Do your kids think the characters are real?

[kohlby]

And how would they react to overhearing a rather loud 3 year old declare over and over to his parents and anyone who will listen that the characters are just people in costumes?

When my son was almost 2, I told him the Easter bunny was a person in a costume so he didn't have to be scared of it. He then took this knowledge and applies it to every character. (I wasn't going to do the Santa-myth so it's no big deal to me. I was a too-logical child myself so I knew I'd be doing him a disservice). I've told him that some parents play a pretend game with Santa and not to let other kids on. But I never thought to say anything about the characters in disney. Would your kids be okay if they overheard my son? If so, then I don't think I need to say anything to him before our trip.

 

[JenEeyore]

My son is 4 1/2 and totally gets that it is a person inside, but still plays along that it is the character. We explained too when he was younger and scared of them. It wouldn't affect us at all to have a kid spouting the truth. I think our son knows it is fun to pretend they are real though - we certainly stand in enough autograph lines because of that!

You could maybe coach him that some kids like to pretend they are real to have more fun with it, to try to not spoil their fun, but the truth is the truth, and if he spills the beans, so be it. Castmembers will cover for you and reassure any disappointed kids that the characters are totally real; I've been chided for inferring that it must be hot under all that fur. Don't let it stress you out! Just have fun and enjoy the moments.

 

[lclark0621]

My DS (3) believes the characters are real.

I am not sure how he would react to another child saying they were not real. He most likely would have a lot of questions, and be very concerned.

I hope you do explain to your son that some kids do believe in the characters.

It is my fear another younger child will tell my DS characters, Santa, etc are not real. My neighbor had that experience with her DD & she was very upset by it.

If parents want to tell their kids characters, Santa, etc are not real that is fine. But I would also hope those parents would also teach their kids not to ruin it for others who do believe.

 

[GEM]

And how would they react to overhearing a rather loud 3 year old declare over and over to his parents and anyone who will listen that the characters are just people in costumes?

Would your kids be okay if they overheard my son? If so, then I don't think I need to say anything to him before our trip.

No, he wouldn't be ok. My little guy is 3 too and, too him, meeting the "real" Mickey or the "real" Pooh is a magical thing that he believes in 100%. It would never occur to him that they aren't real, and I'd be WAY more than a little put out with anyone who spoiled it for him.

 

[Hannathy]

Neither of my kids ever believed the costumed characters were real, never believed the Santa at the mall or the Easter bunny there was real either. And they did believe in Santa and the Bunny. I have a hard time understanding how any observant child can believe something with a totally hard un-moving head or fingers is real.

 

[OhioFamily]

And how would they react to overhearing a rather loud 3 year old declare over and over to his parents and anyone who will listen that the characters are just people in costumes?

When my son was almost 2, I told him the Easter bunny was a person in a costume so he didn't have to be scared of it. He then took this knowledge and applies it to every character. (I wasn't going to do the Santa-myth so it's no big deal to me. I was a too-logical child myself so I knew I'd be doing him a disservice). I've told him that some parents play a pretend game with Santa and not to let other kids on. But I never thought to say anything about the characters in disney. Would your kids be okay if they overheard my son? If so, then I don't think I need to say anything to him before our trip.

Why would you want to chance ruining someones magic?? Half of the fun is getting lost in the make believe.

 

[liznboys]

Hm, this is interesting to me. My boys know the characters are people in costumes, they are not real in that sense. They are real in the sense that they are there to have fun with, and we can play along with that! My boys understand that it's fun to pretend and use your imagination.

My oldest was 3 the first time we went, and he figured it out on his own that they aren't real. I think even a toddler can tell when something isn't quite right. But I also think a toddler can play along, maybe without his/her parents even realizing they are doing so.

We don't talk about it too much, so I doubt we've spilled the beans for any children so far. And we'll try not to ruin it for anyone on future trips too. We are a Santa believing household, so I do understand wanting to protect your child's beliefs!

 

[crisi]

My kids have known since they were little. I also had a toddler afraid of characters who was "told" to make it easier.

Kids who WANT to believe do believe, no matter what other kids tell them. My daughter is having issues in first grade right now because she knows the Santa secret (she has a brother a year older and when he figured it out, it stopped being a secret - I think he's hired the Goodyear blimp to tell people - and all of us telling him its a secret and he needs to play the game for the little kids doesn't contain his excitment at having figured it out). Some of the other kids believe Santa is real. This is a religous war in first grade. But the kids who WANT to believe continue to believe even in the face of other kids who know differently.

(And, despite knowing about the mythology of childhood, my daughter was really exicited that the tooth fairy came last night. The ritual and the myth are magical, even if they know it isn't "real" magic.)

I think the only magic you'd spoil is the kids who are already having doubts and need someone to pin it on.

 

[GEM]

Well, my opinion is still definately that it's totally fine for your child to know the "truth" if that's what you've told him. No problem there. However, to allow him to say "over and over" and "rather loudly" that the characters they are waiting in line to see "aren't real" or are "just people in costumes" is, in my opinion, a bit rude and it definately won't make you many friends of the other parents in line with really little ones. I would ask you to please tell your son to keep that information to himself, so as not to spoil the fun for others.

 

[tmarquez]

This topic is always interesting to me. My DD(4) loves some of the characters. Of course I never asked her, but I find it really hard to believe that she thinks they are "REAL" in the sense that Mickey is very obviously not a real mouse. She sees real mice at the pet store...big difference.

But to her I think "Mickey Mouse" the character is real in the sense that he is Mickey Mouse. Does she know there's a person in a mouse suit? I don't know...not even sure she analyzes it to that point. I'm pretty sure she doesn't.

We live close by and go to Disney quite often, so our approah to characters may be a little different that most. If we see a character that she likes and there is no line (or maybe 2 people) she will go give them a hug...maybe an occasional picture. She has never asked me ANYthing about the characters, to her they are her "friends" and sometimes she will just wave at them.

Her favorites are Chip & Dale and Stitch (because he always does something gross like pick his nose then wipe his finger on her...gotta love 4yo humor!).

I agree with the poster that said their are kids that WANT to believe...and they will until they are ready to move on no matter what anyone says.

 

[perdidochas]

And how would they react to overhearing a rather loud 3 year old declare over and over to his parents and anyone who will listen that the characters are just people in costumes?

When my son was almost 2, I told him the Easter bunny was a person in a costume so he didn't have to be scared of it. He then took this knowledge and applies it to every character. (I wasn't going to do the Santa-myth so it's no big deal to me. I was a too-logical child myself so I knew I'd be doing him a disservice). I've told him that some parents play a pretend game with Santa and not to let other kids on. But I never thought to say anything about the characters in disney. Would your kids be okay if they overheard my son? If so, then I don't think I need to say anything to him before our trip.

Tell him that he needs to pretend they are real, because some kids believe it. If I had younger ones, I'd be very irritated by a child like yours.

 

[crisi]

Well, my opinion is still definately that it's totally fine for your child to know the "truth" if that's what you've told him. No problem there. However, to allow him to say "over and over" and "rather loudly" that the characters they are waiting in line to see "aren't real" or are "just people in costumes" is, in my opinion, a bit rude and it definately won't make you many friends of the other parents in line with really little ones. I would ask you to please tell your son to keep that information to himself, so as not to spoil the fun for others.

I'm interested in how you suggest she stop "allowing" this. Should she remove him from the parks? And why, because someone else's kid's enjoyment of the "magic" is more important than her kids.

Respect for someone else's beliefs is a VERY HARD thing to get across to my seven and eight year old - I can't imagine explaining it to a three year old. And when you respect other people's belief, you MUST NOT do it at the expense of your own.

 

[jeepgirl30]

My DD6 asked several times before leaving if the Characters were real. Apparently other children were telling her they are not. I told her to wait until we got there and then she could decide.

She decided they were "real". Not as in a real mouse but as in the real Mickey Mouse.

Having a child constantly repeat rather loudly a character was not real may effect me more than another child! I'd find it distracting and annoying. Sorry, you asked! If they said it once or twice to their parent it would have no effect as they are entitled to an opinion.

Its fine they say it and believe that way but Disney is full of Magic and in order to experience it you have to suspend reality. I still believe in Tinkerbell. Who else gets the fireworks started?

 

[Hannathy]

If it is so important to you that your child believe a 6 ft mouse with a hard unmovable face and unmovable fingers is real it may be a good time to start teaching them a real life lesson in "you can't believe everything someone says is true" They need to learn this lesson to survive life. But I stand by my statement that if a child sees one of these characters up close and still really believes they are real.......

 

[GEM]

I'm interested in how you suggest she stop "allowing" this. Should she remove him from the parks? And why, because someone else's kid's enjoyment of the "magic" is more important than her kids.

Respect for someone else's beliefs is a VERY HARD thing to get across to my seven and eight year old - I can't imagine explaining it to a three year old. And when you respect other people's belief, you MUST NOT do it at the expense of your own.

She can explain that if he keeps repeating those kinds of things lloudly over and over she is not going to let him wait in line to see characters, etc. Seems pretty simple to me. She can explain that by doing so he is ruining the experience for others. Just like I explain to my child that if he is loud and wiggly during shows or dinners I will take him out so that he doesn't ruin the experience for everyone else in the restaurant. I don't care what he says when he's talking to his parents as they're walking around the parks or whatever, but if I'm waiting in line to see Mikcey and the kid behind me is loudly (her word) saying over and over (again, her words) that it's just a person in a costume, then you can bet I'm going to have something to say to that parent - and I'll bet you money I won't be the only one.

 

[carolfoy]

are you trying to say they aren't real?

just kidding - I think the poster who suggested that your child should keep this a big 'secret' in case anyone else believes they are real is spot on - don't ruin someone elses fun

 

[GEM]

If it is so important to you that your child believe a 6 ft mouse with a hard unmovable face and unmovable fingers is real it may be a good time to start teaching them a real life lesson in "you can't believe everything someone says is true" They need to learn this lesson to survive life. But I stand by my statement that if a child sees one of these characters up close and still really believes they are real.......

Oh please. I'm talking about a 3 year old, not a 9 year old. Yes, he believes they're real. Why wouldn't he? It seems to me the only "life lesson" he could learn from your post is that some people have no imagination and no patience for the fleeting magic of childhood.

Again, I really don't care what anyone else tells their kid about Mickey or Santa or the Tooth Fairy or whatever. It does seem to me that it wouldn't be too much to ask for a parent to do what they could to keep their child for ruining it for the countless other young believers at Disney - even as dimwitted, misled, or downright stupid as the above poster seems to think those children are.

I don't think I have anything else to say here.

 

[crisi]

She can explain that if he keeps repeating those kinds of things lloudly over and over she is not going to let him wait in line to see characters, etc. Seems pretty simple to me. She can explain that by doing so he is ruining the experience for others. Just like I explain to my child that if he is loud and wiggly during shows or dinners I will take him out so that he doesn't ruin the experience for everyone else in the restaurant. I don't care what he says when he's talking to his parents as they're walking around the parks or whatever, but if I'm waiting in line to see Mikcey and the kid behind me is loudly (her word) saying over and over (again, her words) that it's just a person in a costume, then you can bet I'm going to have something to say to that parent - and I'll bet you money I won't be the only one.

And the parent ignores you and what? You want to shield your child, take them out of line, that seems to be your responsibility and decision. What if they say "I'm sorry, he's three" If you tell them they should remove him from line and they say "I'm sorry, I'm not going to do that." And now where are you? I don't think Disney security will kick them from the park for having a three year old that tells other kids they are just characters in costumes.

 

[perdidochas]

I'm interested in how you suggest she stop "allowing" this. Should she remove him from the parks? And why, because someone else's kid's enjoyment of the "magic" is more important than her kids.

Respect for someone else's beliefs is a VERY HARD thing to get across to my seven and eight year old - I can't imagine explaining it to a three year old. And when you respect other people's belief, you MUST NOT do it at the expense of your own.

She just needs to get the point across to him not to say anything about it, especially not over and over loudly. That can be done.

 

[perdidochas]

And the parent ignores you and what? You want to shield your child, take them out of line, that seems to be your responsibility and decision. What if they say "I'm sorry, he's three" If you tell them they should remove him from line and they say "I'm sorry, I'm not going to do that." And now where are you? I don't think Disney security will kick them from the park for having a three year old that tells other kids they are just characters in costumes.

I don't think the other posters are suggesting anything of that draconian nature. We are just asking that they try to use a little common decency and politeness, which based on the way the OP worded it, she probably will do.