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.

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Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

Younglings, aged 4 to 12, are invited to learn the ways of the Force at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple is a popular, free activity with multiple shows per day. Advanced registration on the day of the show is required. Registration begins at park opening, even with early extra magic hours. Because availability is limited, and it's on a first-come, first-served basis, it's recommended that you arrive early to proceed registration when the park opens for the day. All participants must be present at the time of registration.

Registration takes place at the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost. This is located between the 50's Prime Time Cafe and the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. You'll enter the park and should walk down the left side of Hollywood Boulevard. You'll take a left after the shops and pass Hollywood & Vine and 50's Prime Time Cafe. From there you should see the sign for Jedi Training sign ups.

The participants must be present at time of registration. They'll ask them a few questions to make sure they can follow directions and won't mind being in front of people in a show setting. It's a good idea to have your itinerary with you with any FastPass and dining reservation times. They'll do their best to find a show time that works for you. The show last 20 minutes and they'll have you arrive early to get ready. These shows are first-come, first-served, so if the only times left interfere with FastPasses, You may have to rearrange that instead if it's important that your little one participate.

Please arrive on time at the time they designate. This allows them to account for everyone and see if any stand-ins will be able to participate in the show. They'll entertain the kids with trivia while they pass out the Jedi robes and go over some rules and guidelines with them.

From there you'll be directed to the staged area, which has expanded to two stages. Don't worry if you don't get that front and center spot. They'll have a PhotoPass photographer on-hand to capture lots of great action shots. Participants will receive a card afterward that can be used to link the photos to your MyDisneyExperience account. (If you plan on attending, this is a great reason to pre-purchase the Memory Maker!)

The younglings will learn how to use a lightsaber and a sequence of moves proven to defeat the Dark Side. Once they've learned the ways of the Force they'll have an opportunity to use those new techniques to battle the Dark Side!

(The following photos are from Jedi Training Academy, before it was expanded and changed to Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. They'll give you the concept though.)

You can see the PhotoPass photographer getting up close here

Check out the awesome edits you can make to the PhotoPass photos in MyDisneyExperience!

The kids have a great time, and the show is a lot of fun for the adult spectators as well! If you have any Star Wars fans aged 4-12 who don't mind being on stage with other kids, this is definitely an activity you should plan on adding to your next trip!

Please keep in mind, the shows are done outside and could be canceled due to inclement weather. I would still show up at your designated time, despite rain. They've been known to try to reschedule people if they have room in other shows, or will provide another fun alternative to the missed show ;-)

Feel free to comment if you have any questions or if you'd like to share your experience with Jedi Training!

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