Just got back from WDW and have always loved Photopass. We plan to buy the CD, but we noticed that the photographers took far less shots than they did last time we were at WDW. The more serious problem was that there were several characters who weren't accompanied by a photographer (Donald Duck Pioneer Outfit, Mary Popins, Pinnochio, Peter Pan, Alice, Incredibles, etc.). I asked the character handler with Mary Popins why Photopass wasn't offered and he said Julie Andrews owns the rights to the character. Somehow I doubt that is the reason. Anyone know why Disney doesn't have these prominent characters covered? We are all perfectly capable of taking our own shots, but for what you pay for this service it should be offered near all characters.
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Why No Photopass?
- Thread starter Roger321
- Start date
jjnshane
Active Member
I have been told that the reason there is no photopass with Mary Poppins is not because of Julie Andrews owning the rights, but because P.L Travers, who wrote the Mary Poppins novels (and now her estate) does not permit Disney photopass to take pictures of the character, because she hated the outcome of the Disney movie.:shrug:
I am told that you will never have a photopass with Tarzan either for similar reasons.
As for the others -- there is almost always photopass with Donald in Frontierland, (unless someone called in sick) and photopass is hanging out with Alice more often in the past few months, but isn't always there. I don't think I have ever seen a photographer with Pinocchio, but I don't have a reason why.
I am told that you will never have a photopass with Tarzan either for similar reasons.
As for the others -- there is almost always photopass with Donald in Frontierland, (unless someone called in sick) and photopass is hanging out with Alice more often in the past few months, but isn't always there. I don't think I have ever seen a photographer with Pinocchio, but I don't have a reason why.
Zummi Gummi
Pioneering the Universe Within!
Julie Andrews does not own the rights to the character of Mary Poppins.
CaptainShortty
Well-Known Member
As far as I know, PP photographers tend to only hang around with characters at specific character locations such as Character Spot, Town Square, Woody @ Pixar place. I can't be sure but my guess would be that it's from a staffing perspective. If you took the number of character that are out on a daily basis and add a PP photographer for each of them you're probably more than doubling the amount of people you need. Multiply that by their wage and it's a lot of money for the company. Not saying it's a good reason, but that's my speculation. And...in defense, PP is a free service. No one is telling you you must buy the CD or the pictures. In reality, most of the PP CMs will take the same pictures with your cameras if you ask them to. I've gotten many incredible pictures taken by PP CMs that were "free" because they were on my camera.
Just my 2 cents of course. =)
Just my 2 cents of course. =)
dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
I've seen photopass for Peter Pan, Alice, Pinocchio, and Donald Duck Pioneer Outfit. They haven't done Mary for years, I also had heard something about whomever owning the rights to the look of that character not allowing the pictures, not the character itself. The same way we never really saw/see Giselle in the parks, Amy Adams didn't want to let her likeness get used or something like that.
The Photopass group wants/needs to make money just like any other group within WDW. And to make money they must sell pictures. And to sell pictures they must take pictures. So they won't purposely shoot themselves in the foot by not having photopgraphers out and about.
However, if a character only does a short set, and there is no where else to staff a photographer outside that shift (hard to believe) then they may not have one. I tend to see them at the characters that have posted set times. Its much easier for photopass to assign someone for a shift if they know where they need to be and to have them in that area for a while.
They also do seem to fluctuate staffing with the seasons. Somes times the park has been crawling with Photopass hiding in little nooks and crannies, and other times it's been a little harder to find them.
Sorry to hear you had problems finding them at times. I would shoot them an email and let you know your thoughts. It can't hurt anything.
The Photopass group wants/needs to make money just like any other group within WDW. And to make money they must sell pictures. And to sell pictures they must take pictures. So they won't purposely shoot themselves in the foot by not having photopgraphers out and about.
However, if a character only does a short set, and there is no where else to staff a photographer outside that shift (hard to believe) then they may not have one. I tend to see them at the characters that have posted set times. Its much easier for photopass to assign someone for a shift if they know where they need to be and to have them in that area for a while.
They also do seem to fluctuate staffing with the seasons. Somes times the park has been crawling with Photopass hiding in little nooks and crannies, and other times it's been a little harder to find them.
Sorry to hear you had problems finding them at times. I would shoot them an email and let you know your thoughts. It can't hurt anything.
Theresonly1
Member
I noticed there were less PhotoPassers around last week. But,
I have another question, Last year my cousin had some really cool Halloween "extras" from MNSSHP on her photopass card when she looked at them. I had some random character shots but nothing Halloween, does anyone know if they are doing that this year?
I have another question, Last year my cousin had some really cool Halloween "extras" from MNSSHP on her photopass card when she looked at them. I had some random character shots but nothing Halloween, does anyone know if they are doing that this year?
Polydweller
Well-Known Member
Travers only gave Disney the film rights to the character and she argued throughout the production to get things changed. Walt had to go to the point of being technical with her about the contract language saying she only had script approval not final draft approval. Travers hated the film and apparently left the premiere crying because she hated what happened to her character.
I also have heard that this is the reason for no photopass pictures.
princessmadison
Member
photopasses
On my last trip I noticed this as well. Kinda sad!
but i think that there just getting a little lazy but i'm not sure! hopefully they'll be back soon:shrug:
On my last trip I noticed this as well. Kinda sad!
but i think that there just getting a little lazy but i'm not sure! hopefully they'll be back soon:shrug:
MagicHappens1971
Well-Known Member
What about frozone & mr.incredible? I read something about them from a photopass photographers
Rogue21
Well-Known Member
Not sure what they have in store for this years' MNSSHP, but the last time I was there (2013) you could get Magic Shots with the Hitchhiking Ghosts near Columbia Harbor House. Look for a Photopass photographer using a tripod and a large X on the ground nearby. Also a shot with a Ghost Driver near the carriage by the Haunted Mansion.
yedliW
Well-Known Member
I love the shots we got from the Halloween party that year. I wasn't sure what to expect from the Columbia Harbor shot, but I knew something would be there, since we weren't centered in the frame when he took the shots.
There were several shots that got lost from that night, but they were able to find them for us.