Photo Pass -lots of questions

[CaryHaven]

Hi, I've been to DW once and didn't do the Photo Pass at the time. Now I'm on the fence about it. It seems outrageously high, especially with the add-ons for the "rides/experiences." We have younger children so very few if any of the thrill rides will be ridden. Maybe two of the rides and Norway princesses are the only things we would stand to gain from the extra $50 package.

Both myself and my younger daughter are having birthdays while there. I'd like to get her pictures done while there but am having very little success at getting details...even from PhotoPass people themselves. They did tell me I could go to Downtown Disney and have them done, but they said there was no appointment time and they couldn't give me any prices. I know I can add them to the CD but if I don't want the CD, I was wondering about package prices.

Here are my main questions:
Do you think the Photopass is worth it? (I take tons of great pictures myself).

If you've used the studio at DD, was there much of a wait with all the BBB princesses coming from next door?

Did you like the pictures at the studio? Did they have any special props or backgrounds?

What kind of pricing do they have for singles vs. packages? Can I get a discount anywhere? And are these prices also good if I'd like to buy a picture or two from the park?

Thanks so much!

 

[CaryHaven]

if anyone has other suggestions for some portrait places around the area, that would be great.

 

[geek+nerd]

Have you looked at any outside photographers? There are a lot of local photographers who do amazing work. They are allowed to shoot on Disney property, just not in the parks, so you could have a photo shoot at any resort or anywhere else that isn't a park.

Usually you get more and pay less with them than you do with Disney. Personally, I recommend Randy Chapman. He was the photographer at our Disney wedding two years ago, and we plan on doing a shoot with him in two years when we go with my SIL and her husband.

If you want photographer recommendations, pop over to the Disney weddings board. Lots of brides use outside photographers because the quality with Disney is hit or miss.

If you just want a few pictures this probably wouldn't be the best route, but maybe you could turn it into a family photo session? Just a suggestion!

 

[siskaren]

If you aren't going to be riding the thrill rides (and the only non-thrill ride that has a picture is Buzz Lightyear) and the only character meal you're going to do is Akershus, then the plus option definitely wouldn't be worth it (the picture you get at Akershus is included in the price of the meal). Pre-purchasing the regular CD would only be worth it if you plan on doing a fair number of character meet and greets and/or just the regular PhotoPass photo opportunities (8 pictures would be the break even point). Since the plus option definitely wouldn't be worth it for your situation, what you could do is pre-order the regular one, and if you feel that you didn't get enough pictures to make it worth it (or don't like how they turned out), you can get a refund.

 

[CaryHaven]

Thanks to both of you. I have been looking at some outside photographers too and thanks for the referral. And Siskaren, I had no idea you could get a refund on Photopass. That makes it much easier to take a risk.

 

[sandyplayer]

Can we share a photopass with another family? We are going with cousins. We we will not be touring together the whole time, just meeting up a few times. Can we use the same photopass plus account? Can we get two copies of the same card number if so or should be just take a pic of the number and show it?

We are not doing the character meals, maybe chef Mickey, but would love all the ride pics and I am sure the other family would as well.

Will photopass be connected to magi bands in the future?

 

[gojoe]

Every time we do our family trip we get the CD, Pre-purchase. We take hundreds of pictures with our own cameras too, each of us with our own camera. I have to say the pictures we cherish the most are our group shots.
We just became freebirds (empty nesters), we have a trip this October. I'm on the fence about it, but I'm sure I will. As far as the plus I can't see the value for just the two of us. We not doing any character dining and have a ton of ride photos.

As far as I'm concerned it was money well spent. I have to add one more photo. It's so hard to believe they are off to college.

 

[cfriend416]

Can we share a photopass with another family? We are going with cousins. We we will not be touring together the whole time, just meeting up a few times. Can we use the same photopass plus account? Can we get two copies of the same card number if so or should be just take a pic of the number and show it?

You only get one PP+ card. However, anyone in your party can get a regular PP card, and when you get home, you can enter those numbers into the account with the PP+ card. That way, they will all be on the CD. For ride photos, if you do not have the PP+ card with you, you can write down the ride photo number and go back later with the PP+ card to claim it. I don't know if you can just show them or PP photographers the PP+ number. On another thread, they made it seem like you couldn't.

 

[amfie928]

I have a question....is the regular pp $169? Seems when I log on to the site that's the only price option I see. Can you order over the phone or only online?

 

[siskaren]

I have a question....is the regular pp $169? Seems when I log on to the site that's the only price option I see. Can you order over the phone or only online?

Here's the links for the pre-order deals for both the regular CD and the PhotoPass + CD:

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/specialoffers/wdwppp.htm

 

[sandyplayer]

Thanks for info about sharing

 

[amfie928]

Thanks for the link. When I want to the photopass site and clicked special offers it only gave me pp+!

 

[Cynister]

Just adding my 2 cents...IMHO if I were going to buy one, I'd buy PP+, not a regular PP CD package. Just from the simple perspective that if I'm going to drop $120 (or $170 depending upon when you buy), I'd rather spend $150 (or $200) to get the extras PP+ gives that really makes the package worth it.

PP+ is worth it if you are going to go on the rides that take photos (I'll list them below), if you are doing any character meals, if you are going to do character meet & greets for autographs, or if you want the magic shots like the poster above with the lion. Pre-ordering PP+ is $150. If you plan on going on 2 rides, 2 character meals, & getting 1 character autograph, you've just about broken even. At about $20-25 per picture if you buy them separately, doing any more than than picture wise makes the PP+ package a good deal. Plus, of course you have the flexibility to stop at any PP photographer to have them take your group shots for you with a great background.

 

[siskaren]

PP+ is worth it if you are going to go on the rides that take photos, if you are doing any character meals, if you are going to do character meet & greets for autographs, or if you want the magic shots like the poster above with the lion.

The OP stated that she's probably not going to be doing thrill rides (and Buzz Lightyear is the only non-thrill ride that offers a photo), and the only character meal she's doing is Akershus, which includes the photo package in the cost of the meal. Also, you don't need the plus option for character meet and greets and magic shots - you can get those with the regular PhotoPass CD.

 

[Cynister]

Just adding my 2 cents...IMHO if I were going to buy one, I'd buy PP+, not a regular PP CD package. Just from the simple perspective that if I'm going to drop $120 (or $170 depending upon when you buy), I'd rather spend $150 (or $200) to get the extras PP+ gives that really makes the package worth it.

PP+ is worth it if you are going to go on the rides that take photos (I'll list them below), if you are doing any character meals, if you are going to do character meet & greets for autographs, or if you want the magic shots like the poster above with the lion. Pre-ordering PP+ is $150. If you plan on going on 2 rides, 2 character meals, & getting 1 character autograph, you've just about broken even. At about $20-25 per picture if you buy them separately, doing any more than than picture wise makes the PP+ package a good deal. Plus, of course you have the flexibility to stop at any PP photographer to have them take your group shots for you with a great background.

Here's the list of what PP+ covers just for reference. My point was merely if you are going to do any 5 of those, PP+ might be worth it to you.

Walt Disney World Participating Attractions:
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Rock ‘n Roller Coaster
Expedition Everest
Dinosaur
Test Track

Walt Disney World Participating Character Dining Locations:
1900 Park Fare
Ohana (Breakfast only)
Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
Chef Mickey’s
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Tusker House Restaurant
Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

 

[Princess Leia]

I also did Pirates League with my two. They were added to the Photopass + and we were given a photo package.

 

[CaryHaven]

Thanks everyone.

On the list, has the policy changed? Because I believe CRT and Akershus photos are included in the price of the meal. We just added Cape May - but I don't think they do character shots with breakfast. I don't think Crystal Palace does either.

Thanks for all the great info!

 

[Cynister]

This is where I got the list from:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/disneys-photopass-service/new-disney-photopass/10150650931518325

 

[Princess Leia]

Thanks everyone.

On the list, has the policy changed? Because I believe CRT and Akershus photos are included in the price of the meal. We just added Cape May - but I don't think they do character shots with breakfast. I don't think Crystal Palace does either.

Thanks for all the great info!

Crystal Palace does not do photos at all. At those where photos are included anyway they will give you the photo package and add the digital copy to your Photopass +