Cast members rules evolving over time

[Chef Mickey]

Ok I'll bow to your superior judgement on ladies underwear

Mrs Merg (who I'll blame for this topic) wouldn't wear either for the parks in the heat. Sometimes in the evenings though if we're going out somewhere nice she might wear stockings but never pantyhose.

And to end the great underwear debate, neither of us have beards or tattoos either

Haha, Chef Minnie would do the same as well.

 

[Hockey89]

Wow that's really interesting and you must really like your beard



Well I'm only going off what Mrs Merg says (honestly), however she says that ladies hosiery is hotter than long trousers as it's skin tight so doesn't let your legs 'breath' very well;

Coming from the uk we're used to much cooler weather than in Orlando and as such nearly always wear just shorts and t-shirts at the parks. I get extremely hot and bothered and it always astounds me how cm's in any costume whatsoever always look fairly cool temperature wise. I look like a frazzled noodle in shorts and a t-shirt and some guy outside the TOT is dressed as a bell hop with multiple layers looking as cool as a cucumber

Men usually are hotter and women are always colder in offices so it balances out... Oh wait, we had to make this a gender deal.

 

[steviej]

And I'm telling you as a former cast member to leave it off the application.

As a cp alumni, I agree 1,000%

 

[FigmentPigments]

Hi there and thanks for your input. A question you may be able to answer me as an ex cm is this. It seems nowadays that a lot of young ladies are dying their hair a multitude of unnatural colours (English spelling sorry) and some of them look quite nice. Do Disney have colour (we invented the word, so I'm spelling it like this ) rules for hair or not?

This was almost ten years ago, but I had highlights in my hair and was trying to grow them out. The highlights were very natural looking as I don't much care for obvious two tone hair. My manager said I would have to go get the roots touched up. $70 later...

 

[ScarletBegonias]

As a person with many tattoo's (who works in a business casual environment), I still understand why they have the rules they do and have no issues with them whatsoever.

However, I do believe It's a shame people are so judgmental about what someone does to their own body, and I can't wait for the day that us folks won't be looked down upon. There will always be judgmental people though, so I guess I won't hold my breath on that one. I just try to be polite and get people to like me based on my personality

 

[Minthorne]

If you have a tattoo you should just be able to work on PotC

I have a tattoo on my bicep that is usually hidden but can be seen with short sleeve shirt. I've worked in the same professional job for 14 years 11 months now and no one has ever said a thing about it.

 

[mergatroid]

As a person with many tattoo's (who works in a business casual environment), I still understand why they have the rules they do and have no issues with them whatsoever.

However, I do believe It's a shame people are so judgmental about what someone does to their own body, and I can't wait for the day that us folks won't be looked down upon. There will always be judgmental people though, so I guess I won't hold my breath on that one. I just try to be polite and get people to like me based on my personality

I'm sure that day will come however I can understand why some people see tattoos in a negative way. For instance I'm 47 now and as a kid many people who have tattoos now, probably wouldn't have had them then. Back then sailors, soldiers and men that wanted to look tough were mainly those who wanted and got tattoos. Tattoo parlours were few and far between and often scruffy places the were there for the few people that wanted them. Your average middle to upper class person would never dream of having tattoos and ladies weren't in the mix at all apart from a tiny minority.

Over the years times have changed and now tattoo artists are everywhere and having a few tattoos seems very common across all levels of society. There's still a stigma there to some degree, however nowhere near the levels of years gone by. Personally I've never seen a person with tattoos that's made me think "Wow those are great tattoos and look really good, it's improved their appearance no end". Rather I often think "Why have they done that to themselves it just looks odd"

I mean no offence with that remark and I appreciate others may look at me and think "What a terrible t-shirt and shorts combo, he looks like his mum has dressed him". I would never comment to others about their tattoos or dream of telling them they shouldn't have them and everyone should make their own minds up. They don't make you a bad person but I can understand some people not liking them, we probably have a little way to go though before having them brings no judgement whatsoever.

 

[jloucks]

Personally I've always loved seeing the cast members as neat and clean as possible. I think it helps the idea of the show that they are supposed to be giving us, vs having everyone doing whatever they want. I feel like having everyone on the same page is a bit more professional and that Disney shouldn't relax any of their rules.

That is a really good point. At WDW what staff wear is a costume more than most other jobs. A costume for the show. For presentation. It is not at all about what the wearer wants, but about the audience.

Not sure how that applies to tattoos tho. You can't change those.

 

[ScarletBegonias]

I'm sure that day will come however I can understand why some people see tattoos in a negative way. For instance I'm 47 now and as a kid many people who have tattoos now, probably wouldn't have had them then. Back then sailors, soldiers and men that wanted to look tough were mainly those who wanted and got tattoos. Tattoo parlours were few and far between and often scruffy places the were there for the few people that wanted them. Your average middle to upper class person would never dream of having tattoos and ladies weren't in the mix at all apart from a tiny minority.

Over the years times have changed and now tattoo artists are everywhere and having a few tattoos seems very common across all levels of society. There's still a stigma there to some degree, however nowhere near the levels of years gone by. Personally I've never seen a person with tattoos that's made me think "Wow those are great tattoos and look really good, it's improved their appearance no end". Rather I often think "Why have they done that to themselves it just looks odd"

I mean no offence with that remark and I appreciate others may look at me and think "What a terrible t-shirt and shorts combo, he looks like his mum has dressed him". I would never comment to others about their tattoos or dream of telling them they shouldn't have them and everyone should make their own minds up. They don't make you a bad person but I can understand some people not liking them, we probably have a little way to go though before having them brings no judgement whatsoever.

Oh I know there will never be a day they are 100% accepted just like many other things people seem to worry about that don't affect them at all. All I'm saying is that it's sad that I could be the nicest, most approachable person on the planet but because I have tattoos, it immediately taints someone's opinion of me without even speaking to me. . I'm really not trying to cause a fight, or anything though, honest. I don't care if people simply don't like them, but to assume I'm a sketchy lowlife is another thing all together (not saying you feel that way. just people in general)

 

[mergatroid]

Oh I know there will never be a day they are 100% accepted just like many other things people seem to worry about that don't affect them at all. All I'm saying is that it's sad that I could be the nicest, most approachable person on the planet but because I have tattoos, it immediately taints someone's opinion of me without even speaking to me. . I'm really not trying to cause a fight, or anything though, honest. I don't care if people simply don't like them, but to assume I'm a sketchy lowlife is another thing all together (not saying you feel that way. just people in general)

See where you're coming from there, I really do. Personally if I met you in person, I can assure you I'd judge you on how we interacted and your personality with the tattoos meaning nothing. I'm still sure I wouldn't think your tattoos looked nice but hey, you don't have them to please me just as I don't wear the clothes I do to please you. All that stuff is secondary.

I think as human beings we all visually judge people to some degree however wrong that may be and in many ways we're conditioned to do that. For instance if a load of bikers turned up somewhere, many people would think "I hope they're not going to behave like bikers in the movies". There's many lovely people who enjoy riding bikes in groups yet most associate them as fighting Hell's Angels as most in films are portrayed that way. Likewise on tv and in films many 'bad guys' are represented by guys with tattoos and a particular look, at least the henchmen are again possibly conditioning the general public to see them like this. Back in the 60's those with long hair were the enemy again conditioning people to perhaps judge them.

As an interesting aside, I remember years ago reading about an issue with the Fonz in Happy Days. He's known for his leather jacket and slicked back hair however at one stage the network banned him from wearing the leather jacket amid fears that he looked too 'thuggish' in the public's eyes. If you re watch some episodes he's instead wearing a college cardigan (or similar) but definitely not a leather jacket. They eventually realised this was stupid and dropped the restriction but it does show how people judge people on how they look at times.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

Saying people with tattoo's isn't a professional look is pretty old school, I have multiple tattoos and I'm in a very professional job dealing with the general public all the time. I will not hate myself when i get old.

Yeah, but it doesn't look nice or professional. Sorry, that's just my opinion, and ultimately Disney's too. I'm glad they are "old school" this way.

 

[NearTheEars]

It kinda grows on you! (me) I grew up in an awkward age. The age of Aquarius! Problem was I was in the middle of a highly conservative area and going to college while living at home and by the time I graduated (the day after to be exact) I was in the Air Force for the next four years. The Air Force also had a strict appearance demand, so no beards, long hair or crazy clothes.

When I got out I was newly married and trying to start a career and I had to look the part. I missed all the good stuff. Over the next 4 years I worked at working, had two children and finally established myself in first of many fairly good careers. Then I could finally let my hair grow long and have a beard if I wanted it. Well, as luck would have it, about that time my hair had this terribly rude habit of falling out rapidly. Fashion consisted of Bell Bottoms and the like which were anything but attractive, so I grew a beard. I shaved it off for my Sisters Wedding and everyone just looked at me weird. I had a very round head and without hair all they would have had to do was to paint stripes on my head and I would have looked like a basketball. To avoid that I grew my beard back as quickly as possible and there it has remained ever since.

After the first couple of years I started to keep it trimmed very neatly and never had a negative result from it. I don't think my kids even know what I look like without it. So, it really isn't so much of "I like it" as it is a part of me and my personality. If I had to shave it off to save my life, of course, I would do that, however to drive a bus for $11.00 an hour, which it was at the time, I don't think so. Now I don't have to shave it off, but, CMship no longer works in my current life.

Thank you for your service!

 

[mattdenine]

Yeah, but it doesn't look nice or professional. Sorry, that's just my opinion, and ultimately Disney's too. I'm glad they are "old school" this way.

Its YOUR opinion doesn't mean I don't look professional or my tattoos aren't nice, you've never seen them therefore you can't make an an actual opinion.

 

[UKDisney Dave]

Just yesterday I was sat in a fast food restaurant (big yellow M's......you may have heard of it! ) and a guy in his early 40's I guess walked in with tatoos covering his entire face, head, and neck. His hair was shaved off so his whole head was totally tatooed, no skin visible above the collar of his shirt.

Whilst I didn't immediately dismiss him as a nutter, I did think to myself I wonder if he regrets getting all that done, or faces daily abuse/shunning from people like me who question why anyone would want to do that.

As he stood and waited to order his two young boys ran over and joined him. They were all in the queue laughing and joking. He was lifting them up, tickling them, hugging them and generally having a fun time. They in turn were giggling and playing and really enjoying being with their Dad. It was clear they loved him dearly, and couldn't careless how he looked. Maybe they had no recollection of how Dad looked pre tattoo, or maybe they just didn't care. To them he was Dad, and all three were having a blast whilst they waited to order. It made me both smile at how nice it was to see a family having so much fun together, and then question why I had been so judgemental about his appearance in the fist place.

I'm not a fan of tattoos on people in the service industry, and could trot out a load of reasons about customer expectation etc, but maybe after yesterday I'm beginning to see that the issue is mine, that I need to change, to see things through the eyes of those innocent boys, rather then the eyes of a judgmental 40 year old!

 

[mergatroid]

Just yesterday I was sat in a fast food restaurant (big yellow M's......you may have heard of it! ) and a guy in his early 40's I guess walked in with tatoos covering his entire face, head, and neck. His hair was shaved off so his whole head was totally tatooed, no skin visible above the collar of his shirt.

Whilst I didn't immediately dismiss him as a nutter, I did think to myself I wonder if he regrets getting all that done, or faces daily abuse/shunning from people like me who question why anyone would want to do that.

As he stood and waited to order his two young boys ran over and joined him. They were all in the queue laughing and joking. He was lifting them up, tickling them, hugging them and generally having a fun time. They in turn were giggling and playing and really enjoying being with their Dad. It was clear they loved him dearly, and couldn't careless how he looked. Maybe they had no recollection of how Dad looked pre tattoo, or maybe they just didn't care. To them he was Dad, and all three were having a blast whilst they waited to order. It made me both smile at how nice it was to see a family having so much fun together, and then question why I had been so judgemental about his appearance in the fist place.

I'm not a fan of tattoos on people in the service industry, and could trot out a load of reasons about customer expectation etc, but maybe after yesterday I'm beginning to see that the issue is mine, that I need to change, to see things through the eyes of those innocent boys, rather then the eyes of a judgmental 40 year old!

I was expecting the last line of this lovely story to read "And then he pulled out a gun and demanded they empty all the cash registers" (only joking folks)

 

[Nastory4]

Speaking of beards....

My brother had a beard when he met his wife. He had a beard until his youngest was about 5 years old. One day he shaved off his beard. His wife didn't recognize him and his kids were terrified that a stranger had broken into their house. And his sister (me) who hadn't seen him without a beard in well over a decade, didn't initially recognize this stranger who started talking to her in the grocery store.

That's funny! Did the wife make him grow it back?

 

[thomas998]

Disney reminds me of the New York Yankees. No Yankee has a beard. Or an earring anywhere on him. It is the clean cut look they go for. I think that was in part George Steinbrenner's idea back in the day. But it is what it is. So Disney is similar that way. Nothing wrong with that. Look, no offense, but if I am at Six Flags and the guy running the ride has tattoos up one arm and the other............yeah, it's his problem and he'll hate himself when he's old, but it isn't a professional look. Disney doesn't have this at least, and that's a good thing, I think.

A very good thing if you think about it. I have a lot more faith in the judgment of someone without tattoos than I do of someone with them. Most of the people I know that have them fell into one of two groups, either they were drunk and did it, or were in a group and everyone else got one so they did too.... I don't have a lot of faith in people that make decisions like that when they are drunk or lack the self confidence to be their own person and not slip into group think.

 

[LAKid53]

That's funny! Did the wife make him grow it back?

No, she ended up divorcing him. But it had nothing to do with the beard. Or him...

 

[Nastory4]

No, she ended up divorcing him. But it had nothing to do with the beard. Or him...

Sadly that's even funnier!

 

[FoodRockz]

Judging someone/something quickly is in our DNA to assess for risks and ensure our safety/survival. It just so happens that visual stimuli is one of the easiest ways to determine threats. When we see someone approaching that has mechanically altered their appearance, vs. someone who hasn't, our brain processes it subconsciously and consciously. It may manifest consciously with many of the thoughts shared here, based on past experience or media depictions.

Now, when/if there are more people with tattoos than without for a long time period, that is when things will get interesting.