Character Heights/CP Auditions

[daydreamer510]

someone at the Rochester audition was measured at 5', when she's actually 4'10 or so.

 

[Joanna71985]

You are one of the only people I know of (off the top of my head) that was measured at your real height. I don't know the exact reasons why, but from what I have heard, part of it may be due to a need for characters of a certain height range. Disney measured me almost an inch shorter than my true height.

Lucky! I would give anything to be measured that much shorter.

 

[jeffwayne12]

I'm 6'1, but usually get measured at 6'0 for Disney height. Hoping they will have something open in my height range when I audition.

 

[DisDancerina]

Congrats to everyone who made it through the stages! Too bad they didn't have a part for you guys! Here's to looking for a part, hope you get them!

I, personally, can't wait until I can audition! This should be so fun!

 

[jeffwayne12]

Congrats to everyone who made it through the stages! Too bad they didn't have a part for you guys! Here's to looking for a part, hope you get them!

I, personally, can't wait until I can audition! This should be so fun!

What audition are you doing to?

 

[daydreamer510]

I wish I understood why people were measured at different heights - I was measured at 5'7 and a quarter (my real height). I wish someone had some insight on why they go down in inches for some but not others - how do they make that decision?

All the people I've heard of who have been measured down are usually around 5'2 or so, petite, with small body frames, and are measured down to mouse height. Maybe body shape has something to do with it?

 

[Joanna71985]

Congrats to everyone who made it through the stages! Too bad they didn't have a part for you guys! Here's to looking for a part, hope you get them!

I, personally, can't wait until I can audition! This should be so fun!

Good luck!!

 

[Justy]

Hey guys, I have a few questions regarding the whole Audition in general.

First off, what exactly happens at the Audition? I've read this entire thread and a lot of people have said a lot of different things. Could anyone please give a complete breakdown of the process? Please be specific and give examples (be them from past experience or from what you've heard from others). How long does it take? What roles were you auditioning for? What former acting experience have you had in the past?

I ask only because I really wanna know what I'm getting myself into; as well as the fact that I, myself, have no experience whatsoever (my last performance was in the third grade when I played the part of a Rhino tango'ing with a mango).

Another question in my long list: Do you have to audition to be a Character Attendant? I'm currently a CP in Anaheim and here, you have to audition for the role and it's pretty cut throat (here they are known as Character or Entertainment Host's). Are they as choosy in Orlando as they are here? On the Role Check list it doesn't have it down as being an Auditioned Role, however my interviewer said that I'd still have to attend the Audition to get into the Entertainment Department regardless (I was going anyway, I'd just like to know if I should worry about having that as a fallback or not.).

Another question: I've asked my friends who are in Entertainment Here, specifically Characters, and they've described a much different process. From what I can understand, the process goes much like this:

Pre-Round - Initial Cuts based on height and appearance (if it's a face character only audition)

Round 1 - Character Walk- Basically pick your favorite character and without telling the judges, walk/act as them without using words. Judged based on how well you can get them to figure out who you are. Obvious characters such as Jack Sparrow and the like are frowned upon.

More Cuts

Round 2 - Three Person Group - Three people are given a scene to act out (IE, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and Wendy Darling, engaged in a scuffle). At random times, they are told to switch characters and pick up where the other left off. Speaking allowed.

More Cuts

Round 3 (Not always takes place from what I understand) - In-Costume portion.

It's also my understanding that there isn't always a dance/movement exercise.


Now, from what I've gathered (Fragmented and second hand though it may be), the Anaheim auditions seem a bit more... intense. Can anyone shed some light on the situation?

My WDW CP Audition's are on the 18th in San Francisco. I'm 6 Foot, and by DLR standards at least, I believe I'm Tigger, Goofy, Sully, Woody, Baloo, Mr. Incredible, Queen of Hearts, and Captain Hook height, as well as Bert and a few Prince height. Some have mentioned Aladdin but I think he's usually a bit shorter. Can anyone vouch for how these translate to WDW? I know there are some variances. For instance, I know that while here Beast is usually very short, in WDW he tends to be a fair bit taller.

So, what's the word?

 

[SweaterInJune]

Hey guys, I have a few questions regarding the whole Audition in general.

First off, what exactly happens at the Audition? I've read this entire thread and a lot of people have said a lot of different things. Could anyone please give a complete breakdown of the process? Please be specific and give examples (be them from past experience or from what you've heard from others). How long does it take? What roles were you auditioning for? What former acting experience have you had in the past?

I ask only because I really wanna know what I'm getting myself into; as well as the fact that I, myself, have no experience whatsoever (my last performance was in the third grade when I played the part of a Rhino tango'ing with a mango).

Another question in my long list: Do you have to audition to be a Character Attendant? I'm currently a CP in Anaheim and here, you have to audition for the role and it's pretty cut throat (here they are known as Character or Entertainment Host's). Are they as choosy in Orlando as they are here? On the Role Check list it doesn't have it down as being an Auditioned Role, however my interviewer said that I'd still have to attend the Audition to get into the Entertainment Department regardless (I was going anyway, I'd just like to know if I should worry about having that as a fallback or not.).

Another question: I've asked my friends who are in Entertainment Here, specifically Characters, and they've described a much different process. From what I can understand, the process goes much like this:

Pre-Round - Initial Cuts based on height and appearance (if it's a face character only audition)

Round 1 - Character Walk- Basically pick your favorite character and without telling the judges, walk/act as them without using words. Judged based on how well you can get them to figure out who you are. Obvious characters such as Jack Sparrow and the like are frowned upon.

More Cuts

Round 2 - Three Person Group - Three people are given a scene to act out (IE, Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and Wendy Darling, engaged in a scuffle). At random times, they are told to switch characters and pick up where the other left off. Speaking allowed.

More Cuts

Round 3 (Not always takes place from what I understand) - In-Costume portion.

It's also my understanding that there isn't always a dance/movement exercise.


Now, from what I've gathered (Fragmented and second hand though it may be), the Anaheim auditions seem a bit more... intense. Can anyone shed some light on the situation?

My WDW CP Audition's are on the 18th in San Francisco. I'm 6 Foot, and by DLR standards at least, I believe I'm Tigger, Goofy, Sully, Woody, Baloo, Mr. Incredible, Queen of Hearts, and Captain Hook height, as well as Bert and a few Prince height. Some have mentioned Aladdin but I think he's usually a bit shorter. Can anyone vouch for how these translate to WDW? I know there are some variances. For instance, I know that while here Beast is usually very short, in WDW he tends to be a fair bit taller.

So, what's the word?

Wow! That's incredibly different than what WDW auditions tend to be!

Typically, the WDW auditions begin with registration, you are measured, grouped, have photos taken, etc.

This is followed by a simple movement/dance exercise. You will learn this in a group and then perform it in smaller groups.

Cuts are made.

Next, there is a more advanced movement piece, improv character movement piece, etc.

Cuts are made, decisions are made, some are asked to go for face auditions.

This is generally how the audition seems to work for WDW, when I auditioned for Spring '03, we began with improv character movement, which I found a better system.

I think I could really shine at the DL auditions...acting/character movement/improv is much stronger for me than learning a dance in 5 minutes. I have a dance background, so I can certainly dance, but I need to step through it all at my own pace to record it to memory.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Joanna71985]

Hey guys, I have a few questions regarding the whole Audition in general.

First off, what exactly happens at the Audition? I've read this entire thread and a lot of people have said a lot of different things. Could anyone please give a complete breakdown of the process? Please be specific and give examples (be them from past experience or from what you've heard from others). How long does it take? What roles were you auditioning for? What former acting experience have you had in the past?

Another question in my long list: Do you have to audition to be a Character Attendant? I'm currently a CP in Anaheim and here, you have to audition for the role and it's pretty cut throat (here they are known as Character or Entertainment Host's). Are they as choosy in Orlando as they are here? On the Role Check list it doesn't have it down as being an Auditioned Role, however my interviewer said that I'd still have to attend the Audition to get into the Entertainment Department regardless (I was going anyway, I'd just like to know if I should worry about having that as a fallback or not.).


My WDW CP Audition's are on the 18th in San Francisco. I'm 6 Foot, and by DLR standards at least, I believe I'm Tigger, Goofy, Sully, Woody, Baloo, Mr. Incredible, Queen of Hearts, and Captain Hook height, as well as Bert and a few Prince height. Some have mentioned Aladdin but I think he's usually a bit shorter. Can anyone vouch for how these translate to WDW? I know there are some variances. For instance, I know that while here Beast is usually very short, in WDW he tends to be a fair bit taller.

So, what's the word?

Auditions are pretty basic. There are 2 parts to it- animation and dance. the animation is pretty much like charades. They have you act something out (for example, making a sandwich). Then there is the dance part. You will be taught a routine, and you perform it in small groups. That's it. There may also people pulled for a puppet part.

At 6 feet, you would be friends with Goofy at WDW.

And no, you don't have to audition for character attendant.

 

[Berlioz70]

Hey guys, I have a few questions regarding the whole Audition in general...

Just to add to your confusion - the CP auditions vary based on location and how many people show up. In most cases, you'll be done in 2-3 hours.

For example, at Pittsburgh and Orlando they taught an easy dance (2-3 8 counts) then made cuts. Then they learned an intermediate dance (6 8 counts) and did the animation that Joanna mentioned.

However, at all of the other locations up to this point, we started with the intermediate dance. Then some people are pulled for the advance dance. Keep in mind, however, that even if you don't make it to the advance dance you still have a very good chance on making it; the advance is designed to look at people for parades and shows and it's not like the cut mentioned in the example above!

To makes things more complicated, some locations also pull people for face characters. I just looked up your location - they are NOT pulling face at San Fransisco so you won't have that part of the process.

Good Luck!!!

 

[porterella]

To makes things more complicated, some locations also pull people for face characters. I just looked up your location - they are NOT pulling face at San Fransisco so you won't have that part of the process.

How do you know where they are pulling face? Do you know if they are pulling in Austin?


Thanks soo much for the audition tips yall!
My audition is in 2 weeks, and I need all the tips and support I can get.

 

[jeffwayne12]

Although it does not say anything about face on the audition website they may still do it. Disney sometimes does not list everything they are looking for. This is coming from experience at DL when I auditioned for one parade but was thrown into another one in which they never listed at the audition. Also had a friend who tried out for fuzzy characers and was thrown into face (odd) It all depends on who is at the audition and what they are looking for. Just go with an open mind to what they are looking for. Break a leg!

 

[Justy]

That's how I understood it too. The way my interviewer explained it to me was that it was pretty much an all inclusive audition. You're not auditioning for a specific role, so much as you are auditioning to get into the Entertainment Department.

When she asked what roles I was interested in, I explained that I really wanted to do something in Entertainment, be it Characters, both Fur or Face, or Character Host, or anything else they could do with me. She told me that if I went to the San Fran Audition, they'd put me where they needed me most (Assuming of course I passed the auditions). So I'm pretty sure it's pretty much a Super Audition (For lack of a better term).

 

[Joanna71985]

Not really. I know people who have not auditioned who got Character Attendant.

 

[sylvesterT21]

I am about 6'0" so I would be Tigger height...then I checked my pictures from my last trip to the Magic Kingdom over the summer and I'm exactly the same height as Tigger and only slightly shorter than Goofy.

That was fun!....though I probably will not be in a character role, it's still fun to look at!

 

[Justy]

Well if you're the same height as Tigger in the picture, you're probably actually about 2 or 3 inches taller than permissible. The head sort of works like a cap with the head built around it, to better accommodate the CM's head and comfort.

 

[sylvesterT21]

Well if you're the same height as Tigger in the picture, you're probably actually about 2 or 3 inches taller than permissible. The head sort of works like a cap with the head built around it, to better accommodate the CM's head and comfort.

thanks for sharing that....i always wondered how the head wouldn't be too heavy...and i was looking at shoulders since Tigger doesn't have a well defined neck

also, another thing I was just thinking about.... how do fur character CMs deal with how hot it is when they're standing outside for so long with kids (and adults) lining up to see them?

 

[Justy]

I know that at the DLR at least, it's all done in half hour sets. Half hour set, then a half hour back stage. Depending on the time of your shift, you'll also be back stage during Parades and Fireworks too. Again, I'm not sure how any of this information translates to WDW though.

 

[Berlioz70]

How do you know where they are pulling face? Do you know if they are pulling in Austin?

They are ALWAYS looking for face, but only certain auditions will have cosmetology at the actual location.

From what I can see on the website, Austin WILL have cosmetology, San Fransisco will NOT.

If you are at a location where they are not pulling face, the casting director will mark something on your audition sheet to signify that you have the potential for face. You will not know if it was marked for you until you check-in at Florida and then "SURPRISE," they'll fit you once you start training.

You can tell on DisneyAuditions.com:

San Fransisco only says:
"Walt Disney Entertainment is seeking energetic male and female Disney Character and Parade Performers for shows and parades across the Walt Disney World ® Resort."

Whereas Austin says:
"Walt Disney Entertainment is seeking energetic male and female Disney Character and Parade Performers for shows and parades across the Walt Disney World ® Resort.

Are you a Princess? Additionally, Walt Disney Entertainment is seeking Disney Princess Look-alikes. Performers develop improvisational skills, poise and grace while working for one of the world's leading entertainment companies."