Character Meals and Autographs

[hlbrink]

I must admit I am not a huge fan of the autograph books (but then again, I'm not exactly the target audience, I'm sure as a young girl I would have loved to carry one around), but I have a feeling my daughter (4.5 when we go to WDW) and my niece (7 years) will want them during our upcoming May trip.

We have a couple of ADRs for character meals and I am wondering about "autograph etiquette". Is it acceptable to ask for autographs when a character comes to your table? I don't want to hold the characters up from visiting other tables, but if it's a common request and well-received, I'll let the girls do it.

Thanks!

 

[henrylovespooh]

You can definitely get autographs at character meals. Actually, it's practically the only time my daughter gets them. When we're in the parks, she likes to just get her picture taken.

 

[Joanna71985]

Of course you can! It is no problem to get autographs.

 

[bradyloganmom]

Character meals are usually the best times to get autographs!! Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[praline3001]

All smart mommies know this is the way to go when you have a character hound for a child

Take Chef Mickeys for example... in the time you eat (we will say an hour)
you get Mickey, Minnie, Donald, pluto and goofy to sign their books. In the parks it might take 30 minutes to an hour of standing in line to get 1 of them to sign your book. It is time well spent while eating!

What we usually do it lay the book out at the edge of the table, near where the characters will stand. Usually they see the book and grab it and sign it without us begging for the autograph. They just do it automatically haha

Most characters EXPECT there will be autographs when kids are at the table.

Another thing, make sure to have a large fat pen for the characters to use. Some have rather large paws and those little Bic pens are hard for them to use.

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Character meals are usually the best times to get autographs!! Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!

ITA - Not only are the best time for autographs, they are the ONLY time our family gets autographs.

Not in a million years will I wait in line at a park for an autograph. Its funny cuz we've trained the kids to think that way too. They won't even consider it.

The longest we will wait for a character is about 6-7 people.

 

[jeepgirl30]

Yes its the perfect time! Our experience was we didn't even have to ask. The characters came to DD with their hands out ready for the book. Most would hug her, turn to me for the pic and then reach for her book. The talking ones would say "Princess, would you like me to sign your book?"

Belle even asked if she could sign for her Beast. DD was fine with that!

Another thumbs up for the fat pens. I got one at the Dollar Store with Mickey and friends on it. Goofy and Donald both made a huge fuss over the pen, so much DD wanted Donald to keep it!

 

[Native NYer]

Sure! Autographs and photos are the norm.

 

[hlbrink]

OK - great! Thank you all for posting. We are hitting Crystal Palace and Garden Grill so we will get a lot of characters out of the way as we eat

 

[tinkandpan]

I agree- it's the ONLY time my kids get autographs. We won't wait on lines to see anyone.

 

[rosiejo]

Character meals are a great idea to stop you having to stand in line to get autographs. I actually wish the Character Stop at Epcot had a fastpass!

 

[ms*mountaineer]

Everywhere you run into characters they expect you to hand them an autograph book. I don't mean that if you don't have one you should feel bad! I just mean, that's what they are there to do.

We did the Princess breakfast in Norway - the princesses took their time at each time, signed the books first, posed for pictures, chatted with the girls - it was wonderful! They had a "route" to circulating the restaurant - seemed to work well and they got to visit everyone. No one seemed to be rushing at all.