Memory Maker tips?

[staceychev]

I'm heading out really soon with DH, DD9 and DD5, Sis and her kids and husband, and my mom. We bought one Memory Maker, and it's connected to my ticket. First of all, how does it work? Do I scan my Magic Band with a photographer?

Also, does anyone have any tips for using it? We'll be going to all the parks, as well as MNSSHP, and staying on site.

Thank you!

 

[Karin1984]

Yes, the photographer will need to scan your band. If you link the Memory Maker to the rest of your family, it doesn't matter which band they scan. Good idea as probably the kids will like getting their bands scanned and also in case you split up.

Tips? Ask for Magic Shots and just stop when you see one. If you are on Main Street or in front of the Tree of Life, there are usually more than 1 photographers, look if there is one available right away. It can get out of hand ;-) We returned from a 10 day trip with about 800 - 900 pics.

I would advise to check the pictures in the evening on your laptop/phone etc. if you have the option, or check with the photopass service centers in the parks (and I think most hotels). If some pictures get messed up or are missing, they are the ones who can do something about it.

On Day 4 of our visit, we visted Merida, first thing in the morning. Due to the humidity and the photographer coming out of the air conditioned back stage area, the lens kept fogging. Our first pictures look like we stand in the mist. On day 7 we are in MK again and go by Guest Relations to see if there is any way we can re-do the pictures without having to get in line again. Merida's lines still get long. The CM apparently never heard this question, kept saying 'I don't think so, she has no FP option' first, then changing it to 'I don't know', so I ask: Can you check? In the end, no it wasn't possible.

On our very last day, we decided to get in line again, first thing in the morning to re-do the pictures. Humidity wasn't as bad anymore, so fingers crossed.
On our way out, back to the hotel and the DME, we go by the Photopass service. We explain why we want to check. The CM there, Lauren, tells us that we were misinformed. If we had come to her, she would have taken us right away to Merida to have our pictures re-taken.

So... long story short: if you have a question about Photopass while being in the park, don't go to Guest Relations, go to Photopass.

 

[staceychev]

Thanks, Karin! That's great info!

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

My one tip would be to do something a little different on some of your staged photos (silly faces, different family combinations, magic shots). Otherwise, you have the same family picture over and over; the only thing that changes is the surroundings.

Oh yeah, one more thing...if your family is up for it, figure out where the camera is on the rides that provide photos and make a plan as a family to do something funny. We got a GREAT ride photo on Splash Mountain and I plan to use it on our Christmas card. Still makes me laugh to look at it

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[trara1375]

Always ask your photographer what Magic Shots they can do.

Also, don't stand between the photographer and your kids...some times they can catch a candid of your children waiting in line for different characters...some of these turned out to be our favorites...the anticipation in their eyes.

Since your kids are on the older side, tell them to turn their head towards the camera when giving different characters a hug...our daughter got better at it as our week vacation went on and those pictures looked better than the pictures with the child's head turned away from the camera (the characters are a bit taller, so their face shows either way).

Stop at multiple photographers...even if it seems like the same background...different perspectives can make a huge difference...and you never know if one photographer can do other magic shots than the previous one.

 

[MataHari22]

This is the most thorough site for all the magic shots that I've seen. You might like to look through them all, so you know what you may be able to get.

http://capturingmagic.me/photopass-magic-shots

 

[rjmaple]

I am in the dark about Memory Maker as it didn't exist in this form on our last trip. I searched and can't find a sticky on this. So, a few questions;
1) Can or must you purchase actual prints or are some included in the price? Is there a price list of same?
2) Conversely are you just paying for a digital download of unlimited pictures and must buy prints on your own?
3) Most importantly, does the existence of the photographers in any way prevent you from taking your own pics of character meetings.

Thanks

 

[MataHari22]

I am in the dark about Memory Maker as it didn't exist in this form on our last trip. I searched and can't find a sticky on this. So, a few questions;
1) Can or must you purchase actual prints or are some included in the price? Is there a price list of same?
2) Conversely are you just paying for a digital download of unlimited pictures and must buy prints on your own?
3) Most importantly, does the existence of the photographers in any way prevent you from taking your own pics of character meetings.

Thanks

Photopass, is a service. Memory Maker is a product. If you purchase MM, you are paying for unlimited downloads of the digital photos that you had taken by the Photopass photographers, ride photos, and any ride videos. So, you will need to then take those digital photos and have them printed wherever you like. You may of course take your own photos at character meetings, and you can even give your camera to the character handler or PP photographer and they will take photos for you.

 

[bc7ate9]

Just an FYI that I don't think was mentioned yet: Photographers with tripods can't do Magic Shots - they can't make any changes to their camera setting or position.

 

[Karin1984]

Oh, I forgot one thing. Don't scan more than one band, if you have three bands scanned for the same picture, the picture will end up 3x on your account. Which is no problem, it only creates work to delete the doubles and takes more time to download everything.

And a second thing I forgot: about rides, no need to scan at all if you have Magic Bands where your Memorymaker is linked to, Big Brother knows you are on that ride and will at it to your account. You only need to scan after a ride when you are not using Magic Bands. Also a reason to link the entire family together, for some rides you will end up in different cars (like Space Mountain only has 3 per rocket), if you are the only one with a Memory Maker link, only the car with you in it, will automatically appear in your account.

Third thing I forgot, only because a PP started about posing. I'm tall. At least taller than most fur characters and also taller than most princesses. I discovered at the end of our trip that I apparently have the tendency to bend my knees, that way my face is on the same level as the character's. No problem with headshots, but all the pics with a full body shot look weird.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We do additional rides on mm attractions just get different poses and funny faces. Mine train and TOT have videos too.

 

[boufa]

The photo pass photographer will generally also take pictures with your camera.... it's a nice extra.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

How do you add the MM to the other people in your family? I did the pre-purchase the other day and it is showing as linked to me, but I can't figure out how to add it to my 2 kids Magic Bands. Since we're a party of 3 we may get split up for some rides and I don't want just my picture, I want theirs too!

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

How do you add the MM to the other people in your family? I did the pre-purchase the other day and it is showing as linked to me, but I can't figure out how to add it to my 2 kids Magic Bands. Since we're a party of 3 we may get split up for some rides and I don't want just my picture, I want theirs too!

You don't add Memory Maker to other peoples MBs. As long as the other people are linked as Friends & Family on your MDE account, their photos will also be uploaded to your Photopass account, provided they scan their MBs with Photopass photographers. Participating attractions will be captured automatically.

 

[CarolynFH]

Not yet mentioned - when you go to MNSSHP, be sure to check the map for photographer locations. They take special magic shots that you can get only at the party, like hitchhiking ghosts!

 

[CodeGoddess]

You don't add Memory Maker to other peoples MBs. As long as the other people are linked as Friends & Family on your MDE account, their photos will also be uploaded to your Photopass account, provided they scan their MBs with Photopass photographers. Participating attractions will be captured automatically.

If you call Disney they can make sure all the accounts are "linked" together for Memory Maker so everyone can see each others photos.

 

[trara1375]

Just an FYI that I don't think was mentioned yet: Photographers with tripods can't do Magic Shots - they can't make any changes to their camera setting or position.

EXCEPT that the video magic shots are done ONLY with the tripods...This would be Tinkerbell flying into your picture, Lumieare's light blowing out, Sully photobombing your picture, Baymax entering and inflating in your picture....don't forget about these magic shots.

 

[bc7ate9]

EXCEPT that the video magic shots are done ONLY with the tripods...This would be Tinkerbell flying into your picture, Lumieare's light blowing out, Sully photobombing your picture, Baymax entering and inflating in your picture....don't forget about these magic shots.

Ooooh - those must be new! I'll have to look for them when I'm there TOMORROW!

 

[Virtucomp]

If the kids go on a ride without you have them get the picture number for the ride photo. You can go back later in the day and have them add that photo to your MM if it did not automatically show up.
You have to do it the same day though.

I second the idea of not standing in the same pose every time. We have lots of pictures that look exactly the same with different backgrounds because we posed the same way every time. Some of the Photopass photographers will help with getting different shots so go for what they suggest.

You will get the digital rights to the pictures which will allow you to have them turned into photographs where ever you want. We usually pick some really good shots and adjust the photo or crop and then get some "developed" into paper.

 

[MudBud]

Not yet mentioned - when you go to MNSSHP, be sure to check the map for photographer locations. They take special magic shots that you can get only at the party, like hitchhiking ghosts!

Do they have anything special for MVMCP?