Disney cast members are in a league of their own. They're trained differently, they follow a different set of rules, and they're held to a higher standard of service. It's actually a lot of pressure being a cast member, but after just a month or so of being held to such a standard, it becomes second nature and all of the little things we're taught to do at work slowly find their way into our daily lives. Here are 6 things a Cast Member will do that will help you spot them.
1. They're generally alone
If you're in a park and you see someone alone, it's a pretty safe bet to say they're a cast member. As cast members, one of our perks is we get into the parks for free. While yes, our friends get in as well, we all work such crazy and different schedules we tend to end up in a park alone. Besides, the alone time is nice and we can do the few things we want to do before we head home.
2. They don't have a lot of personal items
Going along with the 'alone' aspect of heading into a park, we also know how long security lines can get and, if we can help it, we'll bring next to nothing with us. How is this different from other people? It's pretty normal for a family of four to have a bag for each member, maybe a cooler with food, a stroller or some other item that is a pain in the butt at the end of the night. Cast Members will bring their work ID (for the discount, of course), their ID, some money or a credit card and their phone. Maybe they'll take some pins to trade or wear their magic band, but other then that, there's really nothing else we need. Especially if we're only gonna be in the park for a few hours at most.
3. They're overly helpful to everyone
Something we were trained to look for was a confused family or someone who looks in need of help. That switch doesn't turn off when we're a guest in the park. In fact, it just makes for an awkward encounter after we've helped a family find their way. Someone dropped their ice cream? They'll be one of the few guests to rush up and have the opportunity to make a magical moment. Once someone gave me the off-handed comment that their funnel cake wasn't very good and I shouldn't get it, and I ended up using my discount to get them a free churro. They didn't ask for it, and I didn't expect them to know I was a Cast Member when they made the complaint. Anything to make their night was an opportunity for me to make their vacation just a little bit better.
4. The 2 finger/full handed point
Another thing Cast Members are taught that is forever instilled within us is the two finger or full-handed point. From the first day of training we were taught to always do the two finger point, and it soon became a habit for us to do. If we're talking about something, we're pointing with two fingers. Pointing at something? Two fingers. Directing someone somewhere? Two fingers. We always joke about the two finger point, but at the end of the day, it's what makes us Disney.
5. The Disney Scoop
"We're all custodial" is a common phrase used by Cast Members. We all do our part to clean up the park, and we're all taught the Disney Scoop to pick up trash while on the go. We never miss a beat when we see a piece of trash and we're all able to pick it up in one smooth motion while continuing on our way. This habit continues into our everyday life, especially when we're visiting the parks as a guest. Looking for a cast member that's not in costume? Just drop a piece of trash and the first person to pick it up is your lucky winner (but don't actually do this because we get very annoyed when we see guest throw trash on the ground when there's a trash can every 30 feet).
6. Disney Lingo
Lastly, the one thing that will always have a cast member visiting a park stick out like a sore thumb is their lingo. They'll refer to everyone as a 'guest' rather than a customer. They'll talk about costumes on the daily, and say how cute a 'costume' is compared to their own. They'll say resort rather than hotel, and they'll talk about each as if they're all home. Newsflash: every resort is home to us. And if you ever see someone struggling to not say happy birthday to each and every person walking by, it's a sure thing that they're a cast member, because seeing a little girl smile or a little boy hide behind his mom because we said happy birthday really does make our day.
So, overall, spotting a cast member in a park is a lot easier than we'd like it to be. But, even when we're not in costume, if we're able to make a little magic, it truly does make a difference. We came into this company wanting to make magic, and I know personally I love making it every chance I get. Now, it's so important to remember to not expect it. It's sort of like receiving a present. The best present is the one that's kept a secret, and magic is just that. It's a little pixie dust here and a little touch of magic there. It'll happen to you, but it'll happen when you least expect it, like all good things in life.
