characters

[froggieos1]

We are going to Disney World in May. I have a question about charaters. We have 4 kids, ranging in age from 6 months to 5 years old. My 3 year old is really afraid of charaters. I tried it again a couple of weekends ago when Dora came to a mall near us and no go for him. He love rides and such. But is there a way of keeping him away from characters? We don't have any of the character meals planned. Even though the 5 and 2 year old would love it. The 3 year old does say he wants to meet Buzz Lightyear, but we will see.

So is there a way of avoiding them? And if not do you think by the end of the trip he will be used to them? We will be there for 7 days. He is so excited about the trip, but a little nervous about meeting Mickey.

Thanks,
Ondy

 

[spiceycat]

they are around the park - but simply ignore them.

however - I would definitely watch your younger children because they can easily get out of anything and run up to the characters....

 

[Miller1412]

My 2 year old was always shy of Santa, the Easter bunny or any other characters that we saw. He didn't want anything to do with them...but at our Disney Trip he happily went up to Mickey and most others that we saw. Before our trip, we watched the Disney sing a long videos and got very familiar with all of the characters on tv...I really think that helped. He was still afraid of Stitch, the Monsters Inc. Guys and Jafar...but he loved the rest. We too expected that he wouldn't go to any characters at all...you never know!!

Whatever you decide...it's easy to avoid them altogether, and if your oldest wants to meet them and your youngest doesn't...it is possible for one to go to the characters and the other to keep some distance. LOL!

 

[quiltymom]

It's true, you'll never know. It took until the 3rd character meal for DD to go stand near a Princess.

But here's a tip -- go see Peter Pan and Wendy. Since DD would not get out of her stroller for the photo (she was dying to see them but decided to be shy), they started playing with her and being silly. And before you know it, DD was taking their hands to go for the photo. Seeing them is not your typical character meet! They were wonderful!

 

[mommystieg]

I don't know if you have tried this but when we were planning our first visit to WDW, we used the Disney sing along videos to help prepare DD#2 for meeting the characters. She also liked to watch the free vacation planning video. The sing along videos showed the characters interacting with kids and most of them were filmed at WDW and Disneyland. She started out pretty shy but near the end of our trip she was chasing characters with her autograph book and pen

 

[ArielsMommy]

I don't know if you have tried this but when we were planning our first visit to WDW, we used the Disney sing along videos to help prepare DD#2 for meeting the characters. She also liked to watch the free vacation planning video. The sing along videos showed the characters interacting with kids and most of them were filmed at WDW and Disneyland. She started out pretty shy but near the end of our trip she was chasing characters with her autograph book and pen

We did this too! Our DD was scared of the characters until we showed her the planning video nearly everyday for about a month before we left. She was fine once we got there and she is still talking about our time at CRT!

 

[estnh]

When she was young, my daughter was very shy, and terrified of the idea of having to meet characters. (We started going to WDW when she was 4--she will celebrate her 17th next week at POR) We wondered, just as you are now, what was going to happen, but the very first time she saw a character (I think it was Chip or Dale), she ran right to him and gave him a big hug! We were flabbergasted!

Now, thirteen years and a lot of character hugs later, she is still a little shy, but not when there's Disney characters around!

 

[MinnieM3]

Our DS now 5 and a half is still a bit shy about some characters. Never did any kind of forced thing....I'm sure you wouldn't either.

This has worked for us with DS.... we look at the character from away, like the side of the line and I say something like,"Wow, look at Jafar.... he's so cool. Bye Jafar!" and we walk away. We're not part of the line or close in anyway as to be construed as trying to "cut in line".... it's quick and easy and we're on our way in less than a minute!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Me and my nephew love finding characters, but there are some even he is afraid to approach! He seems very shy around male face characters, like Peter Pan and especially Mad Hatter! Some villians he won't even entertain the thought of meeting, like Cruella and Maleficent. So like a previous poster said, we just get sorta near so we can see the character but not too close, and say "Wow - There's (fill in the name), Yeaaa!" And then we continue on our way.

 

[julia & nicks mom]

my DD was afraid of Dora at our local amusement park and I tried a lot before we went - but when we got to Disney - there were no problems - only the big and bad ones did she shy away from-

we made autograph pages before we left for each of the characters - with their picture on it and that really helped her break the ice with them - for example - there was NO WAY she was gonna hug Genie - but she also REALLY wanted his autograph - so she did talk to him

 

[MommytoMJM]

My dd is 4, she doesn't like the characters either, she shys away and cries. WE go every weekend and she still isn't used to them, but hse is starting to get a little better. All of that said, we just steer away from them.....

 

[kccmommy]

One tip someone gave us when DS was 2 is when watching the Disneyland fun video talk about "How Big" Goofy is. "I bet his is even bigger than Daddy is" Then you are preparing them for that in the playful atmosphere of home and maybe their large costumes won't come as such a schock.

Also, the characters that are just people rather than those with covered heads may be a better place to start.

You may be able to get some pictures if you are holding him.

Good luck, by the last day he may be running to hug Mickey bye.

 

[mjmcca]

I have a 4 and a 3 year old When we went in Aug. DD who was 2&1/2 at the time wasnt interested in the characters at first she warmed up tot hem but certain ones she didnt want any part of.

Our next trip she in October she wouldnt go near any of the chracters other than the face ones.


This past trip in Feb DS4 woudnt go near the characters. I dont force them If they want to hang back that's their choice.