Princess Pay

[MichaelaF]

So I made a joke the other day at work that I was quitting to move to Disney World and become a princess. A coworker replied: "Does that...pay well?" And actually I have heard, somewhere, that the characters are some of the best paid cast members in the park. But when the coworker asked me how much...I had no idea really. But it did make me curious. Anyone know?

(Not that it's my business. I'm not really planning on auditioning. )

 

[delmar411]

I've heard they get paid not much more than min wage. Especially when they use CP kids.

 

[drstrangelove]

I've heard they get paid not much more than min wage. Especially when they use CP kids.

While the college kids are not paid well, they are only there for a brief period. This former princess made between $13.50 and $16.50 an hour in her tenure as a princess.

http://www.businessinsider.com/former-disney-princess-tells-all-2013-4

 

[delmar411]

While the college kids are not paid well, they are only there for a brief period. This former princess made between $13.50 and $16.50 an hour in her tenure as a princess.

http://www.businessinsider.com/former-disney-princess-tells-all-2013-4

That was a long time ago and in CA. I'd be interested in character pay currently at WDW.

 

[LittleMissGiggles89]

Princess Pay in Disney World starts around $12/hour for CPs, part/full time cast members may start at a different rate but it wouldn't be too far off from $12.

 

[MichaelaF]

CPs = character performers?

Also, my husband wondered whether there was some sort of character hierarchy to climb. Can you start with one character and climb the ladder to be Mickey? Does Mickey make more money? Or do they train to be one character and stick with it?

 

[rewardsinlife]

CPs = character performers?

Also, my husband wondered whether there was some sort of character hierarchy to climb. Can you start with one character and climb the ladder to be Mickey? Does Mickey make more money? Or do they train to be one character and stick with it?

I don't believe you move up to Mickey. The character you get is based on the person... Ie. a big factor is the height. For instance, I know that Mickey must be under 5 ft. Tall to fit the costume. ..and vice versa...goofy must be a much taller person. Mickey might get more hours a day because of the lack of people who are under 5 ft. Tall...but that would be..I believe...the only instance they would receive more pay.

 

[CMontheseas]

Also, my husband wondered whether there was some sort of character hierarchy to climb. Can you start with one character and climb the ladder to be Mickey? Does Mickey make more money? Or do they train to be one character and stick with it?

Character hierarchy! The only way for anyone to "move up" to Mickey if they weren't there already, would be to shrink a few inches. You normally pretty much start being friends with Mickey (Meet and greets, etc.)! <- If you're of the 4'8" - 5'2" range!

Where you would move up and make more money is where your training and skill sets would make you eligible for bigger performances. A step up from this would be character performing in parades. Then in stage shows, then in big things like Fantasmic or "talking Mickey". Top-tier character performers would be the ones you see in official media!



(My older sister was friends with Mickey at Disneyland Paris!)

 

[delmar411]

CPs = character performers?

Also, my husband wondered whether there was some sort of character hierarchy to climb. Can you start with one character and climb the ladder to be Mickey? Does Mickey make more money? Or do they train to be one character and stick with it?

CP is college program

 

[MichaelaF]

Character hierarchy! The only way for anyone to "move up" to Mickey if they weren't there already, would be to shrink a few inches. You normally pretty much start being friends with Mickey (Meet and greets, etc.)! <- If you're of the 4'8" - 5'2" range!

Where you would move up and make more money is where your training and skill sets would make you eligible for bigger performances. A step up from this would be character performing in parades. Then in stage shows, then in big things like Fantasmic or "talking Mickey". Top-tier character performers would be the ones you see in official media!

(My older sister was friends with Mickey at Disneyland Paris!)

I think the question was posed when we were at Tusker House and realized that a lot of the characters were around that height. Daisy, Minnie, Mickey, they are all pretty short. We also have noted the signature differences, and just wondered if you had to relearn those (and the movements, which are pretty definite) in an attempt to "move up".

I remember being at Chef Mickey's as a kid (probably 11 or 12) and seeing a very short girl go into the back with black tights on. And then a while later....Mickey came out. MICKEY IS A GIRL?! WHAAAAA? My 12-year-old mind was blown.

 

[MichaelaF]

CP is college program

Ah, thank you fellow Indy person.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That was a long time ago and in CA. I'd be interested in character pay currently at WDW.

About .50 above minimum wage...

And to give you a hint... Florida is one of those "All-star" states with a lower state wage the federal (the federal applies except for a couple of exceptions)

Disney is a minimum wage operation by and large ( or pennies above it)...college program kids are paid less (or at least used to be) as an internship (they learn alot... But I'm not sure it's rightly labeled "academic")...and Disney received subsidies for those under part of the Clinton educational package.

 

[Alice Royal]

About .50 above minimum wage...

And to give you a hint... Florida is one of those "All-star" states with a lower state wage the federal (the federal applies except for a couple of exceptions)

I live and go to school in Florida and this is simply not the case. Federal minimum wage is $7.25 and for tipped workers it is $2.13. Florida minimum wage is $7.79 and for tipped workers it is $4.77. This is data straight from the federal government's websites, where on the map Florida is GREEN specifically BECAUSE our minimum wage is higher than the federal:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm
http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

 

[lockedoutlogic]

My apologies...my info is out of
Date...it had been several years since I checked...

I made two errors:
Florida has had 3 increases in 3 years... So they have outpaced the fed.
And the White House has delayed increases to the minimum wage several times... Which means that the last increase was under champion of the people George w. bush.

So I'm glad you called me... I learned something that makes me Kinda sick. $7.25 and $7.79 are still pretty lame.

 

[JenSop]

Last I heard when attending an audition was $13 an hour.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Last I heard when attending an audition was $13 an hour.

Woah... Must be a shortage then

 

[AnnaNonamus]

The below info was found online, but for those wondering, here are the height requirements for characters.

You also have to be able to act the part- a pretty face and the right height won't win you a face character role. The masked roles don't require the voice or facial mannerisms, but they still require the mannerisms. You have to be able to remain 100% in character despite what is going on around you- pervy people hitting on you, kids tugging at your costume, people asking you out of character questions, etc.

As for signatures, you do have to know the signature of the character you are "friends with". You have to maintain the weight, and if your face is showing, you have to maintain your skin. Who wants to see a Rapunzal with a cluster of pimples, or a scratch, or cold sore?


(This list is from various sources. As many as possible are from the audition notices on the Disney auditions website. Ive included the most popular/often seen at the parks. For a much more complete list, check out this message board post.)

Face Characters
Women:
Princesses
Rapunzel, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Ariel, Snow White, and Jasmine: 53 - 57
Mulan: 52 - 56
Tiana: 55 - 58
Fairies:
Tinker Bell: 410 - 52
Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn, Vidia, and Periwinkle: 52  55
Fairy Godmother: 54 - 56
Villains:
Wicked Step-Mother, Step-Sisters, Malefacent: 56 - 510
Other Women:
Mary Poppins: 55 - 58
Alice and Wendy: 52 - 54
Men:
Princes:
Prince Charming, Prince Eric, Aladdin, Prince Naveen, Snow Whites Prince, Flynn Rider, and the Beast in human form: 510 - 60
Fairies:
Terrence: 54 - 57
Villains:
Dr. Facilier: 60 - 66
Gaston: 511 - 63
Other Men:
Peter Pan: 410 - 52
Mad Hatter: 54 - 56
Jack Sparrow, Bert: 58 - 61

Fur/Masked Characters

Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse: 48 - 522
Daisy and Donald: 46  410
Chip and Dale: 522 - 524
Pluto: 526 - 528
Goofy: 60  63
Huey, Dewey, Louie: 40 - 46
Lilo and Stitch: 49  411
Dopey: 48  410
Piglet: 4210 - 520
White Rabbit, Pooh: 520 - 522
Suzy, Perla, Jessie, and Bullseye: 522 - 524
Rafiki, Flick, Buzz Lightyear: 56  58
Eeyore: 57  59
Tigger: 510  60
Green Army Men: 5211 - 620
Captain Hook, Genie: 620 - 622
Beast, Woody, Jafar: 622 - 624

 

[AnnaNonamus]

The below info was found online, but for those wondering, here are the height requirements for characters. You also have to be able to act the part- a pretty face and the right height won't win you a face character role. The masked roles don't require the voice or facial mannerisms, but they still require the mannerisms. You have to be able to remain 100% in character despite what is going on around you- pervy people hitting on you, kids tugging at your costume, people asking you out of character questions, etc. As for signatures, you do have to know the signature of the character you are "friends with". You have to maintain the weight, and if your face is showing, you have to maintain your skin. Who wants to see a Rapunzal with a cluster of pimples, or a scratch, or cold sore? (This list is from various sources. As many as possible are from the audition notices on the Disney auditions website. Ive included the most popular/often seen at the parks. For a much more complete list, check out this message board post.) Face Characters Women: Princesses Rapunzel, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Ariel, Snow White, and Jasmine: 53 - 57 Mulan: 52 - 56 Tiana: 55 - 58 Fairies: Tinker Bell: 410 - 52 Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn, Vidia, and Periwinkle: 52 55 Fairy Godmother: 54 - 56 Villains: Wicked Step-Mother, Step-Sisters, Malefacent: 56 - 510 Other Women: Mary Poppins: 55 - 58 Alice and Wendy: 52 - 54 Men: Princes: Prince Charming, Prince Eric, Aladdin, Prince Naveen, Snow Whites Prince, Flynn Rider, and the Beast in human form: 510 - 60 Fairies: Terrence: 54 - 57 Villains: Dr. Facilier: 60 - 66 Gaston: 511 - 63 Other Men: Peter Pan: 410 - 52 Mad Hatter: 54 - 56 Jack Sparrow, Bert: 58 - 61 Fur/Masked Characters Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse: 48 - 522 Daisy and Donald: 46 410 Chip and Dale: 522 - 524 Pluto: 526 - 528 Goofy: 60 63 Huey, Dewey, Louie: 40 - 46 Lilo and Stitch: 49 411 Dopey: 48 410 Piglet: 4210 - 520 White Rabbit, Pooh: 520 - 522 Suzy, Perla, Jessie, and Bullseye: 522 - 524 Rafiki, Flick, Buzz Lightyear: 56 58 Eeyore: 57 59 Tigger: 510 60 Green Army Men: 5211 - 620 Captain Hook, Genie: 620 - 622 Beast, Woody, Jafar: 622 - 624

Sorry, not sure why the inch and foot marks did not show up. The numbers should be first number in feet, second in inches (63 is 6 foot 3 inches)

 

[beer dave]

My DD did an internship for sea world this summer in the CP-- she received higher pay than the non CP employees for the same work. She said this is due to management expecting to receive a higher level of commitment from college students, since being in college shows a higher level of discipline at a younger age. She has a huge amount of theatre experience, ( she has been in 20 some shows) so they thought she would be good with people-- she got a crap merchandise cart to push and sell to guests. The job mostly sucked but she tried to make it good by interacting with children.

 

[MichaelaF]

Super interesting, Anna. Looks like the only one I might qualify for would be the Lady Tremaine, the stepsisters or Maleficent! :haha: Pretty sure I'd be better at those anyway....!

If I were a short person, I'd move to FL in a heartbeat. How on earth do they even find some of those? Huey Duey and Louie?!