Is Memory maker worth it? also photo pass question

[disneydude365]

ok i know disney charges too much for their photos and I'm bringing along my Camera, but i always liked that photos at least gave you the option of always having a good photo. is memory maker worth 150$ when you're bringing you're on camera? I've heard the photographers take better ones for the the memory maker and photo pass. i don't think that could be true

also everyones band is linked to photo pass automatically and you get your ride photos? and just anytime you use your camera have them scan your band and they will take some for photopass?

i want to try memory maker but its very expensive if you don't normally purchase pictures from disney.

any tips, comments, stories, or advice is welcome and thanks!

 

[marauder]

Whether it is worth it or not is up to you. This trip we went with an extended family. A total of 13 people including people staying at 3 different resorts including one non-Disney resort. We were able to get all the pictures from everyone on one account. It includes ride pictures, pictures at character meals, character pictures, in-park pictures. It is nice having all people in pictures at key spots in the resort.

If you are a person that buys ride pictures it is definitely worth it. Those can add up quickly.

It was worth it for our large party, everyone that stayed on property and that was linked to us via "friends and family"'s pictures showed up under our account. Only one person in the entire group has to purchase it. There is some issues related to the fact that everyone linked in has to give you permission to view their pictures.

Since we are a large group it was worth it to use, not sure it would have been worth it just as an individual family, but it was nice not to have to worry about taking pictures all the time during the stay. We accumulated over 300 pictures as a group.

Some of the photographers aren't the best. A couple of photographers cut my son out of the picture. They seemed to think it was more important to keep say the entire sphere at Epcot in the picture instead of all of the people in the picture. Others did a better job.

Yes everyone in your party if you are properly linked can use their Magic Bands at each photographer, if you have a group without Magic bands you can link them in via either their park ticket or through a PhotoPass card issued from the photographers.

 

[Kathryn777]

I was so happy we had it. We had a group of 7 and 95% of the pictures had everyone smiling and looking. I think the biggest difference is they take like 5 in a session with MM and only 1 with your own camera.

 

[marklodi]

Also with the new RF enhancements on many rides, you don't have to even look for your picture at the end of the attraction. When they are all done (by end of 2015, according to their last announcement, I believe), you simply have to be wearing your Magic Bands and the attraction will "know" it is you and your group, and the on ride pictures (and some even have videos) will be sent right to your Memory Maker account. Nice...

AND The Disney Parks official Blog just announced Animated Magic Shots!

"...Guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort can now have some Disney animation added to their memories and it is all part of Memory Maker! When visiting one of the locations listed below, simply ask a Disney PhotoPass Photographer for an Animated Magic Shot.

- Epcot, behind Spaceship Earth
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Boulevard
- Epcot, at Norway Pavilion
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom, bridge near Expedition Everest

"When you visit MyDisneyPhotoPass.com you’ll be surprised to find that we have applied animation to your photo featuring a Disney character.

"As part of your Memory Maker entitlement you’ll be able to download the video file of your Animated Magic Shot to post online and share with friends.

"Also, be on the lookout for special Animated Magic Shots coming this holiday season to Magic Kingdom Park and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party nights..."

Nice!

 

[msmama]

I like it because it's just my son and I so if I want to be in pictures, I'll pay for it, lol (actually, I did it in Disneyland last year and I could've used some without me)!!

We don't usually ride most of the rides that have photos but I like that I could have them (and kind of hope they will add more). I also like that I get them at certain Character meals.

For me, it's a load of my mind. I don't HAVE to carry my good camera every day (I always have my phone though) because I can get some via Disney photogs.

 

[Heckah]

Totally worth it. They took a bunch of pictures at M&G's that were candid and basically of the girls in awe of the character in front of them. Photo's I never would have thought to take.

 

[labdogs42]

I loved it. One of the better things about magic Bands! Love all the new magic shots and ride photos, too!

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Of all the money we spent on our last trip, I felt MM provided the best value.

 

[MagicalMomma1971]

ok i know disney charges too much for their photos and I'm bringing along my Camera, but i always liked that photos at least gave you the option of always having a good photo. is memory maker worth 150$ when you're bringing you're on camera? I've heard the photographers take better ones for the the memory maker and photo pass. i don't think that could be true

also everyones band is linked to photo pass automatically and you get your ride photos? and just anytime you use your camera have them scan your band and they will take some for photopass?

i want to try memory maker but its very expensive if you don't normally purchase pictures from disney.

any tips, comments, stories, or advice is welcome and thanks!

Oh my gosh, yes, Memory Maker is worth it! Best $150 I spend each year Last trip we had about 200 pictures and they have a ton of new "Magic Shots." We had them from every park last trip, here are some:

Magic Kingdom
Tinkerbell on Main Street
Balloons on Main Street
Sebastian by Little Mermaid Ride
Lumiere by Beast's Castle
Olaf in front of the Castle

Hollywood Studios
Stitch on Main Street
Stitch in front of Tower of Terror
Balloons near Sorcerer's Hat

Animal Kingdom
Stitch near Expedition Everest
Butterflies near Expediton Everest
Baby Simba in front of Tree of Life

Epcot
Balloons in World Showcase
Lumiere in France
Stitch in front of Spaceship Earth

Plus, we got all the ride photos, which if purchased separately are about $15 each.

Memory Maker is totally worth it for us!

 

[got2sammies]

On the Disneyparksblog today they also announced animated magic shots that will shop up on MM.. They look super cute! I first used the photopass package last year at DL.. granted it was cheaper than DL BUT We normally purchased about $50 worth of pics anyway but that was for 3 pictures! This year 6 of us are going (two families) and we are splitting the cost and SOOOO totally worth it! We are not doing any character dinning BUT I want ride photos of all of us..and Magic Shots...

 

[hunter1722]

We bought it last Oct for a crowd level 5 trip. It was fun to have all the photos. However, we are going Christmas week this year and I am thinking that it would be a waste of money since all lines are long, we can't ride that much and 100,000 people will be in all of our photos. Anyone else had success with this on very crowded trips over Christmas/New Years?

 

[kangaand2roos]

I'll let you know! I just pre purchased if for our Christmas week trip!

 

[DisMom1981]

Yes! Did our first "share" this summer to test it out.....cannot imagine going and not having it now. We had so much fun finding photogs and taking pictures. They really added a new level to the trip and the memories after it was over. Look into the shares!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[zilp]

AND The Disney Parks official Blog just announced Animated Magic Shots!

That's great to know, thanks!

 

[Networth]

Find it worth while. Don't enjoy carrying the a DSRL so we use the our 6's and have photpass plus ride photos and videos as supplements.

I imagine you would find even more value if you did M&G's and had more people in your travel party as well.

 

[dizzyinwdw]

We just did the MM and split the cost with another family on our trip in April 2014. It was definitely worth the cost for us--we had over 900+ pictures! Plus the kids (4) did Jedi Training so we had all those pictures, which were awesome. In prior years I have bought individual ride pictures (2 or 3 days short trip) or the photopass CD (5+ days trip/ I think it was $99 dollars in the past?). Usually I spent around $75 a la carte if I did't buy the photopass CD, but that was for ~5-6 pictures...if you want more than that the MM is a much better deal!

We are going at Christmas 2014 and I am thinking of only buying the $39 MM for the MVMCP party, which I hear will be active the whole day so we would get the photos from MK and MVMCP. Since we will have only 2 park days plus MVMCP this is a better deal for us vs $149.

 

[Broncobilly83]

I figure it is a gamble either way. You either get it early for $149, and you A) have enough good pictures to make it a value, or B) do not have enough good pictures, so it cost you more than individuals would have. But if you wait until after the trip @ $199, the same 2 options would A) be less of a value due to the higher cost or B) you have the option of the individuals, but that is also costly at $15-$20 per picture.

That being said, we added it Saturday for our trip and 2 MVMCPs that start Weds.

 

[HizMinnie2015]

How much "worth" Memory Maker has, IMO, depends on the person who purchases and uses it in the parks. If you aren't one to really like a lot of pictures and don't really stop for photos then no, spending all the money isn't worth it.

But if you are like me, I want a ton of pictures to remember something that is special for me. I am a photo taking fool. I am already making notes so that I can squeeze in as many Disney photographers as possible. I want lots and lots to choose from after the trip is done.

Plus, you can download all the originals and then decorate them with stickers and whatnot and download again! Totally worth it for me, since our upcoming trip won't be a yearly thing.

 

[disneydude365]

will there be a photo pass photographer at pirate and palls firework voyage?
also we will only have 1 park day and our group will be split up

MK for me and my friend
HS for mother and step dad

I'm bringing my nikon D3200 (which i use for shows and parades since i have a great motion/long range zoom)
and my iPhone 5 for quick spur of the second pics

is it worth 150$ for 1 day of park and if they will be available for firework voyage?

this is a special trip and I've poured a lot of money into it already and honey pot is running dry, but i know id like good memory pics too

if it is worth it I've gotta find a way to save enough money in the time frame of 1 month since the trip is in 36 days!!!

any info please share!!

 

[txnana]

Totally worth it. They took a bunch of pictures at M&G's that were candid and basically of the girls in awe of the character in front of them. Photo's I never would have thought to take.

This, to me, is the most important aspect of MM and previously of PP. We have always purchased it and so many times when I was in line waiting, I would see some parent trying to explain their camera to the PP photographer while the photographer is missing shooting all those candid moments of children running into Mickey's arms or kissing Goofy on the nose!!