Photopass Questions

[mousecanuck]

I've seen some info about Photopass, but how does it actually work? You purchase it (online before you go there's a deal???) then every time you see a Disney photopass photographer, you give them your card and at the end of the trip, either buy prints or buy the CD? I've heard they're available on line for 30 days after your trip?

I know they don't give you the 'ride' photos, but classic shots (in front of the castle, etc.) and character shots? At character meals, also maybe? Anything else? Waterparks & Downtown Disney photo ops???

We'll be in the parks 11 days so lots of opportunity, I think it would be worth it. So many 'padders' have the inside scoop and Disney has such limited info on the Photopass. Any info & comments are appreciated, thanks!

[fairestoneofall]

We have used the photopass at WDW and DL. You purchase your photopass CD in advance online to get the discount. Then, when you get to WDW you just obtain a photopass card that you will keep with you for the duration of your trip. Any time a photographer is taking photos, just hand them your card and they will scan it to add the photos of you. There are so many photopass opportunities at WDW. I do know that they are at all of the parks, and I think at some of the resorts (someone correct me if I'm wrong here). We were in the parks for 5 days and got hundreds of photos. You have 30 days from the date the photos were taking (not sure if it's 1st photo date or last) to upload your photopass cards to the web site. Then you have another 30 days to make changes, add borders, crop, edit, etc. Once you finish your CD and submit it, the CD comes very quickly.
Also, if your party will be separating throughout the vacation they may take their own photopass cards with them. You can upload multiple cards to one CD.

[Drince88]

I'm not sure if the character meals have photopass photgraphers around (they didn't have them at the couple I've gone to). SOME character greetings do, others don't. I think the only ones I've seen at resorts were ones doing a specific photo session with a family (except maybe at the Grand Floridian at Christmas time - the tree there makes a fantastic backdrop for dressed up families, IMHO).

When you get back home and have multiple cards, make sure you put in the number into the account that you're getting the CD from. This is particularly important if you have multiple smaller families going together. Because each card can only be associated with one online account, and each CD can only contain pictures from one online account.

[currence]

Almost anywhere there is a photopass photographer they can scan your photopass after taking pictures and they will be added to the card. As someone said earlier, you can have multiple cards on one account (but each card can only be on one account). Once you get each card, make sure to write down or take a photo of the code on the back. That is what you enter online so if you lose the card but still have the code you can still retrieve any photo taken before the card was lost.

If I recall at the character meals that offer the photos for sale, you can also add them to your photopass if you purchase the photo package. I have no idea what the policy is for the character meals that have free photos (i.e. Cindy's and the Princesses at Epcot).

When we were there last February, both the Yacht & Beach Club & Grand Floridian had a spot where a photopass person was taking staged photos. I don't know if Downtown Disney does but they might.

The waterparks have photographers, but when we were there I wasn't sure how to tell the photographers that we wanted the photos. Most locations have people willing to take staged photos. At the waterpark they had a few that roamed. I think they also had them at the end of various rides, but I was busy in the toddler area so I don't know much else. They also have cool photopass cards that were wristlets so you could keep them on in the water.

Also, if you do the Photosessions at the various hotels and have pre-purchased the CD, I believe you can get the CD of those pictures at a reduced fee.

[KJSJpipe]

We have gotten the Photo Pass several times and have always really enjoyed most of the pictures (even Pro's take a bad pic once in a while!;)). Our last trip was the first time I was disappointed in the pictures and it was completely my fault. We usually stop at just about every photographer I see and take several pictures at each one. Depending on who is on the trip it will usually be a shot of the four of us DH & I, DD & DS, us with who ever else is there and then a picture of just them. On one trip after we did the enhancements and editing we ended up with of 600 pictures. This time we ended up with only about 70. :|
I was so busy making sure my parents were okay and not over whelmed that I kind of forgot about taking pictures. :eyeroll:

[Drince88]

I was so busy making sure my parents were okay and not over whelmed that I kind of forgot about taking pictures. :eyeroll:
Don't kick yourself too hard. Yes, it'd be nice to have more photos, but making sure everyone ACTUALLY has a good time is a good reason to not have as many!!!

[KJSJpipe]

True, I just wanted a ton of pictures since I knew they would not be going back. They only went this time because the kids really wanted them to. Plus I bought a frame to give them with a picture of our trip and I don't really like any of them enough to frame one. :eyeroll:

[DwarfPlanet]

When you have a picture taken by a photopass photographer check and see if they have special inserts where they can make it so a character is photoshopped into the picture with you. I have not done this at WDW (don't know why) but at DLR we have ones with Mickey, Minnie, Hook, Stitch, HM Ghosts & Darth Vader to name the ones I know.

[CBFETT]

We did the Photopass four trips back, enjoyed it, but haven't done it since. Not because it was bad, but it was just easier for us to use our cameras or cell phone for pics. And I don't remember any photopass folks at any of the character meals. And we go to at least one each trip.

[stan4d_steph]

I still don't get why they don't have PhotoPass people during the Disney races. I wonder if it's a contract thing with the ASI photographers. It would be nice to be able to do character photos along the way without having to carry a camera.

[TinaMouse]

VERY disappointed to see few photopass photogs last week. They were on the main drag of each park (castle, hat, tree, se earth), but that's just about it. I had as many pics taken as I can, but when I got back, I only had 60 in there. :( Still worth it because of the nature of the trip, but I think the cold scared them all away!

[jennibell]

For our trip in Dec. we pre-ordered the photopass cd and then we stopped everywhere to have our picture taken.

We got magic shots with Stitch, Tinker-bell, and holding Mickey Balloons.

Also, the pictures taken on Test-Track can be added to your photopass account, and so can the pictures taken at the Princess Storybook meals in Norway. With the Test-Track pictures you just have to go to the desk with your card and they will add it to your account. It wouldn't hurt to ask at any ride picture desk, the worst they can say is no.

[mousecanuck]

Thanks, everyone! Now I just have to figure out exactly where to go to purchase the darn thing ahead of time!!!

We also have a couple of good cameras (one rivals anything they'll have) but we can't get 'all of us' in some pix and maybe we can ham it up more with a pro doing it (vs. handing our camera to some kind soul who cuts our heads off, etc. ;) )

[GusMan]

Ask and you shall receive... a link. (http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx)

[mousecanuck]

Thank you Gusman - sorry I'm so late in responding, I missed that someone had replied!