location. The answer shocked everybody in the room, "Tell your employees they can take their name tag off and tell the guest to go ask somebody else." That folks is The Walt Disney Company management today.

That's terrible....and I wasn't really meaning to "blame" the CMs. I just wanted to find out why it was happening, when I knew it was a big no-no.

 

[MinnieJay]

I'm responding based on the original post and not on any comments ... Walt Disney was VERY CONCERNED about maintaining the magic and it was his intent that CM did not appear in a costume that was not appropriate for a particular area of the park.

I too started seeing this during my last visit. During parades, they had people dressed for main street selling things during the parade in all of the various lands. In other words in the middle of Frontierland, there was a CM in a "gay '90's" outfit selling trinkets from a cart !!!!

In the past, you would have NEVER seen this. I am a die-hard Disney fan and am frankly shocked that WDW has sunk so low. It does, indeed, lessen the magic and dilutes the intent that Walt had to maintain the magic.

Very, very sad .....

By "gay 90's costume" I hope you mean "happy". And by happy, meaning "magical".

As a diehard Disney fan, you should know that they employ anyone who is free during parade times to be put on crowd control regardless of costume.

A CM making minimum wage shouldn't exempt them from certain standards, but judging and thinking less of someone who made your vacation magical because they won't change into street clothes during what you think "only takes 5 mins"? Come on y'all...

 

[raidermatt]

ETA: My OP caused confusion, so I wanted to clear it up here. I have taken the KTTK tour 3 times in the past in which they explained the importance of having the Utilidors and that costumed characters should never be seen outside their intended area to ensure the quality of the SHOW. Knowing this information is what caused me to think it was weird when I was visiting as a guest (not on a tour) this past visit and saw multiple CMs in multiple parks who were in an area that didn't go with the costuming they were wearing. They were either passing through to get somewhere (leaving a shift perhaps?) or they were standing around socializing with CMs who were costumed for that area. I saw this happen in MK, AK, and Epcot.

Happens more and more. Entirely the fault of upper management. If maintaining "The Show" held the same priority as it did in the past, management would still have rules and allowances firmly in place to ensure things like this did not happen.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

By "gay 90's costume" I hope you mean "happy". And by happy, meaning "magical".
(

FYI: "gay" in the sense of "Gay 90s" has nothing to do with sexuality. This is a common phrase used to describe the time period of the 1890s in the US.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. Maybe I didn't explain it very well. On the tours they explained the reason for the Utilidors and the policy that you should only be in your properly themed area when in costume, but the observances I made were during regular time as a park guest, ON stage. I'll say, the largest occurance was during our lunch at Tony's. I would say during our hour long lunch we saw about 20 CMs go past and around the corner (between Tony's and the Chapeau) and into the backstage entrance door. They were already costumed in multiple, varying things, so it was really weird. It was the first time at Disney I felt like we saw people coming and going from WORK. They had like sweaters and purses and everything I thought they had a backstage way to get into the park, right? Why were they all coming past Tony's?

We also witnessed a lot of gossiping and inappropriate conversations in front of guests. I feel like it makes me old to say this (and I'm only 34,) but I work
a lot with young people, and the new college generation has a very different idea of professionalism and I think that's very evident in the College Program CMs. It's so unfortunate.

Maybe we all should say something? I think I may next trip...

Who would you speak with?

 

[Marnm02]

They do want CMs to stay in their themed areas, but it isn't always the top priority. When I was a CM, I worked on Main St, but would sometimes be pulled to Tomorrowland or Frontierland if it was a special event night and there was wristbanding to be done, or if parade staff was short farther up on the route. They aren't going to leave more vital roles short just because they want to keep theming perfect.

As far as the personal items, this was my experience: I worked on Main St, often right at the turnstyles, and the CM locker area was WAAAYYY at the other end. So, yes, I had a locker down in the tunnels where I kept clothes, but I did have some essentials that I couldn't be that far away from (medications, drinks, phone, etc). We had second lockers in the CM breakroom near the turnstyles, and yes, I would carry a purse from the main street backstage area (I never came up the one near Tony's, it was on the City Hall side) and walk probably about 50 feet or so under the train station and around the corner to get to where my other locker was. Everyone else I worked with did this too..well...all the women at least. I'm assuming the CMs you saw also couldn't manage with all their things at the other end of the park, so were carrying them to another CM area closer to their work areas.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Great that works for you. I just said scrubs because I noticed that at the mall yesterday. The poster who explained it just isn't a 5 minute delay is correct. For some cast members where they work, break, have lockers (and some don't have anything more than a shelf), clock in and out and leave the property are not at all close together.

Liz

Still, if it's part of the job, either suck it up or find a new job. Easy enough. Again, no one forces you to work at any given place. And when I was first starting in the OR, I bussed it to the hospital. I made it work.

 

[Traveliz]

Still, if it's part of the job, either suck it up or find a new job. Easy enough. Again, no one forces you to work at any given place. And when I was first starting in the OR, I bussed it to the hospital. I made it work.

Ahh but at Disney at least for most positions (entertainment is different) it is not part of the job to dress at work or change into street clothes before leaving work and the Disney property. The only requirement is to take off the name tag in public.

Liz

 

[tzeitel]

I would actually be sent on errands around the property while wearing my costume. A lot of guest service "magic" that we would take care of while on the clock

Someone had mentioned a girl talking on the phone while working one of the BW stands - WDW has a lot of 3rd party vendors, those stands at BW being some of them. if you notice many do not have nametags or if they do they are not Disney nametags.

Because once we found a pair of pants that fit pretty well even though they came well past our belly buttons, we would keep them to wash. Rare to find a good fitting costume lol

Tell me about it! I went through many a pair until I found 5 that I liked. Even when we got new pants I kept my old ones - the new ones had huge pleats, tapered legs and the waistband was around my ribs

 

[littlewitch34]

Still, if it's part of the job, either suck it up or find a new job. Easy enough. Again, no one forces you to work at any given place. And when I was first starting in the OR, I bussed it to the hospital. I made it work.

Yes. And the only requirement for Disney cast members (outside of entertainment, like parades) is that they remove their nametag before they leave property. So I could still go to McDonalds in my (incredibly unflattering) pleated khaki pants and my work shirt, minus a nametag, to go get dinner after I got off work at 1 AM.