Beards and goatees now allowed in ‘Disney Look’ for theme park cast members, Casual Fridays added

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For decades, Disney has ensured its theme park Cast Members are all “neat and pretty” by enforcing what they called the “Disney Look,” a set of guidelines by which all “on stage” employees must groom themselves. But with an upcoming change to Disney’s required look, it seems Dopey is no longer the only of the seven dwarfs who meets Disney’s strict standards for appearance.

Today Disney has announced it will begin allowing Cast Members to grow beards and goatees. Cast members received notice of the change in a memo from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts:

The Disney Look is an important part of the history and heritage of the Walt Disney Company. As the company continues to evolve, the Disney Look appearance guidelines must also be prepared to be re-evaluated with awareness to industry standards.

Effective Friday, Feb. 3, facial hair, specifically beards and goatees are now an approved option for U.S. based Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resorts costumed and non-costumed male Cast Members, unless otherwise restricted by regulatory codes and standards. As with mustaches, all facial hair (beards, goatees, mustaches) must create an overall neat, polished and professional look and must be fully grown in, neatly groomed and well-maintained at no longer than a quarter of an inch in length.

(So no Cast Members will actually be sporting dwarf-length beards…)

In addition, Disney has added a “Casual Friday” option for those Cast Members who are not “on stage”:

Also effective Friday, Feb. 3, non-costumed Cast Members in non-Guest facing locations can wear casual attire on Fridays for all U.S. based Theme Parks and Resorts. The “Casual Friday” dress parameters are outlined and additional resources are available on the Disney Look module of The Hub. Although we are a seven day a week operation, Friday is the only acceptable day for this option.


The Disney Look guidebook as been updated as follows:

For all male Cast Members, a fully grown in, well-maintained mustache, beard, or goatee is permitted, unless otherwise restricted by regulatory codes and standards. Facial hair must be neatly trimmed and may not present an unkempt appearance. Extreme styles are prohibited.

All facial hair (beards, goatees and mustaches) must create an overall neat, polished and professional look.

All facial hair must be fully grown in, neatly groomed and well maintained at no longer than a quarter of an inch in length.

Mustaches may extend below the corners of the mouth to meet with the facial beard.
Shaping the mustache or beard to a particular style is not permitted.

Mustaches (without lower facial hair) must not extend onto or over the upper lip and must extend to the corners of the mouth, but not beyond or below the corners.

Cast Members without a mustache, beard, or goatee are expected to be clean-shaven every day.

For clarification on whether a mustache, beard or goatee is acceptable, please consult your area leader or contact the Cast Image and Appearance team.

Other aspects of the on-stage Disney Look include nametags being worn and visible at all times, no visible tattoos, one earring in each ear for females, no other jewelry or body piercings aside from wedding rings, and appropriate and natural hair color.

The last major change to the Disney Look came in 2000 when Disney began allowing mustaches, a move that some felt was decades too late, as Walt Disney himself wore a mustache when he was alive.

Somewhere, the Dream Finder is smiling.

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