AP Photopass vs Memory Maker

[rfc0001]

According to the Ticketing CM that's not true because my AP Renewal Certificate has not been activated yet. I told the CM and I was told I needed to upgrade the AP to the current pricing in order to receive the PP365 download

I understand this is what people are being told. However, what I am reporting is based on multiple actual firsthand reports of AP ticketholders who have actually received their APs and Ticketing CMs who have actually issued those APs. There have been no first hand reports contrary to what I have stated; there have been numerous reports supporting what I have stated. If there are first hand reports of people not getting new APs with AP/AP renewal certificates, I will update my posts.

 

[River Country]

I understand this is what people are being told. However, what I am reporting is based on multiple actual firsthand reports of AP ticketholders who have actually received their APs and Ticketing CMs who have actually issued those APs. There have been no first hand reports contrary to what I have stated; there have been numerous reports supporting what I have stated. If there are first hand reports of people not getting new APs with AP/AP renewal certificates, I will update my posts.

What? Maybe I am mis understanding what you are saying...lets recap

1. I renewed my AP in August 2015 prior to any change in AP's.
2. I have not activated the renewal certificate yet
3. My trip planned for October 2015 I will activate my renewal certificate
4. If I choose not to upgrade to the new rate and levels I will not have any new features on my pass
5. If I choose to pay the difference between what I paid in August DVC renewal $449+ tax and what the new DVC renewal rate $549+tax is I will have the PP365

Are you disagreeing with this?

 

[rfc0001]

What? Maybe I am mis understanding what you are saying...lets recap

1. I renewed my AP in August 2015 prior to any change in AP's.
2. I have not activated the renewal certificate yet
3. My trip planned for October 2015 I will activate my renewal certificate
4. If I choose not to upgrade to the new rate and levels I will not have any new features on my pass
5. If I choose to pay the difference between what I paid in August DVC renewal $449+ tax and what the new DVC renewal rate $549+tax is I will have the PP365

Are you disagreeing with this?

Yes -- 4 and 5 are not what is actually happening based on numerous reports on DIS by AP certificate holders who have actually done this since Tuesday and Ticketing CMs who have actually processed these certificates since Tuesday. I understand this is not what Disney is telling people -- but it is absolutely what is actually happening -- which is:

• Old APs are no longer being issued
• Therefore, if you have not activated an old AP, it will automatically be issued according to :
  • Seasonal Pass > Silver AP
  • AP > Platinum AP (with no blockouts and with PP DD)
  • PAP > Platinum Plus AP (with no blockouts and with PP DD)

 

[River Country]

If that's the case I hope you are right

 

[rfc0001]

If that's the case I hope you are right

Me too, because I'm in the same boat, which is why I've been watching this closely since Sunday. My next trip is during a blockout, so if I do have to upgrade to Platinum, I will owe $400 -- for a 4 night trip. Obviously, that's not going to happen, so I'm going to cancel my trip if that is the case. So far, all reports are that old AP certificate holders are getting new APs (with new benefits) -- I haven't seen a single post to the contrary on any board. For me, that's enough confirmation so that I don't have to cancel my upcoming trip. Obviously, things could change at any time.

 

[River Country]

Me too, because I'm in the same boat, which is why I've been watching this closely since Sunday. My next trip is during a blockout, so if I do have to upgrade to Platinum, I will owe $400 -- for a 4 night trip. Obviously, that's not going to happen, so I'm going to cancel my trip if that is the case. So far, all reports are that old AP certificate holders are getting new APs (with new benefits) -- I haven't seen a single post to the contrary on any board. For me, that's enough confirmation so that I don't have to cancel my upcoming trip. Obviously, things could change at any time.

Yeah I agree with you because what are the options for the Ticketing CM? lets say I unknowingly just go to activate my 5 AP's that I already shelled out over 2 grand for...and the CM says "we don't offer that pass anymore...you owe us another $500 for the new passes....I would need to be restrained. So lets all hope this is happening in 21 days when I get there...

 

[rfc0001]

Yeah I agree with you because what are the options for the Ticketing CM? lets say I unknowingly just go to activate my 5 AP's that I already shelled out over 2 grand for...and the CM says "we don't offer that pass anymore...you owe us another $500 for the new passes....I would need to be restrained. So lets all hope this is happening in 21 days when I get there...

Exactly -- I booked my DVC vacation and bought my DVC AP passes 9 mos out, so if I show up with AP already purchased (in good faith based on the previous AP terms), it would be really bad customer service to tell me I owe an extra $400 to use that pass. Now, they could issue me the old pass -- but Ticket CMs posting here on DIS said there is technically no way for them to do this -- which is why they are issuing them all as new APs. Between now and December, is it possible they'll figure out a way to issue old APs -- sure, but I find it highly unlikely given the cost to implement this change, the need for which will go away in a few short months. This is Disney IT we're talking about

 

[MolonLabe]

Question. When u download the pics are they the full resolution file so they can be edited by myself? I assume they will be jpg and not raw. I can care less about the borders and such I just want raw pics I can touch up myself.

I'm thinking you may be confused by terminology.
Photopass / MM has never included .RAW photos. They have always been .jpg

You do get a "full size" .jpg as normal but .raw is not something the PP photographers shoot in. I say "full size" because that's a relative term, there are many levels of .jpg. They shoot in A3 sized jpg from what I can tell, possibly lower quality A2.

 

[MolonLabe]

My sister arrived at WDW yesterday, got Platinum APs for her whole family. She's been at MK for 1.5 days now, and no ride photos have shown up in her account, except for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (and does that even count, as you get those photos regardless of whether or not you have photo entitlements? Or are the monitors after the ride to email yourself the pics gone now?).

PP is having major issues right now. I have a Premier Passport, Mine cart and the rest show up. Issues with downloading and even staying logged in are occurring now. That's system wide though.

Edit, while mine cart and ranger spin are there, it appears some others are missing. Unghhh....

 

[SarahInMN]

I just posted on another thread that I was told by 2 CM's- ticketing and passholder- that the person with the AP w?PP will be the one that has to be in the photos. Everyone on the friends and family list can see all the pics on the MDE act or PP site but only those scanned by the MB that has the PP wil be able to be downloaded for free.

That information is in direct conflict with what Disney's own website says (you have to scroll down):

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

I so hope you are correct and that it will work. I will be very happy when we start to get reports of that.

 

[jimim]

I'm thinking you may be confused by terminology.
Photopass / MM has never included .RAW photos. They have always been .jpg

You do get a "full size" .jpg as normal but .raw is not something the PP photographers shoot in. I say "full size" because that's a relative term, there are many levels of .jpg. They shoot in A3 sized jpg from what I can tell, possibly lower quality A2.

I figured we couldn't get our hands on raw images but I. I can't believe they don't shoot raw and then when disneys team gets them to put on the cloud for guests to download they convert them to jpg so they can give somewhat of a higher quality product to guests for what they r paying for. That's why I never even look at photo pass pics. I usually tell them not to even bother. getting this now with season passes is no bargain for me. I would rather 20 dollars off my passes even cause that's about all it's worth. If they r going to charge people for pics they should at least try to give guests the best quality within reason for their money. And then u said they aren't even the highest quality jpg? Jpg size isn't all about image size it's also about compression and loss of quality with more compression. Loss of contrast and sharpness to name a few.

 

[jimim]

Yes -- 4 and 5 are not what is actually happening based on numerous reports on DIS by AP certificate holders who have actually done this since Tuesday and Ticketing CMs who have actually processed these certificates since Tuesday. I understand this is not what Disney is telling people -- but it is absolutely what is actually happening -- which is:

• Old APs are no longer being issued
• Therefore, if you have not activated an old AP, it will automatically be issued according to :
  • Seasonal Pass > Silver AP
  • AP > Platinum AP (with no blockouts and with PP DD)
  • PAP > Platinum Plus AP (with no blockouts and with PP DD)

I would go by what is happening like u are saying vs why is written and here say. Facts r facts. U are saying you have seen this. This is good thanks for sharing. We know so many times why Disney says isn't what happens.

 

[MolonLabe]

I figured we couldn't get our hands on raw images but I. I can't believe they don't shoot raw and then when disneys team gets them to put on the cloud for guests to download they convert them to jpg so they can give somewhat of a higher quality product to guests for what they r paying for.

A RAW file is usually 6-7 times larger than a corresponding .jpg On my own camera I shoot in the highest A2 .jpg. I only shoot in .raw for certain nighttime shots and in instances when I'm getting a "rare" photo. i.e. we saw Jack and Sally 2~ weeks ago at the Halloween party. .raw to me is, for the most part, a "just in case I screwed up my settings a little" type of thing.

It takes time to process a photo from raw to jpg. Couple that with size issues and it's no wonder why they let the camera do the work "on the spot" as opposed to an identical algorithm after the fact.

If they r going to charge people for pics they should at least try to give guests the best quality within reason for their money. And then u said they aren't even the highest quality jpg? Jpg size isn't all about image size it's also about compression and loss of quality with more compression. Loss of contrast and sharpness to name a few.

Money, money, money. It's all about money. The higher the quality photo, the more memory it takes up, the more harddrive space they need and the more server space and the more bandwidth..... it's all about the benjamins, not getting you great pictures.

These photopass people, while nice folks, are NOT photographers in the true sense of the term. They shoot in automatic mode and all they have about as much training as the guy directing you onto a clam shell in Nemo or VOTLM. All the training the get is "always have the camera hooked in if it's not on a tripod" "tripod only from dusk on" "try to get the ball / castle / tree in the picture if you can" and how to work the key pad.

Not a dis on them, just the truth on their level of training aka lack of expertise. Yes I know a few of them are photogs but that's probably 1% and it's not like it matters, they have to shoot on the preset settings, they can't do their own thing.

I do wish they shot in full A2 though. It'd be really helpful.

 

[Judyfun]

I called because I purchased the MM already, we arrive on 10/16, I have to renew as soon as we get there, my DD has to renew on 10/17 and SIL pm 10/24, I was told I would have to go to Guest Services and let them sort out all out. Guess it is not a big deal but just one more thing to take care of

 

[jimim]

A RAW file is usually 6-7 times larger than a corresponding .jpg On my own camera I shoot in the highest A2 .jpg. I only shoot in .raw for certain nighttime shots and in instances when I'm getting a "rare" photo. i.e. we saw Jack and Sally 2~ weeks ago at the Halloween party. .raw to me is, for the most part, a "just in case I screwed up my settings a little" type of thing.

It takes time to process a photo from raw to jpg. Couple that with size issues and it's no wonder why they let the camera do the work "on the spot" as opposed to an identical algorithm after the fact.


Money, money, money. It's all about money. The higher the quality photo, the more memory it takes up, the more harddrive space they need and the more server space and the more bandwidth..... it's all about the benjamins, not getting you great pictures.

These photopass people, while nice folks, are NOT photographers in the true sense of the term. They shoot in automatic mode and all they have about as much training as the guy directing you onto a clam shell in Nemo or VOTLM. All the training the get is "always have the camera hooked in if it's not on a tripod" "tripod only from dusk on" "try to get the ball / castle / tree in the picture if you can" and how to work the key pad.

Not a dis on them, just the truth on their level of training aka lack of expertise. Yes I know a few of them are photogs but that's probably 1% and it's not like it matters, they have to shoot on the preset settings, they can't do their own thing.

I do wish they shot in full A2 though. It'd be really helpful.

I have met one or two photo pass people who actually knew what they were doing. I have let them play with my camera at times cause of the bounce I use on my camera's flag isn't what most people use so they like to try it out.

I only shoot raw, especially for character meet and greats since the lightings is so wonky. I really want that control in post processing.

To get back to all this for people like use who like to shoot at Disney I wish they weren't forcing me to take the memory maker and give me some money back in my pocket.

 

[seashell7290]

If anyone is curious I downloaded my photos from my ap photopass and it included a file with about 100 stock photos. I had to do this on my laptop and not from my Disney experience app. Only had one photopass location not show up and all of my ride photos made it! I like that you can download your photos right from the app onto your phone. Only thing that's weird is the special enhancements like with the dancing ghosts video do not download as vids but they come as jpegs which is odd.

 

[CarolynFH]

I would go by what is happening like u are saying vs why is written and here say. Facts r facts. U are saying you have seen this. This is good thanks for sharing. We know so many times why Disney says isn't what happens.

In past years, an AP voucher purchased before a price increase was honored without requiring additional payment, right? In this case, you paid for an AP with no blockout dates, so when you activate it you should receive an AP with no blockout dates. It sounds as if that's what's happening.

 

[agavegirl1]

Popping in to say...I bought PhotoPass Plus one year prior to our trip. Before we got there, the product was discontinued as Memory Maker was instituted. PhotoPass Plus did not include videos on the new rides but we still got them on our CD when it was sent to us. We were also able to download if we wanted to. When transitioning photography plans, Disney seems to err on the side of customer service. More recent visitors will have better information. I really had fun using one of the last ever PhotoPass Plus cards ever to enter a park. Really, the photographers were intriqued. The first park we entered on our trip (Epcot), had exactly one of these in a cupboard ready for my arrival with my name on it. (MDX FP+ reservations communicated to the parks I am sure). We got the videos available with Memory Maker on our CD. Pretty cool really.

 

[PirateD]

Wondering if there are any new experiences that can confirm how PhotoPass entitlemens are working with APs. Are ride photos, magic shots, videos, and pictures of family and friends being included? TIA!