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EPCOT; Mother and Son; Spaceship Earth
  • On Aug 27, 2013
    Michelle 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 will be going to WDW soon and my daughter is asking a lot of questions about cartoons and real people. I really want to keep the magic of REAL princesses alive longer. What suggestions do you have for a response when she asks me if they are real?

    Hi, Michelle!

    Aww...what a sweet age...the magic is still alive in your little princess's heart!

    When my little ones began asking a lot of questions about characters at that age, we explained our thoughts in reaction to a question, which signaled to us that the child was ready to wonder and hear more, rather than spoiling a moment with too much information too early.

    In Walt Disney World, characters such as Princesses, Princes and others whose faces can easily be seen (no masks or head-covering gear) are always the real deal. Take a look at the autographs each one of those characters signs in an autograph book, and you'll see evidence of this: they are the same, no matter which park it came from or in which setting.

    Once our little ones noticed that the other characters, the ones whose faces were covered entirely, so that they could not speak (even though those characters speak in TV shows and films) we told them that they are Mickey's helpers. Sprinkled with a little pixie dust to help everyone enjoy the wonder of the parks, these folks help keep that magic alive, too, but sort of as assistants to the Big Mouse. This they accepted, as they each noticed a significant difference between a character who can ask them if they'd seen any pirates today and one who can't.

    By the way, encourage the interaction between these characters and your own little princess. They are so polished in the way they do so, it's sure to help strengthen your daughter's belief in the magic of WDW! (Peter Pan once taught my toddler son how to secretly show all that you are a pirate, so you should not be bothered: he took the double-velcro straps of my son's sneakers and criss-crossed them, making an X on each foot. THAT, he explained, is how to show all that you are indeed a pirate. My son wore his shoes that way for a year. <3 )

    Send more questions as you think of them, Michelle; we love to help!
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Meet the Panelist: Andrea, Pennsylvania

I am a teacher, wife and mom who has been a member of the Disney Vacation Club since 2003. I love discovering a new favorite DVC resort, fantastic restaurant or hidden gem onboard a Disney ship! I'm a micro-planner who can help you capture your own magic! Learn More About Andrea

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