Disney Parks Cast Members can now have exposed tattoos and more!

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2021/04/a-place-where-everyo...s-welcome/

It's about damn time. We got invited to some promo film shoot at Animal Kingdom Lodge once, to be background, and they made some comment to Diana about her nose ring (she typically wears a hoop, it's her thing) "not really being the Disney image." Not OK with that, I asked the marketing person if she had seen any customers recently, which of course we were. You'd be surprised how many cast members would say things to her like, "I love your nose ring, I wish they would let me wear mine." It all seemed like a petty and stupid grooming requirement. You see it all the time on the cruise line, too, with bartenders wearing armbands over tattoos and such.

I suspected this might be coming though... the various behind the scenes things on Disney+ show not just Pixar people who fill the artist stereotype adorned with tattoos and piercings, but clearly they're OK with it in Imagineering too.

If you want some disappointment in the human race, go to some of the WDW fan site forums and on social media.

But to the general public, a visible tattoo at a professional luxury brand such as Disney can be taken the wrong way.

I hope they don’t go overboard with this.. it’s been nice seeing all clean cut , gender appropriate cast members.

Disney felt special now just another grungy amusement park

Soooooo glad I didn’t get Disney vacation club. This company is ruining themselves.

So Disney is opening up a carnival freak show??

Any area if creative has typically always been immune to any grooming policies. Never made sense to me that I could move into a creative role for a project but as soon as I move back to production the next day, I have to cover my tattoos even though my environment and team didn't change. I am excited this is finally happening and so is every other Cast Member who wears long sleeves in the summer.

BrettV said:

If you want some disappointment in the human race, go to some of the WDW fan site forums and on social media.

Ugh. **** those people and Disney "fan" sites. They're the worst. Like coaster sites with actual enthusiasts.

Hell, I might buy tickets just to check out Ariel’s tramp stamp.

You have to imagine that staffing challenges played a role in this decision. Almost everyone I know in the industry is in a world of hurt trying to hire right now.

I was going to say the same thing but I thought it sounded too cynical.

But I agree.

I'm sure it's a consideration. I'm not sure if the problem is more that they can't attract people or the hiring machine isn't fast enough, but I've heard that Disney and Universal are struggling to hire enough that they can reasonably increase capacity.

Remember when drinking at Six Flags was going to destroy the "family friendly environment?"

Won't somebody think of the children!?

So, I was a cast member one time subjected to the grooming guidelines. Had my share of "approved" haircuts underneath the Magic Kingdom. The problem with opening the door to tattoos is that they now will likely have to have some type of "content" policy and folks who will specifically be deciding what is and is not permitted. It is simply much easier to say you can't have any than to have to now govern what is acceptable and what is not. I'm indifferent about jewelry and hair styles.

On the subject of grooming, Phantasialand has an Africa area staffed almost entirely by persons of colour. I've always found that interesting.

It's easier, Don, but it's lazy.

Let's not forget that Disney got in trouble for hiding Muslims on mail delivery duty and making an issue of hijabs relative to costumes. Did they have a dreadlock controversy? I don't remember if that was Disney or a Six Flags (or both).

I saw some of that fan nonsense on Facebook... someone freaking out about black nail polish. "It's distracting and inappropriate." What kind of life do you lead when the color of someone else's nail polish concerns you?

wahoo skipper said:

The problem with opening the door to tattoos is that they now will likely have to have some type of "content" policy...

So far it seems pretty straight forward. For the most part it appears to be basically the same guidelines for what they won't allow on a shirt inside the park. So bad words, graphic images, etc.

That seems like a problem (content police) which will be rare and fairly easy to deal with. I mean, everywhere from Starbucks to Ikea has probably created guidelines for such things already.

Jeff said:

Did they have a dreadlock controversy? I don't remember if that was Disney or a Six Flags (or both).

Cedar Fair (Carowinds specifically) had a dreadlocks controversy. There have probably been others.

https://coasterbuzz.com/Forums/Topic/jobseeker-accuses-carowinds-of...rimination

Jeff said:

What kind of life do you lead when the color of someone else's nail polish concerns you?

The life of my retired boomer mother.

Same.

Hey Chris, do you know what they're saying about piercings?

I think I got the first dreadlock exemption at Cedar Point. (Not my own, obviously.) I hired a gal who did not have them at the interview but she showed up at the park with them. She was told at Personnel that she would have to remove them or she couldn't start. She came to my office in tears. I really needed her so I went to my Director and then to our VP...and somehow she was allowed to keep them.

I don't care about this that much...but it does raise all kinds of interesting issues they will now have to contend with. Can a Cast Member have a tattoo of a Disney character that is visible? Keep in mind this is the same company that has sued daycare facilities who paint animated characters on their walls. What if I get a tattoo of Mickey drinking a beer? How about a tattoo of Harry Potter or a rival corporate symbol? Can I get a tattoo that says "Trump-2024"? There are enough real HR issues that companies have to contend with. Maybe it's lazy...but why subject yourself to all that when you've come this far without it?