The Happiest Place on Earth

"The only thing I can think of to compare it to is a hockey player," said Donna-Lynne Dalton, a union representative and character performer. "Hockey is one of those sports where you can't just do one thing well. You need balance, strength and flexibility. [As a character performer] you also have to have a special personality. Every day you have an experience that lasts someone's lifetime."

True that. Character work was--probably still is--grueling. Many of you know that I ultimately left the job after an accident that permanently pinched a nerve in my neck. It rarely affects me anymore, but since I was never released for full return-to-work, I either had to work in a different department or quit.

I decided to quit. I just couldn't imagine working in a job that required me to put on a happy face with all those guests. If I couldn't run with my posse, terrorize unsuspecting toddlers, organize "ugliest child contests" with my co-workers, or pick up on men without them ever seeing my face, then I just didn't want to have anything to do with The Happiest Place on Earth. I hear characters can't do any of that stuff anymore, and that leaves me wondering why anyone would even *want* to be a character under such restrictive and harmful conditions.