Tips for Collecting Autographs at Disney Parks

By: Justin

Character autographs are one of our favorite collectibles at Disney theme parks.  For the cost of waiting in a line, you get some one-on-one attention from a character, a collectible signature, and a picture with your group posing with your favorite Disney hero, villain, or cartoon character.  Here are my tips for getting autographs at Disney parks.

• Get a nice big, fat pen that is easy for gloved characters to hold. Sharpies work pretty well.
•  If your child is young, try some “face” characters like the princesses first.  These are characters that do not wear a mask.  To a one year old, Mickey can look like a giant rodent that lost some fingers.
• Don’t promise your kids any characters, you never know when the line will be over an hour long or a character is about to go on break. You will avoid disappointment if you don’t promise your kids will get to meet a certain character before you see what the line is like.
• If there is an autograph that you absolutely must have, use a Fastpass selection to ensure you meet your favorite character. If you want Mickey and some of his friends, we would recommend getting a Fastpass for the character spot in EPCOT. You can also Fastpass many of the princesses.
• You can choose alternate media for your autographs.  You could use a picture frame or a picture mat, hats, soccer balls, backpacks, or anything.  In the past we have used T-shirts and quilt squares and that worked really well. The only rule is that characters will not sign anything that you are wearing.
• If you choose a T-Shirt, you will need a fabric marker for that purpose.  Also take a magazine, poster board, or a needle point hoop. You will need something to give the characters a solid surface to write on.
• Have something to do while you are waiting in line.  We have made a cool autograph book that also includes activities for kids to do while waiting for their favorite characters and rides.