Pros and Cons of Disney’s Memory Maker

We’re covering the pros and cons of Disney’s Memory Maker package to determine if this service is worth the investment for your next Disney vacation!

Memory Maker refers to the collection of PhotoPass photos captured of your group at various locations, attractions, and character spots throughout Walt Disney World.  Many guests debate whether Memory Maker is worth the hefty price tag.  So today, we’re covering the pros and cons of Memory Maker, so you can make the best decision for your vacation!

What is Memory Maker?

Disney’s PhotoPass photographers are located throughout the parks to take photos of your travel party enjoying your vacation.  All you have to do is stop and put on your best smile!  The photographer will link your photos to My Disney Experience by scanning your MagicBand or the QR code within the app.  Then, you’ll be able to see these images in your Photo Gallery in My Disney Experience along with select ride and character photos.

It’s as easy as that!  You can get back to the fun while Disney takes care of capturing your special moments.

While Disney’s PhotoPass service is free to use, downloading and keeping those photos comes with a fee.  These photos can be purchased individually at around $20 an image.  Or guests can purchase Disney’s Memory Maker service.  This photo package allows guests unlimited downloads of all PhotoPass photos captured during their vacation. 

Memory Maker is normally priced at $210 and includes all photos taken of your party connected in My Disney Experience.  However, if you purchase Memory Maker at least three days before your intended usage, you will be eligible for a $25 discount.  There is also an option to purchase Memory Maker for one day only for $75.

A Memory Maker purchase includes the following:

• All photos taken at over 100 locations including character experiences, ride photos, and portrait studios
• Over 75 Magic Shots
• Photos taken during Capture Your Moment or Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique experiences
• Ability to use design tools to customize your portraits

Disney vacations are already expensive, and it may be hard to justify the cost of yet another service.  So here are some of the pros and cons of Memory Maker to consider before investing.

Pros:

Professional Quality

PhotoPass Photographers are great at what they do.  They have the training and equipment to capture high quality photos.  Not only that, but they also interact with the kids and go the extra mile to capture a magical memory for you.  I can’t speak highly enough of these cast members!

No More Hiding Behind the Camera

Memory Maker service ensures you will have plenty of photos of the whole family.  No need to have mom or dad hiding behind the camera – just let the lovely PhotoPass photographers take care of it!

The Larger the Group, the Cheaper the Cost

Everyone on your Friends and Family list is included in Memory Maker for one price!  That means the larger your group, the cheaper the cost to each individual if you split it amongst your group.  Up to 25 guests can share media with you on My Disney Experience and benefit from Memory Maker.

Magic Shots

Only PhotoPass photographers can capture Magic Shots of you and your travel party.  Magic Shots are enhanced with extra Disney magic in the photo, such as a popular character or special prop. 

You won’t know what the Magic Shots are until you see the photos!  We love going through them at the end of the day to discover the magical elements added by the photographers.

Portrait Studios

Disney’s portrait studios offer free portrait sessions in a professional indoor setting, and all photos are included with Memory Maker!  You will find one of these studios in Disney Springs, and one in Magic Kingdom located inside Sir Mickey’s.

The PhotoPass Studio at Disney Springs regularly updates their unique backdrops and props to fit the season.  During our winter visit, we were able to take some great photos for Christmas cards.  During Halloween, the backdrops were switched up for some spooky Haunted Mansion shots.

This experience is a must-do during our visits to Disney Springs!

If you have a little one visiting the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, then a stop to the Royal Portrait Studio at Sir Mickey’s is a must!  The photographers here have several props and backdrops to capture elegant photos of your little ones. 

A portrait session at one of these studios is the ultimate perk of Memory Maker, in my opinion.    

Cons:

Cost

Memory Maker is expensive.  For shorter trips, the expense may not be worth it for your party.

Time 

Maxmizing the service means taking time to stop and stand in line for PhotoPass photographers.  Some of the lines can get long, especially for popular photo spots like in front of the castle.

Ride Photos

If your party is already planning to invest in Disney’s Lightning Lane Multi Pass service, ride photos will already be accessible for free download.  If ride photos are the main incentive of purchasing Memory Maker, and you’re already planning to purchase Multi Pass, Memory Maker is unnecessary. 

Can Use Your Own Device

If you don’t want to splurge on Memory Maker, you can still ask PhotoPass photographers to take photos with your own camera or phone.  They are very kind and accommodating for all guests.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are several pros and cons to purchasing Memory Maker.  Ultimately, the value of Memory Maker varies from family to family.

If your travel party doesn’t enjoy posing for photos, and you will already be utilizing Disney’s Multi Pass to capture ride photos, then Memory Maker might not be worth the cost.  This is particularly true if you go to the parks often or typically enjoy shorter stays. 

If your group is willing to pose for lots of photos, and you value getting shots of everyone together, then Memory Maker is absolutely worth it!  Plus, you can maximize its usage by visiting one of the portrait studios.  

Weighing the pros and cons of Memory Maker, I believe this service is worth it for us because we can get shots of the whole family together.  We make a point to stop for PhotoPass photographers while touring the parks and end up with hundreds of great photos each trip.  And at the end of our vacation, most of my favorite photos have come from Memory Maker!

Each photo is connected to a magical memory.  And ultimately, you won’t regret capturing those memories and looking back on them.

After considering the pros and cons of Memory Maker, do you think the investment is right for your family?  Let us know in the comments!

Looking for other Walt Disney World planning articles? Check out our Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide and our Guide to Mobile Ordering!

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