Casual Fridays? Beards?

Are we in Fantasyland?

No, Snow White‘s seven dwarfs won’t need to worry about getting upstaged by bearded Disney theme park employees any time soon.

But the so-called “Disney Look” – a legendarily strict dress code that dates from Disneyland‘s inception in 1955 – is getting a rare update. Starting Feb. 3, male employees at Disney’s theme park resorts in Orlando and Anaheim will be allowed to sport beards and goatees, as long as they “create an overall neat, polished and professional look” and the facial hair is no more than a quarter-inch long.

“Ironically, the rigid code was instituted by Walt Disney himself, a self-loathing Mustached American who felt the need to distinguish his theme park from what he called ‘filthy carnies,’” writes the American Mustache Institute, which says it lobbied for the change. Disney employees were permitted to wear “fully grown in, well-maintained” mustaches in 2000.

In another Disney update, non-costumed theme park employees who don’t interact with visitors will be able to dress casually on Fridays.

via Strict ‘Disney Look’ dress code gets an update – USATODAY.com.

It’s all about perspective, isn’t it? Was Walt Disney a creative genius who inspired and inspires millions to this day? Or a “self-loathing Mustached American?”

Just Sayin’

About Mike Reardon

Husband, father, grandfather, friend, Disney Institute Facilitator, world traveler, and blogger with a lifetime of experience leading diverse teams, managing change, and coaching leadership principles, communication, and guest service in diverse retail environments.
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