What pens for autographs have you actually used?

[DizzyKitten]

Ok, I've been doing months of reading and planning and researching and something is beginning to bother me. The pens to use for autographs. Sounds pretty silly, right? Yeah well, I'm very confused at this point.

On the one hand I hear that you should take a Sharpie because they are fatter than normal pens. On the other hand I hear to take a novelty sized large ballpoint pen so the characters with gloves can hold it easily. I mean really, how large does the pen need to be?

Can someone show me a pic of a pen they used in the parks with no problem? Or can someone confirm that they used a Sharpie and if so, which one? I gotta tell ya, the clickable ones are cool but they look to be the same size as most pens to me.

PLEASE HELP!

 

[LadyShea]

We attached one of those fat ballpoints to the autograph book. The characters are amazingly adept...seemed to me they had a harder time seeing where they were signing rather than actually holding the pen.

 

[twins4mimi]

This is the first time we are doing the autographs but I ordered a book on ebay, the seller makes them custom made and she has sold hundreds and she includes a pen and it was a sharpie. So maybe she knows since she sells them. It is a black one and I bought a few colored ones also... Now you have me wondering

 

[DizzyKitten]

Now do you see why I'm confused? I'd like to get the Sharpie clickables because there's no top to worry about but are they big enough. I don't really know what people mean by fat ballpoint pen. I've seen some thick ones but I've seen some even bigger than those so which ones are the best?
Maybe I'm thinking too much.

Does anyone have a pic?

 

[cherjp]

hi

when we went for the 1st time we bought the autograph books at one of the disney stores at wdw before we went to MK , these were chubby ballpoint pens and they were right next to the autograph books. these were very good and none of the characters had a problem with them, although a couple of the characters had stamped signatures think Buzz and Woody did not sure

 

[kileybeth]

definitely sharpie. over several trips and at least a half dozen different type autograph books, sharpies work best. they are plenty big enough for characters, ink never runs dry, and I give each kiddo their own color, works out great.

put an oven mitt on your hand and then try to sign your name? that's what it is like for most characters! they do an awesome job and it means a lot to them to have a decent pen they can count on working every time!

Have a magical trip!

ps, oh clickables should be fine. just nothing small like pencil width or ink that can stop writing mid stream.

 

[DizzyKitten]

Thanks everyone. I think what I'll do is take some clickable Sharpies AND a few big pens. Hopefully the Sharpies work just fine.

 

[WishUponAStar]

On our last visit we brought white pillow cases and 3-4 various colored fabric markers. We already had the autograph book and it sits in the box under the bed. The pillow case however, is on the bed for them to use. Fabric markers are about the same length as a sharpie but bigger around. They are permanent and won't wash out. Mits, gloves or bare hands can hold them easily and with the variety of colors the kids could choose the color they wanted the character to sign with. The markers also fit in a fanny pack easily as does the case.

 

[kami2199]

we also did a sharpie our first year...until dd held it against her new princess dress while snapping the photo and it of course left a big mark that was permanent! It goes so quickly that I don't think they really have time to remember to put a cap on or to click it shut. We ended up buying a fat pen at Disney somewhere after that and it worked out well for us.

 

[ryka]

We used the pens that have the 4 different color inks in them and they worked fine.

 

[mom*to*2*princesses]

We used clickable sharpies. It's fun to have autographs in colors that "coordinate" with each character! We had no problems, but you do have to be a little careful not to get ink on the characters hands, if you hand them an open sharpie. They definitely know what to do with them and the size is perfect.

 

[DizzyKitten]

On our last visit we brought white pillow cases and 3-4 various colored fabric markers. We already had the autograph book and it sits in the box under the bed. The pillow case however, is on the bed for them to use. Fabric markers are about the same length as a sharpie but bigger around. They are permanent and won't wash out. Mits, gloves or bare hands can hold them easily and with the variety of colors the kids could choose the color they wanted the character to sign with. The markers also fit in a fanny pack easily as does the case.

I thought about something like that but how do they sign a pillowcase? Don't they need a hard surface to write on?

 

[Terry36]

Another vote for Clickable sharpies.

 

[WishUponAStar]

The pillow case came with a small cardboard insert about the same size as the autograph book (except thinner). We would wrap the case around it with the area we wanted the character to sign exposed. It provided a hard enough suface to write on but did not take up space in the fanny pack. When finished, the pillow case can be put into a ziplock with the cardboard and markers to keep them together. Then, "On to the next character!"

 

[DizzyKitten]

The pillow case came with a small cardboard insert about the same size as the autograph book (except thinner). We would wrap the case around it with the area we wanted the character to sign exposed. It provided a hard enough suface to write on but did not take up space in the fanny pack. When finished, the pillow case can be put into a ziplock with the cardboard and markers to keep them together. Then, "On to the next character!"

That sounds great! If you don't mind me asking, where did you get the pillowcases from? Were they just normal everyday cases? Thanks!

 

[FoundMyPrince]

We did the clickable Sharpie on our last trip - and when we walked away, Donald had a big black mark across his beak. I wondered how in the world they would get the Sharpie out. We didn't see him mark on himself, but the line was right in the area where he put the book to sign his name.

 

[WishUponAStar]

Where do we get most everything else? Wal Mart of course.
They were just regular cotton cases. Nothing special and maybe $2.00 each.

 

[sunlover13]

We bought our autograph book from ebay that came with a pen that is a little fatter than a normal pen. After reading the DIS, I went out and bought a clickable sharpie too. Guess what! The sharpie went right through the thin pages of the autograph book so we used the pen. The characters were fine using the pen. I saw them signing with normal pens and seemed to just fine. Those that can't sign with pen use a stamp.

FYI, the sharpie came in handy for marking up your Disney maps on rides / attractions you went to, etc. Until DH left it in his pocket and we washed it in the washing machine His shorts were fine, but no more sharpie for the rest of the trip

 

[DizzyKitten]

Where do we get most everything else? Wal Mart of course.
They were just regular cotton cases. Nothing special and maybe $2.00 each.

OMG, I should have known! Hey, I'm no stranger to Wally World. Thanks again.

 

[dyna]

I bought DD 2 big fat sharpies in 1998 to take to disney for autographs both sharpies still going strong.

I was careful to keep them sealed in a ziplock bag when we was not at disney an that was the only time they was used for years now that DD past the autograph stage per say I moved them out where I can use them as needed they both going strong.