Photopass enough?

[metrosuperstar]

Im starting to debate whether I should bring my camera to WDW at all. I cant imagine that PhotoPass would be sufficient to capture a memorable first trip with my daughter...I mean, what about taking pictures at the resorts, or the minor parks, or the restaurants? Seems to me Photopass will be limited to pics inside the 4 major parks only. is this correct?

 

[alan]

I couldn't imagine going to WDW without a camera... But then again, I have a lovely little Canon Ixus that lives in a little pouch on my belt... I don't even go out to empty the trash without a camera

regards,
/alan

 

[ibela]

The resort, her on rides, unexpected character interactions (or anything unplanned), travel to and from WDW - definitely take your own camera!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Take a camera PLEASE! There are soooo many opportunities for pictures and there just aren't that many photopass photogs around. They're in the tents and places like that, but a lot of the character interaction takes place outside at the hub, etc. and there aren't any photogs there. You'll also want pool pictures, pictures at DTD, at character meals....

 

[mcraige]

ALWAYS take a camera with you. We have lots of pics of my DD over the years, sleeping on the bus, in the restaurant, in a stroller during the parades. You just won't get pics like this with the PP.

 

[Wild Rider]

Definitely take your own camera. Some of my favorite shots are candids of my girls smiling, not because they're posing with a character, but because they're having a great time on Dumbo, or the teacups, or just because they're at Disney. You're the only one who can get shots like that.

Also, sometimes the Disney photographers get scarce. It started to rain early in the MNSSHP we went to, and they packed up and left. We never found one to take a picture of all of us in our costumes.

 

[musclemouse]

Absolutely bring your camera! Can never have enough Disney pictures. Never know what to expect and where!

 

[aliceinwdr]

Definitely take your own camera - I am glad we had four people taking pictures, We did Photopass and tried to get as much value of it as possible - but now I am having EXTREME difficulty with them and I never got my promotion code for my pre-paid CD and after several e-mail with guest service - I still can't get my photos on my $100 CD I paid for.

But - there are NO photopass photographers in the character meals - so that is a must - and some of the walk up characters don't have them either. We never saw any in the lands in Epcot either.

Photopass was nice because I was usually alone with my daughter in line while everyone else rode rides - so juggling autograph books - pens - toddlers - it was nice. We also did photos at Blizzard beach where they had photographers everywhere including the wave pool - leave the camera in the room then. Oh - if I could only get my CD.

I do recommend - The Princess Dinner at Akerhaus in Norway - my DD 3 was dressed up like Snow White - and we got a photo with Belle and the keepsake photos come with the price of dinner and you take them home with you there. It was worth it just for the pictures - and contrary to other stories - the food really was good!

 

[distherapy]

Adding to the chorus - photopass is great and handy, but I would never rely on them for everything!

 

[Tanzanite]

Hi i was glad to have the photopass i had a lot of problems with my expensive d80 Nikon camera it is complicated to use .Ihad some blurry pictures and the photopass pictures were great i ended with 1800 plus with borders added. I thought when i brought camera it was easy even on Auto needs adjustments. Ihate it i will buy point & shoot next trip.

 

[mousemommamegan]

DEFINATELY bring your own camera. . . can not stress that enough....I love photopass and use it every trip, it is great but they can not catch the candid and unexpected moments that are the one's you will rememeber. You also can't always rely on Photopass pictures to turn out well, a few are awesome, some are good, others ok, and some, like those on your own camera, just plain bad. Photopass is AWESOME for evening photos of your entire group (they use tripods and can really catch the lights, particulary on the castle and at HS)...but think of your camera as the American Express card, DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!

Moment's I've caught that Photopass would not have - my daughter's face as she saw Tink fly from the castle . . .my daughter and her brother holding hands approaching Space Mountain, my son hiding under the table at CRT while Jasmine bent down to give him a kiss...hundreds more...so many awesome memories where there are no photopass people to be found . . .

BRING YOUR CAMERA!

 

[Joanna71985]

I would definitely bring a camera. PhotoPass isn't everywhere, and you will want your camera for the little moments too.

 

[tassma]

Has anyone else had problems with blurry photopass photos. we relied on photopass photogs during the PPP last year and all the photos were worthless. Complete bummer

 

[Raenstoirm]

You need your own camera.

 

[Tx_Belle]

Definitely, definitely, definitely pack a camera.

Definitely.

Those first WDW memories can never be appropriately captured when a stranger is taking the pics.

Kristin

 

[Girldreamer02]

Take your own camera! There is so much awesome stuff to take pics of at disney and don't forget that the photopass photogs will take pictures with your camera too! We took over 1600 pictures last year at disney. We are big into photography though so that was part of the reason. That didn't include the photo pass pics we got. As previous people said some characters don't have photo pass people with them so you'll want your camera.

 

[Ronni]

Most definitely take your own camera. Between my husband and me, plus our iPhones, we had five cameras! LOL. I take tons of pictures anyway, and I always have a camera with me because I NEVER know when a photo-op will come up. (Just last week, I randomly got to meet LL Cool J b/c he was signing autographs right downstairs from where I work--SO GLAD I had my camera!). You most definitely want one of your own for Disney!

 

[tam626]

Yes, take your own camera. There were times when I could'nt find a photopass photographer.

 

[coontzy]

we just returned 10/24, there were many times that photo pass photographers weren't around, so bring your camera for sure. On the photo pass page there are also "official disney world photos" can you add these to your cd also?

 

[claryche]

TAKE YOUR OWN CAMERA. We just got back and I am so upset at some of the photopass pictures. I can't tell you how many times they took pictures of my DS with his eyes closed. Thank God, I had my own camera and took pictures too. In most cases I got a picture of him with his eyes open. The quality of the pictures are not nearly as good as they were just a year ago. I'll still get the cd, since there are enough pictures that it is worth getting it, but I was just shocked at how many of the pictures were awful. And not only did we have closed eyes, we also had so many pictures, where my DS wasn't even looking at the camera or the picture was blurry.

SO TAKE YOUR OWN CAMERA and never rely on the Photopass people to take good pictures. Take it yourself.