Memory Maker a MUST?

[MommySue]

Is Memory Maker a MUST have on a Disney trip or taking pictures with our personal camera work as good? Basically us MMS worth the price? Thank you
Sue...

 

[Gr8t Fan]

We've had it a few times on our trips and our kids were always giving us grief when we had to stop for the photographers, especially when there was a line. The past two trips we've gone without it and don't really miss it.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Is Memory Maker what they are calling Photopass now?

Because this is a representative sample of what our Photopass dollars bought us a few years ago:





They weren't all THAT bad, but none were fabulous, either. I was thankful afterward that I participated in a Photopass share instead of paying full price. Maybe we're not the most photogenic family, but we don't normally look so bad.

 

[Karenj2]

Is Memory Maker what they are calling Photopass now?

Because this is a representative sample of what our Photopass dollars bought us a few years ago:





They weren't all THAT bad, but none were fabulous, either. I was thankful afterward that I participated in a Photopass share instead of paying full price. Maybe we're not the most photogenic family, but we don't normally look so bad.

I'm so happy I wasn't drinking my tea, because I would have spat it on the computer - that's hilarious!!

OP, I've gotten it a few times, and as Mrs. Bradbury said, there are some good pictures and some not so good ones. I personally like it, because otherwise I'd have no proof that I took the vacation. Plus, I've gotten some GREAT ones of my DD with the characters that I'm not good enough to take myself...

If you decide not to get it, though, you can always ask the photographer to take pictures with your camera.

 

[JillyBean1899]

I got it when I went last weekend because I was on a mission to get as many character photos as possible (my mom never let me stop for characters when I was little, she wanted to ride all the rides she could). I ended up with over 300 pictures, yeah some are bad, but I had 5-10 shots with each character, including the stuff before the "posed" pictures, when I was just messing around with the characters. I didn't have to worry about getting out my camera, or having it automatically turn off before they could take the picture, and I got all kinds of Magic Shots while I was there.

For me it was totally worth it. Not only did I use it a lot this past weekend, I'm probably going to get it again when I go back in October for the ToT race.

 

[hsmamato2]

Nope,not a must,we got it once or twice....just hand them your camera,they'll take your pic,the quality is meh at best,and not worth $$$$ imho

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I'm so happy I wasn't drinking my tea, because I would have spat it on the computer - that's hilarious!!


If you decide not to get it, though, you can always ask the photographer to take pictures with your camera.

Isn't that hilariously AWFUL? It was first thing in the morning, and the photographer had us facing the sun. I'm surprised we still have retinas! When I'm having a bad day I look at that pic (I keep a copy on my phone) and it never fails to make me laugh out loud.

What a cutie patootie you have! We have never been ones to take pictures with characters, except for candid photos during character meals, so we've just never felt like paying for a photography package would make sense. I just got a wild hair that year.

 

[smj2610]

I have never gotten it in my 18+ visits but I am in July since it includes ride photos and it will be my grandsons first visit. I have had some hilarious ride photos in the past but refused to buy only a few do to the cost

 

[Cadets74]

I was so glad we got it... We have 7 kids and got some great family shots... Plus the kids loved being able to get the photos on Buzz Lightyear, tower of Terror, dinosaur, and a few other... My wife did make us stop everything we saw a photographer which the kids weren't fans of... But got some great photos!

 

[C-CMom]

For me a prepurchase would feel like "sunk costs" for which I needed to be sure I received appropriate value ("appropriate" is variable, depending on the individual, of course). In essence, I would not want to feel like I had to be in line with Disney photographers taking pictures all day to "get my money's worth". Not everyone would feel this way, but I am fairly sure I would. We decline the Dining Plan for the same reason.

We do take quite a few shots on our own (fewer on subsequent trips). We have purchased a few individually and have had Disney photographers take pictures with our camera with varying rates of success. They have always been very nice about taking shots with our camera.

So, the package is not worth it to ME, but may be to others.

 

[clhcpaca]

If you have a Disney Chase Visa, there is a place in Innoventions (Epcot), where you can get a character picture taken---one per day (also one per card--if you happen to have more that one Disney Visa).

When my DGD and I went for 2 weeks last fall, we came home with 5-6 free pictures.

The photopass is good for me because I don't like to take a camera (my pictures always seem to be bad!!) and I usually go solo. Last fall DGD and I did stop everywhere and we got so,e cute pictures and some not-so-cute ones.

 

[auger]

We will never buy it.
First of all, I can hand my own camera (same model they use) to the photographer, and he/she will take pictures with it.
Second, I have never been impressed with the pictures they take, so they aren't worth the money I would be putting into the MM.

We ordered a photo book back in 2007, using the pics that Disney's photographers had taken and scanned to a photo pass for us.
I was floored at how bad the pics were.
I decided then and there never to waste another penny on their pictures.

We have the DVisa, so we will usually get a picture from there, and that is more than enough.
Most of those aren't even good; closed eyes, funny looks, pic snapped while someone was mid-sentence, strange positions as we moved to get into position, clothing shifted and all wonky looking from character interaction, hair totally messed up from characters interaction, etc.
Basically, think of the typical bad pic from school picture day, and that's what a lot of them are.
They just don't take the time to get good photos.
They move you through the line as fast as they can, and they snap pictures without worrying about whether they will look good.

 

[herb102211]

We always utilize the photopass service in the parks, but haven't bought the CD in a couple of years. There are usually only a handful of photos we like out of all of the ones they take, so we just buy those. Plus, we have our own camera that we have the photopass photographer use as well. To me, the $200 isn't worth it and I would be hesitant to buy the MM in advance in case there aren't that many photos that come out well.

 

[ceemys]

I love it. We get it everytime. Just like when you take pictuers, some aer bad....most are good. I do love the extras they can add to the picture. Tinkerbell, baby simba, stitch, etc.

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[Karenj2]

Isn't that hilariously AWFUL? It was first thing in the morning, and the photographer had us facing the sun. I'm surprised we still have retinas! When I'm having a bad day I look at that pic (I keep a copy on my phone) and it never fails to make me laugh out loud.

What a cutie patootie you have! We have never been ones to take pictures with characters, except for candid photos during character meals, so we've just never felt like paying for a photography package would make sense. I just got a wild hair that year.

I'm guessing you're on the far right - YOU look great! Your daughter looks like she's getting bit in the back of the head by Nemo.

I was so glad we got it... We have 7 kids and got some great family shots... Plus the kids loved being able to get the photos on Buzz Lightyear, tower of Terror, dinosaur, and a few other... My wife did make us stop everything we saw a photographer which the kids weren't fans of... But got some great photos!

I'm like your wife - I annoy my family...

I love it. We get it everytime. Just like when you take pictuers, some aer bad....most are good. I do love the extras they can add to the picture. Tinkerbell, baby simba, stitch, etc.

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Adorable picture!

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I think MM+ boils down to this:

The people who go every year, have no need to buy it. They've seen all the stuff before, and only want pictures if they are really nice.

People who have never been, or will only go a few times in their life....why not spring an extra $150 just on the chance that you cannot take pictures that day...camera breaks....leave camera at hotel...etc

Alternatively , you could say "I'll just let them take the pictures because I can buy 10 at $15 a piece for the same price, and I probably wont even want 10 of them"

 

[JillyBean1899]

I think MM+ boils down to this:

The people who go every year, have no need to buy it. They've seen all the stuff before, and only want pictures if they are really nice.

People who have never been, or will only go a few times in their life....why not spring an extra $150 just on the chance that you cannot take pictures that day...camera breaks....leave camera at hotel...etc

Alternatively , you could say "I'll just let them take the pictures because I can buy 10 at $15 a piece for the same price, and I probably wont even want 10 of them"

I ended up with 15 of just the Magic Shots, that doesn't count all the character pictures, ride pics, icon pics, etc. I'm actually planning on getting it again when I go down in October for the ToT 10 Mile run if the weather is going to cooperate. My mom never let us stop for pictures when I was growing up, so the picture I got with Mickey this weekend is the first one I've ever had ... at 35 years old lol.

Here's an album of the Magic Shots I got.

JillyBean's Magic Shots