Breaking NEWS PHOTO SESSIONS!!!!!! :-)

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

I have a question. Do you pay for the session over the phone when you make the call? Or do you pay when you arrive there for it?

Didn't see an answer to this, it when you get there. Hth!!

 

[DiznEeyore]

there goes my photopass session then. I was all excited about the $25 session, but if I have to buy the photopass and then pay $50-75 on top of that, I will not be booking. I was so looking forward to it too. My vacation plans are all crumbling. First the few days I am there there will be a mystery closing at five pm at MK, I wasn't able to get CRT or CM, and now they are raising the price of the photo session so that I can't afford it. I keep telling myself things can't get any worse and then I read something else. Sorry to whine, just getting a little disheartened over here.

I totally understand your disappointment. We've had serious problems with different elements of our upcoming trip, too. It just doesn't feel very "magical", does it?

I really wanted to do Christmas Eve pictures in the GF lobby, but I don't think I can bring myself to pay $50 for the quality of what most of the PhotoPass photographers produce. My dh is a professional photographer and we both know what things should look like, and unfortunately, we haven't been super-impressed by most of what we've seen (eyes closed, weird shadows, objects "growing" out of the subjects' heads, etc.).

 

[mom2zandjsquared]

This is not correct, its $25 for the first session, and $50 for each thereafter. So, I was told our 3 sessions are costing us $125.

Okay you can technically only pay $25 per session if you print off 3 different receipts. They only mark the receipt used and don't note it anywhere else in the system. Photo pass shares have all families doing a photo shoot and are only paying $25 per session - same concept.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

We are going to try it that way, but since our sessions are back to back at the same resort, I was told by others on this thread it won't work that way. But, really the rules are $25 for the first session, and $50 for each thereafter. I won't lie and say we each purchased a different cd to get the discount. But I will print out the receipt 3 times and see if it works.

 

[JLKennedy]

It's all speculation. Take for instance the CM at WL told me once "September" is open, you can book all of that month, CM at another location told someone else here, it's 30 days from your session....I don't think they all know very much and shouldn't "gossip" so to speak with customers or potential customers. I am doing 2 sessions and was quoted $25 each (3 parties in our group with sep. cd's).

If the price increases, I will simply provide the date and name of the person I spoke with (anal with details, I write everything down) and demand they honor the price given on the phone.

Don't let this rumor ruin your vacation. And for the MK closing early, that's due to Mickey's Not So Scarey Halloween Party, something that anyone should take into consideration when booking around Sept-Oct. It's closed early 1 night when I'm there, and although tiffed a bit, I understand (tiffed b/c last year it didn't begin as early in the month) and accept that as part of the time of year we chose to go.

 

[marbella_chris]

I totally understand your disappointment. We've had serious problems with different elements of our upcoming trip, too. It just doesn't feel very "magical", does it?

I really wanted to do Christmas Eve pictures in the GF lobby, but I don't think I can bring myself to pay $50 for the quality of what most of the PhotoPass photographers produce. My dh is a professional photographer and we both know what things should look like, and unfortunately, we haven't been super-impressed by most of what we've seen (eyes closed, weird shadows, objects "growing" out of the subjects' heads, etc.).

i'm sorry but for a 'real' pro photoshoot it would cost far more than $50.

i think even at $50 its still exceptional value for money.

i dont know a pro photographer that would shoot for 30 minutes for $50... it would hardly be worth their time and effort

 

[christa112]

Yeah, I definately won't do it if the sitting fee is $50. $50 for a 1/2 hour I don't think so.

 

[DiznEeyore]

i'm sorry but for a 'real' pro photoshoot it would cost far more than $50.

i think even at $50 its still exceptional value for money.

i dont know a pro photographer that would shoot for 30 minutes for $50... it would hardly be worth their time and effort

Of course a real professional would charge more than $50. As I said, I'm married to one.

What I'm saying is, in my opinion, the skills of the average PhotoPass photographer don't rate $50 for 20 minutes.

If you think the quality of the shots you get is worth $50, great. But I don't, and I won't be paying it.

 

[Blessed_wth_Triplets]

I agree...have you done a photopass session before? The photographers are no where near professional...yeah..they have a decent camera...but give me the camera and I could take the same pictures. I will not be paying if the price goes up to $50.

 

[christa112]

I have to agree. I have worked in the photography industry for over 7 yrs and when you pay a "professional photographer" a sitting fee you are paying for much longer than a 1/2 hour and they pay alot more attention to details that what the photographer's at WDW do. Having seen some of the pictures posted with people standing in the sun and squinting, would not fly with most photographers as well as people who are blinking in their photos, they would take more than one shot to make sure their customers are happy.

Having said that I would be happy to pay a higher price for longer time and more experienced photographer, but don't give me a 16 yr old holding a camera for $50.

I think WDW will see a very big decrease in the photo shoots if they jack their prices up.

Of course a real professional would charge more than $50. As I said, I'm married to one.

What I'm saying is, in my opinion, the skills of the average PhotoPass photographer don't rate $50 for 20 minutes.

If you think the quality of the shots you get is worth $50, great. But I don't, and I won't be paying it.

 

[wdwmaw]

Just got off the phone with 2 seperate locations and both insured me that the price was not going up to there knowledge. We are booked the first week in Sept. Both also said that they are informed of changes and nothing was added through the end of Sept. Hope this is true !!

 

[DiznEeyore]

Just got off the phone with 2 seperate locations and both insured me that the price was not going up to there knowledge. We are booked the first week in Sept. Both also said that they are informed of changes and nothing was added through the end of Sept. Hope this is true !!

I hope so, too! Thanks for posting.

I have to say, though, that it never ceases to amaze me that every single person you talk to at Disney seems to have a different answer for the same question. It really is unbelievably aggravating!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

It's all speculation. Take for instance the CM at WL told me once "September" is open, you can book all of that month, CM at another location told someone else here, it's 30 days from your session....I don't think they all know very much and shouldn't "gossip" so to speak with customers or potential customers. I am doing 2 sessions and was quoted $25 each (3 parties in our group with sep. cd's).

If the price increases, I will simply provide the date and name of the person I spoke with (anal with details, I write everything down) and demand they honor the price given on the phone.

Don't let this rumor ruin your vacation. And for the MK closing early, that's due to Mickey's Not So Scarey Halloween Party, something that anyone should take into consideration when booking around Sept-Oct. It's closed early 1 night when I'm there, and although tiffed a bit, I understand (tiffed b/c last year it didn't begin as early in the month) and accept that as part of the time of year we chose to go.

If the preivous poster is talking about the early closing on October 4, then no it is NOT a MNSSHP. The party was cancelled for that night and the speculation is that it will be a large media event announcing the new 2009 WDW parks promotion.

 

[ADAMANDLISA]

Now I just got off the phone and the girl I talked to said the price increase IS coming in September, they just haven't announced the date yet.

Also said that training hasn't even been scheduled for AK yet, so it will be a while.

 

[Stefy]

I think I will do a photo session just because its Disney, $50 isn't great but its not bad either. It would be alot more expensive in the UK, plus I doubt one could recreate a tropical theme over here, not one that looks authentic anyway.

 

[lissiesmum]

Don't let this rumor ruin your vacation. And for the MK closing early, that's due to Mickey's Not So Scarey Halloween Party, something that anyone should take into consideration when booking around Sept-Oct. It's closed early 1 night when I'm there, and although tiffed a bit, I understand (tiffed b/c last year it didn't begin as early in the month) and accept that as part of the time of year we chose to go.

Hi, I am already going to the MNSSHP, which is why we're actually going in October. If you check out this link, http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1911758&goto=newpost
you'll see what I'm talking about. MK is closing at 5 o'clock on Oct 4 for reasons unknown to us. That was the only day I had left to spend a full day at MK and see Wishes and Spectromagic (I had already made my ADRs at other parks and this big cancellation on the 4th just came about last week!) I am definitely not the only one affected by this...

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Has anyone paid their photo session fee with their Disney Rewards card from their Disney Visa?

 

[DiznEeyore]

Has anyone paid their photo session fee with their Disney Rewards card from their Disney Visa?

I was told that you could; it's just like any other Visa card at WDW. But you can't pre-order your PhotoPass CD with it. The PhotoPass site doesn't accept it for some reason.

 

[bear74]

Hey guys

Phoned Photopass Portrait line and was informed that AKL won't be available for another two months as there is no desk set up, once thats in place it takes 4-6wks to getting set/started etc

The CM also informed me that the sit down only price of $25 (if you have preordered the photopass) will be going up in price, most prob between $50-$75 and the other sessions as well will go up, such as the $50 fee without photopass etc. This should be taking effect either at the end of this month or beginning of September. Such a bummer as I wanted to do two sessions

bummer

 

[DRRluvsWDW]

The pictures I have seen are worth $25. We won't be doing the session if it increases to $50. As others have said, the bad lighting misplaced backgrounds, etc, aren't worth more than $50.

Hopefully this change doesn't happen, we have our shirts already...