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You may vacation at Disney every year, but to true locals, you still have the delicate aroma de tourist. Anyone who lives and works at Disney can spot a vacationer a mile away, but do you know how to spot the locals?

Disney Cast Members do, of course, visit the parks themselves with their families and friends. Sometimes, they'll also work in street clothes - for example, when checking that the experience of a particular ride or attraction is up to scratch.

These little quirks will help you spot a Cast Member sans costume almost any day.

1. Look for People Watchers in the Park

Tourists usually spend their time in Walt Disney World looking at the park. Cast Members are less interested in the features of the park, and more attentive to the people around them. They lack the frantic pace of visitors who see the parks rarely, or perhaps even once in a lifetime. When Cast Members are taking in the theme parks on a day off, they’re visiting the same way most people would hit a mall or local museum.

Visitors who are strolling at a leisurely pace or sitting on a bench with no sense of impatience or anticipation about them are often Cast Members. Those who are getting more enjoyment out of people watching than park ogling almost certainly are.

2. Check Out How they Point

Cast Members can’t help it. They might be pointing out the bread isle at WalMart or the nearest open pump at the gas station and most of them will still use the signature two finger Disney point. Since this is a fairly unnatural way to gesture, chances are excellent that anyone you see using the Disney point around the Central Florida area is a current or former Walt Disney World Cast Member.

3. Put on a Birthday Button and See What Happens

Birthday buttons are a great way to get lots of attention when you’re in the Disney parks. Cast Members everywhere will give you a cheerful birthday greeting for your special day. The problem with automatically responding to these buttons all day when you’re in costume, is that it makes it really difficult not to do the exact same thing in street clothes.

There are undoubtedly some really kind strangers who will wish you happy birthday just to be nice, so this isn’t a fail proof indicator that you’ve spotted a Cast Member, but it’s a good place to start. If you see someone start to wish you happy birthday and stop themselves, or say it and immediately look like they wish they hadn’t…you’re almost certainly dealing with someone who works in the parks and knows they just blew their cover.

 
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Comments

I am guilty of doing all of that. When at the park with my daughter, she tells me "Mom, you are off the clock!" My husband laughs when we are out and I use the two finger point.

I LOVE being a Disney CM. I have held high paying corporate positions but they never gave me the Joy I receive every day at WDW.

We have some crazy short-hand too when referring to things. A Cast Member is a "CM". Magic Kingdom is MK. Animal Kingdom is DAK. "On stage" is a guest area. If you're listening to two people talk and it seems like half the time they're using acronyms, they're probably Disney CMs.

Lol Ive done every one of these things. Havent worked there in two years and I still use the two finger point.

I've never been a cast member, but we go often, we've picked up some of their traits. Yes, I point with two fingers and frequently wish guests Happy birthday or anniversary. And I love to people watch. Since we have adult children and frequently go by ourselves, I loved to watch the reactions of other people's children.

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