BBB eliminated photopass photographers

[Funfire240]

There weren't any photographers taking pictures of the pirate makeovers when we were there earlier this month. Only the photographer in the "secret" room.

Pirates league have never had photographers during the makeovers that I know of. We've done this a couple times and there never has been dating back 4 years.
As for BBB I have aways taken my own photos and video of the reveal but the photo pass photos are the owns I love to display as they have always been wonderful . I have to say I'm hoping it's true about the 8th being the last day because we will be there on the 5th

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

Pirates league have never had photographers during the makeovers that I know of. We've done this a couple times and there never has been dating back 4 years.
As for BBB I have aways taken my own photos and video of the reveal but the photo pass photos are the owns I love to display as they have always been wonderful . I have to say I'm hoping it's true about the 8th being the last day because we will be there on the 5th

They were there last year when we did our makeovers.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Maybe I am confused (easy to do).

We have never done BBB, no girls. But when we did the Pirates League a couple years back, the pictures taken in the 'secret room' were included in our Photopass, no additional charge. There were no pictures taken (other than by ourselves) in the transformation room. When I read here about pictures for BBB now only in a parlor afterwards, are they part of a newly added step? And is there a charge for them if you have Photopass (now Memory Maker I guess)?

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe I am confused (easy to do).

We have never done BBB, no girls. But when we did the Pirates League a couple years back, the pictures taken in the 'secret room' were included in our Photopass, no additional charge. There were no pictures taken (other than by ourselves) in the transformation room. When I read here about pictures for BBB now only in a parlor afterwards, are they part of a newly added step? And is there a charge for them if you have Photopass (now Memory Maker I guess)?

It sounds like Photopoass at Pirate's League was hit or miss over the years. I don't think we had photopass in the transformation room when we did it in 2012. But I do recall clearly that they would not add photos in the "secret room" to Photopass unless you had Photopass Plus or purchased the print package. Additionally, they would not let us take photos on our own camera in the "secret room". I thought that part was sort of over the top and silly. It was pretty clear it was that way to try to make you purchase their print package.

We did BBB a number of times through the years. They have always had several photographers in the transformation room photographing the process, even waiting for the big reveal until the photographer was there to capture it. The photos in the studio have always been available. If you bought the expensive package, it included prints of the shots taken afterwards in the studio. But anyone could go get shots there and have them added to photopass. So that "parlor" shoot is just the studio shoot that has always been available. What has changed is them taking away the photographers shooting the transformation process.

It really is a shame, because that reveal was the best part of the experience. I always shot it with my own camera as well and did fine. But you have to know your way around a camera and have some decent equipment to get those shots. The lighting in there is awful and you do have to be careful about how you're shooting around the mirror to avoid getting the reflection of the flash. And having more adults standing around with cameras getting in the way there won't be ideal. Those quarters really are cramped (in the castle at least. We never did it at DTD).

 

[ruthies12]

I have BBB booked for dd's birthday in December and bought memory maker. I'll be sending a very irate email.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Whatever was Disney's thinking on this one? I hate to say it, but it just sounds mean and I hate to accuse Disney of being mean.

 

[mom2rtk]

Whatever was Disney's thinking on this one? I hate to say it, but it just sounds mean and I hate to accuse Disney of being mean.

Someone should ask them why just to see if they admit it was to cut costs. It might be entertaining to see what lame excuse they come up with. I know when they cut the photos at CRT they said it was because too many people left them behind.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Someone should ask them why just to see if they admit it was to cut costs. It might be entertaining to see what lame excuse they come up with. I know when they cut the photos at CRT they said it was because too many people left them behind.

That's what I was wondering when I first saw this. We never did BBB so I don't have direct experience. But I was wondering was there something else going on. But it sounds like just straight cost-cutting. That is so sad. It would be better if they raised the price and kept the photographers from what everyone is saying on here. Maybe they will add the service back in as an extra upcharge.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's what I was wondering when I first saw this. We never did BBB so I don't have direct experience. But I was wondering was there something else going on. But it sounds like just straight cost-cutting. That is so sad. It would be better if they raised the price and kept the photographers from what everyone is saying on here. Maybe they will add the service back in as an extra upcharge.

Or maybe they could just raise the price of the Memory Maker. Oh wait, they already went crazy with that.

If they say not enough people bought prints or downloads, I call nonsense because so many of their customers have Memory Maker and wouldn't even NEED to buy prints or downloads.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Or maybe they could just raise the price of the Memory Maker. Oh wait, they already went crazy with that.

If they say not enough people bought prints or downloads, I call nonsense because so many of their customers have Memory Maker and wouldn't even NEED to buy prints or downloads.

Yeah, it's just cost-cutting. Like this is costing us X per day, let's cut it. Sigh.

 

[MisterPP]

Anyone know when they are taking the photos away from the Castle location? Our BBB appt is November 1st.

 

[wizneather78]

This is so unfortunate. I feel that paying around $200 for a transformation package should get me photos of my DD having a magical time being transformed into her favorite princess. We did it last September (2014) and have some of the most amazing photos of our trip from photo pass photographers taking her pictures during the process. I didn't have to worry about it and I was able to enjoy watching her.

 

[bumbershoot]

They did t have photographers during our process at PL either.

Funny that everyone's reveal pix are so great. When DS did the Knight package at BBB in DL I had to delete that pic. He was sooooo disappointed bc they'd done THE stupidest thing with his hair even though I tried to get her to change track. His hair was too long to spike but that's what she did and even DS at 4 or 5 knew it looked ridiculous. It was such a sad picture.

 

[ruthies12]

Someone should ask them why just to see if they admit it was to cut costs. It might be entertaining to see what lame excuse they come up with. I know when they cut the photos at CRT they said it was because too many people left them behind.

I asked why in my email! I also let them know that I may be cancelling my dd's bbb appointment because of this and asked them if they are aware that parents pay for these sorts of things because of the memories, not just for the moment of. I'll let you guys know if I get a response at all. If they don't respond at least I let them know of my disappointment.

 

[ruthies12]

And I am soooo glad that I found out about this before the day of our appointment. Thank you so much OP for coming here and letting us all know! I would have been really ticked if I hadn't found out til I showed up

 

[5kidsmommy]

This doesn't even affect me, my daughter never had any desire to do BBB but I have sent an email because it's just wrong. People pay enough for BBB and the photographers need to remain there. Shame on Disney.

 

[InStitchesinNE]

I just sent them an email as well. I am so angry about this, we have done the BBB twice and those are some of my favorite pictures. I have three daughters and it's going to be hard to photograph all three transformations at once. Plus I don't have a DSLR camera, but am thinking I may need to pick one up on black Friday. I wish I had my $170 back from memory maker to apply to the purchase!

I hope my children decide they don't want to do this when we go in December (the trip is a surprise so I booked things they MIGHT want to do). I already think most of the hairstyles are ridiculous anyways, and I hate the blue eyeshadow my girls always seem to pick out

 

[Dan Murphy]

It sounds like Photopoass at Pirate's League was hit or miss over the years. I don't think we had photopass in the transformation room when we did it in 2012. But I do recall clearly that they would not add photos in the "secret room" to Photopass unless you had Photopass Plus or purchased the print package. Additionally, they would not let us take photos on our own camera in the "secret room". I thought that part was sort of over the top and silly. It was pretty clear it was that way to try to make you purchase their print package.

We did BBB a number of times through the years. They have always had several photographers in the transformation room photographing the process, even waiting for the big reveal until the photographer was there to capture it. The photos in the studio have always been available. If you bought the expensive package, it included prints of the shots taken afterwards in the studio. But anyone could go get shots there and have them added to photopass. So that "parlor" shoot is just the studio shoot that has always been available. What has changed is them taking away the photographers shooting the transformation process.

It really is a shame, because that reveal was the best part of the experience. I always shot it with my own camera as well and did fine. But you have to know your way around a camera and have some decent equipment to get those shots. The lighting in there is awful and you do have to be careful about how you're shooting around the mirror to avoid getting the reflection of the flash. And having more adults standing around with cameras getting in the way there won't be ideal. Those quarters really are cramped (in the castle at least. We never did it at DTD).

Thanks for the clarification and understandable explanation, mom. And yes, we did have the PP+ for that trip, so they were added to the account.

 

[Funfire240]

I emailed the photopass contact and received an email back and all it said was that photographers are not currently set up in the Disney Springs location but they are still taking pictures of the makeovers in the castle location. Ended with we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

[CT Disney]

This seems like such a bummer.

My DD never wanted to do BBB so we never had the experience. But, you've all got me intrigued about these Big Reveal photos. They sound adorable! Does anybody have a photo they'd be willing to share? I'd love to see what everyone says thy are going to miss so much.