Character Requirements

Originally Posted By HRM

What are the job requirements to be a Costume Character in the Park? Can someone actually request to be a character? I asked something similar over at the WDW section; and it's probably similar for DL as well, but I thought I would inquire anyway...

 

Originally Posted By PastKnight

I am also interested in that....and how often do they hold auditions?

 

Originally Posted By tcsnwhite

First, go to the disney careers website.
Then look up auditions and go to the disneyland resort section.

There, they will list the auditions for Professional actors/singers/dancers for the stage shows (auditions usually in New york and hollywood). Parades section is next. Then the Character section.

Look at the Character section and look for when auditions are coming up. Then look at what it is for, paying particularly close attention to what HEIGHT RANGES they are looking for. Then follow their instructions for prepping for the audition and go to it.

It did it and it is really not that hard.
Pay attention to the height ranges, because I got cut due to the fact that they had too many in my height range already and couldn't hire anymore for it at that particular time. The website did post my height range though, but that was still their announcement at the audition. SO, even though they post height ranges, they may not need certain ones in a particular range, and they will let you know when you get there. Don't know if that happens all the time though.

 

Originally Posted By PastKnight

thank you tcsnwhite

 

Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs

Something I learned from another LPer...

"Mascot" Characters: Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Timon, Pinocchio, Genie, Beast, Big Bad Wolf, Captain Hook, etc.

"Face" Characters: Snow White, Aladdin, Merlin, Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Peter Pan, Milo Thatch, Kida, Jim Hawkins, Mad Hatter, Evil Queen, Maleficent, etc.

 

Originally Posted By HRM

For those of you who have been (or still currently) Cast Members, what do you feel are the most important requirements, background experiences, or job expectations for someone who is a Costume Character?

 

Originally Posted By ToonFinder

FiveBearRugs: you'd never hear the word "mascot" from anyone in the character dept. It's normally 'Face' or 'Fuzzy'

HRM: Attitude is key... they can work with anything but a bad attitude. You should be able to move well, as in basic dances/choreography. If you have any sense of rhythm at all you should be fine. They don't do anything crazy.

Practice some non-verbal communication. You could be asked to demonstrate how Mickey would act when Minnie comes into a room... remember you can't say a word! Don't be timid about your body movement. Be fully animated from your feet to your fingers with large moves and lots of energy.

 

Originally Posted By HRM

Thanx tcnswhite & ToonFinder! Great info!!

I'm curious, do they (DL) ask a prospective CM do actually role-play a non-verbal scenario during the interview?

Also, where to character performers (the ones that roam the park and meet the guests) rank on the scale of entry level cast, i.e. compared w/ retail, attractions, food, etc.?

 

Originally Posted By ToonFinder

HRM: you wouldn't actually go to an interview at the casting center. The process for performing roles (including characters and hosts) is all audition based.

It's a huge cattle call audition where many many folks show up and they widdle down the crowd little by little. They will call you back for a second day if you make the cut.

They will ask you to perform all the normal duties that a CM would face on the job (signing autographs, dance, and for sure act out different emotions and such without speaking, etc...).

 

Originally Posted By HRM

How heavy are those costumes?

 

Originally Posted By ToonFinder

They rage pretty drastically. Some very heavy, some fairly light... all very hot.

 

Originally Posted By ToonFinder

** I mean range... not rage

 

Originally Posted By HRM

I guess "rage" would be appropriate on a very long & hot day for the CM inside.
;-)

For conversation, how much would an Eeyore or Goofy costume weigh?

 

Originally Posted By HRM

Thought of an off-the-wall question during the day... is the CM who accompanies and "protects" the Character in the Park a stand-by, possibly learning about the Character movements and behavior?

 

Originally Posted By mikrowave

So I'm guessing its quite a sweat-fest in the costumes on hot days right? I don't think I could handle that...

 

Originally Posted By tiggertoo

<<So I'm guessing its quite a sweat-fest in the costumes on hot days right? I don't think I could handle that...>>

Yeah, but you get a lot of breaks. I think it's something like 15 minutes on then off for a while (at least for non parade performers).

 

Originally Posted By OceanSpace

I don't work for Disney or anything, but I wore a full Strawberry Shortcake costume for some special events. I'm 5'3" & 125 pounds and I had no trouble supporting that huge head. The hardest part for me was the pants and shoes. It wasn't Strawberry Shortcake in her old dress, it was the new denim version. Being a beginner, it was a challenge to really make big hand gestures so that people could more detail through all that padding and then walking without it looking like I was dragging my feet.

It was a fantastic experience though. I got to wear it to take pictures with the Make-A-Wish Foundation kids who came to help with the Strawberry Shortcake float for the Tournament of Roses Parade. The kids, although I couldn't really see them, were so excited, giving me hugs, taking pictures, etc. I didn't want to leave, I think I was in there for about an hour before my first break.

 

Originally Posted By ToonFinder

The schedule is normally 30min on 30min off. On hot days that can seem like an eternity.

The people with the characters are called Entertainment Hosts or Character Hosts. They aren't understudies at all (though many of them also perform in character roles).

HRM drop me an email to toonfinder@gmail.com to chat some more about the costumes. I don't like to talk to much about the mechanics of things on message boards.

 

Originally Posted By tiggertoo

<<The schedule is normally 30min on 30min off. On hot days that can seem like an eternity.>>

I see...still a lot better then our 2+ hours between breaks.

In addition, there are also GC CMs who monitor some of the meet and greet areas (specifically Pooh). These are typically attractions CMs and have no connection at all with the Entertainment Dept.

 

Originally Posted By dsnymomi2

I was Taz once for a special event and it was a BLAST! We did 10 min on 10 off. I didn't want to go off it was that much fun! Of course it was inside a building, but still to fun! I would do it again in a heart beat! Especially at Disneyland! I wish that had where you could be a character for the day. Like at Sea Word you can be a trainer for a day. for a fee (of course) That would be so fun! I'd pay