Did your kids do character autographs? What ages?

[carmiedog]

My boys are 8 and 5. I'm not thrilled about the idea of having to keep up with an autograph book and pen. I asked my 8yo if he wanted to do it and he said "nah," but I'm worried that when we get there he'll change his mind if he sees the majority of other kids doing it. So did yours or didn't yours? Was it a big deal to them or would have just meeting the characters sufficed?

 

[egoldber]

My DD5 LIVES for getting character autographs. It is a HUGE part of the trip for her and has been since she was about 3. But other kids don't get into it.

 

[Hannathy]

My DD did it the trip she was 5, has not wanted to do it since. My son has never wanted to do it! (thank goodness actually, it does take a lot of time from rides) We have been there when he was 2 1/2 , 5, and this past yr at 8. He wasn't even that interested in getting his picture with them this trip. If we went by and there was hardly anyone there he'd get his picture but if there was a line we just looked as we went by. I think we got pictures with 3 characters in a week. He was much more interested in the rides especially since he was big enough for everything this trip.

 

[tatooed goofy]

My DD12 last year said no until 1 week before the trip. Then, we scrambled to make hers too. They like to make their own. I think if she hadn't, she would have been disappointed too. It is the fun of the trip...autographs pics etc....... They love it when the characters make funny gestures or such about them. It makes the magic come alive. I would consider it....

 

[daisyduck123]

My DD12 & DS9 (turned 9 this week) both LOVE IT!!!

The first year we went to WDW, DS was in Kindergarten & didn't want to do it, so only DD did it.
After we got home from the trip, he was upset that he didn't have an autograph book too.

He's done it every trip since & we go 2-3 times a year.

BTW...we always go for 7-9 days & do character dinners almost every night.
They are a great place for autographs!!!

 

[Ilovefozzie]

My DS11 and DD6 both enjoy getting autographs. We don't usually go out of our way. But we do stop by the judge's tent character signing at the fair and ariels grotto. We are doing 3 character meals this trip so I'm sure a lot of our signing will be done there.

We just buy the books at the parks.

 

[tnkr mom]

My DS 9 was not interested for our last trip in August, and DS 5 was - so he started off the week with the book, but it quickly passed. (Personally those character lines take up soooo much time I would rather book a chara meal and get the one on one interaction!!!! We are goiong in March and neither want to take the book. BUT they do want to do the passport in Epcot this time (where you go around to each country and get their stamp) and a small prize at the end when book is completed). We have more masks than I know what to do with so we are not doing that part this March either; but it is somewhat educational as well. And most Cast members were neat as well and it sure was a nice break from the August heat, ususally in an AC'd spot! HAve a great time!!!!

 

[northriver]

My kids are 13 and 21 months and we are not doing autographs this trip. I am having a hard time sticking to this descision, but it will save so much time not to mention space in my bag!

 

[pezpam]

DD was 5 on our first trip and LOVED getting the autographs.

As far as keeping up with all of it, let the boys do it! At 5, DD had her own (very small) backpack. She carried her autograph book, pen, water bottle, and snack. I carried everything else and held her pack on rides, but she was just fine carrying her pack for the week. Keep it small and it's really not an imposition.

 

[mericletwins]

My boys are 8 and 5. I'm not thrilled about the idea of having to keep up with an autograph book and pen. I asked my 8yo if he wanted to do it and he said "nah," but I'm worried that when we get there he'll change his mind if he sees the majority of other kids doing it. So did yours or didn't yours? Was it a big deal to them or would have just meeting the characters sufficed?

My kids like them, but aren't obsessed. I can usually talk them out of standing in a long line. To avoid all this we usally try to schedule a character meal or two. We get pics and autographs there and then don't really feel the need to stand in lines to get sigs.

 

[mericletwins]

My kids are 13 and 21 months and we are not doing autographs this trip. I am having a hard time sticking to this descision, but it will save so much time not to mention space in my bag!

We didn't do the autograph books until last Easter when the kids were 6 and 5. We skipped it on the previous trips.

 

[girlsx4]

We didn't do the autographs books last time and we won't do them this time, either. NONE of my girls seemed interested and it just takes too much time(IMO) Especially w/4.....each of them getting an autograph and pictures. I always try to think of the kids behind us waiting in line

 

[LuvOrlando]

Although they always say no when we are leaving for WDW DS9 & DD8 still like to get pictures & autographs if we happen along a character. We don't get in line or stop at the front of Main Street but if we're there and a character is there and no line exists the kids will ask for their books & smile for the camera... they also like autographs at the character meals.

I know they are a bit old but there is just something about WDW that makes my biggish kids act like littler ones... and I LOVE it.

 

[Samantha'sDad]

My DD is 10, will be 11 when we take our next trip. She is crazy about getting the characters autographs and pictures. We spend more time in lines getting the characters autographs and looking for the ones she hasn't gotten yet than anything else.
It does take away from the rides and things, but isn't the reason we're there our kids.

 

[disneyfanfamily]

We did autos when kids were - DD2,DS6, DS8 and when they were DD4, DS8 & DS10. However my DS10 was not into it last time.

This year we will NOT be doing it. (DD6, DS10 &DS12) Too much hastle. We will not have a stroller this year to throw it all in, so no more autos. We will definitely get picture, though!!!

 

[egoldber]

Just wanted to add that while my DD loves getting the autographs we don't stand in long lines for them. We schedule some character meals and we also know some great out of the way places to get autographs with few lines. Our fav autograph park is Epcot. The Character Connection (near Innoventions) has tons of the classic characters and almost no lines. And you can find Mulan, Mary Poppins, Alice, Pooh, Tigger, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Snow White, Belle and the Beast in the World Showcase. And we like the Princess meal in Norway too.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

My DS is 12 and has practically grown up at WDW. He got into autographs when he was about 5. These days, he can't be bothered to get in line for a character unless it is either someone he's never seen before (rare) or if it is Goofy.

I miss the character days. I love finding a quiet spot and watching the little ones interact.

 

[Pooki]

We've been to Disney World twice, about to make a quickie stop again next month. First time I was pretty much in the dark about all the little things we could have done, so we didnt do it with my daughter (then 2). We went again this past December with DD5 and DS3, and we bought the Disney autograph books that has the spot for photos, and my kids LOVED it! It was much more expensive to buy the ones with spots for photos, but I think having a matching picture next to it makes the autographs even better. We could have made our own, but by the time I thought about the autographs, we were about to leave for our trip. We are making a short 2-day trip to DW on the way to visit relatives in March, so we will bring our unfinished books and maybe look for a few characters we missed this past time. I think it would be neat, if the kids are still interested, to get autographs/photos throughout the years and see the age difference in the kids. I sure wish I had this for when we went the first time when my daughter was 2...

 

[adhelove]

My dd is 12 and still loves getting autographs, my ds is 9 and he loves it too, just as long as it isn't a princess!LOL! what we do is go 2 Wolly World and get clear backpacks 2 keep our stuff in. the reason we get clear is beacause they are easier to check in with and they still hold a ton!

 

[Freyja]

We love getting autographs. It´s one of the biggest joys of out trips. The interaction with the characters is usually great and the pics are the most fun to look at after our trip. Our kids are 2,5,10 and 12 and I can´t imagine them ever not wanting to do the autograph books.