What You Need to Know About PhotoPass & Memory Maker

Who doesn’t love amazing pictures to look at and treasure over the years and years after a family vacation? You will have so many memories that will be captured in the images so that you can share the experience with friends and family. PhotoPass and Memory Maker are very different services but closely linked to give you various options in terms of your pictures. Here are the top things that you need to know about PhotoPass and Memory Maker.

11 – What is PhotoPass?

PhotoPass is a photography service offered by Disney where there are photographers that are stationed in front of various landmarks and all throughout the parks, restaurants, and events to take pictures for guests. They will take your photographs for you and scan your Magic Band or plastic card so that your photos will all be within your account for you to view later.

10 – What is Memory Maker?

Memory Maker is an add-on that you can purchase for around $75-$210 (depending on how early you purchase), where you can download all of the pictures that are taken at PhotoPass locations.  This gives you the access and rights to all of your photos to do whatever you would like with at the end of your trip.

9 – Instant Access to photos

Through your My Disney Experience account, you will have instant access to all of your photos.  You will need to set up a My Disney Experience account, and link all members of your family, park tickets, resort reservations, etc. so that you can instantly access all of the photos that any member of your party takes.  You will just want to ensure that the PhotoPass photographer scans a linked MagicBand or card, and then just log into your account and view all of your amazing photos!

8 – Linked to Magic Bands

Both PhotoPass and Memory Maker can be linked to your Magic Bands so that all of your information is within you My Disney Experience account and able to be accessed via your Magic Band(s) linked to your account.  Your entire family will be linked together so you will be able to access all of their photos, as long as they are linked within your My Disney Experience account.

7 – The PhotoPass service is free; the pictures are not

If you don’t have Memory Maker, the PhotoPass service is free, and the photographers will take as many pictures as you like.  The pictures, however, are not free.  You can purchase rights to digital download any of the pictures you would like to purchase.  After your trip, you can view the pictures and make selections on which ones you would like (if you didn’t purchase Memory Maker).

6 – PhotoPass photographers will take pictures with your own camera

They don’t just use the Disney cameras to take pictures. If you would like them to also take photos with your own camera or your cell phone, they will do it for you. Just have the camera ready and ask them nicely if they will also take pictures with your camera for you.

5 – Memory Maker is cheaper when purchased at least three days before use

You will save about $25 if you purchase the Memory Maker add-on at least three days before you arrive. (The advance purchase price is $185; however, the full amount is $210). This is an excellent saving for an add-on that is entirely worth it! If you are booking a complete Disney Vacation Package, you can add this feature to your package at the time of booking and still only have to pay the $200 deposit for the trip. You won’t even have to worry about it!

4 – Annual Passes No Longer include PhotoPass downloads

In late 2021, Walt Disney World rolled out new annual pass options and tickets. These tickets no longer include PhotoPass downloads. However, guests can purchase a PhotoPass Downloads add-on option for $99 plus tax, and they will receive unlimited Disney PhotoPass downloads while their annual pass is active.

3 – Ride photos are included

This is a huge benefit to using Memory Maker.  Each of the ride photos that you take will be added to your account, and you get each and every one!  You don’t even have to touch your Magic Band to the photo station to get them added, either. You don’t have to try to decide which picture you liked better than another or whether you think it was good enough to get or not; you just automatically get all of the images. It is definitely a fantastic benefit and can make up for the entire cost of the Memory Maker quickly with only the ride photo benefit. If you don’t have Memory Maker, you can tap your band to add it to your account and then review it at the ride photo station at the end of the ride to decide if you want to purchase the photo. Another added bonus of Memory Maker is that some of the rides even take video, which you get as part of the video. The video is absolutely AMAZING to have! There are several different rides with ride photos (and video):

• Space Mountain
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (also a video attraction)
• Rock ‘n Roller Coaster
• Test Track
• Expedition Everest
• Dinosaur
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (also a video attraction)
• Frozen Ever After
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Slinky Dog Dash
• The Haunted Mansion
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
• TRON Lightcycle / Run

2 – Get the most out-of-character dining

Some of the character dining locations will have a PhotoPass photographer who will take pictures during breakfast. If you have Memory Maker, you get all the images included with the purchase cost. If you don’t, you have to buy the photos, which can be costly. 

1 – Take as many pictures as you want!

There is absolutely no limit to how many pictures you can take or receive with PhotoPass or Memory Maker services. I recommend that you take as many pictures as possible since images are the BEST souvenirs to have from your vacations, and you will be glad you have them to commemorate your trip!