Also---------FOR ANY ASPIRING CHARACTER PERFORMERS!!!---------
I flat out, cannot dance… I mean I had to be one of the worst one’s there. However, as my friends know very well I am always smiling and EXTREMELY ANIMATED. It’s hard to keep me contained. Please understand you DONT NEED to be a dancer to become a part of the magic.
btw, I wrote the above statements after only reading to page 3, so good luck with whichever girl you are most currently interested in.
I kept my amp in the corner of my room, next to my dresser, with the guitar leaning up against it. Both were in full view when you entered the room, and probably could be seen from the window as well.
I felt comfortable doing this because:
A) The door to each apartment is fairly sturdy locks automatically. If an intruder wanted to get in, they would likely have to break a window to do so.
B) Each apartment complex is a gated community, in which every resident is an employee of a company with very strict rules.
C) I trusted all of my roommates.
Theft seemed a fairly remote possibility.
So I’ve been at Disneyland for a few days now (vacation rocks) and I’ve noticed a ton, and I mean a ton of Cast Members walking around that don’t look like they should be there. For instance when I see a Cast Member (female) just randomly walking down Main Street or something with her purse, very non-disney imo. I’m assuming this problem is either non-existent or at least not nearly as common in WDW.
Most memorable moment so far was during the Pixar Parade. I had gone to a meet and greet with Woody earlier that day and thanked the performer for making my day. It must have been the same performer playing Woody in the parade because he clearly picked me out (I’m very noticeable in a crowd) and gave me an epic salute (like he had done earlier at the meet and greet)
I can imagine that working as a performer it would make your day when older people (such as myself) have a great time with you and thank you for making their day.
Oh and some more questions I’ve thought of while at Disneyland.
**What’s your favorite ride overall or if it’s too big of a choice you can give your favorite of each park.
I’ve noticed more and more and more and more complaints of people complaining about working at Disney due to horrible work conditions and terrible pay and such. What would be your thoughts on all of that? (Sorry if I missed it before)
Opinion on Crush’s Turtle Talk? I went to it today and despite there being a crap ton of little kids in the show I somehow get picked to talk to Crush (not complaining though) I thought it was pretty neat how it worked, though I’m still not positive how it was done.
Do you have a favorite Disney Parade? (A show like Fantasmic works as well)
Are there days when you wish you could go back and just work for a day as Tigger again? (So you can trip over strollers in style!)
**
Bear with me, this list is getting longer and longer as I think about these questions.
**In your opinion what would be the absolute worst job at WDW or Disneyland. One that you couldn’t get paid to do. Regardless of how much they would pay you.
Most disgusting thing/event you saw in the park, go.
Have you ever read the Kingdom Keepers? I would recommend it, it’s for younger audiences however it totally changes the outlook on WDW. All the Small World dolls coming to life and attacking you, 'tis a glorious thing.
Okay, last question. Do you know anybody that worked on the Jungle Cruise? Also would you want to work there for a week? Not for weeks and weeks on end where it would get boring, just long enough to have fun with it. **
Whew, that got really long. Sorry for rambling on there. :rolleyes:
Almost forgot! What are the bathrooms like in the dorms? Weird question but let’s just say I like a bit of privacy in the morning and I’m not very comfortable in more public restrooms. Ya… Weird question but oh well, you said to ask you anything 
Oh, thought of some more stuff after watching Disneyland videos all night (literally all night, 6:30 A.M. atm)
**What would you do if your day was unusually slow? Were you allowed to go around to places or did you have to stay in your Meet & Greet spot? I’m curious because it seems that some characters like Peter Pan, Alice, Mad Hatter etc etc. can go pretty much wherever they want in certain lands. I’m assuming the only rules they would have is when they have to come back in for a break, and other than that to just go at it. Oh, and I guess Captain Hook would also have quite a bit of freedom because I saw him chasing Peter Pan around Pixie Hollow which is near Tomorrowland in Disneyland. (He actually sorta ran through part of Tomorrowland to, which I found rather odd)
If certain characters were allowed to wander around, do you know which ones? Other than those I’ve listed.
I know you’re no expert on the Princesses but I’m assuming that all of them have to wear wigs regardless of their actual hair, correct?
Would you enjoy being a face character there? I’m curious because despite how fun it might be I’m seriously doubting I would audition for face because I would have a very very very hard time staying in character if I had to talk (Let’s just say I’m good at sticking my foot in my mouth)
Now, most important question of the entire thread. What guitar do you have? :eek:**
Darn there being no edit button!!!
Anyway, Cryptic. You were in the Christmas parade as a toy soldier correct? Is there a story you forgot to tell us? 
Also, so I can give up on anxiously checking this thread every day how often do you normally check this place?
What’s your favorite ride overall or if it’s too big of a choice you can give your favorite of each park. (snip) Do you have a favorite Disney Parade? (A show like Fantasmic works as well)
I have exactly one favorite Disney thing: Lights Motors Action stunt show at Hollywood Studios. It blew my mind the first time I saw it, and it continued to amaze me every time thereafter. Bonus points because the intro music has polyrhythms in it.
I’ve noticed more and more and more and more complaints of people complaining about working at Disney due to horrible work conditions and terrible pay and such. What would be your thoughts on all of that?
What You See Is What You Get. The first presentation I went to made it very clear right from the beginning that Disney is strict and does not pay well. How can they get away with it? Simple: if you quit, there are hundreds of people who would happily take the job.
Opinion on Crush’s Turtle Talk? (snip) Have you ever read the Kingdom Keepers?
Never heard of them.
Are there days when you wish you could go back and just work for a day as Tigger again? (So you can trip over strollers in style!)
Y’know, I was definitely nostalgic about the whole experience for quite a few years afterwards, but at this point in my life, I don’t think about it very often, and I don’t have any desire to do it again. Occasionally I’ll mention it to a customer at my current job, but only because I think they’ll find it amusing, not because I wish I were back.
In your opinion what would be the absolute worst job at WDW or Disneyland? One that you couldn’t get paid to do. Regardless of how much they would pay you.
I don’t know that there is such a job for me. Working in the employee cafeteria seems like it might be pretty depressing, especially after having experienced the excitement of character performing. Custodial services also sounds pretty degrading, but I met plenty of people who said it was actually a lot of fun.
Most disgusting thing/event you saw in the park, go.
Horse taking a big dump on the parade path. Somehow I managed to avoid seeing any babies throwing up on their mom’s boobs or anything like that.
Do you know anybody that worked on the Jungle Cruise? Also would you want to work there for a week? Not for weeks and weeks on end where it would get boring, just long enough to have fun with it.
I don’t think I ever met anyone who worked on the Jungle Cruise. I never really wanted to try any other roles while I was there.
Almost forgot! What are the bathrooms like in the dorms?
Important distinction: the College Program housing is comprised of apartments, not dorms. My six-person apartment contained two bathrooms, each with a shower and toilet. Plenty of privacy for six dudes.
What would you do if your day was unusually slow? I can’t speak for other characters, but this literally never happened to me. Occasionally there would be a minute or two without guests, but we just wait where we were, because we knew it wouldn’t be long before they would show up again.
I know you’re no expert on the Princesses but I’m assuming that all of them have to wear wigs regardless of their actual hair, correct?
Correct. Most parade performers as well, not just princesses.
Would you enjoy being a face character there?
Yeah, I imagine I would enjoy that. I certainly thought about it at the time. Coming from a theater background, the prospect of speaking in character didn’t phase me.
Now, most important question of the entire thread. What guitar do you have?
1981 Ibanez AS-100. My dad had it since before I was born. If I ever help to manufacture a human, I will bequeath it to him (or her) as my father did to me.
Also, so I can give up on anxiously checking this thread every day how often do you normally check this place?
Whenever I think of it. Sometimes that’ll be a few times a week, other times weeks will go by before I remember to check again. It is possible to subscribe to email notifications for specific threads, so that might be helpful for you.
I really enjoyed sifting through all of your posts. Im applying for the CP next Spring and am considering a few different positions. Though I do have to wonder, can I be a monorail pilot as a CP?
Also, what would your comments be to someone that wants to do the CP and eventually make an actual career with Disney… such as working up the ladder to upper management.
Just so I can hijack this place xD
How is the Tigger outfit actually worn? Like the details of it. Where are the zippers, how is the head worn, what kind of shoes were on it. How do you keep the gloves on with all that bouncing. Those things xD
Can I be a monorail pilot as a CP?
When I was a CP, I remember being told that the only role that isn’t staffed by CPs was security. I also distinctly remember meeting a CP who operated the boats at Epcot, so piloting the monorail seems pretty plausible as well. The staffing rules may have changed since the time I was there, though.
Also, what would your comments be to someone that wants to do the CP and eventually make an actual career with Disney… such as working up the ladder to upper management.
I took two classes while I was down there: Disney Leadership and Disney Communications. Both of my instructors started off their Disney careers as CPs. One of them shared a factoid that among some particular level of management, every member started off as CP. I don’t remember the specifics, but the point they were trying to make is that if you’re looking to work your way up, CP is a damned good way to get your foot in the door.
My other comment would be to learn the rules and follow them. I had a friend down there who applied for the Professional Internship after her CP, but because she had gotten an official reprimand for tardiness / missed clock-ins, she was automatically disqualified.
How is the Tigger outfit actually worn?
Ah, the logistics of the Tigger costume, a truly fascinating engineering challenge. First, let’s enumerate about the components, from bottom to top: shoes, foot fur, body suit, waist belt, tail, gloves, neck fur, chinstrap, headgear, and character head. Lots of stuff to keep track of, and it all has to come together in a specific order to work. It stays attached using a combination of zippers, snaps, elastic, velcro, and magnets (yes, really). One of the main principles of the costume is overlapping fabric so that there’s no chance of exposure.
The shoes are just sneakers modified with velcro running along the side, just near the bottom edge. The foot fur is a small piece of Tigger-colored fabric with velcro along one edge that gets attached to the shoe velcro. This is assembled and worn first.
Next is the waist belt, which is used to hold the tail in place. The tail attaches to the belt using snaps. The belt just goes around your waist and attaches to itself using velcro. Once you’ve got this and the shoes set up, you can step into the fur suit and pull your feet through the legs, but leave the rest unzipped so you can prepare your other gear. The legs overlap the shoe fur by several inches.
The Tigger head is just a hollow sphere of Kevlar with snaps for your headgear and chinstrap. Both of those are sized to your noggin so that the head won’t come loose when you move around. The neck fur is a thin piece of flexible fabric that just velcroes into the bottom rim of the head. Grab the chin strap with one hand and the head with the other, pull it down onto your actual head, and tuck the chinstrap into place.
The gloves are basically just oven mitts, nothing fancy. Pull them on one at a time, then slide your hands through the arms of the body suit. Again, lots of overlap between the arms of the suit and the gloves. From here on out, all operations have to be performed by an attendant or a fellow performer.
The main zipper on the body suit is located in the back, just above a small hole where the tail pokes out. It gets zipped up from bottom to top, with the top area overlapping the neck fur, then the zipper is covered with by a flap of fur connected by velcro, similar to some children’s winter coats.
The very last item is, in my opinion, the coolest. In order to prevent the long, curvy tail from flopping around all over the place, the end of it is attached to the body suit using embedded magnets.
And voila! You’re a Tigger now.
And I find that just amazing. Now obviously Tigger’s outfit is a one piece deal (sorta, you get what I mean) so are there outfits that aren’t one piece suits? I ask because in this very special performance at WDW somebody stole the Beast’s belt.
First off, any costumes you know that this could happen on, and secondly, why would this have happened? (missing strap etc etc)
Danke cryptic.
EDIT: I started the 8th page!!! woop woop!
Registered so I could relay this story and ask a few relevant questions:
1997, EPCOT Center. My family and I are in a gift shop on a rainy day and from a short distance, I catch Chip, Dale, Pluto and Mickey. I successfully relay the rest of my family over there. We had been at a character breakfast earlier that morning and out of those four, only Pluto wasn’t there. Naturally, my sister and I want our picture with him first. As we’re getting ready to take it, I feel this giant furry hand on the top of my head. I turn around to see one of the chipmunks (Chip, I wanna say). The other one comes next to him, so it becomes a three-character shot. My head is being bit down on like an acorn and my sister is getting bunny ears. Fun experience before the family shot with Mickey.
- How often do characters frequent the indoors when the weather isn’t great?
- When more than one character is present (say in a free reign area like in this case), how common is it for one of them to invade another picture?
- Is there some kind of signal between characters to indicate they should team up and do something or do they just pick up on it?
Hi, Cryptic.
I am curious about a few things involved with the Disney CP, because I am seriously considering participating in it this coming Fall.
Just a few questions:
-
The credits that I would get for the CP are not applicable to my college. Would you say that it’s not worth it at this point if I can’t get credits for the CP? Or is the experience worth having with or without being credited?
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Are there any things I should know about the CP that most people don’t see coming?
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How are the classes you can take there? Which classes would you recommend taking?
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I really want to bring my guitar with me, but I’m concerned about leaving it in the apartment when I’m gone. How secure and safe did you find the apartments?
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Do they have televisions in the apartments? Or do you have to bring your own? I’m asking this because I want to bring my Xbox for the rare instances where I’ll have downtime.
Thanks again for this very informative and useful thread!
Hey i had one big question for Cryptic. Do you know where the more “realistic” eyed characters see out of? (Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald) Thanks! Reading this forum is easily one of my favorite things to do during school.
Do you know where the more “realistic” eyed characters see out of? (Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Donald)
Off the top of my head, I don’t remember where those characters saw out of. I can tell you that most characters see out of their eyes, noses, or mouths. Taller characters, believe it or not, often see out of their necks. If you look closely, you’ll see a patch of thin perforated material with the same coloration as the surrounding fur.
The credits that I would get for the CP are not applicable to my college. Would you say that it’s not worth it at this point if I can’t get credits for the CP? Or is the experience worth having with or without being credited?
Worth it either way. I didn’t any credit for doing my CP, and I’ve never regretted it.
Are there any things I should know about the CP that most people don’t see coming?
If you’ve never been spent much time in Florida, one handy piece of advice is to bring sweaters/hoodies/whatever. While it will be hot as balls the majority of the time, December nights can get fairly chilly.
How are the classes you can take there? Which classes would you recommend taking?
I took classes on Leadership and Communications. I found both to be pretty dull, though both of the instructors were very friendly, down-to-earth people. The other classes might be more interesting, but I wouldn’t expect much.
I really want to bring my guitar with me, but I’m concerned about leaving it in the apartment when I’m gone. How secure and safe did you find the apartments?
This post should help you out.
Do they have televisions in the apartments? Or do you have to bring your own? I’m asking this because I want to bring my Xbox for the rare instances where I’ll have downtime.
No, the apartments do not come furnished with televisions. In my apartment of six guys, two of them brought TVs. Also, I’m not sure where “rare instances where I’ll have downtime” came from. Are you planning on starting a business or training for a marathon while you’re down there? Your downtime certainly isn’t going to be eaten up by work hours. I probably worked 20-25 hours a week on average.
How often do characters frequent the indoors when the weather isn’t great?
This is a pretty common occurrence when it’s raining (though it only rained a few times while I was there).
When more than one character is present (say in a free reign area like in this case), how common is it for one of them to invade another picture?
As Tigger and Eeyore, I was never in that situation, so I couldn’t tell you. Both times I was sent indoors during a rain set, it was while working at the UK in EPCOT, where it was just Tigger and Pooh. I don’t remember where we ended up performing, but we didn’t have much space to wander around, so we were always in pictures together.
Is there some kind of signal between characters to indicate they should team up and do something or do they just pick up on it?
Nope, all improv.
Would you mind telling us where eyore sees from? 
Would you mind telling us where Eeyore sees from?
If I remember correctly, Eeyore had vision out of his mouth and eyes. The nice thing about eye vision is that you don’t have to sign blind. With Tigger, for example, who sees out of his nose, in order to make it appear as though the character is looking at whatever he’s signing, you have to hold the object above the field of vision, thereby signing blind. Eeyore, with eye vision, was much easier in that regard.
Dear Cryptic C62,
Your duty as a performer at WDW was 2009, most of these questions are from 2011 and today’s answer is April 4th 2014.
So what did you make of yourself?
Did college work for you?
Did you ever meet another special K and get married, settle down and have children?
Would you take your own children to a theme park?
So what did you make of yourself?
I currently have two part-time jobs. The more lucrative of the two: I work as a typist at a small audio transcription company. The work can be fairly interesting depending on the material, such as interviews with cancer researchers or unexpectedly articulate sweet corn farmers. Even when the material is dull, I derive some satisfaction out of the fact that our work is judged on simple quantifiable metrics: type fast and type accurately. Trying to do both is a fun challenge. I currently average about 4 hours of typing for every 1 hour of content (pretty fast) and 99.3% accuracy (slightly below average, believe it or not).
The other job is my labor of love: I work at a climbing gym as a front desk supervisor, youth program instructor, and routesetter. I started climbing about a year ago during my last semester of college, and by now it has become my favorite thing on the planet, so working at the gym makes me very happy. The routesetting in particular is my favorite task. For the uninitiated, it can be most readily likened to adult Legos. In a way, the routesetting is a form of creative redemption for me. Whereas my music was usually perceived as technically impressive but otherwise unlistenable, I consistently get positive feedback on my routes from both regulars and new climbers alike.
Did college work for you?
There are two ways I can answer this question. On the one hand, neither of my jobs have anything to do with my degree, nor am I likely to use my degree in any future job. I just barely make enough money to consistently pay rent, student loans, and expenses. I did a college internship that could have easily led to a full-time-with-benefits “real person” job, but because I believed that the people in charge were puny-brained crazy fucktards, I semi-intentionally burned down that bridge, thereby augmenting the challenge of finding steady work after graduating. Many of the passions I had while in college are now conspicuously absent from my life: guitar, jiu-jitsu, chess, lighting design, editing Wikipedia. I’m largely out of contact with most of my college friends.
On the other hand, college led me to the woman I intend to spend the rest of my life with (see next question), as well as climbing. Studying math helped to crank my problem-solving skills up to 11, which is handy for climbing, routesetting, and my other hobby, game design. I’ve learned to live and be happy with very little money, so my meager earnings are neither stressful nor embarrassing. The flexibility of my schedule and the fact that I play where I work mean that I get to pour a ton of time into my hobby, far more than most worker bees. Most exceptionally, I’ve managed to turn that hobby into an audience-engaging form of creative expression and a livable source of income within one year. I imagine that very few people, college graduates or otherwise, can make such a claim.
So did college lead me to the life most people aspire to? Nope. Would I change anything, past or present? Hell no.
Did you ever meet another special K and get married, settle down and have children?
I currently have a designated horizontal playmate who has been referred to occasionally in this thread as “Ninja Queen”. She is intelligent, articulate, patient, and easily the most diligent student I have ever met. When I first met her, I hardly noticed her because she was so quiet. Now I can’t get enough of her. We live together in a small apartment in Boston, where I do what I can to support her while she finishes up her degree in physical therapy. I’m in charge of income, grocery shopping, dinner, and washing dishes. She’s in charge of having a sustainable future. Marriage seems fairly a certain eventuality, as I am deeply committed to making her happy for as long as I can. Kids may occur in the distant future as well.
Would you take your own children to a theme park?
Sure, why not? I’d have a blast showing them around WDW, or exploring some other theme park.
Out of curiosity. Can you still do the Tigger signature?