"Flying Tinker Bell"... can *anyone* do it?

[disneyinfopage]

Hi...

I'm not sure if anyone knows this answer, but I'm curious. I was having a conversation with one of my daughter's day-care teachers and we got talking about Disney World. She said a friend of hers had gone through the college intern program and wanted to be Tinker Bell. She mentioned that for characters, you have to fit the costume (versus having them tailor a costume to fit you), and that makes sense. She continued by saying for Tinker Bell, you had to weight 104 pounds and (obviously) fit into the costume.

She said her friend practically starved herself, lost the weight, and still didn't get to be Tink because (quote), "she has long brunette hair and her chest is too big." She also said that Disney will train "anyone" to fly (i.e., be a "Flying Tink") if they stayed in the job (versus being an intern).

This sounded weird to me, that Disney would "train anyone" to fly.... I would think that this job would be very specific (i.e., a circus performer, or something like that).

Anyone have any info on this?

Thanks!

Judy

[js3901]

I would imagine that there would be some sort of limit (at least weight-wise) that would be in effect, being that you're strapped into a harness and whipped down a wire. granted, the wire is probably high-tension stuff like the stuff they use to keep telephone poles upright with, but still...

[jcodirewolf]

I don't have any details. But...

That all sounds correct. You might want to add no fear of heights to your list of flying tink requirements. Because you have slide down the wire, wave your wand and look cheery about it, I don't think terrified tink is what they are looking for. For the most part the only thing that makes a stunt person a stunt person is insurance and willingness to do the stunt. Yes some have mad l33t skillz, either in driving or stunt design, but with this stunt you have to go down a zip line, people with no training can do that. (See several seasons of Amazing Race) She is has quite a bit of harnessing on.

*warning pixie dust free zone*
So last time I was down to see Wishes, we watched from RIGHT UNDER her guy wire.

If you watch right before wishes, you can see a huge Tink (TINK SMASH CASTLE) with her helper get out of one of the turrets and you can sorta see her getting ready. She is about 20-30 feet from the castle before she "LIGHTS" up. She looks huge because remember the upper parts of the castle are smaller than they appear, forced prospective. I had always wondered why I couldn't see her until she was pretty much over the bridge to tomorrowland. And now I know.

I would really suggest that you watch it some night from that location. It's very cool.

johno

[Disneys America]

Too bad they can't have Tink fly at WDW like she does at DL.

[kgmadorin]

Too bad they can't have Tink fly at WDW like she does at DL.

I actually like Tinker Bell's flight at WDW better than at Disneyland, because the scale seems to work better. Maybe it's just because I've seen it so often at WDW, but at DL Tink looks HUGE by the time she reaches the castle.

And the answer to the question if anyone can do it: NO. There are very specific height and weight requirements for the role.

[disneyinfopage]

I would really suggest that you watch it some night from that location. It's very cool.

Thanks for the tip, Johno... I'm going in September so we'll definitely try to get that location. Were you on the Tomorroland bridge right under the wire?

Judy

[jcodirewolf]

Right under the wire, but we where on the walkway to the Noodleshop (I think that is right.) cross into tomorrowland, and hang your first right, we where on that pathway right before you get to the terrace. Tink lands on top of that building. There are several LARGE rocks I watched most of it leaning up against the rock, while my camcorder recorded wishes from on top of the rock.

I blew getting a good video of Tink coming out and down from the castle. Wrong angle, shaky hand shot, zoom wrong basically everything was wrong. Next time I know what I need to do. The video of the fireworks didn't workout very well either, due to the blue blinky light.

johno

[samuraiblue]

Quite often (espically with the characters), the guidelines are VERY specific. My Height was in between groups so there wasn't much I could do.

... And although the flying tink could probably gain some leeway on her details because of the fact that she is viewed from such a large distance, there would still have to be quite a bit of safety training.

[CDAbleson]

All I know is my 11 Year old Daughter, who is tiny, has no bigger goal in life right now than to be Tink, and make that flight....Rebecca has been watching from the Tommorowland Bridge, since she was a baby, and she wants to be Tink.....she is my little Daredevil

[kgmadorin]

All I know is my 11 Year old Daughter, who is tiny, has no bigger goal in life right now than to be Tink, and make that flight....Rebecca has been watching from the Tommorowland Bridge, since she was a baby, and she wants to be Tink.....she is my little Daredevil

I think that's an admirable goal! Tell her to keep practicing the gymnastics and have her start working summers in WDW entertainment as soon as possible (age 16, I think). She'll probably have to work her way into the role, but as long as she's around 5 feet tall and 100 pounds, she's definitely got a shot! I think it would be WONDERFUL for her to accomplish something she's dreamed about her whole life.

[joefox97]

Indeed! A pixie gets her wings every time someone reaches for the stars and succeeds!

Sorry, mixed my metaphors there, but you know what I mean... people dream of being Imagineers, characters, friends of characters, and even custodial (people do dream of that, right?) -- dreams are just successes in progress.

"If we can dream it, then we can do it." WED

[samuraiblue]

All I know is my 11 Year old Daughter, who is tiny, has no bigger goal in life right now than to be Tink, and make that flight....Rebecca has been watching from the Tommorowland Bridge, since she was a baby, and she wants to be Tink.....she is my little Daredevil

I'd tell her when the time comes, to go for it! You never know what will happen until you try!