Character Salaries

[KevinM]

I know it's a strange question, but I have always wondered what characters such as the Princesses are paid by Disney.

Does anyone out there know?

P.S. - This is only out of curiosity - I have no plans to get a job as Prince Charming!

 

[BelleBeast]

My niece was down in Orlando for a Dance Scholarship program,
she as a dancer received a job offer from Disney at $1000 a week
Pretty incredible, she just graduated from High school!!

 

[AngieBelle]

$1,000 a wk? Must have been equity. I can tell you first hand that character performers make no where near that. Character pay is a few bucks above minimum. Face roles and non-equity show performers get a little extra.

But, of course, we all know that the characters themselves are real, right?

 

[flyinglizard]

AngieBelle- What is "non-equity" or "equity" mean? Thanks...

I know that at one time members of the WDW Band made union scale. That's why there is no more band at WDW...

 

[AngieBelle]

Actor's equity is a performers union- they are generally the most professional dancers, the singers, and the live actors. The non-equity performers at Disney are the character performers- most parades and shows.

Equity= Beauty and the Beast at MGM, Cinderella and fairy godmother in the castle show, streetmosphere folks at MGM, Ariel at MGM, singers and flying bird dancer in Lion King at AK.

Non-equity=Lion King players not listed above, Jammin Jungle players, butterflies and dragon flies in Spectro, trolley show on Main Street...etc

 

[HauntedMansionFreak]

I am soooooooooooooo glad to see this thread here. I have been dieing to ask the question myself, but felt bad about wanting to know others salaries. Here's what I think.

Disney has to hire a certain 'grade' of people that receive a certain 'grade' of pay, I would think. For instance, if a character making just above minimum wage, gets ticked off at a tourist (and I'm sure this happens alot - we all get hot and frustrated), it really wouldn't matter to them if they lost their low paying job so getting mad and 'being out of character' is a possibility. If you're ticked off (especially face characters) its hard not to show it. Once that is done - the magic of the character is gone.

Not once have I ever seen (or heard of) a character doing this - showing real human emotions while acting their character. Therefore, I would think Disney has to hire a class of people who can pull the magic off even on their worst days and I would think that would require three things:

1. The ability to act
2. Someone truly caring about their job
3. A higher grade pf pay to make sure you have the 'best there is' working for you.

I am looking forward to hearing more input on this post. It's quite interesting. I think the characters deserve a very high rate of pay. They are the backbone of the magic!

 

[Kendra17]

Originally posted by HauntedMansionFreak


Not once have I ever seen (or heard of) a character doing this - showing real human emotions while acting their character. Therefore, I would think Disney has to hire a class of people who can pull the magic off even on their worst days and I would think that would require three things:

I have a comment and question. At a Cinderella's breakfast in '95 or so, Peter Pan was WAY out of character. He was flirting unbelievably with Wendy, practically ignored my then-three year old daughter and tried to converse with Wendy about her trip to California. Wendy, by the way, was completely professional, continually tried to get Peter Pan back in role, and gave special attention to my daughter.

Needless to say, I was traumatized! (hahaha, my daughter didn't really even notice).

So, I did stop in Guest Services to mention our experience. They were very kind and seemed to think being out of character was a big deal. (if you're interested, I can post Peter Pan's pic!)

Anyways, AngieBelle, you seem to have insider knowledge. What happens to these characters when they do this? This must happen more frequently than we realize, considering the number of characters and guests daily. Do they lose their role immediately? Do they get warned? Is this something Disney takes very very seriously, or do they just remind the actor?

Just wondering!

oh! hauntedmansionfreak--we're in Nashville, too. . .Bellevue!

 

[stemikger]

I would love to see that Pic of that horny peter pan.

Thanks.

 

[HauntedMansionFreak]

LMAO @ horny peter pan!!!!

Yeah, I'm sure it has happened. I've just never heard of it. You know there are days when some of those characters cuss you behind their mask....lol. I'm sure they'd LOVE to kick some of the kids. I've seen kids be really mean to them. I couldn't handle working as a Disney character....well...maybe the Mad Hatter, because I know I'd go mad!

BTW - is Alice in Wonderland anywhere in the parks anymore? Seems like some of the old characters are fading out.


To the Bellevue peeps - Inglewood here. Nice to see ya on the board!

 

[Micca]

A good place to see Alice is over by the teacups in MK

 

[MouseClubMom]

Shout out to the other Music City folks - Brentwood here!

There are pretty intense character auditions where you have to act out certain situations "in character" and learn a dance routine (or at least that is the way it was back when I was a CM). Once you make it thru the auditions you are categorized by height for which characters you would be appropriate for. Next you go thru character TRAINING where you are schooled in how to act, how to interact with guests, how to sign autograph books, etc....

MCMom

 

[SuzEm]

Just another Nashvillian jumping in here to say hello! I'm in B'vue, too.

 

[MomofKatie]

I don't know about the pay structure, but I had a friend in college who did a summer internship as a CM at WDW- she is really short, and was trained to perform in the parades as Mickey and Dopey. She had a blast- said they went through intensive training to be able to "be" the charachter in any situation. She said the only downside to the experience was the heat- those heads and full-body costumes are sweltering, especially in FL in mid summer.

Of course, I still KNOW all the characters are real!!!

 

[kbkids]

Originally posted by MouseClubMom
Next you go thru character TRAINING where you are schooled in . . . . . . . . . . . how to sign autograph books, etc....

MCMom

Well, Pinocchio needs to go back to school. He misspelled his own name in my daughter's autograph book. When I looked it, I noticed it didn't look right, but certainly I was the one that was wrong!! I couldn't imagine Pinocchio not knowing how to spell his own name!! But got home and pulled out the video case, and sure enough, it was wrong. He spelled it Pinnochio.

 

[flyinglizard]

AngieBelle- Thank you for the education on "equity". I have heard the term before but never knew what it meant. What would you think the "Tumble Monkeys" in Lion King would be classified? They are very talented!

Several years ago, I knew a young lady who was a trained dancer but because she WAS NOT tall, she was relegated to characters of size; Chip or Dale, and I forgot the others. She was also a Santa's Elf on the double decker bus at EPCOT at Christmas, and appeared on the TV Xmas specials back then.

When the kids were little, she arranged a special personal character greeting when we checked into the Beach Club. Chip appeared to welcome us to the hotel. Strange feeling; I thought it was our friend behind that furry face... but I really couldn't be sure. That was the only time I've been hugged by a character.

A truly Magical moment for the kids, and for me too!

 

[wdhatter]

Kendra17, I would love to see that picture of Peter Pan. I worked at the MK back then.

Characters do not make much money at all. They definitely don't get paid what I think they are worth. Like Angiebelle said, it's only a little bit above minimum wage.

The Tumble Monkeys at Festival of the Lion King are represented by Equity.

 

[KevinM]

Bump...No idea on salaries yet?

 

[AngieBelle]

I think it depends on the seriousness of the complaint as to what happens to the CM....something like being out of character probably gets a discussion, or possibly a reprimand.

About the misspelled autograph....we're all human! We make mistakes too. The performer may have been new. Sometimes we even accidentally sign the wrong name! This is especially common with chipmunks...but then again, no one seems to be able to tell them apart anyway!

And yes, you can bet there are times when the character performer is mad at the guests but not allowed to show it. They get hit, pulled, pushed, forced to pose for a picture while trying to leave. There are people who ask for an autograph while they are trying to pose for someone else. My goodness...you'd think getting an autograph and pic was a life or death situation!

There are also times when a character has the best job in the world....the hugs from the little toddlers, the children who say "I love you!" and kiss the character's nose... the adults who've waited their whole lives for the moment...just how excited everyone gets.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Thank you for posting this, I have always been curious too. During my first year of college I went to an open audition in Pittsburgh to dance for Disney. They videotaped the top 10 (I think) and then made calls about a few weeks later. I received a call, but was told that it was a full time job and that I, obviously, would have to leave college. I went back and forth with it. I love dancing, but an education was very important to me too. I ended up passing it up, which I often times regret. Had I known the $1000/week salary I may have chosen differently Anyone know if there is an age limit for me to try again now that I have graduated??

 

[judykay53]

Hey, you could also meet your future spouse, like Kevin Richardson of the Backsdtreet Boys did. They met while working there.