Why characters don't talk

[Disney Brat]

Hey guys!! Just wondering if you could please offer me some advice??!! DD4 is now quite curious why Mickey, Minnie etc don't talk, when the princesses etc do. I really have no clue what to tell her. I said maybe they have a sore throat, but it didn't work....any tips you have would be great!! Thanks so much

 

[MightyMom]

My son never questioned why some of the characters talk (princesses) and others do not. But... he did ask why Mickey and Minnnie didn't talk.

I told him that they DO talk. They use body language because it is universal. I told him that people visit WDW from all over the world and speak MANY different languages and it would be nearly impossible for the characters to speak all the languages. So instead of hurting someone's feelings... they use body language. So far so good.

 

[WendyisDarling]

I think I actually saw that on some TV show. They asked why they don't speak and the answer was because of the many languages of Disney guests. Then added something everyone understands a hug or maybe it was body language as the pp wrote.
Anyway, it made sense to me.

 

[karajeboo]

So funny because when we went when DD was 5 SHE explained to US that the reason they don't talk is that they only talk on TV because there are speakers!!! Hmmm, made sense to us!

 

[princessreilly]

My DD(5) said the same thing! She said she didn't want to see any of them anymore because they didn't talk and they weren't real. I just told her that they couldn't talk, beause there are other kids in line and it would take too long. Not sure if it worked.

 

[Disney Brat]

Thanks so much for all of your tips!!! I knew the day would be comming, but I never thought I would be this unprepared!! LOL I figured she would say something, when she started noticing the Santa's were different at the malls etc, and said, 'oh, he is just pretending to be Santa'...lol too cute!!

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

DD came up with her answer on her own. She stated that clearly the characters don't talk because Ursula stole their voices!!!! Works for us!

 

[buckler]

We told our DD's that they didn't talk because it is really hard for animals to talk and they can't do it for long without getting laryngitis. It wouldn't be fair for them to just talk to a few people so they don't talk to anyone except when they talk to a large crowd (like when Mickey talks during a show or a parade).

 

[MiniGirl]

You can always have your child ask the character handlers, too. They are used to those questions and have lots of great answers. Also, sometimes our kids are more willing to accet the answers of someone in a WDW uniform than the answers from mom and dad.

 

[lclark0621]

My DS (4) hasn't questioned it. But I remember my brother did around 4-5.

My Mother told my brother it was because they were cartoons & someone had to "draw their words". When he asked how a cartoon could be in a park, she said that was the magic of Disney.

He never questioned it again. And I tucked it away in case my kids ever question it.