Do they still have Black and White Character Photos for Disneyland Hotel guests?

[csgsu]

If so where do you get them?

 

[planningjollyholiday]

Yes. We have gotten them everytime we check In. We have never asked for them, they have always been gifted to us by the CM as a form of extra magic.

 

[RKKUNK]

You know, that is one thing about the DLR that confuses me. You hear about some people getting things that others don't. We have stayed there a few times with the AP discount. We are a family and when we have checked in, we have never gotten any character photos. I'm sure my son would like one and if not, it would be nice to get one anyway. And we have had birthdays on those trips (the reason we stayed at DLR) and were never told "Happy Birthday" or given a birthday pin or anything. My husband had told them we had a birthdays when he made the reservations. Needless to say, it was very disappointing.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

We got one at DLH when we went for DDs birthday. They asked when we checked in if we were celebrating something special. When I told them DD was turning 6, they asked what her favorite character was. They came back with an autographed picture of Ariel

 

[LizzyS]

When we stayed at Paradise Pier last year for our anniversary (and I checked in wearing my Anniversary button from the previous year), the CM noticed and gave us new Anniversary buttons on which she wrote the number of years and gave us a black and white, autographed Mickey & Minnie photo as well. We also got a park view room upgrade (but only on the third floor- I was still thrilled) as I had just booked the standard room.

Oh! Also, they had room service spell out "LOVE" on one of our beds in rose petals in our room while we had dinner reservations at Steakhouse 55 that same night! I don't even know how they knew when we'd be gone that afternoon! I was really blown away by that, tbh.

I think mentioning or making things obvious RIGHT THEN seems to be more effective than noting things on reservations, tbh, just based on my experience and the things I've read on this board.

 

[Sherry E]

I think that what happens is that some CMs at the assorted hotels go that extra mile and throw in little extras, which could be B&W photos, pins, upgrades, etc. Some of them love doing that kind of thing, and some are all business. It totally depends on the CM and timing -- they are not required to do anything other than check us in and give us the rooms we pay for, but sometimes they want to do certain things for certain guests, for whatever reasons. They can't do extra things for everyone, every day, all the time, so they have to pick and choose. In the morning, perhaps, a room upgrade might not be available. However, 3 hours later maybe a room upgrade is available and someone checks in at just the right time to get one.

I think that sometimes there is a supply of B&W photos in the back (behind the front desk area), and sometimes there isn't. Sometimes the CMs will not give any photos, and sometimes they will give more than one photo. Sometimes they may not give out photos if there are no children in the group. Again, it all depends on the specific CM and the specific day or time of day.

I think the best thing to do is to always just check in without expecting to get anything extra. If it happens, it's a bonus. Of course, if the CMs ask you what you're celebrating then you tell them, but if they don't ask and you try too hard to remind them that you're celebrating something, that could work against you. I think they will actually resist the people who try too hard to get something.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

So, I've used the AP discount to stay onsite multiple times and have never gotten one, even though we've been for my son and my stepmother's birthdays. All we got were the birthday buttons you get at Guest Services in the parks. I want a photo. Totally jealous right now!

 

[LizzyS]

I think that what happens is that some CMs at the assorted hotels go that extra mile and throw in little extras, which could be B&W photos, pins, upgrades, etc. Some of them love doing that kind of thing, and some are all business. It totally depends on the CM and timing -- they are not required to do anything other than check us in and give us the rooms we pay for, but sometimes they want to do certain things for certain guests, for whatever reasons. They can't do extra things for everyone, every day, all the time, so they have to pick and choose. In the morning, perhaps, a room upgrade might not be available. However, 3 hours later maybe a room upgrade is available and someone checks in at just the right time to get one.

I think that sometimes there is a supply of B&W photos in the back (behind the front desk area), and sometimes there isn't. Sometimes the CMs will not give any photos, and sometimes they will give more than one photo. Sometimes they may not give out photos if there are no children in the group. Again, it all depends on the specific CM and the specific day or time of day.

I think the best thing to do is to always just check in without expecting to get anything extra. If it happens, it's a bonus. Of course, if the CMs ask you what you're celebrating then you tell them, but if they don't ask and you try too hard to remind them that you're celebrating something, that could work against you. I think they will actually resist the people who try too hard to get something.

I agree about not expecting anything and considering any extras a bonus if it happens. I have to admit I wore the button on purpose to check in (it was our actual anniversary day, though) hoping for a little pixie dust, but was totally fine if nothing happened at all. It was just me and my hubby, so apparently adults only get photos, too, sometimes.

 

[Derb]

I stayed at the Disneyland hotel last October. My friend and I went to the front desk because she needed a new key card, and we asked if they all had Mickey on them. The desk clerk said yes, and I mentioned that Donald was my daughter's favorite character. She went in a back room and came out with an 8X10 black and white autographed pic of Donald and Daisy outside the castle!

 

[SMD]

You can also get birthday buttons at the hotels. Maybe if you ask for it while checking in that would increase the chance of getting the photo as an extra.

 

[MeishkaD]

We stayed at Paradise Pier in March for my daughter's birthday and first visit. Her number one princess goal was meeting Princess Aurora. Sadly she was unavailable both days we were at DL and we were spending our entire final day at DCA. I went down to the front desk on check out morning and inquireed as to whether or not there was a way to get a message to Aurora and perhaps a simple autograph for my daughter's book. Katrina came through for us in a big way! I had also mentioned that we hadn't caught Tinkerbell so she disappeared in the back for a few minutes and returned with an envelope addressed to my daughter. Upon returning to our room we opened it and found a short letter from Aurora and Tink, wishing my daughter a happy birthday and two beautiful 8X10 black and white photos signed by each character.

Cast members can't always read our minds, but if you let them know that a little magic is needed they will nearly always go out of their way to make an effort for you. Be pleasant and ask nicely and you never know what kind of pixie dust they may have hidden up their sleeves.

(Sidenote: We did manage to score a last minute reservation for a late lunch at Ariel's Grotto, but we missed seeing Aurora there as well. Alas.)

 

[gardengirl2790]

Contacting Vacation Planning in advance of your trip can help. You can let them know if you are celebrating something, and what your favorite characters are. Our trips generally coincide with a celebration of some kind. We live very away, and a trip to DLR is a once-a-year endeavor. I don't expect it to happen, but when it does, it certainly makes the trip very magical. The Vacation Planning email is vacationplanning@disneyonline.com, and is available for all guests of the Resort hotels.

 

[mummabear]

We got one for each of the kids (including the 6 month old) when we stayed at DLH last Sept.