I don't want to do the autograph thing!

[mrsbballref]

It will be my step-DD's first trip to DW. I don't
really want to get her so involved in the autograph
thing. I can't stand the thought of standing in
line for something I'm not sure she would ever look
at again. I'm hoping she will feel the same.

Is there a way to avoid her even knowing about this?
She will be almost 5 when we go. I'm hoping just
not mentioning it will be sufficient.

Anyone else feel this way?

 

[Aidensmom]

The first thing you will see when you walk into MK are characters in the square signing autographs, with long lines for each of them. I don't think you will be able to keep her from knowing about it.....

I limit my son to 2 lines per day. If, however, we encounter a character with less than 5 people in line (usually only happens 1st thing in the morning when a character is just starting - saw Stich and Buzz Lightyear that way last time), that is a "bonus" that doesn't count against his limit. In Mickeys Toon Town, you get to see several characters at once (except the line for Mickey) rather than waiting in a separate line for each character: Minnie and friends, Pooh and friends, or the Princesses, so if you do decide to do any, this is the more "efficient" place to do it.

Something I have done though when I really don't want to wait in a line to get him to change his mind is explain to him how long the line is, and what he may be missing out on during that time - works about half of the time.

 

[lclark0621]

That is going to be tough. Especially if she sees a character she really likes!

You don't want any pictures of her with the characters?

Maybe do some character meals? That way if she sees someone in the park you can tell her you are going to eat a whole meal with that character & he/she will come right up to her at her table later.

Also the best place to meet characters is in Toontown. They have Mickey's house & the character tent. While there can be very long lines there, since the characters are there all day, you can always go back later & see them.

 

[blitzkrieg048]

It's going to be impossible to keep from not noticing the characters signing. If she really wants them got to a character meal as suggested above. They come to you and your family can eat while she waits for the characters to come. Chef Mickey's at the contemporary is the best, IMO. They have Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Chip&Dale and Goofy. I think that's your best bet.

 

[murcor]

We didnt do the autographs, but still stood in the lines for photos. Meeting the characters are some of the best memories they have from their first trip to Disney. Ages 5 & 4

It didnt seem to bother them at all that they didnt get autographs....looking back since we stood in line we should have had the books.

We went in January so the lines were not long and the cm's kept the lines moving so it was fair for everyone.

Angela

 

[Colinsmom]

We did photos instead. DS loved, loved, loved the characters and not allowing him to see them would have spoiled half the fun of our vacation.

Perhaps you can sit down with her before the trip and decide which characters she wants to see? Then, working from that list, pick a character breakfast or two that covers most of her favorites. But the idea of not letting her visit characters *if* that's what she really loves makes me kinda sad...

 

[MrsPete]

Your kids will see lots of kids standing in line to hug and "speak to" the characters. They may or may not realize that some of the kids are having autographs signed. Autographs do take MUCH more time.

 

[d-man's mom]

I don't want to do this either- I'm booking at least one character meal a day so that he can see the characters up close. If we see other ones in the park, great.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Another vote for character meals. We have gotten most of our autographs then.

E-night used to be great for charcters without long lines. Not sure about EMH- if it will be the same or not.

One year instead of the autograph books they have at the parks, We took a 4x6 photo album, and had them sign the pages of that, with a permanant sharpie marker. Then we added the picture. It makes for more of a collectable than just the autograph book alone.

Good luck making your decision.

 

[all4fun]

Autographs do take MUCH more time.

I just want to say that I don't necessarily agree with this. If you have your book out and pen in hand, the autograph shouldn't take that much more time. Of course if you have a few people in front of you who aren't prepared then that can make your wait longer. I have been held up in line behind people who waited until they got up to front of the line before they started digging for book, pen, and camera. The CM's that are with the characters do try to get people to prepare themselves too, so I don't really understand why this still happens.

 

[Yardbird]

We have taken our six year old grandson since he was three, and he never has expressed an interest in autographs. I have to admit that I have never been one to care about anyone's autograph.

We're going to WDW in June, maybe I'll ask him if he would like to do this. Do you buy the autograph book before you go, or purchase at WDW?

 

[tifandjim]

.One year instead of the autograph books they have at the parks, We took a 4x6 photo album, and had them sign the pages of that, with a permanant sharpie marker. Then we added the picture.

That is a wonderful idea!! I was never into the autograph thing as a kid, but my little sister was, and that would have been a really cool way for my mom or sister to have kept them with the pic!! GREAT IDEA!! When we get to take my neice on her 1st WDW trip, I will make sure that we do this!!

 

[beth_cam]

My children(2&4 at time) asked what the others were doing and I said you had to have a special book and we didnt have one. They never said much else about it. They just loved seein the characters some and getting pics. They didnt even want to stand in the long lines often. i mean they wanted to see them all but after a line or two they no longer did except cinderella and toy story.

This year however for my 6 year old (and i'm sure my 4 year old will want to do it if only cause sissy is) I am getting theym 5X7 Spiral scrapbooks ($4 at walmart) to get the autographs we are also taking our digital camera and printer. I already have a supply of stickers, background papers etc. During our time in the hotel...or after we get home if that doesnt work out.....I am going to print the pictures and let her put them with the signatures, write something about the day etc. I figured this would make it more of a treasure and continue to be used. I still dont intend to do a lot of standing in lines but we have two character meal ps's already considering a 3rd will definitely hit toy story characters and toon town ones again. that already adds up to a lot. And since it is a scrapbook it doesnt all have to be about the autographs. there can be just pages about the trip.

 

[mumoftwo]

Hello Eveyone ( First Post)
Being from Ireland with two very fair skinned children more use to the rain than florida temps, I never let them queue for things in the blazing sun as I worry about sun stroke etc. They have always been aware that is why not and I followed it up with 'it takes away time from rides' and they have been happy. As they have got older they have not bothered about characters. We also avoid waiting for parades in the midday sun. Always plan evening parades.

 

[F1Julie]

My DD4 never does autographs. Does your child think that the characters are real or just people dressed up? My DD knows they are not real so when she figured this out I told her the autographs don't make a lot of sense since it's not the "real" Mickey (or whomever) signing them anyway.

 

[tmarquez]

We don't do autographs either...when did this start anyway, all we did when I was a kid was take our picture with the characters. When we go to the parks and my DD sees the characters and there is a line we just say, "look there's __________from _______, come on lets go ride_____". This does the trick. If there's no line, we'll ask if she wants to take her picture with them, sometimes she does and sometimes she doesn't. I think it's all what you make it out to be, especially if it's your daughters first time.

 

[ckoncurat]

We did aurographs this last trip, and I felt like it was a PAIN IN THE BUTT!!!
Juggling kids, pens, books and camera- not fun. I would suggest taking a PICTURE of your DD with each character, and giving her a photo album of them when you get home. JMHO

 

[kccmommy]

My DS6, DD12 and DD14 Love autographs. One thing that works to make the wait shorter is when there are more than 1 character near eachother I take the kids in the shorter line and DH waits in the longer line. When they are done with the first, it is almost time for the 2nd. Extra bonus if I can get in a 3rd line. This works well in the morning on Mainstreet and in Toontown.

 

[MinnieFan]

Just a suggestion but if you would like to get some cute pictures of DD without waiting on huge character lines, Epcot is a good place to find characters. You can see Mulan in China, Belle and the Beast in France, Aladdin, Genie and Jasmine in Morocco, and Pooh characters in Great Britain. There are pretty themed areas to take photos with the characters and we have never waited on line to see them. Epcot also has the characters on holiday bus, where you can catch maybe 10 or so "big" characters like Mickey at one time. If DD is interested in the characters, perhaps you could tell her that you would do something like stop to see the characters that get off the bus, and after that you would have the rest of your day free to tour.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

My DD5 loves to get autographs. We then bring the book home and scrapbook the autographs next to the pictures of her with the characters. This is the thing she is most looking forward to when we go back. Yes we do the character meals but she really enjoys seeing the characters when it isn't planned.

And please don't take this the wrong way but are you going to WDW for you or for your stepDD. I have 3 stepDDs (25, 16 and 14) and learned a LONG time ago that what you might think is fun for you ISN'T for them and vice versa. . Trust me when I tell you that if your stepDD really wants to stand in line for autographs it might just be worth it for the relationship in the long run to stand in line. My greatest fear was to be known as the step monster.