We've all
done it. You wake up in the morning, throw open the closet door,
sigh and say, "What am I going to wear to work today?" The answer
to that question doesn't always come easily. But imagine if you
not only had to worry about your own clothes, but those of thousands
of other people as well. Although it seems quite daunting, that
is exactly what costumer designers must do at The Walt Disney
Company to dress over 110,000 actors and Cast Members each day.
Some might
think that at Disney we have little mice and birds that make all
our costumes for our movies, television shows, Theme Parks, and
stores, but unfortunately that only happens in fairy tales. In
reality, dressing the Disney Cast requires the talents of hundreds
of costume designers, pattern makers, sketch artists, and dressers
around the globe.
The history
of Disney costuming begins with the start of the Disney Company
itself in 1923. Famous for the Alice Comedies cartoon series,
the Walt Disney Studio animators had to think in terms of costuming
when drawing the clothes for an animated character. The studio
often created live-action reference footage to allow animators
to see how a costume would move and flow during a particular action.
After the success of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," the studio
began to attract some of the best talents in the film industry,
including costume designers. As the studio developed live-action
feature films, costume designers worked with movie scripts and
filmmakers to create costumes that fit with the character, period,
and story of each particular film.
With the construction
of Disneyland® Park in the 1950s, Walt Disney looked to those
he knew within the film industry to assist in the park's creation.
Lands within the Theme Park were developed in the same manner
as movie sets, and attractions were seen as short films that told
a story. When the Park opened in 1955, the majority of the costumes
in the "wardrobe department" weren't costumes at all—they were
accessorized uniforms. A white dress shirt with rayon slacks was
the typical "costume" in most areas of Disneyland Park for some
time. The themed costumes for Main Street, U.S.A., and Frontierland
were mainly old film costumes taken from the motion picture studio.
"Disney wardrobe"
became the Disney Costuming Division in the late 1960's with the
advent of the Walt Disney World® Resort. Pam Haynes, Vice President
of Costume Design and Development for Walt Disney Entertainment,
said that this change brought about "a more theatrical approach
to costuming, with expanded entertainment costumes and extensive
theming." Today, Theme Park and Resort costumes go though a detailed
process before ever being worn by a Disney Cast Member. In reality,
there are three types of costumes at Disney Theme Parks and Resorts—operational
costumes, theatrical costumes, and costumes for Audio-Animatronic®
figures.
Operational
costumes are those worn by Cast Members each day in the "operation"
of Theme Parks and Resorts. From an Attraction Hosts to Guest
Relations Hostesses, Bell Captains to the Housekeeping staff,
each operational costume is specifically created to fit a specific
theme, form, and function. Costume designers begin in the "high
concept phase" where they work with Show Designers to learn the
overall vision for the project. From the concept, the designer
will create black and white silhouette sketches of specific costume
"looks." Color sketches are not used because color can influence
a person's opinion about a design. If anything, color swatches
and accessories may be included with the sketch. Once a specific
look is approved, the sketch enters the "design phase" where the
costume concepts are explored into job classifications. After
a final design review, a costume is created for a "final approval
pass," usually a fashion show for executives, then another for
actual operational Cast Members. Since they are the people who
will be wearing the costumes, operational Cast Members often have
great insight into the specific needs of their costumes. Once
everything is approved, the costume goes into mass production.
Theatrical
costumes differ because they can be more elaborate than operational
costumes. Used for entertainment purposes, theatrical costumes
can have sequins, beads, and fine detail since they are not worn
all day, every day.
Costuming
Audio-Animatronic® figures is much like costuming a principal
character in a movie. Costume Designers work closely with Walt
Disney Imagineers to create one-of-a-kind pieces for figures like
the Auctioneer in "Pirates of the Caribbean" or for Brer Rabbit
in "Splash Mountain." After working from Imagineering sketches
and renderings, the costume designer will use the actual figure
to develop the costume pattern. Unlike real people, Audio-Animatronic®
figures can't move around to get dressed, so their costumes are
designed to come on and off differently. If a pirate has his arms
full of treasure, how do you get his shirt on? Once the costume
is made, it is put on the figure and the figure is then animated.
Because figures do the same motions over and over again, their
costumes wear differently and often need to be reinforced in certain
areas.
Pam Haynes
feels that the best two parts of her job are researching different
periods, then creating attractive yet functional costumes and
seeing the final product. "I want to know that the Cast Member
likes wearing the costume," said Pam. Of course, Audio-Animatronic—
figures don't complain too much, they simply rip their costumes
to shreds if they don't fit properly.
Disney costumes
have even created fashion trends in the real world. When Walt
Disney's "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" was released
in theaters in 1955, the frontier hero became the new teenage
idol, creating a rage for trapper-style dress. Moccasins, fringed
jackets and trousers, and the fur hat with a tail at the back
became extremely popular around the world, especially with children.
So, tomorrow
morning if you wake up and sigh when you can't decide what to
wear, make it a sigh of relief. Things could be worse. You could
have to dress thousands of people, or even worse—Cruella De Vil!
Disney
World - The Online Guide is not affiliated with, maintained by,
or in any way officially connected with the Walt Disney Company.
Walt
Disney World & it's theme parks, resorts, attractions &
area names are trademarks of The Walt Disney Company. All information
contained in Disney
World - The Online Guide, including prices, dates,
times, availability, is subject to change & not official. Joanne
will not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented
on any page in this site, and will not be held responsible for anything
that happens as a result of following advice or information on this
site, and does not represent the Walt Disney Company in any
manner.
