AMA: Former Walt Disney World Character Performer

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
361

As a mother to a special needs child that has hidden special needs (autistic among other issues) I’ve always wondered if it would be helpful to tell the attendant of the characters of his issues… do they communicate with the character so they are aware or would I be wasting my time telling them. I would assume they usually pick up on the special needs kids pretty quickly.

Also, I always feel rushed when we meet the characters, are you told to try and keep the interactions to a specific time limit?

THANKS so much for this thread and that you are still responding after all this time!

362

**Can you still do the Tigger signature? **
Yup!

**As a mother to a special needs child that has hidden special needs (autistic among other issues) I’ve always wondered if it would be helpful to tell the attendant of the characters of his issues… do they communicate with the character so they are aware or would I be wasting my time telling them. I would assume they usually pick up on the special needs kids pretty quickly.
**
If the special needs are very obvious or very common, the character performer will usually have enough experience with special needs kids in general that they will be able to make it work on their own. If it’s a less obvious/common special need, go ahead and tell the attendant. I don’t think I ever had an attendant give me specific instructions for special needs kids, but it I wouldn’t have been surprised if it ever came up, either.

Are you told to try and keep the interactions to a specific time limit?
We aren’t given a specific number of seconds or minutes, but we are trained to make each encounter follow the same basic format: greet, interaction (lots of hugs and high fives), pictures, sendoff. The interaction component is really the only one that has much room for variation in length, but we try to keep it reasonably brief so that we can see more families.

363

That signature is epic Cryptic. Also glad to see that you are so familiar with it you can still do it :slight_smile:

364

Interesting that the potential auditioners who posted to this thread were concerned about their height, build, weird physical attributes, etc. Cryptic keeps saying the same thing: go audition, have fun, don’t expect a specific role, and whatever role they assign to you will be loads of fun. There’s a whole slew of Disney characters that can accommodate any height/weight, and you’ll be wearing a costume, so how does your appearance matter under a rat head anyway?

A few years ago, I took part in video production for a documentary on workplace morale, and Disney was one of the companies profiled. One thing I thought was impressive is when they hid a camera in the service hall between the park outside and the dressing rooms. The performer wearing the Goofy costume stayed in character the whole time while walking down the hall, stumbling and looking goofy, even though nobody else was there.

365

You have tenacity, that’s for sure. For a CP that required 20-25 hours/week for about 5 months, Disney seemed to really leave a lasting impression on you. Do you still dream about your experiences?

Side question for you. So you mention frequently that you play a lot of guitar. Do you have a band, or any recordings on SoundCloud? You’ve definitely earned a few shameless plugs on this forum.

366

There were a lot of character performers I met who were exactly like that. When character head came on, they ceased speaking and transformed into the character, instantaneously and automatically. Even if an attendant asked them a question, they would gesticulate without speaking. Other performers would continue speaking and behaving normally until they were actually out the door and visible by guests. I was in the first category.

Do you still dream about your experiences?
It’s been quite a while since I dreamt about Disney, but for at least a year afterwards, Disney dreams happened pretty frequently. In the most commonly reoccurring one, I was performing as Tigger, then would suddenly realize that I was missing a costume part, usually my gloves. Sort of a weird variation on the “you’re naked but nobody notices” dream.

Do you have a band, or any recordings on SoundCloud?
I don’t have a band or a SoundCloud. Here is my YouTube channel, which has songs, tutorials, and a few other random doodads. Also, if you search iTunes for the album “Ready or Not” by Ryan Malloy, that’s me.

367

I was wondering, do you happen to know what they do with old costumes? My boyfriend is really interested in obtaining either the entire Pinnochio costume or just the head. Thanks!

368

I personally know lot’s of old things are sold off in auctions but out of everything I’ve seen I don’t think they sell character outfits. I’ve looked for similar things and have seen many costumes made by other people but I don’t think Disney themselves sell the things off.

369

Hey Cryptic. First off I wanted to thank you for keeping up with this, I have gotten a lot of information from it.

I’m a male, and I don’t want to sound like a jerk, but if entered the WDW DCP, would it be easy to meet the girls who play the princesses? Not meet the princesses, but meet an actress that plays one. I’m not looking to simply hook up with the princesses, but I would like to meet them, and possibly date them. Of all of this is too much, how much of a chance did you get to have conversations with the girls who played the? Thank you.

370

PS: The reason id like to know is that I’d love to find a great girl to date while at the program. Sadly I’m very shallow (I know I’m a jerk, I wish it wasn’t this way) and I’ve always found the princess thing to be cute. The reason I’m looking to date at Disney is because I go to a die hard Christian college, and I’m not religious, so it’s incredibly hard to find a good match here.

371

I was wondering, do you happen to know what they do with old costumes? My boyfriend is really interested in obtaining either the entire Pinnochio costume or just the head.
While I don’t know for sure, this post contains my best guess. Short answer: even if your boyfriend is very, very wealthy, it is highly unlikely that he will ever possess any part of any costume.

If entered the WDW DCP, would it be easy to meet the girls who play the princesses? How much of a chance did you get to have conversations with the girls who played them?
Well, if there happens to be a princess who is your neighbor, or the roommate of a female friend, or who has a break room near yours, then it would be fairly easy. If you’re a Character Performer / Attendant in the same break room that princesses use, then heck, you might meet half a dozen of them. As it happened, none of these conditions were true for me, and I don’t think I ever met any women who played princesses (unless you count Alice in Wonderland as a princess).

I’m not looking to simply hook up with the princesses, but I would like to meet them, and possibly date them. The reason I’m looking to date at Disney is because I go to a die hard Christian college, and I’m not religious, so it’s incredibly hard to find a good match here.
My thoughts, which you are free to ponder or disregard at your leisure:

If one were to say that he was looking to make the horizontal playtime happen with a Disney princess, I wouldn’t find that surprising or weird at all. Some of those ladies are gorgeous, and it’s a totally natural impulse to want to put one’s hot dog in the most attractive bun available. Shallow, yes, but also natural.

If one were to say that he was looking to date an attractive woman, and possibly meet such a woman at Disney, again, I wouldn’t find that surprising or weird at all. Sexual attraction is often the initial spark that leads to something more, and I believe that continued sexual attraction is important for any stage of a relationship. And where better to meet a plethora of suitable mates than at Disney?

However, when one combines those two desires, and expresses an interest in dating a woman simply because she is a Disney princess, that strikes me as a bit odd. If a princess asked, “Why are you interested in dating me?” and one were to respond with, “Because you are a princess,” then I suspect that relationship would not go any further than that.

If instead one were to enter the program with an open mind, and make a conscious effort to explore the staggering diversity of one’s fellow college program members, I think there’s a damn good chance of meeting someone that one finds very special.

372

Two things here Cryptic, 1st is that Alice is easily a princess, she’s the best looking (only the face characters, not the cartoon) in a weird sorta cute way. 2nd, that has to be the best way to phrase doing the dirty I’ve ever heard, you are a genius xD

373

I appreciate the quick response. Although I’m not attracted to them because they are princesses, but I think it is attractive. I’m not only interested in dating princesses, but as I’ve read, they tend to be the most attractive girls.

Another question:
I want to audition to be a Character Performer, but according to Disney’s site, the only auditions for that are in Orlando. You mentioned earlier that you had a local audition. Where did you find out about that?

374

When we were at Universal studios we had out pictures taken with Scooby and Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

When you were there did they introduce any new characters from newly developed Disney movies? Have they retired any characters that you know of?

375

Thanks for this thread - I’ve read every single post over the last few weeks and have thoroughly enjoyed it! I’m sure I’ll come up with plenty of questions sooner or later, although I think most things have been covered (sometimes multiple times! ;))

I wanted to reply to the person who asked about obtaining pieces of costumes…I did the Backstage Magic tour last year, and asked a lot of questions about costumes and performers. To cut a long story short, most costumes are burnt when they reach the end of their usable life. The guide said that Disney won’t risk the patterns for their copyrighted costumes being leaked and duplicated, and burning is the only way to avoid this.

376

Disneyauditions.com is the answer to your prayers. :slight_smile:

377

My husband probably thinks I am crazy for laughing so much at this post. Particularly in regards to your love of ravioli!

I have always wondered, do the Toy soldier musicians actually play their instruments? I can only imagine a trumpet player, blowing his brains out, when he can barely move as it is.

378

**You mentioned earlier that you had a local audition. Where did you find out about that? **
When I did my phone interview, after the interviewer asked all of the boilerplate questions, she told me about the audition and said that the nearest one would be in Rochester.

When you were there did they introduce any new characters from newly developed Disney movies?
I believe that the characters from Up started appearing in the parks while I was there. The timing seems reasonable: Up came out in May 2009, and I started at Disney in August 2009.

Have they retired any characters that you know of?
That I don’t know. Like Nintendo, Disney is hellbent on remaking and rebooting successful franchises, so it seems unlikely that they would retire any character they’ve bothered to create costumes for. Just look at Snow White, who still appears in parks. Her film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, first came out in 1937, and it’s been rereleased about a gajillion times since then.

**I have always wondered, do the Toy soldier musicians actually play their instruments? I can only imagine a trumpet player, blowing his brains out, when he can barely move as it is. **
Yes, they really do play their instruments, both the trumpeters and the drummers. What makes their lives a bit easier is that their choreography is very simple compared to the non-musician toy soldiers. We had all kinds of crazy formations to memorize, and they just marched along with a few flourishes here and there. What also makes their lives easier is that they aren’t cast from the existing character performer pool. They’re recruited from marching bands at nearby universities.

379

First off, I would like to say thank you for answering so many annoying questions, Cryptic C62. I have made an account just to post in your AMA.

Secondly, I am a 14 year old girl that has been searching for advice on becoming a Disney Princess Face Character. I’ve wanted to be one for quite some time now, however I won’t say that I’ve wanted to be one all my life. I happened to luckily stumble upon this forum, and reading the first few posts, I saw that this AMA was a couple of years old so when I finished reading the last few posts, I was really happy to discover that this AMA was still active. Most of the advice I have found on the internet is outdated, or very unhelpful. Again, thank you so much for answering questions since I don’t really know anyone at the moment that can be of much help to me.

I realize that my chances of becoming a Face Character are very, very, slim since all auditions have at least a hundred other people trying to get the same job. Sadly, I doubt that I will ever be able to become one since I live in a totally different state than Florida, and I don’t ever plan on going to any Universities in Florida. I also realize that becoming a Face Character will not help me with any future careers that I am interested in. I also know they aren’t paid very competitively, but I believe that being paid any amount of money for wearing a costume is reasonable. I have discussed working at WDW with my parents before, and they don’t support the idea.

So far, I’ve heard that you have to have the right height, a decent weight, and the exact facial structure. I know for a fact that I probably won’t get to be my favorite princess, or any princess at all for that matter. Everyone that knows me thinks that I’m pretty, but frankly I don’t know if that’s good enough.

I’ve read all of your posts, so I know about all the answers you have provided. I know that this is a lot to ask, and your probably not going to answer…But I want to know exactly about all the magic you need to GET THE JOB. So far, I know that you have to be engaging, and energetic. I realize that if I indeed do get a job as a Character, I have to wear Fur first. I have no experience in dancing or acting. I’ve never done improv in my life. I won’t lie to you. I DO in fact worry about what others think of me. I know I’m probably not perfect for the job, but I’ve heard that many of the princesses there probably don’t deserve the job either. I am in fact creeped out with the behaviors of many of the people who work there. Bottom line - I want to be a Face Character.

Thank you for reading this…I’ll probably add more to this later.

380

Wow I can’t believe this thread has lived for almost four years! I just stayed up all night reading it and just found it today. So new people are still reading it! I’m glad to hear everything worked out for you. It was fun to get a little glimpse of your life over the years. I learned so much from this thread thank you so much!!!
P.s~ as for the gaston situation, I just met him a couple weeks ago. What a cocky guy he is. All you gotta do is put “gaston meet and greet” into YouTube. It will entertain you for hours, you’ll love it.