Disney Photo Pass??

[bam218]

Hello! Dh and I are taking our daughters to Disney exactly 2 weeks from today. Just wondering in your opinion if you think the Photo pass is worth the cost? We went last year did NOT purchase it. It seems like the Disney photographers took the same amount of pictures with our camera as with theirs. I just wonder if we should get it? If I understand right purchasing it a head of time I will save money?

Also, with all the Disney Target gift card talk can the gift cards be used for parking?

Thank you,
Barbara

***14 more days until DISNEY****

 

[erincon23]

Yes, if you buy ahead of time you'll save a significant amount of money. As to whether it's worth it -- I've bought it a couple of times, but wouldn't for just a "regular" trip. Once, I bought it because DS(now)20 was going with his school band and choir, and I invited all the other kids to get photopass cards and give them all to me and I'd make copies of all the pics for them -- so they had group pictures of a lot of the kids. And on that same trip, DS did the American Idol Experience, and they have a special Photopass photographer who takes pictures during that event, and you KNOW I wanted those.

And on this recent trip, I bought it through a Facebook share, which you can't do through the Disboards (shared the cost with a group of strangers).

But unless you love the pictures from the rides and meals, and would buy those, or you don't like TAKING pix but love to have them, I don't know if I'd do it (and for the ride and meal pix, you need Photopass Plus, which is more expensive).

 

[disneyjes]

I have never been but we plan on buying it when we go for our first trip. I don't want to bring my DSLR all the time and this way we can add the fun borders and things. However if by some miracle we can go again...we might not do it. Since it's our first trip - definitely willing to splurge.

 

[ekatiel]

We bought Photopass Plus for our recent 12 day trip. With the ride photos and character dining photos included, it was definitely worth it. We did A LOT of character dining, though. Plus, my boys also did Pirate's League (those photos were included in Photopass Plus, as well), and we visited Santa while we were there (at DTD) and got the digital versions of the Santa visit as well. we definitely got our money's worth! --Katie

 

[ValpoCory]

At Disneyland, you can pre-purchase PhotoPass+ for $69.95, and get character dining and ride photos for free, in addition to your PhotoCD. That's worth it if you go for 3 or more days in my opinion. At WDW it's $149.95, but still worth it if you are going in the parks for 6 of more days.

If anyone you know is going withing a month of you, you can actually split the cost.

 

[miknsusn]

To answer the other part of your question, YES, you can use the Disney gift cards to pay parking. We did it 2 weeks ago on our trip.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

You can pre-purchase the photopass CD at a discount. If you get home and feel the pictures aren't worth it you can cancel and get a full refund. That is what I do so I can get the discount. I have kept the CD and I have requested a refund on past trips. There really is no risk going this route!

I don't think that works with the photopass + though.

 

[sayheyrenee]

Does anyone know if the Disney visa Epcot Jmeet and greet pictures will be put on Photo pass plus?

 

[mountdew1]

OP, it really depends on your touring habits and what you do in park. If you stop for characters and the like, then it could be beneficial. PhotoPass photographers don't have to worry about things like juggling autograph books, pens, making sure Johnny doesn't leave his coat behind when he goes to see Mickey. So while you are worrying about all that, you might miss that adorable picture of him meeting Mickey for the first time. But Photopass is usually ready to grab that special moment when you might be otherwise distracted.

Yes, they will most definitely take pictures using your camera. However in my experience, they will usually take 3-5 pictures using their camera, and then one using yours. The one picture they take with your camera tends to be a "I was there" photo. A posed picture of your family in front of the castle. But with their pictures they may have you do goofy things, and you may end up with the magic shots.

If you only want that "I was there" photo, and don't want to stop at different photographers, or don't do characters, then it may not be for you. The break even point on the PhotoCD pre-purchase for $119 is about 8 pictures. The break even point on the PhotoPass+ pre-purchase for $149 would be about 10 pictures. So if you think you might end up buying that many, or more, then it may be a good deal. The PP+ is a better deal if you want ride/dining pictures as those you can't take with your own camera. Personally, I like being able to load 100+ different pictures of my DW and I onto my digital frame after our trip. No way I would buy that may, nor would I trust a stranger with my camera that many times on our trip. So in my case, I think it's a good deal.

Does anyone know if the Disney visa Epcot Jmeet and greet pictures will be put on Photo pass plus?

To clarify how PhotoPass+ works, it is just a special PhotoPass card that signifies to the CMs working the ride and dining photo sales that you get your pictures for free. At any other location, it works just like a normal PhotoPass. You can hand it to any photographer in the parks and they will use that to store your pictures.

Since the PhotoPass+ purchase includes the PhotoCD voucher, if you do use other PhotoPass cards, all the pictures will be included. The PhotoCD voucher will get you a CD that included every active picture in your online account. So if you get a new PhotoPass card at the Visa M&G, or maybe your party splits up and someone stops for PhotoPass pictures and gets a new card, all of those will be included as well.

 

[sayheyrenee]

thank you for the detailed response.


I wanted to make sure a photog that was in the Visa special area was part. They said they take pictures with all the characters and you get to pick out one for print. Wanted to make sure the other pictures will be o my card too.