My scrapping dilemma -- Disney related

I think they sell autograph books that you can add photos to, but I wanted to scrap mine in the Disney album. Here's what I did.

I didn't want separate pages in my Disney book for each character, because, honestly, we met LOTS of them and that would have been a book itself.

So ... we got a small pad of Disney-themed paper and we asked only a few for autographs and then I made special pages just for those. The most fun are the ones with big furry suits like Tigger and Dug & Russell. I took photos of them signing and scrapped the story of the fun they had trying to sign on a little piece of paper. It was very amusing. The humans that are dressed up (like the princesses) don't give memorable signing experiences in my opinion, but maybe your experience will be different.

I guess what I'm saying is don't overplan! Whatever happens will be memorable and scrappable.

We purchased one of the Disney autograph books with just the blank white pages & then brought along different colored Sharpie markers. When we were in line to meet a character, I'd pick out the color marker I wanted for that character and had the book ready for them to sign. Once I was home and working on my album, I went through and took photos of each signature page so I was then able to size them all down to 3x4 cards to incorporate into the appropriate pages in my album. I like doing it this way because in the end I'll have the signatures in my scrapbook along with the photos and journaling for the characters but I'll also still have my one autograph book with all the signatures we obtained on our trip as a separate memento.

I've been to disney a bunch of times starting when my daughter was 3 1/2. IMO the autograph books in the parks are the best ones to use, they do have some that have pages for photos as well. I like to make the autograph book more of a kid project, let them add the photos and decorate the autograph book. I use pictures from getting the autographs in my albums, you'll probably have 5-10 pictures from each meeting with a character if you're like me. I don't really like to use the actual autograph in my books but you could.

On a side note - if you do the photopass thing they have all kinds of borders and sometimes signatures you can add to the photos that they take in the park. I've used these photos in my albums, kind of the best of both worlds. There are also opportunities for "magic shots" that are awesome! The photopass people put in extra effects such as Olaff in the picture, it's totally cool.

I've seen people use their own books in the park or have cardstock cut down, I think that would be more difficult and most of the kids have the in the park autograph books. I think that's easier on the characters as well.

I know if my mom had taken away my autograph book when I was a kid, I would have been terribly upset, I don't care how outstanding the page is, that was MY book so keep that in mind when getting autographs, that your kids might want to keep autographs for themselves. I would get something that is easy to scan/copy for you. I would focus on the memory of meeting the characters and getting autographs, not so much the autograph itself, I would consider that an embellishment more than a focus.

I wouldn't pre-make pages, I've done that with Disney before and they always end up unused because they're not really fitting.

I fear the characters, but basically don't go with a plan in mind to see certain people. It could be as you're waiting in line, they switch out who is there (often happens that the Lightning McQueen line, half the people leave when 'Mater is brought out to "relieve" Lightning).

I like the books that the parks sell. Sure you can make your own, but the books in the parks look prettier (and run about $20 if I remember). It's a 8x8 type book, a pocket for a photo (horizontal), and space for autographs. My friend, who is not bothered by the characters, has brought hers with her on many trips to continue to fill the book. This might be a keepsake your daughter wants to add to over the years, so consider just photographing or scanning when you're back home.

I did a book with all the characters ... She will go again and just add to it! I did this for all my nieces and they still have it !! It was a long labor of love! Lol

We went on a Disney Cruise with DD (then almost 3) last year. She had a blast getting the autographs from all of the characters and princesses. I planned ahead and ordered one of the Disney Cruise autograph books online from the Disney Store before we left. The pages are smaller than a 4x6 photo and permanently bound into the book, just so you are aware of that, but it was okay. It worked out great because the book fit perfectly into the front pocket of a small Mickey tote bag I made to take along on the trip so I would always have baby wipes, Kleenex, a sippy cup, etc. where ever we went. I had all of the characters only sign on the right hand pages so that I would be able to scan the autographs and print some of them on cardstock to include on 12x12 layouts. Eventually I would like to attach a photo to the left pages of DD with the character that signed on the facing page. I haven't gotten that far yet, LOL. We bought the photo pass CD and it was great because they took pics at every character signing so it made it worth the expense because we had multiple photos to choose from with most characters. What I didn't realize until almost the end of the trip was that they will also take a pic with YOUR camera if you hand it to them. I wish I would have done that every time because all of the photo pass photos have decorated borders added and sometimes I don't want that because it competes with my overall page design later.

We're planning to take her to DisneyWorld at some point in the next year, so we'll be going through all of this again relatively soon. I think what I'll do next time is cut cardstock slightly longer than a 4x6 photo and bind the pieces into a small book with chipboard covers to protect them before we go. I like the idea of having colored Sharpies for the characters to sign with, and it might be fun to have some with dark colored cardstock and white or metallic Sharpies for some of the characters to sign with.

I wouldn't discount the "face characters" especially if your kid is a princess fanatic like mine is. The face characters are the only ones that can speak directly to park guests so it allows for some unique interactions. My DD went nuts for the princesses on the cruise and is really looking forward to seeing her favorites again when we go to DisneyWorld. We're going to do our best to maximize our chances of getting photos and autographs as often as we can. The more times we can get in front of their cameras, the more photos they will take and the more photos will be on our CD for the money. Not to mention more photos for me to scrap when we get home!

I didn't have time to make an autograph book before our last trip.  So I just bought one of the ones at the park.  When we got home, I took it apart and made it into a mini album for my daughter with the picture on the page opposite the autograph.  She loves looking through it.

Ziploc bag full of 4x6 cards, a sharpie, and a mini clipboard. I have built a number of autograph books from out bazillion trips to disney. This is the easiest way to do it. That way you aren't fumbling for the right page in a predesigned page for a specific character. I then stick the signed card in the back of the stack. Then empty and reload for the next day.

You can also go here for downloadable cards (DISBoards)

disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3225701

Faced with the same dilemma several years ago before taking our then-5 y.o. to WDW for the first time, I opted to cut inexpensive smooth white 12x12 cardstock into ~50 4x6 cards. (Now, with the popularity of pocket scrapping, you can easily buy them). I placed the cards, two black Zig Writers, & a small clipboard into an empty plastic container with a handle (from Making Memories foam stamps) which easily slipped into the front pocket of our backpack. (As an aside, the blank cards proved handy while waiting in long lines so our child could practice his autograph, draw, & play tic-tac-toe, etc.)

Our son simply handed each character a blank card clipped onto the clipboard & a marker (opened to the fine tip for face characters & thick tip for gloved characters); note some characters do not actually sign, but have a self-inking stamp. Signed cards were placed at the back of the stack, then slipped into an inexpensive ($1) 4x6 photo album in the hotel room at the end of each day. With uniform character autographs (all black on white paper), I had many options for scrapping the trip after we returned!

As an aside, I suggest scheduling dinner at Chef Mickey's the day of your arrival to gauge your daughter's reaction to the adult-sized, mute, costumed characters. HTH & enjoy your trip!

We usually take precut 4x6" white cardstock for the characters to sign with a Sharpie.  We have used the Photopass for the photos (get it in advance and you can save $$).  One of these days I am going to make a autograph album with the photo on one page and autograph facing it.  Nothing fancy.