Photo package worth it if no characters?

[annabelle004]

We are going on our first family cruise in October. 7 day Western Caribbean on fantasy. I have been before but never whole family. It will be me DH and sons, 13 and 15. We are not typically the folks who will wait in line to meet characters. If we don't plan to do a lot of character meets, is the package worth it? I *always* do photopass at WDW but not sure about this.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I'll go with "it depends". If you don't meet a single character, it could still be worthwhile as often the Shutters staff will set up photographs with varying backgrounds, usually in the evening before/after dinner. Think of them as opportunities to take some nice family/couple/kids shots. Also sometimes in port the photographers are there to take a few shots of you with the ship, you in port, etc.

Best advice: purchase it anyway. Check your photos often at the kiosk. Before the last night, if you don't think it was worthwhile, go and ask for a refund.

 

[DCSWO]

It may still be worth it for the dining room pics each night from the roving photographers. If you plan to take any shots in the atrium with the various backdrops, those are more non-character opportunities.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Ehhh I don't think the package is worth it if you don't plan on meeting a lot of characters. You can always ask a CM to use your phone or camera to take the photos. They still come around dinner regardless.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I get it each time, but we've doe the SW characters. I will say, however that I made an effort to meet some characters on my own (since the teens refused, as did DH). Without those, we had most of the formal night backgrounds, as well as the individual photos in the MDRs on formal night and pirate night. If you were to pay for those photos individually, I think someone said they were around $20 a photo, so getting, what, 15? photos is about right?

Does anyone know, if you just buy individual photos, not the package, do you get the download or just the printed photo?

 

[DIS_MIKE]

I get it each time, but we've doe the SW characters. I will say, however that I made an effort to meet some characters on my own (since the teens refused, as did DH). Without those, we had most of the formal night backgrounds, as well as the individual photos in the MDRs on formal night and pirate night. If you were to pay for those photos individually, I think someone said they were around $20 a photo, so getting, what, 15? photos is about right?

Does anyone know, if you just buy individual photos, not the package, do you get the download or just the printed photo?

I was able to purchase several prints without purchasing the package but I read on here that now it’s only available by download only but that may only be on certain ships.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Ooh I forgot about the dining room pics. We had some of those, but I started to decline them because I honestly didn't enjoy any of them - cluttered backgrounds with people in the back actually in focus (awkward) and weird positioning in general.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Probably not. You can purchase a 10 or 15 image package that might be "worth" it, but CMs will use your camera if you ask.

 

[DIS_MIKE]

Ooh I forgot about the dining room pics. We had some of those, but I started to decline them because I honestly didn't enjoy any of them - cluttered backgrounds with people in the back actually in focus (awkward) and weird positioning in general.

It's definitely a weird scene/atmosphere/backdrop. Dirty dishes or half eaten food in front of you ... They always tell you to move to the other side and i've consistently had tablemates go "oh here we go again" or they'll decline them altogether and I feel the same way. I'm sure plenty enjoy having the photos taken at dinner though. I have purchased a few prints over the years.

 

[lilsonicfan]

Does anyone know, if you just buy individual photos, not the package, do you get the download or just the printed photo?

On the Fantasy when I purchased the 10-pic package, it was just the download actually!

Probably not. You can purchase a 10 or 15 image package that might be "worth" it, but CMs will use your camera if you ask.

CMs will use your camera for character shots (it's the character handler that takes the pic, not the Shutters photographer) but the Shutters photographers won't take the formal/backdrop type pictures with your camera. Just food for thought.