Don't Wait!

[Cruz91]

We went to our local zoo (Columbus O) this weekend and they had some people dressed as a tiger and a manatee. My DD5 went with my DS3 to give them a hug, and when we were walking away, she asked if they were just people dressed up in costumes. A couple of weeks ago she asked me if fairies were real. This is precisely why we have been to WDW 3X in the last 14 months, and precisely why we're going again in October. I don't doubt that trips when the kids get older will still be magical - but there's no way it will be as magical as it is now - when there's no doubt in her mind that she's having dinner with THE Cinderella or getting her picture with THE Belle.

I always thought it would be tough on me when they don't want to hang around old mom and dad. I don't know how anything can be tougher, though, than realizing that they're growing up enough to know what 'make believe' is.

 

[kt_mom]

It happens way too fast. DD4 seemed to think the princesses were real, but she asked more than once if Mickey was just a mask. I didn't want to lie to her so I just sort of steered the conversation in another direction, but she brought it up again with another character.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

We went to our local zoo (Columbus O) this weekend and they had some people dressed as a tiger and a manatee. My DD5 went with my DS3 to give them a hug, and when we were walking away, she asked if they were just people dressed up in costumes. A couple of weeks ago she asked me if fairies were real. This is precisely why we have been to WDW 3X in the last 14 months, and precisely why we're going again in October. I don't doubt that trips when the kids get older will still be magical - but there's no way it will be as magical as it is now - when there's no doubt in her mind that she's having dinner with THE Cinderella or getting her picture with THE Belle.

I always thought it would be tough on me when they don't want to hang around old mom and dad. I don't know how anything can be tougher, though, than realizing that they're growing up enough to know what 'make believe' is.

Ah, your entire post was just beautiful. I dread the days when my children start realizing that the world in which they live isn't really made up of just things that will bring them happiness.

I need a Kleenex!

 

[tink2]

I agree! I have so many friends who are just taking their kids to WDW for the first time at 8 years old- the age of my daughter- who has been 4 times already and we're planning a trip in Jan. DS is 6. We had planned a trip last year but dh had job issues and we postponed it until we were better on our feet. And, that is why we are so desparate to go back. DD is very gullable- thank goodness- and we are trying to get one more trip in where she believes they are all real. Boy, have we given her some lines to try to keep it magical for her. So far, she doesn't think we're totally crazy. And yes, I know that once she really knows it will still be magical for her. But, I've watched my older nieces through the years and even though they have fun at WDW, it is not the same as when they were younger and believed in the characters and the magic. They are now 10 and 13 and as a matter of fact, are at Universal Studios as we 'type'. So, I agree, go while your children are young and still fullly believe in the magic!!!

 

[ellyn2000]

Maybe you'll be blessed like me and they'll NEVER get tired of good old Mom & Dad. My oldest is 24 and youngest graduated hs 6/9/07 and they all still love to plan any kind of trip or outing for the whole family. I, too, thought I'd be a sad old lady when my children reached adulthood, but just the opposite is true. We have just as much (if not more) fun together than when they were young children. Our next WDW trip is not until Sept. '08, but they already want to sit around and discuss our "plans". I love it! You've got alot of years to look forward to.

 

[wendygrace]

See, this doesn't have to be a horrible thing. Ds4 and dd3 have always been told that all the characters are make believe. I have never told them they are real. My kids still "believe" because we tell them its ok to pretend. Dh and I pretend as well. But they "know". Ds is getting his wish to "fly with Peter" for his Make a Wish trip. He knows Peter isn't real but that's ok. He still wants to "meet Peter" and "fly" with him. And we have also talked about perhaps someday he may be able to apply to "be Peter" for other kids. They still have the Magic even though they know.

 

[kimcomeau]

I have been trying to encorage my friends with toddlers not to wait to take them to Disney. It is so much more fun when at this stage to see the magic through their eyes. We made the mistake with our DS and waited until he was a very mature 5 to take him. I almost started crying when we walked through the gates of the Magic Kingdom with a parade coming down Main St and he barely looked at it and said "now how do we get to Space mountain".
My DD2 we took for a quick last minute business trip only for 2 days in Jan 07 and she has been bubbling over with Disney ever since. Every night she goes to bed and says " Mommy I'm going to dream of Disney Castle tonight, maybe I'll see the fireworks".
So we are going back Sept 07, but have not told our parents yet because we told them the next time we were going would be Fall 08 and they could all come. I just couldn't wait! Plus under 3 they are free!

 

[Beth E. (NJ)]

To be honest, even when the kids get older and you think the magic will be lost, it will still be there. Many children suspend disbelief when they are there. My kids still "believe" and they are 8 and 12.

Heck, even I believe when I walk through those gates.

 

[teresajoy]

To be honest, even when the kids get older and you think the magic will be lost, it will still be there. Many children suspend disbelief when they are there. My kids still "believe" and they are 8 and 12.

Heck, even I believe when I walk through those gates.

I do the same thing! It's just a magical place to be. My youngest daughter started telling me at three that the characters weren't real, they were just people in costumes. But, you should have seen her face light up anyway when she met Ariel and Aurora! Even I don't seem to remember while we are there that it's "just people in comstumes".

 

[Hannathy]

I disagree, my kids have always known they were just people in costumes, probably from 2 on up. The place is still magical. knowing everything is "Disney made" is sometimes more amazing than if it was simply real. My kids still love it. My 15yr old still loves to go in fact she planned all the restaurants and the hotel for our last trip.

Disney magic is what you make it.

 

[Cruz91]

I know lots of folks don't want to 'lie' to their children - so they tell them from the beginning that things like Santa, the tooth fairy, and Dis characters aren't real. I've heard them argue that when, one day, the children find out that the parents weren't truthful about this, maybe Jesus (or your chosen deity) isn't real either. I just don't get it. I had to, due to 'circumstance', grow up at a very young age. I didn't have a horrible childhood - just one where I was constantly hit square in the face with reality. Never enough money, not enough time. I understood very young how much rent cost and that I couldn't get the gift I really wanted because Santa didn't exist. Did I turn out OK? I think so. Do I regret that I wasn't able to be a kid? Most definitely.

That's why, now, I am so very thankful to say that my children's biggest 'worries' are choosing which book they want to have read to them before going to bed (or, even better, which ride to hit first on our next trip). They are going to grow up. They are going to realize these characters aren't real. But it's my hope, my desperate hope, that it won't happen too fast. They'll have all their lives to confront reality. I want so very badly that they can just live in this wonder-world, this beautiful, naive wonder-world, for just a little while longer.

Thanks for those who have said that even 'big' kids still check their cynicism at the front gates and still 'believe'. It gives me some comfort as I approach this mid-life crisis of babies turning into children.

 

[Jules123]

We just returned from the World with my boys, ages 12, just turned 6, and about to turn 3. I loved the way my youngest's eyes lit up when he saw it all. My 6YO asked me several times if the characters were real. I want him to continue to believe in the magic as long as he will. My favorite moment of our trip came during Spectromagic. Snow White was walking in the parade and came over to my youngest DS, cupped his face in her hands and said "Well, hello there handsome". I cried like a baby. That was my Disney magic.

 

[maxtomsmom]

We went to our local zoo (Columbus O) this weekend and they had some people dressed as a tiger and a manatee. My DD5 went with my DS3 to give them a hug, and when we were walking away, she asked if they were just people dressed up in costumes. A couple of weeks ago she asked me if fairies were real. This is precisely why we have been to WDW 3X in the last 14 months, and precisely why we're going again in October. I don't doubt that trips when the kids get older will still be magical - but there's no way it will be as magical as it is now - when there's no doubt in her mind that she's having dinner with THE Cinderella or getting her picture with THE Belle.

I always thought it would be tough on me when they don't want to hang around old mom and dad. I don't know how anything can be tougher, though, than realizing that they're growing up enough to know what 'make believe' is.

WHAT THE PRINCESSES AND CHARACTERS AT DISNEY ARE NOT REAL? They will always be real to me and hopefully my kids as well. It's the only place I know where I can still be and think like a five year old and no one seems to mind.