"Disney look" lawsuit

[drcorey]

If they are in a *role* of a character, they need to fit into what the character's characteristics are. It is just like being in a movie or play or any other role. They need to LOOK like who they are portraying. There are some people that are not gonna be hired in those positions because of what they look like, or that their religion designates them to wear certain clothes.

And I hope to high heaven that we don't become so PC as to lose the story altogether because someone wants to play a part they do not fit. It seems more and more nowadays people are trying to bend roles and other things in our society just to be PC and not hurt anyone's feelings at the loss of rich story telling. PC will ruin the tapestry that is our life. Tho I am sure that there are those who will say that diversifying the age old roles will only enrich it. I say Phoo...eeeyy! Stories, myths, and fairytales should remain true to their roots!

Hey I would love to be Belle's best frend, but I am a 6 ft tall middle aged graying brunette and I do NOT fit that position. Only in my mind...So I agree that if you want to be hired at Disney, you are going to have to forego any role you don't look like. Sorry Charlie! Not everyone gets to be the Princess!

sues

hmm, they are a few "friend" roles you would fit into nicely.

[February]

I have a little 'disney look' story to share LOL

I was platinum blonde when I got hired in at the stores the year the first ones opened in our state (1989). I was able to work set up and in both of the first two stores we had here and was also chosen to be Mickey's escort when the store opened :) I was never prouder at a moment of employment in my life.

About eight months into my stint- it got too expensive to keep up my hair- and I went to the hairdresser and had them put it back to the. . .somewhat darker natural color.

I got to work and my manager immediately hauled me in the back (she was looking every way she could find to make me quit, she just never liked me don't know why I tried hard!) and she reemed me out for dyeing my hair- it was then I had to tell her that this was the real thing and the blonde had been the chemical treatment.

She was not happy at all but what could she do? Meanwhile my coworkers were all engaged in the debate of whether I looked better as a blonde or a brunette LOL

Bet you guys didn't know I was a rebel eh? Yes I once almost got written up for violating the Disney Look.

Only other time we almost had a problem at the store was a friend of mine who kept forgetting to take his earring out before he punched in...esp. since he was backstage doing stock most of the time, when he was called onstage he'd forget.

Bru

[kurtisnelson]

This topic actually came up on my last trip to the World, when certain other people on this board tried more than once to get me to go into casting (you know who you are, but you have no idea how close you came to getting me in there!).

I have had some of those people try to get me to go into casting too. It's almost like they get paid for it or something...

My view on this- Disney is a private company. They can hire who they want to. A line also has to be drawn somewhere, and Disney has done that.

[Ms. Matterhorn]

tasteful tattoo

Oxymoron.

[hobie16]

Oxymoron.

My favorite is Federal Express.

[Ms. Matterhorn]

Not Military Intelligence?

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

IT support?

Yeah riiiight!

[hobie16]

Not Military Intelligence?

That would be second.

[EeyoresButterfly]

It's called a stage and you wear a costume. Nothing that hard to figure out. I'm not too nuts about some of the stuff they are strict on but I would adhere cause while I am working there.

Nothing against his religion at all, but if religion comes into play with interfering with your job - get a new job.

But yes, some of you do bring up a point - why suddenly change it on him?

They also recently have sent out notices that no "charity bands" - the yellow Livestrong and the like, are also not allowed as well.

Sarah, the wristbands are not a new issue, I remember seeing that same memo in 2004. Bracelets have always been a banned comodity for costumed cast members. Non-costumed cast members (managers, etc.) may wear them, but they have to fit into a business casual look. A brightly colored rubber bracelet is not business casual. It's just casual.

*sigh* i personally have been contemplating this kinda of action myself, though it's more of my well being rather than my religion.

When I was born I had multiple (count 'em 4) birth defects: missing a bone in my right leg, missing my right kidney, pupils didn't dilate and lastly, my teeth didn't form correctly and are deteriorating sooner than they should. That last one is what is keeping me from being "on stage" for any reason or holding an on stage role that works backstage since it's "on stage". This means I must work only one of two areas: A-dishwasher or B-laundry. Both areas deal heavily with water. This compromises my other birth defect: my right leg was amputated in order for me to walk and I was given a prosthetic leg. As you can expect water + prosthetic = not good. I needed the job (even though months back i was told "we're not discussing it") and I took the risk knowingly, though I probably shouldn't have.

The leg I had when I started was falling apart and the work I've done at Disney wasn't helping in anyway. Eventually a coworker got pregnant, my workload increased due to it and I started getting hurt from wearing the prosthetic too much. I now have a brand new leg, but have dealt with animosity, pain, and practical humiliation at the hands of my coworkers since April. It's grueling and the conditions I have with the new leg (such as having a computer inside of it) make working around water even MORE difficult and yet no one does anything to offer me much help though I try and do as much and all that I can tog et my job done. My body is slowly becoming battered and bruised from the stress I'm putting on it due to this "mis-cast" that if given more options, I wouldn't be in.

Sorry for the long post...

Could you please explain how your teeth keep you from working in an on-stage role. Short of having an excessive number of gold teeth, I can't see this as being an issue. I have worked with people who were missing teeth and it was never even brought up.

Disney needs to redo its on stage and off stage thinking. A religious woman should not be allowed to portray Jasmine in a long skirt or Ariel without hooters showing. However why not let a person with one eye or leg not be in sales. Why not let a person who for religious reasons does not shave. African American men have a horrible time with shaving as the hair tends to become ingrown and painful. It is sad when people cannot work in a job because of their religious beliefs.

I have seen plenty of cast members with disabilites in almost every role. There are several merchandise cm's and attendants who use wheelchairs or ECV's. I worked with a man in Fantasyland who had a brace on his leg and he was allowed to wear shorts. Heck, they allowed me onstage with a sling when I hurt my shoulder during parade.

[EeyoresButterfly]

As I stated there are roles that are specific requirements such as the princesses, princes, and Jasmine. HOWEVER the problem lies in other person who are not playing a SPECIFIC character. Should bus boys, waiters, janitors, managers, ride operators, sales personnel, etc. be only clean shaven, no scars, 4 limbs, no handicaps, etc.? Why can't a bus boy have one eye, walk with a limp or wear only long pants (religious reasons or badly scarred legs)? Should a waitress have to wear leiderhosen or a sales clerk be told to take of his yamulke?

Yes Aladdin should be a cute guy, young and dark haired without a hat and bare chested preferably. Yes Tarzan should run around in a speedo and loincloth but those employees not playing roles should not be forced to do menial labour solely because of religious reasons or medical reasons.

See my above response for the medical side of it. I do wish they would allow people to work in roles where their religious attire would fit the theming (for instance a person with a hijab could work the flying carpets of Aladdin). That being said, you have to draw the line somewhere. It is a ROLE in a SHOW, when you perform in a show you must meeth the standard of dress. I have a cross necklace that I never take off, but when I worked for Disney I accepted that I had to remove it in order to meet Disney Look guidelines.

As far as people being allowed to wear long pants- they are! Every costume has a pants option (with the exception of some female costumes that are skirts only). In fact, it is more common for there not to be a shorts option for a costume. You can wear the pants option year round if you want, many do. I know that when I worked Fantasyland I often wore pants during summer.

like that "jack" they fired. he already had his real moustache and beard and Disney wanted him to shave them off so they could glue on fake ones.
I wonder if they also want a clean shaven Santa so they can glue on thier own stache and beard.

I know it sounds silly, but it makes sense if you think about it, it is part of the character integrity. When people are allowed to sport their own beards and/or mustaches, it can be difficult to ensure that every one looks the same. We have wonderful cosmetologists who work hard to make sure that every wig, beard, mustache, etc. looks the same to maintain character integrity across property.

I thought the standard was "no visible tattoos." Am I wrong? If that's the standard, your small, tasteful ankle tattoo shouldn't be a problem -- and even in the unlikely event your costume called for visible ankles, I bet it could be covered with makeup.

You are right, it is no visible tattoos. I worked with many people who had tattoos. There is one man in entertainment who is a captain and has to wear leotard sleeves under his shirts to hid the numerous tattoos on his arms. The only time a tattoo would prevent you from having on stage employment would be if it were in a place you could not cover up.

I strongly suspect there is more this story. For the record, this man was hired in an entertainment role, this was not even a regular on stage role. Just like costumed entertainers, our musicians are expected to fit a very specific look depending on their particular role. If he were a regular CM then he might have a case, but as this is an entertainment role (and there is more the story I am sure), I have a feeling he will not win.