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. 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. It may look glamorous, easy, and magical, but in real life, her job actually takes a lot of rigor and hard work.
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 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. 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.
- There aren't auditions for Tinker Bell specifically. 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). They need to stay in character, dance, sing, and know quotes from their movies at all times. Many face actors come from the Disney College Program, going through rigorous auditions. 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. This means Tinker Bell one day could be Minnie Mouse the next.
- Tinker Bell needs to be petite. Costumes are not made for actors, but instead the actors need to fit into existing costumes. Tinker Bell needs to be approximately between 4'11" and 5'2" tall and weigh 105 pounds or less. Tiny Kline was the first Tinker Bell in Disneyland, flying over Sleeping Beauty's Castle in 1961. She was 4'10", weighed 98 pounds, and being the daredevil she was, was 71 years old at the time!
- 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. At 189 feet above ground, there is a room so small it only can fit Tink and one other person for assistance. Once in flight she can descend the zip line from 20 to 35 mph for this 30-second flight. And with a little assistance from Tinker Bell's friends, she comes to a halt with a mat to help soften her landing.
