Disney Autograph Book with Photos DIY

Disney-autograph-book-chip-n-dale

As most of you are aware, we finally took the plunge and went to Disney World last fall. In preparation for the trip, I did NOTHING until a few days beforehand. Suddenly, someone casually mentioned autograph books and I gave out a big sigh. I was thinking to myself…would we really need them? Were we really going to stand in line to meet the characters? And how many would we actually see? So I did some research and realized one thing very quickly. We needed autograph books.

There were lots of complaints online about the books you could actually purchase at Disney. They weren’t long enough and the pictures didn’t fit that great and they were pricey. So then I realized something else quickly. I had to make the books. Ok, I wanted to make the books. Because if we were going to do this, I wanted to do it right.

I came across a blog post from Not In Jersey and decided to duplicate her approach. I went to some of the websites she recommended and found some others as well in order to create autograph pages on my own. I used images from here and here. There are also some great images here, here, and here. The awesome thing is that the images are there. However, you still have to chose the ones you want and save them to your computer if you want to take them and have them printed somewhere. There is an entire discussion thread about this here on Disboards. If you have a Shutterfly account, someone is sharing their album and you can automatically put it into your account by going here. So basically, there are tons of image choices.

Step One is to pick the images you like and decide where to save them. I picked the “typical” characters and also printed off some of the decorative blank options for characters we were surprised to see.  Like Rafiki! And although I picked “normal” images, I also printed off some of the images I found that were related to the breakfast we had scheduled with the princesses at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

Disney-autograph-book-Ariel

Step Two is to actually get the images printed. I saved the ones I wanted to my computer and then uploaded them to Costco and had them printed there. As normal 4×6 lustre photos.

Step Three is to find some cheap photo albums somewhere that will hold enough photos. This wasn’t as easy as I expected. Photo albums are harder to find now. I found some plain black ones at Walmart for $3 and they held 80 photos. It is better if you can find one that has a harder cover so that the person signing the “photo” can use the album to write on as well.

Step Four is to go all out and purchase retractable Sharpie markers. You’ll be glad you did. This way there are NO marker caps to lose. And the markers are the perfect size for characters to hold…because remember, some have LARGE hands. I secured mine with some clips and ribbon.

Disney-autograph-book-DIY

Step Five is to assemble your book(s). Since I named the files the same as the characters, they uploaded and printed in alphabetical order. This again was helpful. I put each autograph “card” in the photo album in alphabetical order in order to find the right one quickly once needed on our trip. And when you have three kids with books, this saves a TON of time. So once we were in line for a character, I pulled out the correct card, attached it to the front of the photo album with the clip and had the marker ready. Once signed, the autograph “card” went right back into the book in the same spot. Here are some action shots of the kids getting a couple of autographs.

Mary-Poppins-signing-book

They loved this WAY MORE than I ever imagined. We stood in a lot of short lines, but we also stood in a couple of longer lines at their choice. They were mesmerized by getting to meet so many of their Disney pals. Overall we got a little over twenty autographs with little effort. Remember, we were there in a slower season and the Disney app is a huge help in locating characters and the times they are available.

Mulan-signing-book

Then once we got home, all I had to do (the FINAL STEP) was print off some photos of the kids with the characters.

That way, this:

Disney-autograph-book-Pooh-signature

Turned into THIS:

Disney-autograph-book-pooh-complete

Since we visited family as well during the trip and went to the beach, I also added some of those photos to the books. I was glad I went through the effort to do this. I LOVE photos. And I think my kids do as well. I catch them flipping back through their own books reliving the moments from our trip.

Henry-looking-through-Disney-autographs

Stella-looking-through-Disney-autographs

And, yes, Charlotte hugged EVERY SINGLE character she met.

Charlotte-Hugging-Disney-Characters

I just found this autograph printable online while making sure I had all the right links for anyone that wants them. Hmmm…maybe we will need this one next!

DisneyCruiseShipwithCastle1

Did you use an autograph book at Disney?

 

76 Responses to Disney Autograph Book with Photos DIY

  2. I just love this idea! I originally found it on Not in Jersey as well but I wondered how you felt about the lustre finish on the cards? Im not familiar with it and I just wonder the best way to go. Thanks! Great post!

    Reply

    • The lustre finish worked great for us. I was afraid the glossy would be too shiny. I did let the card “dry” a minute before stuffing it back in the photo album. Only 1 smeared due to little fingers!
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      Reply

  3. This is such a great idea!! My girls will be 4 and 6 when we go later this year. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do the autographs, but I asked them and they do, this will be such a cute way to do it! Thanks so much for the links!

    Reply

    • Thanks Christina! Your girls will have so much fun meeting the characters and getting their autographs. I hope they love the books as much as my kids do.

      Reply

  4. I was thinking of doing a whole photobook on like shutterfly before hand and having the characters sign the pages…biggest drawback I can see to that would be that you can’t add pictures of the kids with the characters then….thoughts?

    Reply

  5. hi tricia
    love this and need to make 2 of them for a disney world trip in october. how do i download the pictures i want to be able to have them printed at costco? thank you for helping me. lois

    Reply

  6. Hi! Thanks for the great info! Would you be able to share the Costco album with me also? Thanks SO much!!!

    Reply

  7. This is such a cute idea!! Would you please share the Costco album with me as well?? Thanks so much!!!

    Reply

  8. We are going on a Disney Cruise in a week and a half. Would you please send me a copy of your autograph pages?

    Thanks-
    Cassie Knapp

    Reply

  10. We are also going to Disneyland in 10 days! (see you there Ambra LOL) If you have time would you mind emailing that Costco album to me as well? This is awesome!! Thank you either way 🙂

    Reply

  16. Hi there,
    leaving end of August. still looking for some ideas, please share your costco album pls and thank you.

    Reply

  17. Going to Disney with dgt/husband son/wife and 2 grandsons–first visit for several of them ( especially grandsons) and been greater than 15 years for others –would love to make these books–would you share your album–I will use Sams or Shutterfly–not member at Costco thanks sooooo much for sharing

    Reply

    • Unfortunately I only have the photos on Costco.com. The links in the blog post should take you to the websites with photos you can download yourself to your computer and upload to Shutterfly, etc.

      Reply

  19. I would love the Costco Album too! Going for the first time with my girls in March. So generous of you. Thank you so much!

    Reply

  22. We go to disneyland for in a few weeks can I get the file in email too? It’s my hubbys first time there as well as a few birthday’s that land on days we’re there, would be an amazing gift for them! Your idea is amazing!!

    Reply

  26. We go to Disney World in a few weeks. Would you be willing to share the album with me as well?

    Reply

  28. Sorry if this is duplicate – my computer crashed =(

    We are going to Disney in a few weeks so I’m hoping I can still make this. But I would also love the Costco album as well! I love this!!

    Reply

  30. We are taking our 1st trip to Disney in less than 2 weeks! 😍 Would you send me the Costco album as well?

    Reply

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