Memory Maker Trying to figure out if it's worth it

[krn1116]

Hello All!!

I will be visiting DisneyWorld in 12 days. I am going with my family, my best friend, and her family. We were interested in the Memory Maker, but before i made the purchase I wanted to make sure that it was worth it. I was hoping that someone would be able to answer a couple questions for me.

1)Previously with the photo pass, after purchase, whoever bought the photo pass owned the rights to the pictures and could get them printed with the release form. Is this the case for Memory Maker pictures where I would be able to send my pictures into Walmart, snapfish, or another photo printing site?
2)If I have purchased the memory maker for my best friend and I to share, my best friend and I split up, are we both able to still have pictures uploaded to our memory maker account even though we are separate? Or is it a situation of only my card will work to upload the pictures?

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

[concertkatie]

1. yes.
2. As long as you are linked in MDE as friends and family with the share photos options on they will link

 

[mslhb]

Yes especially for a trip that long I think it would be worth it. I always end up taking more photopass photos then I think I will and usually a fair # of them turn out really well. As far as I know photopass photos taken off of the MB's for everyone linked to the account will all go to one place. Which is really nice. When you go to download the photos you get them all and at that point can save onto a CD, e-mail, shutterfly or however else you want to share them.

 

[LegoMom3]

I just found this thread via search, due to a similar question. And I just want to confirm that yes, the downloaded pics CAN be printed? (either at home or via a site like shutterfly, etc.). I wasn't sure if there would be some watermark or other way that Disney would keep you from making actual prints. If I can print them, then I think it would be worth for me (I'm a scrap booker!!).

.

 

[Mnrlred]

Disney gives you a limited release you can print off which allows you to make prints and such for your personal use.

 

[Brian Noble]

...and there is no watermark.

 

[andeesings]

I bought the memory maker. Then I bought a CD of all the images so I could print them at my leisure. I FOOLISHLY didn't look at the CD immediately-- NONE of our photos from the Halloween party were on the disc, and of course they were the most interesting & fun photos. I am FURIOUS that after nearly $200 spent all the photos aren't even ON THE DISC.

Total disaster-- I don't care HOW many photos you take- the amount of $$ they want for that stupid memory maker isn't worth it. Handing my phone to a cast member works just as well.

 

[Toffeewoffy]

I've done a couple of shares, but there's no WAY I'm going to spend upwards of $200 on a bunch of photos in which we're alternately squinting or looking fat! They lost a load of magic shots we posed for in HS the last time I did it, and despite the share organiser trying to get them back for me, we think the photographer didn't scan the photocard properly before he started so they were not flagged up as ours.

I'm taking my bridge camera as usual, and they can take the photos for me - also as usual!

 

[Gymbomom]

I love the added ride pictures and resort dinners. Those are options we always would like to have and it becomes a great part of our vacation memories. My mother is going with us this time and I can't wait to capture her face on all of the rides.

 

[Mikie]

It sucks that some people had a bad experience with lost photos, but it is a good reminder to try to look at them soon after your trip or even during. If you can describe the location, date and ideally some description of the people in the photo, MM tech support can usually find your lost photos for you. I assume this becomes more difficult the farther out you are. We had a few pictures missing here and there and ac up I call to tech solved the problem. The only shots that stayed "lost" were a couple ride photos that maybe didn't even get taken due to a camera malfunction on the ride at that time.

You definitely can hand your own camera to a photopass photog and get pictures that way, but the bigger your group is, the longer your trip is, and if you want ride photos, Memory Maker can really be a great purchase - easily the best $150 I spent on my trip.

 

[Mikie]

I bought the memory maker. Then I bought a CD of all the images so I could print them at my leisure. I FOOLISHLY didn't look at the CD immediately-- NONE of our photos from the Halloween party were on the disc, and of course they were the most interesting & fun photos. I am FURIOUS that after nearly $200 spent all the photos aren't even ON THE DISC.

Total disaster-- I don't care HOW many photos you take- the amount of $$ they want for that stupid memory maker isn't worth it. Handing my phone to a cast member works just as well.

That really stinks - especially for party pics that you also paid a a premium to attend! Did you try to contact them about finding the missing photos? It may not be too late - if out have some of your own photos of that day to show what your group looks like, and some idea where/when you got photos it can increase their chances of being found.I hope they can still help you out!

 

[MsMagical]

As previous posters mentioned, it can be worth it to have the ride/dinner photos as well as photographer photos. For our family, the magic shots made it perfect and my husband spent a very long time with Goofy just goofing around and the photographer got pics of all of it. Best montage of photos I've ever seen!

That said, we looked up our photos every day as it is a significant investment and I wanted to ensure my money's worth. When any photos were missing we contacted Disney tech (or whatever they call themselves) and they were able to find them very quickly. In fact, there are stations at every hotel where a cast member can help you find any missing photos if you know the time and place the photo was taken. And they are looking at your face so it is much easier to tell what photos were yours!

For us, it was worth it enough to purchase it again for this trip. That and I don't have to wear out my phone battery, fill up my memory or remember to hand the photographer my camera. Plus, the investment really made us stop and get those photos when we would not otherwise have done so.

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

Yes, and yes if you linked your accounts as friends and family.

I like MM. IMO, it's worth it for longer trips, not so much for a weekend. It is pricey though, so be aware you need to actively remember to stop at PP people to get your use out of it!

 

[Madmother]

I recently bought MM for my upcoming solo trip. I will definitely take OP suggestion and check the photos at the end of each day! Thanks for the tip I will be taking loads of pictures during the Flower n Garden Festival but my phone is a dinosaur and not condusive to "selfies" so this is the only way I could think to make sure I had a "few" shots of myself having the time of my life

Can't wait for May 9th to get here! Woohoo

 

[LvsTnk]

Just an FYI you can and I did check my photos/stand in line and have the CM try and retrieve lost photos but if they aren't there on the other end there isn't anything that can be done. The photos I lost were lost to everyone with this photographer and I wasn't the only one. So just be aware you have to check your photos, seek out the kiosk and then wait in line and sometimes they still can't be retrieved.

Also, magic shots are nice and worth the time when they turn out not so much when you are left with photos of silly faces and that's it.

I would still get the MM I loved having it for our situation just wanted to give a different perspective it's a big purchase for a tight budget.

 

[tamhugh]

If your photos are not all there at the end if the day, and the cm at the kiosk can't find them, ask for the phone number to call. DH and I bought the MM for our trip in October and none of the ride photos worked with our bands. We spend over an hour at the kiosk with no luck. When we got home, I called the number and after several days, they were able to find all of the missing photos.

 

[Squirlz]

We used it for our trip 3 weeks ago and the pictures are great! We love all the ride photos and videos. You can download them all to your computer and use them any way you like EXCEPT for commercial purposes.

 

[scousemouse09]

I highly recommend it too! It was one way of making sure there were pictures of us as a family, rather than just my DH & DS! Our DS was 2 at the time, and I did have to prompt the photographer to take pictures of him with Chip and Dale as the photographer was too busy cooing over the fact that the characters were lying flat on the floor playing with him and his toy cars!

It's worth it just for the ride photos though - think how much they cost individually and you get every single one on your MM. Also, if you wanted to add things like the year or the attraction/park name before printing your pictures, you can do so on the MM website.

 

[belle24]

Im off to the World in March and thinking about getting Memory Maker as itsmy partners first time there so would be nice to have good photos.
I do have a few questions though.

I have the Magic account etc, will be linking my park tickets when they arrive, I will then probaby purchase MM in advance on there. We are staying off site but we are more than likely going to purchase Magicbands our first day, will these automatically be linked to my account and also my MM?
If we didnt purchase magic bands how would the MM work? Would we be given a card to link the first time we had a photo? Im thinking ride photos would be so much easier with magicbands on, am i right thinking that it just adds to the account automatically with my magic band? i dont have to scan it anywhere?
Also does anyone have a list of photographer locations? Would be interesting to see. And also for resorts?
Thanks guys!!

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

It is worth it as long as you take advantage of every opportunity. We have found over the last 4 years that the photographers take less and less shots. In the past they would take them in portrait and landscape, close and full body view and get creative with their shots - now it is one, two, next guest please!