little kids and characters

[netimka]

hi, I just wonder how your kids react when they saw characters first time/when they were very young...
when we were last week our 19 months son was a little scared when we were taking pictures with mickey mouse even thought he loves him and recognize everywhere... we are back again for 5 days in march and i want to book some characters meals as well and i hope you will be fine with them then... i guess it will be much better *** he can get used to them on the first day and then maybe be fine during the meals... plus he will over 2 then so will understand more...

how were your little ones at this age with characters?

 

[tinks_1989]

DD has been twice 6 months and a few days before her 1st birthday. She loved the characters and loved the attention from them especially Minnie and Mickey.

What you have planned is probably what I would suggest to do, try a few character meets and see how he is. I would also advice to go to the arranged meets hoping to avoid the scrums which should be less stressful for him.

I read about children who are scared of characters at character meal that CMs advice you to sit your child between you or some where they can see the characters approach them so they don't feel as they have been snuck up on. A bit hard in Cafe Mickey I know but just thought I would share.

 

[ROBEAR84]

My DS was also 19 months on our first visit. He wasn't too bad with the characters, a little apprehensive at first but got used to it. He was terrified of Captain Hook at Cafe Mickey though so Hook just walked on past so not to frighten him any more!

He adored the characters even more on our 2nd trip when he was 26 months and by the time we last went (aged almost 4) he even loved Hook - well I say loved - he wanted to fight him with his sword and save Wendy!

If you little one was very nervous around them I would be inclined to book Cafe Mickey or Cowboy Cookout but not bother doing Inventions as it would be alot of money to waste if you LO got upset and you had to leave. Fingers crossed he'll be much better then though!

It must be very daunting for little ones when they first meet characters. My SIL still hates anyone in a mask or masked costume including disney characters and she's 32 and a huge fan of WDW!!

 

[Mummy Minnie]

My DD was nearly 3 when we first took her. She was very aphrensive & the 1st character she met at hotel was winnie the pooh. She was ok with us holding her but wouldn't stand on her own. He is very large! However that all changed once we got the autograph book out & met Minnie mouse in her red dress wearing the same outfit as my DD! She couldn't get enough of the characters after that & I think we met Minnie 4 times. The autograph book def. helped & she loves looking st it now. It was one I made with the pictures of characters in.

Were taking our 7 mth baby with us this time & I'm not sure how he'll react!

 

[lburris]

My daughter has gone a few weeks after her 2nd birthday and a few weeks after her third birthday. For the trip after her second birthday we planned a breakfast at the Crystal Palace to see her favorite "Pooh Bear." She screamed anytime the characters got anywhere near her. It was awful. We had no idea she would react that way. She was a little hesitant with the Princess characters but warmed up to them later in the trip.

We thought she would be less scared when she was three and tried to get her to greet the characters in the park. She would go within about 10 feet of them and only wave. She wouldn't get any closer. She loved the princesses though.

We are going again in February when she is 4 and she swears she will hug Minnie Mouse this time....we will see. Every kid is different. You may want to plan the character meal for later in the trip and and see how she acts around the character in the park first.

 

[netimka]

thank you all for your comments

hopefully this time as we are staying 5 days he will be fine with them... i think its more that he is shy than afraid of them... and with m&g at the hotel it will be much easier...

for character meals we definitely want to try cafe mickey maybe for breakfast first and then see...if the Cowboy Cookout still got characters we will do it as well, might even go there even if they are not there *** i hear some much good about their burgers and was keep telling my hubbie about them...re Inventions we are thinking to pass this time as too expensive even with shareholders discount, could have 2/3 meals somewhere else... maybe the other time...