Is the Photo Pass worth cost/time at DL/DCA???

[kimawilson]

Hey ya'll I have yet another question for you to please help me with. we have our DL/DCA trip planned for November 5-10 and I am starting to buckle down on plans, and budget etc. I have a good friend who just went to DLR in May, got photo pass, and said it was a waste, and didnt even get any good shots...SO is it worth it, what are your experiences with it? I am a hobby photographer, and never in the pics from our vacations..so I am thinking I am really wanting this route...so I can be in some..Thanks so much!!!!

 

[HydroGuy]

You can use PhotoPass without buying anything in advance. We always do this. Then we buy the photos after if want.

 

[skiingfast]

Set you camera up, and ask the PP photographer to take some photos with your camera too. That way you will have copies if you don't like the PP shots.

 

[meljensmom]

Hey ya'll I have yet another question for you to please help me with. we have our DL/DCA trip planned for November 5-10 and I am starting to buckle down on plans, and budget etc. I have a good friend who just went to DLR in May, got photo pass, and said it was a waste, and didnt even get any good shots...SO is it worth it, what are your experiences with it? I am a hobby photographer, and never in the pics from our vacations..so I am thinking I am really wanting this route...so I can be in some..Thanks so much!!!!

I am also a hobby photographer (and scrapbooker so you know I want decent pics! LOL) and we used the photo pass...I was not disappointed with the pictures taken and I don't feel it was a waste of my money either. I was happy to be in the photos too. I will be happy to use the photo pass again when we go next summer. Oh, I also had them use my camera to take pictures too.

Hope this helps,

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Personally I'm a huge fan of the photopass. We were at DL/CA for 3 days and got about 150 shots. There were 4 that were out of focus. Almost every character has a photopass photographer with them. We looked for the castmember photo vest and each time we saw them we asked to get our picture taken. If you do a character meal you can buy the smallest photo package and then load all the pictures from your meal on the card. I love that when you get home you can add your own borders or autographs.

I'm not sure of the name but at the photo store at the end of Main Street you can buy a value pack CD which includes a gallery CD and a voucher to order your image CD. The cost is $59.99 which basically means you get the gallery CD for free.

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

If you are spending 5 days at DLR/DCA, I'd say perhaps you should order it. In 5 days, you have plenty of time to stop when you see photographers, without worrying you are losing valuable ride time. Be sure to ask each one if they have magic shots, as those are the really fun ones when you look back at them years later.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

There's no advantage to preordering in Disneyland, so take the photos, have them take photos with your camera too, once you are home you can decide if you want any prints or the CD.

 

[Flynn_Rider]

Just came back from Disneyland/DCA, I liked the photos taken by Photo Pass photographers, however they also took great photos with my IPhone. After I did realize that I rarely saw the PP Photographers outside the DL entrance and Castle and DCA Hollywood blvd and in front of ToT.
Because I didn't get many opportunities to take photos, I didn't feel it was worth my money.
I'm sure I could have gotten more had I stood on line to see Tink or the Princesses I would have had a couple more, but that wasnt worth the 90 mon wait.
I also felt they could have had more photographers at Minis breakfast, I would have bought more there.

 

[DisSarahK]

It is hit or miss in my opinion--but there is no obligation to buy before you actually see your pictures. Our first year the Pass was not worth the cost and we didn't buy it. Last year it definitely was worth the cost and the photographers had lots of great shots on there so we bought the whole cd.

Also, as others have mentioned, always have the Photo Pass photographers take pictures with your camera even if they also take a picture with their camera. They are happy to do it and this way you'll have a picture on your camera even if you don't buy the Photo Pass.

I just noticed your daughter's age--I'm not sure if you're planning on doing Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique, but the Photo Pass Photographer did a GREAT job inside the small confines of the Boutique. I only had the onboard flash for my DSLR and it was bouncing like crazy in there--made for some pretty bad pictures (in my opinion). The Photo Pass photographer more than made up for my bad pictures though!

 

[yenanh00]

you can join a photopass share on FB to cut down the cost.. the way I see it as if there 3 good pics out of hundred, i got my money worth.

 

[becpee]

Sounds like the photopass is pretty hit and miss.

We bought ours and were really unimpressed with nearly all the shots, some totally out of focus

But when we go back it might be great...who knows

 

[kailuagirl]

I think it depends on how often a photopass cm is around to take your photo. Sometimes they seem to be everywhere and sometimes I find them hard to find. If they aren't too busy I ask them to also take a pic with our camera. It's worth taking them and if you don't buy the whole cd you don't, you may only want 1 photo or you may want it all. You have control to do whatever you want with what you got Good luck on what you decide.

 

[miss.potatohead]

As other people have said, there is no price in purchasing the card - when you have your first photo the CM will give you the plastic credit card sized photopass which you then can give to the photographer before every photo they take which they then scan and put the images onto.

Either in the park or when you return home, you can put additional borders and cute cartoon images into the photos and save them as well as the original plain photos. It depends on some luck as to whether there are many photopass photographers around when you meet characters or are wondering the parks.

We ordered ours when we got back home (in Australia) and whilst we only had 60 odd photos, we thought it was worth the postage (which was approx $20) because there were some photos on there that we hadn't managed to capture on our own cameras (on which we took over 2500 photos!).

There's no cost in taking advantage of it and if when you return home and you don't like any of the photos, then there is no problem!

 

[Sherry E]

I think PhotoPass is definitely worthwhile for a few reasons.

Mainly I like the "magic shots" (Stitch popping up out of the ground, Tinkerbell in your hand, battling Captain Hook or Darth Vader, pointing up at Mickey & friends hang gliding overhead, etc.) - you will not be able to get those by having a PhotoPass photographer use your own camera to take pictures.

I also like going onto the PhotoPass website and applying all the different Disney borders. I like being able to turn a few photos into many photos - if you come away from your trip with, say, 150 pictures taken, you can turn that 150 into 500 or 1000 or more photos just by playing with the different borders and effects and saving each one as a copy. This may be a good idea if, say, you wanted to send each member in your group a different version of the same photo - you could apply different borders

Plus, I think PhotoPass is a great back-up in case something goes wrong with your own camera, memory card, battery, film, whatever. Since it is totally free to have the photos taken, and it is even free to share them (via e-mail) with friends and family from the PhotoPass site, it's a valuable tool to use as a safety net in case something happens to your camera or pictures.

You don't have to buy a single thing. You have 30 days from when the first photo is taken to create your online PhotoPass account and view your photos. After you create your PhotoPass account, you then have another 30 days to edit the photos, share them, and simply decide if you want to buy anything or not.

I always opt to by the CD rather than any other products. I usually find some sort of discount to apply to the CD, like $15 off (always check the PhotoPass site on Facebook, as sometimes they offer special promos for Facebook users and such). The shipping charge (for U.S. deliveries) is very cheap, like less than $3 last time I ordered. So I end up paying under $50 for hundreds or thousands of photos, which I think is a great deal.

The quality of the photos varies between photographers. I've had some really great, hilarious pictures taken - and sometimes that one amazing photo is worth ordering! Some of them have been beautifully cropped and well-lit. And I've also had some clunkers in the mix here and there, too - some shots that were a little blurry.

Some of the photographers are really great in having you do many silly poses so you will have a wide array of wacky pictures and magic shots. They may have you "look scared," or "pretend you are getting run over by a train," or "kick up your legs like the Rockettes," or "pretend you're sleeping," or "put your hands on your hips," or "do a Charlie's Angels pose," etc. Others will hurry you along. The PP photographers who are stationed with the characters tend to rush more because there is always a long line of people waiting for their own pictures. But sometimes you might find a random PP person standing by themselves in DCA or something, and they are bored so they will take extra time with you and get like 10 shots!

 

[kimawilson]

It is hit or miss in my opinion--but there is no obligation to buy before you actually see your pictures. Our first year the Pass was not worth the cost and we didn't buy it. Last year it definitely was worth the cost and the photographers had lots of great shots on there so we bought the whole cd.

Also, as others have mentioned, always have the Photo Pass photographers take pictures with your camera even if they also take a picture with their camera. They are happy to do it and this way you'll have a picture on your camera even if you don't buy the Photo Pass.

I just noticed your daughter's age--I'm not sure if you're planning on doing Bibbiti Bobbiti Boutique, but the Photo Pass Photographer did a GREAT job inside the small confines of the Boutique. I only had the onboard flash for my DSLR and it was bouncing like crazy in there--made for some pretty bad pictures (in my opinion). The Photo Pass photographer more than made up for my bad pictures though!

I am planning to do BBB with DD, and wasn't sure if I had to buy the biggest package for them to include pics..I am planning just for hair and make up, and nail polish if they have it..(CM on phone told me they have it sometimes, and dont in stock???) anyways..I know I will end up probably doing to "castle" package, the one with the dress etc and all..but I have a hard time justifing it because it costs more than her 4 day admission!!!!
But thats why I have been saving money..just wish DS could have something fun and special for him., I doubt he wants to do the "boy" package at BBB????
If you have any more info please help..thanks so much

 

[kimawilson]

I think PhotoPass is definitely worthwhile for a few reasons.

Mainly I like the "magic shots" (Stitch popping up out of the ground, Tinkerbell in your hand, battling Captain Hook or Darth Vader, pointing up at Mickey & friends hang gliding overhead, etc.) - you will not be able to get those by having a PhotoPass photographer use your own camera to take pictures.

I also like going onto the PhotoPass website and applying all the different Disney borders. I like being able to turn a few photos into many photos - if you come away from your trip with, say, 150 pictures taken, you can turn that 150 into 500 or 1000 or more photos just by playing with the different borders and effects and saving each one as a copy. This may be a good idea if, say, you wanted to send each member in your group a different version of the same photo - you could apply different borders

Plus, I think PhotoPass is a great back-up in case something goes wrong with your own camera, memory card, battery, film, whatever. Since it is totally free to have the photos taken, and it is even free to share them (via e-mail) with friends and family from the PhotoPass site, it's a valuable tool to use as a safety net in case something happens to your camera or pictures.

You don't have to buy a single thing. You have 30 days from when the first photo is taken to create your online PhotoPass account and view your photos. After you create your PhotoPass account, you then have another 30 days to edit the photos, share them, and simply decide if you want to buy anything or not.

I always opt to by the CD rather than any other products. I usually find some sort of discount to apply to the CD, like $15 off (always check the PhotoPass site on Facebook, as sometimes they offer special promos for Facebook users and such). The shipping charge (for U.S. deliveries) is very cheap, like less than $3 last time I ordered. So I end up paying under $50 for hundreds or thousands of photos, which I think is a great deal.

The quality of the photos varies between photographers. I've had some really great, hilarious pictures taken - and sometimes that one amazing photo is worth ordering! Some of them have been beautifully cropped and well-lit. And I've also had some clunkers in the mix here and there, too - some shots that were a little blurry.

Some of the photographers are really great in having you do many silly poses so you will have a wide array of wacky pictures and magic shots. They may have you "look scared," or "pretend you are getting run over by a train," or "kick up your legs like the Rockettes," or "pretend you're sleeping," or "put your hands on your hips," or "do a Charlie's Angels pose," etc. Others will hurry you along. The PP photographers who are stationed with the characters tend to rush more because there is always a long line of people waiting for their own pictures. But sometimes you might find a random PP person standing by themselves in DCA or something, and they are bored so they will take extra time with you and get like 10 shots!

Thank you for the help, I am going to use photo pass, and your reasons have been why I was really wanting to use it!!!!
If I buy the CD, and have it shipped? how much is it? 59.99? and I can look at the pics, and or edit~ before~ We buy????, or ????
Thanks, I just am super excited and can't wait!!!!!!!

 

[gabsandalex]

3 years ago, our family went to DL - including my then 88 year-old Grandmother. We had 4 generations of our family there and the photo pass pictures that captured all of us have become family treasures.

Aside from my own sentimental goo above, I appreciate the fact that I can actually be in a few of the pictures for a change. I also like the idea of having a back-up in case something were to happen to my own camera. And since there isn't an obligation to buy up front, I guess my thoughts are why not?

 

[TLPL]

I wish they have photographers at Grand Cal lobby. I would love to have them take pictures for us there.

 

[DisSarahK]

I am planning to do BBB with DD, and wasn't sure if I had to buy the biggest package for them to include pics..I am planning just for hair and make up, and nail polish if they have it..(CM on phone told me they have it sometimes, and dont in stock???) anyways..I know I will end up probably doing to "castle" package, the one with the dress etc and all..but I have a hard time justifing it because it costs more than her 4 day admission!!!!
But thats why I have been saving money..just wish DS could have something fun and special for him., I doubt he wants to do the "boy" package at BBB????
If you have any more info please help..thanks so much

Oh sure, I'm happy to help.

I did the least expensive package with my daughter--I think it was around $50, and all she had done was her hair in a Cinderella style and makeup done. She wore her Disney Cinderella dress from home and had a *wonderful* time! Loved it!

There were several Photopass photographers there taking pictures of the whole process. They're dressed up like "pages" so they're a part of ambiance and not wearing the typical Photopass uniform. We didn't get the fancy carriage background that you get when you pay for the fancy package, but we did get Photopass pictures that are quite good and then at home on Photopass I could add the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique border on the pictures wherever I wanted.

Here is one of the pictures they took--and I added the border via the website.

And here is a family picture (complete with my grumpy little guy) where I skipped the BBB border and went with Tink.

The Photopass pictures at BBB really made the Photopass totally worthwhile for me--they captured moments that I just couldn't get even though I have a very nice camera and am quite a decent photographer. The borders are fun, too.

We didn't do the boy package for our son--but he did ask for (and receive) a big sparkly jeweled ring. And my daughter's Fairy-Godmother-in-Training gave him a dash of fairy dust too. He loved that.

I hope this helps!

 

[mysteriouspnai]

What I'm worried about is purchasing the stock CD (the one with general pictures of Disneyland with the coupon for a free Photopass CD inside) at the park and then coming home, looking at the pictures, and finding out the pictures don't really look all that great. The last time I went to DLR, we looked at the pictures at home, and none of them were worth buying.