One of the questions we get asked about the most is- “What exactly is Memory Maker and is it worth it?” Let’s start with the what and then we will move onto the why!
What is Disney’s PhotoPass Service & Memory Maker?
When you are walking through the Walt Disney World parks you will see PhotoPass cast members stationed all throughout the parks. They are dressed in Khaki vests, blue pants or shorts and have professional camera equipment on them! They are really hard to miss and could actually be described as looking like the are about to go on a safari!
*Photo Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog.
The PhotoPass cast members are stationed at some of the best photo spots throughout the parks including most character meet and greets. They are ready to take some amazing photos of you and your family and will even add some pixie dust! Disney’s PhotoPass Service is offered to all guests of the parks.
If you have a MagicBand the cast member will scan your band after taking your photos, they will automatically be loaded into your My Disney Experience Account. If you aren’t staying at a Walt Disney World resort and don’t have a MagicBand you don’t have to worry, the PhotoPass cast members have cards that they can scan and give you. Once you have one card you can have them scan that card at each location and then can link the photos to your My Disney Experience Account.
Memory Maker is the ability to download all of the photos that have been taken of you through Disney’s PhotoPass service. Included in these photos are videos of you on rides like Tower of Terror and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, character meet and greets, photos from special experiences like Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, Pirates League and some dining experiences as well as magic shots.
Magic shots are photos with a little extra Disney Magic….sometimes you won’t even know what’s added until you get your photo back!
Once you download all of your photos (you have 45 days to do so) you can then use them however you would like, so you can share them on social media or have prints made up. Disney PhotoPass does have options for you to print your photos through them or create photo gifts or books, but with Memory Maker you can do all of that through your Favorite photo service.
How Much is Memory Maker?
If you pre-purchase Memory Maker you will pay $169. It is assigned to one guest on your My Disney Experience account and only that person has the ability to download the photos, however everyone who is linked to your My Disney Experience account through Friends and Family can view your photos. As long as you are linked with a friend your photos will show up in the PhotoPass account together, so if you are travelling with a group a great way to save some money would be to purchase one Memory Maker and split the cost. Everyone’s photos will be loaded (no matter who scans their MagicBand) and once the photos are downloaded they can be shared freely among the group.
If you are on the fence about purchasing Memory Maker you can wait until you return from your vacation to decide if you have enough photos to make it worth it to purchase, at that point the cost for Memory Maker is $199. It is also important to keep in mind that photos taken within 3 days of purchasing Memory Maker at the advanced price ($169) will not be included in your downloads, so if you would like to purchase it you want to ensure it is purchased at least 3 days prior to your first park day.
You can add Memory Maker through your My Disney Experience Account or your Travel Agent can add it for you.
Memory Maker now offers a 1 day pass for those visiting the parks for just 1 day. The cost is $59 and can only be purchased through your My Disney Experience Account.
Why We Love Memory Maker?
It’s easy…we love it because we get photos of all of us and we have a wide variety of photos to choose from. Let’s face it, without Memory Maker Mom or Dad would be in very few photos! You do have to make it a point to stop to get your pictures but it is definitely worth it. The PhotoPass cast members will always take your photo using your own camera, but what we have found is that they never zoom in, and they usually only take one shot. And of course that one photo usually has someone looking the opposite direction or someone’s eyes are closed. With Memory Maker we know that we are going to get a bunch of photos to choose from!
Memory Maker let’s you experience the magic instead of being caught up taking the photo!!
