A Memory Maker Review

[travelfearlessly]

We just got back from our 3rd Disney trip in 3 years and we purchased the Memory Maker each time. I wrote a review about it on my blog with some picture examples from all of our trips. Would I get it again? No, not unless we have another family reunion. With the increased cost and the lack of quality pictures I just don't see the value that much. But then again when we visit Disney we only go to 2 parks and we visit often. For someone taking an extended vacation to Disney this would be a much better value.

 

[kj2mom]

I am going alone (only adult) with my two children and was thinking MM would be the easiest way to get all of us in the pics. We have not been for 9 years and not sure if/when we ever will again.

 

[Mikie]

That's a well-written review! I loved the MM on our last trip, but it was extended family, lots of characters, all the rides with photos. . . With a big family, it's a good value and makes sure everyone gets in the shot. We were lucky in that few of our own pictures turned out better than the photograpghers' (making it feel worthwhile that we paid for the better pictures) But I do know it's hit or miss on quality, you have to stop for many pictures to really get the value, and I definitely miss having stock photos included as in the past!

 

[Mikie]

I am going alone (only adult) with my two children and was thinking MM would be the easiest way to get all of us in the pics. We have not been for 9 years and not sure if/when we ever will again.

I do love the MM, and if you meet lots of characters, stop for photographers often, ride the photo rides, and especially if you do something like Jedi Training, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or ENchanted Tales with Belle where they take tons of photos, it can be a great way to capture good memories.

However, if you're not sure about the value for you, you can always ask the photographers to snap a shot of you with your own phone or camera and they are happy to do so.

 

[travelfearlessly]

We did Enchanted Tales with Belle the first trip and my husband was one of the "soldiers" so it was nice to get those pics! It was a great deal back in 2013 when you got the stock photos and the CD of your pictures for $149. But now that the price has gone up and you don't get the stock photo CD the value has gone down along with the quality of the pictures. Another mistake on my part was relying too heavily on the Memory Maker and not grabbing my camera for enough pictures during our trip. I wish I had used my own camera just as much!

 

[travelfearlessly]

I am going alone (only adult) with my two children and was thinking MM would be the easiest way to get all of us in the pics. We have not been for 9 years and not sure if/when we ever will again.

The photographers will happily use your camera to take photos of you, without the Memory Maker you would just lose the ride photos and the ability to get Magic Shots added to your photos (if that's important to you). Character dining requires your own camera anyway so that's not a factor. But this last trip we went as a family of 3 and got over 200 photos at just 2 parks so it's really up to you.

 

[lizard1]

I do love the MM, and if you meet lots of characters, stop for photographers often, ride the photo rides, and especially if you do something like Jedi Training, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique or ENchanted Tales with Belle where they take tons of photos, it can be a great way to capture good memories.

ITA with this! For us, one JTA was about 100 pictures, BBB was about 50, the photo shoot after BBB was about 150, PL about 50, ETWB was about another 25, character meets were another few hundred. Then we had posed photos and ride photos in addition.

 

[coluk003]

seeing those photos doesnt make me as upset about my other 2 family members shooting down the MM even though when i booked it, it was 149

 

[dmband]

Agreed, the increased cost on top of the quality has me really on the fence.
The quality the last couple of times has been good but nothing we were not getting with our own camera for free

 

[Toddgabweg]

Love memory maker... had over 900 pics from March... love the new ride videos...

 

[EmilyS90]

I'm sooo on the fence on this. Mostly because I just really dislike taking pictures, but I still want to HAVE pictures. It'd be nice to cut down on the amount of time I spend making sure I capture all the magic. It seems like MM would help?

 

[ConnieB]

I am going alone (only adult) with my two children and was thinking MM would be the easiest way to get all of us in the pics. We have not been for 9 years and not sure if/when we ever will again.

Realize that the Photopass Photographers will happily take a photo with YOUR camera (they'll also take them with their camera and offer you a Photopass card.....go ahead and take it but you're not under any obligation to purchase anything). Even when we did the Photopass option we had them take some with our own camera, just so we'd have them "now" and also because sometimes their photos don't turn out or someone in the background is doing something awkward, lol.

Oh, and while they can't insert the magic shots with Tink or Chip or Stitch, etc. when taking photos on YOUR camera.....anyone with a slight knowledge of photoshop can insert the characters you want....so do a pose that will work with the character and then do the photoshop (and you don't need the expensive program called Photoshop, I use the term as a generic meaning, insert another image onto your image. ) if you don't know how to do this, ask a teenager, lol. Seriously, free software all over the internet, free images you can download and resize as needed (do a google or yahoo search for your character and select "images" for hundreds of them).

 

[Toddgabweg]

 

[kj2mom]

Thank you everyone. I think my mom might gift us the MM, which would be great. If not, we will probably pass and do as you all suggest.

 

[coluk003]

you can also ask the person with them to take the photo, and you can ask for interaction shots, not just the ones your posing for

 

[PatMcDuck]

My only comment would be that they usually take 5-6 photos at each meet and greet, don't they? Some are bad, no doubt. Usually I see one I like. But some are unposed little gems. I do not always like everyone facing the camera and smiling. I sometimes like the family member and the character interacting with each other, or approaching the character.

It is odd and annoying when the pictures are too dark, they have fancy cameras that should work in low light. The ones taken outside in the park at night are usually good, we get many of them at DL in Carsland for example.

I had issues with printed photos one time from WDW Photopass. The photos arrived and looked pretty bad, had a pinkish hue over them, really weird. They looked good online.

 

[Monykalyn]

We Loved MM last trip-in laws joined us for a couple days and it was nice to split up and still get tons of pics. Would have LOVED ride videos (son's first time on SDMT where he actually let go of the death grip he had on the bar and raised his hands to say Woohoo, or the ToT photo which captured a fraction of the story (FIL and son's first time-looks on faces hilarious can only imagine what a video would have showed).
Also the Photographers start snapping pics when you first walk up to characters-some great ones with Anna, and Dug and Russel-none posed and I was happy to watch and be in the moment instead of trying to capture it and be stuck behind a lens myself... For our (larger) family it is a good deal (less than a TS meal for our family lol)

 

[KEPE]

Question, for Belle and other rides do you need to show the CM your Magic band like you did when you had a card for him to scan or is it all electronic and the ride can read your band and add the pic to your photos automatically (Same with belle)??

 

[Crystal824]

We preordered MM this trip but only because it is our youngest daughter's first trip. We have generally preordered MM (PP+ and/or PP CD) in the past but the with cost increasing and product decreasing, I agree I'm not sure we will continue to get it every trip. Great review.

 

[Madame]

Question, for Belle and other rides do you need to show the CM your Magic band like you did when you had a card for him to scan or is it all electronic and the ride can read your band and add the pic to your photos automatically (Same with belle)??

The ride photos (7D, Splash, Space, ToT, TT, RnR) are added automatically - some were missing both times we went (once with MM, once without) & the ToT pic system was malfunctioning. Maybe take note of your ride times so that you can contact them & try to find them afterwards.

ETWB they issue you a card with a # after the session that you need to link manually.