Psst! Want to know a secret? I just found out on my last Disney Cruise Line voyage. Maybe you already know.

I used to wonder why cruisers sometimes carried brand new white pillowcases, white T-shirts and packets of magic markets when they boarded a Disney cruise. Now I know.

The mystery was solved when I asked someone on our cruise.

Turns out that you can have those items autographed by Disney characters aboard the ship and not have to stand in line to get it done.

Just turn in the pillowcase or T-shirt to the guest services desk the first day of the cruise and it will be returned to you the last night with all the character signatures. Or you can request only special signatures like all the Disney princesses.

When youngsters get home after their cruise, they can rest their heads on their signed pillow cases and have sweet dreams about their magical Disney cruise.

Another popular item to have autographed by the characters is the white border of a Disney picture or poster — or the mat inside a frame for your own photo. Be sure to tape off the portion of the mat that is covered by the frame so complete autographs will show through. This is likely to be a more lasting souvenir since it doesn’t have to be laundered.

What a nice program. Just another way Disney has of making cruises more memorable.

By Jackie Sheckler Finch