What Disney Cast Members Wish You Knew About the Parks

Disney does a fantastic  job at putting on a magical facade for Guests. Cast Members, on the other hand, have a view of what’s going on both on stage and behind the scenes. Because of this, they have a better understanding of how the parks operate and why things are done a certain way.

We took to Reddit to see what it is that Cast Members wish Guests visiting the Disney Parks knew. Perhaps if Guests were aware of these things, there would be less conflicts and confrontation. After all, Cast Members want Guests to have the most magical vacation possible.

In this article, we’re going to share the most common points that Cast Members brought up in the thread. Keep reading to see what it is that Cast Members wish you knew about the Disney Parks.

1. There's No Way to Get Your Child on a Ride That They're Too Small For

Many of the rides and attractions at the Disney Parks have no height requirement. This gives families with small children many possibilities to enjoy during their time there. However, the ones that do have a minimum height requirement have them in place for a reason.

If your child doesn't meet the height requirement, it’s unsafe for them to ride the ride and they won’t be allowed on. Cast Members are required to enforce these rules. They don’t turn your child away from the ride as a way to be mean or difficult. If your child is too small, they will not allow them onto the ride in order to keep them safe.

Height requirements are a rule that you won’t be able to get around. Multiple Cast Members have shared the great lengths that parents have gone in order to get their child onto a ride that they are too small for. Reddit user roux_smalls says, “No, putting ice cream bars in your kids' shoes will not count as them being tall enough to ride Thunder Mountain”. Ladymoria_30 added, “No we don’t have a waiver you can sign to get your too small child on splash mountain”.

What to Do if Your Child is Too Small

There’s no ride or attraction at Disney that’s worth risking the wellbeing of your child. If you want to ride something that they’re too small for, consider taking advantage of Child Swapping. This will allow you to ride the ride and swap out the responsibility of watching your child with another adult in your party. This gives you the opportunity to ride something that you’re interested in while still keeping your child safe.

To help get an idea of what rides your child will be able to ride at the parks, take a look at our height requirement articles. We provide detailed information on which rides have height restrictions at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

2. Cast Members Are People Too – Please Be Kind

Cast Members are aware that Disney is a very important vacation and that most Guests strive for perfection during their trip. However, when things don’t go as planned and frustrations arise, please don’t take those ill feelings out on Cast Members. They are there to do a job, but truly do want to make your experience as magical as possible during the process.

Reddit user Warnackle pleads with Guests by saying, “Cast members are people too. Disney tries their da**dest to make you forget that fact, but please try to remember that people are not just objects placed in Disney for your leisure”.

Another Cast Member on Reddit, under the username pionmycake, shares insight on how getting upset with and mad at a Cast Member will never be beneficial. While they will still do their job to assist you, they will go out of their way for those who treat them with kindness.

“WE WANT TO HELP YOU! I can't speak for every cast member, but most of us want to work there because we want to be a part of the magic. And we are encouraged to be helpful and make things more magical. When you are talking to cast members, be nice, kind, fun…You will probably GET FREE STUFF because we want to and can do nice stuff… If you have a problem, getting angry and rude will result in us doing the bare minimum to fix it and make things right. Being nice about it and simply letting us know something is wrong, we will give you something better than what you ordered to fix it!”

3. If You Have an Issue, Talk to an Appropriate Cast Member

If a problem arises while you’re on your trip, let a Cast Member know. Don’t miserably go through the rest of your trip with the intent to get in touch with Disney after you get back home. When you have an issue, Cast Members will do everything in their power to help correct it. However, it’s important that you take your problem to a Cast Member that has the means to help you.

While every Cast Member wants to help you solve your problems, it’s going to be tougher for some to fully accommodate you, depending on what position they’re working. Reddit user megabajillionaire shares, “Talk to managers or Guest Relations or your server or someone who can get near a phone (NOT SOMEONE SENDING BOATS OUT AT PIRATES OR SOMEONE WHO IS RUNNING A CASH REGISTER OR IS ALONE AT A FOOD CART) if you have an issue. They can help you, they want to help you, they are there to help you. Waiting until after you leave the Parks and writing in or calling in does NOT get you anything special.” They then add, “Also, be nice to the people on the phones – whether it's reservations, ticket sales, or guest service. They will be happy to assist you with real concerns”.

At the end of the day, everyone wants you to have a great time during your Disney vacation. Cast Members are more than willing to help, but ask that Guests be considerate of the job that they’re performing and request that you treat them with basic respect.

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4. Don't Be a Creepy Flirt

A recurring theme that keeps arising is that Cast Members are humans and shouldn’t be treated as objects. This is also true in the aspect of romantic advances. More often than not, it’s the face characters that deal with the most inappropriate interactions. However, it’s something that happens all across the board. Reddit user the_orcastrator says, “Don’t creepily flirt with the cast members. Don’t grab a cast member’s b**b. Don’t stalk cast members.”

It’s incredibly hard for face characters to ward off unwanted interactions since they are unable to break character. Unless, of course, they’re willing to lose their job. It’s unfortunately common for a Guest to have an interaction where a beautiful human is being kind to them and consider that an open invitation. Reddit user 123wtfno is here to remind us all that the character’s demeanor does not give anyone the right to act inappropriately and take the situation as more than a simple character interaction. They said, “don't hit on them because they are at work and they aren't free to tell you to push off. They're doing hospitality work, it is part of their job to be friendly to you. That's not the same as flirting.”

It's a Big Deal

As mentioned earlier, stalking is also a very real problem. Because of this, Cast Members are instructed to be extremely cautious and fly under the radar even when they aren’t at work. Reddit user changingoftheseasons shares the measures that a Cast Member had to take to keep his identity hidden. “The guy wasn't allowed to publicly say where he was working on social media because of stalkers or upload his face anywhere.”

Whether the Cast Member is taking on the role of a character or working another position, they are there to do a job. Please treat them with respect and don’t take advantage of their vulnerable position.

5. Your Loved Ones Will Not Rest In Peace at the Parks

If you have a loved one who passed away, don’t bring their ashes to spread at the Disney Parks. We understand. If that friend or family member had a deep love for Disney, the parks, or a specific attraction, it may seem like that's a perfect location to lay them to rest. However, even if you successfully get their ashes into the parks and onto that attraction (Disney does their best to stop this at the gates), they will not be resting in peace.

This is actually an extremely common occurrence and Disney has plans in place to clean up the mess. Yes, if you spread your loved ones ashes at a Disney Park, they will simply be treated like a mess. Reddit user Benjamin_Magnus says, “Worked at The Haunted Mansion for years. A few times a year people would try to spread their loved ones ashes on the ride. Please don't do this! All that happens is a custodial CM gets a special vacuum we keep locked in a closet and they get sucked up and thrown out”.

Rides such as The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean seem to come across this issue the most. However, it’s been attempted all over the parks. You’ll also want to avoid the mistake of thinking that you’ve found a secret spot that Disney will never know about. As Reddit user roux_smalls says, “there are cameras literally everywhere”.

6. Instructions Given at Rides are for Guests' Safety

Just like Height Requirements, all of the instructions that are given at the rides are in place for the safety of the Guests. Sometimes, Guests don’t understand the reasoning for certain rules, choose not to follow them, or even get frustrated with the Cast Members over them. Please keep in mind that the Cast Members didn’t design the rides or create the rules. They’re simply there to look out for your wellbeing and help you have the most magical time possible.

Why Certain Rules Are in Place

A Cast Member shares a story on Reddit about the reasoning for a very specific practice that’s used on The Tower of Terror.

“At attractions, most things we do are for safety. When I worked at Tower of Terror we started doing the thing where we have all the guests put their hands up before we send the ride off. One time on my last vehicle of the night I only had one family, so we were being kind of casual and having a conversation. They all sat wherever they wanted throughout the vehicle and as I did my safety checks, the dad asked me why we have everyone raise their hands. Just as he is asking this, his son raises his hands and we all hear the sound of a seatbelt zipping into a tightened position. The kid was holding his seatbelt loose so that he would dangerously fly off the seat during the ride. All I said was, ‘because of that’ and sent em off.”

Issues also arise when Guests choose not to put their belongings away. Reddit user Silly_Sam said, “When we tell you to put away your loose belongings on a ride, it's not a suggestion. Our main concern is safety, and the last thing anyone needs is a broken nose because a phone from row one flew back and hit a guy a couple rows back. But aside from harming others, you're also inconveniencing yourself. We can't stop operations to go get your hat, cell phone or Mickey ears. So unless you want to wait until park close to possibly collect your items, please just listen to the cast members when they say that you should store your items away. It's easier for you, and it's easier for us.”

7. Most Cast Members Can't Accept Tips

If you’re a frugal tipper, please keep in mind that most Disney Cast Members aren’t allowed to accept tips. In the event that you offer a Cast Member a tip and they don’t accept it, don’t take it personally. They are most likely in a position where it’s not allowed to accept tips and they can get in trouble for doing so.

For those who enjoy tipping, it’s understandable that this may not sit well with you. Especially if you’re exceptionally pleased with the service that the Cast Member provided you with. Luckily, there are other ways that you can show your appreciation. Reddit user kyarnell says, “Cast members in most positions are not allowed to accept tips. Going to guest relations or letting their manager know they’ve done a great job is significantly more helpful to the cast member”.

There is also a way to show your appreciation to Cast Members on the Disneyland app or the My Disney Experience app. The apps have a Cast Compliment feature that allows you to put in a compliment for the Cast Member that assisted you. This is an easy way to show your appreciation and let the Cast Member’s bosses know that they’re doing a great job.

8. Cast Members Must Follow Certain Policies

While there are rules and regulations in place at the rides and attractions, it needs to be remembered that Cast Members all around the parks have policies that they must follow. It seems like it’s often forgotten that those who are working at Disney are at an actual job. There are rules that the company has in place that the Cast Members must follow and they can’t simply disobey in order to make Guests happy. On Reddit, Bkbee says, “We do our best to help you but sometimes policies won't let us. If that happens, please don't get mad at us. We want to help you but our hands are tied at certain things”.

Apoptosis_reader adds, “Arguing with the cast member at the register won't do you any good. We are told the policies and rules and if we don't use them we face termination. We don't want to not let you use discounts, but we would like to keep our job. Please don't yell at us for not allowing discounts or saying that other lands or cast members let you do it. Just be kind and we will be kind to you! We are humans after all”.

Cast Members’ jobs are not any less important than ours. They are real people showing up to their real job where they can only do what's allowed of them. Please give them grace as they show up to work each day with a smile on their face and the mission to spread as much magic as possible with all of the Guests that they come into contact with.

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