Is Memory Maker a MUST have?

[aacvacation]

In my opinion, it is a must have.

Yes, you can get other people to take photos with your phone/camera, heck, you can even get a photopass photographer to take one or two with your stuff...but you have to know: They are trained to take sellable pictures with their camera- they are infinitely better. They also take more, and tend to capture better moments on their cameras.

The price is only like ten dollars less if you buy it before your vacation. So if you are undecided, wait until you get to the parks and see if it is worth for you! (Just make sure you go to guest services to pick up your memory maker, because it won't automatically be linked to your magic band.)

A lot of people say you have to take a LOT of pictures for it to be worth it. But let's say (without buying memory maker) you decide you want to digitally download some pictures from your vacation off of the photopass website. It costs $14.95 per download. (And I believe ride photos are $16.95, though that might have changed.) So, with downloads at $15, you would get 10 photos for the cost of the Memory Maker.
So as long as you take more than 10 pictures....you are 'saving money.' (Trust me, you will come home with at LEAST 100.)

I know not everyone has the compulsion to buy their Disney photos, but the fact that you are even considering MM, means that it would be worth it for you.

Good luck with all of your planning!

 

[olwyngdh]

I Did Photopass and loved it. I did photopass+ and loved it even more. I think I am too much of a luddite to love memorymaker. I want the CD. My daughter had it for her Disney Wedding and Honeymoon, and we will get it for our next trip, but I thought it was more of a pain than PP+. That said, we will still get it for our next trip because I want everything on our Disney trips as easy and as pre-paid as possible.

 

[luvmy2babies]

For me it has proven to be worth it; but, there are several reasons for that. My camera wasn’t that great before. Phone was even worse. I have a nicer camera and a nicer phone this year, but I’m still getting it. I have found out on several outings since I got it that taking pictures with my phone all day will drain the battery faster.

I’m also the only adult on the trip. I generally want to at least be in the photo we take in front of each park’s landmark and at least one with Mickey, but some things you can miss trying to see them from behind there. They do get great pictures of my children with the characters I wouldn’t get. Last trip I was taking pictures of my daughter with Tiana and the Photopass person got a picture of my son jumping out of his stroller to get in on the meet and greet.

Sometimes they get a photo I’m too busy laughing to get like last summer when my son started dancing trying to impress a princess and my daughter put her face in her hand like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow him. They have tended to get photos of my son watching my daughter do things like meet a princess or getting her BBB makeover and I love having those to see how he is looking at her. But when these pictures were taken I was holding him and/or trying to get a picture of her. BBB (Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique) is another reason. Our upcoming trip will be my dd's 3rd (and probably final) visit there. I get every photo taken during the makeover and at the photo session done in Castle Couture after the makeover added to my account. I’ve seen some of the prices for the photo packages; so, when we are talking numbers, just that alone means it pays for itself. I have also booked Pirate's League for my son this year and I think you get a picture there. Not a bunch like with BBB, but some sort of package.

It’s $20 more this year for Memory Maker than it was last year for prepaid photopass; but, only once have I bought our Buzz Light Year ride photo; but now that will be included anytime we ride it and I won’t have to shell out $30 for our Tusker House photo since that will be included.

It’s become our main souvenir.

 

[dpswift]

Are all the ride photos included or just a couple of them? Also someone mentioned the charactor meals are they included as well? My kids are going by themselves and I would love some pictures however DD 19 is most likely the only one to wait in meet and greet lines.

I know they will all be riding the coasters, and they have 1900 Park Fair and Chef Mickeys booked.

 

[kpw77]

....And all I keep thinking is the photos I am not in. So I'm pretty much sold on buying the MM so that I can have group photos with me in them as well. Sure, it's extra, but to have the memories and not have to crop, oh I can't use that one...why not! Otherwise, I will just use my camera for the filler photos...those candid moments at breakfast, lunch and in and around the parks. But use the MM for all of our group photos.

Just my 2cents.

 

[JillShari]

I didn't get the memory maker.

I take a gazillion alone with my DSLR and I set it and then hand it to the disney photographers to use. Funny thing I learned is that while they have these get DSLRs.... most of them only know how to point and shoot and leave it on auto. So, if I set it well, it worked out... some had trouble with my set focus point. But, all in all.... I knew I wasn't going to have 10 or more photos that I wanted to buy, so we went with the ones I took and I don't regret it. I am in a lot of photos too!