The "magic" in the characters????

[bcarson]

I am trying to be sensitive about this because I would not want someones child to read this and the magic be spoiled. I was just wondering how many of you really encourage your child to believe that the characters are real??? I was curious today as to who my 4 and 6 year old really thought the characters were real or just pretend. My 4 year old dd said right out mom there just people just dressed up. My 6 yeard ds was a little more reluctant to admit he did not "believe". Of course this is the boy that I have a hard time convincing that Godzilla is not real. He can get kind of mad about that one. But he agreed with what his sis said. They did not seem anymore less interested to meet them or that they were not still be fun to see. I have to admit that I was a little relieved that they did not really think that the characters were real. I have a problem with what seems like we are perpetating a big lie. Yes I do do santa ect... But I am thinking if they ask me this year we are going to talk about the magic of the story and that he was a real man ect... But I won't continue to encourage them to believe as I have done in the past. Now the face characters are a different story my dd at least thinks Cinderalla is the real one. I am fine with whatever they want to believe. I am not trying to start a debate so please no flames! I just was curious how others handle it? I have no problem with others telling there children there real I think all families should do what is right for them. I was careful to tell my children they should not share these ideas with other dk's because some believe they are real and that would spoil there fun.

 

[pooh4evr]

Before we went my 4 yr old DD was worried or nervous about the characters so we told her that it was just people dressed up like Halloween. It helped and I think she understood a bit but she was still very excited to see all of them so I don't know how much of the message got through. Now like you said with face characters she does believe they are the real "people" from the stories- which if fine with us!

 

[tiggersthebest]

It's never come up with DD5 who believes in Santa but not the Easter bunny because when she was 2 daddy casually said he couldn't remember where he hid the last egg (her memory is phenomenal!!!) However, I have told her not to tell her sister bunny isn't real because she would ruin fun for others. When she asks for the truth about something I tell her but remind her not to ruin it for others.

5 1
Proud to be a Christian
Too many times to list as a kid
Once I “grew” up:
1997 Fort Wilderness (summer); Coronado Springs Christmas
1999 Wilderness Lodge (Spring); Fort Wilderness Christmas/New Years
2002 Polynesian
2003 Caribbean Beach
2004 Took a break after having a baby
2005 Going to Port Orleans Riverside
2006 Back to Poly!!!

 

[DisneyMom5]

We have never talked about it either way. My olders (6-11) just know that they are costumes, because real things don't look like that.
But my 11 yo is determined to meet all the princesses this time (I mean, she KNOWS they are not real!), and knowing hasn't dampened her enthusiasm.
My littles (1-4) think everything is real, so an explanation wouldn't help. I don't think anyone has to be encouraged to believe in the Disney Magic!!!

 

[rt2dz]

I don't say anything. We talk as though they are real, even between ourselves. That is part of the "magic"--the fun--whether you believe or not, is pretending in the moment.

As far as telling them, I want them to grow up on their own terms. I don't want to delay anything by saying "they're real" or push anything by saying "they're pretend". DS4 believes they are real. The first time (3yo) at Star Tours he couldn't believe that they went in space. The next time (4yo), he couldn't believe the robot made a wrong turn AGAIN. I love the fact that it is real to him. Even when he does realize, probably pretty soon, that things are pretend, we will be very careful to tell him not to blow it for others.

 

[crisi]

My kids have always know because I had a scared toddler. Plus it doesn't take much to figure it out.

But that doesn't mean they aren't "real." I've known Mickey is a girl in a suit for 35 years and I still get excited and find magic in seeing Mickey.

 

[Brightsy]

It's never really been an issue for us. My sons, 6 and 3 1/2, have never shown any indication about the reality issues.
They take the chars. at face value, though Sammy (my elder) does know that there are people inside the suits. It doesn't bother him, Goofy is Goofy, Mickey is Mickey and so on.
My younger son loves the chars. so much! I'm afraid one of these days he'll get loose and body tackle one of them in an attempt to hug them to pieces!
HE seems to think that the char.s are giant stuffed animals that hug back!
SAra

 

[meandtheguys2]

My kids have always know because I had a scared toddler. Plus it doesn't take much to figure it out.

But that doesn't mean they aren't "real." I've known Mickey is a girl in a suit for 35 years and I still get excited and find magic in seeing Mickey.

Isn't that the truth! My DS was totally freaked out by the Easter Bunny concept. Didn't like giant bunnies or costumed adults running around his house in the middle of the night!

OP, you posted so politely, but I suspect anyone old enough to be reading the Dis probably knows... so I wouldn't be worried about ruining anything for anyone.

 

[mommykds]

I tell my kids they are real...I will deny everything to my grave!

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

I would tell them they are real too. They'll figure it out soon enough.

DH and I were sorta just talking about this. I told him we have to go next Christmas while DD still believed. He looked at me, laughed and said, "What do you mean while she still believes? YOU still believe!". It's true. I am a grown woman but when I see Snow White, that IS Snow White.

 

[Carolinagirl1063]

DD4 has never expressed an opinion either way, but I don't ask...Don't want to ruin my party LOL! She did tell me last trip that they were characters MOM. So she may have an idea.....but she still loves character encounters and is in love with Prince Charming and The Beast! She cries everytime she watches "Beauty and the Beast"
when the beasts transforms to a prince she just wants him to stay the Beast, imagine that!

 

[Melissa]

My dd met Mickey and Friends for the first time at 2 she seems at 7 and a half to believe they are as real now as she did then. We have never said one way or another, She knows other characters are just dressed up people- there was a "Mickey and a Big Bird" here in a parade, she said, "look mom FAKE Mickey!" She also doesn't believe that the characters at Universal are real. But Mickey, well that is Disney magic. She told me her friend said Mickey was just a guy in a suit, I asked her what she thought and she Said "well mom Ellie has never been to WDW so she doesn't know Mickey like we do." Sounds good to me. I wonder how much longer it will last- but hey when I see Mickey I think Wow There's Mickey! Not there is a guy in a Mickey suit.

 

[disneynouveau]

The trip I am taking to WDW next year will be a first for my family and my DSs who are both 6 ask me if the characters are real...because when they were younger to assuage fears and concerns (okay horror) of the big plush animals walking around...I've had to tell them that they were people in costume, however, with the Disney situation...I've told them that we are actually going to the home of the Disney characters and they are real. At first they looked confused, but then I told them that they all are friendly and can't wait to see them they got really excited. That's my story and I am sticking with it...they'll find out the truth soon enough and then they'll say I was wrong and I'll "oh, I thought they were real".

 

[trayletha]

My DD has always acted as if they were real, especially the face characters. That said she told me last week that they were people dressed up like the princesses!!!! She's 6 1/2 - but as far as I know Santa is still real - of course he and the Mrs. visit her grandmothers house every X-Mas Eve.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I don't say anything. We talk as though they are real, even between ourselves. That is part of the "magic"--the fun--whether you believe or not, is pretending in the moment.

As far as telling them, I want them to grow up on their own terms. I don't want to delay anything by saying "they're real" or push anything by saying "they're pretend". DS4 believes they are real. The first time (3yo) at Star Tours he couldn't believe that they went in space. The next time (4yo), he couldn't believe the robot made a wrong turn AGAIN. I love the fact that it is real to him. Even when he does realize, probably pretty soon, that things are pretend, we will be very careful to tell him not to blow it for others.

I totally agree about it all being part of the magic!!! and i had to comment that your Ds's comments on star tours is toooo cute!!

 

[PatricenPete]

I was 7 the first time I went to Disney (20 years ago - gasp!) and I believed in everything. EVERYTHING. I was in 2nd grade. I thought that Mickey was real - totally real. I accepted that he couldn't talk because if he talked to EVERYONE than he would lose his voice. Of course things were much different 20 years ago, but I believed and I pray to God that I am able to raise my son with that same innocence that I had as a kid.