Is Memory Maker Worth It?
The “Magical or Tragical” series offers up my group’s opinion on some of the offerings at Disney World.
Pros and Cons, Dustless Pixie-style.
A DISNEY WORLD VACATION DOESN’T NEED TO HAVE EXTRA BELLS AND WHISTLES TO BE MAGICAL.
Disney World has been adding a lot of upcharge options recently. So many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of all of them. A lot of those trip enhancements can be pricey one-and-done hard ticketed events like holiday parties, dining/viewing packages and Early Morning Magic or Disney After Hours in the parks. We have tried some of those offerings on our trips and, for the most part, have enjoyed them.
Deciding whether or not the extra price for these upcharges is worth it, however, is a not an easy task. Disney World is expensive. Even if you pinch your pennies, horde gift cards, drive instead of fly or even stay at Uncle Jim’s house instead of at a resort, Disney World will set you back. Like anything, the extras and V.I.P experiences can be worth it TO YOU if they appeal to your group.
To kick this whole Magical or Tragical thing off, I’m going to discuss a Disney World vacation enhancement that has been around for several years now. It is a tried and true offering that will probably be sticking around for the long haul: Memory Maker.
FIRST, IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT PHOTOPASS IS AND HOW IT WORKS.
In a nutshell, there are Disney Cast Members roaming around the parks with cameras. They take pictures of guests in front of iconic park landmarks, in particularly scenic areas of the parks, and at some Character Meet and Greets. These pictures can sometimes involve hand held props or Magic Shots which place a Disney character or some kind of animated special something into the photo. The PhotoPass Cast Members then scan your Magic Band, park ticket, or give you a PhotoPass card if you ask. The pictures are uploaded to the My Disney Experience account connected to the Magic Band or ticket. PhotoPass cards will need to be connected to a My Disney Experience account.
THE PICTURE TAKING IS FREE, THE DOWNLOADING IS NOT
If you want to download any of your pictures, however, you will have to pay. If you just want to buy one nice family photo you can download it for $16.95. That’s ONE picture. Say you want a nice family photo from each of the parks. That’s $67.80. Now what about those character meals where your kids met their favorite Princess or Mickey? Now it’s starting to rack up.
That’s where Memory Maker comes in. All of your PhotoPass pictures, in ride photos and videos, and a handful of stock photos taken of the parks can be purchased as a package called Memory Maker. This is the only way that you can download in ride videos as well as some in ride photos. In most cases, you don’t need to have Memory Maker to purchase in ride photos, however, you will need to purchase them at the parks after the ride. With Memory Maker, in ride photos are automatically uploaded to your My Disney Experience account.
Whether you have 10 photos taken or 500, the cost is the same. AND, it’s the same whether you are staying 3 days or 10 days so you do get more bang for your buck on longer stays. Purchasing Memory Maker AT LEAST 3 DAYS before you arrive, will cost $169. If you buy it later, it will cost you $30 more. Early bird, people! There is also a downloading deadline: no later than 45 days after the pictures were taken.
The great thing about this is that you only have to buy one package for you ENTIRE GROUP. My sister and I split the cost which makes it much more affordable. If you have more family members to divvy it up with, all the better, but only the person with the entitlement can download the pictures.
PHOTOPASS CAST MEMBERS KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
There may be a photographer in your group that takes a mean selfie , but there is something to be said for having folks that know where the best locations and vantage points are. It’s not all about holding a cupcake up to the castle or posing in front of the Disney wall du jour. There is also the added incentive of Magic Shots. I’m not going to lie. Some of them are a little hokey and it can be a teeny bit awkward to look surprised or scared at who knows what. However, the entertainment value of seeing what turns up in the Magic Shot is worth it.
Okay, so not ALL of the pictures that we have had taken have been winners, but most have been at least better than what we would have done. For the most part, they have been the best pictures taken during our trips.
IT’S NOT JUST A PARK THING
There are photo booths around the parks and the resort areas as well. They tend to move around, but we have used one on the boardwalk near the Boardwalk Inn and also at the exit of Journey into the Imagination with Figment in Epcot. The pictures that you take in the booth can be linked to your My Disney Experience account.
There is also a PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs in the Marketplace where they take pictures in front of a green screen with different backdrops. It’s a lot of fun and I highly recommend stopping in if Disney Springs is part of your trip.
THE VERDICT? MAGICAL.
If you or your group can afford Memory Maker as an add on to your visit, DO IT. It’s a great way to both make and keep your memories. Often the interaction with the PhotoPass Cast Members has been a memorable moment in and of itself. Some of them truly go beyond the call of duty to come up with interesting shots that capture your group.
Here is a perfect example of Disney Magic, PhotoPass style. The Cast Member who took this had braces on his teeth as well and he encouraged my kid to proudly show his off in the picture. It was a super sweet moment. As a bonus, look closely at the reflection in the sunglasses. It is my sister and I holding our hands up to our heads like mouse ears. THAT is why PhotoPass is so awesome. Great pictures with great stories to tell is worth hitting ALL of the PhotoPass spots and splurging a little to have the memories for later. I’m all for a good fireworks dessert party, but I prefer the lasting impact of all of those pictures any day.
POSSIBLY TRAGICAL NEWS?
Disney World will be replacing PhotoPass Cast Members with automated cameras at 9 Character Meet and Greets soon. I have to say that I am disappointed in this decision. Part of the experience is what the Cast Member taking the photo brings to the character and guest interaction. The jury is still out since I haven’t experienced this yet. I’ll have to report back after our trip this Spring.
