Fun backstage story Secrets of WDW Discuss Fun backstage story in the Trivia and Games Forums forums; So my school chorus participated in the Disney Magic Music Days Program. If you're not familiar with it, it's a program where schools can audition their chorses and bands to ...

[HeidiFaith]

So my school chorus participated in the Disney Magic Music Days Program. If you're not familiar with it, it's a program where schools can audition their chorses and bands to play in Disneyworld. The trip was so fun, but my favorite part was getting a backstage tour for free!

My chorus was scheduled to perform on the Cosmic Ray Cafe stage in Tomorrowland. We were dropped off by our bus in a staff parking lot/staff entrance. The are had cool things like splash mountain boats that they were repairing, a Dumbo they were repairing, as well as those giant light-up figures you can see from the MK ferry at night. We also saw the backside of Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain.

We were then greeted by a CM named Joshua who was in charge of the Magic Music Days program. He told us that since we were peforming on the Cosmic Rays stage, and that we were one of the best in the program. (Not-so-good choruses perform at the outdoor Tomorrowland stage and some stage in Epcot). Then he told us we would get to walk through the Utillidoors! I was soooooo excited since I'm a huge Disney fan.

On our way in, there was an employee tent where I was a little scarred since I saw Aurora smoking a cigarette and reading a tabloid. xD I would've gotten a picture, but cameras were strictly not allowed. We couldn't even bring our purses.

Inside the utillidoors we saw lots of CM motivation posters and signs that said things like "To Frontierland" and "To Fantasyland" and stuff. We finally got to the underground platform that rises up and goes onto the Cosmic Rays stage.

Anyway, just wanted to share my story. I felt like a little bit of the magic was ruined for me, but I still love Disney and still can't wait to go back in November for my 18th birthday!

[lilo88]

Sounds like a neat adventure!

I'm going November 14th for my birthday on the 15th! So I'll be there one week. Maybe we will cross paths! Have a wonderful birthday trip!!! And welcome to the boards!

[BamaJenn]

Originally Posted by HeidiFaith

as well as those giant light-up figures you can see from the MK ferry at night.

LOL those would be the Electrical Water Pagent floats I'd assume.

Originally Posted by HeidiFaith

On our way in, there was an employee tent where I was a little scarred since I saw Aurora smoking a cigarette and reading a tabloid.

Wow... I don't know how I would've handled that. I've always said being behind the scenes would never ruin the magic for me, just enhance it... but that'd probably be a killer. I honestly am I a little shocked that the characters would be allowed to smoke in costume, even when on break. I mean, cigarette smell attaches to clothing awfully easily and I can't imagine standing up for my photo with Aurora and getting that wif. Just odd.

[Keasmom]

Wow, that is an adventure to be proud of, too bad you couldn't get photos.

They must spray them down with scent eater, I saw Snow White at Epcot puffing away behind the gate before she came out. We were first in line and she didn't smell like smoke. I don't think we were supposed to see that, but the CM escorting pulled the little gate open, and there was Dopey and he pulled the gate wider and there was SW, with her bright red lipstick covered cig. But no smell on her, and not even ashtray breath. Altoids. Odd, but I guess it is allowed, or they are "sneaking". Lots of people cheat at work in lots of ways, so I guess it happens there as well.

[emabee]

Yeah, it's true. When I worked there, I would see the same "cinderella" smoking all the time. Like you, I never smelled it on them. I never did ask how they masked the smell.

[bety]

I did the Magic Music Days program when I was in my high school marching band about two years ago. I also saw all of the backstage by Splash Mountain, although I wasn't fortunate enough to see any characters. It was a very neat experience though! We participated in one of the parades and I got to march down main street! Very fun. I wish I had a video of that.

[albino_pygmy]

Originally Posted by BamaJenn

LOL those would be the Electrical Water Pagent floats I'd assume.


Wow... I don't know how I would've handled that. I've always said being behind the scenes would never ruin the magic for me, just enhance it... but that'd probably be a killer. I honestly am I a little shocked that the characters would be allowed to smoke in costume, even when on break. I mean, cigarette smell attaches to clothing awfully easily and I can't imagine standing up for my photo with Aurora and getting that wif. Just odd.

Behind the scenes aren't as magical as they are "on set" or "on stage" however you wanna call it. What really did it for me was when I was walking through the tunnels and there's this bin of costumes for the characters, and Buzz Lightyear's was on top and his entire head was ontop of this pile, just staring back at me with that cheesy plastic grin on his face. I swear I turned my back for 10 seconds to clock in at one of the stations and when I turned around to get one more glance at this creepy head, the whole pile moved 5 feet away from where they were when I found them, and no sign that anyone moved them or whatever, they just weren't at the same spot when I first found them, and there's Buzz still looking up at me with his creepy grin. I'm beginning to wonder if that thing was alive and he's taking over the pile of dirty costumes.

As for the smoking, eating, drinking, flash photography (wow, I feel like I'm spieling again . . . ) They cannot make a mess on the costumes so they would usually change to what are known as "grays" (not sure if Disney calls them grays, I know Universal does) but they're just plain gray (or another color) T shirt usually worn underneath the costume, or worn above it so the costume doesn't get ruined. Chances are they saw the princess in half her costume. The pictures are also a no no for that very reason that Disney doesn't want to have their princesses be known as some collage girl that smokes and reads garbage and can't stand small kids asking if they were "real" or not.

[BamaJenn]

Originally Posted by albino_pygmy

and can't stand small kids asking if they were "real" or not.

I'm assuming you mean whether they are the real princess or not.... right? LOL!

[albino_pygmy]

Originally Posted by BamaJenn

I'm assuming you mean whether they are the real princess or not.... right? LOL!

That's exactly what I ment. Wow Jenn, you pulled a pygmy on the pygmy. I guess I'm getting old and losing it

[disneyfanatic101]

Originally Posted by BamaJenn

I honestly am I a little shocked that the characters would be allowed to smoke in costume, even when on break. I mean, cigarette smell attaches to clothing awfully easily and I can't imagine standing up for my photo with Aurora and getting that wif. Just odd.

I agree!

I'm glad you got to see the behinds the scenes and I'm glad you had fun!

[harra]

Originally Posted by BamaJenn

LOL those would be the Electrical Water Pagent floats I'd assume.


Wow... I don't know how I would've handled that. I've always said being behind the scenes would never ruin the magic for me, just enhance it... but that'd probably be a killer. I honestly am I a little shocked that the characters would be allowed to smoke in costume, even when on break. I mean, cigarette smell attaches to clothing awfully easily and I can't imagine standing up for my photo with Aurora and getting that wif. Just odd.

When we ate at Cinderella's Royal Table, Fairy Godmother reeked of cigarette smoke and had nasty yellow teeth.

So, I guess it's not uncommon for CM who smoke to take their breaks in character.

[squishybear]

That's a shame when that happens. But i'm surprised about all this because I know Disney has a very strict 'fit into character' rules (like hair, piercings, etc). I guess a piercing isn't allowed, but yellow teeth from smoking are...

[wdfan]

Originally Posted by BamaJenn

LOL those would be the Electrical Water Pagent floats I'd assume.


Wow... I don't know how I would've handled that. I've always said being behind the scenes would never ruin the magic for me, just enhance it... but that'd probably be a killer. I honestly am I a little shocked that the characters would be allowed to smoke in costume, even when on break. I mean, cigarette smell attaches to clothing awfully easily and I can't imagine standing up for my photo with Aurora and getting that wif. Just odd.

I agree, it would have been weird and I can't imagine how they allow that. I hope it didn't ruin the magic for anyone. That being said, when I first read this, it made me laugh. As long as it didnt ruin the magic for any guests, that is pretty funny to picture

[NDM#1]

That is totally cool! I wish I had been able to do something like that when I was in my high school chorus!

[Caribbean Lady]

That's so cool! It ****s that you couldn't get pictures though - but idk if you can even get pictures on other backstage tours, and if that's true, this procedure wasn't too abnormal! That still sounds so cool, though! I'm so jealous!!!