Disney Bans Standing Still at Theme Parks

Disney Characters are perhaps the most beloved part of Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort. From Mickey Mouse to Cinderella, talented Disney Park cast members bring on-screen favorites to life. They make us laugh, cry, and even share in special moments in our lives.

Disney Parks have strict guidelines for entertainment cast members to follow to keep the magic alive. Disney Character Performers are forbidden from revealing who they’re “friends with” online. Face Characters must follow strict makeup guidelines. Each Disney Character has a specific height range that actors and actresses must fit into.

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But the most important rule? Even in awkward or complex scenarios, Disney Character Performers must never “break.” They learn subtle emergency signals to alert Character Attendants if something is wrong without nearby guests’ knowledge. Speaking performers know how to brush off rude guests or handle inappropriate behavior.

This week, former Disney cast member Patrick shared an unexpected guideline for Disney Characters: They can never stand still.

@patrick_exdisneycm

#disney #disneyparks #disneycharacters #formerdisneycastmember #disneystories #disneyentertainment #disney Disney characters can’t stand still. @Amy Tangerine 🍊

♬ original sound – Patrick

“Disney Characters are never supposed to stand still, and that’s for many reasons,” Patrick explained. “One of the reasons is because the Characters are alive, just like you and I. You just don’t stand still and look blank off to space. Sometimes you might, but the characters will look really creepy if they do.”

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“It will scare anyone if they do just stand still,” he continued, showcasing multiple photos of Disney Characters. “Characters are posing for a photo right here, but could you imagine meeting them just standing like this the entire time? It would feel more like ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s.’”

“So if you ever visit the Disney parks and you see a Disney Character, and they’re not visiting with anyone at the time, they’re typically interacting with the environment or with the character attendants or whatever they can,” Patrick concluded. “But not [standing] still.”

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“I can confirm this,” said @tinaamericaninitaly, an actress who formerly worked for Disney.

If a Disney Character Performer ever stands still, something is likely very wrong. Last month, for example, guests noticed that Maui wasn’t moving during the Magic Happens Parade at Disneyland Park.

After a video of the incident went viral, Disney cast members confirmed that the Character Performer fainted and couldn’t be retrieved until the float made it backstage. Luckily, coworkers assured viewers that the Disney Character Performer wasn’t permanently injured.

Have you ever met your favorite Disney Princess, animated character, or action-movie hero? 

Please note that the story outlined in this article is based on personal Disney Parks experiences. No two experiences are alike, and this article does not necessarily align with Inside the Magic’s personal views on Disney Park operations.

This post is originally appeared on Inside the Magic.