Walt Disney World Memory Maker: Tips for
a Picture Perfect Vacation
Are you the
family photographer and find NO evidence you were ever on a vacation once you
start going through trip photos? Do you
hate lugging a heavy, expensive camera on rides and around the park, but don’t
want to waste the entire battery on your phone taking pictures and video? Have you considered hiring a friend to follow
you around on vacation and take photos of your family so you can actually sit
back and ENJOY the moment?
If you said
“YES!” to any of the above questions, then Disney’s Memory Maker is for
you!
What does it
cost?: Memory Maker can be purchased at
any time for $169. However, there is a $20
discount available if you purchase at least 3 days prior to travel. There is also a one-day option available for purchase
via the app, for $59. Note that this
option can only be purchased AFTER a photograph has been taken, and covers a 24
hour span of photographs that runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. EST. In recent years, a $39 “party” option has
also been offered during the hard-tickets events, Mickey’s Not So Scary
Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
What’s the
difference between Memory Maker and PhotoPass?: Memory Maker is a product, while PhotoPass is
a service. You can have photos taken by
any of the PhotoPass photographers located on property without having purchased
Memory Maker. And you can also choose to
purchase any of the photographs taken individually though the My Disney
Experience app or the PhotoPass section of the My Disney Experience website (at
a price of $14.95 per download). The
purchase of Memory Maker, however, gives you unlimited access to every
photograph taken over a 30 day period (or 1 year for select annual
passholders), which you can then view or download as many times as you’d like
prior to expiration.
Disney has
PhotoPass photographers stationed around every park to capture every magical
moment for you. Look for them by park
icons (Cinderella’s Castle in Magic Kingdom, the Tree of Life in Animal
Kingdom, Spaceship Earth in Epcot and the Chinese Theater in Hollywood Studios),
as well as in less-traveled areas of the park (at the exit of Big Thunder
Mountain Railroad in Magic Kingdom or the bridge outside France in Epcot).
They are also on hand at all scheduled
character meet and greet locations as well as at the entrance / exit to several
character meals - Chef Mickey, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Akershus, Tusker House,
Hollywood & Vine, 1900 Park Fare, ‘Ohana breakfast and Be Our Guest dinner
(note, however, that photographers are not located inside the restaurant for
character greetings that take place at your table). You can also find them in several resort
lobbies around the holidays to capture the splendor of the season (Wilderness
Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Grand Floridian), as well as in Downtown
Disney and at the water parks.
They are
also on hand during makeovers at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and following
transformations at the Pirate’s League.
Additionally, several attractions offer ride photos (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom; Expedition Everest and DINOSAUR in Animal Kingdom; Frozen Ever After and Test Track in Epcot; and Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in Hollywood Studios) and there are also PhotoPass photographers as the conclusion of Enchanted Tales with Belle in Magic Kingdom and during Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple in Hollywood Studios. Some photo options change seasonally, and there are several that are even exclusive to special events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
How does
Memory Maker work?: Simply seek out a
PhotoPass cast member and request a photo!
It’s that easy! Look for cast
members dressed (primarily) in khaki vests, white shirts and navy shorts/pants,
with a camera around their neck or in front of them. You can also locate photographers on the My
Disney Experience app via the “PhotoPass” link on the top scroll bar or tapping
“PhotoPass on the left navigation bar and then selecting “Find Photographers”
(this is also where you can view or link photos you have taken). Most photographers will take several shots
and suggest different poses or configurations of your family members. You’ll usually get both a portrait and a
landscape version of each pose (very important for my fellow scrapbookers out
there!) as well as distance and close up shots.
Additionally, most photographers without a tripod can offer “magic
shots.” If the photographer asks you to
arrange your hands a certain way, or make a certain expression, go with
it! This is Disney magic at its finest! And don’t hesitate to ask if they have any
magic shots available – they will always do them if they can.
Once you are
finished taking photos, simply have the cast member scan your Magic Band and
you are on your way! Photographs will
show up in your account over the next 24 hours to view and share. If you do not have a Magic Band, simply ask
the photographer for a PhotoPass card, which you can continue to use at
subsequent locations. And if you end up
with more than one card at the end of your trip, they can all be linked to one
account in My Disney Experience (tip: take a photo of the bar code on the back
of card as soon as you receive it in case you lose it, you won’t lose your
photos!). Participants in Enchanted
Tales with Belle and Jedi Training will receive PhotoPass cards with all of the
photographs taken during their individual sessions, which will need to be
linked separately. PhotoPass cards can
also be scanned at the conclusion of all rides that contain photo opportunities;
however ride videos (currently available on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Tower
of Terror) will only be linked to accounts with Magic Band technology. And if you are wearing your Magic Band while
on a ride that offers a photo opportunity, no need to scan at the end – the
photo (and video, where available) will link to your account automatically!
Photos
linked to your Memory Maker currently have an expiration date that is 45 days
from the date they were taken (365 days for passholders). Memory Maker becomes “activated” once you
download your first photo. Once
activated, the watermark will be removed from the photographs for printing or
downloading. It is always recommended to
wait until the conclusion of your vacation to activate Memory Maker, in case
you are not satisfied with the quality or quantity of photographs
received. While there are no refunds on
the purchase of Memory Maker, it can be saved for use on a future trip if it is
not activated.
You can also
edit your photos (via the website or the app) by adding stickers or boarders to
commemorate a date or particular celebration.
To retain both the original and edited version, simply “save a copy”
after competing your modifications. Or
you can always “revert to original” to eliminate any modifications made. Once all of your edits have been made, photos
can be downloaded individually or all at once (using the “download all” button,
which is located on the website ONLY).
You can also use the photos in your account to make photo gifts or
albums (at an additional charge).
Additional
Tips: Make sure anyone in your traveling
party that may have a separate My Disney Experience account is linked as Family
& Friends in order to have access to photos scanned on their band. This is also how you would share a Memory
Maker with another traveling party (and can share the cost!). While only the “owner” of Memory Maker (the
individual who purchased it) will be able to edit and download the photos,
anyone linked to the account can view them.
Make sure
you take advantage of every photographer you pass! While there will be at least 5 stationed at
different locations down Main Street, each will offer a unique view and
perspective of the castle. If used effectively, you can end up with hundreds
(or thousands) of photographs during your trip!
And while just 10 “good” photos would be the breakeven point from a cost
perspective, once you see that candid photo of your little one meeting his
favorite character for the very first time, you realize how truly priceless
this service can be.
By Alyssa with Travel Time, Alyssa@traveltimetravel.com
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