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Auditioning at Walt Disney World

Pixie dust? What pixie dust?

For years I had wanted to be a Disney princess. Doesn't every little girl dream of growing up to be one?

Cinderella with Princess Erin at Disneyland

To audition to be a face character, I had to first audition to be in the character department (starting off playing the "fur" characters — the ones that cover you completely like Mickey, Pluto, etc.). When character auditions were announced in the local paper, I naturally jumped at the opportunity.

For the general character audition, you go through a dance audition in a non-air-conditioned gym. I believe that is done on purpose so when it gets hot, it stays hot... and your stamina in heat is tested. You have to be able to be active in the heat when you wear those costumes — especially in the summer.

You go through one dance routine first and the judging panel cuts about 50% to 75% of the auditioners. Next, a new dance routine is taught at a much faster pace and with more difficult dance steps. More auditioners are cut, thanked for coming out, and shown the door. Puppetry and animation auditions are given to those who remain after the final dance audition cut. Those who score well enough in all auditions are assigned to whatever Disney park wants / needs them.

Tigger and Friend at Disneyland

After being in the character department, you may attend "face auditions," however, now the face auditions are being opened to non-characters, and even non-CMs. I believe that if you are not in the character department upon approval in a face role, a dance audition is required.

"Face auditions" are the auditions to be the "face characters" like Cinderella, Jane, Jasmine, Aladdin, Tarzan, etc.. This kind of role requires much more acting ability, as well as being able to convince people by your face, voice and mannerisms that you are that character.

In the auditions, each person is measured in sock feet. Certain characters fall into certain height ranges and these guidelines will determine what character height range you fall into. For instance, Alice is not taller than 5' 4" perhaps. Auditioners are called into a small group at a time and they lined up in a dance rehearsal room. A panel of people who look at each auditioner very critically to see height, body type and facial features that may match up with particular face characters.

Smiles are considered equally as important. After all, smiles are usually a part of the face character job. Teeth must be in good shape and not too much gum should show.

Auditioners are quickly looked at from the front and both sides. From there they are either dismissed or given a call back for a fitting in one or more characters.

At call back auditions, a cosmetology team does the makeup and wig application of all returning auditioners. Costumes are put on and when called, each auditioner goes into the room in character to act out a short monologue. Auditioners are again looked at from the front and sides, asked to smile. Some auditioners may even be asked some questions to answer in character.

If the performance goes well, a picture is taken and then it's on to one more audition (I never had to do this next part when I was approved).

An on-set audition day is selected for each auditioner at the park in which he / she is based. The appropriate wig, costume and makeup are put on to do a "set" (an appearance as the character) to interact with the guests. At least two people (face character supervisors) watch and judge from a slight distance to determine how good the auditioner performs as the character... and how the believable he / she is to the guests.

If everything's good, the auditioner gets approval in the character role!

The new face character CM get trained (a one day training) in that character role by watching his / her movie(s), reading through a fact sheet with guests' commonly asked questions of the character, and observing others in that role. A session with cosmetology teaches the CM how to put on the wig, costume and makeup.

Princesses Snow White, Aurora and Cinderella at Disneyland

Cosmetology gives each CM face character his / her own special makeup colors to use, so, for example, all Snow Whites will have the same color blush, lipstick, lip liner, eye liner, and eye shadows. Management says the colors are specially made to be the exact coloring from the cartoon character in the movie and approved by the animators. This doesn't seem to be believable when Ariel, Belle and Mary Poppins all wear the same shade of lipstick and blush, but it does make for some pretty unflattering colors sometimes!

Because of the colors, a lot of girls secretly blend in their own neutral colors to tone down brightness and make colors a little more flattering on their own skin tone. Cosmetology is supposed to approve of all colors, but what they don't know doesn't hurt them. Guests can never tell the difference.

Each CM may use his / her own foundation, powder and mascara. Some characters also require fake eyelashes to make their lashes longer and thicker.

Training also includes learning how to sign your character's autograph (each character has a unique, official autograph style) and tips on posing for pictures.

Face character CMs are told where not to take pictures and who not to take pictures with. For example, no pictures in front of bathrooms because it makes it look like Esmeralda just finished using the toilet. Also, no pictures with scantily-clad people, because it doesn't make the character look wholesome. No pics near people with food or drinks because it could spill on the costume or wig and ruin them.

There is also no smoking in costume (even though I have seen girls do this). Standing near smokers is an equally bad idea because either activity scents the costume and wig of cigarette smoke. Definitely not something that should be associated with any Disney character.

After training is complete, the CM is ready to start doing scheduled sets as that character. After enough sets, the CM learns how not to smile, how to stand, and how to wipe away sweat and still convince everyone that he / she is royalty.

Walt Disney World does not pay very much for such work (a little over $7 last I worked). A lot of people can't live on it. However, it means more as status than a paycheck to many girls.

Some let it go to their heads and consider it physical self-validation. Sadly, that is a sole source of self-esteem to many.

A number of girls have gotten so caught up in the beauty label and start to believe portraying a certain pretty character, confirms their own beauty, and more roles must mean beauty to rival all others. That may not necessarily be true. Some girls approved in beautiful character roles just aren't pretty and don't look as much like that character as maybe someone else.

I've also known my share of CMs who have gotten nose jobs, breast implants or developed eating disorders... all in order to make themselves look more like their character (or in hopes of getting approval in another).

It's hard to look like a cartoon! The job doesn't really pay enough to pay for the plastic surgery or screwed-up self image.

There's also the problem with being compared with others approved in the same role.

No one person resembles another approved in that same role. Each person brings his or her own, special likeness to the character. As expected, cattiness and egos get highly involved. Sooner or later, someone's gotten into an emotional tizzy because she doesn't think she's thin enough, pretty enough, her skin isn't clear enough, her nose isn't small and cute enough, wrinkles are appearing, age is setting in.... Guys as well as girls get into this mindset at times.

To add to the mix, a handful of really nasty divas happily point those things out (even if they aren't true) just to knock their competition.

As if this isn't enough, there are also the politics involved in decision-making.

Many members of the face character selection panel are ladies who are now too old to play the characters they face characters they used to be approved in. They regularly pick their favorites in the department (despite resemblance to a character) or the girls who are less physically stunning (not as intimidating to the ones who can no longer compete).

While one person may look like she leapt off the screen as Jane, panel members may not give the auditioner the role. Instead, a petty, lame, untrue excuse is made. It's no surprise that these ladies have been known to make girls cry by abrasively dismissing them for roles.

Actual excuses that have been heard are, "You're just too fat," "Your teeth are too crooked," "Your nose is too big," "Your face is just a few millimeters too wide right here," "if you got surgery on your eyes, you could play this role."

It may be rough on the ears and ego to get the rejection, but such is entertainment anywhere. It is unfortunate and unfair when the girl is the spitting image of the character and still rejected. This happens to guys as well.

I have personally seen some very beautiful girls who looked and acted perfect in the roles, but were turned down while mediocre or downright plain girls were approved in those same roles. Many of us characters have seen our share of girls who clearly are too big (weight-wise), far too old, not pretty at all , or those who look and act nothing like the character they portray. How sad when a person like that is out there portraying that character. Makes you wonder about the legitimacy of the panel's decisions on role approval.

This job is a lot of fun, but it can really mess with your head too. In my opinion, the job isn't worth the psychological beating, but people do allow themselves to become too consumed by it all.

Fortunately, not all of the face character CMs are catty and mean. I found a lot of really nice friends who were also face characters. These are people who didn't take themselves or the job too seriously nor consider themselves the be-all and end-all of the world. We did our jobs to the best of our ability and did our utmost to be true to out characters. Our happiness came from the smiles of happy guests.

I miss the job with all my heart. I miss dancing with kids, talking with them and their dolls, hearing them share secrets with me, getting crayon-colored drawings, hugs, kisses and smiles. I miss being able to be their best friend and heroine. However, I can't do this forever, and the face character selection panel made it obvious recently by giving me an obviously untrue excuse. Taking sad, untrue news gracefully and professional is difficult.

There are others approved in the same role who are clearly too heavy, have wrinkles, look obviously too old, do not look like the character and / or care little about their responsibility to the role. They may win the coveted roles, but the guests will be cheated in their experiences in the end.

How sad to see the pixie dust fade.