What to tell kids? Why Mickey doesn't talk?

[Ilovemyprincesses]

My DD will be 4 when we go. She loves Mickey Mouse Club House and can't wait to meet everyone. She asked me if Mickey talks and I said he doesn't but the princesses do. I told her Mickey is shy but that won't work with every character. How do you explain it to your kids?

 

[PiperPizzaz]

Tell the characters like to play charades. ?

 

[mommyseven]

I dislike lying, but there's no reason to ruin the magic for a four year old. I think him being shy is a good excuse. You could say that he has to talk so much for the shows and parades that he likes to be quiet other times. She should be fine with most any excuse and chances are that she won't ask again after being excited to see him.

 

[k5thbeatle]

My DD will be 4 when we go. She loves Mickey Mouse Club House and can't wait to meet everyone. She asked me if Mickey talks and I said he doesn't but the princesses do. I told her Mickey is shy but that won't work with every character. How do you explain it to your kids?

Is this a serious inquiry? This is a joke isn't it?

 

[Ilovemyprincesses]

Is this a serious inquiry? This is a joke isn't it?

What would make you think that was a joke? Kids ask about these things?

 

[eelderm1]

My four year old asked us this. My 13 year old told her well, there are soooo many people that want to talk to Mickey, that he just doesn't say anything because he would never have enough time to talk to everybody and that would not be fair to just talk to some people. She accepted that answer so it worked for us.

 

[rentayenta]

Shy is good. I am not sure what I would say.


My kids are 5, 8, and 10, and have never asked this and we have been going to Disneyland since they were babies.

 

[luvthephunk]

A line that we use alot at work is that Mickey, and alot of the other characters, don't talk because they have to save their voices for the movies and shows. It's not really a superb response, but I think that it satisfies the question.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I wonder what you tell young kids if they hear Mickey's voice during the opening ceremonies at the Magic Kingdom (which is obviously broadcasted by a tape) and when they try to spek with him he does not talk?

 

[shelemm]

This is a very interesting thread!

If my child had asked me, I would say that the actor playing Mickey Mouse can't talk through his mouse costume. What illusion woud I be breaking? Does your 4 year old really believe it is a giant talking mouse? Does a 4 year old notice the difference between cartoons and live TV?

I've alway pointed out the difference to my kids from the youngest age the there is a difference between the character and the actor. I mean, don't your kids participate in play acting/ children's theatre in pre-school? When my daughter was 4, her pre-school sang songs from Annie. "It's a Hard Knock Life." The kids knew they were not orphans, only acting like ones.

It seems to me the important ilusion to maintain in this case, is that there is only one Mickey Mouse. THAT is what makes the experience so special.

As for Santa, though, I would never tell my children that he is not real. After all, I'm still working on that one myself.

 

[WildGrits]

I would tell my girls, "Gee, I don't know why". Because I honestly don't know. Even to this day mine look shocked when I don't have all the answers.

 

[WildGrits]

As for Santa, though, I would never tell my children that he is not real. After all, I'm still working on that one myself.

My younguns are 9 and 11. We all believe. We especially love watching for him on NORAD every year.

That Tooth Fairy on the other hand. I can't wait till my girls loose all thier baby teeth. Her I could do without.

 

[JPN4265]

My DD will be 4 when we go. She loves Mickey Mouse Club House and can't wait to meet everyone. She asked me if Mickey talks and I said he doesn't but the princesses do. I told her Mickey is shy but that won't work with every character. How do you explain it to your kids?

Just tell her that a cat has his tongue!

 

[MickeynMinnie]

very interesting question... i never thought of that before... i think kids are so excitied to see mickey mouse that they don't care if he is talking or not! i know i didn't ...i was too shy to talk to him! lol Now i'm thinking i wonder what this person is thinking inside the costume! lol

 

[OrlandoMike]

Mickey does indeed talk....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QLR_EFhiwWA


He just doesnt talk "off stage". He needs to save his voice for showtime!

 

[beattyfamily]

Yeah, this is a tough one. Even if you come up with a reason, then the kids wonder well, then why can the princesses talk??

I just tell them I don't know.

 

[KimWDW]

When we first went, my son was 3 and asked. I told him if the characters talked to everyone, their throat would hurt from all the talking. So they don't talk to everyone they meet. He accepted that and didn't ask this year when we went back. When we go again in October, he'll be 5 and he probably won't believe they're real anymore. I think by then he'll figure out they are people in costumes. But at 3, he thought they were all real and it was so magical.

 

[jumoo044]

When I was little I was always asking my mother why the Town Clown on Captain Kangaroo never talked. I don't remember what she told me, but I was always worried about that poor Town Clown! I thought he must have had a medical condition that affected his speech. So I like this thread, it brought back a lot of memories!

 

[Princess19]

Mickey does indeed talk....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QLR_EFhiwWA


He just doesnt talk "off stage". He needs to save his voice for showtime!

I am shocked. I've never seen Mickey move his mouth before. Is this very new? Wow... what a change. It would take me a VERY long time to get used to it.

 

[stashf]

I have watched this progression over the last few years with my own daughter, when we first took her it was right before her 4th birthday. She never asked any questions. The look on her face when she met the princesses especially Aurora (her favorite) was priceless and something I will never ever forget. By the third trip she was starting to notice some of those princesses dont look alike! Last trip (4th) she said she didnt think they were the real Mickey and Pluto etc, after all Pluto cant walk on 2 legs... I still tell her that WDW is a magical place after all and leave it at that. I do believe she knows that the characters are not real now but she is still the first in the picture with them and giving them a hug. I was so worried when the day would come she wouldnt believe but I guess I have instilled the magic in her that this is still the most wonderful place and the real or not the characters are great fun. Now I just have to hope she doesnt pop the bubble for her little brother and her two younger cousins this year! On our trip Dec 05 the princesses always make a big fuss over my son and kiss him up. Well Snow White at the toon town tent really made a fuss and it was great, lucky for us we saw her in Epcot the next day (same one) and she came right up to him and asked him if he had washed her kiss off and she would just have to give him another one! Some of those "characters" are soooo wonderful! I make quite a fuss over the characters and the fun of it all so it's not very hard for my daughter to enjoy it and not feel she has to not "believe" !

Stacey