Welcome aboard, David! It sounds like you're a Disney-loving family that is getting ready to set sail with Disney Cruise Line for the first time. Your seven nights aboard the beautiful
Disney Fantasy will be a fabulous experience for you all!
Years back, Guest Services onboard allowed guests to drop off items for character signatures that would later be signed and returned to their stateroom. However, this is no longer the case. They encourage guests to attend the
Character Meet and Greets themselves, in person, so they can interact with their favorite Disney friends, get photos and signatures. You'll love that the lines are not long for meeting characters onboard, especially when you're used to the longer lines at Walt Disney World in the parks. As long as you arrive and get in the short line during the time posted for the characters greeting, you'll get to meet that Disney friend. Having a blank photo mat is a great idea for signatures, because surely you'll take plenty of pictures onboard, and one of them will be perfect to be matted and framed later on to help remember your trip. Bring a few different colors of markers for them to sign the mat and it'll be beautiful!
I don't know of any current Annual Passholder merchandise discounts in the
gift shops onboard the ship, but it never hurts to ask, as things change often. Gold and Platinum
Castaway Club members do receive merchandise discounts onboard, but I believe this is your first sailing, so that wouldn't be of use to you just yet.
I hope those details help as you get ready to set sail, David! Bon Voyage!
Marcy