Tips for Disney Parks & Cruise Lines

During our trip to WDW, we did several character meals. At first we would only use our cameras to take pictures after the characters signed the autograph books and were posing with the kids. But after the second meal we started snapping away as soon as the characters approached our table. We are so glad we did this because we captured a very funny sequence of events while at the Villains Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian.

These candid shots tell a funny story, showing the playful interaction between my sons and the characters. After that, we started snapping away at all of the character meals, and now that we're back, we see that the candid shots usually gave us better pictures than the posed ones! So my tip is start taking pictures as soon as the characters approach your table and start interacting with your children. Of course you want the posed pictures, but the candid ones just might end up being your favorite memories of the meals! -Theresa Brown

(Editor's note: This is a great tip for character meet and greets in the parks also!)

During our trip to WDW, we did several character meals. At first we would only use our cameras to take pictures after the characters signed the autograph books and were posing with the kids. But after the second meal we started snapping away as soon as the characters approached our table. We are so glad we did this because we captured a very funny sequence of events while at the Villains Dinner at 1900 Park Fare at the Grand Floridian.

These candid shots tell a funny story, showing the playful interaction between my sons and the characters. After that, we started snapping away at all of the character meals, and now that we're back, we see that the candid shots usually gave us better pictures than the posed ones! So my tip is start taking pictures as soon as the characters approach your table and start interacting with your children. Of course you want the posed pictures, but the candid ones just might end up being your favorite memories of the meals! -Theresa Brown

(Editor's note: This is a great tip for character meet and greets in the parks also!)

A tip regarding preschoolers and autograph books: I highly recommend the use of autograph books, due to the fact that some young children don't like the idea of just going up to the characters to stand next to them for a photo. If they have a purpose, such as to get an autograph, the kids (at least my three) will walk up to a character, no problem. One big suggestion is to have a bunch of character stickers, either with you or back at the hotel. That way the preschoolers who can't read can identify the signatures -- plus what preschooler doesn't like putting stickers on anything? - Melanie comments

The characters love getting little gifts when greeting the children (pictures, etc.). Just make sure to write your name and address on the back. My daughter recently shared a picture of herself dressed up as a mermaid with Ariel, about a week later she received a nice thank you card from Ariel. It was a nice way for her to have part of the magic follow her home. I love the ALL EARS® newsletters, keep them coming. - SondraB in Fla.

In preparation for our upcoming trip to Walt Disney World (first trip with our three children 5, 3, and 1 -- wish us luck!), I put together autograph booklets for our 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. I searched online for "Disney clip art" and to my amazement there are tons of sites with art to save on your computer. After collecting all the character images I wanted, I made 3 x 5 boxes (2 per sheet of cardstock paper) and pasted the images on the pages in a corner. I took it to a local printing shop and let them bind them for me (very inexpensive). Now my kids can play a game of match the character they see in the parks with the pictures on their autograph cards. As a bonus, they'll immediately know which signature is Cinderella's and which is Mickey's and won't have to ask us repeatedly (as preschoolers will)! Then when we return home, I'll undo the bindings and put them into a scrapbook for each of them, along with photos and such, as a great memory book for their first trip to Walt Disney World. And, as we're seeing my grandmother (who is 90 this year) just after we leave Walt Disney World, I included a card with her photo on it for her to "sign" something for each of them. She always wanted to be a star! (Lisa Mitchell Parker)

EPCOT - On every trip to Epcot we try to collect different things from each country, but I'm beginning to run out of space. So this year we decided to collect candy from each country. We usually picked up two different candies at each country. The only country that did not have candy was Morocco, so we bought a pastry. It's a tasty treat that you can enjoy at the park and later at home. I took some to my family and we had a contest to see what country they thought the candy came from. So, in essence it's a treat, collection, and later a game, but only needing short-term storage space. What a fun, tasty thing to do -- my family enjoyed it! - Kelly Adkins

EPCOT - On every trip to Epcot we try to collect different things from each country, but I'm beginning to run out of space. So this year we decided to collect candy from each country. We usually picked up two different candies at each country. The only country that did not have candy was Morocco, so we bought a pastry. It's a tasty treat that you can enjoy at the park and later at home. I took some to my family and we had a contest to see what country they thought the candy came from. So, in essence it's a treat, collection, and later a game, but only needing short-term storage space. What a fun, tasty thing to do -- my family enjoyed it! - Kelly Adkins

When visiting WDW we purchase postcards for our grandchildren and friends and then ask the characters on the front of the postcards to sign them. We then send the postcards with the signature only so the recipient thinks Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Minnie, etc. sent it. The kids love it! (Harbarkep)

On a recent trip to WDW my friend came up with a unique gift for another friend. (This was a baby gift.) She bought a child-size t-shirt with all the characters on it and we went around and had all the characters sign the front of it. We later had it framed and decorated with postcards around the edges. She loved it. - Victoria

ANIMAL KINGDOM - I'd like to warn readers that they should check the train waits before heading up to Rafiki's Planet Watch at Animal Kingdom. We were there recently when only one train was running. What was supposed to be a 15-minute wait to return turned into a 45-minute wait. We nearly missed the parade and were lucky to catch the second pass through at Harambe just as we disembarked the train.

Prior to leaving, I purchased those blank post cards you can get at any photo shop, the ones you take your own 4x6 print on and make a personalized card. I addressed them and stamped them ahead of time. We made sure to do a Character Breakfast in the first couple of days and took a whole roll of film of our family with the characters. I then had the film developed and made our own personalized cards. Make sure you get double prints so you have a copy for your own memories. Also, having the first film developed at the beginning of your trip enables you to check to see that your camera is working properly! Family and friends were thrilled with getting a "real" postcard, and when I mailed them Cast Members thought they were pretty cool, too! - Patti

Instead of purchasing an autograph book (which is only available through the mail or at WDW), purchase an inexpensive plain hat (any style) or even a Disney theme hat, and a fabric marker. Wear your hat to each park (or a new hat at each park) and have the characters sign the hat. Depending on your child's size, they can wear the hat while the character is signing! This makes a great picture or video! The hat will be a WONDERFUL souvenir that you can wear and show very easily. - PHarrison

On our recent trip to WDW, instead of taking an autograph book for my 6-year-old daughter, I marked pages of one of her Disney storybooks (one with 50 or so stories) with peel off tabs. When we saw the character in the story, she had it sign on that page. She had such a good time finding the characters in the book, and when they saw themselves they would point and laugh. My daughter had such a good time. Best of all, along with the memories of our trip, she has a keepsake for life to pass on to her children. - Sue Quitmeyer
P.S. I also dated each page the characters signed.

We have been on several trips to WDW and have always taken autograph books for our children, which the last couple of times we have tried to make a little different. On our last trip, we decided to turn the autograph book into a keepsake of the whole holiday by writing each letter of the alphabet at the top of a double page in a book. Then our children each found things to put in their books beginning with that letter to remind them of their holiday, e.g., on the "A" page one of my daughters glued a postcard of the airplane we traveled to America in, whilst another had "Alice" from Wonderland sign her autograph on this page. On the "P" page, one of my children stuck in some pressed pennies, whilst another put her Epcot Passport on this page. Each book is different and a great reminder. - Sam Simmons of Tonbridge in the U.K.

After taking yearly trips to Disney World, all of the autograph books began to look the same. In order to make them more interesting once we got home, I turned them into photo albums. While we were in WDW, I would open the book for each character to sign so that only every other page was signed. Once we were home and got our pictures back from being developed, I would go through them and paste in the picture that corresponded to the time that my son got each autograph. We would write a little something special about the trip in the front of the book with the dates. It makes a great show and tell item for school and helps the kids remember the trip a little better. In addition, the books get pulled out to look through more often and not left in a drawer to be forgotten. - Patti Gallagher