Toddlers and Face Characters(Princesses)

[bibbidiboo]

We will be going back to WDW when my dd is almost 3. DH is "concerned" that we should start prepping her for the princesses. Right now she is totally into Blue's Clues and he is concerned that she won't like the Disney characters. I had to remind him that she loved the characters last year,and she didn't even who Mickey Mouse was then, and now she does. Anyhow, in your experience, when did your little ones warm up to the face characters? I've seen some cute pictures out there of some of your kids about that age and princesses, and they seem comfortable, or do they just go to the character because you say so.

Thanks

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I never "officially" prepared my girls for them. They were at Disney--they eventually knew who they were.

If you are staying on site--they have some promo channels talking about stuff all around the resort.

I've *always* allowed my children to go to the characters on their own. We asked them if they wanted to wait in line and when it was our turn we would put them down and let them to decide to walk up to the character. They went for the first time at 11 months and 4 months (though it was when she was walking that we put her down). They are now 5 and 3 and we never forced the issue. Some days they want to see someone and other days they don't.

Even if you spend your first day or so--just watching people get in line or running up to characters, your daughter will catch on and if she wants to see someone, then great!

Character meals are great for a personal introduction--but be careful. If your child seems unexpectedly skiddish--you simply articulate that to the character when they arrive. And be a character yourself. I talk to Mickey in the 1st person and personify what my child is feeling in such a way that is kind and understanding (obviously don't want to make them feel bad).

It worked for us.

 

[lovethattink]

My son is 20 months old and just loves the characters. My oldest son was scared to death of them when he was 18 months old. Someone told us about these Sing along songs videos (now available on DVD). They are great previews into the parks and resorts. In addition, they show the kids how big Goofy really is compared to other children.

SingAlong Songs At Disney's Animal Kingdom Fliks Musical Adventure
Campout at Walt Disney World
Beach Party at Walt Disney World
Disneyland Fun

 

[disneymom225]

We thought DD would do well w/ the face characters b/c she had seen all the movies and was excited about meeting them-wrong! She flipped out and clung to Mommy. SHe was only 18 months but she did not like any character-face or not. We tried to prep her by showing pictures of how big they are but she wanted nothing to do with them. We're going back in Feb. and we hve been watching the Disney SIng ALong DVD that shows the characters and we're hoping for better results this time. Your DD is older so that might help a lot! Good luck!

 

[sara74]

We've been reading the Disney books a lot (got a few at Christmas that are collections of many of the stories) to prep our daughter who is almost 4. We aren't big TV watchers so I am a little worried that she won't get the character thing. She has seen Cinderella and saw The Little Mermaid once but hasn't seen the other movies yet. I have been telling myself that she needs to watch more TV before we go! However, she does know who characters are from movies she has never seen just from the kids at PreK. If she doesn't want to be with the characters when we go - more time on the RIDES for us !

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Another thing to add--the size of the characters can be confusing.

Kids are used to what they see on tv and the toys in there room. And then all of a sudden at Disney--the characters are "giants" in their eyes.

 

[The Sweetness]

I did prepeare my older dd, so to speak, with many trips to Chuck E Cheese (hes even the same sort of animal) I will try the same with Ariel starting this year

 

[bethnburke]

My son loved all the characters in costume and was terrified of the "face" characters until he was 4. My daughter (2 on our trip last year) loved the "face" characters but was terrified of the characters in costume.

We are going again in a few weeks and have no idea how she'll react this time.

 

[J. Galt]

I agree that it depends on the kid. We just took my 3 year old DD on her third trip to Disney World. The first two times she had no problem with the characters because she was too young to know any better. This time, we did all sorts of prep... the Disney sing alongs, the books, etc.... she knows the Disney characters inside and out. The result? She adored the face characters and got a bit freaked out by the non-face characters. Our solution was to have my husband carry her up to the non-face guys, I would take their picture and my husband would hand the character her autograph books. He would talk her through the whole thing as it went along. By the third character she was totally cool with it and the following day (and every day of our trip thereafter) it became her favorite activity (in fact, I think we spent more time waiting in line to see characters than to go on rides - my husband got slightly obsessed with the whole autograph book thing).

My only advice is to be flexible. It just might not work out... but don't worry, you won't be lacking for things to do!

 

[Ellielovesdisney]

Our daughter (2) had several disney books and a few videos and she loved them all. She absolutely loved all the characters and was not afraid at all. she still talks about meeting belle 2 months later. She can be pretty shy...so I was pretty surprised. I don't really know why she liked it so much...but we did talk it up before we left...

 

[BAYSIDE MOM]

My oldest has always loved the characters, since she was 2. My was terrified of the characters but loved the princeses, when he was 2. now at 4, he was stalking them at the parks and has no fear at all. The youngest who was 18 months on our last trip, liked the princesses, we have never run into a princess who was not gentle and friendly but wanted nothing to do with the costumed characters, although by the end of the week she would go to Minnie Mouse. I think after a week she was use to Minnie and Mickey. by the way, the oldest is the shyest of the 3, and the youngest is the most independent and outgoing! You just never know how the kid is going to act. I would not force a child to go to a character if they did not want to. We saw a lot of parents doing that on our last trip and the poor kids were just crying and terrified. We read a lot of the princess books to our youngest before we left, maybe that helped. We also read a lot of Pooh and she freaked so bad in the Chrystal Palace, that my husband had to leave with her.

 

[bibbidiboo]

Thanks for the info,

I think I will try the Sing Along videos--I have one--just need to set up the VCR. She has "Rella" and "Belle" stuffed dolls, so she is at least aware of their names/dresses--but this is no way similar to a real person. And everytime someone is wearing a Mickey shirt, she points and yells "MICK". Maybe if I show her our photo albums that will help, DH and I have tons of pictures with characters.

J. Galt--thanks for the info on how your daughter changed after her first two trips--My DD loved the non-face characters the first 2 times we went--she would cry when they would leave our table at the character meals. I'll be sure to show both.