Around the Walt Disney World Resort, “Earning My Ears” nametag adornments have started to pop up along with groups of cast members returning to work and training after being furloughed or displaced last year.
Because the parks are not running their normal operating hours and there are still resorts, shops, and restaurants that are still closed, these cast members have stayed displaced or furloughed until things could start to open back up. The theme park operating hours were recently extended through June 2021 in anticipation of larger crowds and expanded capacity.
As of the first week of April, cast members who decided to return to work in a new area are starting to be recalled to their home location.
Those who have been sitting on furlough are now being recalled to come back to work to help as the parks and resorts start to extend their hours and reopen some locations that have remained closed. Some of those areas include merchandise, food, and possibly entertainment for increased guest capacity this summer.
This week, DisneyCareers.com posted they are hiring some housekeeping and lifeguard roles.
The “Disney Look” for Cast Members has been updated, allowing them to wear “gender-inclusive hairstyles” and appropriate tattoos.
Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro described the changes, and how the drive to be more inclusive, prompted the changes on Disney Parks Blog:
“To all who come to this happy place: Welcome.”
Walt Disney spoke these words during the dedication of the Disneyland Resort in 1955. Today, more than 65 years later, they continue to inspire us – and remind us that the magic we make must include everyone.
It’s important to me to share how we’re creating a place where everyone is welcome and taking action to create meaningful change.
We want our guests to see their own backgrounds and traditions reflected in the stories, experiences and products they encounter in their interactions with Disney. And we want our cast members – and future cast members – to feel a sense of belonging at work.
That means cultivating an environment where all people feel welcomed and appreciated for their unique life experiences, perspectives and culture. Where we celebrate allyship and support for each other. And where diverse views and ideas are sought after as critical contributions towards our collective success.
But as with everything we do, this starts with actively listening, learning, and working with our cast and guests to imagine the possibilities.
In 2019, we actively solicited input from our cast members from all over the world – to bring a greater focus to inclusivity and belonging for our cast. They brought forward more than 100 ideas, including one I’d like to share with all of you today.
Every Disney Parks cast member is familiar with our longstanding tradition of The Four Keys – Safety, Courtesy, Show and Efficiency – which have guided our approach to guest service for more than 65 years. The Four Keys are one of the first things that cast members learn about when they join Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and they are regularly reinforced throughout their tenure. Each cast member is asked to use The Four Keys as the blueprint for the decisions they make during the workday and the approach they bring to their interactions with others. Cast members around the world know them by heart and live by them in their roles every day as they create amazing experiences for our guests.
And when we asked our cast how we could better cultivate a culture of belonging, they suggested the addition of a fifth key: the key of Inclusion. Like The Four Keys before them, The 5 Keys – with Inclusion at the heart – will continue to guide us as we interact with guests, collaborate together, create the next generation of Disney products and experiences, and make critical decisions about the future of our business.
Inclusion is essential to our culture and leads us forward as we continue to realize our rich legacy of engaging storytelling, exceptional service, and Disney magic.
We’re bringing the spirit of the Inclusion Key to life across our business. We’re reimagining our attractions to be more inclusive, like upcoming enhancements to Jungle Cruise and new adventures with Princess Tiana. We’re celebrating the diverse and inspiring stories of our cast and fans with creator collaborations and exciting experiences, like The Soul of Jazz exhibit at Walt Disney World Resort.
We’re also looking at ways we can support and uplift our communities through programs like our Disney Dreamers Academy mentorship programs, and we’re including more diverse companies in our supply chain. In fact, we’re looking at ways to increase our support for diverse suppliers in a big way – we’ll share more details on this commitment in the future.
Our goal is also to have more representation and accountability across our organization, starting with my own leadership team and extending throughout our business worldwide, through tools and mentorship and learning programs that create awareness and foster leadership accountability.
We’re looking at other traditions, too – including the policies that guide how our cast members show up for work. Our new approach provides greater flexibility with respect to forms of personal expression surrounding gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles, and costume choices; and allowing appropriate visible tattoos. We’re updating them to not only remain relevant in today’s workplace, but also enable our cast members to better express their cultures and individuality at work.
Moving forward, we believe our cast, who are at the center of the magic that lives in all our experiences, can provide the best of Disney’s legendary guest service when they have more options for personal expression – creating richer, more personal and more engaging experiences with our guests.
This is just the beginning as we continue to work toward a world where we all belong – including a more diverse and inclusive Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. There’s more to do, but we’re committed to listening, learning and making meaningful improvements.
The world is changing, and we will change with it, and continue to be a source of joy and inspiration for all the world. We’ll never stop working to make sure that Disney is a welcoming place for all. I’m excited about where we’re headed, and we’ll have more to share soon. Thank you for joining us on this journey.
Disney also released a corresponding video to go along with the announcement.
Believe it or not, Animal Kingdom’s towering coaster, Expedition Everest, has reached 15-years-old this month! Disney Cast Members took to social media to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of this ever-so-popular attraction with photos and a special keepsakes in honor of the milestone!
As shared via Walt Disney World Cast and Community Facebook page: “Yeti or not — here we come! Yesterday (April 7), Cast Members at Expedition Everest celebrated the attraction’s 15th anniversary alongside Vice President of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Sarah Riles – and of course our Disney Ambassadors! The morning was filled with legendary tales from the mythical mountain and its monstrous inhabitants as Cast received keepsakes in honor of the milestone celebration. #DisneyCastLife #ExpeditionEverest #15Years”
Located in the Asia portion of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you simply can’t miss the towering size of Expedition Everest. Or, you could simply listen out for the screams to find your way to this one! How many times have you taken on the Yeti? Happy 15th Anniversary to Expedition Everest Cast Members!
We previously shared the news that Disney is paying Cast Members for four hours of work if they choose to get the COVID-19 vaccination. The President of Walt Disney World Resort, Jeff Vahle, took to social media to share photos and thanks for the WDW Health Service teams for providing Cast Members with a vaccination option.
As shared via Jeff Vahle’s Instagram: “Sending a big thanks to our amazing Walt Disney World Health Services team as they provide Cast with another option to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. We are so pleased to help Central Florida in its continued fight to beat the virus! #GetTheShot #DisneyCastLife”
With Disney now allowing guests to remove masks for outdoor photos, we’re slowly but surely seeing things begin to get back to normal. We’ll keep you posted as Disney continues to follow the changes of the CDC guidelines and adjust accordingly.
If you’re in the Walt Disney World area this Easter season, you’ll want to be sure to drop by Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Both resorts currently have a special Easter Egg display featuring talented Cast Members’ work with chocolate!
As shared via Walt Disney World Cast and Community Facebook page: “In honor of the Easter holiday, Culinary Cast Members at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts flexed some major creativity by creating these Easter egg displays made from real chocolate. The talent and attention to detail these Cast Members have is blowing our minds. Just look at these creations!”