How to handle "THE" question?

[sorchamac]

My 6.5 yr old son, while watching the WDW planning DVD, said "I think those are just people in costumes." Yikes. What do you say? I don't want him to ruin it for his 4.5 yr old sister. I think that when you are face to face you forget that they are costumes, but how have you guys handled that situation?

Thanks-

Sorcha

 

[BevS97]

I just say to my dd, "what do you think?" and sometimes she says she is sure they are dressed up and other times not so sure.

When we were at WDW last month, she 'knew' they weren't real, but she was still extremely excited to see them.

 

[cl1067]

My DD's are 8 and 3 and I also use the "What do you think" answer. Thankfully my 3 YO hasn't asked yet...but my older DD started asking at about age 5. At this point, I'm sure she knows, but she has never come out and said she does. And when I ask what she thinks...she says "I believe the are real" And really that's all it is...what you believe.

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by cl1067
My DD's are 8 and 3 and I also use the "What do you think" answer. Thankfully my 3 YO hasn't asked yet...but my older DD started asking at about age 5. At this point, I'm sure she knows, but she has never come out and said she does. And when I ask what she thinks...she says "I believe the are real" And really that's all it is...what you believe.

Nope, not with my little professor/attorney. I said "I think they are real" and he just insisted even louder, "No, they are just costumes!" So, I took him aside and said "Look, you can think what you want, but don't say that in front of your sister."

I don't know if that was the right way to handle it, but that's what I said.

Any additional advice will be welcomed.

Sorcha

 

[tazdeb]

I told my daughters that "my mind tells me that it's just a costume but my heart believes its real." Then I asked them who should I listen to? They all agreed we should listen to our hearts.....TAZ

 

[sorchamac]

Originally posted by tazdeb
I told my daughters that "my mind tells me that it's just a costume but my heart believes its real." Then I asked them who should I listen to? They all agreed we should listen to our hearts.....TAZ

That's beautiful - I'll try it out and see how it works.

Sorcha

 

[DizneyKaren]

Originally posted by tazdeb
I told my daughters that "my mind tells me that it's just a costume but my heart believes its real." Then I asked them who should I listen to? They all agreed we should listen to our hearts.....TAZ

What a great way to handle this. I know DD wants to still believe but her friends start saying things that case doubt. I'll make a mental note of this idea for the future.

 

[Beth8266]

I am going to use that for the Santa questions too! My dd is going to be 8 in Dec, and hasn't asked yet, but I have heard that this is the year for lots of questions. My dd who will 6 in Feb has the most unique answers who knows what she will come up with!!

 

[amez]

My dd (5) was terrified of the costumed characters when we went in May, so dh told her they were just people in costume--didn't really help though. But as far as she's concerned the princesses are very real and I'm glad of that because she loves the princesses most of all.

Amez

 

[CTillberg]

How have you handled the "Why don't they talk?" question? My 5 yr. old is just too smart and she was asking that last time when she was barely 4. I'm not sure if "They have to save their voices for when they go back to make a movie" will cut it this time, especially when the princesses do talk to her.

Has anyone come up with a good excuse that worked on your child?

Thanks,
Cathy

 

[Disney_1derland]

I plan to do what my parents did with me....

When I figured out the "They're not real" thing my parents did a little ceremony and made this official looking certificate that welcomed me to the "Magic-Makers" club. They told me that since I had enjoyed the magic while I was young it was now my job to help create that magic for others.

They explained that could be something as little as helping to keep the secret from my cousin or something as big as showing my cousin how not to be afraid of the characters by still going to take pictures with them. They explained to me about Walt and his ideas behind Disneyland and why it's so important to help others believe.

They explained that even if we know that the costumed characters aren't real, we realize that the idea behind them is and that it is important for that magic world to flourish and that means that I must believe and see it through the eyes of the younger children while I'm inside those gates.

I was a logical, very smart child. It worked. I made magic like a madman! If we were in line to see a character and another younger child was turned away I let them go in my place.
I spent my trips trying my hardest to find a way to add to the magic.

And along the way it ingrained in me the beauty and wonder of childhood and those few years where magic really does exist and is probably part of why I love Disney as much as I do today. My parents are mystified by it. They loved Disney but I put them to shame. And I truly contribute a lot of it to this one conversation.

Funny how the child-like mind can blow something so small totally out of proportion. They were just trying to get me not to ruin it for my cousin!

 

[Beanie]

Originally posted by Beth8266
I am going to use that for the Santa questions too! My dd is going to be 8 in Dec, and hasn't asked yet, but I have heard that this is the year for lots of questions. My dd who will 6 in Feb has the most unique answers who knows what she will come up with!!

Same here! I just know my 7 year old son will soon be asking. I am afraid that he has learned the truth already in school, but hoping he will still believe.

 

[JenDaveBrendan]

amez-- I did what your DH did-- My son (4) is terrified of costumed characters, be it disney, the easter bunny, santa, etc.... however, I have not told him that Santa is a man dressed up in a suit (he thinks it is Santa himself), but for everything else, I told him it was just people in the costumes, thinking this would make him less scared to go near them..... needless to say, it didn't work! He just stays at a distance and stares then wants to get away from them....
I am hoping that when we go back to Disney in Jan. he will want to meet some characters..... we will see!!

Jen

 

[amez]

Jen,
My dd was 4 in May when we went--we're going in Dec so we'll see if it helps any. She was terrified in May--We ate at the Crystal Palace and have wonderful pictures of our baby giving Piglet kisses but the reality is my dd and ds (2) were crying on our laps. So if dd doesn't freak out ds will be okay. dd told me if she's still scared now that she's five, we can try to go again when she turns six and maybe she won't be scared then. lol. We're the same way with Santa--he has a face so that makes him more real (no less scary though)

Amez (5) (2) (1)

 

[tinkernelllec]

My DS is 4 and knows the characters are costume people, but it doesn't take away from his "magic". He still gets a kick out of them and loves the fact that they can sign their names.

 

[TSirgey]

My very bright dd was 3.5 when we went in Feb. and she calls everyone dressed up "characters". However, she is completely infatuated with anyone in costume. She will run up to anyone in a costume and hug them and talk to them. She has seen Santa twice already and it is not even December!! We got lucky I think.

I do know that one thing that worked for us was telling her that the villians were just "pretending to be scary". It didn't spoil the magic for her, but seemed to make her like the villans even more! Let's just say that 'Villians in Vogue' at MGM was her favorite store!!

I think that even if kids understand that the characters are people in costume, once you are in the magic of Disney, it doesn't matter. I see adults get as excited more excited about Mickey than their children!!!

 

[charabby]

My kids have always known that the characters are just people in costumes. Honestly, it never occured to me to tell them otherwise. Nonetheless, they enjoyed meeting the characters on our first trip and are looking forward to doing it again when we go back. Personally, I don't see it as a big issue and was not willing to (as I see it) lie to them about something like that. The only myths I play along with are Santa, the Tooth Fairy, and the Easter Bunny (half heartedly on that one - the idea is just too weird for me). But to each his own.

My point in posting to this thread is to confirm it will still be magical and they will still enjoy it, even if they know.

 

[sanctus]

What I told my 8 year old when he questioned Santa was "Any time you are given a choice between believing in magic or not, choose to believe. It's a much nicer world with magic in it." He accepted that answer, but I can't help suspecting it was at least a *little based on the fear that Santa doesn't bring as much loot to nonbelievers!

 

[lucky978]

You guys can read my mind. I was going to ask about this same topic today.

We are leaving in a few days and am wondering what to do when the girls ask about the characters. Last time they kept saying, "I think that's just someone dressed up". I used the "What do you think?" and up until recently they "thought" they were real. Now they've pretty much caught on.

Although...I showed them the Stitch pictures from when the castle was t.p.'d and they were so mad at Stitch for doing that. It was almost like they believed. I'm so confused now as to which story to use. Should I tell them that it's all pretent or go with it?

Why can't anything be easy?

 

[TSirgey]

Although...I showed them the Stitch pictures from when the castle was t.p.'d and they were so mad at Stitch for doing that. It was almost like they believed. I'm so confused now as to which story to use. Should I tell them that it's all pretent or go with it?

I wouldn't make a big deal about it unless they keep asking. Then I think you have to tell them the truth. I really like the suggetsion from sanctus:

"Any time you are given a choice between believing in magic or not, choose to believe. It's a much nicer world with magic in it."