Here’s A Subtle But Significant Change That Only Eagle-Eyed Visitors Will Spot At Disneyland

There are a lot of ingredients that go into Dinseyland’s magic, and some of them haven’t changed for decades. But there’s been a shift behind the scenes that may put a new shine on the classic park experience. If you look closely, you probably won’t be able to miss it. The question is, though, will you be able to put your finger on exactly what’s changed?

When Walt Disney first envisioned his theme parks, he pictured an enchanting realm of fun and wonder. He was undoubtedly successful, and the visionaries who followed adhered to the same lofty standards. Even today, the brains behind Disney parks masterfully orchestrate the best experiences for visitors, who remain oblivious to their machinations.

Chris Nichols, author of the 2018 book Walt Disney’s Disneyland, has revealed some of Walt’s early notes for the parks. “We hope it will be unlike any other place on this Earth,” Walt wrote. “A fair, an amusement park, an exhibition, a city from Arabian nights, a metropolis from the future.”

Every part of the parks was intentionally designed to be more like an interactive movie than the traditional fairs that had come before them. Color schemes, atmosphere and attractions were all created with the aim not only of leading visitors around but also of thrilling and captivating them. And even behind the scenes Disney’s remained staunchly traditional – but big changes are coming.

The minds responsible for Disney’s expert designs are so renowned for innovations that they have their own names: imagineers. Back in 1952 Walt himself coined the phrase by blending the words engineer and imagine. But it isn’t just the park attractions that imagineers are responsible for. They design the architecture, media projects, resorts and the like, too.

So now you have some idea of what goes into making Disneyland one of the most magical places on Earth. But don’t think that getting a peek behind the magician’s curtain ruins the trick. It’s actually the opposite. Learning how imagineers pull off their achievements is quite remarkable.

Take Disney’s dedication to giving visitors the perfect experience, for example. This even extends to keeping unwanted pests away. Have you ever noticed how the parks are miraculously mosquito-free – even Disney World in Florida, a state renowned for its insatiable bugs. It’s all thanks to the company’s Mosquito Surveillance Program, or MSP for short.

The MSP involves the application of carbon-dioxide mosquito devices to capture the pests for study. These test subjects provide Disney with insights into how to keep mosquitoes out of the park. The company also keeps chickens that have an immunity to mosquito-borne diseases. They can act as carriers, though, which is perfect for Disney’s purposes.

Disney regularly monitors the chickens. If they pick up any diseases, staff can locate the origin point of the illness and eradicate the mosquitoes there. The company also encourages natural mosquito predators to breed inside the park as an extra precautionary measure. That’s alongside the expected use of mosquito pesticides, of course.

Disney extends this attentiveness to every facet of the parks. From garbage cans that are always close at hand to prevent littering to background noise. That’s right, Disney even monitors the volume level in the parks. It uses a sound system to maintain the ambient levels of its music.

Disney also takes measures to make sure visitors feel like they’re the guests of honor. If a family doesn’t pay attention to the height limits and their child can’t ride an attraction, they get given a pass. They can then use this to jump the queue on another ride instead.

As for disabled guests, they don’t have to repeatedly explain their situation to employees. Disney provides them with passes so workers can give support when necessary. Employees also undergo special coaching to help them provide this assistance in a considerate and effective manner.

On the subject of Disney workers, the company actually prefers to call them “cast members.” They’re part of the magical experience, after all. Anyone on the staff at a Disney park’s technically a cast member. And according to The Balance Careers website, there are roughly five areas of expertise.

Firstly, there are the cast members who work in provisions. Regardless of whether they’re in the fast-food joints, kiosks or traditional restaurants, they specialize in providing patrons with food and drink. In the case of full-service establishments, Disney even employs certified chefs to create the meals.

Then there’s the hotel and motel accommodation Disney resorts provides. Housekeeping, bell services, concierge, front office and management are all included in this category. Ensuring guests have pleasant overnight stays is an important part of the Disney parks experience. Naturally, then, cast members have to know the “inns” and outs of customer service.

If retail’s your thing, working in one of the many stores spread across the resorts is an option, too. Those who’ve been to Disney parks will know they have shops for almost anything you could want during your stay. All with a Disney twist, of course. Mouse ear hats, anyone?

Park operations are the people you’ll see who keep the resort running on a day-to-day basis. They’re the transport workers, attractions operators and the like. It’s worth noting, though, that regardless of your cast member role, you have to abide by some strict rules. And some of these revolve around physical appearance.

For example, women’s jewelry was limited to a single piece on each hand and in each ear. Men were even more restricted, as they weren’t permitted any earrings. And as for other visible body piercings, both male and female cast members had to take them out before starting their shift.

Disney didn’t allow cast members to reveal tattoos, either. But the biggest restrictions apply to those in the most coveted cast member roles. The last type of employment – the entertainment sector – includes costumed characters and famous “face characters” such as Peter Pan and Pocahontas. They have to comply with stringent appearance regulations.

The people who spend time in a costume of any kind at a Disney resort get acting experience and a great addition to their resumes. Other companies are very aware how disciplined and talented Disney cast members need to be. So in addition to getting to play a beloved character, it’s an attractive proposition. If you fulfill the physical requirements, that is.

Hopeful cast members have to be a specific height for certain roles. If you want to be a Disney princess, you have to be somewhere between 5 feet 4 inches and 5 feet 8 inches, regardless of which character you play. Should you be in the 4 feet 11 inches to 5 feet 2 inches range, you can portray non-princess Disney roles – Peter Pan’s Wendy or the title character from Alice in Wonderland, for example.

It’s also imperative that cast members playing Disney characters remain true to the role constantly. You wouldn’t see Aladdin rocking a smartphone, after all. And if you don’t physically match the character you want to play, forget about it! But Disney recently announced a change to some of these rules.

In April 2021 Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks’ chairman, made an announcement on the company’s blog. He indicated that Walt’s own beliefs have caused Disney to rethink some of its strict policies. D’Amaro wrote, “‘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,” D’Amaro continued. “It’s important to me to share how we’re creating a place where everyone is welcome and taking action to create meaningful change.” But what does this mean, exactly?

Well, according to the Disney Parks chairman, it means more lenient rules for Disney’s staff members. He explained, “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.” But it’s about more than just pleasing park visitors.

“We want our cast members – and future cast members – to feel a sense of belonging at work,” D’Amaro elaborated. “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.”

The chairman’s announcement also revealed that Disney had come to this conclusion after talking to cast members around the world. The company’s making more than a hundred changes, including an addition to The Four Keys. For those of you out of the loop, The Four Keys are the concepts that drive Disney’s values. All cast members are required to embody them instinctively.

The existing Four Keys were: safety, courtesy, show and efficiency. Safety, or prioritizing people’s well-being, comes before all the others. Courtesy – treating each guest as the most important one – is next. Then there’s show: keeping up the Disney illusion at all times. And finally efficiency, or maintaining great service effectively, was a cast member’s’ other priority. Until April 2021, that is.

D’Amaro announced, “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.” He described this additional pillar to Disney’s values as being “at the heart” of the new Five Keys. It extends not only to guests but to cast members, too.

Remember when we mentioned those strict jewelry and tattoo rules? D’Amaro revealed that they’re being loosened – within reason, of course. Disney’s also amending other limitations, such as cast members’ hair – men were previously only allowed short styles – and its stance on nail art. Such moves will hopefully represent a huge step forward for inclusivity.

“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,” D’Amaro elaborated. “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.”

Interestingly, though the new cast-member guidelines state that their uniforms must be neat, they don’t specify who should wear what. This could, in theory, open up the door for a greater variety of gender freedom. And the changes don’t end there. Apparently, Disney’s rethinking its attractions and business practices, too.

“We’re bringing the spirit of the Inclusion Key to life across our business,” Disney Park’s chairman continued. “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,” D’Amaro added. “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.”

Of course, the changes have caused some mixed feelings online. But they’ve been largely greeted with celebration. VelociJakester Now Roaring on Twitter responded positively to the new pillar in April 2021. “As a Hospitality professional, Disney updating the ‘Look’ is seriously huge,” they wrote. “This will penetrate and impact the entire industry positively.”

Shortly after the announcement, Cinema Blend applauded Disney’s new stance on inclusion, too. It reported, “The changes to the policy are being heralded as a big step forward not only because it’s a positive step for Disney Cast Members, but because, as some have pointed out, Disney is a major trend setter in the area of customer service in general.”

The article continued, “The company teaches other companies how to do things ‘The Disney Way.’ So making these changes itself, Disney is likely opening the door for similar changes to be allowed in other companies across the country and around the world.” There was someone in particular who stole the show, though.

Disney released a visual guideline to its new policies featuring inclusive models to showcase what we can expect in the future. One of them was a red-haired gentleman showcasing a neat and stylish uniform with ‒ gasp! ‒ black nail polish. And if there’s one thing the internet loves – apart from animal videos, of course – it’s attractive people.

Cinema Blend wrote, “This guy, one of the models used to display the new acceptable look policy, is hot fire.” Many people took to social media to agree, with comments such as “I’ve never been more attracted to a cast member” and “That is the person I want to see greeting me at the haunted mansion!” Others praised the various ethnicities and religions represented.

“The world is changing and we will change with it, and continue to be a source of joy and inspiration for all the world,” D’Amaro concluded. “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.”