Photo pass - I don't get it

[mhalpern]

Okay I know how it works. I have read the websites and I understand the concept. What I don't get is - why would you pay $100 for a CD of photos that you have to get printed somewhere and pay for again? Especially since the photographers will often take a photo for you with your camera. Is this really for people that just don't take a lot of their own photos? On our last trip my husband took around 1100 photos. It seems hard to justify spending another $100 for more photos. Am I missing something? I realize without a photo pass we won't get any of the magic shots but is that the only advantage? I get the sense that people really enjoy the photo pass so that's why I assume I'm missing something. Thanks.

 

[TillyMarigold]

Well, this is the 21st century ... there's no reason you "have to" get the photos printed at all!

Also, the $100 is to prepay for every single shot ... you can also buy the prints individually.

The advantage to me is that my husband and I have been married 5 years and we don't have any good photos of the 2 of us together that are more recent than our wedding.

 

[AJKMOM]

I used PhotoPass when my whole family went on vacation, it was nice to have all 5 of us in pictures. I don't have that great of a camera anyway, so this was better. I couldn't have gotten most of the night shots.

The next trip, only 3 went so I took the camera, but have no pics of me. Most of the PhotoPass photograpers had lines of people that wanted pictures, so we had no opportunity to ask them to use our camera for pic.

I got a discount on the disc and made some pictures at home on the printer that has picture quality ink and paper.

As far as Why? One good reason is that they don't have a good camera, or maybe even any camera, so this is how they get souveniers.

 

[kadesha]

The photos they take with my camera are never as good. Plus I love all the borders and edits you can do to the pictures in addition to the magic shots. (which we usually do a lit of). I also like the photopass night pictures. My camera takes crappy night shots. Photopass is just a great way to get pictures with the whole family in them. They'll take several of the same"pose" so your bound to get a good picture. They take one with your camera for you and it usually turns out pretty bad, at least for us.

 

[cassandrap83]

I've never used it, but will be pre-purchasing for our trip in September. The #1 reason is that I want to actually be in the photos. (I'm usually the photographer) If I'm spending big $$ on vacation, I want actual proof that I was there!

 

[Tomh]

I have well over 1000 pictures from last years Disney Vacation as well, however my arms aren't quite long enough to take good pictures of the entire family (including me) together, so pretty much all of our family pictures don't have me in them (there are a few that our oldest DD has taken of DW and I) so by getting the Photopass, we not only get the special pictures, and the use of the Disney boarders and enhancements, but we also get pictures with me in them, and in my book, that alone is worth the $100 price tag.

 

[flamingglobessigmund]

My husband has a great camera. It's so fabulous in fact, he's always behind it. I pre-ordered the photo pass CD because I wanted him to be IN the pictures.

Unfortunately, we were there last month during the monsoon, and the photo pass photogs were not out in full force. We ended up with 68 PP shots. With enhancements so far, I've got that total up to 150 pics.

 

[wilde_oscar]

for $100 I don't have to carry a camera for 10 days and still get great shots in all the picture places.

 

[vicki_c]

I took 3500 photos over our Christmas trip last year. We still bought the Photopass (we're done 5 Photopass CDs so far - 4 ourselves and 1 share) - we think it is well worth $100. So I wouldn't say it's for people that don't take their own photos!

We average 200 photos on each one (after editing), and that's low by the posts I've seen others have.

Great borders and fun shots and me in the picture for a change is what makes it worth it to us.

 

[kittybubbles]

There was on and off rain on our last trip which caused me to leave the camera behind as I did not even want to carry it around. We speant some time indoors for DD to meet characters.

We also went to the water parks and the PhotoPass folks got shots we never could have gotten (family coming down on the raft ride together). There was even a PhotoPass photographer in the lazy river taken pics.

We stopped to look at the photos and saw about 10 of 60 that we REALLY liked.

For what they charge for a few pics, the CD made a lot more sense and it includes the photos we really liked as well as the others that we still like.

 

[jayandstacey]

It is also important to note:

1. You can look at the photos before buying and decline if you want. So if you don't like the "whole gang" pictures Disney took, you don't pay a dime.

2. You OWN the pictures once purchased on CD. If you have prints made by Disney, you don't own the right to make copies of those prints and if you try to have a photoshop make copies, they might (should) reject the request.

3. And by owning the CD, you can make as many prints as you like on your own. So it quickly pays for itself vs. individual Disney prints if you own a decent printer.

4. Finally, you have the shots in digital format, making for easy emails, PC filing and webposting. Much easier and better quality than scanning paper prints.

It isn't for everyone, it is for some.

 

[DISNEYNV]

So you prepay 100 dollars for a photopass and does that just include the CD or does it include ALL the prints you want from the CD as well? It's a bit confusing as to what is included in that prepaid price.

 

[jayandstacey]

So you prepay 100 dollars for a photopass and does that just include the CD or does it include ALL the prints you want from the CD as well? It's a bit confusing as to what is included in that prepaid price.

For $100 you get the CD. It can hold hundreds of shots. Prints are on your dime (And they are only about a dime at Costco). And you don't prepay...you walk up to a photographer and ask for a photopass card, then hand it to other photographers for later shots. At the end of your vacation, either from the park or from home, you can get a CD made of all those shots. You pay then, or can choose to pay nothing.

 

[gk90]

One reason we're getting the Photopass CD is so we can make enhancements. Also so we can always have the photos.
Here's a good thread with a number of examples:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1842521

Last trip we didn't get the CD--we didn't know anything about Photopass but had a voucher for a free 5x7. We had photos taken by just 3 photographers and ended up with a number of enhanced photos we liked (with character signatures, the kids holding Tinkerbell, the special borders) and spent over $50 on the prints--we couldn't get them printed cheaper since we didn't buy the CD, and now we only have around 5 of them--they're erased from the Photopass system after 30 days This trip we'll share the CD with my sister and family who are going with us and I'm pretty sure we'll each be happy spending that $50 on the CD and $5-10 on prints.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

I take thousands of photos with a semi-professional camera when I'm in Disney. I do have to say some of them come out pretty awesome too. But I still order the photopass CD because you can add borders and get the cool 'special' photos too... you holing tink, you holding simba, etc. I think definitely worth the price. Plus the night photos come out fabulous since they have their camera settings set up perfectly and use tripods. I don't carry a tripod around the park.

 

[TaylorsDad]

Dont forget about all the "magic Photos" Disney photopass photographers can get. Like my DD dueling with Darth Vader, holding Simba, sitting by stitch, with the ghost by the buggy at HM, captain hook, watching Mickey and Minnie hangliding, etc. These are photos I cannot get on my own. Even if you dont prepay, just save your photopass cards and preview your photos at the end of your stay. If you have photos you want then purchase the CD . May be a little higher then but you would still have the option of purchasing.

 

[RMulieri]

Considering that I had well over 300 pics and if i wanted to just have my favs printed out it costed ALOT MORE than buying the disc, the CD was so worth it.Prints at walmart are dirt cheap and i still have my CD that I pop in to watch whenever I feel like looking thru pics.Heck it is definitely more organized, since most pics I take wind up in a box somewhere...

 

[dburg30]

Yes they will take pics with your camera, but it's much easier just to give them the card and let them take your picture with the WDW camera. As you said the magic shots, the borders etc etc. If you only have 10-20 pics taken it's not going to be worth it. If you dont 'look' for the PP photogs (not that they are 'hidden') it may not be worth it. I just think it's not bad if you USE the service properly. And honestly, it's not real expensive compared to the rest of the vacation normally. Plus the release to be able to have them printed where ever you want (walmart or whatever) is nice.

It's not for everyone, and yes, you can have them take a pic with your camera, but I just like the whole service. We've used it twice and have been very pleased both times!

 

[mhalpern]

Thanks everyone for your responses. The good news is I am starting to see the advantage of using this service. The bad news is I still don't completely get it. I'm usually pretty bright - really.

Okay here's what I STILL don't get. If I prepurchase a photopass CD I've heard it is $99 instead of $125. Is that right? Once I'm home can I view the pictures before I decide if I want to keep the CD or am I committed to it if I prepurchase it? Also I went on the Photopass website and it said that the CD was $49.95?!? I have an account from a previous trip. It also said I don't have any photos in my account to put on the CD. Is this something different? How do you preorder the CD? I really don't find the website very helpful. THANKS again!

 

[DISNEYNV]

For $100 you get the CD. It can hold hundreds of shots. Prints are on your dime (And they are only about a dime at Costco). And you don't prepay...you walk up to a photographer and ask for a photopass card, then hand it to other photographers for later shots. At the end of your vacation, either from the park or from home, you can get a CD made of all those shots. You pay then, or can choose to pay nothing.

Oh, thanks! I think it's a great way to get everyone in the picture