Disney's costumed characters face danger on the job

[snopes]

They get kicked, punched, groped and cursed at during the course of their normal workdays — and that's usually just from the kids.

Workers in character costumes at theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld, and at restaurants in Orlando's tourist corridor, often discount the indignities and injuries associated with their jobs and uncomfortable outfits.

Although current costumed employees at area theme parks declined to share their stories, former workers, including some who played chain-saw killers and Chuck E. Cheese, shared the ups and downs behind the disguises.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,4584275.story

[Mickey is a gyrl]

Deja vu...doesn't an article like this pop up every year or two?

[ElectricBarbarella]

I just don't understand this rude treatment towards them. I'm 36 years old and I still get giddy when I see tigger or Captain Hook. I mean like fangirl giddy.

I just don't get this rude treatment towards them. I've had a tigger once, actually get down on the ground, on his belly, to take the photo with my girls because he was too tall for the camera and I would end up cutting heads off the picture. I made sure to go to guest services and tell them that he went beyond the "call of duty" and made my day (and gave me an awesome photo).

[CenTex]

Originally Posted by ElectricBarbarella

I've had a tigger once, actually get down on the ground, on his belly, to take the photo with my girls because he was too tall for the camera and I would end up cutting heads off the picture.

Pluto did this for my daughter, she sat down hands and knees, like a dog would and he sat down beside her for a great picture.

[mouse goddess]

Mickey:
Do the Princesses do their own makeup, or is there an artist "backstage" that does it for them?
We went to Disneyland last week, and took my daughter to Ariel's Grotto (spoiled kid) and I was marvelling at their makeup.

[Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue]

Originally Posted by mouse goddess

Mickey:
Do the Princesses do their own makeup, or is there an artist "backstage" that does it for them?
We went to Disneyland last week, and took my daughter to Ariel's Grotto (spoiled kid) and I was marvelling at their makeup.

I'm not Mickey (nor do I play her on TV) but I do know that face characters are considered "performers" and utilize make-up artists. It's necessary to keep that "Princess Look" consistent!

[Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue]

Originally Posted by Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue

I'm not Mickey (nor do I play her on TV) but I do know that face characters are considered "performers" and utilize make-up artists. It's necessary to keep that "Princess Look" consistent!

I must correct myself - I was thinking of a completely different division of Disney. Someone else can speak of face characters' make-up details.

[kajerayn]

Not exactly the same, but I was a costumed "performer" in a haunted house one year. I was the werewolf and my job was to jump out and growl at people as they came around a particular bend. Now mind, you, I was 13 years old, less than 5 feet tall and weighed around 80 lbs at the time, so I wasn't a particularly threatening werewolf.

One guy, probably a good foot taller than me and at least 100 lbs heavier, that had come through about 3 times that night decided on his 4th round through to haul off and hit me as hard as he could. The mask took the brunt of the impact but I had a heck of a nosebleed and was dizzy for the rest of the night. I could have understood it, maybe, on his first go round, that I had startled him, but he was with a bunch of his buddies this time and I think he had done it just to show off. No one else was around me at the time it happened and by the time I was able to get to an adult, this guy was long gone.