Since traditional meet-and-greets and entertainment programs have largely been suspended since the Tokyo Disney Resort reopened on July 1st, socially-distanced character greetings have taken place at both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea at surprise times to avoid crowding. But it seems that as the Tokyo Disney Resort continues to ease back towards normality, the Oriental Land Company is ready to reveal when these special greetings take place.
The Mickey & Friends Castle Greeting happens a bit more often, at 9:05am, 11:25am, 2:30pm, and 4:30pm. You can also watch a full video here.
Nightfall Glow is resuming performances starting September 1st, and will shimmer along the parade route every night at 6:45pm.
Tokyo DisneySea
The Mickey & Friends Harbor Greeting sets sail around Mediterranean Harbor at 9:30am, 11:30am, 2:30pm, and 4:00pm.
The special Transit Steamer Greeting featuring Duffy, Gelatoni, ShellieMay, and StellaLou will circle the waters of Tokyo DisneySea at 10:30am, 1:10pm, and 3:10pm.
Both Parks
And of course, fireworks will light the skies above both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea with Disney Light the Night, which will be presented at 8:00pm nightly, wind permitting. Wind cancellations or alterations are a frustratingly common reality at Tokyo Disney Resort due to its seaside location and nearby housing developments.
We are so close to the reopening of Walt Disney World after a nearly four-month closure. Disney has shared with us information on what we can expect to see and interact with characters when the parks reopen this week.
1 – New Character Magic
Part of the magic of a Walt Disney World Resort theme park visit is seeing beloved Disney characters. With traditional parades and character greetings on hiatus to promote physical distancing among guests, theme park character experiences have been reimagined in new and different ways. From cavalcades down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom Park to sailings down Discovery River at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and much more, characters from dozens of favorite Disney stories will surprise and delight guests across all four theme parks. These are just some of the reimagined experiences guests will discover as the theme parks begin their phased reopening.
2 – Magic Kingdom (reopening July 11)
“The Royal Princess Processional” – Several times daily, favorite Disney princesses travel through the streets of Magic Kingdom. Princess Merida leads the way on her steed Angus, followed closely by a gazebo float and crystal castle carrying Cinderella, Tiana, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Rapunzel and others.
“Mickey and Friends Cavalcade” – Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and their pals pop up throughout the day, inviting everyone to “Get Their Ears On” as they wave to guests along the park’s parade route.
Cinderella’s Evil Stepsisters – From time to time, guests in Fantasyland may spot the dastardly Anastasia and Drizella and can interact with them from afar while they’re perched on a balcony of Cinderella Castle.
Goofy Cavalcade – Goofy will star in “A Goofy Cavalcade!” when Magic Kingdom Park reopens July 11, 2020, at Walt Disney World Resort.
3 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom (reopening July 11)
“Donald’s Dino Boat Bash!” – Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Launchpad McQuack wave to guests from their party boat as “Donald’s Dino Bash!” moves from DinoLand U.S.A. to Discovery River.
“Discovery River Character Cruise” – Throughout the day, guests can see Timon and Rafiki or Pocahontas with Meeko, who will set sail on the parks’ waterways.
Discovery Island Drummers – These high-energy percussionists cruise along Discovery River, entertaining guests on the shore with an energetic beat.
4 – EPCOT (reopening July 15)
“Mickey and Friends World Tour” – As guests travel around World Showcase, they may come upon Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto and Goofy all out sightseeing and waving to their friends.
“Frozen Promenade” – Queen Anna and Elsa venture into the unknown around World Showcase, journeying from country to country and waving hello to guests along the way.
5 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios (reopening July 15)
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – While living their own adventures in a galaxy far, far away, guests are likely to come across some familiar faces as they explore Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu:
Heroes of the Resistance, including Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi, may be spotted on platforms above the garage in Black Spire Station or surveying activity around the spaceport where the Millennium Falcon has landed.
A contingent of First Order Stormtroopers join Kylo Ren in patrolling the landing platform at Docking Bay 9 beneath their TIE Echelon assault vehicle.
“Pixar Pals Motorcade” – Some of the biggest stars from Pixar Animation Studios’ films arrive on Hollywood Boulevard, from The Incredibles to Toy Story pals and more. They’ll wave to their fans as they head down the avenue accompanied by a celebratory musical score.
“Disney Junior Stars Motorcade” – Throughout the day, Disney Junior stars including Fancy Nancy, Doc McStuffins and Vampirina will cruise down Hollywood Boulevard waving to fans from colorful custom convertibles.
The Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party may have ended its limited-time run, but Timon and Rafiki are still keeping the party going at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. No longer occupied with dance moves, they’ve moved on over to Discovery Island’s Character Landing, where they are meeting and greeting guests for a special photo op.
Once there, you can find Rafiki and Timon monkeying around. A special Lion King backdrop featuring Simba and some hanging gourds, framed by bamboo and rock is available for photos.
Always check the park times guide to know when Timon and Rafiki will be meeting guests. Despite the many Entertainment cuts taking place across Walt Disney World and even close by at Donald’s Dino-Bash in Dinoland, we’re glad character meets are still alive and well.
Following the closure of Character Spot in Future World, the Winnie the Pooh Meet and Greet has returned to its rightful spot in the United Kingdom pavilion. Pooh can be found in the back corner of the United Kingdom pavilion, near the garden and the Toy Soldier shop.
Let’s take a look at the re-opened meet and greet which originally closed more than three years ago!
Winnie the Pooh looks right at home back in Christopher Robin’s bedroom in the United Kingdom pavilion! We love the layout and design of this meet and greet location.
How many of you guys have ever visited Walt Disney World as a little kid and thought how cool it would be to be a Disney character? Or how many girls ever dreamed of being a Disney princess when they got older?
So how does a person get a chance to wear the big mouse suit or don the dress of a princess or wear the costumes of any number of Disney characters?
First…Interview
If you want to be a Disney character, you will first need to go through the interview process. This starts the same way any other job opportunity does, by filling out an application. Applications can be filled out at the Casting office near Disney Springs or online at https://jobs.disneycareers.com/.
Then the wait happens. Once you do receive a call-back, you may be able to complete a first and second interview over the phone, depending on the position and your location. If you are still in the running after those interviews, you may be asked to interview in person. If you are interviewing for the role of princess, you will also audition for that role. Because of this, if you’re hoping to bring the Magic to Guests at Disney under the guise of a Disney character, you will want to come to the audition willing to sing, dance, read scripts and exhibit your abilities in improvisation.
Disney divides their character performers into two main categories: fur characters and face characters. Being a fur character involves putting on a giant, fuzzy costume and communicating only through gestures, or “animation.” Also called look-alikes, face characters include mermaids, fairies, and other human or human-like characters.
Most face characters have to start “in fur” before they move on to the face roles, and even then they frequently have to put in shifts as costumed characters too.
Physical Requirements
If you are an aspiring princess, you will need to meet several physical requirements. Young ladies auditioning for the role of princess are ideally between 5’4” and 5’7” tall. You’ll also need to be at least 18 years old, but not older than 30. The largest dress size for the princesses at Disney World is a size 10, so any candidate must be a size 10 or smaller to secure the part.
Additionally, the Cast Members must fall within certain height ranges in order to portray the various characters. The minimum height to portray a Disney character is 3’ 10” which would allow you to be an Ewok. To be Mickey or Minnie Mouse, or Donald or Daisy Duck, requires the Cast Member to fall within the range of 4’ 8” to 5’ 2.” At the other end of the spectrum, Cast Members reaching 6 feet tall and up may portray Captain Hook, Goofy, Baloo, Jafar, and Sulley, with Chewbacca having the largest height requirement of 6’ 6” to 6’ 8”.
Training
The next step in the process of realizing your dream of fulfilling that role is to attend a five-day training class. During the training, you will be immersed in every facet of your character’s persona. This can mean watching Disney films about your princess until you know the movie inside and out, learning to speak and even sound like that princess and learning to use her expressions.
Everyone starts out as a fur character. Even the Little Mermaid has to pay her dues playing Winnie the Pooh. Performers hired for face roles are first trained to portray fully costumed characters, then spend several weeks greeting kids while wearing giant furry suits. After this probation period, face characters train for their human roles.
Getting into Character
Not only do costumed characters have to be able to project their character through the layers of material they are wearing, they also have to be able to sign autographs while wearing gloves – many of which have a fewer-than-human amount of fingers! In addition, the autograph has to be consistent with signatures signed by other Cast Members portraying that character, even from many years ago! Having good penmanship with limited vision and several layers of fabric between your hand and the pen can be very challenging. The only exceptions to this requirement are characters that have fixed fingers, such as King Louie or Sulley, or characters that have limited dexterity due to their costume.
As a Disney princess, you must be able to stay in character at all times, no matter what you are asked. For example, Snow White would only know about her “world,” and she’d never know who Sebastian and Flounder (from Disney’s The Little Mermaid) are. If you are asked about Sleepy, Grumpy and Dopey, you will need to be able to use your improv skills to give Guests an answer that is in keeping with Snow White’s movie and the characters within it.
Mickey, Minnie, and their ilk can’t speak, only gesture effusively. But while face characters talk to guests, they’re still not supposed to sing.
Patience is a Must
Since a majority of your audiences will be children, your patience could very well be your most used asset in your new role as princess. But it’s not only children you’ll need patience with—it’s also the children’s parents who are hot and tired and have been standing in lines with those children all day long. When Guests are rude or when little ones have hit their melting point on your watch, it’s your patience that will keep you going and help you to stay in character.
Worth It?
Cast Members working as costumed characters generally spend their 8-hour shifts in 30 minute on/30 minute off rotations doing guest meet and greets, character meals, and shows and parades. Virtually all of them emerge from their costumes at the end of the shift as a disheveled, soaking wet mess. Being able to work in such extreme conditions requires a lot of strength, perseverance, and maybe even a touch of craziness. But to most Cast Members, it’s worth it to see the look in a child’s eyes when they meet their favorite character.
As a new Disney princess at Walt Disney World, you will have to be committed to following certain rules about your new role, as disregarding them might even cost you your coveted new role. For example, Disney requires that you never talk about your role outside of the parks. This means that you will not be permitted to reveal to others what role you’re playing “on stage” at Disney World. This includes talking about your role with others in person or via social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Once you’re chosen for the honor of playing a Disney princess in the parks, you will need to commit to fulfilling that role for a minimum of one year from your hire date. It is possible that your role with last longer, but you will need to be available for at least one year. This is most likely because the process involved in hiring a new princess is very intensive and time-consuming, and surely Casting doesn’t want to conduct the process repeatedly.
Do you have what it takes to be a Walt Disney World character?
