2 yr olds at character meals

[Partyof12]

What has been your experience with real little ones at the character meals? I read somewhere that they are afraid of the "big heads". What do you think? We have PS at Cindy's breakfast, Chef Mickey and Crystal Palace. They both love Pooh.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Last year my 23 month DS just loved the Crystal Palace. This year (well in 15 days) we are doing Chef Mickeys for him "cuz Pooh is for babies"

 

[SammieG]

my son loved character meals from aged 1...

the characters were respectful in that they didnt charge over, but checked out his reaction before coming closer... he was always happy to see them!!

 

[swilphil]

We took my son to a Crystal Palace a week after he turned 2, and he just loved Pooh. When we were getting ready to leave, DS wasn't at the table. He ran over to a neighboring table to give Pooh a hug goodbye--it's one of my very favorite Disney memories.

For our March trip, we are having a Chef Mickey breakfast as DS has developed quite a thing for Mickey. One thing we did for both our kids was have them watch the planning video or the Disneyland Sing a long video so they could see how big the characters are.

 

[Ellester]

My first dd was deathly afraid of the "big heads" when we went for her 2nd birthday. I have a great picture of her burrowing into my dad's shoulder with Mickey on the other side. Her next trip, she was 2 1/2 and we basically steered clear of the characters, just in case. My second dd was much more adventerous and loved everyone at 20 months and 28 months.

 

[gshoemate]

We tood DD to the Crystal Palace when she was 2 1/2 and she flipped out. Crying, screaming...when the waitress came over to bring our drinks we had to apologize and leave. But it is worth a try.

 

[limabeanmom2003]

Our son (18 months at the time) had no problem what so ever meeting the characters at character dining. My son had a system: when the charcter arrived, he would give them a wave, give them a high five, blow a kiss, and then wave goodbye. He wasn't interested in them hanging around and playing little games with him. We never stood in line at the parks to meet the characters (except for Jo Jo at MGM). At that age, I think it is much better for them to meet the characters during meal time.

Every child is different, so you won't really know how your child will be until you try it. Do you have one of the WDW planning videos? If so, show your child the video before you go and talk about meeting the characters. See how she/he reacts. Good luck!

 

[Colinsmom]

Our 2.25 year old was so enamored with the characters that he was impatient because they were working they way over to us so slowly! He would have been happiest at a table with all the characters all to himself!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

We tood DD to the Crystal Palace when she was 2 1/2 and she flipped out. Crying, screaming...when the waitress came over to bring our drinks we had to apologize and leave. But it is worth a try.

I have to say good for you. It's really disturbing to watch kids freaking out over the obvious and the parents trying to make them just "get over it." Not to mention the fact that it disturbs the other diners.

 

[ksc37]

We just went with my 23 month old. It's kind of funny, he doesn't like walking up to characters to meet them (he just watches from a safe distance), but he didn't mind the character meals, where he stayed in his high chair and the characters came to him. Kind of odd.

My other son (who is now 4), has always been great with the characters. He's been to character meals at 18 months, 2 3/4 years, 3 years and 4 years, and runs right up to them for lots of hugs.

Every child is different. Like one of the other posters said, it's always worth a try. If it doesn't work out, just eat somewhere else.

 

[beattyfamily]

Every child is different so it's hard to say. My oldest was never afraid of them but my youngest was terrified at age 1, a little better at age 2 and then fine after that.

I also bought the Disney sing alongs with real characters in them which helped tremendously!

Go for it and give it a try! The face characters will be the easiest on them as most kids aren't afraid of them.

 

[EG528]

We were at the character lunch at Crystal Palace on 2/3 and my 20-month-old DS liked it more than I thought he would (I wasn't even going to book the lunch in the first place).

He is the type of kid who takes a minute (or more) to warm up to new people unless he is in an environment, or doing something, he is used to. Fortunately, eating is a pretty common occurrence so he was just fine when all of the characters came up. He was in a really good mood that day, too. He even had gotten his hair cut for the first time at the Harmony Barbershop and was laughing during that.

I am sure, though, that if my DS would have had to sit in their laps (like Santa or the Easter Bunny) he wouldn't have wanted anything to do with it.

 

[MichaelsMickey]

Last September we took my son (15 months) at the time to Crystal Palace he loved the Characters he enteracted with them and loves to pull there nose or wiskers. We there again in January and at at Cape Mays in the Beach Club and he still loved them--It seems like the characters react as little or as much as the child seems able to handle. All of the characters meals we have had have been an excellent experience with my son so far.

 

[lovesdumbo]

My youngest is VERY shy. Before she started walking if anyone (like the other moms at her sister's preschool) approached her while she was in her stroller she often cried. Once she started walking she seem to get over the crying but she is still very shy. On our trip when she was 11 months old she was reluctant to meet the characters "out on the street" but LOVED Tigger and liked the other characters at CP-wouldn't look at the face characters at CRT. On our trip when she was 21 months old she would greet on the street a bit-at a safe distance but still LOVED Tigger and friends at CP. Every photo of her at Storybook Breakfast she has her head down. She didn't cry but she wasn't interested in meeting the Princesses. At least she had a good meal while her sister was too busy greeting all her Princess friends.

My DS was 3 on the baby's first trip and he also wanted nothing to do with the street characters. He was a bit reluctant with the CP characters but by the end of the meal was getting into it and the next day he walked right up to all the characters we met-that was the day we had to fly home.

My oldest was 3 1/2 on her first trip and I wasn't sure how she'd react as she too is shy and quiet. Still won't talk too much in school but from the moment we walked into the park she was all over the characters and still at 5 1/2 believes they are real.

 

[crisi]

My kids first trip was at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. My 2 1/2 year old DD loved the characters - big moving stuffed animals. My 3 1/2 year old son was "wary." He didn't scream or cry, but he didn't want to touch or be touched. He was willing to sit (and look the other direction) for photos. But he wouldn't approach them on his own. Had it just been him, the meal wouldn't have been worth the effort (but my daughter covered Chip in enough maple syrup for two children).

Last time he was just five. First day, same deal. Then he said "Mom, we need to get one of those books so the characters can write their names." I'm not an autograph Mom, but ok, sure. That did it. With an excuse he could go up to them.

One of the best pieces of advice I've heards is with little ones go ahead and schedule a character meal - but schedule it for a few days into your trip. Then pre-expose your kids to characters - the tent in Toontown or the wandering characters or by the hat it MGM. If it goes well, have a great meal. If it doesn't, cancel your PS.

 

[huey duey & luey]

We went in Nov with 3 21/2 year olds. 1 absolutley LOVED every single character, without a doubt her fav part of the trip. 1 only liked the princesses(we taught him well ), afraid of the others. the 3rd was in the middle, not too afraid , but didn want to get to close. We went to Chef Mickeys our last night and they all did pretty well by that point
Tara

 

[Deesknee]

my son loved character meals from aged 1...

the characters were respectful in that they didnt charge over, but checked out his reaction before coming closer... he was always happy to see them!!

took DD at 11mnts I agree that the characters are VERY aware of the childs reaction. We kept telling her (whether she understood or not I don't know) that Mickey is as big as Daddy the couple of times she watched her disney sing alongs.

 

[huey duey & luey]

took DD at 11mnts I agree that the characters are VERY aware of the childs reaction. We kept telling her (whether she understood or not I don't know) that Mickey is as big as Daddy the couple of times she watched her disney sing alongs.

We did the same thing, I showed my kids pictures of myself and my husband with the characters so they could get the idea how big they are
Tara