If your kids were afraid of characters when did they outgrow it?

[ExcitedMama]

Last year we went to DL right after DD turned 1 and she was terrified of any and all animal characters but fine with people like princesses. We were at Legoland this summer and again fine with princesses but at the aquarium this weekend she was terrified of the scuba divers in the tanks. She knows some disney princesses by name and Tinkerbell so I was wondering if she would like it if we made a point of meeting them. Also wondering how old she would need to be to grow out of her fear of the non-people characters, any BTDT?

 

[crystal1313]

At ten months my oldest son loved characters (face & costume), but every trip after that was terrified. Same with my youngest son. They are now 5 & 6 and finally on our last trip in July realized characters are awesome and got their photo with a couple. I never pushed. Oldest DS just decided he wanted to meet Pluto as we were walking by and youngest DS followed. Of course they waited until our last evening there! But, I was really happy and had waited so long for that moment! Now we are discussing getting an autograph books for our next trip.

 

[bcla]

My kid freaked out with college and pro sports mascots at just under two. Saw one approaching and just hid behind my leg. It was also helpful that the person in the mascot suit understood and didn't do anything to make it worse like trying to force an encounter.

However, Disneyland sort of changed that. Mickey/Donald/Pluto were familiar characters after watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and it was a breeze posing with the costumed characters.

My only issue is that other things changed. Carousels used to be a favorite type of ride, but now it's "I'm scared" as soon as it starts moving. My kid is OK with bench seats on carousels, but sitting on top of the animals no longer works.

 

[3monkeys4me]

DD2 was terrified of the costumed characters at 10 months. She was fine with them at around 3.

The other two were fine with them at any age.

 

[rms123]

DD was great with them at 2, terrified at 3, then ok at 4 on. My DS was in love with any character at 1, and now is scared of face characters at 2.

 

[PinkAndNerdy]

My almost 13 year old is good with all of them, with the exception of Pluto, she's been scared of him all her life and has yet to grow out of it! My youngest had her first trip to WDW at 4 months and she's been to a Disney park about once a year since, she never really had a scared phase.

 

[YukonMommy]

Each child is so different! My youngest was 17 months old the first time he went and was ok with waving from a distance but if the characters (and I mean all from Mickey to the princesses) got close or heaven forbid tried to interact he freaked out! We went back when he was 3 1/2 and 41/2 and never had any problems. My other 3 have always been fine with the characters!

I would say you should try, but follow her lead.

Have a magical time!

 

[Mugglemama]

All of mine were fine with characters once they were about 4 years old.

I don't care AT ALL about pics with characters though, so I never like, stood in line and walked my kid up to a character (we don't do Santa or Easter Bunny pics either - my kids have never had ANY interest in doing that).

At ages 1, 2, 3....mine were fine to view a character from a short distance, but they NEVER wanted to get close or go get a hug or anything.

We have a handful of pics with characters, and all of my kids are 4 and up in them.

It is REALLY common for the toddler and preschool crowd to be absolutely terrified of costumed characters.

 

[GatorChris]

If they were afraid of characters on a trip, they would see home videos of themselves or others with the characters which would "innoculate" them. By the time of the next trip, there was no fear. Home videos work wonders for characters AND rides.

 

[elaine amj]

my son was well out of the preschooler stage before he got over his fear of costumed characters.

I remember dressing up in a huge Dora costume once when he was somewhere between 2 and 4. He wouldn't come anywhere near me until someone gave him the heads up that I was wearing the costume! It was too funny.

 

[bumbershoot]

I've never liked characters, and, sorry to tell you, I still don't. I have simply NO interest in them whatsoever. With the exception of Jack Sparrow, who I found to be so amusing and fabulously in character that I really enjoyed hanging back and watching his antics with other people. No interest in meeting him, however.

Alas, I'm saddled with a husband and son who have traditionally LOVED meeting characters. Luckily that means there's always a photographer for them.