WDW to Shut Down Character Dubsmashes

[PhotoDave219]

Those training sets are already a disaster they didn't need this cherry on top.

If his first instinct is to complain to his followers (see OP) that Disney is shutting him down, sounds like he's not the right fit for entertainment. Clearly, he's making it all about himself.

The true stars of WDW are the ones you never see and never hear about because they're the ones who refuse to make it about themselves. They're the ones who are here to make it about the show and about the guests.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

80,000 views is nothing. Pardon my ignorance, but what is EW?

The original video not on YouTube had over 1.5 million hits. He only made a YouTube channel after people here constantly suggesting it. I don't remember the original format of the video but it had a counter on it. Also, to my knowledge, he was never approached by management and told to stop.

 

[Dead2009]

Yes, but if it brings a smile to someone, why not? This is creative and fun.

Now if it's a 13 year old doing a dubsmash of Miley Cyrus for no reason???

Get me that sledgehammer.

You can't complain about something you enjoy being taken away while wanting the same thing someone else may enjoy doing taken away.

 

[PhotoDave219]

The original video not on YouTube had over 1.5 million hits. He only made a YouTube channel after people here constantly suggesting it. I don't remember the original format of the video but it had a counter on it. Also, to my knowledge, he was never approached by management and told to stop.

Well, when a social media policy comes down from management than management has told you once.

Based on his screenshot, he's making this all about himself.

 

[asianway]

Well, when a social media policy comes down from management than management has told you once.

Based on his screenshot, he's making this all about himself.

He's also putting the performers in a position where it's very easy to break character. And guess who's getting written up then? They got rid of the Hyperspace Hopla specifically so characters wouldn't be in this exact position

 

[ItlngrlBella]

You can't complain about something you enjoy being taken away while wanting the same thing someone else may enjoy doing taken away.

It was a joke... Plus my point was (like most people), I'd rather watch something clever and creative than crap.

 

[KikoKea]

Honestly, when I watched the video link, I thought it was people dressed up like Disney characters. Seems like silly, odd behavior for cast members and totally out of character. Disney has every right to protect their IP and set rules and limits- and expect their employees to abide by them. Let's hope there aren't any twerking Princesses...

 

[Matt_Black]

Let's hope there aren't any twerking Princesses...

Too late.

 

[Dead2009]

That horse has no body.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

That horse has no body.

Unicorn? Unicorn leaking stars?

 

[PhotoDave219]

It was a joke... Plus my point was (like most people), I'd rather watch something clever and creative than crap.

I get what you're saying. I really do. It's something to make you laugh and enjoy Disney. That's cool. I'd love to see Disney's Social Media team do something like that. I'm glad it was able to help a cancer patient.

However.....

It seems to me like this is just another CM trying to be bigger than the show. And that's not cool.

 

[ItlngrlBella]

They should have this guy on the social media team - backstage, being creative and still making people happy. It would be much better than the boring social media stuff I've seen (with the exception of the characters dancing in the mall).

They should also have had viral Gaston training face characters on improv techniques and how to make guests the center of the show (which that guy did really well).

You don't suffocate talented and creative folks that love Disney - you utilize their talent elsewhere.

 

[JoeRohdesEarring]

I just have to say that every time I see the title of this thread I think it says "WDW to Shut Down Character Dumbas*es".

 

[PhotoDave219]

They should have this guy on the social media team - backstage, being creative and still making people happy. It would be much better than the boring social media stuff I've seen (with the exception of the characters dancing in the mall).

They should also have had viral Gaston training face characters on improv techniques and how to make guests the center of the show (which that guy did really well).

You don't suffocate talented and creative folks that love Disney - you utilize their talent elsewhere.

That's not how the Disney social media team works. First, you have to dress inappropriately and lie about working for the New York Times.....

Edit: suddenly I'm realizing this is probably better finished as a private conversation…

 

[Matt_Black]

That horse has no body.

Unicorn? Unicorn leaking stars?

That's Princess Pony-Head, best friend to Princess Star Butterfly.

 

[Tony the Tigger]

They should have this guy on the social media team - backstage, being creative and still making people happy. It would be much better than the boring social media stuff I've seen (with the exception of the characters dancing in the mall).

They should also have had viral Gaston training face characters on improv techniques and how to make guests the center of the show (which that guy did really well).

You don't suffocate talented and creative folks that love Disney - you utilize their talent elsewhere.

I agree with the "heart" aspect of what you're saying.

I don't know if you have ever worked for a big company, but that's just how they do things. And it really does make sense and have a reason. They have tons and tons of rules, some of which don't seem to make sense at first, but most of which came about as a result of specific experiences.

In general, laws and rules have to be made with the lowest common denominator in mind.

For example, this guy's stuff was mostly on the up and up and clearly well-intentioned, but people on these boards were able to raise some potentially valid objections.

Suppose someone less well-intentioned wears a Donald Trump hat and does this in the Mexico section of "It's a Small World" to the tune of "Na Na Na Na - hey hey hey - goodbye..." or something like that. That would presumably not be cool.

So unless Disney has the staff and the money to review and pre-approve every potential post, I don't see how this works, as much as I did enjoy them personally.

I understand fans being bummed, and him being bummed. And I agree it could be a good idea for Disney to eventually groom him for a real job in that capacity – but first they need to see if he's going to play ball. Someone that young still has to show that he will "submit" to some degree and not go rogue. Leaving the videos up and apparently publicly complaining about the reprimand would not be the way to go in my opinion. Also Disney could not show other cast members that breaking the rules will be rewarded with a promotion. it sounds like they were already being lenient by not firing him.

Again, I appreciate what he did. But I also understand corporate culture to some degree.

 

[TubaGeek]

He's also putting the performers in a position where it's very easy to break character. And guess who's getting written up then? They got rid of the Hyperspace Hopla specifically so characters wouldn't be in this exact position

Boom. Exactly. It may just be me, but some of the characters in his videos seem less than enthused about being forced to participate.

 

[Missymoe4]

Dustin Hayes is a WDW fan who left his small Midwestern town to become a WDW employee. In his offtime he takes funny pics with the characters adding hilarious bylines, and is best known for his dubsmashes. His nickname is "The Character Queen."

He's hilarious. Recently he had some dubsmash videos with characters that went viral - internationally. Just a small sampling of where it was covered: USA Today, HuffPO, Daily Mail (UK) to Australia.

On his fb wall you see stories from fans - from little old ladies and parents of kids undergoing chemo - his vids make them smile.

2 weeks ago I was in the ER with my 5 year old who was having an allergic reaction to an insect bite. They were trying to give her an IV, and she was hysterical. I pulled out my phone to show her one of his dubsmashes and she forgot about them inserting the IV - she went from crying to laughing, IV got in and we sat there for an hour running a couple of his videos over and over to keep her happy/calm.

Besides bringing joy to countless strangers around the world with his creative videos, he's yet another example of a WDW employee who brought TONS of positive PR for the company, then this happened...

View attachment 109163

The only thing I can think of is that after Dustin's success, they are seeing the "oh-so-original" copy-cats who may not be as respectful of character integrity with songs and things that may be disrespectful.

I hope they make an exception for him. If not, it's just another bad decision by the park.

Way to go WDW, something is cool and creative and you find a way to put an end to it.

First viral Gaston is let go and now this guy can't continue to make people happy - and you can tell both of these guys LOVE WDW... WD Parks, you are missing some amazing free PR.

SMH.

I'm always behind the 8 ball.... I didn't know what you were talking about, but it sure was humorous watching the video. Sad to see it go, but I understand because I can see people getting out of hand with it.

 

[asianway]

Boom. Exactly. It may just be me, but some of the characters in his videos seem less than enthused about being forced to participate.

Once all training goes backstage it'll be the same people who ruined it moaning that there's no "rare" characters out

 

[G00fyDad]

I'll be honest, it may be because I'm too old to know about this "phenomenon" but once I looked up a dubsmash I sat here staring at my screen in bewilderment. What a completely useless waste of time. I feel more stupid for having wasted the time to view even a fraction of one of these pieces of garbage. I get that people are just having fun, but good God that is ridiculous looking! And what sort of a-hole makes one of these things and "forces" someone else to be a part of it?? Did it ever occur to the moron to ask permission before shoving the camera into the other person's face while he/she lipsyncs to some song?