Disney Recognizes Audio-Animatronics Costuming Team

Creative Costuming was recently recognized by Walt Disney Imagineering partners for their assistance with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction, which opened in July at Magic Kingdom Park. The project began in November 2012 when the team was asked to costume the Audio-Animatronics figures of the Seven Dwarfs, Snow White, and the Witch. By the project's end, the team had created new patterns and costumed over 19 animated figures and 3 animals.

All in all, 90 new costume pieces were created specifically for this new attraction.

The original scope of work included costuming the figures re-purposed from the original Snow White's Scary Adventures attraction (now used in the last show scene, which takes place in the cottage). To match the look of the original film, textured fabrics with the appearance of homespun materials were used for the Seven Dwarfs, and with the help of the craft team who created custom-made belt buckles and shirt buttons, the costumes started resembling the original sketches drawn by animators more than 75 years ago. 

A new challenge was to provide greater levels of stability under the costumes; by creating core liners and undergarments using silicone-coated rip-stop nylon, mesh spandex, snaps, and even silicone caulk for rain resistance. These improvements are not seen externally but are crucial to the success of the attraction figures.

Congratulations to the Cast of the Epcot Audio-Animatronics Workroom at Walt Disney World Resort, who were recognized for their creativity in making the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train rich with texture, their partnership in problem solving, and for their innovative use of materials to support the "magic." 

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