What age did your kids figure out...

[BensWife]

that the characters are not real? We have a 7 year old that I think might catch on during our trip in September. He is pretty bright and has already asked if they are real. We keep telling him they are, but I think he might figure it out. How did you handle that for your little ones? It is almost like Santa. If he figures it out, I don't want him to ruin it for his 4 year old brother. Any suggestions?

 

[lizard1]

My daughter figured out that the characters weren't real when she was 5 (she had only been once before when she was 1). She turned around after one meet and greet and told me she knew they were just pretending. That didn't ruin the magic of it for her, though, as she still wanted to stand in line for all of the other characters and it is on the top of her list of things to do this summer when we go back (and she will be 7 then).

I don't really have any advice, because I haven't had to cross that bridge yet. I hope that if it happens, my younger child isn't within earshot and then I would discuss why we don't want to spoil the magic of it all for the younger one and hopefully she would go along with me.

 

[AshleeH]

My son is 7 and really catching on about the characters. Our trip to Disneyland last summer, we walked through Mickey's house in ToonTown and he kept saying (bitterly): "It's fake, it's all fake!" I actually had to take him aside and explain that he shouldn't spoil it for the little kids. He was fine with that, but asked why the (costumed) characters never talked. I think the jig is up for our next trip.

 

[theelfqueen]

I don't think my kids ever thought they were "Real".
They still love them.

 

[PrncessA]

DS is 9 and still believes in Santa, but he stopped believing that the characters are real maybe 2 years ago. He totally believes that shopping mall Santas work for the real Santa.

Until 2 months ago I thought DD still thought the characters were real until this conversation happened after Disney on Ice:

DH: Lorelai, how do you think Minnie Mouse changed her clothes so fast?
DD: She probably had a machine behind the curtain.
DH: Oh, thanks I was wondering.
DD: Or... there was more than one Minnie Mouse, wearing different costumes.


I don't think it ruins the magic for them though. DD does however believe that the face characters are real. She was and still is VERY upset that you can meet Ariel with her tail and that Rapunzel's hair is still blonde and long. We explain it away for her with "It's Disney Magic"

 

[roscoepc1]

I have NO IDEA what you mean.....the characters aren't "real"?????






























(It's never come up, and I would probably pretend I didn't hear them or change the subject if it did! And my girls are 11 and 15!)

 

[Ravenne]

I have a hunch that my oldest suspected something was up since kindergarten. But I'm afraid to ask because I don't want to go down in family history as, "remember the time mom said Mickey Mouse wasn't real?" Just in case...I'll let them believe what they want until they approach me with it.

 

[Hannathy]

I don't think my kids ever thought they were "Real".
They still love them.

Mine never did either. My DS 2.5 knew they weren't real. and as my preschool DD said how can the hard head and the unmovable fingers not tell you it's a costume ?

 

[ancestry]

Mine were MUCH younger than 7. I want to say 3 or 4 when they started pre-school. Other kids have a way of bursting bubbles. But like another poster I don't think my kids ever thought they were truly real to begin with.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I have NO IDEA what you mean.....the characters aren't "real"?????

This is what I was thinking, I was 40 the first time I went to the parks and met costumed characters (Goofy and Donald), I was shocked how quickly I forgot they were costumes and how much I felt like a little kid meeting the "real" Goofy and Donald.

Even if they have figured it out hopefully they will forget that when they see them and still enjoy meeting the characters. In DL and WDW "real" is subjective.

 

[3Gsandme]

I'm pretty sure 14 knows. Seven was still all in on this trip. 4 was probably skeptical.

 

[wallawallakids]

My twins knew by 5. I remember being sad about it. One day DD and I were talking about our trip and I said something about the princesses and seeing Mickey she said "Oh yea, but they are not real. They are just dressed up like them".

BUT, they still love meeting them and seeing them. I was worried it was over, but it isn't. We just went in Feb and she insisted that we wait in line to see Princess Sofia. She gave her a big hug and talked to her. She was so excited for the picture. We also waited for Minnie. They do not talk about it much. The only time I ever heard her say anything about them not being real was that one time. The enjoyment is still there.

I can't compare on the Santa thing as we do not celebrate Santa in our home on Christmas. I can say, that because we have chosen to go that route we have had many, many talks with our kids about why you must not say things to friends or comment about Santa not being real. My kids have never said anything to any of their friends. Occasionally they would come home and say that "so-and so said Santa gave them this". But they have always respected others beliefs and respected that we have raised them differently and they have been fine with it. They know there is no Easter Bunny etc. So if your son figures it out, I think if you do not want him saying something to the younger ones, you can tell him so in private and I bet he won't. Good luck.

 

[puffkin]

My DS8 was probably about 4. I don't recall ever really having a conversation about it, more just a passing comment he made here or there. It didn't really diminish the fun though.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

My DD5 just said at Crystal Palace last Wednesday, "they're just people in costumes, right Mom...but it's still fun". My DD8 didn't hear her and has never said a word, so I'm not sure what she thinks.

 

[Marsheliz]

My 5 year said the characters weren't real- our past trip this fall... It really broke my heart too, lol! He tries to tell my 2 year old that they are not real but I shush him... Now- he does still believe in Santa, Easter Bunny, etc.

That's the beauty of taking them early when they still believe and everything is magical.

 

[CatNipRules]

My son figured it out pretty early. I think he was 5 or 6. He would still take pictures with the characters, but that pretty much stopped when he was 10 or so.

Me? I still think the characters are real... LOL!

 

[flutterby3744]

I don't think my kids ever thought they were real. I never told them they were the real thing though. My 6yo DS is the only one that ever brought it up: I asked if he was excited to meet Jake, and he replied with, "You know it's just a guy in a costume, right Mom?". Ha! Then he told me, it's still fun. Costume or not.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

My kids never believed they were real. My kids have done Halloween since they were babies--they've always known what costumes are, and I suppose that even as very young children they were able to recognize that the characters were people in costumes just like you see people in costumes on Halloween.
I don't think this has taken away from the "magic" in any way. My kids, even my teens, passionately love visiting Disney parks.

 

[SEA333]

Goodness...if my kids ever thought gigantic furry walking talking animals were real, I would have never gotten them out of the house!! How terrifying!! LOL

We have always told our kids that the characters were people dressed up in costumes. Not sure why that would take away any magic??!! Other than not having to stand in line for meet and greets or pay expensive buffet prices...which all seems to be a plus in my book.

Besides, my kids figured out pretty early that cartoons are fake, so why would they have ever thought that the cartoon Mickey would suddenly come alive in Disney World?

I certainly wouldn't lie to them to prolong their beliefs, but that is just my opinion. My kids are 13, 9, and 8. FWIW, the oldest asked about Santa at about age 7, the middle asked at about age 7, and the youngest told me at age 7 that he knows I am the tooth fairy and that Santa probably isn't real either. I asked him if that bothered him and he said no, he knows he will still get presents anyway It definitely didn't hurt any of them, and I think that they honestly felt a little relieved that they could cut the middle-man (Santa) out and just give us their lists directly LOL We are not heartless, BTW...when each kid stopped believing, we did have a very serious discussion on the meaning of Christmas, the history behind the "real" St. Nicholas, what he did for children, and how it is up to each one of us to carry the kindness and goodness on by sharing gifts and acts of kindness with each other.

As for handling it with other kids, we told each of our kids when they stopped believing that there are kids their age, or younger, or even older, that still believe. If they came across someone who did, or was in a conversation with someone who they think might still believe, they were to not say a word about what they know and pretend for that person. We told them that they had to have the respect for each person because there were plenty of people who knew the truth when *they* still believed and never told them, so they have to do it for kids now. My kids are pretty empathetic, so they never wanted to ruin anyone else's day. It all worked out.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My youngest was just shy of 7 when we went (8 1/2 now) and believes still that the characters are real at MK only "because that is where the magic happens".

Honestly, we didn't realize she felt this way until a year AFTER our trip