I'm a new character performer... HELP!

[Parkbench]

Hey y'all! I just got accepted into the WDW College Program as a character performer from January-May. I have lots of silly and random questions that I was hoping a past/current character performer could help me out? PM me or email me if you want to help a silly blonde. :D Thanks y'all!!

-Hayley

[screnwriter]

Hey y'all! I just got accepted into the WDW College Program as a character performer from January-May. I have lots of silly and random questions that I was hoping a past/current character performer could help me out? PM me or email me if you want to help a silly blonde. :D Thanks y'all!!

-Hayley

I used to be in Characters/parades at Disneyland. What height are you? I'm 6'2" and played Goofy, Tigger, Capt Hook, Sheriff of Nottingham, Baloo, Little John, Woody, and others.

[Zazu]

Hey y'all! I just got accepted into the WDW College Program as a character performer from January-May.

Congratulations and condolances!

I have lots of silly and random questions that I was hoping a past/current character performer could help me out? PM me or email me if you want to help a silly blonde.

Feel free to post your silly and random questions here. This is the exact best place for them.

Remember, there are lots of lurkers out there who may want to know the answers to the same questions, but are afraid to post.

[Parkbench]

Hey y'all! I just got accepted into the WDW College Program as a character performer from January-May

Congratulations and condolances!

Lol. Thanks. It's only for just over 4 months.... Plus, it's a great chance to get out of Happy Valley, USA and see what I'm really made of....

Feel free to post your silly and random questions here. This is the exact best place for them.

Remember, there are lots of lurkers out there who may want to know the answers to the same questions, but are afraid to post.

Thanks a bunch!! Remember when you read these rolling on the floor laughing, I'm BRAND SPANKIN' NEW... and blonde....

Okay, I've gotten quite a few things about the "Disney Look"... But this mostly applies to peoples who are out where guests see them.... I'm hidden under a costume.... So what's the whole protocol with what you wear to work? Just whatever you want? And what do you wear UNDER your costume? Just a t-shirt and shorts? Or do they have some specific thing? OH! Okay, in the whole "Traditions" class outline.... It talks about going to different things, training etc, and getting your nametag.... Once again, I'm under a costume, so I won't need/get a name tag, will I? What kind of things do they do with you as far as training before you go out in the park as a character? Do you have to sign autograph books for kids certain ways as each character, or is it just whatever you can get out under the costume? Thanks so much!! I know these all sound REALLY dumb, but I'm the curious/like having things all planned out/trying to figure out what I got myself into kinds of people....

Oh! And Screnwriter... I'm 5'6''. From what I understand, I'm in the Pluto-Princess range. :)

Thanks so much again!! I know it all sounds really dumb... and I give you all permission to roll on the floor laughing. :D

BB Code corrected by Zazu 9 Nov 04

[screnwriter]

Thanks a bunch!! Remember when you read these rolling on the floor laughing, I'm BRAND SPANKIN' NEW... and blonde...

Okay, I've gotten quite a few things about the "Disney Look"... But this mostly applies to peoples who are out where guests see them... I'm hidden under a costume... So what's the whole protocol with what you wear to work? Just whatever you want? And what do you wear UNDER your costume? Just a t-shirt and shorts? Or do they have some specific thing? OH! Okay, in the whole "Traditions" class outline... It talks about going to different things, training etc, and getting your nametag... Once again, I'm under a costume, so I won't need/get a name tag, will I? What kind of things do they do with you as far as training before you go out in the park as a character? Do you have to sign autograph books for kids certain ways as each character, or is it just whatever you can get out under the costume? Thanks so much!! I know these all sound REALLY dumb, but I'm the curious/like having things all planned out/trying to figure out what I got myself into kinds of people...

Oh! And Screnwriter... I'm 5'6''. From what I understand, I'm in the Pluto-Princess range. :)

Thanks so much again!! I know it all sounds really dumb... and I give you all permission to roll on the floor laughing. :D

You'll be issued Character under dressings to wear. This includes shorts, t-shirt and socks. THe costumes will have feet or shoes with them, but you will want to have your own sneakers to wear out of costume. Wearing Pluto feet backstage, in shorts and T will look a little silly, plus you won't want to spill food on them at lunch time. ;-)

You'll be expected to play every character in your height range, so be prepared for challenges! You should practice up on writing the autographs of all of your characters, and learn to make them distinguishable and unique. You don't want to dot your 'eyes' with little hearts if you're playing Mr Smee!

Your character orientation will tell you most of the things you'll need to know, but feel free to ask questions. Better to ask questions in class, than to find yourself out in costume, out on set, all alone, and wondering what the answer to your question is when you really need it!

Have fun! Apparently you already did, because you got the part and are now a character.

[Parkbench]

You'll be expected to play every character in your height range, so be prepared for challenges! You should practice up on writing the autographs of all of your characters, and learn to make them distinguishable and unique. You don't want to dot your 'eyes' with little hearts if you're playing Mr Smee!

Thanks a bunch!! I'm glad to start to figure out some of this stuff. Is there somewhere that I can find out what all characters are in my height range? I doubt I'll be doing a face character... But yeah. Thank you guys so much!! You're wonderful!

[screnwriter]

Thanks a bunch!! I'm glad to start to figure out some of this stuff. Is there somewhere that I can find out what all characters are in my height range? I doubt I'll be doing a face character... But yeah. Thank you guys so much!! You're wonderful!

You won't be playing face characters without a separate audition. I don't know about Florida, but in Anaheim, you don't even have to be an existing character to be allowed to audition for face. Me personally, I'd rather not do face, as you can ignore the jerk guests and they'll think you didn't hear them. If you're a face character, they'll KNOW you can hear them as they're talking to you. Plus, I've known face characters who've contracted many a cold, flu, and even chicken pox from guests due to face to face interaction!

But that's a rarity, and doesn't happen in head costumes. You WILL be able to see the face of a child lighting up when he/she sees Pluto or other character for the first time. You'll get hugged around the neck by adults, "special" guests of all ages, and see the smiles on young parents whose child "only wanted to see you, Pluto" on that day. And you'll hear "I love you" more often and more meaningfully than at any time in your life.

And - lets face it - the characters are what bring people to Disney parks. You are part of an elite group, whose existance is a HUGE part of a guests day. And why were you chosen? Becuase those who've been there before saw in you the ability to bring Disney magic to the guests every single day.

All the best to you, and contact me anytime!

Patrick

[Sweetums]

Hey Parkbench, I'm a ex-character performer from WDW. Which park have you been assigned to? MK? AK? MGM? or Epcot? If it's MK or MGM, I can point you in the right directions, and give you some backstage pointers, but I rarely worked Epcot or AK. (-By the way, if you got MGM, you're in for the time of your life!)
Congratulations!

Okay, in the whole "Traditions" class outline... It talks about going to different things, training etc, and getting your nametag... Once again, I'm under a costume, so I won't need/get a name tag, will I?

For "Traditions" (held mostly at Disney University behind the MK) you will need to wear casual/dressy attire and you will receive your nametag in that class. You will then wear the tag for the duration of Traditions and the tours that follow. DON'T LOSE IT! You will have to pay for a replacement if you do. As far as the actual job, the only time you will need your nametag in characters is if you are assigned to work a character greeter shift. Because people call in sick and schedules get flip-flopped, you can (at any time) be pulled from your location to cover another position. Which is why they ask you to have your nametag with you at all times, and black shoes. Most WDW characters carry a gym bag with them everywhere they go. Lockers are provided, but impractical with all the traveling you do on a daily basis. I'll take a look at home this evening and see if I can find the complete list of characters available for your height range, although some of the characters that make daily appearances in one park may not appear at all in another. So alot depends on where you have been assigned. All in all, you're going to love the Holidays at WDW. You won't even miss your family, I guarantee it.

Here's a small list of "Pluto" height characters I can remember:
Bre'r Fox, White Rabbit, Mr. Smee, King Louie, Bullseye, Jessie (pending a fitting), Eeyore, Prince John, Friar Tuck

[coldfire409]

Congrats on getting charaters. I remember my failed audition attempt. I fell and landed on one of the judges. I knocked her out of her chair and landed on top of her. I really wish I had a camera on me when that happened. It was quite funny.

[Sweetums]

Congrats on getting charaters. I remember my failed audition attempt.

Yes, In order to be a character, you have to pass the first test.
Which is; Spell "Character".
(Just teasin' ya buddy!)