Child Questions If Characters are Real

[DisneyFamily123]

DS4 is looking at his autograph book with photos.. looks at Stitch and keeps asking me, "Is there a person in there?". Stunned, I answer the same each time, "No, That's Stitch". He has not asked again.... yet.

Is the game up already? I wonder if a kid at his preschool said something about the characters not being "real".

When did your children realize the costumed characters are, well.... not real?

If we go in Dec. when DS is 5, will all the fun be spoiled?

 

[mommy2princesses0309]

My DD is 6 and she has known for a few years that there are people inside the costumes and there are actors dressed up as the face characters. This in no way takes away from the magic for her because she still believes in the magic. Just as DH and I get excited when we see Mickey or Pooh or Tinkerbelle. We know it's an illusion but it's an illusion that we choose to participate in.

 

[ancestry]

The agree with the poster above. Even if he has figured it out why will the fun be spoiled? My kids figured it out a few years ago but it is still fun and magical for them.

 

[ksl5f123]

I told mine (primarily so they would stop running in terror - "Honey, it is just someone playing dress-up like you do at home" ) They still look forward to meeting their favorite characters (and now don't run away).

 

[Tiger926]

At 2 years old when she figured out that it was a person. We don't perpetuate the whole characters are real thing as it's silly. Giant mice, ducks and dogs with stuffed ears, are fun, but they are people dressed up in costumes, and my daughter recognized this at a young age. My baby is 2.5, and I'm pretty sure he's figured it out as well as we always talk about Mickey Mouse's costume and they play dress up and dress in Tigger, Bear in the Big Blue House and Princess costumes all of the time.

I'm not sure why people think the fun will be spoiled in knowing this - magic lies in our hearts, so whether it's a costume or not, shouldn't really matter.

Good luck, Tiger

 

[Hannathy]

Mine never believed. They always knew it was just a costume. Actually I wonder how any child could not, I mean don't the unmoving fingers and various hard heads, un blinking eyes etc, clue anyone in? To deny it to a child who has figured it out is really squashing there skills at deduction that will be useful in other subjects at school. You should encourage their figuring it out and reasoning skills.

Disney is still magic, my DD still loved getting autographs at 4, still get a kick out of the occasional photo (I refuse to give up hours waiting in lines for a photo with a costume) and still are thrilled to go.

 

[-Hope-]

My DD is 6 and she has known for a few years that there are people inside the costumes and there are actors dressed up as the face characters. This in no way takes away from the magic for her because she still believes in the magic. Just as DH and I get excited when we see Mickey or Pooh or Tinkerbelle. We know it's an illusion but it's an illusion that we choose to participate in.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

My DS5 has asked if they are people in costumes and we said yes, but I think it's still fun for him to pretend. The biggest thrill of our last trip to him was getting autographs and he still laments not getting Chip and Dale's autographs.

 

[CLR4321]

Chances are, if he is questioning as to whether or not they are real, then he has figured it out already. There's really no reason to lie about it and say they are real. The characters are still very fun, even for older kids and adults who know they are just people in costumes.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I'm sure my DS4 will still play along and pretend with me on our next trip to Disney. That is the fun of it. I don't know if he ever thought they were "real" or that he was just excited to see the characters he is familiar with.

I sometimes felt a little weird pretending and wondered what the character CMs are thinking... like, "Oh God, Here's another goofy Dad". I guess if the CMs didn't enjoy it, they would find something else to do at Disney.

The silent characters are actually kind of boring to me and DS. We both really like the ones without head costumes that talk like Mad Hatter, Mary Poppins, ...and especially Cinderella's step sisters who were by far the funniest with their provoking and teasing....

 

[KateMW]

My daughter knows that the characters in the big plush costumes are just people in there, but she does still believe that the princesses are real princesses from "another land"

 

[dmbfan]

I truly think my son (just turning 9 years old) thinks Mickey is real... He loves Mickey...everything is Mickey...and I have not said anythig cause he has not asked...however he is starting to question if "Santa" is real or not.

I think if he asked me, I would tell him yes there is someone underneath that.

 

[MSSANDRA]

DS never really believed BUT it was still always magical. DGS just turned three and is already asking "is that the REAL mickey mouse or not?" Just so depends on the child.

When they question, they know; most of the time!

 

[teresajoy]

I don't have anything different to add, but just wanted to agree with what everyone else is posting. I don't remember when Lydia first told me that the characters were just people in costumes, it's been quite awhile. She was probably 4? But, when we get t oDisney, we are all able to believe that Tigger, Cinderella, Pooh, and Mickey are real, it's just part of the Disney magic.

 

[lizzyb]

Chances are, if he is questioning as to whether or not they are real, then he has figured it out already. There's really no reason to lie about it and say they are real. The characters are still very fun, even for older kids and adults who know they are just people in costumes.

I agree. ODS knows that its people dressing up. I just tell him to keep hush hush for the younger kids.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

DS4 hasn't asked, but he talks about all the characters as though they were real. DNiece7 probably knows, but she still has a great time getting autographs. They both still have that magic spark in their eyes when they run up and give Mickey or Belle or Buzz a big hug, and that's really all that matters to me.