HELP Did we ruin the Magic?

[twinkletoesmom]

The other day we had my mother-in-law over and her and I were talking about my family trip to wdw and she said well your kids are at the age where my dd(6) wont believe they are real and my ds(4) will believe it all. I then said well she still believes the princess are real i know for sure. Then the next thing I hear is my daughter say something and I relize she was in earshot the whole time!!!!! I quickly fumble and said the princess live at disney who else does and of course my mil asks does pooh lives there ? well my dd almost 7 is not to sure about the animals guys so I think the thought of pooh and princess toghether may have made her question it all. She didn't really say much, But now I am beyond sad and mad at the thought of this not being as magical for her What can I do to help restore her magic and beliefs in wdw char. Need a little pixie dust here.

 

[Feralpeg]

Would a postcard from a princess help? I'd be happy to send one to her if you PM me her name and your address.

 

[Eeyore Excitement]

Oh no!!
You could, perhaps, get smething from a princess, or alll the princesses, put it in a package, place it where a UPS person WOULD put it, then tell your daughter there's a box for her waiting in the front from somebody. It may bring the magic alive again!!

 

[twinkletoesmom]

Oh no!!
You could, perhaps, get smething from a princess, or alll the princesses, put it in a package, place it where a UPS person WOULD put it, then tell your daughter there's a box for her waiting in the front from somebody. It may bring the magic alive again!!

Good idea, I've taken Feralpeg up on the generous offer to send a postcard, which i was thinking of doing closer to our trip. So I think i will have the princess send the things i was going to give them before the trip anyways. I could say something like-- Here are some things we princess thought you might be able to use for your trip. I was thinking of getting disney baseball caps, a spinny light up toy (much cheaper at dis store), a fanny pack, etc.. Thanks for a great idea. Lets hope that all this does the trick.

 

[RumpleMom]

Don't worry about the magic not being there.

A six year old will get excited and join in anything a parent is happy about.
Think about how your daughter talks to her doll or stuffed animal. She probably makes up the rules when creating and playing games.

Former first grade teacher here-
DD will be fine, just be positive about spending time as a family at the happiest place on earth, that's what counts the most, enjoying the Disney magic is icing on the cake.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Don't worry about it not being magical! My DD7 knew during our last trip (she was 6) that the characters were people in costumes. She didn't care! She still gave big hugs to everyone and wanted to get their autographs and have her picture taken with them. I'm not sure if she believed the princesses were real, but it didn't matter either way. She had a great time and was very sweet with her little sister, who absolutely believes she had lunch with Pooh himself!

 

[twinkletoesmom]

Don't worry about the magic not being there.

A six year old will get excited and join in anything a parent is happy about.
Think about how your daughter talks to her doll or stuffed animal. She probably makes up the rules when creating and playing games.

Former first grade teacher here-
DD will be fine, just be positive about spending time as a family at the happiest place on earth, that's what counts the most, enjoying the Disney magic is icing on the cake.

Thank you.

 

[belle&beast]

We actually told our daughter when she was 4 that they were costumes because she was so afraid and it did not spoil the magic at all! She loved having her picture taken once she knew the characters were costumes and was more relaxed. As far as the princesses go, she figured out that they were in costume, too because the same character looked so different during the week with different CMs. However, she was sure we met the "real" Ariel because it was the same CM twice and she remembered us. Even though she knew about the costumes, she was still super excited and it did nothing to take away any magic! I know they're in costumes and I'm still really excited, don't worry!

 

[Hannathy]

My kids have never believed they were real! and they still are thrilled to be at Disney. I don't understand how children believe animated story characters are real ie the princesses. My 4 yr old DD knew they weren't real but still loved getting her picture and autograph with all the "characters" By the way if she is in school the other kids will tell her if they haven't already. You can still believe in the Disney Magic and know the truth, kinda like Santa.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

I wouldn't worry about it, but you can send her something if you want. My dd4 has a blurry line between real and make believe. She knows about actors b/c I had to explain b/c she was really confused about characters when she kept seeing people playing different roles on tv. And she's worn costumes before, so she sort of figured the whole Disney thing out. She's still really excited about seeing characters though. I think when they get there, imaginations and excitement will take over, and they'll have a great time!

 

[marconat]

My Daughter (soon to be 7) knows that the characters are people in costume, but she still adores them... I think she forgets that they are in costumes once she's in the parks... she is so happy to see them and to be at Disney... As for the Princesses, she not quite sure ha! ha! I just let it at that... So don't worry, it will be great! Do the little tips that the other posters suggested, they are great ideas.

 

[Dina]

My 6yo has never believed they were real. He told me this before he turned 5-- he told me that they were just people in costumes. I just sat there stunned. But, he's always loved the characters-- and is still requesting character meals.

 

[mmeb144]

I see the real Mickey Mouse every time I visit WDW. What is all this talk about it being less "magical" if you know the characters are CMs in costumes? That is really Cinderella and Mickey and Goofy, to me. I am 42 years old and I am surprised that we are even having this discussion. Some people "get it", some don't. Your DKs will be fine. If you believe, they will believe. Isn't that what Disney is all about?

Marie

 

[sunny_]

I never told my kids that the characters were real - I just never thought of doing that I guess. I didn't see anything wrong with it, but I just never thought to do that. Anyway.... they've never had a problem having a magical experience! The entire family gets excited over the characters!! We love them and they are still magical! I bet you will have a magical time!!!

 

[dementia412]

My kids know that the fat guy at the mall isn't the real guy (you know the real guy is way too busy to go to the mall around Christmas), they know the Chuck E Cheese is really someone in a costume, ect... doesn't change the fact that when my dh told my dd7 that a mermaid came out of the pond near his work and gave him a present for her birthday, she was so excited, and started saying, "Ariel, the little mermaid, woooow, are you gonna see her again?, tell her thank you". Truth isn't relavent in situations like that.

 

[tammy1210]

my ds was 4 when we last went, and he knew that it was people dressed up - but it didn't matter to him - he was just as excited - don't worry about the magic being lost- just being there will cure that!

 

[tink&cinderella]

My dd 8 still believes that the Characters at WDW are real.

She sais everything at Disney is real. We tell her just like with Santa as long as she believes he'll come, when she stops believing, he stops coming. She knows not everyone believes in Santa, and that the characters are real, but because she herself believes them to be real, they are and she does not care what others think/believe.

I am glad she still has the "magic" as we also have a 4 year old daughter who is totally obsessed with the characters.

 

[MinnieGi]

My almost 6 yo adores all the characters. She started making comments every now and then about people being in the costumes around 5 yo when we were at home. She also started comparing the faces from photos of the same named princess but on different trips and noticed they were not the same person. But when we are at WDW and she sees a character she is soooo excited and gives them huge hugs and loves posing for pictures. None of the magic is ruined b/c she knows someone is inside the costume or that actresses play the different princesses. Kids that age move between reality and fantasy very easily!

Heck, I know the character are not real, but I get excited and love to pose with them too!!!!!

 

[Samandmom]

When my DS was 4 (almost 5) we were at Six Flags and they had some characters out. Later that day my DS told me that the characters we're just people in costumes. (He saw a neck or something like that) I said "They are?" This year (just turned 6) he tells me all the time that they are people in costume. I just tell your right but don't tell your sister.

 

[KJMAX1]

When my kids ask me if someone is real, I always ask them if they think they are real. My 7 yr old is totally excited to see one Universal Character, but sometimes she tells me its someone in a costume. Nevertheless, she is still REALLY excited to see the costume character! Heck, even my DH and I get excited to see Mickey, and we are adults!! The magic is still alive for all of us at Disney, whether we believe its real or not..Being there in WDW makes it real.