Character Autographs, I just don't get it.

[Licorice]

I don't see what is the attraction here, particularly for adults. After all, it is really Joe Schwartz in the Mickey Mouse costume signing "Mickey".

To me it is a waste of time. But I'd be interested in hearing from people who enjoy autograph hunting. Am I missing something here?

 

[Mandabella]

It's like getting your picture with Mickey....you either get it or you don't.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

It's part of the experience of getting wrapped in the whole magic thing. When you are there, they really are Mickey Mouse.

 

[theflowerladee]

Are you a parent?? The whole magic to me is in the kids. If you can see
it through the eyes of a child you would understand it all. It is all about
the place and the magic. I hope you can one day see it that way, it makes
it all so much better.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

My MIL is like this. We went back in Feb. and she took an autograph book. I didn't get it either. I like the pictures and whatnot but the autograph book just seems silly to me.

 

[HopperFan]

Who is Joe Schwartz ?



Now my kids are teens and do not want autographs but do not mind getting photos, often the characters really ham it up with them, we laugh and enjoy the magical moment.

But remember there may be special circumstances: Once we got autographs for a friend who was just in a serious car accident and they all made it into get well wishes - was a great get well card, I also have a disabled adult DS who still enjoys getting and saving the autographs, maybe it's an adult's first trip ever and they are having a childhood experience, or maybe they are just a trying to beat their last number of signatures or get the elusive Daisy.........hey, whatever makes your dreams come true at Disney!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I got started when my nephew took such an interest in it. He had a hard start to life with many surgeries (he has a rare skull deforming syndrome) and it was great to see him get out there and mingle at Disney World! And bless their hearts, the characters are just wonderful with special kids like my nephew Ben.

Kids really like it since they have the autograph book to show who they found. My nieces who also went with me love to flip through the books to remember.

It is also not just the autographs, we just like meeting the character themselves and chatting about things that happened in their movies. Especially the villains - you can have a pretty interesting conversation with them, even if they can't talk! We have had some really fun conversations over the years! And I think there is a "collectable" angle to it - we just like finding whoever we can, especially the unusual ones!

 

[iloveeeyore]

I'm iloveeeyore's dd so I wanted to answer your commonly asked question.
I'm honestly not doing the whole autogragh thing with my brother next time, but here's why the old ones are sooo special to me. I'm able to look back and say, "Yaay! I met Mickey Mouse! IN PERSON!!" I looove gluing my pictures next my autographs for a Dis character scrapbook to look back at and know I made it all on my own.
Before you meet the characters, you get this shy and warm feeling zoom through you like going down a hill on a skateboard non-stop. There's this thrill of excitement just before you push off. But thinking that it's just some guy in a suit really wrecks the magic. When you go to Disney, you have to let go of the real world a lot. You can't think it's some guy in a suit. You have to really believe it's Mickey Mouse. That's the magic!

 

[Nank]

My 4 year old has a BLAST getting autographs and pictures with tons and tons of characters. It was like we were hunting for them. I personally think it is a "kid" thing not an adult thing. We got some AMAZING autographs. ThePluto at Chef Mickey's drew an entire Pluto face and then signed his name. It is awesome!

 

[arizonacolbys]

I am an adult that has gotten autographs.

I never got them growing up & visiting WDW, so it was something fun for me to do. I mostly just get the autographs when we do character meals where the characters usually take more time to sign something fun. I like to cut these autographs out & include them in my scrapbooks of our trips.

 

[henrylovespooh]

I understand kids getting them but I do think it's odd when adults get them and there's no kids in sight. I'm sure there is always a reason, though.

The only times autographs frustrate me is when I have found a relatively short line at Epcot for my 2 year old to get in to meet Minnie, and by the time all the kids with autograph books get them signed (many who don't have their books open and characters fumble for a blank page) and then have pictures taken, Minnie has to leave before my DD meets her. Not easy to explain to a 2 year old. I know the kids love their autographs, but there are times when I would love to see the CM see that only four people are left in line but the character has to go in a minute or two and would say: "To accomodate everyone in line, we can only do pictures now. Sorry."

I did bring a blank book for DD on our last trip and she had the princesses sign the book when we were at the PSB lunch at Akershus and when we met Ariel in her Grotto. She looks through the book now and loves seeing the autographs. I plan to put them in a scrapbook I'm making for DD with pictures from our last two trips.

 

[Matt]

Believe me, I thought it was idiotic too. I didn't see any reason to buy these books for my daughters. My error was corrected within.. oh... ten minutes in the park. They loved it! Heck.. it doesn't do anything personally for me. However, since it makes my daughters so happy, it now means the world to me!

 

[disney1990]

We seek out people that have written book and are having book signings -- sometimes get our pictures taken with them. If you can understand that, why can't you understand pictures and autographs of the "one and only Mickey Mouse".

When you lose your dreams....you die. I'm never growing up!

 

[jojowentbyby]

MY kids go for the autographs and I agree for the great photo ops.

 

[ShannonRT]

After all, it is really Joe Schwartz in the Mickey Mouse costume signing "Mickey".

Actually, it's probably JOSEPHINE Schwartz in the Mickey Mouse costume!!!

 

[challada]

Here's the part I don't get, or maybe just a rant I have, what is it w/adults who force their kids to get the autographs done when the kids don't want to?
Example: we spent a week on a lovely Disney Cruise in the early summer. Our tablemates were a set of grandparents w/their 4 yr old granddaughter (but not her parents). The entire time on the boat, they dragged this little girl from line to line to get character autographs and pictures. Many times I heard her say she wanted to swim, play, etc and Grandparents said back "No". I even explained the kid club on board and asked if they wanted to arrange a time that my 5 yo DD would be in there w/her, but it was "NO, she'll miss a character". This kid spent a week in line or dragged to another line and crying...wow, what a joy!

Same goes for the parents who make the kids who are fearful of the characters still stand in the line, crying and take a picture w/the character "No matter what".

 

[Bru'sCrew]

To a child, the character is real and that's part of the magic, Your child feels like they have a special bond with that character. And as they get older that simple signature remindes them of a happy time.

 

[mitros]

Actually, what is it with parents that force their kids to do other things that they do not want to do? For instance, dragging a kid kicking and screaming onto ToT or Dinosaur. I don't get that either. I think it's more like the parents have spent a s_ _t load of money on the vacation, and then they have the idea that "you WILL enjoy yorself wether you like it or not!"

 

[HappyMommy2]

We've never done the autograph thing but I can see why people (even some adults) might want to---the autographs are a good, fun, FREE souvenir! Especially coupled with a photo of oneself with the character, an autograph can bring back happy memories of the trip.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I love getting autographs and don't have any kiddies. I never got to to WDW as a kid and for me its special getting to interact with the charectors. Some of my best WDW memories include the charectors. I know some people just don't get it, and that's ok with me, I'll still stand in line for 20 min to meet Mickey Mouse on my next and every trip if that is what it takes. The autographs also make adorable additions to my scrapbooks.