I need Photo Pass Tips!

[janetanne]

I sort of understand the process.. and I think I want to buy our CD up front? and then get cards for each person in our party and have them combined somehow. Would it be beneficial to bring our laptop along so we can see our photos at the end of the day. Help! I want to amke the most of this experience. I went to the photopass website and it was not that helpful for me.

 

[ktlm]

I always buy the CD before the trip with the pre-trip discount (which now is only offered to resort guests). By the time I've done all the edits, cropping different ways and adding different borders, we end up with hundreds of pictures. I've heard that if you don't like the pictures you can get a refund, but that has never happened to us. The one thing you need to know is that if you access your photos while you are there, it starts the 30 days running. I like to wait until we get home because it takes me forever to edit all the photos for the CD. The photopass website is slow and it glitches a lot. The way we combat the fear that any certain set of pictures won't be as we hoped, is if there is a location that we really want to be sure we have great pictures- like the castle- we usually take more than one set at different times or angles with different photographers. We might get some closer to the castle, and some further away. We might get a set in the morning, and then in the afternoon or evening. It can make a big difference in the pictures as to whether the sun is in your eyes!

If your party splits up, you can each get a photopass card. Then you can input all the card numbers online into your photopass account. That way all the pictures can be put on the one CD you bought. Take a picture of the number on the back of all the photopass cards you use with a digital camera. That way if you lose the cards, you can still access the photos. It is best to do this as soon as possible after you get the card.

The best way to maximize your CD, is to be sure and stop and take pictures when you see photopass photographers. Keep your eyes open for them in places other than the main 4 (castle, ball, tree, hat). If you have someone who plans to do meet and greets with a lot of characters (like my DD), it doesn't take long to get a ton of great pictures for the CD. Not all of the characters have photographers with them, but a lot do. I hope this helps!

 

[ktlm]

I should also have mentioned what probably is the biggest mistake people make when they get back and edit their photos. You must save a copy in the size you want to print. For example, if you add a border and save it as a 5X7, then if you try to print it as a 4X6 once you have the CD, it will cut parts of the border off. I always save each photo in 5X7 and 4x6 format, for each version of the photo I want. Each time you edit or want to save multiple sizes, you have to go back to the original version of the photo that has a button that says "Save as copy" and edit from there. Otherwise, you are just saving over your 1st edited version and you won't have both.

 

[janetanne]

Does the CD allow you to download and store all of your pictures? Even after you edit them? Or do you have to order what you edit from photopass?
And if 2 families want their own CD do they need to be purchased for the $100 or so price? Or maybe you don't download on to the cd the originals..
this is what is confusing to me. thx

 

[gacompguy]

Does the CD allow you to download and store all of your pictures? Even after you edit them? Or do you have to order what you edit from photopass?
And if 2 families want their own CD do they need to be purchased for the $100 or so price? Or maybe you don't download on to the cd the originals..
this is what is confusing to me. thx

The PhotoPass CD will have all of the original pictures taken and any edits you make. So, if you make six copies that have borders, cropping, etc., your CD will include the original with each of the six copies.

When we stayed at CBR in December, I was able to look at our pictures on the PhotoPass web site without having to pay the $9.95 for Internet service for 24 hours. The splash page that came up had a link to the PP web site and said access would be free. I'm sure Disney won't continue that forever.

 

[ktlm]

All the pictures associated with your photopass card numbers (taken by the Disney photographers around the parks) go into your "account" on the photopass website when you input the card numbers. Once you pre-order the CD, you get a code that you will input when you actually are ready to "order" the CD and get it mailed to you. You don't "Order" the CD until you have made all of your edits. You go onto the website and make all your edits- add borders, crops, etc. They have lots of special borders you can add- things like character signatures, park borders, holiday borders etc. You can save multiple copies of pictures with different crops and borders. Everything taken by photopass(including all of your edited versions) will go onto your photopass CD (you can upload pictures from your own camera onto the photopass website to make photobooks or get prints etc, but they can not be put on the photopass CD). The CD is mailed to you. It will contain everything the way you editied it on your photopass site. You won't be able to change out borders etc. once they are on CD. You can use whatever photo editing software you have on your computer, but it will cut off parts of borders, edges, etc., so you really want to get the pictures the size and way you want them on the Disney website before you order the CD. When you receive the CD in the mail, you can download everything onto your computer. What we did when we went with the inlaws, was I bought the CD, downloaded it onto our computer, and then burned a copy and mailed it to the inlaws so they would have all the pictures too. Does that answer your questions?

 

[jennJK]

great info, thanks! now i just need to convince dh we need it...

 

[kbheap]

Another tip is to ask photographers if they take "magic shots". These are the shots where they put characters and other things they put in the shots with you. Ask everywhere. They will do your regular shots and then the magic shots. We got home and had several stitch shots but they were all in different parks. I will give a word of advice. When we got home, two of our magic were not in the shots. I sent a message to photopass telling them the date and photopass number and they added the magic that same day.

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

Any time you get a new PhotoPass card, photograph ithe back of it close up with your own digital camera. You want to have a record of the number of each card in case one/more than one get lost. Take it from me. I didn't do it and spent 2 hours with a very patient PhotoPass guy trying to recreate where and at what time our pics were taken to find them on the computer.
Afterwards we took a digital pic of the card and any new ones we picked up (like when we weren't together).

 

[dmartin69]

Great tip on taking a pic of the cards.... I can see that would be a pain to go thru trying to recover your photos. Another Idea would be emailing them to yourself if you have a smart phone. But great tip...

 

[ktlm]

Any time you get a new PhotoPass card, photograph ithe back of it close up with your own digital camera. You want to have a record of the number of each card in case one/more than one get lost. Take it from me. I didn't do it and spent 2 hours with a very patient PhotoPass guy trying to recreate where and at what time our pics were taken to find them on the computer.
Afterwards we took a digital pic of the card and any new ones we picked up (like when we weren't together).

Actually they have a new thing that probably would have saved you a lot of trouble. When we pre-ordered the photopass CD for our December trip we were given the option to have a personalized (you can put a photo of yourselves- or whatever you want) photopass card sent to us before the trip. Because we pre-ordered the CD we got it for free, but they also sell them for $4.99. They attach the personalized card directly to your account on photopass. Then when pictures get taken in the park they go directly into your account without you having to input the card number. Even though the photos go into the account, your 30 days does not start running until the 1st time you log in to view the pictures. It was great! I got back from the trip, logged in and all of our pictures were already there (except for the ones from CRT and Akershus that I had to add those numbers). We got lots of comments from the photographers on our card- several told us it was the 1st one they had seen. It is also great, because you don't have to worry about them handing you back the wrong photopass card- as you know immediately if the one you have isn't yours.

 

[momof2blondes]

I like the information that has been posted here, but I am just hearing about photo pass now and don't really understand how it all works.
I agree that the website doesn't really explain a lot.
So correct me if I am wrong, is this how it works:
Before your trip you purchase a photopass card (at what cost?)
Then you stop at the different photopass spots and have your photo taken.
When you get home you use the card number to access your photos and edit them within the disney photopass website.
I liked the idea of the photo book, so I can upload my own photos if I want that item
Then I can order the CD at a price and the book at a seperate price.
Once I have the CD I can then print off or burn as many photos as want.
Is this right?
And there seems to be three different CDs to choose from at different prices and the book at a cost of $50.00.
What other costs am I looking at? From the above posts it seems like there is a cost before you even leave for the trip for the photo card.
Sorry if this is long, just trying to understand.

 

[kbheap]

I like the information that has been posted here, but I am just hearing about photo pass now and don't really understand how it all works.
I agree that the website doesn't really explain a lot.
So correct me if I am wrong, is this how it works:
Before your trip you purchase a photopass card (at what cost?)
Then you stop at the different photopass spots and have your photo taken.
When you get home you use the card number to access your photos and edit them within the disney photopass website.
I liked the idea of the photo book, so I can upload my own photos if I want that item
Then I can order the CD at a price and the book at a seperate price.
Once I have the CD I can then print off or burn as many photos as want.
Is this right?
And there seems to be three different CDs to choose from at different prices and the book at a cost of $50.00.
What other costs am I looking at? From the above posts it seems like there is a cost before you even leave for the trip for the photo card.
Sorry if this is long, just trying to understand.

I am going to try to help out a little. Anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Before your trip you purchase a photopass card (at what cost?)No. You don't purchase the photopass card before your trip. Once there, the photographers will give you a card that they have scanned with your photos on them. Give this card to the next photographer and they will repeat.
Then you stop at the different photopass spots and have your photo taken.
Yes. Stop at many, ask about different poses, stop at different times in same spot.
When you get home you use the card number to access your photos and edit them within the disney photopass website.yes
liked the idea of the photo book, so I can upload my own photos if I want that itemyes
Then I can order the CD at a price and the book at a seperate price.yes. the cd is currently on sale for one or it can be bundled with the photo book at a different pricing point. If you get a prepurchase code before you leave for your trip, you purchase the cd before your trip at a $50 discount. They will email you a code and you use that when checking out on their website after your trip
Once I have the CD I can then print off or burn as many photos as want.
Is this right?yes. you now have copyright to them and can print any photos at any time or copy the discs.
And there seems to be three different CDs to choose from at different prices and the book at a cost of $50.00.
What other costs am I looking at? From the above posts it seems like there is a cost before you even leave for the trip for the photo card.I don't know the answer but I don't think there are any additional fees. At least not when we did it last trip. If you want the new photopass card with your picture on it, it is $4.99. This, however, is definitely not necessary.

 

[momof2blondes]

Thanks for answering all of my questions. It may not be as expensive as I thought, and I might be able to use some of the photos for Christmas presents next year, sure beats Walmart photo studios, grandparents are always wanting photos of the kids.

 

[ktlm]

I am going to try to help out a little. Anyone feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Before your trip you purchase a photopass card (at what cost?)No. You don't purchase the photopass card before your trip. Once there, the photographers will give you a card that they have scanned with your photos on them. Give this card to the next photographer and they will repeat.
Then you stop at the different photopass spots and have your photo taken.
Yes. Stop at many, ask about different poses, stop at different times in same spot.
.[/COLOR]

Just thought I would add something. You don't have to purchase the CD with all the pictures, although for us, it is always the best deal. You can buy pictures individually instead. HOWEVER, each picture is approximately $15.00. That adds up fast. If your kids like to take pictures with characters, you can wind up with a ton of photopass photos. To put it in perspective, we spent a week at WDW in December and we had approximately 200 photopass pictures when we got back. After doing different versions of borders and crops, we wound up with about 1000 on the CD. With the raised price, the pre-purchase CD is $109 (used to be $99). If you don't prepurchase I think it is $149 now. At around $15 dollars each, the prepurchase CD price is equal to buying 6-7 pictures. With all the great pictures we got, it would have been very hard for me to order less than that in individual photos.

 

[momof2blondes]

Unfortunately we are not staying onsite so we don't qualify for the prepurchase price and we live in Canada so I am not sure if we will have to pay extra for delivery. But this is our first real Family trip and a first to Disney for my boys, so I want pictures. (I went when I was 5, so its pretty much a first for me too) I think it will definitely be worth the cost, and I am hoping I can get away with just using my iPhone camera instead of lugging yet another camera around with me.
And then I can make scrapbooks for my in-laws that are coming with us; but not joining us in the parks, for a keepsake.
I just hope the rest of the family co-operates with having their pictures taken ALOT!

 

[ednamag]

Unfortunately we are not staying onsite so we don't qualify for the prepurchase price and we live in Canada so I am not sure if we will have to pay extra for delivery. But this is our first real Family trip and a first to Disney for my boys, so I want pictures. (I went when I was 5, so its pretty much a first for me too) I think it will definitely be worth the cost, and I am hoping I can get away with just using my iPhone camera instead of lugging yet another camera around with me.
And then I can make scrapbooks for my in-laws that are coming with us; but not joining us in the parks, for a keepsake.
I just hope the rest of the family co-operates with having their pictures taken ALOT!

I can't promise you this will work for you, but it worked for me....we're staying offsite, but I registered our trip dates with the main disney world website...
somewhere in the planning section, you can create an account and register your itinerary (really just the dates you'll be there). I did this about 2 months prior to our trip and at the 45 day mark (others who have done this said they got their email at the 45 day mark also), I received an email from Disney Destinations. At the bottom of that email was a link to photopass so I could pre-purchase my CD for $99. I also got the personalized card for free

And I so completely agree with telling EVERYONE in your party to take a pic of the card number as soon as you get it. We always end up with many cards...forget the card one day....person holding it is in the restroom....and it's easy to lose those cards too.

I definitely recommend using photopass and for $50 less, it's worth trying to get the email!

 

[momof2blondes]

Thanks for the tip, I am going to swing over to Disneys site and do that right now. I have three months, so I'll keep my fingers crossed that I get that discount.
where are you staying offsite? Family had some timeshare at Vistana Resort that they gave us. I really wanted to stay on property, but you can't beat free.

 

[TxRabbit]

Just want to add that you can scan your photopass card at Test Track to have that ride photo added to the card. Last I knew, this was the only one you could do that with though...

Someone else mentioned "magic" pictures. I think there is a way to find typical photopass locations on their website and they have the different types of pictures that could be taken at each location. We did the big bunch of balloons in front of the castle. DH, DS and I all pretended to be being dragged off and away while holding the balloons. One of my favs.

You can hold Tink. You can fight Cap'n Hook. You can see Stitch coming out of the ground. Can't remember them all. But if you think about your pics a bit, you can have fun with them.

Also, the character meet n greet stations will often have a photopass photographer. And often the photographer will take candid shots of you while you are socializing with the characters. One of my fav sets is DS playing ape with King Louie in AK. I was so excited to see all the photos that the photographer took. And I got to just enjoy the whole thing and not try to document it all.

 

[momof2blondes]

Just want to add that you can scan your photopass card at Test Track to have that ride photo added to the card. Last I knew, this was the only one you could do that with though...

Someone else mentioned "magic" pictures. I think there is a way to find typical photopass locations on their website and they have the different types of pictures that could be taken at each location. We did the big bunch of balloons in front of the castle. DH, DS and I all pretended to be being dragged off and away while holding the balloons. One of my favs.

You can hold Tink. You can fight Cap'n Hook. You can see Stitch coming out of the ground. Can't remember them all. But if you think about your pics a bit, you can have fun with them.

Also, the character meet n greet stations will often have a photopass photographer. And often the photographer will take candid shots of you while you are socializing with the characters. One of my fav sets is DS playing ape with King Louie in AK. I was so excited to see all the photos that the photographer took. And I got to just enjoy the whole thing and not try to document it all.

Sounds like you had a great time, I will see if I can find the different "magic" options, cause they are so "DISNEY" that they'd be great to have as keepsakes and soveniers of our trip. I have to justify the price somehow.