Best use of Memory Maker

[tstidm1]

I'm thinking about getting a surprise treat for the May trip and want to try Memory Maker. It is going to be just Mom and I and want to do a surprise she doesn't know about. What is the best value with Memory Maker? Do you need to have a lot of character meals or character pictures to make it worth it? If it works better for families, then I will simply bring my camera and take pictures.

 

[pens4821]

I would say getting the best value is from the rides with photos. We made our money off that. If you're going to ride things like RNRC, tot, 7d, splash, buzz, dinosaur, Everest, test track (not sure if I'm missing any) then you'll surely get your money's worth. If not, the photographers will take a photo with your camera free of charge.

 

[dachsie]

I did it and took pics with characters, princesses, ride photos - I did as many as I could. It was fun

 

[Meriweather]

BFF and I went for our birthdays.....yes, 2 senior ladies and we got a lot of character fast passes, a few meals, some rides and stopped at the Photopass photographers whenever we saw them. It was fun and we got a lot of great photos....I think over 700

 

[Mikie]

In order to make the $149 pre-purchase of Memory Maker "worth it", you need to have 10 or more pictures you'd want to buy. Since they cost $15 to buy individually, if you want fewer than 10, you can just buy the handful you like.

The list I always give is to say that the more of the following apply to you, the more likely you are to get a value out of MM:
- you're going to stop at photographers throughout the parks (at the icons, various scenic spots)
- you like the Magic Shots (where they put in animated characters "magically" after the picture is taken; cannot be duplicated with your own camera)
- your visit is longer vs shorter
- you like to get yourself into the photos (for a change!)
- you will be doing character meets (NOT the same as character meals - at meals, you need to use your own camera, no photographers at the tables)
- you like to actually DO something with your photos afterward (scrapbook, digital scrapbook, social media, frame and display)
- you are going to do Jedi Training Academy, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, or Pirates League where they take LOTS of photopass photos (OP, this doesn't apply to you as they are kids' activities)
- you will ride the rides that have photos on them. MK: Splash, Space Mountain, Buzz, 7 Dwarfs; AK: Expedition Everest, Dinosaur; DHS: Tower of Terror, Rockin Roller Coaster; Epcot: Test Track
- you're interested in the stickers and borders you can add through the Memory Maker web site

 

[agavegirl1]

We got 80 photos that were really good without waiting in a single line for a photographer. Our favorites were the pre-park opening pics at MK before our CP breakfast and the ride photos. The video from 7DMT is also really cool. We would see a photographer with no line and pose for a pic. The photographer usually suggested a Magic Shot, I always forgot to ask. The only M&G we did was Anna and Elsa because I wanted the pics for my nieces. They were great since we dressed in our Olaf shirts.

 

[mecllapfigment]

I got it once when I did a solo trip (at about the age of 68) and went to every Photog I could. It was a lot of fun (especially since I had lost weight and looked and felt the best I had in years). Sounds like a special trip with your Mom; please get MM and use it as much as possible (unless you're going for just a coupe of days). You will treasure the photos in years to come. I have gotten it (used to be PhotoPass) on several trips with family members, and never regretted it. It kind of seems expensive, but it will really help you remember how much you enjoyed he trip (we actually had one trip that we didn't think we were enjoying very much at the time, but when we look back at the photos, it was actually a really fun trip (with just a few glitches).

 

[DavidNYC]

Be aware that most character meals don't have photopass photographers so memory maker won't help you. We get a good value out of it with the family but if you want just a few great pictures you can always buy a couple and have photographers take your picture with your camera. It's nice - but to me not worth it unless you're really going to stop at a bunch of photographers or lots of ride photos.

 

[Kimberly9701]

Get it!!! . I LOVE our MM photos!! We had so many character meals that I think we actually only did 2 character meets, and those are not even close to my favorite photos.

Ride photos/videos- Awesome.

Magic shots- Super awesome.

Not having to keep explaining to people how to use your phone or camera/worry about if they took a decent shot- Brilliantly awesome.

Doesn't matter if you're there 2 days or 2 weeks..plenty of photographers to get pictures from.. Have fun with it

 

[aretha30]

Get it! We love MM. We stop at any PP photographer that doesn't have a line (or maybe one family) and then get a bunch of regular shots and magic shots. Some of the magic shots over the years are my all time favorites of my boys. The ride photos are great, in August they had added the videos and they are a really cute addition. You can also stop at several photo booths and take pictures in there and add them to your MM account. One of the sweetest pictures of our boys from August came from the photo booth. We have hundreds of pictures from each vacation and I didn't have to stress about who was in the picture!

 

[eyehartdisney]

You might want to look into getting an annual pass if you are purchasing MM. With the discount and free parking, it might be worth it to you.

 

[jillt2ph]

Get it! We love MM. We stop at any PP photographer that doesn't have a line (or maybe one family) and then get a bunch of regular shots and magic shots. Some of the magic shots over the years are my all time favorites of my boys. The ride photos are great, in August they had added the videos and they are a really cute addition. You can also stop at several photo booths and take pictures in there and add them to your MM account. One of the sweetest pictures of our boys from August came from the photo booth. We have hundreds of pictures from each vacation and I didn't have to stress about who was in the picture!

Where did you find photo booths?

Thanks!

 

[aretha30]

Where did you find photo booths?

Thanks!

There is one in the shop where you exit for Space Mountain, one in Epcot where the gift shop for Journey into Imagination is, and there is one on the Boardwalk. I'm sure there are more, these are just the three I can think of.

 

[Parker Clan]

I think it's worth it for 2 people! We've gotten it the last two years and didn't do any character meals, just ride photos and stopping at almost every photographer. I printed a ton of photos, for collages and to make canvas prints. The magic shots are great!! And the ride photos are priceless in my opinion

 

[rsagusti]

also in the past year they have added ride videos and stock photography of the characters. if you are going during an event, like F&G at epcot and go to epcot and get at least one photopass photographer to take your picture, you get about 10-20 stock photos of the event. I love those photos to help build out my after vaca photo book.

 

[mindeola]

I have it for the first time this May. A lot of the "worth it" list posted above does not apply to us and I went back and forth on purchasing it. We are a group of five - aged 20-45. Here are my reasons for it being worth it for us.

1. We are taking a first time visitor- my son's girlfriend.
2. It could be our last family trip. My hubby and daughter don't care for Disney trips ( weirdos!) and I never know if I can get them back.
3. I think it may make us slow down a bit more.
4. I am planning to recreate some pics from the kids first trip in 1999.
5. I will be in the pictures. All of our early trip pics make it look like hubby took the kids without me!
6. I am excited about the ride photos and videos and we will ride all of those rides.

 

[njmousefest]

We got it for an upcoming 7 day in the parks trip. Really just as an attempt to leave the DSLR at home.

For those saying character meals do not have photopass, I'm still new to all of this but at tusker house we did get some good photopass pics taken with all of the characters. Is it restaurant specific?

 

[Mikie]

We got it for an upcoming 7 day in the parks trip. Really just as an attempt to leave the DSLR at home.

For those saying character meals do not have photopass, I'm still new to all of this but at tusker house we did get some good photopass pics taken with all of the characters. Is it restaurant specific?

It's been a couple trips since I did Tusker, but I do read a lot of the Photopass/character dining threads, and I'm not aware of any meal that has the photographers in the meal when the characters come to your table. A few have a posed photo taken by a Photopass person prior to your seating. Not sure if this is current, but at one time it was Donald outside Tusker House, Cinderella before your Castle meal, Belle at Akershus, a posed shot with a backdrop (no character) at Chef Mickey and O'hana.

 

[biondagirl]

We've pre-ordered the memory maker on our last few trips. Knowing that you prepay for it, you really want to get your money's worth. Whenever we see a photographer, we would stop. We got some great pictures! I love that we got the ride pictures, too. The expression on my son's face on Rockin Rollercoaster is PRICELESS.

 

[msmama]

What are you going to do with the photos AFTER your trip?

If they're just going to sit on your computer then NO, I don't think MM is ever worth it (personally). BUT, if you're going to print and display photos or make a photobook (that's what I do) then YES, I think MM is worth it.