PhotoPass Professional Portrait Service at select resorts
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**KimM** · 06-05-2009, 11:54 PM

I have been reading a lot on another

Disney board about the PhotoPass photo sessions at the resorts. DH and I have only had professional photos taken twice in the almost 10 years we've been married - our wedding and on the DCL a few years ago. Since we're going to WDW for our 10th anniversary in August, I thought it would be an opportunity to get some nice pictures of us together at our happy place; plus the photos would make great holiday presents for our parents, aunts, siblings, etc.

It seems Disney has recently changed their policies & prices for these sessions and there is a lot of conflicting information/confusion on the web about the prices of the packages and what you get. So, I made a

call and posted this on the other board and thought the PPs would appreciate the info too...

I called the PhotoPass desk at the Poly today (6/5/09) and asked a few questions. I hope this is helpful for everyone - it certainly was for me!

If you are NOT planning to pre-purchase the PhotoPass CD, there are two options:
$49.95 - includes one package of photos and the sitting fee (the print packages include 7 prints in various combinations of 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10s)
$99.95 - includes a CD of all the photos taken during your session (no extras or borders, etc.) as well as one photo package
With either package you have your choice of which photos are printed - the package does not have to be just one pose

If you ARE pre-purchasing the PhotoPass CD:
$99.95 package is discounted to $70. He did confirm that the session photos are on a separate CD from the PhotoPass CD.

All prices above are before tax.

You can book the session up to 30 days in advance; you pay when you arrive for the session, so you can decide then what package you want. The phone number to book is 1-407-934-4004 - you will be prompted for which resort you want. The choices are GF (option 1), Poly (option 2), BC (option 3), WL (option 4) or AKL (option 5).

The session lasts 20-30 minutes, which gives you between 30 and 60 images, depending on the size of your group, cooperation of children and such.

He said the best time for a photo session is anytime before 10 am or after 4:30 pm - lighting is key. He also suggested wearing solid, light colored clothing. Stripes and colorful patterns can be distracting.

Lastly I asked what happens if we have the session and are unhappy with the photos - he said we would be issued a refund.

I thanked him profusely for all his time and the details he provided. I asked if he was a photographer and he said yes. His name is Alex if anyone wants to ask for him - he was very nice and very helpful!

I am strongly considering booking this at the Poly when our 30-day window opens. I don't plan to purchase the PhotoPass CD, as DH and I rarely stop for those shots. When we're in the parks, it seems like we're always hot, sweaty and burdened down with all our "stuff" - the last thing I want is my picture taken! Of all the times we've been to WDW, I think we've purchased one PhotoPass shot, which was when we went to MVMCP on my birthday.

The session seems expensive to some, especially since it used to cost only $25 if you pre-purchased the PhotoPass, but if we went to a photographer and had pictures taken, got a package of prints AND a CD anywhere else it would probably cost about the same price, wouldn't it? Am I just fooling myself?

**DopeyGirl** · 06-06-2009, 12:15 AM

Funny you posted this Kim, because I was just thinking about posting the same thing.

I just booked our session for our upcoming trip this past Monday (we'll be at the Poly at 4:30 on 7/1

) and asked all the questions that you answered above! I forgot to mention to the CM on the phone that we had pre-ordered the PhotoPass CD, but I think you can take the e-mail to show them at the session.

When I first called the other day, I called another number that I had found elsewhere online and it was for PhotoPass studio photos only, not resorts. The CM who answered at the number I called gave me the number posted.

We're not wearing the solid light colors though . . . we are wearing various shades and patterns of blue. Guess we'll be "distracting".

**KimM** · 06-06-2009, 12:22 AM

That's too funny!

I hope you'll share your pics with us here or in a TR. I am leaning towards booking ours at the Poly. The beach with MK in the background is just unbeatable!

I was thinking about getting DH a new Hawaiian-style shirt to wear in our pics, so we'll be distracting too!

pinkerbell · 06-06-2009, 10:35 AM

Thanks for the info. We are thinking about booking a photo pass session in August at the BC to get pictures for our 5 year anniversary plus pictures to use for our Christmas card this year. For any of you who have done the photo session, please let me know your thoughts.

**chezp** · 06-06-2009, 01:02 PM

Thanks for the info.

CollinsFamily · 06-06-2009, 02:37 PM

This is great info! Thanks! We will be booking a photo shoot, too.

loly75ddl · 06-06-2009, 03:15 PM

Any one willing to show us some of your photos? I am interested as well but don't know which location to chose so any advice would be much appreciated!!

THANKS!!

**KimM** · 06-07-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loly75ddl

I am interested as well but don't know which location to chose so any advice would be much appreciated!!

THANKS!!

I saw quite a few examples on the other Disney board and I liked the pictures at the Poly the best, with GF coming in a close 2nd. My first choice was initially AKL, but after seeing a few of the pictures the backgrounds were not as exciting as I hoped. Still beautiful pictures, but not the overall look I was going for.

bradk · 06-07-2009, 05:41 PM

thanks for the heads up. i'm going to update the definitive guide with the info, but i found out a couple of other things:

there are 3 photo packages for the same price.

Package A: 2 8x10s, 3 5x7s
Package B: 2 5x7s, 8 4x6s (2x4)
Package C: 7 5x7s

so the number of poses depends on which package. A gets you 5 different poses, B gets you 6 different poses, C gets you 7.

also, if you purchase the photocd in the park, it's $70 to have them combined with the portrait session (for a total of 199.95), as it is $70 if you pre-order.

5SOXFNZ · 06-07-2009, 05:47 PM

Thanks so much for this info...We are still undecided at this point whether or not we will do it but now at least I know to put my pre-order confirmation in my Passpoter as I was going to leave it home for safe keeping. That way, if we decide to do it I'll get the discounted price!

MagicMickey · 06-08-2009, 01:44 PM

I would love to see them start these at some of the DVC Resorts, especially BLT when we are there in December.

bradk · 06-08-2009, 06:42 PM

after they dropped SSR, CR was supposed to get it, but no timeline as of yet

Minnie-ZB · 06-09-2009, 09:55 AM

I'm going to have to think about this! This sounds like a great idea.

Thanks!!

Fanessa4 · 06-10-2009, 09:39 AM

When we went we were going to do this but since I felt the price was questionable i decided to just imitate some of the images the actual photgraphers used. I think they turned out great. Here are some examples of "my" photo session.

At this time the boys left so i took more of my DD....

last one.

Fanessa4 · 06-10-2009, 09:45 AM

i also noticed alot of the places they use for the photos were good but sometimes came out dark. (inside lobby always seemed to be darkest)
My opinion is if you do decide make sure the time is where the sun is highest and not directly in front of you. I took my pics around 10 and the lighting was good but the kids were looking right into the sun, so lots of squinting. I took these photos right in front of the Hawaii Bldg to the left of Sunset Point.