I know some of you won't like this, but

[Woolly]

if there is one thing I wish had never been invented at Disneyland resorts,

it is (controversially): -

Character autograph books.

I know, the kids love them but

if you want to make meet and greets go quicker then this would be one solution. Meet, greet, have picture taken and then onto the next person.

I'm sure the characters don't enjoy this part of meeting people. It's great for them to have a bit of a laugh with the kids and have the pictures taken but then you get the book passed to you and the small thin pen and you think "Oh no, how am I going to hold this thing and sign the book?"

The photographs are great for looking back on in years to come, but the book of squigles and barely discernable scribbles. I have waited patiently in massive queues to get my kids in a photo only to have books handed to the character and then they spend the next 5 minuts fumbling with the pen and trying to sign it.

There it is. I await the backlash.

Apart from that I love DLP.

 

[staceylc]

Ha ha, I know exactly what you mean. The amount of times children gave the characters their books with it closed and then the characters spent the next 30 seconds signalling them to open them!

Also in the queue to meet Sully last week one Mum was moaning that her son couldn't get his autograph. He had everyone else's and there would be blank space next to the picture where his autograph should be. I don't think she'd seen the size of his arms!

 

[nightrider68]

I totally agree and a lot of the times it is the parents that are worse than the children at thrusting an autograph book in a characters face

 

[markpsych]

It's a very good point!

 

[DLPdaft]

yes it is a good point - however, my DD loves her autograph books, she's always got it open and always has a chunky pen. Some of the messages the characters have written to her have had her in awe, truly believing the Magic (ie using her first name when she hasn't told them what it is, getting birthday messages from the characters in her book etc). Those are treasured by her, and are a lovely memento of her visit.

I tell you what gets my goat (now that we're on the subject) - folk who take forever to get their camera switched on and set up when their friends/family are stood with the character - and then they take 40 pictures

 

[LoodlesNoodles]

Autograph books are ideal for kids who are a bit unsure/shy around the characters too.

 

[markpsych]

I tell you what gets my goat (now that we're on the subject) - folk who take forever to get their camera switched on and set up when their friends/family are stood with the character - and then they take 40 pictures

Touché

 

[tinks_1989]

yes it is a good point - however, my DD loves her autograph books, she's always got it open and always has a chunky pen. Some of the messages the characters have written to her have had her in awe, truly believing the Magic (ie using her first name when she hasn't told them what it is, getting birthday messages from the characters in her book etc). Those are treasured by her, and are a lovely memento of her visit.

I tell you what gets my goat (now that we're on the subject) - folk who take forever to get their camera switched on and set up when their friends/family are stood with the character - and then they take 40 pictures

This is what I was going to say! I think every time we were waiting to meet a character the person in front wasn't ready camera still in bag buried under the plus chair under coats etc lol I always take every thing out ready!

We did an autograph book for Elsie and yes she was only 6 months old she has no idea what it is so I can show her when she is older and like others said the personalized messages are so special to me!

At cafe Mickey though DH did say to Minnie mouse that it must be a required skill to be able to sign with those gloves holding small pens she gave him the thumbs up and nodded so it obviously is a pain for them! We had very big chinky pens and will always take big chunky pens x

 

[wmoon]

My DS has always been shy round characters so never bothered getting him an autograph book.

However, he was given one ( and a chunky pen) when we checked in at DLH at the last trip and he loves it! First thing he packed for our trip tomorrow.

We do, always make sure we are prepared.....

Wendy x

 

[Ware Bears]

My girls loved getting autographs when they were younger - they each had separate books for WDW and DLP and they hold really treasured memories BUT I'm not sorry they've outgrown this and I no longer have to queue for autographs or photos anymore unless I want a photo myself.

Now, while we're on the subject, who gets fed up being behind the person in the counter service queue who not only hasn't got their money/card out ready to pay but hasn't decided what they want to order?

 

[thepreciouspea]

I agree that people should have their stuff ready to go everywhere, it's just a common courtesy to everyone else. Unfortunately about 50% of people don't care that they cause an inconvenience to others.

I disagree about the autograph thing. I didn't understand until we got our first few, but the signatures were really cute and my 4 y/o DD really enjoyed getting them. We always had the pen and page ready.

My 2 rants....

Adults alone in line to see Santa. Example we had 4 adults in front of us probably in their 50's to see Santa....no kids with them. They each had their picture with Santa alone, then as couples. I think we took less time with our 2 little ones, including getting Santa's autograph.

A group of 4-6 people taking up the whole walk way and walking slow, seriously!?!?! Please walk in groups of 2 and stay off to one side or in the middle leaving room to pass. Also don't make a sudden stop right in front of me.....move off to the side. thanks!

 

[DLPdaft]

My girls loved getting autographs when they were younger - they each had separate books for WDW and DLP and they hold really treasured memories BUT I'm not sorry they've outgrown this and I no longer have to queue for autographs or photos anymore unless I want a photo myself.

Now, while we're on the subject, who gets fed up being behind the person in the counter service queue who not only hasn't got their money/card out ready to pay but hasn't decided what they want to order?

not only that - when they get to the front of the queue they start calling over the rest of their family who are parked out of the queue - "what do you want to drink" etc etc

 

[DLPdaft]

I agree that people should have their stuff ready to go everywhere, it's just a common courtesy to everyone else. Unfortunately about 50% of people don't care that they cause an inconvenience to others.

I disagree about the autograph thing. I didn't understand until we got our first few, but the signatures were really cute and my 4 y/o DD really enjoyed getting them. We always had the pen and page ready.

My 2 rants....

Adults alone in line to see Santa. Example we had 4 adults in front of us probably in their 50's to see Santa....no kids with them. They each had their picture with Santa alone, then as couples. I think we took less time with our 2 little ones, including getting Santa's autograph.

A group of 4-6 people taking up the whole walk way and walking slow, seriously!?!?! Please walk in groups of 2 and stay off to one side or in the middle leaving room to pass. Also don't make a sudden stop right in front of me.....move off to the side. thanks!

that drive me nuts in shopping centres etc here - I think I'm getting to be a grumpy old woman with all my rants on this thread !

 

[Lizzim]

My 2 rants....

Adults alone in line to see Santa. Example we had 4 adults in front of us probably in their 50's to see Santa....no kids with them. They each had their picture with Santa alone, then as couples. I think we took less time with our 2 little ones, including getting Santa's autograph.

A group of 4-6 people taking up the whole walk way and walking slow, seriously!?!?! Please walk in groups of 2 and stay off to one side or in the middle leaving room to pass. Also don't make a sudden stop right in front of me.....move off to the side. thanks!

Why should adults not be allowed to meet Santa? I'm 30 but still want to see Santa and characters - I have paid for the whole experience not just the rides

 

[megarasweet]

I still have my character autograph book from when I was five. I'm eighteen now and it still makes me smile when I stumble across it in my parent's box of memoirs. My mum didn't take a camera on the trip so it's the most important keepsake we have from our first Disney holiday together.

As mentioned, I think that as long as people hand over their books on a clean page and have an appropriate pen it's a lovely practice and makes a wonderful keepsake.

 

[willieboy]

{


agree with the OP

 

[small2006]

I'm a 30 year old woman with no kids (yet!) but I still like meeting the characters. The annoying thing about the studios is that there are never orderly queues! What's the point of the cast member being there if they're just standing around watching kids being pushed in front of other kids to get their pictures taken? Obviously I'm not going to push in front of a child but I would like an equal opportunity! Walt Disney wanted to create a park that everyone could enjoy but often the adult Disney fans are made to feel like second class citizens!

 

[DLPdaft]

there are quite a few organised meet n greets in the Studios now. Theres one (sometimes 2) in the front lot, sometimes they use the main stage near Cinemagique for queued meet n greets, theres the Sully one, and there are 2 separate stages for meet n greets in the Toon Studios area.

I'm not a fan of queued meet n greets, and I do think DLP have provided more and more of them as the years have gone on.

 

[Woolly]

Some interesting views so far. I agree with the point made earlier about people not being ready with the cameras.

I strongly agree with the point about being an adult with no children in queues for meet and greets. You are the equal to any child. We were all children once and children now will be where we are soon enough.

The whole point of Disney is to bring that magical experience to everyone so those that think children should come first should think again. I certainly respect any adult(s) without children in a queue before me and my young children. partly bacuase I sympathise with the next in line after me as I struggle to get all the kids meeted and greeted and photo's completed to my Wife's satisfaction.

Let the debate continue...................

 

[cherrymarzipan]

This is a difficult one because whilst I agree with the OP about the disagreeable side of scrums for characters and can see that autographs must exacerbate the problem I also know that my DS gets enormous pleasure from looking at his photo autograph books over and over at home and also think that the spontaneous arrivals of characters are often the best. My solution is for Disney to simply put out more characters all the time, spreading and diluting the crowds around them.