Is Photopass+ worth the extra money?

[Texastiger]

I'm wondering if I should get Photopass or Photopass+. We have a group of 9 people going, so I know I want to get one of these. Would it be wise to purchase the plus card if we are only going to one character meal?

I understand that you get dining photo prints with the plus card. Could we get three separate photo packages, since we are actually three different families? Or do they only give you one picture with all nine of the people together?

[Texastiger]

Anybody?

[dibbus1987]

We used this on our trip a couple of weeks ago, and it was worth it for us. To make it worthwhile, use the Photopass photographers everywhere you go to take your picture! It will also let you get the ride photos added to your pass for free, so if you like getting those shots from your thrill rides, this is quite worth it, as they are normally $15 each. (Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Test Track, Expedition Everest) You have to have the pass with you on the ride to get this. As far as your large party, if you split up, you can give others a regular photo pass and they can combine the accounts later; however they will not be able to get the ride pictures. As far as the package at the character meal, you only get one free package (an 8x10 plus several 4x6s), but you can add the shots onto the photo pass with the number on the receipt yourself, which would allow you to print more later (just wouldn't have the folder). W did this at the Polynesian Luau and the Hoop De Doo. If you decide to get it, definitely order it a few weeks ahead and save $30... We didn't know about it until we got there and had to pay the full $200.

[mom of2]

Originally Posted by dibbus1987

We used this on our trip a couple of weeks ago, and it was worth it for us. To make it worthwhile, use the Photopass photographers everywhere you go to take your picture! It will also let you get the ride photos added to your pass for free, so if you like getting those shots from your thrill rides, this is quite worth it, as they are normally $15 each. (Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Test Track, Expedition Everest) You have to have the pass with you on the ride to get this. As far as your large party, if you split up, you can give others a regular photo pass and they can combine the accounts later; however they will not be able to get the ride pictures. As far as the package at the character meal, you only get one free package (an 8x10 plus several 4x6s), but you can add the shots onto the photo pass with the number on the receipt yourself, which would allow you to print more later (just wouldn't have the folder). W did this at the Polynesian Luau and the Hoop De Doo. If you decide to get it, definitely order it a few weeks ahead and save $30... We didn't know about it until we got there and had to pay the full $200.

I thought I read on the photpass + fb page that if you didn't have the pass on the ride you could go back with the pass to get it.

[zy144622]

My question is how do you get photopass + for preorder. I looked on the photopass site and found no info on photopass +

[chimilady]

I also got the + a few weeks ago. If you go to a character meal, you will only get one package, HOWEVER, every photo that was taken goes onto your account. That was nice. We went to a few dining locations that participate, and when we got to the front, we asked if we could get photos with the kids alone, and then photos with all 4 of us. Each time we gave them the card, and it wasn't a problem. However, we would only get one package, the rest of the photos were always added to our account though. At 1900, we have about 20 photos of our family, at Ohana, about 10. At Tusker, we have about 15, as we went with a friend and her kids, so we had kids alone, families apart, everyone together and every combo in between.

When you have the card, they tend to take more photos. We went to see Mickey and Minnie in the Theater at MK and they took 63 photos!!! She said "Well, I know you got the fancy card and will get the CD, so I may as well make sure you get your money's worth!" Every time I showed the card, I felt we got more photos than people with the regular photopass card.

For ride photos, if you don't have the card on you, you need to get whoever to get the number of the ride photo. Then whoever has the card goes back and they will add it. You must add the ride photo before the day ends though, and it has to be done at the ride. So if they ride space mountain 10X, you can get each and every photo added to the account. So for 9 people, if you guys are ride people, they will add them all.

We are not ride people so we would only do it again if we had quite a few character meals. Otherwise for us it isn't worth it.

It's 169 for a preorder, so if you divide that by 3, that's only $56. Even if you're only there for 3 days, it averages to $18 a day. Plus, you get to edit the photos later on, and put cute borders. We plan on using a family photo for our Xmas card this year. If you're there for a week, it's even cheaper.

[Texastiger]

I think I've decided on getting the regular Photopass CD. I just don't think I can justify the extra $50 when we are only doing one character meal. We aren't much for the ride photos.

Will they take extra pictures if you tell them you pre-ordered the CD? That's the only thing I'm concerned about.

[chimilady]

Originally Posted by Texastiger

Will they take extra pictures if you tell them you pre-ordered the CD? That's the only thing I'm concerned about.

It doesn't hurt to ask, but I didn't see anything like that. I'm sure if you get a photopass photographer when there isn't a line they will hook you up though.

[vicki_c]

Originally Posted by chimilady

It doesn't hurt to ask, but I didn't see anything like that. I'm sure if you get a photopass photographer when there isn't a line they will hook you up though.

In the parks, definitely. At character meals probably not mostly because there is often a line of people waiting to get in behind you.

Sorry I should have quoted the poster that chimilady was responding to!

[dnsmills]

Originally Posted by zy144622

My question is how do you get photopass + for preorder. I looked on the photopass site and found no info on photopass +

Here is the WDW Photopass+ pre-order page.

[Maddle]

We went at the beginning of September with 8 to 10 people (some came and went during the week.) I felt the pass was worth it for the ride photos - we used it over and over for pics that we probably would not have wanted to spend $15 for individually on their own, but I am happy I have them because they were included. That alone made for a value. When one member of the party got off the ride, they made a note of the picture number(s) and later I would go back and have the photos added to the collection.

I did feel the photographers at character greetings took a lot of photos and photo-op photographers did too. When there was no line, we did many combinations of people in front of the icons and scenery - my sister and her daughter, my son and I, my son and his family, all of us together, niece and friend....you get the idea.

We enjoyed being able to go in different directions at the park with independent photopasses and adding them to the disk too.

On our off day, we went to the photography studio at Downtown Disney where the BBB pics are taken, and had a group shot (not so good, I'm afraid) more mix and match combinations of people, and my little granddaughters in their princess dresses - they are too young for BBB, but the photographer was very gracious. (The photographer there was terrific - although he was overwhelmed by our large party. He was great with the girls.)

My DDIL also uploaded her pictures, and was able to add some borders.

My one complaint is that the editing program online is very very simplistic - and while the borders are nice, there are not really that many and you can't do much with them. (For instance, "WDW 2012" stamp goes in one place on the photo, and that's it - you can't move it.)

I felt the Photopass Plus package was totally worth it - and I would do it again, especially with a large group, even though I almost choked on the price when I first pre-purchased it. (We did two breakfasts, one had pictures included (CRT) and the other (CP) had no photographer....so Character Breakfasts did not really play a part in my decision.)

[zy144622]

Originally Posted by dnsmills

Here is the WDW Photopass+ pre-order page.

Thank you

[TeresaMRoberts]

I know I'm late on here but just though I'd add my 2 cents in case it would help someone else. If your on the fence DO IT. Its VERY WORTH it. Just got home yesterday from our week long trip and just downloaded my CD ( i didn't want to accually wait on the CD, I can burn my own disk lol) I have well over 600 photos. We did 6 Dinning locations where they took our pics and BBB they took over 40 shots in different poses. When they see the red photopass+ card they go beyond to get you your money's worth. Dinning pics alone paid for it and I gave them the card before they took our pics they put them on for me Dinning pics are $30, Ride pics $15, any other around park pics $15. I paid head of time so I got the plus for 169 but even if I didn't it would still be worth the FULL price!

LOL Sorry just really excited I get all 614 photos for $169 + printed Dinning photos in the folders free. Of the 614 I have 10 Ride photos, 6 Dinning, 52 pics from imaging package from BBB. The rest are from around the park, and meeting characters!

[Colleen27]

Since this is a Disney site, you can use a gift card for the pre-order right? Just want to be sure since I'm using cards to save for my 2013 trips. We usually skip the preorder but in August I'm planning on taking DD11 and her BFF for BFF's very first Disney trip and I definitely want it for that - all the ride photos, the character meals DD says are must-dos for a first timer, and as many magic shots as we can find!

[wolf29]

Totally worth it, especially for the special price of $149 right now! We had over 300 shots taken and next year will probably shoot for 500. We now know to ask for "Magic Shots", as well as to seek out the photogs, especially in the Water Parks....somewhere we have rarely gotten any photos from. Some of our favorite shots from this year were from the Wave Pool & Lazy River @ Typhoon.