What???!!! Where was Tinkerbell during Wishes???

[Neesy228]

I was waiting for Robo to post the infamous "TinkerBill" picture!! I love these threads....

 

[dansamy]

Is saying "dude looks like a lady" appropriate? Or should I just not go there?

 

[KSDisneyDad]

We've seen Tink on each viewing at the MK. I guess we've been fortunate.

Is it the same for the Tinkerbell at the original Disneyland? We went there for the first time last summer and were amazed at how much more she is part of the show than at MK. We enjoyed how she "flew" back and forth over the castle and then started the fireworks with a wave of her wand. The show wouldn't be the same without her there.

 

[Kathy Z]

I know that we watched Tinkerbell fly on at least one of our early vacations to WDW. We were there in 1975, 1980 & 1990.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

We watched Saturday, 3/28's show and Tinkerbell was missing. IS that the one you saw OP? She was there on Sunday and Tuesday nights. I do remember Saturday being windy. The space shuttle came down late that day too due to the wind.

 

[hungrygreenhippo]

Ever since I first saw Tinkerbell fly at Disneyland in 2000 (I was 16 at the time), my dream job has been to be Tinkerbell.

When we took the KTTK tour, we were also told all about the weather conditions and the weight limits, etc. I found it really interesting that the first Tink was a really old women (in her 70's when she finally stopped flying). She did it for years.

Glad to know I still have many years to try and achieve my dream.

Also of note (I learned this on the KttKT), Tink works by the night. She is not salaried. She is contract. She is well compensated (WAY more than you might think at first) because Disney will not provide her insurance and she cannot even obtain insurance on her own because noone will underwrite it. This is the reason it is always ultimately her decision and her decision alone whether she goes on any particular night (weather or no weather). Noone ever knows whether Tink's gonna fly except Tink. Not even the Wishes! producers. Kinda keeps it exciting, don't it?

In the category of "more information than you wanted to know"...

The no insurance bit worries me a little, but I've ridden ziplines before and always felt safe. And I'm sure Disney does an excellent job making sure all the ropes and safety equipment are top-quality and inspected regularly. What a nightmare it would be if Tink accidentally fell... all those tramatized kids!

I'd be willing to be Tinkerbell for free! Getting well compensated would just be a nice bonus.

Tinker Bell may have had male helpers in the in the distance past- but I assure you all the current ones are female! I used to work in Disney entertainment, and I have met them and seen them up close! I have also talked to people who've auditioned for it. The hieght and weight requirements alone would make it very unlikely for this person to be male. The comments about hairy legs are silly because Tink helpers wear flesh-toned sequinned tights. And c'mon, even if one was male, do you really think Disney would allow someone in that position to have any facial hair?

To answer the OP, yes, others are correct. Tink does not fly if the winds reach a particular speed.

I had heard the Tinkerbill stories before and am glad to read your comments. For awhile I actually wondered if they used a male because a larger body frame would be easier to see in the air. If this was true, I figured I had no shot at being Tink because I'm only 4'10". How exactly does one audition to be Tink? Other than height and weight, do you know what other requirements there are?

 

[disneymomof2boyz]

We were also there on Sat 3/28 and I was kinda dissapointed that I did not see her, as were my kids. But I do understand because it was quite windy that day...better safe than sorry. Can you imagine how traumatizing it would be for kids if something were to happen to Tink while flying??? Poor Tink...

 

[mthompson22]

Robo, you have no idea how much your picture saddens me

 

[Pig Pen]

I can tell you that we were directly under the zip line once and had a VERY clear view of Tink. Several people around us did a double-take and then started asking others, "Wasn't that a guy?"

I am pretty sure it was Tinkerfeller that time!

 

[luvthemouse71]

Here's the infamous photo (I didn't shoot it)-

Tinker Bell (Tinker Bill?) in Wishes

Either that's TinkerBill, or Tink has a hormone imbalance.

 

[aubriee]

I can tell you that we were directly under the zip line once and had a VERY clear view of Tink. Several people around us did a double-take and then started asking others, "Wasn't that a guy?"

I am pretty sure it was Tinkerfeller that time!

We've also been too close before and saw Tinker Bill.

I took the KTTKT a few years ago and we were told at that time that the main Tink was a 93lb Romanian gymnast (female) and that she had two helpers who took her place, if she happened to be sick or was off for some reason. He also said she got paid for a full eight hours for that 45 second flight every night.