Rumor has it the guy who character was Gaston atWDW who's push up challenge went viral was suspended

DonnaDuck333 · Aug 29, 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VTMzBCqGKU.......I love the performance he always gave, it was in true jerky arrogant Gaston style and it drew a crowd every single time.Wondering if anyone knows if he is back or has maybe been let go or moved on to bigger and better... My kids loved his over the top antics.

rteetz · Aug 29, 2015

more than one guy are "friends" with gaston. The push up thing was also a while ago so I would assume he would be back but that's not for sure. Gaston still meets regularly.

DonnaDuck333 · Aug 29, 2015

Yes I realize there are many Gaston that rotate... I was talking about this one in the video, he was the best in my opinion and just seeing if anyone has seen him in his Gaston role since the suspension, there are many rumors as to him leaving or being fired or he may still be there. Just curious as we will be there in Dec...

Happy_Haunt999 · Aug 29, 2015

I was reading somewhere else awhile back where someone said this was him unfortunately. :sad1:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...erformer-killed-fireworks-20150705-story.html

rteetz · Aug 29, 2015

Happy_Haunt999 said:
I was reading somewhere else awhile back where someone said this was him unfortunately.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...erformer-killed-fireworks-20150705-story.html

I don't know if that was the same gaston. The gaston in that article worked for a short period of time.

As for OP it's very hard to know for sure if he was suspended, fired or left on his own or even if he is back. Gaston is a popular meet and greet and even if he is still working it would probably be unlikely to get him exactly when you visit.

DonnaDuck333 · Aug 29, 2015

Happy_Haunt999 said:
I was reading somewhere else awhile back where someone said this was him unfortunately.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...erformer-killed-fireworks-20150705-story.html

Not the same one.... this one is not the Gaston I am talking about, read about this poor young man a while back....

leholcomb · Aug 29, 2015

DonnaDuck333 said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VTMzBCqGKU.......I love the performance he always gave, it was in true jerky arrogant Gaston style and it drew a crowd every single time.Wondering if anyone knows if he is back or has maybe been let go or moved on to bigger and better... My kids loved his over the top antics.

He is not back. He was "too good" for his role and the other Gastons could not give the same caliber of performance leading to disappointed guests.

DonnaDuck333 · Aug 29, 2015

leholcomb said:
He is not back. He was "too good" for his role and the other Gastons could not give the same caliber of performance leading to disappointed guests.

If that is the case, that seriously the stupidest thing I ever heard... Perhaps if he drew a crowd with his talents and creative skills he should be teaching the ones who don't quite have his flair and make the rest rise to that kind of performance. This is just sad really. It's like punishing someone for figuring out how to do it better than the rest. Oh well...

LittleDreamer · Aug 29, 2015

Most of the videos on youtube of him seem to be from August 2014 to January 2015 any chance he was just college program?

DonnaDuck333 · Aug 29, 2015

LittleDreamer said:
Most of the videos on youtube of him seem to be from August 2014 to January 2015 any chance he was just college program?

Absolutely, anything is possible although he looked a bit older to us than a college student, LOl... but most certainly could be

DDLand · Aug 29, 2015

DonnaDuck333 said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VTMzBCqGKU.......I love the performance he always gave, it was in true jerky arrogant Gaston style and it drew a crowd every single time.Wondering if anyone knows if he is back or has maybe been let go or moved on to bigger and better... My kids loved his over the top antics.

Where did you see that, FB or Twitter?

I think it's more likely he went on to other opportunities or was CP as someone else suggested.

Part of the fun of Disney World and Disneyland is watching the performers come and go, and letting new performers have a chance at the same role. It makes for a new experience every time you go. I hear of members on this board talk about a certain Belle or a certain Mickey that just blew them away. They still remember even though some of their memories are from a decade or more ago.

So he may be gone from active performances, but YouTube and thousands of guests still have them in their memories!

DonnaDuck333 · Aug 30, 2015

DDLand said:
Where did you see that, FB or Twitter?

I think it's more likely he went on to other opportunities or was CP as someone else suggested.

Part of the fun of Disney World and Disneyland is watching the performers come and go, and letting new performers have a chance at the same role. It makes for a new experience every time you go. I hear of members on this board talk about a certain Belle or a certain Mickey that just blew them away. They still remember even though some of their memories are from a decade or more ago.

So he may be gone from active performances, but YouTube and thousands of guests still have them in their memories!

Well, gonna miss Gaston spot on theatrical antics as it was very enjoyable to watch, the best I ever seen there... Hope he moved on to bigger and better.

EAWildman · Aug 30, 2015

According to Jim Hill on the Disney Dish with Jim Hill (Touring Plans) podcast, the employee who was Gaston in the video was no longer allowed to play Gaston for two reasons. One, was that, while doing the pushups, the costume was essentially "on the ground," which is a big no-no for costumed characters. You can't have a character out on stage with a dirty costume, not to mention the costume would have to be specially cleaned (taking time and extra money). The second reason was that since his performance of the character was better than the other Gaston's, this led to guests coming up to other Gaston's and asking them when the "real" Gaston would be out. This lead to guest dissatisfaction.

Teamubr · Aug 30, 2015

EAWildman said:
According to Jim Hill...

This sounds like your standard Jim Hill explanation. Just reasonable enough to be plausible, but probably not having any factual basis.

j

Marbel · Aug 30, 2015

Aw that's disappointing. He is great as Gaston. I love him in this one too ... so funny. Priceless interaction.

Planogirl · Aug 30, 2015

Interest concept - releasing someone from a job because he is too good at what he does. I guess that I can see their logic though.

DonnaDuck333 · Aug 30, 2015

Planogirl said:
Interest concept - releasing someone from a job because he is too good at what he does. I guess that I can see their logic though.

DDLand said:
Where did you see that, FB or Twitter?

I think it's more likely he went on to other opportunities or was CP as someone else suggested.

Part of the fun of Disney World and Disneyland is watching the performers come and go, and letting new performers have a chance at the same role. It makes for a new experience every time you go. I hear of members on this board talk about a certain Belle or a certain Mickey that just blew them away. They still remember even though some of their memories are from a decade or more ago.

So he may be gone from active performances, but YouTube and thousands of guests still have them in their memories!

EAWildman said:
According to Jim Hill on the Disney Dish with Jim Hill (Touring Plans) podcast, the employee who was Gaston in the video was no longer allowed to play Gaston for two reasons. One, was that, while doing the pushups, the costume was essentially "on the ground," which is a big no-no for costumed characters. You can't have a character out on stage with a dirty costume, not to mention the costume would have to be specially cleaned (taking time and extra money). The second reason was that since his performance of the character was better than the other Gaston's, this led to guests coming up to other Gaston's and asking them when the "real" Gaston would be out. This lead to guest dissatisfaction.

Ok.... if he was a Mascot character in a large suit where say his head could pop off or even a face character, he wasn't rolling on the pavement wrestling anyone, insert massive eye roll. He actually was effortless and very much so off the ground during push ups as he was quite strong. And again Perhaps he needed to be recognized as "the quintessential Gaston" by Disney management and have him teach the other Gaston's his spiel... Just a suggestion, just a little common sense used... Thanks for the info though, again not sure who Jim is...

Teamubr said:
This sounds like your standard Jim Hill explanation. Just reasonable enough to be plausible, but probably not having any factual basis.

Not sure who Jim is but, it's a mystery for sure...

j

Marbel said:
Aw that's disappointing. He is great as Gaston. I love him in this one too ... so funny. Priceless interaction

He was so enjoyable in his role, it really was so creative and rather gutsy... Probably why many liked him, he went all in....

Planogirl said:
Interest concept - releasing someone from a job because he is too good at what he does. I guess that I can see their logic though.

That seems illogical for Disney casting managers to come up with a solution to doing it better than your fellow cast mates, ( Just Let that much talent go because the people loved it too much, and asked for the real Gaston, ahhh "what" )... I believe their was sarcasm in there and I truly appreciated it

Thanks for that...

rteetz · Aug 30, 2015

DonnaDuck333 said:
Ok.... if he was a Mascot character in a large suit where say his head could pop off or even a face character, he wasn't rolling on the pavement wrestling anyone, insert massive eye roll. He actually was effortless and very much so off the ground during push ups as he was quite strong. And again Perhaps he needed to be recognized as "the quintessential Gaston" by Disney management and have him teach the other Gaston's his spiel... Just a suggestion, just a little common sense used... Thanks for the info though, again not sure who Jim is...

That seems illogical for Disney casting managers to come up with a solution to doing it better than your fellow cast mates, ( Just Let that much talent go because the people loved it too much, and asked for the real Gaston, ahhh "what" )... I believe their was sarcasm in there and I truly appreciated it Thanks for that...

This is Disney and they do weird things like firing for being better or stuff like that. Character jobs are very strict.

Yellowstonetim · Aug 30, 2015

I don't think he was fired for doing a good job. And if I remember the video, he was good at pushups and his outfit didn't touch the ground very much, if at all. However, Disney must walk a very fine line with great performers. They must give that great performance but stay within the character and within guidelines and instructions. There have been times in the past when characters said or did something wrong and were immediately removed. Someone who is a great actor that gives a vibrant performance is a liability if they cannot control themselves and follow instructions. I don't think that happened here. He seemed to play the part well and stay within the character. He probably just moved on to something else. As good a job he did and as much fun as he probably had, that is a tough job to do for very long.

Jess_S · Aug 31, 2015

This is just wild speculation, but I think more plausible wild speculation than the Jim Hill explanation. During the time that I was a CP, most of the "friends" of characters had the goal of working up to being a part of the stage shows. If someone is a really great performer, I think it's more likely they have moved on to bigger things than that they got fired for being "too good."

Rumor has it the guy who character was Gaston atWDW who's push up challenge went viral was suspended

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An aura of foreboding..

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From somewhere outside StL

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I feel the nerd in me stirring

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