Male Cast Members and Facial Hair About This Page:

[Queen of Everything]

My DH has heard a rumor that Walt Disney wanted his male cast members to be clean shaven and that this rule is still in effect. (not including a fake beard or mustache for a given character) Any truth to this?

Amy

[lukeandbrookesmom]

Never heard it before, but makes sense to me.

[bradk]

some truth to this. the reason i had always heard was to keep the youthful look. i've had someone say the reason was because facial hair, mustaches in particular, were considered unsavory back in the 50s (although considering Walt had one).

the reason why this is no longer completely true is because the ban was partially lifted. mustaches are allowed (although the reported reason makes little sense to me) but they have to be fully grown in. in other words, you can't grow a mustache.

[chezp]

I had heard this before, perhaps on the Keys to the Kingdom tour?

[Diz]

When DD Lucy first became a cm, I was totally interested in any and every thing she received. I found the information on the Disney Look very interesting. Then about 5 years later DS#1 Luke decided to work at Disney. I paid more attention to his look because he had a mustache at the time. And , hair length, mustache length is all viewed as part of your employment. You are in a show and Disney wants you to be dressed appropriately for it.

Here's a link for the CP about the facial hair: Disney College Program- Disney Look: All Males

Luke always enjoyed the barber on Main Street and when he became a cm, he refused to go anywhere but there! That was always interesting since he first worked seasonally and spent high school years in PA. But he did enough Dtrips to keep getting his hair cut there - and still does as a CP.

[HeatherD]

This isn't a new concept to business, however. Many businesses dealing in sales, etc., have policies about facial hair of some sort....

[Diz]

Originally Posted by HeatherD

This isn't a new concept to business, however. Many businesses dealing in sales, etc., have policies about facial hair of some sort....

, this is true.

But in DL's beginning, male cms were not even allowed moustaches which everyone thought was funny since Walt had one.

[ilovedisney247]

This is really common for service industry jobs . . . there are usually lots of rules. Hair length, color, fingernails, amount of jewelry, makeup etc. When I worked for a casino they had a make up REQUIREMENT. Girls could be sent home if not wearing foundation, lipstick and mascara!

[yakamishi]

Aye, I work in the restaurant industry and I would tell you grooming is huge. I would imagine the standards at Disney would...and should...eclipse that of our everyday bar and grill establishment.

[cmhand30]

I was a castmember at a Disney Store in Columbus, Ohio many years ago. Back when we wore khaki shorts and the sweaters for a costume. And back then there was no facial hair for the men. (our store manager was a male).
Anyways, join the military the grooming guidlines are very strick for males and females. The Army and Marine Corp are more strick than the Air Force for females. Air Force females can have "ponytales", not in the Army or Marine Corps they have to maintain a tight "bun".
If my DH tries to grow a mustache while he is active duty it cannot extend past the crease of his lips. On him that is soo short, it looks a little German guy from WWII.

[lukesmom]

interesting

[obsessedwiththemouse]

I have actually read this somewhere too and I cannot seem to find it, if I do I will be sure to provide a link. Anyway, my understanding was cast members were not to have facial hair unless it was needed for the characted there were playing. This only lasted into the mid/late 70's if I remember correctly. I will definitely be looking for the article I read......wish me luck on finding it soon!

[skateycat]

wow...i was not aware of all these restriction, er should i say "costuming guidelines". never thought much about how the cm's look but i think i will pay closer attention!

[tkm1005]

Disney thinks alot about how cm's look. I think it sets them apart and make the Cast feel part of the show. The clean shaven professional look is very important to the feel of being at Disney. They also restrict visible tatoos, excessive makeup, hair color, jewelry, nail length and color. As for the moustache, as mentioned above they did change the policy so male cm's can have one as long as it is well groomed. Probably changed the policy since Walt had one

[bradk]

AFAIK, the mustache ban was lifted for the construction of DCA. something to do with losing valuable laborers otherwise.