Sign Here Please

One of the dangers of Disney World, especially with kids, is the merchandise. It’s everywhere. Main Street is lined with stores. Every on-site resort has a shop. Most attractions lead out into a shop themed for that ride. Sometimes, in places like the World Showcase and Downtown Disney, the attractions are the shops and the whole reason for visiting. I’ve written articles here on souvenirs before and the best places for them. However, what about a souvenir that doesn’t cost much, can be more satisfying and stave off a large credit card bill?

That’s where autographs come in. First timers may find the concept funny, but almost all kids and even some adults love getting the autographs of various Disney characters. It becomes a game to find as many different characters as possible to collect the autographs. Books are sold cheaply in the shops along with thick pens that are easy for the gloved hands of characters to handle. However, many people do bring their own collection books and pens from home. Just make sure that the books can lay flat and that the pens are big enough for the characters to manipulate. Some people like to have an autograph on one page and a photo with that character on the facing page.

There are some interesting facts about autograph collecting. One, is that no matter where you meet the character, you can expect the same signature. If you meet Belle in Epcot and then the next day in Magic Kingdom, it will look the same. If you meet Belle five years from now and get her autograph again, it will match the previous autograph. Sometimes I suspect some adults like to collect the autographs just to test this out. (The others are trying to get as many characters as possible. Some characters are quite rare, it’s like bird watching or Pokemon collecting.)

Even more impressive, is that some characters, due to the nature of the costumes (like Goofy and Pluto) are signing blind. Try signing a signature that isn’t your own, but due it by holding your hands above your head and that’s basically what they do.

Just remember if you do decide to do autographs that the books should be open to a blank page before approaching the character and the pen should be uncapped/clicked and ready. This is just common courtesy to all others in line behind you and helps the characters, since most of them aren’t going to be able to turn pages easily.

At the end of the trip, the autograph book will be filled with different signatures all in the style of the character who wrote them and like a photo will last longer than that giant lollipop. Those lollipops almost always are broken anyway. I haven’t bought an intact one yet.