Photo Connect Card?

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Hello!

I see that I can prebuy a 1 day card for $40, and I am *thinking* this could be a good souvenier for us for the trip.

What I am wondering however is how it works. LOL I have read a few things and now I am confused...

1) how early can I prebuy it

2) do we wait for our 1st photo to get a card, and use the card all day in the park at each photo opportunity.

3) can we wait until we get home to look at the photos and edit them, like we do with the old photopass at WDW. This is the one confusing me the most as I read one article that said that you have to do the edits at the park before you go home?!

4) Can we down load from home as much as we want or do we still have to pay for prints at US?

5) The Couch Gag photos that you can do at The Simpsons, can they be added to the card?

 

[AngelDisney]

You need to activate your Star Card to transfer the pictures on your Photoconnect card to your account for unlimited access. Unlike WDW, you can only claim your pictures the day of, including adding borders and stuff. Make sure you do that before you leave the park.

Google "Photoconnect Star Card Guide Orlando Informer" to find the link to the Star Card Guide with detailed info on the Star Card Package. I am not able to post an active link for the webpage.

Hope this helps and have fun planning!

 

[Bluer101]

You need to activate your Star Card to transfer the pictures on your Photoconnect card to your account for unlimited access. Unlike WDW, you can only claim your pictures the day of, including adding borders and stuff. Make sure you do that before you leave the park. Google "Photoconnect Star Card Guide Orlando Informer" to find the link to the Star Card Guide with detailed info on the Star Card Package. I am not able to post an active link for the webpage. Hope this helps and have fun planning!

You don't transfer anything from one card to another. You can have multiple QR photo connect / star cards on your account after setup. Just at some point get a photo card and hand it to every photo op area, on ride photo, etc.

Here on my account shows you can add many cards to your account. If I forget my car I just get another at any ride or where your photo was taken. Then just add it to your account.

This is once you setup your account online after purchase.

 

[captaindavidhook]

the more I read about this the more im confused...do you have to get all your pictures at the end of the day or you forfeit them? and I read you need a star card I think it is called as well...

 

[johde]

the more I read about this the more im confused...do you have to get all your pictures at the end of the day or you forfeit them? and I read you need a star card I think it is called as well...

Where the confusion lies I think lies with the fact the Universal has 2 different photo services.

Photo Connect and Photo Connect Star Card.

Photo Connect can keep all of your photos for the day. This service is free but you need to get all your pictures by the end of the day or your forfeit them. It basically allows you a little bit of time to decide what pictures you're going to get for the day.

The Photo Connect Star Card is similar to Disney's Memory Maker. Every picture you take get's stored in a digital account that you can access "forever". There are a few differences and potential pitfalls.

1) Everything you want to do with the picture at the parks needs to be done before the end of the day. (Although I've heard of people being able to stretch it to 2 days but I wouldn't count on it). This includes:

a) Getting Print made in the parks. You get 1 free 4x6 and 1 free 5x7 as part of the package (At Harry Potter you can trade in both for an 8x10). You also get a discount price on other prints made in the parks​

b) getting "magic shots". The magic in magic shots doesn't happen automatically you. The shot get's setup but then you need to go to a store or kiosk to get the magic added into the photo. At the same time, you can get boarders added around your photos.​

2) If you decide to switch from photo connect to a star card you need to do that before the end of the day or you forfeit all the photo taken that day. Once you're a star card member the photo's should be saved "immediately" to you account where you can post them in "real time". In reality I've heard give it up to an hour in busy times.

3) The photos on your account are saved as approx. 2megapixel images suitable best for 4x6 or 5x7 prints only. 8x10 could look a little grainy.

More information can be found here:
http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php/7221-Universal-s-Photo-Connect

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Where the confusion lies I think lies with the fact the Universal has 2 different photo services.

Photo Connect and Photo Connect Star Card.

Photo Connect can keep all of your photos for the day. This service is free but you need to get all your pictures by the end of the day or your forfeit them. It basically allows you a little bit of time to decide what pictures you're going to get for the day.

The Photo Connect Star Card is similar to Disney's Memory Maker. Every picture you take get's stored in a digital account that you can access "forever". There are a few differences and potential pitfalls.

1) Everything you want to do with the picture at the parks needs to be done before the end of the day. (Although I've heard of people being able to stretch it to 2 days but I wouldn't count on it). This includes:

a) Getting Print made in the parks. You get 1 free 4x6 and 1 free 5x7 as part of the package (At Harry Potter you can trade in both for an 8x10). You also get a discount price on other prints made in the parks​

b) getting "magic shots". The magic in magic shots doesn't happen automatically you. The shot get's setup but then you need to go to a store or kiosk to get the magic added into the photo. At the same time, you can get boarders added around your photos.​

2) If you decide to switch from photo connect to a star card you need to do that before the end of the day or you forfeit all the photo taken that day. Once you're a star card member the photo's should be saved "immediately" to you account where you can post them in "real time". In reality I've heard give it up to an hour in busy times.

3) The photos on your account are saved as approx. 2megapixel images suitable best for 4x6 or 5x7 prints only. 8x10 could look a little grainy.

More information can be found here:
http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php/7221-Universal-s-Photo-Connect

Hello, OP here. THANK YOU this is EXACTLY what I was looking for in terms of clarification. I can get the Star Card (1 day prepurchase) and before we leave the park we go to the shop, add in the magic and the boarders etc, then it all saves to our online account which I can access unlimited amounts, and can print out myself at home, right?

NOW : Are the Simpson Couch Gags photos included? THanks!!

 

[johde]

Yes, the Simpson's Couch gags are included. If you want to go through that many times you can get them all.

Also, it is $10 cheaper if you buy it online

https://presale.amazingpictures.com/PhotoConnect.aspx

 

[kalandlily]

I'm on the fence about whether ride photos and the Spiderman op will make the $50 for Photo Connect worth it. I think what could push it over the edge is Harry Potter photos, but I haven't heard of any Photo Connect opportunities in that area. I'm thinking that we will take a thousand pictures with our own cameras in Diagon Alley and at Hogwarts and that will be all we need in terms of photos. Does anyone know of any "can't miss" photos in either Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade? Thanks!

 

[johde]

The cheapest ride photo for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is $30 + tax. You can get that as your "free" print. If you want that, all the digital images are $20 (or $10 if you buy in advance).

The cheapest photos in the park are $20 without Star Card. So, if you're planning on getting any pictures at the park it's probably worth it to get the star card.

Right now, Except for Harry Potter, with the Star Card you can get $2 4x6, $5 5x7, and 10 8x10's. At HP you only get a small discount because of contract reasons (you still get the digital ones though). So, your best deal for the free prints is to use both of them at HP to get the $30 8x10 instead of getting a 4x6 and a 5x7 for free somewhere else. You could get them for $7 with your discount.

I'll admit the 3 day and annual pass options are a lot easier to justify the cost. For 1 day, I'd see how many pictures I'm getting and decide as the day progresses if I want to do the star card. With only 1 day you probably won't want to do too many meet and greets or Simpson Couch Gag photos but you will get all you ride photos.

 

[captaindavidhook]

If I'm reading this right...with either photo plan you desire to get, at some point you need to go to one of their photo centers and get your pictures. Not sure I want to do something like that. The only main reason I would get is that my trip to both Universal parks is a solo and really not sure who would take any pictures of me with the characters.

Even thou I read from one other forum that there aren't that many photographers around the Universal park as opposed to Disney with there photo pass people. Just for the record I decided as of this minute to not pay $150 for the memory maker pass. I think that is quite high imo. Any feedback on this matter is much appreciated.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

The cheapest ride photo for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is $30 + tax. You can get that as your "free" print. If you want that, all the digital images are $20 (or $10 if you buy in advance).

The cheapest photos in the park are $20 without Star Card. So, if you're planning on getting any pictures at the park it's probably worth it to get the star card.

Right now, Except for Harry Potter, with the Star Card you can get $2 4x6, $5 5x7, and 10 8x10's. At HP you only get a small discount because of contract reasons (you still get the digital ones though). So, your best deal for the free prints is to use both of them at HP to get the $30 8x10 instead of getting a 4x6 and a 5x7 for free somewhere else. You could get them for $7 with your discount.

I'll admit the 3 day and annual pass options are a lot easier to justify the cost. For 1 day, I'd see how many pictures I'm getting and decide as the day progresses if I want to do the star card. With only 1 day you probably won't want to do too many meet and greets or Simpson Couch Gag photos but you will get all you ride photos.

uh oh confused again . So I go and do the prebuy 1 day for $39. Online. Before we go. 1 day and discount achieved.

I go to US, take a ton of photos and ride photos, and they go on a card that the first photographer gives to me. I keep using that card all day.

At the end of the day,I go to the park front to get the photos edited etc and have them transfered from my card to my digital account?

BUT I have to BUY the photos there? I can't just print them from home from the digital account?? So I have to pay $2/4x6 and wait there for them??

 

[johde]

uh oh confused again . So I go and do the prebuy 1 day for $39. Online. Before we go. 1 day and discount achieved.

I go to US, take a ton of photos and ride photos, and they go on a card that the first photographer gives to me. I keep using that card all day.

At the end of the day,I go to the park front to get the photos edited etc and have them transfered from my card to my digital account?

BUT I have to BUY the photos there? I can't just print them from home from the digital account?? So I have to pay $2/4x6 and wait there for them??

Those are the prices if you want them to print them. If you want to print them at home you can . Just like with Memory Maker, you can print them at home or have Disney print them. With Universal's Star Card, they cut you a break on all the prints you get there compared to the price everyone else gets. But you're right, there not as cheap as doing them at home.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Thank you very much, you have been great!
I guess the main difference is the fact that at home at Disney I can add borders, fun stuff, do edits, wheras at Universal I have to do it all at the park. I think for $40 this is going to be worth it for us, especially since I have two boys who want to try to do every couch gag option for the Simpsons. sigh. LOL Thank you very much!

 

[kalandlily]

If the only photo opportunity in a Harry Potter area is the Forbidden Journey ride photo, we can probably skip it. We'll have to baby swap that one, and a photo with half the family just isn't as fun. Now, if they had a green screen area that put us on the back of a Hippogriff, that would be something. . .

 

[johde]

In Gringotts, the photo opportunity is in the Queue so you can probably get a picture of everyone there.

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I did it, I just did the 1 day presale yea!!!

sounds like we will get the $40 value, especially if I can download the photos at home and have them printed off.

Is there a special way to download the photos? Do I just click and hit download?

I see on the webisite for the photostar/connect that there are fees of $16.or so for download. I am assuming that is if you are just buying 1 photo? (instead of unlimited access which I presume I just bought?)

 

[Rags]

I am thinking of buying one for our trip this week. On the official site it states 49.5 for a year which is great but when I read further it says Florida AP. Does this mean only Florida residents get this pricing?

TIA for the answers.

 

[johde]

I am thinking of buying one for our trip this week. On the official site it states 49.5 for a year which is great but when I read further it says Florida AP. Does this mean only Florida residents get this pricing?

TIA for the answers.

No, That Universal Florida as Opposed to Universal Hollywood. Any Universal annual pass will work. You may want to pick it up quickly because I read on another site that the price of the Annual Pass has gone up at the Park to $99.99 and the Website will be catching up shortly.

 

[Rags]

Thank you

 

[babesboo99]

Stupid question here so please forgive me. What is photo connect and how would you get it?