Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Iron Man and other Disneyland employees who work with Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars character performers are looking to get paid more and address safety concerns, sanitary workplace conditions and scheduling policies.
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Disneyland’s 1,700 character and parade performers calling themselves Magic United are seeking to unionize under the Actors’ Equity Association, which has represented Walt Disney World character performers for more than 40 years.
“We believe that our Cast Members deserve to have all the facts and the right to a confidential vote that recognizes their individual choices,” according to Disneyland officials.
While most of Disneyland’s 35,000 employees are represented by 26 unions, the park’s 1,100 character performers and 600 parade performers and support staff are not unionized.
How much does Disneyland pay its character and parade performers?
Disney princesses, Marvel superheroes and other character performers who work at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure make $24.15 per hour and an additional $4.75 per hour if they perform onstage, according to the Disney Auditions website.
Minnie Mouse shows off her new outfit for Disney ¡Viva Navidad! at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, November 10, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The starting hourly pay rate doesn’t change whether the lookalike characters are Princess Tiana, Gamora, Cinderella, Aladdin, Princess Jasmine, Mulan or the Black Panther, according to the Disney Auditions website.
Parade performers in the roles of “Turning Red” characters Abby, Priya and the 4*Town boy band will be paid the same $24.15 per hour for the Better Together parade during the upcoming Pixar Fest seasonal event at Disney California Adventure.
Disneyland character and parade performer base pay increased from $20 to $24.15 per hour after union organizing began, according to Actors’ Equity Association.
Chewbacca welcomes visitors to Black Spire Outpost during the first day without needing a reservation at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on June 24, 2019. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Walt Disney World character performers are paid a minimum wage ranging from $21.30 to $23 per hour with pay bumps of $5.75 per hour for coach, captain or lead jobs, according to Equity.
Starting pay at Disneyland varies depending on the role.
After a lengthy court fight, Anaheim’s Measure L boosted Disneyland’s minimum wage to nearly $20 an hour. In April, Disneyland security guards got an $8 per hour raise that will boost their pay to $26 per hour in 2025. California’s minimum wage increased to $16 an hour in 2024.
