Everything PhotoPass and Memory Maker
Overview
Together, Photopass, and Memory Maker are a way for Disney guests to take home many precious memories of themselves and their families enjoying many different Walt Disney World experiences.
Product Definitions
Photopass: Getting your pictures taken
Photopass is the name of the Disney World service which takes photos of you and your family all around the Disney World parks, and resorts. Having photos taken by Photopass Photographers is free for any guest, with no obligation to buy anything.
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Photopass Photographer taking a photo of a family with Cinderella’s Castle in the background.
My Disney Experience
This encompasses the My Disney Experience mobile app, and the website as well. This is where you will view, edit, and delete photos. You will also manage your friends and family here, so that photos of your traveling party can also be included in any photo products you may purchase.
Gameday Photos Sports Photographer
https://www.espnwwos.com/complex/services/sports-photographer/ Gameday Photos Sports Photographer is a new service offered by ESPN. Packages can be purchased for single player, the team, and times can be from an hour to the length of the game. Prices vary by event.
Fine Art Photography
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/fine-art-photography-video/] Fine Art Photography is an extra charge service providing a dedicated photographer in one of a range of Disney World locations who will pose, and photograph your family. There are numerous locations, and session lengths to choose from. Some of these packages provide the photos immediately on a flash drive. Others include retouching, and send the photos by mail several weeks later. The Magic Kingdom Family Portrait also comes with a 16" x 24" canvas print of one photo of your choice, and a 20 print photo album.
Photo Download
Photo download is a product you can purchase which will allow you to download a single Photopass Photo.
One Day Memory Maker
The One Day Memory Maker purchase allows you to download all of the photos that were taken on one day of your stay.
Memory Maker
Memory maker is a product which you can purchase. Memory Maker allows you to download digital copies of all of the Photopass Photographs you and your family have taken over the course of your stay.
Magic Shot
Magic shots are special photos which can be taken by Photopass Photographers, and add special elements into your Photopass photos.
Visit the
Magic Shots – Current Listings thread to see all of the Magic Shots that are currently available in each of the parks.
How it works
My Disney Experience
The first step to using PhotoPass, and / or Memory Maker is to set up your account on My Disney Experience. This can be done through the DisneyWorld Website, or through the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device.
Once you have set up an account, you can then link your park tickets, and connect any Magic Bands you have. If you don’t have Magic Bands yet, they can be connected when you get them. It is also possible to use PhotoPass without a Magic Band
Next, make sure everyone who is travelling with you is also set up in My Disney Experience. Now, using the Friends and Family feature of My Disney Experience, connect everyone to your account, and enable sharing and purchasing of PhotoPass photos.
You are now set to get your photos taken.
Choosing the right photo product
This can be tricky, as it can be difficult to know how many pictures you are going to want before you actually have them taken, and choosing the right product depends largely on how many photos you want to keep.
The Photo Download allows you to download a single Photopass photo (as well as some edits of that same photo) from your trip. If you are only going to want a couple of photos, this may be the least expensive option.
The One Day Memory Maker allows you to download all of the photos that are taken on one day of your trip. If you know that you are really only going to want the photos from your Animal Kingdom day, for instance, or you are only going to be in Disney World for one day, then this could be the best deal. Note, the One Day Memory Maker costs slightly more than 4 individual Photo Downloads, so if you want 4 photos or less, it will be less expensive to buy them individually.
If you are going to want photos from more than one day of your trip, and you are going to want 10 or more photos, then the Memory Maker Advance Purchase will be your best deal. For $169, this will allow you to download all of the photos that you have taken over the full length of your Disney World stay. Note, this must be purchased at least 3 days before you have your first photo taken (If you purchase during the day on Friday, then the earliest you can get photos taken will be on Monday).
If you want to purchase Memory Maker less than 3 days before you have your first photo taken, then you will have to pay the regular purchase price of $199, which is slightly less than the cost of 12 single photo downloads.
Members of the military can take advantage of a military discount on Memory Maker, and purchase it for $98. The military Memory Maker is retroactive, so that it includes photos that have already been taken. Therefore, it can be purchased at any point during your trip. This has to be purchased in person in Disney World, from a Guest Relations window, or ticket booth.
Annual Passholders. Most Annual Passholder levels include free digital downloads of PhotoPass photos. If you have this, there is no need to buy any of the above Photo products. When you activate your Annual Pass, any photos which are currently in your PhotoPass account, as well as any you have taken while your Annual Pass is valid, will be available for you to download at no additional charge.
In addition to the above options, you can also purchase merchandise through PhotoPass customized with your PhotoPass photos. Options include CD’s or DVD’s with all of your digital images on them, mugs, cups, calendars, and a host of other products. It is worth noting that if you purchase the digital download of your photos, you can then use other companies to create many of these same products, and likely at a considerably lower price.
The hard part in choosing the right product is knowing what you are going to want. 9 individual Photo Downloads will cost you less than the Memory Maker pre-purchase price. 11 individual Photo Downloads will cost less than the Memory Maker at the non pre-purchase price. If you can figure out ahead of time how many photos you will be happy with, then you have the best chance of picking the right product. If you go into the trip thinking you’ll only want a few, then decide halfway through it that you really want them all, you wind up paying $199 for Memory Maker when you could have had it for $169. Take your time, look online to see what kinds of photos other people are getting from PhotoPass, and hopefully, you will pick the right product before you start your trip.
Getting your photos taken
You can have photos taken in many different ways.
Photopass Photographers can be found at scenic locations throughout the Disney World parks, waterparks, resort hotels, Disney Springs, and at some special resort meals (usually character meals. These change from time to time.) Resort photographers are most often found in the decorated lobbies of the deluxe resorts around the holidays. Don't be afraid to approach them and ask them to take your photo, that is what they are there for, and they will walk your group around the lobby for the best spots. *tip* Photopass photographers are always willing to take your picture with your own camera, or cell phone, in addition to taking the Photopass photo. Since there is no obligation to buy the Photopass photos, this is a relatively easy way to get family photos taken without asking another park guest to help out.
*Current character meals with PhotoPass photographers:
Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Epcot's Norway pavilion
Cinderella's Royal Table in Magic Kingdom's Cinderella's Castle
Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary Resort
*These locations are accurate as of 2/15/18
Ride Photos and Videos. Some rides automatically take photos and some even take videos of you on the ride.
Photobooths. Spread around Disney World are some photobooths. There is no official list of where they are, but they can often be found in resort arcades, and around the boardwalk. Sometimes you will spot one in a park. Disney has been converting these photobooths from pay only to pay, or photopass, so some of them aren't photopass yet, but some can be activated with your Magic Band, and the photos will be added to your PhotPass account for free
Character Meet and Greets nearly always have a PhotoPass photographer on hand. Some dining packages (Cinderella’s Royal Table, and Chef Mickey’s for example) have an option to get your photo taken.
Photopass Studios. There is a photography studio in the marketplace at Disney Springs.
Having PhotoPass photos taken is free. There is nothing to buy, or sign up for. Anyone can approach any of the PhotoPass Photographers, and have their photo taken at any time with absolutely no obligation. You can view that photo in your My Disney Experience account on your mobile device, or through the PhotoPass website.
There are also other photography services available for purchase. These include:
Fine Art Photography. This service provides a dedicated photographer in one of a range of Disney World locations who will pose, and photograph your family. There are numerous locations, and session lengths to choose from. Some of these packages provide the photos immediately on a flash drive. Others include retouching, and send the photos by mail several weeks later. The Magic Kingdom Family Portrait also comes with a 16" x 24" canvas print of one photo of your choice, and a 20 print photo album.
Gameday Photos Sports Photographer. This is a new service offered by ESPN. Packages can be purchased for single player, the team, and times can be from an hour to the length of the game. Prices vary by event.
Editing your photos
Once your photos have been taken, it is time to edit. Usually, you will wait until you return home to do this. On the Disney World website, under My Disney Experience click on My Photos, and log in. There, you will have options to view, and edit your photos. Editing options include cropping, adding borders and stickers, changing aspect ratio, changing color to black and white, or orientation from Landscape to Portrait. Once you have edited a photo as you see fit, you can select “Create a Copy” to save the edited photo. You will now have both the original, and the edited version. You can really get creative, and have lots of fun with the editing tools.
Downloading
On the Photopass website, you have two options. You can download a single photo, or you can create a download set with all of your photos. For those using Memory Maker, my suggestion is make all of your edits, then make a full download set. Once you have downloaded your photos, you can get them printed as you see fit, or use them to create products for unique family keepsakes.
Memory Maker Specifics
There are some things to keep in mind with Memory Maker. You will be able to download all pictures taken of anyone that you have linked through Friends and Family, as long as you have enabled “My Disney PhotoPass Photos.” If you aren’t sure, go to your friends and family list, and click on “Update” next to their name. Make certain there is a green box by the “My Disney PhotoPass Photos” option, and you’re set.
Each photo you have taken will stay on the PhotoPass server for 45 days from the day it is taken. This means you need to finish your editing, and download your photos within 45 days of having them taken.
In addition, once you download your first photo, you can add more photos to the Memory Maker for 30 days. After that, you will no longer be able to add new pictures. These deadlines are important to keep in mind, especially if you are taking a longer trip, have a big group whose trips may not all begin and end at exactly the same time, or have other circumstances that might delay your editing and downloading of photos.
Conclusion
I hope this gives you a good idea of what PhotoPass and Memory Maker are all about. For sure, these products aren’t for everyone, but they can provide wonderful family photos that will be cherished for many years to come.
If you have any questions, please post, ask.
and if anyone else is wondering- Monday's photopass pics were included.
Buying a pass today and hoping it's ready for Saturday. Thanks!
