Ahoy, Kathryn!
I'm so happy to hear you'll soon be sailing away on an awesome Disney Cruise Line vacation. The Disney Fantasy is a gorgeous ship, with so much to see and do! Our most recent voyage was on the Fantasy, and we had the most amazing vacation ever.
As you've heard, Disney Cruise Line has discontinued the practice of guests being able to drop off items at the Guest Services Desk to be autographed by Disney Characters. Guests may still bring their items to be signed (pillowcases, photo mats, etc.), but will need to bring the items to
Character Greetings to get autographs. I noticed that after the policy changed, Disney Cruise Line began offering even more Character Meet and Greet opportunities so that guests have more chances to meet their favorite Disney Characters for autographs and photos. Our favorite time to get photos with the Characters is on
Pirate Night, when Jack Sparrow is out and about, and all of our favorite Disney friends are dressed up in their pirate costumes - so much fun!
Your sailing will also feature special ticketed Meet and Greet experiences, such as the Princess Gathering and an interaction with Anna and Elsa, from Disney's
Frozen. The tickets are free, and simply reserve a spot for your sailing party at these events with limited space. Reservations for these special events can be made online, when you book your Onboard Activities, or you can stop by the
Guest Services Desk on Embarkation Day to request a ticket. The Princess Gathering is a favorite of my daughters - they love meeting all of the Disney Royalty!
I hope this helps with your planning - have a magical day! - Diane W.