How much do you think face characters earn annually?

[rebecca314]

We saw the same woman as Jasmine three days in a row. Sleeping Beauty was the same on two days (one day in between) and Mary Poppins had the same schedule. All these CMs do is spend the day in costume, meeting folks like us who love them. They smile all day, walk around, hug, sign books, pose for pictures ....

Do you think they make a lot? I hope they do. It would be hard to get that sort of job. You would need a certain look. I love Pocahontas, but I couldn't pull it off, KWIM?

Just curious if anyone knew or had an idea about the type of earning these people are making.

 

[tchrrx]

I have no idea how much they make. However, I'm certain it's a very tiring job! It looks glorious to us with all the hugging, posing, & smiling going on. Then, you have to realize that there are some pretty nasty people who want pics with some of those characters!

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

.

 

[snickerboo]

I'll bet they get paid peanuts to do that since there's a line outside Disney's door of people willing to do it.

 

[jennifer293]

I talked to one of the CM's that escorts the characters with heads about their pay and she said they have the lowest pay out of all because they are normally high school or college kids and just want to be at Disney. She said they start at minimum wage. I kinda hoped they got paid more since they have to stand out in the greuling heat on most days. GUESS NOT!!!

 

[james'mommy]

I worked with someone who used to work at Pop. She said tbe face characters get paid more than regular employees.

 

[dis75ney]

I would assume that face characters are paid more than other positions - these cast members are actors and not only need the right look, but also have to have the improv skills to interact with guests of all ages...and improv isn't as easy as it looks!

 

[Disney1976]

I may be wrong, but I remember seeing a "casting call" out here recently (within the last two months or so) for "look-alike" characters, the folks who play the princes and princesses, etc. Starting pay was around $10.65 an hour (about $21,000 and change a year gross assuming a 40+ hour week). Disney is also very strict about who they choose -the casting call had all sorts of height/weight/facial requirements.

I'm told other performers, like those in the "Nemo" show at AK get around $20 per show, and do 2-3 shows a day plus they are on call in case someone should call out/get sick, etc.

They're not in it for the money, that's for sure!

 

[lindsmom]

I was just looking at this yesterday...

http://www.disney.go.com/DisneyCareers/wdwcareers/hourly/entertainment.html

(not for me... just curious)

and it looks like "Perfomers" start at just over $8 an hour, while the attendants are just over $7 an hour. Yeesh.

 

[livndisney]

Perhaps there are people who may have the information and prefer to preserve the "magic".

 

[TotalSnowWhite]

We saw the same woman as Jasmine three days in a row. Sleeping Beauty was the same on two days (one day in between) and Mary Poppins had the same schedule. All these CMs do is spend the day in costume, meeting folks like us who love them. They smile all day, walk around, hug, sign books, pose for pictures ....

Do you think they make a lot? I hope they do. It would be hard to get that sort of job. You would need a certain look. I love Pocahontas, but I couldn't pull it off, KWIM?

Just curious if anyone knew or had an idea about the type of earning these people are making.

Pocahontas always irks me a little. Perhaps there aren't a lot of native girls looking to get a job at Disney, but I've only seen white and East Indian Pocahontas actresses.

I may be wrong, but I remember seeing a "casting call" out here recently (within the last two months or so) for "look-alike" characters, the folks who play the princes and princesses, etc. Starting pay was around $10.65 an hour (about $21,000 and change a year gross assuming a 40+ hour week). Disney is also very strict about who they choose -the casting call had all sorts of height/weight/facial requirements.

I'm told other performers, like those in the "Nemo" show at AK get around $20 per show, and do 2-3 shows a day plus they are on call in case someone should call out/get sick, etc.

They're not in it for the money, that's for sure!

I saw that post, too. I'm too tall for any of the female roles and a good amount of the "head" characters. I want to say I could only have been Goofy.

 

[bas71873]

Pocahontas always irks me a little. Perhaps there aren't a lot of native girls looking to get a job at Disney, but I've only seen white and East Indian Pocahontas actresses.

We were fortunate enought to see a GORGEOUS, native Pocahontas at AK in February. She was striking. I even said to her after she posed for pix with my DD and signed her autograph book that she was just beautiful. She was very sweet too, there was no one in line to meet her and when we rounded the corner she skipped over to my DD, gave her a huge hug and was just great. DD still talks about her.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Also, don't forget that the cost of living in Florida is less than say NY, NJ, CT... etc.

 

[puffkin]

On our KTTK tour a few years ago, our guide used to be a character. She said they get paid about $7-$8 an hour. Face characters are more, something like $10-$11. Performers (i.e. if they do a show) can be around $14-$15 dollars. She said most do it for their resumes or because they love it.

 

[aaronandterri]

my friend whos cousin used to be a face model/ dancer says she got paid more than most disney average employees, they like a lot of the dancer girls who can do both roles.

 

[Disney1976]

Also, don't forget that the cost of living in Florida is less than say NY, NJ, CT... etc.

You know, having lived in NJ, now living in Florida for the past 10 years, I have to say, this simply isn't true and this rumor needs to die! Yes, we have no state income tax-big deal. They tax everything else to make up for it! Everything else costs the same or more here -clothing, food, gas, housing, etc. In fact, last time I was in NJ (November) I was surprised to find gas running over .20 cents a gallon less and someone even pumps it for you! Besides, no one could live on $7-8 an hour. My first job in Florida, with a 4 year college degree, paid $10.60 an hour, around $21,000 gross. That was barely liveable, and certainly wouldn't be a liveable wage here in Orlando. Most CM's that I know who aren't college students, etc. either work 2+ jobs or work tons of hours at Disney because they've been there long enough to get them, and build their salary that way.

Florida isn't cheaper to live, do not kid yourself.

 

[las3888]

We have a dear friend whose daughter plays Mulan and I think one other character...can't remember what character tho. She definitely gets paid more as a face character...she started doing something else, can't remember what though. I want to say the $10.xx / hour rate sounds about right. She is also a dancer type too and I do think you have to meet a lot of criteria to do these parts. She does a lot in the parades and has been on the parades on tv (i.e. Christmas parade, etc.). I wish I knew more, but I can't remember all the fine details. She has been doing this a number of years now and is now just doing it part-time.

 

[wano]

I thought they made more than that! just makes you think of how much more appreciation and consideration we should give them for making our kids and our dreams come true. I think they all need an extra hug

 

[zdesiree]

What about the Employee Benefits they give:

Health Plan
Dental Plan
Life Insurance
Vacation Days
Sick Days
Complimentary Theme Park Passports
Educational Reimbursement
Learning and Development Opportunities
The Walt Disney Company Foundation Scholarship Program
Employee Stock Purchase Program
Disney TEAM Discounts, including Disney products and merchandise
Credit Unions
Educational Matching Gifts Program
Disney VoluntEARS
Service Awards
Personal Assistant Network
Employee & Cast Member Contests
Childcare Centers in Burbank and Orlando
Employee Stores in Several Locations

 

[christa112]

It amazing with a place like WDW that they pay their employees so little, but people still want to work there. How do people get by on making so little?