Character comtradictions

[WDSearcher]

Disney goes to great lengths to preserve the illusion that the characters are in fact real. My question is why then do they have characters roaming about in former states - beast is beastly ; rapunzel has long golden locks... Sometimes Ariel has a tail other times legs...

Is there any explanation for this? Just confuses me since they aren't allowed to even infer that those people are actors or that there is more than one belle or Mickey roaming about.

*contradictions. Sigh can't change the subject in app version

It's not confusing at all, and the answer is really very simple.

WDW is a place of fantasy and imagination. If your daughter wanted to dress up as Rapunzel for Halloween, would you limit her to ONLY dressing like "end of movie" Rapunzel? Of course not. Because your daughter's imagination can create any version of Rapunzel that she wants. If your son wanted to be Gaston, would you tell him he can't because Gaston is dead? Imaginations don't have to follow the rules of "who the character was when the story ended". They can pick the story up anywhere they want.

So ... in a place of pure imagination like WDW, characters can exist in many different forms. In one place, Beast is still a beast. In another ... he's a prince. In one place, Ariel is a mermaid. In another, she chooses to appear as a human. Gaston is alive, and Tinker Bell can talk. They are imaginary characters who can decide to appear in whichever form they want at whatever time they want.

Simple.

 

[Planogirl]

Once I suggested to DS that we should go meet Tigger. He knew that I really liked Tigger so he kind of gently asked me if I knew that Tigger was someone in a costume. I loved how he thought that I might not know!

 

[BAMLuvMickey]

Okay, so I guess I'm the meanest mommy in the land, but I have told my four year old that all the characters are not real. Only when she asks, but I just can't bear to fib to her.

I told her that we are at Disney, it is a wonderful place of fantasy and story telling. That the people there are real people that dress up like the characters in the movies and that we never mention that they are not real. We go along with the story because it is so much FUN!

I don't think there is anything wrong with telling your kids whatever works for you, but I just wanted to throw it out there that you can still enjoy the parks and tell them how things actually work and why.

Doesn't mean you are a mean mommy...That was a creative way of explaining it to her and i think i will explain it the same way to my kids

If the topic comes up whether they are real or fake, i tell them the truth "Santa" included(my mom tells them if they do not believe they do not receive, had to tell her to stop saying it because it sounds materialistic)...My 5 year old hasnt caught on yet...

 

[Sparkly]

When we met Tigger at Crystal Palace I felt a zipper on his back when I gave him a hug, didn't matter to me anyway I know they're people in costumes but they feel real! I love Disney <3

 

[GrahamOrlando]

In my experience, very few youngsters ever question the appearance of characters, even if they have seen the same character with a different face the day before. However, what always amazes me is when parents encourage the children to ask questions that may ruin the magic. For example, I've lost count of the times a parent has told their child to ask "Peter" to fly him or her up into the air. What can you say to an expectant toddler who fully expects to be whisked up into the clouds? Yes, there are always ways to get around the issue, but why parents encourage their children to ask such awkward questions amazes me.

 

[tracyheartsmickey]

We had a 5 year old ask Captain Jack Sparrow why he did not look like he did in the movie. Without a beat skipped the answer was---The guy in the movie is an actor named Johnny Depp---I don't have time to be off making movies...I have pirating to be doing.

 

[Keepee]

There's no proof....maybe he broke his leg and made a full recovery

This literally made me burst out laughing haha. Now my husband thinks I've lost my mind.

 

[Keepee]

When we met Tigger at Crystal Palace I felt a zipper on his back when I gave him a hug, didn't matter to me anyway I know they're people in costumes but they feel real! I love Disney <3

Oh my gosh, me too. I'm 28 years old, but you let me see Tigger standing out somewhere- I lose my mind :lol:

I love the Tigger I met last trip- he (she?) threw me the biggest hug ever and we danced ROFL! I guess I must have looked super excited. Poor hubby had to hang out with Pooh though, I totally forgot about the silly ole bear because Tigger was so much fun.

I agree with the folks who have said even if a kid realizes the characters may not be the exact Tigger/Pooh/Princess from the movie, it's still a great experience . It's interesting to hear how folks approach the subject with overly-clever children .

 

[T1gger]

I've wondered the same thing as the op, and I expect my kids might mention it while we are there. They have a friend who went to WDW this summer, and met Tinkerbell. My 6 year old couldn't wrap her mind around why Tinkerbell was big though My 8 year old said, "Because she's not real... She's a person in a costume." I just smiled and said that it can be fun pretending. Ironically, when I asked my girls what they would want to do if they ever went to Disney World, my 8 year old said, "Dress like a princess and meet the princesses"

Well that's easy because at Pixie Hollow you get shrunk down to fairy size - so it isn't Tink that is big -it's you that is small

It is all make believe and while I know my kids know, there is still an element of suspending belief at Disney.

I mean what adult could completely forget it was someone in a costume and be transported back to being a kid -no not me - I wasn't the adult that squealed like a 3yo when I spied Tigger - nope not me! I also never squealed "Ooh Tigger you are my favourite !!" Nope. And never ever nearly cried when the CM let me meet him first and dance and pounce like Tiggers do.

 

[justakrazymom]

Okay, so I guess I'm the meanest mommy in the land, but I have told my four year old that all the characters are not real. Only when she asks, but I just can't bear to fib to her.

I told her that we are at Disney, it is a wonderful place of fantasy and story telling. That the people there are real people that dress up like the characters in the movies and that we never mention that they are not real. We go along with the story because it is so much FUN!

I don't think there is anything wrong with telling your kids whatever works for you, but I just wanted to throw it out there that you can still enjoy the parks and tell them how things actually work and why.

naw... mine all know.. last year they were 5,7 and 9.. I honestly can't imagine a 7 or 9 year old not knowing the truth on their own. I never told them per say they are all just rather aware of the world. They all love the magic of Disney though and fully immerse themselves in it..

 

[FairydustyPrincesses]

It's not confusing at all, and the answer is really very simple.

WDW is a place of fantasy and imagination. If your daughter wanted to dress up as Rapunzel for Halloween, would you limit her to ONLY dressing like "end of movie" Rapunzel? Of course not. Because your daughter's imagination can create any version of Rapunzel that she wants. If your son wanted to be Gaston, would you tell him he can't because Gaston is dead? Imaginations don't have to follow the rules of "who the character was when the story ended". They can pick the story up anywhere they want.

So ... in a place of pure imagination like WDW, characters can exist in many different forms. In one place, Beast is still a beast. In another ... he's a prince. In one place, Ariel is a mermaid. In another, she chooses to appear as a human. Gaston is alive, and Tinker Bell can talk. They are imaginary characters who can decide to appear in whichever form they want at whatever time they want.

Simple.

No really I get that- but since Disney is so insistent on it being believable I dot get why they'd place characters in a way that would give the kids legitimate questions. I understand a kid may not recognize Beast in his Prince Adam form or even rapunzel with brown hair ( and who wouldn't want to see that awesome coif of blonde ?) but it surprises me. I fully expect one of my girls to ask her about her hair this year because they keep askig me. I keep going with my extensions and dye job so that kids would know who she is explanation.

 

[nharding20]

My 6 foot plus 14yo son had a birthday breakfast at the Crystal Palace last year, and LOVED meeting Pooh and Tigger and all the rest. It was a treat to see my boy throwing those long arms of his around a character, and beaming.

This got me teared up! My 12year old son (taller than me) has been saying it's not 'cool' to look for characters anymore. your post gives me hope he'll come around and enjoy the magic while we are there!

So cliche, but they really do grow up so fast!

 

[2goofykiddos]

Of all the things my DD5 is also hung up on Rapunzel's hair. I told her to ask her and she said Flynn liked it long.

But on some level my DD has known since she went the first time at 3. She has been insistent since that time that one day she will go to WDW and BE Cinderella, as a job. I'm still not sure how she reconciles this in her head though.

The Beast bothers me too, but what bothers me more is that he has no name other than Beast! Didn't he once have a name?????

 

[mom2rtk]

The Beast bothers me too, but what bothers me more is that he has no name other than Beast! Didn't he once have a name?????

In human form he is Prince Adam. You can see him at DHS in the BATB stage show.

 

[2goofykiddos]

In human form he is Prince Adam. You can see him at DHS in the BATB stage show.

Yay!!!

How did I not know this?? My daughter will be thrilled, where was this information? We were just reading a book the other day and they referred to him as the prince the whole time, no name.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yay!!!

How did I not know this?? My daughter will be thrilled, where was this information? We were just reading a book the other day and they referred to him as the prince the whole time, no name.

Don't miss the show. It's awesome. Our trip wouldn't be complete without seeing it.

 

[mesaboy2]

Yay!!!

How did I not know this?? My daughter will be thrilled, where was this information? We were just reading a book the other day and they referred to him as the prince the whole time, no name.

He is named Adam in the new Royal Princess rooms at Port Orleans Riverside. Some may tell you it's not Disney canon, but as far as I'm concerned it is.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Of all the things my DD5 is also hung up on Rapunzel's hair. I told her to ask her and she said Flynn liked it long.

But on some level my DD has known since she went the first time at 3. She has been insistent since that time that one day she will go to WDW and BE Cinderella, as a job. I'm still not sure how she reconciles this in her head though.

The Beast bothers me too, but what bothers me more is that he has no name other than Beast! Didn't he once have a name?????

His name is Prince Adam but it's only been recently Disney has acknowledged it. If you ask Belle, she usually laughs and say that she's called him Beast for so long, she can't remember his name.

I would never line up to see Beast in Human form. He's my favourite character but only as a beast.

 

[jmm476]

He is named Adam in the new Royal Princess rooms at Port Orleans Riverside. Some may tell you it's not Disney canon, but as far as I'm concerned it is.

Did they just pull the name Adam out of thin air? He doesn't have any name in the movie besides the prince or beast. Or was that his name in other iterations of the story (non-Disney)? I'm just wondering, not trying to sound like a jerk.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Did they just pull the name Adam out of thin air? He doesn't have any name in the movie besides the prince or beast. Or was that his name in other iterations of the story (non-Disney)? I'm just wondering, not trying to sound like a jerk.

Disney didn't give him a name and there has actually never really been anything official naming him. As someone else posted, he is named Adam in the new Royal Princess rooms at Port Orleans Riverside. I'm not sure if that's the only place he has been named? To the best of my knowledge even Belle will just call him Beast, even if you ask.