What is The Disney Point & Why All Cast Members Do It

Of all of the (very) strict rules that Disney cast members must follow, The Disney Point is one of the most important and most enforced!

Have you ever noticed that a Disney cast member never points with one finger? If you haven’t, you will now. It’s one of the first thins we’re taught during Traditions. Read on to learn all about The Disney Point.

Because so many people from all around the world travel to Walt Disney World, we have to be careful we are not coming across rude or disrespectful. Disney is very aware of the different cultural rules and customs. And in many countries, pointing with one finger is considered extremely impolite.

At Disney, you will never see an employee point with one finger. It is always with two or the whole palm. Traditionally, you use the two-finger point for shorter distances and the whole palm for longer distance. For instance, if you were telling a guest that the bathroom was up around the corner, you would use two fingers. However, if you were directing them across the park, you would use your entire hand.

There may be another reason for The Disney Point

Disney folklore says that Walt Disney always had a cigarette between his fingers. When he would point things out to guests, it looks like The Disney Point. Whether that true or not will forever be a mystery, but it’s a fun story to tell. It’s also said that Walt is doing the famous point in the Partners statue that sits in front of Cinderella Castle. The next time you’re at the Magic Kingdom, look for yourself!

Having worked at Animal Kingdom for quite some time now, The Disney Point is now engrained into my hand gestures. I rarely point with only one finger, and I’ve heard that retired cast members still do it many years later! Recently, I was teaching a group of fifth-graders. I told them this little secret, and the whole class, including the teacher, loved it! I now have 24 fifth graders doing “The Disney Point”, ha!

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Written by my daughter, Brittany. She completed several Disney internships and eventually accepted a full-time position on the conservation team at Animal Kingdom. Read all about her time there over at her blog Britty Loves Disney.