5 year old and character belief

[jenfur]

My DS (5) has been going to WDW since he was18 months old and has always loved it. He doesn't remember everything, but over he years he has rode everything he can fit on ( even Tower of Terror last year) and he ALWAYS has believed in the characters. He used to get really into it and believes that they all live in Disney World (We saw Ollie last year after dark and he worried he would be in trouble for being out after dark- he is always on the look out for Zurg so he can tell Buzz all about it.) Well, as we were watching our video from last year he got really serious and asked me if the characters were really real or are they people dressed up. I asked him what he thought and he looked irritated, and said just tell me! I said even if they were just dressed up its would be fun to pretend wouldn't it? (Cause I don't know about you but when I see Mickey, I SEE Mickey, not Bob in a Mickey suit.) He wanted a straight answer so that wasn't good enough. I found a way to change th subject but I am sure he will ask again. He seems really torn about it. He WANTS to know the truth, but he WANTS to believe as well and I have no idea how to explain it to him so that he can do both (I know its possible because so many us do exactly that). Last year he was excited with the Mickey wake up calls that if he got one, we had to find Mickey that day because Mickey says "See you real soon" , DH even called from a house phone before we left so he could tell DS "bye" from Mickey (he does a good Mickey voice). What should I tell him, I don't want our trip this year to be a letdown for him, he already is a little scared about rides he had no problem with last year.

 

[MulanMom]

When young, my children were not into the characters at all. They knew something wasn't right about a big mouse walking around!!!! Although we wanted them to enjoy the fun and pretend aspect of the characters, we didn't want them to doubt their own instincts. We've answered questions briefly, positively, and age appropriately. We don't dispute the existence of the characters, but the ones the children see and interact with are "helpers"....they know there are people under the costume. That is followed up with our own enthusiasm with interacting with the characters, and they have no difficulty suspending reality and believing they actually are getting Donald's autograph or a picture with Minnie. My kids also enjoy playing dress-up and using their imagination, so maybe that influences their ability to know the truth yet act like they don't! (they are now 5 & 7)

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[craziefortigger]

I too have a 5 yr old DS who totally believes in all the Characters. He too has asked recently if Mickey's real. I don't feel bad at all by telling him Yes. I still encourage him to believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy. I would NOT dream of telling him that they aren't "real" either.

I love WDW and it'd magic and watching my son's face while experiencing this magic makes WDW all that much better for me.

We still have Mickey call us at the hotel when we go, get autographs from everyone we can and ALWAYS have at least 1 character meal. These are highlights to our trips and I'm NOT ready to give them up!

When the hurricane came through 2 wks ago my oldest (16) told my 5 yr old that Mickey got picked up and tossed to Mexico and died! My 5 yr old laughed at his big brother and said "NO WAY, Mickey's magic nothing can hurt him!"

Enjoy this yr, it may be the last one, I know I'm going to play it up as much as I can for our next few trips.

Patty

 

[trracers]

Not real, are you guys

Why in the world would some BOB guy dress up in a suit and PRETEND to be Mickey in the Florida heat...

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

When we were in WDW world in 2002, my DD3 asked the same question. My DS5 stepped in and in an all knowing voice, said that these are not the real characters, these are substitutes. The real ones are all in California where they make all the movies.

 

[Jen D]

If a child seriously wants to know the answer to a question, and is irritated / not fooled by the "what do you think" evasion (I use that one too! ), I say tell them the truth. I know that probably isn't a popular answer on this board, but your son sounds like a smart cookie who has figured it out and wants to know. It doesn't necessarily spoil anything. My dd (7) has known for a couple years (Thanks a lot, Junie B. Jones) but she loves the characters and gets autographs. When she sees Mickey, she says "Look! It is Mickey!" Not "Look, a girl in a Mickey suit!" LOL. Kids can still have a magical time even if they know the secrets behind the magic. We adult Disney addicts should know that better than anyone!

 

[capnho]

My DS, who is now almost 7, figured out last year that those weren't the "real" characters. He asked me if they were people in suits. I told him yes, they were Mickey's helpers, but that I liked to imagine that they were they were really Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc. He seemed to go along with this and had a great time meeting the characters last year.

 

[sif]

For what it's worth, after we went to WDW last April, my 5 y.o. son asked me whether the characters were real. I said "I think they ARE real, what do you think?" He said "I don't really think so, because when I shook their hand, it felt more like a glove. But that's OK."

My point is, all kids will figure it out at some point -- some sooner, some later. Ultimately, it doesn't mean that they won't have a GREAT time. Even though my son knew the characters were not real, he was still thrilled to meet, hug, and get autographs from them. He still had a great trip.

 

[sodaseller]

We went through this years with my now DD8. She eventually figured it out and was fine.

Two noteworthy experiences. When she was quite young, I made the point of showing her Disneyland (we live in Tampa and go often to WDW on our AP), and showing her that Sleeping Beauty had her castle there, while Cinderella's Castle was the MK. Well, that started more than I bargained for. I soon had to explain which Park held Snow White's Castle, Belle's Castle etc, which I improvised on.

Not long after, there was kiddie Birthday Party where "Cinderella" showed up. Her outfit, persona, etc were not quite what you see at MK. My daughter even saw her get into her VW and drive away. She then turned to my wife and asked "Was she a real princess or just someone dressed up?" My wife answered honestly. My daughter pondered the ramifications of this disturbing revelation for a minute, and then announced, to end the cognitive dissonance, "I understand - the princesses in Tampa are just someone that dresses up - the real princesses live at Disney World!"

Still one of my favorite quotes of hers, and one the reasons WDW is so special to us.

 

[daisylove]

My DD5's best friend who is 6 told her in May that Mickey was just some one dressed up. So when we went inJune she would not tell me why but she did not want to see any characters (she has been a character freak before) and I suspected it was because of her friend's revelation We had done the whole "what do yoiu think" 'They are as real as you want them to be..." to finally " your friend was wrong or confused" whe we saw it really upset her (bad mommy lying to DD) but still no mickey in June. Well we just got back yesterday again. This trip there was not a character she did not want to see. It was wonderful. Mommy was teary eyed. But I noticed that she called them characters this trip when before it was Mickey or Minnie. She did not forget what her friend said but she wants them to be real so she is letting reality to slip a bit. she knows but just does not want it proven to her. I say let the kids hold on to their childhood and dreams as long as you can!

 

[kparc]

My Daughters 8 & 9 know that there are people acting as the characters. I even had to shush them a couple of times when they had questions about how hot the people were in the costumes etc. But it didn't dampen their enthusiasm one bit-- we collected about 35 autographs!! And they loved waiting to meet the characters. Sometimes I think their believe was reinforced by the comments of some of the cast members. My daughter was so happy to give Sleeping Beauty a picture she drew over a year ago and saved to give her!!!!

 

[Cobra B.]

I'm not sure I understand? He is a mouse isn't he?

Keepin' the dream alive...

 

[F1Julie]

My DD4 now knows the characters aren't real since she noticed that Alice and Cinderella (among other face characters) were different than the ones she saw last time. She doesn't seem to be bothered by it. She even looks at the pictures from different trips and points out the different faces on Cinderella etc.

 

[CVW]

ABSOLUTELY tell your child the truth. Parents need to establish early in a child's life that we're their best source for information, not their peers.

But you can approach it the same way I approached the Santa Claus issue with my kids.

"Wellsureit'saguydressedupinasuitsonohe'snotreal... but...PLEASE... don't keep reminding me! Mommy and Daddy want to pretend too!"

Five year-olds are usually quite good at respecting someone else's fantasy world. When they understand that you have one also, it makes for a smoother transition.

 

[natalielongstaff]

lol
my ds age 3 is terrified of some of the dressed up characters we see over here in england so i TOLD him very early on they were just people dressed up as that seems to make him less afraid
thats the one part of our trip im dreading cos i know dd will love the characters but ds will not ( at least for the 1st day then im hoping he will get used to them)

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Mine oldest is the same! Her first trip was when she was 18 months. She is 5 now and she so wants to believe but she kind of knows...and is starting to ask questions. Like, how come the characters don't talk (see my tag

Sometimes we talk about "stage magic" because she's seen a few Broadway shows with cool effects that knows aren't "real."

We were watching the WDW promo video and there was a clip from Dinosaur and I was explaining that the dinosaurs aren't real (I want her to ride it and not be afraid Which brought up questions about what is real and what isn't at WDW. I have said, The real Mickey lives at WDW (He does, right? Maybe somebody in a suit but when you are in Disney that is *the* Mickey....)

Thinking about it, I have to think she can tell the animals on Kilimanjaro Safari are real and the ones on jungle cruise and Country Bear Jamboree are not. The 'animals" in fgestivalof the Lion King are obviously people in costumes - their faces are showing. So that led me to my explanation....

My best explanation of all, that was honest but not shattering, that she was pleased with and I'm sticking to for the next several years is: "Some of the things at Disney are real and some of them are stage magic. And sometimes it's really hard to tell which is which -- and that's what's so much fun about WDW!!" She agrees 100%.

Hope that helps!!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

Originally posted by F1Julie
My DD4 now knows the characters aren't real since she noticed that Alice and Cinderella (among other face characters) were different than the ones she saw last time. She doesn't seem to be bothered by it. She even looks at the pictures from different trips and points out the different faces on Cinderella etc.

LOL, I'm 35 and when I look back at our pictures, I have a distinct image in my mind of the first Cinderella, the first Belle, etc. I met in my travels as an adult and a mom. When I see others in our photos, I think in my brain witout even realizing it, "OH, that's not the real Belle!" And then I realize what my brain just thought and I laugh at myself!!

 

[KatieKate16]

DD5 is a realist, always has been. This will be her 4th trip. She turned 2 the first trip and was in awe of every character. The next year she knew they were people in suits, but she still has fun with it. Each trip when I get excited over a character, she reminds me "mom, it's a person in a suit!" How's that for humility?
Now last Christmas morning when she told me Santa from the night before was her uncle...THEN I had to do some quick thinking!

 

[cathy59]

On his first trip to WDW when my DS was 5, he had already figured out that this wasn't the "real" Mickey Mouse, just someone dressed up as Mickey.

BUT... he thought it was the "real" Cinderella! Apparently in his mind, she wasn't wearing a mask!

 

[Kallison]

Well my kids and I still argue about whether they are real or not and they are 14-12 and 10. They'll go Moooom, I hear a fan inside. DH and I will go NUH UH, they are real!! Our trip last August, DS's said don't bring our autograph books. Well I brought them anyway and I would get them signed. We finally went to the Pooh breakfast. DD is a Pooh freak. She was really into the characters, she even brought little Happy Meal toys for them. She ended up giving some to a little girl at the next table the parents were so happy. I said See isn't believing fun? middle DS turned to me and said "Didya bring my book?" and he went running off. Oldes DS just kept ignoring everyone, so I told Eeyore -- Can you believe it? He thinks he is too old for Disney. Eeyore got all the characters, they all gathered around and leaned on him and gave him the shame, shame finger. I have some great pictures of DS sheepishly laughing with the characters all around. They all agree it is best to believe in Disney with Mom around! Dh and I went back alone in October for Food and Wine Festival. I came home and told the kids how when I went to parks alone while Dad was in meetings, the characters would not leave me alone. I had pics with Mickey, the Country BEars were skipping around with me, Pluto grabbed my hand when I was talking on the cell phone on a bench and threw the phone and started swinging me around. DS just rolled his eyes and said "Glad I missed that trip" Even if they don't believe I think they start to once they get there.