Just who IS in those costumes? AND are they coached how to act?

[ddrongowski]

No one is asking anyone to BELIEVE anything. I'm just asking for people to watch what they say in public. For many people the magic is real, and cast members do everything they can to preserve this. My post was about character integrity and why it is important. Anyone can take a quote out of context and make an argument around it.
People can be realists all they want, I just wish they wouldn't go around raining on other people's parade.

So sorry you read my post wrong, it is tongue in cheek. Did you see all the emoticons at the end?

 

[Howwonderfullifeis]

So sorry you read my post wrong, it is tongue in cheek. Did you see all the emoticons at the end?

I'm sorry, but getting someone's tone online is very difficult for me, so I just assumed everything you said was serious and that the emoticons at the end were just random! That's what I get for assuming!
I feel a little foolish now, as you can see I'm passionate about this subject. Sorry!

 

[DisneyPan]

Haa. This thread is funny to read. I feel once the head is on and the back is zippered up the character is real. I was "friends" with characters and I still believe. It's all in the mind...

 

[DisneyPan]

Let's just say, if you're lucky enough to get hit on by a Disney character, then that's a magical moment in itself.

 

[The Mighty Tim]

Let's just say, if you're lucky enough to get hit on by a Disney character, then that's a magical moment in itself.

I'd definitely have a magical day if that happened to me!

 

[Dragonrider1227]

The characters are cast by height. Gender plays no part of the process.

And, yes, the characters are taught certain mannerisms...

So...I would guess that, yes, you have probably interacted with a male at some point. Don't worry about it.

Are you telling me the Jessie I hugged and let me put my arm around during photos might've been a man?

 

[FettFan]

Let's just say, if you're lucky enough to get hit on by a Disney character, then that's a magical moment in itself.

Jasmine winked at me once back in 2006.

 

[JimJam]

What Costumes?

 

[DJMoore2011]

WARNING MAY NOT BE BEST TO LET YOUNG CHILDREN (under 13) SEE THIS POST!!!!!!!!!

Welllll...... this is very very disturbing..... So was the alien from alien encounter real also?/looks around carefully/ If so then WDW is a very unsafe place, and should be avoided if you do not wish to be ripped apart. I am sorry I am a realist, and as so, there is an age (as far as I am concerned that is 13) that you have to no longer believe that the characters are real./flaming comments inbound/ That includes the tooth fairy, santa claus, easter bunny, the great pumpkin, etc...
"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways."
Now that all being said, I go to WDW to enjoy myself and be with my wife and son. Why in the world would I want to do that? Well if you think about it:
There are 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week, this is only 168 hours.
168 hours minus work and travel to ands fro work takes away 55 hours to leave a balance of 113 hours.
Of that 113 hours 56 hours of that is sleeping taking us to 57 hours.
That is not a lot of time together in 7 days.
So for about 9 days each year we hang out together and have a wonderful "together time" at WDW. When my son was young yes he enjoyed the characters, and mom and I enjoyed "him and his excitement". But he stopped wanting to do the characters around age 8 as he figured out on his own that they are not what they "appear"/wink wink/ to be, and that creeps him out. That is the word he used, yes "creeps", as "No mom and dad, I do not want to see fill in the blank character, as they are just a nosrep in a emutsoc, and that creeps me out".

No offense to those out there that enjoy hugging etc... the characters, have at it, as it does not harm us or anyone else in anyway, that we know of.

NOW FOR THE EMOTICONS!!!!!


That should cover it and feel free to use them where needed.

I wounder where my Darling Daughter would fit into your thinking, physically she is 19 years old. But she is Special Needs and mentally she is about 6 years old. If I go by your logic then because she is 19 I should burst her bubble and tell her Santa, Easter Bunny, and the Disney Characters she met in 2011 are not "real". That wont happen because she WANTS to meet the Characters and for as long as she wants to meet and Believes in the Pixie Dust and Magic of Walt Disney World then I will wait in line with her. Also I turn 40 years young this year and I still Believe in the Characters. Yes if I sit and really think about it, I know logically that the Characters are people dressing up and pretending. But I will happily take that pretending any day when I am at WDW.

 

[DJMoore2011]

Bingo. The case was dismissed in 2008 when the character performer was interviewed by law enforcement.The kid was pulling on the back of the suit, both choking him and causing him to fall backwards.



Supposedly, the kid in question had been harassing the performer for some time and he/she had brushed it off. The chase started when the kid hauled off and kicked Pluto in the crotch.
Or at least that's what I got from the comments coming from people claiming to be Disney CMs.


EDIT -- Found it.

Thank you for the update.

 

[Bairstow]

Here's something totally wild:

This is an edited training video from 1976 covering costume dressing procedures, behavior, and other aspects of the job.
It's even narrated by Jack Wagner!

You do see employees in mid-costume, so, you know, viewer discretion and all that.

 

[unkadug]

Here's something totally wild:

This is an edited training video from 1976 covering costume dressing procedures, behavior, and other aspects of the job.
It's even narrated by Jack Wagner!

You do see employees in mid-costume, so, you know, viewer discretion and all that.

"Be sure the word Pooh is in front"

Did he really say that!

 

[baggienath7]

well during our recent visit i had an arm wrestle with Mr Incredible, now i was hoping it was a male, as i won the arm wrestle against the strongest man in the world, i was proud as punch. Then for my delightful girlfriend to dash my memory and say " im sure it was a tall female, she/he had a very slim waist" i was gutted lol but i guess ill never find out for sure

 

[ddrongowski]

I wounder where my Darling Daughter would fit into your thinking, physically she is 19 years old. But she is Special Needs and mentally she is about 6 years old. If I go by your logic then because she is 19 I should burst her bubble and tell her Santa, Easter Bunny, and the Disney Characters she met in 2011 are not "real". That wont happen because she WANTS to meet the Characters and for as long as she wants to meet and Believes in the Pixie Dust and Magic of Walt Disney World then I will wait in line with her. Also I turn 40 years young this year and I still Believe in the Characters. Yes if I sit and really think about it, I know logically that the Characters are people dressing up and pretending. But I will happily take that pretending any day when I am at WDW.

You missed the line in my post that was completely unhidden,

"No offense to those out there that enjoy hugging etc... the characters, have at it, as it does not harm us or anyone else in anyway, that we know of."

Then reading don't let emotions over control you, as you might misunderstand what someone said.

Plus it is tongue in cheek. Did you see all the emoticons at the end?

 

[ddrongowski]

Haa. This thread is funny to read. I feel once the head is on and the back is zippered up the character is real. I was "friends" with characters and I still believe. It's all in the mind...

Uhmmmm /looking around carefully/ why do your friends have zippers on there bodies?


Got it!!!! So the doctor can fix anything that is broken.

 

[ddrongowski]

Here's something totally wild:

This is an edited training video from 1976 covering costume dressing procedures, behavior, and other aspects of the job.
It's even narrated by Jack Wagner!

You do see employees in mid-costume, so, you know, viewer discretion and all that.

"You may wear whatever clothing..."

CAN THEY BE NAAAAAKEEEEEEED!!!!!!



So sorry I will go stand in the corner now.


Some of the things said in that video are hilarious.

"Be sure the word Pooh is in front"
GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE HONEYPOT!!!!!!

 

[ddrongowski]

well during our recent visit i had an arm wrestle with Mr Incredible, now i was hoping it was a male, as i won the arm wrestle against the strongest man in the world, i was proud as punch. Then for my delightful girlfriend to dash my memory and say " im sure it was a tall female, she/he had a very slim waist" i was gutted lol but i guess ill never find out for sure

Sorry but you arm wrestled a girl. Now just imagine if she had won

 

[Weather_Lady]

I admit, I've seen a Minnie or two in the past that struck me as having [really terrific-shaped] "man legs." There's something about men's knees -- they're sharper -- and their calves are more visibly muscular. Seeing "Drag Minnie" never bothered me in any way, though. I was kind of jealous, actually, and wished that I looked that good in tights and heels.

 

[FettFan]

Here's something totally wild:

This is an edited training video from 1976 covering costume dressing procedures, behavior, and other aspects of the job.
It's even narrated by Jack Wagner!

You do see employees in mid-costume, so, you know, viewer discretion and all that.

Should there be a mishap, Mickey will point, laugh, blame someone else, then sneak away.

 

[The Mighty Tim]

Here's something totally wild:

This is an edited training video from 1976 covering costume dressing procedures, behavior, and other aspects of the job.
It's even narrated by Jack Wagner!

You do see employees in mid-costume, so, you know, viewer discretion and all that.

At 1:20, the Eeyore head by itself on the bench looks pretty sinister!