If you didn’t capture a moment with a camera at Walt Disney World - or any vacation for that matter, did it actually happen? Without photographic evidence, how can you prove that your tentative 10-year-old finally rode Space Mountain? And how else can you give your friends vacation-envy other than posting every photo on your social media?
More importantly, photographs serve as lasting memories and perhaps future sources of embarrassment - like when you bring out the photo of Minnie Mouse laying a smooch on your now 13-year-old’s cheek.
Walt Disney World makes it easy to document every day of your vacation with PhotoPass, a free service offered at more than 100 locations, and Memory Maker, a paid service that gives guests unlimited downloads of photos along with special bonus features. Read more to learn all about how you can capture special memories at Walt Disney World Resort!
PhotoPass
To understand Memory Maker, you must first understand PhotoPass, the overall system that Disney utilizes on resort property to capture special moments. Disney photographers are stationed at iconic spots at the parks - think Main Street and Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, character meet and greets, and select dining locations. Earlier this year, automatic cameras (not manned by photographers) were installed at nine character locations; however, real, live photographers continue to use their expertise and creativity at the more than 100 other Disney PhotoPass locations across the parks. PhotoPass also snaps photos of guests at the most exciting parts of select rides and attractions including Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror, Test Track and Expedition Everest.
The best part is that there is no cost when using PhotoPass. Who says that there is nothing free at Walt Disney World? Here’s the catch. If you want to keep the photos, you do have to pay per download. And a single photo download costs $16.95. When viewing photos online or via the app, you’ll see a PhotoPass watermark on images which are not removed until the photo is purchased.
The same image viewed on the Disney PhotoPass site - one has been purchased; the other has not been purchased, signified by the PhotoPass watermark.
Disney photographers are happy to snap a photo with your smart phone, bypassing the need to pay for downloads. But you’re missing out on ride photos and special bonus features added to photos. Called Magic Shots, Disney adds characters and other fun surprises to photos after they are taken. You may have seen guests posing with their arms outstretched or their hands to their faces in surprise, and wondered what was going on? The photographer will add a digital enhancement to the photo, maybe Tinkerbell to the palm of a hand or Olaf included as part of the family. Not every photographer has access to the same Magic Shots. You can learn what fun features can be added and in what locations on the Disney PhotoPass Facebook page.
How do you access photos? Disney photographers will give you a PhotoPass card with a unique number to link to your My Disney Experience account. Or if you have a MagicBand, photographers will scan your band each time they take a photo which will automatically download onto your account. On rides/attractions with cameras, the PhotoPass system will read MagicBands as they pass the camera location and automatically download the photo. If you don’t have a MagicBand, you can scan the PhotoPass card at kiosks located at the exit of the ride/attraction.
Easy, peasy - how to link a PhotoPass card to your My Disney Experience account to view photos
Memory Maker
Memory Maker is a cost-effective way to download photos taken via PhotoPass. At $169 when purchased in advance, Memory Maker allows for unlimited downloads to share with friends and family. The cost increases to $199 when purchased on-site. The advance cost of Memory Maker is equivalent to purchasing nine individual photos, making the add-on a great deal. Furthermore, people connected to you on My Disney Experience via your Family & Friends list also have access to the digital photos. We think it’s worth it to add Memory Maker with your package as photos taken within three days of the date of purchase will not be included in Memory Maker and must be purchased separately. To make it easy, just add Memory Maker when you book your trip!
Guests eligible for military ticket pricing are also currently eligible for Memory Maker discounted pricing of $98. The add-on must be purchased on-site at Guest Relations with proof of military identification. Military Memory Maker is activated immediately.
Photos are active for only 45 days after they have been taken. After that timeframe, they can no longer be purchased or downloaded. So as you are looking at the photos, reminiscing of your Walt Disney World trip, be sure to purchase the PhotoPass photos or download the Memory Maker images. In addition to purchasing/downloading photos, you can create personalized souvenirs on the site. Use your favorite photos to create mugs, photo books, mouse pads and much more to make the memories last even longer!