Former Disney Performer Says Parks Only Look To See “What Your Face Looks Like”

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Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall

Credit: Disney

Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort has a vigorous hiring process as it looks to make selections to play roles throughout the Disney Parks.

Disney Princesses like Cinderella, Aurora, Elsa, Anna, Snow White, Ariel, Jasmine, and Tiana can all be seen at different sections of the Disney Parks and though meet and greets are still distanced, many Disney princesses and other characters, like Mickey Mouse and his friends as well as characters from beloved Pixar movies, are becoming more and more accessible for Disney Guests as they phase back into operations similar to pre-pandemic times.

In a recent interview with Insider, a former Disney Park performer unveiled some insider information about the casting process, including the standard for what the company is looking for when hiring performers.

princess tiana
Credit: Disney

Melanie, who auditioned 13 times before landing a role as Cinderella’s stepsisters at Disneyland Resort, said Disney is looking for a “forgettable pretty face.”

“The standard that you’re trying to attain when you’re trying to get hired as a princess essentially is what is the most forgettable pretty face you can have,” she said. 

She said the first round of cuts for the auditions only involved casting directors lining up those who are auditioning and looking at their faces.

“You can’t prove anything, it’s just what some strangers think your face looks like,” she said. “You can’t earn it really, which is hard. It’s hard to accept.”

The new home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom, Princess Fairytale Hall features walls of stone and stained glass windows, a spacious gallery adorned with portraits of Disney princesses and elegantly finished rooms where guests can meet Cinderella, Rapunzel and other princesses. Part of the largest Magic Kingdom expansion in history, Princess Fairytale Hall is located in the Castle Courtyard in the center of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Ali Nasser, photographer)
Credit: Disney

Disney has certain specifications that it requires for each character. Height ranges and much more are considered when casting for a role in the Disney Parks.

“It wasn’t just about how badly I wanted it or how many times I was willing to show up. All of that could have been true and I still could have never gotten the job,” Melanie told Insider.”I mostly got this job because I was lucky.”

Sleeping Beauty Castle
Credit: Disney

Whether you’re visiting Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, which includes four magical theme parks in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or if you’re visiting Disneyland Resort with Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, you’re sure to have a magical experience.

Ride iconic attractions like Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Pirates of the Caribbean, enjoy a beloved snack such as a Turkey Leg, Churro, or Dole Whip, or take in some Disney magic with amazing parades, nighttime spectaculars, and magical character meet and greets!

What do you think of Disney’s hiring process for performers? Let us know in the comments.

Let the expert team at Academy Travel help you plan your next magical vacation to Disney World’s water parks, four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the Disney Springs shopping and dining district! Or, how about a trip to Disneyland Resort to visit Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, as well as the Downtown Disney shopping and dining district!

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