Sell me on Memory Maker

[connie254]

Other than having all of us in the pictures, I want to know more.

On the rides where they have the pictures, how do I link it up to MM?

Same thing on the videos? Which rides other than SDMT?

How do I ask for special things in the pictures?

Can I print directly from the website? Take something to Walgreens to print there? Can I share the pictures on FB? Any other issues?

Anything else that makes it special/please take me step by step.

 

[travelfearlessly]

I wrote a lengthy review, it's in my signature. It's really about what your vacation is going to include. How many people? How many days at the parks? Are you JUST buying it for the rides or are you taking your kids to Jedi Training Academy or the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique? Those two packages are included in the Memory Maker and can be a huge value. An adult couple spending 2 dadys at the parks will get a much different value than a family of 5 spending a week there.

The Tower of Terror has a video as well as the Mine Train. Your pictures are downloaded digitally and then you're free to do whatever you want with them: burn to a CD to give to family, print them, etc. If you're traveling with extended you can all share the cost of the Memory Maker and all use them (though only one person actually "owns" it and can view all the pictures on the MDE account).

 

[clr055]

I am interested to hear the answers as well. Trip with my DD13 and I would actually like to be in some of the pictures if you know what I mean.

 

[travelfearlessly]

I am interested to hear the answers as well. Trip with my DD13 and I would actually like to be in some of the pictures if you know what I mean.

You can always ask the photographer to take your picture with your own camera instead of using theirs and that's free. We bought the Memory Maker on our last trip and I wish I had done that because when I got home there were plenty of pictures that we got that were covered in black spots from the photographer not taking proper care of their equipment. I was SUPER disappointed!

Another time we had a group of about 12 that was going to the Ohana breakfast. It was our ONLY opportunity for a group photo for the week and the Memory Maker folks lost it. During our breakfast they assured us it would show up in my account within an hour or two so we didn't bother to regroup our family for another photo. It never showed up, despite dozens of phone calls to try and find it. Had we asked them to use our camera as well we wouldn't have had that problem!

 

[connie254]

It is myself, DH, DS(24). DH's cousin and husband will join us for 3 days. We don't like most scary rides so only SDMT video. But how do we link the MM to the rides? Is it automatic when we wear the MBs or does one of us have to scan the MB near the picture area?

We will be there while the Christmas decorations are up-anything special with that?

We will be there 9 days.

 

[clr055]

Okay... if its okay I would like to ask a few add on questions... How do you identify the photographers, are they all dressed the same? Is there a list of where you can find them or is it the luck of the draw? Can you ask them to take their photo and then also have them take one with your own camera? Do you have to tip the photographers? Is there a discount from the $169 if you buy it early and how far out is considered early?

 

[tink9702]

How do I ask for special things in the pictures? - I believe you ask for a "magic shot" and they'll ask you to pose in a certain way and there will be a suprise guest in the photo with you on MM.

I'm also adding on a couple questions, hope the OP doesn't mind!!!

Are pictures taken at hard ticket events (parties) included? And if so, do they come out in the lower/nighttime lighting?

 

[travelfearlessly]

It is myself, DH, DS(24). DH's cousin and husband will join us for 3 days. We don't like most scary rides so only SDMT video. But how do we link the MM to the rides? Is it automatic when we wear the MBs or does one of us have to scan the MB near the picture area?

We will be there while the Christmas decorations are up-anything special with that?

We will be there 9 days.

The rides are automatically linked but they don't do a good job and sometimes you'll get other people's photos too. So write down the number listed on the photo when you get off the ride, just in case your photo doesn't show up.

At Christmas the resorts are decorated and they have photographers there. We resort-hopped one evening and got a bunch of photos in front of the beautiful Christmas trees. Normally photographers aren't at the resorts

 

[travelfearlessly]

All the photographers are dressed the same, you can't miss them. Some are even holding props but they're all holding bulky cameras and tripods. You have to ASK for a Magic Shot, they almost never offer to do them without you asking first. I included a couple of the shots in my review. One of my Magic Shots didn't show up and when that happens you have to call the customer service and ask them to add in whatever was missing (balloons in my case).

You can have them take photos with their camera and then yours, it doesn't matter. If you just want it with your camera, no big deal. You just have to stand in line like everybody else. The line isn't solely for those with a Memory Maker. Don't tip. There's no discount on the $169, that is the discount. If you buy at the parks it's $199. The price went up this year, it used to be $149 and a few years ago I think it was even just $99. That's why I might not get it for our next trip, it's a really pricey add-on

 

[MataHari22]

This link has many magic shots that are offered, not sure but some may be no longer available, but it will give those who have never used the service a good idea of what to expect:

http://capturingmagic.me/photopass-magic-shots

This link shows a photo of what the photographers wear. It looks like an older article, but there's lots of good info there :

http://allears.net/tp/ppass.htm

I am glad I got MM, I finally have some great photos of me at WDW and I am getting it again this year. I got about 250 photos last year. Went with a friend, and usually we took one photo together and one photo of each of us separately. I made some gorgeous scrapbooks with the photos.

 

[disneypolybride2008]

special events like MNSSHP are included. i chatted with a CM on disneyworld.com about the memory maker questions i had. she said yes. she said it is good for 14 days from when you buy it and whatever pictures you have taken will be there.

 

[Mikie]

Hers what I always tell people about the "worth it" question. Individual photos cost $15 each to download. Advance purchase price is $169, so you'd have to want more than 11 photos for you to come out ahead. The more of the following apply to you, the more pictures you'll get and therefore more value:
- longer trips vs shorter
- more people in your group
- you look forward to being IN your vacation pictures
- you will print, display, make a digital scrapbook or paper scrapbook
- you will ride the photo rides: 7 dwarfs*, Splash Mountain, Space !ountain, Buzz Lightyear, Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, Test Track, Tower of Terror,*, Rockin Roller Coaster (*these two also have a video)
- you will be doing in-park character meets (not character meals)
- you will be doing a meal where there is a posed shot prior to being seated: Cinderella's Royal Table, Akershus, Chef Mickey, Tusker House (once you are seated, you take photos with your own camera, there are no Photopass photographers inside at any character meals)
- you will do Enchanted Tales, BBB, Jedi Training or Pirates League (they take many photos at these events)
- you are interested in stopping at many photographers throughout the parks - at the entrance/icon in each park and scattered throughout
- you are interested in asking for "magic shots" where a character or special effect is digitally added in after the pictutre is taken

I love MM! I'd never buy ride photos usually, just gloss past the screens at the end of a ride but they were a real favorite among our pictures last trip.

Another selling point: while photographers are happy to use your camera for free, at character meets, they will take many shots with their own camera of your interaction with characters - hugging, high fiving, talking - in addition to the posed "say cheese" moment. We've gotten many great shots this way.

 

[Mikie]

special events like MNSSHP are included. i chatted with a CM on disneyworld.com about the memory maker questions i had. she said yes. she said it is good for 14 days from when you buy it and whatever pictures you have taken will be there.

Unless the conditions have changed a lot very recently, each picture you have taken "expires" 45 days after it was taken. This means you must download using your Memory Maker entitlement or by individual purchase within 45 days. In addition, you can continue to add new photos to your account for 30 days from the date of first download. This means that one purchase can cover one long trip or two trips spaced within 75 days of each other.

 

[Mikie]

The rides are automatically linked but they don't do a good job and sometimes you'll get other people's photos too. So write down the number listed on the photo when you get off the ride, just in case your photo doesn't show up.

At Christmas the resorts are decorated and they have photographers there. We resort-hopped one evening and got a bunch of photos in front of the beautiful Christmas trees. Normally photographers aren't at the resorts

I wouldn't want to discourage the practice of writing down the numbers and then having you lose a picture, but. . . I started my trip doing this and noticed that they got our pictures every single time. Group of 12, sometimes together, sometimes split up, rode every single ride multiple times, all ride photos showed up automatically, so I quit saving the numbers. In addition, I've seen many reports here that if you're ever missing a photo, you can call or use the on-line reporting form to describe the date, location, and description of the people and they can usually find any photo that didn't appear in your account as it should.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

The attractions that offer on-ride photos are:

• Magic Kingdom- Buzz Lightyear, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain (coming soon: Haunted Mansion)
• Epcot- Test Track
• Hollywood Studios- Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror
• Animal Kingdom- Dinosaur, Expedition Everest

These meals/shows offer PhotoPass photographers and the digital photos will be added for Memory Maker:

• 1900 Park Fare
• 'Ohana (breakfast)
• Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
• Chef Mickey's
• Cinderella's Royal Table
• Tusker House (breakfast)
• Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue
• Akershus (Princess Storybook Breakfast)

A couple of notes: 1.) most of those photos are taken outside the restaurant/show, not at your table and 2.) these are digital photos; the printed pics will no longer be offered at the meal as of January 2015.

There are other opportunities for photos as well:

• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique takes LOTS of pics and Pirate's League will have a photographer available as well
• Most scheduled character meet-and-greets have photographers
• Enchanted Tales with Belle has photos taken of the people who participate in the show
• Most parties (including the Halloween and Christmas parties) offer PhotoPass pics.
• Deluxe Resorts during the holidays have photographers at times to take pics
• Many other things that aren't listed here, but the bottom line is that there are lots of opportunities for pics

 

[asbyrneva]

In addition to ride photos, videos and magic shots there are "animated shots". When the holiday decorations were up last year we got a ton. dancing olaf, Sven with lights, prep and landing. These are still shots that they digitally add animation to which make mini video. I think we got about 10 animated shots in 7 days and we weren't searching for them.

Also wasn't sure the editing process was explained. you have the opportunity to add borders and stickers etc. This usually takes some time but love having the option to spruce up photos. I usually, after editing, have 300+ photos. Well worth it in my opinion but we do rides and meets etc.

Our first trip I bought pictures individually and really regret not getting the package (predecessor) they had at the time.

As for linking on rides the magic bands worked everytime although DS still wanted to touch mickey to mickey so I ended up with two of the same photo. We got one picture of somebody else but its no big deal. even when we split up on the same ride we got all the pictures with everybody in my party in different cars.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

I got it in 2009 when it was Photopass. Before ride photos were added.

For a 7 night trip we had over 300 pictures.

I thought it was well worth it then and even more worth it now.

 

[AdamsPrincess]

my one comment on just reviewing my photopass photos...we do not use memory maker, but we do like to take the photopass photos just in case. out of the 258 pictures that were taken, over half of those were staged sample photos of the characters, over half of the rest were all duplicates...not even seeing a person's hand move, and some were just really poor quality.

I did enjoy the Tower of Terror video, but I don't really see myself doing anything with it, and the Buzz photos didn't show up.

There were maybe 5 or 6 really great photos...Definitely not worth $169/$199

Some of the photos that we know got taken, were not even showing up. I will stick to my camera and ask someone to take our photo, it is nice because now we can review the photo and if we don't like, we can just retake.

 

[rtilner]

Usually my daughter does the MM. But I do remember going to the screen at the end of the ride and jogging down the picture number. Then as we exit into the store we go to the photo counter and link it our account. As for the rest of the parks we just give the photographer one of our memory bands.

 

[Parker Clan]

Yes you can print the pictures at Walgreens, CVS, anywhere. If you purchase memory maker, download the pictures and videos to your computer when you get home, they are yours forever. Which I love. Right when I got home I did add-ons- borders, park/ride names , the year etc and saved those to my comp as well. I made three beautiful canvas prints at CVS with them. For me, MM is 100% worth it.