Photopass question

[mom2aprincenprincess]

Is the $169 worth it? So you get to download ALL the photos taken of you throughout the parks ( or can you only download a minimal number), but if you want to make a photo book that is an additional cost correct? Will the photographers still take your picture with your camera??

 

[annemce118]

Yes, the photographer will use your own camera. I personally think that is too much to spend.

 

[EdnaMarieMode]

The photographer will use your own camera if you want. Keep in mind that can often mean they snap a few shots with their camera and then take one with yours (their shots are the ones potentially getting Disney some money after all). We have had some CMs do more than that but overall that's been our experience, especially at character interactions. We also tend to not visit many photo opportunities when we don't have Memory Maker.

"Worth it" is subjective, there's no right answer. What is worth it to me may not be worth it to you. In years past (when I didn't have AP which includes MM), I have paid the $169 if it was a family trip for around a week or so. I wouldn't spend the money if it was a long weekend with just me and DH. I like having photos of my entire family, and the magic shots and ride photos can be fun for us to have. I like to enjoy the character interactions and not worry about taking photos of it all instead of just being present. There are others who would say it's completely not worth it even for that, and they aren't wrong- it's just really up to the spender.

ETA- you can download all of the photos they take. If you want to order prints/ photo books/ photo gifts that is an additional charge. It can either be done through Photopass (which is pretty expensive) or you can download your images and have prints/ gifts/ books made elsewhere. The $169 is for the digital images, and rights to print. I have over 250 photos from my last 6 day trip.

 

[dominiondad]

We enjoy the pictures taken around the park but the real value for us are the ride photos. We have a good time hamming it up for the camera and we love looking back at those. Of course that depends on how much you ride those attractions that incorporate the cameras.

 

[Antaniasmom]

Personally, I would never have spent that money. 2 years ago we took a WDW trip with SIL and she paid for Photopass. She dragged us to every photo OP there was! It was dreadful for a while..but she was getting her money's worth and I could understand that. We did have a lot of really fantastic pictures from that trip and I'm glad she did because I dont see another trip with her in the future unfortunately.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Is the $169 worth it? So you get to download ALL the photos taken of you throughout the parks ( or can you only download a minimal number), but if you want to make a photo book that is an additional cost correct? Will the photographers still take your picture with your camera??

Worth it? For my family yes. I like to see all of us in the pictures at once. This time it's just my son and I, no hubby to take pictures of me and son or me to take pictures of him and son or our son taking pictures of the two of us. I will definitely pass my phone to the photographer and ask if they can take pics with that too in addition to what they do. Each year I've gotten over 100 photos for either a 3 day or 4 day visit. Only one ride photo, but that was simply because I didn't want the other ones. This year, I will be sure to get all our ride photos. Some are automatic, others you have to tap in at the end of the ride to receive them I believe.

Yes you get to download every single picture taken and yes the photo book costs more. I just simply keep my pictures on my hard drive. I have no need to print them all out and paste them into a book. But to each his or her own.

 

[Smrtalec33]

We had about 150 pictures from our 3 1/2 day trip, including about 30 ride photos. It's expensive but was totally worth it for us. It was just me and my daughter, so this way we got not only the ride photos, but also a ton of great pix of the 2 of us. We tried to make an effort to go to a number of photographers in different locations to make it more worth it. It's up to you whether it's worth the $$.

 

[MyTwoPrincesses]

I haven’t been to WDW in a few years (other than one day at EP over Christmas) but I have done it both ways and at least for me it is worth it because I can get fun family pictures without stress. I also love the magic shots and ride photos. I already bought t for my August trip because I know I will enjoy it. We have 5 day park tickets.

 

[wendlle]

I don't go to WDW without it.
The photos they take are professional quality, typically we get anywhere between 500 and 1000 photos and we make our own photobooks with Shutterfly.
The pictures they take with my camera aren't the quality of theirs, they are using professional equipment.
I also like it because I actually get to be IN the photos instead of the one always taking them.

 

[KenHutch]

Is it worth it? Well to us yes but the fewest we have every done is 400 pictures. The most over 1800. We are a party of 8 and we do a lot of pictures.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

It's more than worth it. If you think you could get every ride picture for under that then you must be at Kings Island.

 

[mom2aprincenprincess]

Are there more photo ops now than there were 8 years ago? The last time we were at WDW was in 2011 and we had photopass and I don’t remember having 400+ pictorial choose from.

 

[elbarto007]

More than worth it to us. We get it every time and if you are going for at least a week I feel it could be worth it to everyone. The digital downloads are the best option for us. Each night I will download those pictures and add to my facebook. the memories are priceless when they pop up each year as your memories!

 

[Callist]

It was worth it to me because this was the only family vacation where everyone was in all the pictures. Normally my husband is taking the photos, so I have very few pictures of him. We also had a family rule that we only waited in lines where we were the second family in line. If the line was longer than that, we passed it up.

We rode the Monorail to the Polynesian to get Dole Whips. The kid was grumpy and hot and hating everything. The photographers in the lobby of the Polynesian get her to laugh and giggle and it's one of my favorite photos of the trip.

We have close to 200 photos from that trip, including tons of Magic Shots. For me, the money was worth it. It's up to you.

 

[Kamy04]

Worth it! My DH won’t take pictures, so I need someone other than me taking them so it looks like I’m on the trip, too! I love having all the ride photos. We hit up photographers without a line.

Also it is VERY worth it if you have kids doing Jedi Training! There are two photographers in the front that roll around in chairs taking pictures. They get awesome photos! Then you can focus on taking a video of your kid on their turn because photopass will et the still pictures.

 

[SamFaniam]

Can you just buy some of the products, without buying the package of images? For instance, if we just wanted to order a mug or a mouse pad can we do that?

 

[PSUGuy]

I'm glad to have it free with our AP, wouldn't pay that much for it. There's always some guests around who will shoot your group with your camera.

Bill From PA

 

[jimjenkids]

now in the past we felt it was very worth the cost, the past 3 yrs worth of trips we haven't gotten it, i felt lost a bit, but not that bad as the kids are older and not meeting the characters as much. this trip we have booked with my ds and his gf(first time to disney) and i am almost thinking they will want it--wondering if it added to our pkg, and paid for but we decide to upgrade to passholders if we would get that money back for the prepurchased photo pass...just another thing to question before we go. should add we are doing the halloween party so the pics for that are a must in my opinion!

 

[dawnnikol]

Definitely worth it to me, but it's not for everyone. I take my own photos with my big camera and cell phone, but having more photos is never a bad thing to me. I take photos when my kids meet the characters, but the Disney photographer always captures other moments I didn't because I was too busy enjoying the interaction.

Not to mention being in the photo, when I'm usually the one taking them. The ride photos are a nice bonus, too. We all love those.