DISNEY CHARACTER ATTENDANT | What it's REALLY like

[@Savaemaz]

I once met an AMAZING character attendant at Princess Fairytale Hall on May 27th on the Tiana/Rapunzel side. I brought my sketchbook to the Magic Kingdom that day and I was showing the characters my sketches. After showing Tiana my art, I put my sketchbook aside for the picture. As Rapunzel was waiting for me, she and the character attendant were going through my sketchbook! They were SO nice, I never had someone fawn over my art like that! That character attendant was putting in 110% into her job, and I'm mad at myself for not getting a picture with her. :)

[@mackenzhughes]

That is so sweet!! I'm sure your sketches were amazing!! I bet Rapunzel loved seeing them too, she's quite the artist!

[@patrickwentzell4638]

@@mackenzhughes hello my name is Patrick an artist with autism. and I send messages to help people know the truth. there are qrong doings going on in the world right now. Here is a list of scams never to do anykind of business with ever. LOTTERY, PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE, MAKE MONEY AT HOME PROGRAMS, LOAN SHARKS, ON LINE PAYING SURVEYS, PAWN BROKERS, GAMBLING ON LINE CASINO GAMES, FAKE IRS PHONE MESSAGES, SOME ON LINE DATING MATCH UP WEBSITES, CHAT LINES, all of these take advantage of people all the time. now in the nineties two con artists got caught selling lies to people. Kevin Trudo author of those free money books. and the other one is Cleo the television psychic with those taro cards. In life former Mayor Buddy Cianci stollen money from businesses. his criminal actions put Ninety nine percent of state workers out of jobs permanently. the state did nothing about that. I feel that man should have spent his life in prison for his crimes. here are two groups that are behaving disrespectful towards everyone. SJW groups and Democrats they both want to limit freedom in this country. humanity will not except this act from them. those who are traveling need to know this. South Africa and Florida have these things in common. Gang Violence, Killings, Health Problems, Robberies, Deaths, and sadly authorities are doing nothing to prevent any of this from happening. I found out in a video that Pharmacy companies like keeping customers on this merry go round of perscription medications. they do it to continue making billions of dollars. that is all they care about the money. and last of all a friend of mine cancelled his credit card. He found out that hackers were using his credit card information to shop online. but he outsmarted them and prevented himself from getting bankrupt. so you be careful do not let anyone take advantage of you. be safe and well your email friend Patrick Wentzell.

[@mackwallace194]

I remember a attendant talked to me more than the character did and she really made my day.

[@mackenzhughes]

That's so sweet!! It's always nice to meet a character attendant that does their job well! Most of the attendants will just stand around. I always loved talking with the guests when I was an attendant :)

[@Erin_Norton_SPV]

I'll definitely be more appreciative to attendants when I'm in the parks. I'm always trying to be nice to cast members because I know it must be a hard job! Especially those working out in the hot sun!!

[@mackenzhughes]

You're so wonderful, thank you!! I'm sure it's greatly appreciated! I know being in service-oriented jobs it has really made me appreciate people in those roles more! Even people who work in retail or at restaurants, it makes you realize how tough their jobs can be!

[@kiddomoroll]

Recently I've been noticing the attendants more, and it's true; they're so underappreciated! Many of the ones I've seen recently are so friendly and cheery and they deserve sooo much more credit for what they do!

[@mackenzhughes]

I agree!

[@overdsed3714]

I don't know why but when you said that the attendants walk the entire day, dance with characters and all those other stuff, it made me actually want to be one. I was shooting for the look alike but being a attendant doesn't sound bad at all. And yes! Please make a video where you tell your stories :)

[@mackenzhughes]

I'm so glad!! Honestly I LOVED being an attendant, I feel like people don't know how much fun the job can be! Basically all day long you get to watch guests interacting with characters and it's SO entertaining! It's like watching a tv show! Haha

[@marcelorodriguez7543]

kenziemacbrown Who gives a Crap about you Working for Disney.👎👎

[@overdsed3714]

Marcelo Rodriguez stop being negative. Of course the people who watch her video cares, that's why we watch them. You need to stop spreading negative comments. Focus on the positive 😊

[@jennamorrill514]

Marcelo Rodriguez ew wth. it's people like you that make this world so negative and sad...grow up and if you don't have anything nice to say...DON'T SAY IT AT ALL lol

[@user-nt6zq4ft4j]

Marcelo Rodriguez And why did u watch this then?

[@Potatohobbit]

I definitely appreciate them. In Feb. 2016 we went to DW and I handed my phone to the attendant when we were meeting Gaston. I had the camera open for him, but didn't realize it was in selfie mode. He didn't say anything, and took our pictures for us. After we were done we were looking back through our pictures and he had taken a selfie making a funny face and we didn't even realize, it was hilarious and we loved it! For the record, it was just me and husband, haha!!

[@littlenekosparkles181]

One time I saw a mom who was LITERALLY pushing around the character attendant in the Animation Academy building trying to meet Anna and Elsa so I went up to her and was like "chill out please, you're making everyone's day that much less magical." and she got so mad and just stormed out. I love the character attendants so much I just wanna be like "R U OK?" to every one of them. (also the one who was there I was like "r u ok? want me to look for the trolls to help?" and he was like "I'm alright. Thanks, also tell the trolls I say hello!" and I was like "ok" IT WAS SO COOL!)

[@mackenzhughes]

Yeah, guests can be crazy! That was really nice of you to look out for the attendant though, I'm sure they really appreciated it! :)

[@AWlpsSHOW36]

Good on you for standing up to her!!! I applaud you!

[@MattTam]

I just started training this week as a character attendant here at Hong Kong Disneyland! I think the biggest challenge we have at this park is that we need to speak 3 languages: Cantonese for local HongKongers, Mandarin for mainland Chinese people and English for foreigners. It's gonna be tough improvising stories! Nevertheless, I can't wait to start!!

[@mackenzhughes]

Oh my gosh that would be such a tough job! I'm so impressed that you'll be able to do that! I think it's hard enough just trying to come up with stories in one language! Best of luck to you, I'd love to hear what you think of it once you start the job!

[@MattTam]

Thank you!! Just learnt a lot about working at Disneyland from your videos, thanks for sharing your experiences! :)

[@mackenzhughes]

You're welcome! :)

[@WVRCtv]

I was an attendant at magic kingdom for some time and my favourite thing that anyone said to try and get their kids into a closed line was.... I told this precious little done up housewife with her husband and two kids that the line for Woody and Jessie was closed and she stepped up to me and whispered “Look.. I’ve been in and out of first aid all day suffering from CHRONIC DIARRHEA and my kids only wanted to meet one character this whole trip and it was Woody.” She was so freaking serious and after months and months of hearing every excuse and telling every single person no.... I totally let them in the line. I told Woody and Jessie afterwords and we all lost it.

[@troodon1096]

OK I have to giver her credit lol that's an excuse I wouldn't question.

[@7snowdog]

I absolutely ADORE your photos with the characters! And i love how you let us know about the difficulties of your job - as a guest, i wouldn't even know how it looks like "on the other side" so it's good to know, it helps me appreciate those people more.

[@mackenzhughes]

Thanks!! I'm happy to hear that!

[@foxtatertot]

My dream job is to be a character attendant cast member at a Disney Park, so this was such a great video to tell me a bit about what to expect from being a character attendant! Thank you!

[@hannahlauren8504]

I'd like to see a crazy guest experience video

[@calliemyersbuchanan6458]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make a video answering these questions: Do you get special character training on how to perform YOUR particular character? Like is there a character study period? Are you ever evaluated on your expertise on the character's story? Or do they just tell people what characters they are and expect them to take it from there? I guess I've always thought of character integrity if say Pooh didn't know what stoutness exercises were, goofy didn't know how to do the perfect cast, or Ariel didn't know her own sisters when guests bring them up. Like that one kid who is obsessed and knows the character inside and out but the performer doesn't. Yes I'm sure most enthusiastic cast members would study the crap out of their character, but how does DISNEY ensure that they know everything? Also, are you expected to know the sequels and tv shows?

[@mackenzhughes]

Those are great questions! I'll do my best to answer them when I make my Q&A video! :)

[@rheakalivas7036]

Yah also how do you learn the autographs for each character like is their a special class

[@tia-xg3yl]

Callie Myers yes, yes, dont know, no, yes and yes! the requirement to be a character is so high (must be around same height, and face shape must be like character if not a fuzy character)

[@musicgal421]

My fiancé and I go to Disneyland all the time! I absolutely love when the attendants give us little stories when the characters take breaks! Just makes it more fun for us. I also thank attendants all the time and make sure to smile especially when they cut off the line. I absolutely hate when people start getting upset! It's so upsetting to me. Love your videos❤️

[@mackenzhughes]

Thank you so much for respecting the role! It definitely is hard when some of the guests don't recognize that the attendant is just doing their job. But it makes it lot easier when guests like you can appreciate them! :)

[@ariannareyher]

Love this video!! I'm going to be a Character Performer starting in January and totally agree that Attendants are underappreciated and SO important to a successful character experience!! Thank you for sharing your experiences and tips!!

[@mackenzhughes]

Congrats! I'm so excited for you! And yes - they are such a dynamic duo and you truly cannot have one without the other! Wonderful interactions can happen due to both the performer and attendant, and the opposite is true too!

[@kaitlynnspear4569]

This video is SO helpful. I auditioned to be a character performer for the Fall 2019 Program and I ended up as a character attendant! I'm so excited for my college program, and knowing that you started out as an attendant and moved into character performance keeps my hopes up! All of my love to you!

[@mackenzhughes]

First of all, congrats! I'm so excited for you! Being a DCP character attendant is SO fun! You basically get all the shifts that aren't bid for so you get to move around a lot. I really enjoyed that because I got to work with tons of different characters! You'll also probably get halloween and christmas party shifts and those are truly the best! Even as a performer, there were days when I missed being an attendant. And I think by having the opportunity to be in both roles I've realized how important both the character attendant and performers are! So I hope you enjoy your experience as much as I enjoyed mine!

[@NikkiDannii]

When I was a costume attendant at Magic Kingdom, more often than not we had to work 8-12 hours per shift with one 30 minute break plus a 15. Due to how busy the job is, a lot of the times we didn't get a second 15 minute break. There were many times where I would leave the park around 2-3 sometimes 4-5 am, especially on Party nights or Extra Magic Hour nights. Other days I would have to wake up at 2 am to go to work as well. We had to carry around 50 pounds worth of costume and wardrobe pieces all the time with repetitive actions (moving pieces back and fourth in laundry, putting them all away, reaching repeatedly, running the pieces to various places around the park in under 15 minutes, etc). Its crazy. Working for Disney is soooo physically demanding but I gotta say, so rewarding. If anyones considering doing the CP, or working there, just know that with nearly any role, you're gonna be doing tonsssss of physically (and emotionally) exhausting work!

[@zezmcguffin5190]

Geez this is late but what exactly does costuming do? I know they do laundry but what else? Are you literally *just* moving clothes? 🤔

[@RosalieJansen]

Being an attendant and upset people is the hardest thing about my job here too but it's always funny when the grandma's get mad lol. Also I do not work for Disney but in a Dutch park haha. Disney looks great too tho

[@belen2576]

Rosalie Jansen do you work at the Efteling?

[@hans-fritzhuntii5090]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! I was just accepted into the Disney College program and they offered me a character attendant role!! I, like you, initially had performer as my first choice but after watching your video and reading about people's experiences as a character attendant and all it has to offer, I am super pumped! I start the program in June of this year so I am just trying to prepare and get ready! If you have any further tips or advice on how to make the most of it and be great at it, I'd love to hear! Thanks! :)

[@melissaboren1104]

Thank you so much for this video!! I'm starting my DCP in August as a character attendant and I could not be more excited!! I'm definitely a little nervous about turning guests away and dealing with the unhappy ones, but I just keep telling myself that I will be trained on how to handle it! Again, thanks so much for this! It's so hard to find videos for this role!!

[@snowsbeau]

Your vlogs on Disney experiences are great and on point. I was a Disneyland CM and watching your clips made me remember all of the "interesting" guest interactions. I can see why you were cast, you're a doll.

[@mackenzhughes]

You're so sweet, thank you!!

[@emilywalczak9256]

i know im 3 years late... but i really wanted to say this!! all of my early memories are at disney. i remember i was in line for meeting merida. the character attendant was standing near us so we talked while we waited. she was so nice!! her name was jessica. so i had her sign my character book. that's one of the many reasons i love disney. every moment is magical, no matter who it's with.

[@mackenzhughes]

That is so sweet! I bet you made her day too 😊

[@emilywalczak9256]

@@mackenzhughes awww thanks!! i know from your videos youve made a lot of peoples days at disney 😊❤️

[@LaraAkal]

Oh that sounds like so much fun! It's not often you get to hear about this role, and I'd totally love to hear about some of the more weird experiences with guests 😂 It must be a lot of work to come up with all those stories on the fly for the dozens of characters you worked with!

[@mackenzhughes]

It was SO much fun! I loved being able to interact with different characters all the time! It was way more entertaining then being with the same ones over and over!

[@kevinreeverts4660]

Thank you! I have an interview for entertainment host this week!

[@gourmet2276]

the attendants at Disney world are very special.

[@SirWillow]

great stuff! As a photopass photographer at WDW I know how important the attendants were, and loved most of the ones I worked with. They did seem to get some of the worst dumped on them, but a good one could also make a huge difference in how the entire operation and interactions were. You sound like you were awesome- and the photos show that the characters thought so to.

[@mackenzhughes]

I totally agree, but I would say the same for photopass photographers too! I feel like they get the short end of the stick too because they have to get certain shots and it can be very tricky to direct the guests when all eyes are on the character! The attendants and photopass definitely both share that burden! And they really had to work together to make the interaction go smoothly! There were times when a really great photopass could make my shift so much easier or so much harder too!

[@SirWillow]

I loved when we had a team working together like that. It could make things flow so smooth and let everyone play and have fun- from me as the photographer to the attendant to, most of all, the characters and the guests. I made good friends with several of the attendants I worked with- still have a few on Facebook, even nearly 7 years later. If you haven't seen them yet, I'd invite you to check out my videos. I have a feeling that there's a few there that will bring a smile to your face. :-) I've really been enjoying yours.

[@TheMrRamonlle]

I think I'd rather be a character attendant than a performer, because if I do the latter, I'd look awkward.

[@mackenzhughes]

Oh my gosh there were so many times where I looked awkward as an attendant!

[@TheMrRamonlle]

But I'm sure you can do better than that. Well you know, there are times when some workers are awkward and silly; but that would be from the start.

[@AWlpsSHOW36]

Same!

[@etheldreamplanner]

Every single word is true!! Lol I miss being a blueberry!! Watching this video made me so happy! I miss the dance party shifts so much!! I loved getting paid for dancing all day with the characters :) And creating magical stories for the guests was my favorite part! Thank you for sharing!!

[@pupellie505]

woah, I never imagined how much would go into being a character attendant!! it was super interesting hearing about the college program interview, any other tips on that?

[@mackenzhughes]

Yes!! I'm planning on making a video on it because I've had so many requests for that! I'm not sure how many specifics I'll remember since it was over two years ago, but I can definitely give some advice from what I remember!

[@316Xmax]

You should do a video about your favorite makeup tips and tricks, and your RIDE OR DIE products you used on the job working in disney! And you could also compare the makeup you would wear depending on what job you were doing that day, wether it was actually performing or being an attendant because you obviously do your makeup differently based off of the day/job! Love your videos!

[@lindseywilliams5519]

your Disney videos are the bomb! I love them sooo much. I would love if you made a video about the experiences you made as a character and an attendant. I know you want to keep the character integrity and I fully support that. If you don't want to do that video I understand completely. Can't wait to see if you are going to do more of your Disney videos! Love you

[@mackenzhughes]

I think that's a great idea! When you say experiences, do you mean stories about experiences with guests? I made a video on that (it actually took me a while to do because I kept accidentally breaking character integrity haha) and I'm hoping to post it sometime this week! And I still have plenty of ideas for Disney videos, don't worry! :)

[@haydentouhill915]

When I go to disney with my family I always say hi to the attendants. Thank you so much for your videos I really enjoy them!🙂

[@mackenzhughes]

Thanks Hayden! I'm sure you make their day!

[@DareToElsewhere]

Watching your video I was reminded of a forgotten memory of the first time I went to Disney World when I was 7 or 8. We were in line to meet Snow White and the line was almost 2 hours long, likely to close before we got to the front. Snow White was my 5-year-old sister's favorite princess ever and she was dressed up as her, and I as Cinderella. Right before closing, two character attendant ladies approached us, addressed us as princesses, and led us to the room to be the last of the night to meet Snow White even though we were still pretty far back. They made us feel like Snow White wanted to personally meet us fellow princesses. Those character attendants created such a special memory :) Now I'm planning to apply to be a character attendant for the DCP myself :)

[@Mo-Jo]

When I went to meet Tinkerbell at Disneyland there was a family behind us that cut around to enter the line after the character's line was closed. Tink was done for the day after the line was finished and it was really strange to me that a cast member didn't come up to stop them. Not sure if there just wasn't an attendant at the entrance to Pixie Hollow or what, but their daughter was amazingly cute, and excited to meet Tink so that was neat. The character attendants have always been incredibly nice when I've come to the Disney parks. It seems like such an amazing job. I'm going to apply for the DCP (for the second time) in the fall, and being a character attendant would definitely be a dream job for me

[@briannahillier9425]

Ahhh when you mentioned being an attendant with Beast, I felt so nostalgic! Going to the castle for dinner and meeting the Beast afterwards is my favourite memory from my last trip to Disney ❤️

[@mackenzhughes]

I got to go have dinner at the Beast's castle on Christmas Eve with my friends and it was one of my favorite memories too! I feel like working for Disney made meeting characters even more magical for me, which is funny because I would've assumed it would've had the opposite affect!

[@haywoodslove]

I notice that you don't wear much makeup in your attendant pictures are you not allowed to wear makeup.

[@mackenzhughes]

Haha no you're allowed to wear makeup! Honestly if I'm in a job that doesn't require me to wear makeup (like my current desk job) I don't wear makeup. I would rather sleep in! But I wore lots of makeup for my job at Sephora and my job as a performer. And I would wear makeup as an attendant too, I was in the picture I used for my thumbnail and in the photo of me with Ariel. It just depended on when my shift was during the day!

[@haywoodslove]

kenziemacbrown you look absolutely stunning all glamorous or natural beauty. Your gorgeous!

[@Erinsilldorffsix]

Briana Figueroa I was wondering the same thing!

[@mandyyyy1255]

I would love to hear about crazy guest stories ! Do you think you could make a video on what it's like to do shows and parades, how you prepare for them, what special rules there are for parade floats, things like that. I love watching all of your Disney videos, thank you for taking the time to make them !

[@glossbones]

I had no idea this position existed! Thanks for making this video. 😊 Also, you are so pretty!!

[@shortstackedits9763]

I remember on my most recent trip to Disneyland that I had this really nice character attendant who was with Rapunzel and Flynn. I have a Polaroid camera, and my mum was taking photos for me, however she doesn’t really know how to operate it, so she took two photos of trees and a blurry one of me, Punz, and Flynn, before getting a nice one. When we left the line, the CA told us to come back once the film had developed. Ten or so mins later, we came back, and the CA pulled Rapunzel and Flynn aside to show them the photos! It was just that extra step that made everything even better.

[@lilaroseg]

I love working with younger kids and story telling and working as a attendant sounds awesome!! My brother wants to work the jungle cruise and I would love to work as a look alike or attendant at disney.

[@basickennedy6436]

this is so relatable and helpful! I'm currently a performer and character attendant at six flags america and it's so much fun!!! It's great training for when I apply for the dcp since character attendant is my first choice!!!

[@mackenzhughes]

+Kennedy Howard you'd have so much experience going into the role too! I bet you'd have a much easier time adjusting than I did!

[@oobychooby4624]

Honestly, my dream job is to become an attendant or performer for Disneyland/Disneyworld or to have a roll in a professional musical! I’ve been acting for years, and I’ve been doing all my research. I’m currently 14 and I’m getting ready to tryout for a few plays in April and summer acting programs! I’m super excited!

[@mackenzhughes]

That is so awesome!! And you still have plenty of time to prepare too!

[@BadWebDiver]

These stories are so fun and entertaining. There was a website around where cast members could chat and vent a bit on their time off. As an more "mature" non-employee I kinda enjoyed tuning in and listening to some of the hangups. While I enjoy the "magic" and the show elements and story, it's also cool to get a peek behind the scenes and appreciate the human beings making the magic happen! :)

[@creativechic92]

I miss working with you so much!! We had the best time training together and facing the guests together! DCP2015! ❤️Shara

[@mackenzhughes]

Shara!!! I miss you so much!! How are you doing?! We had SO much fun! I'm sad we didn't get to work together more!

[@heather957]

I wanted to share a quick story! It was the character attendants, for me, who made my first trip to Disney World a few years ago absolutely phenomenal! So my whole life, I had been waiting for my chance to finally go to Disney World. Prior to that, I suffered a permanent foot injury, which did make it difficult to get around the parks, but I dealt with it. So our last night came at the Magic Kingdom, and we had stopped by a few times through the day to check on the lines to meet Anna and Elsa, and typically, the wait time would get much longer, even right when we would stop by. I about gave up by the end of the night, when the character attendants quietly brought my mom and I through some back corridors, allowing us to cut all the lines (including the fast pass line) to meet Anna and Elsa. I legit almost started crying happy tears. I remember saying, "No one's ever done anything like this for me!" I am so used to the one being treated like dirt, so to have even just one or two people do something like that for me in my life is something I will never ever forget, and it's the character attendants I have to thank for bringing some joy into my life and treating me so kindly!

[@mackenzhughes]

That is so sweet!! I think that's what I loved most about being a cast member, having the ability to do small acts of kindness that truly leave a lasting impression on people. I'm sure what they did wasn't too challenging for them, but obviously it meant a lot to you! Thank you so much for sharing that magical experience!

[@zenasarah220]

I have been loving your videos so much! You have such a fun and happy personality that is so contagious! I adore Disney and all your Disney related videos are so fun to watch. And your makeup skills are incredible as well! Keep it up! I absolutely love it! ❤

[@mackenzhughes]

You are so sweet and kind! Thank you!! :)

[@MikiEsco]

I'm beginning my Character Attendant training on Sunday for my second DCP! I hope to one day become a performer, and hope that my time as an attendant will help me in the future when attending more auditions!

[@mackenzhughes]

That's so exciting!! Congrats! I feel like my experience as an attendant REALLY helped me at the auditions, so hopefully that helps you too!

[@patrickmccool8940]

I've recently become a Greeter (Same thing as character attendant, different name) at HK Disneyland. When you said about only having 1 hour worth of breaks in a day this really surprised me. At the moment we are running 'heat sets' and so I'm only on stage for a maximum of 45 minutes at a time before taking a break

[@shannonsalter6407]

Hi! I am so excited that I got accepted as a character attendant for my DCP. My dream is to be a performer one day. How has being a character attendant assisted you in getting a role as a performer?

[@emiliazubia9768]

I love how when you talk you're always smiling!

[@mackenzhughes]

Awww thank you so much Emilia!! :)

[@jynaya]

Would love to see more Disney videos! I have a few questions for your Q&A: how long did it take you to physically become your character each day? Was it ever intimidating being in Ariels tail and not being able to get up and move if need be, like it's so weird but I'm curious what transporting yourself around was like? Did you ever play any other face or fur characters? And lastly when you auditioned did you have Ariel or another princess in mind for who you wanted to play?

[@mackenzhughes]

Those are some great questions! I wouldn't be able to answer a lot of them without breaking character integrity, but for the last one - I got casted as my favorite character which is super rare! They just tell you who you're going to be and you really don't have much of a say in it one way or another!

[@inbalsharlin]

I always love your inspiring and postive attitude. Your smile makes you so beautiful, and I feel like I am actually talking to you. It is so refreshing to see someone who isn't biased or negative these days.

[@mackenzhughes]

You are so sweet, thank you! I know it can be super easy to be negative (and I'm not always positive 100% of the time in real life) but I feel like it's not that hard to be positive online because you're more conscious of your actions. So I try to be as positive as I can, I feel like the world has way too much negativity anyways, it doesn't need me contributing to it!

[@PaolaJulissa]

This is so interesting, I've never thought about all the work the character attendant does! Love these videos, I love Disneyland so this is super interesting!

[@mackenzhughes]

Thank you so much Paola! It's definitely a lot of work, but it's a ton of fun too!

[@laramartins3335]

Hey Kenzie! So I have a question for you. I plan on working for disney in the International college program and I want to be either a character performer or a character attendant. The thing is I’m pretty sure that in my program you can only do fur so I get kinda scared that the costume will be too heavy or I will pass out or that I won’t be able to communicate or that something will go wrong lol. And as you said in this video being an attendant seems super fun as you get the experience only from different lenses. So I guess I’m looking for advice and to know your personal preference. Which one did you enjoy most? Fur or character attendant?

[@mackenzhughes]

I think I liked being a performer and an attendant for different reasons! Just to give you a heads up - as a performer at Disney World you are trained in fur before being trained in a face role. So all performers in face roles also do fur at some point. It's separate at Disneyland, but at Disney World you will be in a fur role if you are hired as a character performer. I thought being a character performer (in both fur and face roles) was really fun! I think there's different pros and cons to both fur and face. If you love acting I think you'd find it really rewarding! As a character attendant I really enjoyed being able to work with a variety of people. It was also fun to watch the guests interact with all the different characters. So I really can't say whether I liked one over another because I liked and disliked them for different reasons. If you really love performing you may find the character performer role more rewarding. If you enjoy being part of the atmosphere but don't mind having a supporting role, then you may enjoy the character attendant role. Ultimately, you do have to audition to be in the character performer role. So I would at the very least to go an audition to see what it's like and see if they hire you for that role. The character attendant role was selected for me after I was cut from the character performer audition I went to. So if I were you I would set yourself up so you had as many options as possible by going to the audition so your chances of having either role are higher!

[@haileyperkins2142]

Being an attendant sounds like so much fun! how would you audition for one and what are the"requirements" so to say? It sounds like a dream job!

[@mackenzhughes]

That's a great question and I'm not totally sure! I did it through the college program and I'm not positive how you would "audition" for one full time. I think the only requirements would be being able to maintain character integrity and being able to improv (like create stories for where the characters are going when they're leaving). There were attendants who were handicapped (like in wheelchairs) so I wouldn't even say being able to walk around or stand was a requirement. But you will be spending a lot of time on your feet if you don't need special accommodations so that is something to keep in mind!

[@abbylorraine4153]

Love your videos! I really want to work at Disney World when I get older! I honestly don't know what to do though because all of the jobs seem so fun and magical!

[@mackenzhughes]

I would agree, I think they all can be fun and magical! I had friends who were in costuming, food and beverage and even custodial and LOVED it! I think it all depends on your perspective and it is what you make it. I also had friends who were attendants and hated it. So I think it really just depends on your outlook!

[@cassandrabeard7024]

Ahh! I know the Ariel in your picture in real life!! I never get over seeing her as a performer. So cool 💜

[@dontcomeinbutcomein]

AWESOME vid! I love how your love for the attendant position comes through. :) Definitely want to see a video of your most interesting/crazy experiences as an attendant! Subscribed. :)

[@mackenzhughes]

Thank you! That was my goal! It was such a fun job and I feel like it gets the blunt end of the stick most of the time!

[@camillewoods7416]

I love all of your videos so much!! One day while you were still working with the company, your instagram popped up on my explore page of you hanging out with Ariel and I thought wow that's directly out of the cartoon!! Anyways, I think a video on you sharing some of your favorite/most memorable guest interactions would be cool as well!

[@mackenzhughes]

Awww thank you so much! Ok good, I'm glad you mentioned favorite/memorable guest interactions! When I was saying "crazy" I also meant I would include favorite and memorable interactions too! Honestly I might have to make multiple videos on it because I think there would probably be too many to fit in one video!

[@bakinggirl261]

I'd love to see a video on crazy guest experiences!! Your DCP videos are always so fun to watch and I feel like they're such a unique perspective and so helpful compared to other Disney youtubers!

[@mackenzhughes]

I'm for sure going to make a video on it, I've had tons of requests for it! Thank you so much! I haven't really watched a ton of videos from other Disney youtubers - I honestly didn't know there were many of them out there! Are there any of them you like watching and would recommend? I'd love to check out their videos too!

[@bakinggirl261]

Yay!! And I love watching Molly Buck and amypuddles' videos about Disney and the DCP!

[@izzy3550]

i always wanted to be a character attendant, not a performer actually! my concern is the physical part. i have POTS which causes me to pass out a lot if i stand up too long. i also have chronic pain and standing for 15 minutes hurts! i don't know how good they are with accommodations but i really want to do this!

[@mickey010694]

how much you smile makes me so happy! your positivity is contagious! :)

[@mackenzhughes]

Thank you so much Christie! That is one of the best compliments I could receive!

[@baj4909]

I was on my Extension in Spring 2020 as a CA for my DCP. Despite only getting like 5 weeks with that role after training, it was such a privilege given how coveted entertainment roles are in general. YES LOL, unhappy guests when you close the line, but you stand your ground once you close it. I had a lot of fun with the ladies at PSSS.

i love this video!! many of my favorite character interactions were because attendants played a huge role

[@mackenzhughes]

That's so wonderful to hear! I loved being an attendant, it was so much fun! You still had lots of opportunities to make magical moments for guests!

[@marciemarie905]

Loved this video!! All I have been dreaming about for the past two years has been applying for the program and being an attendant! I would love to see a video on crazy guest stories, and also, could you do a video on the DCP interview itself? I would love to hear more about that!

[@mackenzhughes]

When you get the chance you should definitely apply! It was such a fun experience! I think that's a great idea! It might be a tad hard since it was over two years ago since I had the interview, but I'm sure I can remember enough to give a few tips!

[@alessandrajackson8475]

Thank you so much for all these videos! I'm going in for the July 8th audition and these have made me so much more confident.

[@mackenzhughes]

I'm so glad to hear that! Good luck!! I'm sure you'll do great!

[@annew1720]

Really interesting video! It helped cheer me up :-). Would love to see future videos about your experience. Maybe even a video on how one might be able to bring to life more unique characters (i.e. Star Wars or Marvel heroes) or just on how you mustered up the courage to move for your amazing job. Hope you have a wonderful rest of the week.

[@mackenzhughes]

I think a video on my move would be a great idea! I didn't get to spend time with "unique" characters so I'm not sure if I'd be the best source on that topic! Thanks, I hope you have a great week too Anne!! :)

[@leilanihanaike]

I want to do DCP but would have to do it at Disney World because they don’t offer character attendant for Disneyland. I actually really want to be a character attendant. I am glad I found this video because no one else seems to really have videos about this particular job. Thanks for posting it!

[@tiffanydionesDCP]

I'm going to be a character attendant for my DCP! This was way helpful. Please keep making them! 💓

[@jessika8976]

Ahhh omg I’m so happy that I found you and you videos. It has always been my dream since I was really little to work at Disney and be an attendant/performer! I’m currently 16 and a sophomore in highschool so it’s time for me to start thinking about my future a little bit more and so I am currently binge watching your Disney videos😂❤️. I have worked at an amusement park before so I kind of understand the walking and turning guests away and all the different things. But I just wanted to say and don’t want it to be creepy but you have amazing teeth😂 they are really pretty and straight. The video just ended so I’m gonna go watch more but thank you for these videos!

[@RBDSIEMPREINME]

I will be wating for the guest experience video

[@mialeighlyon7813]

Yes to the crazy guest stories!!!!!! Btw love your videos so much 💗💗 XOXO

[@mackenzhughes]

Thank you so much Mialeigh!! Crazy guest stories has been highly requested so I'm definitely going to do it! I just need to figure out how I can do it without breaking character integrity!

[@maddief8486]

I'd really like to see the video of the unhappy guest please do it ❤️

[@mackenzhughes]

Haha I think that would be a really interesting video and I'm sure I'd have lots of fun making it!

[@haley9976]

I met an attendant at Pooh's Corner and he looked EXACTLY like Gaston. Nearly 100% sure he has played Gaston at least once.

[@dontrefertome3161]

What would you say to a child who asks why Mickey (or any fur character) isn't talking to him?

[@makylasunset]

I love it how in every video u start it with a smile and u r like Ariel which is such a big deal with me and every single video u make my day I love u

[@mackenzhughes]

You are so sweet, thank you! I feel like it's important to smile and I feel like it helps brighten other people's days too!

[@WolfieRiddle93]

One time at Disneyland I got super lucky when waiting in line to meet Donald Duck I was only the third person in line when the attendant closed the character meet and greet, the attendant had snuck me in to getting the last picture with donald, only because i was in my crackerjacks (navy dress blues) xD the attendant thought it was so cool so she just had to let me get a picture with Donald it was wonderful

[@taylorlynn534]

I've been considering doing the DCP in 2 years (which seems so far away haha) and I wasn't sure what positions I wanted to rank as my highest but this video totally convinced me to put Character Attendent as a top choice!

[@mackenzhughes]

Yay!! I loved being an attendant, it was so much fun! And honestly I'm glad I had the opportunity to be an attendant! At first I was bummed because I really wanted to be a performer but I'm so glad I got to have both opportunities! It helped me see the big picture of what all goes into a character meet and greet!

[@cerysirene]

Last time I went to Disneyland i actually loved talking to the attendants, they’re so funny and kind

[@mackenzhughes]

Awww I'm happy to hear that!

[@Oliver-hh6hy]

Loved all the photos and clips you included in this. Great video! :-D

[@kryceksangel]

As a guest I had to close the line for Mary and Bert because they didn't have an attendant. That was hard!

[@mackenzhughes]

I've seen things like that happen at Disneyland, and yeah, it doesn't seem like the easiest situation!

[@hannahmachen1261]

What eyeshadow are you wearing in this video? Such a pretty look!! 😩💕

[@mackenzhughes]

Thank you! I don't remember off the top of my head but I created a makeup tutorial on this look before I filmed this video and I'm hoping to have it up by next Tuesday!

[@nayomiegh]

omg your eyes are beautiful

[@ZiggyPlayedGuitar1225]

When I was at Disney in the 90s as a 9 year old I remember following Minnie and Mickey and apparently they were leaving for a break but I didn’t understand that. It took a minute or two for the attendant to say they were getting too hot in the costumes and had to take a break while still speed walking away from me. I guess the park was super busy then because I kept having bad luck and didn’t get to meet any princesses. They were always wrapping up. I was so bummed. I had no idea there were schedules back then. My mom told me I promise wouldn’t meet any princesses anyway because it was busy and they didn’t have enough actresses. I’m going this year and she’s still telling me the same thing. I don’t want to get my hopes up.

[@meganrachll9181]

this is really cool! I hope to work at Disney someday and I'm open to working basically at anything! idk if you'd want to do this but I think it'd be awesome if you made an advice video about practicing improv. anywho yes definitely want your vid about crazy guests 😜✨❤️

[@mackenzhughes]

That's a great idea! It was something I was super uncomfortable with when I was auditioning, but when it was my job and I was practicing every day it definitely got a lot easier!

[@BloodSisterProductions]

I remember I was once in a shop in the magic kingdom as a customer, and I picked up I what I believe was a CD and sort of clammed it under my arm as I kept browsing through the shop. I SWEAR I was just browsing and looking at things towards the exit of the shop, when gradually more and more of the shop assistants gathered around me until one of them spoke to me about how awesome that CD was. They were really nice, obviously, so I didn't think of it, but after buying that CD and leaving the shop it hit me: they thought I was gonna steal and tried to prevent it! Aahhh. That felt really awkward, even though I knew I wasn't intending anything like that!

[@omgsicle]

Hi, Kenzie!! DCP alum here (FroLand attractions, spring adv 2018), so I've been lurking on your videos for a long time now! I just applied for another program, and have been offered the role of character attendant for this coming fall. It's a dream come true, especially because I've been hoping to land an entertainment role for as long as I've known about the DCP. but I've also been on the fence about doing the program on the whole (if I'm being honest, I initially just applied to see if I could be accepted an attendant lol). 😬 A big con for me is the prospect that I won't make as many coworker friends as I did last time. I know that character attendants (and performers) are almost always working different locations with different people. When I worked attractions, however, I saw the same friendly faces everyday and got to bond with them through our shared, daily experiences. Those coworkers were the sole thing getting me through the monotony of my job some days. I'm worried about not having that this time around -- especially because I'm not sure I want to opt for roommates either (again -- I'm worried it just wouldn't be the same as before!). I'm gonna be so lonely... 😭 But I don't want to be! So all that is to say: is it hard to make consistent friends in the character attendant role? What are your tips for connecting with coworkers? Sorry this is so long! But if you respond then I thank you for your time ❤️

[@mackenzhughes]

First of all congrats for getting into the program for a second time and getting the role you wanted!! That's wonderful! To answer your questions simply - I did the DCP in the fall of 2015 and the DCP attendant friends I made just went on my Disney bachelorette trip with me and they're coming to my wedding - five years after the program! You definitely have the potential to make lasting friendships in the attendant role. I really loved it because I was always doing something different and I thought it was fun working with different types of characters. Will there be days when you feel lonely? Absolutely. Will it be challenging to not compare it to your first program? Yes. My roommate was on her second program and struggled comparing the two. My advice would be to do it and recognize that it's going to be different and that's ok! But I definitely think you will have an amazing time and I think you'd regret it if you chose not to go (I know for me at least, I would hate being stuck wondering what it would've been like had I done it). PLUS - as a DCP fall attendant you get to do all the fun halloween parties and christmas parties! So you get to work with "rare" characters, it's awesome!

[@omgsicle]

@@mackenzhughes Oh, I would SO look forward to Halloween parties! I went to my first MNSSHP back in 2018 and it was just incredible. Both guests and cast members all seemed to be having so much fun. plus, the Hocus Pocus show was LIFE-CHANGING. 😭 This response does help me, though. Would you say the pros heavily outweighed the cons of this role, then? I feel like I've been psyching myself out a bit by watching too many character attendant Q&A videos lol. A lot of people seem to emphasize how often you'll run into angry guests, how demanding the job is, etc., and it's stirring a bit of self-doubt and dread in me. On my last program, I miraculously left my 6 months with only 2 angry guest stories (1 of which was actually completely justified), and I'm worried I wouldn't be as lucky this time. 😰 Would you say you encountered angry (or at least passive aggressive) guests on a daily/weekly basis, or was it somewhat rare for you? Sorry for all the questions btw lol! I'm just trying to be very careful in my decision-making.

[@omgsicle]

One more question I just thought of, if you don't mind answering!: In some of your vids you mention that you are shy/introverted. How did you deal with this while being a CA, where there is a lot of prolonged guest interaction? tbh, I already feel quite out of place in the role just by nature of me being a generally shy and non-assertive person, so any tips or advice you have on how you turned this around would be awesome 😅

[@abcteeters6926]

So neat to hear your experience! Are the Seven Dwarves available to be met during a special event??

[@KylieTheSmiley]

I just found your channel, and you have amazing videos!! You're so gorgeous, too and provide so much insight. Thank you!

[@TheMrRamonlle]

If I were to be a character guide, I would work for Anna and Elsa and Stitch, because they're so adorable. You make a great Disney parks cast member, Kenzie! :)

[@mackenzhughes]

Awww thank you! Anna and Elsa were so much fun to work with! I never got to work with Stitch, but I bet he would be fun too!

[@TheMrRamonlle]

Did you also get to work for Scrooge and Launchpad?

[@TheMrRamonlle]

You know, being a character guide could be a great idea for me since I've been to several theme parks.

[@mackenzhughes]

No, I wish!!

[@mackenzhughes]

I think you would really like it! It's a lot of fun, and it's a great job for people who love characters and know their stories well!

[@Mbeepyd]

I don't have any intetest in this job and even I found the video really insightful!

[@TheKidCom]

I've always wondered, what do you say to guests if they try to ruin character integrity? Especially if there are other children around? Does that happen often? Applying for the program Spring 2018, I love your videos! 😊

[@justanaveragearoha]

I just found your channel and have been binge watching your videos! You're so pretty and seem like such a chill and kind person! 💖 you're videos are very informative and even though I don't plan on working as a character/ character attendant, I think it's super cool to watch and learn what really goes behind the scenes. ✨

[@mackenzhughes]

You are so sweet, thank you!! I really appreciate it 😊 With there being so much negativity on KZbin I try my best to create positive and joyful videos!

[@mckennaadams1167]

Just found your channel and already obsessed!!! Thanks for the great video!

[@mackenzhughes]

Aww thank you so much McKenna!! :)

[@mckennaadams1167]

You're so very welcome!

[@charlesmiir9894]

I use to looove closing the lines when I was a Character Att. LOL

[@mackenzhughes]

Once you get used to it it's definitely less intimidating! Especially if you prepare the guests in advance!

[@brittanyw42498]

Hey Kenzie! My name is Brittany and I currently work as a Cast Member in Disneyland!! I work in the food and beverage department though, but my dream job here at Disney was always to be a character host! I have been when wanting this for 3 years now, unfortunately there wasn't any auditions happening when I got hired. Any tips or suggestions you can help me with for my audition in January? I really want this, and would love some advice!

[@Julia-eb2yn]

I love watching your disney videos you should do more of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mackenzhughes]

Thanks Julia!!

[@rosa8339]

I just found your channel & I love hearing all of your Disney experiences. It's so cool you got to go to do the DCP! I would love to work at Disneyland one day & be a character attendant. I have been trying to find where you apply for being a character attendant, is it all on the website? Because I've never seen it as an open role. Thank you! I love seeing these videos, makes my heart happy :)

[@EnLaLuna23]

i live in florida, and i looove going to Disney, and would love to work with the college program!! my cousin worked for disney for a semester(for the corporate side tho, not in the park) and even then she said it was super fun, so I really hope the university I choose has a Disney program:)

[@thedarkphoenix3396]

I have a connective tissue disorder so it can cause my hips legs and back to subluxation or dislocate if I’m on them for two long, I want to be a helper for the characters, would they still let me work as one?