Monday, February 20, 2017

Disney's Memory Maker Photo Package

I am often asked about the Memory Maker photo package and whether or not it is worth it. Hands down, without question, my answer is always a big, fat YES!!

The Memory Maker is a photo package offered by Disney PhotoPass at Walt Disney World. It includes unlimited digital downloads of your PhotoPass photos from locations around the Resort, select rides and attractions, select character dining experiences, and more. You can even edit them with digital stamps and borders when you get home!

Disney's PhotoPass photographers are stationed around not only the iconic landmarks of each theme park but also at character meet and greets and other fun photo spots throughout the Resort. There's even a photo studio at Disney Springs where you can take advantage and get a nice, studio-quality family photo.

It's really easy to spot the photographers, but here's a photo of their uniforms, just in case.
(Click on the photo for a larger picture)

If you pre-purchase the Memory Maker (at least 4 days prior to your trip) the cost is only $169. After that, purchasing the package for immediate download options is $199.

I love Memory Maker because it's a wonderful way to get everyone in the picture, because we all know one of us is usually behind the camera and missing out. It's also really nice to be able to be in the moment instead of seeing it through a viewfinder. Oh, and the ride photos alone make this purchase worth it!

There are attractions throughout the parks that take a photo or video during the ride that are included on your Memory Maker- just don't forget to scan your Magic Band or PhotoPass card when exiting the attraction to get the photo added to your account.

Attractions include:

Magic Kingdom
  • Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
  • Enchanted Tales with Belle
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • Space Mountain
  • Splash Mountain

Animal Kingdom
  • Dinosaur
  • Expedition Everest

Epcot
  • Frozen Ever After
  • Test Track
Hollywood Studios
  • Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple
  • Rock'n'Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith
  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Twilight Zone Tower of Terror



As I mentioned before, with a PhotoPass photographer at the character meet & greets you're able to be in the moment instead of behind your phone screen snapping photos. They'll do that for you!




The studio at Disney Springs can be used to stop in for a nice group shot or a little session after a Bibbidi Bobbid Boutique makeover.


There are also photo ops before some meals, such as Chef Mickey's, Hoop Dee Doo Revue, and 1900 Park Fare. Oh, and a PhotoPass photographer accompanies Stitch around during breakfast at 'Ohana on most occasions.



One of our favorite ways to utilize the Memory Maker is by stopping for photos in the photo booths throughout the Resort. There's at least one in each park, on the Boardwalk, in several of the resort arcades, and one at Disney's Pin Traders at Disney Springs. We have so much fun cutting up in the photo booths making faces and goofing off. (For more info on the photo booths visit this post.)


Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the magic shots yet! We love them!! Photographers not using a tripod have the ability to add a little magic to your photos. They may ask you to do a strange pose and make a weird face, but trust me- it's worth it. It's always so much fun to see what's been added to your pictures. 



All of this is, of course, in addition to the many opportunities to have photos taken around the parks and Disney Springs. 







Oh, and if you participate in special activities such as Jedi Training or Enchanted Tales with Belle, a photographer is on hand to take photos. They'll share a card with you after the show that will have all of the photos on it. You can input the code from the card to your MyDisneyExperience account to download them all and add special edits. Other activities such as Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Pirate's League also have some nice photos included.



With all of these wonderful photo opportunities the Memory Maker is a no-brainer for my family! We get it on every trip! We come home with a crazy amount of photos, so it's definitely worth the money for us. The key is taking advantage of all of the chances for photos. If you're going to purchase it, you might as well use it. Stop and get some photos. You won't regret it!

*Photos will be deleted from your MyDisneyExperience account 45 days after they were taken. You must edit and download them before that date, or they will be gone.


This post carries a disclosure Level of 0. Please see my disclosure page for more details.

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Tip Tuesday: Drink of the Day Glass (DCL)


When boarding a Disney Cruise, especially if you get an early port arrival time, you'll have plenty of time to hit the deck and lounge around, or grab a bite to eat. You'll be greeted as you come out on deck by many cheerful cast members offering several beverage options for purchase.


They'll be offering beer packages (delivered to your room), wine packages for dinner, adult beverages to drink now, and the "Drink of the Day" or beer mug. All of these options are, of course, an additional charge which will be added to your stateroom bill. Soda machines will also be found on deck and are included in your cruise fare. Feel free to bring those Yetis and fill 'em up!

Our favorite is the "Drink of the Day" (DotD) cup which we find to be a pretty good value. Each day a new Drink of the Day will be listed on your Personal Navigator. The DotD is a 12oz serving of yummy beverages like a Bahama Mama or Yellow Bird for only $4.75 (plus tax and 15% gratuity).

For around $12 you can purchase this cup (filled with the current DotD), and the cup is yours to keep. The perk or value, you ask? For the remainder of the cruise, when purchasing the drink of the day you get a larger 16oz refill (only when using this cup) for the same low price of $4.75!

When lounging around the pool, servers will take your cup and bring you a fresh new glass each time you order. Though, I will say, we've found the better beverages are from the real bars throughout the ship. Most of them don't have the DotD made in large batches like they do around the pools, so you may get a heavier pour there. We did on several occasions.

Enjoy!

This post carries a disclosure Level of 0. Please see my disclosure page for more details.