what age are characters less "fun?"

[mudnuri]

DD's spent our april WDW trip getting autographs, pictures etc. with every character they could find.

I'm wondering- should i plan on them doing this again next November? They'll be 8 & 9 at the time. Of course, if I ask them now, they say "yes"...but how old is "too old"...or when does it fade? Does it??

I'm trying to make a loose plan, to see if the silver or gold package works for us, and need to add in park times for characters if this is what they're going to do etc.???

HELP!

Brandy

 

[S. C.]

GS was 11 this summer and still enjoyed getting autographs and pics with the characters. This was his 3rd trip in 3 yrs to WDW. He just turned 12 and still treasures his disney souveniers and autograph books.

 

[ellyn2000]

My mother is 62 and she has to have every autograph every trip! My point is that it remains fun for some people forever. This year my kids are 22 (and married), 16 and 15. I don't expect them to want to spend much time with the characters, but I may be surprised. I'd just play it by ear and see how the act when you're in the parks and come up on the characters. My kids are still very excited about the 2 character meals that we have planned.

 

[DaisieJ225]

I'm 18 and even though I don't carry an autograph book anymore I still love getting pictures taken with the Disney characters, this past trip I finally found the one person I've been looking for, for years... Peter Pan.

 

[Julia M]

My two oldest weren't that "into" the characters this trip (they were 12 and 9) We did have b'fast at 1900 Park Faire and dd enjoyed the characters, but it wasn't a big deal.

My youngest (age 7) has never really been a "character fan". He's not scared, just not that into it.

While I do miss the times when they LOVED the characters (dd loved them most of all), I also liked the freedom that NOT having to track down characters brings!

Julia

 

[Memaw2Wm]

After 4 trips in two years DGS (9) and DGD (7½) are "burned out" when it comes to collecting autographs.

DGS (10) who hadn't been to Disney in five years LOVED collecting autographs and posing for photos. He even posed with Sleeping Beauty ... and he "hates" girls!

 

[stacy6552]

It was this last trip, when my son turned 10 that he began shooing off the charactures and covering his face in photos.

 

[Buttercup26]

Last December my dd (10) and niece (11) got autographs from every character they could. My older niece (14) didn't care about the autographs but wanted her picture with all the characters. It depends on the child of course, but I think most under 12 still like the autographs.

 

[lovethattink]

My ds(10) just started this year to shed off some of the characters, mainly the princesses and other "girly" characters. We also have a ds(6 mo). DS(10) offers to take our picture instead of being in them. He politely refused to be in a picture with Peter Pan, Pooh, Mary Poppins, and any princess. Although, he ran to be in a picture with Chip, Dale, and Stitch. We have annual passes and live in Central Florida, so we see the characters all the time. He has not become tired of them, just has started to want to protect his "macho image". He's always the 1st one in our family to spot them.

 

[riopooh]

Last trip DS was 9 and was trying to act cooler than DD3. He made faces in the photos at the Cinderella bfast, but off camera, he was completely into it. He made Snow White wait while he dug out her pressed penny and told Belle that Mom liked her better than sis did (we're both brunettes while my daughter thinks she looks like Cindy) My favorite moment was when we saw Pluto in toon town. DD3 had had it and was screaming about something and my husband was off some where else when DS saw Pluto. So my son got on line by himself. I watched from a distance but it was so funny to see my son approach Pluto by himself. He spoke with Pluto's handler than petted Pluto on the nose and got his autograph. Pluto petted him back and hugged him and my son came back grinning from ear to ear - just a little magic all to himself!

 

[crisi]

My son was spooked by them at three, because of this my kids have always known they are "just people in costumes." But that's never stopped their Mom for tearing up when she meets Mickey, and they are certainly excited (at 4 and 5).

But I do think it depends on the kids. My little sister couldn't be distracted from the rides - lines to get autographs were time not spent in line waiting to ride Space Mountain. No magic for her, ever, in the characters. And I've seen the occational teenage boy hamming it up with Goofy. In general, though, the autograph line has kids younger than nine in it - and adults.

 

[dzneelvr]

Our DS and DD cycled out of the character mode about 11/12 yo. They are in their teens now and wouldn't be caught dead with a photo shot. However, I know they will cycle back in again. My DS at 17 was willing to pose with some princesses this trip and never would've done that earlier. DD at 14 thinks it is totally uncool for any character. But she buys character plushes for her bedroom at home ! (go figure)

My DH however is willing to pose with any female disney character....so we get good pix anyway.
It changes...but expect a dry spell for a few years. No big deal--we just did other things.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

im going in january (ill be20)..jmy friend and i are planning to get pics with the characters! ...im hoping to find the prince haha

 

[swilphil]

We were at WDW this summer with kids age 2 through 12. It was my 12 year old niece who was most into collecting the autographs of the characters.

 

[ttichenor]

My DD12 and her buddy, also 12, collected several autographs this trip. My DD12's book is almost full, but she got a hat and had the characters sign it. She got lots of compliments on it.

 

[MoranClan]

My DDs are also 8 and 9 and LOVE to collect autographs. We tend to go down to wdw once or twice a year since before they were born and they still love it.
We have all of our Disney pics in our upstairs hall, and can't wait to keep adding new ones. My DS, who is five will only pose with "male" characters, but sends his book with the girls to get the sigs!

 

[senecabeach]

I have been fortunate to get ALL the current character autographs.......took me 33 yrs.... Hee-Hee!!

Now...at 58...I still enjoy pics with them......

Oh...just lovin' the ""Disney Magic""

 

[ainmama2001]

I'm in my thirties and it hasn't worn off yet!

 

[Sleeping Beauty fan]

It never gets old!!!

 

[CindyAnn]

DS and DD (10 & 7 on our last trip) were still both into character autographs. The only thing was that DS shied away from the princesses at PSB in Norway. He didn't have his picture taken with anyone except Jasmine, who wasn't taking no for an answer! I like that girl.