[rlander]

Who has heard this from their kids? My 6 year old DD has said this before. What do you say? The Princesses are easy to expalin, but what about the non-talking characters? I want to keep the magic alive.

I know there are a few young kids on this site so I won't describe exactly what I mean, but I'm sure you get the point of my question.

[MickeyMamma]

How about "Isn't it fun to pretend though"? And say it with your biggest smile on. And if they have already been through the Santa Claus thing, then maybe they will understand the fun of playing along with it.

Oh man, they grow up way too fast. Maybe they will want to play along when they get there and remember all the fun?

[rlander]

I think she still believes they are real, but sometimes she isn't sure. I guess I'm looking for a good reply that will really be believable. Anyone ever come up with a good answer?

[tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by rlander

I think she still believes they are real, but sometimes she isn't sure. I guess I'm looking for a good reply that will really be believable. Anyone ever come up with a good answer?

wish I had an answer ..but we have never believed that rumor about them being people in costumes..
We "know it" but something prevents any of us from believing it. guess that doesnt make sense ..but even DH thinks Meg is really Meg .. Mickey is really Mickey ect. ect. ect.

[karliebug]

I'd say something like "you're kidding! We are at disney, that just has to be the real Mickey,etc" Act completely shocked that they would even consider they aren't real. By the way, You mean they aren't??

[rlander]

Originally Posted by karliebug

By the way, You mean they aren't??

Yeah, they're real.....

Good suggestions. Thanks!!!

[inluvwithdisney]

When my niece finally realized Santa was not real she was sad . So we told her it is not SANTA but the magic you believe in and you can do that forever!!

I know there are people in there and I get so excited when I see the characters that you would think I was 4 BUT....I still believe in the MAGIC!!!

[DisneyTeacher]

I have this exact same problem with my soon to be 6 year old. He is so realistic and "knows." I try to come up with convincing arguments but he is pretty sure he knows. His big thing was the mouth of the characters. The face characters are different since they can talk. (All this from a kid with 3 imaginary brothers (friends)--2 are named Jim and one is named Nathan!!)

[rlander]

Steph, you hit the nail on the head. The problem is with the non-talking characters. Their mouths don't move and their eyes don't blink. I think some imagineering is required in this area!!!

The Princesses and such are easy, because they are so realistic.

[Storm59]

My daughter wasn't born the first time I saw Eeyore at MGM...but my oldest son was with us. He was 9 years old at the time, and saw Mom fly down the street, not towards the Tower of Terror, but to throw her arms around a big gray donkey. My daughter and now my youngest son KNOW intellectually that people wear costumes, but like I told my daughter, "Of course it's the real Mickey Mouse! The fake one is in Disneyland!"

[nmsme]

My third son told me that at age four. I said that it was the real Mickey and wasn't going to listen to him tell me otherwise. Santa, the Easter Bunny and the ToothFairy are all safe though.

[dznygrl]

I don't have kids...but I have a little sister whom I've been on several Disney trips with. She was in heaven on her first visit with the characters (at age 2), got pretty darn smart (but still played along) at age 5, and started losing interest by the time she was 7. HOWEVER, it was when she saw her big 15-year-old sister excitedly getting in line to have her picture taken with Terk at the Animal Kingdom that I think my sister jumped back into the Magic. Disney is all about imagination...and once you put your imagination to work...everything (even underpaid people waltzing around in heavy costumes) starts to seem a lot more magical. I try to keep my sister in check and make sure she keeps the Magic alive. I hope to do that with my children, too, because the last thing I want is for them to start thinking their mom is a nutcase and Disney's "just another theme park."

[rlander]

IMAGINATION!!!! That's the key word!!!

Earlier this week I wrote a letter to my two kids. One for my DD from Belle, and one for my DS from Mickey. In the letter I wrote (as the character) about looking forward to seeing them in a few weeks and how much fun we had last time we meet. I even described some of the last encounter to make it more real. I mailed it from my home town. They have no clue what a postmark is.

Whether they believe or not, it makes them feel special. It keeps the IMAGINATION alive!!!

My DD immediately wrote a thank you letter back to Belle. She plans to give it to her at the Castle. Too sweet!!!

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by rlander

IMAGINATION!!!! That's the key word!!!

Yep, that's all it takes!

Originally Posted by rlander

My DD immediately wrote a thank you letter back to Belle. She plans to give it to her at the Castle. Too sweet!!!

Aww, that is so great! Y'know....that makes me think. My sister has no idea what a postmark is, either...maybe I will send her a letter from "Tigger" saying that he's looking forward to seeing her in Disneyland next week!

I know, I know, Tigger is not exactly the character to be talking about right now (poor thing) but he's my sister's favorite and she doesn't have a clue about the WDW incident(s)...

[MerlinMatt]

Originally Posted by dznygrl

Y'know....that makes me think. My sister has no idea what a postmark is, either...maybe I will send her a letter from "Tigger" saying that he's looking forward to seeing her in Disneyland next week!

Of course, in the future, maybe you could send a self-addressed stamped and sealed envelope to your resort and have them drop it in the mail for you. Then you'd even get the post-mark.