Is it worth it to get a photopass (I think that's what it's called)?

[betsyrina]

My son (age 9) and I are planning a trip in May. I've heard it is cheaper to pre-pay for a photo pass, but I'm not sure how many pictures you get when you purchase one. We will be there for 7 days (and I purchased two more days, because I'm there for a conference, and I figure we can go back into the parks a couple of evenings). We will both have our own cameras with us too. I am a scrapbooker. What other information do you need to help me make a good decision? Thanks for any tips/suggestions/advice!!!
- Betsy

[3Princesses1Prince]

You get unlimited pics on the CD. So it's whether or not you are one to stop for pics and want to meet lots of characters. We definitely found it worth it. We took lots of pictures, then you can edit them, add different borders, crop to different sizes.

[GusMan]

Is it worth it? Only if you make an effort to get as many pictures taken AND you have a purpose in mind for them. Scrapping is a good reason to do it. We do digital picture books via Blurb. The last book we did was over 300 pages long and had something like 1300+ pictures in it, with maybe 300 of them being from photopass. (combo of 3 trips in one year.)

The thing is with the prepay offer, if you dont use the code within 6 months, you can ask for a refund. After 6 months, I think you can still use the code, but no refund.

If you prepay, tell the photogs when you get your pic taken... they may have special pics. Also, feel free to ask them to take a pic of you doing something different. Some photogs really love to get creative if you let them. Just go crazy with it. Heck, we hit every photog we can going out of the parks too... it slows your exit and you get some great shots from different perspectives.

[betsyrina]

Thanks Disney Mama and Gus!! I heard that you get a discount if you pre-pay - do you know where I order that? Does the PhotoPass work for the attraction photos too? In a typical day, how many pictures do you have taken? I'm assuming you can download them and get them printed or use them in a different software for scrapbooking? I appreciate hearing your opinions and your experiences.

[GusMan]

Click here for the Pre-Order site.

I just ordered one the other day. There is a rumor that the price is going to go up (it was supposed to last week) so if you want to do this, you might want to do it very soon.

The only attraction that I know of that has Photopass pictures is Test Track. Also, if you buy pictures from character meals, such as at Chef Mickey's, some of those photos may be eligible to be added to your photopass CD as well. You would have to buy the pictures first, though - and you should ask to see if the photopass # is included.

Once you claim your pictures when you return, you can edit them online and add borders, crop them, and the like. You can make several versions of each picture if you would like and they all get included in your CD.

They are regular .jpg files so you can include them in almost any popular editing program or scrapbooking program. You are also given a release, so you can get them printed out anywhere as well. (Though never been asked to show it.)

I think the last trip we took in December, we had an average of about 10-12 pictures taken per day, and that is on the lower side for us. As I mentioned, ask the photog if he/she has any special pictures and that you pre-ordered. You might be really surprised as to what you get.

Also, if you are a Disney Visa card holder, you can get a special photo shoot at Epcot. You get one free print from that, but you can add all the photos they take to your photo pass account. Some of those are "candid" in nature and would be great for scrapbooking/photobooks.

Also, dont forget to hit some of the meet-n-greets like at at the Epcot Character Spot, Mickey at MK near the entrance (AHHHH- name of the location escapes me) and near the animation studios at Studios. There are also many meet and greets around AK as well.

One tip... take pictures of your photopass card with your own camera and/or write the numbers down. That way, if you loose it - you wont loose the photos. And yes, you can use more than one card. (We do that as a backup at times.)

When you get your Photopass CD's... a good thing to do is to back up all the pictures onto another CD or other storage device. That way, if it gets scratched, you are not out of luck. (I usually just put all my pics, photopass and all, onto one or more DVD's.)

I hope that helps.

[rph13]

Keep the release that Disney gives you handy we have been asked for it more than once, when we get pictures printed at our local Walgreens.

[MammaSilva]

A little trick one of the folks who work the photo centers taught me, always upload the release as a part of your order. You don't have to pay for that print and it saves you the hassle of remembering to bring a copy. She did say to scan thru your order to make sure they didn't make a print and charge you but all of the photo order places like Walgreens or Walmart will let you refuse a print for any reason so you simply hand them the print of the release and say I don't want this, thank you very much, and they'll take it off your total.

[betsyrina]

Gus - You're awesome!!!! Thank you so much for that wealth of information. I purchased my photopass tonight. I think it will be fun. I love to buy photo gifts for people too. My parents have a bunch of mugs with pictures of my son... :-) rph and Mamma - thanks for the tips about the release. That is good to know! Now, can someone please make time fly a little faster???
- Betsy

[Hannahbelle]

If youre going to do this do it TODAY!! Prices go up by $20.00 tomorrow!!
(They dont advertise the pre order on the site anymore but it looks like it is still valid with the link above)

[betsyrina]

Thanks Hannahbelle! I did order it. I actually ordered the PhotoPass on Monday night, and today I upgraded it to the Deluxe version that includes the photobook. It will be nice to be able to get pictures of both my son and me... Usually I'm the photographer, and many of my scrapbooks have very few pictures of me in them... Since this is a trip with just my son and me, I want to have some pictures of both of us.

[danyoung]

Now, can someone please make time fly a little faster???
- Betsy

Sure. Once you start your vacation, time will ZIP by!

[betsyrina]

That's what I'm afraid of, Dan!!!

[candles71]

Don't forget you can hand the photopass photographer your own camera as well. Most CMs are very happy to take your photo if it doesn't interfere with their job as well. Like we wouldn't have asked the girl behind the cart except she had no line and someone else to watch the cart at the same time.
Have fun.

[betsyrina]

Thanks Candles! I will be sure to take advantage of that when I can too.

[Hannahbelle]

So they have a new card that you can only get at the parks now. Its called photo pass plus. It includes the restaurant photos AND certain ride shots.
Its $199.99. I think if you get the pre order CD and than upgrade to the ppp at the park it would be totally worth it. I know that when we went to WDW in Dec. we spent well over $100.00 on the restaurant photos at 1900 PF, Ohana, and the HDDR.
When we go in Dec we can split the cost with the other families we travel with. Yay!

Here is where I read about it:
http://www.insidethemagic.net/2012/0...photo-package/

[Drince88]

Interesting.

On-ride photos currently included in the new package are for Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, and Dinosaur, though PhotoPass has indicated on their Facebook page that they’re considering others.

So Test Track will be on the 'regular ole photo pass' cards?

[Hannahbelle]

So Test Track will be on the 'regular ole photo pass' cards?

Yes test track was the only ride that you are able to scan the "regular" photo pass card and get those ride photos on it. We did it in December.

[betsyrina]

Hannah,
This link is very helpful. Thank you for posting it!!!

Does anyone know how much a photo on a ride normally costs? I think I might upgrade to this pass in the park, but I'd like to see how much I might save by doing so. I have ADRs at two of the restaurants that are participating, as well.

- Betsy

[houseofmouse]

I believe the pictures are 19.95 for ride photos but I haven't done it in a while, so I may be off. I just looked at the Passporter website and people were posting they are almost $22.00 when you add tax.

[betsyrina]

Thanks Houseofmouse! I appreciate everyone's help on this thread!

[heidiwhr]

I Pre-ordered the CD for our trip at the end of the month, and am planning on upgrading to the Plus version once I get there. I'm curious if since I got the pre-order discount, will I have to pay the difference between that and the $199, or the difference between the regular price and the Plus price? It's not a huge amount, I know, but every penny saved at Disney is more than welcome!