Photo Pass - Is it worth is?

[kellykaye]

We're planning our December Disney World Trip and wondering if paying for the Photo Pass is worth it? We plan to do the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique and I read somewhere that if you already purchased the photo pass that you basically get all of the images for free and therefore don't need to updgrade to the package that includes the photos. Is this true? Are the ride photos included as well? Are the photos in general good quality?

We're definitely leaning towards getting it, but would love to hear other opinions about it.

Thanks so much

 

[FeralCatRogue]

When I was there in February I was pressed to find any photopass people to take my party's picture. I also ended up at a M&G in Norway where their camera had broke and they had to use my iphone. So it all depends if your doing a lot of M&G its probly awesome. For someone mainly just roaming the park, it was kinda sparse on photopass people.

I don't know much about BBB so you'll have to wait for others who have experience with it to let ya know how if it helped there.

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

The photos are of good quality. We did photo pass last summer and I was happy with it. I will not get it again this summer as I don't want to be spending so much time this trip seeking out photographers to get my money's worth. I don't see a need for it two years in a row. If you are willing to spend time seeking out photographers then I think it is a good thing to have.

 

[Crystal824]

I think it is worth it if you are going to be there a week or more. Anything less, it isn't really worth it because you don't have time to seek out the photos. That is kind of how we base it. We get it for longer trips but not shorter ones. If you are doing BBB, all of your photos will be included, which is great.

 

[henry72]

I think whether it is worth it depends on how long you are there and if you do a lot of character meet & greets. We are going during SWW and have BBB and PL planned. Even though we don't stand in line for M&Gs (but will do the one for Anna and Elsa), we figured it would be worth it. We will be there for 8 days. I love the magic shots and now that we will get ride photos, it should be fun. It is the only souvenir I told my husband that I wanted.

 

[stky6]

So the ride photos are included in the Memory Maker Package?

 

[katt789]

I've had some very up & down experiences with photopass over the past little bit.

In the past, I would always PRE order the photopass cd, and it only cost around $100.00 for that, and was a GREAT value.

Last Sept, I decided to go with PRE ordering the photopass PLUS, and was dissappointed when at least 4 sets of photos were missing off of our account (one of them magic shots, and one of them a set I hadn't passed my camera over for). I also felt it wans't worth it because I was with my 64 year old Mom & her 80 year old friend, so we didn't do a lot of the rides often.

I stayed away from photopass after that for a while, a few trips later, pre ordered the regular cd, and was very pleased with it.

NOW, I find that the old cd is no longer available as a pre order, and it's pricier to buy after, so I've pre ordered the "memory maker" being the cd with all the dining & ride photos, since it's me & a friend, and we're going for a longer time, I hope it will be worth it!

The photographers are around quite a bit, many on Main St, and keep your eyes open for them in different spots at different times of the day, and they should be out with most of the assigned, major character greets. (if you notice one with out a photographer it's most likely because they had to step offstage to fix their camera. They used to stay onstage to do it but around a month ago an incident with a camera mix up, and an very angry Father ended up with a punched Pooh bear & hit attendant…. )

Always take at least 1 shot with your own camera just incase something screws up, but if you're doing lots of character meets, will be doing some rides and some character meals, I'd say it's worth it!

 

[KanataDad]

4 nights - over 200 photos. And photos were really great.
Well worth it.

 

[disney meema]

I keep trying to decide whether getting the memory maker is a wise choice as well. Leaning towards yes for several reasons:
since it's our first trip with no kids and only my husband and I, be nice to have picture of us together. ( not sure I want ask peeps to take our picture over and over again. So photo pass might be a wise choice
Going to he mvmcp as well as several other photo opp. that will be included in our package
Will be in disney for 11 day celebrating our 35 anniversary
Photo pass pictures have to be better than my camera

What do you think?

 

[Luv0fDisney]

We never get the photo pass thing because it is $$ when we can take our own pictures for FREE with our own camera. Also we don't have to wait for a cast member to take our picture.

For the special effects they use you can easily do it at home with photo shop if you know how to of course but it is up to you.

 

[dramadrew]

I was surprised by how many Memory Maker photographers were around the park. Probably every character I met had one available to take photos. Had I known that, I may have prepurchased it for the cheaper price. However, by the second day I got the courage to ask the photographer or CM to take photos for us. We got the same poses, there's were just a little better quality. There was probably a couple of in between moments that I am glad they caught so maybe I'll purchase a photo or two.

I think it can be worth it if you meet a lot of characters or take advantage of getting pictures in the spots they are located at. And if you do not want to worry about getting great photos with your camera, it can be a relief as well. Think about the pros and cons before hand and definitely decide before you go so you can take advantage of the $50 off! I do wish you could get prints along with the digital downloads because then you have to spend more money to get them printed.

 

[claryche]

I haven't been since the new Memory Maker. But I have been 8 times since my son was born and we have gotten the cd every time. And we have been happy every time. I love the magic shots, which since I'm not that good with photoshop I can't do myself. I love the ride pictures and the fact that last trip I was able to get all 5 times my son and I rode TOT and all 4 times we rode EE. I never would have bought all those pictures separately. I also just love the regular pictures.

Yes there are times when magic shots are missing. But you can call them and they will fix it for you. Yes I have had one time when some pictures went missing completely. I think the guy just didn't have his camera working properly. That is why you always take at least one with your own camera. Plus that way you can tell the photopass people the time, place and what you were wearing and they can search for any missing photopass pictures. Yes I have had pictures where my son isn't looking at the camera at all, or he blinked in ever picture. I have had photopass photographers who so missed out on that perfect picture.

But then more so than not, we have had great experiences. We have had them take pictures of my son's stuffed animals, they have taken pictures of the reflection of EE in my son's sunglasses, they have dusted my son with pixie dust after a Tinkerbell magic shot, they have taken pictures of the back of my son's head with mickey ears on looking at the castle and we have had some of the nicest conversations with some great cm's. Just like any human, they will make mistakes so that is why you have several pictures taken. Go to several photographers. And along the way you will find several who will take pictures that you had never thought of doing. You will find ones that take that perfect picture that will capture your whole trip in just one picture and it will be worth the money. And this comes from someone who is a bargain hunter, and someone who never likes to pay full price.

 

[la la limon]

I'm also watching this thread. I hope you can help with my decision--it is our first, and perhaps only, trip to Disney. We aren't doing any character meals. But,my husband is our photographer and is never in any pictures. Also, some of the ride pictures could be fun for a laugh. Not sure if it's worth $150 to our family or not--I keep going back and forth!

Any insight is appreciated!

Amy

 

[kellykaye]

Thanks so much for all the feedback. We're certainly leaning a little closer to pre-purchasing the photo pass.

 

[prudence64]

I'm passing I think. My daughter isn't interested in meeting characters and won't go on most rides that offer the pictures.

 

[Kristina4109]

We opted to do the Memory Maker for our upcoming trip. My daughter will do a lot of meet and greets. Also, my poor husband is never in any of our pictures. I don't want him spending this vacation stuck behind a camera, always trying to get that perfect shot. I'd like him to actually relax and enjoy himself!

 

[touchthesky]

Just wanted to chime in and say that in December, there will be a lot of photographers out for the various Christmas displays in the parks (trees at each park, Osbourne Lights if they're happening this year, Cinderella Dream lights). Just an extra thought for anyone considering Memory Maker around that time.

 

[Benjo]

If you preorder the Memory Maker, it's worth the price. It's still expensive, but you now get an unlimited amount of digital pictures from photo pass attractions and photographers around the parks.

The experience is better than it used to be. You used to be limited to the number of pictures that you could take because they had to fit on a picture CD that disney would mail after you got home. You now get unlimited photos because it's all digital, and your whole party can use their magic bands to scan at the PhotoPass locations, so no more fumbling for your PhotoPass cards.

As soon as you get home from your vacation, you can log on to the Memory Maker website and download all of your pictures. It's very easy to use and works fast. You can even see some pictures while still on your vacation through the mobile site.

 

[KNovacovschi]

I have a question regarding MM. I had originally booked the MM promo so was aware that I wouldn't receive the package until check in and would not show up in MDE however I have changed that promo for FD but decided to purchase MM. My questions are as follows:

1. It shows on the website that I have it but not the app, should it not show on the app?
2. Will I receive a package in the mail or something via email regarding MM?
3. Do I have to link anything now or can I go directly to a park and it works immediately?

TIA. We had never purchased photo package in previous years but its our 10th wedding anniversary trip and will be just the 2 of us so I figured it would be easier to do pics this way.

 

[tm613]

1. It will not show up in the app. Must access it in the website
2. It was listed in my package Info that came in the mail
3. It just worked.

Would check at night at the hotel and all pics were always there from that day. Some took a few hours to show up