Is 2 years old too young for a Character Meal??

[rauchfamily3]

We're going to Disney next month and I have a PS for Donalds at AK and for the Ice Cream Social at Garden Grill. My friends all think I'm nuts b/c their kids were scared of the characters when they went this year. My DS is not afraid of anything, so I'm figuring he won't be freaked out over the characters either. But if he does get a little weirded out, can I tell the CM to keep the characters away from our table for the rest of the meal?? I am not going to cancel these just b/c a few friends of mine have kids that are scared of everything.. LOL He just turned 2 last week, so he's a young two year old, if that makes a difference..

 

[lwestwise]

We have a tradition. We take each of our grandchildren when they are two. We always do character dining. Each child is different, but they have all enjoyed it. We don't push them on the characters, but usually when they see other children with the characters they are interested. Some of our Grand children were a little more aggressive and some were a little more shy, but they all enjoyed and we have pictures of each of them loving it. Our oldest is now 13yoa.

 

[jel0511]

It really depends, my DS had been to WDW since he was 4 month old, and he LOVES the characters. He always has loved them and never had a problem. My DD took her first trip at 2 1/2 and she only liked the regular characters, the face characters really scared her!!!! She's 5 now and fine. I have some friends who kids are deathly afraid of characters and they're 4 and 5, so it can continue. If your child is afraid or only likes them at a distance, just wave them on, they really understand that small children can be intimidated, and only like them from a distance.

 

[rauchfamily3]

Originally posted by jel0511
If your child is afraid or only likes them at a distance, just wave them on, they really understand that small children can be intimidated, and only like them from a distance.

Thanks.. that's what I was hoping was possible.. I don't want to force them on him, ya know? But our character meals are towards the end of our trip, I did that so he would get used to seeing the characters all around..

 

[snowflake82]

Good advice so far. The characters are good at tailoring their responses to the kids' reactions.

I also suggest letting him watch some of the live-action Disney Sing-along videos that show the characters interacting with kids around the parks/resorts. That way, he sort of knows what to expect. I know some kids that have been really freaked-out because they couldn't relate the small cartoon images that they had seen on TV to the 5-foot tall reality in front of them.

 

[tink2]

The character meals really brought my daughter out of her shell when she was 2 1/2. We had one scheduled for most days, and the first day she wouldn't look at the characters when they got within 10 feet of her! By the third meal, she was sitting in Chip and Dale's lap and hugging Mickey without letting go! The characters were all very good at not making her too afraid but yet trying to get close. I highly recommend them! I don't think my DD would have gotton her picture made with any all week had we not done character meals!

 

[decker96]

We were at Disney last year and our DS had just turned 2 three weeks before we went. He also is not afraid of anything. He was fine with the characters that actually looked like people, (Cinderella, Snow White, etc). But, he was a little wary of the ones in costumes (Pluto, Chip and Dale, etc.) He wasn't scared, exactly, he just wanted to sit in the stroller while his sister got the autographs. He would wave at them, but he didn't want to shake their hands or anything.

But, a month later, we were at a carnival type thing and he loved McGruff the crime dog and sat on Santa's lap, so go figure. Maybe he was just in a mood at Disney!

I'd play it by ear like you're planning to. Every kid is different.
Have fun!!

 

[ProfGoofy]

This past December we took my 18 month old DS to Disneyland over a 4 day period. We stood in line in the parks so he could meet the charaters and when it was our turn he would have nothing to do with them. He knew who they were but I guess they were a little larger than he was use to on the TV. In fact it's interesting to look at the pictures from the trip because in almost ever picture, DS mangage to maneuver DW or myself between him and the character. One day we decided to do the character lunch at Ariel's Grotto at DCA (If anyone is looking for another reason to visit DLR, character meals are much easier to get. Made ressies that morning, in fact they were seating walk ups and this was during the height of the Christmas Season). We had planned to wave to the characters from a distance but my DS surprised us with the help of Minnie Mouse. She was the first character to come to our table, and she approached quietly. DS saw her and signaled to us that he wanted to get down from his highchair. We put him down and he slowly walked towards Minnie Mouse. She knelt down to his level and he walked up to her and gave her a big hug and a kiss on her nose. I guess the character meal allowed DS to meet his 'first' character on his terms, not being carried up to a character meet in the parks with all the noise, people, music, hussle and bussle. After that quiet meeting with Minnie Mouse, he had no problem greeting all of the other characters we came across at anytime and anywhere. So IMHO, character meals are ideal for a child's first character greet.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Our 2 Y.O. was scared the first day. We ran into Alladin at Epcot.

I just kept thinking that it was going to be a long trip, if she is scared of the face characters.

By our 2nd day at the princess breakfast, we were feeling really bad that we didn't get her an autograph book. She saw her older sister getting autographs, and was really into it. No problem with any characters after that. We did 4 meals, including CP, with Pooh. She loved every minute of it.

 

[lcborn2run]

Just back...my 2 yr 8 month old LOVED the characters...hated the rides, but LOVED the characters!!!

Have fun.....

 

[flynnmnstr]

We also went went when he was 17mnths old. And we took him to character meals both times. He enjoyed the character interaction both times. We always scheduled our meals toward the end of the trip so he has time to get accustomed to the characters. I did notice that as the week went on he became more comfortable with both the characters and the attractions and shows. So my only recommendation is that you wait until later in your vacation to go and if he is absolutely freaked by the characters in the parks then just cancel.

 

[SAKPEG99OKW]

Every child is different. My DS was 11 months his first trip and 16 months his second. Both times he loved and I mean lover all the characters. He would hug, touch and even nibble on them. Although my DW was a little affraid when he decided to chomp on goofy's nose. At home at night before our fist trip we started playing disney videos. Maybe this helped I'm not sure. But I would'nt worry about your littleone. He/she will love everybody if not this trip then the next. Just take it slow let her/him look at the characters from far away and see there reaction.

Have a great trip.

Scott

 

[chrisn]

We took my DS for the first time to WDW at age 2 (he is now just 6) and had many character meals that trip. He loved every minute. Has your son ever been exposed to a costumed character. My little man is fearless too although at around a year a half he became deathly afraid of flies and his own shadow. Too funny! My DD however now 15 was horrified of ANY character even came within 10 feet of her. I guess every kid is different but I say you don't know until you try. Now my heart is broken because DS realizes that they are only pretend but we still go and both my kids love every minute. We do too!