Why don't the Characters talk?

[Joe Mouse]

After we got back from our first Disney Vacation in August, my 7 year old DS asked me on more than one ocassion "why don't the characters in the park talk?" He went on to reason that they all speak in movies, but when he met them at the parks they did not speak. He found that odd. I stumbled on this one and could not figure out a good answer. Has anyone out there encountered a similar situation with their own children?

Joe Mouse

 

[tink2]

Yep- DD was 4 during our trip last year and wondered this too. I told her that they saw so many people during the day, if they talked to everyone their throats would hurt and they would loose their voices. And, it wouldn't be fair to only talk to certain people- so they don't talk when they meet them. Now, DD continues to say "but they talk in the parades". Well, I told her that is their opportunity to talk to everyone. She took that one. THen, in getting ready for our upcoming trip- she is 5 now- she wants to know why the princesses can talk to you if the others can't. I told her you had to be really special to see the princesses and they don't see as many people as the other characters do. I told her we were really lucky to be eating with the princesses twice b/c not everyone gets to (that is true!) and you have to be special. She took this one too and is even more excited about eating in the castle again and at PSB- our first time. She thinks Cinderella called and invited her to the castle- she asked the morning we called who we were talking to, DH said Cinderella and of course- why did Cinderella call, etc.etc. Anyway, good luck explaining this one. The above has worked for us so far!

 

[dizcrazy]

tink2: good thinking with that "talking in parades" story!

DD is only 1 so I am not used to these smart kids and their good questions!

 

[pampam]

I don't want to sound like a party pooper here, and I'm sure I'm gonna get slammed, but have you considered telling him the truth? At 7 years of age, he may allready have figured they were just people in costume. The costumes with heads can't talk because they can't move their mouth. And at 7, perhaps he realizes there are many many ways to communicate. Many of the characters know fundamental sign language. Also, body language,and the written word are other ways to communicate. I find if you clown around and talk with the characters, they will interact much better. Perhaps your son is looking for an honest answer. Does he know about Santa Clause? How about the tooth fairy? This may be an indication if your son may be readdy for the truth about the characters. Of course, you can still keep the magic alive, by reminiscing about the funny things you saw the characters do which were right in "character".

 

[leebee]

Remember how Ariel had to give up her voice to become human? If you tell the story in the right way (how much the characters love us and want to be with us, Ariel's voice was stolen but these guys gave theirs up to be with us, etc.) this can become a very sweet way to explain the no talking thing to kids. DD and the nieces loved it.

 

[totalia]

Originally posted by tink2
Yep- DD was 4 during our trip last year and wondered this too. I told her that they saw so many people during the day, if they talked to everyone their throats would hurt and they would loose their voices. And, it wouldn't be fair to only talk to certain people- so they don't talk when they meet them. Now, DD continues to say "but they talk in the parades". Well, I told her that is their opportunity to talk to everyone. She took that one. THen, in getting ready for our upcoming trip- she is 5 now- she wants to know why the princesses can talk to you if the others can't. I told her you had to be really special to see the princesses and they don't see as many people as the other characters do. I told her we were really lucky to be eating with the princesses twice b/c not everyone gets to (that is true!) and you have to be special. She took this one too and is even more excited about eating in the castle again and at PSB- our first time. She thinks Cinderella called and invited her to the castle- she asked the morning we called who we were talking to, DH said Cinderella and of course- why did Cinderella call, etc.etc. Anyway, good luck explaining this one. The above has worked for us so far!

rofl. Thats so adorable.

And I don't see it as being any worse than a kid believing in Santa Clause. Its a wonderful fantasy.

 

[head2toewinner]

I can't be of any help here. My sister is only 3 and she is big on the princesses. She talks to the princesses for a long time in the MK. My dad told her they talk to her because she is oneof them. And then she tells her that she doesn't rule the house and she has to go to bed-NOW!! Go figure. Anyway she is scared stiff of any of the costume characters. Her and my parents were standing by splash one day waiting to take my picture as i dropped and she turned rund and almost ran head first into brer bear. She got pretty freaked and has never gone anywhere near another costume character.

 

[thedisneymom]

We also told the story to both our kids that they saved their voices for the shows and parades otherwise they would get a sore throat. I say "Let themlive the fantasy as long as they can-being a child is too short as it is."

 

[mitros]

Years ago, the Imagineers attempted to develop a "voice imitator box" that would mimic the actual characters voices, but they were never able to figure it out. Who knows, with present day technologies maybe the characters will actually "talk" some day.

 

[maciec]

I had read this thread when it was originially posted and boy and I glad that I did! I got this question from my 4yo dd last night as I was putting her to bed. I used the sore throat story and it seemed to work. However, she now thinks that all of the characters are sick. I still have to work on this with her, but so far, so good.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! tink2 for sharing your story!

 

[tink2]

maciec- you're very welcome!!! I hope it continues to work. Just tell her they are trying to keep from getting sick. If your dd got the flu shot- I used that too. I told her it was like the shot she had to take to keep from getting sick- if they talked they would get sick! I just hope I can keep it going a little while longer. Kids grow up so fast..... I just want her to have the magic and innoncence of childhood a little while longer.
Good luck!!!

 

[Villain Dude]

no lips... no speak...

 

[skiwee1]

My DD, now 5 , had never asked that question. Well on our last trip a couple weeks ago there was a little girl in line in front of with her mom. The little girl was asking her mom why Mickey didn't say anything to her. Before the mom could explain, my DD piped in that Mickey was just some person in a costume like Minnie, and Goofy and Chip and Dale. I was mortified! DD had figured it out about 2 years ago that they were not real so it wasn't something that we talked about anymore. I couldn't believe she would just blurt that out. The girl looked kind of upset about the idea and the mother wasn't too happy either. I was so glad we were in a short line and not the one at Dumbo where I would have had to be glared at for longer then I already was. I had a talk with DD after that about some little kids not knowing Mickey was a person in a costume and not to spoil it for them.

 

[Lambert808]

Originally posted by skiwee1
My DD, now 5 , had never asked that question. Well on our last trip a couple weeks ago there was a little girl in line in front of with her mom. The little girl was asking her mom why Mickey didn't say anything to her. Before the mom could explain, my DD piped in that Mickey was just some person in a costume like Minnie, and Goofy and Chip and Dale. I was mortified! DD had figured it out about 2 years ago that they were not real so it wasn't something that we talked about anymore. I couldn't believe she would just blurt that out. The girl looked kind of upset about the idea and the mother wasn't too happy either. I was so glad we were in a short line and not the one at Dumbo where I would have had to be glared at for longer then I already was. I had a talk with DD after that about some little kids not knowing Mickey was a person in a costume and not to spoil it for them.

I know this isn't funny - but I can just envision how mortified I would be and I am LOL! Ever since my dd has figured out Santa, tooth fairy, Easter bunny, costumes, etc I have told her before every event - not every child knows this special secret so you need to keep it to yourself. Then you can see how cute it is when the other kids still believe. Side topic - but she tells me even though she knows the truth she still believes. She knows if she didn't believe, those characters wouldn't come to her to deliver presents and what not I am such a mean mommy!

 

[Joe Mouse]

Well these were all interesting and I got some insight on the topic. I will ride this out as long as I can.

Joe Mouse

 

[leebee]

Yes, take it while you can get it, let them believe for as long as possible. DD, now 11, still does the Santa/toothfairy, etc., thing, hasn't ever asked about if they are real or not, so I'm going with it. I remember the day, so clearly...we were having dinner in Chili's in Kissimmee, talking about princesses with dd, then 6, and two nieces, 9 and 2...dd shot me the "I can't believe this" look and very quietly said, "You know, Mom, they're really just girls in fancy dresses." Sigh, my heart did a little dip that day...although she is still very happy to visit with the characters, I long for the days when she gazed up at Ariel, joy and wonder alive in her eyes, as Ariel made her feel like she was the only girl in the World...now I'm all choked up, can't wait for our next trio Dec 8-15!!!