Last time I went to
Disneyland (10+ years ago!) they didn't have this.
What exactly is it??
Photographers are around the park taking your picture, then you get them on a CD at the end of the trip? Am I close? LOL How much does it cost?
Okay, first of all, here is a link to our "Photopass Poses: the Cheesier the Better" thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1954446
TIP: Because many of the PP locations change (especially as all the work on DCA is being done), and because some of the online lists on websites may not be totally updated, my suggestion for browsing that thread is to
start at the very end/last page of our "Photopass Poses: the Cheesier the Better" thread and work your way backward. If you start at the beginning of the thread, you will see some poses or magic shots that are no longer available. If you start at the end and work backward, you will see the things that are more current and available first. Some of the photographers will not tell you about certain magic shots they can do or certain poses that are fun to do, so you always have to kind of know what your options are and ask them to do the poses or magic shots you want.
In Post #1 of this Photopass-related thread (link below), Justkeepswimmin compiled a list of locations where you might find photographers:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1764912
Allears also has a list of locations, but don't know if it is current:
http://allears.net/dlr/tp/dl-ppass.htm
TIP: I also suggest you become a 'fan' of Photopass on Facebook (they are listed under "Disney's PhotoPass Service" or something like that). They will send out little updates or posts that inform you of special discounts on CDs or other items, and sometimes the discounts are exclusive to Facebook members.
All right, so let's say you arrive at DLR and you want to start taking PhotoPass pictures. You need to start by get a handy PhotoPass card (which is free). You can get that from any PP photographer,
or you can pick one up at any of the DLR hotels. Every person in your group can also get a card, but if you want to keep everyone's photos on the same PP account, you make sure to collect all the cards at the end of the trip and enter in the corresponding code numbers into one account. If different people use their cards to create separate accounts, then everyone will have to pay separately for their CDs, etc.
The PP photographers generally wear dark blue pants or dark blue shorts, and they tend to have khaki vests on as well. So you see a photographer in the dark blue pants/shorts by the floral Mickey at the entrance to DL, for example. You go over and wait in the line, if there is a line, either get your card(s) from that photographer OR give him a card which you have already obtained. You ask him/her what "magic shots" or which special poses are available.
TIP: Be as open-minded and as flexible as possible. Tell him/her that you will do anything wacky. Sometimes they expect adults to be restrained and not all that fun, so they don't have them doing the really goofy stuff that makes for the best photos. Be willing to get silly, let your hair down, make ridiculous faces, point up and look like a fool, point down and look like a fool, put your hands on your hips, look sleepy, look shocked, look like you are about to be run over by a train, etc., etc. Let your inner child out to play!!
TIP: After your photos are taken, the photographers scan a little sensor thing on the card and will hand you back your card(s). Either write down the code number from the back of the card OR take a photo of it, tattoo it on your hand, whatever.
It's not so much the cards themselves that are important as it is the numbers ON the cards. You will need those numbers on the cards in case the cards get lost or stolen. This way, you will still be able to get online and view the photos and make purchases with the numbers even if you don't have the cards.
TIP: Have the photographers take photos with your cameras too, as back-ups. Even though they will not be able to do the "magic shots" on your own cameras, and even if their photos will probably be a little bit better than ones taken with standard cameras, you don't want to risk missing out on a priceless photo in case something goes wrong. One picture with Mickey on your camera is better than no picture with Mickey because the PhotoPass Mickey picture was lost forever in their 'system.'
TIP: So you just keep taking the same card(s) around to every photographer you see and would like to stop at. If you are at DLR for multiple days, don't hesitate to visit the same PhotoPass locations over and over again during the course of the whole trip. You never know - Monday's pose by the floral Mickey may be better than Saturday's floral Mickey photo. Sunday morning's photo by the Partners statue in DL may be better than Tuesday morning's pose at the same location. The nighttime photo by the Golden Gate Bridge in DCA may be better than the daytime shot you took at the same location earlier that morning. Don't be afraid to take as many photos in the same spots as possible - redundant though it may seem. Experiment as much as possible to get that 'golden' shot!! You pay the same $59.95 price for the CD whether you have 20 pictures on it or 2000 photos on it - so the more photos you get on the account, the better!!!
TIP: You may want to stop in at one of the locations in DL or DCA where you can glance at your photos before you leave to see if it appears that anything is missing. Let's say you took a great picture sitting on a bench with Mickey. You don't see it? You can ask a CM to check their system for it right there, using your description of the date and approximate time and location it was taken, what you were wearing, and any other pertinent details, and they can find it for you!!
So now you're home. You have had a fun-filled trip to DLR and you have collected all the PhotoPass cards from everyone in the group. You have
30 days from when the very first photo on the account was taken to create an account, enter in the card numbers and claim your pictures. You go onto the PhotoPass website and create your account. You enter in all the numbers from each card you collected at DLR and you will be able to view all of your photos online. You can also share them via email with family and friends at no charge.
Once you have created the account and claimed your photos on the PhotoPass website,
you have an additional 30 days to purchase a CD or whatever else you want to buy. This gives you time to edit.
TIP: Utilize all of the borders and enhancements available to you on the PhotoPass website. Some borders work better with certain photos. Some photos look spectacular in black and white with a certain border, while another one might look better cropped and close-up with no border. Try out all the borders and experiment with as many edits or tweaks as you can handle. Get the most out of the $59.95 you will spend on the CD by getting as many photos taken as possible and editing all of them as much as possible.
You will pay $59.95 plus $2.00 shipping for the CD if you live in the U.S., but the shipping price will be a bit higher if you live out of the U.S. And, as I said, keep an eye out for discounts posted on the PhotoPass website or on Facebook!
Have fun!!
