How Do You Explain To Little Ones Why Costume Characters Don't Talk?

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• stevenz Around since it was a.d.d
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  Question How do you explain to little ones why costume characters don't talk?

  04-04-2016, 11:30 PM Taking our two young boys (5 and 7) to DLR in May, our youngest in particular is Mickey crazy. I know when they first get to meet Mickey and the gang they are going to be confused as to why they don't talk, so I'm trying to think of something to tell them that a little one could believe and that doesn't spoil the magic or give the game away. Others here must have been in this position... What do you (or did you) tell your kids? Tags: None
• sbk1234 formerly very helpful
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  #2 04-05-2016, 07:00 AM Just say that they have to save their voices for the shows. http://micechat.com/forums/disneylan...oto-heavy.html http://micechat.com/forums/disneylan...ip-report.html http://micechat.com/forums/disneylan...oto-heavy.html http://micechat.com/forums/disneylan...oto-heavy.html http://micechat.com/forums/disneylan...something.html No matter where you go, there you are. 👍 1

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• Big D Expert Churro Salesman
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  #3 04-05-2016, 09:21 AM Don't say anything unless it comes up. In my experience kids buy into the fantasy and don't even realize it's weird that they don't talk. Disneyland Cast Member Outdoor Vending 1996 - 1999 My interview with MiceAge about working at Disneyland: http://micechat.com/blogs/mouth-of-t...ding-crew.html 👍 2

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• mtlchuck MiceChatter
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  #4 04-05-2016, 12:08 PM I think most kids older than 5 can already realize they're customed characters in stiff plastic costumes.

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• ehrawn MiceChatter
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  #5 04-05-2016, 12:24 PM Originally posted by Big D Don't say anything unless it comes up. In my experience kids buy into the fantasy and don't even realize it's weird that they don't talk. If your son is as Mickey-crazy as you say, he won't even notice. Every kid is different. My daughter is obsessed with truth, and since she was 4 made sure to tell us that she knows it's just a dude in a costume. What I tell her is that it's pretend and that sometimes it's fun to pretend. Of course, whenever she and her little brother (7&5) get in front of a costumed character, they are so star-struck, they can hardly get a word out. Really, I don't think you need to worry about it.

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• mtlchuck MiceChatter
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  #6 04-05-2016, 12:36 PM Originally posted by ehrawn If your son is as Mickey-crazy as you say, he won't even notice. Every kid is different. My daughter is obsessed with truth, and since she was 4 made sure to tell us that she knows it's just a dude in a costume. What I tell her is that it's pretend and that sometimes it's fun to pretend. Of course, whenever she and her little brother (7&5) get in front of a costumed character, they are so star-struck, they can hardly get a word out. Really, I don't think you need to worry about it. I think kids love costumed characters so much because they're truly made to look like life-sized toys/cartoons. I don't think most kids actually believe that costumed characters are the -real- characters. Last edited by mtlchuck; 04-05-2016, 12:56 PM.

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• Snow White 72 New MiceChatter
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  #7 04-05-2016, 02:24 PM Originally posted by Big D Don't say anything unless it comes up. In my experience kids buy into the fantasy and don't even realize it's weird that they don't talk. Agree. They also don't question why a mouse is taller than they are. 👍 1

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• Mind Tricks Meh
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  #8 04-05-2016, 05:06 PM I haven't ever encountered any of the kids asking this. I never really even thought about it. If they did ask me I would probably say "they must have been really shy to meet you!" Haha Grim, I lost her once; I'm not gonna lose her again.

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• Capt Hook Banned User
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  #9 04-05-2016, 05:08 PM This may already have been said before but I never found out. I know they use the talking Mickey for Soundstaitonal parade. But what ever happen to the one they where testing at Toon Town a few years ago with the M&G?

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• deadwinterskies Fr. NOCC Attractions CM
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  #10 04-05-2016, 07:24 PM Originally posted by ehrawn My daughter is obsessed with truth, and since she was 4 made sure to tell us that she knows it's just a dude in a costume. I know its not the point but due to the very specific height/size constraints, most of the Mickeys are actually women. Last edited by deadwinterskies; 04-05-2016, 08:08 PM. "In Hell, everybody loves popcorn."

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• stevenz Around since it was a.d.d
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  #11 04-05-2016, 10:18 PM Originally posted by mtlchuck I think kids love costumed characters so much because they're truly made to look like life-sized toys/cartoons. I don't think most kids actually believe that costumed characters are the -real- characters. At this stage I can tell you my 5 year old (well, he'll turn 5 while we're there) absolutely ~does~ believe that he is going to meet the real deal Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. He's never been to a theme park or met a costumed character before so he's going into this as innocent as it gets! Hopefully like you all say he'll just accept it. I'm probably over-thinking it.

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• ghosty4 I am number 4 of 999
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  #12 04-06-2016, 03:05 AM Have they seen The Little Mermaid? Two words: blame Ursula. Or, you could take them into the animation building and show them that the drawings and sound are added separately and that's why we only get Mickey and not his voice, because his voice is still in the television. It's actually "Cars Land", not "Carsland". 👍 1

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• Capt Hook Banned User
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  #13 04-06-2016, 09:09 AM Originally posted by ghosty4 Have they seen The Little Mermaid? Two words: blame Ursula. Or, you could take them into the animation building and show them that the drawings and sound are added separately and that's why we only get Mickey and not his voice, because his voice is still in the television. I do that alot myself when I can't talk right I always say to Ariel or anyone else I see that Ursula took my voice. So you could say that about Mickey, Tigger or any other Fur character even with the likes of Capt. Hook. U can say that Ursula got real mad at Hook for missing her plans and for his mistake she took his voice. 👍 1

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• mtlchuck MiceChatter
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  #14 04-06-2016, 11:53 AM Originally posted by stevenz At this stage I can tell you my 5 year old (well, he'll turn 5 while we're there) absolutely ~does~ believe that he is going to meet the real deal Mickey Mouse at Disneyland. He's never been to a theme park or met a costumed character before so he's going into this as innocent as it gets! Hopefully like you all say he'll just accept it. I'm probably over-thinking it. That is really sweet! Doesn't Disneyland have a Meet Mickey with the talking Mickey as in the MK? If not, I love ghosty4's ideas !

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• Walt's Ghost Resident Ghost
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  #15 04-06-2016, 12:01 PM I don't believe in lying to children unless I'm specifically being paid to lie to children as Disney CMs are. If they ask, tell the truth. I mean, if they're asking a question like that, then they obviously know something is weird and are already pretty smart. 👍 1

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• AlohaStitch "Always On The Move..."
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  #16 04-06-2016, 12:23 PM Back in the 80's I was a professional actor, between TV and movie gig's I was "friends" with Barney the big purple dinosaur. (Don't judge me...a person gotta eat! lol) Anyways I did live performances and meet and greets (no I was not involved in the TV series). But in the literally hundreds of little ones that Barney met not a single one (or parent) said anything about him not talking. They were just excited to get to met him. So I wouldn't worry about the character's not talking. Originally posted by migo I poop with joy! Best Quote...EVER!!! Member of the Black Cat Owners Association #6 👍 1

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• Crazybirdman
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  #17 04-06-2016, 02:41 PM Originally posted by Big D Don't say anything unless it comes up. In my experience kids buy into the fantasy and don't even realize it's weird that they don't talk. Agreed, my kids have never asked. If they do, I use my mom's old go to answer "What do you think?" "What single word is the name of a magazine, a cereal, a board game, and a never-ending series of soul-crushing disappointments which slowly leech away your hope and idealism until you are nothing more than a bitter husk of a man?"

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• afbilb New MiceChatter
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  #18 04-06-2016, 08:43 PM Don't go into that topic unless it is mentioned, however, if they do ask, say that their voices have ran out or that an evil villian has done something to their voice. Example: "Why isn't Mickey speaking?" "Oh, well the evil Chernabog but a spell on his voice today"

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• stevenz Around since it was a.d.d
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  #19 04-07-2016, 12:10 AM Originally posted by mtlchuck That is really sweet! Doesn't Disneyland have a Meet Mickey with the talking Mickey as in the MK? If not, I love ghosty4's ideas ! No it doesn't unfortunately. I've seen the MK one on YouTube and it looks amazing. I wish they did have that at DLR. But hey, lots of great ideas here thanks guys. Hopefully the boys won't even ask and will just go with the magic

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• ajburk97 MiceChatter
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  #20 04-07-2016, 01:21 AM Originally posted by stevenz No it doesn't unfortunately. I've seen the MK one on YouTube and it looks amazing. I wish they did have that at DLR. But hey, lots of great ideas here thanks guys. Hopefully the boys won't even ask and will just go with the magic They use a talking Mickey in DCA for the Newsies Trolley thing they do. I wouldn't be surprised if the talking Mickey became more common in the parks.

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