News New Changes Coming to the Disney Look 2021

[Lilofan]

It’s a byproduct of the current labour market. They currently don’t pay enough to dictate what their employees look like.

If wages went up they could start enforcing a Disney look again. Although I’m not sure current society necessarily still wants clean cut, smarty dressed people anymore

TSA at MCO start at similar entry rate as the entry level CM in parks and resorts. TSA has more responsibility and are improved in uniform and grooming standards.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Funny when I was a merchandise coordinator in World Showcase West (Canada to France), I was able to run the operation AND check for Disney Look every day. I would always pull non compliant CMs offstage or to the aside and remind them of the policy. If they were able to comply, I didn’t report it to leadership, I just made a note in our daily recaps. But if they didn’t, it was an instant report.

I’m not minimizing work that people may have done, but the current work environment is different .

 

[SaucyBoy]

I’m not minimizing work that people may have done, but the current work environment is different .

It’s really not, they’re just lazy. It takes no extra effort to scan for compliance when doing your rounds. Stop defending mediocrity.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The other reality of it is that coordinators actually run the operation and could not be bothered with dress code enforcement.

Is it part of their job or not?

 

[MagicHappens1971]

It’s really not, they’re just lazy. It takes no extra effort to scan for compliance when doing your rounds. Stop defending mediocrity.

I’m not even saying they don’t notice it, I’m saying that the current company culture + the current labor market does not motivate leaders to actually do something about it.

 

[Rich Brownn]

There was a time where cast had to be clean shaven, no visible tattoos , no male cast looking like Fabio, no jewelry , no wild looking color hair etc. Looks like a different type of mgt and cast in current times.

The irony is that Walt Disney couldn not have worked at Disneyland as he didn't meet the grooming standards of the time

 

[Rich Brownn]

For those of us that worked at Disney in the 70s there was one named that evoked terror (especially among female employees) -- Greta Groom (Ron Heminger's wife). She was known to walk around with a ruler to measure skirt lengths among other things.

 

[Brian]

I believe the Disney Look "walks" of areas have also been a casualty of COVID. Cast Members from that department would visit specific areas, typically with little to no notice, for the purposes of bolstering compliance. This was particularly useful in areas where leadership was not effective at enforcing it.

 

[wdrive]

TSA at MCO start at similar entry rate as the entry level CM in parks and resorts. TSA has more responsibility and are improved in uniform and grooming standards.

But I wonder how many people are employed at the TSA compared to cast members in Disney World.

 

[flynnibus]

The company buy and large is not strictly enforcing the Disney Look. It’s not a specific location problem, but it is a byproduct of several things.

Personally, as a guest, it doesn’t bother me. As a manager in the industry, it can be frustrating and difficult to enforce dress code standards, and when it comes to either sending someone home or having that team member working their shift, I’d rather have them.

pretty much summed up 'loss of standards'

Let's take the out.. instead of holding the line.

 

[el_super]

Isn’t it part of their job to make sure rules and policies are followed?

Sure. And if they don't? What recourse is there? If someone isn't compliant do you send them home? Do you risk not opening your location?

What happens if a coordinator ends up sending home a CM for a Disney Look violation and now a ride is short staffed and cannot open? Do we just complain online about their terrible maintenance issues when rides or locations don't open?

Maybe the answer really is to just pay CMs more money as an incentive for following the guidelines... but that would probably require higher prices for the guests. No one wants that.

This has been an issue since before the pandemic and will continue being an issue long after ... in the list of policies to be enforced by priority, something has to be at the bottom of the list.

 

[el_super]

I think it is related though. When you have standards enforced (stuff like dress code or piercings or hair color or whatever), it creates a more professional environment. And that encourages better behavior and customer service. When you "let things slide" more, it results in boundaries being pushed more and more and tends to lead to a less helpful workforce.

Some of this truly is shifting cultural norms though. People ditched ties and wear jeans to the office now. Having tattoos is normal. If expression is important to people and Disney tries to reel it back in, they can just go to another place that probably pays more AND allows free expression. Disney has to adapt to the times no matter what.

 

[Brian]

Sure. And if they don't? What recourse is there? If someone isn't compliant do you send them home? Do you risk not opening your location?

What happens if a coordinator ends up sending home a CM for a Disney Look violation and now a ride is short staffed and cannot open? Do we just complain online about their terrible maintenance issues when rides or locations don't open?

Maybe the answer really is to just pay CMs more money as an incentive for following the guidelines... but that would probably require higher prices for the guests. No one wants that.

This has been an issue since before the pandemic and will continue being an issue long after ... in the list of policies to be enforced by priority, something has to be at the bottom of the list.

A coach counseling (a documented discussion) or a reprimand (a disciplinary action), depending on the severity of the violation and the number of times the CM has been talked to about the same issue.

If it's a matter of wardrobe, they can also send them to costuming to remedy the situation, or to a locker room for grooming purposes.

 

[el_super]

A coach counseling (a documented discussion) or a reprimand (a disciplinary action), depending on the severity of the violation and the number of times the CM has been talked to about the same issue.

So you would still send them out on stage in violation of Disney Look? Or potentially risk the location not opening?

 

[Brian]

So you would still send them out on stage in violation of Disney Look? Or potentially risk the location not opening?

It really depends on the leadership team; there is no consistent procedure. From what I hear these days, some will send them out on stage with a Disney Look violation, some will ask them to remedy it (if possible without going home, like changing clothes, shaving, etc.), and some won't even notice, or if they do, don't care enough to say anything.

 

[Lilofan]

So you would still send them out on stage in violation of Disney Look? Or potentially risk the location not opening?

Disney needed to fill staffing needs applicants that didn't fit the look or refused to adhere didn't even apply to work at WDW. The grooming guidelines then changed to include mustaches, beards, long hair for males, jewelry for men and women, braids , visible tattoos etc to attract more to apply to work for Disney.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Sure. And if they don't? What recourse is there? If someone isn't compliant do you send them home? Do you risk not opening your location?

Well… that depends on many things. I feel like the majority of issues can be fixed without sending anyone home.

There is always a line, it’s just where does that line get drawn.

 

[James Alucobond]

So you would still send them out on stage in violation of Disney Look? Or potentially risk the location not opening?

These are generally not hard things to fix. Have makeup remover, nail polish remover, disposable grooming supplies, and some heavy-coverage concealer available backstage. Remove jewelry. Have some extra costumes on hand. Sure, you can't instantly undo someone's fresh dye job, but 99% of issues can be addressed immediately.

 

[Lilofan]

These are generally not hard things to fix. Have makeup remover, nail polish remover, disposable grooming supplies, and some heavy-coverage concealer available backstage. Remove jewelry. Have some extra costumes on hand. Sure, you can't instantly undo someone's fresh dye job, but 99% of issues can be addressed immediately.

Does one think this happens at Tokyo parks? Absolutely not. The Japanese have more pride, more respect for authority and policies and procedures. I enjoy visiting Tokyo and see it firsthand.

 

[James Alucobond]

Does one think this happens at Tokyo parks? Absolutely not. The Japanese have more pride, more respect for authority and policies and procedures. I enjoy visiting Tokyo and see it firsthand.

It's about setting expectations more than just passing it off as cultural. American elementary and high school students and faculty can deal with this just fine in schools with dress codes. There's no reason adults can't handle it.