<p>I've heard various information about MT performers working at Disney, which is, in all honesty, my dream job. I've read through all of their college program site, but I'm curious...us anyone on here familar with/working with Disney as a performer? (In college or out.)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>While I'm not in the college program, I am in Entertainment and know many people who are in the college program. As far as I know, if you're in Entertainment and the college program, it's as if you were working in any other department and in the college program. You get 2 year seniority (meaning it's as if you've been working there for 2 years, at least that's how it is in attractions), which means you get perks like better shift preferences.
As far as I know, the college program is good for people who want to rise through the ranks of disney and become managers and such, definitely for people who want to work there full time. The classes you take are applicable in any career field, but the focus is on working at disney.
Mind you I'm not in the program, so I may not be accurate on all my information, but I hope I helped.</p>
<p>Are you talking about working at one of the theme parks or in the film industry? Have you looked at the Disney auditions site</p>
<p>Disney</a> Auditions</p>
<p>We do have a student at my son's PS high school that was in the recent Disney made for TV movie "Minutemen", and we do have a couple of dancers that work at Disneyland. If you could be a bit more specific, I might be able to direct you to someone that could share their experience.</p>
<p>I'm not in the entertainment division of Disney but I work in attractions and have lots of friends in the college program.</p>
<p>UCF is basically the college for Disney</p>
<p>My friend goes there and says theyre at the top of the list for every enrollment oppurtunity</p>
<p>I'm talking about working as a performer in one of the theme parks. I have read their audition information as well, I was just wndering if anyone could tell me about the audition process and what its like to work there.</p>
<p>I am not at all familiar with the college or entertainment programs at/for Disney. Could someone fill in those of us who are in the dark?</p>
<p>For the audition process it depends on what parts you're going for.
For atmosphere characters (aka fuzzies, like Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, Goofy, any character that doesn't talk), you go through a height cut, then a movement evaluation (which is more pantomime than dance) then another more disneyfied movement evaluation, then you put the costume on and dance around it that and if you get that far, you try on a few costumes and if you can fit into enough, they'll hire you.
For face characters, they'll line you up and look at your face and your smile to see if you look like one of the characters, and after that I'm not sure what happens cause I've never made it beyond that.
For parades, you go and they teach you some choreography and you do across the floor, and of you make it past that, they'll teach you some more complicated choreography and watch you do that.
If you want more details on a specific audition, PM me.</p>
<p>There's a poster on CC named DisneyDirector...he might be a good person to ask.</p>
<p>If UCF is probably the school for Disneyworld, then CSU Fullerton is the school for Disneyland.</p>
<p>And LizMT, you know that there are people who work at Disneyland that have not yet been to college, so I guess it really depends on what the person and the themepark are looking for. Would you agree that someone who has had a background in acting, singing and dance may be as competetive as one who is beginning to learn it in college?</p>
<p>If there are any specific questions, I would be happy to answer them. My wife is a full time director and choreographer for Disney and I work freelance (as a director, writer) -with Disney being one of my clients. It can be an incredible experience for a performer in or out of college and there are many different opportunities for all types - actors, singers, dancers, improvisational artists, character animators, etc. I started at Disney right out of college and it was a great transition into the real world - my time there as a performer was invaluable to the success I have had in the business since. Disney is always looking for talent - all around the country. You MUST be aware that it is a difficult job - you are performing multiple times per day in very hot weather, usually. Many performers come here not knowing exactly what they are getting into or what to expect and they become very difficult to work with because they are not prepared for how taxing it is. Like everything else, thoroughly research what the job is so that, when you come here, it will be a rewarding and fullfilling experience.</p>
<p>Thanks DisneyDirector. We were hoping you could chime in here because you would be able to answer the questions from a first hand perspective.</p>
<p>JeffB and DisneyDirector would probably be the best people to ask those question to.</p>
<p>Didn't I read somewhere that Taye Diggs worked at a Disneyworld in Japan?</p>
<p>dramama, yes, Taye did work at Disney Japan for several months following his Broadway debut in Carousel. He was cast in Rent not long after returning.</p>
<p>My S had the most incredible experience working for Disney as a performer in their "High School Musical" show at Disney World. He took a year off from the MT program at IWU (Many of the great posters on this site helped us make the decision) to do the show for a year. Not only did he get have an amazing time performing he made some really terrific contacts that he keeps up with regularly. And because the role was an Equity Principal, he got his Equity card after 14 weeks of performing! (Also a decision made in consultation with this forum). He also learned that he definitely wants this as a career because even with performing 6 - 7 shows a day often in the heat and humidity (singing and dancing the entire show) he always looked forward to going to work. The company is also incredible to work for as Disney Director says - Disney was always his dream as well. I was worried that some of the "magic" would disappear for him, but it stayed a special place for him right until his final show (which was full of tears from the whole cast!) </p>
<p>The audition process went like this:</p>
<p>The audition notice appeared on the Disney auditions site and on Backstage. He flew down for the open call and had to sing an up tempo and a ballad - 16 bars. They asked him to come back the next day for the dance audition. After the dance audition which also included basketball drills, they asked him to come back in two weeks for the final audition. He flew back and went through an eight hour audition - singing, dancing, basketball, reading lines, being paired up with different girls. They dismissed people at various stages of the process. At the end, there were 8 guys and 8 girls left. They were casting a four day a week, a three day a week and 2 subs for each role. They said they would call him in a week or so. He didn't hear anything and then as we were driving him back down to school at IWU for the fall, he got a call from Disney saying he was still in the running. Then a week later (after he's all moved in of course), he gets the call that he got the four day a week role. After the angsty decision making, he took the part. We moved him into a subletted furnished condo in Lake Buena Vista six days later. He also learned how mercurial the business can be when they closed the first HSM show which was at the Magic Kingdom to double its size, and move it to the Disney Studios Park. He had to reaudition all over again. He and one other girl in the previous show made it, the others didn't including his three day a week counterpart. All in all a valuable, worthwhile, and yes, magical experience.
If you'd like to pm me for more info, please do. My S would be glad to talk with you as well.</p>
<p>On the subject of Disney, I heard that they do not hire people with tattoos. Anyone know the policy on that?</p>
<p>If the tattoo shows it is covered with makeup. All depends on the size and location. They don't discriminate against tattoos but they do cast appropriately.</p>
<p>By the way, baymom, my wife, who is now the show director for HSM2 and the upcoming HSM3 shows, said that she remembers your son and that he was great and that the company hated to lose him. I'm glad it was such a positive experience for him.</p>