Keeping Character Magic

[missbrooke06]

The first time is was at Disney, I was almost 8 and knew the characters were just people in costumes. So I wasn't prepared for a four year old who doesn't get that yet.

This is all fine - actually, it's wonderful, cute, and magical. Until yesterday when we had this exchange -

"I saw Pluto today."
"I know bud."
"How come he's on two legs instead of four?"
"..."
"Think about that and get back to me."

Any advice?

 

[myrtleturtle]

I can't help you, but on our October trip we did 1900 Park Fare and then a few days later, Chef Mickey. My 3 year old son asked why Mickey didn't talk, but Cinderella did, after all they are both cartoons. So I told him the magic was different at the Grand Floridian and the Contemporary, so Cinderella could talk and Mickey couldn't. I wasn't ready for that!

 

[mom2rtk]

Isn't 4 just the best Disney age?

 

[Ava]

I think your answer was a good one. Your child may figure out that Pluto is a person in a costume, or they may come up with another explanation that makes sense to them. My older DD has been to Disney at ages 2, 5, and 6 and she's never asked or said anything that indicates she thinks that the characters aren't real. She didn't seem to notice, for example, that the two Cinderellas we saw were two different people. I'm sure by the time we go back in a couple years she'll have figured it out, but then we'll ask her to help us keep the magic alive for her little sister.

 

[cjparker0110]

My daughter is looking forward to meeting Anna and Elsa when we go in 2017. She's 4 now and she tells me she can't wait to meet them. Then she says "I know they aren't the real Anna and Elsa, but I feel like they must know the real ones so maybe they'll talk to them about me after I meet them." I sure miss that level of imagination!

 

[Roobear77]

My answer for everything is "Disney Magic". Why is piglet the same size as pooh? Disney magic. Why is Cinderella a real person and Sophia the First look like the cartoon? Disney magic. I full on tell them I dont understand it but how lucky are we that it exists. So far they are happy with those answers (6.5 and 4 years old). For my older one I am going to start the " what do you think" if she starts asking more.

 

[chris1212]

My 4 year old told me she knows it's just people in costumes! Didn't think she would know that already!!