Has anyone NOT done the autograph book?

[Zim]

I've been to Disneyworld with my daughter when she was 4 and 6... I always figured the autograph books took away from the time she spent with the characters posing AND that eventually when she's older she'd see it as silly, so I always discouraged it and we just did pictures.

BUT - I've changed my mind ever since Christmas when we were discussing this with my college age cousins who STILL treasure their autograph books from Disney. And my daughter, now 8, is adamant she's bringing an autograph book this time. I'm also going to borrow the sticker idea - what a great idea for something to do in line waiting to see them!

I'm also encouraged by the other posts that characters DON'T spend less time with you if you have them sign a book!

 

[WDWCM]

Remember, the interaction is what you all make of it. These characters do not "speak" and must rely on movements and visual clues/props. It can be hard to interact with anybody that approaches and says/does nothing.

Believe me, most characters would rather play around with the friends that come to see them than to stand there and sign an autograph book. Ask them to dance, ask them to play tag or peek a boo, ask them about their movie or arch rival. Bring a toy/stuffed animal/doll.

Also, get creative with the poses for your photos. Ham it up! Sword fight with Capt Hook. Fly with Peter and Wendy. Mime a tea party with Alice and the Hatter, etc...

Just reiterating.

 

[44sun]

When we went, we had the characters autograph the park map which we included in the trip scrapbook along with the photos of the kiddos + characters. This way it's all incorporated in one book.

 

[runner26.2]

Our children (DD9, DD6, DS3) had great fun meeting the various characters, getting autographs and photos. Once back home though the autograph books were quickly forgotten, altho the pictures still get looked at frequently.

Characters will no longer sign clothing that is being worn. A previous poster mentioned getting a t-shirt signed. I expect they will sign it so long as it is being worn, but if you, your child, or anyone is wearing it they won't sign it.

 

[Mickey527]

I don't know if I was the one you got the idea for the stickers from but I did do this for my niece and nephew 4 years ago when I brought them to WDW.
I got 3x5 photo albums at AC Moore for $1.00 each. I got the list of characters that wander around the parks and found clipart of eacy of these characters. I then used sticker paper and copied the clip art onto the sticker paper.
I put the character stickers onto 3x5 cards on the blank side and put them into the albums.
When we came upon a character we just pulled the card out of the album and had the character sign it. The "talking" characters did go on and on about how happy they were to sign a photo of themselves. A few of them asked where we found the photos and they didn't remember posing, etc...
My niece and nephew still have the cards in their albums and keep them on their dresser to look at when I visit.
It took me all of 3 or 4 hours to get all the clipart together and put them on the cards for the kids and they have enjoyed these for years. Peggie

 

[mkygrl]

Just a thought or 2...

My godson on his first trip bought a baseball cap on first day and anyone he saw had him/her sign it-It was actually pretty cool and he was sooo proud of it.

Nephew (7)/Niece(5) spent so much of their time hunting for characters that they didn't do much of anything else.

 

[digskat]

We forgot last trip, DD and DS were not to upset about it. They enjoyed doing the pressed pennies with booklet much more.

 

[bedgraynexl]

We didn't plan on the autograph books for DS5 and DD3. Well, in the second day, while in AK and DW was in her convention meetings, the kids saw other kids with their books and just had to get the autographs. Dad caved and bought books and pens. The kids had fun collecting the sigs, DW wasn't thrilled at first, but got over it. DS still says he needs to get Mickey (first character we saw, but no book, no sig)

 

[lpbm4]

Thanks for this thread. I thought we *HAD* to do the autograph book for the kids. ANd now reading, this, I feel like it's not a necessity. A picture is great for me.