Originally Posted By dresswhites working at disneyland i got to see alot of the behind the scenes stuff. however fantasmic still remains a mystery to me. how big is the cast? i have heard that the pirates play different roles in the show is this true? do the pirates play any of the disney characters on the twain? or do the pirates play the snake walkers? Do the characters on the twain only do the show or do they walk about?
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I don't know where I heard or read this, but I remember the cast being between 40 and 50. I also heard that there were about 170 costumes used in each performance. I learned about this a long time ago, so I don't know how accurate I remember it or how accurate it is today. I think the people in the giant flower petals at the begining on the island come back later as the elephants in Pink Elephants on Parade. I believe they used to come back with the fiber optic things just as the Twain was coming around the bend. I don't know what they do now, they might be more characters on the Twain at the end, but I think the numbers have stayed fairly constant. Many of the pirates start out as the snake during the jungle book part. There are nine more that start out as the monkeys on the barges (three on each), who then change into the pirates. After being pirates, they change, but I don't know what they change into. They take off their costumes in full view of guests by the canoe dock (they wear stuff underneath, so don't be getting any ideas) and head off the boat. I'm pretty sure that many of them turn into the chimney sweeps on the top of the boat at the end, as they are a fairly random group of characters to have represented, based on how often they appear in other park settings. I would assume they just needed something to do with a bunch of guys, so they made them sweeps. I think that there are probably more that are characters, as almost all of the "tall" characters are represented on the boat. Most characters need someone who is about 5'2" to play them, but there are some where the requirement is closer to 5'8"-6'0" (like Goofy and Baloo), which would give the pirates more flexibility for the final scene. I'm pretty sure that the characters don't walk around and do greets, based on how the characters in parades work. They are hired through the parade people, and have nothing to do with the walk-around ones. The princes and princesses all stay the same through out the show. I'm not sure where Mary Poppins and Jane (from Tarzan) come from, since they look like they would take a while to prepare, and wouldn't be easy changes to make. I think there are 4 or 5 Mickeys, each played by a different person. I don't know if I'm counting right, but there is one at the beginning (sparkley tux), the one with Malefacent/dragon (tailor outfit), the one on the roof of the mill (Sorcerer's Apprentice outfit), and the one at the end (tux again). I think they probably switch around with the Old Hag and other characters who are hanging out on the island.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss This is from 1995, things may have changed: <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:FantasmicInfoCard95_crwb.jpg" target="_blank">http://commons.wikimedia.org/w iki/Image:FantasmicInfoCard95_crwb.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By dresswhites who is generally on the twain? i have seen alladin, mary poppins, Buzz, mulan, cinderalla, snow, prince charming, and i think i have seen tigger and pluto.
Originally Posted By PirateJohn >>This is from 1995, things may have changed: Like Ursula, for example?
Originally Posted By DlandDug The characters on the Mark Twain consist of a fairly consistent core group, and a few that change. Ariel takes pride of place on the bow of the main deck, although for one season Pocahontas took that spot. What is fun is spotting unusual characters along the deck rails. I always assumed the sweeps were up on the top because of all the chimney smoke. It makes a very appropriate setting for them...
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 To give you a taste of what characters you may play during a Fantasmic! performance. I had two very good friends in the show and here are the roles they played: Friend 1: Dancing Monkey, Pirate, Aladdin Friend 2: Flower Petal, Mr. Smee, Fiber Obtic spinner guy on island You can expect to play at least 3 roles during the show. There are VERY quick costume changes and if there are any difficulties (stuck zipper, etc.) changing into your next character you will get pulled. That is why you will see random characters on Mark Twain sometimes...most likely Aladdin (or whomever) didn't get out of his Pirate costume in time. It is VERY crazy on Tom Sawyer Island during the show. If you work a Fantasmic! GC shift and do "island set-up" you will see the whole cast leaving...40 to 50 cast members is pretty accurate. As a guest you can see them all leaving too if you hang out by the Hungry Bear after the last show.
Originally Posted By deadmentellnotales hey thanks for the tips, i'll try the hungry bear to see the CM's
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Our wonderful, precious, "gray-scale" Steamboat Willie... That's when the big-smilin' happy tears REALLY turn on for me! And I love the whole array of characters on the Mark Twain!
Originally Posted By alexbook >>I think there are 4 or 5 Mickeys, each played by a different person. I don't know if I'm counting right, but there is one at the beginning (sparkley tux), the one with Malefacent/dragon (tailor outfit), the one on the roof of the mill (Sorcerer's Apprentice outfit), and the one at the end (tux again). I think they probably switch around with the Old Hag and other characters who are hanging out on the island.<< B-b-b-but the CM's told me there was only one Mickey!
