Having a 2.5 yr. old take autographs?

[krystalleigh1]

We will be going to WDW in Nov. My ds will be 2.5 then, and I've been reading some about kids getting autographs. Do any of you have experiance with kids this young getting autographs? Do they really get it? Do they get excited about it? Understand it? I'm considering getting an autograph book for ds, but don't want to if he's not going to be interested at all. What are your experiances?

Also, I keep reading about the bigger sharpies markers. Does anyone know what they're called or what they look like? I'm a little confused.

 

[Love the Mouse]

We just got back from WDW. DD was 2yr 4mos. when we went. She was thrilled to see the characters, especially Mickey and Minnie. She was a bit frightened of Goofy though.

She was just thrilled to see the characters. We didn't have an autograph book for her. I figured that I would buy her one when she was old enough to be excited to get the autographs on her own. If we did it now, I am sure she really wouldn't remember it, let alone care.

For her, she just wanted to see Mickey up close, give hugs and kisses and she was fine with that.

Michaela

 

[KristinU]

Ditto what Love the Mouse said - I had even ordered the character encyclopedia from Amazon before our trip, but hauled it along only one day. DS wasn't interested at all in them signing, but was interested in seeing them. I'm sure he'll be jazzed up for autographs in a few years!

 

[maxtomsmom]

I wouldn't recommend getting autographs at this age unless you have a special picture book that you can add autographs throughout the years. They don't understand, but do take pictures. The pictures can be put into a special book that your child can look at over and over again similar to an autograph book. We did this for our younger son, who was only 1 1/2 at the time. We just took many pictures, printed them on regular white paper and put them in a mini brag photo book with Mickey Mouse on it. He loves it! He is now 2 1/2 and still likes to look at himself with the characters. He has 12 in the albumn. It holds more, but 12 is enough for now.

 

[surfgirl]

I'll chime in with a quick agreement... we do the pictures and hugs, but skip the autographs... I feel like we then spend our 'allotment' of time talking to the characters, asking them questions, etc. We actually hope never to get roped into autographs b/c so many kids get obsessed with "I need xxx (insert character here) to make it complete".

We also print a 2nd set of pictures from those and just look at them frequently...

 

[brandylouwho]

As usual, it will depend on your child. My DD was about 2.75 when we went and she enjoyed getting autographs (in fact at CRT she was a little afraid of the princesses, but would still push her autograph book out to get it signed).

We did bring our own book which was larger than the ones they sell there, and we added photos when we got home. She LOVES that book.

On the other hand, an autograph book is one more thing to carry and worry about when you are just trying to have fun...if your child doesn't know about them (being so young)... it may be easier on you to jsut skip it this time.

 

[tiggger1]

my daughter was almost 3 when we went and she loved to get the autographs... what I did when I got home was add a tiny sticker with the characters picture on it too each autograph, that why she would know who each one was, since she cant read yet

 

[KristiKelly]

Our kids liked getting them at that age. It was a cheap souvenir - only $5 I think. They would look at them afterwards pretending to read them.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I think our DS3 was really excited to see and play with the characters but my DH was the one with DS's autograph book. He looks at it now and remembers the characters(his has his pic w/ the character by the autograph)

 

[tiff211]

We went when DD was 2.5 and she was scared of all characters except the ones she could see their faces. We didn't do autographs because she didn't seem to get it, even with DD4 getting them. This year she was very excited to grab her book when the characters were around. Definitely a big change from 2.5 to 3.5!

 

[skuttle]

We went last December with DS and he was 2.5 at the time. He LOVED the characters and really enjoyed getting the autographs. When we'd get in line, he'd always ask for his book and pen. HE wanted to open it for the characters and give it to them, but he was a little slow at times so I usually had to help him out without his approval. He loved doing it, but I'm not sure he really understood what was going on.

 

[mtemm]

great question! we are leaving in a couple of weeks for my kids first trip to wdw. the twins are 2.5 and I do plan on getting them autograph books, mainly because I think their 4 year old brother will want to get autographs and if they see him with one, they'll want one too.

still, now I'm wondering if we should skip them and just do photos. hmmm

 

[runner26.2]

Our first visit with children to WDW was in 2001 when our oldest was 5 and middle daughter just 2. Shortly after arriving on our first day our 2 year old daughter spotted Minnie and immediately raced away from us, ran past the lineup of parents and children waiting patiently to get photos and autographs with Minnie and gave her a huge hug, only letting go when we literally pried her off of Minnie. Fortunately the parents (and children and CM) were very understanding. We then waited in line and Minnie was very happy to see DS2 when we finally made our way back to the front of the line. I suppose this is a long way of saying ... very young children do "get it". Without seeming overly sappy that 30 second encounter and memory was worth every nickel the trip cost.

 

[all4fun]

I agree it probably depends on the child but in our ds (3-1/2yrs) case, he has been to both WDW 5x and DL 3x now, absolutely loves the character interactions, but certainly doesn't seem to miss the whole autograph book thing. At his age, he'd rather spend the time hugging and kissing them than having them write in a book, lol.

I think it's great for older kids say 4 and up (in general) and something they will definitely appreciate as a souvineer. At my ds's current maturity level, I still don't think he would appreciate it so we're saving that for future trips. We do take lots of pictures which he enjoys looking at after we get home. jmho.

 

[MinnieGi]

Our DS was almost 2 on our last trip in July. He loves giving the characters hugs and kisses. His older sister (almost 6) also loves the characters and likes to get their autographs. He caught on real fast and would ask and motion for a book and pen of his own. We hadn't planned on him wanting something like that but he LOVES to immitate his sister even if he does not fully understand.

Now with DD when she was that age we did not do the autograph thing and she just loved to hug and kiss the characters and get her picture taken. We waited until she asked for one which I think was more around 3.5 yo. She also started a penny collection that trip too! Of course DS needed one of those books too once he saw his sister do the penny thing!!

 

[marciemi]

When we visited in 1997, my boys were 5, 3 and almost 2. We bought autograph books for the older 2, but decided the youngest wouldn't understand or care. All went well for about 3/4 of the visit, until right in the middle of an autograph session with Pooh & Pals, when he suddenly realized his brothers had one and he didn't. We have it on video where you see him figuring it out and just abruptly bursting into tears in front of the characters.

But the funny part was that when we then bought him one, he wouldn't let any of the characters sign it. Every time we'd see one, they'd first sign his brothers' books, then when they reached for his book, he'd clutch it to his chest, glare at them, and say loudly "NO, MINE!" So he has an autograph book full of his scribbles and no autographs!

 

[bnorm27]

We just got back with my DD 4 and my DD 2.5. My younger one wants everything that her older sister has, including an autograph book! We got her one, and a pen, and she seemed to have a blast. Did she get it? Probably not. But she did have fun. Even the characters she showed some fear of (mostly the tall ones) gladly signed her book through my DW or myeself. For the cost of the book and the pen, it is well worth it.

One note of caution about the sharpie's. I would advise against them for the 2.5 year old. It was kind of awkward giving it to her while she waited in line, and then having her hand it to a character. I think she got black sharpie on Mickey's hand at MGM! They have some nice fat bullet pens with Mickey ears on them for $8.00 that worked out much better!

 

[EthansMom]

We've never done autographs.

DS5 has been going to Disney since he was 18 mos. and while he likes seeing the characters (some more than others), he likes to keep some space between himself and the characters. He will occasionally want a hug from one of his favorite characters, but otherwise is content to watch from a distance.

DD2.5 loves giving the characters hugs, but has been happy enough to get her hugs at character meals and when we happen upon a character with no line.

Just a warning, I've read more than one post on the DISboards from people whose kid(s) got so into getting autographs that it impeded the family's ability to go on rides and attractions or otherwise upset the child. For instance, some kids get so fixated on getting autographs that they feel the need to stand in every line for every character. Some kids get upset when they can't find a favorite character to get an autograph.

Personally, we avoid the character greeting lines in the parks and book one or two character meals.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[maxtomsmom]

When we visited in 1997, my boys were 5, 3 and almost 2. We bought autograph books for the older 2, but decided the youngest wouldn't understand or care. All went well for about 3/4 of the visit, until right in the middle of an autograph session with Pooh & Pals, when he suddenly realized his brothers had one and he didn't. We have it on video where you see him figuring it out and just abruptly bursting into tears in front of the characters.

But the funny part was that when we then bought him one, he wouldn't let any of the characters sign it. Every time we'd see one, they'd first sign his brothers' books, then when they reached for his book, he'd clutch it to his chest, glare at them, and say loudly "NO, MINE!" So he has an autograph book full of his scribbles and no autographs!

Go figure 2yr olds. If you ever do, you would be rich. That sounds like my guy. I guess they figure, "It's all about ME!!!!!!!!" Why need anyone else's autograph?

 

[crisi]

My kids didn't notice them or understand them at 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. When we went back they were 4 and 5. At that point, my son asked for an autograph book - he'd been scared of the characters earlier, but when he had a purpose (sign my book), he was OK approaching them.