The “Disney Look” for cast members has been updated so that they can wear “gender-inclusive hairstyles” and appropriate tattoos.
The chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Josh D’Amaro, described the changes and how the quest to be more inclusive led to the changes on Disney Parks Blog:
“To all who come to this happy place: welcome.”
Walt Disney spoke these words at the inauguration of the Disneyland Resort in 1955. Today, more than 65 years later, they continue to inspire us – reminding us that the magic we do must include everyone.
It is important for me to tell how we create a place where everyone is welcome and acts to bring about meaningful change.
We want our guests to see their own backgrounds and traditions in the stories, experiences and products they encounter in their interaction with Disney. And we want our cast – and future cast – to have a sense that they belong at work.
It means cultivating an environment where all people are welcomed and appreciated for their unique life experiences, perspectives and culture. Where we celebrate allyship and support for each other. And where divergent views and ideas are sought after as critical contributions to our joint success.
But as with everything we do, it starts with actively listening, learning and working with our cast and guests to suggest the possibilities.
In 2019, we asked for active input from our cast members from around the world – to give a greater focus to inclusivity and belonging for our cast. They came up with over 100 ideas, including one that I want to share with you all today.
Every member of Disney Parks is familiar with our long-standing tradition of The Four Keys – Safety, Courtesy, Performance and Efficiency – which has guided our approach to hospitality for over 65 years. The four keys are one of the first things members of the cast learn about when they join Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, and they are regularly strengthened by their tenure. Each cast 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 interaction with others. Cast members around the world know them wholeheartedly and live in their roles every day as they create incredible experiences for our guests.
And when we ask our cast how we can better cultivate a culture of belonging, they suggest adding a fifth key: the key of inclusion. Like The Four Keys before them, The 5 Keys – with inclusion in mind – will continue to guide us as we interact with guests, collaborate, create the next generation of Disney products and experiences, and make critical decisions about our future. business.
Inclusion is essential to our culture and leads us forward while still realizing our rich heritage of engaging storytelling, exceptional service and Disney magic.
We bring the spirit of the inclusion key to life in our business. We suggest our attractions to be more inclusive, such as future improvements to Jungle Cruise and new adventures with Princess Tiana. We celebrate the diverse and inspiring stories of our cast and fans with creative collaborations and exciting experiences, such as The Soul of Jazz on display at Walt Disney World Resort.
We also look at ways to support and uplift our communities through programs like our Disney Dreamers Academy mentorship programs, and we include more diverse companies in our supply chain. In fact, we are looking at ways to greatly increase our support for diverse suppliers – we will share more details on this commitment in the future.
Our goal is also to have more representation and accountability in our organization, start with my own leadership team and expand our business worldwide through tools and mentorship and learning programs that create awareness and promote accountability for leadership.
We also look at other traditions – including the policies that guide how our role division for work arrives. Our new approach offers greater flexibility regarding forms of personal expression around gender-inclusive hairstyles, jewelry, nail styles and costume choices; and allow appropriate visible tattoos. We work them up not only to remain relevant in the contemporary workplace, but also so that our members of the cast can better express their cultures and individuality.
As we move forward, we believe that our cast, which is at the heart of the magic that lives on in all of our experiences, can offer the best of Disney’s legendary hospitality if they have more options for personal expression – to be richer, more personal and more to create engaging experiences. with our guests.
This is just the beginning as we continue to work towards a world where we all belong – including a more diverse and inclusive Disney parks, experiences and products. There is more to do, but we are committed to listening, learning and making significant improvements.
The world is changing, and we will change with it and still be a source of joy and inspiration to the whole world. We will never stop working to make sure Disney is a welcome place for everyone. I’m excited about where we’re headed, and we’ll be able to share more soon. Thank you for being with us on this journey.
Disney also released a similar video to go along with the announcement.
Keep reading WDWNT for updates on this ongoing story.