I just paid for photopass+ for my May 11th to 15th trip, please help me not regret it

[sgrap]

We love pp+ and always get it. Usually end up with 200-300 pics. Love it!

 

[offwithyourhead]

Our deciding factor to get it was ride photos. At $15 each it's way more economical to get the photopass. We had two households going with us, so even if we only went on 3 rides with a photo and both households bought a photo, it would already cost more total than what we paid for our photopass. I would buy it again for sure.

 

[brandimay412]

I had the photo pass plus in 2012 and I will now get it every trip. I love that we get so many photos. We got tons of family photos we probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise. And Goofys Kitchen photos are included. We got a big 8x10 and a bunch of wallet sized prints just at that dinner, for "free".

I didn't do much with the ride photos though. I'm going next week(ahh!! I can finally say that) and actually have question about it myself. Does anybody know how it works if you don't have the pp+ card when you're on a ride and want that photo added? I've heard people say to record the photo # and add it later but how exactly? Do you have to go back to that ride, the photo studio or is there another way to add those ride photos later that I'm missing?

I just want to take full advantage of the pass while we're there.

 

[PHXscuba]

We did goofy family ride shots and they are some of my favorite pictures of the trip.

We just planned to do the standard "pose in front of the Partners statue" shot, but when the PP photographer saw that we had the lanyard, he did a mini-photo shoot with about a dozen photos of DH and I, the kids, and all of us together. Same thing happened at the Walt/Mickey statue in DCA. We had a PP photog offer to do the same around Carsland but couldn't make it back over there. If you look like you are having fun the photographers will pick up on it and take more pictures.

They already know the night settings to catch the castle photo or the arch in Carsland that I can never get just right.

With a good cell photo camera to supplement for personal shots (and a few selfies ) you can likely leave the big camera at home.

PHXscuba

 

[NannyBeBe]

We got the PP+ last time we went to DLR. The photographer took a picture of me and my husband that I know my kids and grandkids will treasure when we are no longer around. For that picture alone, it was worth it.

 

[2boysmom1998]

I always get the PP+. I love to have those pics. They are professional and you can come home and add your own touches to it. I love having the ride photos too! I get as much use out of it as I can. I take pics with my family, by myself, my kids by them selves. I have over 150 photos on my pass last year! You made a good decision getting it! You'll love it!

 

[agamble]

I didn't do much with the ride photos though. I'm going next week(ahh!! I can finally say that) and actually have question about it myself. Does anybody know how it works if you don't have the pp+ card when you're on a ride and want that photo added? I've heard people say to record the photo # and add it later but how exactly? Do you have to go back to that ride, the photo studio or is there another way to add those ride photos later that I'm missing?

I just want to take full advantage of the pass while we're there.

Last year we had a big group and got split several times. I've recently read that some people have taken a picture of the back of their card with their cellphone and had luck adding the picture to the card that way. We just collected the number and then the next time we were near the ride we would add them. It has to be done at the ride photo counter, it can't be done at the photo shops.

 

[Belle Ella]

Last year we had a big group and got split several times. I've recently read that some people have taken a picture of the back of their card with their cellphone and had luck adding the picture to the card that way. We just collected the number and then the next time we were near the ride we would add them. It has to be done at the ride photo counter, it can't be done at the photo shops.

Putting this out there for anyone reading, but please do not rely on this information. The imaging cast members at the attractions are not supposed to add photos to a PhotoPass+ or an Attractions+ card unless it is physically present and in their hands. What @agamble mentioned they did is the best way to add photos when your party splits up: collect the photo numbers (we would always text them to the person with the card, along with which attraction) and the next time the person with the card is at the attraction the cast members would be more than happy to add them all.

Also adding that not only do they need to be done at the attractions photo location, but it needs to be the photo location for that particular ride - for example you can't add photos from Radiator Springs Racers to your card when you are at Tower of Terror (I've had people ask me to do it, and it doesn't work like that, lol).

Hope that helps any.

 

[agamble]

Thanks for clarifying. I just read that the other day, but it was not our experience. Also, the ride photos HAVE to be added within the day. I'm not entirely sure if that means 24 hours from the time you rode the ride, or within the same operating day. We always made sure we did it the same day.

 

[Belle Ella]

I had the photo pass plus in 2012 and I will now get it every trip. I love that we get so many photos. We got tons of family photos we probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise. And Goofys Kitchen photos are included. We got a big 8x10 and a bunch of wallet sized prints just at that dinner, for "free".

I didn't do much with the ride photos though. I'm going next week(ahh!! I can finally say that) and actually have question about it myself. Does anybody know how it works if you don't have the pp+ card when you're on a ride and want that photo added? I've heard people say to record the photo # and add it later but how exactly? Do you have to go back to that ride, the photo studio or is there another way to add those ride photos later that I'm missing?

I just want to take full advantage of the pass while we're there.

When you exit each ride, they will have the photos from the ride displayed with a 6 digit number in one of the upper corners. This is the number you give the cast member at the location for them to pull up the photo and add it to your card. It's always best if you're the one holding the card the add the photo right away in case you never make it back to the attraction or forget, although as previously posted by others if you're in a larger party and you all split up, you can write down that number somewhere and go back and get the photo added later, so long as you go back to the attraction to do it. The photo shops on Buena Vista Street and Main Street are different entities and will not be able to add the attraction photos for you.

** ETA: Also, if you happen to forget, lose, or didn't write down the number of the photo, you can still go back to the attraction and they can help you find it!

 

[Belle Ella]

Thanks for clarifying. I just read that the other day, but it was not our experience. Also, the ride photos HAVE to be added within the day. I'm not entirely sure if that means 24 hours from the time you rode the ride, or within the same operating day. We always made sure we did it the same day.

No problem! It goes around a lot, and I'd hate for anyone to be disappointed when they are told no at the image locations. And as for how long you have to add the photo, it's always best to get it added as soon as you can.

 

[enrai]

We got PP+ for the first time last year. It was worth it because the Meet & Greet with Captain America. My son was in costume, and the photographer started taking picture as soon as my son walked in to meet the Cap.

Another way to make your PP+ worth the money is to take more photos around both parks, and check with them to include a "Magic Shot".

You won't regret it!

 

[mich311e]

I've only done it once and absolutely loved it! So worthwhile to have their high quality photos and not have to worry about someone snapping the pic for me. Seek out the photographers and opportunities, it's worth it! We got group photos with Mickey & Minnie at their houses in Toontown. And I love the character pics we got at California Adventure!

 

[brandimay412]

Thanks to all for clarifying. This all really helps me a ton! So excited to capture all the memories next week!

 

[xjay]

What @agamble mentioned they did is the best way to add photos when your party splits up: collect the photo numbers (we would always text them to the person with the card, along with which attraction) and the next time the person with the card is at the attraction the cast members would be more than happy to add them all.

What if the party splits up and one party gets their picture taken with Photopass Photographers in certain areas of the park, not talking about attractions. How would we add those?

 

[Belle Ella]

What if the party splits up and one party gets their picture taken with Photopass Photographers in certain areas of the park, not talking about attractions. How would we add those?

The photo shops on Main Street and Buena Vista Street can help with that. They can combine multiple cards onto the one PhotoPass+ card for the area shots out in the Park. I've had to do this when I forgot my card in my hotel room and kept getting handed new ones from the PhotoPass photographers out in the parks.

 

[agamble]

You can each have your own regular photo pass (if you have APs they're even on your card). And at the end of your trip you can add them all to your PP+ card. You may even be able to do it from the computer when editing your photos at home, but I wouldn't risk it.

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

We just got back from 2 1/2 days at the parks and I am so glad we had PhotoPass+. The pictures turned out so cute and I can't wait to wrap up my edits and get the CD on the way . I think we had close to 200 pics - soon to be many more with borders. One tip I have is if a certain pic is important to you (for us it was a family shot in front of the castle) try to go back a couple of times if possible. We went three times - mid-afternoon the day we got there, first thing the next morning and then the following evening. I'm so glad we did because the sun was really harsh in the first set of pictures and it shows in our expression. The morning pictures were great because there was hardly anyone in the background (EMH) and the evening pictures are perhaps my favorite because the lighting was the best. We really made a point of stopping any time we saw a photog around and found there was hardly ever more than one family ahead of us in line to have their picture taken. We got Carsland pics taken in the morning then once it was dark. One thing I loved about our pics is that so many of the character meets were outside so we got that great natural lighting. My one huge regret is that I messed up in not realizing how early Pixie Hollow ended their meet and we missed out. Still crying over that one, lol!

 

[sandysue]

I love this service. I love pictures but I don't like carrying my camera and my phone battery didn't last long enough in the parks to be reliable.

My children love California Screamin' and did the Single Rider over and over. They learned where the camera was and did silly poses each time. We never would have paid for those separately, but with PP+ they are "free".

And our ride photos on Splash Mountain with my brother's family and the cousins is now a family treasure. (Two pictures actually - one log with the girls and one with the boys.)

And of course you have to get the various shots in front of the castle. My daughters loved posing for the magic shots of them holding the balloons. And I have some precious shots of myself and DS12 when just the two of us got up for EMH while the rest of the family slept in.

My DD8 did her own photo shoot in Carsland by RSR. We were relaxing with dinner on the back porch at Flo's and waiting for the lights to come on. She took her card and went over to the photographer and got lots of good shots just of herself. It was a good example of independence.

Make sure each member of your party has a card so if you split up and a PP+ opportunity comes up, you can take advantage. And then you just add all the cards to your account when you're done.

Just make sure you take a picture of or write down the PP+ card number AS SOON AS YOU GET IT. We lost our first card the first day and it was very time-consuming to recover the pictures that we'd taken with it by sorting through the date and time of the spots we'd gone. If we'd had the card number, it would have been a lot easier.

Final tip. Note down the date/time/location of all your PP+ sessions, including ride photos and character meals. Taking a picture with your own camera can work as backup. And then don't wait until your last day to review your pictures to see if any are missing. If they are missing, with the date/time/location, you can find them by going to the Camera store (one in DL and one in DCA) and they will help you. But, as I said, this is very time consuming and must be done during park hours. So ... plan ahead.

 

[Pooh2]

We had a better experience with Photopass Plus at DL than WDW. It was our anniversary and we had a few photographers do extra photos for us. I would definitely pre-buy for a 3 day or more trip.