Why Character Performer Companies Charge the Prices That We Do

The real reasons behind why professional character performances cost much more than you think!

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We hear it all the time:“ Oh, anyone can do that! I could buy a costume at Spirit Halloween and charge this much just to show up at a party!?” While comments like this are common, they couldn’t be further from the truth. What families don’t realize is that there is a huge difference between a plastic-looking costume from a Halloween store, and a professional, park-quality character performance. You simply cannot buy the level of accuracy, quality, and magic we provide at a place like Spirit Halloween. When families book a character performer, it may look like you’re paying for “just an hour” of entertainment. In reality, that price covers weeks—sometimes months—of preparation, training, and investment to bring the most magical, authentic experience possible. At Once Upon a Dream, we pride ourselves on offering Disney Parks–level performances, and here’s why our prices reflect the value you’re receiving.

1. Professional Wig Styling & Upkeep

High-quality wigs are essential to creating believable characters. Most performer wigs take 8–16 hours to style, even for a highly skilled professional. Purchasing pre-styled wigs ranges anywhere from $250 to $1,000 each. At Once Upon a Dream, all of our wigs are styled by hand by our owner, a professional wig stylist. This saves us money but requires countless hours of work—and that’s just the initial style. Wigs must also be washed, reset, and completely restyled after use, which can take even longer than the first styling.

2. Costumes Crafted for Perfection

Our costumes are not store-bought. Each one requires hundreds to thousands of dollars and weeks (sometimes months) of custom work. Since Disney does not sell authentic park-quality costumes, companies like ours must hand-modify gowns and suits with professional seamstress techniques—embellishing, embroidering, bedazzling, and tailoring them to perfection. This ensures characters look as if they’ve stepped straight out of the movies.

3. Hours of Preparation Before Every Event

Getting into costume is no simple task. Between stage makeup, wig application, and corsetry, most of our performers require over two hours to prepare for a single event. Even before the party begins, our team is already working hard to create the magic your child will see.

4. Only the Best Performers

Not everyone can be a character performer. Our cast members must be exceptional with children, skilled in improv, trained singers, and experienced actors. They study their characters extensively—learning mannerisms, voices, and every detail to ensure authenticity. At Once Upon a Dream, we use a competitive audition process modeled after Disney Parks standards to ensure only the best of the best represent our brand.

5. The Challenge of Performing in Costume

Imagine wearing multiple layers, corsets, wigs, and heavy makeup in the middle of summer while entertaining children for hours on end. It’s a physically demanding job, yet our performers do it with smiles on their faces so the magic never breaks.

6. It’s More Than Just the Hour You See

When you pay $180–$250 for a performance, you aren’t paying for just the time spent at your party. You’re covering:

• Costume and wig upkeep and dry cleaning

• Hand styling and repairs

• Travel expenses

• Assistants and support staff

• Extensive performer training

• Weeks of preparation behind the scenes

If we broke down the actual hours invested, the hourly wage would fall below minimum wage—yet we do it because we love bringing joy to children.

7. Maintaining the Magic

Cheap wigs and costumes from places like Spirit Halloween or Party City may seem like a bargain, but they destroy the illusion. Exposed wig lines, flimsy fabric, and inaccurate costumes break the magic instantly for children. Professional performers use only the highest quality materials so that the experience feels real.

8. Your Investment Also Gives Back

At Once Upon a Dream, we’re not just about parties—we give back. We donate raw human hair wigs to Locks of Love, volunteer at children’s hospitals through The Stitch Project, and support families through the Ronald McDonald House. When you book with us, your dollars help spread magic to children who need it most.

Conclusion:

In the end, our prices don’t reflect profit—they reflect passion. We do this because we believe in creating magical experiences for children that no dollar amount could possibly measure. Every dollar goes into making that experience as real and enchanting as possible.

So, the next time someone says, “I could just buy a Spirit Halloween costume and charge the same price,” know that it’s simply not true. A plastic costume can never compare to the hand-crafted gowns, custom wigs, and years of training our performers bring to every event. The prices you see are not for “just an hour”—they represent the artistry, preparation, and passion behind the magic. At Once Upon a Dream, we don’t just show up dressed up. We create valuable memories that last a lifetime.