If you’re like me, you’ve probably received holiday cards or seen friends on Facebook and Instagram with photos in front of iconic spots at Disney. You know the ones I’m talking about – those impossible to get pictures where everyone is present, smiling, and looking at the camera. You’ve probably wondered to yourself how they got such great shots. Well wonder no more, my friend – it’s all thanks to the magic of Disney Memory Maker.

What is Disney Memory Maker and How Does It Work?

There can be a little bit of confusion between Disney PhotoPass and Memory Maker. PhotoPass is Disney’s professional photography service. With PhotoPass, you can purchase individual downloads, prints, or customized souvenirs with photos taken by cast members. 

As part of the PhotoPas service, you can select the Memory Maker option, which allows you to you pay a set fee and then have unlimited downloads of any photos taken of you in the parks, on attractions, at character greetings, and some dining experiences. You do not have to purchase each individual photo; you have access to them all.

Disney Memory Maker is purchased through your MyDisneyExperience account, and is linked to your app and magic bands. Disney Memory Maker is $169.00 if purchased in advance of your trip, and $199 if you wait to purchase until you’re in the park.

Once you’re in the park, it’s very easy to use. All you have to do is look for a cast member with a camera. They will scan your magic band and take your photos. Those photos will then show up in your app just a short time later. Once you’re home, you can download the photos to your computer or other device.

Your Disney Memory Maker download also includes a few fun surprises. Mine included character glamor shots, great pictures of fireworks behind of Cinderella’s Castle, Magic Shots with characters superimposed over our photos, and even a few mini-movies with cool animations.

***A word to the wise – Disney doesn’t store your photos indefinitely. You have 45 days from the date that the photo is taken to download and save your pictures. After 45 days, those pictures are deleted and can’t be restored. Don’t stress too much, though – Disney will send you a few email reminders before your pictures expire! And if you absolutely need to, you can now purchase a 15 day extension for $19.95.***

Is it worth it?

Coming in at $169, it’s important to think through whether the expense of Disney Memory Maker is worth it. After all, that’s a lot of Dole whips! Below, we run the numbers and highlight the most important benefits to help you understand whether you should make room in your budget for the Memory Maker service.

• Cost savings? Maybe…:

An individual photo download through PhotoPass will set you back $16.95. If you’re going to be in the park for a few days and think you will likely want to purchase 10 or more photos during your stay, Memory Maker is the way to go. If, however, you only care about having 1 or 2 professional or attraction photos, it may be more cost efficient to purchase individual shots through PhotoPass.

• Convenience? Definitely!:

  • Opting for the Memory Maker package means that you don’t have to lug around your “good” camera or worry about handing your phone to a stranger to take a snap for you. More importantly, it also means that you aren’t the designated photographer for the trip. You can just enjoy being in the moment and leave the picture taking to the professionals.   

  • There are hundreds of cast members pre-positioned throughout the parks and at dining and character experiences. In addition to posed shots, you will also receive automatic access to attraction photos. Examples of rides that include attraction photos are Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tower of Terror, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and many more.
  •  Another added benefit is that you get access to all the photos for those in your friends and family group (up to 25 people). So, if part of your group breaks off for part of the day, you can see all the great pics from their rides and character experiences without having to send photos back and forth.

•  You get a seamless experience and a professional product:

In my experience, cast members all used professional camera equipment and took high quality (and generally flattering) photos. They were very patient and willing to work with us to make sure that everyone looked great in the pictures, which was a major plus when dealing with 3 kids 5 and under! They also have a lock on the most photogenic spots in the parks, especially some of the more unique spots or unusual angles. They will ensure you have great photos to remember your trip by!

If you want to make sure that your trip is well documented, if you want professional quality photos and a convenient and seamless experience, and if you have the budget for it, Disney Memory Maker can be well worth the expense. Click here to connect with a Pixie travel agent and learn more about how Disney’s Memory Maker can help you look back on all the magic you made at Disney for years to come.

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