Originally Posted By ToonFinder "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." Actually all the character photo locations (Pooh, Minnie's House, Triton's Garden) are staffed by Character Hosts. The only exception to this is Mickey's House... Attractions Hosts do all the working of the house right up until guests enter the movie vault... then entertainment takes over. In addition to the Character folks there is usually a Kodak photographer. But watch for the "Ask Me About Characters" button on the costume... only Character Hosts have those.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo ToonFinder: I know many a friend who have had Pooh GC shifts and these were attractions CMs. Maybe they changed things in the past year or so but in 2003-2004 we definatly worked Pooh GC. However, it is true that character escorts are always entertainment CMs.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo definatly = definately In addition, they always come back with funny horror stories about guest/character interactions. I don't envy you guys one bit.
Originally Posted By HRM >>I don't like to talk to much about the mechanics of things on message boards.<< Understandable... How about a favorite character among the CM's? Are there characters that seem to bring out the best or most memorable responses from guests at the park?
Originally Posted By ToonFinder I honestly can't think of one character location that is run by ops or attractions.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<What is Pooh GC?>> That's what they called it. It's guest control (GC) for the area as the line for the Meet'n'Greet area gets too unruly. And it isn’t “run†by attractions CM, they simply help control the crowd in the area, just like Fantasmic! or parades. All I was really pointing out is one shouldn’t assume that all CMs helping with the Meet’n’Greet areas are entertainment CMs as GC (which generally draws from attraction CMs) do help in these areas sometime (Pooh for example).
Originally Posted By HRM Ah, to be, or not to be.... a Disney Character... My 6-yr old neice just returned from WDW and she said her best memories, for now, were the autographs she got in her book. She spent 30 minutes just telling me about every character and what they did... pretty MAGIC STUFF!
Originally Posted By RidgebackLuver What is the basic pay scale for a face charachter? Is it different than a fuzzy charachter?
Originally Posted By HRM Once a CM is a Character, what other types of CM roles does this experience prepare a person for?
Originally Posted By HRM Update on my Niece's trip... One of the most memorable was w/Stitch; the 2-yr nephew was a little scared to approach Stitch, so his mom gave the autograph book to Stitch to sign. After signing, Stitch wouldn't give the book back to the Mom and motioned for the little boy to come and get the book. The boy was still scared so his big sister tried to get the book, but Stitch wouldn't give the book to her either. After a little encouragement from Stitch, the the boy finally came up and not only got the book and gave Sttich a big hug. AWWWW! Props to Stitch! Do CM's actually go over stuff like this, how to make a family vacation memorable? I mean the 2 yr old may not remember this; but I assure you the family will! And probably can't wait for their next Disney trip!!
Originally Posted By ToonFinder Hey HRM - That story sounds great. Those are the moments that make an entire day in the heat worth it. When characters spend that kind of time and attention, it doesn't come from any specific instruction on the part of Disney. It's more a factor of 'tribal knowledge' that is passed from one performer to another. Everyone has their favorite way to convince scared little ones to come and visit. Some times it works, sometimes not…
Originally Posted By Boo "Tribal knowledge" - I love it! Tigger in Dinseyland Paris did the most extraordinary thing. My 9 year old waiting in line to greet him, the line kept getting interupted by very pushy guests who were not being controlled by the GC CM, I suppose Tigger noticed this 'cause when my son finally got up to him, and when Tigger hugged him, he (she?) kept hugging and hugging and hugging... it was so funny how he just held my son, who was totally engulfed in all that ornage fur... probably couldn't see him at all, just going by feel and by instinct, and all of us were incredibly comforted by the sweetness of this French Tigger and also laughing and laughing as the hug went on and on and on.... it was awesome!
Originally Posted By lil_kim2005 Ridgebacklover - I think the wages are about the same for both face and fuzzy characters, someone correct me if I'm wrong. They're not that great though, something like 7 or 8 dollars an hour. <<definatly = definately>> Still not spelled correctly there, lol.
Originally Posted By tiggertoo <<definatly = definately>> Still not spelled correctly there, lol.>> Egad! I noticed lack of the “e†but missed the i. Hahaha. And that my dear is why I reign as the typo king. The sad thing is I have two BS degrees (Business and Biochemistry), graduated with distinction and am currently finishing my MBA at one of the most prestigious universities in America (UC Berkeley). Oh well. I guess avoiding typos isn’t something that can be taught, especially when I to lazy to reread my posts.
Originally Posted By HRM >>What's up with Oregon anyway? Ducks and Beavers? Oregonians are strange folk.<< [from your post @ CM at DL] Wonder what those Oregonians would say about the Bears? ;-)
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 Face characters are much higher on the pay scale. They get $13.50 an hour (that was 2 years ago). While many fuzzy are part-timers and only get minimum wage. My tip at the auditions: Always keep your game face on! They watch you every minute.
Originally Posted By HRM Whycome the range? Face vs fuzzy? So Alice would be higher compensated than Mad Hatter? Cruella DeVille higher than Pooh? hmmm. Snow White higher than the Dwarfs (no wonder "off to work they go"! sorry, just had to put that in ;-) I could understand, sort of, about the princesses, a certain look and everything... but those costumes are HOT!, are the face characters required to work longer greeting periods? Almost a beautiful people issue; almost, but not quite...
Originally Posted By HRM ...and Stitch earned his/her minimum wage from what I heard from my niece, s/he really had to work it to get the 2yr old to warm up to her/him... but that family will now spend another thou$and plu$ next year to go back to the Park becuz of this experience...
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 I never really knew why Face Characters got paid more. I guess because they are considered "actors". They do put on shows...like the Aladdin show (those are the regular meet an greet characters) and the Princess Storytelling. Finding Face Characters is also harder. There are many more requirements to be filled and like any job...the more specialized it becomes the higher the pay. Could you imagine talking like Snow White for 8 hours? I do agree that Fuzzy's should get paid more. They put up with way more abuse.
