Characters Signing T-shirts

[newtodis]

What's your experience with this? Is it a pain for the character? How did you present it so they were able to sign? Looking for something a little different for one of our travelers to collect autographs on. I'm making him a traditional autograph book as well so he can decide to do whatever he feels like each day.

 

[heathermm]

We did pillowcases last yr and what we did was use one of those clipboards. The clipboard made it tight enough that they could sign it with no problems. We used fabric pens.

Good Luck.

 

[portlyn]

Be sure that if they are signing a t-shirt, that the collecter is not wearing it, since the characters would not be able to sign it.

Now I may be wrong, but I thought I've heard something like that you can take something like a t-shirt and ask the front desk of your resort if you are staying on property to have the characters sign it, and you will get it back by the end of your vacation with the signatures on it. Not the same type of experience as having the character sign it directly, but this way you aren't running around with a t-shirt trying to get their signatures.

 

[Reto]

For my first trip back in November I had the characters sign a T-shirt. It's true that the characters won't sign your shirt if you wear it that very moment.

So make sure you have something sturdy with you to put under the shirt so it's easy for the character to write on. I used one of those grey standard WDW photo & autograph books, they're stable enough to give support and are just the right size.

Decide BEFORE walking up to the character where exactly on the shirt you want to have the autograph, put the book (or whatever you might use as support) underneath, make sure the shirt lies as flat as possible on the support, take the cap off your pen and you're good to go.

Make sure you use a thick pen, one of those waterproof black sharpies work best. And say THANK YOU to the characters and CMs involved.

I received a lot of comments from other guests waiting around me, as well as CMs, they all thought it's a very fun thing to do, something different than the standard autograph books. Not to mention the characters were excited and had fun signing it. I found the character attendants very friendly and helpful, they often assisted and held the shirt while the character was signing.

Here's a good pic the Photopass guy did of Mickey signing my shirt:

Thats how my shirt looked like after a week at WDW:

Have fun collecting the autographs.

 

[newtodis]

Thanks! I was thinking a clip board but would you need something to hold both ends down or was the character able to do it? I don't want it to be a big fuss for the characters or the person trying to get the autographs.

Thanks for the pictures too! Very cool!!

 

[pyrxtc]

well, we didn't plan it ahead of time but we had the characters sign my sons race shirt in January. At least 2 people held the shirt taught and then used sharpies on it. The entire back is covered and we got some really cool characters.

 

[Reto]

Thanks! I was thinking a clip board but would you need something to hold both ends down or was the character able to do it? I don't want it to be a big fuss for the characters or the person trying to get the autographs.

Thanks for the pictures too! Very cool!!

A clipboard would be a way to go, but it is not the only option. Yes, the characters have trouble holding and signing at the same time. There has to be a second person assisting. But as said, since in most cases a CM is with the character, he or she will help. There's always a way to get it done, it's really no big deal and you are by far not the first one to have a shirt signed.

I had no problems at all using my method with the autograph book underneath. In fact, the character attendants even thanked me for being so well prepared. Just have something with you to put under the shirt and you'll be fine, you'll see.

 

[jiminyfan]

a needlepoint ring. A lot smaller and easier to carry around and it worked great. We are up to four shirts now.

The kid loves this as he gets to showoff his autographs and talk about his trip

 

[newtodis]

a needlepoint ring. A lot smaller and easier to carry around and it worked great. We are up to four shirts now.

The kid loves this as he gets to showoff his autographs and talk about his trip

Oh that's a good idea too! Thanks for sharing!

 

[MinniesYooHoo]

Someone posted on here some time ago about a needlepoint ring that had a solid plate on the back. It was perfect for keeping your fabric taught and the plate part kept the sharpie from bleeding through and gave the characters something to press on. I was thinking of trying this with a pillowcase for our trip next month.That's something DD can keep for years. A t-shirt she will outgrow obviously. Anyone know what the name of this ring is?

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

We did t-shirts - used a thick black Sharpie, all of the characters were very experienced in showing us (usually without words of course) how to hold/stretch the t-shirt while they signed. If you don't have a ring or a board (we weren't comfortable with them) you need two people to stretch the t-shirt while the character signs. The ones who stamp their names can't do it on t-shirts. ENJOY

 

[bjakmom]

Someone posted on here some time ago about a needlepoint ring that had a solid plate on the back. It was perfect for keeping your fabric taught and the plate part kept the sharpie from bleeding through and gave the characters something to press on. I was thinking of trying this with a pillowcase for our trip next month.That's something DD can keep for years. A t-shirt she will outgrow obviously. Anyone know what the name of this ring is?

DNeph did this for his Star Wars Weekend shirt and DGrD did a Princess pillowcase = I couldn't find one of the metal-backed rings, so I purchased a large (to give plenty of room for the autograph), plastic, oval shaped embroidery hoop and gorilla-glued a piece of foam board I cut to fit into the bottom ring. It worked perfectly and the talking characters all commented on how easy it was for them to sign. We made sure to have our hoop tightly in place where we wanted the autograph while we were in line.

 

[desert_starr_57]

For my first trip back in November I had the characters sign a T-shirt. It's true that the characters won't sign your shirt if you wear it that very moment.

So make sure you have something sturdy with you to put under the shirt so it's easy for the character to write on. I used one of those grey standard WDW photo & autograph books, they're stable enough to give support and are just the right size.

Decide BEFORE walking up to the character where exactly on the shirt you want to have the autograph, put the book (or whatever you might use as support) underneath, make sure the shirt lies as flat as possible on the support, take the cap off your pen and you're good to go.

Make sure you use a thick pen, one of those waterproof black sharpies work best. And say THANK YOU to the characters and CMs involved.

I received a lot of comments from other guests waiting around me, as well as CMs, they all thought it's a very fun thing to do, something different than the standard autograph books. Not to mention the characters were excited and had fun signing it. I found the character attendants very friendly and helpful, they often assisted and held the shirt while the character was signing.

Here's a good pic the Photopass guy did of Mickey signing my shirt:

Thats how my shirt looked like after a week at WDW:

Have fun collecting the autographs.

That's cool!!!

 

[karliebug]

We did hats! we got cheap colored hats at the dollar store or AC Moore's and each kid picked their color. They got the autographs and put the hats back on. It was a great souvie. and it got them to wear a hat in the Florida sun.

 

[newtodis]

We did hats! we got cheap colored hats at the dollar store or AC Moore's and each kid picked their color. They got the autographs and put the hats back on. It was a great souvie. and it got them to wear a hat in the Florida sun.

That's a good idea too!

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Could you use colored permanent markers as well or only black? I think it would look great with different colors? And do regular Sharpies work?

 

[Goofster18]

Regular sharpies work, but they might bleed so I would put something in between the two pieces of shirt. Also, make sure they are darker colors, not like blacks, but a bright yellow won't show up very well and fades easily. Magenta and blue, vibrant colors work well. Any color except any variation of green is fine for the characters, sometimes certain face characters will sign with green but in general, unless it's really important, leave the green at home (the only green I ever insist on is Tink). But bright colors make it brighter for sure. Sharpies work, try not to get the super fine tip, the bigger tips, but the chisel ones sometimes are too big. Not sure what the regular point is (maybe FINE?) those work well. Fabric markers, with the floppy tip, sometimes smear a bit but work well also, the characters know what to do. Just have it ready when you go up, cap off and shirt ready, hand the marker to the character, ask them politely to sign and hold the shirt tight. They can't sign it leaning on your back, and if a CM or PhotoPass asks to assist, let them. We try to let you do it but when time is an issue or the character is having one of those days, trust us we just want you to have the best and most time with the character. It should work well, you will get it down and everyone loves that extra thing that isn't an autograph book (though those are great, I have a TON of them hahaha)!!!!
Have a Magical Day and enjoy the shirts!!!
Gooftster18

 

[bethbuchall]

Regular sharpies work, but they might bleed so I would put something in between the two pieces of shirt. Also, make sure they are darker colors, not like blacks, but a bright yellow won't show up very well and fades easily. Magenta and blue, vibrant colors work well. Any color except any variation of green is fine for the characters, sometimes certain face characters will sign with green but in general, unless it's really important, leave the green at home (the only green I ever insist on is Tink). But bright colors make it brighter for sure. Sharpies work, try not to get the super fine tip, the bigger tips, but the chisel ones sometimes are too big. Not sure what the regular point is (maybe FINE?) those work well. Fabric markers, with the floppy tip, sometimes smear a bit but work well also, the characters know what to do. Just have it ready when you go up, cap off and shirt ready, hand the marker to the character, ask them politely to sign and hold the shirt tight. They can't sign it leaning on your back, and if a CM or PhotoPass asks to assist, let them. We try to let you do it but when time is an issue or the character is having one of those days, trust us we just want you to have the best and most time with the character. It should work well, you will get it down and everyone loves that extra thing that isn't an autograph book (though those are great, I have a TON of them hahaha)!!!!
Have a Magical Day and enjoy the shirts!!!
Gooftster18

The "regular" tip is fine. The thin one is extra fine.

Why no green? Does is stain worse than the rest or is there something I'm missing?

 

[EnchantedTales]

Why no green? Does is stain worse than the rest or is there something I'm missing?

Green stains fast and is difficult, or rather impossible, to get out. We've been ask to please avoid it.

 

[bethbuchall]

Green stains fast and is difficult, or rather impossible, to get out. We've been ask to please avoid it.

Thanks! I didn't realize that it would be worse for staining than other colors. From personal experience, blue is the worst "washable" paint to get out of my clothes (I teach preschool).