I love Disney’s Photopass Service. I think that it is totally worth the money if you utilize it correctly and plan ahead. Our first few trips, we didn’t use photopass and I regret that because we have so few pictures of our whole family. The photographers will take pictures with your camera, but their photos will be better!

To get the most bang for your buck, stop at every photographer you see in all the parks. Let’s be honest, you can’t have too many pictures of your family in front of the castle! There are photgraphers in every park. Here is a map and some tips of all the photopass photographers. Disney Photopass Map

The photographers can and will add special effects to your pictures. Your pictures could have Tinkerbell sitting in your hand, Stitch popping out of the pavement, you holding balloons or a baby Simba. Some photographers will get creative and pose your group. One of the cutest we have ever had was Mickey walking the girls over to see Minnie in Animal Kingdom.

It is not widely advertised, but you can prepay for a photopass CD before your trip. With this offer you can purchase the photo CD with all your photopass pictures (including ones you have altered or embellished) for $119.95. The post trip cost is $169.95, so you save $50 and it is another thing you have paid for before you take your trip. With the CD, you can print your pictures, upload to shutterfly or snapfish, and save them to your computer.

The new Disney photopass + preorder deal is $149.00, but includes more than the previous preorder CD. If you decide on this photo package, you will be paying $199.95 in the parks. You must order 14 days before your trip to receive the package with a voucher for a Disney Photopass+ card that you exchange upon your arrival at the resort. You get the Disney Photo Gallery CD with 400 stock photos, a code to order the PhotoCD with all of your photopass photos, print packages at select dining locations and digital photos from select attractions. These last two are the ones that would make the difference for me between the CD and the Photopass+.

You can get digital copies (14.95 each when purchased separately) of your ride photos at the following: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock’n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest & Dinosaur.

You get the print packages (29.95 at most locations) at the following dining experiences: 1900 Park Fare, ‘Ohana, Spirit of Aloha, Chef Mickey’s, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Tusker House, Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue & Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.

If you are traveling with others, you can put all your photopass cards on the same account and share the CD. I have done this with my family many times and it brings the cost down for everyone. Everyone takes a picture of their photopass number with their phone and texts it to me. I add it to the account right away and have a copy in case they lose thier card. By sharing the CD, I have gotten CDs with over 300 pictures.