Santa Photopass spot - GCH lobby

[Sherry E]

I don't know how they work it yearly, but the group of Disney employees I saw talking on the Disney TV segment a while back were caroling together. I don't know how it all came together or if they sing together on the side regularly, but during that time they were - and they all worked in different facets of Disney already.

 

[Disneylvrforever]

Why go through the pains of training a new group several songs and harmonies, when you can just hire a group that already does it professionally (thus saving extra time and money)? At least, that's how I look at it.

My friend that was caroling @ GCH was in a group that Disney hired. In this case, Disney doesn't hire random ppl and form a group to sing. This group already has their songs set and decides what to perform themselves. I guess Disney just hires multiple groups to perform @ the hotels and lets them do on it on their own.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

In this case, Disney doesn't hire random ppl and form a group to sing. This group already has their songs set and decides what to perform themselves. I guess Disney just hires multiple groups to perform @ the hotels and lets them do on it on their own.

Pretty sure that's what I was getting at....

 

[Disneylvrforever]

Pretty sure that's what I was getting at....

Well you said training a new group, so I assumed you meant that Disney was training the new group to sing carols which I was saying was not the case. Just clearing things up.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

Fine. . To further clarify my earlier statement (and by clarify, I mean just put more words in and make it longer) (and in which we're pretty much saying the same thing):

It costs less for a company (in this case Disney) to find a pre-formed and semi-professional to professional group which already specializes in group harmonies. This way, the company does not have to look for individual singers to train and form into a new group. No rehearsal costs, and the group is ready to go once assigned or hired.

 

[godalejunior]

Oh! There were Carolers at PPH in the...late afternoon/early evening, too. We saw them two evenings, but didn't stick around b/c Eamon was giving them dirty looks. Never quite figured out what the problem was, he was just suspicious of them for some bizarro 4 year old reason!

We also saw them in the morning on one day this last week at PPH.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

That is interesting that Disney hires outside groups to sing. I think I saw on some Disney special or TV segment that WDW has people sing/carol who already work for WDW. Like it could be Joe in Accounting and Mary in Merchandising and Sue from Guest Relations and Sally from the Art Department who just happen to sing on the side, and so they are recruited to be the carolers.

Hey Sherry - the reference you heard was probably in relation to the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. I had an old AOL friend who used to volunteer for that every year. She worked as a coordinator for the Travel Agent Relations division at WDW. I met her backstage before the show one year, when I was still a TDS CM. The CMs there form the "Christmas tree" choir(green robes and forming a triangle), which is positioned above the speaker. Their version is on an actual stage, so the celebrity reader is in front of the choirs risers and centered from the audience's viewpoint.

 

[Sherry E]

Hey Sherry - the reference you heard was probably in relation to the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. I had an old AOL friend who used to volunteer for that every year. She worked as a coordinator for the Travel Agent Relations division at WDW. I met her backstage before the show one year, when I was still a TDS CM. The CMs there form the "Christmas tree" choir(green robes and forming a triangle), which is positioned above the speaker. Their version is on an actual stage, so the celebrity reader is in front of the choirs risers and centered from the audience's viewpoint.

You are right. That sounds correct. The piece I am thinking of that I saw on TV was likely in relation to the CP, now that you mention that. I remember there were five CM's interviewed, and they all worked in different areas/departments of WDW (one was even a lifeguard!), but they sang together (I guess in the CP and not as far as caroling).

However, many of the CM's who work at all the Disney parks are singers who do musical theater on the side (I knew a girl who worked at DLR once and she said that like every other CM was a singer). So it wouldn't be a stretch to think that DLR would utilize some of those singing talents for caroling and for the CP every now and then. The non-Disney carolers they hire for DLR are definitely Disney-fied before performing, though. They are obviously told to scout out those birthday buttons (even if well hidden) and acknowledge them, and treat guests in the special 'Disney way' they have come to expect!!

 

[denyd]

This was our third year (I think) of visiting the GCH Santa. My 6yo DS always enjoys the visit and we've gotten a great picture each year. We had to abandon our try to see Santa in Woody Christmas Round-up as the line was just too long and wasn't moving very fast at all.

 

[lulubelle]

Pix with Santa are not just for children.

I was all excited when they took my photo below!

I just love all of DLR at Christmas, but especially The Grand.