Has anyone NOT done an autograph book for their kids?

[piperett]

We leave next month, and while I have plenty of time to prepare/buy an autograph book, I'm just not sure if I'm going to. My kids (DD5 and DD6) aren't into specific characters, so we won't be seeking any out. I think they will be happy with whoever we come in contact with in the parks. We are doing Akershus and Chef Mickey's; however, I just don't see us actually standing in line to meet anyone else to get an autograph.

So, back to my question: Has anyone NOT done an autograph book for their kids? If you didn't, did you regret it? If you did do an autograph book, did your kids love it or not care at all? I need to make a final decision. Thanks, everyone!

 

[momto3pirates]

We have been to WDW every year for the past 6 years. For the first few trips, we made sure to have the autograph books because they would see all the other kids lined up to meet characters and would "have" to go. Needless to say, we have seen just about every character! The last trip I did not bring the books but ended up buying one for my youngest DS7 who was heart-broken when we went by Pocahontas and he could not get her autograph. I would see how your kids react but be prepared to get them when they see the lines of kids with the books.

 

[MyDizneyBoyz]

We never have and honestly never will. I think they're cool and all but it takes too much time and planning to try and get that many autographs in one, or even multiple, trips. We like our visits to be almost completely unstructured and don't want to worry about having to find a particular character or be at a particular meeting point at any one time.

But that's just us.

 

[C&G'sMama]

We never have. It's just not our thing. If we come across a character line that isn't awfully long we'll hop in for pictures. The exception was the time we waited 45 minutes to the see the fairies as that was on DD's "Must Do" list. Everyone gets 2 "Must Do's" for each park over the course of the trip.

But no autographs, no regrets.

 

[Hannathy]

We have never done one with my DS. He never showed any desire to do that. When he was younger if we happened onto a character without a long line that he liked we would take a picture but he (and us) never wanted to stand in lines to get autographs. He was never into the dressed up characters that much.

so yes we have gone and not done an autograph book and have not regretted it at all. We don't do character meals either.



When my DD was 4 she had one for 1 trip and again if we happened onto a character they signed but we didn't wait in long lines, and that was the only trip. She never wanted to bring it or do it again.

 

[2disneyboys]

my kids could care less about the autographs... we have done them and usally its me hauling around the book or whatever. our first trip, we did not do them and I'm fine with that.. other trips, some we do, some we don't. Only thing I would say is be prepared to buy one in case your kids express a real interest in getting autographs, but it's not a deal breaker.. you still can see and visit with the characters...

 

[tiggspring]

We leave next month, and while I have plenty of time to prepare/buy an autograph book, I'm just not sure if I'm going to. My kids (DD5 and DD6) aren't into specific characters, so we won't be seeking any out. I think they will be happy with whoever we come in contact with in the parks. We are doing Akershus and Chef Mickey's; however, I just don't see us actually standing in line to meet anyone else to get an autograph.

So, back to my question: Has anyone NOT done an autograph book for their kids? If you didn't, did you regret it? If you did do an autograph book, did your kids love it or not care at all? I need to make a final decision. Thanks, everyone!

Your kids might surprise you. On our first trip DD4 DS7 DD10 we knew our youngest would want to see princesses and fairies. We booked some character dinners etc and thought that would be it. Well ALL our kids loved getting their autogrpahs so much we had to buy a second set at WDW . Charaters became a much bigger part of our trip and it was really fun to see them so excited. We used ridemax and found with a good plan we had plenty of time for these diversions. Some of the best things at WDW are totally unexpected. There are plenty of places to get the books for about $6 and up so if you think it is really not for them you can certainly wait.

If they do get autograph fever I reccomend you keep an eye out for when they are about to start and get in fast or look to see what characters are supposed to be in the areas you are visiting that day. We got into most lines quite early. frequently we were the only family around for a few minutes.

 

[tiggspring]

PS other than Fairies we only looked for Donald in Mexico a must do for DS our second trip. We keep characters a spur of the moment thing looking and waiting for them to show up would really be time consuming. We did do several meet n greets Epcot/DS but only when the lines were really short. Anything more than 5min and we moved along explaining we could wait and if it took too long they could leave without us getting to the frount. That can happen.

 

[Jaime4004]

We go every year and have used the autograph books sometimes, and sometimes not. The kids love them when they have them but didn't ask for them on trips when they didn't have them.

 

[piperett]

Thanks for all of the responses. Definitely something to think about!

 

[thegreggersmom]

My son was too young last trip to even think about getting a book but I am going to take along a pillowcase for autographs this time. I think he'll get a kick out of keeping it on his bed when we get home.

 

[kimmyann]

We did not do an autograph book, but did get pics when the lines were not too long. FYI, you can buy sheets of characters autographs in the gift shop. I did this and put them on a matte that borders our castle pic.

 

[teacup princess]

We do them but only at Character breakfasts or the random character we pass by which has a short wait. My kids enjoy getting them while we're there but they know if the line is too long we're not going to wait. Once we're back home, the autograph book goes by the wayside never to be seen or cared about again.

 

[disykat]

I took 3 x 5 cards with us when the the kids were younger, figuring if they cared I was prepared and if they didn't I hadn't wasted time/money. My kids got a few when it was convenient and we just put them in the photo album alongside the pictures.

If they'd gotten lots of them, I would have just made them their own little photo albums when we got home.

 

[lucyem]

I think my 8 yr old mentioned wanting to get autographs once when he first saw other kids with autograph books. Then he never mentioned it again. Pin trading on the other hand is what he is more interested in. His little brother likes meeting characters but is perfectly happy to chat with the princesses and have his photo taken

 

[ktlm]

Our first three trips with DD, we did not do autographs. It made it so much more relaxed to meet the characters. DD (was only 2 and 3 at the time), never cared although she saw other kids with the books. She was an instant character hound beginning at age 2. We were surprised at how important the characters were to her. She would rather see them than ride the rides. We went to DL when DD was 4, and again had no plans to do an autograph book; however thanks to a wonderful phone reservations CM and Disney Magic, when we got to the resort to check in there was a package waiting for DD with an autograph book and pen. Although it made the meet and greets more hectic and I had to keep up with the book, she loved getting the autographs. At home she flips through the book over and over. On our trip last December, WDW had a book that had a place to slip a picture on the left side with the place for the autograph on the right. That makes for a really cute photo/autograph book. For her, the autographs are definitely worth the extra effort.

Your kids are old enough that I would ask them if they want to get character's autographs or just do pictures. You might be surprised once they get to WDW and start experiencing the Disney magic how enthralled they may become with meeting characters. You don't have to decide before your trip. Pretty much every store or kiosk at WDW has autograph books and pens for sale. You do want to decide by the first meet and greet or meal, because the last thing you want is to decide to do it halfway through your trip, and then your kids start begging to re-track down characters you have already seen because they did not get an autograph the first time around.

 

[dragonfly08]

While my girls did get autographs on our last two trips, I didn't do an "autograph book". They took a small notepad with Mickey's picture on the cover (I found them in the $1 area of Target) and used that. They love it just as much as the fancy book I handmade for DD #1 when she went to WDW to celebrate her 5th birthday (to this day she thinks that one was a gift from Mickey, as I left it on her pillow when she wasn't looking on our way out and she found it later).

 

[tweedlemom]

No books. We may take their pics here or there, but we don't devote a lot of time to finding every character. Just a couple special ones occasionally.

 

[hauntedcity]

We have not used the, but my oldest is only 4, so we'll see what happens. Personally, I'm not a fan, because I feel autographs slow up the lines to meet the characters and take away from time that could be spend interacting and playing with them.

 

[DisneyTravelers2008]

Since you are doing a character meal, I would go ahead and get a book. Or, carry index cards like the OP mentioned. It is easier to me to pick up an inexpensive book or take some index cards in advance, than to spend $8 per autograph book once you get there in case you decide to get autographs. I know for my kids first tri p(DD was 4 and DS was 10) they REALLY enjoyed getting autographs.

Some people see it as a waste of time, but my kids really loved interacting with their favorite characters. The best places are the ones where you only wait in line once and get to meet several ( like Epcot character spot).