How to preserve the magic as kids get older?

[AJ1983]

I'm 40 and I'll never grow out of the magic of Disney!

I'm almost 33, Dh is 38 and we both agree with you 100%! Hubby never even went to WDW until he was 35 and I still remembering him rushing to get his picture with Stitch! I think he almost beleived he was real

 

[mindeola]

I'm not sure that my kids ever believed the characters were real, but for me the magic is different than that. It is a feeling once we arrive. Like all is well with my soul.

 

[pa. dad]

I took my twin boys to WDW for the first time when they were 5. Since then we have been to WDW 9 times (2 week stays each time...and always hated to leave), Disneyland once and have been on 3 Disney cruises. This summer we are going on our 10th trip to WDW. My boys turn 21 in June. The magic may have changed slightly over the last 16 years but it has always been there, and I suspect always will.

This will be our first trip with them being 21....and I'm sure we will find many magical things to do. Because we love Disney so much, my adult boys still want to go on a vacation with their mother. THAT is magic if I've ever seen it!!!

Very similar to our family then. Our twin boys are 21 and will be 22 in august. First trip also when they were 4 and over the years, 9 or 10 times to florida and twice to DL in Ca but no Disney cruises.
We took our sons over new years. They do gear the parks so that different things will appeal to different ages. Not just the rides and attractions but the menus and the gift shop offerings and everything that is in the parks. They find different things at different ages and there's some things they seem to like at all ages. They know that many families have children of different ages and that need to offer things that have appeal to all ages.

 

[Marlyn]

Very similar to our family then. Our twin boys are 21 and will be 22 in august. First trip also when they were 4 and over the years, 9 or 10 times to florida and twice to DL in Ca but no Disney cruises.
We took our sons over new years. They do gear the parks so that different things will appeal to different ages. Not just the rides and attractions but the menus and the gift shop offerings and everything that is in the parks. They find different things at different ages and there's some things they seem to like at all ages. They know that many families have children of different ages and that need to offer things that have appeal to all ages.

You should give the Disney cruise a try! We love them! We also hope to get to Aualani. I'm thinking that would be an amazing University graduation trip!!

 

[jtopp]

The magic never dies, we just see it differently as we get older. My DD was insulted and hurt that we didn't include her on our last trip, even though she hasn't lived with us in years. She actually surprised us by showing up one night at dinner, and enjoying the rest of our trip with us. Ironically, she still enjoys interaction with the characters.

 

[Corbinator]

I had the same experience today. She said the bunny had 'human eyes'. But...she still KNOWS that we're seeing the real Mickey next month

We had a similar discussion at our house. The Easter bunny is a man in a suit...but Mickey really lives at WDW.

 

[ajwolfe]

Our oldest is 12. When we asked where he wanted to go to celebrate turning 13 this year his easy/fast answer was Disney. Both of my boys love the magic of Disney and love that it allows them to be carefree and act like a child while they are there - same with their parents. lol I'm hoping this trend continues for a while longer!!
I don't think you need to do anything to help her experience the magic of it, I think it will just happen.

 

[bjscheel]

I told my girls they are "real WDW characters"! DD17's first trip was when she was 6 and we did a little journal. She said then that the thing that surprised her was that the characters were costumes. It actually had not occurred to me that she would think they were real. But still, when you are in their presence, it is like they are real One thing that has helped us enjoy character interactions is to think of questions to ask them when you meet them (this also helps pass time in line, trying to decide what to say). You might try that with her. It can be really fun to see what they say (or act out)!

DDs 17 and 14 still like to meet all the characters!

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

When our boys were small, they would occasionally ask about Santa, the Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, and I would always say "they're only as real as you believe they are. If I was Santa and someone didn't believe in me, I wouldn't go to their house with presents... What would be the point?"

That was always the conversation-ended. Today, they are 16 and 13 and love the magic of Disney, as much as they did on their first visit. On the flip side, my youngest assured me that there would be an egg hunt Easter morning in our house because "the Easter Bunny is for everyone, Mom!".

Be careful what you wish for!

 

[DH-2-mamaduck]

I think the Magic depends on a what you as a parent teach your kids as they grow up and what they like to believe. Going to struggle a bit to explain in the right words...but I'll give it a shot: My 16yo DD lived in a Cinderella dress from age 2-5 and continued to love the Disney princesses. Eventually, they come to start thinking they are not real; just a person in a costume. This is where I step in to keep the "Magic" real. Great examples are Santa, Easter Bunny, Leprechauns, Tooth Fairy... etc. There is two that the world has done the best job at....but lets not get in to that topic here.

Once the oldest said "Santa is not real" we squash that with things like: Are you sure? How do you know? Presents still show up from Santa don't they? Maybe there is (or was) or isn't a jolly elf from the North Pole, same with Easter Bunny and Disney Characters - the true Magic is that they we believe the story, real or not, and that we have fun with it and partake in it. So maybe it is a Parent or other person that plays the role, the fact is, millions of people keep the Magic alive. Part is that the oldest do not spoil for the youngest, but also to help keep the magic alive in them so as they still want to partake in it then eventually some day have kids of their own and the magic lives on.

Just like going to a Magic show - it is tricks, smoke & mirrors and Illusions. Call it "Fake" if you want - we call it "Magic." While you believe it is not real or there is some explanation, just believe this is what "Magic" is.

Back to the Princesses...so now my oldest DD is 16yo and she has her two youngest sisters, 5yo and 4yo. She loved the princesses so much as a child, that she has great memories of them, and more than happy to pose with them for pictures at WDW. DD14 liked them as well, not as much, but sill has fun memories as a child and still happy to go get a picture with a princesses. Now we are waiting in those lines because of the 5yo and 4yo, but they oldest two DD's are right there with them, talking up the princesses and "when I was your age..." stories to them. While they may not be real, the fact is you can to to WDW, and see Cinderella and her castle, makes it "real."

...that make sense? Oh, and f you don't believe, you are a Fairy Killer! (sorry, couldn't resist)


Oldest DD and her Sister from 2014 visit (more in my TR link or here):

 

[michellelovesthemous]

I'm 40 and I'll never grow out of the magic of Disney!

This month I will have 6years experience at being 40 and the magic of Disney still marches on for me too right next to time!!or would that now be bounces on?!! I digress....
My DD18 does Santa and E. Bunny pixes for me every year and may do until 21 she says! Her first tattoo for her bday in Jan was pooh bear on her arm, he can now go with her everywhere. She tears up quietly as we pass under the sign on MDE...oh yes my dear OP if you believe there will always be Magic!

 

[gorkt]

I went when my kids were 4 and 2 the first time. When my dd was 4 she believed it was all real, characters, Princesses, the whole thing. She spent most of the trip in awe, which was great, but we needed a double stroller, and we were very limited in what we could do in general. At ages 7 and 5 my dd knew nothing was "real" but she could go on most rides and got a lot more out of the experience. Our last trip was amazing! Sure, at ages 11 and 9, they didn't believe in the "magic", but they had much more appreciation for the attention to detail, the little things that made WDW great. They could and did ride all the rides, were way more adventurous eaters etc....(at least my dd was).

My point is that every trip gets better and is fun in it's own way. I can't wait to see what 14 and 12 brings!

 

[Kingdome8]

I agree as they get older and we go it gets more fun and exciting. In October my girls will be 13,9,4. I know the 4 year still believes. But my older ones know. Not sure when. But they have said for a while they could be certain princess at Disney one day. So I just assumed they knew. But I do think my kids will be he kids who like to go forever. I'm a 41 year old father and I love going. But every trip is a new adventure at a new hotel. We love the hotels and pools. New restaurants and trying to ride splash mountain as much as possible

 

[AngolaHeartsDisney]

We have some relatives- that don't do "santa" this is a good and a bad thing... my 9 year old still believes- as I have told her- if you don't believe you won't receive. I spent a lot of energy preserving that magic- I buy new santa paper ever year and throw it out... I also spend twice the amount but it is worth it.

When it comes to the Mouse- the talking Mickey sealed the deal when she was starting to waiver last year May... it has extended the magic a little longer.. I think she wants to believe... I make a big deal when talking about planning - if characters are not there... they are taking a turn at Disneyland..ect.. which is funny because how can mickey be in more than one place?--- they ask-- I say he takes turn and I plan our vacations accordingly to make sure he is there when we are.... I tell them I follow the character calendars to know where to eat and where they are going to be each day.. I don't think she will ever tell me she does not believe because she wants too..


My 4 year old thinks everything is real

 

[l4dyj8]

My 6 year old never thought they were real. (She has 5 different Cinderella signatures in her book. Sometimes we see 3 in one day.) We go often and still is excited. It's a different kind of special magic. I see tweens and teenagers excited to meet the characters all the time.

 

[DisneyOliverMom]

The magic is still there, it just changes overtime

I 100% agree.

 

[KaSe]

Like others have said, the magic just changes over time. Whether or not they believe that's the "real" Cinderella or Mickey, etc., there is something about walking through those Disney gates that brings the magic alive and brings out the kid in all of us. We've taken our DDs to WDW several times, and whether they were 4-years old or 10-years old or 17-years old, there have always been characters each trip they get excited to see and want to take pictures with. Your daughter might want to see the princesses, she might want to see someone/something else, but believe me, the magic will be there.

 

[LtRazor]

I'm 47 and I still enjoy the magic!

 

[MrsRoyale]

I believe in the "monkey see, monkey do" mantra. If they see you enjoying the magic, they will want to be a part of it as well

Just show your excitement, and they will be excited too. Talk about Disney, talk about Mickey. If you make it magical for them, they will absorb that magic

 

[dreiwhit]

My daughter is 8, and she knows the princesses and other characters are people in costume. But, she still enjoys meeting them, having her picture taken with them and getting an autograph.

My 13 year old son didn't care for the princesses, but he did enjoy meeting Goofy, Pluto, Mickey, Pooh, Tigger and the other classic Disney characters from the cartoons he has watched.

My advise would be to let her be the "driver" and see whom she wants to see. Also, concentrate on the characters you don't get to see this time when you go again. That way there is something new instead of doing the same thing over again.