Kids don't get the magic

[FreshTressa]

I was talking to my kids, 4 and 6 tonight about our trip to Disney World in a few weeks.

I made PS's for character dinners at 2 different places and was telling them about it and that they would get to meet cinderella and mickey.

So they proceed to tell, what's the big deal, it is just a lady in a costume. They aren't real.

I wanted to cry. Where's the magic!!

I guess that is what I get for telling them there is no tooth fairy

 

[KathyFP]

That would break my heart.

DD still loves the characters even though she knows they are costumes.

I hope the magic never ends.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

Originally posted by FreshTressa
I was talking to my kids, 4 and 6 tonight about our trip to Disney World in a few weeks.

I made PS's for character dinners at 2 different places and was telling them about it and that they would get to meet cinderella and mickey.

So they proceed to tell, what's the big deal, it is just a lady in a costume. They aren't real.

I wanted to cry. Where's the magic!!

I guess that is what I get for telling them there is no tooth fairy

don't fret over it - my dd 7 (just turned 8) was yawning that we were going again... then got excited... then like "who cares?"... character breakfasts? "so what" then we get there...her eyes were bugging out of her head...she had to get everyone's autograph, she talked to cindrella, and every princess she could...she wore every costume she could con me into buying (which was most of them)... then we get back home... CRT ..."they should have had a buffet"... the story book breakfast? - "it was ok" - 1900 park fare..."Whats the big deal?"

hahahahahaha I have the pictures that evidence a completely different story...DD enthralled and in awe over and over and over again with an ear to ear grin... she could live at chef mickeys

don't worry about your kids... just be sure you have enough money to cover the expense of pens and autograph books and whatever other asundry thing that they find "stupid" right now... they may not find it so stupid when they get there.

 

[CaipiraBob]

So they proceed to tell, what's the big deal, it is just a lady in a costume.

Costume? You mean they <i>aren't </i> real?!?

*stunned, crushing silence ensues*

 

[ccrosner]

Somehow my children (DS9 and DD7) still believe in almost all those magical people (except the Tooth Fairy for DS). It made a fun moment even more magical this week.

We leave on Thursday for five days at the World to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary. Going with my DB and his family too. I decided to make it more festive in advance by purchasing three backpacks and filling them with things each family group would need for the trip. I included some Disney store treats (stuffed Pooh, nightlight, Disney hair clips) for the children involved.

I mailed the two backpacks to my parents and DB family--all loved getting their packages. Then, this past Sunday night, I gave my children a note "from Mickey" saying that he was excited they were going to visit his house and that he had hidden a surprise package in our house for them to find. The kids loved the treasure hunt and the gifts.

My parents called sooned afterward and my DD exclaimed, "Grandma, Mickey Mouse just came to my house!" I actually think she believed it even though the note was clearly in my own writing.

Ah, to be a kid again with all that wonder....

 

[meandtheguys]

My DS6 was the same way. Thought I was crazy for buying him an autograph book, etc. After seeing other kids scurry for their books, he became my most ardent collector. He doesn't care for having his picture taken, but allowed it with the charactors! Have an awesome time!
Michelle

 

[TreeOfLife]

I'd reply: "Yes, they're guys in costumes alright... but, where else can you go to see them in just ine place, besides Halloween & the malls at X-Mas?"

"...And it gets better, you can pretend you really get in a spaceship, a castle, a race car, a tea pot and everyone around you goes along with the fantasy! Let's play a different kind of game..."

 

[Mike Jones]

My DS, 9, who is very tuned in and has no doubt that father christmas is really mom & dad, absolutely REFUSES to accept that there might be more than one Mickey! He truly believes that any Mickey he sees in one location magically appears in different costume at the next venue! It's great!

 

[InstImpres]

Everyone is obviously different

My DD8, is very bright (I know every Mom say this but she is in gifted programs, high IQ etc.) knows the costume characters aren't real but asked me how they Mickey changed so quickly and from Chef Mickey to Fantasmic. Was also wondering if Camp Mickey Minnie and Toontown are open on different days so everyone can see Mickey when they go,

Also, believes all face characters are real since they are real people and talk.

I must have her Disneywashed pretty well. She told me twice a year isn't enough

Sandy

 

[DrTomorrow]

There, there, CaipiraBob; she was only joking. Of course they're all real - in fact, when we're there, I'll make sure to ask Ariel if she's real; I'm certain she'll say "Yes!"

To the OP: just wait until they get there. At that age, the reality/imagination line is blurry, and they just don't have a frame of reference for all that Disney magic. I'm a 42YO guy, and I get gulpy just driving back onto Disney property on our arrival day; when your little ones are on Main Street, looking at the Castle and watching Mickey walking up to them, everything will be OK!

 

[Chim Chiminy]

I have to agree with everyone who has posted. It will be okay once you get there. When we took our kids on our first trip April 2002, our son who was then 8 and 1/2 could have cared less about going to Disney World. He just wanted to go to Universal...
Since he was a little guy he couldn't stand Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Well, guess what!!
Now at the ripe old age of ten, with two trips under his belt, Mickey Mouse is his favorite character. Mickey is his best pal. He thinks Donald is cool, before he was a duck with an annoying voice. He loves getting autographs, pictures, hugs and kisses from every character he finds.
We saw Pinocchio in Town Square signing autographs, then saw him five minutes later with Geppetto under a tree along the shortcut to Liberty Square. My son said "Boy, he sure does travel fast!" It never occurred to him that there could be another explanation.
He too wonders how they can travel so fast from one park to another to see all the kids, how they change costumes so fast, how they keep from getting tired when they do the shows.
My baby boy still believes in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Mickey and Minnie and I hope to keep it that way for a long time. That mixture of innocence and imagination is a precious thing.

 

[obnurse2003]

My cynical 9 year-old DD was "whatevering" all my excitement before we got to Disney. THEN, once we got there she was amazed with the characters. She noticed that the Cinderella in ToonTown was much prettier than the Cinderella at the castle and that she had her wig put on better!

But the magic is there, once you arrive!

 

[OhMickey]

My husband keeps asking me, "Why do you want to go back?" I've now found a way to put it in words.

Disney is a place where everyone is transported to a world of make believe. Where everyone is kind, happy, and excited to see you. Everyone cannot help getting caught up in the hoopla. Even skeptical 14 year olds (and I have one) can forget about the pressures of being cool and enjoy Disney for what it is... A tribute to human imagination.

And, yes my ultra cool 14 year old says she is (soon to be 15) still going to marry Chip - that is if Goofy doesn't interfer!

 

[FallDisney]

Mine are 5 and 8 and they told me that the characters were people in costumes. They do however believe in the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny and Santa, so go figure.

Of course when presented with this news, I told them I was disappointed and if they weren't the real characters, we might as well cancel our vacation. The girls decided they'd better play along with Mom and went on to tell me they were real! We leave on Saturday, so it'll be interesting to see their reactions. I highly suspect they will be enthralled and love every minute of magic!

 

[SnowWhite33]

FreshTressa-don't stress!!! What everyone here is saying is 100% correct. My 8 yo will be turning 9 on our Nov trip. On occassion he will ask if Mickey is real-my only response is to ask him what he thinks and he always says that he thinks he's real. At other times all he can talk about is "When we get to Disney World I'm gonna tell Mickey about..." One small bit of advice that I think goes a long way-YOU have to believe when you are there!! When my ds sees Mom getting teary at a show or hugging Goofy it makes it very real to him

You can't escape the Magic and neither will they! Have a great trip !

 

[Tinkbell]

My cousin's son (8) was just the opposite. He was very exicited about going there, but once they got there he declared WDW "boring" and full of "slow poke rides". He kept comparing the place to Six Flags and Cedar Point, wondering where all the coasters were. My cousin called me from WDW on her second night there in tears. Seems the husband was longing for Six Flags too. I told her to let the 2 of them sulk in the hotel room while she went out and enjoyed herself. That's just what she did. Her DS eventually came to enjoy himself after seeing mom's enthusiasm. He did "catch" the magic on that trip and asks to go back every year. Her DH? Well, that's another story.

 

[bell.of.the.ball]

the tooth fairy may not be real but Tinkerbelle is and my DD6 is doing everything thing she can to make sure her loose tooth will fall out while we are there so Tinker can visit us

 

[FreshTressa]

Thanks guy!!

I think I will get the autograph books, maybe that will spark some excitement.

And, anyway, I think they are real!! Or at least magical

 

[Enright78]

My DDs are 19 and they still collect autographs and queue for photos!

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by Mike Jones
..... REFUSES to accept that there might be more than one Mickey! He truly believes that any Mickey he sees in one location magically appears in different costume at the next venue! It's great!

My 7 yr old is the same. Of course, he still thinks Mickey is a personal friend of his! He always asks me if I've scheduled our day so that we can be in the same park, restaurant, etc, as Mickey. I love the look on his face when he gets to give his real pal Mickey a hug. Makes it worth every dime spent on the trip!