Disney characters with an 8 year old

[stephyamber]

I'm in need of some advice from other parents. My DD will have just turned 8 when we go to disney. This is our first time and I'm really excited about all of the Disney magic.

She definitely believes in everything still. Santa and characters, princesses. How would you explain to your kids about the costumed characters? It seems unreasonable to me to expect her to look at Mickey or Donald and think they are real. However I still want her to believe in the magic. Especially the princesses and princes. Being as those are face characters though I don't foresee that being a problem.

 

[Canooknic]

Unless she asks I personally wouldn't say anything!

If she does I would probably go down the same root as I do with 'shopping mall Santa' and say that Mickey etc are their helpers because they have so much to do they can't be standing around all day having their photos taken!

 

[ktlm]

I agree- say nothing unless asked. Then, if you are asked, my favorite response to those kinds of questions was always "What do you think?" My DD (7) always came up with some elaborate explanation for herself. DD has been going to WDW since she was 2, and those questions started coming up at age 3 or 4.

Honestly, at 8, I would be surprised if she believes as much as you think she does. I'm sure someone at school has already made comments to her about these type things. Also, if she watches the Disney channel at all- she has probably seen promos for movies where certain stars are shown as being the "voice" of certain characters. I was surprised the first time I saw one of those on that channel- as I thought Disney was all about preserving the magic. I think there was even one of those for Frozen that ran recently if I remember right. I suspect that possibly she wants to believe, likes to pretend it is real and that she believes everything, and knows how not to mess up a good thing. My DD certainly isn't letting on to me that she doesn't believe in any of those things either- although I'm almost positive she knows. She hasn't asked any questions in the last year or two and for DD, that's pretty unusual- I can't even tell you how many questions that kid asks a day about things! Heck, those characters are still real to me at my age and I "believe" in them, even though I know in my head they are costumes, I still get excited to see them too!

 

[lizard1]

I don't think her knowing or not knowing will ruin the magic. When I took my 5 year old daughter, she told me flat out that she knew they were just people in costumes. That did not stop her from wanting to wait in line to meet EVERY character. In addition, the one thing that she really wants to do on our next trip is to meet all of the characters again.

 

[1000HappyWishes]

I wouldn't worry about it too much!

I'm fifteen. I know the characters aren't real and I know they're just underpaid employees. But that doesn't stop me from running up to Stitch to give him a hug or gushing like crazy when I'm standing by a princess! I know it isn't real but the magic is still there. You don't have to "believe" in the magic, Disney makes magic of its own in so many other ways!

 

[Ravenne]

Unless she asks I personally wouldn't say anything!

This!
I'm dying to know if my oldest knows the truth about the characters but I don't want to ask on the chance that she doesn't. I don't want to be the one to ruin the magic. Kiddos are smart. They'll let you know.

 

[Softball Mom]

I agree with the others. She will be so excited! When my DD was 18, she got to meet Tinkerbell for the first time. I swear she turned into a 5 year old when she got up close to her. This is one of my favorite memories! Don't even get me started about my obsession with Minnie lol

Have a magical time!

 

[wilma-bride]

I'm with the other posters, there is no need to say anything. My son is 11. I'm fairly sure that he knows the truth but we just don't discuss it. As far as we're concerned, when we are lining up to meet a character, we are lining up to meet Pluto or Mickey or whomever, not a person dressed up.

 

[2Pirates2Princesses]

I also agree with the other posters and wouldn't worry about this and don't see the need to say anything and would just go with the flow during the trip. My oldest two children (twins) were 9 years old on our first family WDW trip and were so excited to meet the characters. Even though they may know that they aren't "real" they understand that meeting the characters is part of the fun of the Disney experience and we enjoy meeting the characters as a family. DH is the biggest character fan of all and our kids think its hilarious when he insists on getting solo photographs with his favorite characters

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Also, if she watches the Disney channel at all- she has probably seen promos for movies where certain stars are shown as being the "voice" of certain characters. I was surprised the first time I saw one of those on that channel- as I thought Disney was all about preserving the magic. I think there was even one of those for Frozen that ran recently if I remember right.

I have been surprised to see the same thing. Glad to know I'm not the only one!! I've been known to turn off the tv so my DS doesn't see them.

The way I see it is, kids will grow up and move on when they are ready. They don't need any help from us to push them along. And not talking about OP but I know some parents that are in such a hurry for their kids to grow up and move to the next thing. I'm wishing I could get mine to slow down!!

 

[wiigirl]

I also agree with the other posters and wouldn't worry about this and don't see the need to say anything and would just go with the flow during the trip. My oldest two children (twins) were 9 years old on our first family WDW trip and were so excited to meet the characters. Even though they may know that they aren't "real" they understand that meeting the characters is part of the fun of the Disney experience and we enjoy meeting the characters as a family. DH is the biggest character fan of all and our kids think its hilarious when he insists on getting solo photographs with his favorite characters

 

[Funfire240]

I also agree with the other posters and wouldn't worry about this and don't see the need to say anything and would just go with the flow during the trip. My oldest two children (twins) were 9 years old on our first family WDW trip and were so excited to meet the characters. Even though they may know that they aren't "real" they understand that meeting the characters is part of the fun of the Disney experience and we enjoy meeting the characters as a family. DH is the biggest character fan of all and our kids think its hilarious when he insists on getting solo photographs with his favorite characters

This is me! I'm always the first to run up to Donald Duck

I agree with not saying anything unless it's brought up then you have to look at the situation and decide. There may be no question. My DD asked at 4 why they didn't talk to her and I just said they see a lot of people and probably would have very sore throats.
Although this is the same girl who at 4 1/2 questioned if Santa was real but she has never once questioned anything about Disney! She one time asked why Jake's head was so big and I answered he was a cartoon character and she said ok and went on her way. She was 5 1/2 then so I know that's still a stretch from 8 but I would just go with the flow. The first time my parents took us, I was 12 and my little brother was 8. We just never discussed it and to this day he has never said what he really thought during that trip.

 

[bastos]

Enjoy everything. Eight is a perfect age to really appreciate and enjoy - without feeling too old for anything. Our eight (almost nine) kept saying thank-you for everything on our first visit. The younger ones didn't appreciate, or kept getting upset. At last year's visit, the younger two (8 and 6) loved it. And the older one helped out.

Enjoy!

 

[mom2rtk]

I still haven't told my 18 year old about Santa. Some things just need to be left alone.

 

[stephyamber]

Oh believe me, I don't want it to come up! I'm one of those believers that kids grow up way too fast nowadays as it is. That's why I'm so worried about this. Saying that it's just because they're cartoon characters is a good idea! I also have a DS who is 2. With him we're worried about him being scared! Last year at our local amusement park he saw the mascot and was terrified!

 

[bc7ate9]

I'm 33 years old and I still love meeting the characters - I turn into a star struck dork every time. When we were at WDW this past fall, it was my husband's first real Disney trip - I didn't expect him to be willing to meet anybody besides maybe Mickey to make me happy...turned out that it was REALLY fun for both of us and we met everybody we could. Not every 8 year old will be interested in meeting characters, but I don't think it'll spoil the magic either way!

 

[Funfire240]

This is me! I'm always the first to run up to Donald Duck

I agree with not saying anything unless it's brought up then you have to look at the situation and decide. There may be no question. My DD asked at 4 why they didn't talk to her and I just said they see a lot of people and probably would have very sore throats.
Although this is the same girl who at 4 1/2 questioned if Santa was real but she has never once questioned anything about Disney! She one time asked why Jake's head was so big and I answered he was a cartoon character and she said ok and went on her way. She was 5 1/2 then so I know that's still a stretch from 8 but I would just go with the flow. The first time my parents took us, I was 12 and my little brother was 8. We just never discussed it and to this day he has never said what he really thought during that trip.

So after saying this and thinking DD had no questions about it, we were looking at pictures yesterday and printing ones from our last trip and she turned to me and said "I think they just find people who look like the princesses and princes so that they can dress up for us". I couldn't believe this was coming out of a 5 year old! Luckily DS (3) called for me at that moment because I was in shock and didn't know how to respond.

 

[nfceagles]

Wow! This thread is blowing my mind. I had no idea other peoples' kids thought the characters were real, like they do Santa. My 5 and 8 yr old still believe in Santa and the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny, but it never even occurred to me 'protect' their belief in Disney characters. My kids, to the best of my knowledge, have always understood them to be people dressed in costumes. I guess I always thought that the giant furry costume version of Chip and Dale, for example, were clearly not real chipmunks and assumed my kids did too. I've never really been into meeting characters (we stop and take pictures if we walk by one with no line) largely because personally I don't feel like wasting my time and the money spent on a Disney vacation meeting strangers in costumes. I guess that approach has rubbed off on my kids. I just didn't realize it wasn't the norm.

To the OP, don't sweat it. I'm sure she'll enjoy meeting them regardless of what she believes.

 

[Reese'smom]

My kids are 6.5 and 4, have been to Disney few times and have never thought the characters were real. The trip is still magical I think you will be fine.

 

[rapunzelmom]

My 8y old DD "knows" everything is pretend, but really wishes/hopes everything is real. She knows.our cats can't talk but she really wants to believe when we leave they talk and play!