Photopass going to $169

[Nature Mom]

Pictures off of ride-photo monitors are universally horrible. And they've added watermarks to them in recent months to many of them so if someone values one of those pics anymore, they can have at 'em.

I don't disagree with you, they are grainy and the screens cause glare, etc., but the truth of the matter is many people want that instant picture to upload to their FB (or Twitter) to show their world just how much fun they are having right that instant. Last visit when we came off Splash Mountain once, we couldn't get through the maze of people holding their cameras up to take pictures of the screen without knocking into someone. I wish all ride pictures could go straight to our Photopass account. Maybe someday.

 

[slbgnb]

We aren't going until Sept, but I just went and pre-ordered mine. It had the old prices still on the site, so if they are going up...they haven't yet. No way can I NOT have the CD. I LOVE the pictures and love adding borders and/or autographs to them. And a lot of times their pictures are way better than mine. When we were at Pixie Hollow last time, the lighting was bad and all my pictures sucked...but theirs were awesome.

 

[mesaboy2]

I wish all ride pictures could go straight to our Photopass account. Maybe someday.

I agree that would be nice, and I'm certain that's coming. For now we have to settle for just Test Track.

 

[grandmadebby2]

I've never done Photopass but have seriously considered it for our upcoming trip. I noticed a few weeks ago that it's really, really rare for all of us to be in the photo.
Regarding ride photos, do these get put on your Photopass CD or are those a separate purchase?
Thanks!

As far as I know only TestTrack can be put on your photopass CD. Last time we were there I wanted the Splash Mountain photo on my photopass and the CM told me they couldn't do it yet but thoought it was in the works.

We did purchase one of the Splash Mountain pictures in 2006. Our family took up an entire boat and we were the only ones in the picture. It is one of my favorite shots, and the only time my middle daughter has ever road it. She hates the drop.

 

[GlendaO]

Thanks! It would be great if they were included but I'm still thinking it would be nice to have us all together for a change

 

[mickeyscoloradogirl]

Thanks to the heads-up on FB I just preordered my photopass for our June trip! This is a must have for me because it's the only way I ever get in any of the pictures!

 

[Tiger926]

I don't find that Photopass is worth it, especially now since many of us have the same or better quality cameras.

I understand that it allows for whole families to be in the picture, but there are other ways to ensure that too.

The CMs who work for Photopass are not trained photographers - in all of the years we have been going, we have only met 2 retired photographers. The rest are regular CMs who seem to be quickly trained, so I don't think they are getting paid that well at all. In fact, several have told us as much, but they do the job because they are trying to break into the photography field.

I think Disney knows that people will still purchase it, and thus the cost hike. Just like with the DP - lots of people still purchase it, despite its high cost.

I do agree that if the cost were maybe lower, you might have more people purchasing it, but I don't think it's a super popular product to many regular Disney goers, and so I'm sure the price increase won't matter that much in terms of lost sales, and for people who want it, they will more than likely still purchase the CD regardless of the price hike anyway.

Tiger

 

[TexasMouseFan]

Can you pre-order more than 1 cd? I have 2 trips planned this year and would like to pre-order for both trips. TIA.

 

[schmcktgt]

To answer an earlier question: it should be OK to purchase the CD now for a later trip. from the pre-purchase fine print "While the pre-ordered credit has no expiration date, your photos will expire based on the DisneyPhotoPass.com storage policy"

We did photopass for our last trip and it was totally worth it! We got some great shots and even stock photos from Epcot's Flower & Garden (including the fairies) and characters dressed in safari gear at Animal Kingdom. They were great additions to our scrapbooks. At the $99 prepurchase price, it's a must do for our upcoming trip. At the full price, I would have to seriously think about it. And would probably give in. At the higher price soon to come, maybe not.

 

[DISFANSHAN]

Nothing is mentioned on their Facebook announcement about the pre-order price increasing....do you think that they would just increase that price along with the regular price, without announcing it?

Another poster also asked, and I wanted to know also, can you pre-order more than one at a time? We have 3 trips planned this year....

 

[DisneyDreamingInMI]

So if you order in advance. Where to do you get the photos' printed/?? ALso, has anybody ordered the book as well and if so what are your thoughts?

Once you have the PhotoPass CD or digital download, you can have the photos printed at any photo lab - Shutterfly, Target, etc. A limited license agreement is included with the pictures so you should have no problem having them printed.

I cannot comment on the photobook, because I just completed it and have not yet received it. But I can say that I was really impressed with the program used to create the photobook. It gives you as much or as little creative freedom as you want in terms of backgrounds, borders, picture frames, text, etc.

 

[smitch425]

Nothing is mentioned on their Facebook announcement about the pre-order price increasing....do you think that they would just increase that price along with the regular price, without announcing it?

Another poster also asked, and I wanted to know also, can you pre-order more than one at a time? We have 3 trips planned this year....

I tagged the photopass FB page in my post, so hopefully they will see it and respond to the preorder price question and my other questions, too.

As for ordering more than one credit, I don't see why you couldn't. Just try it and see if it will work. Be sure to report back either way. Good luck!

 

[rachellm]

I don't find that Photopass is worth it, especially now since many of us have the same or better quality cameras.

I understand that it allows for whole families to be in the picture, but there are other ways to ensure that too.

The CMs who work for Photopass are not trained photographers - in all of the years we have been going, we have only met 2 retired photographers. The rest are regular CMs who seem to be quickly trained, so I don't think they are getting paid that well at all. In fact, several have told us as much, but they do the job because they are trying to break into the photography field.

Tiger

I agree.

I can't see paying that price unless they make improvements to the system. In general when I took pictures standing next to the photopass photograher, mine was SIGNIFICANTLY better. I mean a very noticable quality difference.

And we had trouble even finding photographers! This was in July but I'd say only 30%ish of the characters had photograhers with them. Than they'd have the photographers at the main entrance points, and that was it.

 

[kristie73]

How many photos do you usually have taken on the photopass? I used the photopass before in Disneyland, but we only had 4 or 5 pictures taken. I ended up just ordering 3 of the pictures. So it wouldn't have been worth it to buy the whole CD.

We'll be there 5 days in the parks and I'll have my camera too. When the photopass photographer takes your picture with a character there is usually a CM there too that take your picture with your own camera. So how do you decide it's worth it to buy the photopass CD? Especially if you're preordering?

 

[slbgnb]

I usually have well over 100 pictures on my photopass. I usually go in September when is's much less crowded, but there are photographers everywhere!!! And, I suck at taking night time pictures...but they'll be set up in front of castle with huge flashes and tripods...those are nice. Plus, I like the magic Tink and Mickey ones. I'm a pictures snob and have over 50 scrapbooks....but have always been VERY please with my photopass pictures.

Also, for those going 2 or 3 times...is it possible that you save your photopass cards until your LAST trip and then put them all on the SAME pre-ordered CD????

 

[Steph2527]

I'm going to WDW in October, is there a limit on how far in advance you can pre-order the cd? If you change your mind about needing the CD, can u get a refund? Does the cancellation on the pre-order need to be before your trip?

 

[smitch425]

I'm going to WDW in October, is there a limit on how far in advance you can pre-order the cd? If you change your mind about needing the CD, can u get a refund? Does the cancellation on the pre-order need to be before your trip?

You can preorder now, but you can only get a refund within 90 days of ordering the credit, so if you do it now, you will not get your money back if you decide you didn't want it.

 

[juliehoey]

Once you have the PhotoPass CD or digital download, you can have the photos printed at any photo lab - Shutterfly, Target, etc. A limited license agreement is included with the pictures so you should have no problem having them printed.

I cannot comment on the photobook, because I just completed it and have not yet received it. But I can say that I was really impressed with the program used to create the photobook. It gives you as much or as little creative freedom as you want in terms of backgrounds, borders, picture frames, text, etc.

I did order the $149 for last year and I love the book. I am ordering it again this year for August before the March 21 price increase on the CD. Who knows, they may raise the package price as well!

 

[smitch425]

I usually have well over 100 pictures on my photopass. I usually go in September when is's much less crowded, but there are photographers everywhere!!! And, I suck at taking night time pictures...but they'll be set up in front of castle with huge flashes and tripods...those are nice. Plus, I like the magic Tink and Mickey ones. I'm a pictures snob and have over 50 scrapbooks....but have always been VERY please with my photopass pictures.

Also, for those going 2 or 3 times...is it possible that you save your photopass cards until your LAST trip and then put them all on the SAME pre-ordered CD????

You have 30 days to claim your photos and 30 days to edit, so your trips would have to be pretty close together to put them all on one cd.

 

[RobertLC]

We're going to WDW on March 31.

I pre-ordered my PhotoPass CD last week and sent the link to a coworker who is going to WDW at the same time we are, and oddly enough staying in the same resort.

I told her about the price increase and she said she had pre-ordered her CD last night.

So we both saved more money!