Photopass - how does it work?

[Jen12573]

I'm heading to WDW with DH in January, and I received an email offering a discount on pre-purchasing the Photopass CD. I'm interested in purchasing the CD for $99.95, from what I can see.

My question, and I can't seem to find it through 'search': How does the Photopass work?

Say I'm in MK and I approach a photographer to take our photo, is it there where they give me a card that I'll present to all other photographers at other locations so we keep track of our photos, and then when we're back home I get the photos on the CD by entering the card # I received at WDW on the Photopass site?

Sorry if that was a confusing way to ask the question... also if this is on the wrong board, please feel free to move it. Thanks!

 

[Nadjalu]

Yes the first photographer will give you a photopass card that they scan when taking your picture. Then every other photographer you have take your picture you give them that card.
It is very simple. There is a id number on the back that you use to track your photos.

 

[Jen12573]

Yes the first photographer will give you a photopass card that they scan when taking your picture. Then every other photographer you have take your picture you give them that card.
It is very simple. There is a id number on the back that you use to track your photos.

Thanks so much. So basically my pre-paying now will get me this discount for the CD I'll get after making edits to the photos on the Photopass site? Cool, clearly I am all sorts of confused today!

 

[worm761]

Yes you have it right. And don't forget that if you leave your photopass card in the room, you can always get another one. And just a tip, take a picture of the number on the back of any cards you get in case you lose the card. You just never know and it really sucks to lose all your pics. Have fun and remember to take a ton of pics!

 

[Jen12573]

What a great idea about taking a photo of the number on the photopass card, I wouldn't have thought of doing that. Thanks for the suggestions - off we go in 16 days! I can't wait!!

 

[bradk]

see your PMs, i've given you a link to a page about the PhotoPass system filled with information that most don't know about until after their trip.

this is only the very tip of a very large iceberg.

 

[Jen12573]

Thanks Brad - I'm off to read up on it now.

 

[KateMW]

Thanks for this thread, but Photopass was my next WDW to figure out. FP took a long time, so I'm hoping Photopass is easier.

My question is that I booked through a travel agent, so I'm not going to get the discount email am I? How much is the CD full price? Do I still do the pictures the same way, as in get a card with my first pictures?

Also, where do you get pictures taken? Are there photographers at the character meals?

Thanks!

 

[bradk]

You CAN get the discount. See your PM.

 

[KateMW]

You CAN get the discount. See your PM.

Thanks! I'm off to read!

 

[MNTwinsMom]

A few tips from our recent photopass experience. . .

We spent 5 days in the parks on our vacation earlier this month and ended up with 110 photopass pictures from those 5 days. The photopass photographers are not difficult to find, but I did quite a bit of research ahead of time to make sure we got our moneys worth out of the CD. Check out the Definitive Guide on stitchkingdom.com for a great explaination of the system as well as the photopass location thread on this board.

We found most photographers would only do a basic shot unless we asked for more, so if it wasn't a busy location (main entrances) we would ask the photographers to do multiple shots (whole family, kids only, etc.) and/or magic shots (Tinkerbell in your hand, Mickey next to you on a bench, Stitch popping through the pavement, holding Baby Simba, etc.). I'm so glad we asked because those non-standard shots are some of our favorites. Also, the photographers in the less busy areas (for example, outside of the Animation Bldg at DHS, Sunset Blvd at DHS and the exit from the Safaris at AK) were happy to spend lots of time with us and take lots of shots.

If you want a great shot of your family with the castle find the photographer on the walkway from Tomorrowland - our pics from there turned out much better then the ones from the hub near the Partners statue because there are no other people in the background.

Also, if you get character photos be sure to tell the photographer you bought the CD and woud like to have additional photos of the character interaction - that way they'll capture the greetings, hugs and autograph signings, etc. in addition to the standard posed shot.

I pre-bought the CD and also pre-registered the photopass card that came with my Disney Destinations packet. That way, even if I"d lost that card my photos would have already been attached to my account. Another plus to using the card they sent us was it had our name on it. I added a label with my cell phone number and resort just in case it did get lost. As others have said, make sure you write down or take a pic of our photopass number(s).

If you'd like to see your photos before returning home and don't have a computer/internet with you, stop in a camera center in any of the parks or some of the resorts (GF, WL and a few others) and they can pull up the pictures. This is especially helpful if you want to know if a certain shot turned out so you can try to re-do it.

When you get home you can edit, add borders, change size, etc. before ordering the CD.

Have a Great Trip!

 

[Jen12573]

These are all terrific tips, thank you.

Last question from me - is it worth it to purchase the Photopass if it's just me and DH? I ask only because we've had the photographers take a few photos of us using our own camera... thoughts?

Thanks again!

 

[Khill]

Brad,

I would like that information, if it is not to much trouble.

Thanks

 

[LONES]

Brad,
I would also like the information on how to get the discount if you booked through a travel agent. I'm not very computer literate, and wasn't sure how to send a "pm".

thanks,
Karla

 

[vicki_c]

www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass probably answers everything you ever wanted to know (and more).

 

[rgrutland]

Okay, I have read over the stitcheskingdom.com pages on the photopass and i can't seem to find out when the CD expires? I am doing a photo share, so does CD expire 30 days after the check-in of the person purchasing the CD? Or 30 days after the CD is ordered? Should we not order it before we leave? But we want to take advantage of the discount?

I don't know why this is so confusing to me!

Thanks,
Robyn

 

[bradk]

there is no expiration on the pre-purchase, but keep in mind it's meant only for the person receiving it.

 

[rgrutland]

there is no expiration on the pre-purchase, but keep in mind it's meant only for the person receiving it.

Once you make the pre-purchase, how much time do you have to edit your pictures? And when does the clock start ticking? That is what I am confused about.

Thanks again!

 

[bradk]

the pre-purchase date doesn't factor into it.

you have 30 days from the time a photo is taken to view it online. once the photo is viewed online, you have 30 days until it's deleted.

extensions can be purchased as needed.

 

[SweetPeasMom2]

I'm assuming that you only get the discount if you pay before going to the parks? I hadn't intended on photopass but they photographer at the Fairies started taking our pictures, gave us the card and we kept using them.