How can he get to know the characters?

[KimWDW]

We're taking our 3 year old to WDW for the first time in October. He doesn't know anyone except Mickey Mouse. He doesn't watch movies, so he won't get to know the characters that way. (he only likes sesame street, wiggles, and bear in the big blue house). So, I'm wondering if there's a book out there or something with all the characters in it so I can show him their pictures and he can learn their names and look forward to meeting them.

 

[CinderellasMama]

There are lots of Disney books out there with stories and pictures of all the characters. You should go to your local book store and I bet you can find a lot. Also, I know my Wal-Mart has a really big book with tons of stories in it in the childrens books. Disney has so much "stuff" out there that I'm sure you will find something.

Brenda

 

[DisneyArk]

There are a lot of cute books with the Disney characters in them (besides the ones based on the movies). My sons love some of the cheap books the best (Goldenbooks from the dollar store) - there is one where Mickey and friends try to figure out who ate the birthday cake and another one where Mickey and Goofy paint the house while Minnie is away.

If your son likes to watch kids sing and dance then you might get the Disney Sing-Along videos that show kids with the characters. They are funny and show Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, Chip and Dale, etc. These worked great when my boys where 3 y.o. and 18 months old. I think they are only available in VHS - Amazon usually has them and I saw them in Toys R Us last week. Here are some of the ones we have (don't confuse these with the ones that just show clips/music from Disney movies)
Disney Sing Along Songs
Disneyland Fun - It's a Small World
Campout at Walt Disney World
Beach Party at Walt Disney World

Good luck! Once you start looking for Mickey books, you will be surprised how often you find them!

 

[beattyfamily]

The sing a longs with the real characters was GREAT for my girls. It helped them get to know the characters and to be less afraid of them too!

We love Disneyland Fun - It's a Small World and Beach Party at Walt Disney World and we love the Christmas one too!

 

[HopperFan]

Sing a Longs are great..........

Books:

"Disney Junior Encyclopedia of Animated Characters" hardcover
Each page is a different character in alpha order - close to 200.
Have a picture of character, a scene from film, and lots on info. You could read parts of it to him about each character. But is a book he will enjoy for a long time.

There is a series of really nice Sticker Books, I usually get at Sam's Club called "Disney's Sticker Book Treasury --" by Phidal designed for 3 and up. They are I, II, III, IV, V.....They are called XX books in one because each focuses on about 6 movies. They have pages with scenery or puzzles/riddles or educational like opposites colors etc. Beautifully made. Once the stickers are done it is worth keeping.

 

[Catrin]

I agree....
those Singalong tapes were the hit when my son was 1 1/2 - we took him at 20 mths ... and he knew everyone from those tapes. He loved the characters then - the pictures are precious!

He is 10 now..... I dont think he wants to hug the characters anymore. I am glad I didn't get rid of those tapes... saving them for the baby!

Disneyland Fun is the best one.... The kids also loved the Beach Party one.
Catrin

 

[Brina]

We really liked the sing along videos. Especially good is the one in the DisneyLand park - I think it is titled Its a Small World. It shows the characters, a number of the attractions, and perhaps most important kids together with the characters, which helps them learn that the characters will be begger than themselves. I used these tapes when my boys were just shy of 3, and have since loaned them to friends with kids ranging in age from 3 to 8.

 

[HopperFan]

Was picking up DS room, and saw another good book.........would be great to have before and while traveling to keep him busy.

"Disney Film Favorites" Jumbo Coloring Book 320 pages with some stickers.

Very high quality color book. It is by Golden Books. Front is royal blue with Woody, Simba, Stitch, Nemo, Mike & Sulley. Really good but easy color pages that give a short story of the movies. A few puzzles but mostly color pages.

 

[Gillian]

Although we have some Disney picture books, the sing along tapes were the best for preparing DS for seeing the HUGE characters at the parks.

He likes the disneyland one, but is a little scared (even at 4 although he understands it now) by the Haunted Mansion scene. Campout at WDW is a good one with nothing scary.