Camcorder, Camera, or Photopass

[simplymel3]

Hi,

What would you recommend to use? We are thinking about buying a camcorder for our trip next month, but we also have doubts whether if we do need it or not.

As for the camera, we already have one, but should we also consider using Photopass instead.

Thanks,
simplymel

 

[A_NY_Outlaw]

Why not use all three? We do on our DW trips. The cameras are great so you can take pics of anything you want (except where prohibited on rides). Not sure if your camcorder takes digital snapshots, ours does. You may also want a camcorder to videotape fireworks or the parades.

Photopass is good, but they will only take a few pics of you. But if you have your own camera, the photopass photographers will gladly take a picture of you with it (in addition to their pic).

We took over 1600 digital pics on our April trip between our two cameras. I still have digital snapshots to download off my camcorder (if I can ever figure out how to do this), plus tons of videotape. Being that Disney is a once every 18 month trip, we like to get pics of everything we can.

 

[ITmickey]

I'd recomend using the 3 of them

Let me elaborate:

Last year my mother got picked for some african dancing in Animal Kingdom, and it was great to capture that in video; we also taped the parades, which we watch every time we need our disney fix.

It certainly was kind of a burden to carry it along, but we were carrying a back pack anyway, so not much of a problem there.

Regarding the camera, our camcorder also takes pictures, so 2 in 1 there, but i'd recommend taking one anyway, since photopass are only in certain designated places, and having your camera will give you a lot of freedom and spontaneity (sp?)

Finally, photopass is great for character and 'pictures spots', albeit in our trip some of the pictures turned out blurry.

Somedays we decided to just 'soak it in' and not carry the camera, which we regreted afterwards. If you cannot go often to Disney, such as us, take good advantage of the 3.

 

[OKW Lover]

In general we don't bother with photopass. Way to expensive and you don't get those special moments because they can't be everywhere. We bring our own camera and are very happy doing it ourselves.

 

[Jozymouse]

Another vote for using the 3 options:

We take alot of pictures with our own cameras but some pictures turn out much better with the Photopass (unless you have a pro camera of some sort). I know that all the Photopass night shots (in front of the castle, in front of the train station, etc etc etc) came out much more detailed and wonderful than the pics we took with our own camera. For that alone, its worth it. Its also fun when you go visit the characters. Since most Photopass photographers will take ALOT of spontenious pictures when you're interacting with the characters, well its better than having just one "posed" picture. Another fun thing is when Photopass "adds" Tinker Bell or Simba to your picture!!!!!!

I also bring my video camera since i'm a show/parade/fireworks maniac and love taping everything. Its also fun to tape charcater interaction while the photopass photographer is taking care of taking pictures

 

[javaonline]

When we went last October we used 2 of 3....We used our own camera and used Photopass. (our camcorder at the time was big and clunky.)

Anyway...we're going next month, and planning on using all 3. We even gave the kids (7, 3) our old digital camera to use whenever they want!! Its always fun trying to figure out what they might have been taking a picture of.

The photopass is expensive, but we used them at every opportunity. The quality is excellent and you always get your entire party in the shot...every time. If there is no line, the photopass CM will take extra pics for you having fun and playing around (for example...playing air guitar in front of RnRC or acting scared in front of ToT). Basically its free...and if you dont use it enough, or have enough pictures on it, you pay zero. but if you use it a lot and buy the CD you can do anything with the images.

 

[Peaches1111_00]

I'd definately get a video camera for parades and any special moments you'd want to rewatch (maybe your kid's reaction when seeing their favorite character, a character meal, or your family when walking into MK and seeing the castle). The photo camera is for anything you'd want to capture (I love taking pics of landmarks, i.e. Castle, Spaceship Earth, and character meets). I also like the idea of buying cheap digital or disposable camera for the kids and let them go nuts with pictures. Photopass sounds like a good idea and you can pick and choose what pictures you want to order. I do recommend looking into the picture book that Disney offers. It's a professionally printed photo album and I think they can use your pictures or the pictures from a photopass account. My aunt has 1 and it came out GREAT!

 

[civileng68]

In general we don't bother with photopass. Way to expensive and you don't get those special moments because they can't be everywhere. We bring our own camera and are very happy doing it ourselves.

I pretty much agree. I bring my own video camera and Nikon D200 digital camera but typically we would have them take PP pics of us as well because we'd ask for the characters to be put in the photo with us.

HOWEVER, I'd NEVER rely just on the PP. I've had two bad experiences with them where they've lost our photos and they never showed up on the cards. I even had to contact them and email them pictures of people from our party so they could go look for our photos. they never found them. This has happened twice now and I just don't trust the system.

 

[Goofy Roo]

Do all three. The camera is a definite, because Photopass isn't everywhere. You'll miss alot if you don't take a camera. You can get by with no video camera, but it's a nice plus.

 

[whgrn]

We brought 3 cameras and will swap photos between us. Also one video camera, which has the parade and fireworks and some other cool stuff.

We used Photopass, but didn't know that a) the photographer would also take the picture with our camera and that b) when he said the pictures were free online, he meant to VIEW online, NOT to be able to print. I didn't take some of the shots we had Photopass pix of, because I thought we wouldn't need to. Now I wish I had, since we have no pictures of those spots, and I'm not paying $12.95 for a single 5x7 when all I really want or need is a 4x6. VERY misleading if you ask me.

 

[D&DDisney]

In general we don't bother with photopass. Way to expensive and you don't get those special moments because they can't be everywhere. We bring our own camera and are very happy doing it ourselves.

I'll second that. Definitely too expensive and the pictures aren't any better than what you'd take with your camera.

 

[Flamingomo]

We do all three! DH has the video camera, I have the digital and film camera, and we will use and misuse the Photopass people this time since we are going to preorder the CD! The photopass CD is an awesome deal if you preorder at $99. Here's a link to all the photopass info you need:

http://www.stitchkingdom.com/photopass/

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I'm not a camcorder person (am a huge scrapbooker, gotta have picture!) so I would do camera and photopass. Photopass was a lifesaver last trip for me when out camera broke. The photographers were also more than happy and usually volunteered to take a picture w/ my camera as well as thiers. The best part about photopass for us was the unposed random picks they snapped like when Woody and my DBF got in a 'gun fight'. I was standing right next to them so even if I had my camera I wouldn't have been able to capture it. The pics are priceless to me and I will definately be paying for the photopass CD each trip. I'm hooked.

 

[STEAMBOAT209]

I would go with all three, you can never have too many pictures.

 

[Rustysmom]

I would never give up my camcorder. My kids love to watch the videos over and over and over. I'm sad that I didn't have a camcorder on our honeymoon 15 years ago, and I had a cheap camera and not many pictures from it.

I also bring my digital SLR, which is a pain to carry sometimes, but it takes awsome pictures.

We didn't do photopass on these past 2 trips. I think I took enough pictures on my own- 1,000 for the first trip and over 500 for our trip last week.

 

[meowzer]

Back in the day... we only had an Advantix camera. It fit in my pocket and was great. This last time we came prepared, 35mm digital, pocket digital and camcorder. Well, we decided that the big 35mm digital was too clunky, and the camcorder died on the first evening while filming the kids on Dumbo.
So... after all said and done, the best memories we have are the pocket digital images which we sent to Walgreens to have printed. My kids love to look at the scrapbook and photo albums.

I think the best method is something that you can easily carry and not have to waste time fiddling with.

 

[fla4fun]

I usually just bring my digital camera (now an S5 IS) which does both video and still pictures, as I live close and make many trips. However, from the number of threads I've seen where people have lost their camera or had it stolen, and had Photopass as their only record of the trip, you may want to consider Photopass as well. I can't tell you how many threads I've read about losing all the photos of their child's first trip to the parks, or a family/friend's last visit to the park, where Photopass saved the day. It's only expensive if you choose to buy the photos, and it might be nice to have that option, depending on your trip.