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The Full Picture on Disney PhotoPass Service: Pros, Cons & Tips!

by Mommy Frog on July 15, 2024

A visit to Walt Disney World is filled with a mountain of magical and memorable moments. For tadpoles, that can mean watching a favorite character come to life before their eyes. Photos allow us to remember that perfect hug with Mickey or princess twirl forever. Luckily for us, Walt Disney World offers a complimentary photo service all around property called PhotoPass. PhotoPass photographers are stationed around the resort to grab those group shots — and some of them are sprinkled with a little extra pixie dust! PhotoPass also covers ride photos, character experiences and more. We've got all of the details about using PhotoPass, including which photo packages are available and which spots you don't want to miss. Say "cheese!"

Disney PhotoPass – Posing with Mickey at Hollywood Studios

Overview of PhotoPass at Walt Disney World

Disney PhotoPass is the name of the photography service offered at Walt Disney World. This covers your ride photos, character meet-and-greets, as well as some optional stops around property with photographers. You'll find PhotoPass photographers stationed throughout the resort with unique backdrops such as the Tree of Life, Cinderella Castle, Millennium Falcon and more. Photographers may also be available at certain character experiences, including select character dining or meet and greets. There are often special photo-ops for celebrations or events that are only around for a limited time. Photographers can even add some extra pixie dust with digitally enhanced Magic Shots.

PhotoPass Stops - Cinderella Castle

While having your photo taken using the Disney PhotoPass service is free of charge, downloading or keeping photos comes at an additional cost. Walt Disney World offers a few photo packages, including Memory Maker, that can be added on to your vacation so that you don't miss a single moment!

Accessing Your PhotoPass Photos

Disney PhotoPass – My Disney Experience screenshot of photos

Using Disney PhotoPass service is toadally free, so you can take all the photos you would like and then decide if you would like to purchase any later. If you spot a PhotoPass photographer and would like a pic, hop in line. The PhotoPass photog will ask for your MagicBand and quickly scan it (this is one of Lily's favorite jobs). After you ride an eligible attraction, you may see stations after the ride to tap your MagicBand beneath your ride photo (such as Space Mountain or Test Track); others will automagically appear in your My Disney Experience account, such as Expedition Everest and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

You can also use MagicMobile to link your photos to your account. The Disney MagicMobile service works like a MagicBand where you show your phone to the PhotoPass photographers to scan. You can also get attraction photos automatically linked with just the magic of your phone! Just ensure you have Bluetooth enabled for the My Disney Experience app and the photos should appear. You can still use your MagicBand or alternate between the two methods, so Lily can still scan her MagicBand when she wants to.

If you don't have a MagicBand, Key to the World card or MagicMobile, no worries! The PhotoPass photographer will hand you a card, so put it away for safekeeping. With a PhotoPass card, you'll need to follow the instructions on the back of the card to manually link your photos to your My Disney Experience account.

Finding Your Photos in My Disney Experience

Disney PhotoPass – My Disney Experience screenshot of linking photos

To find your photos in My Disney Experience app, head to the bottom right menu with the three bars and scroll down until you see Photos. You should see your photos listed below. In the top right-hand corner, you'll see an option to Link Photos. This is where you can enter the information from a PhotoPass card to populate your photos, by either scanning the card with the camera feature or typing the code in.

If you don't have a MagicBand, this is also where you'll find the link to show your PhotoPass code. We highly recommend snapping a screenshot of this — it makes it so much easier to show photographers without having to worry about load time or losing battery power! It's here that you can also manually link your Memory Maker if you purchased it without being logged into My Disney Experience.

Once linked, some photos may appear within only a few minutes while others may take up to 48 hours to appear in your account. If you still aren't able to find your photos, you can report a missing photo by calling (407) 560-4300 or stopping by any of the Disney PhotoPass Studios located at each of the parks. Cast members will try to help you track it down!

In the My Disney Experience app, you can then view all of your photos and even filter by location. Plus you can see all of the Friends and Family you are linked to, making it easy to see everyone's photos when traveling in a large group.

Purchasing Photo Packages

Disney PhotoPass - Family on Main Street, U.S.A.

All photos you take will be uploaded into My Disney Experience. Note that your photos will be watermarked until you purchase individual photos or a photo package like Memory Maker. You can opt to purchase individual photos a la carte. To give you an idea of the price, photo downloads are generally about $18.95 for a set of two 4 x 6 prints or one 5 x 7 print, or $20.95 for one 8 x 10 print. There are also personalized products available for purchase, such as magnets, ornaments and mugs. Do keep in mind that prices do not include tax or shipping and are always subject to change. If you think you'll only want a couple of photos, a la carte may be the way to go.

If you're an Annual Passholder, PhotoPass photo downloads can be added on to your pass for $99. Photos expire after one year with an annual pass add-on. If you're not an AP, photo packages are an additional cost. We highly recommend the annual pass add-on or purchasing Memory Maker, allowing for unlimited downloads (we'll go more in-depth with Memory Maker below).

Disney World also has a private photoshoot option called Capture Your Moment. For 20 minutes, a PhotoPass photographer will discuss available photoshoot locations and discuss what you'd like before, well, capturing the magic! Each session is $99. Downloads of your photos are included in Memory Maker; for those without an Annual Pass or Memory Maker, photos can be purchased a la carte. To book a Capture Your Moment session, call 407-939-7758.

Attraction photo downloads are also included with the purchase of Lightning Lane Multi Pass! If you purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass, you'll be able to download any ride photos from that day at no additional cost. This includes popular attractions such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Test Track and more! Check out our guide to Disney World ride photos for more details.

All About Memory Maker

Disney PhotoPass – Ride photo on Space Mountain

Photos can be purchased individually, but Walt Disney World also offers an unlimited photo package called Memory Maker. Memory Maker includes all of the photos taken, either in a single day or for the entire length of your visit. Also included in Memory Maker are ride photos and videos, stock photos and videos, and we've even gotten a voicemail from Buzz and Woody! Some of these enhancements are only available through Memory Maker — they can't be purchased separately. If you expect that you'll want to purchase more than a couple of photos, or have a long trip ahead, there's value in getting Memory Maker — especially if you purchase in advance of your trip.

Memory Maker is a photo package that includes all of the photos from your trip, whether that's a single day or 10 days. You can purchase Memory Maker in My Disney Experience app or on the Disney World website. If you purchase the package in advance, you can save some green! Memory Maker options include:

Memory Maker One Day ($75) —includes all of your photos and videos from one day of your choosing. May be used upon purchase.
Memory Maker Advance Purchase ($185) — includes all of your photos and videos from your vacation. You must wait at least three days after purchase to activate. Once activated, it lasts for 30 days.
Memory Maker ($210) — includes all of your photos and videos from your vacation. May be used upon purchase. Once activated, it lasts for 30 days.

Downloading Your Photos

One added benefit to Memory Maker is, not only can you download your own Disney PhotoPass photos, but also those of up to 25 members of your Family & Friends who share media with you on the My Disney Experience website or app! For large groups or even families who may split up, that means any of you who are connected can use their MagicBand to upload the photos to one central location, for one price.

Your photos will expire 45 days from the date they're taken, and once they expire, they can no longer be purchased or downloaded. If you need more time, as long as you're not past your expiration date, you can pay an additional fee to extend your access to the photos for an additional 15 days for $19.95.

When downloading your photos, they'll come in fairly large ZIP files with some stock photos and video as well. We've noticed the files can sometimes be a little out of order, so if you want a perfect timeline of your trip, you may need to manually organize them yourself once they are on your device. If you'd prefer not to download directly, there's a USB option for $39.95 (it's the same cost for an archive disc).

Memory Maker Pros and Cons

You may be wondering, in the digital age, why should I waste my time on a photo service? Here are our honest thoughts on Memory Maker:

Memory Maker Cons:

Your photos expire, so you have to remember to download them before they disappear.
The cost. While you can save some money by purchasing a single day or buying in advance, it's still an added cost (and that's a lot of Dole Whips). The longer your trip, the more reasonable that cost may seem.
If you're an avid photo-taker anyway, you may find your phone or camera is enough for you.
While PhotoPass photographers will always be at the main park icons, they may rotate to other spots throughout the park and are not guaranteed to be at certain locations all day.

Disney PhotoPass – Ride photo from Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Memory Maker Pros:

Everyone can get in the photo! No more mom or dad missing as they snap the rest of the family or asking a stranger to help.
You can get unique photos like action shots on attractions (also available via Genie+)
Everyone on your Friends and Family list can get in on the photo fun for one price.
You don't have to dig for your camera, or remember to take photos — if you see a photographer, you can stop. Voila! For me, this takes one extra worry off of my plate during a vacation.
It's quick and easy to get your photo taken — the shot is already set and ready for smiles.
While I know my way around a camera (and Tad really, really knows his way around a camera), PhotoPass photographers are true pros. They take better photos than I could most of the time.
Most trip photos are then accessible in one central location.

Is Memory Maker Worth It?

PhotoPass Pros and Cons - Photo from Mickey meet-and-greet

We get this question a lot, and our answer is always: That depends! You know your family and the amount of photos you'd like best. If it's your first time at Walt Disney World and you'll be there a while, Memory Maker may be a good investment to ensure that you get all of those magical shots. If you're a seasoned visitor who will be there for a short period of time, you may find that purchasing must-have photos a la carte (or just getting attraction photos via Disney Genie+) and using your phone the remainder of the time is all you need. We personally highly recommend Memory Maker and think it's worth going all-in on capturing these magical memories, but this, of course, varies by family.

No matter what you decide, we are big fans of Disney PhotoPass service. From capturing the wonder of seeing Mickey in person for the first time, to adding pixie dust to otherwise traditional shots, it always leaves a little extra magic in our photo memories.

Special Photo Spots

Disney PhotoPass Pros and Cons - Family in front of Cinderella Castle

Recently, we saw a line for a PhotoPass photographer on an average wall in Batuu, and we thought, "That's strange." Guess what? While the wall looked basic, the PhotoPass photographer had a Magic Shot — where a character or special effect shows up in your photos — featuring Baby Yoda!

Exclusive to PhotoPass, Magic Shots are photos with a little extra pixie dust. Others we've seen include Tinker Bell appearing in your hands or Remy scurrying away. There are even some shots that involve perspective, such as Tiny World and Super Zoom (taking you standing next to Cinderella Castle, to a view high above Main Street, back to pinpointing you among the other guests!). You'll often find special photo-ops during festivals or special events, with props, Magic Shots and backdrops. You'll have plenty of opportunities to take iconic photos!

If you're looking for some additional selfie spots, there are also some Instagram-worthy walls around property, including:

Magic Kingdom

The Purple Wall (near Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland)
Neverland Wall (Fantasyland, outside of Peter Pan's Flight)
The Tangled Wall (the restroom area in Fantasyland — and you'll sometimes find a PhotoPass photographer across the way at Peter Pan's Flight with a lantern prop as night falls!)

PhotoPass Stops - Tangled Lantern

Disney's Animal Kingdom

Fichwa Fellow (outside of Harambe Market in Africa)
"You Are Most Beautiful" (in Harambe Market in Africa)
Moss Wall (Pandora, near Satu'li Canteen)
The Coca-Cola Wall (near Drinkwallah, in Asia)
Children of the World wall (across from Harambe Market, Africa)

EPCOT

Bubblegum Wall (near the exit doors to Spaceship Earth)
Toothpaste Wall (The Seas with Nemo and Friends, as you exit the pavilion)

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Batuu Blue Stripe Wall (next to the entrance to Droid Depot in Galaxy's Edge)
Popsicle Stick Wall (Toy Story Land)

At any time, you can log into My Disney Experience and see where PhotoPass stops are near you! Hop into the map function and toggle to PhotoPass. And be sure to check out our top 10 favorite PhotoPass stops you won't want to miss!

PhotoPass Tips and Tricks

Disney's PhotoPass Service - PhotoPass Stop

Here are some additional tips and tricks for using Disney PhotoPass:

If you're interested in Memory Maker, be sure to purchase in advance to save some green! Likewise, be sure anyone hopping along for the trip is on your Family & Friends list in My Disney Experience so that you can share photos.
If you have Memory Maker, my kids hate me for this, but I suggest that you stop at (almost) every PhotoPass stop. Since all photos are included in your Memory Maker, it never hurts to grab extra shots! While most photos we've taken have been good quality, you won't always get that perfect shot every time. Take advantage of the options at your disposal so you have plenty to choose from.
There are often several photo stops for the same area; there are usually about four or five for Cinderella Castle! If there's a long line at one, and you aren't particular about the shot, keep walking. On Main Street especially, folks tend to stop at the first photographer they see, so that first line is often the longest.
PhotoPass photographers are great about different configurations in the shot, but if you have a particular setup or shot in mind, it never hurts to ask. When Tad got a button for making Honor Roll, for example, the rest of us got kicked out of the shot to shine the spotlight on him — and we asked if Lily could join him for one afterward.
On that note, if you are celebrating something, iconic photos are a great way to commemorate the trip!
Ask about Magic Shots. If that particular photographer doesn't have one available, they can point you to someone who does!
PhotoPass stops, MagicShots and special effects are always changing. Stop and ask if you have questions — cast members are hoppy to help!
Set a calendar appointment or reminder to snag your photos before they expire if you invested in Memory Maker!
If you have a dining reservation close to or after park close, keep an eye out! PhotoPass photographers are often around even as the park closes to snap those beautifully lit nighttime shots.

Have you used Disney PhotoPass or Memory Maker before? What were your thoughts? Did we miss any tips or tricks? Be sure to share with us in the comments below!

Hoppy planning!

Tags: Disney World, Character Dining, Disney PhotoPass, Disney's PhotoPass

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Jun 25, 2015 at 3:48 a.m.

John Johnson Says...

was wondering i purchased memory maker for my stay in december we are doing a few character meals so if we get the pictures taken before we eat how can we get the cardboard frames they usually put them in thats what makes the pictures cool.

Jun 25, 2015 at 8:35 a.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Hi John,

I know! Lily has a great picture of herself with Belle from Akershus. Unfortunately, they are no longer offering print photos at character meals.

Mommy Frog

Jun 24, 2015 at 12:29 a.m.

Cami Says...

We were really pleased with the new PhotoPass+ this past January. There seemed to be a LOT more photographers roaming the parks compared to our previous visits. We didn't carry our big SLR camera this year and so it was really nice to get some high quality shots from the professionals. We did lose one photo of my husband on Space Mountain, but we called the help number and described what he was wearing and about what time he was on the ride. With that info, the PhotoPass+ people were able to locate it for us!

Jun 18, 2015 at 6:19 p.m.

Stella Says...

i am going to Disney in January and taking my parents this time. I have used memory maker and loved it. While we are only there for three days this time I would like to get it again because it is their first trip (in over 30 years). We will be under one reservation but two rooms. Can we use the same one or would is it one per room?

Jun 19, 2015 at 9:49 p.m.

Vern Woodruff Says...

Hi Stella,

My family was all together, so this was not a question for us. However, from everything I have read, you should all be able to share one Memory Maker entitlement as long as you are all connected as friends and family through the My Disney Experience account. The Memory Maker FAQ on the Disney web-site has an answer for this (https://mydisneyphotopass.disney.go.com/help-and-support/memory-maker). Since Memory Maker is open to all Disney guests, and not just those that are staying on-site, it makes sense that it would not be tied to hotel rooms but rather tied to your friends and family through the My Disney Experience account. Hope this helps!

May 19, 2015 at 5:05 p.m.

Vern Woodruff Says...

Hi Isabella,

I'll try my best to help you decide. There are several factors to consider whether MemoryMaker (as it is now called) would be worth it for a 3 day visit.

1. With an advance purchase price of $169, it would be about $57 a day. This may seem high, but SeaWorld's photo service is $74.99 for one day.

2. Is this a first visit for anyone?

3. How many characters do you plan to visit? A large number of my family's pictures were of my kids with the characters.

4. Are the Magic Shots something you would really like (i.e. pictures holding Tinkerbell or a bunch of balloons)?

5. Attractions that offer photos are included (i.e. Space Mountain, Test Track). Are you planning on riding many of those attractions and are those photos something of interest?

6. How likely would you be to stop if you were walking and passed by a PhotoPass photographer? We usually stopped at each photographer that we saw because they were set up throughout the parks so we could obtain a wide variety of backgrounds. Also, different photographers would have different Magic Shots or the recently added animated Magic Shots.

7. How often would you like to have a picture taken of your entire group? With a PhotoPass photographer, you don't have to find some random person to take your picture. However, even if you don't purchase Memory Maker, the PhotoPass photographer will be happy to use your camera for a picture too.

8. Will you be disciplined enough to go through your pictures shortly after returning home? Would you like to add special Disney borders, character autographs or small Disney images to your pictures?

9. Only one person in your group needs to have Memory Maker in order for all of you to take advantage of the service, as long as you are all connected as friends and family through the My Disney Experience account. Taking advantage of this, you might be able to split the cost up amongst several people.

10. Will you want a lot of pictures after your trip to put in a photo album or scrapbook, or would you be happy with a handful of pictures? From our visit, I put together a photo album with 300 pictures (and I still had a tough time narrowing it down to just 300).

I know this is a lot to think about, but hopefully it will help you to make an informed choice. Have a great time!

May 7, 2015 at 12:38 p.m.

Isabella Says...

Would you recommend photo pass for a 3-day/2-night trip? I'm going to Disney World with my family(mom, dad, older brother)&my friend. My friend&I plan on visiting all 4 parks, though we have to visit 2 of them in the same day(Hollywood Studio during the afternoon, and then Animal Kingdom for dinner and nighttime). Do you think it'd be worth it?

Oct 15, 2013 at 6:02 p.m.

Catherine M. Williams Says...

This is a great overview of PhotoPass. I agree that it is surprising that there are no PhotoPass photographers assigned to the character meals. It detracts so much from the experience and the meal to constantly have to fiddle with the camera and get up to take pictures I would happily pay more for the service to have PhotoPass photogs at the character meals.

Also agree that the website needs major help. It is so slow and the editing options are so limited.

Even with the gripes of the lack of photographers at the character meals and the website issues, I would still recommend it for an extended family trip. It eliminates so much of the hassle of having to pull out the camera and deal with camera settings in the park, plus everyone gets to be in the picture.

Oct 16, 2013 at 9:57 p.m.

Vern Woodruff Says...

Thanks for the comments Catherine. The only reasons I could think of as to why PhotoPass photographers are not at the character meals is that it would either slow down the characters as they make their way around a room, or they do not feel there is enough room in the restaurants for a photographer. Like you, I would have been glad for a PhotoPass photographer to take pictures in addition to the ones I took. The lighting in the restaurants can be tricky when you are trying to get your camera settings correct.

Oct 9, 2013 at 2:10 a.m.

Natasha Says...

Hi! Thanks for this really good post, it is really well rounded. There are a few things that have been updated, though, that I wanted to tell you about. I was a photopass photographer for an internship earlier this year, so I have the inside scoop ;D. You can now do a border and a signature (at least in store). On the whole, editing is a whole lot easier in store. So, if you go, come during the day, usually early morning or during a parade (if you've already seen it, or if you want to come in while your kids are watching it). That way a photopass photographer can help you go through the pictures and edit them the best way you can, cause we know all the ins and outs. plus we can tweak and edit the photos if need be. Plus, just the computer system as a whole is a lot more user friendly in store than it is online. The online website is really annoying. And there are a couple reasons for not doing magic shots in front of the icons. Some photographers do it, some don't. It's generally frowned upon because the magic shots are big sellers and if the shots have the icon in it as well, we'd lose money, cause why would you buy both the icon shot and the magic shot if you can just get one with both of them in it. I'm one of those photographers that say 'Screw it, I'm gonna give you guys the best picture I can'. I remember doing one picture when I was located right next to the Sorcerer's hat in Hollywood Studios (and I mean RIGHT next to it, practically underneath) and I had a little boy jump up with his one hand out high while I was down on my knees, so that it seemed like he was being carried away by balloons right past the Sorcerer's hat. It. Was. Epic. A great shot and the family loved it later (I was working in the store later when they came in). Another reason why they don't do it, is a lot of the locations are just too far away from the icon to get a good picture of it and say your little girl holding a very small Tinkerbell. It just wouldn't turn out to be a good picture. Tinkerbell would be a dot on the page. Also, the equipment can be faulty sometimes, the scanners mostly. So, when that happens, the photographer has to leave their post to go call base, and usually they'll tell them to come back to base, leaving their location empty for a little while while the replacement photographer gets there. That's usually why a location is empty. Either that, or they were short that day. When that happens, locations like Tower and SM are secondary, so not as important as say, Main Street castle locations. Anywho, Thanks so much for sharing this awesome post. Very well rounded and informative!

Apr 17, 2015 at 5:28 a.m.

Paul Says...

Hi Natasha,

Great info. I was wondering how does the camera match the photos to the person. Is there something tethered to the camera. Thanks, Paul

Oct 10, 2013 at 5:04 a.m.

Vern Woodruff Says...

Thanks so much Natasha for taking the time to write your thoughts and add insider information to my post. Your notes are a great enhancement to what I had written, especially since it answers some questions I had and contains information that only someone who had worked as a PhotoPass photographer would know. I had never tried editing a picture in the store, and only looked at a handful of pictuers in a store when I had the Jedi Training Academy photos added to my account. Since I knew I would be receiving all of the photos taken with the PhotoPass+ package, I did not take the time to review them in a store during our visit. I wonder why the editing tools in the store are so much better than they are on-line? There is no way I could have edited my pictures in a store because I'm certain that I spent more time going through and editing my pictures than the total time I spent in the parks during our 7 day visit. Hopefully Disney will add some upgrades to the on-line editing tools in the future, especially since I plan to use the PhotoPass service again in just over a year. Just a couple of enhancements, like being able to add a border and an autograph or being able rotate a picture by a degree or two to straighten out one that is slightly crooked, would be great.

Oct 9, 2013 at 1:29 p.m.

FrogBlog Says...

Wow! Terrific information, Natasha. Thank you for sharing!

-- Mommy Frog

Oct 8, 2013 at 9:09 p.m.

Erin Says...

One quick note: I used the PhotoPass+ recently, and while they tell you the ride photos are only available that day, this does not seem to actually be the case. I had the photo numbers and the day I had the picture taken for a few pictures, one of which was three days earlier, and they were still able to find it for me. I was very glad too, it was a great picture frim Splash Mountain taken during extra magic hours when the photo pick up area was closed.