Characters and HEAT.

[styron]

I cannot even imagine what it must be like to be Pluto in this heat. Poor Chip! Poor Dale! Even the face characters. How does Snow White keep her makeup from melting off?

 

[DOOM1001]

The heat index has been close to 100 or more,how can they be in those costumes for more than 5-10 minutes,it's gotta be like 130 in those costumes.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I know I agree. I remember reading on allears that there's no type of cooling system in those things, but I watched that modern marvels walt disney world last week and I remember when they were talking about Lights Motors Action Extreme Stunt show, they had a type cooling system under their gear b/c they could not have air conditioning in the cars b/c it would make the cars heavier. If they don't do this with the characters they should really think about it, at least for the ones who are out doors....just my opinion

 

[theatermouse]

When I worked at Disney a few years back, I had heard that the bigger costumes (Sully & Beast) had those cooling systems in (as did Shrek over at Universal).

I remember I interviewed with another girl & she said she wanted to be a character. Our interviewer pointed to the chairs we sat in (a brownish/orange/red color) and said "after 20 minutes, your skin looks like that. Are you sure??" The girl quickly reconsidered and moved on to another job prospect (I think merchandise in MK if I remember right).

I know it's uncomfortable enough in capris & a tank top on hot days (especially when I was pregnant here in the South), I couldn't imagine being Mickey & getting hugs from folks ALL day!! Or one of those rascally chipmunks who also play around as well as hugging everyone! Those folks don't make enough money for what they do! Even on a cool day!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

theatermouse,

is that your tattoo as your icon? It is so cute!

 

[Berlioz70]

When I worked at Disney a few years back, I had heard that the bigger costumes (Sully & Beast) had those cooling systems in (as did Shrek over at Universal).

You heard wrong.

Why would beast have a cooling system in his own skin?

 

[summermac]

I used to have to dress up as Hamburgler (yeah, that's not on my resume) for birthday parties at McD when I worked there as a teen. There is no way I could ever do it in the heat we had at WDW last week, even for 15 minutes. No way.

I do think I remember hearing somewhere that they are only out for 15 minutes and then they get a 45 minute break. When we were there last week, Capt. Hook and Smee disappeared and they both came back in 5 minutes, which I'm assuming was new people so the other two could get a break.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I also noticed when we went to meet Buzz and Woody last year, when it was Al's Toy Barn and it was outside, that Woody and Buzz went inside and literally less than a minute later they were back. I am also assuming that it was a totally different pair of people.

Seriously, I have to feel bad for them, and they have to have patience with little kids and autograph books and smiling for cameras.

 

[WDSearcher]

I cannot even imagine what it must be like to be Pluto in this heat. Poor Chip! Poor Dale! Even the face characters. How does Snow White keep her makeup from melting off?

Um ... Snow White doesn't WEAR make-up. That's how she LOOKS.

 

[Manda]

I always think about how stinky it must be inside there.

 

[theatermouse]

theatermouse,

is that your tattoo as your icon? It is so cute!

Thanks, it is one of my tattoos! I also got another one that's Disney related last week. It's a star with a black Mickey head in it & the star looks like it's shooting off fireworks & pixie dust. There's a pic of that one on pg. 77 of the Disney Tattoo thread over in the Theme Parks Community.

 

[Finally08]

Hmm what I don't get is why WOULDN'T they use some type of cooling system on any of the mascot characters? I know of people with regular outdoor jobs who wear these cooling vests under their clothes...seems extremely simple and a smart, easy thing to do for the characters. Just like these:

http://www.glaciertek.com/

I remember dressing up in a giant Barney mascot style costume for Halloween one year. Even though it was night time this is the south, so it was probably about 80 outside. I walked in it for 2 hours and it wasn't terrible...but I can't imagine if there had been sun shining down on me or it had been 10 degrees warmer.

 

[styron]

I also would NOT want to put on a costume that someone else (or even that I) had ever been sweating in that much. Even if they clean it every day, it just must be filthy on the inside.

 

[Bagheera23608]

How does Snow White keep her makeup from melting off?

...MAGIC!.....

 

[tractortippin]

I have a little different look on the matter.... Total germ freak here!!!

I can not imagine putting on a costume that hundreds of people have been sweating in for years

If I could have my own designated costume - I'd be a character no problem! heat and all!

 

[pixietwin]

I cannot even imagine being at Disney now. To me, it seems like it's been getting hotter year by year than it used to. I am from FL but now live near Memphis. I've been checking and it looks like we've been about 5-8 degrees hotter here than Orlando. We've constantly had 110 heat index for the past 10 days. I went to Disney in July in 1993. It was hot. But it wasn't this hot. I don't know if it's global warming or just climate change...but it's definitely hotter in the south now than 10-20 years ago!

 

[mmcguire]

I only saw a few characters outdoors last week, but maybe I wasn't looking in the right places for them. We didn't run into them all the time like it seems we used to, so I thought they were now mainly in indoor "character containment areas" like inside at Toontown Fair and at character meals.

The indoor character areas seem to work quite well -- folks can wait in an orderly fashion without clogging the pathways in the parks, characters are in a climate controlled area, and kids can visit with several in a short amount of time.

 

[gingerfeathers]

I've wondered this too. I had to be Alvin the Chipmunk for a work function a year and a half ago outside in 20 degree weather, and I was sweating like a... yeah. The outfit was very similar to Chip and Dale, and honestly after wearing that thing I can't help but wonder how they even MOVE in those costumes, let alone not get overheated! If I was hot when it was 20 degrees, I can't imagine 90 degrees or more. I'd die.

 

[peanmunch]

ummmmm..characters ...costumes....what in the world are you people talking about????? Oh...must be chuckie cheese or something?!?!

Lori

 

[maroo]

I cannot even imagine being at Disney now. To me, it seems like it's been getting hotter year by year than it used to. I am from FL but now live near Memphis. I've been checking and it looks like we've been about 5-8 degrees hotter here than Orlando. We've constantly had 110 heat index for the past 10 days. I went to Disney in July in 1993. It was hot. But it wasn't this hot. I don't know if it's global warming or just climate change...but it's definitely hotter in the south now than 10-20 years ago!

No joke....I am in Jackson, MS and it is freaking hot. And no rain since June 4. I am melting.

My weather bug (iPhone app) is telling me the heat index is 111F down the street from where I live...