How Do the Parade Performers Do It?

[Cosmic Commando]

This is something that I've been wondering about for months now. I'm mostly referring to the friends of the characters, although I'm sure there's one or two parade dancers out there and your jobs are not easy either.

So, I think it's generally accepted that a set for a character at a MnG is 15 minutes. That seems to jibe with Mickey's cheese breaks and Pooh's hunny breaks and Chip and Dale's acorn breaks that I've seen over the years. I think James Stewart talks about it in Disneywar that he did a regular 15 minute shift with Goofy. That's not the part I have a problem with... I know the problems with the costumes, and the FL heat, the pressure of always being "on" all make 15 minutes feel plenty long, I'm sure. What I don't understand is how the heck the parade characters do it? You could easily be out there on that float for 30-45 minutes with no break, in the sun, jumping and dancing around. Compare that to the MnG characters who are usually inside or in a shady spot for a 15 minute session of shaking hands and kissing babies. How DO the parade characters do it?

 

[the-reason14]

This is something that I've been wondering about for months now. I'm mostly referring to the friends of the characters, although I'm sure there's one or two parade dancers out there and your jobs are not easy either.

So, I think it's generally accepted that a set for a character at a MnG is 15 minutes. That seems to jibe with Mickey's cheese breaks and Pooh's hunny breaks and Chip and Dale's acorn breaks that I've seen over the years. I think James Stewart talks about it in Disneywar that he did a regular 15 minute shift with Goofy. That's not the part I have a problem with... I know the problems with the costumes, and the FL heat, the pressure of always being "on" all make 15 minutes feel plenty long, I'm sure. What I don't understand is how the heck the parade characters do it? You could easily be out there on that float for 30-45 minutes with no break, in the sun, jumping and dancing around. Compare that to the MnG characters who are usually inside or in a shady spot for a 15 minute session of shaking hands and kissing babies. How DO the parade characters do it?

I remember thinking about this recently, and I honestly don't know. Not just the men and women in the costumes but the people who walk the streets and do the choreography and smile and wave. I can't imagine how they do it. Spectro and MSEP seems a little more tolerable, but the daytime parade!? Imagine walking slowly from main street to frontierland in the middle of July, all the while trying to have a smile on your face. Hats off to them because that is some brutal stuff!! I can't imagine doing that without dodging the sun by walking in and out of shops let alone having to smile and stuff. Whew!!! I'm sweating just thinking about it.

 

[Spideyfreak110]

I used to work at the Walters Art Gallery. We had an awesome mascot that was great for the kids. Anyways, I remember dressing up in the costume. There was a harness that went around the shoulders and torso, and it had slots in it all over the place. You would then place frozen water packs in the slots, then put the outer garment on. It would keep the inside cool for 45 minutes to an hour. Then all the sudden it would get hot, and we would go backstage to put the other set in.

I can see this method being used for the characters in the parade.

 

[Xethos]

I dont know if Disney uses them but I have read that Nascar drivers where this sort of jacket that has a pump attached to it that circulates cold water through it. Im sure they use something of the sort.

 

[Fantasmic]

They will sweat. A LOT. I suppose adrenaline will be running high too.

I do a lot of theatre, it can get really hot on stage with all the lights and dancing/singing etc. You just kinda switch into performance mode and don't notice it!

I'm sure quite a few performers will get treated for heat-stroke over the summer months.

 

[jlevis]

I'm sure quite a few performers will get treated for heat-stroke over the summer months.

Heat stroke is a life threatening condition so I hope not. Which is not to say that the heat issues are not real and I'm sure that there are precautions are taken.

 

[wdwmagic]

This is something that I've been wondering about for months now. I'm mostly referring to the friends of the characters, although I'm sure there's one or two parade dancers out there and your jobs are not easy either.

So, I think it's generally accepted that a set for a character at a MnG is 15 minutes. That seems to jibe with Mickey's cheese breaks and Pooh's hunny breaks and Chip and Dale's acorn breaks that I've seen over the years. I think James Stewart talks about it in Disneywar that he did a regular 15 minute shift with Goofy. That's not the part I have a problem with... I know the problems with the costumes, and the FL heat, the pressure of always being "on" all make 15 minutes feel plenty long, I'm sure. What I don't understand is how the heck the parade characters do it? You could easily be out there on that float for 30-45 minutes with no break, in the sun, jumping and dancing around. Compare that to the MnG characters who are usually inside or in a shady spot for a 15 minute session of shaking hands and kissing babies. How DO the parade characters do it?

20 minute set times for meet and greets is the shortest possible for the summer. Typically the sets are more along the lines of 30 minutes for most of the year.

Disney characters are just tough. :sohappy:

 

[DisneyJoe]

20 minute set times for meet and greets is the shortest possible for the summer. Typically the sets are more along the lines of 30 minutes for most of the year.

Disney characters are just tough

That's been my experience too - 15 minutes is too short for a M&G set.

 

[lbrad]

I know when we were there this July watching the MK's afternoon parade ... many of the dancers/performers were sweating profusely!!! I felt so bad for them.

They do an AWESOME job:sohappy:

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I used to work at the Walters Art Gallery. We had an awesome mascot that was great for the kids. Anyways, I remember dressing up in the costume. There was a harness that went around the shoulders and torso, and it had slots in it all over the place. You would then place frozen water packs in the slots, then put the outer garment on. It would keep the inside cool for 45 minutes to an hour. Then all the sudden it would get hot, and we would go backstage to put the other set in.

I can see this method being used for the characters in the parade.

I dont know if Disney uses them but I have read that Nascar drivers where this sort of jacket that has a pump attached to it that circulates cold water through it. Im sure they use something of the sort.

Characters don't have anything artificial to cool them down. They do it through shear determination and hard work. I imagine that it is extremely tough, and that they get very hot and tired performing. However, these are also usually people that having training in the matter and are going to be somewhat athletic due to the nature of the beast. So while it is still tough, they are probably prepared for it better than most.

 

[EvanAnderson]

I remember when I used to work at MK. I would walk behind Main Street and I would see the tables set up back where the parade steps off. Nothing but long tables worth of water, ice, cups, and like 5 huge fans with misters attached to them already on high power. I'm guessing the characters just wait until they're out of the line of sight, then dump everything and cool off.

 

[Cosmic Commando]

20 minute set times for meet and greets is the shortest possible for the summer. Typically the sets are more along the lines of 30 minutes for most of the year.

Disney characters are just tough. :sohappy:

Thanks for the info. In Disneywar, he was in DAK during the summer and he wasn't actually a character performer, so that's probably where the 15 mins came from.

 

[koryadams]

It's actually quite do-able. I was in Disney's Magic Music Days (2007 & 2009) and I marched in the Magic Kingdom with my band. We had black and red uniforms (pants and jacket top plus what we had on underneath for after the parade) and I played the snare drum AND we marched the whole parade route and stopped once to play. It was a muggy day, and the uniform was sticky by the end, but it was like not completely horrible. I made it without dying lol. But yeah, having on a costume and standing or walking in a parade without 20 pounds on your shoulders sounds better! lol

I will never forget those amazing opportunities!!!