Tinker Bell can't be on social media in character, for example. Face character actors spend a lot of time perfecting their character's signature to "keep the magic." Everyone needs to look and act exactly the same, though, in order to keep up the illusion, and that includes their signatures. With scheduling and scale, the park is simply too big for just one Tinker Bell. If there are any noticeable changes, the actor will assume a new role. Face character actors are evaluated once a month in costume. Keeping a consistent and realistic look is so important in these situations. We're not going to question this one, but take a look up in the sky next time you're at Disney just to see if Bell had to call in sick. It's rumored that Tinker Bell is sometimes played by a man. Since she travels at speeds up to 30 mph on her iconic flight, those wings are anything but flimsy. While it isn't confirmed, the rumor is that Tink's costume - wings and all - weighs approximately 70 pounds. And with a little assistance from Tinker Bell's friends, she comes to a halt with a mat to help soften her landing. Once in flight she can descend the zip line from 20 to 35 mph for this 30-second flight. At 189 feet above ground, there is a room so small it only can fit Tink and one other person for assistance. Where does Tinker Bell land from her high flying adventure? There's speculation that once ready for flight, Tinker Bell climbs up a ladder inside Cinderella's Castle.She was 4'10", weighed 98 pounds, and being the daredevil she was, was 71 years old at the time! Tiny Kline was the first Tinker Bell in Disneyland, flying over Sleeping Beauty's Castle in 1961. Tinker Bell needs to be approximately between 4'11" and 5'2" tall and weigh 105 pounds or less. Costumes are not made for actors, but instead the actors need to fit into existing costumes. This means Tinker Bell one day could be Minnie Mouse the next. Face characters can also switch gears and wear masks as they're not tied to just one character but rather need to adapt to fit the park's current needs. Many face actors come from the Disney College Program, going through rigorous auditions. They need to stay in character, dance, sing, and know quotes from their movies at all times. A face character is an actor who doesn't cover their actual face with a mask or costume (Tinker Bell is a face character whereas Goofy is not). There aren't auditions for Tinker Bell specifically.But what exactly goes into this high-flying spectacle? Tinker Bell herself will probably never reveal her secrets, so allow us to do the honors. It was originally intended to be a special holiday show appearance, but after receiving such a positive response, Tink became a permanent fixture every night to signal the start of the "Wishes" fireworks show. Tinker Bell "flew" (aka zip-lined) over Disneyland in California in the Summer of 1961 but didn't reach Walt Disney World Resort until 1985. It may look glamorous, easy, and magical, but in real life, her job actually takes a lot of rigor and hard work. While it's one thing to be a character that walks around the park and takes pictures with tourists, it's entirely another being Tinker Bell and flying high above Cinderella's Castle at Walt Disney World Resort. Although we like to "keep the magic," it's pretty fascinating to sometimes blow away the pixie dust and find out what it's really like at the happiest place on Earth as an employee.
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