Are they real or people in costumes?

[merrick]

i am a fan of the "what do you think?" approach as well. their answers have saved me from saying too much on more than one occasion (over-answering the question, instead of trying to figure out what they are *really* asking).

my youngest was 7 when we went, and as the youngest a lot more savvy than my eldest was at 7. so everyone knew what was going on... but they still engaged and had a great time.

 

[IrishNYC]

My DD was 5 her first visit. She never asked us, but said she knew that they were "just people in costumes" but thought that face characters were the real deal. But, once she started meeting more characters, she sort of lost sight of the "people in costumes" angle and got lost in the magic. I think there's something very magical about meeting characters you love. We met Peppa Pig and George at The White House earlier this year, and DD, now 6.5, ran right up to them and hugged Peppa. She thought it was the greatest thing ever.

 

[kiford]

My kids all know they are people dressed in costume, but that doesn't lessen the magic of meeting them for most of the family.

But, once she started meeting more characters, she sort of lost sight of the "people in costumes" angle and got lost in the magic.

My first trip to DL was when I was 12 and my first trip to WDW was at 23 so I never believed that the characters were real. However, on one of our DCL cruises, we were sitting in the dining room at lunch and "Alice" came running in and came up to us asking where the white rabbit was. Everyone at the table (all adults), me included, got into it. She never dropped character and we kept playing along. Never once did I even think "it's just a person in costume". On our Med cruise, DH and I were sitting in the adults only area on deck reading when I saw something moving out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and there were Mickey and Minnie dressed in traditional Italian garb and Minnie was waving at me. Of course we had to get up and have the handler take a picture of us together. Completely bizarrely, it never even crossed my mind that this was a person dressed in a giant mouse costume. It's one of my favourite pictures. Even coming out of dinner one night we saw Mickey in traditional Greek dress. The entire table (8 adults) said we have to get a picture of us with Greek Mickey and we all hugged him after the picture was taken.

However you respond to the question, just know that you don't have to be 8 years old to get lost in the magic and forget that it's a costume. They're just as real as you want them to be.

 

[deidre74]

When my niece went to Disney World for the first time (she was 5) she asked if the characters were real and we did the whole, what do you think? Her reply was basically that any costumed character was a "helper" like Santa has helpers to be at all the different malls and that was why Mickey and gang didn't talk cause all peoples voices are different but that the princesses and the like were the real thing because they could talk. My reply to her was that it made sense to me and that she was so smart to figure that out. She is now 13 and when she hears kids asking that question sometimes she gives them the answer that she came up with and it seems to work.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I also use the "What do you think?" approach. It keys you in to what the child is developmentally ready to know.

My DD never believed characters were "real." When she was 3 and saw Dora at the local zoo, her response was, "That's not Dora! Dora is little like me." That has never stopped us from playing along and enjoying the characters.

For the record, she was 11 before I got "MOOOOM. Just tell me." as the response to "What do you think?" She was ready for me to honestly answer the question at that point.

 

[Indio]

My kids have never even asked if the characters were real or not - I think they always knew they were just people dressed up!
Here's my story of how my youngest figured out the Santa thing.... When he was about 6, around Easter, we were driving with him and his older brothers - who were 12 and 14. We were discussing Easter and for some reason I was aggravated at the older 2 - they were probably fighting in the car! Anyway, the youngest at some point asked if the Easter Bunny was real. I said "Honestly, do you really think a bunny hops around and gives out candy? No he's not real!" At that point, he teared up and said, "well what about Santa"?!?! At that point I realized what I had done and said "Well of course Santa is real!!!!" I was so busted!!! My older 2 thought that was a real hoot!

 

[MouseTeens]

I'm 20 and my dad will not to this very day acknowledge that the characters are "people in costumes". I have 2 younger brothers and he is the same with them. If I asked if they were "real" he would ask me to define "real". Based on that, I'd conclude they are real. If pressed about "people in costumes" he claims no personal knowledge of that being the case. Its all in fun, kids are smart.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

When my kids started asking, we told them the truth. But if they asked while we were in line for a character (it happened with my son), I said we would have to talk about that later (I didn't want any other kids magic getting spoiled).

Then I'd remind them before any meet and greets not to say anything - I still do that and they are 20 and 16. LOL

 

[AngiTN]

My answer is "they are the real characters"
and I don't believe that is a lie.
They are the real characters. As real as the character can be

 

[ArchPsyduck]

It may just a person in a costume; but that doesn't mean I'm not meeting the REAL Mickey Mouse when I go to the Magic Kingdom.

 

[GovieMom]

My daughter had just turned 7 on our first trip. After dining at the Crystal Palace, she told me she knew the characters weren't real, as she had noticed the zipper on the back of Tigger's costume. lol

 

[Fuzzylife75]

Oh I love this one! It is exactly how I feel at 28. I know he isn't real but when I'm at Disney he definitely is because of the way meeting the characters makes me feel.

I'm 40 and I feel exactly the same!

I feel the Magic when interacting with the characters, but close up I always acknowledge that it's a CM and do/say/show that I honestly really appreciate all the awesome work they put in to make guests feel special.

A wink, a nod and a heartfelt hug. If there are kids around I won't say my appreciation out loud. Only with close interactions and not so many people around.

Many Characters have been extra happy and friendly back as a way to show my sincere thanks was received.

 

[Catvondita]

I would just tell the truth. The thing about saying "oh its just their friends since they cant be there" is that its still a lie.

 

[ZellyB]

My girls were 4 when we went and they were terrified of the characters. We told them they were people in costumes and they were fine with them after that and enjoyed meeting them and taking pictures. For us, it worked to tell them the truth.

 

[DVCcurious]

Last trip DD6 and I saw Cinderella's parade float from a distance (we were not watching the parade but we were near the route).

She asked "Is Cinderella even real?"

I told her the truth: NOTHING at MK is real except the Hall of Presidents. I told her the princesses are from stories told long ago and the stories were meant to teach us lessons.

The next day she was all excited to meet Cinderella & Rapunzel and when we were in line for A&E later that day she was asking me if I thought Elsa could show her Elsa's ice magic.

So I'm not sure what to make of that. Selective amnesia I guess.

 

[wishinitwas]

My kids are typically scared of characters like Chuck e cheese so we go with they are people dressed up. I never liked characters either growing up. I ran the other way. Lol. At least then there is a chance they will give them a high five. Ds4 swears he is going to give Baymax a hug so we'll see! I have all character meals planned so hopefully they like them enough!

 

[scurvyfreedman]

At 5 my oldest daughter completely froze up when she met the princesses. She wanted to meet them all, but couldn't talk or even smile around them. It's because she believed they were real and was in shock that she was able to meet them and see them in person. She loved Mickey and Pooh and other big head characters because she knew they weren't real. With them she was happy and interactive. Younger daughter loved them all.

We're going back when they will be almost 9 and 6. My oldest know realizes they are actors playing the princesses and is much more excited to meet them, especially because she's done a stage production of the Little Mermaid.

Thinking they are real can be both a positive and a negative.

 

[lizabu]

Well I believe they are real so if a child asks me I'd be lying to say otherwise. Just talk to the characters for a few minutes. You will be convinced that they are real too.

 

[AngiTN]

Well I believe they are real so if a child asks me I'd be lying to say otherwise. Just talk to the characters for a few minutes. You will be convinced that they are real too.

I know, right?

 

[goofy4tink]

When my niece went to Disney World for the first time (she was 5) she asked if the characters were real and we did the whole, what do you think? Her reply was basically that any costumed character was a "helper" like Santa has helpers to be at all the different malls and that was why Mickey and gang didn't talk cause all peoples voices are different but that the princesses and the like were the real thing because they could talk. My reply to her was that it made sense to me and that she was so smart to figure that out. She is now 13 and when she hears kids asking that question sometimes she gives them the answer that she came up with and it seems to work.

Oh man...sounds just like my dd at that age!!! She didn't say anything prior to her first character meet up. And of course, it was Mickey. The photo is priceless...her face is saying 'seriously? I'm standing next to a very large mouse and I shouldn't be worried??' As we were walking away, she asked me if that was really MM. I asked her what she thought. Her answer was very similar to your dd's!!!
What is my dd doing today?? Very good friends with ScoobyDoo, Foghorn Leghorn and Sylvester the Cat at Six Flags!!!!!