Is Memory Maker a MUST have?

[MommySue]

Is Memory Maker a must have or is bringing our camera for a zillion pictures just as good? Thank you

 

[rachael95]

Do you want to have a lot of pictures with one of you missing or would you rather have a lot of photos where all of you are in the same picture in addition to the pictures you take?

That was the question I asked myself when I was debating. I decided it's worth it to have all of us be in the same photo and not rely on strangers to take a picture with our camera that would be non-fuzzy/crooked. Can't tell you how many photos I've had strangers take for me where one of us has a head cut off or it looks like we're standing on a hill. People like my DMIL are incapable of taking a photo that does not include their thumb or somehow making it fuzzy even with all the stabilizing technology.

 

[Dasha Hermosilla]

If it's your first time or have not been in a while or bringing along first time then I would say it's a must have (obviously if it fits your budget). Our mm pictures with characters are great! The special touches they add are unique and then the ride photos are a wonderful bonus (and often hilarious). If you go six times a year... Maybe not, but less frequent guests will likely get a lot out of it.

 

[flipflops]

I think if you are going with a big group it is so worth it...especially if you like to buy the pics from rides. I've been to Disney and done it both ways but I prefer to use the memory maker. It's nice to have the one that normally takes the pictures to actually be in the pictures too. And I still take tons of pics with my camera!

 

[Happyjen27]

The only thing that made me decide to not get Memory Maker is my tendency to "get my money's worth".

I didn't want to miss out on rides and experiences to ensure I took enough photos to make Magic Maker worth the money. Not everyone will change their touring style or vacation habits to make sure they get their money's worth out of something, that was just my issue.

We found many people, Memory Maker photographers and regular CM and fellow vacationers who were willing to take a picture of us as a family.

 

[Karenj2]

I like it, even though it's not a great value unless you get LOTS of pictures, especially now that I've got a 4yo and twin 1 year olds - I don't have the hands free to take pictures!! Plus, they tend to get some AWESOME shots that I'm just not capable of (and some not so great ones, but nobody's perfect.)

 

[SandyinMonterey]

We used the Memory Maker on our last trip, Easter Break. I went back and forth about it but I'm glad we got it. I'm the person in the family that takes all the pictures and I'm hardly ever in any. There are so many opportunites to have the Disney Photographers to take your picture and it's so easy with the Magic Band. I still had my camera but the ones with ME and my family are the ones I like best.

 

[MandiC]

I'm very glad we got it and will DEFINITELY insist on it on future trips. We also brought our camera, which you will definitely want to do but we got so many nice family pictures and nice pictures of dh and I. It really only takes a minute to have them take your picture and scan your band. We got all the pictures from our Enchanted Tales with Belle and lots of great shots throughout the World Showcase and the lady by Expedition Everest even had props and another guy in Animal Kingdom did cute shots with our daughters with Tinkerbelle/Simba. Totally worth it for us. The kids took a picture of dh and I our first day in DTD and comparing that to the shots that the photographers took, no comparison To me, pictures are memories

 

[myrheille]

It's worth it (like, really worth it) if you plan on meeting a lot of characters, especially if you're going with kids. There aren't that many PhotoPass spots in the parks themselves (a couple, of course) and not that many attractions offer the pictures either, so it's really a character thing. Adults won't mind as much standing in place for a little bit longer while everyone takes pictures for their camera..

 

[rachael95]

One other thing, I don't think of it as being terribly expensive. You get the rights to your pictures and can print them as often as you want. My DS gets pictures at daycare twice a year. At that age, you want to get both sets since they change so much. The cost to get the rights to the digital copy of his pictures is $150. That's for three shots. You get some prints with that of course, but the important thing is the rights to the photos so you can reprint them on mugs, calendars, etc. considering how many shots you can get at Disney for only a little more, I'd say it's more than worth it.

 

[bshawcrew]

I didn't get it this trip but did have them take some photos with our camera when allowed. And will buy a family pic in front of the castle, our annual tradition. This trip, I'm glad I didn't as the photographers did a horrible job in half the pics. There were 5 in front of the castle at night that looked like we were standing in a dark parking lot. Couldn't even see the castle bc of whatever settings she used. In others our 3 year old was looking behind us with his head to the camera after we specifically asked if we were all looking at the camera. Off center photos. Lost photos. And then there are some really good ones. Luck of the draw I guess but glad I didn't pay the 150

 

[robinb]

No, not for our family. We have never ordered a Memory Maker or Photopass CD. We simply hand our camera/phone to the CM and they take a photo with the characters for us. We have paid for the occasional photo taken by Photopass photographers but that is usually when we are with a group.

 

[CaliDisneylandMom]

Just got back and didn't buy it- was wondering that too before I left. All I can say is, I took over 150 pics on my iPhone and captured things no photo pass person could. While at parks I rarely saw them if ever. You can always have someone take a shot of your family in front of the castle anyway. Use your best judgement but for us it was not missed.

 

[Kristina4109]

We bought it for our upcoming trip so I'll have to let you know when the trip is over how I felt. But basically, my husband is NEVER in any pictures. And the poor thing doesn't get to experience watching my daughter meet her favorite characters because he always is the one with the camera. I wanted him to be able to enjoy watching her and NOT worrying about getting a perfect shot.

Plus, I want lots of photos to choose from of our whole family for the Christmas cards!

 

[PartOfYourWDWorld]

For us, it is. I understand that the photogs will take pics with your own camera, but we have tried twice to take my DSLR and HATED IT. It's just too bulky (and expensive) to lug around all day everyday. The first time I took it the kit lens broke and the second trip I took it I only brought it to the parks for one half day. It's just not my thing. To me, iPhone photos paired with Photopass (now memory maker) pics, is this perfect mix.

 

[Lavitz]

Do you want to have a lot of pictures with one of you missing or would you rather have a lot of photos where all of you are in the same picture in addition to the pictures you take?

That was the question I asked myself when I was debating. I decided it's worth it to have all of us be in the same photo and not rely on strangers to take a picture with our camera that would be non-fuzzy/crooked. Can't tell you how many photos I've had strangers take for me where one of us has a head cut off or it looks like we're standing on a hill. People like my DMIL are incapable of taking a photo that does not include their thumb or somehow making it fuzzy even with all the stabilizing technology.

The whole "do you want someone always to be missing" is something I never understood. If you take the picture yourself you are missing from the picture, that makes sense. But for any picture you could take advantage of Memory Maker with, you have someone to take the picture for you, a Disney photographer, so you're always in the picture.

I don't think that made sense, so I'll try again.

Situation 1 - I don't have Memory Maker and want to take a photo in a random location. No Disney Photographer, I have to miss being in the picture and take it myself. Having Memory Maker wouldn't have helped.

Situation 2 - I don't have Memory Maker and want to take a photo in a place with a Disney Photographer. I let them take my picture and attach it to my magic band. Then I hand them my camera and they take a picture with it. I'm still in the picture. Having Memory Maker would only allow me to have multiple pictures at this location, and this is where the value of Memory Maker is in.

My second last trip I got "Memory Maker", or whatever it was called then. Yes I got a few extra pictures at each location (one really nice one in AK with DD holding Tinkerbell in her hand) but really nothing else. I still had the Disney Photographer take pictures with my camera even though I had Memory Maker, as I heard sometimes they lose your photos. It wasn't worth it for us in the end, and we didn't get it on our last visit.

If Disney didn't allow their photographers to take pictures with your camera I would say Memory Maker would be on the borderline of "must have" depending on the family, it could go either way. The way it is now, nah.

 

[pixiesprite]

We had photopass+ on our trip last year (same as mm I believe) and it was well worth it I'm in the photos!!!!!! I'm usually the family photographer but photos aside what made it worth its weight in gold to us was the 7 ride photos we have from expedition Everest showing the progress of dd's obsession with the ride over the course of 2 days! First photo... Eyes closed & hands pressed over her ears to down out my crazy screaming then once the big drop was done she was hooked and kept dragging us back on. The ride photos show the most wonderful evolution... Eyes open, then one hand half up, then fully up and by the 7th photo we have 2 hands high in the air, we're in the front row and she's screaming as loud as she can! Wonderful and they are photos we wouldnt have bought one by one without photo pass+ so if you do the rides with pics it is a lot of fun to get all those photos!

 

[PennockFive]

My friend had gotten the photo package and when she got her DVD it also had a bunch of "stock" photos on it. A really cool pic of the tree of life, fireworks pictures. I am planning on creating a scrapbook of our trip, so I'm so excited wee will have memory maker!!!

 

[henry72]

I don't think of it as a MUST. We got photopass CD last time - right before the price raise and introduction of PP+. At that time I thought it was well worth it as we got a photobook included in the price.

I did decide to get MM this time. We are going during SWW. We will have JTA, SW meals, BBB, PL, CRT and a few character meet & greets. My DD is finally big enough to ride some of the coasters so there will be ride photos too. Add that to the magic shots and I figured it would be worth it for our week there. I guess only time will tell if that is true.

 

[CaliDisneylandMom]

You brought up a good point- my kids are too old to want to meet the characters so that is something to consider if you have little ones.