Is It A Magic Spoiler?

[LoriABil]

My DS was never a fan of the characters (at least while in WDW). When he was 5, Clifford was at his school to promote reading. Clifford turned around and his zipper was opened! There was clearly a person with a striped shirt in there. DS told me it was a 9th grader (the ninth graders all have striped shirts as part of their uniforms)

At WDW last year, DS said "Mom, I know that's just a 9th grader in there, but I want to give Mickey a hug anyway. "

And he did. Of course, when he came back, I had to explain that that was really Mickey! He just smiled and said "I know".

It's funny how kids get it better than the adults. And I know I dint have to worry about him "fibbing" to younger kids about costumes!

 

[trinaweena]

My BF's Aunt has worked for Disney for 20 years. Him and his brother have been backstage, seen the characters with out heads, etc, etc, etc. Obviously we know what's really going on but we never actually say anything about it around children, or any other guests for that matter. It's a different thing if it's just us, but we try to keep the magic for anyone else in the parks, even if we know who's in that costume!

Why ruin anyone else's fun?

 

[TinkBride]

I completely agree - it makes me very sad when people can not just enjoy the moment and let the people around them enjoy it as well. Sometimes DH and I strike up conversations with people around us during parade waits. And I always make it a habit to address the kids (if any) and ask them "have you met (insert character) yet?" etc. If kids see adults "believing" then it makes it even more exciting and magical for them. I do not have kids yet, but if I did, I would politely address an adult that was discussing such things that my child could hear. They are little - let them be little for as long as possible before they are faced with the harsh realities of the "real world".

One more thing to add - I have been going to Disney since I was 3 years old. I am planning my 16th trip. Back in 2007 - DH and I had a MK photo shoot the day after our wedding. The photographer drove us to MK at 5:00 AM and drove behind splash mountain, POTC, etc. He drove his van up Main Street USA to the hub and let us out. When we got out there were night cast members working all around us............everytime I walk through the gates of MK - those things always flash in my mind. What the rides look like from behind, why the ground is always wet, even if it did not rain the night before, all teh landscaping.....I can't shake what I saw. And even though my pictures are priceless and being in MK while empty from guests was amazing......part of me wishes I never would have done that and never seen those things - it has not been the same sense. Which is why I will never do a backstage tour.

Mind you this was when I was 22. But I guess the Disney part of me was still the 5 year old clinging to Pluto because I knew he was real and I didn't want to leave him.

 

[Motomom06]

Last Dec we took DS9 to WDW for the first time. First moning, Epcot Rope Drop Mickey and the gang come out. My son is right up against the rope and this is the first time he laid eyes on Mickey and said, "that isn't Mickey Mouse! That is just a guy in a suit!" There are other children around. I promptly said, "ummm, I'm not sure where you think you are at, but that IS Mickey Mouse and if you don't watch your mouth you are going to get us thrown out of here! And I for one, would really like to stay!" I don't know if he ever really "bought it", but he played along nicely for the remainder of the next 7 days. Trying to steal kisses from Minnie (and thought it was hysterical when Mickey scolded him for kissing his girlfriend) and kissing princesses hands. Now he's headed back in Oct to find Tink!

 

[luvthemouse71]

When I first went to WDW as a child, I was well aware that they were only costumed people..I'm getting ready for my eighth trip, so no magic was ruined..I also didn't need therapy. I think personally that we don't give kids enough credit-they aren't as fragile as we like to think. When my little cousin went to Wdw I asked if she enjoyed meeting Mickey, was he nice to her,etc. She very patiently explained that Mickey isn't real. But, she also said she loved WDW and can't wait to go back. I don't think the comments about people being in those suits are that bad actually. I have more of a problem with foul language in front of kids, just my 2 cents.

 

[UMADDBG]

A few years back my DD(she is 40 something) called me on her birthday in tears to tell me that our sweet DGD had just announced from the back seat of the mini van that April 16th was also Santa's birthday....and the Tooth Fairy's.... and the Easter bunny's. Guess Sarah thought that 41 was just the right age to let your mom know that she was in the know.

 

[Tinkerbellie16]

I want to preface this post and say, this is NOT meant to be a let's-bash-other-guests post or anything of the sort. It is a simple question only.

Just curious...
When you are vacationing in WDW and you are watching a parade, does it bother you or become a magic spoiler when you hear people around you say things like, "the person in that suit must be hot" or "that is not the same Belle that we saw in the parade on Monday" or even "I always thought Jasmine would look more middle eastern and not so American"?

When I was with my sister in EPCOT in December and we met Marie....she made a comment about how cozy "the person" must be inside there be inside there since it was 50 degrees out. At first I said, "what person" - do you mean Marie? Of course she is, she has all that fur. Then she got a little matter-of-factish and said louder, "no, the person in the cat suit!" Then I had to tell her to be quiet because there are kids in front of us. She actually got mad and stormed off and we separated for about an hour.

Anyhow, I just wonder if anybody else is really sensitive to that. Do you ever tell people to not say anything and be cognizant of the kids around?

I do not think comments like that are appropriate in front of children OR adults. I'm glad you said something to your sister and appreciate it on behalf of me, my children, and countless other 'believers'. I'm super-sensitive to it. I adore Disney and WDW and like Walt said, let's not forget that it was all started by a MOUSE.

*Note that Walt did not say it was started by a person in a costume.

 

[luvthemouse71]

Oh boy...really? That's the problem..too many people who are "super sensitive" to little things. It's silly to compare peoples religious beliefs to a cartoon character. Do I shout loudly in the parks that Mickey is really a person in a costume? No. But, if I am having a conversation with my sister in a normal tone of voice, I'm not going to censor myself for risk of offending the "super sensitive".

 

[Racemom17]

I love your reply about Santa!! I am so going to tell my kids the same thing. I'm sure this will be the year that my daughter will push the Santa issue as she's 11. Our son is 6. I really don't want her spoiling anything for our youngest when she gets into a temper fit.

Great idea with the fairy dust!

My now 14 year old son went through the Santa real/not around age 11...I think he was almost afraid not to believe. I told him even if he didn't want to beleive in Santa he could beleive in Santa as the spirit of the Christmas season...which part of it is the magic and belief for younger children.

 

[livie1205]

oh great now I have to watch what we say about pretend mice in the park? I need to make a list of ALL the things that MAY or may not offend others on our vacation....does not sound like a real vacation to me..I can see bad words or sex talk but if a person in a suit is real? I love wdw like anyone else but not so much that I can fool myself or the kids into thinking that is a big mouse running around..

 

[gules]

I've always been a big believer in "magic" and was one of those kids, like the pp's son, who chose to continue believing in Santa, etc. for a long time. I've kind of reconciled myself with a semi-permanent suspended disbelief. When I'm at Disney, it's ok for the characters to be Buzz and not-Buzz. I'll giggle because "the guy" for Goofy can't see his pen and has to contort to give an autograph, but I'll defend to the death the idea that he's Goofy. I think kids get this idea better than most people give them credit for.

But I do keep my comments about costumes and things rather low, or whisper them in my DH's ear. Mostly they're comments about how amazed I am that some people can smile so much for so long without pause (I tried once and it hurts my face!) or be so acrobatic even in a bulky outfit or in the summer heat, so hopefully if any kids CAN hear me over the general Disney noise, my words sound innocuous enough. It's just plain mean, like kicking kittens, to go out of your way to disillusion a youngster that's not yours.

 

[mikew71]

Oh boy...really? That's the problem..too many people who are "super sensitive" to little things. It's silly to compare peoples religious beliefs to a cartoon character. Do I shout loudly in the parks that Mickey is really a person in a costume? No. But, if I am having a conversation with my sister in a normal tone of voice, I'm not going to censor myself for risk of offending the "super sensitive".

It's not the super sensitive that the OP is talking about, its' the little ones. It's a question about keeping the "Magic" as real as children want it to be. Yes a lot of children know it's not the real character, but they still enjoy the experience. It goes with all the other "Disney Magic" of the park. we all know the ghost in HM are fake, we all know there is no danger on the rides through the Sahara in AK. But Maybe, just Maybe some kids other than yours want to enjoy the "Fantasy" of it all and let their imaginations run wild for their time in the world.

 

[luvthemouse71]

oh great now I have to watch what we say about pretend mice in the park? I need to make a list of ALL the things that MAY or may not offend others on our vacation....does not sound like a real vacation to me..I can see bad words or sex talk but if a person in a suit is real? I love wdw like anyone else but not so much that I
can fool myself or the kids into thinking that is a big mouse running around..

I agree. Also, I can cut kids some slack but adults who get upset when people point out that Mickey isn't real? Sorry, I think that's a little weird. Then again, I'm not someone who's into the characters. I agree with the person who says that many kids know already that the characters aren't real. The parents may be making a big deal out of nothing.

 

[sam_gordon]

*Note that Walt did not say it was started by a person in a costume.

huh? It didn't. It started with a mouse in Steamboat Willie. WAY before costumes came into play.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

With apologies to the New York Sun ...

Yes, DIS boarders, there is a Mickey Mouse. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Mickey Mouse. It would be as dreary as if there were no DIS boarders. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Mickey Mouse! You might as well not believe in fairies! ... The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, DIS boarders, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Mickey Mouse! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, DIS boarders, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

lol I love it. If you read it on the DISboards it must be true

 

[bytheblood]

Originally Posted by livie1205
oh great now I have to watch what we say about pretend mice in the park? I need to make a list of ALL the things that MAY or may not offend others on our vacation....does not sound like a real vacation to me..I can see bad words or sex talk but if a person in a suit is real? I love wdw like anyone else but not so much that I
can fool myself or the kids into thinking that is a big mouse running around..

Yes, you do.

 

[dqpowell]

I try to maintain the 'magic' when I'm at WDW, always referring to the characters by name, and talking as if they're the 'real' Donald or Tigger or whatever. It was never a problem until my most recent trip, a couple weeks ago.

It was 96 degrees outside, and very humid. The heat index was something like 106. (I don't think I've ever been at WDW when it was so hot!) I was sweating just standing there in the shade, literally dripping. I glanced to my right and saw one of the characters walking by to get to a character greeting spot. Before I could even think about what I was saying, I mumbled, "Holy cow... that guy must be sweating his ears off." (Yes, I really said "cow" and "ears," though I was thinking of a couple other words.) At that moment I realized a child of about 6 or 7 was standing next to me. He looked up at me and said, "Yeah! Maybe somebody should buy him a Mickey bar!"



David

 

[Planogirl]

I was wondering how many posts it would take before somebody took it out of context and made it personal.

That is a completely different situation. And that is when you are a parent should quietly tell you child not to spoil the magic for others, just as you may not want somebody blurting loudly about some man in a santa suit.

I haven't taken this personally. After all I'm not the one who blurted it out.

I shushed DS but he tended to announce things loudly in those days. I don't know who heard him or who could help it.

 

[Planogirl]

I agree. Also, I can cut kids some slack but adults who get upset when people point out that Mickey isn't real? Sorry, I think that's a little weird. Then again, I'm not someone who's into the characters. I agree with the person who says that many kids know already that the characters aren't real. The parents may be making a big deal out of nothing.

I wouldn't say it's weird but I didn't know that grownups got into the fantasy this much. I'm surprised but to each their own.

 

[stackyallred]

I actually read somewhere (actual CM blogs) that many CM's get both surprised and disappointed when they hear parents saying things such as "is it hot in there?" to characters in costume right in front of a lot of kids. But I still stick with the "what costume?" mentality!