Disney has made a BIG change to its company culture.
Welcome to Disney World!
You’ve probably heard of Walt Disney’s famous quote: “To all who comes to this happy place: Welcome.” It’s crafted who Disney is for over 65 years, since Walt’s dedication of Disneyland Resort in 1955. This quote embodies Disney’s principles of community and inclusion — and it’s led to an enormous change.
Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products, has emphasized that Disney is focusing on “creating a place where everyone is welcome and taking action to create meaningful change.” We’ve already seen some examples of this in the parks, like the Jungle Cruise and Splash Mountain reimaginings. Now, Disney is turning its focus to Cast Members, too.
Princess and the Frog attraction Concept Art ©Disney
You may be familiar with The Four Keys: Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency. They’re taught to every Cast Member who works in the parks, and they’re the guiding principles behind Disney’s approach to guest service. These Four Keys are meant to be “a blueprint for the decisions” Cast Members make, directing their interactions with others. And now, Disney is officially unveiling a fifth key.
©Disney
This fifth key — Inclusion — will be at the heart of The Five Keys. According to D’Amaro, Inclusion will “lead us forward as we continue to realize our rich legacy of engaging storytelling, exceptional service, and Disney magic.” But reimagined attractions and diverse stories are only part of this new initiative.
©Disney
Disney is also reevaluating its policies regarding “how our Cast Members show up for work” — also know as the “Disney Look.” These rules previously structured how Cast Members could wear their hair and accessorize while at work.
Rules About the “Disney Look” Are Changing ©Disney
Now, D’Amaro has stated that these policies will provide “greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices.”
©Disney
Cast Members will also be able to have “appropriate” visible tattoos, which was previously not allowed. The updated look book already reflects these changes, as you can see below:
©Disney
According to D’Amaro, the goal of this new Disney Look is to “enable our Cast Members to better express their cultures and individuality at work.” The concept of Inclusion will guide Disney as it moves into the future. For more details on this addition, you can watch Disney’s video:
Read More About Disney’s New Key!
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Are you excited about these changes? Let us know in the comments!
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The only picture I don’t quite understand is the lady at the Aulani resort and how she helps show an example of inclusivity. Is it the gray streaks at the front of her hair that wasn’t allowed before?
Joe Rohde has worked for Disney for years had wears an earring that has stretched his earlobe. It’s a case of do as I say and not as I do. And the hand thing makes no sense. Essentially, a Cast Member with a larger hand can have a larger tattoo.
This makes me sad. The high standards Disney held with their dress code is one thing that they did that was different then other theme parks. Disney is loosing its innocence 😞
This makes me very happy. My fiancé has always wanted to work at Disney World but got a Mickey tattoo at age 18 (irony) that previously could have exempted him from being a Disney cast member. Also many cultures have significant importance of tattoos and this is a good move for including people who want to keep that connection with their culture but also would love to work at Disney World 🙂
That’s the way it should be. No one should be discriminated for the way the look. It’s more natural that way. Hooray Disney!
Disney great job cast members being comfortable in there own way . Disney is thinking about there employees to make the working environment better . The cast members can do better by feeling better about them selves .
I’m curious as to what ” gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices” entails. How do they have costume choices? and what are “gender-inclusive hairstyles”? and here’s hoping that cast members won’t be showing up with rings on all their fingers and having 4″ fingernails. I’ve always enjoyed the neat and professional way cast members presented themselves and represented Disney.
No need to be a cut above. Just be like everyone else.
Why does anyone think they know better than Walt in changing the rules for working at Disney?
He held high standards for his employees and to make people feel comfortable while being at the park.
The people running Disney now have no respect for what Walt built!
It makes me sick to think of how Walt’s wonderful gift to us is now being run like a carnival that moves from town to town without any dignity.
Respect Walt and His dream! Apparently there’s no one in the Disney corporation who understands what he accomplished!
It’s very sad what’s happening!
I find it disturbing that Disney is encouraging impressionable children to pursue permanent reminders of temporary feelings (tattoos). They seem to be forgetting, ignoring, or worse, trying to “educate” their traditional audience.
I thought they were cast members. This would make them part of the manic. Now they will be employees and more of the manic is gone. They were hired to play a part, as a cast member they would not be themselves. Perhaps just a bunch of bad actors. The more this company does the less I want to go.
I just watched a video on Ytube showing that other park near Disney World. The ride attendant and I say that in contrast to a cast member. Had dredlock down to the middle of his back and a tooth pick hanging out of his mouth, which was not part of the attraction or required so lets be careful of what we asks for we may just get it. My opinion and mine only is Walt has a vision that the whole park was a stage and everyone was a cast member, you are playing a role and if the role calls for a neat and orderly appearance you either take the role and accept the requirements or look for other opportunities which fit your individual needs elsewhere. My house my rules kind of thing. If Disney can asks paying customers to leave for public displays of clothing and appearance I expect even higher standards for the people on stage. Unfortunately once you let the genie out its almost impossible to put him back in. At the end of the day Disney will do what it thinks makes the most sense for the business. Although I think it’s sad to stray so far from Walts vision, what’s next redue Main street with a strip mall, just sarcasm but it reflects todays world more accurately? It bothers me that there wont be a need to bring my grandchildren to that place I loved so much because I can just go to the yearly carnival that come through town instead and unfortunately share the same experience.
Why change the way Walt ran his company? The dress code has worked, and now the people who think they know better than Walt, have decided to change the dress code that will offend people!
The Disney company has obviously been doing well using Walt’s plan.
Leave it alone before you destroy it and you won’t have to worry about people looking decent!!!!
Today a lot of people have tattoos this is a expression of your self . I do not have a tattoo any were on by body but I do not worry if people do . I live in N.J. a lot of people get them at 40 – 60 +years old and or with there teenagers ,grand parents . They want to be hip they see someone else they want it to . It cost $$$ hundreds of dollars for me I would not use my money for it .
I was at Disneyland years ago where I was assisted by a Cast Member in a store who was obviously a man, but associated female. I don’t know if this Cast Member had just grown their hair out or was transgender… none of my business. However, this Cast Member was in a female costume. It seems this is nothing new for Disney, but they are just making it official. I applaud Disney!
I can see and understand offensive tattoo’s, but I am glad that the Disney Parks have finally left the 1950’s and caught up the current times. Seriously it’s 2021, not opening day 1955.