Disney to allow park employees to have beards, goatees
I'm not sure if I like this or not. I like the 'clean shaven' look of the cast members. But, times have changed and mustaches, goatees and beards that are kept groomed and professional looking should be fine.
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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.
The new policy, which takes 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.
That's not to say Santa Claus can suddenly start working in the Magic Kingdom. Disney's new policy restricts any facial hair to no more than a quarter of an inch in length. And the company says any chin whiskers "must create an overall neat, polished and professional look" and must be fully grown in and well-groomed.
It is one of two notable changes Disney is making to "The Disney Look" — the clean-cut, all-American appearance that Disney has demanded of its theme-park employees from the day its original theme park, Disneyland, opened in 1955. The rigid code was instituted by Walt Disney himself, who wanted to distinguish his theme park from the sleazy carnivals of the time.
The other change: Casual Fridays. But only for employees who work in non-costumed jobs and who don't interact with theme-park visitors.
Disney said it finally relented on beards in response to requests from its employees, or "cast members."
"Disney Look guides are periodically reviewed, given the unique environment of our theme parks and resorts," Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said. "While we're careful to maintain our heritage and the integrity of our brand, a recent review of our guidelines led to a decision that an update was appropriate at this time."
Disney doesn't tinker with its look lightly: Changes are typically made only after the company has studied 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 had been 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 mustaches.
Re: Disney to allow park employees to have beards, goatees
I think that keeping facial hair neat, can also be a very neat and distinguished look. If I go clean shaven, I look 12, and for those old enough to remember, the Campbell's Kid. For me, I feel as though my goatee makes me look my age. I know, I know, who wants to look their age, well, before I had it, I just felt that no one took me seriously because I was too young.
Re: Disney to allow park employees to have beards, goatees
I agree as long as it is neat & not shaggy but lets face it when growing it out it will look a little bit fuzzy looking Actually some men look better with a beard etc...
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Re: Disney to allow park employees to have beards, goatees
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oh Pooh
I agree as long as it is neat & not shaggy but lets face it when growing it out it will look a little bit fuzzy looking Actually some men look better with a beard etc...
Usually the husky cheery sort. Kinda like Zach Galifianakis.
Re: Disney to allow park employees to have beards, goatees
Interesting fact... to have a beard or goatee, existing workers will have to go on vacation! Otherwise, it won't be long enough to be considered neat. I remember cast members I knew joking about how if they wanted to try and grow a mustache they'd have to take some time off