Whats it like to be a Disney Character..Cast member

[DisneyMedic]

Ok so I am heading out in a few days to hopefully join the team. But as I was thinking about the role that I really want I was woundering... What is it like to be a Disney Character Cast Member...

Are there any CM's out there that can share there adventures..What is it like being in those costumes.. How hot do you get?? Are there any devices inside to help keep you cool while you great guest. I could not do it myself. I start sweating walking down main street. Do you ever get guest try to do funny things to you?? If any CM's are out there that can share there stories I think it would be great to read.. Please tell us about your roles and what theyare like. While I know therearea rulesabout seeing Characters on and off stage can you share some of them????

 

[Connor002]

How hot do you get?? Are there any devices inside to help keep you cool while you great guest.

From what i've heard, they get very hot, and there are no cooling devices.

 

[Walt Sent Me]

I've heard they have no cooling system too. I think it would be a great investment for Disney to purchase the personal cooling neckband from Sharper Image for it's costumed performers. It's a small fan you attach to your neck and it cools your whole body. It works really well!

I too hope to become a character next year when I go work for Disney! Mickey Hopefully!

 

[stitch131313]

I have never been a Disney character, but I have been the Chick-fil-A cow before. And I can say it can be a lot of fun. Nothing's better than making a child smile. But OMG! It was soooooooooo HOT in that thing. It's bad enough when you're wearing that thing inside. But try spending an hour outside, on the beach, in 90 degree weather. Not fun. Oh, abd our cow had no cooling sytem. I have great respect for the characters at Disney. I do believe that Disney has some kind of cooling system in their costumes.

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

I'm sorry, but I believe some of you to be mistaken. Unless you mean Mickey's Tux outfit or his Sorcerer Hat, I don't know what you mean when you say "characters costumes". As for these "costumes" becoming hot, aren't we all hot walking around in the Florida sun? What makes Donald or Goofy an exception? They're living things too, no wonder Pluto's always got his tounge hanging out. I'm sorry again, but I think you people are misunderstanding the Magic. I don't know what anyone's told you, but the characters at the Magic Kindom are most certainly that-not some guy in a costume. How non believing of you.

Yensid "why-do-people-think-the-characters-are-fake-?" tlaw1969

 

[unkadug]

I've heard they have no cooling system too. I think it would be a great investment for Disney to purchase the personal cooling neckband from Sharper Image for it's costumed performers. It's a small fan you attach to your neck and it cools your whole body. It works really well!

I too hope to become a character next year when I go work for Disney! Mickey Hopefully!

You don't have to wait for Disney to purchase these units for you (which probably will never happen), you can always go and buy it yourself !

It's not really a Disney investment, it's a personal investment.

 

[Connor002]

I too hope to become a character next year when I go work for Disney! Mickey Hopefully!

I would love to be Mickey, even if it was just for the day. But alas, I'm too tall, and at 14, I still have some time for growing.

I guess I could look foreward to Goofy...

 

[Tim G]

Ok so I am heading out in a few days to hopefully join the team. But as I was thinking about the role that I really want I was woundering... What is it like to be a Disney Character Cast Member...

In summer friggin' HOT...

 

[mkt]

Wear a winter coat with fur lining... inside out. Then put on a very loose ski mask. Then put on 2 oven mitts. Then a pair of track pants. Finally, put on a pair of tube socks with high top sneakers.

Then step outside for 30 minutes and remain bouncy and happy while getting kicked in the privates.

There's your character experience.

 

[Connor002]

Wear a winter coat with fur lining... inside out. Then put on a very loose ski mask. Then put on 2 oven mitts. Then a pair of track pants. Finally, put on a pair of tube socks with high top sneakers.

Then step outside for 30 minutes and remain bouncy and happy while getting kicked in the privates.

There's your character experience.

:lol: I know it's not really funny that they sometimes have to go through things like that, but I'm just thinking what I'd do if I saw someone walking around in that.:lol:

 

[figmentmom]

I wasn't a character this summer - I worked in Attractions - so I can't speak from personal experience! However, the "face" characters seemd to be having a lot of fun, and enjoying guest interaction. (Not that the ones inside full costumes weren't having fun, but they must have been incredibly hot. They were always wringing wet off stage.)

 

[WDWKat26]

I do believe that Disney has some kind of cooling system in their costumes.

I'm sorry, you know what I don't understand? One of the most ANNOYING questions I get asked when at work is "Are you hot?" No sir, i'm just wearing 2-3 layers of thick cotton and FUR in 95 degree weather, and i'm feeling fresh as a daisy right now! Sorry kids, there are NO and wait let me repeat that, NO cooling systems. We sweat it out just like everyone else.

And thank you MKT for answering this thread the way I wanted to answer it I've had a long hot day in the sun as a guest and i'm a little on the grouchy side!

 

[WDWKat26]

Ok so I am heading out in a few days to hopefully join the team. But as I was thinking about the role that I really want I was woundering... What is it like to be a Disney Character Cast Member...

Are there any CM's out there that can share there adventures..What is it like being in those costumes.. How hot do you get?? Are there any devices inside to help keep you cool while you great guest. I could not do it myself. I start sweating walking down main street. Do you ever get guest try to do funny things to you?? If any CM's are out there that can share there stories I think it would be great to read.. Please tell us about your roles and what theyare like. While I know therearea rulesabout seeing Characters on and off stage can you share some of them????

Oh yeah, i'm sure people would love to share stories but there are managers and higher-up people that watch these boards, and CM's can get in trouble for "ruining the magic"

Sorry.

 

[mkt]

I'd love to share these stories... but I'm drunk.

I'll get back to you in the morning.

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

I'd love to share these stories... but I'm drunk.

I'll get back to you in the morning.

LOL!

When i was "great friends" with Chewbacca, Chewie told me on SEVERAL occasions that he was hotter than hot... and i'm not talking good lookin either. Secret sources say that Chewie lost about 25 pounds in one month. So from him telling me that, yes, I would say it was very hot, and YES, i speak wookiee.

 

[The_CEO]

Chewbacca must have it rough..

 

[wiscraknmeerkat]

Meerkats are used to the heat because they are from the desert, I also think that mice, ducks, and dogs get used to it too. Why would mickey wear a cooling sweatband wouldn't he look funny with one around his head?

 

[Tom]

I rented a Cat-in-the-Hat costume last year for the big festival I run at our church. It was a full blown character costume, with fur suit, "hands", feet and head - with VERY limited visibility. I tried it on and about killed myself, so I forced my brother to wear it on a HOT July afternoon in Indiana, and entertain the kiddies.

I was escorting him around the grounds and some little hethon kids were pulling his tail and kicking him - I solved that problem...and avoided lawsuits in the process. But after about 20 minutes of being outside, he turned to me and mutterd from within the suit, "**** this! I'm going inside...NOW!" When he disrobed, his clothes looked as if he had jumped in a pool. Both he and I said, "I have SO much more respect for the WDW characters now!"

I sweat just thinking about sweating. I can't imagine trying to be a face character - I'd be drenched and my make-up would be running everywhere and I'd constantly be wiping my forehead. I could survive a full-suit costume, but never as a face character! Kudos to those of you in Entertainment!

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

Chewbacca must have it rough..

you know what though, from my conversations with that hairy giant, he said that the magical moments outweighed the heat, any day, on the hottest day!

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

I rented a Cat-in-the-Hat costume last year for the big festival I run at our church. It was a full blown character costume, with fur suit, "hands", feet and head - with VERY limited visibility. I tried it on and about killed myself, so I forced my brother to wear it on a HOT July afternoon in Indiana, and entertain the kiddies.

I was escorting him around the grounds and some little hethon kids were pulling his tail and kicking him - I solved that problem...and avoided lawsuits in the process. But after about 20 minutes of being outside, he turned to me and mutterd from within the suit, "**** this! I'm going inside...NOW!" When he disrobed, his clothes looked as if he had jumped in a pool. Both he and I said, "I have SO much more respect for the WDW characters now!"

I sweat just thinking about sweating. I can't imagine trying to be a face character - I'd be drenched and my make-up would be running everywhere and I'd constantly be wiping my forehead. I could survive a full-suit costume, but never as a face character! Kudos to those of you in Entertainment!

my gray t-shirt was SOAKED! Looked like I had just gotten out of a swimming pool, fully clothed... Thank goodness for long breaks after parades!