How many cast members play each role?

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

Does anyone have any idea how many Mickeys there are at a given point in time? How many Cinderellas are there? How many Belles?

Casting and scheduling must be a major, multi-person effort!

Do they ever do anything like have reunions of all the Mickeys over the years?

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

There is only one Mickey. Only one Cinderella. Only one Belle.

 

[Joanna71985]

That's right. I was even told on the Keys to the Kingdom tour that "if they were asked, it's one Mickey, one Cinderella, ect. That's the Disney answer." If you want the real answer, PM me.

 

[AngieBelle]

Well, of course there's only one of each character, but there are hundreds of performers who help them out.

 

[Simba's Mom]

The thing that stands out the most to me from the Keys to the Kingdom tour we took 9 years ago was how strictly every one of those helpers/elves must coordinate everything-hair, makeup, shade of lipstick on the princesses. DS was, umm, a "friend of Eeyore" at DL, and he had to practice his signature-if 2 children get together after their trip to WDW, and one got a character's autograph in one park, while another one came from a different park, it wouldn't do for their autographs to look different. He also got a "biography" of Eeyore, even though he didn't talk. All he could say after his experience was "anyone who's ["a character's helper"] has my utmost respect-it's a very hard job, and they all do it so well. Whatever they're paid-they deserve more!"

 

[Angelgirl13202]

As posted above THeir is only one Of each character and they make so many appearnaces all over the world with the Help of Magic.

Just like the cable on the castle is because prince charming wanted ESPN and cinderella wanted a line to hang her Laundry.

 

[TiggerandBelleFanMom]

Oops, sorry--didn't realize this was a naughty question!

And of course there only is or ever has been one Mickey. I knew that!

I just find the logistics of running a place as vast as WDW to be interesting. (I'm also the kind of person who is fascinated by things like how they do all those speedy costume changes for the Rockettes during the Christmas Spectacular...and for me, it in no way takes away from my pleasure in the spectacle to learn some "behind the scenes" stuff.)

 

[Amphigorey]

has my utmost respect-it's a very hard job, and they all do it so well. Whatever they're paid-they deserve more!"

College program character performers get $6.40/hour. Full-time CMs top out (I think) at around $14 an hour.

It's scandalously low in any case.

 

[FlowersChild]

Also there is only one Flower the Skunk Now there is a human being called Flower who is FlowersChild and that human being is me. Flower and I are so much alike it's almost as if we are the same person. But Flower the Skunk and I are still 2 different beings. I Love Flower the Skunk and Flower the Skunk loves me. We have a Love Love relationship

 

[GeorgeG]

We were walking around the Magic Kingdom several weeks ago with some friends, one of them is a CM, and I asked a similar question. Like others have posted, the official answer is only one of each and a CM cannot say otherwise. Let's just say Mickey gets around... a lot!

 

[Joanna71985]

That's right. I get annoyed when adults come right out and ask (in front of kids too! ) questions like "Is Mickey real?" and "How many Mickeys are there?" and "Is there AC in there?". Why would they do that?

 

[mattsdragon]

The official answer is there is only one of any of them, and nobody is "playing" them. They are the real characters.

You have to accept this, it is paramount to truly experiencing Disney.

 

[Nennie]

That's interesting that CM's are instructed not to tell. I asked a CM while waiting in line for the Disney Visa photos, and she gave me the "real" answer...as well as some other tidbits about Mickey and friends, height requirements, autographs, etc. I didn't know that I was getting secret info!! Now I feel like I know secret Mickey stuff!! LOL!!!

 

[Breakfast@Tiffany's]

A friend of mine rode in a hotel elevator with one of the chipmunks, Chip or Dale, I can't remember. It was only the two of them and she said it was really funny/awkward to be alone with a character and not say anything, so she turned around and said hi, but the chipmunk only waved back. She said, It's okay, it's only the two of us, and the chipmunk waved his finger like, no no, naughty girl!

 

[AngieBelle]

Personally, I love sharing behind the scenes stories with people who are genuinely interested. I think it's perfectly possible to know what really goes on and still truly enjoy the magic. I love meeting characters, and I work with them and see them backstage every day! It's called suspension of disbelief. We do it whenever we go to the movies or see a live show. Go watch a really good ventriloquist...we had one on our Disney cruise. He told us exactly, step by step, how he made his puppets, and yet you still fully believed they were alive.

Long before I got hired in WDW entertainment, I met a character performer in instant message. I was really interested in what it was like because I wanted to do it myself, but he would not drop the facade- it made me so mad! I wasn't being some smart aleck trying to get him to say everything is fake...

I do think that when in the parks, especially with children, it's important to play along. That is not an appropriate place to make the air conditioning or costume comments.

 

[TSR6]

Personally, I love sharing behind the scenes stories with people who are genuinely interested.

I was really interested in what it was like because I wanted to do it myself, but he would not drop the facade- it made me so mad!

Part of the magic.....mystery....and fun.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Having auditioned for roles, I can tell you how many there are auditioning... how many hired and how many get cut. A lot of people pull double and triple duty so that guests get the face time... if you meet the requirements and audition well, they will use you for whatever they need.

It's not an easy job... especially in the heat. And you're not in it for the money. I saw someone posted the pay scales here. You almost have to work another job or two to make ends meet unless you've been doing it for years.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Having auditioned for roles, I can tell you how many there are auditioning... how many hired and how many get cut. A lot of people pull double and triple duty so that guests get the face time... if you meet the requirements and audition well, they will use you for whatever they need.

I know that in DL, a few of the princesses play different princesses at different times and places. Sleeping Beauty in DL may become Ariel in DCA. These people are so talented that, although they're face characters, once that make up is on, they fully "become" the character. Perhaps someone here can confirm if this happens in WDW also. I'll tell you, it always impresses me just how good these people/characters are.

 

[M.K. Poppins]

Simba's Mom, I'm told they do this in WDW as well to save money!!

 

[LoveWDW]

When we took the behind the scenes tour, I goofed by asking the guide about the laundry. He looked a bit pained and gave a non-answer. When we exited the park into the underground, the play was off and he could answer questions frankly. There weren't even any children who could have heard the question above ground- the CM's are supposed to be "On-stage" the whole time they are in the park. At least this is what we were told.