Talk me into, or out of, Memory Maker
- Thread starter JoAnna525
- Start date
Do it!! It was the best money I spent on my entire trip!
rchampagne
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jul 27, 2012
I'm usually on the fence with Memory Maker. Since you can have the photographer use your own camera, I usually have trouble justifying the price for a few magic shots and ride photos. but I splurged last week, and I'm glad we did. Every time we saw a Photopass photographer, who didn't have a big line waiting, we had our picture taken, and many of them came out great. We went on Splash Mountain 4x, and ended up doing silly poses. My kids LOVED the magic shots, especially the one where they're holding Tinkerbell. I also liked editing the photos online, especially the ride photos and adding the symbol for the ride.
I'll be the contrarian...
We got it for our daughters first trip two years ago, and we didn't find any pictures that were "wow - amazing - so glad we have that" We probably only got 30 pictures total, and most of them were as generic and blah as could be. The ones on our camera were better - and free.
We won't be ordering it again.
We got it for our daughters first trip two years ago, and we didn't find any pictures that were "wow - amazing - so glad we have that" We probably only got 30 pictures total, and most of them were as generic and blah as could be. The ones on our camera were better - and free.
We won't be ordering it again.
Coconut8473
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 2, 2012
We just got back yesterday from a 9 day trip and I'm in the process of downloading over 900 photos! We're a family of 4 with 2 little ones (ages 2.5 and 6.5), so we do lots of character meets, and we also make it a point to stop anytime we see a Photo Pass photographer (as long as there are no more than one or two families in line) and do a quick pose in front of each iconic spot, sometimes more than once. It doesn't interrupt the flow of our trip at all. I love that we all can be in the picture together, and also the cute poses the photographers are able to get with my kids alone (if I ask them to hug/put their arms around each other/pose, it's a crap shoot what I'll get, but somehow they'll listen to a stranger's orders!) We used to lug around an expensive DSLR, but now we just use our phones for the candid shots, and the Memory Maker for everything else. Added bonus:I swear they use some kind of magic lighting or filter that eliminates wrinkles and cellulite - lol!
Bork
Goofy about Disney
- Joined
- Aug 18, 1999
We are really glad we had the memory maker for our 13 day trip. We had over 250 pictures. There were so many great pictures of DD3 meeting all of the characters, especially the candid shots that are hard to get. Also, all of the ride photos and a few family shots taken by various photopass photographers. Without it, we wouldn't have had many photos of the whole family. It was really easy scanning the magic band by the photographer or after the ride. And the pics from the Seven Dwarf's Mine ride were awesome and went right online without the need to scan the magic band. These were some of the best shots of the whole trip. It was worth every penny.
We also got 3 free prints with a coupon and had the extra Belle meet and greet in Liberty Square.
We also got 3 free prints with a coupon and had the extra Belle meet and greet in Liberty Square.
Boomerdog
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2015
100% worth it. The photographers are all marked inside the phone app. So very easy to find. If you see a photo booth anywhere on property, that is included! You get all of the ride photos, which is the best. Ride the rides over and over and make funny faces! I understand that you can ask someone to use your phone to take a picture, and the photographers are happy to do it, but for $150, you can make your life so much easier. And, since each digital copy of each photo is $15 bucks, take ten pictures and you get your money's worth. But, having the MM, you will want to take more photos, and come away with more than 10. I figure, yes, we all have the memories in our heads, but, I love that I can go to my folders worth of photos that I received from MM and relive the magic. If you think you can get your family to take photos, then do it. After the photos, you just scan you wrist band, and you are on your way. Not an inconvenience at all. You can get all sorts of combination of photos too, not just the whole family together. Have the kids take photos. Take photos with the spouse. Ect..
I understand that others will say differently. For instance, I hear people willing to pay $250 + for a cabana at Typhoon Lagoon, and think they are nuts, but, in reality, different things are important to different people.
I know this is an old post, but might help someone in the future.
I understand that others will say differently. For instance, I hear people willing to pay $250 + for a cabana at Typhoon Lagoon, and think they are nuts, but, in reality, different things are important to different people.
I know this is an old post, but might help someone in the future.
Disneywishes2018
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2016
Can you share memory maker?
Our trip isn't until 2018 and we've never been. There will be 11-13 of us going. Not sure if each family will want to buy their own, so is it possible to share? I don't know if that makes sense. For example, if I buy memory maker, is there a way to add my sisters family on the account so they can use it too, or would she have to buy a separate memory maker?
Our trip isn't until 2018 and we've never been. There will be 11-13 of us going. Not sure if each family will want to buy their own, so is it possible to share? I don't know if that makes sense. For example, if I buy memory maker, is there a way to add my sisters family on the account so they can use it too, or would she have to buy a separate memory maker?
Mousemommy1
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2010
We are big fans of Photopass/Memory Maker. We do make it a point to seek out the photographers, of course.
We always come away with hundreds of photos after our vacation and we have always found them to be of good quality.
I also love how a lot of the photographers will get candid photos during meet & greets and stuff. I always end up liking those more than the posed ones.
We always come away with hundreds of photos after our vacation and we have always found them to be of good quality.
I also love how a lot of the photographers will get candid photos during meet & greets and stuff. I always end up liking those more than the posed ones.
Bob Dolewhip
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2016
I vote yes for memory maker. We bought it (when it was photo pass) for both of our recent trips. It was great to get a picture of our whole group in front of the castle. It was also really convenient for family pics everywhere in the World, especially of the kids who do listen better to the CMs when they say "smile!" It frees my husband from having to bring his expensive camera and the anxiety for him that goes with that camera and becomes an annoyance for me. They have photographers at all the best locations. It was worth it for us and we bought it again for our upcoming trip.
DisneyWife2015
scmom08
- Joined
- May 3, 2016
I haven't taken the time to read all the posts so forgive me if I'm repeating someone else, but...
The way I look at MM is how many rides will we do that take a picture/video for us? The pictures alone can cost around $20 EACH at the park so I need at least 8 ride photos/videos to make MM worth my money. Our first WDW trip (4 days) gave us at least 12 that I can think of off the top of my head. That's not including character pictures...that's strictly rides. That was easily doubled the following year when we did 7 days. It's absolutely priceless to have the pictures of my daughters' first ride on 7DMT. Worth every penny. Outside of rides, our favorite picture this past year was in front of the castle when we had an early ADR at BOG and the park was almost empty. I was also 7 months pregnant and the photographer took a few of just me and baby belly. Again, priceless!
The way I look at MM is how many rides will we do that take a picture/video for us? The pictures alone can cost around $20 EACH at the park so I need at least 8 ride photos/videos to make MM worth my money. Our first WDW trip (4 days) gave us at least 12 that I can think of off the top of my head. That's not including character pictures...that's strictly rides. That was easily doubled the following year when we did 7 days. It's absolutely priceless to have the pictures of my daughters' first ride on 7DMT. Worth every penny. Outside of rides, our favorite picture this past year was in front of the castle when we had an early ADR at BOG and the park was almost empty. I was also 7 months pregnant and the photographer took a few of just me and baby belly. Again, priceless!
jevs
Boring Poster
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2013
We got it for our first trip to WDW, and the photo pass plus at DL. Both were worth every cent. I recommend it at least once, or every other trip.
Without it I would not be in any of the photos - sole adult traveler with kids.
We most likely won't get it for our quick DL trip this year though.
Without it I would not be in any of the photos - sole adult traveler with kids.
We most likely won't get it for our quick DL trip this year though.
Yes, anyone on your my disney experience group will be able to use it. So add 1 or all of their magic bands to your account. It's more foolproof if you add them all so anyone can have their magic band scanned. You will have to download the pictures for them though.
I would probably at least do it once. We're like you and don't want to spend our vacation looking for ppl. to take our photo's, however there are generally a decent amount at some main places (like in front of the castle). On the other hand, there are also times that they are pretty hard to find, if they even have any in other areas (this past trip they had absolutely none at one of the water parks the day we went). I will also say, the memory maker site is a PITA. It's very slow and glitchy and takes FOREVER to download pic's. We've tried with multiple ppl. in our group doing it in different parts of the country on different devices etc., so I'm certain it's the site and not us. I will also say that both years we've done it, we've had missing pic's (as in we took them, but they never showed up on the account). I think I've read that you can try to call Disney and have them add them (not sure how they would find them etc.,) but either way it's too time-consuming for me, so I haven't and won't, but that was a disappointment.
We liked having pics of everyone and being able to add the borders etc., but I don't think we'll do it again.
prprincess
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2006
Exactly what I was going to comment. We purchased it for our August vacation. And trust me, due to a past negative experience with Photpass, I vowed never to purchase again. But my husband ended up not being able to come with us, and I was afraid I wouldn't get pictures of me and the kids. Thankfully, photographers were easy to find and I didn't think that taking pics interrupted our flow.Thanks all, you have convinced me to use this as a way to get our yearly family Christmas card picture
And yes, the best part is, I got a great pic of our boys for our Christmas cards!
This is great to hear and will make it even more cost effective when splitting the cost with others.
Disneywishes2018
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2016
I'm glad we can share it if we choose to go that route. Saves a little money And by adding all of us to the account we can all use it even if we're separated for whatever reason
Pace
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2016
It's worth the cost to get 7DMT, Splash And Space Mountain videos/pics alone.
sandyplayer
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- May 21, 2010
We loved it! We not only got tons of pics from around the parks of our whole family, but the ride pics were the best. My daughter and I love to do single rider and ride repeatedly. We would never buy ride pics because of the price, but having all of those were a bonus! I don't think is a total substitute for having a camera. I took so many pics with my Nikon (I also love taking pics) but having both options gave us so many pictures.
One thing to consider too....on our last trip I put my Nikon down and walked away. It's gone. Repeated calls to every Disney Lost and Found did not turn it up. Luckily we download each day's pics to our computer and only lost those we took that day, but the memory maker allowed us to not lose all the pics from that day, only the ones I took on my camera.
One thing to consider too....on our last trip I put my Nikon down and walked away. It's gone. Repeated calls to every Disney Lost and Found did not turn it up. Luckily we download each day's pics to our computer and only lost those we took that day, but the memory maker allowed us to not lose all the pics from that day, only the ones I took on my camera.
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