Riding crop costumes go bye bye

[Isaac]

Originally Posted by Al Lutz

Just next door to Adventureland, the CM's at Club 33 will also be getting new costumes. They mostly be updates of the current designs, although the sexy French maid outfits the Club 33 hostesses wear are going the way of most of the other feminine outfits Disneyland used to clothe its female CM's in. In a frank realization that very, very few Americans in service industry jobs in the early 21st century have the figure to pull off uniforms with short skirts and form-fitted blouses, all of the new costumes for women feature cuts and styles that hide the figure rather than flatter it. Gone are the days when Disneyland only carried costumes up to a size twelve for women, and if you couldn't fit in that you weren't hired in the first place, or had to go on a medical leave until you lost enough weight. The language about mandatory medical leaves for people too fat to fit into Disneyland supplied costumes actually still exists in the current Union contracts, but it's simply not enforced anymore.
The next costumes to be replaced, and the one that will likely create the most conversation on the message boards, will be Disneyland's Guest Relations outfits. Yes, the fabled riding outfit in use since the early 1960's will be going the way of the Rocket Rods.

Disneyland's first ambassador Julie Reihm in the famous riding outfit that had
changed little since it was seen in the 1965 tenth anniversary TV show.
In its place will be a similar ensemble, but one with a longer skirt and a more forgiving blouse and jacket. The blue velvet hat and riding crop will remain, but the overall it will look more conservative and less conspicuous as the schoolgirl knee socks go away and even the plaid will be a dark blue pattern rather than bright red. The new skirt is planned to be cut just below the knee, rather than just above it, and the current pleats that can be unflattering to anyone bigger than a size ten will be replaced by a subtle flare at the bottom. And the blouse, vest and jacket are all looser fitting.

http://www.miceage.com/allutz/al112905a.htm

[Ponine]

I feel a very long mourning period coming on.
That is very sad, and in a great many ways... wrong.

I always wanted to wear a Club 33 outfit, and did in fact in my day, try on another cast members Guest Relations costume.
I need to go have a good cry now.

[Alex]

I'm confused by the thread title. Doesn't that specifically say the riding crops will remain?

[Isaac]

I'll change it

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hrm.

I guess this begs the question - just how "show" is the show?

I think they should have stuck to their guns and continued to hire hot chicks for the job. Actually, I think they should have stuck to their guns years ago and continued to hire hot chicks and hot guys for nearly all the jobs.

Disneyland is supposed to be a show-based hyper reality, and I'm ok with that.

Let the flames from the not-so-skinny commence. (No way in hell I'd post this at any other board...)

[Alex]

Well, you either do one or the other. Either only hire the petite and attractive (and how well will that work in an environment where they can't hire enough people even when they're willing to consider anybody mobile and not currently wearing a house-arrest ankle bracelet) or change the costumes to accommodate the people actually wearing them.

Fat isn't necessarily unattractive (nor vice versa), but the wrong clothes certainly don't help.

[innerSpaceman]

The problem is ... they can't get enough people of any kind to work for sub-McDonald's wages - - much less hawt youngsters who can write their own ticket elsewhere in the world.

The end of the fem-flattering costume phase has been long in coming. Ever since Storybookland Chicks lost their skirts, I've known that Club 33 French Maids and Tourguide Riding Crop Hotties were on the way out. It's sad indeed.

I'm barely relieved to find out that they will, in fact, be keeping the riding crop ... since it looks like I'll hardly be able to entertain the spanking fantasy when the Lane Bryant version of the costume is worn by a middle-aged mom or some girl with size more suitable to Kansas than California.


Le Sigh.

[Prudence]

Wow.

Guess I won't be making that January meet after all. I'd hate to be the one responsible for shattering people's fantasy of a land of perfection.

[Stan4dSteph]

Those outfits are hideous anyway. Good riddance.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Fooey. One of my favorite costumes.

I understand that it wasn't flattering to everybody, but I hate that the solution is always to go least-common-denominator with a costume that's flattering to nobody.