I want to be Mickey Mouse...

[kristalovesWDW]

So, here's my plan. I'm going to college here in Minnesota for a Communications degree. I'm unsure what I'll do with it, and maybe someone can answer that. Any communications majors on the boards? What are the best jobs to get in WDW that involve a major in Comm.?

I worked at Chuck E. Cheese's for over a year here in Minnesota, and I was assigned the role of Chuckie. About 4 months after I had been there, I won the "Best Chuckie" award, meaning I had done an outstanding job as Chuckie himself. Don't mind me, but I was THRILLED! Will they take this into consideration if and when I audition for a character in the future?

I don't understand the auditioning process when it comes to costumed characters, either. If I was given the chance to be a costumed character, would I just be ONE or would I be MANY? Do I have to have a very large dance background just to be a costumed character?

Overall, I'm hoping to get a full-time job somewhere in WDW in Communications, somehow, and maybe a part-time job on the side as a costumed character. Like many people, it's been my dream. And I want to make it come true. Help!

 

[kcw]

First off, you don't audition to be a character, you audition to be friends with a character- Disney has a little higher character integrity than chuck e cheese :animwink: Yes, you would be friends with many characters, not just one. Your height determines which characters those may be. A strong dance background isn't required, but it would definitely help. Your background working at chuck e cheese won't really help though, they don't really look at that.

As for working in communications as well, I don't believe you can work in two departments within the company- although someone can correct me if I'm wrong. I know you can't work at two different places (ex. DLR and WDW, or WDW and DCL), so I imagine it's almost the same case

 

[soccer9miahamm]

I am a Mass Communications major. My plan is to do the CP wherever they put me, and apply for some Professional Internships in a Guest Relations-type area, Photography (my emphasis), or some other high guest contact area.

 

[echoscot]

So, here's my plan. I'm going to college here in Minnesota for a Communications degree. I'm unsure what I'll do with it, and maybe someone can answer that. Any communications majors on the boards? What are the best jobs to get in WDW that involve a major in Comm.?

I worked at Chuck E. Cheese's for over a year here in Minnesota, and I was assigned the role of Chuckie. About 4 months after I had been there, I won the "Best Chuckie" award, meaning I had done an outstanding job as Chuckie himself. Don't mind me, but I was THRILLED! Will they take this into consideration if and when I audition for a character in the future?

I don't understand the auditioning process when it comes to costumed characters, either. If I was given the chance to be a costumed character, would I just be ONE or would I be MANY? Do I have to have a very large dance background just to be a costumed character?

Overall, I'm hoping to get a full-time job somewhere in WDW in Communications, somehow, and maybe a part-time job on the side as a costumed character. Like many people, it's been my dream. And I want to make it come true. Help!

If you wish to get hired in entertainment that is a good start. You could then use your degree to move into roles such as Production Assistant which can then open up networking opportunities for you.

 

[WDWKat26]

Working at Chuck E Cheese and working in Disney Entertainment are two COMPLETELY different things. You're sometimes outside in 95 degree weather, sometimes for 45 minutes without a break. So think about it being about 120 degrees. Also, you work around TONS of guests grabbing at you, and pulling at you. So whoever you see in one shift at Chuck E Cheese, triple that.

 

[Eeyore]

As for working in communications as well, I don't believe you can work in two departments within the company- although someone can correct me if I'm wrong. I know you can't work at two different places (ex. DLR and WDW, or WDW and DCL), so I imagine it's almost the same case

You're right. You can work in only one department at a time.

 

[wedway71]

If you are going for Communications you might like one of my Favorite sites..

www.wdwpublicaffairs.com

It showcases daily events from the PR arm of WDW.

It even has Bios of some Executives in Public Affairs for Disney that have backrounds in Communication.

BTW.....I tried to audition as Mickey too. I told them I did a GREAT Barney for my daughters birthday and they had Security escort me out.

 

[coilback]

You're right. You can work in only one department at a time.

Well yes and no. I work in Entertainment, but I'm still "signed off" in Operations at Epic so I can still pick up shift there and that would technically be working in two departments, BUT, I'm not actually scheduled in both, just able to pick up shifts (not that I need to, plenty of hours in Entertainment for me, which pays better).

For instance, if you got hired as a character, but then a few months down the road, you got put at Team Disney or something, you could still pick up shifts as a character (I believe, not sure if characters are the same as other divisions of Entertainment).

 

[progroupie]

Working at Chuck E Cheese and working in Disney Entertainment are two COMPLETELY different things. You're sometimes outside in 95 degree weather, sometimes for 45 minutes without a break. So think about it being about 120 degrees. Also, you work around TONS of guests grabbing at you, and pulling at you. So whoever you see in one shift at Chuck E Cheese, triple that.

You wouldn't be outside in 95 degree weather for 45 minutes as a Disney character unless you were doing a parade.

 

[progroupie]

So, here's my plan. I'm going to college here in Minnesota for a Communications degree. I'm unsure what I'll do with it, and maybe someone can answer that. Any communications majors on the boards? What are the best jobs to get in WDW that involve a major in Comm.?

I worked at Chuck E. Cheese's for over a year here in Minnesota, and I was assigned the role of Chuckie. About 4 months after I had been there, I won the "Best Chuckie" award, meaning I had done an outstanding job as Chuckie himself. Don't mind me, but I was THRILLED! Will they take this into consideration if and when I audition for a character in the future?

I don't understand the auditioning process when it comes to costumed characters, either. If I was given the chance to be a costumed character, would I just be ONE or would I be MANY? Do I have to have a very large dance background just to be a costumed character?

Overall, I'm hoping to get a full-time job somewhere in WDW in Communications, somehow, and maybe a part-time job on the side as a costumed character. Like many people, it's been my dream. And I want to make it come true. Help!

Communications is a good degree to have is you plan to eventually work in Disney management in any area, not just entertainment. If you audition your height is really the biggest factor, if you're in a height range that is in high demand, you'll prob get a job, if not you'll be asked to look into something else. If you get hired into entertainment you'd be multiple characters. If you managed to win an award for being the best Chuckie you must have been pretty good at what you did, so even if the actual award on your resume doesn't count it gives you the experiance to show Disney that you'd be good in a character position and it'd give you a one up in the audition process. But what you can do in an audition is far more important than anything on your resume.

 

[WDWKat26]

You wouldn't be outside in 95 degree weather for 45 minutes as a Disney character unless you were doing a parade.

Yes, I know. I was in Entertainment for 4 years. And i'm thinking of parades like Jammin' Jungle or Disney Dreams Come True Parade.

 

[WDWKat26]

Oh, and note that I said sometimes in my original post.

 

[progroupie]

I know that you know that, I'm just saying it so the original poster won't think she would be outside doing 45 minute sets in 90 degree weather on a daily basis.

 

[WDWKat26]

True, however I have a friend who hung out with Chuck E Cheese, and told me that it's nothing like Disney. She told me that Disney was a lot more labor intensive, and obviously warmer (if you catch my drift).