Disney eases up on “Disney Look” policy for Cast Members at the parks

in Disney, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World

Sleeping Beauty Castle

Credit: Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort

Beginning next week, Cast Members working to bring the magic at a Disney theme park will get to relax a little, at least when it comes to the “Disney Look.” As of next week, Disney will be a little more lenient when it comes to its “Disney Look” Cast Member policy.

The Disney Look has to do with a policy in place that applies to a Cast Member’s appearance and prohibits certain things, like extreme styles in facial hair and hairstyles as well as the type of jewelry worn by Cast Members in the Disney Parks.

Cast Members are expected to keep up a professional, well-groomed appearance. That includes hairstyles, tattoos, and other items while Cast Members are working. Not all Cast Members were fans of every part of the policies related to their appearance while working at Disney’s parks and resorts.

Part of the new policy will allow Cast Members to wear a single bracelet or a necklace with a pendant that measures one inch across or smaller.

cast member with beard
Credit: Disney

Perhaps one of the most significant changes made to the policy involves the ability of Cast Members to grow facial hair.  Those Cast Members who want to grow a mustache or beard can do so, as long as their facial hair is no more than one inch long. They will also be permitted to have stubble while their facial hair grows out. This varies from the previous policy which only permitted Cast Members to have a beard if they grew it on their time off, not while they were working on Disney property, in order to prevent Cast Members from having facial hair stubble.

Once upon a time, no facial hair was permitted for Cast Members. In 2000, mustaches were finally allowed, but it took until 2012 for Disney to make the decision to permit male Cast Members to have a beard or goatee in the parks. Most Disney fans have always thought it strange that facial hair wasn’t allowed, especially since Walt Disney himself had a mustache for most of his life.

Walt Disney Haunted Estate Walt
Credit: Disney

Disney prides itself on its Cast Members and has always taken seriously their professional appearance. That “Cast Member look” has a name in the parks. It’s called the “Disney Look.” Disney’s expectations apply to those who play a role in ride operation, guest service, character attendance–any role fulfilled by a Cast Member, regardless of the season, park and time of day.

The new policy goes into effect next week, on October 28, and we can’t wait to see how many Cast Members start to grow beards over the next few weeks.

If you’re a Cast Member, we’d like to hear what you think about the changes in the “Disney Look” policy. If you’re not a Cast Member, tell us whether you think these changes will be good, bad, or not even matter when it comes to your experience in the parks. Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Orange County Register

 

in Disney, Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World

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