Multiple Resorts Switch to Shared Costumes for Certain Cast Members UPDATED

[lazyboy97o]

So spending a bunch of money now for some sort of potential future savings.

Costumes aren’t bought once and then that’s it until a redesign. They are repaired and replaced on an ongoing basis. Buying more of fewer designers means greater economies of scale.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Costume upkeep is more expensive than the costumes themselves. This is long-term cheapazoiding AND easily transferrable to other departments/locations.

I would agree if Disney decided to change all of the attraction CM costumes to some sort of generic one, but changing out mousekeeping is not a huge deal. We were just at Boardwalk a few weeks ago, and those costumes looked good on the CMs. The desk staff, baggage handlers, and all others still had the same costumes they have always had.

 

[DisneyTransport]

As long as there is some type of theming (i.e. the color schemes match the resort) then I'm fine with it. Now if they went to non-unformed outfits and CMs are walking around in jean or shorts, then I would have a stronger opinion!

 

[Parker in NYC]

I would agree if Disney decided to change all of the attraction CM costumes to some sort of generic one, but changing out mousekeeping is not a huge deal. We were just at Boardwalk a few weeks ago, and those costumes looked good on the CMs. The desk staff, baggage handlers, and all others still had the same costumes they have always had.

Wait.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Costumes aren’t bought once and then that’s it until a redesign. They are repaired and replaced on an ongoing basis. Buying more of fewer designers means greater economies of scale.

Sure, but again, it's for mousekeeping staff that the majority of the people that visit don't even notice.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

As long as there is some type of theming (i.e. the color schemes match the resort) then I'm fine with it. Now if they went to non-unformed outfits and CMs are walking around in jean or shorts, then I would have a stronger opinion!

The ones we saw at Boardwalk a few weeks ago, still fit the theme of the resort. That same color scheme also fits the other resorts mentioned, like OKW, BC, Yacht Club, etc.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Sure, but again, it's for mousekeeping staff that the majority of the people that visit don't even notice.

Pretty much everything at Walt Disney World has at one point been described as something “the majority of the people that visit don’t even notice.”

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Pretty much everything at Walt Disney World has at one point been described as something “the majority of the people that visit don’t even notice.”

Maybe true, but this particular change doesn't mean that Disney is going down this road with every single type of CM. It's for one role out of thousands of roles. I don't believe that they have done this with any other role, but of course, everyone here has to treat it like Disney is going downhill.

 

[Parker in NYC]

Pretty much everything at Walt Disney World has at one point been described as something “the majority of the people that visit don’t even notice.”

Agreed. It's a long and winding road.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I don't believe that they have done this with any other role, but of course, everyone here has to treat it like Disney is going downhill.

See muppets and figment.

 

[LuvtheGoof]

See muppets and figment.

So what did they used to look like, and what do they look like now? I haven't seen them.

 

[networkpro]

Costume upkeep is more expensive than the costumes themselves. This is long-term cheapazoiding AND easily transferrable to other departments/locations.

Thats something Six Flags did just after Premier Parks acquired them in 1998. They went from area and function themed costuming to the Generic bright shirts and tan pants/shorts. They just gave up trying.

 

[tirian]

Long gone are the days when Cast Members would check out their costumes at the beginning of every shift, now you collect 5 of them and bring them home. It was originally sold as a way to save the company money by not paying the extra 20 minutes they'd pay you to change in/out of your costume. However, the net result was that it wound up in a lot of missing wardrobe pieces thanks to the high turnover rate.

Was a big downgrade in show quality, as you see Tower of Terror bellhops pumping gas and SWGE inhabitants at Publix.

Regardless, this change (which happened many years ago now) likely led to this here, so cast members can be utilized at multiple resorts, without having to get new costumes.

The change partly happened because Disney didn’t pay CMs to arrive early, pick up costumes, and change in the locker rooms.

 

[tirian]

The costume change DAK went through a couple years ago was, for the most part, awful and a downgrade

Yes, but at that time, I happily picked up a few of the brand-new, unused costumes for $4/outfit at Cast Connection. Those lasted a few Halloweens!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

So what did they used to look like, and what do they look like now? I haven't seen them.

They used to be themed to the attraction. Muppet Labs and Imagination Institute. Now they are just the generic costumes. Muppets is a light green, imagination is a dark blue.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

So now pictures? I can't find anywhere this had been discussed here. Oh, and I'm not questioning it, just curious as to what the change looked like.

Apologies to the site owner if I’m not supposed to link this... not sure.


https://blogmickey.com/2019/08/mupp...s-are-now-generic-hollywood-studios-costumes/

 

[LuvtheGoof]

Apologies to the site owner if I’m not supposed to link this... not sure.


https://blogmickey.com/2019/08/mupp...s-are-now-generic-hollywood-studios-costumes/

Ok, thanks. Looks like it happened over a year ago, and according to Mike, pretty much all of HS uses the same generic costume now. Seems like Muppets were one of the last to change over.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Apologies to the site owner if I’m not supposed to link this... not sure.


https://blogmickey.com/2019/08/mupp...s-are-now-generic-hollywood-studios-costumes/

It's not easy being mint green.

BTW, BlogMickey is OK for reference as is almost all blogs except for the one that is "News Today" and the one that is "Easy."

 

[Goofnut1980]

Should have had Sue Ellen Crandall come in and design them. She did such a great job for General Apparel West even though she was just a teenager.

Right on top of that Rose

 

[castlecake2.0]

The DAK update a couple years ago took uniquely themed costumes from:

park greeter
Discovery island merch
Flame tree/pizzafari
Creature comforts
Wildlife express
Tree of life
Conservation station

and replaced it with one mix and match costume, it also made Africa and Asia each have one costume for all merch and QSR roles instead of separate styles. Fortunately (until Covid) the generic world showcase costume rumour didn’t come true.