Photopass in DLR

[IAmElsan]

If Disney finds they have more people clogging up lines with their own cameras (without buying their product as well), it's their own fault for getting greedy. They could have had a hefty little price increase and still had a viable product. It's just a complete non starter now. Going from $69 to $200 is just insane.

This!
I don't see why they couldn't have hiked the price up a bit like they did with their park tickets.
Honestly if I'm in the park 4-5 days I would gladly pay an increase to the price vs having to pay per day because it IS a great deal which IMO no longer is a deal.
If one wanted to make the most of a day PP they would have to squeeze in all character meet and greets, a character meal AND the photo rides in both DLR and CA. Can it be done? Quite possibly but it'd be quite the mad dash all day and for a family with little ones it would be hard to accomplish...just wish Disney would think sometimes before they make these rash decisions of price differences....

 

[mom2rtk]

To clarify I have not paid the daily cost of the PP+. I am imaging this from the perspective of a person who is spending anywhere from $39 - $200+ for the service of having photographers take family photos.

As mom2rtk just posted, people are annoyed at Disney and are saying it's their fault but the people who will bear the brunt of the ire for Disney's cash grab at least in the short term are those that still want to buy the pass because of the service it provides. Eventually it might hit Disney in the pocketbook but they might turn to limiting personal camera use if they find the product isn't selling vs. decreasing or repackaging the product.

I think everyone can agree that the pricing of the Pass is very high, so if you are willing to paying top dollar for a product then there should be a clear difference between what you are paying for and what others are getting for free. I don't think that is unreasonable and I think it's comparable to the dining package model.

And I have paid for the service. Every trip we have had since they rolled it out. This will be our first without it.

And no, we don't need one more thing in the parks that is split out into tiers of "haves" and "have nots". Just line up and take your photos. Photopass always takes one on their camera before taking one on yours. You won't know who in line is buying and who isn't. Because the product is generally purchased AFTER the fact, many of the people in line won't decide until they get home and look at the shots on their computers.

 

[lorijohnhill]

When you purchase the PP+, or the daily whatever it's called now, you are not paying for the services of the photographer. That service is provided to all guests for free. What you are paying for is the photos. Disney is providing a photographer with a professional quality camera. You get to buy those photos if you'd like. If you have brought a professional quality camera with you, they will use it to take pictures that are yours to keep, since they reside on your equipment. If you want what is on their equipment, you have to pay the price they are asking. The service of taking the shots is free either way. The service itself is not the product.

 

[sherilaine]

So no border even when you purchase a la carte on the website??

There is no ability to add borders online - I believe there may be an option to do this if you review your pictures at one of the photo shops in either DL or DCA though.

 

[sweethannah]

The difference between your comment and mine is the mere fact you clearlly imply that those who "paid" for a service should be entitled to push aside and not have to wait like those in line who are getting a "free" service. Doesn't make any sense when those who paid for the original PP+ (as I did last year when I was there) still wait in the same line for photos that the others who didn't have the PP+ do.

This service being paid for is hardly like a dining reservation, that's a poor comparison since the PP+ doesn't give you a priority nor does it get you to the front of the photo line. The "privelage" with the previous PP+ is all the professional pictures/ride pictures/character meal pictures in one convenient location without having to lug around a good personal camera to get nice shots for memories or having to pick and choose which photos to purchase if you can't afford to buy them all...

Didn't realize asking a photographer to take pictures with a good camera as well as my phone is being "entitled" as I'll be waiting in the SAME line with others who have this new photo pass. It would be no different being behind a large group of friends who all have a phone and/or camera and request pictures with each of their cameras/phones vs. ONE person with one camera and one phone asking for photos on both. Lines are long anyways and I'm sure the few extra seconds it takes to snap a few extra pictures isn't going to be the end of the world for those who feel because they have the PP that they shouldn't have to wait for those who didn't purchase that service.

I'm lucky to have a good camera to get great photos that are comparable to the ones that the photographers would take with their own cameras they have on them. I by all means had no quelms paying the original PP+ price for multi day photos as it was a super deal but to have to pay daily now?? Pardon me for thinking this is another way for Disney to rip people off over something that wasn't broken to begin with.

I never said 'push aside', that implies a level of aggressiveness I did not mean. Please don't put words in my mouth. I said wait, 'wait' actually. Perhaps the PP+ should give you priority or a way to be recognized as somebody who has paid for a service vs somebody that hasn't. Would that be fair? It might not be entitled to ask the photographer to take lots of photos with your camera, your cellphone but I don't think it's entitled to expect a separation of service between those who pay and those who don't.

Again, I haven't purchase the PP daily plan because I lucked out and got the pass for the multiday before they stopped offering it so I am simply arguing this from a regular customer pov.

When you purchase the PP+, or the daily whatever it's called now, you are not paying for the services of the photographer. That service is provided to all guests for free. What you are paying for is the photos. Disney is providing a photographer with a professional quality camera. You get to buy those photos if you'd like. If you have brought a professional quality camera with you, they will use it to take pictures that are yours to keep, since they reside on your equipment. If you want what is on their equipment, you have to pay the price they are asking. The service of taking the shots is free either way. The service itself is not the product.

This is well explained and I appreciated the distinction however the photographers are called Disney PhotoPass Photographers. It's a service Disney provides to take photos with their equipment and load it onto your pass. You can or can not buy the photos after the fact but the service(imo anyway) is photography, the optional product is the photos. The fact that they will use your personal camera is a nice touch. Disney photogs get an hourly wage but I'm sure there are some checks and balances in place to verify what photos they've taken get purchased.

Anyway my comment wasn't meant to garner such a big debate. I think a lot of ppl are hyper-sensitive to this change and just want to stick it to the 'man' and playing devils advocate has just riled people up.

 

[wench]

Depending on the length of the trip you're taking & the number of people in your party, buying an AP to get unlimited PP isn't always a bad decision. Only one person in your party needs to have it to get all of the photos. So, only one person would need to pay for the AP. Add to that the great food & merch discounts you get with an AP at DLR & you could actually save money in the end.

 

[AussieCaribou]

Aloha,

Disney has also stopped their Photopass memories...no more calendars, scrap books, etc...which is greatly discouraging. Using our family and photopass pixs, I made calendars for my wife and children. I also made a 60 page book of the trip. An outstanding memory collection. As of today, no more.

Oh my goodness. I can't believe that they have taken them away! I hadn't gone that far along to see that I can't use their service...that I will have to go to another site to do it (and not have the cool cover!).

 

[AussieCaribou]

There is no ability to add borders online - I believe there may be an option to do this if you review your pictures at one of the photo shops in either DL or DCA though.

So, if I were to go into the photo shop at DL, I can look at my photos? Do I have to buy them there and then? Or can I still get them once I get home? It's a lot easier to download them from home (Australia) than trying to not lose a thumb drive/CD on the way home.

Now there's a thought. Can you get the CD's of your photos any longer?

 

[sherilaine]

You can call it service, you can call it product, but right now all it is is expensive. As I said before I noticed the photographers were very eager to take pictures with our own cameras - it was almost as if they had been directed to do this due to the backlash or outcry for the change in the product. I would take the luck of having ordered the PP+ super far in advance before it was discontinued and enjoy it though as it's likely never to be seen again!

So, if I were to go into the photo shop at DL, I can look at my photos? Do I have to buy them there and then? Or can I still get them once I get home? It's a lot easier to download them from home (Australia) than trying to not lose a thumb drive/CD on the way home.

Now there's a thought. Can you get the CD's of your photos any longer?

No, they no longer provide CDs. If you want to add a border you have to do so at the photo shop and yes, buy the printed photo right there, there is no ability to add borders digitally - so you won't have a digital copy of the photo you buy with the border.

Very much lesser of a product!

 

[mom2rtk]

They are eager to take photos with your own camera because they also take photos with THEIR cameras. Photographers want to take your photos, even if you profess not to want to buy any, because a certain number of people will indeed buy theirs when they see the shots.

Just know going into it that their best work will obviously be on their cameras. They typically snap one quick shot on yours, and don't be shocked if they cut off your head or feet. Check your shot before you leave.

 

[sherilaine]

Depending on the length of the trip you're taking & the number of people in your party, buying an AP to get unlimited PP isn't always a bad decision. Only one person in your party needs to have it to get all of the photos. So, only one person would need to pay for the AP. Add to that the great food & merch discounts you get with an AP at DLR & you could actually save money in the end.

Only the top two APs have photopass plus included - and the cheapest one is $849 which is $514 more than a 5 day park hopper.

They are eager to take photos with your own camera because they also take photos with THEIR cameras. Photographers want to take your photos, even if you profess not to want to buy any, because a certain number of people will indeed buy theirs when they see the shots.

Just know going into it that their best work will obviously be on their cameras. They typically snap one quick shot on yours, and don't be shocked if they cut off your head or feet. Check your shot before you leave.

This is not always true - we have excellent shots they took on our camera. In comparison between the photos they took for us and the ones we had on our account - there was no difference in quality at all. But I agree in checking their work before you leave as you can ask them to re-take - I honestly found them very helpful and they took multiple shots for us with our own cameras. Talking 4 people each with their own phone type business - and my DD had to have hers taking using snapchat and they knew all about that! You can add Disneyland borders to snap chap photos so they actually encouraged that.

 

[mom2rtk]

This is not true - we have excellent shots they took on our camera. In comparison between the photos they took for us and the ones we had on our account - there was no difference in quality at all.

I'm glad it has worked out for you. We have had many great shots from Photopass photographers. Sorry to imply that we haven't. But we've done Photopass trips probably 15 times. And on balance, I still say that many of them just snap quick with your camera to get it done and say they did. Still, a number of good shots though. But in my overall experience, their effort clearly (and probably rightly) goes into the shots on their cameras. That's not to say they purposely set out to ruin your shots or anything.

 

[monorailrabbit]

If Disney finds they have more people clogging up lines with their own cameras (without buying their product as well), it's their own fault for getting greedy. They could have had a hefty little price increase and still had a viable product. It's just a complete non starter now. Going from $69 to $200 is just insane.

I do hope that if this indeed becomes the case, Disney doesn't say "no more personal cameras, it's PP or nothing." That would be dreadful!

They are eager to take photos with your own camera because they also take photos with THEIR cameras. Photographers want to take your photos, even if you profess not to want to buy any, because a certain number of people will indeed buy theirs when they see the shots.

Just know going into it that their best work will obviously be on their cameras. They typically snap one quick shot on yours, and don't be shocked if they cut off your head or feet. Check your shot before you leave.

This. I have had some wonderful candid shots taken with my own camera, especially in Epcot, but it seems like a good chunk of them are not so swell. We have had a bunch that are out of focus, oddly cropped, etc. This is why we always opted for PP+. I absolutely believe some try a bit harder with their own equipment....

 

[wench]

Only the top two APs have photopass plus included - and the cheapest one is $849 which is $514 more than a 5 day park hopper.



This is not always true - we have excellent shots they took on our camera. In comparison between the photos they took for us and the ones we had on our account - there was no difference in quality at all. But I agree in checking their work before you leave as you can ask them to re-take - I honestly found them very helpful and they took multiple shots for us with our own cameras. Talking 4 people each with their own phone type business - and my DD had to have hers taking using snapchat and they knew all about that! You can add Disneyland borders to snap chap photos so they actually encouraged that.

Yes, they are expensive, but that is why I said it depends on your length of stay a group size as to whether or not it makes sense. It won't make sense for everyone. But for some people it's an option to consider. Especially if PP means enough to someone that they're actually considering the $39/day.

 

[Nintfamily]

I am so glad I purchased a photopass plus last summer. Normally I wait, but now I am really glad I didn't! I emailed them to ask about them still honoring it and they said they would, I just wouldn't get the CD.

 

[mom2elal]

Wow, this is really disappointing! We're taking our longest DL trip ever this summer (4 days) and I was looking forward to getting PP+ for the first time. There's no way we'll do it the way it is now.

 

[sweethannah]

I am so glad I purchased a photopass plus last summer. Normally I wait, but now I am really glad I didn't! I emailed them to ask about them still honoring it and they said they would, I just wouldn't get the CD.

Are you sure you won't be getting the CD? I'll have to call as well, I just assumed you'd get the CD as before.

 

[Nintfamily]

Are you sure you won't be getting the CD? I'll have to call as well, I just assumed you'd get the CD as before.

Yes, when I emailed them in a panic, they said they would honor it as normal, but no fun borders, and no CD's. I can download all of them and burn them to a CD myself. I am seriously glad I got it as this is my nephew's first trip to Disneyland and I want as many photos as possible! I am not the best photographer. :/

 

[sweethannah]

Bummer! I guess we can do the downloads as well but I liked having the CD copy. I'll have to take another look at the package I got in the mail and read the details more closely.

 

[sherilaine]

Bummer! I guess we can do the downloads as well but I liked having the CD copy. I'll have to take another look at the package I got in the mail and read the details more closely.

The details in your package may be out dated - the website which used to support the old PP+ no longer exists and from what I read you cannot get CDs, not to purchase or to buy in the park. They have simply remove this as an option and while they will honor the PP+ that were bought before they stop offering them - you will only get the product as it is today, meaning no borders and no CD.