leaving soon! couple of random questions

[cinderaimee]

We are leaving in less than two weeks! Travelling with two boys, age 2 and 4. Just a couple of random things I wanted to get some input from experience Disney parents.

1. From all the Halloween events this weekend, it became clear that DS2 does not like people in costumes AT ALL. We have a couple of character breakfasts planned. Any suggestions for strategies for dealing with it? Obviously, I am not going to force him to interact with any character he doesn't want to, but I also don't want him freaking out any time he sees a character and ruining other's meals.

2. I was planning on buying both boys an autograph book when we get down there, but I doubt DS2 will actually care very much about getting the book signed, or what it even is. Am I terrible if I make them share one set of autographs?

 

[wilkeliza]

1. CMs are usually pretty good. As long as he doesn't like scream just at the sight they will read his body language and just perhaps wave from afar. If your older kid likes characters I wouldn't negate the meal all together as long as DS2 can be in the same room with a character. My nephew didn't like face characters (stranger danger to him) but loved the fur guys (Mickey, Pooh, etc) so at 1900 Park Fare Mary and Alice and the mad hatter kept a distance and just waved but he let Pooh and them come right up and hug him and everything. If after your first one he is inconsolable the entire meal I would go ahead and cancel the rest. Bummer but perhaps the Disney ones won't be as scary as people in costume at Halloween?

2) Not horrible at all. You can just hold on to the one and tell the kids you are getting 1 book for the household and that it is the same signature so no need to get multiples. Perhaps think of something else they have to share and use that as an example like "You know how we have to share _____ we are going to share the autograph book exactly the same way."

 

[ml sumner]

My son is 5 and I've asked every year if he wants an autograph book for the characters and he says no, so we do pictures only. Nothing wrong with sharing one book at all to me.

 

[HeatherL1985]

Youtube videos are your friend. Show meet and greet videos so he is prepared with the process and then make sure to reinforce that he doesn't have to interact if he doesn't want to.

 

[2pinwheels]

1. Disney characters are the only ones my kids do not freak out with. They're in a league of their own.

2. Not terrible. I had the boys use their Animal Kingdom furnished Wilderness Explorer books for autographs. I brought a Sharpie. Now they have the whole thing as a memento.

 

[wmjeffer]

My daughter was weary/frightened of characters when we went last year (she was almost 2). It helped if she was sitting on the inside, when the table was against a wall, so there was some distance between her and the characters. The characters are used to kids who are unsure/scared Try not to worry!

 

[disdreamer7]

When my kids were smaller, in lieu of autograph books, they each picked out a baseball cap( it has to be a Disney brand) for the characters to sign. They are now in their 20's and still have their caps. The characters always made a big deal out of signing them.

 

[cinderaimee]

thanks everyone for the suggestions!! I pulled up some youtube videos of kids meeting Mickey and DS2 seemed to like it! He doesn't talk much yet, but he said "Mickey!" when we watched the first one and I said, do you want to go there and see Mickey? and he nodded and said "Go! Mickey!" so that's a hopeful sign.

We are going to 'Ohana so I showed him a video of a Stitch meet and greet and he wasn't as much a fan of that, haha!

 

[Beamerball]

Funny story about O'hana. 3 year old didn't like characters and didnt know that Stitch was behind him. 3 year old turns around, freaks out and throws the fork at Stitch Thankfully he missed and Stitch played it off. Funny now but mortified then. All this to say keep an eye on those characters at breakfast as their path may take them behind your table!