Feedback for 10/24/02:

A reader writes:

Thanks for writing that article for MousePlanet on Disney costumes. While I had no idea the extent to which a black market in costumes existed (on eBay and otherwise), I have for my last couple years as a passholder admired one particular item of cast member costuming in particular — the nice button up black heavy jackets cast members wear during the winter. I've always commented to friends that Disney should sell something like that in addition to the letterman-type jackets that I've purchased over the years at the park.

Fast forward to this past spring, where I found myself as the resident adviser on the girls floor in one of the dorms on our campus. Of my 50 residents, I had four cast members, and about 15 passholders between them. So trips to the parks were quite frequent. Anyway, on the last day of school, in between checking out residents at the end of the year, I found hanging in my room one of those nice, cast member-only Disneyland jackets, with a note attached. The giver thanked me for a great year, told me they knew I would love this "universal" (is that what they're called?)... and asked me to please cut out the barcode inside and shred it into a "gazillion" pieces.

So although I may have my theories as to who the culprit of this decidedly questionable costume appropriation may be, I am left with a very nice jacket that I know will most likely simply sit in my closet, as I am just smart enough not to wear it within the borders of Anaheim... and beyond that, I don't know what to say. All I can tell you is that since I know it's not exactly right that I have it, it still means a lot to me, and I don't intend to ever sell it. One less listing on eBay, at any rate.

Loved your article except for one thing you left out.... Disney has started selling off cast member costumes recently.

I attended a Walt Disney World Property Control Public Auction (advertised in all the papers and open to the public), about two months ago where they auctioned off thousands of Cast Member Resort and Cruise line costumes as well as Animal Kingdom costumes. So when you state that how could people be selling off costumes on eBay and not get caught (your example being Animal Kingdom tag), they are legitimate costumes that are now public domain and can be sold by anyone, including myself. Just thought you might want to know.

Take Care and don't forget to check out my Disney Auctions at [URL deleted].

You may be interested in what the next reader, a former Disney manager, writes.

I enjoy your columns very much. Until February, I was an Entertainment manager at the Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando. I was also the liaison to Costuming, and worked several months there as a manager. You are dead-on about costumes being sold on eBay, but let me tell you about what Disney does about it.

Part of my job (in Costuming) was to check out eBay once a week to look for Disney-owned costumes. Often, we would bid on these items, and if we obtained them the bar code was scanned by the computer. This gave the name and department of the employee last issued the costume piece. It was usually an easy matter to track down the employee and discipline (usually terminate) him.

This was just our method. Other parks may have done similar things. The point is, sell these items at your own risk. Just know that people are watching...

I very much appreciate the message. I wonder, how does the claim that Disney sells surplus materials mesh with chasing down costume thieves? Sounds like the makings of a world-class headache to me.

Kevin, I definitely have noticed a change in the costumes at Walt Disney World.

Some of the generic costumes you mentioned stick out like a sore thumb, especially with Fast Pass CMs. At Disney World, I've noticed Fast Pass CMs simply wear a generic white shirt and khaki shorts or pants. On some attractions, like Haunted Mansion or Tower of Terror, where the other CMs wear elaborately themed costumes, they really look out of place. Many of the regular CMs at these two attractions play up the fact that these are "spooky" attractions, and they, in essence, play the role of a bellhop or butler.

But the effect loses something when the CM next to them is collecting Fast Passes in something I could have bought at the Gap. I thought I had read somewhere once that Fast Pass CMs were in a separate department, and this was the reason why, but even so, I see no reason why they couldn't at least attempt to fit the theme of the attraction.

But the point is show. One of those "Four Keys" Disney hammers into its new hires... and notably it comes before "efficiency" (that is, profit).

I read your article on MousePlanet on the whole costume fiasco, and I couldn't agree more. I started working at Disneyland (DL) shortly after the new costuming building opened, and I have seen the whole costume issue system just fly down the chute in the two years since.

I think the beginning of the end was in early 2001, when Disney made a settlement with the unions over CMs whose costumes couldn't be taken out on FastTrack and thus had to stay on the property longer. The result: All costumes were allowed to be taken out on FastTrack. But even under this system, Costuming could still more or less enforce the rule of three costumes out at a time.

Then with Costume Shopping at the end of 2001, things went really haywire. Costuming CMs keep issuing fourth, fifth, or sixth costumes without saying a word, because they are supposed to take into account that the CM had just turned in costumes that hadn't been scanned in yet. Under this system, CMs can keep out five or six costumes with no intent to return any of them.

You also mentioned the decline in appearance guidelines. I have no idea why in DCA each store has to have its own costume, even in stores whose full complement of CMs is three. What really annoys me is that Santa Rosa's costume is just Fly & Buy's costume with a stupid apron over it. They couldn't do what they do in DL, have one costume for each land? I mention this to illustrate what I've noticed: that your whole gripe about CMs changing locations without changing costume is more prevalent in DCA, but it still does happen a lot in DL.

Another problem I have lies in the two costumes currently worn in Main Street stores. "Cosmo" is currently supposed to be worn in Disney Clothiers, China Closet, Disneyana, New Century Jewelry / Timepieces, as well as a few others. "Smalltown" is supposed to be worn in all other Main Street stores, including Emporium, Candy Palace, and most of the smaller stores. For some reason, nobody seems to care about this anymore except for leads when it comes to their own costumes. The Cosmo costume is supposed to present a more "upscale" image, but that's been thrown out the window in favor of not losing CM work time.

Let's not forget that generic white polo shirt-royal blue pants combo worn by DCA stores stock, some DL character hosts, previously some Fastpass, DCA guest control, and any other CM who needs to look generic. It was good when only stores stock people wore it, then when everyone else wore it it was ridiculous; you didn't know who worked where.

Last rant on appearance guidelines: Apparently as a result of all costumes being available for FastTrack, too many CMs have Fantasmic jackets and Tomorrowland coats out that they're sometimes out of certain sizes. The solution: Substitute a non-matching DCA generic coat for both.

Also, when Fantasmic first came back this summer, they were out of many sizes of shirts. I saw a girl who looked like she could wear a small check out an extra-large because they were out of all other sizes. This was also apparently the result of the change in the FastTrack system.

Yup: a world-class headache. I've had trouble figuring out what in the world Disney was thinking with Fast Track anyway. Are lockers really all that expensive? Lost costumes, not to mention payouts to unions for violations on "walking time," have by now been far more expensive to the Company than just giving each CM a locker.

It is unscrupulous and downright unforgivable for a CM to steal costumes and auction them for a few extra bucks via the internet. One should never bite the hand that feeds you, even if it is too low ($$$) for the happy face we are expected to put on while onstage.

I agree with your attitude that the costumes should be themed to each attraction and area — it does make a difference. I recently took my family to Six Flags Magic Mountain and was extremely disappointed in our visit. Not only were generic costumes worn everywhere, but I also saw employees talking on cell phones in front of guests, as well as the cashier at the wheelchair rental counter listening to his own portable stereo blasting out vulgar, offensive rap music.

There was no magic to be found at all. Litter was everywhere, the walkways, planters, even up in the trees, for crying out loud! I have become spoiled by the Disney way of "rolling the show."

Of course, one detail here or there suddenly gone may go unnoticed. But in aggregate? The modern Disney company is fooling itself... but not the consumer.

I still have my Knott's Costumes.. but you're right: there is no market for them, well, except when you work there. Then we employees actually did collect them to a point, heh... I still have my complete Knott's uniform, including two shirts custom made for me.

There you have it: no one wants Knott's costumes. That's not to knock Knott's, which I think is a great park, but to point out that Disney has to be careful or risk becoming that much more special.

One that really made me chuckle was the eBay auction for a current Disneyland Resort security badge and uniform patches. Not to mention the series of auctions for current Disneyland Resort name tags made to order!

Disney has sold some uniform pieces through Company D as well as the Garage Sales at the Disneyana conventions. Specifically, there were jackets from the Disney Afternoon Avenue that took over the Small World Plaza for one summer. I got one at Company D and there were at least 100 more still on the rack.

Another serious chuckle comes when I see Club 33 items for sale. Everything from blank name tags to uniforms to the show plates has been up for sale.

Who knows what we'll see?

Security guards are not exempt from the lure of the almighty dollar!

Nice article, as always! I've never been a cast member, but I am a vintage clothing collector as well as a Disney fan who lives in San Diego.

In the past year, I was thrilled to grab a piece of an old Disneyland costume for a dollar at a local thrift store. Sure, they're just a pair of master chefs pants, but the fact that they were from Disneyland made it worth a dollar to me! Judging from the difference in the label and the metal zipper, the pants I got were at least from the mid-'70s, if not before.

Would you have any idea what happens to discontinued, old costumes? I have seen them for sale on the Web as well as current costumes, but I'd think Disney must have a way of selling or getting rid of them. Otherwise, that'd be a lot of mothballs.

Keep up the good work at MousePlanet!

Old costumes rarely die entirely; the pieces are usually recycled into new costumes. That's not true if we're talking about an identifiable pattern or color, though; those get destroyed. I really want a red polka-dot Cafe Orleans vest... but these are all gone. And what kind of columnist would I be if I hypocritically went out and purchased a costume after all this ranting that it's not morally right?

Hello, I have a question for you. I have an original Mickey Mouse tuxedo and also I have a Donald Duck coat. These are cast member costumes. I was wondering if you would have any idea of their value. And if you know anyone looking for something like this. Please let me know.

Thank you.

As to their value, that's anybody's guess. I suppose you could try eBay and discover they are worth a few hundred dollars each. Or you might discover they are worth 5 to 10 years in prison!