Can someone explain Magic Shots?

corinne76

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Aug 24, 2014
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Dumb it down, this is someone who didn't even know about the PP+ last trip.

Do all photographers ....uhm....do (??) Magic Shots? How do you know if they do?

DD doesn't want to do character meals. She will wait in some lines to do meet and greets but not if they're super long. I'm debating if the PP+ thing will be worth it.
 
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No, not all PP photographers can do Magic Shots. In general, it seems like the roaming/free standing photographers are more likely to have magic shots (so the photographers using a tripod, probably will not have any). I would just ask the photographer if they have any Magic Shots. If they do, they'll tell you which ones they have (some have more than one, some only have one) and if they can use them given current conditions (e.g., some cannot do Magic Shots at night).
 
No not all do magic shots. You will know most of the time a magic shot is being done because 1) your child will have to hold hands out together, then Tinkerbell will be placed in her hands when you see your pic or 2) hold hands straight out like driving a car and others in pic will have to look scared, this was in Carsland and my son was the "driver" of a car added to the pic or 3) at the entrance of DL DH put arm up in air and we all had to look up, balloons were added to pic so it looked like he was carrying a bunch of them.

Does that make sense???

PP+ is totally worth it! I've only done it once (somehow didn't know about it for all our other trips) and I wish we had done it sooner. We left our nice camera at home and just used phones for impromptu pics but found that we would
 
No, not all PP photographers can do Magic Shots. In general, it seems like the roaming/free standing photographers are more likely to have magic shots (so the photographers using a tripod, probably will not have any). I would just ask the photographer if they have any Magic Shots. If they do, they'll tell you which ones they have (some have more than one, some only have one) and if they can use them given current conditions (e.g., some cannot do Magic Shots at night).

That makes sense, about the free roaming vs tripod ones. Will they tell you they do Magic Shots or must you ask? I think the magic shot things are so cool!

No not all do magic shots. You will know most of the time a magic shot is being done because 1) your child will have to hold hands out together, then Tinkerbell will be placed in her hands when you see your pic or 2) hold hands straight out like driving a car and others in pic will have to look scared, this was in Carsland and my son was the "driver" of a car added to the pic or 3) at the entrance of DL DH put arm up in air and we all had to look up, balloons were added to pic so it looked like he was carrying a bunch of them.

Does that make sense???

PP+ is totally worth it! I've only done it once (somehow didn't know about it for all our other trips) and I wish we had done it sooner. We left our nice camera at home and just used phones for impromptu pics but found that we would

Very cool! DS would love to be the driver of a car! Thank you for sharing your experiences! you all are convincing me to buy one!

I knew about the regular PP. We're from Hawaii and have stayed at Aulani a few times so we knew how that one worked. I had NOOO idea about this the last time. I'm starting to think the kids will love the pics, even if we don't do too many character things.
 

We have been at DLR for the past week and it was about 50/50 with asking or being offered magic shots. He three previously mentioned: car, balloons and tinker bell were the only ones anyone seemed to have available. We were a little disappointed in the lack of options but maybe we just missed the more unique ones.
 
I always ask about magic shots even if they have a tripod. A few times I've had a CM tell me they were trained for a shot in a different location and walk over there with me. They usually seem pretty enthusiastic about them and will sometimes tell you where to find another photographer who can do a shot.
 
Back in November, in addition to the cars, balloons and Tinkerbell, we also ran across photographers with Olaf (on Main Street), Stitch (near Soarin' - so that one might be gone right now), and Pascal (Castle area).
 
Back in November, in addition to the cars, balloons and Tinkerbell, we also ran across photographers with Olaf (on Main Street), Stitch (near Soarin' - so that one might be gone right now), and Pascal (Castle area).

Yes, I had read about Olaf and Pascal but we never found anyone able to do them. We tried multiple times. I should have over 300 PP pictures (still haven't reviewed them).
 
I think that during slower times of the year, there are less PP photographers out, so it might be harder to find ones with specific Magic Shots. When I went in November, it was the start of the holiday season, so there were a lot of PP photographers in the parks. It also seems like different photographers have different Magic Shots, even if they're in the same area. I remember when we were asking about Pascal at the castle, the photographers said that he didn't have that one, but the photographers next to him had it. So maybe different photographers have access to different Magic Shots.
 
I've seen the Stitch shot on the bridge near Ariel's Grotto. In addition to having limits on the areas where they can do certain shots, there also has to be certain lighting. And the CM has to be trained on that shot. I once asked a CM for the hang glider shot, he couldn't do it, but he called over another CM who trained him on how to do it.

I would check your PP card at the photo shop before the last day of your trip so that if a magic shot doesn't get processed you have a chance to redo it.
 
I think that during slower times of the year, there are less PP photographers out, so it might be harder to find ones with specific Magic Shots. When I went in November, it was the start of the holiday season, so there were a lot of PP photographers in the parks. It also seems like different photographers have different Magic Shots, even if they're in the same area. I remember when we were asking about Pascal at the castle, the photographers said that he didn't have that one, but the photographers next to him had it. So maybe different photographers have access to different Magic Shots.

Would the beginning of October be considered a slower time?

I would check your PP card at the photo shop before the last day of your trip so that if a magic shot doesn't get processed you have a chance to redo it.
tnx for this tip! Where is the photo shop located?
 
It's a little bit of coconut all mixed up with a touch of rum. Served chilled with a mini glow cube in a shot glass.
You may find them at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. :)
 
It's a little bit of coconut all mixed up with a touch of rum. Served chilled with a mini glow cube in a shot glass.
You may find them at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. :)

mmmmmm, coconut. I'm a straight vodka kind of girl but I'd drink that :)
 
Last year I got the Olaf one from a photographer who was at the Sword in the Stone. May have been a lucky fluke though, in all my years going I can't remember having seen a photopass person there ever.

When I was trying to get the Pascal shot at the Castle one lady suddenly offered she could do Chip from Beauty and the Beast. Up to that point I had been thinking that one was WDW only.
 












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