Character photos without photo pass?

[WDW Fan since 1975]

Hi all,

Will the cast members be OK if I go to a character queue to have our photos taken with Mickey and crew, and DO NOT want to use photo pass? Will they be OK if I just ask them to take a photo or two with my camera?

Or should I use a photo pass, ask to have some done with my camera, and forget about the photo pass pictues? Seems sneaky, but I'm not buyig the CD this time.

Thanks,

Mike.

 

[wdw4rfam]

Of course, they have offered many times to take pictures with my camera so I can get in the pic. I don't know if I would ask them to, but they have offered. But taking it yourself is always allowed. I always do, there is no way I would put all my pic in the hands of someone else. I have had them screw up many times, and get someone else's. Or missing ones.

 

[Kate and Family]

We have never used PhotoPass (will this year). I usually take a picture while my sister and niece pose - but I am almost positive that PhotoPass photographers were taking pictures with cameras belonging to others.

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

We've never had a CM use our camera but I've seen them do it for plenty of people so I'm fairly certain that won't be a problem.

I do strongly recommend you grab a photopass - we have never purchased the CD (Dh is a great photographer). It just seems to make things flow to do things the 'normal' way - ie get in line, hand over the photopass, let the Photopass photographer take pictures and either you or the CM with your camera take pictures too.

 

[BoardWalkBelle]

I am a photpass photgrapher and, yes, of course you may use your own camera and even ask the photpass photpgrapher to snap a pic with your own camera with out using the services of the photpass photographer.

 

[Kate and Family]

I do strongly recommend you grab a photopass - we have never purchased the CD (Dh is a great photographer). It just seems to make things flow to do things the 'normal' way - ie get in line, hand over the photopass, let the Photopass photographer take pictures and either you or the CM with your camera take pictures too.

The other advantage of this, is that you can later decide to buy that picture (you do not need to buy the photopass package). Also.. and this is just conjecture on my part... but I believe pictures for the Magic Memories and You Castle light show, come from pictures taken by PhotoPass whether or not you have bought the package or considering buying a single photo. Wouldn't that be a hoot to see yourselves on the Castle!

 

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

The other advantage of this, is that you can later decide to buy that picture (you do not need to buy the photopass package). Also.. and this is just conjecture on my part... but I believe pictures for the Magic Memories and You Castle light show, come from pictures taken by PhotoPass whether or not you have bought the package or considering buying a single photo. Wouldn't that be a hoot to see yourselves on the Castle!

yes, in fact we've done this once. Dh had gone ahead to get in line for Rapunzel (when she was in Fairytale Garden) - meanwhile DD and I saw Tiana (who recognized DD). They ended up walking down Main Street holding hands - a photopass photographer captured the moment - can you say Priceless!!! We got one of the pictures printed off in Epcot (under Spaceship Earth) and had Tiana autograph it for us.

 

[WDW Fan since 1975]

Thanks so much for all the feedback everyone. I think that I will indeed use a photopass as well as have photos snapped with my own camera. While I'm not buying the CD this trip, I may purchase some individual photos - either via download or printed.

I certainly didn't want to appear deceptive, but I do want to have photos taken with characters on my camera (with me in the photo). So knowing that the photographers oblige this request is very nice to know.

I'm in "TIME TO PACK" mode - we head to the airport in less than 31 hours!

YIPPEE!!!

Mike.

 

[SydneesMom]

I am new to the Dis boards, my sister referred me...This is her fav. hangout for planning her Disney Trips. I am working on our FIRST trip in 2013, SOOOO EXCITED-I can't wait....LOL Anyhow, I like the ideas shared about the photopass, and using your own camera as well....With the cost for the CD of the photos, is it unlimited amount of photos? And it's $50 or $60 for the CD at Disneyland? I am working to budget all the lil extra's into our trip, as there were a few things my sister mentioned she forgot and was bummed when she realized it after arriving to Disneyland....

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I think the CD is $169 now, at least at DW.

They will take your pictures with your own camera no problem. However, they took one or two at each character with my camera, and took a whole bunch with theirs, and often the photopass shots were much better. Maybe I just had bad luck when they used my camera, maybe some of the photographers aren't so happy to use your own camera and don't make the same effort.

There was one particular photographer that was at the character connection spot in Epcot twice on my trip (I went twice because he didn't do a good the 1st time and I wanted to try again for that particular character) and he was there again. At least he was at a different character that day, but he seemed to really dislike his job and not even look at what he was shooting at.

 

[WDW Fan since 1975]

I think the CD is $169 now, at least at DW.

If you order the CD BEFORE your trip you can get it for $119 at WDW. Here's the link:

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree. No reason NOT to have Photopass take some too. It never hurts to have some options to consider if your own shots don't turn out for some reason.

Have fun!

 

[marinahendrix]

I did the college program as a photopass photographer in Epcot and we were happy to use guests' cameras as well as the photopass camera.

Some character interactions are easier to juggle multiple cameras, but busy spots like Character Spot in Epcot or any location with multiple characters and one line (You wait in one line and Meet Mickey, then Minnie, then Pluto, then Donald, then Goofy) are more difficult. This might explain why they take fewer photos with your point and shoot.

As a budget traveler myself, I certainly understand that photopass purchases can be pricey and if you really don't intend on buying photos from a specific character, ask the photopass photographer to please take multiple photos with your camera. When asked, I would take like two with the photopass and set up the same sort of pictures with their camera so they had a few to choose from.

Also one thing to mention about the multiple characters and one line thing is that its fast paced so we take the photos anticipating being handed a photopass card. If you don't hand us one, we will put the photos on a new card and give it to you, so you might as well use the same one so you dont end up collecting photopass cards!

Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Do they give you all photography lessons?

 

[Mousemommy1]

Yes. They will absolutely allow you to use your own camera. And, the CM will take pics with your camera too. But, you might as well get the photo pass card though and they will put their pics on the card and you can upload yours to the online account later on.

 

[marinahendrix]

Do they give you all photography lessons?

I don't know about full timers but majority of the college program kids who were chosen for PhotoPass were photography majors and we were in training for 4-5 weeks. I did know of a few who weren't naturally inclined to be photographers and they were transferred to their 2nd role choice.