Photopass photographers - Where were they?!

[pokee99]

I was at DL the week of March 21 and I was at the park every day. Now...either I had really bad luck, or the photopass photographers just weren't making their rounds!

On our last day there (the Friday), I saw TWO photographers by the castle! WOW - jackpot!!! One photographer took our picture in front of the castle and the other took our photos (more intimate ones) at the side of the castle.

I did see some photographers with the characters that were wandering around, and my daughter did get photographed with the photopass at the BBB, as well. But...wondering why I didn't see them more during a very busy week.

Anyone know?

P.S. The photos are VERY expensive, but could be worth it to get the CD if there are lots of really great photos. You can save low-res copies to your PC for sharing in email and some really small prints, but gotta pay the big $$$ if you want large prints...

 

[TheColtonsMom]

We had the same problem at Christmas. We saw exactly 2 PP photographers over 4 days! We had not been to DL since PP started so were excited to try it out. We looked at all the places we had seen other people had photos and did not find them.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

I am very interested in hearing what others have to say about this topic.

We've been to WDW and loved the photopass. We had over 400 pictures and then were able to add borders, character signatures, etc before buying the CD. I loved it and thought it was worth every penny.

We had planned to do the same in DL when we visit in June. I was a little surprised that the CD only costs $59 and the WDW CD was $99 (w/ pre-order). I thought perhaps the price difference was because there are only 2 parks compared to 4 parks plus 2 water parks in WDW. Maybe it is actually because there aren't as many opportunities for pictures in DL.

 

[OCgirl]

Photopass is everywhere. There may be a chance you didn't see them if you didn't visit any characters or main locations (the main entrance/the front of the castle, etc.) The photographers are out only during the day, with some of them out by the castle at night. They will also not take pictures if it is raining at all. I don't really use photopass for their pictures, but mainly so someone can take my group's picture for us

 

[TheColtonsMom]

Photopass is everywhere. There may be a chance you didn't see them if you didn't visit any characters or main locations (the main entrance/the front of the castle, etc.) The photographers are out only during the day, with some of them out by the castle at night. They will also not take pictures if it is raining at all. I don't really use photopass for their pictures, but mainly so someone can take my group's picture for us

I think what the OP & I had in common wasn't rainy days it was busy days. I looked at the castle multiple times, by the bridge at DCA, by the ROA, by the partners statue and at least 50 other places where I had seen 100s of PP pics on the DIS. I was actually carrying a list of those we wanted to do. Only ever saw ones in character lines (we didn't do many of these since we did 4 character breakfasts and got most of what we wanted) Plus one in TL at the Jedi Academy and one in FL by the carousel and sword in the stone. In all 4 days I never saw either of the 2 PP photographers that are "usually" by the castle.

 

[DietCoke]

Just got back yesterday after 5 days there. I agree with the original poster on this one - we saw MANY more two years ago than we saw this time. We went in knowing we would buy the PhotoCD so anytime we saw one of them we asked them to take photos... but even then we only ended up with about 55 photos. And as the parents of a 5-year-old I can assure you that we hit the different character spots and regular popular spots. Still - the photos that we did get were good!

 

[emacat]

We had the same experience on our last trip. In 2008, we found plenty of photographers over a 5 day period. Last summer, we only saw two the four days we were there, inside the entrance of CA.

It was a shame too, because I'm a big photo person. However, it did save me a lot of money!

 

[skiingfast]

This is interesting. I've never had trouble finding them. Next time I visit I'll keep a sharp eye out to see if they are in the spots listed on the PP site.

 

[DahliaRW]

I wonder if you didn't see them because they were off in a close spot doing pictures. On busy days it would make sense that the PP photographers are busy, and if people want specific pictures (side of the castle, etc) you may miss seeing them as they are working.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I've been doing PP for years now and there is definitely a difference. There have been some trips, recently, when you can't seem to find them anywhere. Then other times they will be in the regular places.

The are always at Princess Fantasy Fair and Jedi Training Show (2 of them). They are usually at the entrance to DLR, the hub, the castle and near the entrance to DCA and at the DV MnG. But that is usually. Sometimes you can hit the other areas when they are on break.

In my observation, if it's really, really crowded, they can be harder to find. However, yesterday was crowded and I saw one on MS-he moved out of the way for the Cable Car.

PP and Entertainment merged awhile ago and it seems like the best place to find them is with the characters. They can take a lot more pictures which means more $$ for them. Look for this to be happening more and more.

When I am on the hunt for PP, I will stop at every location I find them. One time I will find one by GRR and then another time there will be one taking pix on the other side of Grizzly Mountain, by the waterfall.

With all the construction going on at DCA the photographers seem to come and go.

My rule of thumb when my goal is getting PP taken is to stop at every photographer I see. Last year we were by Screamin' and there was a PP photographer in the area where there is a Woody and Jess M'nG. She was waiting for them to come back and didn't have anything to do. I asked her if she could take some pix and she happily did! She took ones with Screamin' entrance in the background, Screamin' loop in the background, and with Stitch seating between us on a bench. If we hadn't asked, she wouldn't have offered.

If you can't find any photographers when you are there-go the store on Main Street and ask where you can find them. Sometimes they'll even set something up for you.

I will say, though, that on our last trip to WDW in Sept/Oct. last year that the lack of PP photogs can be seen there as well. We definitely saw less of them last year. We went to BB and TL last year and there were NO PP photographers there. I even asked at GS-they said they aren't there every day. So it isn't just a DLR thing, it's at WDW too.

One last thought-some of my favorite photographers only work M-F, 8-5. Seems like that is when the better ones work. One the weekends (IMHO) the photographers are more rushed, and less accommodating. Probably has to do with crowd levels.

 

[DisSarahK]

On our trip in 2008 our PhotoPass pictures weren't worth buying--they were so-so and there were better ones on my DSLR.

On our last one, the PhotoPass photographers were able to get some great pictures, especially inside Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique (my pictures from inside BBB were horrible!). We also had PhotoPass pictures from ToonTown (inside Mickey's House, and with Goofy by the jail), in front of the castle, lots of pictures at Main Street with various characters, at the train station, as well as at various other places. There also were PhotoPass photographers in California Adventure although they weren't as plentiful.

We bought the CD for this second trip (a much better deal than trying to buy the individual pictures) and then I can just get pictures printed at Costco or wherever.