Characters - male/female?

[Mickeyistheman]

One of my customers used to play Mickey Mouse!!! It was a woman. Oh the stories she told me!!!

She got to go ice skating with Nancy Kerrigan, she even went to the opening of Tokoyo Disney by the Sea and Disneyland Paris.

She is no longer working for them now.

 

[GoofyDad869]

The Fantasia ostriches (SpectroMagic Parade in Magic Kingdom) are all men. Check out the leg musculature.

 

[ksoehrlein]

I know of a married couple who are "friends" of Mickey and Minnie. They are friends with their respective gender (Minnie and wife, Mickey and husband). They sometimes tour, such as when Disney Stores would have character visits (I'm an ex-DS CM) but they do appear in the parks as well. Whenever I think about "who" the characters are, in my mind, Mickey and Minnie are always this particular couple. The idea that they are married and do this for a living together just makes me melt!

 

[PrincessAurora]

As many people have said, depends on the height and frame of the person vs. the character being portrayed.

I can say from experience that during Gay Night at Disneyland in the late 90's (a private party), Mickey Mouse grabbed my booty and then a bit later someone took Mickey's head off and Mickey was a girl. Not like that was a surprise.

 

[DVCJEN]

According to Disney policy, CM's are supposed to basically play dumb when asked questions regarding who "plays" characters.

Pesonally, I think it's great that they do that. I hate to think of someone inside those costumes.

I am sure you are right about it being policy-- but like everything else there are always those that, on occasion, give a little too much information. If it wasn't for those extra informative CMs the DIS would have a lot less to speculate on.

 

[Ride Junkie]

When Disney was touring promoting the opening of Disney MGM Studios, the Mickey and Minnie characters were both female, and Roger Rabbit was a male. I'm sure it depends on the size of the person.

 

[Simba's Mom]

DS worked for the summer at DL. He said the strangest sight was being backstage when Mickey took off his head, only to be a little middle-aged lady.
But when I asked him how many Mickeys there were in the parks, he said "Only one." He said that answer is "indoctrinated" into them as part of the Traditions class. CMs MUST adhere to that answer.

 

[Stitchfans]

I often wondered about the sex of the characters. On our last trip this past spring Geppeto laced arms with my oldest DD. Not thinking I laughed and said oh look you have a new boyfriend. He nodded yes, and patted DDs arm. Now what if that was a female I might of offended her. We had several occasions were I referred to one or another as a boy or girl and could of been so wrong.

 

[sunking]

Think about when you shake the hand of some of these characters. Feel how small or large the hand is in the costume. You can pretty much tell from that. I have found several Donald's and Pluto's that have small hands and were probably females. As a previous poster said, the larger the costume, the better the chance that it is a male.

Have fun guessing the gender of who is under the costume!

 

[Feralpeg]

I've met a few of Mickey's very close friends. They can be either sex, but are usually female. I've met Pluto's best friend and his was male. I haven't met Minnie's friend yet.

 

[Disney Girlie-Wirlie]

Just curious...

Can a female person be Mickey? Can a male person be Minnie? Can a male person be Peter Pan? j/k

I'm just wondering if WDW keeps the character and its actor the same gender. Anyone know?

Actually, speaking of Peter Pan, my friend from high school works at Disney. She's been working there since HS, which was almost 10 years ago...So, last year when we were at WDW, the Share a Dream Parade came thru and we were in the front row...That's when I saw her! Rachel was Peter Pan in the parade! It's was so weird!

 

[disney1990]

DA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA -- I can't hear you. What do you means "plays" Mickey. Mickey IS MICKEY and I refuse to believe anything else.

Walt Disney World -- Where the Magic Lives!!!!!!!

 

[wdwteen]

i think whoever "plays" the character has to be small when the character is small and big when the character is big.....i am a small person only 4'11'' at 17 and when i got my pictures taken with the characters most of them were only a couple inches taller than me so i think most of the characters are "played" by women...so one also said that you can look at the muscles on the body but that doesnt always work i have huge calves so if you look at my calves you might think that i was a guy....so i guess if we really want to know we should all go work for disney...

 

[Joanna71985]

The Fantasia ostriches (SpectroMagic Parade in Magic Kingdom) are all men. Check out the leg musculature.

Not true. I know someone who was "friends" with the ostriches and was a female. So the character "friends" might not always be what you think.

 

[Daxx]

In 1976, Peter Pan was a girl! I have photos of me as a child w/"Peter" ... and he was def. a she!!!! But, she had the short haircut (no wig) and therefore, must have been appropriate. She had a boyish build (almost gymnastic like Mary Lou Retton-ish) and sure didn't seem to mind playing a boy!

 

[MouseWorshipin]

I saw a Mickey once that was OBVIOUSLY a woman, if you get my drift. Or, drifts, as they were.

 

[Mecha Figment]

well i have no problem with peter pan being a women since traditinaly peter has always been played by a female on stage.

 

[cruiseonmagic]

Of COURSE, it's really Mickey Mouse!! These posters are so silly.

There you go Although all current and former castmembers should know...some of them just don't get it. Nobody plays Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and the gang! They are real. If they weren't, would you go halfway across the country to see some guy in a costume? I think not.

 

[Bill From PA]

There's no Santa Claus, Milli Vanilli didn't actually sing their albums and now I find Mickey's not real? I'm crushed!!

Bill From PA

 

[SomePixiedust]

There's no Santa Claus, Milli Vanilli didn't actually sing their albums and now I find Mickey's not real? I'm crushed!!

Bill From PA

WHAT?????????? Milli Vanilli didn't really sing? I feel so violated!