disneywondergirl22
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2010
- Messages
- 111
Believe it or not, regardless of what your friend's hand looks like, characters can sign almost regardless of what kind of hand the character has. What makes it difficult are the tools you give characters to use. Hopefully this will help. There's only a very very small percentage of characters who can't sign, and your host will tell you if the character you are waiting to see is one of them. for everyone else, this is some very useful information.
1. PENS
"Fat" pens aren't always better. Characters prefer a regular ink pen that you might have at your desk at home or the office (that you buy in bulk at Staples or Target) over almost any other kind of pen.
Characters most definitely don't like any pen that is shorter than about 4-5 inches, or shorter than a standard pen. This includes those little red pens (about 3inches) with blue ink as well as those short fat pens with faces on them and the poof ball things on top. These are, without question, the most difficult pens to write with. Avoid these if you don't want to have to take it back to a store. Characters break (by accident) most of those pens with the poof ball things because the only way they can hold that pen is basically by the ball, which wasn't made to be held, and then it breaks.
The somewhat thicker Disney pens with the "sculpture" items on top (like princess crowns, stars, globes, etc) are great pens too. but we've also seen ginormous versions of these pens, like, they are over a foot long and probably a good inch and a half thick. these are overkill, and sometimes, for some characters, these are too difficult to write with. The pens that are good are pictured here allears.net/tp/fur.htm with Snow White's Old Hag photo.
Please also have your child hand the character the pen with the cap end first, not ink first.
A good tip: you only need one pen per family. Characters will take the easiest to hold-looking pen, and will use that pen to sign all of the books in your party. If you've ever stood in a character meet and greet line, and wonder why it's not moving, most likely it's because the character is fumbling with closed books and hard to use pens.
2. PERMANENT and WASHABLE MARKERS
Unless you have an article of clothing (hat, tshirt, etc) for characters to sign, please do NOT bring any kind of permanent ink marker/Sharpie.
Washable Crayola markers are best, for obvious reasons. It won't wash off your page, but one guess as to what it WILL wash off of!
When you bring a shirt for characters to sign, the way to hold it is to basically stretch it out so the fabric is taught, then let the character sign on the taught space. so parents should be prepared to help the child hold the shirt taught, especially if there is no host with the character.
Characters can't sign any clothing item currently being worn (hats can be signed it taken off), nor can they sign casts or money.
3. BOOKS, PAPER, etc
Characters really do prefer books, or something with a hard surface to use over anything else. They can usually handle paperback pads as well, but books do work best. Absolutely be creative, if you are bringing something homemade. Some spectacular ideas have come through. But there have also been some not so fantastic ideas too. Just plan head. Know what you are asking the character to sign, and bring the tools to help make their jobs easier. If you are bringing index cards or something similar, put them on a clipboard or something to give the character a hard surface to write on. You could end up with an "off" signature otherwise.
4. ETIQUETTE, etc
Unlike other parks, most characters at Disney do not have an assigned host or photographer, so you are asked to make a line on your own. Please actually wait in line and not jump.
Also, at Disneyland, most characters come from backstage and are walking to a specific place so they can meet their park friends and take photos there. This may seem obvious, but to the majority of park guests it's not, please don't grab at characters while they are walking to try to get them to stop and take a photo with you. You can take a photo when they get to their photo spot. Also, please try not to let your smaller children run up to the characters while they are walking and bear-hug them. Chances are, the character didn't see them, and has now been not only knocked off balance, but can't move because your child has them in a serious grip. Just follow the characters to their photo spot, and you can have your moment there.
Hope that helps with ideas and suggestions for you all!
1. PENS
"Fat" pens aren't always better. Characters prefer a regular ink pen that you might have at your desk at home or the office (that you buy in bulk at Staples or Target) over almost any other kind of pen.
Characters most definitely don't like any pen that is shorter than about 4-5 inches, or shorter than a standard pen. This includes those little red pens (about 3inches) with blue ink as well as those short fat pens with faces on them and the poof ball things on top. These are, without question, the most difficult pens to write with. Avoid these if you don't want to have to take it back to a store. Characters break (by accident) most of those pens with the poof ball things because the only way they can hold that pen is basically by the ball, which wasn't made to be held, and then it breaks.
The somewhat thicker Disney pens with the "sculpture" items on top (like princess crowns, stars, globes, etc) are great pens too. but we've also seen ginormous versions of these pens, like, they are over a foot long and probably a good inch and a half thick. these are overkill, and sometimes, for some characters, these are too difficult to write with. The pens that are good are pictured here allears.net/tp/fur.htm with Snow White's Old Hag photo.
Please also have your child hand the character the pen with the cap end first, not ink first.
A good tip: you only need one pen per family. Characters will take the easiest to hold-looking pen, and will use that pen to sign all of the books in your party. If you've ever stood in a character meet and greet line, and wonder why it's not moving, most likely it's because the character is fumbling with closed books and hard to use pens.
2. PERMANENT and WASHABLE MARKERS
Unless you have an article of clothing (hat, tshirt, etc) for characters to sign, please do NOT bring any kind of permanent ink marker/Sharpie.
Washable Crayola markers are best, for obvious reasons. It won't wash off your page, but one guess as to what it WILL wash off of!
When you bring a shirt for characters to sign, the way to hold it is to basically stretch it out so the fabric is taught, then let the character sign on the taught space. so parents should be prepared to help the child hold the shirt taught, especially if there is no host with the character.
Characters can't sign any clothing item currently being worn (hats can be signed it taken off), nor can they sign casts or money.
3. BOOKS, PAPER, etc
Characters really do prefer books, or something with a hard surface to use over anything else. They can usually handle paperback pads as well, but books do work best. Absolutely be creative, if you are bringing something homemade. Some spectacular ideas have come through. But there have also been some not so fantastic ideas too. Just plan head. Know what you are asking the character to sign, and bring the tools to help make their jobs easier. If you are bringing index cards or something similar, put them on a clipboard or something to give the character a hard surface to write on. You could end up with an "off" signature otherwise.
4. ETIQUETTE, etc
Unlike other parks, most characters at Disney do not have an assigned host or photographer, so you are asked to make a line on your own. Please actually wait in line and not jump.
Also, at Disneyland, most characters come from backstage and are walking to a specific place so they can meet their park friends and take photos there. This may seem obvious, but to the majority of park guests it's not, please don't grab at characters while they are walking to try to get them to stop and take a photo with you. You can take a photo when they get to their photo spot. Also, please try not to let your smaller children run up to the characters while they are walking and bear-hug them. Chances are, the character didn't see them, and has now been not only knocked off balance, but can't move because your child has them in a serious grip. Just follow the characters to their photo spot, and you can have your moment there.
Hope that helps with ideas and suggestions for you all!
They are a little on the heavy side, but the characters make a big deal about signing their page. Tink and Terrance talked to my DD forever about their pages.
