We are planning our first big trip as a family of 4 to WDW in September. I was wondering if the Memory Maker was a good value? Do you get any of the pictures at the time (character meals?) or do you have to order pictures at a later date?
Yes, I think it is. Here is another post I just wrote for one of the many threads currently active on this topic:
I think it is all dependent on your travel party and what you are planning to do. For instance, while we ended up with about 1400 (estimate, because I started editing photos before the end of our trip) unique photos from our first 2 weeks at WDW, we only had about 400 unique photos from our second 2 weeks (unique or original will for clarification will mean that there weren't edits done to the pictures). We did a lot of character meets, probably right around 2 dozen. From most meets we had about 10 pictures, but we found at some meets we had close to 30 pictures. If you would average the number of pictures per meet to 20, we probably ended up with around 500 pictures from meet and greets. The first trip also had maybe 100 pictures from character meals (the before the meal photos). The first trip also included pictures from PL and BBB along with the post photoshoot which totalled about 200-250 original pictures. Our second trip included approximately 50 pictures from Jedi Training. Of course we had some ride photos, I'd say MAYBE 100 total. The rest of the photos are really from stopping to have our picture taken, and it wasn't as if we were stopping all of the time. We stopped probably once or twice in front of the icon each day when we entered or left the park. We also stopped maybe once at another location (like the bridge by Nemo in AK or in front of Beast's Castle in MK) each day. In addition we asked for magic shots, so they would take our normal pictures and then take magic shots in addtion. Depending on whether or not they took magic shots or how many poses we did (all of us, just kids, etc.) we got between 5 and 30 shots at each location.
So, I don't really know if there is a 'typical'. I think it all depends a few things:
-If you want to make it worthwhile (are willing to stop when you see PP photographers)
-If you are going to ride the rides that have photos (though I wouldn't get it solely for getting ride photos)
-If you plan on doing character meets
If you plan on doing character meets and are also willing to stop for PP photographers a few times, I think it will be worth it. If you don't plan on doing any character meets, I think it would be harder to get your money's worth, though still possible as long as you are willing to stop a couple of times a day to get your photo taken. It also (to me) increases the value if you remember to ask for magic shots and also break your party into groups for individual/kids only/parents only shots after having a group shot taken.
Also, you do not get any pictures at the time they are taken. You do still get pictures at Akershus and CRT (the before the meal picture with the princess) but they are included with the price of the meal, not because you get or don't get MM.
If you want pictures, you will have to print them at a later date. MM includes the digital download of ALL of the pictures with any edits you make to them along with the copyright for the pictures. MM does not include any physical prints of pictures. However, if you choose to purchase individual pictures from Disney, they are around $15 each. If you think you may get 10 pictures, then MM is more than worth it.
