what age for autograph books

[renae3]

Hey everyone. I am going to disney with my 2 boys ages 2 and 5. My question is should I get autograph books for them both or is 2 too young. I think my 5 year old would enjoy it. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

 

[chcmama]

I've been trying to decide the same thing. When we went to Disneyland a few years ago my dd's were 6 and 2 and we just had one and the younger one seemed fine. She would meet the characters too and have pics taken but one autograph book signed. We are going to WDW in 2 mths and I am thinking that my girls are each going to want one now (10 and 7) and that my 2yo ds may feel left out if he doesn't have one. I think I may want until we get there and see how he acts. I did buy a pad of Cars paper in the Target dollar spot that he could use if necessary.

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

My 2 year old had his first autograph book at 101/2 months. He didn't have to feel left out (grand gathering with 5 of his cousins) and also enjoyed looking at the book. Then, at 20 months, he was so excited to get out his "special marker" for each character to use! For our upcoming trip, he will be 32 months and I can't wait to make a new one for him and his brother!

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

BTW - just go buy the notecards that come in a spiral book (we like the fluorescent colors) and decorate with Disney stickers from the dollar store. Cheap and easy - also translates well to a scrapbook or photo album. Use the retractable sharpie markers!

 

[cigarboo]

I have 2 boys now 4 & 7 and we have been doing the autograph thing since the first one was around 1 1/2. He could have done without, but we just always bring the same autograph book back to disney so he collects more each time. By the time he was 3, he really enjoyed going through the book to see all the autographs he had collected, even the ones that he collected at 1 1/2. Now my second son got into the autograph thing around 1 1/2, just because my older son was so into it. They both like having their own books. You don't have to buy the Disney autograph book. I think many kids, especially at 2 would be just as happy with a few blank pieces of paper and a pen. But I think if you make regular trips to Disney, a nice book that they can use over and over would be a good investment. But being the forgetful self that I am, we now have 8 books because I keep forgetting to bring those books back. Their favorite is still the original one which has the most autographs.

 

[belle&sebastiansmom]

DD did her first autograph book the week she turned 3. She was excited about meeting all of the characters, though still a little scared. We did not push her to go up to any character she didn't want to. I agree with using the retractable sharpies - no caps to lose and they are thicker for the "pawed" or gloved characters to handle. Another tip, get the character to sign on only one side of the page then scrapbook the picture of your child meeting that character on the other side.

 

[MNFootballMommy]

We had one for DD in Dec. when she was 2.5. It was more of an 'ice breaker' for her when approaching the characters than anything. You know, at home we do the "take this to Daddy, please," etc., so it was kind of a natural thing when we handed her the book and pen and said, "Take this to Minnie, please!"

She didn't really care about the autographs though. She was happy to meet the Princesses and take their pictures (she had her own disposable cameras--those pics are a hoot!), but the autographs? Meh.

 

[nonzerosum]

I made one for my 1 1/2 DS and 4 1/2 DD. They both love looking at the pages and it has helped my little guy become familiarized with the characters. BTW, the creative DISigns board has some AMAZING autograph pages that you can print out in 4X6 or 6X6 size. They are so gorgeous.

 

[SmallWorld71]

When my 2 younger kids were around 2/3, they were afraid of the characters but they wanted a book because big brother had one. So, I got them a book and their brother got most of the signatures for them. The characters were very nice about signing the books.

 

[disneyfanx3]

I think it depends on the child my son is 2 and he won't go anywhere near the characters so he doesn't have and autograph book, My girls were probably two when they got theirs and my one daughter wouldn't go near the characters either, but she would throw her book at them to sign it.

 

[jenseib]

I was going to mention too that alot of kids might be too afraid to aproach characters.
We went las year when DD was 2 and didn't get a book and she could've cared less. But she did enjoy getting her picture taken with the characters. We are going again this year, and I think even at 3 she is more into the picture rather than the signature. I did buy them for my older kids when I took them at young ages. I think my youngest was 5 the first time we did it then. (lots of years between them and my now youngest) How much do the books go for now? I think they were $5 back then.

 

[GoinToDisney]

My dd is 3.5, and this was our first trip with the book for her. She loved it!! I bought her 2 of the ones at Disney that hold a photo on one page and an autograph goes on the other. She got Princesses and one with Mickey. She liked that it meant spending more time with characters and she also liked that it was a routine and she knew what to do for the interaction.

 

[jenseib]

My dd is 3.5, and this was our first trip with the book for her. She loved it!! I bought her 2 of the ones at Disney that hold a photo on one page and an autograph goes on the other. She got Princesses and one with Mickey. She liked that it meant spending more time with characters and she also liked that it was a routine and she knew what to do for the interaction.

How much were those?

 

[jacksmomma]

I got the spiral notecards for my 18 month old son. He was just happy to hug and kiss the characters, but I wanted their autographs for his scrapbook. If it were up to him we could have done without the autographs.

As long as you do not mind lugging it around, you could get a Disney storybook and have the character sign by their story. I loved this idea, but could not find a book anywhere.

 

[kofduke]

I got one for my 2-yo as there was no way he'd abide by older brother having one and him not!!

 

[mousescrapper]

We did the WDW autograph books for our first trip w/ our then turning 6 DD and DS (DD 2 1/2 did not have one). We left one side blank and had characters sign on the other side. I think the characters know people want to paste pic's in later, only once it got goofed up. I printed the pictures just on plain paper in a wallet size and helped the kids cut and glue in. They still sit on their shelves w/ their other Disney stuff and can't wait to bring them this June for round 2!

For my DD who was 2 1/2 then now 5 we will purchase her her own WDW book (to keep in the same), she's much more aware of the characters and wanting to get their autographs this time.

We have a toddler too under 2, but will not do a book for her till the next probable trip in 2011.

As far as adding autographs to scrapbooks. I scanned them into our computer and then printed out and added to a layout w/ the pictures of us with the characters.

 

[Princesswanabee]

Just got one for my daughter during our last trip and she was 2 1/2. She loved taking it up to all the characters to be signed and got really into it. She kept flipping through the pages during our stay and asked me to read her all the signatures. We will be trying to add to it when we go in April!

 

[hlbrink]

We are doing one for our son (he will be 24 months) and daughter (4.5 years) when we go in May. I will only have his signed during character meals or if DD is having hers signed by a character (we won't track down a character specifically for him). I don't think he will be "into it" now, but I want to have it for when he gets older and wants to look at pics and souvenirs from his first Disney trip.

 

[The Lion King]

I am making one for each mine-ds who will be 8 and dd 5. I was surprised that my niece, 9 wanted one. I'm going to take white scrapbooking paper cut into squares for them to sign. I am using a plastic case from a large Sizzix die to hold the paper squares and a marker in. That way there will be a hard surface for them to write on and it will be waterproof also.

 

[jenseib]

Does anyone know how much these are at Disney?