BAN autograph books!

[kandeebunny]

I've been going to Disney since I was little (like 2 or 3) and I still collect autographs and still carry the book with me. When I was younger I used to do this with my dad, mom would be shopping and dad and I would wait for the character bus, or wait in lines in the parks for the characters. My dad died when I was 12, and this is one of my favorite memories, so every trip I do the same thing, makes it feel like he's there more.

It's a lot of fun, and they try to give everyone the same amount of time autograph or not, how you prefer to spend your time should be your decision.

 

[auroraarielella]

My children have no interest in autographs - and I am glad. They enjoy the interaction rather that shoving a book in the characters face. I don't know when the autographs started, but I don't like it either!

 

[MinnieM21]

You'll need to let Mickey know! When I was at Chef Mickey's, Mickey asked me if I wanted him to his autograph. I thought it was cute.

 

[princess aurora]

I never liked the autograph book idea either. My DD asked last time only b/c she saw all the other kids with them. We didn't do it then. If I can continue to discourage it, I will. Personally I think it's a bit of a waste of time (IMO). I don't see the point in collecting "real" movies star or athlete autographs either.

We bought our own books from the $ store this year. I'm bringing them only so I'm not talked into buying Disney books there. I'm really hoping they don't want to use them and again I will try to discourage it but it is their holiday too .

 

[Figment]

My children have no interest in autographs - and I am glad. They enjoy the interaction rather that shoving a book in the characters face. I don't know when the autographs started, but I don't like it either!

for the record, my kids have loved the autographs, but they, too see the difference in the interactions.

Are there any other little changes that anyone finds to be "less than magical"? I offered a few:
no mickey butter
no mickey straws
no package delivery

here is another...the children's cups are now real flimsy. we used to be able to bring them home as souveniers & use them all year, but now, the go in the trash.

they aren't huge deals, just little things that we've taken notice of.

 

[princess aurora]

no mickey butter
no mickey straws
no package delivery

We never had the butter or the straws so we don't know what we're missing.

When did the package delivery stop? You mean from the parks to your hotel? That's a BIG perk for me staying on-site!

 

[F1Julie]

If WDW decided to ban autographs that would be fine with me but I doubt that will ever happen. WDW makes too much money on the books and the fat pens that go along with them. My DD4 doesn't do autographs. I just don't see the point.

 

[Figment]

If WDW decided to ban autographs that would be fine with me but I doubt that will ever happen. WDW makes too much money on the books and the fat pens that go along with them. My DD4 doesn't do autographs. I just don't see the point.

agreed. The $$$ will determine the policy.

As for package delivery, it used to be in your room the next day. They stopped that practice. Now, you have to go to a central location at your resort.

 

[princess aurora]

As for package delivery, it used to be in your room the next day. They stopped that practice. Now, you have to go to a central location at your resort.

Hmmm that's a bummer. In the room was a personal touch I liked very much.

 

[HopperFan]

I think the autograph books should stay - those who want to spend their time that way have that option, and those who do not can just interact. I am the parent of a special needs child whose autographs are priceless to him, he has all his books from the last 16 years and still looks at them. The book is the base for his interaction. It is what gave him the courage to interact. There are also just extremely shy children, that if they didn't have that book and pen, would never be able to approach a character. What a wonderful experience for them !

I totally disagree with the availability of characters. Maybe I've just been going there way too long but I remember when characters were rare, it was unorganized and they were totally mobbed by kids and there was lots of pushing and rudeness. No prayer of a photo of your child and the character alone. You had to book a meal for interaction. Now there are characters EVERYWHERE, with formal and informal lines. You know you will get a turn if you want to wait in that line. We have often been able to walk right up to the characters. At toontown you get several at once. I think they have made great strides in making the characters available. We have stopped doing character meals, but maybe that is an area that their timing needs to be worked on. When we used to go you were guaranteed a visit with each, and if one missed you, you only had to tell your waiter.

 

[Indi-Emma-Jones]

When I was about 8 my dad made me and my sister autograph books with a cartoon picture of each character on each page. This was a really good idea as the characters and CMs assisting loved them.
When I was younger I loved having my picture taken with the characters and getting their autographs. I think banning autograph books would ruin the Disney experience for younger children.

 

[Figment]

I think banning autograph books would ruin the Disney experience for younger children.

Really? it would ruin the disney experience?!?!

 

[mking624]

Ok the package being sent to the central location...that's not exactly a thing I can complain about. They're still doing a great service. I know people who have had things stolen from them because they used to leave the package hanging on the doorknob. I'd walk by and see bags delivered and hanging on the door and I used to worry about things getting stolen so I never had anything delivered. When I found out some guests WERE experiencing stolen items...from other guests who'd swipe the package, I was glad to not have things delivered. I'm more than happy to pick it up from a central location on my resort if it assures that it won't be stolen. So you have to go out of your way a bit. It's not a big deal.

I personally haven't noticed any change in interaction. All I see, from my point of view, are more and more demanding children. Actually no...more and more demanding parents. I'm appalled by what I see in the parents most of the time. I feel really bad for those CMs. Not saying this is what YOU are doing, but I can totally understand the reason why time limits are enforced. SO many children, many demanding parents...and only one person to go around to all of them. I, personally, would be upset if the autograph books were banned. For one, I love them as do thousands of children. But it's up to the parent on whether or not they want to do them. The parents aren't forced to buy them. My siblings went for the first time last September and survived fine without an autograph book (they are 15, 11, and 6...but my youngest sibling was 5 at the time). But mainly, the books are not the central cause of this problem...although I've personally never seen a problem. That doesn't mean others haven't experienced it, but when it isn't an issue for every single guest, it shouldn't be banned. If EVERY guest was complaining of the exact same thing...then something should be re-evaluated. But since they're experiencing positive results, moreso than the negative...they're gonna side with the positive. And I, personally, have to agree with them on that.

I hope that things in the future can work out better for you. Perhaps you can just do your own personal boycott of the books or look for lesser known characters so you get the time you would like. I remember finding Robin Hood just a few years ago and being thrilled to death (he's my favorite). No one was with him or the other two characters so there was plenty of chances to interact. But ultimately, banning an autograph book can't cure the problem of thousands of parents & children wanting to meet ONE person. You're gonna run into time constraints...books or not.

 

[auroraarielella]

Back to the butter issue...

I also remember the Derby shaped butter at the Brown Derby in MGM....

 

[mking624]

Really? it would ruin the disney experience?!?!

For some people, it does...even if you don't agree. It may not ruin the experience for you...but you have no idea how many children I get in my store running around looking for autograph books because they cannot WAIT to get an autograph. For them, it's part of the entire experience. So yes, I can understand how it would ruin the experience for some people. Just because it doesn't ruin it for you, doesn't mean it doesn't upset someone else. We all entitled to have differing opinions on what our Disney Experience should be like.

 

[Figment]

Ok the package being sent to the central location...that's not exactly a thing I can complain about. They're still doing a great service. I know people who have had things stolen from them because they used to leave the package hanging on the doorknob. I'd walk by and see bags delivered and hanging on the door and I used to worry about things getting stolen so I never had anything delivered. When I found out some guests WERE experiencing stolen items...from other guests who'd swipe the package, I was glad to not have things delivered. I'm more than happy to pick it up from a central location on my resort if it assures that it won't be stolen. So you have to go out of your way a bit. It's not a big deal.

I never saw packages hanging from doors. I was talking about a time when the packages were delivered into the room. I would not want my package outside of my room, either. I know it isn't a big deal, like I said, it is a small thing that I have noticed.

I personally haven't noticed any change in interaction. All I see, from my point of view, are more and more demanding children. Actually no...more and more demanding parents. I'm appalled by what I see in the parents most of the time. I feel really bad for those CMs. Not saying this is what YOU are doing, but I can totally understand the reason why time limits are enforced. SO many children, many demanding parents...and only one person to go around to all of them. I, personally, would be upset if the autograph books were banned. For one, I love them as do thousands of children. But it's up to the parent on whether or not they want to do them. The parents aren't forced to buy them. My siblings went for the first time last September and survived fine without an autograph book (they are 15, 11, and 6...but my youngest sibling was 5 at the time). But mainly, the books are not the central cause of this problem...although I've personally never seen a problem. That doesn't mean others haven't experienced it, but when it isn't an issue for every single guest, it shouldn't be banned. If EVERY guest was complaining of the exact same thing...then something should be re-evaluated. But since they're experiencing positive results, moreso than the negative...they're gonna side with the positive. And I, personally, have to agree with them on that.

I agree about the obnoxious parents & children, and the autograph books add to the obnoxious behavior. I know that no one is forced to buy them. I never claimed that they were mandatory. As for the "every guest" mentality, if a business acted only when EVERY client complained, it would make for a rather innefficient business. I think you are missing my point.

I hope that things in the future can work out better for you. Perhaps you can just do your own personal boycott of the books or look for lesser known characters so you get the time you would like. I remember finding Robin Hood just a few years ago and being thrilled to death (he's my favorite). No one was with him or the other two characters so there was plenty of chances to interact. But ultimately, banning an autograph book can't cure the problem of thousands of parents & children wanting to meet ONE person. You're gonna run into time constraints...books or not.

Things ALWAYS work out fine for me, as I make my own fun & am not reliant on others' behavior to dictate my experience. I was, again, making an informed observation on how things have changed.

 

[Figment]

For some people, it does...even if you don't agree. It may not ruin the experience for you...but you have no idea how many children I get in my store running around looking for autograph books because they cannot WAIT to get an autograph. For them, it's part of the entire experience. So yes, I can understand how it would ruin the experience for some people. Just because it doesn't ruin it for you, doesn't mean it doesn't upset someone else. We all entitled to have differing opinions on what our Disney Experience should be like.

Sorry, but if the lack of an autograph book ruins the "disney experience", it is not the autograph book that is the problem.

 

[mking624]

Sorry, but if the lack of an autograph book ruins the "disney experience", it is not the autograph book that is the problem.

So if someone's idea of a Disney Experience includes an autograph book, that's a problem to you? Perhaps understanding that not everyone has to have the same idea as you have would lessen the conflict on this matter. You don't have to do an autograph book if you dislike them so much. But please be respectful to the ones who happen to be excited about them and DO consider it part of their experience. There's no need to lessen their experience of an autograph book to a "problem." We CAN have differing opinions on it and that's perfectly fine.

 

[Figment]

We CAN have differing opinions on it and that's perfectly fine.

apparently not....

gotta love the attitude, though...since I don't agree with you, I cannot possibly understand.

 

[WDSearcher]

Sorry, but if the lack of an autograph book ruins the "disney experience", it is not the autograph book that is the problem.

I think that's a pretty rude, flip statement.

You said in your original post that you "would like to keep as much of the magic as possible." Well .... to many, many children, autograph books are part of the magic. You're saying "Ban Autograph Books" because they negatively impact your visit. But the fact that banning them would negatively impact someone else's visit doesn't seem to be a concern.

I understand that your initial post was not meant to be a whining, lamenting thread -- you were saying that things had changed and that you weren't fond of some of those changes. But you must have realized that your post was going to attract others for whom autograph books are an important part of their Disney experience. Just because you don't see how they can be that important doesn't mean you have to be belittle the people who do.