Parking lot at Disney's Animal Kingdom about to expand ahead of the park's new additions

[Tom]

No it's not. Why would it be forbidden to do grocery shopping while in costume? Smart cast will remove their nametag, but Disney cannot control what cast do outside of work.

Disney owns the costumes. They most certainly can tell you where you can and cannot wear them. And they used to do that...

For decades it was as part of maintaining the illusion of show. That was before Efficiency beat the snot out of Show.

I didn't realize they dropped the rule. Quite a shame. Very bad show to see someone in half a skipper costume bumming around WalMart.

 

[wogwog]

Disney owns the costumes. They most certainly can tell you where you can and cannot wear them. And they used to do that...



I didn't realize they dropped the rule. Quite a shame. Very bad show to see someone in half a skipper costume bumming around WalMart.

Sounds like a cost savings to Disney might be the reason. Less laundry cost to Disney if cast clean their own at home.

 

[cw1982]

Disney owns the costumes. They most certainly can tell you where you can and cannot wear them. And they used to do that...

I didn't realize they dropped the rule. Quite a shame. Very bad show to see someone in half a skipper costume bumming around WalMart.

I think the issue is more one of enforcing the rule than anything. Policing such a thing would get to be a logistical nightmare now that CM's can take costumes home. It wouldn't be smart for them to have rules that they can't enforce; makes enforcing other rules that much more of a hassle. I agree that it looks silly when someone in costume is seen outside of the parks, but as long as they're not doing anything while in costume that would make Disney look bad, it's probably not worth their time to monitor such a thing so closely.

 

[Tom]

Sounds like a cost savings to Disney might be the reason. Less laundry cost to Disney if cast clean their own at home.

Cast Members who take costumes home don't wash their own (except a few, like Guest Relations, who were more "normal" clothing like pants and shirts). The rest get 3-5 pieces at a time, then swap them out all out for clean ones once a week.

I think the issue is more one of enforcing the rule than anything. Policing such a thing would get to be a logistical nightmare now that CM's can take costumes home. It wouldn't be smart for them to have rules that they can't enforce; makes enforcing other rules that much more of a hassle. I agree that it looks silly when someone in costume is seen outside of the parks, but as long as they're not doing anything while in costume that would make Disney look bad, it's probably not worth their time to monitor such a thing so closely.

I'm sure that's it. There are likely rules in place, but unless someone is caught doing something damaging, they're not going to pursue it.

 

[wogwog]

Cast Members who take costumes home don't wash their own (except a few, like Guest Relations, who were more "normal" clothing like pants and shirts). The rest get 3-5 pieces at a time, then swap them out all out for clean ones once a week.



I'm sure that's it. There are likely rules in place, but unless someone is caught doing something damaging, they're not going to pursue it.

I know many cast members here in FL, even some relatives who wash all their costumes at home. The mandatory swap out ended years ago. Lots of the costumes do well at home even with out ironing I hear. Since the cast is required to do any costume exchange on their off the clock time Disney can not enforce any control on wearing them to and from work with a stop or two on the way. That being said I can't see wearing some of the costumes in public and keep a straight face. Think Dinoland, Adventureland, Haunted Mansion and so on.

 

[Tom]

I know many cast members here in FL, even some relatives who wash all their costumes at home. The mandatory swap out ended years ago. Lots of the costumes do well at home even with out ironing I hear. Since the cast is required to do any costume exchange on their off the clock time Disney can not enforce any control on wearing them to and from work with a stop or two on the way. That being said I can't see wearing some of the costumes in public and keep a straight face. Think Dinoland, Adventureland, Haunted Mansion and so on.

Interesting. My latest "source" (just someone I know who I happened to be talking to about it) was on the CP. I'm guessing they just trade them in since they don't have time or means to wash their own.

 

[Tom Morrow]

You may not enjoy seeing the occasional CM costume at Wal-Mart, but being forced to change when arriving and leaving work is kind of a huge hassle and annoyance.

 

[wogwog]

Interesting. My latest "source" (just someone I know who I happened to be talking to about it) was on the CP. I'm guessing they just trade them in since they don't have time or means to wash their own.

It is totally at the choice of the cast member. I happen to shop at the closest market to the Cast exit at MK. I see some very interesting shoppers from various far off lands and mystical places shop there as well. The smart ones do remove their name tag.

 

[AEfx]

They better expand that parking lot soon! The tens of folks who will be waiting for Avatar-land in line every day will want places to park their mopeds.

 

[Figment2005]

Cast Members who take costumes home don't wash their own (except a few, like Guest Relations, who were more "normal" clothing like pants and shirts). The rest get 3-5 pieces at a time, then swap them out all out for clean ones once a week.



I'm sure that's it. There are likely rules in place, but unless someone is caught doing something damaging, they're not going to pursue it.

I know many cast, including myself, who pick out costume pieces that are in excellent shape and then never swap them out. Not worth risking the chance of receiving a costume that doesn't have the quality or cleanliness I want.

 

[Figment2005]

Interesting. My latest "source" (just someone I know who I happened to be talking to about it) was on the CP. I'm guessing they just trade them in since they don't have time or means to wash their own.

That does make sense. For CP cast it's just easier for them to grab a costume when they arrive to work and just toss it back at the end.

 

[Gabe1]

Has parking ever been, or come close to capacity at AK to require this?

I have never seen it reach capacity or near even travelling over Thanksgiving, Christmas and 4th of July.

I've seen more parking at AK now that it is a satellite parking lot for DTD for construction alternative.

Yes.

Can you expand on that?

 

[draybook]

You may not enjoy seeing the occasional CM costume at Wal-Mart, but being forced to change when arriving and leaving work is kind of a huge hassle and annoyance.

How can it be annoying to get paid to change into your work clothes? We're not talking about roofing or road paving here. It's not like it's back breaking for Pete's sake. It's changing clothes and it's something that would be done on the clock so they would be getting paid to do it.

I know it's not a full clothing change, but every day when I get to work I have to swap out my shoes for steel-toes, put on the safety vest and wear safety glasses. I don't consider it a hassle by any means. It's not like I didn't know it was part of the job when i signed up and nobody "forced" me to do it.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

If it were Me, Id build Parking Garages. But it's not me.

 

[G00fyDad]

They better expand that parking lot soon! The tens of folks who will be waiting for Avatar-land in line every day will want places to park their mopeds.

So you're actually saying that geeks and nerds are the only ones who want to see Avatar-land? I have no desire to see it, but that doesn't mean that those who do are moped riding nerds. Wow.

 

[G00fyDad]

Which of these two areas is the choice for Avatar-land?

 

[danlb_2000]

Which of these two areas is the choice for Avatar-land?

View attachment 56951

Bottom one. I have always speculated that they are holding on to the top one in case they decide to do another animal based area or attraction.

 

[Rob562]

How can it be annoying to get paid to change into your work clothes? We're not talking about roofing or road paving here. It's not like it's back breaking for Pete's sake. It's changing clothes and it's something that would be done on the clock so they would be getting paid to do it.

I know it's not a full clothing change, but every day when I get to work I have to swap out my shoes for steel-toes, put on the safety vest and wear safety glasses. I don't consider it a hassle by any means. It's not like I didn't know it was part of the job when i signed up and nobody "forced" me to do it.

CM's don't get paid to change. There was a time long ago where they were paid for time that covered one of the directions (leaving work, I think), but no longer.

Cast can either launder costumes themselves or exchange them to let Disney do them.

I also think the official rule is that you're only supposed to wear costumes between home and work but that errands done on the way to/from work are acceptable as long as they remove nametags. Entertainment and Characters do not take any of their costumes home, except perhaps for undergarments.

-Rob

 

[Imagineer Mitch]

Bottom one. I have always speculated that they are holding on to the top one in case they decide to do another animal based area or attraction.

So after those two spots are filled can Animal Kingdom expand anymore?

 

[twebber55]

So you're actually saying that geeks and nerds are the only ones who want to see Avatar-land? I have no desire to see it, but that doesn't mean that those who do are moped riding nerds. Wow.

I took it as a suttle jab/joke nothing more