Should all character "autographs" be a stamp to save time?

[dcibrando]

Hear me out... I go to Disney A LOT and my little one loves to meet the characters. We are not into getting autographs however I understand many are which is fine. One thing I notice however is how much longer the lines are and how much slower the lines moved when the character has to take photos and also write an autograph which is not easy for some as it is.

Some characters like Buzz Lightyear simply use a stamp of their name which goes in the autograph book showing they met him, etc. and this is so much quicker - sooo... my question is:

Should ALL characters do a stamp to save time (for themselves and others in the lines waiting to meet them)? I think Disney could still use the autograph books they sell, and maybe even do something in addition (which would be another way to make money too), a special character sticker meet book where each character has a special sticker of them you can only get when you meet them.

What are your thoughts? I think the stamp is WAY more efficient, quicker for guests in line, and a lot easier for the characters.

 

[asianway]

Show > efficiency so no...

Maybe they should just hang the suits up on a rack and your little one can just jump from suit to suit for their photo and you can move on to something else.

 

[dcibrando]

Show > efficiency so no...

Maybe they should just hang the suits up on a rack and your little one can just jump from suit to suit for their photo and you can move on to something else.

geez... that was a pretty harsh response for such a simple question to poll all the disney fans on the boards. I guess this is just another indication of what some of these disney boards are coming too.

My question for you is how is (barely) writing a name in a book much show? So you're saying those that use a stamp today rather than sign by hand are less "show" and not as good? Should my daughter get more time with the characters since we don't do autograph books?

 

[JIMINYCR]

Sure it's quicker, might be easier and efficient for some, but I still wouldn't like it. An autograph book should be real, a keepsake. I've seen some characters personalize the page w/ the guests name, a little note, which makes the autograph more meaningful. Something so sterile like a stamp loses the personal Disney touch.

 

[Zipadeelady]

I'm going to respectfully say NO!!!!

I love the way they add a little art to their signature. Ariel's had bubbles. Jimmny Cricket's J is an umbrella. Captain Hook's was fancy cursive and Mr. Smee has a big block letter look. You can tell they put a lot of thought in the signatures.

I do agree that signatures are time consuming but I want the personalization of each character. But that's me.

 

[wdwmagic]

Having characters sign is a big part of the show and the interaction with the guest. Meet and greets are not just run up to the character, take photo, get stamp and leave. Signing an autograph takes at most 30 seconds, is that really a problem?

 

[asianway]

geez... that was a pretty harsh response for such a simple question to poll all the disney fans on the boards. I guess this is just another indication of what some of these disney boards are coming too.

My question for you is how is (barely) writing a name in a book much show? Should my daughter get more time with the characters since we don't do autograph books?

Im pretty sure your daughter can get all the time she wants within limits - part of the character attendants job is to ensure a steady flow. Im not sure how taking 5 seconds to sign an autograph is any worse than a group taking a couple dozen pics in different poses. And the photopass taking duplicate shots of all of them.

In addition, the rigid scheduling of the greets is the reason lines are so long. If they treated more sets as "popups" overall lines would be reduced. The problem is not autographs...

 

[dcibrando]

Having characters sign is a big part of the show and the interaction with the guest. Meet and greets are not just run up to the character, take photo, get stamp and leave. Signing an autograph takes at most 30 seconds, is that really a problem?

it can be when there are large families X100 and a long line...

the more time people spend in line, the less time they are spending money

 

[dcibrando]

I'm also seeing more people trying to get characters to sign their iPhone's using a stylus pen. It's hard enough for them to sign a book with a large pen

 

[Violet]

I think they should ban signatures. Your souvenir is the picture you are taking of your kid with the character (or yourself). I think a unique sticker or stamp is a good idea though, and that could be put into your book by a CM after you are done meeting. Kids would love that.

I feel bad for the characters trying to sign all those books with those costumes on too.

 

[asianway]

I think they should ban signatures. Your souvenir is the picture you are taking of your kid with the character (or yourself).

You mean the "love & shove"?

 

[Kirk88]

I would have to say no to the stamp. Every now and then I get the characters to sign stuff too and some things (such as hats) aren't going to look too great with a stamp. Honestly, I'd rather go to the character meals versus standing in line for M&Gs. I'll wait in ANY line for my kids though.

 

[Violet]

On the cruises, you can drop off a pillowcase and then by the end of the cruise, it is all "signed" by the characters. Something like that seems to make more sense to me if people really do want signatures. I'd rather see the characters interact versus spending their time trying to finagle books and pens.

 

[dcibrando]

I would have to say no to the stamp. Every now and then I get the characters to sign stuff too and some things (such as hats) aren't going to look too great with a stamp. Honestly, I'd rather go to the character meals versus standing in line for M&Gs. I'll wait in ANY line for my kids though.

now there you go... maybe allow signatures for character meals only. You're going to be sitting at a table eating anyways... not waiting in line

 

[Spikerdink]

I usually groan when I am in line for a character and a family in front of me hauls out the autograph book for not 1, not 2, but 3 kids. Then I sit and have to watch as the character stuggles to write its name for these kids and I get really antsy. My NY DNA wants me to yell out, "Move! Just move! It's a fake autograph! C'mon, for crying out loud!!"

Then I realize what a stupendous I am, and look at the enjoyment that these kids are getting meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Chip and Dale....then they run up to Mommy and show her the autograph and to them it is the most treasured item in their lives, and now I am really starting to hate myself.

So, in response to the OP, I would hate seeing the charachters with a stamp. It takes away the immediacy, the intimacy, the connection. These are the memories these kids will have as they look back on the pictures and drag that autograph book out of the bottom of their closet. It was their time with the charachter and it means something when the ink smudges, but that moment is frozen in thier minds. A stamp doesn't hold the same effect and it becomes too cardboard and impersonal for me....

I can wait the extra minute or two it takes for the kids to get their autograph. It reminds me to slow down, enjoy the moment and see the joy in the simple things.

 

[Violet]

Re character meals...

At Crystal Palace last year, there was a table of at least 8 Japanese, young adult tourists. They looked really happy and into it, which was cool. Anyway, they all had to get every signature from every character. It took forever.

 

[dcibrando]

I usually groan when I am in line for a character and a family in front of me hauls out the autograph book for not 1, not 2, but 3 kids. Then I sit and have to watch as the character stuggles to write its name for these kids and I get really antsy. My NY DNA wants me to yell out, "Move! Just move! It's a fake autograph! C'mon, for crying out loud!!"

Then I realize what a stupendous I am, and look at the enjoyment that these kids are getting meeting Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Chip and Dale....then they run up to Mommy and show her the autograph and to them it is the most treasured item in their lives, and now I am really starting to hate myself.

So, in response to the OP, I would hate seeing the charachters with a stamp. It takes away the immediacy, the intimacy, the connection. These are the memories these kids will have as they look back on the pictures and drag that autograph book out of the bottom of their closet. It was their time with the charachter and it means something when the ink smudges, but that moment is frozen in thier minds. A stamp doesn't hold the same effect and it becomes too cardboard and impersonal for me....

I can wait the extra minute or two it takes for the kids to get their autograph. It reminds me to slow down, enjoy the moment and see the joy in the simple things.

I actually look at it differently... I don't want my child taking away time from some other kid that may not even get to meet the character if they have to leave before they can get there. I see your point though... I just think kids would get more (or just as much) out of a sticker and a stamp. I don't think autographs mean as much to kids as something like a michael jordan autograph would mean to adults

 

[acishere]

I think they should ban signatures. Your souvenir is the picture you are taking of your kid with the character (or yourself). I think a unique sticker or stamp is a good idea though, and that could be put into your book by a CM after you are done meeting. Kids would love that.

But the signature makes the experience. To your kids, they are basically meeting a celebrity. And asking for a signature is what we do when having a meet and greet with a "real" celebrity. Once your kids reach that age where they only see a guy in a Mickey costume, then its time to cut it with the signatures and just take a picture.

 

[asianway]

But the signature makes the experience. To your kids, they are basically meeting a celebrity. And asking for a signature is what we do when having a meet and greet with a "real" celebrity. Once your kids reach that age where they only see a guy in a Mickey costume, then its time to cut it with the signatures and just take a picture.

no kidding -sounds like a lot of sour grapes from people who dont want to wait in the line and somehow think their time is more valuable than everyone elses.

 

[dcibrando]

no kidding -sounds like a lot of sour grapes from people who dont want to wait in the line and somehow think their time is more valuable than everyone elses.

are you kidding me? That's a wrong assumption on your part buddy... One of the reasons we DON'T do autographs is so we don't take up time for others.