Photopass Disneyland vs Disney World

[KCarr2000]

We went to Disney World this past Christmas for a week and just spent three days at Disneyland this past weekend. We bought photopasses for both and I thought I would share my experience. At Disney World, the photographers were plentiful. You always saw them at the icons and we were able to get these pictures during the daytime as well as after dark when they were lit up. Every time you did a meet and greet, there was a photographer. For the rides that had photos, your magic band was detected and you did not need to do anything, they just magically showed up on your account. Disneyland was a completely different story. There were three in our party and I broke off from the other two for part of the time. I did get an extra photopass card so that I could get pictures on my own and later link them, but this didn't work for the attraction photos. The only way to get attraction photos on your account is to take your original photopass to the window and give them the number from the photo you see on the screen. If you don't have your original photopass with you, you can write down the number and come back later with the original photopass. Our first day, Saturday, June 6, we arrived at DL for the extra magic hour and stayed until closing, so we were in the park for 16 hours. We saw only one photographer the whole day. I even asked a CM because I couldn't find any and was told that they would be in front of the castle and by Walt's statue. We went there and there was not a single photographer. Later in the day we did find one at this location and there was a long line. There were no photographers with the characters that day either. We spend much of the next day at CA. The photographers were much more plentiful here, sometimes they were with the characters, but not always. The photographers seemed to be a bit more available at DL on Sunday and Monday, but not near as many as we saw at DW. We did not do any character meals at DW, so I don't know about the photopass picture experience there. We did one character meal at DL and only got a single photo by the photopass photographer. I will say that the photopass was cheaper at DL, I guess you get what you pay for.....

 

[figment_jii]

It does seem like PP at DL is a little more hit-or-miss depending on the time of year. I've used it a couple of times now and I've generally had a pretty good experience. There have been PP photographers at the fixed character meet and greet locations (e.g., Princess Fantasy Faire, Pixie Hollow, A&E and Olaf, etc.). I've also run across the photographers with some of the semi-fixed character locations (e.g., Town Square). I've usually seen photographers at the Castle and near the Partner's Statue, but I haven't seen very many/any scattered at random locations throughout the park. I also saw them at the new 60th anniversary locations over the Memorial Day weekend. I've only done one character meal with PP and we had 3 (or 4) different photographs by the photographer, so maybe it depends on the photographer or which of the photos looked good.

In terms of the attraction photos, yes, we had the same experience. You have to have the card with you to have the photos added. Luckily, it was pretty easy to go back and have them add it later if you didn't have the card with you (I'd say that RSR was the hardest/most time consuming). It's worth noting that DLR doesn't use the Magic Band technology (yet) and even at WDW it's relatively new to have the photos automatically added to your account. I did like that option at WDW, so maybe someday that will also be something that comes to DLR.

 

[KCarr2000]

I did really like the magic bands and am sad to hear that they won't be deploying them at DL. There were several benefits to them. One difference I saw was that at DL, my hotel room key was linked to my credit card so I could use it to buy things in the parks and pay for meals. I did not feel very comfortable with this. At DW, my credit card was linked to my magic band, but you had to have a pin code to use it. I assume at DL they would require a photo ID, but if I lost my key, I could have very well lost my photo ID as well.

 

[figment_jii]

I did really like the magic bands and am sad to hear that they won't be deploying them at DL.

I don't think they've said that they won't be deploying Magic Bands at DLR. They just aren't here yet. I really liked the concept of the Magic Band (I wish they were a little smaller), but having to use my ticket or the PP card didn't really bother me either.

One difference I saw was that at DL, my hotel room key was linked to my credit card so I could use it to buy things in the parks and pay for meals. I did not feel very comfortable with this. At DW, my credit card was linked to my magic band, but you had to have a pin code to use it. I assume at DL they would require a photo ID, but if I lost my key, I could have very well lost my photo ID as well.

I liked the pin code as well (when it worked!), but in this way DLR is the same as WDW prior to implementing the Magic Bands. When WDW had the KTTW cards, it was the same system. You used the room key like a credit card and had to sign for things. Usually they asked for a photo ID (just like a credit card), sometimes not.

 

[AngiTN]

We just went to DL from 6/3 to 6/8 and didn't find any issues with finding photographers. I thought they were plentiful. Equal to what we find at WDW at any rate. Maybe I just have good photographer finding radar but we got several hundred pictures over our 5 park days.

I guess now that I think on it the only place we didn't see lots of them was in the lands in DL. Lots around the hub/castle/Main St areas. And of course in the 60th anniversary photo spots, with fixed character spots and at The Plaza but that's about it. I was pretty surprised they didn't have one with Pooh and Friends too.

But still we got lots of photos, both daytime and nighttime. I thought their photographers had a lot of fun with poses too. We often got 6 or 7 from a given photographer.

We did all the character meals and they all just do 1 photo before the meal. So I think 1 photo is normal. No park has photographers inside the meal with the characters, not at WDW and not at DL

 

[TechGuy]

Wow, different experience. I have used PP in the past (2010 and 2013) and have orer the PP+ for this month. I know we saw PP at the front Mickey, Main Street, walt and Mickey, Castle, Haunted Mansion, every static character M&G, Princesses, Mickey and Minnie's Houses...

OK, this page has a map of all the locations they staff with photographers. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/photo-pass-service/ The map is at the bottom of the page.

I show a total of 35 places ( some may be the stores)

 

[Jkpark]

I have used it at both WDW and DLR on a couple occasions and agree the PP seem more fixed at WDW and more hit or miss at DLR. The first time we used it at DLR was a month after CarsLand opened and they were EVERYWHERE in DCA. We saw them with more of the characters at that time, too. This most recent DLR trip (April 2015) we found them in Cars Land randomly - not consistently at 4-5 spots like in the past. We also didn't see them on the back side of GRR, or the hub area of DCA with Cathay Circle in background - or back with ToT as a background. I also noticed less of the characters having someone with them. It allowed us to get a couple group shots that are good - but it has me re-thinking doing it again on an upcoming large group trip.

 

[fantasmicfantastic]

I agree with most of the PPs that DLR PP pales in comparison to WDW; although I still use PP+

IMO, I think it is because the local demographic is so high in DLR that there is not much of an incentive to offer PP. WDW has much more tourists that are more than willing to fork out the money for PP, so essentially WDW can afford to staff more photographers. Reminder...this is my opinion and not based on any stats or facts.

 

[figment_jii]

OK, this page has a map of all the locations they staff with photographers. https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/photo-pass-service/ The map is at the bottom of the page.

The map does, to some degree, corroborate the experiences of folks on this thread. Of the 35 places listed, 14 are in DL and 21 are in DCA. Six of the DL ones are at fixed Character M&G locations (e.g., Princess Fantasy Faire, Pixie Hollow, Marvel, etc.), 1 is the PP store, 2 are at the new Diamond Anniversary back drops and the other five are the fairly common locations (Town Square, Partners, Castle, Jedi, and Train Station). I do think that depending on the time of year (e.g., holidays, Spring Break, etc.) there may be more roaming photographers out and about.

 

[cgh]

That's unfortunate. Some of my favorite photos are ones a photos photographer took of us riding Mater's ride the summer it opened. I already ordered it. If nothing else, the character meal photos cover it.

 

[alicat8]

Does anyone know if they're at the character meals outside of the park? We're doing the Surf's Up breakfast at PPH and probably the Critter one at Storyteller's...
I'm thinking there are lots at the in-park character meets and that may make it worth it, but this might push my decision over the edge.

 

[lizabu]

I did PP+ at WDW but we were staying at the Swan and didn't have magic bands. We had to go up to the counter and get our ride photos. I think this is more of a magic band vs no magic band difference than a pp+ difference.

 

[lizabu]

Does anyone know if they're at the character meals outside of the park? We're doing the Surf's Up breakfast at PPH and probably the Critter one at Storyteller's...
I'm thinking there are lots at the in-park character meets and that may make it worth it, but this might push my decision over the edge.

The PP Facebook page has a list. It looks like they participate. For me, I've already spent so much on this trip what's another 70 bucks...lol.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/disneys-photopass-service/disney-photopass/10150650931518325

 

[AngiTN]

Does anyone know if they're at the character meals outside of the park? We're doing the Surf's Up breakfast at PPH and probably the Critter one at Storyteller's...
I'm thinking there are lots at the in-park character meets and that may make it worth it, but this might push my decision over the edge.

We did Storytellers. No photos there at all. They do have one out front at Goofy's Kitchen, with Goofy. We had Surfs Up booked but ended up having to cancel it so not sure on that one

 

[peanutmomma]

It's been a couple of years since our last trip, but Surf's Up had a photo op with Mickey in beach attire before you were seated. Hopefully someone can confirm this is still the case.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

What about Mickey's Halloween party at DL? Are the PhotoPass photographers plentiful there?

 

[monsmith]

Does anyone know if they're at the character meals outside of the park? We're doing the Surf's Up breakfast at PPH and probably the Critter one at Storyteller's...
I'm thinking there are lots at the in-park character meets and that may make it worth it, but this might push my decision over the edge.

At Surf's up they take fixed pics with Lifeguard Mickey before you're seated, and they bring you a folder with printed pics while you're eating. You're on your own for the remaining characters.

 

[fantasmicfantastic]

What about Mickey's Halloween party at DL? Are the PhotoPass photographers plentiful there?

The times I have gone to the Halloween party there were way more PP photographers supporting meet and greets and photo ops than during regular business hours.

 

[TechGuy]

I do feel that some times the lack of PP at a location has to do with bio-breaks and lunch hour for the cast member. During the busier days, they seem to rotate photographers. Many of the locations seem to have more than one CM taking photos.

I have never had an issue getting a shot taken. We do make a point of getting a photo taken nearly every time we see a PP CM. It's free and it could be the best one. If the CM is not busy, you can take more than one pose and if you are nice and ask for magic, they may surprise you and take several. This one she took photos of the three us us and then did magic with just the two if use and as a family. This one also has a border added (done online).