Disney World employee reveals the truth about working at the Magic Kingdom after fight with ‘”jerk” Donald Duck got him fired
"For the most part the performers are as much a character as any of us. Some of them are the sweetest people I've ever met in my life."
EVER wondered what it would be like to work at Disney World?
It might not be all the smiles and fun you see in the staff when you visit.
One brave former Disney World Orlando worker has taken to Reddit to encourage users to ask him anything about his job.
User Ihaveanotheridentity used to play the character Goofy for more than 20 years but was given the boot after a run in with another Disney character.
He said: "I was fired. Donald Duck was, as usual, being a jerk and wouldn't leave my area because I had signed "Luv, Goofy" right over the bill of a Donald Duck hat.
"He threw a temper tantrum and as I was dragging him across the floor to get him back to his position a little kid ran out from behind the curtain at Pete's Silly Sideshow and we knocked her on her butt.
"The kid was fine and no one complained but Disney didn't really appreciate me dragging the costume on the carpeted floor so they terminated me."
He revealed that working in Disney World is not always as fun and upbeat as people think it is and that, at times, there was a great deal of heartbreak involved.
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He revealed a tragic tale: "I was working City Hall one day when two guests came in with two little girls. One was in a wheel chair and the other one looked like she had just seen death.
"The two women were actually nurses from a hospital and were asking for a refund on the girl's tickets, something we avoided doing at all costs. When I asked why they told me the story.
"The two girls were with their mom and dad at Epcot and on the way home they got into a horrible car accident. The mother was beheaded right in front of them. The father eventually died too but the two girls didn't know that yet.
"They were from overseas and had no money and no contact information for anyone they knew.
"They were bringing the tickets back to get the girls some much needed money to help get them back home.
"My heart absolutely sunk. If you had seen these girls you'd know why. They were truly traumatised. I refunded their tickets and got permission to be their private tour guide for the rest of the day."
Other Reddit users were prompted to ask all the questions they had ever wondered about Disney - including whether there is any rivalry between characters.
Ihaveanotheridentity said: "If you're talking about the 'face' performers the answer is yes and no.
"Some of the break rooms are like the high school cafeteria where the 'cool' princesses (Elsa and Anna) sit on one side and make eyes at the 'old' characters (Snow and Poppins). It's really childish.
"Other face performers think they're on Broadway and demand respect and they hate not getting it.
"But those are extreme cases of a few b******. For the most part the face performers are as much a character as any of us.
"Some of them are the sweetest people I've ever met in my life."
Many people wanted to know what it was like to wear a costume on hot days.
The original poster said it takes practice.
He said: "It was absolute torture the first month (and especially the first parade) but after a few months I got used to it and after a few years I would forget I had the costume on."
He added: "We are NOT ALLOWED TO EVER TALK IN COSTUME IN FRONT OF GUESTS. EVER.
"Backstage however, anything goes. I used to love telling dirty jokes to unsuspecting new hires. I do have a good Goofy laugh but it took me years to perfect."