What is the Dress Code for Disneyland Cast Members?

Since its early days, Disneyland has implemented a strict dress code for employees, who are referred to as "Disneyland cast members." In the early days of the park, male workers were not allowed to have long hair, or any facial hair at all, as this was not seen as the wholesome, all-American image which the theme park was meant to convey. The philosophy was that park guests actually preferred for all workers to be clean-cut and wholesome looking. Amusement parks did not always have a good reputation, and Walt Disney wanted to set his park apart from the rest.

In fact, until the late 1960s, even male visitors to Disneyland could not enter with long hair. Workers would politely explain to the snubbed guests that the park had an unwritten dress code, which they did not meet. Sometimes women in halter tops were turned away as well.

At the beginning of the 21st century, Disneyland finally relaxed its facial hair policy enough to allow male workers to have mustaches, as long as they were neatly trimmed. Some observant Disney devotees may notice that Walt Disney had a mustache, yet it took 45 years before cast members at Disneyland were able to follow in his footsteps. The growth process of the mustaches, however, must not be seen; it is specified that mustaches must be grown while the man is on vacation.

Currently, Disneyland continues to implement a dress code, albeit one that may appear slightly more relaxed than in previous decades. Female workers may wear small stud earrings or smaller hoop earrings; men may wear no earrings. Long fingernails are prohibited, as are dirty ones or nails painted in a color that is not natural. All members' hair must be of a natural color; looking natural even if it is not actually the person's natural color. Makeup must be only on women, minimal, and natural-looking. Visible tattoos are expressly forbidden.

Male cast members are still forbidden from having long hair, although long-haired male guests are now permitted into Disneyland. Men employed at the park may not have hair that touches their ears or their collars. Sideburns may not pass the earlobes, and mustaches are allowed if they are no longer than the corners of the employee's mouth.

The philosophy behind the cast members' dress code has not changed much — the "Disney Look" is to ensure that each and every guest feels comfortable around each and every Disneyland cast member. This consideration extends farther than simple appearance. All cast members must point with two fingers or their whole hand, as pointing with one finger may be considered rude to some guests.

The rules are obviously different for cast members who play a specific character. "Face characters" may have different makeup or hair requirements to fully implement the appearance of the character they are portraying. "Mask characters," the people who are completely covered in a costume and whose actual face is not seen, may not speak.

All Disneyland cast members wear a costume that is specific to their particular "land." They are not allowed to visit the public parts of the other lands, or sections of Disneyland, in their costumes. This helps retain the feeling that guests are in a magical place, where nothing at all is out of order or unrelated to the theme. No safari costumes from Adventureland will turn up in Tomorrowland to jolt guests out of their happy illusions.