DD6 does NOT like characters - ??

[MNfamilycruiser]

My DD6 - has never liked characters in costumes - where you can't see their real faces. She was very frightened by some at a local mall/amusement park when she was quite a bit younger.

Has anyone ever had a child who was frightened of the costumes, get used to them while at Disney? I am kind of hoping that just having so many of them around will desensitize her a bit. And also that the CMs will really know how to handle frightened/reluctant children.

My older DD8 - would really LIKE to see the characters - and I am trying to figure out how to accomodate both! DD8 would really like to see Lilo and Stitch - that show is a favorite of both girls - and I think it could be really fun if ydd could just get over her fear!

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[HiddenMickey3018]

Our DS, when he was 2, we had his birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. When Chuck came out with his cake, all of his little guests were jumping up and down. But Isaiah found comfort under the table! When we finally conveinced him to come out, he went over the Chuck punched him in the belly and ran away screaming! We did not see this coming. After everything calmed down, when he saw the other kids hugging and taking pictures with Chuck, he was ok. When Isaiah was 4, we went to Kings Dominion. There characters were Blues Clues and Spongebob, again he was at first a little "standbackish" but I went over a gave Spongebob a hug, he saw that his mommy and daddy were cool, and he gave in. When we went to WDW back in 2003, Isaiah was not scared, but curious. He knew that there was a person inside those costumes. When we all took a picture with Donald Duck, we were all smiling at the camera, but Isaiah was looking at Donald. Now we are going back in December for his 9th birthday, it's gonna be a surprise, but I think he should be ok.

Try going the Chuck E Cheese, or the Bush Gardens, just to see how your DD reacts. Since she is six, also try telling them that there is a person inside and it's ok to be friendly. But dont push her in this, allow her to guide you. Have Fun!

 

[Hannathy]

I don't understand the big deal one likes them one doesn't. You have 2 choices you all wait in line when it is your child who likes them's turn she goes up gets autograph, hug, picture and other dd waits with you and watches or while 1 parent waits in line with child who likes character and other parent goes and looks in shop or sits on bench. For the child who doesn't like them find somehing else to photograph her like the topiaries or ride signs and then laugh about it years later when you look at the photos like "here's Betsy with Chip n Dale and here's Anne with the rose bush", etc.

Please don't force her or take forever in the line trying to coach her into going and don't make the other child give them up. In the scheme of things it isn't that important just have fun.

 

[YesI'mObsessed]

My dd who is 4 hates the characters also. But this trip, she really warmed up. The first night we went to Chef Mickey's and she wanted no parts of it, crying and everything. But by the end of the week, she was chasing Captain Hook down the street! No fear. We tried to let her go at her own pace, doing lots of "face" characters first, and she was so excited about autographs, and comparing them with her cousins and siblings, that she really got into the spirit. Just two weeks before we left we went to a bday party at CEC, and she freaked out. I was freaking out. But she did an amazing turn around. I think the key is not to push it, and let her watch her big sister a few times and she'll probably come around. Have a great trip!

 

[lilpixie]

When I was little I was terrified of Mickey. We have the funniest pic of Mickey trying to shake my hand, but I was so scared. When I got a little older, I absolutely LOVED the characters. Now as an adult I love the characters even more
We just took our girls age 6, 3, and 6 months. My 3 year old was hilarious -- she was obsessed with characters and wanted all of them to sign her autograph book (she called their signatures her "notes"). My 6 year old liked most of them, but absolutely didn't want to meet a few like Chicken Little and Woody from Toy Story, etc. We just let them meet the ones they wanted and they had such a blast!

 

[makinorlando]

Has anyone ever had a child who was frightened of the costumes, get used to them while at Disney? I am kind of hoping that just having so many of them around will desensitize her a bit. And also that the CMs will really know how to handle frightened/reluctant children.

I would not expect the CMs to help handle the situation of a frightented child. Most times the CMs are "working" the queue and not particulary up near the characters.

I agree with the other poster who suggested - have your younger DD stand in line with you with the expectation that she only has to get close to the character if she wants to, and let your other DD enjoy her time!

My 6 year old DGreatNephew is coming to visit in two weeks, and I do not know how he will be with the characters, but I have his mother showing him my photos on line of my DD with all the various characters we have meet to he can get some idea of the size in comparison to a "littler person" - I'm hoping if he has any apprehension that this will help some! He's excited to see the Power Rangers. We will not however "push" him to do anything that he does not want to do. I want this to be magical and not traumatic!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I understand where you are coming from. You don't want to spend your vacation with one child terrified of walking around for fear of a character. I would suggest doing the character meals. They are very good with the kids. One trip my DD didn't want them coming too close to her but did like them from 5 feet away! My DS loved the characters so it worked for all of us. Fast foward to the next trip and DD liked the characters and even kissed them! When you do character dining it gives the kid time to warm up to the characters. We didn't care if she didn't like them- but we didn't want our other child to miss out. I am sure that you will be pleasantly surprised! Have a great trip!

 

[crisi]

When my son was three he was "barely tolerant" of the characters. He didn't want to get too close, didn't want to touch them, but didn't scream and did tolerate a character meal.

At five, the first day in the parks, he still didn't want anything to do with them. After we saw about the third character, he said "Mom, we need one of those books where the characters write their names." I'm not an autograph book Mom - this was completely his idea. Now that he had a purpose, he was comfortable approaching them for their autograph and a picture. He still didn't want hugs - unlike his sister who is convinced that all characters are big moving teddy bears.

 

[SuzieQMomof3]

I wouldn't fret too much about it. My 5-year-old is afraid and always has been. The characters are great about it and by the 2nd or 3rd day she overcomes it.

Except for Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee who are always hanging out around the Teacups. But then again I think they're pretty creepy too.

 

[phoebusII]

When my DD was four she was frightened of some of the characters. We weren't even allowed to say Captain Hook's name aloud for fear that he would hear and come and get her. However, she liked the Epcot parade because "I can see their faces". Too bad they no longer have that parade.

Perhaps you could start by introducing her to the princesses. They don't wear masks. Maybe she'll warm up to the others later.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

The first time we went to WDW my DS was five (1991) and he was afraid of them too. We ate breakfast with the characters in the Contempory every morning and the first morning he hid behind me.... five days later he was hugging them! The turnaround point for us was when he attended the Teenage Ninja Turtle show at MGM.... his love for the Turtles outweighed his fear. I had to scurry and find an autograph book for him.. he wanted no part of one before then. You might try finding her favorite character a couple of days into the trip and maybe she will warm up. If not, I WOULD NOT PUSH her... I agree with another poster, it's not worth it to spend your entire trip trying to convince her. Just let her handle it herself and chances are it will work out fine and you will get some great pictures.

 

[MNfamilycruiser]

Thank you for all your replies! I am glad to hear that other children have just kind of warmed up on their own over the course of the vacation. That is what I was hoping to hear. I think it will make a big difference that the characters are well known and loved! The character that first scared her was the mascot for Lucky Charms - the Leprauchaun figure with a HUGE head!

We would never push her to go up to a character, I am just hoping she will relax enough to not be afraid when they are near by. She knows that there are people inside the costumes - and she is not really frightened any more - but just not relaxed and happy if one is near.

I know we will be safe with the princesses - I will just have to decide if we can do another character meal or not! We have several months to decide - I might be able to show her pictures of the characters and let her decide if she wants to see them.

 

[caitlin]

I was frightened of the characters when I was little too. I didn't see any my first trip because of it, but I did my second trip. After I met one (Max) I wanted to meet them all. Hopefully your child will be the same way

 

[Sandi12404]

My DD8 was terrified of anything in costume for years. I tried several times to explain that they were just people dressed up (like Halloween) but it never worked. The one time we went to Chuck E Cheese's she was under the table crying her eyes out. We went to a baseball game and when the mascot came near her she crawled over 3 complete strangers just to get away from him and the same thing happened when we took her to see Sesame Street Live. Now that she's 8 she isn't bothered in the least. She just had to outgrow it. I don't know if it's because she's taller and they don't seem as big or what. Our other daughter is now 2 and we think she's going to be okay. Took her to Sesame Street last week and she waved and said hi even though she didn't want to go up to them. I take that as a promising sign. Whenever we watch our Disney planning video she tries to hug the TV when she see's Mickey so we'll see.

 

[Kayleebug]

My DD was 23 months old when she first went to Disney World. We were going to be the BEST parents and take her to the Crystal Palace for dinner. Well, things didn't actually work out the way we planned. When tigger came near our table, our DD went under the table (screaming the whole time). We asked the CM if she could tell the characters to not come by and visit us. Needless to say, we ate quickly and got out of there. We never pushed it after that. At 3, we went back to WDW. My DD saw the autograph books and wanted one for herself. We told her that they were for the characters, asked "Do you really want to do this?", etc, etc. She assured us that she did. Hummm.. The first stop was the White Rabbit by the Teapots ride. She did not want to do it, which was fine. When we started to leave, she was upset. She wanted for US to get the autograph while she watched from about 15 feet away. Needless to say, my DH spent a lot of time getting autographs for her that trip. I guess that she say that her father didn't get mauled by the characters, because we went again last year for her 4th birthday. We saw Stitch, and I just knew she was going to start screaming. Nope! She stood in line, got her autograph and picture, and was a happy little camper. Of course, then she announced "That's not really Stitch. That's just a person in a costume." We were surprised that she realized that. She figured it out on her own. It took some time, but she is looking forward to getting more autographs this year!