DCL character autograph "Mickey Mail" being discontinued in August

[C6PT7]

There is a difference between offering it as a perk based upon castaway levels -- which are equal for everyone who has cruised X number of times, whether they were in an inside cabin or the Walt suite, and offering a perk for those who cruise concierge. My suggestion was to offer to gold/platinum instead of concierge as someone mentioned previously. However IMO neither is classist or creates divides. If I found the concierge benefits to be worth the extra money, I would pay it - and probably cruise less often. I'd rather cruise more often instead. It's no more classist than having different room categories for different prices, or only letting paying customers on to the ship. It's available for sale to those who can and want to buy it.

BUT my point was that it would be a nice benefit to add to the (currently very weak) list of repeat cruiser benefits.

Donation to charity... not sure I see the connection there? Disney has to pay for the employees to do the signing and handle the logistics.

I guess we disagree as I see excluding people from an activity that if offered should be available to everyone onboard, not just those that are affluent enough to have cruised enough times to become gold or platinum CC members. For some people a disney cruise is a once in a lifetime trip. I don't think those people should be excluded.
And as for cabin category, that is different because part of your cruise fare is based upon the activities, meals and public spaces the ship has to offer you, and part is based on the level of accommodation. That isn't classist, that is buying a product.
The magic and wonder right now have no public areas off limits to anyone(soon to change on the magic from reports). The dream and fantasy have areas that are exclusive to concierge pax such as the lounge and deck, and to my mind, that is wrong as it is classist and does create divides between pax.

I'm not one to subscribe to the whole I'm a returning cruiser so I should get gifts and more perks attitude. CC members already get a gift, and early booking of port adventures, dining reservations etc based upon level. Whilst they are nice, I don't understand anyone booking based upon those privileges or upset if they are changed in anyway or why they expect more?

edit to add, sorry i forgot about the donation to charity. obviously there is a cost to dcl for signing items, but in order to keep the number of items down they would have to charge around $25 IMO, but that isn't the cost to them, so I figure it would be around $5 per item cost to have signed for labor, then the rest could be donated to charity.

 

[C6PT7]

Has anyone other than the one poster managed to contact dcl and ask if items other than autograph books will be permitted for the meet and greet?
i wonder how many different answers people have gotten?

 

[Twinprincesses]

I agree w why should prior cruiser get the perk when it should really only be first time cruisers, let's get real how much signed crap can one person have... There were Facebook posts about Disney encyclopedias that were not signed exactly where They requested. I think that is just going far. Our signed initial was smeared and it was disappointing but I was not going to complain just move on. It was free.

I will throw a fit if I can no longer bring alcohol onboard...

 

[AngelDisney]

I was disappointed at first because I already bought the two items which are Disney cruise related and I did not know what to do with them. Now I am going to get the Captain to sign them. It's not the same but better than getting them for nothing.

I am not sure if charging for signing would work since there will be more complaints when one pays for the service and the item does not turn out as desired. People would complain about a smear or a missing signature if it's not free! This is probably what DCL wants to avoid in the first place.

Happy sailing! We will have a wonderful time regardless! Have fun planning!!

 

[declansdad]

I was disappointed at first because I already bought the two items which are Disney cruise related and I did not know what to do with them. Now I am going to get the Captain to sign them. It's not the same but better than getting them for nothing.

I am not sure if charging for signing would work since there will be more complaints when one pays for the service and the item does not turn out as desired. People would complain about a smear or a missing signature if it's not free! This is probably what DCL wants to avoid in the first place.

Happy sailing! We will have a wonderful time regardless! Have fun planning!!

How would you get the captain to sign them?

 

[jjgarv]

How would you get the captain to sign them?

The Navigator usually tells you when the Captain will be available to sign items...typically once per cruise.

 

[lanejudy]

I guess we disagree as I see excluding people from an activity that if offered should be available to everyone onboard

I agree with C6PT7 on this. To my knowledge, the perks received in concierge have never been available to all guests. To take something like the character autographs, and suddenly tell the vast majority of passengers "this is no longer available to you, we're only giving it to a select few" doesn't rub well. It should be an all or nothing, so apparently DCL has chosen nobody gets them. While disappointing, I'll get over it. It was free, so I'm not really losing anything. And I can see how it likely had gotten way out of hand, with CMs feeling obligated to spend their "free" time doing this, plus the increasing complaints that something didn't turn out as expected.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[dcassetta]

I was disappointed at first because I already bought the two items which are Disney cruise related and I did not know what to do with them. Now I am going to get the Captain to sign them. It's not the same but better than getting them for nothing.

The Navigator usually tells you when the Captain will be available to sign items...typically once per cruise.

Have either of you had an experience where the captain will sign something that you brought on the ship. Admittedly, I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to this, but the only time I've seen the captain signing things is when he is in one of the stores at the time listed in the navigator. And, I was under the impression he was only signing things that have been bought at that time.

 

[AngelDisney]

Have either of you had an experience where the captain will sign something that you brought on the ship. Admittedly, I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to this, but the only time I've seen the captain signing things is when he is in one of the stores at the time listed in the navigator. And, I was under the impression he was only signing things that have been bought at that time.

I have not paid much attention to that as well, but it's worth a try.

 

[ASchwa]

Have either of you had an experience where the captain will sign something that you brought on the ship. Admittedly, I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to this, but the only time I've seen the captain signing things is when he is in one of the stores at the time listed in the navigator. And, I was under the impression he was only signing things that have been bought at that time.

I had something that I brought on the ship that Captain Fabian signed. I was on a WBPC, and I ordered a document called the Order of the Ditch. It acknowledges the transit of the Panama Canal. He gladly signed mine and a few others that had also ordered the document. One night before dinner, I had second seating, he sat next to me and spoke to me and a few others. It was before the captain signing in the store, I asked him about signing and he said if you miss it, just drop it off at guest services and he would gladly sign.

 

[gismo1554]

Have either of you had an experience where the captain will sign something that you brought on the ship. Admittedly, I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to this, but the only time I've seen the captain signing things is when he is in one of the stores at the time listed in the navigator. And, I was under the impression he was only signing things that have been bought at that time.

It is in the shop but its not got to be something you've brought at the time at all. I've had a picture signed from the first cruise we did plus last year I had the card that came with our special lithograph for the cruise signed. Never brought anything at the signing just queued and got what I wanted signed. It is just located in the shop so if you do want to buy something to get signed Disney can cash in.

 

[jetskigrl]

Have either of you had an experience where the captain will sign something that you brought on the ship. Admittedly, I haven't paid a whole lot of attention to this, but the only time I've seen the captain signing things is when he is in one of the stores at the time listed in the navigator. And, I was under the impression he was only signing things that have been bought at that time.

We have a picture of Captain Mickey that has a white border that we have been bringing on our all our cruises. Every time we are with a new captain, we go to the signing and he adds his signature to the outside border. We only have Captains Fabian, Marco and Henry right now, I believe. But that is because we primarily sail on the Wonder and Fabian has always been the captain on those cruises.

 

[C6PT7]

Has anyone other than the one poster managed to contact dcl and ask if items other than autograph books will be permitted for the meet and greet?
i wonder how many different answers people have gotten?

It seems a cruise critic editor spoke to dcl pr and this was there reply
Today, 11:43 AM
Erica@cruisecritic

Senior Editor

Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 476

FWIW, I reached out to Disney PR who confirmed no more Mickey Mail. The rep did say that they would add additional meet-and-greet autograph sessions with the characters to try to accommodate everyone, and that guests could bring anything to be signed, not just autograph books. You'll all just have to go on a cruise and report back if that's actually what's happening onboard!
__________________
Erica Silverstein
Features Editor
Cruise Critic

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=47302084&postcount=64

 

[Minniemiss]

posted on another board

Following communication email from Guest Relations at Disney Cruise Line outlines character signature items from one of our members:
7/31/15...


Dear XXXXX,

Thank you for choosing another Disney Cruise Line vacation!

I would be happy to assist you.

Although this was something that Disney Cruise Line did not promote, we
are no longer able to provide this service.

As I am sure you know, part of the fun in collecting Disney Character
signatures is the interaction with our World Famous Characters.
Therefore, as we continually review our offerings we have decided to
discontinue the practice of assuming responsibility for personal items
and are no longer accepting items for signatures from our Characters at
our Guest Services location.

However, we have added additional Character meet & greet opportunities,
so that Guests may meet our Characters in person and obtain their
signatures. Please stop by Guest Services or check your Personal
Navigator for the schedules and information on the various autograph
opportunities that will be taking place during your voyage.

As always, Character interactions are subject to change without notice.

For a list of items that can or cannot be signed, please note below
(subject to change):

Able to sign:
*Any autograph book
*Disney branded items that are appropriate to that character. For
example, Cinderella would not be able to sign a Buzz Lightyear item.
*Disney stationery
*Disney approved photos - only characters in photo can sign the photo
*Disney notecards
*Disney Dollars - once signed would become souvenirs (no longer legal
tender)
*Clothing - must not be worn when signed

Not able to sign:
*Flags of any nations
*Receipts / banking slips
*Money
*Skin
*Non-Disney merchandise
*Non-family friendly / obscene items

I hope this information has been helpful. If you require further
assistance in planning your visit, please feel free to contact us.

We look forward to sailing with you!

Have a Magical Day!

XXXX
Email Communications Agent
Disney Cruise Line

*If applicable, please include your full name, reservation number, and
phone number on all correspondence.

PLEASE NOTE: All information is subject to change without notice and
should be confirmed just prior to your sailing. I hope this information
has been helpful. If you require further assistance in planning your
visit, please feel free to contact us.

 

[Plaid Princess]

The rep did say that they would add additional meet-and-greet autograph sessions with the characters to try to accommodate everyone, and that guests could bring anything to be signed, not just autograph books!

Keep in mind... with the actual characters signing the items, there may be things that they physically cannot accomplish signing. If you're going to have a tougher item, just be prepared that the character might have to turn you down.

Speaking from.. ... experience, loose fabric (Such as pillowcases or tshirts) are extremely difficult to sign for some characters. It helps to come prepared, for example, bringing a hard cover book and stretching the fabric over it for the character.

 

[KBship]

Im on the August 17th wonder....booooooooooooo

 

[Kiwi Mom]

Very unfortunate, but totally understandable

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

We were even a cruise were a woman wanted guest services to deliver her FE gifts. She had a headache. They did.

Hilarious!!!

 

[Jamie81180]

Has anyone tried to get a pillowcase signed?

 

[boardwalkbride729]

Well what a bummer. Was planning on getting a plate signed. We got married at Disney world, had our honeymoon on dcl and my mother in law gave us Disney dining sets for a gift, we thought it would be cute to have a signed plate in our kitchen oh well, I guess!