Question for CMs about the "Disney Look"

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

OK current CMs at WDW... Why is the Disney Look not as revered as it was once at WDW??? Is it really a difficult thing for you guys to get into because of ... politics, mood, what??

When I was a CM back in the days, we were beaten over our heads over and over and over with the "disney look" book of regualtions and CM's who didn't show up at work in compliance would be sent home with NO PAY for the day.

Now.. this is what I see: wild haircuts that do not meet a more professional standars or show, non-compliance about being in a different land with a costume that does not belong. Poorly fitted outfits, mostly because of body shapes or wrong sizes, discoloration of some garmets, and the biggest offense of them all: Non-complaince shoes.

Just last night, a turnstyle Cm at EPCOT was wearing sport sneakers in colors that didn't match his outfit and very low cut socks that gave the impression he wasn't wearing any socks at all. In my days, black shoes was the norm, and tennis shoes and sneakers were simply prohibited.

Needless to say, I am appalled at the lack of professionalism I see across property in regards to the proper wear of costumes "on stage". I realize not the entire CM work forced is to be blamed for this. Management has to share the blame for not trying to keep this problem from straying so far out that it becomes painfully noticeable. I personally would find 1 in every 10 Cms not being in compliance about the "Disney Look". Can anyone take a little pride anymore??? I know some do and I appreciate and applaude those of you CMs who do take the time to look the part and be best in show on stage.

Now.. some things that are impacting this issue... Castzooming. CM's doing their own costumes' laundry and ruining it in the process, plus you have no idea how jarring and stupid your costumes look in our local Publix supermarkets. Bad move from Disney and I place the blame on management on this one issue. Likewise, the management is at fault for the genric design approach some WDW CMs costumes are. I can go my local Gap store, pick up a simple dress shirt and dockers, stick my old nametag on it, and presto! I can take a tour of the tunnel. WDW has got o have the worst collection of CM costumes of any of the Disney Resort, and when something unique comes along, like the "Soarin'" costumes for example, these CMs stick out as a sore thumb simply because they stand out from the average rest of the cast.

So again.. I ask, what is it with the Disney Look that is so poorly executed, maintained, or enforced at WDW now a days?????

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

Seems to me you answered your own question: because CM's wear home and tend to their own costumes, no one is there to hold up their hand and say "You aren't exhibiting the Disney look."

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

I don't think I did (and pardon for the typos as I was typing very fast). What I really would like to know is, or at least have someone acknowledge is, what does Disney stand to gain for neglecting the Disney Look to the point the CMs look like they are working at 6-Flags???

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<what does Disney stand to gain for neglecting the Disney Look>>

They save money by not having to design unique costumes, not having to have lockers for the cast, and not having to wash and store them thousands of garments.

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

In other words... sacrifice quality and show for money savings at a time they claim WDW is the most visited and most profitable resort of them all? I thought they were doing that by not paying CMs a decent livable wage!!

 

Originally Posted By EdisYoda

Why do you thing they're profitable? ;(

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

I know^^

But really, I am troubled about the lack of professionalism among some CMs in regards to the lack of attention to the Disney Look on stage. If I was a manager, heads would be rolling down Main Street over this issue.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

^^The managers benefit by the unDisney Look as much as the sloppy CMs and the washing bill.

There was a time you'd never see management in street clothes working attactions, merchandise or foods ... sure, you might see a 'suit' but they would be high-up and would be overseeing.

Not now. Now forget about story. Forget about theme or sense of place.

Because you're going to see a manager wearing mall-type, cheap street clothes, with a pin lanyard and a lanyard with an ID tag and likely some kind of cell-phone/pager working at the Emporium or the Country Bears or a shop in FRance etc ...

It totally WalMarts the product.

~the Spirit knows~

 

Originally Posted By alisserae

Costumes aside, because CMs don't have a lot of control over that, (Although it would be nice if they wore them properly & traded in the stinkies for freshly pressed) I'm tired of personal appearances in blatant violation.

A few weeks ago, admist the chaos of Pin Celebration, we popped of our nametags and stopped at the coffee cart outside World Showplace. Cast Member had a very large stud through her nose; it's not my park, and I am not her leader. But a few minutes later the merchandise GM walked by, and stood there until she removed it.

Seriously?

The hair color, hair styles, ostentacious jewelry, cell phones, foul language, gum chomping, I suppose the list could go on for days.

It is dismal and dissapointing. I think, if I worked at Casting I would find my job extremely depressing.

 

Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey

When I worked at The Disney Store (many years ago), our manager was adamant that we adhere to the Disney Look. No bright lipstick or nailpolish, no chains, no dangling earrings, one ring on each hand, shirts tucked in at all times, etc. Some of the other stores in our area didn't adhere to the standard, but our GM insisted that we adhere to the look at all times.

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

<It is dismal and dissapointing. I think, if I worked at Casting I would find my job extremely depressing<

the problem also is at least partly the fact that one would have a difficult time finding 50,000 + employees of caliber in a city the size of Chicago, New York or LA -- to try and do so in Orlando is mission impossible. I am not giving a pass to anyone for allowing things like above to take place - but I am not sure with the size of WDW these days that this is ever going to change.

Of course if we keep off shoring many of our white collar jobs to India and Brazil - eventually there will be plenty of people in the market for a job, any job.

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<the problem also is at least partly the fact that one would have a difficult time finding 50,000 + employees of caliber in a city the size of Chicago, New York or LA -- to try and do so in Orlando is mission impossible.>>

This is one reason why I don't think WDW should grow anymore.

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<When I worked at The Disney Store (many years ago), our manager was adamant that we adhere to the Disney Look. No bright lipstick or nailpolish, no chains, no dangling earrings, one ring on each hand, shirts tucked in at all times, etc. Some of the other stores in our area didn't adhere to the standard, but our GM insisted that we adhere to the look at all times.>>

The other thing was, you had to remove your sweater before going "offstage." If you needed to step out into the real world... take the trash out, go out into the mall for your break, whatever... you had to take the sweater off.

I was a stickler myself. I even had a pair of white Nikes which I kept at my locker in the store. That way I would always have perfectly white shoes to wear onstage.

 

Originally Posted By kpwdwfan

Wasn't the point of calling all WDW employees "cast members" a way of controlling the apprearance of everyone working in the parks. Cast members play an extremely important role in achieving the "magic" that once filled the parks. Don't get me wrong, I still love WDW and travel there quite often but this is just other prime example of the lack of quality that permeates throughout WDW. Cost saving measures have once again cut into the quality of the Disney experience. Something needs to separate Disney from other amusement park experiences. The little things do make a difference and Disney once took great pride in making sure that even the littlest detail wasn't overlooked.

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<Wasn't the point of calling all WDW employees "cast members" a way of controlling the apprearance of everyone working in the parks>>

The term Cast Member was in use long before WDW existed, and it was chosen more for the fact that Walt considered Disneyland a stage, and therefore employees were the cast that brought life to the show.

 

Originally Posted By CMDad

<<The other thing was, you had to remove your sweater before going "offstage.">>

Whenever I meet my daughter during her break or for lunch when she is working ... to this day she still either puts something on to cover her costume or changes clothes.

Used to be she had to ... now I wonder ...

 

Originally Posted By TDLFAN

>>the problem also is at least partly the fact that one would have a difficult time finding 50,000 + employees of caliber in a city the size of Chicago, New York or LA -- to try and do so in Orlando is mission impossible.<<

Is that why they go to Puerto Rico often on Casting Trips???

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<This is one reason why I don't think WDW should grow anymore. >>

WDW won't grow anymore in any substantial way for a long time, if at all.

The biggest growth will be timeshares and yet more hotel rooms (likely family suites ALA what is happening at ASMu now).

Parks will get new attraction, but that's it.

And that's as it should be.

 

Originally Posted By Spirit of 74

<<Is that why they go to Puerto Rico often on Casting Trips???>>

It could also be for the great Italian cuisine in San Juan (seriously, good stuff!).

 

Originally Posted By trekkeruss

<<WDW won't grow anymore... The biggest growth will be timeshares and yet more hotel rooms (likely family suites ALA what is happening at ASMu now)...Parks will get new attraction, but that's it.
And that's as it should be.>>

Maybe that's how it should be for Disney, but I am not thrilled with the prospect of yet more resort hotels and DVC units. More rooms will do nothing but further diminish the benefits of staying at a Disney resort. For instance, what good will "extra magic hours" be if a zillion people are able to take advantage of it?