Mom With Kids After RunDisney; Mickey Fantasia Hat; Donald Duck Hat; Goofy Hat
  • On Dec 17, 2008
    Summer from WV Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    We are going to WDW 3/7-3/14/09 with our then 16 month old. Any suggestions of character experiences that a little one his age would like?

    Character interaction with little ones as young as 16 months can be tricky, as I'm sure you're aware.  While you or I see Mickey, the friendliest mouse on the planet, a little one might see nothing more than a giant furry head with an unnatural perma-grin.  You can imagine how that might be frightening.  :)

    We took my now nearly 2.5 year old son to WDW for the first time when he was 13 months old.  I can assure you that he wanted absolutely nothing to do with the characters.  We did do a few character meals though, for the sake of our older children.  My son squealed and squirmed anytime any of those furry creatures came within twenty feet of him. 

    My recommendation to you would be to schedule one character meal towards the end of your trip.  During the first few days, I'd introduce your child to the characters in the parks, perhaps visiting one of the character meet and greet locations.  If he or she reacts positively, then, by all means, attend that character meal, camera in hand.  If your baby doesn't take well to the characters, you'll have plenty of time to cancel the reservation.

    You might opt for a meal at Cinderella's Royal Table, or 1900 Park Fare, where the majority of the characters are "face characters," meaning that they wear make-up as opposed to oversized furry heads.  Little ones tend to be far more comfortable around characters they recognize as humans.  You may also consider a breakfast at Hollywood and Vine with characters from the Little Einsteins, if that is a show your child is familiar with.   Do keep in mind, though, that those characters are costumed, not face characters.  Good Luck!
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Meet the Panelist: Darcie, Alabama

Given your inclination to plan a magical trip, I can already tell we have a lot in common. I'm Darcie, and my friends would be the first to tell you that Disney trip planning (especially dining!) is my love language. Of course, the vacations my family enjoys today look much different than they did when our kids were little, but while some of our favorite activities have evolved, Disney destinations still top our travel wish lists. Let's work together to plan a downright dreamy vacation for your family! Learn More About Darcie

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