Please note that this thread has been compiled from information received from CMs on the Resort Photos line AND from DIS posters. I have tried to note where the information has come from the DIS rather than Disney CMs.
What is it?
Disney is offering Resort Photo Sessions with photos taken by Photopass photographers. The sessions are approximately 30 minutes and are taken at various locations throughout specific resorts.
How does it work?
Call to schedule your session. Show up that day and check in at the Photo Session Kiosk in your chosen resort. After you pay, your photographer will photograph your family at various locations throughout the resort. You can request specific locations, poses and groupings.
After your photos are taken, your photographer will escort you back to the Photo Session Kiosk where you will have the opportunity to review your photos. The photos from your session will be burned to a CD which you will be able to take with you.
**NOTE 1**: As of this date (October 3, 2008), DIS posters have reported that the Photopass Photographers are providing their resort photos on a Photopass card. If you purchase a Park Photopass CD (either as a pre-purchase or after your trip), you can add your resort photo session photos to the CD and edit, add enhancements, etc. as you would for your Park photos. This is not the official policy so there is no guarantee that you will receive the photo session photos on a card. You can’t edit or add enhancements to photos on the CD.
Are these professional photos?
The most common DIS poster statement regarding this question is no. Some of the Resort Photopass Photographers are professionals “moonlighting” for Disney. Some are CMs with an interest in photography. The professional nature of these photos will vary based upon who is taking them.
Can I request a specific photographer?
DIS posters who have tried this have been told no. If you have the name of a specific photographer, it’s worth asking if you can book them. The worst they can say is no.
How many pictures do you get?
This varies based upon the photographer. DIS posters have reported an average of 50 to 60 shots, some have had many more (like 100+) and others have received fewer (like 35.)
Which resorts are participating?
Grand Floridian
Polynesian
Beach Club
Saratoga Springs
Wilderness Lodge
Animal Kingdom Lodge
When can I book?
The Disney CMs who answer the phones have given two answers to this question. It is either 30 days before your arrive for your vacation or 30 days before the date of your photo session.
Who do I call to book?
(407) 934-4004
This is the number to the main photo line. You can then choose the option for the resort you want to book.
How much does it cost?
Unfortunately, there is not a 100% straightforward answer to this. Cost varies based upon whether or not you have pre-ordered the Park Photopass CD for $99.95.
Cost for Resort Photo Shoot if Park Photopass CD is pre-ordered = $75
Cost for Resort Photo Shoot if Park Photopass CD is NOT pre-ordered = $150
Regardless of Park Photopass pre-order, your Resort Photo Shoot pictures will be placed on a CD at the time of your Photo Shoot. You CAN NOT add enhancements to these photos. (See **NOTE 1** above.)
If you only want one CD of all pics from your trip, at the end of your vacation you can take your PARK Photopass cards to a Resort Photopass Kiosk and they will add all of your PARK photos to a CD with your Resort Photo Shoot pictures for an additional $50. You CAN NOT add enhancements to your Park Photos if you have this done. You do not need to order the Park Photopass CD in order to have this done.
**NOTE 2**: As of this date (November 6, 2008), it has been reported by various DIS posters that the Park Photopass pre-purchase confirmation still has the $25 Grand Floridian photo session offer. If you purchased before this date and your confirmation still has this verbiage, you can still get the $25 rate and they are honoring the price at all currently participating resorts.
I’m in a Photopass share or part of a Grand Gathering group. Can I use the pre-purchase confirmation to get the discount if my name is not on it?
So far, this has been allowed. The Disney CMs verify that you have a confirmation email for the pre-purchase. To date, no one has mentioned that they are matching names on the confirmation email to the name on the session.
I’m in a Grand Gathering group with 4 families. We want to do one session with all of us but we also want some individual pics of each family. Can they do that?
Your photo session is 30 minutes long. If you have 4 family groups with 4 members in each group, that is 16 people that will have to move from location to location. Moving, posing and photographing that many people can be very time-consuming so there is a chance that you won’t get all of the photos you want, especially if you are trying to change up the groups. So far, Disney has not limited the number of participants but this is definitely something to think about.
I want to book sessions at more than one resort. Do I pay $75 for both sessions (or $25 with pre-purchase confirmation)?
Officially, per a Disney CM, the answer to this question is no. Your first session is $75($25) and all subsequent sessions are $50.00. Remember, this is the official response.
Should I tip my photographer?
Officially, per a Disney Photopass CM, photographers are considered a non-tipped position. He also said that they don't expect tips at all but will take them if they are offered three times per Disney policy.
What time of the day should I book my session?
Many DIS posters have mentioned problems with squinting in their pictures due to the brightness of the Florida sun. Disney CMs have recommended booking a session first thing in the morning or later in the evening as the sun is setting to minimize the squinting problem. Obviously, you should consider the needs of your family in booking your session, i.e. first thing in the morning for families with little ones.
What happens if it rains during my session?
The photographers will work with you if you encounter rain. Some DIS posters have said that they have taken all indoor shots or just took some in the rain. Others have said that they were able to reschedule their session for another day but that might not always be an option due to your vacation schedule and session availability?
What locations do they use at the resorts for the backgrounds?
There are a number of locations used at each resort. Look at the DIS Resort Photos board for several threads showing pictures at the various resorts. They will give you an idea of available backdrops.
What should we wear?
Many families choose to coordinate their outfits. Look at the DIS Resort Photos board for several threads showing pictures at the various resorts. They will give you an idea of what others have worn.
Other helpful Photopass info:
How does Photopass work?
A wonderful DIS poster named BradK has a great site explaining Photopass in detail. You can visit it here: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/
Where do I go to pre-order my Photopass CD for $99.95?
Go to this site to pre-order: http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx
How much will the Photopass CD cost if I choose to buy it at the Parks or after I get home?
The cost is $129.99 in the Parks or online. This increase from the previous cost of $124.99 went into effect on November 10, 2008, per a report from a DIS poster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A note about me: The reason I compiled this info into this FAQ is because it doesn’t seem to be all in one place anywhere else. You can dig through several threads here on the Resort Photos board and eventually get answers but it seemed so much easier to have it all in one place.
I’m by no means an expert on these photo sessions. I’ve garnered most of this info from reading the resort photo sessions threads for months in preparation for my own up-coming trip. If you have a question that is not covered in the above post, please ask and I or another helpful poster will do our best to answer. I will also update this thread as changes come about to the program.
I hope this info is helpful to you. Have a Disney day!
What is it?
Disney is offering Resort Photo Sessions with photos taken by Photopass photographers. The sessions are approximately 30 minutes and are taken at various locations throughout specific resorts.
How does it work?
Call to schedule your session. Show up that day and check in at the Photo Session Kiosk in your chosen resort. After you pay, your photographer will photograph your family at various locations throughout the resort. You can request specific locations, poses and groupings.
After your photos are taken, your photographer will escort you back to the Photo Session Kiosk where you will have the opportunity to review your photos. The photos from your session will be burned to a CD which you will be able to take with you.
**NOTE 1**: As of this date (October 3, 2008), DIS posters have reported that the Photopass Photographers are providing their resort photos on a Photopass card. If you purchase a Park Photopass CD (either as a pre-purchase or after your trip), you can add your resort photo session photos to the CD and edit, add enhancements, etc. as you would for your Park photos. This is not the official policy so there is no guarantee that you will receive the photo session photos on a card. You can’t edit or add enhancements to photos on the CD.
Are these professional photos?
The most common DIS poster statement regarding this question is no. Some of the Resort Photopass Photographers are professionals “moonlighting” for Disney. Some are CMs with an interest in photography. The professional nature of these photos will vary based upon who is taking them.
Can I request a specific photographer?
DIS posters who have tried this have been told no. If you have the name of a specific photographer, it’s worth asking if you can book them. The worst they can say is no.
How many pictures do you get?
This varies based upon the photographer. DIS posters have reported an average of 50 to 60 shots, some have had many more (like 100+) and others have received fewer (like 35.)
Which resorts are participating?
Grand Floridian
Polynesian
Beach Club
Saratoga Springs
Wilderness Lodge
Animal Kingdom Lodge
When can I book?
The Disney CMs who answer the phones have given two answers to this question. It is either 30 days before your arrive for your vacation or 30 days before the date of your photo session.
Who do I call to book?
(407) 934-4004
This is the number to the main photo line. You can then choose the option for the resort you want to book.
How much does it cost?
Unfortunately, there is not a 100% straightforward answer to this. Cost varies based upon whether or not you have pre-ordered the Park Photopass CD for $99.95.
Cost for Resort Photo Shoot if Park Photopass CD is pre-ordered = $75
Cost for Resort Photo Shoot if Park Photopass CD is NOT pre-ordered = $150
Regardless of Park Photopass pre-order, your Resort Photo Shoot pictures will be placed on a CD at the time of your Photo Shoot. You CAN NOT add enhancements to these photos. (See **NOTE 1** above.)
If you only want one CD of all pics from your trip, at the end of your vacation you can take your PARK Photopass cards to a Resort Photopass Kiosk and they will add all of your PARK photos to a CD with your Resort Photo Shoot pictures for an additional $50. You CAN NOT add enhancements to your Park Photos if you have this done. You do not need to order the Park Photopass CD in order to have this done.
**NOTE 2**: As of this date (November 6, 2008), it has been reported by various DIS posters that the Park Photopass pre-purchase confirmation still has the $25 Grand Floridian photo session offer. If you purchased before this date and your confirmation still has this verbiage, you can still get the $25 rate and they are honoring the price at all currently participating resorts.
I’m in a Photopass share or part of a Grand Gathering group. Can I use the pre-purchase confirmation to get the discount if my name is not on it?
So far, this has been allowed. The Disney CMs verify that you have a confirmation email for the pre-purchase. To date, no one has mentioned that they are matching names on the confirmation email to the name on the session.
I’m in a Grand Gathering group with 4 families. We want to do one session with all of us but we also want some individual pics of each family. Can they do that?
Your photo session is 30 minutes long. If you have 4 family groups with 4 members in each group, that is 16 people that will have to move from location to location. Moving, posing and photographing that many people can be very time-consuming so there is a chance that you won’t get all of the photos you want, especially if you are trying to change up the groups. So far, Disney has not limited the number of participants but this is definitely something to think about.
I want to book sessions at more than one resort. Do I pay $75 for both sessions (or $25 with pre-purchase confirmation)?
Officially, per a Disney CM, the answer to this question is no. Your first session is $75($25) and all subsequent sessions are $50.00. Remember, this is the official response.
Should I tip my photographer?
Officially, per a Disney Photopass CM, photographers are considered a non-tipped position. He also said that they don't expect tips at all but will take them if they are offered three times per Disney policy.
What time of the day should I book my session?
Many DIS posters have mentioned problems with squinting in their pictures due to the brightness of the Florida sun. Disney CMs have recommended booking a session first thing in the morning or later in the evening as the sun is setting to minimize the squinting problem. Obviously, you should consider the needs of your family in booking your session, i.e. first thing in the morning for families with little ones.
What happens if it rains during my session?
The photographers will work with you if you encounter rain. Some DIS posters have said that they have taken all indoor shots or just took some in the rain. Others have said that they were able to reschedule their session for another day but that might not always be an option due to your vacation schedule and session availability?
What locations do they use at the resorts for the backgrounds?
There are a number of locations used at each resort. Look at the DIS Resort Photos board for several threads showing pictures at the various resorts. They will give you an idea of available backdrops.
What should we wear?
Many families choose to coordinate their outfits. Look at the DIS Resort Photos board for several threads showing pictures at the various resorts. They will give you an idea of what others have worn.
Other helpful Photopass info:
How does Photopass work?
A wonderful DIS poster named BradK has a great site explaining Photopass in detail. You can visit it here: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/
Where do I go to pre-order my Photopass CD for $99.95?
Go to this site to pre-order: http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitcdplan.aspx
How much will the Photopass CD cost if I choose to buy it at the Parks or after I get home?
The cost is $129.99 in the Parks or online. This increase from the previous cost of $124.99 went into effect on November 10, 2008, per a report from a DIS poster.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A note about me: The reason I compiled this info into this FAQ is because it doesn’t seem to be all in one place anywhere else. You can dig through several threads here on the Resort Photos board and eventually get answers but it seemed so much easier to have it all in one place.
I’m by no means an expert on these photo sessions. I’ve garnered most of this info from reading the resort photo sessions threads for months in preparation for my own up-coming trip. If you have a question that is not covered in the above post, please ask and I or another helpful poster will do our best to answer. I will also update this thread as changes come about to the program.
I hope this info is helpful to you. Have a Disney day!