Memory Maker // PhotoPass + - Is It Worth It?!

[MissSophieCH]

Hi. My mum and I are going to WDW this September (185 days away - not that we're counting) and we can't decide whether or not we should buy the Memory Maker Package?!

We've been doing some research and a lot revolves around the PhotoPass + service which we think is essentially the same as the Memory Maker package - is this right?. It's our first trip to Disney in over a decade and we are very keen to get some really nice photos from the trip and this seems to be like one of the best ways to achieve this. And am I right in saying that this package means you can get the ride photos included as well (so you don't have to pay at each individual ride for a photo)?

Any help to clarify the packages would be greatly appreciated, and any opinions on the packages would also help! Thank you.

 

[siskaren]

PhotoPass is the name of the photo-taking service; the PhotoPass+ CD was replaced by Memory Maker. Memory Maker is a download only product that gives you all photos from rides, meet and greets, dining locations that offer photos, and from photographers at various locations around the parks (like in front of the castle). If you make the effort to get your picture taken (and there's usually short lines except for meet greets), then it's definitely worth it.

 

[WDWFantasmicFan]

Hi. My mum and I are going to WDW this September (185 days away - not that we're counting) and we can't decide whether or not we should buy the Memory Maker Package?!

We've been doing some research and a lot revolves around the PhotoPass + service which we think is essentially the same as the Memory Maker package - is this right?. It's our first trip to Disney in over a decade and we are very keen to get some really nice photos from the trip and this seems to be like one of the best ways to achieve this. And am I right in saying that this package means you can get the ride photos included as well (so you don't have to pay at each individual ride for a photo)?

Any help to clarify the packages would be greatly appreciated, and any opinions on the packages would also help! Thank you.

PhotoPass and Memory Maker are very similar. PhotoPass is the actual taking of the photographs, and Memory Maker is just one way you can get a copy of them... As a digital download. Ride photos are included with Memory Maker, as are ride videos on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Tower of Terror currently...

Memory Maker is definitely worth it in my opinion if you make full use of it...

I have just answered some questions about Memory Maker on another post - so check it out, I might have answered some of your questions on that post too... http://www.disboards.com/threads/memory-maker.3385217/

 

[lauradis]

Its all called Memory Maker.

We get it for some of our trips.

Im super excited that it covers ride photos now. woot woot happy dance.

 

[knitngurl]

I was also on the fence about this, but we decided to go ahead and do it. My teens have never been to Disney and my mom and I haven't been in 20 years so we are going to want all the pictures. The best thing is we can all be in the pictures, and get the ride photos. With my kids the cost of Memory Maker is more than reasonable over what I would pay for the ride pics alone.

Another nice thing - I have my mom set up to share all of our pics in our Disney Experience account so she can have all of the pictures she wants too.

 

[ammag]

We are sitting on the same fence! It's a lot of money in the past I've been happy with the photos but I was sharing with a friend so less expense. I believe it now also included on ride videos that might be fun to have!

 

[MissSophieCH]

H

 

[I M Fearless]

We usually get it as it makes more sense on longer trips from the UK.

Well worth it when you consider the lack of hassle you avoid carrying a camera and despite our best intentions we forget to take many pictures ourselves.

You do need to make time to stop and collect the photo ops though.

 

[kaetra]

I think it's very expensive for what it is ($179 for downloadable pics, not even prints!). With a decent point and shoot camera and daylight you can take great pictures anywhere you want, not just at the designated photo op spots. I use a small handheld Nikon that's waterproof and fits nicely in my tiny purse.

I would definitely get the free PhotoPass and use it though. You can always buy individual downloads of the pics you really like for around $15 each.

 

[MsLady]

What ride photos do you get from this?

 

[siskaren]

I think it's very expensive for what it is ($179 for downloadable pics, not even prints!).

I would definitely get the free PhotoPass and use it though. You can always buy individual downloads of the pics you really like for around $15 each.

Just to nitpick, it's $169, not $179. Once you get to 12 pictures, you're saving money, and you can get dozens, even hundreds of pictures once you start playing with edits and borders, and it costs very little to get them printed. Besides, these days, do people print out a lot of pictures anymore?

What ride photos do you get from this?

Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Test Track
Tower of Terror
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Dinosaur
Expedition Everest

 

[goofy4wdw2]

Trying to decide also. We've always done the Photopass CD but never print the pictures or do anything with them.

 

[MsLady]

Just to nitpick, it's $169, not $179. Once you get to 12 pictures, you're saving money, and you can get dozens, even hundreds of pictures once you start playing with edits and borders, and it costs very little to get them printed. Besides, these days, do people print out a lot of pictures anymore?



Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Test Track
Tower of Terror
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster
Dinosaur
Expedition Everest

Thank you!!!

 

[Ratpack]

I am planning to get it this spring on our trip, if nothing else, just to get all the ride photos. Price is pretty much in line with other venues that do this. We just returned from a cruise and we paid $179 for 10 digital photos on a cd.

 

[SadieDawn90]

I love Memory Maker. For me, even if I'd only gotten 50 pictures from my trip, it would have been worth it because A) I get to be in the pictures for once! B) I'm not having to take myself out of the moment in order to be taking pictures C) I don't have to lug around my giant camera. I was really impressed with a bunch of my MM photos and most of the photographers were very thorough. I loved having it and we'll be getting it again for our December trip. Also - if you like ride photos, they would cost $15 each to download individually! 12 ride photos and that thing pays for itself

 

[MsLady]

Are there any photographers at Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or Downtown Disney?

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

We love them - we love the videos that you get. We put the Tower of Terror video in our family videos that we make. We also put our family pictures in them - priceless - to get a good picture of all of us. The 7 dwarfs mine train just started a video too. Too bad I was in a rain poncho when we went on because you can't really see us. It was raining during the ride. So much fun. Don't forget the special pictures - with Tinkerbelle, Stitch, Olaf, the balloons, etc.

 

[Mikie]

Yes, if you do decide to get it, be sure to stop at photographers often and to ask for "magic shots" which will have special effects or characters in them when you see the photo.

Photographers will take pictures of you using your camera if you ask them too, but I like the quality of the ones they take with their own cameras better. Also, if you meet any characters, the photographer will take a posed shot with your camera, but with their own they snap away at the informal interaction with the character, which has led to some of my favorite family pictures (Cinderella's mouse friend demonstrating her sewing skills after my daughter asked about Cinderella's dress; my son gazing adoringly into Belle's eyes - the little flirt!; my other daughter high fiving Russell from Up when she told him she's a scout with a lot of badges too. . . )

To help people decide, I say the more of these things you'll do, the more value you'd get (conversely, if not doing these, maybe not worth it):
Riding the rides as listed by siskaren above
Willing to stop at still photographers throughout the parks
Interested in the themed borders and stickers you can digitally add
Character dining that offers posed shots before the meal (like Cinderella's royal Table, Akershus, Tusker House, o,Hana)
Audience participation shows like Enchanted Tales with Belle, Jedi Training Academy, Pirates League
Not certain, but I think they also take a lot at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

 

[kmoore7]

We( 7 of us) went for July 4th in 2014. Got Memory Maker for our trip. Took a total of 425 pictures with it, not including photos from rides. We had pics taken at every turn. Well worth the money IMHO. Would highly recommend.

 

[jmkjr72]

Are there any photographers at Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or Downtown Disney?

Back when you bought the cd there was at typhoon lagoon never been to bb and I never saw any in dtd