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  • On May 7, 2013
    Laura 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.

    I have a 9 year old daughter and she is affraid of the characters. How can i help get her over the fear before we come to disney in August.?

    Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel Laura!

    Many people have a fear of characters especially those with their faces covered by masks or completely with make-up. Talk to your daughter about her fear and listen to her reasons. You may be able to talk her through her fears.

    Familiarize her with the characters by watching movies and looking at pictures. There are 2 different kinds of characters at Disney World: Face Characters whose faces aren't covered like Cinderella and Peter Pan and Fur Characters like Tigger and Mickey.  Sometimes people are more afraid of the fur characters so you may want to start with a face character. Let her know the fur characters may seem a lot larger in person than on TV. Showing her pictures of other families and the characters will give her a good comparison.

    You could try playing dress up with your daughter. In addition to the costumes, be sure to put on make-up and let her look at herself in the mirror. You can also buy masks and put those on as well. If there are any opportunities to "practice" between now and then, you could try to take advantage of that. Some sports teams have mascots that you could visit.

    Once you get to the parks, start slowly.  Let her keep her distance until she is feels comfortable. Let her know that you'll be with her the whole time and that you'll even stand beside her in pictures. You could even stand between her and the characters. Let her know that if at any time she wants to get out of line, its okay and you'll support her decision. You can also explain to her that the characters are all part of the show at Disney.

    The good news is that the characters at Disney understand that there are Guests of all ages who may not be comfortable around characters. They are very good at recognizing that and know how to stand back and let Guests come to them.

    Wishing you minnie magical memories :-) Allison

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Meet the Panelist: Allison, Georgia

I'm a Disney-fanatic! I made my first trip to Disney World the year it opened and have grown up crazy for all things Disney. As the Mom of a son with Cerebral Palsy, I love providing recommendations for families traveling with a special needs member. Learn More About Allison

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