Introducing Disney to Kids

[MirrorMirror]

I have a 4 year old who I am JUST starting to introduce Disney to. We've watched Cinderella and some parts of other movies, but honestly she's a bit sensitive, so I haven't shown her a lot of Disney because of the "scary" parts. Do you think taking a trip to Disney with her would be as fun if she was not very familiar with the characters? If not, what other movies/experiences would you recommend she see/have before going?

 

[Happyjen27]

I found all the Disney movies to be sooooo scary!! We did our "homework" by watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the Disney Junior shows, but overall they don't watch very much TV, so I turned to books. I found that books were an easier way to introduce them to each princess and their story without scaring the crap out of them.

 

[Kimosabe]

For several years, our daughters would not watch many (if any) of the princess movies without one of us parents there with them. It's almost funny that these cartoons can be too scary for kids....of course, my 12-year old is now the biggest Maleficent fan on the planet, so I guess it comes around at some point!

Maybe focus on the Fab Five, Chip & Dale, Winnie the Pooh, some of the Pixar movies. There's very little story on any of them that has a true villain and would be scary. And I agree that books could be a great way to introduce younger kids to the princess stories, along with some careful fast-forwarding of movies, etc. Trying to remember how our girls first got into the princesses, and I honestly can't remember! Seems like Disney just slips it into their dreams at night and, voila, they suddenly know and love the stories. Our first trip plans begin when now 12-year old was four and she saw WDW advertised on the Disney Channel. "Whatever that is, I want to go there!"

When we then went for the first time with the girls, they were 5 and 2.5. We spent virtually all of our time in Fantasyland, or so it seems. We went in, knowing we would not be hitting many of our old favorites, but rather doing exactly what you're thinking, which was to put ourselves in the mindset of very young girls who were not particularly interested in being scared. It was still the best trip of our lives.

 

[Kimosabe]

Also order the WDW vacation planning video from their website. As you show it to your kid(s), they will get more interested in the different characters they see, which gives you a lead-in for a more in-depth introduction while perhaps avoiding some of the scarier parts.

 

[DSNY4ever]

I think you could have fun no matter what- this place is made for kids whether they know the characters or not! DS ran right up and hugged Jake and he has never seen Jake and the Neverland Pirates, haha.

I would definitely try Mickey Mouse Clubhouse since it is not scary at all and she'd get to know the main characters. Luckily DS is not scared of any of the movies, but if he gets nervous at any parts I just talk him through it and tell him "Scar is just a silly lion" or whatever.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (on Netflix right now) has no scary parts and would get her introduced the to Pooh characters. Cars is a good Pixar one because there is not much to scare a kid (the worst villain is a greedy car). There are also some "holiday specials" that they have come out with that have the princesses or main characters in them that aren't scary at all. Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas is great.

Good luck!

 

[shm_helene]

I have a 4 year old who I am JUST starting to introduce Disney to. We've watched Cinderella and some parts of other movies, but honestly she's a bit sensitive, so I haven't shown her a lot of Disney because of the "scary" parts. Do you think taking a trip to Disney with her would be as fun if she was not very familiar with the characters? If not, what other movies/experiences would you recommend she see/have before going?

We fast forward A lot Some things like Lion King 1/2 isn't as scary and a little more funny. My daugher will tell me when to fast forward - we went through that last year as well. Stories might help as well - you know picture books, etc., so the characters will be familiar.

 

[Lisa71]

Dumbo.. Both kids first movie and still a fave. DD would rock to baby mine...

 

[CaryHaven]

I have a 4 year old who I am JUST starting to introduce Disney to. We've watched Cinderella and some parts of other movies, but honestly she's a bit sensitive, so I haven't shown her a lot of Disney because of the "scary" parts. Do you think taking a trip to Disney with her would be as fun if she was not very familiar with the characters? If not, what other movies/experiences would you recommend she see/have before going?

We pick and choose. I found myself fast-forwarding through most of Sleeping Beauty, but at least she knows who she is. Snow White is also a bit macabre. Although she has seen Bambi, I personally can't bear to watch Dumbo, so that's out. We held off on Monsters Inc until fairly recently. I still fast forward a small part or two, but she says she'd rather I didn't. She's five going on six now and can understand the premise of most movies fairly well. I say it really depends on the child, but I'd rather "under"whelm them than over. When she was three, we took a trip to DW. She had a BLAST even with not knowing most of the characters. At that point, she didn't even know Buzz Lightyear, but she really enjoyed meeting him. I wouldn't have taken her to meet Sulley or Jack Skellington or any character like that though. She also loved all the character meals. I think letting her watch just a couple less intense movies is fine for now. She's got years ahead of her for the others. May I suggest a personal favorite - Mary Poppins! And my little girl would say "DON'T FORGET ALL THE TINKERBELL MOVIES!" And yes, she would scream her love for them.

 

[MandiC]

Duffy the Bear! Such a cute book and then she could get her picture with Duffy and the actual Bear at Disney

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My youngest hates anything "creepy". Even at 8, she has to turn her head and cover her ears when Maleficent commercials are on the TV. She isn't into the Disney movies so much, but LOVED Disneyworld.

Sounds like yours is much the same. With that in mind, you'll want to make sure to skip Fantasmic if you go.

 

[5stljayhawks]

MM -

I am sorry but disagree with your approach. In that you hold back from exposing her to the things in Disney. When do you think she will be old enough to handle them? There are lots of different ways to Disney a kid.. more on that later -

I am not telling you how to parent, as I have protected my children from watching things on TV. My oldest DD 10, going on 25.... from California valley girl/drama shows..Hanna Montana and other Disney shows or my son from watching sponge bob. Thats part of good parenting and commend you providing oversight on what your kids watch. The TV for us is not a babysitter, but a extra bonus.

But as a former CM, I have seen it all to often parent protect their kids, then miss out on the innocence of being so young, just seeing the world for what it is. nothing more or less. There is no judgement, profiling, fear, just fun, excitement and silliness.

The other part that gets me are parents that say, I want to wait until my child is older, so they can remember their trip to Disney. ...... That is the biggest line of crap... I ask these same folks, do you all vacation any other time? Yes we do.. Based on your line of thinking, do you think your kid is going to remember these vacations?

My point is as the kid transitions through the age groups 18-24 months 2/3 4 5/6 7/8 10/12 (also the same as cloth size) their taste change, yes even for characters just as adults TV/Movie/radio/internet habits change as we age.

Things to consider watching

Disney Junior - There are a LOT of items, that gear for young ones.
Sophia, Jake, Disney Club House
Fairies
Nemo, watch out for sharks, but remember fish are friends.

Older Disney Movies
Mary Poppins

If you wait, you will miss the moments like a 3 or 4 yo running up to hug a gigantic white cat named Marie or your 5 yo son hugging a life size McQueen, or your husband dancing with Phineas and Ferb.

 

[galaxygirl76]

My 2 1/2 year old loves Disney Jr, especially Little Einsteins and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She also loves Wall-e. We watched Winnie the Pooh on Netflix, and one time Alice in Wonderland came on Disney Jr and she was entranced by that as well. Other Disney movies don't keep her attention yet the way Wall-e does, but we'll get there

 

[CrystalCarrington]

Unfortunately my DD & DS have a Disney mad mum (and dad who's still in denial).
DD has a Disney Princess bedroom. They have at 70 Disney DVDs including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse etc.
Before our trip, I started cutting all of their sandwichs with Mickey cookie cutters.
We have Disney outfits, pyjamas, colouring books, story books, stickers, teddies, blankets, suitcase, rucksacks, lunch boxes, bottles, toys and bath toys. Mickey & Minnie ears galore.
We regularly look at photos from our family trips to EuroDisney (We live in UK). We also look at pictures from before the kids were here. DH went to Paris 3 times as a child. I went to Paris twice and Orlando twice. Our favourite pictures are from DH and my trip to Orlando aged 18 & 21
My kids now like to wear costumes whilst we eat dinner and come to the table meet us and sign our autograph books! I don't ever want this to stop!!
We have had countdown chains for previous trips so we'll make one soon.
We watch videos on youtube of appropriate rides and meet and greets.
We have lots of maps and DD5 likes to pretend she knows where she's going, she probably does.

I am actually terrified of the two Disney monsters I have created they'll be worse than me, and are going to cost us a fortune in the future.