Just some "INFO" for many of the posts above.
The current Black Friday sale is the best that I have ever seen and the same sale I used last September. I got 5 days for $60. This was important to me because I wasn't going to the parks on consecutive days but their photo packages are for consecutive days - so I needed something to stretch through my park experience. I was at the parks for 2 full days - did everything I wanted to do - and got 32 photos on my Universal photo pass card. Because I am a scrapbooker and buy most ride photos, this was a deal and a savings for me. There were rides I skipped and character encounters I didn't do so you could easily double the number of photos you get for your $60.
Yes, we all wish Universal would include more photographers around the park. It ain't Disney. But for this price, what you do get is worth it.
When you buy it (even at Black Friday prices) it is good until you activate it at the parks (it may be good for a year but when i called, they didn't give me an expire date). When you enter you go to the Photo key locations and activate it - they give you a card that you present to all photographers and at the exit of the ride photos. Then, on your last day (or whenever you want) you go back to one of the photo key shops and choose your prints (you get some free prints with your package - mine were 5x7, 8x10 and a poster size print!). All the rest of your shots are available on line to download - which you do when you get home (there is a time limit but it's plenty of time to do it) Once you download the whole batch, they are yours - to print, to share on line, whatever.
I recommend this if:
1. You ever buy ride photos
2. You stand in line for character interaction photos
3. You print or share your photos.
BUT - there are many photos ops where you need your own camera. Many character encounters where there is no Universal photographer available. Or some where the universal person with the character will take your picture with your camera but they don't have a Universal camera.
I printed one of the shots (the Gringotts Bank ride photo) in 4x6, 5x7 and 8x10 to see if there was any difference in the quality of the resolution. I saw no difference and no problem with the 8x10.
And if you choose not to buy it, all the photo ops are available with your own camera except for the ride photos which you would have to buy anyway.
So, if you are a photo hound, the Black Friday deal is the best deal you'll encounter. If you expect Disney quantity and quality, forget it!