Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

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  • disneygogetter
    MiceChatter
    • Feb 2014
    • 205

    [Question] Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

    I was just thinking about the South Park episode of where the kids go on a field trip to this fort and all of the people were in character to that fort time period. The funny thing was that they were NOT allowed to break their fort character at all even in an emergency.

    So this made me think of Disney do you think their rules apply? Where an actor or actress who wears a fur suit or a real person attire is not allowed to break their character?

    How well do they get trained to act EXACTLY like the character? Do you think any of them ever wonder in the back of their mind when a fan comes up to them talking to them about the films etc. And they think "Oh god shut up" "oh man this person is crazy" etc.
  • ssaamm
    Banned User
    • Jun 2010
    • 1392

    #2
    Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

    Originally posted by disneygogetter View Post
    How well do they get trained to act EXACTLY like the character? Do you think any of them ever wonder in the back of their mind when a fan comes up to them talking to them about the films etc. And they think "Oh god shut up" "oh man this person is crazy" etc.
    There is some training but less than you might expect. Face characters get more than fur characters.

    And yes, the cast member portraying the character is a real person and does feel emotions about annoying/disruptive guests but it is extremely rare for this to cause them to break character.

    Comment

    • CassiefRN
      BadWristPhotography
      • Jun 2012
      • 1980

      #3
      Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

      My almost 2 year old niece has made friends with a particular friend of Cruella. We've been visiting her for a few months and I guess she could be considered "out of character" since she's super sweet with my niece. I know villains tend to tone down the "meanness" for kids, but she really dotes on my niece. She does maintain the wacky, crazy, fashionable core of the character though. And my niece adores her! She loves watching her, being with her, looking at pictures... It really makes her trips more magical, and it's fun to watch!
      Attached Files
      Last edited by CassiefRN; 03-08-2014, 12:00 PM.
      Follow me on Instagram: @disneylovingnurse :ap:

      Comment

      • Capt Hook
        Banned User
        • Jun 2006
        • 7815

        #4
        Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

        Yeah I have seen last year one of the Peguins from Mary Poppins had to break out of character because 3 boys where trying to pull his tail and the actor inside had enough of them trying to pull his tail but what he did was he didn't go after them he just walk to one of his superives and was talking to him what they where doing. So he leave for about 10 mins to cool down. When he came back out I when up to Mr. Pip and when it was my turn to see him I told him without anyone else hearing what I was saying and I told him that I saw the whole thing what those punks where doing to you and that they where jerks. He didn't say anything which I know he couldn't but he did shake his head yes they where. I told him that I was sorry then after the photo he tap my showder and I turn around and he gave me a big hug as to say thank you for your understanding. So yes I have seen characters out of character.

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        • Capt Hook
          Banned User
          • Jun 2006
          • 7815

          #5
          Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

          Originally posted by CassiefRN View Post
          My almost 2 year old niece has made friends with a particular friend of Cruella. We've been visiting her for a few months and I guess she could be considered "out of character" since she's super sweet with my niece. I know villains tend to tone down the "meanness" for kids, but she really dotes on my niece. She does maintain the wacky, crazy, fashionable core of the character though. And my niece adores her! She loves watching her, being with her, looking at pictures... It really makes her trips more magical, and it's fun to watch!
          I knew a Cruella like that as well she was always nice to me but when it came to other people she would be her grachy not nice mode. Sad thing is she is no long there she leave back in 2011. She was also The Queen and she got my friend good. When I told him that she is my friend Cruella as well and she knows my name. He was are you sure? She hear him said that and she step out from her spot and said hello Jeffrey he just jump back and couldn't believe that she knew me by name when she was The Queen.

          Comment

          • Hillchat
            Tiki Dancer
            • Aug 2013
            • 1742

            #6
            Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

            I got to hand it to the face AND non-face characters for putting up with a lot of crap from idiots who think they can harass them. I don't have the self-restraint or patience to do that job. Parents who aren't parenting their kids and the adults who are jerks, I'm talking to you.

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            • CassiefRN
              BadWristPhotography
              • Jun 2012
              • 1980

              #7
              Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

              Originally posted by Hillchat View Post
              I got to hand it to the face AND non-face characters for putting up with a lot of crap from idiots who think they can harass them. I don't have the self-restraint or patience to do that job. Parents who aren't parenting their kids and the adults who are jerks, I'm talking to you.
              very true!
              Follow me on Instagram: @disneylovingnurse :ap:

              Comment

              • Capt Hook
                Banned User
                • Jun 2006
                • 7815

                #8
                Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                Here she is as The Queen


                and here she is as Cruella


                Like I said she is no longer working there I miss her alot.

                Comment

                • BogLurch
                  Inactive
                  • Jun 2005
                  • 2524

                  #9
                  Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                  I've seen one or two face characters break onstage during emergency situations, but yeah. Massive respect for them being able to keep up in the face of what they work with daily.

                  This would be highly anecdotal, but I've a friend who has a favorite story of a Fantasyland face character having a highly appropriate but also highly profane response when an earthquake hit during operating hours. I think that one might be forgivable.
                  Account abandoned due to trolls

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                  • Commander Corn
                    MiceChatter
                    • Apr 2012
                    • 147

                    #10
                    Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                    i've read before that when actors are assigned character they are given a large packet of personality traits as well as what is and is not canon for that character. don't know for certain if that's true but it certainly sounds right.
                    WDW: March 2004, August 2005, Summer 2006, March 2012, July 2013, December 2013/January 2014
                    DL: April 2011, December 2011, December 2012/January 2013, June 2014, December 2016, May 2017, October 2017, December 2017
                    HKDL: July 2016

                    Comment

                    • Big Phil
                      MiceChatter
                      • Aug 2012
                      • 155

                      #11
                      Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                      I was in Epcot in 2009 and I was talking to a photographer who takes pictures of the characters. I asked him how many "Mickeys" there are in Disney World altogether. He looked around for a second and said: "Oh, there's only ONE Mickey, you know."

                      I knew he didn't want to let out the "secret" that there is a person in the costume but when he was sure there weren't any kids within earshot he sort of quietly said to me that they find a way to make sure that Mickey can never be seen in two places at once in WDW. In other words if you are at Epcot and see him and hop right over to Magic Kingdom he shouldn't be there greeting you.

                      Comment

                      • ssaamm
                        Banned User
                        • Jun 2010
                        • 1392

                        #12
                        Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                        Originally posted by Commander Corn View Post
                        i've read before that when actors are assigned character they are given a large packet of personality traits as well as what is and is not canon for that character. don't know for certain if that's true but it certainly sounds right.
                        Pretty much

                        Originally posted by Big Phil View Post
                        I was in Epcot in 2009 and I was talking to a photographer who takes pictures of the characters. I asked him how many "Mickeys" there are in Disney World altogether. He looked around for a second and said: "Oh, there's only ONE Mickey, you know."

                        I knew he didn't want to let out the "secret" that there is a person in the costume but when he was sure there weren't any kids within earshot he sort of quietly said to me that they find a way to make sure that Mickey can never be seen in two places at once in WDW. In other words if you are at Epcot and see him and hop right over to Magic Kingdom he shouldn't be there greeting you.
                        You will never or shouldn't see two of the same characters but Mickey, and many other characters, will be out in multiple places not just in different parks, but even the same park. For example Mickey could be appearing 4 times at his house in Toon Town, in Town Square, at the Fantasyland Theatre in the Magical Map, on Buena Vista Street at DCA and at the character breakfast at Paradise Pier all at the same time.

                        If you see him at Epcot then go straight to the Magic Kingdom I can almost guarantee he will be there too.

                        Also it is kindof annoying as a cast member to be asked how many Mickeys there are, so please don't do it

                        Comment

                        • Malina
                          MiceChatter

                          • Oct 2011
                          • 3006

                          #13
                          Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                          Do the characters have an SOS signal, I wonder? I don't want to know what it is, I'm just wondering if they have one. What I mean by that is some sort of secret gesture that would let their escort know that they need help or want to end the interaction.

                          I ask because when I worked at a show years ago, one of the actors worked out a signal with me that basically meant "please come and help/get me out of here now" when he was meeting people after the show. And he did invoke the signal once or twice when someone made him very uncomfortable, and I got to be the "bad guy" and tell the guest that he was needed backstage.
                          Merida looks like this. Not a Barbie doll!

                          Comment

                          • ssaamm
                            Banned User
                            • Jun 2010
                            • 1392

                            #14
                            Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                            Originally posted by Malina View Post
                            Do the characters have an SOS signal, I wonder? I don't want to know what it is, I'm just wondering if they have one. What I mean by that is some sort of secret gesture that would let their escort know that they need help or want to end the interaction.

                            I ask because when I worked at a show years ago, one of the actors worked out a signal with me that basically meant "please come and help/get me out of here now" when he was meeting people after the show. And he did invoke the signal once or twice when someone made him very uncomfortable, and I got to be the "bad guy" and tell the guest that he was needed backstage.
                            They have a distress signal which basically just means 'take me backstage now'.

                            Comment

                            • Witches of Morva
                              Minion
                              • Jan 2005
                              • 4863

                              #15
                              Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                              ORDDU: Back in 1989 there was a most unfortunate situation that came up with Cinderella. She was doing here meeting and greeting between the photo pick up shop and the Plaza Inn. It was a hot, sunny summer day. Several of us were gathered around her to get pictures and autographs.

                              ORWEN: All of a sudden, when Cinderella was stepping backwards to make room for a little girl, the heel of her shoe got caught in the hem of her ball gown. She tried as hard as she could to get her heel free from the hem but just couldn't do it.

                              ORDDU: The next thing we knew, she began to cry. Her greeters came forward to assist her and they ended up escorting her back stage. We felt sorry for her because she was totally out of character and couldn't stop herself from crying and she was limping off stage as her slipper was still caught in the hem of her gown.

                              ORWEN: Fortunately there wasn't too big of a crowd gathered around but I'm sure some of the children who were there must have been disturbed at seeing poor Cinderella in such distress.

                              Comment

                              • Hillchat
                                Tiki Dancer
                                • Aug 2013
                                • 1742

                                #16
                                Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                                Originally posted by Witches of Morva View Post
                                ORDDU: Back in 1989 there was a most unfortunate situation that came up with Cinderella. She was doing here meeting and greeting between the photo pick up shop and the Plaza Inn. It was a hot, sunny summer day. Several of us were gathered around her to get pictures and autographs.

                                ORWEN: All of a sudden, when Cinderella was stepping backwards to make room for a little girl, the heel of her shoe got caught in the hem of her ball gown. She tried as hard as she could to get her heel free from the hem but just couldn't do it.

                                ORDDU: The next thing we knew, she began to cry. Her greeters came forward to assist her and they ended up escorting her back stage. We felt sorry for her because she was totally out of character and couldn't stop herself from crying and she was limping off stage as her slipper was still caught in the hem of her gown.

                                ORWEN: Fortunately there wasn't too big of a crowd gathered around but I'm sure some of the children who were there must have been disturbed at seeing poor Cinderella in such distress.
                                That is horrible for that Cinderella. Maybe she hurt her ankle. Darn glass slipper!

                                Comment

                                • mickeyfan42
                                  MiceChatter
                                  • Jan 2010
                                  • 3642

                                  #17
                                  Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                                  the most interesting character moment I saw at DL this last time was that part of Woody's boot broke in the animation building but he did a fairly good job staying in character... it was also awesome because he came out and moments later "You've Got a Friend in Me" started and his reaction was priceless
                                  Trips coming up:

                                  May 22-26th
                                  July 13th-18th
                                  November 19th-25th

                                  Comment

                                  • Disneyland 1951
                                    MiceChatter
                                    • May 2010
                                    • 951

                                    #18
                                    Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                                    This happens once in a while. Two that I was suprised by were:

                                    At a July 17 event in Town Square after the formal presentation, The Princesses gathered at the center. I walked over and began talking to Aurora standing alone. We moved to the side under a tree and stood side by side watching fans run up to Ariel and Tiana with their Princes, but did not noticing us. We spoke for a long time about the other Princesses and how fans react to each. She talked about several times she had great fun with meeting little kids. It was a normal conversation, not in Character.

                                    I often find Face Cast members that are "friends" with more than one Character. Examples: Alice and Tinkerbell, Cruella and the Evil Queen. Recently I was completely startled by Mary Poppins. She and Bert were all alone at the Coke corner. We discussed the names of the Penguins (I did not know one is named Perry!). I asked why when she says supercalifragilisticexpialidocious backwards, each part is pronouced the same but in backwards order except for Super which she says Repus. [docious-ali-expi-listic-fragi-cali-REPUS?]

                                    She became defensive and said: "It is my word, and ONLY I decide what is correct." in her Evil Queen voice and mannerism..... I never would have thought that Mary Poppins and the Evil Queen could have the same friend.
                                    Last edited by Disneyland 1951; 03-08-2014, 09:38 PM.

                                    Comment

                                    • TFN5459
                                      MiceChatter
                                      • Jan 2014
                                      • 1616

                                      #19
                                      Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                                      Reading everyone's comments, it would seem like if a CM has to get out of character for a little personal interaction to make someone's day special, I certainly hope they would! If there is an emergency or something where someone could get hurt or something significant could be damaged, by all means get out of character and do something about it! While he is not an "official" Disney character and is just being himself, Tiki Maynard over at the Tiki Room (Maynard Smith) is an AMAZING CM and always goes out of his way to make the overall guest experience at that attraction even better with his infamous preshow, but he will also engage in an entertaining personal conversation if you talk to him as well, which is what I enjoy about some characters that will go on the personal level (obviously Mickey can't hold a personal conversation with you) and sometimes that's all that's needed to make your visit that much better in my opinion.
                                      "Hello folks, welcome aboard the Disneyland Railroad..."
                                      "The Gods have been angered by all the celebratin'..."

                                      Comment

                                      • Capt Hook
                                        Banned User
                                        • Jun 2006
                                        • 7815

                                        #20
                                        Re: Disney Characters Getting OUT of Character?

                                        I wasn't there when this happen I only hear the story on here when Disneyland had The Parade Of Dreams going that Ariel on her float had to break character cause what I hear her float cought on fire and the CM had to strip her of her fins to get her to safty so I think that was another time a Character will not be in her character form.

                                        Comment

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