Memory Maker... Worth it!

[eiblehs]

I took three trips to WDW before I decided to purchase Memory Maker. I always viewed it as a waste of money. Why pay for pictures when I can take them on my iPhone, right? Wrong! Last year was the first year we splurged on Memory Maker, and now I can't imagine vacationing to WDW without it. Taking pictures has always been important to me, but I didn't realize the quality/quantity of photos that makes the price tag worth it. We had close to 700 pictures by the end of our trip and I'm so glad we decided to try it. I have an upcoming trip and I've already purchased MM in advance; I'm so excited to have good mask-less photos! Here are some examples of why Memory Maker is worth it to me. The first picture was taken on an iPhone 11. The second picture was taken with a PhotoPass photographer.



I'd love to know what your experiences have been with Memory Maker and if you're a fan or not! Or, what is something else on property that you originally viewed as a waste of money but now you've changed your mind.

 

[EACarlson]

I like it for longer trips, or once in a lifetime trips. But even then I kept as many pictures from my phone as I did from the PhotoPass photogs on our trip in 2019. There were many moments from that trip where there wasn't anyone else around.

 

[jasonplusliz]

we are huge fans of memory maker. We ended up with almost 1,000 pictures on our first trip back in 2014. We ran through the parks getting autographs with all the characters (for the “kids” of course ) and each time of course getting a few pictures along the way. We certainly got our money’s worth from memory maker on that trip.

Even when we aren’t quite that type-A about optimizing our spend, we find MM worth it. My wife always complains that I’m not in any of our family pictures and this is a great way to ensure we have pics of all of us and not just her and the kids.

 

[jasonplusliz]

View attachment 581932

the difference is simply a good fill flash. Hard to achieve with a phone camera but today’s phones are trying their best to compensate using software.

 

[leoromano]

Yes. That is, if you want photos taken of you and significant others as part of your experience. You must be willing to set aside some time waiting in line for the photographer to take you shot. But overall, the "magic" shots and the "zoom" shots add to the value. Plus you get all the photos (and for some select rides the videos) from the rides. Granted, this year was kinda meh since those photos were with masks on but that's no longer an issue.

 

[PirateBrigade]

I see they put fake clouds in the photo... I'm kind of surprised no hidden mickeys in that one (they do that at Disneyland, or at least they did a week ago).

Actually, wait... were these taken many hours apart? I feel like I'm reading a Highlights magazine now, lol.

 

[eiblehs]

I see they put fake clouds in the photo... I'm kind of surprised no hidden mickeys in that one (they do that at Disneyland, or at least they did a week ago).

Actually, wait... were these taken many hours apart? I feel like I'm reading a Highlights magazine now, lol.

Lol! Yes these were taken hours apart. No fake clouds!

 

[Maple Moose]

We are fans of Memory Maker, too, and have many treasured Disney family photos taken by PhotoPass photographers hanging around our house. Most of the time it's me or DH taking photos of the kids, or just one parent with the kids while the other parent plays photographer. MM makes it easy for us to get everyone into photos.

 

[_19disnA]

We were with another family who had memory maker. The biggest advantage is having someone else take the picture so everyone can be in the photo. We don't like handing our cellphone to a stranger to take a group photo and you can't always find someone from Disney around to do that. Despite the ad from Apple, the quality of images you get from the typical cellphone camera tend to be inferior to ones made with a good SLR type camera. The pictures from the OP were clearly taken at different times of the day since you can see the longer shadows in the first image while the one on the right was taken mid-day when the sun was almost overhead.

If you only want postage size images to post online, then you can save some money and just take the pictures yourself.

 

[Disneychoirnerd]

I love memory maker!!! We got it on our honeymoon and have gotten it every trip since. I'm not a person who remembers to take pictures and they never turn out. Honestly just the fact that you get the ride pictures makes it worth it for us, but any photo pass photographer along with that, and all the stock photos they give you.....it really is a no brainer for us at this point!

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Now that I believe the cast members aren't allowed to take photos with your personal phone, I think memory maker is worth it.

If that policy continues into my trip, I think I will buy it. Esp now that your face will be showing on the ride photos

 

[eiblehs]

Now that I believe the cast members aren't allowed to take photos with your personal phone, I think memory maker is worth it.

If that policy continues into my trip, I think I will buy it. Esp now that your face will be showing on the ride photos

Yes, that policy is still in place and I don't see it changing. That was one of the main reasons we decided to splurge and I'm glad we did!

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

One of the many reasons I want APs back - it included Memory Maker. We always bought prints and other items of our faves, so I figure Disney made $ on us anyway. I don't know what I'll do for our next trip if APs don't come back - I'm still on the fence about the cost since I will buy prints anyway.

 

[trivan]

For better picture on your phone, wipe the lens before you take pictures each and every time you take it out of your pocket or bag. One major reason people get blurry pictures are finger prints on the lens.

MM is a great option and yes the photographers know how to use the tools they have, but a few simple steps and photos with your phone will be good as well. The below was taken on a iphone 11 max. Seem this site downgrades the quality, but the original picture quality is excellent and for pictures which are not going to be poster size prints very acceptable.

 

[Mtraynom]

I love Memory Maker, we have it every trip. We usually have multiple families split it, so it helps with the cost. I love all the ride pics, and I would never be able to purchase all of them individually.

 

[c3h3a3r]

We had memory maker included with our tickets for our first trip (2011) I loved it!! I am usually the one behind the camera so it was nice to have photos with me in them.
We also had it included for 2016 trip and is included for 2022 trip as we are in the UK.

However I would 100% pay out of pocket for this if it wasn't included.

We made photo albums with the photos and I love them. I hear that you cannot customise photos any more though

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Cast members are now allowed to take photos with guest phones again. Guess I won't be getting memory maker this year as planned

Meh, maybe I will for the ride photos though

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

My DW wanted it for our family trip in early June 2021. I was very happy with it. Now, it should be noted that my DW and I like the magic shots, which you cannot really do with your own camera. So, we have some neat pictures with Orange Bird, Stormtroopers, etc.

 

[scrhsa]

I bought it for my dd's graduation trip in 2014. Well worth it then. I've gone several time with my sister( her husband said that it is my job to go with her since he doesn't want to ) since then and I don't think it would be quite worth it on those trips with her. I find that I take basically the same pictures over and over I know when I am able to take my grandkids I will definitely get it for their first trips!!!

 

[rubyeskimo]

If we didn't have memory maker, then I wouldn't have any pictures with my DH in our house! We're that bad at trying to get photos together so memory maker is 100% worth it for us and luckily is included in our tickets from the UK.