When and how did

[crow11ad]

you get your child introduced to Disney? When we go, I want our daughter to be able to recognize the characters. Not all of them, but at least some. Any ideas? When did yours start getting into the Disney movies?

 

[ChrisKsAngel]

My daughter started watching Mickey cartoons when she was about 1 1/2. I letted her start watching the movies when she was almost three. I find the movies are great to watch right before we go to Disney.

 

[wendy46001]

Have to say i'm a fan of the Disney Channel....

 

[LegoMom3]

Mine also enjoy watching the planning DVD that you get free from Disney. The older ones are better if you can find them (try eBay, or ask around the boards here); I didn't care much for the last two that came out for the Happiest Celebration, as it seemed to zoom from one thing to the next and left you more dizzy than anything!

And we have LOTS of classic Disney movies! Can't beat it.

 

[seven dwarfs]

My twins were 2 when they took their first trip. We watched every Disney movie we had before that trip. They had a blast and we have been hooked ever since. My triplets were 2 on their first trip and my baby was 1.5 on her first trip. The baby was great. She loved Disney and always asks to go back. They all still watch Disney movies and are always excited about our next trip.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

My older two kids were able to watch most of the Disney movies starting around 2 1/2. We enjoyed watching them together, especially right before the trips, and reviewing all of the characters.

My 2nd youngest cannot sit through a regular length movie, yet. He'll be be three in September. He LOVES watching the Disneyland Fun DVD. That was a great way to introduce him to many of the Disney characters.

 

[pixiewytch]

My child probably came out of the womb breathing Disney, lol. Seriously, I'm a bit obsessed myself so it has just always flowed out into my day to day habits. We signed up for the Disney movie club when he was almost 2 and then probably got every featured selection for over a year. Then there was the Disney cd box set with every classic song that I would do housework to. Then there was my Disney pin collecting hobby.

Seriously though, I am a bit of a nut so I think watching plenty of classic Disney movies and listening to a lot of the songs can be great. They will recognize those things immediately in the parks.

 

[MeLaNie9]

A few months before our trip, we got a Mickey and friends (Minnie, Pluto, Donald, Goofy) DVD with about 6 short cartoons on it. Our DS (2 at the time of our trip) loved watching these cartoons and they were the right length for his attention span. He had also seen Finding Nemo (parts) before the trip. He has many Pooh and friends books. So by the time we went to WDW, he knew all of these characters and that was perfect for the character dining experiences we had (Crystal Palace, Garden Grill, and Chef Mickey's) and for meeting the characters in Toontown and for the Crush attraction at Epcot. Since the trip, he has discovered Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the Disney channel and he will ask to watch an episode every day (unfortunately for us, they don't seem to have too many new ones and we - DH and I - are pretty sick of them!)

 

[brat5063]

My son will be 2 1/2 in Sept for our first Disney trip. He knows some of the characters. Loves Mickey Mouse, thanks to the new show on Playhouse Disney 'Mickey Mouse Clubhouse'.

Someone else all ready said it, but he also loves the Disneyland Fun sing along DVD. Toys R Us had the older Disney singalongs for sale and I picked up a couple others that he will watch too. They have an Animal Kingdom and Campout one too. He won't sit through any Disney movies yet.

We also check out Disney books at the library and read those.

 

[Sandi12404]

I have an 8 year old DD so getting my 2 year old DD to recognize the characters isn't hard-her sister tells her all about them. We watch playhouse Disney in the morning so she's very familiar with the Doodlebops, Jo Jo, etc.. but she knows her princesses too. She has them on her light up sandals. She calls Cinderella "la la" but she knows who they are. Plus, Mickey and Minnie. And she loves Donald because she loves ducks. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when they see them in person for the first time.

 

[emma'smom]

We bought the Sing Along DVD's for my dd3. We also rented a different Disney movie each of the four week-ends before we went. We had a family movie night (she doesn't usually watch movies) with popcorn, etc. to make it really special. I think that was as much fun as going to Disney itself (well, almost....)

 

[molly2004]

I didn't introduce Disney to our guys until they were about 18 months. We've always read to them. When it came time to start learning their letters, numbers, and such, I found a terrific Disney book. It was something to the effect of your first 1000 words, and it's Disney themed. Most of the classic characters, as well as some of the new ones were in there.

Next, a few months later, we introduced them to the Little Einsteins. Recently, I discovered Mickey's Clubhouse (both on the Disney Channel). Educational programs. So now at almost 2 1/2, the know many many many Disney characters. Haven't sat through a movie yet. I don't think they ahve the attention span for it, and I don't want them sitting around for that long. Saving it for the drive.

Another fun thing is the Disneyland Fun video, somenoe on this board recommended to me. Lots of Disney songs sung at Disneyland so your child will get familiar with the the themepark as well.

Have fun!

 

[stczt]

the first time we went dd was 3 and really only knew cinderella, but wasn't obsesed her. But after we saw cindy that was it. In sept. (she was 7)she had a long talk with Auroa as to who is her 1st, 2nd,etc. favorite. it was cute. My boys just came out knowing.

 

[carone0318]

To help with character identification I would get the Disney Memory game. this is how my son learned who all the characters are. It doesn't do playhouse Disney, but will cover all the classic main characters. He still loves to pull this game out to play.

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

I guess I am opposite to most of these people. I rented Snow White when my sons were 1 and 3. My 3 yo flipped out and was terrified. My next Disney exposure was letting him watch Tarzan at 5. It is rated G, and I was watching with him, and he flipped out again (the beginning is kinda gory).

Now at 10 he likes stuff like Star Wars and LOTR, so his fear hasn't lasted. And now I have 4 children. When we scheduled this trip I realized that my children have seen very few Disney movies beyond Pixar and Pooh: The Search for Christopher Robin (a major favorite!). So I started using my trusty TIVO search and we have recorded quite a few off of cable in the past month.

Lady and the Tramp is probably the favorite so far. And we got a Blockbuster online acct. We actually bought Cinderella after watching it from there. Beauty and the Beast is next in our que. We bought Disney Sing Along Songs from Toys R Us when they were on sale for $5, and we even got some Disney music CDs from Walmart (#2 is our favorite). Tour Guide Mike has a radio station that plays Disney music, including the tracks to several rides. I sometimes listen online.

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

We are Disney-a-holics! Disney is in our children's genetic make-up!! LOL!! Seriously, we have almost ever Disney movie ever created and watch them all of the time. My 2 year olds favorite "story" is our photo album fro our vacation last November. About 3 times a week he brings it to us to "read" all 400 some odd pictures to him. Actually, now he "reads" it to us, exclaiming "Cinrellas cassle, Mommy! OOOOHH Winn Pooh bear, Mommy! Ohhh Colin eat ice keem!",,etc.... He asks several times a day when we are going to WDW to see "Mick Mouse". When my 7 year old was 2 his favorite movie was Tarzan. He actually did a face plant off of our couch pretending to BE Tarzan! I suggest getting Disney DVD's and watching them as a family and maybe playing Disney CD's around the house or in the car. That is a fave at our house!! And C'mon you know you like Jammin' out to the Lion King sound track, too! Last night we took all of the kids to POTC 2 and they LOVED it!!! Some children might be scared by it, though as it does have some intense scenes with the Kraken. My children really liked it, however, and insisted that we need to buy it AND go to POTC 3!

Nicole
Wife to Reuben
Mom to KEitaaron 7
Xeyana 5
Chloe 4
Colin 2

 

[the Fidge]

My little simba now a DS 10 star wars fan, came home from hospital and had Lion King on TV, I bought every sing a long and still have them for ME!!! All the great memories of my baby! I must telll you his first Christmas he got to see Tigger in all his Xmas favor! He was screaming in terror. He was not scarred for life thankfully!

The month beofre we go I play the movies we have and rent the ones we don't! It is great fun for the whole family and I love that trivia game tip I will use that myself for the next one!

 

[las3888]

We do a Disney CD with alot of major tunes from the big movies every morning at breakfast. My DS is a little one, only 16 mos, but I knew he was getting it when I skipped the CD one morning about 2 mos ago and he kept asking for 'Abu' (one of the songs is from Alladin and he recognizes Abu from the song). Anyways that has helped.

The new Mickey Playhouse is great. DS loves it.

We have alot of beanie dolls that are Mickey, Pooh, etc.

We bought a collection of tiny board books from Target ($10). They are 10 second versions of Cinderella, Lion King, Lady and the Tramp etc. We have them scattered throughout the house so he sees them from time to time.

He has gone to Disney 2 times now and will have his 3rd trip next month. I think they are never too YOUNG unlike some who wait 'til they are older!

He loved the character breakfasts and met Mickey at a meet and greet session.....he knew who he was and was very comfortable.

Good luck and enjoy!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

My DS5 is a huge Pixar fan (Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Nemo, Incredibles), has loved the movies for several years, especially TS 1 & 2 and its characters. We have the DVDs (and Disney ones like Aladdin, another huge favorite), toys, Disney books, books on tape, etc.

I also wanted to familiarize DS2 with the Disney characters (he loves Pooh characters and Toy Story, but other than that hasn't seen a lot.) So I borrowed movies from my mom and sister (Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, etc.), but they aren't as interested in those, apparently not enough action in the princess movies for them! We've also been re-watching the favorites, of course.

They also love the planning DVD, I have never seen them so intent on what is basically a long commercial! It was kinda cute.

Here's hoping they are familiar with many of the characters by our trip in September!

 

[Lisa_Belle]

We have some movies and books, but what really got DD hooked were the Sing Along DVDs. I bought them right after she turned 4. Her favorites are Disneyland Fun and Flik's Animal Kingdom Adventure.