Select photopass locations to be replaced by automated cameras

[mrswillson]

This is what you get when you demand $15 per hour at a minimum wage job - the company finds a cheaper way to replace you. This isn't rocket science.

 

[Planogirl]

This is likely just the start if Disney decides that it works well. I might be wrong but...

 

[standbyme]

This is the email response I got, for what it's worth:

Angela Brooks (Disney)

Nov 16, 12:18 PM EST

Dear *******,

...We know our Guests enjoy the interaction with our Cast Photographers and Characters and we will continue to create those magical, one-of-a-kind memories. Beginning in early 2019, we will be installing automated cameras at nine locations that will continuously capture moments of the experience from start to finish to allow guests to receive a wider variety of photos from which to choose. All photographers will continue to support other Disney PhotoPass locations across our parks so they can use their creativity to capture personalized photos for our Guests.

Best regards,
Angela Brooks
Executive Correspondence Specialist
Walt Disney World Resort

I love the double talk. "We know the Guests enjoy the interaction with our Cast Photographers..." (But we're going to get rid of them anyway.)

"All photographers will continue to support other Disney Photopass locations across our parks so they can use their creativity..." (But even though we admit that their creativity is an asset we don't feel the need for it at these 9 locations.)

I agree with others, this is only a test phase and it will grow.

 

[OSUZorba]

This is what you get when you demand $15 per hour at a minimum wage job - the company finds a cheaper way to replace you. This isn't rocket science.

How dare people want a fair wage for their labor, especially when their labor has helped the business drastically increase revenue and profits. Iger's salary by itself could pay for every photographer in WDW... About 5 times over at $15 an hour.

The cost of automation is coming down very quickly, it is only a matter of time until huge numbers of jobs can be replaced economically at any wage, I personally don't think telling people to live in poverty in exchange for a short term delay in their replacement is a good strategy.

 

[fatmanatee]

This is what you get when you demand $15 per hour at a minimum wage job - the company finds a cheaper way to replace you. This isn't rocket science.

Automation is and has been coming for a lot of jobs for a long time. They just installed kiosks in my local McDonalds, where the min wage is under $9 and not hitting $15 anytime soon. I've been told that they're only doing this where the wage increased to $15 but as it turns out, the kiosks are cheaper in the long run no matter how much the human makes.

 

[ChrisFL]

Honestly I haven't minded some of the price increases and other things lately as long as A.) it doesn't negatively affect or doesn't affect guests differently (closing parks early for upcharge events is bad) or B.) they no longer show what sets Disney apart by cutting other things.

This firmly falls into column B and is a VERY bad idea. Sure it's only 9 locations for now as they want to test and see how it works for more locations. I don't see it happening everywhere, but I agree that it will not replace a proper photographer.

The only experience I have seen like this so far is at Test Track exit where you can pose with the virtual car you made and it does an automated, pretty crap photo.

 

[snappy]

They will be automating the characters at meet and greets if we don’t watch out.

 

[1lilspark]

They will automating the characters at meet and greets if we don’t watch out.

That’s already being blue sky-ed

 

[snappy]

That’s already being blue sky-ed

Those darn imagineers! But I blame the big dogs. They may end up needing to automate guests.

 

[Animal]

This is what you get when you demand $36 million per year as CEO. This isn't rocket science.

Fixed it for you.

 

[lambdabeta]

Fixed it for you.

 

[EveDallas]

This is what you get when you demand $15 per hour at a minimum wage job - the company finds a cheaper way to replace you. This isn't rocket science.

Or when a company spends $$$$$ buying yet ANOTHER TV network.

 

[gometros]

This is what you get when you demand $15 per hour at a minimum wage job - the company finds a cheaper way to replace you. This isn't rocket science.

Photopass/DPI are not a part of the union, so while they will benefit from the raises the union workers will get, they were not the driving force behind the raise, but irrespective, 415 an hour is not an unreasonable request.

This is one of the most ridiculous ideas Disney has ever attempted. As a professional photographer, I can tell you no automated camera is going to replace a human. You cannot replace the interaction with guest, the ability to coax a shy child out of his/her shell, or properly pose a large group. These aren't ride photos where the target area is predetermined. There are a lot of candid shots the photographers capture as the guests move in to greet the character. Angles change and people don't always pose themselves perfectly . I can't tell you how many times I've seen a photographer get down to the eye level of a child to interact with the child or calm a slightly scared child. Don't put it all on the blueberries. Their responsibility is watching the character and controlling the line. The thing that always set Disney apart from any other theme park experience was the guest interactions and now they're moving to take that away. Shame on them.

 

[manning]

Why does Disney need to do this?! Record profits and SW opening in less than a year... they continue to raise prices and lower quality... they are going to get fewer and fewer repeat guests. I feel like Disney is treating guests like the economy will rise forever and people have bottomless pocketbooks. They dont... there is a breaking point and they are reaching it during a historically strong economy. This shortsightedness is gonna hurt them. When the bottom falls out I will have no sympathy for them.

Because the stock holders demand it and greed greed greed. It will only stop when people get smart and write Disney off their must have to do list

Gone are the days when you entertain yourself.

 

[sherlockmiles]

I HATE THIS IDEA.

I agree with EITHER taking pictures with personal camera OR photo pass photographer, NOT both. It slows things up so much.
I will echo what's been previously been said - the interactive, spontaneous photos are usually the best and most memorable.

Remember the old Disney song "Making Memories"...........

 

[Tink1987]

This is such upsetting news! We have always paid for PP/MM and I have the best photos of us both. We’ve always paid for it as we wanted pictures of both of us together, meeting the characters.

However, and this is why I have waited a while to wade in on this, I can understand why they have come up with this idea. Please hear me out. Every single time we have queued for PP/MM we have had someone say can you take a picture with my camera. The photographer or CM with the character has done that and also taken their own and then handed over the PP/MM card. Now most people aren’t going to buy those pictures. Ive seen people refuse the card or just throw it away when they’ve walked away. I believe this contributes to this change, why would Disney pay for a photographer to stand there when maybe only 10% of people buy their official photo? This may be a bit of a moot point considering MM is now offered as a perk to UK guests staying onsite, apologies I don’t know if US and other guests receive it as well.

I know this might cause some discussion and I’m not saying people who aren’t paying for MM shouldn’t meet the characters unless they pay. I also do not agree with Disney’s decision in anyway. But I’m not going to lie and say I haven’t gotten a little annoyed sometimes when I’m paying for the superior product and the people in front of me aren’t and they want 100 pictures of different family members in different poses on everyone’s phones. Whilst I just want the 2/3 and never give them my own camera because I have paid for the product. On a hot busy day it can be slightly annoying.

However we are all in the same position now anyway and will all have our photo taken by a box! I do believe this will roll out in many more locations.

 

[lugnut33]

LOL, I'm amazed people are more upset over this than the push to have guests pay for Extra Magic Hours.

 

[tlmadden73]

After commenting to my wife on the recent trip about just how many PhotoPass photographers were deployed (and how short the lines were), I think this is a bad idea. ESPECIALLY at the Meet and Greets. At the M&Gs you get the best photos when you kid hugs or interacts with the character that a static "box" won't be able to capture.

One of the best photos form our trip? When Chewbacca noticed I was wearing a T-shirt with Han frozen in Carbonite on it. He pointed at me .. gave a sound growl and the photo pass photographer captured those moments when I embarrassingly covered up my shirt and my wife was laughing in the background.

Some of the best interactions with cast members are with the photographers as they try and make your kids smile or just chat with you before they snap the photo. I never even experienced a long wait .. as not a single person in front of us in lines asked for their personal cameras be used.

One of the reasons we pulled trigger on an AP is the "free" Memory Maker. We utilized it a lot. They all take great photos (way better than you can get with your cell phone) and it is a lot easier. The cost of Memory Maker is worth it when you consider how many photos are being taken and how many cast members are being paid to stand there and take your photos.

Downsizing them to automated boxes would be sad. Automating them could turn Photo Pass back into the cheesy "$20 ride photo" that it used to be (and still is at most other theme parks).

That being said .. if they use the some pretty fancy technology, it could enhance the experience .. maybe even provide you a short video of it at different angles? (like they do with SDMT) .. then I'd be willing to try it out.

What would be nice if they did this at the static M&G locations, which freed up the photographers to be at the character meals. (I am shocked they don't have those there).

 

[TheMaxRebo]

LOL, I'm amazed people are more upset over this than the push to have guests pay for Extra Magic Hours.

Well, we rarely stay on site so EMH don't impact me - but people seem to get value in the paid events with limited crowds. I mean, if that bothers you and negatively impacts your trips then you should be upset by it and complain

To me the memories of a trip are some of the best parts and why we vacation at Disney and those candid moments that get captured by a human photographer going away is a negative to capturing those memories

I think it also is a very tangible sign of Disney becoming less personable and lessening the guest experience so why it is drawing such a reaction

 

[TheMaxRebo]

After commenting to my wife on the recent trip about just how many PhotoPass photographers were deployed (and how short the lines were), I think this is a bad idea. ESPECIALLY at the Meet and Greets. At the M&Gs you get the best photos when you kid hugs or interacts with the character that a static "box" won't be able to capture.

One of the best photos form our trip? When Chewbacca noticed I was wearing a T-shirt with Han frozen in Carbonite on it. He pointed at me .. gave a sound growl and the photo pass photographer captured those moments when I embarrassingly covered up my shirt and my wife was laughing in the background.

Some of the best interactions with cast members are with the photographers as they try and make your kids smile or just chat with you before they snap the photo. I never even experienced a long wait .. as not a single person in front of us in lines asked for their personal cameras be used.

One of the reasons we pulled trigger on an AP is the "free" Memory Maker. We utilized it a lot. They all take great photos (way better than you can get with your cell phone) and it is a lot easier. The cost of Memory Maker is worth it when you consider how many photos are being taken and how many cast members are being paid to stand there and take your photos.

Downsizing them to automated boxes would be sad. Automating them could turn Photo Pass back into the cheesy "$20 ride photo" that it used to be (and still is at most other theme parks).

That being said .. if they use the some pretty fancy technology, it could enhance the experience .. maybe even provide you a short video of it at different angles? (like they do with SDMT) .. then I'd be willing to try it out.

What would be nice if they did this at the static M&G locations, which freed up the photographers to be at the character meals. (I am shocked they don't have those there).

I agree - I think there is potential for the technology - but seem to be a better fit in locations other than meet and greets. I mean, there is that bridge that connects Asia to Dinoland that they usually have a photopass photographer to get pictures with Everest in the background and most of the time we go by there is no one wanting a picture and the photographer is bored almost begging people to get a picture taken. Why not put a box at places like that to take automatic pictures at a set angle or two vs replacing the human photographers at character meets that are always busy and where getting those candid shots at lots of different angles and eye levels makes all the difference