SHOCKED- Photopass!!!!!!

[kandb]

We just came home from a week long trip to WDW. We took our own digital camera and took a lot of photos. When we were there a photographer came up to me and gave me a photopass and said, "I got some pictures of your son playing the bongo drums (AK)". I took the pass, not knowing much about it and used a few extra times throughout the park. I just went online and put in our account info and to view the pictures. I almost feel off my chair when I saw a 5 X 7 picture is $12.95. That is for 1 picture, isn't a 5X7 picture in Walmart like 15 CENTS? I know some of you die hard Disney fans are going to say "You know what it costs to hire these photographers?" or "it's an bit expense for Disney" or "you don't have to buy the pictures or you didn't have to let them take the pictures". Yes, I know all that but come on, $13 for 1 picture and I didn't even check how much shipping and handling was. Boy, I wish I had some Disney stock. Linda

 

[AJKMOM]

Other side of the coin-pun intended-is that I forgot my camera when my DS, 18, with autism, wanted to go through the Character Connection. I gladly forked out the money for pictures of him with his favorite characters, he was absolutely giddy. It was worth the money to have a keepsake album.

The CM's worked with the characters to have great shots. Plus, there is no way my pictures would ever look that good.

 

[Kick Save]

Linda, I own some stock, thanks for the update.

We used to get at least one 5x7 on each trip, but haven't the last few times. Too many decent, printable pictures on our own camera to mess with photopass. Heck, for the price of a photopass CD at the parks you can get a decent digital camera and a bigger storage card and take pictures to your heart's content. I'm not paying $12 for Mickey's signature or Tinkerbell sitting in my son's hand on Main St.

Though, as line one indicates, I hope a lot of other people do!

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

No, I'm not going to say any of that. I'm going to say that they charge as much as they can people to pay! If people quit buying the photos at that price, they would lower it. I think that is the price of the photos that are taken on the attractions, too.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Generally, I'll buy one photopass picture. Of all the group shots, usually at least one person is out of the shot because that person is taking the picture! So it's nice to have one group shot. I also have a tradition of buying our on-ride Splash Mountain photo. I dunno why. It started, and now each trip, I feel compelled to buy one.

Here's a tip though - when you stop a Photopass photographer, usually if you ask nicely if he or she will take a picture with your own personal camera, they're happy to oblige.

 

[java]

Well think of it as a "ride" photo. Whenever you are on a ride in any park they try to sell you the "ride" photo- which is around $15 at even the cheapest places... So to me a pro photo for that price... not so bad. And how much do you pay for professional pictures at home when you take ds? I am guessing that you have not started school photos yet because wait till you see those prices! Yes it is expensive but the one I bought last year is the best picture! So for me it was worth it. This time I am planning on using the heck out of photopass and buying the cd- so I can print as many copies as I want- even get my christmas picture I hope!

 

[WillCAD]

I have always been shocked at how overpriced the photos are at WDW, but then again I have never paid $30 for a buffet meal at home, either! The $13 price is what ride photos have cost for several years.

I think the most cost-effective way to use PhotoPass is to get as many pics as you can, at every opportunity, and then spring the $125 for the CD at the end of the trip. The biggest advantage of PhotoPass is the fact that the whole family can be in the pic.

It's also a much better bargain is you combine two families' PhotoPass pics into one account and split the cost of the CD.

 

[inky dinky doo]

We did that in December, Will, when the CD was still $99. We had five families combined onto one CD, so it only cost each of us $20 for the CD. Great deal! Had we each purchased our own CD, it would not have been worth it, though. We had lots and lots of pictures, but many of those pictures were of the same thing, since the photographers always tend to take multiple poses.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I have to say that we always end up buying one especially if it is a group photo. I also think it is great for the days you don't want to carry a camera and after all the times we have spent at Disney we really don't need or want more photos of the "scenery" we really just want photos of our friends and loved ones and its really easy & carefree.

 

[allyn]

i don't really find the photo prices out of line. they are about the same on cruise ships or anywhere else with "professional" photographers and captive or semi-captive audiences.

i don't see why the cost of a print at wal-mart has anything to do with it.

 

[lucysdad]

Yes, I know Wal Mart is much cheaper, but that's partly because they don't pay for their employees health benefits. Disney offers a nice package to their employees and their families. Wal Mart just expects the rest of us tax payers to cover their employees.
Lucy's Mom

 

[bbmommy]

We are going in June, and I am thrilled about the photo pass...I plan on buying the CD and printing pics at wal-mart and having it for my computer. I think now you can pay a bit more for the photo pass and get the pics with the borders. Not that I love pictures of me, but at least I can be in some with the family. I have seen some from the charater meals and the pics are great. The CD will hold close to 300 pics.

 

[CarolA]

They aren't making you pay.. I don't see the big deal. LOL!
The mark up is right in line with the other mark ups at Disney. (You don't think that T-shirt or stuffed Mickey is sold at anything close to cost do you?)

 

[disnut8]

I haven't done the PhotoPass yet and I was a bit disappointed when I wasn't approached last weekend. Why?

There's no way in h-e-double toothpicks my husband would EVER be in a photo willingly. There was one time (before PhotoPass) when I answered the photographer first at MGM that, yes, we would be delighted for him to take our picture. That is the only picture (besides the wedding ones and that was even a chore) of just the two of us ever.

I'd pay $100 to get my husband in a picture. I guess I shouldn't have said that but, then again, I'm a shareholder too.

 

[amy2girls]

How does it work if you buy the CD? Can you print the pictures legally at wallmart?

 

[bytheblood]

They are expensive. And the quality is not as good as what I take with my own DSLR. For this reason, I say really utilize the Photopass people for all photo opportunities and buy the CD.

Just a side note: If the quality on the pictures were great, I would find the price very fair.

 

[bytheblood]

How does it work if you buy the CD? Can you print the pictures legally at wallmart?

Yes you can. You are purchasing the rights to those pictures.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

Here's a tip though - when you stop a Photopass photographer, usually if you ask nicely if he or she will take a picture with your own personal camera, they're happy to oblige.

I always do that, if I want a picture in front of the castle or whatever. You don't have to have one person out of the shot taking the picture, just get a Photopass person to take it. And if you're in line with the characters, the character's "handler" will take it. They're very nice about it.

I've never bought a Photopass photo or a ride photo. The only ride photo I have is a free one I had a certificate for for EE on my last trip. I just don't think it's worth it. But as a Disney stockholder, I too thank you all who buy them. And I do buy more than my share of other souvineers.

Yes, I know Wal Mart is much cheaper, but that's partly because they don't pay for their employees health benefits. Disney offers a nice package to their employees and their families. Wal Mart just expects the rest of us tax payers to cover their employees.
Lucy's Mom

Nice political shot. I almost answered it, but I'll leave it alone so it doesn't take the thread off topic. I'll just say that you can use the on-line photo sites for the same amount as Wal Mart. It doesn't have anything to do with health benefits.

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

It is expensive! I was tempted to buy one nice family picture of us, but I forgot about it and our photos expired. Oh, well.

 

[prncssmel]

No, I'm not going to say any of that. I'm going to say that they charge as much as they can people to pay! If people quit buying the photos at that price, they would lower it. I think that is the price of the photos that are taken on the attractions, too.

I agree. People are willing to pay it, so why should they sell it for less? And, WalMart does not charge 15 cents for a 5x7. I had some done the other week, and it was $1.50 for each 5x7, just to make an accurate comparison. At a non-WalMart local photo place, it was $3.50. So, $12.95 for a professional photographer and borders/graphics doesn't seem all that out of line. JMO.