If you’ve booked a trip to Walt Disney World in the past few years, you’ve probably heard about Memory Maker. At first glance, it might look like a quick gimmicky way for Disney to get another $170 out of you. “Why do I need to buy Disney pictures when I can take pictures myself?” you might ask.
Well, I thought the same thing – but for our first sister trip back in 2015, I decided to bite the bullet and try it out. I’d never taken advantage of Photopass and decided this trip was as good as any to see what it was all about. Honestly, I’m so glad I did – I will NEVER go to Disneyworld without purchasing Memory Maker again!
Here is everything you need to know about it, and once you try it out, I guarantee you’ll love it too!
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Advanced Purchase = Saved $$$
If you purchase Memory Maker BEFORE you head on your vacation, it’s only $170 (I know, ONLY, right?) However, if you purchase it at the parks or via the app when you’re already on your trip, it goes up to $200. The pictures from the rides ALONE, if you purchased each one you ride, will easily add up to this – and that’s not even counting the Photopass ones! It really ends up being a fantastic value, especially if you buy it early.
Easy to Use
How do you use your Memory Maker? Well, when you purchase it, you link it to your My Disney Experience account. This is, in turn, linked to your MagicBand. When you see a Disney Photopass photographer, simply go up to them and get in line to take your picture. Once you’re done, you’ll have the Cast Member scan your MagicBand, and it’s now instantly linked to your Memory Maker!
In addition to traditional shots, your Photopass photographer will likely have you pose in (seemingly) goofy poses. Once the photos load to your account, you’ll see they are actually “Magic Shots”! These photos have graphics inserted in to them before they’re uploaded to your account, so it looks like you’re holding Tinker Bell, flying away on balloons, or standing with Timon and Pumbaa!
Ride Photos, Character Dining and More!
Memory Maker doesn’t just apply to the Photopass photos. Every time you exit a ride that takes a photo, you’ll notice there are Mickey’s under each screen displaying the photos. Find your picture, tap your MagicBand to Mickey, and once it turns green, you’ll have saved your photo to your Memory Maker! Some of the newer rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train even have little videos made from your ride.
If you have character dining reservations, you’ll also have an opportunity to take a picture with a character when you check in for your reservation. This picture can also be added to your Memory Maker account!
Download and Upload with Ease
Once you’ve gotten home, you can download all your pictures in just a few minutes to your computer. Once you’ve downloaded them, you can upload them easily to Facebook or other social media platforms to share your memories with friends and family. If you want to create something magical, photo books and other souvenirs are available through Memory Maker using your pictures for an extra charge. The memory books are easy to customize online and can be a great souvenir for your whole family to enjoy!
There you have it – all the reasons I LOVE Memory Maker! If you take advantage of it and take pictures with all the Photopass cast members you encounter, you’ll have TONS of pics when you get home. It really is worth the money, especially with ride photos being included. It’s a great way to get great memories to keep for years to come!
Have you used Memory Maker in the past? Let me know in the comments! And if you love Disney, be sure you subscribe to my newsletter for updates when I post new content. You’ll get my FREE WDW Planning Checklist as a thank you when you sign up!
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