DD 2.5 & Meeting Characters

[kalolaina]

Hi! We'll be going to Disney World in 2 weeks. I'm worried that my DD is going to be affraid of the characters and not want to go near them. She's been talking about wanting to see all of them since we told her we were going. Any suggestions/tips to help her not be affraid? We are having dinner our first night with CInderella at 1900 Park Fare so I'm hoping that will sort of open the door since she won't be an over intimidating character.

 

[santadog]

I would suggest doing it in a way that wouldn't require a lot of time in a line, just in case she freaks.

We have always had great luck with both Characterpalooza and Camp Minnie-Mickey (but only if you go during the FIRST Festival of the Lion King). We went Saturday during the first FOTLK and saw Pocahontas, Meko, Brer Bear, Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, Goofy, Donald Duck, Thumper and Miss Bunny all in about 20 minutes,

 

[Aunt Michelle]

I'm sure I'm not any help but this reminded me of the first time I took my Goddaughter to MK. We had a great parade spot for the afternoon parade on MSUSA right before the hub. She was waving her heart out to all the characters on the floats and around the corner came Cinderella's mice. All of a sudden she was in my lap, head buried in my shoulder, visibly shaking. When we finally got her calmed down enough to figure out what happened her response, directed at the mice, was "they're much smaller on t.v. Aunt Michelle!"

She was three. She did much better with the human characters. Now, eleven years and seven trips later she's as Disney crazy as I am.

 

[Oglet]

Explain that they are going to appear much bigger than on TV.

 

[glk2009]

We used our autograph book as a distraction technique. It gave DD something else to focus on other than the size the characters.

I'd also try to see them from afar at first, just to ease her into it and to give her an idea of their size.

And if you don't want to invest a lot of time in waiting for her first character meeting (besides 1900 PF), you could grab FPs for Mickey and Minnie at MK.

Good luck!

 

[auprincess]

We were there for my DD's 2nd birthday (in January). She would not have anything to do with SAnta, but two weeks later and she was all over the Disney characters! I was so happy (the year before she was terrified). The first one she met was Pooh because we just happened to see a meet and greet and there was no wait time. I was a little nervous, b/c at the time, she really wasn't very familiar with him.

Having said that, it will totally depend on your little one, but hopefully she will enjoy them!

 

[mommy2mrb]

at my DD first trip 22 months....she did great with the Fab 5 and of course the "face" characters....something I did keep telling her was that they couldn't talk to her and that they would be tall like her daddy.

enjoy your trip!

 

[butterfly71076]

We took DS on his first trip, he was around 18 months. At first he was afraid, we ran in to Daisy first, and I think it was a shock to him how big she was. After the shock wore off, he was great! Had a lot of fun at CP breakfast with Pooh and gang, and loved the Chef Mickey breakfast! I even have a pic of him pulling on Plutos whiskers!! Hope you have an amazing trip!!

 

[SalandJeff]

My dd was 2.5 on her first trip and loved all the characters. She was not at all afraid, hugged and kissed them, wanted her picture taken with them. Fast forward to last year when she was 6 - she was kind of afraid to go near them! You just never know.

I think if you do a character meal at the beginning of the trip, your dd will be able to see the characters from a distance as they walk around the restaurant and get used to them, their size, etc. Plus she will see all the other kids with them and that might put her at ease. I agree that CP or CM would be good choices.

 

[smalltowngirl504]

My almost 2 year old in May, was not a fan at first the very first character picture we have is a group shot and he wants no where near Donald duck, by day 4 of our 7 day trip, he was chasing them down to hug them... hopefully your experience is the same, I think after so long it just becomes normal...

 

[mom2princesses2]

Our youngest DD was 2 1/2 last Sept and I thought she would want little to do with the characters considering she always cried for Santa and the Easter Bunny. But she loved all the characters except Cindy's stepmother who she refused to acknowledge because well, she's mean as our daughter said

DD kept asking to see Beast and on our last full day, we were EPCOT and found out he was there. She had fallen asleep in the stroller but it was our last chance to see him so we woke her up right as we approached him and WOW! HUGE smile on her face and she went right up to him with a big hug!

So kids can surprise you either way. We did have an autograph book for her and as someone mentioned, that was a nice distraction and icebreaker.

 

[AnjieNet]

We took DD on her first trip at 2 1/2. She loved the princesses, Aladdin and Peter Pan and Wendy but was frighted of the non-people characters. All except for Donald Duck who she ran up to on sight (in front of everyone else standing in line! ) and gave him a big hug. Apparently a duck in a sailor suit with no pants isn't scary?!?

 

[kalolaina]

I would suggest doing it in a way that wouldn't require a lot of time in a line, just in case she freaks.

We have always had great luck with both Characterpalooza and Camp Minnie-Mickey (but only if you go during the FIRST Festival of the Lion King). We went Saturday during the first FOTLK and saw Pocahontas, Meko, Brer Bear, Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, Goofy, Donald Duck, Thumper and Miss Bunny all in about 20 minutes,

Is Characterpalooza something new? I've heard of Camp Minnie-Mickey at AK...from what I've read thought it sounds like they've switched up the characters a little bit there.

 

[kalolaina]

Thank you everyone! I hope we have as good of a response as you all have! She hasn't been a fan of Santa or the Easter bunny. But...she did see Chuckie Cheese back in Feb and wasn't too affraid. I'm thinking maybe she will be a little stand offish at first but once around them after a few days she'll be ok. Everyone keep their fingers crossed! I do have 4 character dinings booked. 1900PF, Tusker House, Chef Mickey, and Crystal Palace. All are dinner except for Tusker House.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

My DD wasn't afraid at 18 months, but was a little timid at 2. We made sure that she was able to watch the characters interact with other kids while we were in line. Then when it was our turn I gave the characters a big hug first as did DH, she would then often hug. If she was still timid I'd pick her up and she was into interacting with that.

 

[santadog]

Is Characterpalooza something new? I've heard of Camp Minnie-Mickey at AK...from what I've read thought it sounds like they've switched up the characters a little bit there.

Characterpalooza is in the Animation building at DHS (In the area where Sorcerer Mickey, Pooh and the Incredibles are). At 4:50 they trot out 8-10 characters, and switch them at 5:20. We did it twice, and met: Mulan, Pocahontas, Jasmine, Evil Queen, Hook & Smee, Queen of Hearts, Goofy & Max, Pinocchio & Geppeto, Genie, Jafar, Chip & Dale, Stitch, Rifiki, Mary Poppins & 2 Penguins and Minnie with Pluto.

 

[TheNotSoGreatGonzo]

I'd recommend taking her somewhere before you go that has M&G's. For example, the Chick-Fil-A near my house has M&G's once a month with different characters (SpongeBob, Phineas and Ferb, Cinderella, etc. have all been there somewhat recently).

This may be a good trial run for what to expect.

 

[OnlyDisney]

Our kids were almost 3 and 1 1/2 on our trip. Our son also has PDD-NOS and I was concerned on how he would do interacting with the characters. I printed out autograph cards on blank notecards that I made from the help of the Creative DIS board. I had the kids hand the character a notecard with the characters picture on it (I had special ones made up for characters I knew we'd definitely see like at character meals, Christmas Party, ect.) We stuck the notecard on a small clipboard while we waited in line or at our table. This way our son had a set way of greeting the characters that was very simple. When we returned home I put the notecards in a photo album with the picture of him and the character next to it.
You can use anything for the character to sign. For our next trip I'm thinking of getting a small book like a golden book that has multiple characters in it and have them sign it on the inside cover. This will give our children a couple different ways of interacting with characters - just hand over book and pen, read to character, show character his picture in book - should make for some good moments, especially with face characters.

 

[ocean702]

At first my niece (2.5) was not loving the princesses at Akershus. What eventually worked was that she was sitting on an adults lap and Snow White bent way down to be eye level with her, asked to shake her hand and talked to her. After that she was good to go. She still liked to he held by an adult when visiting with most characters.

However she did not like the rides, we have funny pictures of her crying the entire Dumbo ride, she refused to go on the carousel. and she's been on carousels before---I think she was just overwhelmed by the whole experience.

 

[mountdew1]

I would suggest watching a parade first so she can see them from the distance. Also, try doing human face characters before doing furry characters. And don't force them into it. Most of the characters are in tune enough to notice when the child isn't terribly happy to see them. But forcing them to do it could turn them off from characters for life. If your child is good with costumes, Santa at the mall, clowns, stuff like that then they may be fine. It's hard to know until you try.

We did a trip with our 1 yo nephew, and the only "good" picture we got with him and characters was in the UK with Pooh and Tigger. He was in his stroller, and we turned it around and backed him into the characters so he didn't know he was there. We had done Chef Mickey's earlier in the week, and he had a massive screaming spell with Goofy, bright red face, eyes and fists all scrunched up, yelling at the top of his lungs. But he just kinda looked at Pooh and Tigger and wondered what they were. Remember how much bigger these guys are to a little kid than their stuffed animals at home.