These Cast Members Are Allowed to Be “Mean” to Guests at Disney Parks

The smells down Main Street, U.S.A., the music throughout EPCOT, the people-watching on Hollywood Boulevard.

Guests returning to Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California after theme park pandemic closures have been enjoying the nostalgic moments and magic surprises that the Disney Parks offer.

One thing that glues this Disney Park magic together and makes our vacations so special are Disney’s Cast Members, with their two-fingered Disney Points, show-worthy costumes, and big smiles.

But are there Cast Members in the Parks that don’t have to smile?

Back on October 1, 2021, Walt Disney World Resort began its amazing 18-month long 50th anniversary celebration, dubbed “The World’s Most Magical Celebration”.

Guests can find new experiences and magic managed by Cast Members across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including Disney Enchantment, Harmonious, Disney KiteTails, and the beautiful Beacons of Magic.

We recently revealed the training that Cast Members receive at the secret “Disney University” across Disney’s theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

The Traditions class for new hires shares the importance of Disney’s culture, heritage, integrity, and policies, including sticking to the “Disney Basics” of show, courtesy, positivity and going “above and beyond”.

This training in staying in character is one that allows Disney to maintain its famed reputation of authenticity and performance. It also permits certain Cast Members to be “mean” to Guests if it relates to their character and story.

The Mouselets reveal in a TikTok video that Cast Members in specific roles and locations in a Disney theme park can be “rude” to Disney Guests, but that “it’s only allowed if it fits within their storyline”:

@themouselets

daily reminder to always be kind to cast members! #disneycast #disneyworld #disneyland #disneyvillains #disneyparks #disneysecrets #disneyfacts

♬ Mad at Disney – salem ilese

Disney Tips has compiled a list of the Cast Member categories we believe to be those who are “allowed” to be sassy or mean to Disney Guests, but, of course, there may be more!

Disney Villains

Cast Members who are “friends” with classic Disney villains such as Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, Lady Tremaine and the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1939) are certainly given more freedom to exude sass.

The Mouselets comment that villains are “allowed to be sassy or sort of mean to Guests as that’s their character”, and we have definitely seen some very amusing Guest interactions from villains in the past!

One particular character who oozes meanness in Disney Parks is Gaston from the classic movie Beauty and the Beast (1991).

Gaston is fun, charismatic, and really loves mocking Guests. Guests have posted videos of Gaston calling a Guest his “insignificant other“, hilariously roasting another., as well as showing Gaston yelling at a Disney World Guest for climbing on his fountain.

Green Army Men

These wonderful walk-about characters in the Parks, particularly in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, often berate Guests in their firm, military manners.

“I always hear them tell kids to do push ups”, The Mouselets write in their video, while one user, Jamie S., commented about her own experience with the Green Arm Men from Toy Story (1995):

“The army men called my dad vintage Gumby because he’s tall, skinny, had gray hair and was wearing a green shirt?”

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Of course, no Cast Members have more fun of a job in our opinion than the First Order members at Disney’s popular new attraction Rise of the Resistance. 

Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World Guests cannot wait to join the Resistance in an epic battle against the First Order, in the high-tech, immersive experience like Disney fans had never seen before. The Star Wars-themed ride features sequel trilogy characters like Rey (Daisy Ridley), Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac), Finn (John Boyega), Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), and the adorable droid BB-8.

Like The Mouselets say, “they’re literally supposed to be taking you prisoners so, of course, they’re kinda mean”. We’ve always been so excited to see what mean asides or direct roasting the First Order Cast Members add to our experience in Batuu. 

Disney’s “Haunted” Rides

Disney’s Haunted Mansion and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attractions are chockablock with Cast Members in haunting and eerie character. From their dark stares to their evil personas, these Cast Members have a lot of scope for their ghostly appeal.

Disney Dining Locations

Two restaurants come immediately to mind when thinking about “mean” Cast Members.

Both Whispering Canyon Cafe at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and 50’s Prime Time Café in Disney’s Hollywood Studios encourage their Cast Members to reprimand and mock their Guests. From telling you off for putting your elbows on the dining table, to spending too long in the bathroom or on your phone, Cast Members seem to have a blast having the freedom to roast Guests in character!

Disney even describes the 50’s Prime Time Café with some sass:

Pull a vinyl chair up to the Formica table and tuck into hearty home cooking like Mom’s old-fashioned pot roast, Aunt Liz’s golden fried chicken and so much more. Just make sure you wash your hands, put your napkin in your lap and keep your elbows off the table, unless you want a stern talking-to from Uncle Fred.

It’s Disney, of course, so the rudeness and sassiness is always all in good fun. These Cast Members perform in a role in which they have to remain within their storyline and character while managing attractions, food and beverage locations, or character meet and greets.

So next time you encounter a “mean” Disney villain, or a waitress scolds you for your table manners, remember to play along!