Meeting Characters

[TaraWdopeyfan]

So my question to everyone is how can you make the characters less scary for your kids? I have 3 girls ages 7, 5, and 14 months. Last year we were at Disney and my 5 yr old (4 at the time) was very scared of all the characters. I really want to get pics this year and I'm not sure she'll let them near her, I'm also not sure how the baby will do. Any tips

 

[Mukta]

I would try the face characters first. Princesses aren't as scary as the big, furry characters. If they all do ok with those, then only introduce them to Mickey.

 

[Master Yoda]

@Mukta is correct. Start with the face characters and then work your way up from there, but first and foremost, do not force the interaction. The baby will more than likely be the easiest one to deal with. Our youngest was around the characters since day one and never had a problem with them. She would actually shy away from regular cast members somewhat but a 5' tall mouse or chipmunk were AOK to her.

 

[wiigirl]

I would try the face characters first. Princesses aren't as scary as the big, furry characters. If they all do ok with those, then only introduce them to Mickey.

I agree....ease them into it gently.

 

[MagicMike]

My youngest was timid on his first trip, he was about two and a half at the time. Some of the first characters we encountered were villains and he wanted to hang back. We let him rather than push him too fast and risk terrifying him even more (not to mention the therapy bills later in life). As we did a few Meet & Greets he began to warm up to the idea. For us, Mickey Mouse did the trick. Once he hugged the Mouse, every character was his best friend for the remainder of the trip.

I'm sure they are acquainted with the films, but having a few Family Movie Nights leading up to the trip can help refresh little ones on their favorite characters.

Also you can try testing the waters. Go to a Chuck E. Cheese type restaurant if you have one close. At least there you can gauge the happy/scared factor. It's different, as you know, standing in a line at Disney World. There is far more pressure on the parents (We have been waiting in line for 25 min and I want the perfect picture) and kids (everybody is watching me and this is all really overwhelming) when they are on deck to meet a character in Disney. Nobody wants to push a crying kid into the arms of Sulley for a photo while a hundred strangers watch.

Last one, Let your kiddos pick out their favorite character to meet and try that first if possible. This can help them feel comfortable with the process and ease any anxiety they may have.

 

[LithiumBill]

I would try the face characters first. Princesses aren't as scary as the big, furry characters. If they all do ok with those, then only introduce them to Mickey.

This is great advice. My son is a huge Toy Story fan, and Buzz and Woody scared him in those costumes, but after he tagged along and met Belle, and the Beast showed up mid meet, he was fine.

 

[TaraWdopeyfan]

Thanks everyone. Last year DD loved the princess's and would approach Dasiy but was terrified of Mickey, Pluto, and Goofy. She would only do photos if daddy stood between her and the characters. Oh and she's terrified of Chuck E Cheese but loves playing the games. The baby gets all excited when she sees a picture of Mickey or Minnie I just hope she doesn't freak when she sees them in person. The oldest loved all the characters and would hug everyone.

I can't wait for our trip!

 

[MagicMike]

Oh and she's terrified of Chuck E Cheese but loves playing the games.

That is exactly how I feel.

 

[Mr.Skunkape]

I found that character dining was a better way to meet characters compared to meet n greets. This way the kids just see the characters moving about the dining area like regular people that just then come up to thier table. This way kids do not have to walk towards them like they do at meet n greets. little less intimidating for timid kids

 

[Powerline]

I found that character dining was a better way to meet characters compared to meet n greets. This way the kids just see the characters moving about the dining area like regular people that just then come up to thier table. This way kids do not have to walk towards them like they do at meet n greets. little less intimidating for timid kids

I can see this backfiring. If the person doesn't want to meet a character while eating, then it would be a much more uneasy situation then choosing to meet the character via waiting on line.

 

[TaraWdopeyfan]

We did a few character meals and my DD about knocked herself out with the table she was hiding under. Goofy leaned down to say hi and she tried to high tail it out of there and hit her head pretty hard on the table. Goofy felt so bad, then at another meal she was hiding under the table so piglet was playing peek a boo which she thought was great until piglet tried to sit next to her. I at least know she'll approach Daisy so that might be the only picture I get of her with a character and the princesses of course.

 

[midwest_mice]

Maybe try recording one of the Disney World specials on History Channel and then they can see the "human size" charecters as opposed to the small cartoon ones

 

[KCKAS]

my kids are 10, 9, and 7. just this summer, my 7 year old hid from chuck e cheese at a birthday party.

my other 2 kids have always liked all of the characters at disney. my youngest has always been afraid. she likes the face characters fine. at age five, she hid under the table at the crystal palace when piglet walked by. (we have a great picture of that. love it!!!) her brother and sister get right into the photos. she would watch them take photos with the characters and was always offered a chance to be in the photo. she didn't want to. no pressure. at character meals, she would get up from her seat to stand with us, as far from the characters as possible. 2 years ago, at the garden grill she was sitting in between us during the meal and dale came by to take pics and blew her a kiss. well, she practically jumped/crawled over the table to get to him and has been taking photos with the characters and giving them hugs ever since. we are going next month and wants to have her photo with everybody she has missed over the years.

just let your child decide what they want to do. if they are forced, they will hate it. and those photos will look terrible anyway. as everyone else said, the face characters are your best bet and then go from there.

karen

 

[dreamfinder]

Definitely try face characters first. Also maybe have them watch the parade and watch M&Gs from a distance. So they can see the characters interacting with other people and from a distance.

I can see this backfiring. If the person doesn't want to meet a character while eating, then it would be a much more uneasy situation then choosing to meet the character via waiting on line.

We did Chef Mickey's with my 13mo nephew. I recommended to his parents they try a face character first, but they wanted to do that one. He wasn't a fan. Kinda hid, didn't want anything to do with Mickey or Minnie, kinda looked at Pluto and wondered what the giant dog was doing here. Then Goofy comes walking over. Nephews lip starts to tremble. He balls his fists up. Mouth opens wide, eyes close, and he starts to scream/cry. Face starts turning red, he is sitting there shaking his fists while making all sorts of noise. Every so often he looked over at Goofy and picked up steam again. Took him way to long to quiet down after that. Didn't want to get any closer than 10 feet to a character for the rest of the trip. Poor kid is probably traumatized for life now.