Did you know there are height requirements for cast members playing certain Disney characters? Learn more about what the requirements are, plus more fun facts!
Disney character height requirements are designed to maintain continuity and authenticity across the board. Find out what these requirements are, plus more information about the magical characters of Disney!
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Interested in becoming a cast member at Walt Disney World and portraying one of your favorite characters to guests from around the world?
Do you dream of being the next Cinderella or Mickey Mouse?
It’s important to know the Disney character height requirements before you head to your audition for your dream job at Disneyland or Disney World!
Let’s take a look at the different types of Disney characters, specific height requirements, and even a few fun facts you can use to wow your friends!
Disney Cast Members
As you probably know, Disney employees are called cast members. This is because Walt believed that the cast of people who work for Disney should be just as important and memorable to guests as the characters they meet in their park.
When cast members are interacting with guests, they are considered “on stage” and are expected to look and act the part.
My dad was a cast member in the Magic Kingdom for a few years, and he always enjoyed the fact that even “non-character” employees still had a role to play in this way.
Types of Disney Characters
There are two different types of Disney characters. The differences refer to their costuming and the way they interact with guests.
Face Characters
Face characters are the costumed characters that directly interact with guests and pose for photos.
Their faces are visible and they are expected to look and act like the actual character they are portraying. Some examples would be your favorite Disney Princesses, such as Snow White or Jasmine.
Fur Characters or Masked Characters
These are characters in the Disney theme parks who are covered from head to toe in a costume, usually made of fur. You won’t see the actor’s actual face.
Fur characters or masked characters may interact with guests, but they typically don’t speak. The seven dwarfs are examples of this kind of character.
All of the Disney cast members who play face characters begin their training as fur characters, which allows them to practice their skills.
Once the training is completed, face characters will move on to perform as their character, although they are still expected to play a different character, including fur characters, when needed.
Disney character jobs
There are different roles that Disney Characters fulfill during a day in the theme parks. They may be considered either roaming characters, performing characters, or character lookalikes.
Cast members, particularly for performing characters and lookalikes, are expected to know their character inside out! They spend a great deal of time undergoing extensive training, learning the nuances of the character’s personality, their mannerisms, and every bit of information possible.
This gives a more realistic and believable portrayal, and allows the characters to interact with guests authentically.
Roaming Characters
As the name suggests, these are Disney cast members who roam around in costume to entertain guests in a variety of areas throughout Walt Disney World Resort, such as Frontierland or Tomorrowland.
An example of this is the Country Bears who can be seen wandering through Frontierland entertaining guests.
Performing Characters
These are characters who perform in daily parades, shows or other entertainment events.
Some examples of these Disney character performers are the Disney Princes and Princesses who can be seen during Walt Disney World Resort’s Festival of Fantasy Parade.
Disney Character Lookalikes
These characters are a type of performing characters, but with a more visible and interactive presence.
You’ll typically find lookalike characters at character meet and greet experiences.
Disney Character Height Requirements
One strict rule governing cast members is the height requirements of Disney characters. Any actor must be at least as tall or taller than their chosen role in order to portray it convincingly and realistically on stage, television, films and other media.
While these rules might seem arbitrary, they actually help maintain consistency throughout all forms of media.
The guidelines are based on the Disney character heights from the movies they star in.
The height requirement also helps to create the illusion of interaction between characters. For example, it would be easy for a little girl to believe that she is talking with Princess Elsa if she is standing at a height where their eyes can easily align.
So if you’re wondering how tall you have to be to be a Disney Princess, or a Disney Prince, or a Villain, we’ve got you covered!
When auditions are posted, Disney lists height requirements for specific character roles, but do keep in mind that these height ranges below may change. You should always consult the audition posting or casting call itself for the most accurate requirements.
Fur character height requirements
- 4’0” – 4’6” Dewey, Huey, Louie
- 4’6” – 4’10” Daisy Duck, Donald Duck
- 4’8” – 4’10” Dopey
- 4’8” – 5’2” Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse
- 4’9” – 4’11” Lilo, Stitch
- 4’10” – 5’0” Piglet
- 5’0” – 5’2” Robin Hood, Seven Dwarfs, White Rabbit
- 5’2” – 5’4” Chip, Dale
- 5’6” – 5’8” Buzz Lightyear, Flick, Pluto, Rafiki
- 5’7” – 5’9” Eeyore
- 5’10” – 6’0” Tigger
- 5’11” – 6’0” Green Army Men
- 6’0” – 6’2” Captain Hook, Genie
- 6’0” – 6’3” Goofy
Female Characters & Height Requirements
Disney Princess Height Requirements
- 5’2” – 5’8” Mulan, Tiana
- 5’3” – 5’7” Ariel, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Rapunzel, Snow White
- 5’4″ – 5’6″ Merida
- 5’5” – 5’8” Pocahontas
Female Disney Villains Height Requirements
- 5’6” – 5’10” Anastasia, Drizella, Maleficent, Wicked Step-Mother
Disney Fairies and Additional Female Characters
- 4’11” – 5’2” Periwinkle, Tinker Bell
- 5’4” – 5’6” Fairy Godmother
- 5’2” – 5’5” Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist, Vidia, Fauna, Flora, Merryweather
- 5’2” – 5’4” Alice, Wendy
- 5’2″ – 5’8″ Elena of Avalor, Moana
- 5’4” – 5’6” Jane
- 5’5” – 5’8” Mary Poppins
- 5’7” – 5’10” Esmeralda
Male Face Characters & Height Requirements
Disney Princes
- 5’10” – 6’0” Aladdin, Beast (in human form, as Prince Adam), Flynn Rider, Prince Charming, Prince Eric, Prince Naveen
Villains
- 5’11” – 6’3” Gaston
- 6’0” – 6’6” Dr. Facilier
- 6’2” – 6’4” Jafar
Additional Male Characters & Fairies
- 4’10” – 5’2” Peter Pan
- 5’4” – 5’6” Mad Hatter
- 5’8” – 6’1” Bert, Jack Sparrow
- 6’2” – 6’4” Woody
- 5’4” – 5’6” Terrence
Tall Disney Characters
Some of the characters with the tallest height requirements at Disney World and Disneyland include Woody, Jafar, Dr. Facilier, Goofy, Captain Hook, Tigger, and the Green Army Men.
Esmeralda and the Wicked Stepmother are among the tallest female characters.
Disney character auditions
Auditioning for a performer role at Disney is a fun experience. You will be asked to show your talents with singing, acting and dancing in front of the Disney team.
The audition process is divided into three parts: general introductions, individual skills assessments, and group interviews.
A role at Disney doesn’t happen overnight—it takes time for you to grow as an actor or dancer and learn more about who these characters are before they become a part of their favorite movies!
You do not need to be an actor or artist in order to work at Disney World, but it doesn’t hurt if you have some kind of theatre background such as high school or college play productions or acting lessons.
Disney auditions are pretty tough to get a callback for, but it’s not impossible. If you don’t make it through auditions the first time, there’s no reason you can’t try again after learning more about what the casting directors are looking for.
Other requirements
In order to become a Disney character, you must first be over 18 years old.
You’ll also need to make sure that you meet all other qualifications such as possessing excellent people skills and having freedom of movement without restriction.
Rumor has it that Disney also has strict requirements that cast members are not allowed to publicly disclose which character they portray on social media or to friends and family.
What to Wear to a Disney Audition
If you’re interested in auditioning for a character role at Disney World, you’re probably wondering what to wear to a Disney audition itself.
First, be sure to dress appropriately for the type of audition. Even if you are auditioning for a character role, don’t wear any costumes.
If you are wearing dance attire, it’s recommended that you bring sweat pants and a sweater or sweatshirt to help you stay warm.
Leave hats at home. If you wear makeup, go for a natural look that won’t hinder the ability of the agents to visualize you in different roles.
Disney Character Magic
One of the best things about Disney World and Disneyland is how they work so hard to keep the Disney magic alive.
We hope these interesting facts and details about the Disney character height requirements gives you an idea of what Disney World and Disneyland want to see when they are auditioning face and fur characters to perform at the Disney Parks.
Please share this blog post with anyone you know who is dreaming of becoming a character at Disney World or Disneyland!
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