Convince Me, People...Should I Get Memory Maker?

[JacknSally]

Have you considered joining a photo share? That's what we do.

This is what we're doing! DH2B and I aren't big "have our photos taken" people, but it's our honeymoon trip, so we were torn about whether or not to do MM. We're splitting it with 5 other families. It's much more palatable at $30 instead of $169!

 

[mrsR123]

So for the price of MM you get a digital copy of the photos correct? Not the actual prints? So that means if I wanted printed photos for a Disney album (we buy one every year) I then have to pay on top of the price of MM to get the photos printed? Just trying to see if it's worth it especially since we are Canadian and with our dollar being so weak the cost is well over $200 with the conversion not a huge deal when you compare it to the cost of the trip overall but I may need to convince DH as he is more frugal than I LOL.

We leave in 10 days so need to make a decision ASAP.

In your case, you might very well be able to do a Disney photobook through the PhotoPass site for less than the MM costs. You canuse all the photopass pics plus upload your own for free and thenput them in the book that you pay for. You do have a bit of a time constraint, but if you can swing the time, it might save you cash.

 

[Disneydreamsdancer]

For us, i've never thought its been worth it but every trip I find myself buying more and more of the photos and I think i'm at the point where i'm better off with mm. Everyone is different so it really depends what you want out of mm and if you'll have to time to make the most of it

Random question this trip we are going to both WDW and DLR, if I purchase mm can I use it in DLR?

Ta

 

[Newsies]

Here's my take: If you LOVE character interactions, and you know you'll be meeting tons of characters on the trip, then definitely get MM. IMO, that's what it's really good for. PP employees at character M&Gs are phenomenal at capturing all of the magical moments. Even if you don't like stopping to take photos in front of the castle, or you're not big on magic shots, MM is worth it for the character photos alone. High quality stuff!

 

[caperguy]

How do you get these magic shots some people are making reference to? We bought MM...going for 2 days with our 6 year old (his first trip). Never did MM before. I think he's interested in some meet and greets, and I'll keep my eye out for the photopass spots....other tips?

 

[JacknSally]

How do you get these magic shots some people are making reference to? We bought MM...going for 2 days with our 6 year old (his first trip). Never did MM before. I think he's interested in some meet and greets, and I'll keep my eye out for the photopass spots....other tips?

Just ask the photographer if they offer any magic shots. Not all of them do. Usually the ones with tripods can't do the magic shots.

 

[Mikie]

How do you get these magic shots some people are making reference to? We bought MM...going for 2 days with our 6 year old (his first trip). Never did MM before. I think he's interested in some meet and greets, and I'll keep my eye out for the photopass spots....other tips?

Just ask the photographer if they offer any magic shots. Not all of them do. Usually the ones with tripods can't do the magic shots.

Sometimes photographers simply do the shots without you requesting, but you'll get a lot more if you make a point to ask. It's clear you're willing to spend a couple extra minutes posing for those special photos and if you mention you have MM, they may snap more than usual, knowing that you're interested in lots of pictures.

 

[Mikie]

We have been thinking about this too since we are doing a big family vacation (all adults) and would love some photos of all of us together. Here is where I get confused.

1. How do accounts linked together in MDE effect MM?
2. Do all of us need to purchase MM or can one person buy it and download all the photos?
3. How do ride photos work with a group and MM?
4. I read something about ride photos not being available without MM, is that true?
5. We are doing all the rides where photos/videos are taken but no character dinners or M&Gs, will we still get a lot of photos from just areas around the parks?

You may be thinking of the fact that you need a Magic Band to get the ride photo or video from 7 dwarfs Mine Train (no way to get this photo with physical tickets or Photopass card). And I *think* the two ride videos (7 dwarfs and Tower of Terror) are only available with MM purchase, but I'm not certain. You CAN still buy those ride photos individually, I'm just not sure about the videos.

 

[MataHari22]

For people asking about the Magic Shots, here is a great link to check out with all the different ones you can get.

http://capturingmagic.me/photopass-magic-shots

For me, I thought it was absolutely worth it. First of all, I was able to get good photos, with me in them. Second, I liked the magic shots, they were fun. Third, I did get a lot of really good photos. We had about 250 photos, there were two of us, and we had 7 days in the parks. That 250 was before any edits, and did not include any stock photos. I did not have any stock photos in my pictures, I guess this is something they just started doing. May last trip was in October of last year.
I knew that I would come away with more than 12 photos that I would like, so I knew it would be worth it. I made 6 shutterfly books with my photos and the books came out great. I'm getting MM for my trip this year, as well.

 

[siskaren]

Random question this trip we are going to both WDW and DLR, if I purchase mm can I use it in DLR?

No, Disneyland doesn't offer MM. You can pre-order a PhotoPass CD for I think $79 that's pretty much the same thing.

 

[Mikie]

I was more wondering about photo spots around the park for family photos. Are there a lot of those? (I would be using Photoshop for edits so all I really want to do is download the images themselves so no value in the software for us.)

Just to be clear, I think when most of us talk about "edits", we're talking about Disney-themed digital stickers, dates, character signatures, ride logos, picture frame borders, etc. The system does have some very basic red-eye reduction or maybe color balancing, but of course if you use Photoshop, that's infinitely better for those specific enhancements & corrections.

 

[scotas]

Is there a time limit to how many days photos can be taken? I want to get it for the upcoming trip since there will be six of us (3 couples). It gets a little tricky because we all arrive different days, stay at different hotels and stay for different lengths of time. My husband and I arrive first, then another couple 3 days later, the another couple two days later. My husband and I will be the first to leave. One couple will actually be there for 2 weeks. If I get the MM and we are all linked, will it cover everyone's entire trip? Or does it end when I leave?

 

[MataHari22]

Is there a time limit to how many days photos can be taken? I want to get it for the upcoming trip since there will be six of us (3 couples). It gets a little tricky because we all arrive different days, stay at different hotels and stay for different lengths of time. My husband and I arrive first, then another couple 3 days later, the another couple two days later. My husband and I will be the first to leave. One couple will actually be there for 2 weeks. If I get the MM and we are all linked, will it cover everyone's entire trip? Or does it end when I leave?

You should all be fine in that time frame, as long as you are all linked together properly and you do not download any photos until everyone's trip is over.

 

[Disneydreamsdancer]

No, Disneyland doesn't offer MM. You can pre-order a PhotoPass CD for I think $79 that's pretty much the same thing.

Thank you!

 

[scotas]

You should all be fine in that time frame, as long as you are all linked together properly and you do not download any photos until everyone's trip is over.

Thank You, I will have the last two link to me before I order it.

 

[merrick]

we got it, love it and recommend it. it was nice not to lug a camera, great to have photos with *all* of us in it, loved that it included ride photos, liked almost every single photo they took!!
and yes, you just get digital prints and have to order if you want them printed but you download the files so can order prints when they are 19 cents somewhere, you don't have to order them from disney.

 

[OKW Lover]

I keep vacillating on getting one and I need some ammo to justify the cost....or to nix the idea.
Thoughts?

If you need to be convinced then its probably not worth it.

Seriously, if you bring your own camera and enjoy taking pictures then no, there's no need for the photo package. You'll find no shortage of folks willing to take your picture as a group if you simply ask. We often volunteer our services like that while in the parks.

 

[Cuchman]

If you need to be convinced then its probably not worth it.

Seriously, if you bring your own camera and enjoy taking pictures then no, there's no need for the photo package. You'll find no shortage of folks willing to take your picture as a group if you simply ask. We often volunteer our services like that while in the parks.

It's looking like a share is ending up the way to go. I like the idea of the group and ride photos, but was shying away from the cost.
We prob won't do many character photos, but definitely ride photos and many photopass people, so if it isn't full price, I think I'm in.

And, thanks All for the great responses!!

 

[nduckles]

One more question.....I don't understand about downloading them for free but having to pay to have them printed. You can't just print them on your home printer?

 

[bc7ate9]

One more question.....I don't understand about downloading them for free but having to pay to have them printed. You can't just print them on your home printer?

You can print them on your home printer, if you want. I think people just meant you'd pay for professional printing.