We were there on Dec 1 and had a huge group shot done in TomorrowLand at Timekeeper. I got it over the week-end. It actually came out rather well considering how many people we had in it!!
As far as the closing and herding into a different area...I believe they moved most people over to Frontierland this year. We were at the Galaxy Theater meeting up for a meet before the Twas the Night Before Christmas show and were told that if we had our wristbands on, we could wait there, by the theater and not have to move over to the other area. So, I can't be sure if everyone was really herded over.
I also didn't think there were well posted signs for the photo's this year. Like others have posted, it seems that they are continually taking something away. First the cool buttons, then the shortened list of photo spots. If this is a trend, then I hope they lessen the admission prices. We are getting less and less for our money.