How can I keep the "Magic" for a 5 yr old?

[inluvwithfla]

What do you say when your 5 year old girl asks if the Disney characters at Disney World are real?????

She believes in Santa but started questioning the Easter Bunny this year I guess because he doesn't "look" real in the mall...........

That lead to "the question" above............I didn't know what to say, so I told her "I guess you will find out when you get there, right??"

We are leaving tomorrow and this will be her first time in Disney.
Help!!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

In concept, my 5 year old knows they are not "real" but when he's there he believes they are. I wouldn't say anything and let her take it all in. It's so magical that she probably won't think about it again until long after the trip!

Hey, even I, forget they aren't REAL when I'm there!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

In concept, my 5 year old knows they are not "real" but when he's there he believes they are. I wouldn't say anything and let her take it all in. It's so magical that she probably won't think about it again until long after the trip!

Even I forget they aren't real when I'm there!

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

It's so sad when kids start questioning these things at an early age.
My boys 4,6.5 & 9 have not asked me these questions....I hope they never will.

 

[alleghator]

My daughter is 6 (DOB 3/99) and very intelligent/observant/critical of her environment.

She seems to still believe in the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus. But, we've never even tried to pretend that the Mall ones were the "real" ones ... only that they could get messages to the real ones. She was too quick to pick up on the fact that every other street corner in Philly had its own Santa Claus.

As for the Disney characters ... she has told me right out that the non-face characters are really just people in costumes. She may have been looking for me to reassure her about their "real-ness" but I just couldn't lie right to her face, so I did one of those "well, we'll see..." sorts of things. She seems entirely convinced that the face characters, like the princesses, really live at Disney World. So, she'd way more excited about meeting them than, say, Mickey Mouse.

But, once we get there (for our first trip with the kids, next March), I'm betting it's all magic and it's all pretty real. Even though by then she'll be just turning 7.

--Heidi

 

[WANNABE@WDW]

We have many "deep" conversations about the characters at WDW. My answer is they are "real characters". My dd's (4 & 8) seem ok with that, for now. My older dd knows that there are people in the suits, but she believes in Disney Magic. I also share with them that at Disney everyone is a kid again. They want to believe in wishes and princesses and I am going to believe right along with them! As far as the other big questions about Santa, my reply is always the same, "You have to believe to recieve!" (gifts).

 

[babybeag]

What I hate are the "kids at school" who squelch my DD's(5 yo) enthusiasm. She keeps telling me the this one said this and that one said that. This week, it was that "Cinderella is someone dressed up". I said "What do you think?" and she said "Cinderella IS real - she lives in WDW". I agreed with her and said "Cinderella and the other characters are real when you are in Disney...." and left it at that. Let's face it - it is all part of the magic and for the time that we are there, it IS real!!!!!!!!!!!

Dont bring it up, let her think it through and run with whatever she comes up with!!! Good luck!!!!!!!

 

[Anewman]

I always told my kids, "if you dont believe in Santa, there is no Santa".

Get it no Santa, no presents...

 

[susykt4]

My almost 5-yr-old daughter knew the "suited" characters were not actually a giant mouse, etc. but completely believed that the princesses were real. However, I don't think her logical understanding of the suited characters cut down one bit of her magic and enjoyment of meeting them. I think they were real while she was meeting and interacting with them. Whatever, she absolutely loved meeting characters and getting autographs!

 

[Princess Mommy]

I am not sure what I am going to do when my daughter asks. I think she just so wants to believe they are real, especially the princesses. I am sure she knows something is up with the costumed characters but Cinderella even has a castle & she has been inside~ and she hs seen pictures of Aurora's...

But I do agree with susykt4, that is exactly how my daughters (well, one is nearly 5 and my youngest is 2) are..

 

[CarnotaurDad]

IMO, the magic isn't so much in whether they believe the character is real or not....the magic is in how they interact with the experience.

Our DD (5) has never, from the time my DW and I can remember, ever believed that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or the Disney characters were real. As a matter of fact, she even calls all of them "characters", as if to indicate her knowledge that they are playing a part.

However, this does not diminish one iota her excitement at seeing them and we certainly encourage her to have a great time. She knows that Ariel isn't real or that the Kenai who signed her autograph at Canada in Epcot isn't a real bear, but she loves it just the same.

Just like a book may tell a story that isn't real but still enthralls, she enjoys every moment.

It's all in how you interact with them, and the fun they have, not in whether or not they think their real.

 

[Katy Belle]

Unfortunately, my kids have always been firmly planted in reality. When my oldest DS was barely 2, very verbal, I took him to the mall to see Arthur, from PBS. He took a look and said, "Mom, that is someone in a costume." Hmmm...I just said, "You're right." But we still visited with him etc.

When preparing to go to WDW when my youngest was almost 4, he'd made it clear that he knew they were costumed characters. We were eating lunch with a friend of mine who still believes and thinks all children should believe. My DS looked at me and said, "Mom, who is in the Mickey costume?" I just looked at my friend and she said, "MICKEY!" Too funny. She hates it that my kids don't think they are "real." But, they love them anyway, they really do. We had many precious moments with them.

Have a great trip!
Katy

 

[Pea-n-Me]

When my kids asked I explained how Walt created these characters years ago and to many they have become part of the magic of WDW. They knew there were people inside the suits but still saw that many, even adults, were having lots of fun with them so they took their lead from that. My kids were satisfied with that explanation and I think actually became less "afraid" of them as well.

 

[back2disney]

If she asks then tell her its pretend. Thats what I told my 2year old when she asked what ghosts(floating sheets with eye holes) are in pictures and books.