Making Magic! The Best Job Ever.

College Program participants work in a variety of different areas around Walt Disney World (WDW). Many of my friends complained about work. Apparently working at an attraction (eg. Speedway in Tomorrowland) was too repetitive and working as a Lifeguard at the resorts and water parks was boring. Restaurants and quick-service food were always so busy and the hours for Merchandise were long and late. 

When I tell people I was a character performer, they always ask if it ever got hot. Yes, of course it did!   And no, there was no ventilation! Florida has a tropical climate and it was 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77F) in the winter/cooler months and consistently over 30C (86F) in the Summer. Early mornings were always the better times to be outside. We also had indoor shifts which were often worse than being outside because there was no breeze and managers tended to be stingy with the air conditioning. Indoor shifts were like being in a sauna.

There was one random freezing cold day in the Winter. I hadn't come prepared for the cold, and I think I wore ALL of my clothes at the same time to work that day. It was 1C/34F and it felt great to be in costume that day. That was the only day that I felt like I was at a normal body temperature while on the job.

We would be wearing several layers and perhaps it would not have been as uncomfortable if we were just standing and occasionally waving. But a character performer is always moving around on the job, greeting guests, signing autographs and "animating" in character. It was tiring but it really was the best job in the Parks, and the best job I've ever had.

This was for several reasons:

1. Although it was hot, we generally worked only for about half an hour, then we were allowed to go backstage and take a half hour break. In this break time, we could do whatever we wanted. We usually watched TV (Disney movies and Ellen were always break room favourites), play on our phones, ate and slept.
2. Every morning before we were due to appear on set, we were required to do strengthening and conditioning exercises with a trainer. We got access to weights and yoga balls and all sorts of equipment, and were paid to do these sessions. 
3. Acting and dancing, especially when you can keep your identity hidden, is FUN!
4. Guests were always excited to see us. They never complained to us or angry with us. We were like celebrities. 
5. I played with adorable children all day 
6. It was challenging to respond to the questions asked by guests on stage and to keep in character 
7. We were required to be so active on set that I was able to eat as much fatty/sugary American foods as I wanted and still lost 3kgs. As soon as I came home, I put 3kgs back on!
8. Each day was different, because we were scheduled in many different character roles at all the different theme parks. So I was taking a different bus to work, doing different things in character and working with different people every day. 
9. We got paid the most (but only a dollar or so more than most other CPs)

I met Debby Ryan from the Disney Channel show "Jessie" when she visited Jake the Neverland Pirate at Hollywood Studios. But most guests were a joy. It was so wonderful to be part of the Magic and make memorable experiences for Disney fans! My favourite guests were of course, my own friends who would come and visit me in the Parks on their days off. That would always make my day!

However, a good friend of mine has a horror story. During his shift, a man picked Tigger up and threw him in the air. Tigger landed awkwardly on his back and had to be carried off-set by his character attendants. He was injured for months and was put on modified duty (in Merchandise, nowhere near as fun). The culprit, who was there with his family and whose own children had witnessed the incident, was ejected from the park and banned from WDW for life. The other guests in line got together and ripped into the man for being so disrespectful and for being a douchebag basically. 

Here are some pictures from my time working at Walt Disney World. The best job ever!