How to Become a Disney Princess
Ever wanted to become friends with a Disney princess? Here’s how!
Let’s face it, the princesses at Disney World are the real magic makers at the park. Yes, meeting Mickey is great for kids, but he can’t actually talk to the guests like princesses can. An interaction with a princess is a magical moment that will stick with kids (and adults) for the rest of their lives. So, if it’s your dream to become “friends” with a Disney princess, here’s everything you need to know.
Princess Requirements
Of course, Disney won’t hire any person to play a princess — you have to look the part too. Here are the requirements for female face characters at Disney:
18 years of age or older
Slender, athletic build with full range of motion and coordination (especially to music)
Female performers must be between 4’11” and 5’8” — this will determine which character they can play. Disney doesn’t advertise how tall performers should be for each character, but here’s what the internet has determined:
4’11’-5’2”: Tinker Bell and Periwinkle
5’2”-5’4”: Alice in Wonderland and Wendy Darling
5’2”-5’5”: Fawn, Rosetta, Silvermist, Iridessa, Fauna, Flora, Vidia, and Merryweather
5’2”-5’6”: Mulan
5’3”-5’7”: Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, Snow White, Rapunzel, Anna, Elsa, Moana, and Elena of Avalor
5’4”-5’6”: Fairy Godmother, Merida, and Jane
5’5”-5’8”: Tiana, Pocahontas, and Mary Poppins
5’7”-5’10”: Esmeralda
Must be located in (or willing to relocate to) Orlando
While it’s not listed in the application, resemblance to characters is obviously important. Casting will look at performers' facial structure often before talent. However, if a performer looks exactly like a character, but has tons of tattoos or too big of a chest, they probably won’t get the part.
It’s also important to know the characters extremely well: their mannerisms, reactions, facial expressions, and voice inflections. So, performers should be up-to-date on their Disney knowledge.
How to Apply to Be a Disney Princess
If you’re applying to be a Disney princess, don’t expect an easy process. You can’t become a coveted face character overnight. Here’s what you can expect from the application process:
Find current job listings on Disney Auditions
Create a performer profile
Upload any photos, videos, and additional info
Submit the first part of the application
Now, head to Check-In
Upload any photos they ask for
Submit the final part of the application
After you submit an online audition and application, you will wait to hear back if you made it to the next phase. The next phase is traditionally an in-person audition (although that may be different due to current COVID-19 restrictions).
During the audition, you will audition for any open role — you do not get to choose which character you audition for. You will be asked to act and dance during the interview and face multiple rounds of eliminations before the decision is narrowed down. You may even be fitted into princess hair, makeup, and costumes (but that doesn’t always mean you’ll get the part).
After the Audition
If you’re lucky enough to be selected to play a Disney princess, your onboarding will start. You’ll attend immersive character training to learn the ins and outs of the princess (including dialect training for those princesses with accents). Then, you’ll be taught how to apply your own stage makeup so that it universally matches each performer who plays that princess. You don’t want two Snow Whites looking totally different because one wears a lot of blush and the other doesn’t.
Additional training includes learning how to autograph as the princess, as well as basic Disney training (like learning about the 5 Keys).
At the end of the day, becoming a Disney princess is difficult and actually playing one may be even harder. But, if it’s your dream role, then we recommend you apply! Don’t let the tedious process or hundreds of other applicants deter you!
Remember “all your dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them.”