Page 1 of 4

Disney to allow beards

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 3:22 pm
by avengador1
It's about time. :D:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/the-dail ... 9602.story
After nearly 60 years, Mickey Mouse has decided to let his workers put their razors away.

The Walt Disney Co. announced Monday that it would let employees at its two U.S. theme-park resorts — including its more than 60,000 workers at Walt Disney World — grow beards or goatees.

Disneyland Park The new policy, which goes into effect Feb. 3, eliminates a facial-hair ban that has for decades been a source of grumbling among some of the company's male theme-park workers.

It was one of two notable changes Disney is making to "The Disney Look" — the clean-cut, all-American appearance that Walt Disney himself demanded of his theme-park employees from the day his original theme park, Disneyland, opened in 1955.

The other change: Casual Fridays, though only for employees who work in non-costumed jobs and who don't interact with theme-park visitors.

Disney periodically updates its strict appearance policies, typically after studying similar guidelines at other theme parks and Fortune 500 companies. The last major change occurred two years ago, when the company finally allowed female workers to forego wearing panty hose when wearing skirts — a rule that was particularly uncomfortable for women working outside on steamy summer days in Central Florida.

The company began inching back from its ban on facial hair in 2000, when it finally decided to allow moustaches.

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:36 pm
by Main Streeter
Casual Fridays are daily at DLR. I was never told I must wear panty hose with my skirt. :confused: I would NEVER have done it. Disney Look has changed so much in just the few yrs. I have been there. Most guidelines for women are not followed. NBD.

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 8:45 am
by Big Wallaby
I assume they will follow the same protocols as Universal.

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 9:57 am
by Buggy
Dammit! I used to have a great response for people who asked if I worked there when visiting the parks. I used to point at my chin and now I can't do that any more.

Well, I guess it's a nose ring and a tattoo for me.

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 10:50 am
by ktulu
I think the only non-character that can have facial hair is Walt!

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:40 am
by Mr. D.
I laugh at the quote from CNN:
"...you’re going to have the traditional Disney workers—who have their own supply of pixie dust—that doubt Walt would approve."

Walt was running a park in the 50's and 60's. Things are a lot different now. I really doubt a CM with a beard is going to kill the magic of someone's vacation. The rule was dumb to begin with. Walt himself had a mustache.


Side note: I thought this was done a few years ago. I remember reading something (I think on this site) about CM's had to grow a bear on their days off because the stubble of a in progress bear didn't look good.

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 2:02 pm
by Mayonnaise
Mr. D... that was when they allowed mustaches.... though I imagine the same restriction will be in place for beards.

8^P

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 4:14 pm
by Shorty82
Beards have to well kept and no longer that 1/4 inch I think it is and, yes, CMs will have to grow a beard if they want one on their own time, same as with mustaches.

All the other theme and amusement parks in Central Florida allow beards and I'm sure Cali parks are the same way so it's about time Disney allowed it. Not that I'm going to grow one, I personally don't like the feeling of facial hair and wouldn't look good with a beard anyway.

Mr. D, a few years ago they started allowing CMs to have mustaches but no beards.

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:16 pm
by Mr. D.
And how long has Joe worked for Disney?

With a beard, mustache, and things in his ear.

Image


I guess when you are as talented as he is, they over look some things. :)

Re: Disney to allow beards

Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2012 6:45 pm
by Mayonnaise
I think the whole of Pixar are exempt.

8^)