Has anyone NOT done the autograph book?

[Perrier]

Is the autograph book a definite MUST? My kids will be 6 at the time of our trip. Right now, they don't know what an autograph book is. And I personally think it's silly. BUT, I don't want to take any fun away from my kids, & if they see other kids getting autographs, I suppose they may want to. I was just wondering if anyone here did w/o the autograph books. To me, a photo w/the character is way better.

Please don't think I'm a Disney snub. I'm really an autograph snub. :goodvibes

[ch1103]

We didn't do the autographs the first 2 times we went to Disney because I thought it would be too much trouble, but we did last time, 3 years ago. My kids were 8 and 5 then. It was a BLAST! They were very into it. They were always on the lookout for the characters. But we also went in September that time, so there weren't hoards of children also waiting for an autograph. Most of the time, they walked right up to the characters.

[MissSixty]

I don't. A picture is much more special, besides, it is just a guy in a big costume, worthless in my opinion, but if the kids like it, let them do it. I for one do not encourage it.

[jessica52877]

So far we have done without an autograph book and I hope to keep it that way. I am sure if my son eventually asks that I would probably let him. I Just feel sorry for those folks signing their names all day long in that big fluffy costume! The picture is the best to me!

[mytwotinks]

I really thought that it was stupid too! I mean it isn't really ....(whoever).... But we had a blast doing it. We got a lot of ours in character meals so we didn't waste our whole trip in lines. Each character has a different signature style. My girls loved the different ways each princess signs her name! Really even if you get a different "cast member" playing the character the autograph is the same. It is pretty cute. I used a small scrapbook on our first trip that I put the pictures in when we got home. It is fun for them to see a picture of themselves getting the autograph next to the autograph. Even my 2 year old got into it. She had no idea why, but she handed them the book every time. I think it gives you a few more moments with the character too!

[Yensid FoNaf]

A picture is much more special, besides, it is just a guy in a big costume, worthless in my opinion, but if the kids like it, let them do it. I for one do not encourage it.

I agree that a picture is much more special, but what do you mean "it is a guy in a big costume" :eek: ??? Keep the magic alive! These are the ACTUAL characters, not some actor in a costume! Right? ;) Part of what makes the autograph's so cool for the kids is that they BELIEVE that they are acutally meeting their favorite characters! Once they get past the age of believing, the autograph becomes less important.

What we like to do is get the autograph and the picture. We print the picture and tape it to the opposing page of the autograph book. My DD loves to do both.

[MessyJ]

My DW and I have been three times this year with our AP. The first time we went in May, we didn't even think about characters at all. We were too busy running from the Tower of Terror to Splash Mountain. However, on the last night of the trip, we had already seen Wishes, so we went to Toontown during this time. We got right in to see Mickey, and we were hooked. On our October and January trips, we were much more interested in getting our pictures with our favorite characters. Only now, in preparation for our Feb./Mar. trip, am I considering autograph books. We have pictures with most of our favorite characters, and I am beginning to hear about rarer characters who I haven't seen before. Now I am thinking about starting to get autographs so I can more easily keep track of which characters we have seen and which we still need to meet. :hyper:

[krismom]

We found that when we left the books at the hotel- we got much less interaction with the characters... they would pose for the picture and move onto the next kid in line. When we wanted the autograph, they would "talk" and hang out a bit more.

Just a thought...

[disneylady]

I recommend doing the autograph books at least once. We did this a few years ago, but didn't on our last cruise. I think one book full of autographs is enough. Both of my kids, boy and girl, have theirs sitting up on their dressers. They are very proud of them!

[Tissa]

We didn't do it the first time because ds was afraid of the characters but we did the second time and ds still pulls out his book and looks at it. We got the gold one that has a sleeve to hold the picture in across from the autograph. The pictures really make the book.

[la79al]

We went last year with DD4 and DS8. I debated about getting autograph books but chose, because of the long wait to get autographs, not to unless one of the kids showed interest. Well neither of them seemed to even notice the autograph thing for the first 4 days. Then we went to Chef Mickeys and they somehow picked up on the autograph thing. They got the autograph of every character there on a piece of paper. The next day at the park however, they returned to showing no interest in autographs. I do plan to get autograph books for next summers trip but am letting it up to the kids whether they choose to use them. As a side note, my kids had a lot of fun looking for and doing the penny presses.

[McKelly]

We did the autograph books, my DS4 wasn't into them, however my DD6 was. I kind of like them because when you are with a character, it sort of fills in that "awkward" time, if that makes sense. You take the picture, give a hug, and I never have anything witty to say, so it is just a short lived moment. With the autograph book, I found that some of the characters would look at the child's name in the front cover, some of them would pretend to write in it upside down, it just provided something "extra" with the characters. In fact, our books from several years ago are filled up, so I might buy them new ones to fill again.

[stitchluva22]

no i did t-shirts.

[mytwotinks]

no i did t-shirts.
I was thinking of buying some cute t-shirts with a bunch of the characters on them and having them sign it on the back and making a pillow out of it when I got home. I am going to buy a bunch of different colored sharpies! We've done the books so we already have that souveneir. I think it is fun to do something a little different every time! I have also heard of people doing hats. I think that only rule is that you can't be wearing it. They'l sign anything though! As an earlier poster said, I never know what to say to the characters. :scratchin It fills the awkward silence! :rolleyes1

[CMAXphoto]

We did the autograph book for our DS6. I made a small scrapbook with his name on the front, we had the characters sign on one side so that we could put a picture on the other. After we got home I helped him to add the pictures to the album, it made for some GREAT mom and son time and to carry on the magic of our trip.

On another note, one of the best ideas I got from this board was to put stickers of some of the characters on the page that they were to sign, it made for some great interaction with the characters when they saw their "picture" on the page. Cruella was the best! She kept going on how beautiful she was, and getting better looking everyday!

I put the stickers in a zip lock bag and used a rubber band to hold it to the back of the book. While we were standing in line, my son would find the correct sticker and put it on the next page.

Hope this helps!

[mytwotinks]

We did the autograph book for our DS6. I made a small scrapbook with his name on the front, we had the characters sign on one side so that we could put a picture on the other. After we got home I helped him to add the pictures to the album, it made for some GREAT mom and son time and to carry on the magic of our trip.

On another note, one of the best ideas I got from this board was to put stickers of some of the characters on the page that they were to sign, it made for some great interaction with the characters when they saw their "picture" on the page. Cruella was the best! She kept going on how beautiful she was, and getting better looking everyday!

I put the stickers in a zip lock bag and used a rubber band to hold it to the back of the book. While we were standing in line, my son would find the correct sticker and put it on the next page.

Hope this helps!

That's a great idea to take the stickers with you. It gives the kiddos something to do while you wait! Did you use the creative Memory ones? We took our little albums with us so we can put the pictures in there (whenever I get around to getting the copies! :blush: )

[CMAXphoto]

I went to Archivers to get the stickers and album. I let my son pick out a lot of them. He was so excited when we saw a character that we had a sticker for.

[jessica52877]

"We found that when we left the books at the hotel- we got much less interaction with the characters... they would pose for the picture and move onto the next kid in line. When we wanted the autograph, they would "talk" and hang out a bit more."

This really makes sense. I often feel like wow! that was a 2 second thing and my son didn't get anything out of it. He used to LOVE it, now just turned 3 and he didn't even want to see them after the first boring one. When he was littlier though they interacted alot, mainly because he was so little and never scared! Maybe we'll give one a try!

[WDWCM]

Remember, the interaction is what you all make of it. These characters do not "speak" and must rely on movements and visual clues/props. It can be hard to interact with anybody that approaches and says/does nothing.

Believe me, most characters would rather play around with the friends that come to see them than to stand there and sign an autograph book. Ask them to dance, ask them to play tag or peek a boo, ask them about their movie or arch rival. Bring a toy/stuffed animal/doll.

Also, get creative with the poses for your photos. Ham it up! Sword fight with Capt Hook. Fly with Peter and Wendy. Mime a tea party with Alice and the Hatter, etc...

[5fordisney]

I read a tip to use a favorite disney book as your autograph book, in the same way you would have an author autograph a copy of their book. I have a princess book, a mickey and friends book, and a pooh book that we read a lot at home. I'm thinking of bringing those and having the characters sign the inside covers. One of the books is the step 2 reader books that you see everywhere, not very big in size. And just yesterday I read a tip on the disboards to buy a poster in the parks and have the characters sign the poster instead of an autograph book. Although I love the idea of the autograph book with the spot for the picture on the opposite side! And then there is only 1 book to carry around!

[Zim]

I've been to Disneyworld with my daughter when she was 4 and 6... I always figured the autograph books took away from the time she spent with the characters posing AND that eventually when she's older she'd see it as silly, so I always discouraged it and we just did pictures.

BUT - I've changed my mind ever since Christmas when we were discussing this with my college age cousins who STILL treasure their autograph books from Disney. And my daughter, now 8, is adamant she's bringing an autograph book this time. I'm also going to borrow the sticker idea - what a great idea for something to do in line waiting to see them!

I'm also encouraged by the other posts that characters DON'T spend less time with you if you have them sign a book!

[WDWCM]

Remember, the interaction is what you all make of it. These characters do not "speak" and must rely on movements and visual clues/props. It can be hard to interact with anybody that approaches and says/does nothing.

Believe me, most characters would rather play around with the friends that come to see them than to stand there and sign an autograph book. Ask them to dance, ask them to play tag or peek a boo, ask them about their movie or arch rival. Bring a toy/stuffed animal/doll.

Also, get creative with the poses for your photos. Ham it up! Sword fight with Capt Hook. Fly with Peter and Wendy. Mime a tea party with Alice and the Hatter, etc...

Just reiterating.

[44sun]

When we went, we had the characters autograph the park map which we included in the trip scrapbook along with the photos of the kiddos + characters. This way it's all incorporated in one book. :thumbsup2

[runner26.2]

Our children (DD9, DD6, DS3) had great fun meeting the various characters, getting autographs and photos. Once back home though the autograph books were quickly forgotten, altho the pictures still get looked at frequently.

Characters will no longer sign clothing that is being worn. A previous poster mentioned getting a t-shirt signed. I expect they will sign it so long as it is being worn, but if you, your child, or anyone is wearing it they won't sign it.

[Mickey527]

I don't know if I was the one you got the idea for the stickers from but I did do this for my niece and nephew 4 years ago when I brought them to WDW.
I got 3x5 photo albums at AC Moore for $1.00 each. I got the list of characters that wander around the parks and found clipart of eacy of these characters. I then used sticker paper and copied the clip art onto the sticker paper.
I put the character stickers onto 3x5 cards on the blank side and put them into the albums.
When we came upon a character we just pulled the card out of the album and had the character sign it. The "talking" characters did go on and on about how happy they were to sign a photo of themselves. A few of them asked where we found the photos and they didn't remember posing, etc...
My niece and nephew still have the cards in their albums and keep them on their dresser to look at when I visit.
It took me all of 3 or 4 hours to get all the clipart together and put them on the cards for the kids and they have enjoyed these for years. Peggie

[mkygrl]

Just a thought or 2...

My godson on his first trip bought a baseball cap on first day and anyone he saw had him/her sign it-It was actually pretty cool and he was sooo proud of it.

Nephew (7)/Niece(5) spent so much of their time hunting for characters that they didn't do much of anything else.

[digskat]

We forgot last trip, DD and DS were not to upset about it. They enjoyed doing the pressed pennies with booklet much more.

[bedgraynexl]

We didn't plan on the autograph books for DS5 and DD3. Well, in the second day, while in AK and DW was in her convention meetings, the kids saw other kids with their books and just had to get the autographs. Dad caved and bought books and pens. The kids had fun collecting the sigs, DW wasn't thrilled at first, but got over it. DS still says he needs to get Mickey (first character we saw, but no book, no sig)

[lpbm4]

Thanks for this thread. I thought we *HAD* to do the autograph book for the kids. ANd now reading, this, I feel like it's not a necessity. A picture is great for me. ;)