Is 2 years old too young for an autograph book?

MinMou · May 30, 2015

I am debating whether to buy one or make one, and then I thought,
* will DC understand what's going on?
* will DC want to grab the book and doodle all over it?
* is this something DC will look at years later, or will it get thrown out in a couple of years?

What are your experiences with toddlers and autograph books?

lisamc2 · May 30, 2015

I was contemplating this the last time we went when my DD was almost 3. I decided not to and it was the right choice for us. She never asked for one nor did she notice all the big kids having one (no big kid were with us). I think it also gave her more time to just hug and interact with the characters. I am still deciding if she will have one when she is 4 next time.

merdie · May 30, 2015

My DD would not have been into character autographs at all when she was 2, but at 4.5 she really got it. She loves to look at her little book with signatures and pictures. I wouldn't bother with it for a couple more years. This year my ODD will do one again and I suspect my almost 3 year old will want to have a book because her sister has one, not because of the autographs.

Happyinwonerland · May 30, 2015

We took DVD for the first time 2 weeks before her second birthday. We took her 7 year old cousin with us. We bought both girls autograph books because I didn't want any jealousy. It turned out to be a great thing. Do loved getting the autographs. She marched up to the characters and held out her book for all to sign. We got the photo album style book and now she loves to look through it and talk about the photos. We get a new book for each trip, as getting autographs is one of her favorite activities.

laura3773 · May 30, 2015

My daughter LOVED the autograph book, although she did try to color on it some. We have plenty of pages left so we will just use it again on our next trip.

unrequited23 · May 30, 2015

I made autograph books for my boys from supplies from Dollar Tree. They will be 5.5 yrs and almost 3 when we go. It cost $4 total and was a fun project for me.

skuttle · May 30, 2015

My 4yo LOVED having the autograph book during our last trip. Our 2.5yo was a bit scared of the fur characters at first and took a while to warm up to them. We tried giving him the autograph book to see if that would help him go up to the characters, but he would get a little close, then throw it at them!

ah1126 · May 30, 2015

When DD was 2 I took a canvas tote bag that we had just a few of the characters sign. We didn't spend tons of time meeting characters, but did meet Minnie, Mickey, Goofy, Pooh and the gang. She uses her bag now when she goes to the library and loves that she gets to look at it and use it all the time. After that trip we made a flip book from Shutterfly with the pictures of her and the characters and other pictures of the trip. She really loved being able to pull that out and look at it, and still loves looking at it now.

Our trip when DD was 4 she loved getting autographs!

Ladygoldenhair · May 31, 2015

I think at two they don't know what they are missing. i saw a book I fell in love with at the shop near Gastons Tavern. It was a big thick memory book. There were places for autographs, pictures, pixie dust that Fairy Godmother may spread. Places for cards, and even notes. It's is two decades from now looking back at the first trip pictures and her sweet reaction recorded that will be priceless.
I started mine two trips ago and take it adding each new character like at special events or great interactions that I don't want to forget.

cariann77 · May 31, 2015

My dd was 2, almost 3. She didn't really care one way or another if she had it. I bought the Minnie one that I can insert pictures into so, I'll have that to keep. But, we could have done with out. I guess it's up to you and if it's something that you would like as a keepsake or not.

violentlyserene · May 31, 2015

I'm planning to get books for my two years olds because it'll be a nice thing for them to look at later when we add the picture they take with characters and its hopefully going to be an icebreaker. They probably wouldn't care if we didn't but we'll try it. if they hate it, we can always ditch the books or make it an adult thing.

I really love the canvas bag idea too.

Nello · May 31, 2015

I made small autograph clipboards for my 2.5 yr old and her 3 year old cousin. I had the characters sign note cards and plan on making them both laminated books with the cards and pics from the sessions so they can have something to look at to remember their trip (the lamination will help it survive toddlerhood!) They LOVED taking pictures and interacting with characters, and it didn't take long for me to grab a quick signature for them. The clipboards also served as little drawing surfaces (with a blank card) for them to write or color on when they needed something to do!

MinMou · May 31, 2015

Nello said:
I made small autograph clipboards for my 2.5 yr old and her 3 year old cousin. I had the characters sign note cards and plan on making them both laminated books with the cards and pics from the sessions so they can have something to look at to remember their trip (the lamination will help it survive toddlerhood!) They LOVED taking pictures and interacting with characters, and it didn't take long for me to grab a quick signature for them. The clipboards also served as little drawing surfaces (with a blank card) for them to write or color on when they needed something to do!

I like this idea, Nello. This way I don't have to worry about our little one throwing the book at characters as skuttle's child did. LOL!

skuttle · May 31, 2015

owen&rydersmom said:
I couldn't do AKL without a savannah view...so a 1 br with a savannah view is what is too much for me. Id be fine paying for a studio and any of the 3 resorts.

MinMou said:
I like this idea, Nello. This way I don't have to worry about our little one throwing the book at characters as skuttle's child did. LOL!

LOL! He wasn't throwing it to be mean...he just didn't want to get any closer! Don't worry, he only did it twice, then we stopped giving him the book!

MinMou · Jun 1, 2015

skuttle, I didn't think your son was mean; I thought he was a normal 2 year old at the throwing stage! When our LO gets frustrated, things fly!

KyGirl · Jun 1, 2015

We took our almost three year old a few weeks ago and I had an embroidered pillow case for the characters to sign with fabric markers. I wasn't sure if it was the best decision because she wasn't too into while we were there. I definitely had to take responsibility for it and it was kind of a pain to get it arranged, especially if we were meeting a few characters at a time or something. (I had a small clip board and binder clips so that the characters could easily sign but I'd have to rearrange it for each autograph. Not a huge deal but I always get flustered when I'm rushing with that kind of stuff.) I usually handed it to the character and they'd keep talking to her while they signed and then hand it back. BUT, now that we're back she LOVES that thing and we look at it all the time. I haven't even gotten a pillow to put in it and put on her bed yet because we sit on the couch every night and talk about all of the autographs.

Which is the exact opposite of what I expected. I thought my kind of shy girl would love using it for an ice breaker but not care at all after the fact. For one thing, she can't read.... But kids, they surprise you every time.

nat8199 · Jun 2, 2015

My twins absolutely loved their autograph books when they were 2.5yo. That was probably the highlight of the trip for them. My 4yo DD also had her own. I just bought cheap spiral notebooks with mickey on the cover off Amazon and used those. This year we are going to use the ones from the park. I already have one for each of my kids.

DSNY4ever · Jun 2, 2015

If you gave it to her I am sure she would get into it if you encouraged it, but I wouldn't at this point. We took DS at 2 and he didn't even notice or care about the autograph thing and I am hoping it stays that way for a while. He just hugged and looked at their eyes and costumes, and giggled, it was great. I think the whole autograph thing at such a young age takes away from the chance for them to hug, interact and really have a "moment" with the character, but of course if either of my kids really want to do it down the line I will let them...but I won't introduce the idea, haha.

StirlingSilver83 · Jun 2, 2015

I always make my own autograph books. I have a 23 month old and an 8 year old. We went to Disney in April and did a ton of character dining. I would rather have the characters come to us then we have to wait in long lines for them, lol. Anyways my then 21 month old got so use to the routine, everytime a character would come to the table he would point to the books and then point to his big brother bc he knew after the character signed the books that big brother would get out of his chair and go over to his high chair so that I could take a pic of the 2 of them with the character. It was so cute! Of course he was following big brothers example with the autograph books. I am not sure how it would go if he didn't have a big brother to set the example for him.

han22735 · Jun 2, 2015

Our DD just turned 3 and loved the autographs as well. We ordered a customized book off Etsy that had character specific pages for them to sign and the page across was for a picture of the meet. She loves looking at the book.

Is 2 years old too young for an autograph book?

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