character dining tips for a kid afraid of characters

[heather13]

I know it probably seems cruel to even put her through it, but her older sister is extremely excited to see every character she possibly can. As of now, we have ADRs at Crystal Palace, CRT and Chef Mickeys. I think she'll be okay with the princesses since they're real people (she's a super social child) but even when she saw a photo of me hugging Mickey 35 years ago, she said she didn't want to see him. 'course she can't get enough of him on TV or her stuffed animal version.

So with that in mind:
1) any tips for desensitizing her to characters before our Nov trip?
2) thoughts on Crystal Palace vs Chef Mickey for character interaction and exit strategy (eg, which one is better suited for us to get some quick food as a family, then I can escape with the toddler while everyone else sticks around for photos)?
3) when we check in or even ahead of time, can we request that the characters stay a distance away from our table until the little one is gone?

 

[tinka-belle]

The character handlers are very aware that some younger ones can't handle the furry characters up close.

When you see the handler enter the restaurant area with the characters a quick trip over to quickly explain and to ask about how long before they reach your table area is perfectly OK.

It would help to ask your server or host/hostess as you are being seated what your table # is, so you can relate that to the handler to be specific about your location. I am assuming here that the handler would be familiar with the table # layout, but maybe just the hosts and waitstaff is?

Also, when you check in, you can ask to be seated near the doorway, or near the restrooms, or any other spot so you can make a short getaway. You may have wait a few minutes more for your table, but you won't have to pass so many more tables on your way back and forth.

 

[mad hatter fan]

I have a couple of suggestions.

If you have time to get one before your trip, there are a number of Disney Sing Alongs with kids singing, playing with and going on rides with the characters. It might help to expose her more to the idea of the characters and the size of them more in a safe setting (home). Two I can remember are Disneyland Fun and Camp out at Disneyworld.

Next, if you will be entering a park before your first character meal, when you see a character just say, "Look there's Mickey. Let's wave to him as we walk by." Just give her chances to warm up to the idea of them from afar.

At the restaurants, I would seat her at the inside of the table so she will be farthest from the characters. Definitely ask the person seating you for a location best for this.

Maybe she will surprise you and warm up to them during your trip. Good luck!

 

[heather13]

Thank you for the great tips & advice!

I should clarify question #2 - we have reservations for Chef Mickey's and CP but I would like to cancel one of them. My older daughter won't care either way. My younger daughter loves Mickey and Pooh, and has no major affinity for anyone else. Which location do you think would be friendlier for a potentially sobbing child?

 

[pumba]

I like the way the seats are at CP......we went with our grandkids in May and our granddaughter was very timid......she sat in the back of the table and was fine there....just our grandson would have a photo with the character and would pass both of the autograph books......she would go to see Mickey though...something about that guy.....hahaha
Have fun and good luck

 

[Keke]

I really don't think there is much difference between CM and CP where that is concerned. Both of them have the characters making table rotations in the room for the entire time. And both of them have moments where the characters try to "pump up the crowd". (the Pooh parade and then the towel wave at CM)

CP does have a more open feel to it. There aren't really any tables that are tucked away. You can pretty much see the whole restaurant (and the characters) from any location. However at CM, there are many nooks and crannies to the restaurant. We had a table in a corner and there were many moments when there were no characters in sight for us at all. But that also has a drawback in that you don't really have much warning that the character is about to visit you till Minnie pops around the corner.

 

[Trophy Husband]

It is easier to see the characters coming through CP. Some of the dining areas in CM are oddly shaped and rather tight. However, the routes that the characters take through the restaurants are pre-planned, and your server can give you a heads up as to which direction they will be coming from. You can seat your timid child on the opposite side of the table to give them a buffer. Your server will also be able to give you an estimate on the characters arrival time.

In my experience, the characters do a good job of identifying timid or frightened children and know when to back off or not approach.

TH

 

[bleeps]

Most of the time, the tables are set up with an *outside* edge (right in the line of where the characters will walk through) and an *inside* edge (for example, a booth-type arrangement where you are backed up to a wall). Even for tables in the middle of the rooms, there is a side that the characters can easily reach and a side that they can't.

Just plan to seat your toddler on the less-accessible side of the table -- ideally in between two parents if the arrangement allows, but at least next to one parent -- and seat your older child on the outside, accessible side. As the characters come to your table you can say that your younger child just wants to watch and isn't quite ready to say *hello* and the characters will act accordingly.

You can pretty much make a quick exit from either, and one more sobbing child won't even be an issue given the activity level at both places! I'd go with CP since there's the comfort with Pooh and the gang, and if you have to leave you've got the castle right there and other nice things to look at (rather than just a hotel lobby) while you wait for the rest of the family.

 

[Lynne M]

I'd suggest having the character meals a couple of days into the trip, so she can see characters roaming the parks and get used to them a bit. Maybe seeing her sister happily meeting the characters and hugging them will help show her that they're "safe".

I also think CP would be a better bet; the Winnie the Pooh characters just seem softer and cuddlier to me, and might be a little less intimidating to her. And since you know that Mickey in particular scares her, it might be better to avoid a character meal that includes him.

 

[pioneer89]

No matter where you go, you'll have to have your radar turned on. Characters do love to sneak up on tables sometimes, and unless you can seat your child with back to wall, you run the risk of having a character suprise.

 

[delaford321]

Definitely ease her into the whole idea of life size characters. If she can get used to them around the park, with the option of distance, then she might be better off. Don't force her, let her go when she's comfortable...

 

[Coldbeans24]

We took our daughter to WDW soon after she turned 2 years old. For about 8weeks prior to our departure we showed her videos and pictures of WDW on their website. We explained that the characters would be really tall etc...
By the time we got there she couldn't get enough of it all because she was prepared for their size and all of the attractions etc...