"Mommy is XXXX real" how do you answer the question

[pantherlj]

Going to Disney with 4 and 7 1/2 year old girls. How do you answer the question from your kids when they ask if Mickey is real or Cinderella ? Do you do different answers for the "people" characters vs the costume characters.

My 7 1/2 year old just knows that Ariel is real. Heck, why not let her enjoy the idea. I let them believe in Santa, I don't see much difference. However, not sure how to answer the questions when it comes to Little Einsteins that can't talk and are 6 feet tall!

I think I saw a thread about this before but couldn't find it.

 

[crisi]

Going to Disney with 4 and 7 1/2 year old girls. How do you answer the question from your kids when they ask if Mickey is real or Cinderella ? Do you do different answers for the "people" characters vs the costume characters.

My 7 1/2 year old just knows that Ariel is real. Heck, why not let her enjoy the idea. I let them believe in Santa, I don't see much difference. However, not sure how to answer the questions when it comes to Little Einsteins that can't talk and are 6 feet tall!

I think I saw a thread about this before but couldn't find it.

"What do you think"

"They are real"

"Ok then."


"What do you think"

"They are just people in costumes"

"Yes they are, but isn't it fun to pretend they are real."

 

[julsmom]

We hit this topic about a year ago and we still have it. I totally agree with what the last post said. That is how we address it.

 

[SueM in MN]

my kids are grown now, but that's how we handled it when they were little and asked too.

 

[shelleyr25]

It is so funny that you should post this!! We just got back from my kids first trip to WDW. DS is 8 and DD is 7. I was constantly asked "Is that real?"" by both of them. 99% of the time I was saying "no" (they are old enough to know that the characters are just people dressed up).
The funniest was on the last day of our trip and we were in MK and passed a horse drawn carriage (quite obviously real) and ds turned to me and asked "Is that a real horse, mommy??" I could barely keep a straight face. LOL!! All that Disney magic all week had him under it's spell!! LOL!!

 

[tiff211]

My DD6 told DD3 that mermaids aren't real. DD3 is OBSSESSED with mermaids so needless to say she was very upset. She came crying to me with DD6 following behind. DD6 said that she had told her the "truth". DD3 is sobbing hysterically so I say to DD6 "Have you ever seen a mermaid?" "No"
"Then how do you know they aren't real?" To which she just looked at me. Ah, the old jedi mind trick!

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

My 7 1/2 year old knows about what we call "stage magic" from different shows and things she's seen. I've answered like this..."Some things at Disney are real and some things are pretend, and some times it's hard to tell the difference, and that's what's so fun about it, isn't it?" She totally agrees,
and has never asked again what was real and what wasn't.

I've also talked about how some times we believe things in our heart that we don't believe in our heads...she likes this idea, too.

I don't want to lie or misguide, but I can't bring myself to just say, No they're not real And I don't know that all children really want the truth, even when they ask. In a conversation about Santa recently, my 6 year old and 7 1/2 year old said they were going set up a camera to take pictures of Santa this Christmas -- and together they told us "And don't try to trick us!" Then my 6 year old whispered "Really trick us or you'll smash our dreams."

"I do believe in fairies, I do believe in fairies, I do believe in fairies..."

Hope that helps!

 

[disneygirlatheart]

My reply has always been to my children "As long as you believe in the magic, and keep your heart true, it will be real to you" Of course my ds is old enough now he knows the difference. My dd is almost there. They asked me if I believe, I tell them I am still a kid at heart and always will be. It may be a crazy answer to some, but this is how I chose to tell them about everything from characters to Santa. I try to do surprises from the Easter Bunny and Santa etc, so they still have that magic even though they are older. I am sure however you decide to tell your children will be the right way, and they will be just fine with it.

 

[CoolTrainerTerry]

I would ask if they think they are real. If they say yes, then I would say that if you believe they are real, then they are real.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I think whatever decision you make, it's best to answer discretely. Especially if honest is your policy, as I've seen too many people blurt out inappropriate "oh why do you care if you didn't get to meet that character, it's not like he's real!" in front of large groups of children, LOL.

Personally, I like to "pretend" to pretend. I play along, because it's fun. I honestly believe that if you believe Mickey Mouse is real, he is, in the same way that Santa Claus *IS* real; the spirit of the thing is what matters, not how it's delivered.

So, even as an adult who loves to know "behind the scenes" things and know how everything works (I was one of those kids that would not stop asking questions about EVERYTHING...), when I see Mickey or shake his hand it's still special. Because Mickey *IS* there, even if he's living through some college kid in a felt suit. All you have to do is see a little kid (or a big one!) walking up to Mickey for the first time to know that.

NED

 

[noodleknitter]

My DD6 told DD3 that mermaids aren't real. DD3 is OBSSESSED with mermaids so needless to say she was very upset. She came crying to me with DD6 following behind. DD6 said that she had told her the "truth". DD3 is sobbing hysterically so I say to DD6 "Have you ever seen a mermaid?" "No"
"Then how do you know they aren't real?" To which she just looked at me. Ah, the old jedi mind trick!

Good grief. She should have looked you in the eye and said "Because I'm not stupid..."

I could see explaining to her that it is nice to let the little one believe, but to make her feel stupid or doubt her commons sense is just sad.

 

[Mark_Millder]

WHAT???!!
Isn't Donald Duck a real duck


My sons (5 and 8) want to collect all the signatures of the caracters and I'm affraid they still think they are going to a real fairy tale world.

 

[makinorlando]

WHAT???!!
Isn't Donald Duck a real duck


My sons (5 and 8) want to collect all the signatures of the caracters and I'm affraid they still think they are going to a real fairy tale world.

My DD has known since the first visit that they were people in costumes, but we still have fun "making believe"!!!!

 

[Pirate&Princess]

I'm a little surprised how many people are concerned with preserving the "truth" where this is concerned!! Let's face it, if Disney was all about the TRUTH, then we would not be here talking, there would be no Disney. No Mermaids, no bouncing tigers, no flying fairies or elephants, no talking candlesticks or teacups, no fairy godmothers and no pixiedust -

The Magic Kingdom is just that - MAGIC!! That's what keeps us all coming back, we can get thrill rides anywhere!! All of our kids will grow up sooner or later, and I say preserve the innocence and wonder while you can.

DD5 doesn't question it! DD8 has begun to question things from her logical side!

If she asks if the princesses are real - we say, "of course, while would all these people stand in line for an autograph from a "normal" person just dressed up?"

If she questions why some of the characters in more elaborate costumes with masks (ie villians, Mickey, Pooh etc), can't talk. I simply explain that in real life she doesn't know a talking Mouse or Bear and they have been given a voice through "Disney Magic" for the movies!!

She has even questioned why you find the characters sometimes at WDW sometimes at Disneyland or sometimes on the cruise. This one was easy. We told them that the characters rotate so everyone gets a chance to see them. They know we spend alot of time planning our trips on sites like this, and we told them the characters "schedules" are posted online and we only go when we know the characters will be there!!

 

[Hannathy]

I can't believe you guys have kids this old and they still think the characters are real! My kids have known since they were 2 or 3 yrs old. Don't they talk to kids in school. I can just hear the ribbing that would go on in Cub Scouts if one of the boys said a Disney character in a suit with a hard head and fake fingers by the way was real. They have believed in the magic of Santa but know the Santa's at the Mall are guys dressed up same thing with Disney.

 

[Mark_Millder]

I can't believe you guys have kids this old and they still think the characters are real! My kids have known since they were 2 or 3 yrs old. Don't they talk to kids in school. I can just hear the ribbing that would go on in Cub Scouts if one of the boys said a Disney character in a suit with a hard head and fake fingers by the way was real. They have believed in the magic of Santa but know the Santa's at the Mall are guys dressed up same thing with Disney.

Well last christmas my 8 y/o came home confused. "Dad, my whole class thinks santa is real,,," Later in the mall: "Dad, he looks so real"

Of course both my kids understand that Donald Duck is not a duck and Micky Mouse is not a mouse. But they think they are going to meet the characters from the movies. And why shouldn't I let them think that?

Their 10 y/o nephew showed them his autograph book from his visit to WDW last summer. It was really nice to hear him talk about how he collected them. As if he was a true believer.

Disney Magic makes all of us believers!

 

[drag n' fly]

My standard answer for years for anything relating to that question...Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter bunny etc has been....get ready... The ______ is real as long as you believe in them! My 10 year old dd said well if I stop believing in Santa will he stop coming? and I replied geee...that is skating on thin ice I don't think i would ever take a risky chance like that...better stick with believing in him and she said well the kids at school said he is not real and does not even come to their house and I said...WELL there you go that is what happens when you stop believing!...LOL I know I am being an untruthful mother but they are little for such a short time and adults for a very long time and I am trying to enjoy it for as long as they will allow me!

 

[noodleknitter]

Hannathy, I agree with you!

Besides, Disney is about pretending otherwise it wouldn't have the draw it does for the adults! You don't have to believe something is real to enjoy the magic. Denying it to children who knw better just makes a parent to look a fool or a liar.

 

[crisi]

My standard answer for years for anything relating to that question...Santa, Tooth Fairy, Easter bunny etc has been....get ready... The ______ is real as long as you believe in them! My 10 year old dd said well if I stop believing in Santa will he stop coming? and I replied geee...that is skating on thin ice I don't think i would ever take a risky chance like that...better stick with believing in him and she said well the kids at school said he is not real and does not even come to their house and I said...WELL there you go that is what happens when you stop believing!...LOL I know I am being an untruthful mother but they are little for such a short time and adults for a very long time and I am trying to enjoy it for as long as they will allow me!

I haven't believed for over 30 years and Santa still shows up at my parents house.

"Santa" for us (once you get past the point of believing) is the extra present fairy. My parents give me one gift. "Santa" brings me other things.

Santa doesn't need to stop when you gain the rational thought to discover he isn't real.

 

[kaysmommie]

My DD6 knows they are not real and just people in costumes. Still it's like she wants to believe their real and she absolutely loves all the characters. I try not to discuss it too much.