Pre-Order PhotoPass $99 Deal - Gone

[nytimez]

I'm really surprised these PhotoPass things seem to be so popular.

When I'm there with my toddler daughter, I can focus on her and let someone else take the pics. She sometimes needs cues ("not yet... ok go to Mickey now...") or just simple attention while she waits that leave me not 100-percent camera ready. I think if I had an older child, I would take my own pics, but right now it works out really nicely to have PhotoPass photogs take the pics at the meet-and-greets.

Since I (until now) have paid for the CD, I use the photogs everywhere, even in places where I could take the photos on my own.

 

[hakepb]

I'm really surprised these PhotoPass things seem to be so popular.

I can see that it would be really, really easy to just carry around a waterproof and shockproof plastic card that has automatic nightly backup (I presume) vs worrying about my camera and laptop (for backup) on vacation.

Personally, I could never justify buying one CD for the cost of a decent camera. (you can now buy $100-$150 cameras that are better than my 3-4y/o $300+ camera) But, I understand why one might do so....

 

[katied]

For me, I do a lot of trips on my own with DS. He's only 2 (and before that, was really little and had to be held). If I want pictures of DS and myself together, then Photopass is necessary unless I want to ask strangers - and with a 2 yr old I never know how he'll cooperate, so better to count on Photopass. Also, sometimes he's scared, so I need to be there with him - again, I need Photopass folks taking the pictures.

In sort - if I want Disney vacation pics with DS, Photopass is my only choice, and I like saving the $ with preordering.

 

[penguins1]

Tried again this morning. Same message - supposedly information should be available very soon.

The one additional piece of info I did get was that if I am within 10 days of my trip and there is still no info available, they will see what they can do to help.

So hopefully we will be hearing soon.

 

[vicki_c]

If this has already been posted in this thread, I apologize, but I don't this it has been -- Photopass posted this on their Facebook page within the last few days, so I would just say: stay tuned. I bolded the part that was most pertinent here:

We haven't taken the pre-arrival CD away, but we did make a change to ensure that guests are truly buying it before their trip. To do so an email is sent about 45 days prior to your vacation. However, since we just made the change, some guests who are arriving fairly soon will get their email closer to their actual arrival date.

The link to the pre-arrival offer is included in a newsletter-style email, note that the link to the offer is just one of many links in the message. The email is called "Magical Musts for your Disney Vacation" and is sent out by our partners in Walt Disney World Marketing. We are currently working closely with our partners to find a way to get this email and/or a link to the offer to all eligible guests including those who book through Travel Agents and to Disney Vacation Club members. If you fall into one of those two groups AND you have an upcoming trip (within 45 days or so) please contact our Guest Support team using the Contact Us information on the site and they will assist you.

We thank all of our guests and fans for their patience and understanding as we work through this new way of providing the pre-arrival offer.

 

[RobPickles]

We haven't taken the pre-arrival CD away, but we did make a change to ensure that guests are truly buying it before their trip. To do so an email is sent about 45 days prior to your vacation. However, since we just made the change, some guests who are arriving fairly soon will get their email closer to their actual arrival date.

This is absolutely moronic.

It is very easy to know if someone purchased it beforehand. It is called ordering it on the website with your credit card and there being a record of the transaction.

This is a BS cop out statement to keep peopel satiated until they fix things.

Rob

 

[Brian Noble]

There were two issues, I think.

One, it appears that they don't want the offsite folks to be able to get the pre-order discount. Technically, I don't think it had never been offered to offsite folks, but was available if you knew where the link was---and the link location had become common knowledge.

Two, the system they had in place prior wasn't able to check dates to make sure the pre-order was really "pre". Or, perhaps more accurately, it might have been able to, but it didn't.

 

[Crystal_27]

We are currently working closely with our partners to find a way to get this email and/or a link to the offer to all eligible guests including those who book through Travel Agents and to Disney Vacation Club members. If you fall into one of those two groups AND you have an upcoming trip (within 45 days or so) please contact our Guest Support team using the Contact Us information on the site and they will assist you.
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Sounds like true Disney double-speak to me. Since DVCers are reportedly calling (as instructed) and still being denied, I find this message quite misleading. Either allow people to do it or don't, but I think that PhotoPass is making a mistake by posting this type of message because, obviously, calling is getting people nowhere.

 

[DenLo]

I'm really surprised these PhotoPass things seem to be so popular.

We pre-ordered one for a family reunion in June 2009. Since there were 3 1/2 (one bachelor) families having pictures taken all over the park it was worth the discounted price. I think we ended up with over 600 pictures after adding on the borders and characters. We ended up making calendars to give each family using the Photopass photos and some photos we uploaded from our cameras.

But until the next reunion, we don't plan to purchase the cd. I have to admit that frequently we took better photos than the Photopass people did. But this way we were all in the photo including the family photographer.

 

[vicki_c]

There were two issues, I think.

One, it appears that they don't want the offsite folks to be able to get the pre-order discount. Technically, I don't think it had never been offered to offsite folks, but was available if you knew where the link was---and the link location had become common knowledge.

Two, the system they had in place prior wasn't able to check dates to make sure the pre-order was really "pre". Or, perhaps more accurately, it might have been able to, but it didn't.

I agree with Brian 100%. As to why some people can't get it - I can't say, but some have been able to. And if you look at the stream of posts on their Facebook page -- there is someone there taking care of individual issues - you can tell by the stream of messages. I actually thought their message they posted was a positive step - better than silence.

Like it or not -- the pre-order offer was never meant to be available to anyone and everyone, as I think I stated earlier in the thread. We were all just lucky enough to be able to use the discount link in the past. I think the final outcome will eventually be that you can get the discount if you are on-site, but not if you are off-site. Just another perk for staying on-site.

 

[Doug7856]

I agree with Brian 100%. As to why some people can't get it - I can't say, but some have been able to. And if you look at the stream of posts on their Facebook page -- there is someone there taking care of individual issues - you can tell by the stream of messages. I actually thought their message they posted was a positive step - better than silence.

Like it or not -- the pre-order offer was never meant to be available to anyone and everyone, as I think I stated earlier in the thread. We were all just lucky enough to be able to use the discount link in the past. I think the final outcome will eventually be that you can get the discount if you are on-site, but not if you are off-site. Just another perk for staying on-site.

I think Disney put the cart before the horse here. They should have resolved the system problems before changing it. If they are able to resolve the issue for me, they will earn back a lot of the good will they tossed out with the trash. IMHO, it's more frustrating than it's worth.

(Vicki, Hi Disney Neighbor. If I'm not mistaken you help me with some planning last Thanksgiving )

 

[vicki_c]

I think Disney put the cart before the horse here. They should have resolved the system problems before changing it. If they are able to resolve the issue for me, they will earn back a lot of the good will they tossed out with the trash. IMHO, it's more frustrating than it's worth.

(Vicki, Hi Disney Neighbor. If I'm not mistaken you help me with some planning last Thanksgiving )

Hey Doug!

 

[thelionqueen]

I can see that it would be really, really easy to just carry around a waterproof and shockproof plastic card that has automatic nightly backup (I presume) vs worrying about my camera and laptop (for backup) on vacation.

Personally, I could never justify buying one CD for the cost of a decent camera. (you can now buy $100-$150 cameras that are better than my 3-4y/o $300+ camera) But, I understand why one might do so....

I like buying the CD from Photopass because it includes all the pictures taken by Photpass Photogs. We are going at Christmas and I can imagine the amazing backgrounds we can capture. We are also going to MVMCP which will be memories I want to keep.

Also, by having others take the picture, I don't need to worry about my husband's thumb in every picture, or one of us "missing" because we have to take the picture

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

PhotoPass posted last night on their Facebook page that an update for DVC Members is coming very soon. (Of course, they also posted on Tuesday that one would be available by Wednesday, but the wheels of the corporate machine are apparently turning slowly.)

I think I'm going to be out of luck, because we leave for the airport in an hour. But I'll keep my fingers crossed for the rest of you.

Here's what I just posted to their Facebook...

First, thank you for pursuing the DVC solution. I'm very appreciative that the discount will eventually be available to me. We were really hoping to pre-order the PhotoCD and PhotoBook for our Halloween trip, but since we arrive later today, I guess it isn't going to work out for this trip. That's very disappointing.

I must say, as a DVC member and frequent PhotoPass customer, this whole ordeal has been very confusing and frustrating. Reports from other DVC members on chat boards that they were given a code after calling PhotoPass customer service, and even the PhotoPass post here on Facebook...

"We are currently working closely with our partners to find a way to get this email and/or a link to the offer to all eligible guests including those who book through Travel Agents and to Disney Vacation Club members. If you fall into one of those two groups AND you have an upcoming trip (within 45 days or so) please contact our Guest Support team using the Contact Us information on the site and they will assist you."

... seemed to have no relation to what I was told on many PhotoPass customer service phone calls over the past two weeks. I understand that the outcry when the previous link to the pre-order discount was changed probably caught you off guard. None the less, it would have been nice if all the nuisances of "on-site guests" had been explored and solutions found before the change was made. It would also be nice if there would be a consistent and well-communicated message.

If you've got Facebook, you can become a PhotoPass fan at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Disneys-PhotoPass-Service/148371108324

 

[MommaSue]

I'm sorry I haven't read through the entire thread so I don't know if this has been discussed....but, is the pre-order option only available to DVC members? We booked our vacation directly through Disney (not DVC members). I really wanted to pre-order the DVD this trip, but haven't received an email code.

 

[Tara]

I'm sorry I haven't read through the entire thread so I don't know if this has been discussed....but, is the pre-order option only available to DVC members? We booked our vacation directly through Disney (not DVC members). I really wanted to pre-order the DVD this trip, but haven't received an email code.

The problem discussed here is that it is not available to DVC members. It is available to regular resort guests, and if you did not get the email, there's a number in this thread a page or two back that you can call to get the code. You'll have to give them your reservation number when you call. The emails are supposed to go out about 45 days prior to arrival. If you are arriving sooner than that, you might have been missed when they changed the system. If your arrival date is more than 45 days away, that's why you haven't received the email (allegedly).

 

[Crystal_27]

Here's what I just posted to their Facebook...



If you've got Facebook, you can become a PhotoPass fan at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Disneys-PhotoPass-Service/148371108324

Dave, you probably won't pick this up before going to the airport, but I've got to tell you that you really addressed this issue beautifully in your Facebook post. It stinks that you (likely) won't be able to take advantage of the pre-order deal this trip, but I do hope that you have a wonderful trip anyway!

 

[vicki_c]

BirdsofPreyDave -

sorry you couldn't get your own thing worked out before you left - maybe the person posting to the FB page will see your note and figure something out for you while you're gone? Anyway -- have a great trip - in the big scheme of things, paying the extra $50 or not getting the CD at all is just not worth spoiling the vacation, I guess.

Also -- I had to laugh at this one part of your FB message - some kind of Freudian slip or something?

it would have been nice if all the nuisances of "on-site guests" had been explored and solutions found before the change was made. It would also be nice if there would be a consistent and well-communicated message.

I think you meant nuances -- not nuisances, but I suppose we are all a bit of a nuisance to the Photopass people!

 

[MommaSue]

The problem discussed here is that it is not available to DVC members. It is available to regular resort guests, and if you did not get the email, there's a number in this thread a page or two back that you can call to get the code. You'll have to give them your reservation number when you call. The emails are supposed to go out about 45 days prior to arrival. If you are arriving sooner than that, you might have been missed when they changed the system. If your arrival date is more than 45 days away, that's why you haven't received the email (allegedly).

Thank you for the info....if I had read the entire thread I would have better understood what was being discussed.

I called the number and was told that the email would be coming between 45 and 10 days before our arrival. Guess I'm just going to have to wait and see....

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Also -- I had to laugh at this one part of your FB message - some kind of Freudian slip or something?



I think you meant nuances -- not nuisances, but I suppose we are all a bit of a nuisance to the Photopass people!

That's too funny! Yes, I did mean nuances.

Darn. That's a post I proof read at least three times before sending, too.