Star Card Package Question

[moscow]

I have read the Star Card guide on another site and think I understand the system. I do have one remaining question that I can't seem to get answered, so I thought I'd ask the experts. We are going to be in the parks for 4 days. I want to buy the Star Card package for the duration of our trip but see that it is only offered for 3 or 14 days. Is there a way to buy the 3 day package and add one additional day?

Thanks!

 

[AngelDisney]

From Orlando Informer Forum Photo Connect Star Card FAQ page (I tried to post the link to the webpage but have been unsuccessful):

It is cheaper to first pre-purchase online for 1-day (39.95) then add 3-day later for $24.95 at the park.

Hope this helps and have fun planning!

 

[johde]

Depending on what time of the year you're going and if you're staying offsite or onsite, another option would be to upgrade one of your tickets to a power pass or Annual Pass.

Using Universal's online prices:

4 day ticket $196
Power Pass $215

For $19 you get the Star Card package for an entire year for the price of the 3 day. You could also get a discount on onesite hotels.

The Annual Pass is $295. For the extra $80 (above the power pass), you get free parking, $10% discount on food and merchandise, and no blackout dates.

 

[moscow]

We are going in January and staying at RPR.

 

[johde]

I'm also going in early January, and I'm currently waiting for APH rates to come out. By all indications, 1 power pass should be plenty. For September, aph rates are currently running $154 Sun - Thurs and $185 on Friday and Saturday. January could end up being slightly higher than that when the rates finally come out.

 

[crazycatlady]

Has anyone recently purchased the annual pass star card package before they activated their annual pass? I was reading a thread from last year where someone had a hard time activating their star card because it was per-ordered before they bought their AP. Now I am afraid to pre-order PhotoConnect because I am not activating my AP until our first day in the parks.

 

[Bluer101]

Has anyone recently purchased the annual pass star card package before they activated their annual pass? I was reading a thread from last year where someone had a hard time activating their star card because it was per-ordered before they bought their AP. Now I am afraid to pre-order PhotoConnect because I am not activating my AP until our first day in the parks.

Just take note if the online price. Then get the star card when you arrive at either park. There is a photo connect shop just inside each entrance. They will honor the online price if you tell them the situation. If you want you can have your photo taken at the entrance and use the card they give you until you buy the package. That card will become your card number. If you forget your card or want to have multiple cards for the family you can add then online or through the app too. But until you buy a package they are blocked with watermarks on the photos.

Another thing to remember that if you want to buy prints there do so during that trip. Because after a few days they cannot access the photos in park. You can only order prints online through your account. But as always you get the free digital downloads and mobile sharing.

We have had ours almost 2 years now and love it. We were going to renew last year online but forgot. So they honored the online price and took an additional $5 on top if that. What service.

 

[crazycatlady]

Thanks, Bluer! We have never done the Disney photo package, but Photo Connect looks like a really good deal.

 

[bjakmom]

If I order the photo card in advance on-line for a 3 day stay, is there anywhere OUTSIDE of the park that I can pick up my card? I'm assuming that they do not send you the card, that you have to stop somewhere when entering to get set up, right? I'd much rather do this on my arrival (non park) day than have to deal with it during early morning entry. Is there a guest services window just outside park entrances where I can do this?

 

[johde]

If I order the photo card in advance on-line for a 3 day stay, is there anywhere OUTSIDE of the park that I can pick up my card? I'm assuming that they do not send you the card, that you have to stop somewhere when entering to get set up, right? I'd much rather do this on my arrival (non park) day than have to deal with it during early morning entry. Is there a guest services window just outside park entrances where I can do this?

Right now, I don't think there is anything outside the park. And even if there was, that might be considered day 1 of your package. They do have you taken care of though. At the first place you get your picture, the photographer will give you a temporary card. You can continue to use it for the rest of day until it's a convenient time to get your regular card. You just need to get your regular card before the end of that first day.

 

[Bluer101]

If I order the photo card in advance on-line for a 3 day stay, is there anywhere OUTSIDE of the park that I can pick up my card? I'm assuming that they do not send you the card, that you have to stop somewhere when entering to get set up, right? I'd much rather do this on my arrival (non park) day than have to deal with it during early morning entry. Is there a guest services window just outside park entrances where I can do this?

I believe any card you get from any ride or photo employee can be added to your package. There is no such thing as pick up your card really.

Point being as a family are in the park and are given a star card after their picture is taken. They can carry that same card and use it thru the day or get others. Then you decide you want a package. So all they do is add those QR star cards to your new package. Sound simple right.

 

[bjakmom]

Right now, I don't think there is anything outside the park. And even if there was, that might be considered day 1 of your package. They do have you taken care of though. At the first place you get your picture, the photographer will give you a temporary card. You can continue to use it for the rest of day until it's a convenient time to get your regular card. You just need to get your regular card before the end of that first day.

I believe any card you get from any ride or photo employee can be added to your package. There is no such thing as pick up your card really.

Point being as a family are in the park and are given a star card after their picture is taken. They can carry that same card and use it thru the day or get others. Then you decide you want a package. So all they do is add those QR star cards to your new package. Sound simple right.

Thanks! - that sounds great. Does the same apply to ride photos? We'll be heading to Gringotts on our first early morning (of course). Can we get a card for the ride photo after we get off that we can then use all morning and stop at (the photo shop?) on our way out of the park to set up our account and have those photos included? My main reason for considering the package is the ride photos - how do they work?
Do I have this right, if I prepurchase on line I am not sent a card, but have to go somewhere in the park to register or something?
I've only ever done Photopass at WDW and once I pick up a card with the first photo there is nothing else I need to do in the park - everything else is done on-line once I get home (entering the card #s into my account), so I'm a little confused.

 

[AngelDisney]

I am planning to purchase the 3-day package online but not using it on my arrival day as well. From what I have read, you can activate your package at the ride photo shop. I am planning to ride Gringotts first thing during EE and then activate my package at the Gringotts ride photo shop, so I don't have to slow down during my mad dash to Gringotts. Be sure to claim your free prints on the day of your rides. They are only accessible within the day of the ride photos being taken.

Hope this helps and have fun planning!

 

[johde]

Thanks! - that sounds great. Does the same apply to ride photos? We'll be heading to Gringotts on our first early morning (of course). Can we get a card for the ride photo after we get off that we can then use all morning and stop at (the photo shop?) on our way out of the park to set up our account and have those photos included? My main reason for considering the package is the ride photos - how do they work?
Do I have this right, if I prepurchase on line I am not sent a card, but have to go somewhere in the park to register or something?
I've only ever done Photopass at WDW and once I pick up a card with the first photo there is nothing else I need to do in the park - everything else is done on-line once I get home (entering the card #s into my account), so I'm a little confused.

I'm doing photo connect for the first time as well so most of my information is coming from another site. (If you google Universal star card FAQ, the first 5 or 6 links have great information).

In general, unlike Disney, Universal doesn't keep your pictures long term if you don't buy a package. So some time during you're first day, you need to stop by and turn in your voucher (if you purchased online) and get your pictured put into your "permanent account" and get you're "permanent" card. With Universal, you can access your pictures online "forever" with the package purchase. Also, if you have a picture you like (that's not HP) for $5 you can get it on a hard plastic Star card.

Another difference I've read between Disney and Universal is in the area of "Magic shot". At Universal, the magic doesn't happen automatically. Sometime towards the end of the day you'll want to go to a photo store and get all of the magic and boarders added to your pictures. That includes replacing the green screen in pictures like the Simpson's Cough Gag hot set with the appropriate background (right now they have 5 or 6 couch gags to choose from).

Another difference is getting prints. At Universal, you can get discounted prints of any of your pictures (except Harry Potter) at any photo shop. They are currently $2 for a 4x6, $5 for a 5x7 and $10 for an 8x10. The photos you download with your packages have been reduced to about 2mp. So they are best for online and 4x6 prints. As was previously mention, high resolution files for printing are only guaranteed to be available onsite the day the picture was taken. Although I've read you may be able to go back a day or 2.

 

[bjakmom]

I'm doing photo connect for the first time as well so most of my information is coming from another site. (If you google Universal star card FAQ, the first 5 or 6 links have great information).

In general, unlike Disney, Universal doesn't keep your pictures long term if you don't buy a package. So some time during you're first day, you need to stop by and turn in your voucher (if you purchased online) and get your pictured put into your "permanent account" and get you're "permanent" card. With Universal, you can access your pictures online "forever" with the package purchase. Also, if you have a picture you like (that's not HP) for $5 you can get it on a hard plastic Star card.

Another difference I've read between Disney and Universal is in the area of "Magic shot". At Universal, the magic doesn't happen automatically. Sometime towards the end of the day you'll want to go to a photo store and get all of the magic and boarders added to your pictures. That includes replacing the green screen in pictures like the Simpson's Cough Gag hot set with the appropriate background (right now they have 5 or 6 couch gags to choose from).

Another difference is getting prints. At Universal, you can get discounted prints of any of your pictures (except Harry Potter) at any photo shop. They are currently $2 for a 4x6, $5 for a 5x7 and $10 for an 8x10. The photos you download with your packages have been reduced to about 2mp. So they are best for online and 4x6 prints. As was previously mention, high resolution files for printing are only guaranteed to be available onsite the day the picture was taken. Although I've read you may be able to go back a day or 2.

Thanks for all this info! Guess I'd better do a little more research on this to make sure I know what I'm doing and how it works compared to Photopass. I've never done or felt I needed a photo package at USF/IOA before, but now that DGrD10 will do all the rides with me, I think it will be nice to have for her special birthday trip.

 

[misse336]

I'm doing photo connect for the first time as well so most of my information is coming from another site. (If you google Universal star card FAQ, the first 5 or 6 links have great information).

In general, unlike Disney, Universal doesn't keep your pictures long term if you don't buy a package. So some time during you're first day, you need to stop by and turn in your voucher (if you purchased online) and get your pictured put into your "permanent account" and get you're "permanent" card. With Universal, you can access your pictures online "forever" with the package purchase. Also, if you have a picture you like (that's not HP) for $5 you can get it on a hard plastic Star card.

Another difference I've read between Disney and Universal is in the area of "Magic shot". At Universal, the magic doesn't happen automatically. Sometime towards the end of the day you'll want to go to a photo store and get all of the magic and boarders added to your pictures. That includes replacing the green screen in pictures like the Simpson's Cough Gag hot set with the appropriate background (right now they have 5 or 6 couch gags to choose from).

Another difference is getting prints. At Universal, you can get discounted prints of any of your pictures (except Harry Potter) at any photo shop. They are currently $2 for a 4x6, $5 for a 5x7 and $10 for an 8x10. The photos you download with your packages have been reduced to about 2mp. So they are best for online and 4x6 prints. As was previously mention, high resolution files for printing are only guaranteed to be available onsite the day the picture was taken. Although I've read you may be able to go back a day or 2.

I didn't realize this. So if my plan was to purchase the star card program online before my trip, attach all of my pictures to it in the park (characters/rides/etc) and then print them all out at home (probably in 4 by 6 size for photo albums) I wouldn't be able to do that? I'd need to purchase the star card program, decide which pictures I want while in the park and then pay $2 per picture for them to print them out while I was in the park?

I just want to make sure I have all of my information correct since I read explanations about the program on 4-5 different sites but somehow missed that you weren't getting high quality downloads that you could print at home.

 

[johde]

I didn't realize this. So if my plan was to purchase the star card program online before my trip, attach all of my pictures to it in the park (characters/rides/etc) and then print them all out at home (probably in 4 by 6 size for photo albums) I wouldn't be able to do that? I'd need to purchase the star card program, decide which pictures I want while in the park and then pay $2 per picture for them to print them out while I was in the park?

I just want to make sure I have all of my information correct since I read explanations about the program on 4-5 different sites but somehow missed that you weren't getting high quality downloads that you could print at home.

No, for the price you pay, you can download and print any picture you want. You have the option (not the requirement) of printing them in the park for $2. You don't need to pay any more money if you plan on printing them at home or to upload and print them someplace like Walmart.

 

[misse336]

No, for the price you pay, you can download and print any picture you want. You have the option (not the requirement) of printing them in the park for $2. You don't need to pay any more money if you plan on printing them at home or to upload and print them someplace like Walmart.

So the quality of them is ok when you download them and print them out? They don't reduce the megapixels like stated above? Does anyone have experience printing them out at home and the quality of them (are they grainy or sharp if printed at home or a place like WM)?

 

[johde]

So the quality of them is ok when you download them and print them out? They don't reduce the megapixels like stated above? Does anyone have experience printing them out at home and the quality of them (are they grainy or sharp if printed at home or a place like WM)?

Yes and no. From what I've read, yes the do reduce the mega pixels but it is not to such an extreme level that 4x6 or probably even 5x7 prints wouldn't be photo quality. If you wanted to print a poster you would probably notice the difference.

Looking online some samples of photos that I'm guessing haven't been further reduced can be found.

http://attractionsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/343273_43406841.jpg

http://micechat.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/432983_42698323-1.jpg


I also found a conversion chart on how well thing will print.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/FrameWork/charts/resolutionChartPopup.html

 

[misse336]

Thanks for the examples and the MP link. As long as they print well from the web site I am going to go ahead and order it. I just don't want to have to go through everything while I am in the parks and make decisions about what pictures to order and how many of each picture to order.