UPDATED July 24, 2024
Do you know the second best thing to going on a Walt Disney World vacation? It’s reliving all of the magic and memories through your photos once you get home. But even though we’re all selfie pros these days, it’s still a challenge to get the whole family together in one picture. And THAT’S where the Disney PhotoPass Service comes in!
Get ready to “SAY CHEESE” and capture some vacation magic with PhotoPass!
Wondering if Disney PhotoPass a good purchase for you? We discuss the PROS and CONS here!
PhotoPass Locations
Disney PhotoPass photographers are stationed at TONS of iconic locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort — like Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle and Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life — ready to take a professional picture of your entire group.
You can find all of the PhotoPass locations in the My Disney Experience app!
PhotoPass at Character Greeting Spots
Select Disney Character Greeting spots also have PhotoPass photographers at the ready to capture that magic moment with MICKEY and more pals!
Some locations have automated cameras available to snap your photo, such as this camera at the Celebrity Spotlight — Olaf Meet-and-Greet at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
But PhotoPass opportunities are by no means limited to just these well-known Disney World landmarks.
You can check your My Disney Experience app to find all of the PhotoPass locations when you’re in the parks!
Special Event and Holiday PhotoPass Opportunities
Holidays and special events like EPCOT’s seasonal Festivals often deliver special props and photo ops.
PhotoPass On-ride Attraction Photos
Select attractions like Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion offer on-ride attraction photos.
Disney World Attractions that offer on-ride photos are as follows:
Magic Kingdom: Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, TRON Lightcycle / Run, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Animal Kingdom: DINOSAUR, Expedition Everest
Hollywood Studios: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash
EPCOT: Frozen Ever After, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Test Track
(Guests who are not wearing MagicBands can find instructions for on-ride photos posted at the attractions that offer these unique shots!)
AAAAANNNND guests who purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass in Disney World also get FREE digital PhotoPass downloads for attraction photos taken on the day of their purchase!
Disney can even sprinkle some extra pixie dust on your pictures with MagicShots!
You may be surprised to see a Disney character (or another special effect) show up in your picture along with you once the image lands in your Gallery!
DFB PRO TIP: You can also ask the PhotoPass Photographer if they offer a MagicShot. Even if they do not offer one at their spot, they can direct you to the nearest location that does!
Disney Springs even hosts its own PhotoPass Studio offering unique backgrounds AND MagicShots that change with the season!
Find the PhotoPass Studio in the Disney Springs Marketplace.
Accessing and Downloading Your PhotoPass Pictures
In order to access your PhotoPass images, you’ll need to have a My Disney Experience account with your valid park admission linked. (You can learn all about that process here.)
Photographers will scan your MagicBand/MagicBand+, MagicMobile Pass, or Key to the World theme park ticket before or after taking your picture, and your photos will automatically be linked to your My Disney Experience account (both online and in the free app) and will appear in your Gallery where you can view and purchase high resolution .jpg files.
(Note that, if you do not have a My Disney Experience account, PhotoPass photographers may be able to provide you with a PhotoPass Card providing information so you can later link it manually.)
Memory Maker
Disney World also offers Memory Maker, which allows unlimited downloads of all of your PhotoPass pictures and videos for one price!
Your options include unlimited downloads from your entire vacation for $210.00, or $185.00 for advance purchase. There is also a Memory Maker One Day option (from a date of your choosing) for $75.00.
We discuss whether Memory Maker is worth purchasing for your vacation HERE!
Disney World Annual Passholders also have an option for accessing their PhotoPass images.
Any Pass type may be upgraded to include Disney PhotoPass downloads for $99 (plus tax), and we have some tips for that process here.
The prices above can be compared to purchasing prints individually at the following prices: $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.
P.S. You can also edit and personalize all your photos with borders, clip art, and more, or have your chosen images placed on keepsakes!
For those extra special photos, you can use the PhotoPass website to purchase photo keepsakes like magnets, ornaments, photo books, 12-month calendars, and other items.
Capture Your Moment
Ever dreamed of having your own personal photoshoot in front of Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle, or in any of the other Walt Disney World theme parks? As we’ve discussed above, you can always get lots of cool pictures around the Disney parks with the help of PhotoPass photographers, but now you can have a personal and dedicated photographer with a Capture Your Moment session for up to 8 guests!
Each session lasts up to 20 minutes for $99 (and you can book back-to-back sessions for an additional $99 per session). During an extended 40 minute-photoshoot, you’ll have the option to visit at least two park photo locations with your professional Disney photographer.
Capture Your Moment in Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom offers TWO different Capture Your Moment options: Cinderella Castle & Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland.
In Fantasyland, your photo session could include Cinderella Castle, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, Rapunzel’s tower, Prince Eric’s castle, Storybook Circus, Belle and Maurice’s cottage, outside Beast’s castle, around the Mad Tea Party, or many other locations.
Capture Your Moment in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests have the backdrop of the stunning Tree of Life, the park’s icon.
Capture Your Moment in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios also offers two Capture Your Moment Options. First, you may choose from photo backdrops including Hollywood Tower Hotel for a spooky background, the Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard, or even with our favorite dinosaur, Gertie! Second, You can have a private photoshoot with a PhotoPass photographer inside the Tower of Terror! Your photographer will pose you inside the Hollywood Tower Hotel along with special props.
An additional option is your very own photoshoot in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge! During your session, a PhotoPass photographer will travel around the planet of Batuu with you, taking photos at iconic landmarks like the Millennium Falcon, a First Order Shuttle, the market in Black Spire Outpost, and more. Oh, and you can even snap a few photos with PROPS — like a lightsaber!
Capture Your Moment in EPCOT
In EPCOT, you can choose from five different World Showcase pavilions for your photo backdrop, including Germany, Italy, the American Adventure, Japan, and Morocco.
You can call 407-939-7758 to book your own session. You may also book Capture Your Moment via the Disney World website: click HERE for EPCOT, click HERE for Magic Kingdom, click HERE for Hollywood Studios, or click HERE for Animal Kingdom.
Do note that prints and digital downloads are not included with the price of your Capture Your Moment session and must be purchased separately. However, prints and downloads are no additional cost if you’ve paid for Memory Maker (or have a qualifying Annual Passholder entitlement).
Video Memories
Guests can now create videos using PhotoPass photos and more to revisit their magical vacation at home with the Video Memories feature! In order to create yours, open the My Disney Experience app (to the home page) and scroll down until you see Video Memories.
First, you select a Disney Template to create a theme for your video memory. Second, you can choose either Quick Video Memory or Advanced. With Quick Video Memory, you will select your photos and videos and Disney will combine them for you.
If you choose Advanced, you can select and edit the photos and videos yourself(they needn’t be official Disney PhotoPass images — you can choose your own from your camera roll) and add music, text, and more! Finally, you can preview and download the video memory to share.
Check out Video Memories HERE!
Wondering if Disney PhotoPass a good purchase for you? We discuss the PROS and CONS here!
And now, a little more about ALL THAT VACATION MAGIC you’re going to want to capture with your photos…
Check out our ULTIMATE Guide to Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation HERE!
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