can't find autograph books

[striker3636]

I started out looking for Disney themed autograph books that I could get for my kid's stockings for our trip in Feb. I can't find any - not even plain ones! Now, I haven't checked every Hallmark type store yet but was hoping for a little help. Has anybody seen ANY, or especially Disney, autograph books lately?

Thanks....Annette

 

[ChisJo]

When I wanted an autograph book, I too looked everywhere. I ended up finding a plain book at a scrapbooking store, but there were Disney themed ones there. Do you want a book that says "autographs" right on it, or would you be flexible with any book that had disney characters on them? Because if you are flexible, try Walmart or Chapters for a notebook style book with characters on it.
Jo

 

[striker3636]

I'm pretty flexible in the appearance etc, and it doesn't have to say "autographs" on it. I only want something that is big enough to add the photo of the character on the page opposite the signature. I haven't checked Chapters yet....I haven't found anything yet at Walmart, but maybe I'm not looking in the right places....thanks!

 

[dhluvsDisney]

When my youngest started wanting to collect autographs, I didn't like any of them I had seen, so instead I just bought a Buzz Lightyear journal. It is a tad larger, but I like it better because it is easier for the characters to sign and handle a larger book. Any diary or journal would work ( you may even find one in the stationary section of Walmart).

Linda

 

[GrannyEv]

I received a couple from my brother and sister in law. They got them at DollarRama and it was just a Mickey Mouse head and on the insides there were lines to write on.

 

[striker3636]

GrannyEv...Wow, I'll have to check it out...I was just at Dollarama and I didn't see these. Do you know the rough size of them? Is it like a journal? I don't mind that as long as the paper inside is heavy enough that I can put pictures of the characters opposite the autographs. What city was the Dollarama in, do you know where your brother bought them? Thanks for the tip!

I was at Chapters yesterday and couldn't find anything, but a very helpful staff member showed me some beautiful $45 leather journals! Not! I'm not sure that my kids dd3, ds 5, will get into this, so I don't want to spend over $100 on it. Dollarama sounds good....

Annette

 

[GrannyEv]

I live in London, Ontario so I think he bought them on the one on Wellington Road. It was a couple of months ago, so not sure if they have them or not.
I can check here for you and let you know if I see any. Then I could pick up a couple for you and send them to you.

 

[striker3636]

dhluvsdisney: how did you find the journal for getting the autographs? Some of the ones I have seen are stiff and don't open really far. I was wondering if you need to worry about the characters with big gloves etc handling the books. Do you think a spiral bound book would be best? Thanks Linda, Annette

 

[B&B Mom]

Last winter we bought notepads at the Dollarama. They were Mickey shaped heads with lined pages inside and a plastic spiral binding. They worked out OK at first but then the more signatures the kids got the worse they got. Some of the pages were half tore out and because most of the characters fold the back and front together (to make it easier to hold while signing) the binding split. In the end we had a stack of loose papers that were getting pretty tattered. I would not recommend using any type of plastic spiral binding notepad.

 

[blondie7]

Have you thought of trying a Disney Store they might have Disney autograph books. We bought ours at the park but they might have them good luck with your search

 

[MaMudduck]

If you can wait until you get down to Florida- I know you said you wanted to put them in their stockings but....at ALL the Walmarts in Orlando they have Disney (REAL)Autograph Books for something cheap like $2.75- good heavy card stock inside.
I know how difficult autograph books are to find: one of the things I did on last years trip was I found some small spiral bound black "gel" pens note pads (no lines) and the bought metalic sharpies in gold & silver. That work really great for signatures...especially loved by the princess'!

 

[striker3636]

Thanks everyone for the great tips...I think I will have to wait and get something down there. My kids are smaller (3,5) and they would be kind of rough on the books, and I think something heavier would be better. My luck, I'd buy something cheap, they'd love the idea, and it would get wrecked. I have been to the Disney Store in Mississauga, but they didn't have any. I plan to go to the Walmarts in Orlando, so I'll have to make it early in the trip!

GrannyEv - Thanks for the offer - it's very kind, but I think I will keep my out for them at our local stores and will see if they are big enough for photos and heavy enough to stand up to my kids...thanks =)

 

[MaMudduck]

Don't forget FAT pens, marker types are best. And I always put the pens & autograph books in a zip-lock bag in the fanny or back pack. Again, at DollarRama they had little tiny stickers (pooh/ princess'/mickey) which are also great for jazzing up pages & pens.

 

[pixiedust!]

Hi! I am "Annette" also and I couldn't resist writing to you. I rarely meet people with my name. My kids love the autograph books and I just wanted to let you know a few things that worked well for us: we have the characters sign on one page and I leave the opposite blank. I take a picture with each then when we return home I glue the pics on each corresponding page. It is an amazing keepsake and our girls have three years of them (starting at about age 3) and they are their favorite item hands down!! Also make sure you write their name in the front of the book because the characters (at least the ones that talk ie. Princesses) will often refer to them by name as they take a quick glance at the front. I was amazed that they knew my girls names and I thought it might be their "guest of honor" (another really fun idea) mickey tags but they couldn't see them ... they were discreetly flipping to the front of the book. Sneaky magic!

 

[striker3636]

Thanks for more tips!

MaMadduck....I have already picked up the stickers you mentioned...I have been getting several packs of Disney stickers from Dollarama for the kids to use on the drive down, and for their books. By pens, do you mean the Sharpie type markers?

Pixiedust - how neat - another Annette - I have met only one other so far! I was planning on doing the same thing in the books with the photos...maybe I read your idea from another thread! The name on the front is a great idea....What did you do about the "guest of honour" badges? I haven't read about these ones yet....

 

[pixiedust!]

Disney sells "Guest of Honour pins"- little plastic oval pins about the size of a name tag and they come with many names on them or you can have them printed with any name. They say guest of honour and have some characters on them. I think they are $6. I read once that someone found that when their kids were wearing them they often were referred to by name from the CM's and characters. It is true! They are available on Main Street in the store next to the Bakery (I think) and also at Downtown Disney in the Christmas Shop in the section where they monogram. We have since taken ours on each trip. It is also nice to have things printed because it is not easy to find one of our daughter's names on things.

Another tip you may or may not heard of: if you are staying on site, arrange for a wake up call and let your child answer. It is a character on the phone - (pre-recorded, of course!). Little things that make the difference!

Also there is a new option on the princess site where for $2 (or $2.50) US you can have a princess call your daughter and say "Have a great trip or Congratulations or several other prerecorded messages. I have not used this yet but I will be this year. My little Belle fan will love it!

Enjoy the magic!

 

[gpuckett]

Striker3636, please let me know how you like Ft Wilderness. We are staying there in Nov. 05 in the cabins. I am also looking for autograph books and will probably buy them off ebay because I wanted to give them to my nephews early.

 

[jenn_loves_disney]

I know over here (Alberta), unless you are crafty, you are unable to get autograph books. They don't sell autograph books at the Disney Stores, or pins, or Lanyards. One of the staff members told me it is because they are always getting stolen. I guess our only option up here is off the internet, from someone we know going, making our own, or, waiting till we go to the parks.

 

[Chickkypoo]

I made my sister an autograph book for our last trip. She loved it as it was personalized with her name and the dates of our trip and so forth. It was really easy to make, I found the instructions here: http://www.themouseforless.com/community/showcase/tracy.shtml

I used Sparkle Modge Podge on hers to give it a little something extra, and I put a Disney sticker on the bottom right hand corner of every page.

Jamie-Lyn

 

[striker3636]

Gpuckett - Fort Wilderness was great! We just got back on Sun, and we had an awesome time. There are so many things to do at FW, that we had a few 1/2 and full "down days" to enjoy the campground. Even on the days when we were at the park till dinner, we would come back, have an easy dinner and head over to the campfire for sing a long and a movie. A great way to relax! We were in the 1300 loop and really close to these things. Our site backed onto the canal, right across from the pool and playground. I was a little concerned over noise, but there wasn't much at all - one night only when some kids were screaming in the pool at 10:00pm. I wouldn't want to back onto the pool in high season though...a lot more noise I am sure. The grounds are spotless - a wonderful place. If you have more questions pm me, ok?

I ended up with an awesome autograph book! Our best friends were staying with us, and her Mom made me a Creative Memories 7x7 album. It is now full of autographs, and I will be buying more pages to insert to add the photos of each character. It worked out great - very durable for carting around and it looks good too. I am glad it ended up this way, as my kids really got into this and want to look at it a lot. Now we have a wonderfel keepsake.