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Rallymonkey23
01-02-2004, 05:40 PM
So we were watching the Christmas parade and out of the blue my daughter turns to me and says, "Dad, did you know that humans make Max and Goofy move?" I knew this day would be comming but never really gave any thought as to what to tell her. I played it off and asked her what she meant. She wasnt sure "how" humans madde Max or Goofy move, but she just said thay did again. I ended up telling her that she was silly and that Goofy is Goofy and Max is Max. :D

What did you tell your children when they "figured it out".
Or what did your parents tell you?

Rick
01-02-2004, 06:27 PM
My parents told me right from the start that Mickey was a drawing or a guy in a suit, so I can't really help.

MonorailMan
01-02-2004, 06:44 PM
Isn't it obvious:

-The unproportional glove size
-The "un-cartoon-like" clothing (see: DCA)
-Feet Proportion Problems
-Un-Cartoon Like Interation with Guests (When's the last time you saw a real human in a Disney cartoon world?)

Yea, then I guess there's that whole facial expression, and talking thing. ;)

But then as kids, you'll belive anything. (Such as tiny men, that control the traffic lights!) ;)

DisneyFan25863
01-02-2004, 08:25 PM
Just say that, yes, they are humans, but Mickey (or another character) is telling them what to do, so you really are seeing them. :)

Loric
01-02-2004, 08:54 PM
Wait.. I'm confused..

I've seen Mickey talk in lots of shows, it's jsut when he's up close with the crowd he gets a little shy. I'm the same way - don't care much for the spotlight.

It's the ones who are skilled in handling people who do all the talking. I mean, would you expect less from a princess?

Donald? He just can't say anything nice so he's not saying anything at all - and Goofy just hasn't had anything come to mind to say...

I wouldn't say they're being controled/moved by people though - Yes they went to rehersals to learn the choreography or their part in a show... but I wouldn't say anyone made them, rather they do it because they enjoying entertaining people and bringing joy to our hearts.

mousey_girl
01-02-2004, 11:37 PM
The Boy pulled this one on us about a year ago. He reasoned that because the character's mouths don't move they are men in suits. I acted shocked. Later The Hubby told The Boy that mommy still believed they are real and that was the last we heard.

RStar
01-03-2004, 08:04 AM
Originally posted by MonorailMan
(When's the last time you saw a real human in a Disney cartoon world?)

Umm, Roger Rabbit, Mary Popins, the old Adventures of Alice Disney movies, ect., ect.

And so you think the logic of large hands and un-cartoon-like clothes are going to change the way a 2 or 4 year old is going to think? When they get older, things will start to click. Like "Wait a minute, there's a Santa in front of that store over there, and one right here too? How can that be??"

I feel it's best to let them discover it on their own, but don't lie to them to cover up the truth. They will feel betrayed. It's best to tell them "Yes, you are very smart to have figured that out! These people are here to act like our cartoon friends that Walt Disney and his freinds created so that we could see what they would look like up close. Now let's keep it our secret, OK? It's fun to make belive, and we don't want to spoil it for you little brother and sister, or anyone else here at the park that still belives they are real."

stitchlvr
01-03-2004, 08:40 AM
My daughter, who is nearly 7, figured this out awhile ago. At first, I was disappointed, but soon I began to see that even though in her head she understood "the reality", in her heart she loved the fantasy. So even though "she knows", these characters are as real to her now as they were before. She still gets just as excited to see them and still talks about them as if they are real.

Cadaverous Pallor
01-03-2004, 03:02 PM
Originally posted by RStar
I feel it's best to let them discover it on their own, but don't lie to them to cover up the truth. They will feel betrayed. It's best to tell them "Yes, you are very smart to have figured that out! These people are here to act like our cartoon friends that Walt Disney and his freinds created so that we could see what they would look like up close. Now let's keep it our secret, OK? It's fun to make belive, and we don't want to spoil it for you little brother and sister, or anyone else here at the park that still belives they are real." I TOTALLY agree! Thank you so much for posting this first. :D

RallyMonkey, I wouldn't tell your daughter she is "silly" for figuring out reality. Time to let it go.

cryan71
01-03-2004, 06:38 PM
Thanks for spoiling that for me.

danyoung
01-03-2004, 06:49 PM
Originally posted by RStar
I feel it's best to let them discover it on their own, but don't lie to them to cover up the truth. They will feel betrayed. It's best to tell them "Yes, you are very smart to have figured that out!

A beautiful strategy - nicely put! I have the same problem with belief in Santa Claus (I always have to disclaim that I'm a 47 year old guy with no children, so take my lofty opinion with a HUGE grain of salt!). As long as it's working for the kid, that's fine. But when disbelief starts to set in, and the parent outright lies to their child about it, well there's the start of a credibility problem, IMO. Seems your approach is the best. It allows the fantasy to live its own life, and gives the child a pat on the back to have discovered a truth.

Then again, I still believe in the spirit of the characters. I love interacting with them, and never think about the actor underneath - I'm really talking to Pluto, or Goofy, or Mickey. Just more of the magic!

CarolKoster
01-04-2004, 07:38 AM
I like RStar's posting.

My son just turned age 8. For the past 7-8 months or so (just past age 7) he's been stating little things such as "That's someone dressed up" about the Disney theme park characters. He knows that there's some sort of representation of Mickey et al in all the theme parks and at character meals at WDW, all the major characters seem to be in a lot of places at one time, etc., and he's at the age to put two plus two together about that. We're big Disney fans in our house and we used to tape off Disney Channel and we buy Disney theme park DVDs and animated movie DVDs that have "Making of..." documentaries about the creative process, that background might be affecting our son, too. Our last trip to WDW (October 2003) our son didn't want to do character meet and greets/autographs except with Mickey and Stitch (of "Lilo and Stitch"). And at a character breakfast with some 'net friends of ours and their children our son was the first to call out "Dive! Dive! Dive!" when Minnie Mouse approached the table, and he and the friend's similar aged twin children all three went under the table to hide and escape(Minnie=girl stuff/princess stuff=Ewwwww! in our son's mind!), it actually was rather funny. It's hard to leave that part of their childhood behind but at some age range it's inevitable.

In addition to what RStar said, I think it's possible for Disney-loving adults to role model to the kids that even though we know these are costumed actors they portray a way to interact with Disney animated product that we love and find entertaining. It's a transition to later when someone meets a live actor or singer or other type celebrity or famous person and you want an autograph and a photo and a brief complimentary conversation with that person. They'll know how to be polite, give the celebrity proper compliments yet yield to their personal space and privacy, etc. And it's role modeling that even though we know the costumed actors are playing a public role that there's a mature way to retain the sense of magic and thrill even when you're older, you don't necessarily have to walk away from that aspect of admiration and fanship even though you know the background of what's really going on.

My son still believes in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy and leprechauns. Those are the belief milestones I'm anticipating with bittersweet emotion. He knows some of his friends at school don't believe in Santa Claus, and he staunchly defends Santa to them. Last January at a historic battle recreation event just a week after the holidays we were boarding a bus after the event was over to return to our parking area away from the battlefield. Some jerk adolescent boys without any obvious parental or adult supervision kept hanging around us and in a sing-song-taunt manner sort of called out to us "Santa Claus is faaa-ake (fake)." When I saw they boarded our same bus I escorted my son off the bus to wait for the next one. Like RStar's post, you have to know your own children best and then handle this "belief" situation in a gentle, humane and perspective sort of way, like the famous holiday letter "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." All these (Santa, Easter Bunny, Disney theme park characters, etc.) are metaphors for larger ideas of joy, fun, generosity of the human heart towards others. And to preserve these ideas for younger children to enjoy.

To answer the question, posted in another earlier reply to this thread "When's the last time you saw a real human in a Disney cartoon world?" I'd add the Disney movies "Song of the South" when Uncle Remus sang "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and "Pete's Dragon". And I'd add the oft-repeated episode of "Full House" when the family visited WDW and one of the members of the family visited Disney Feature Animation and the animator drew a cartoon of that family member.