Changes coming to Memory Maker?

[Monorail_Red_77]

Just got back from a WDW. This is one of the few times that some of my character pics turned out bad as compared to photopass. In my pics they took them at the same time as photopass so we were all looking away from my camera. Bad job on the CM part. This is one of the first times I have experienced this. Fortunately we go frequently and just chalk this up to a few bad photos. But I feel for any guests who don't go as often and had this result.

Maybe CM had a bad day.

 

[cursivesailor]

Hahaha Im surprised no photographers have cashed in on making a "disney package" cost of ticket + cost of photoshoot with your own private photographer. With what disney is wanting to charge for their new packages it may be close in price to just hire an outside photographer to go with you to the park for the day.

 

[Jae99]

Private photo session depends on how many do that otherwise how private could it be. Sounds like it would just be another line and photo taker

The express line wouldn't be express just like fastpass isn't always express


They can word it however they want and pretend they are offering more but really they wouldn't be...just another way to raise prices and say "but look what more we are giving you now!"

If I remember correctly, I believe the the private photo session is something that would be booked ahead of time and would occur before the park opens. They stated that you would get early access to the parks to get your photos taken and then escorted back to the front of the park to join the rest of the crowd entering the park.

I have a feeling that if they do go ahead with the express line for the character M & G, we would see fastpasses eliminated for all M & G's. As it stands now there are no FP available for the Anna and Elsa or Joy and Sadness M & G's.

While I don't agree with the price increase, and made sure it was known in the survey. It looks like they are trying to add some different experiences and products that would come with these new packages.

 

[Jae99]

Hahaha Im surprised no photographers have cashed in on making a "disney package" cost of ticket + cost of photoshoot with your own private photographer. With what disney is wanting to charge for their new packages it may be close in price to just hire an outside photographer to go with you to the park for the day.

I don't think that Disney allows outside private photographers to come into the park to take photos in that way. You can hire a Disney photographer to provide a private photoshoot in the parks.

 

[cursivesailor]

I don't think that Disney allows outside private photographers to come into the park to take photos in that way. You can hire a Disney photographer to provide a private photoshoot in the parks.

How would they know? It could just be part of the family with a really nice camera LOL

 

[DisneyJoe]

I don't think that Disney allows outside private photographers to come into the park to take photos in that way. You can hire a Disney photographer to provide a private photoshoot in the parks.

That is correct, if they even sense a professional photographer, they will stop them.

It is also on their Park Rules and Regulations page. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/park-rules/

 

[fngoofy]

Huh, that's unfortunate. I was finally coming around and thought I'd try a photopass on my next trip but looks like they just priced me out.

You can do PhotoPass at no charge and then buy only the photos you want. If you do want MemoryMaker, you can buy before during or after, but before would get you these perks and (if purchased before you arrive) a discount off the published price.

 

[21stamps]

I was planning on waiting to buy Memory Maker till just before my trip but I guess I should get this going now before this update is made. I definitely can't warrant spending that extra money with those features, which truly don't interest me at all. I'm not a big Character meet-and-greet person so this doesn't appeal to me.

UPDATE : Nevermind. I've been getting repeated errors from the Memory Maker page when I attempt to add it to my cart. This makes too much sense.

Regular memory maker is still available. That must have been a technical glitch. I waited on hold for 25 minutes for my disney experience issue this morning, so something may be going on.

I might consider the $249 price point with some of the additions like the private photo session and express line for character meet and greets. But, having been twice in the past couple of years with Memory Maker included I have a lot of photos. I don't really feel the need for another 300 plus photos of us in the same locations.

I would pay $249 all day long for those features!

Memory Maker is the best value of a WDW vacation, in my opinion. You could never find a photographer to do that many photos at either price point.

 

[zakattack99]

One time in 2009 I purchased a few photos of me on a ride and one of me and my brother in front of the castle, I think the two photos cost me about $40. When me and my wife went in Nov 2015 we purchased the photo pass package for the $150 price. To get all my photos for $150 is a good deal if in the past I paid $40 for two. If they raise the price to $250 or $350 it will be alot harder for me to justify the price.

 

[The_Jobu]

One time in 2009 I purchased a few photos of me on a ride and one of me and my brother in front of the castle, I think the two photos cost me about $40. When me and my wife went in Nov 2015 we purchased the photo pass package for the $150 price. To get all my photos for $150 is a good deal if in the past I paid $40 for two. If they raise the price to $250 or $350 it will be alot harder for me to justify the price.

I agree. That's why I'm hoping the 2-5 dollar per photo option will be included, makes it much more reasonable to me.

 

[simba2]

Hahaha Im surprised no photographers have cashed in on making a "disney package" cost of ticket + cost of photoshoot with your own private photographer. With what disney is wanting to charge for their new packages it may be close in price to just hire an outside photographer to go with you to the park for the day.

Allowed or not, this actually already happens with local photographers. We see it all the time as locals.

 

[21stamps]

One time in 2009 I purchased a few photos of me on a ride and one of me and my brother in front of the castle, I think the two photos cost me about $40. When me and my wife went in Nov 2015 we purchased the photo pass package for the $150 price. To get all my photos for $150 is a good deal if in the past I paid $40 for two. If they raise the price to $250 or $350 it will be alot harder for me to justify the price.

I would love if they offered both options. For me it would replace the need for at least one season of "family photos" if the private session is included, and would actually save money with doing so.
The character line option itself is great, I won't use a Fast Pass on a character, and hate wasting time waiting in line, which is the main reason I book so many character meals. However, that's only a benefit for a certain age group, so I could see a lot of people not caring about that inclusion.

 

[Wildflower]

Not worth it for us.

 

[mgpan]

Regular memory maker is still available. That must have been a technical glitch. I waited on hold for 25 minutes for my disney experience issue this morning, so something may be going on.

I would pay $249 all day long for those features!

Memory Maker is the best value of a WDW vacation, in my opinion. You could never find a photographer to do that many photos at either price point.

$200/day would net a private photographer over $50,000 per year working 5 days/week for 50 weeks. Of course, that doesn't include the price of the Platinum Pass and they couldn't do onrides. Just sayin'. And if we'd gladly pay $249 now, it'll be twice that in a couple of years. Then they'll have an exclusive photo session within a photo session for an additional charge.

 

[21stamps]

$200/day would net a private photographer over $50,000 per year working 5 days/week for 50 weeks. Of course, that doesn't include the price of the Platinum Pass and they couldn't do onrides. Just sayin'. And if we'd gladly pay $249 now, it'll be twice that in a couple of years. Then they'll have an exclusive photo session within a photo session for an additional charge.

I don't know any photographer who would spend all day at Disney and include all digitals for $200! That could be a great gig for a student though, but I also don't know if I would want someone attached to our hips all day.

One photography session for a family is way more than that.
I'm still debating on not doing Christmas photos this year, maybe just using the Disney ones. They won't be as good of quality, but they will be fun photos. If there was an actual private session for only $100 it would be a great option for many I would think.

 

[NonnaT]

I would absofreakinglutely do this!
We did a photo shoot back in '09 with a WDW photographer at AKL, and the results were stunning! Those photos are better than our wedding photos! We had one matted and framed and always get complemented on it!
So worth it!

 

[The_Jobu]

Having thought about it, if they go through with this, being able to pick and choose for $2-5 each can actually make this worthwhile. Right now individual photos are apparently $10-20 each so it might be a benefit.

(watch them not include that part now )

 

[HauntedPirate]

It was inevitable, wasn't it? "Disney's PhotoPass+!! Now with an exclusive line to help you avoid those M&G lines and spend more time enjoying the Magic!"

 

[ellegirldisney]

We are becoming annual passholders in 2017 and I think photopass is included. I'm curious if the new changes will be included for us?

 

[Goofnut1980]

We are becoming annual passholders in 2017 and I think photopass is included. I'm curious if the new changes will be included for us?

This is my thought as well. I just purchased my Gold AP for the December trip. I didn't renew because when my pass expired yesterday, because it made more sense to buy a new AP for when we go in December.. Then we can take additional trips longer!

But now they include PhotoPass with the AP, I will save almost $600 a year in that alone! But the new perks, I wouldn't pay any extra for them at this time.