How do you explain to your kids....

[rbuzzotta]

Why the characters do not speak? It never came up with my oldest DD but now my younger DD's are asking questions. I was stumped and told them that if Mickey and Minnie and all their friends had to talk to everyone at WDW then they would get sore throats!!!!!!! YIKES!! I didn't want to lie to my girls but I didn't want them to think the characters were "fake". We have seen imitation Mickey and Barney before and my girls knew they were "fake". (the costumes were awful).

Any other parents encounter this?

 

[momejay]

We saw Dopey first. My dd just figured they all talk Dopey's language. She has a hearing loss & she signs part of the time. On occasion the characters sign back.
We did hear a CM explain to a child that they can't talk without a sound track. The child didn't seem to understand but, it satisfied him.
Hope this helps!

 

[R4Suns]

I dont know how old you child is but I told my 5 year old they were people in costumes when he asked. I figured since some of them dont wear masks he was going to figure it out once he got there and realized that they didnt look EXACTLY like the character they were supposed to be.
He is still VERY excited about seeing them on our trip!!!

HTH

 

[beattyfamily]

I've had a hard time with this one too with my 5 year old. She's been wondering since she was about 3 years old.

I told her that he can't speak every language in the world and not to hurt any children, he doesn't talk at all. Also, he'd be very tired talking to all the kids he sees all day.

I don't like that excuse but I can't think of a better one. It's not that good because the Princess's all talk to the kids...

I know we shouldn't lie but I just can't stand to see her growing up so fast. Also, I have a 2 year old I don't want her to ruin it for her once she does know the truth.

I think she DOES know the truth but for my sake and even her own, she goes along. Since she was 3 she's asked if Mickey, Elmo, Barney etc... are real or costumes. Right before our trip this past December she said she thought Mickey was a costume. Then she changed her story once our vacation got closer.

 

[lisapooh]

My daughter told me at age 3 that the characters were just people in costume (don't have a genius for a kid ) When she was 5 and her sister 1 I sat her down and had a talk with her. I explained that she was very smart but many kids still think that the characters are real so she should allow them their dreams. We kept it as our secret until sister at 3 1/2 informed she knew that they weren't real.
Didn't help the magic much that I was a clown at the time and also did costumed characters including MM, Minnie and Donald. (and no not at Disney )

 

[Super Mom]

We said something along the lines of " the Little Mermaid had to give up her voice to leave the sea and Mickey, etc. had to give up their voices to leave the Toon world"

 

[rbuzzotta]

Thanks for all your responses. I guess I just want to hang onto the "magic" for a little while longer. My oldest will be 10 on our next trip in July, my middle is 5 1/2 and is close to knowing the truth, and my youngest, almost 3 just gets so excited to see Mickey and Minnie!!

Life can be so cruel at times and this is one place you can hold onto your innocence! I just wish I could preserve it forever!!!!!!!

 

[mummajea]

You know my daughter (now 6) knows that the charecters are just people dressed up in costumes. She even recognized last year at DL that the Princesses that she saw earlier in the day, weren't the same ones on the parade floats at night. But this didn't change the magic of it all once we were there and she was having fun. As a matter of fact I think it helped her. While we were waiting for Mickeys Autograph she was quite nervous. She kept talking under her breath, and i finally realised she kept saying. "It' only a person in a costume, it's only a person in a costume!" Well after a little friendliness from MM, she finally stood next to him for the picture, Just as we were leaving, she ran back and gave him a great big HUG!!! And said "Your not scary at all!!"

I also think it halps if the parents and adults act as if the charecters are real!! Get into the joy of the place and your childrens imginations will fly!!!

 

[MauraAndIainsDad]

I've always found that if you throw the question right back to them ("I dunno, why do you think they don't talk?"), they will usually come up with a reason that satisfies them on their own. And often, these reasons are quite hilarious!

 

[OhMickey]

My 6th year old son believes that the characters are there just to listen to kids. He was 5 & 6 when we visited and both times Chip had his ear talked off by my son. I'm talking conversations that lasted 15 minutes!!!

Watching him talk to characters was my favorite memory. He is now 7 and we are planning a trip in 2002. I hope he still talks like crazy to Chip. It will be a sad day for me if he doesn't.