Disney PhotoPass: Your Personal Photographer

The Disney PhotoPass is like having your own personal photographer

What: Disney PhotoPass
Where: Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL
When: During your visit
Cost: $199 for the PhotoPass Plus Card
Disney PhotoPass CD $119.95 pre-ordered ($169.95 if purchased after your vacation. This does not include ride photos)

How many times have you missed precious memories trying to get a good photo? The Disney PhotoPass is like having your own personal photographer. The best part is you can capture the memories, and live fully in the moment.

The PhotoPass is great for the character shots throughout the parks, but that’s just the beginning of the fun.

The Disney PhotoPass allows guests to view and purchase the digital files of the photos taken by Disney Photographers online and at the theme parks. When the photos are taken, the guest is issued a “PhotoPass” which has a web address and 16 digit ID number.  Guests can order the photos at the theme park or view them online when they get home. PhotoPass photos are available in 25 locations in all four Walt Disney World theme parks, as well as both water parks, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutiques at Downtown Disney and Magic Kingdom and six character dining locations. Private photo sessions are also available for an additional charge at four different Walt Disney World Resorts.

The Disney PhotoPass Plus card allows the user to collect an unlimited number of photos from Disney PhotoPass Photographers located throughout the park and download all those photos to their computer or a CD after the vacation. In addition, the pass includes 400 stock photos from around the Walt Disney World Resort. The PhotoPass Plus card also allows unlimited photos from the rides. You know the one where you are screaming as you plummet down Tower of Terror or zoom off on Rockin Roller Coaster.

The Disney PhotoPass Plus includes ride photos. My first trip on Everest. Screaming and hanging on for dear life.

My second ride down Everest. Still hanging on for dear life, but smiling.

Third time. Whoo Hoo! Love the random folks in my car.

Fourth time, artsy pose. The boys went again, but I needed a break. Four Everest rides in a row is my limit.

After four trips on Everest, my tween and teen were happy to take a more “traditional” photo with mom. Download pictures after your trip and add fun borders and time and date stamps like this one.

The pass itself is expensive, however, if you plan on visiting with as many characters as possible, it could be well worth it. Plus, instead of hiding behind a camera, you can enjoy the moment and watch your children’s faces as they meet Mickey for the first time (or the 100^th).

Everyone had a great time with the PhotoPass. Standard photo in front of Tower of Terror.

A little closer to the Tower

How would you look ON Tower of Terror

What the older boys DID look like on Tower of Terror (they hadn’t gotten their PhotoPass game faces yet.) I love all the random folks in the photo.

Ask photographers to take “special” shots. It’s fun to see what pops up once you get your pictures. Wish we had done the one near the castle with Tinkerbell in your hand.

My teen and tween are past seeking out the characters (although they are happy to pose when they see them). They loved using the Disney PhotoPass for the rides. It became a game. See what crazy poses we can do each time. As we waited, we strategized our moves, then died laughing at the end as we scoped out our photo. Sometimes it was just our family acting crazy, sometimes it was our family with the random person in the next seat – which made it all more hysterical. Even my husband, who tolerates my constant picture taking, was stopping at each station down Hollywood Blvd. to get a series of shots closer and closer to Socerer Mickey’s Hat. Long story long, the PhotoPass had everyone in the family acting Goofy (pun intended) and we were able to get everyone in the photos.

Once home, Disney allows 30 days to download your photos. It’s an easy system, but it did take some time to figure out. You can also customize your photos with Disney boarders and stamps. I ended up customizing most photos with a few different options, as well as leaving it as just a photo.  The only downside to the PhotoPass is you are at the mercy of the person behind the camera for your shot. I generally like to take the photos, because I know more what I want to get from the photo. However, I can’t emphasis enough how great it is to get out from behind the camera and just enjoy being together. Not only did the Disney PhotoPass capture our memories, we created memories because of the Pass. Leave it to Disney to think of everything.

Before downloading the pictures (you have 30 days), add special borders to liven up the shots. The original photo is always available too.

We were given a DisneyPhoto Pass as part of our package for Disney Social Media Moms. The views expressed here are my own.