[RowdyRAider]

Hey guys and girls. Matt Taylor the RowdyRaider here. I'm new to D-central so I'm still trying to find my way around these message boards. Couldn't help but find this forum helpful to me since I'll have the honor of filling the immortal shoes of Disney characters from May through January thanks to the College Program.

It's stories like the recent molestation charges brought against Tigger (Tigger of all characters!) make me wonder. Over the next 8 months I'm going to be doing something I've dreamed of my whole life, bringing all sorts of warm fuzzy feelings to thousands of people. I'm grinning thinking bout it. Now I realize I'm going to have the memories of all these thousands upon thousands of people in my hands...er, paws. No pressure huh? Will I actually live up to bring Goofy honor, which I'm dying to don his suit? I'm sure a lot of you on the boards have filled the shoes of many a character. Any tips on "keeping the magic" for a rookie like me come May?

[Screever]

Hey RowdyRaider, welcome to DC! I'm a College Program alumnus from spring 2003, so if you have any questions feel free to ask away!

I don't think many people here have been characters, let alone worked at Disney (catch me if I'm wrong, ya'll!) I wasn't a character though...I would still love to be. Two of my roomies were characters. Eeyore, Chip/Dale, King Louie, various Country Bears. I can't really tell you much as far as how to "keep the magic" it sounds like it won't be hard for you to be the best Goofy for other people (btw, he usually flirts with girls, that's a tip!) ;) Keeping the magic for yourself? That's harder. One character-roomie of mine was in tears the first week because the training classes were so sad to her...if you can deal with seeing Piglet's head on a shelf or knowing what the real Mickey Mouse is like on the inside, you should be just fine. :-)

I think DownSouthTigger was a character? You can find him on the College Program thread here. Enjoy your stay and have a great CP experience!

[Dana]

Welcome to DC!!! It's a pleasure to have another member of the CP with us. What an honor it will be to spread the magic to all those kiddies!! Adults too!

My Daughter's faforite chareacter interactions are the ones who notice the little things like what character is on her shirt her pin collection. We had Pooh make a fuss ofer her extensife pooh pins and she lovfed efvery second of it. Good luck to you.

[dznygrl]

I'm so excited for you! Seriously...
Sorry, but I can't help being ecstatic for someone who gets to be a character! I can't wait until the day comes when I finally get my chance.... ::keeping fingers crossed!::

I bet you're gonna be the best Goofy ever! ;)

My only tip is, don't do what the Goofy in Disneyland's Toontown did when I was there in February...he was running, and he turned around to wave at some kids...and slammed into a garbage can! :nooo: The poor guy...I can't imagine how bad that must've hurt! I mean, he hit that thing at FULL SPEED. But he just regained his balance and kept going!

[downsouthtigger]

Hey, did I hear my name mentioned around here???
Anyways nope I wasnt a character, but I've been around enough of em to know that it's hard work b!
The suits themselves are hot and heavy, after a long day of work you are really sweaty and tired.
After way too many horror stories and that fact that I was always working at Speedway, I never went out for the character auditions. PLus seeing as my height 5'9" was only suitable for maybe a green army soldier or flounder(!?!), I really didn't see it justifiable for me to try. Sometimes I wish I was taller!! I did put on a costume and played Arthur the Ardvark during a kids day that a bookstore I worked for put on, so I kinda know how it goes.
Anyways having taken acting classes, I know that with a costume it's a little harder, since you have to act through the fur. Just remember you have to accentaute your movements more and be more animated.
I was just looking over my list to see if you were one of my recruits matt, since the name looked familiar, but I don't think we auditioned any characters. Where are you from??
Lastly, after all the exhaustive training and classes, you'll be "brainwashed" (heh heh) into the perfect Goofy, so don't worry! Then you'll be no use to the real world and theyll have to keep you in the character dungeon when they need you again! LOL :laugh
If you have anymore questions, I put up a thread for any new cp's to ask q's in the College program forum, don't hesitate to ask ok??

[RowdyRAider]

Thanks for these replys guys and girls. Ah DZNYGRL, a stranger are you and I and yet we know each other all our lives due to a common love for Disney. To be the best Goofy ever?! (inserts Goofy laugh with a GARWSH!) you flatter me. As far as not running into a garbage can though, well, I may would have done that on purpose just b/c of who I am, but I'll keep it in mind. ;)

And to you downsouthtigger, from the Boro of TN. Recruited by Kim Eley. Doubly recruited (at audition) by Chris...last name slips me. Preciate your helpin w/ CP. Only 43 days left till I come on down for 8 glorious months. And I've heard the stories. The CP students come to the mouse, but they never leave are the majority. Will I be bitten by the Mouse for good? jest have to see!

A fraternity brother of mine at UFC I stayed w/ during my audition did his fair share of characters, and I've learned a great deal. I'm now aware of how hard one has to work. I'm a very hot natured person as is, so being in a suit that adds 15-30 degrees to the outside temp makes me go "ouch." Every move has to be exaggerated 10 fold to get the point across (fortunately I scored extremely high on the animated movement part of the audition). And to be brainwashed? I'm halfway there as is studying all my potential characters every movement! All my life Once I don a costume, I become that character, and will cease to become Matt till I take it off. I walk like them, act like them you see it's true, I wanna be like....AH! GOT ME IN MY JUNGLE BOOK Groove! LOL But this is a childhood dream. I love people and to make someone smile or laugh is what I live for. I'm honored to have this chance to fill my hero Goofy's shoes, as well as whatever character I'm assigned, and I will give it all I got (heat tolerance too) to make these next 8 months not only the best of my life, but the 10s of thousands of people who want to shake my hand, want my autograph, a picture, a hug and a kiss...with me!

[Screever]

Heh, Rowdy Raider, don't count on a kiss, what with this Tigger-accusations goin' on...

Although it wouldn't be a bad idea for Goofy. Second time I saw him at AK I was with my brother, whom Goofy must have mistaken for my boyfriend because he started getting all bashful. He actually nudged my bro's face away and blew me a kiss, sound effects and all. :love: Ah, I wonder if it was the same AK Goofy as before?

"Jungle Book Groove", lol! Sounds like you are well on your way to being one of the best Goofys at the parks! About the heat tolerance, don't worry too much. Disney takes EXCELLENT care of their characters. At most in the summer, you'll be outside for ten minutes and inside for 30! (What a job...)

What day do you leave? I'd love to see you as Goofy when I'm there in May! (Give me the old code...point to your eye, point to your nose, and point to the guest!) Usually works...:)

[tinkerbell]

Welcome to DC .. where there is no end of love for Disney .. how lucky you are .. to be able to bring so much joy and magic in to our lives..

I think all CM's (ok maybe not all) but most CM's deserve a round of applause !!!!!!:heart
thank you .. for making our time at WDW even better.

Screever, we will still be giving out kisses to tigger .. we have been going for years and never ever had anything remotely bad happen ..so I see no reason for us to change what we have done for years .. actually Chip and Dale are the ones that my DGD's make blush the most *grin*

[RowdyRAider]

I arrive May 24th Screever, though when I actually get my first day in the park is TBA. Guess it depends on how well my Traditions course, or Mickey 101 as I've heard it called, goes. May my training be swift and awesome. But I'll be on the lookout. May have a better chance of finding me though LOL. As far as getting smooches, I'll take what I can get, seeing as I'll prolly be at the business end of a 9 year old's foot into my shin several times a day anyways And as Michael Eisner told Brian on The Family Guy: See ya'll at Disney World...and BRING MONEY!!

[dznygrl]

::Long, drawn-out sigh::

Seriously, I'm so jealous right now!! :devil

:D But I hope your training goes well, and you have a great time being Goofy!!! :D

I should put a countdown in my signature titled "When I FINALLY get to work for Disney..." but since the move-to-Florida date is a ways off, I guess I'd better not. :hmmm

[Pluto2000]

does any one reply

[Andrea]

Originally Posted by Pluto2000

does any one reply

I don't know what you mean by this... but I'm really glad you made this a zombie thread... because it's so much fun to see Kim (dznygrl) talking about how much she hopes she'll be a character one day... and we know her dream is coming true!

[Pluto2000]

I want to be a character one day too but its the heat that puts me off !

[Dopey]

Originally Posted by Pluto2000

I want to be a character one day too but its the heat that puts me off !

Well, the heat is part of the package. I am sure they would not let you die of heat exposure there.
You can send a PM to RowdyRaider, he's helping Goofy, I believe, and could answer your questions

[RowdyRAider]

Wow. I remember this thread. I forgot to add in my message Pluto2000 that the heat is very intense and it requires top physical shape to help many characters, especially Beast, but it's a job I'll never hate.