Day 1 - The Disney Look

Yesterday, January 24, 2007, marks the beginning of my struggle.

After admittedly violating the guidelines set forth by Disney for ladies' footwear, I opted to drive to my 8:00 Traditions class at Disney University, rather than hold up the massive charter bus supplied as our (interns) transportation to our first training class. I maintained a quick jog from the massive charter bus, back to my car, and then, back to my apartment (a small, shared room provided for interns just off the Disney grounds- at a rate of approximately $280 monthly). As I changed into a closed-toe, open-heel shoe, I warned my roomate to carefully plan her outfit around the guidelines set forth in a book provided as our Disney Look dress code. Less than a couple minutes later, I turned the ignition to my car, pulled into a nearby gas station, and then began the ten minute drive to Disney University.

I encountered little trouble parking and soon entered the front doors of Disney University. Small groups of students crowded the lobby, just inside the front doors. I inquired about the whereabouts of the group of interns I had abandoned minutes before at the charter buses, "Is this traditions", I asked one group. Someone directed me to a room to my left.

Upon entering the room, I decided to stand in one of two lines, where students were being read some sort of directions, after being given their names. When my turn came to approach the gentleman with the list of names, he took my name and searched for it on a few typed sheets of paper. My name couldn't be found. He sent me back to the lobby of Disney University, to find a lady seated in a receptionist desk. Upon my arrival, she was nowhere to be found. As she returned, the gentleman previously seeking my name from a list returned to deliver me a "couple things"- as he called them.

Berating me like a four year child, this white male softly barked instructions to me, as if something I possessed offended his delicacies. "Firstly", he began by saying that I had to get rid of my gum. A newbie in the study of proffessionalism, I nodded, acknowledging slight embarassment over the fact. His second order demanded that I, "take care of", my hair color. According to this gentleman, the highlights in my hair were to drastic and needed to be modified. He then suggested that before leaving, I see the receptionist about rescheduling my training to a date post-adjustment.

At first, I was more peeved than outraged by the request. I had done considerable running around already, in order to meet the several meticulous standards of The Disney Look. In search of a second opinion, I found the Disney College Program Office, where I first encountered Kirsten Dillard, a reasonably friendly and tremendously accomodating receptionist. Miss Dillard directed me to Jeff Hickman and Sarah Inzirillo, who had the following to say about my hair color, on my FIRST VISIT TO THEIR OFFICE:
a) In contrast, my black and golden brown highlights were in violation of The Disney Look.
b) The Disney Look prohibits highlights that can be visibly separated
c) The Disney Look requires that the roots of my hair match my whole head

As Mr. Hickman and Miss Inzirillo relayed this information to me, hot tears rushed to my eyes, in light of their hypocrisy. I had previously visited Downtown Disney, just across the street from their offices, where I had encountered Disney employees in violation of the code being given to me. Futhermore, individuals in my own apartment didn't meet this criteria, yet had not been obligated to change their hair color. Much like the previous gentleman I had encountered, Mr. Hickman spoke to me like an insect, wasting his valuable time. Quickly changing from the subject of hair, Miss Sarah Inzirillo handed me a clipboard to be filled out before I could be fingerprinted across the hall. Burning with frustration, seconds later, I returned to the parking lot to phone family and friends about my next steps. I knew for a fact that:

a) I had seen Disney employees with visibly seperable highlights
b) I had seen Disney employees with visibly different colored roots from the rest of their
head

Still, acknowledging that my highlights were drastically colored, I was willing to compromise. Almost thirty minutes after I walked out of the College Program Office, Miss Sarah Inzirillo contacted me on my cell phone. I communicated to Sarah Inzirillo my knowledge of exceptions to the rules pointed out to me earlier. Because these employees were all white, and because of the disrespectful manner in which I had been dealt with all day, I relayed my suspicion of racism to Sarah Inzirillo. Miss Inzirillo adamantly denied this claim, in fact recommending that I speak with Miss Rachel Thorbiornsen, a Disney Look Specialist, about my "unique situation".

After returning to my apartment, for a few minutes, I recieved a call from Miss Rachel Thorbiornsen. We agreed to meet at The Pavillion, in the center of Vista Way apartments. After being convinced that my highlights were in violation of a previously commuicated code of compliance, I began to compromise with Miss Thorbiornsen, offering to opt for a solid hair color. Miss Rachel Thorbiornsen communicated the following guidelines in choosing a new hair color:

1) Lighter hair colors (such as blonde and honey brown) were inappropriate for someone of a darker skin tone (such as
myself), because they do not appear to be "natural".
2) A hair color that would not comply with "The Disney Look" in my case, would comply with "The Disney Look" on
someone with a lighter skin tone
3) "Disney Look" guidelines that apply to one person, may not apply to another person. Disney Look Specialists make
decisions "on an individual basis." Therefore, other employees with "drastic" streaks, may not be required to change
their hair color.
4) Disney wants all employees to maintain a "1950's" look...

After my meeting with Miss Thorbiornsen, I packed my car, and took a series of pictures of employees who violated the guidelines I was being made to comply with. All the individuals named above could only furnish one excuse for the discrimination that I faced: Disney is allowed to treat individuals differently. According to them, there is no one standard for "The Disney Look". A black female and a white female could have the same hair, yet one of them could be required to change their hair color before being employed by Disney.

I drove 9 hours from Orlando, back to Greensboro that day. That's where this case begins. This blog will see it through to the very end.