Lady Tremaine Terrified My Daughter..What to do?

[AlicynWonderland]

Today my family got great curb seats on Main Street for the 3p parade. As Lady Tremaine paraded closer to us, my DD6 got scared asked if we could go home. I recognized what was going down so I calmly explained that if she just looked away that the character would recognize that she was uncomfortable with her and walk on by us...not so! She noticed my daughter hiding her head in my shoulder and came over to her and whispered closely, "you can run, but you can not hide." Naturally, I tried to lighten the situation by pretending to be humored and outraged at her mean-ness, but my daughter was creeped out.

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary, and we made ADRs for Cinderella's Royal Gala at 1900 Park Fare for a special dinner out for all of us. I know that Drizella, Anastasia and Lady Tremaine will be in attendance. I think I should cancel my ADR, but it will be difficult to find another reservation this late in the game. Ugh!

Has anyone been able to effectively diffuse a similiar situation?

 

[d1gitman]

i would call guest services or dining ressies and explain the situation and ask if they had any suggestions on alternative ADR's...maybe some pixie dust will come your way.

 

[heather13]

Wow! I don't have any advice except to send some good luck your way. I agree with the PP that you should call guest services and explain the situation. Maybe start out by saying you need to unfortunately need to cancel a reservation for a special event.

Ugh, I'm sure that they are trying to stay in character, but as the mother of young kids terrified of certain characters I feel for you. I don't know what I'd do in the same situation but we may make a point of keeping a distance away from the parade.

 

[robinb]

I would definitely cancel. Is there a deposit on the dinner? If so, I would call and ask for it to be waived considering what happened tonight.

What the heck happened to the "Not so scary" part of the halloween party?

 

[JoanneMouse]

Oh boy....I would definitely try to find another place. If not I would explain the situation to your wait server if you have to go there. She could possibly skip your table if it becomes an issue again. Either that or just take her out of the area when that character comes around.
What a horrible situation to be in I'm shocked she went to such lengths especially since she was already hiding from her.

 

[shellybaxter]

I would definitely cancel. Is there a deposit on the dinner? If so, I would call and ask for it to be waived considering what happened tonight.

What the heck happened to the "Not so scary" part of the halloween party?

If it was at the 3PM parade it wasn't part of the halloween party. It was just a villian acting like a villian. This is the reason that the villians meal didn't go well and Disney canceled it. Its hard really - Disney can't win either way

 

[Dorisk3]

Sometimes things happen for a reason. The food and atmosphere at 1900 Park Fair is pretty awful and anything you book at the last minute will definetly be better, particularly if it is for your anniversary.

 

[si-am]

Today my family got great curb seats on Main Street for the 3p parade. As Lady Tremaine paraded closer to us, my DD6 got scared asked if we could go home. I recognized what was going down so I calmly explained that if she just looked away that the character would recognize that she was uncomfortable with her and walk on by us...not so! She noticed my daughter hiding her head in my shoulder and came over to her and whispered closely, "you can run, but you can not hide." Naturally, I tried to lighten the situation by pretending to be humored and outraged at her mean-ness, but my daughter was creeped out.

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary, and we made ADRs for Cinderella's Royal Gala at 1900 Park Fare for a special dinner out for all of us. I know that Drizella, Anastasia and Lady Tremaine will be in attendance. I think I should cancel my ADR, but it will be difficult to find another reservation this late in the game. Ugh!

Has anyone been able to effectively diffuse a similiar situation?

Call around to some other places and see what you can find. We've had good luck getting last minute reservations at The Wave, for example. It's your anniversary-- Park Fare sounds like it was more for your daughter anyway. Choose something for YOURSELVES and the stepmother problem is solved.

 

[3agoria]

Wow, that is unbelievable! Those women are all wicked. You could always follow thru w/ the ressie and explain to your daughter how Cinderella overcame those witches, she should try too? Just a thought. We're going next week and my 3 boys cant wait to harass them....I'll make sure they give Lady Tremaine a taste of her own medicine!

 

[linzbear]

I think I'd actually head to a Concierge Desk or Guest Services in the park to ask if they can change ressies and explain why. I think they're more likely to be able to spread pixie dust than the phone CMs.

That really sucks though

 

[Hoosier37]

I have young children myself - well, they are 11 and 8 now, but they were little kiddos at one time. But I have to say, if villains don't act like villains, then what makes them a villain?

I guess personally I would have laughed over it, and figured it wasn't going to be a lasting trauma on my child. Just something they could look back at and laugh, like they do now about screaming bloody murder when we met Bob and Larry from the Veggietales at the local Christian bookstore.

That's just me.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Never been in your situation...exactly.... but at the halloween party, my son was terrified of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty -- so just DW and I got our picture taken with her... I mean... she is really scary!

If your daughter could handle it.... I'd still try 1900 Park Fare. You could try some different things. Talk to the stepsisters in front of your daughter about the parade incident, they might play up on it. I can imagine them saying something like, "She scares us too! Hey Momma! Why are you scaring this poor little girl?" Or you could ask Prince Charming to protect your daughter. Or maybe have your daughter bring a wand (I know you can buy those in Disney World) and cast a spell on Lady Tremaine during dinner.

But, if it's all really too much for your daughter.... there are some other places to eat. If you check with guest relations, maybe they could get you an ADR at Akershus or the Royal Table instead.

I'm guessing you have about 4 people. Akershus has ADRs available for breakfast tomorrow at 9:30 and 10:30am; and Wednesday at 8:20am. And Akershus is a princess meal too.

 

[Pixie Princess]

I know what you are going through. A 6 y.o. just doesn't understand that the character is "just pretending." My daughter was brought to tears when our "cousin" at 50s Prime Time gave me hard time for not cleaning my plate and threatened me with no dessert. The server felt horrible and we all tried to tell her he was just pretending, but it did no good. She was definitely not a fan of this guy after she calmed down.

It certainly doesn't hurt to try and change your reservation. If you aren't specifically looking for a character meal, give Kouzzina a try if it isn't shut down for refurb. We've been there twice, once for dinner and once for breakfast. On both occasions the restaurant was not even halfway full. The service was good as was the food.

 

[Nadjalu]

What I would do is not cancel and at the podium ask to speak with a manager. Then explain what happened and see if this "Tremaine" character would reverse what was done.
Either meet with her privately or bring some type of dessert to offer peace and fun.
Make it fun for her instead of scaring her.

If this could happen it would take care of this and she not continue to be scared. Because now she is traumatized and it could last and last.

Nip it in the bud I say.

 

[Hannathy]

She is 6 plenty old enough to deal with that was just a lady in a costume. My kids never thought they were anything but people dressed up.

Just explain she was a woman playing a role as a mean lady and it is all pretend like half the stuff at Disney is and just like if you go see a play the people are acting and this lady was acting and in real life is probably a very nice person.
Then move on don't give any more power to the fear, the quicker it is lessened by not giving it any importance the quicker she will get over it, especially since she is 6 not 2 and can reason and think. then go to dinner and make a game out of seeing if it is the same actor or not.

 

[vicki_c]

Lady Tremaine is mean - that is her role - that's why she's the Wicked Stepmother. I wouldn't count on trying to "reverse" anything at 1900 Park Fare by speaking with the manager. Then she would be out of character and that's part of the point of the "show." So I don't think that's a very good plan.

I'm sorry your DD was scared, but the CM was simply doing her job and acting her part. If it's that much of a big deal, I would avoid 1900 Park Fare.

 

[Cinderella94]

Sorry she was scared! Maybe just take her up to the buffet when you see Lady Tremaine coming?

 

[drew64]

What I would do is not cancel and at the podium ask to speak with a manager. Then explain what happened and see if this "Tremaine" character would reverse what was done.
Either meet with her privately or bring some type of dessert to offer peace and fun.
Make it fun for her instead of scaring her.

If this could happen it would take care of this and she not continue to be scared. Because now she is traumatized and it could last and last.

Nip it in the bud I say.

Just not likely or practical. Can you imagine if every parent of every child frightened by a character at Disney did this?

It is a shame it happened, but lesson learned, DD is not ready for the villians so change to a meal where none will be.

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe you could switch to Akershus? The princesses could be fun for all of you.

DS was real scared of Santa Claus of all people but he was fine as long as we kept our distance. If you keep the planned ADR maybe you could seat her away from character interaction?

 

[disney david]

I wouldn't cancel your diner most buffet with characters have cm that watch them. I would go up to them explain what happen to your princess they can arrange for her to skip your table and not go near her. Unless you think she will get scared if she see her near her table i would ask them to give you a heads up so you could take her to the buffet untill she gone. Another thing is to explain to them what happen and ask if she could meet her and see she not that bad mybe just being able to shake her hands will do the trick. BY the way congratulations on your wedding anniversary.