How do character actors get chosen to play Disney characters at Walt Disney World and how does the audition process work?

[DodgerGirl]

My mom is curious about how character actors are chosen to play Disney characters at Walt Disney World and how do the auditions work? Do you have to be a certain age to play a character or is it 18 and older? And when character actors audition for character roles does Disney have to send them for training to learn how to play the character and master things like character autographs and singing for a parade and also how much does a character actor make at Walt Disney World a day and are they allowed to take days off for vacations and holidays? And does Walt Disney World provide understudies for if a character actor is sick or on vacation and can't play the character?. Another question my mom would like to know that she also is curious about is how many characters does Walt Disney World use in their theme parks? Like how many Mickey Mouse characters are used in a day and how many princesses do they use. Such as how many Snow Whites Jasmines Cinderellas and Ariels do they have in each theme park and also how many Aladdins Elsas and Auroras are used?
Please answer this question for my mom as she loves learning Disney theme parks facts just like I do
Dodger

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I think most of your mother's questions will be answered on Disney's Character Performer Role FAQ site. Although it's mainly for Disney College Program applicants, most of the rules apply to other applicants as well.

https://support.disneyprograms.com/hc/en-us/articles/12210286432788-Character-Performer-Role-FAQ

 

[DodgerGirl]

What else is required to audition to be a character at Walt Disney World? Do they give the character actors special training like dialect coaches and singing lessons if they are required to sing in a show or a parade? I read in one of my vintage Walt Disney World travel guides that for Mickey Mouse Walt Disney World uses a total of about 30 Mickey Mouses each day in the park and I always wanted to know if that was true today? Also do character actors get bonuses and raises just for working in the theme parks? And what is the bonus pay given to each character actor? This also was a question my mother is also curious about too
Thank You for the reply Brian
Dodger

 

[DL1WDW2]

I have always been amazed they all Learn to “autograph” with Walt Disney font and with matching artistic flair for each character’s personality.

I once had a typewriter that typed “ Cursive” Maybe I need a typewriter that types
“ Disney” Haha
I think Tom Hanks just created a type APP that makes the clickety-clack and “ding” sounds while typing online !

Thanks for Topic and thanks to Brian for providing link

 

[DodgerGirl]

I also think that when character actors audition to play characters at Walt Disney World I think they require them to have experience like those character performers you hire to perform at children's birthday parties and I think that's one of the requirements that Walt Disney World recommends but is rarely mentioned. I think that they are also given lessons on how to remain in character when interacting with people in the theme parks

 

[DodgerGirl]

When I see Disney characters especially the face characters they always remind me of those princess character performers that parents hire to perform at children's birthday parties and the experience that the character actors do to perform the characters at Walt Disney World is just spot on and really makes the character "real"