SW photographers in the parks?

[vault19dweller]

We've got a PhotoKey for a day - but I'm so confused what they mean by "adventure photo" dot point on their website.
I get the ride ones, but that first point I just didn't really understand

Also confused about a few things about PhotoKey in general really

Is they photo key for rides & pre-marked places in the theme park only?


Is dolphin feeding is included in this, or separate?
If excluded - do they have their own photographers you pay for on top of photo key?


Same with the tours? Any "SW photographers" there? (if so - are they photokey ones, or additional $$$$ again?)

We've got a few tours booked and am really wanting a photo of our entire party of 2 to at least be in a couple of shots together rather than one of us always being left out (from being the one taking the photo)

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

We've got a PhotoKey for a day - but I'm so confused what they mean by "adventure photo" dot point on their website.
I get the ride ones, but that first point I just didn't really understand

Adventure Photo is the store name of the kiosk that handles park photo purchases. Its located just inside the park entrance, near Guest Services (#6 on this park map):

http://da15bdaf715461308003-0c725c9..._sw-8402a-park_map_eng_1500px.jpg?pos=1&pos=1

In addition to ride photos, there are SW photographers at a few places around the park who will take your family's pictures. There are photographers just inside the gates, right outside Adventure Photo, to take your photo in front of the large killer whale on the wall.



Sometimes there is a character meet and greet near the entrance where you can have your pic taken with Shamu (they also had photo ops with two bears in sailor suits? there on our last visit). They were taking pics at the large 50th anniversary logo this summer too:



At Christmas, SW photogs will take your pictures by the big tree at the entrance, by the huge snowman (also by the entrance), with Santa in the North Pole after exiting the Polar Express ride, and inside a snow globe (two places inside the park for that).







Oh yeah...they are also in Antarctica:



....and in Sharks:



Those are just a few that I know of....I am sure other folks will chime in with more locations.

We have not used Photokey just yet (it was introduced just after our end-of-August visit) but we were able to get our dolphin feeding pictures added to our photo CD in late summer, so I am sure those will also be allowed to be added to Photokey once that area is reopened in the spring.

 

[919Florida]

Gina did a great job replying. Keep an eye out in the park for photographers. While these are not photo locations that are always staffed they do make appearances from time to time.

Waterfall feature over by Blue horizons on the Journey to Atlantis side.

Waterfall and landscape area over by the Terrace BBQ location.

Outside of Shamu stadium with the two whales as a topiary.

Outside of Shamu stadium by Happy Harbor there are two whales you can sit on for photos it has a backdrop with the Seaworld logo

As I had mentioned they don't always have people here but almost always during weekends their are more photographers around

As for the tours it depends when you bought your photo key. During initial sales there were advertising the photo key as including tours. However come November they discontinued that and now have a separate add on for tour and animal interaction photos. So if you bought the photo key before November you will still get your tour and animal interaction pictures.

Hope this helps.

 

[vault19dweller]

Thanks for the replys guys.

Am a little disheartened, I know theme parks try to get as much money out people as possible - but to charge $90 for a couple of photos around the park and a few ride shots, all in just 1 day, is a lot less than I'd expected for that price tag.

Honestly thought the dolphin feeding and tours (which are extra special rare events) would be included - I mean if people are paying for park tickets, plus photography, plus a tour, at least they include the tour photos?

So disheartening that they only included it as a promo, only purchased PhotoKey recently and really regretting it right now.

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Thanks for the replys guys.

Am a little disheartened, I know theme parks try to get as much money out people as possible - but to charge $90 for a couple of photos around the park and a few ride shots, all in just 1 day, is a lot less than I'd expected for that price tag.

I am not sure where you are getting your numbers, but a one day Photokey is $59.99 (not $90), and an entire year is $99.99:

http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/dine-and-shop/shopping/photokey/

(take advantage of the current BOGO offer on annual passes and you'd save an additional percentage on top of that price)

We got WAY more than "a couple of photos and a few ride shots" on our last visit. It really is up to the person to take advantage of all the photo opportunities, and not to pass them by when you find them. We easily got a dozen pics just around the entrance area alone.....another 3 in Sharks, 6 or so in Antarctica (including magic shots, where Puck the penguin appeared in our hands), 4 or more at the dolphin feeding, plus multiple ride pics on Journey to Atlantis, Manta, Kraken, and the Shamu Coaster. And that was not bothering with several of the other photographers that we saw.....we could have easily had more if we were trying to max out the value.

 

[919Florida]

I am not sure where you are getting your numbers, but a one day Photokey is $59.99 (not $90), and an entire year is $99.99:

http://seaworldparks.com/en/seaworld-orlando/dine-and-shop/shopping/photokey/

(take advantage of the current BOGO offer on annual passes and you'd save an additional percentage on top of that price)

We got WAY more than "a couple of photos and a few ride shots" on our last visit. It really is up to the person to take advantage of all the photo opportunities, and not to pass them by when you find them. We easily got a dozen pics just around the entrance area alone.....another 3 in Sharks, 6 or so in Antarctica (including magic shots, where Puck the penguin appeared in our hands), 4 or more at the dolphin feeding, plus multiple ride pics on Journey to Atlantis, Manta, Kraken, and the Shamu Coaster. And that was not bothering with several of the other photographers that we saw.....we could have easily had more if we were trying to max out the value.

I agree with Gina. I purchased the photo key annual pass and it was one of my greatest investments at the park. I love photo key and find that they have a very good amount of photo spots in the park. Im up to 144 picture on my photo key. THe quality of the pictures are nice and its also a cool benefit how while you are in the park you can pull up your photos on the app and share them on Facebook and twitter before you even leave

 

[Mandy91]

Thanks for the replys guys.

Am a little disheartened, I know theme parks try to get as much money out people as possible - but to charge $90 for a couple of photos around the park and a few ride shots, all in just 1 day, is a lot less than I'd expected for that price tag.

Honestly thought the dolphin feeding and tours (which are extra special rare events) would be included - I mean if people are paying for park tickets, plus photography, plus a tour, at least they include the tour photos?

So disheartening that they only included it as a promo, only purchased PhotoKey recently and really regretting it right now.

Dolphin feeding is included with the regular PhotoKey. The only photos not included are the Wild Arctic Tour, Dolphin Up Close Tour, and Beluga Interaction. If you do one of the tours and want the photos from it it's $25 to add them on to your regular PhotoKey. But yeah dolphin feedings are included.

 

[vault19dweller]

Oh I totally get that its up to you to stop and have photos done to make it worth it - I am one of those people who will stop at every-single-photographer we find (think others may get over me doing that - on one of our longer theme park trips we got over 250 photos from DLR)

I honestly just thought that given we pay a lot to walk in the gates, a lot for food, a lot for photos, etc that charging an additional $25 for the tour photo was a little excessive given all the other things we're already paying for is all.
I just don't understand that exclusion was all.

Guess I was just used to Disney where you get pixie dust without them trying to charge you more (ie: we've had photographers run around the parks with us doing a personal mini-photo session for free) and random stuff like that.

Really its just the fact that they charge additional for tour photos when youve paid for a tour, and yovue paid for photos

 

[Gina-Gina-Bo-Bina]

Guess I was just used to Disney where you get pixie dust without them trying to charge you more (ie: we've had photographers run around the parks with us doing a personal mini-photo session for free) and random stuff like that.

Really its just the fact that they charge additional for tour photos when youve paid for a tour, and yovue paid for photos

I feel *way* more price gouged at Disney for photos than I do at SeaWorld (for ALL things for that matter....dining especially....but I digress).

Disney doesn't even offer a one-day Memory Maker option....you have to buy by individual digital download or the whole $169/$199 purchase price. At an individual download price of $15 each, that's a whopping 4 photos for the same price as SeaWorld's one-day key. Then, SeaWorld offers you a full YEAR of photos at a one time price of $99......half of Disney's one-trip Memory Maker when not paid in advance. Half!

I would say you are quite fortunate that the Photopass photographers gave you a private photo session for free. We did a private photo session at Disney's Polynesian Resort in 2009 and it was an extra cost over and above the Photopass package. They didn't "try" to charge me more, they DID...and it wasn't cheap. Photopass photographers whom we encountered in the park never moved from their stations on any of our visits.....they just took our picture and moved us along so they could do the same for the next family.

I honestly just thought that given we pay a lot to walk in the gates, a lot for food, a lot for photos, etc that charging an additional $25 for the tour photo was a little excessive given all the other things we're already paying for

I may be in the minority on these boards, but we find SeaWorld to be a MUCH better value than Disney. Admission is far more affordable. Food is far more affordable (and their dining plans are open to ANYONE ... not just those paying a huge premium to stay at a Disney resort property). Tours are more affordable. Their Christmas and other special events are all amazing and FREE (they're included in your regular admission cost....there's no special $65 pp party ticket needed). And yes, in my opinion, even the photo options are more affordable. Of course, cost/benefit is different for everyone.....so your opinion may differ.

I do hope you have an incredible time when you visit, despite your reservations about the Photokey. SeaWorld is one of our favourite parks in Orlando, and it has so much to offer. I, personally, can't WAIT to return this year! And I will have my Photokey purchased and in hand .

 

[919Florida]

I may be in the minority on these boards, but we find SeaWorld to be a MUCH better value than Disney. Admission is far more affordable. Food is far more affordable (and their dining plans are open to ANYONE ... not just those paying a huge premium to stay at a Disney resort property). Tours are more affordable. Their Christmas and other special events are all amazing and FREE (they're included in your regular admission cost....there's no special $65 pp party ticket needed). And yes, in my opinion, even the photo options are more affordable. Of course, cost/benefit is different for everyone.....so your opinion may differ.

Totally agree Gina. Everything costs so much more at Disney. I honestly feel SeaWorld offers a better level of value. I have no complaints at all about it there.

One also need to remember another benefit to photo key is you can get prints printed in the park for a discounted rate of $5 which is super nice.