Question about Character Attendant

[Savvy]

Okay so loooong story short, I've wanted to do the college program since my early years in high school. I planned on applying sometime around my junior year of college, but I made a last minute decision to apply last week for the Spring 2012.
My top choice was character performer, but obviously since I applied late, I missed the auditions!
So I made my top choice character attendant. For those of you who have been character attendants, do you think the experience would be helpful to those of us who want to eventually work as a performer?
And what did you enjoy and dislike about the job?

Thanks so much!

 

[BigDreamer]

Umm... I can give you my experience as a Photopass member and what I saw them do.
I think that being an Attendant would be good to prepare you for what to expect as a performer. You'll get to learn how others handle situations without being able to talk, and be able to talk to the performers about the limitations they have.
Attendants are the voices for the characters and the keepers of the magic. They're the ones who explain that Mickey has to go get a piece of cheese real quick, but will be right back. Or that he'll be back at 1:30. People really will ask you how many Mickey's there are (one, of course! There's only one of you, right?) If there's air conditioning in there, etc.
You get to help Mickey put on his coat and make sure that he looks his best for going out to greet everyone. You also run interference between the performers and overly excited guests. In my six months I saw bear hugs that almost looked like tackles; people sweeping Minnie off her feet; unhappy guests that the line for Belle had closed. You name it.
Attendants also seemed to have the most fun. I saw some great interactions between characters and attendants that would have me dying of laughter sometimes. My favorite memory is when Dale got really mad at the tie he was wearing (it wouldn't stay in place) so he eventually threw it on the ground and literally ran away with his hands in the air. I stayed with Chip taking pictures while the Attendant went running after Dale.
So in short, expect the unexpected!

 

[Joanna71985]

I did character attendant on 2 CPs (and am currently seasonal). It is a lot of fun. I love getting to interact with both the characters and the guests, and being able to pick up shifts in all 4 parks. There are so many different kinds of characters to work with too- princesses, villians, fairies, VIPs, Pooh characters, Pixar characters, ect. The only thing I don't like about the job is having to tell people that the line is closed and they have to come back later (or not at all, if the characters are done for the day).

 

[Frizzbird]

I was a character attendant on my first program and am now on my second as a performer. I do think that my time as an attendant has helped me as a performer. Quite simply I think watching and interacting with characters all the time gave me a better idea of what to do once I was at the audition. Once you have been around characters all the time you know what good animations look like and should be better able to do that yourself.

I also think its just good experience to have so that you know what the other side is going through. When an attendant has to go close your line you know what they are doing and how to fend for yourself. If you have a crappy attendant you know how to take care of yourself and if you really have to how to deal with a line. Some of those things you would eventually learn as a performer but you would go in with that knowledge which would really set you ahead of others.

Another thing is if you have any intention of staying with the company and in entertainment having the attendant skill in addition to the performer skill is very good. If you stay seasonal and pick up shifts in between your programs you will keep your attendant skill updated. People who already have the knowledge of attendants and performers are going to be better off in trying to advance than those who don't. If you then gain any additional skills like parade drivers, etc. you are well on your way to becoming a sub captain, captain, manager, etc.

I am honestly quite happy that I was an attendant before I was a character. I find myself still doing attendant things while performing. I keep an eye out for costuming issues and I fix lines and things. I basically have an attendant streak that runs deep. lol. And I will say that I know of several people who like me were attendants before they were performers. I also conversely know people who were performers who after a while of doing it (and their body then breaking down on them) moved to attendant. At one point all performers were also "greeters" or attendants. They are very interconnected roles.

Sorry for the book, but I figure this is the sort of info you would probably want to know.

 

[khancock]

they did a video overview of the character attendant position on their youtube channel

http://youtu.be/z4qfRLASKvc

Video supports what others have said.