Disney audition advice?

[cinderella73]

I am taking my sister to a audition in a few weeks for face characters. Does anyone here ( I know there are some current / former cm's) have any advice? She is the perfect age , has the look , and previous acting experience. But we could use some tips if anyone has any. Oh also where exactly is the Animal Kingdom rehearsal facility? Is it at AK in the theme park or just outside?

 

[KEMdisney]

I have no idea how to answer any of your posted questions, but I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK! How exciting!! Tell your sister I hope to be posing in a picture with her sometime soon in the future!!!

 

[cinderella73]

I have no idea how to answer any of your posted questions, but I just wanted to say GOOD LUCK! How exciting!! Tell your sister I hope to be posing in a picture with her sometime soon in the future!!!

Aw thanks! I will tell her! She is a tad nervous but she had a casting today for something and she did great so I am sure she will be fine. I am going to write it about it and take pics for our trip report. Which.... I need to get started on , since we leave in a couple weeks! lol

 

[LadyDuchess]

The rehearsal facility is outside Animal Kingdom on Sherberth Road. Basically, follow the signs to Animal Kingdom Lodge -- then make a left at the light on Sherberth (Sherbeth? I can never remember the name! ). Go around the curvy road and you'll see a sign for Auditions on the left. It's the same building as Costuming.

And good luck to her! I always want to audition, but I'm too chicken!

 

[cinderella73]

Thanks , I think I know right where that is. I saw a big sign last time that said something about auditions.

Oh you should try out. I bet its a lot of fun. Would help you alot if you took someone to audition with maybe? Sometimes those things are easier in 2's .

Thanks for the info!

 

[commdoc]

I auditioned when Disney came to our college so it might be different if she is going there but I thought I'd share my limited experience. I was suprised to learn that even for face characters they wanted someone who could dance. In fact, that was the first cut. If you could dance you moved on to the rest of the audition. I didn't make it, so I can't tell you anything past that point.

 

[LadyDuchess]

One day I might just drag my boyfriend along and make him audition with me, just so I can use the buddy system! I know I'll regret it if I graduate without ever at least giving it a shot!

As for the audition itself, I can't give any firsthand advice, but I can share the tips I've received from others (gathered from last year when I REALLY was going to audition... really..):

Disney <3s big eyes. White eyeliner will really make them pop. Very natural makeup otherwise.

Work on animation exercises! Assuming she'll be auditioning for fur first (unless this has changed?), she'll want to be able to silently mime everything from making a sandwich to riding her favorite ride to... well, just about anything. Being over-the-top can be a very good thing here.

And then of course, there's the dancing. Make sure she's in comfortable clothing for this!

Biggest thing, though, is to smile and really look like she's enjoying herself. Sometimes that can hold more weight than the closest look-alike.

Make sure to let us know how it goes!

 

[ToontownPrincess]

It's been a few years since I auditioned but I remember having to start with the dance audition. I have no dance experience what so ever and it takes me a bit to pick up on choreography but I passed through the dance audition so I guess I did something right. I was told to make sure I made my movements big and enthusiastic because that's what they're really looking for so that's what I did. Sadly though I didn't make the final cut. They weren't looking for my height in costumes characters and I guess I didn't have the right look for Alice. Sad day but life goes on.....Good Luck to your sister. With all her experience I'm sure she'll have no problems getting a part.

 

[bellaDisneydncr]

bumping to see if anyone else out there has any advice!

 

[amyhughes]

I am taking my sister to a audition in a few weeks for face characters. Does anyone here ( I know there are some current / former cm's) have any advice? She is the perfect age , has the look , and previous acting experience. But we could use some tips if anyone has any. Oh also where exactly is the Animal Kingdom rehearsal facility? Is it at AK in the theme park or just outside?

Hi there. I went through almost every form of Disney Casting for Entertainment. The Face Character experience definitely sticks out in my mind. First thing they will do is weigh her and mark her height (w/o shoes). All of the Disney characters are based on height to start. The Non-Face characters more for consistency (Mickey and Minnie and Donald and Daisy are the shortest and on up.) The mid range like Chip and Dale, Pluto, Tigger are the most difficult to obtain b/c the lists are so long b/c many people fit that bill.

For Face, dress her in a color that is flattering to her. Nice make-up, nothing heavy! The point is to accentuate but not cover her features. When she goes in she will stand facing a panel that has notebooks and large binders. Each Disney Face character has similar facial characteristics that they cast for (So that Snow White looks like the film version, but also has a consistency from Park to Park and Picture to Picture). Then she will turn to the side for a profile. Then they will make their decisions based on how many of her facial characteristics match with the "Disney" guide book for Casting the role.

If she doesn't make it, or goes on a waiting list, don't let her be discouraged. These are the creme de la creme roles for the parks. Every little girl who went to Disney World at some point wanted to grow up and be that princess in the parade. She can also try out, if she has any dance experience, for parade performers. Which is fun as well!

 

[pooch]

she waited for 6 1/2 hrs to be called! By the time they got to her (last) group of the day, I'm not sure they were even paying attention any more. So my first suggestion is to be the VERY early to check in (this is true of any audition), then be patient and have something to keep yourself occupied! We flew in that morning and arrived on property at noon, when she checked in, she was #368! BTW, she got nothing even though she has a degree in Musical Theater, 2 yrs experience in theme park character work and is the most sought after height for character work, under 5'.

 

[jfap]

I'm not a cast member but I did take a friend to an audition for face charachter. The building is not inside AK park.....is closer to AK Lodge. I know there was a stop light right before the Lodge and you turned left there and followed the road....wasn't far. Hopefully someone can give better directions. Best bet would be to call your contact number and they can give you detailed directions.

 

[scrapbookingpro]

Is she going to a character open call, or is it a specific face character audition?

I'm going to assume it is probably an open call, which means that PPs are quite correct about expecting to dance. They will teach a basic character routine that is pretty easy if you have a lot of dance experience, but can be a lot harder if you do not.

Then they do an animation bit. Sometimes they just tack it on to the end of the dance, like:
For the last two counts of eight, you will pretend that you are at the beach (or something like that).
Sometimes it is separate from the dance and they will just give you a character and a situation to act out. "Minnie Mouse making a birthday cake"

For face characters, the most important thing is obviously her look and her HEIGHT. Height is a big one. She could be the spitting image of Belle, but if she is 5'8", she doesn't stand a chance!
If they feel she has the right look and she is the correct height, she will be pulled aside and they will wig her right there. Then they take pictures of her in the various wigs.

Things to remember:

As others have said, it can be a VERY long day, so be prepared for that.

Also, does she know that almost ALL face characters do fur costumes as well? Does she want to do that?

It's important to smile A LOT and have lots of energy.

Best of luck to her!!
The character department can be very rewarding

 

[scrapbookingpro]

One day I might just drag my boyfriend along and make him audition with me, just so I can use the buddy system! I know I'll regret it if I graduate without ever at least giving it a shot!

LadyDuchess, Go For It!! You've got nothing to lose!

 

[Kiki Lime]

Wow! Let us know if she makes it!

 

[Lorelai]

Wishing her lots of luck...with pixie dust!

 

[cinderella73]

Thanks everyone for good wishes and for all the great advice. We will be going to the first audition of the month. We decided to not do any parks that day and just take it easy. I am going to work on my trip report tonight . I will have video and pics of how the day goes. I am excited for her. I hope if she doesnt get it that it wont ruin her whole trip. I know how upset she can get. Hopefully it will all work out . I will keep you all posted.

 

[Pixiedust2758]

I've been to two different auditions before:

The first was for a "character" when I did the college program. In this audition, they did have you do a dance and an animation as described previously. They called a few people back in to audtion for "face" characters (one of the girls in my group just said they had her try on a wig for alice).

However, the second, which sounds more like the one your sister is going for, was in Orlando at the AK facility. At this one, you signed in, waited in a *long* line (as previously posted, do get there early, so you don't have to wait forever - we were about 15 minutes early and still had to wait about 3 hours). They will weigh your sister and get her height with her shoes off. Again, as others have posted each character has a determined size they go for. After this, they moved us into a room in groups of about 40-50 people. Once in there, the lady described how not to be discouraged, they have a specific thing in mind, and while you might have perfect features in general - that each character has a certain look and you have to fit that to get it. They had us in about 4 lines, and they looked at the front row face on, and then in profile, and then the next row moved up, etc. After that, the lady (and a few others in the room) took a few minutes to talk amoungst themselves, and then out of the room of 40-50 people, at least at my audition, they only called one name to move on. I'm not sure if that person had to have an additional audition, or if he automatically got the spot from there, but that's how my experience went. Make sure to tell your sister good luck, and tell her not to be discouraged if she doesn't make it. They are really really tough roles to get - disney looks for their own kind of perfection there.

 

[Dolce27]

I am taking my sister to a audition in a few weeks for face characters. Does anyone here ( I know there are some current / former cm's) have any advice? She is the perfect age , has the look , and previous acting experience. But we could use some tips if anyone has any. Oh also where exactly is the Animal Kingdom rehearsal facility? Is it at AK in the theme park or just outside?

It sounds like, if you’re driving your sister, you’re fine but to anyone else who’s considering auditioning for Disney a word of advice: Just make certain that you have a car. I went to audition once while there on vacation. It said Animal Kingdom rehearsal facility so it should be around the park - right? It’s not even on property. Fortunately security at the AK took pity on me and drove me to the rehearsal facility but when I was finished auditioning everyone was gone. I was one of the last people there.

I was about to attempt to walk back to the AK to hop a bus (as soon as I could find someone to point me in the right direction ) when another girl who had auditioned with me and knew my lack of car situation stopped and offered me a ride. I’d probably still be walking if it wasn’t for her.

 

[hygienejean]

Good luck to your sis! Sounds so fun!