PhotoPass is a service offered by Disney that allows you to pay a one-off price for all of the photos you have taken during your trip. This includes both ride photos and photos taken by PhotoPass photographers at various locations around the parks. It’s a great way to capture those magical moments on your holiday and means the whole family can be in pictures together. PhotoPass is offered at all of the Disney parks around the world. However it is implemented slightly differently depending on which park you are in . In this post we are going to look at the PhotoPass service offered at Disneyland Paris.
How does it work?
PhotoPass+ at Disneyland Paris is really simple to use. When you purchase it you are given a PhotoPass card in a lanyard along with two small key fob cards. The first thing you need to do is download the Disneyland Paris PhotoPass app on your smart phone or tablet. When you first open the app you will be asked to create an account. You will then need to enter the code from the back of your PhotoPass card. Once this is done you are ready to start using PhotoPass! If a photographer is taking your photo you simply hand over your card for them to scan. If you are trying to add a ride photo to your account there are two options:
Add the picture yourself on the app. You will either scan the QR code on the screen with your photo OR manually enter the number also showing on screen with your photo
Queue up at the PhotoPass kiosk outside the ride and tell the cast member the number on your photo. They will then scan your card.
Photos will be sent to the app, giving you instant access to HD photos. You can now save them onto your device for use on social media. Or have them printed once you’re home for a fraction of the cost it would be to purchase prints while you’re there!
How much does it cost?
Buying PhotoPass+ at the park is going to set you back €74.99. For this price you get an unlimited amount of photos taken in the park, valid for 10 days from first use. Photos will be available on the app to view and download for 1 year from first use – so plenty of time to save your images. There is also an annual PhotoPass+ exclusively for Disneyland Paris annual pass holders. Magic Flex pass holders can get this for €65 and Magic Plus pass holders are able to purchase it for €59. Those who have an Infinity annual pass get the annual PhotoPass+ for free.
Where can you buy it?
If you book your trip through a travel agent you can usually add this on as an ‘added extra’… occasionally it may even be offered for free as part of your package, so don’t forget to ask your agent! It is generally around £10 cheaper to purchase in advance, so if you are sure you are going to want PhotoPass+ I would buy it beforehand. But failing that it can be purchased throughout the park in almost any shop and from your hotel (if you’re staying on property!)
Is It worth It?
I feel like there is no definitive answer for this and it’s really comes down to the individual and what your needs are. If you’re the type of person who lives for the character meets and does them at every single opportunity then yes. The photos are great and there are plenty of meet & greets going on around the park so you can totally get your moneys worth. But if meeting characters isn’t your thing? Then no. I can’t recommend this and i’ll explain why. Taking character meet out, you have two opportunities to take advantage of PhotoPass+: photographers and ride photos.
Now if you have ever been to Walt Disney World, you will know you’re never far from a PhotoPass photographer in the park. Ready to snap you infront of the many photo opportunities dotted around the place. This is not the case in Paris… in fact last year we held annual passes for Disneyland Paris and purchased the annual PhotoPass. In this time we visited the park 5 or 6 times, and not once did we see a photographer. So if you want a picture infront of the castle you’d better get the selfie cam out, or ask another guest to take your photo!
Which rides offer PhotoPass+?
Okay.. there are no PhotoPass photographers around the park, no big deal right? You’re a selfie kind of guy anyway and besides, you’re only in this for the ride photos! Disneyland Paris does have a few rides that include a photo mid ride. These are: – Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain – Pirates Of The Caribbean – Big Thunder Mountain – Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast – The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror
While there are some great opportunities for ride photos there is one major draw back with these: the quality. Disney says the photographs here are HD photos. Whereas in Walt Disney World this is absolutely the case, in Paris we have always found the quality is somewhat lacking.
Summary
To sum it up, I think for most people Disneyland Paris PhotoPass+ is not worth the money. Unless you are planning on meeting a lot of characters and want good quality photos of the interactions, there just aren’t enough photo opportunities to justify the cost. Having experienced it we definitely wouldn’t purchase it again until some improvements are made and more photo locations added. To find out more about Disneylandland Paris PhotoPass visit https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/guest-services/photopass-service/.
Have you used the PhotoPass+ service at Disneyland Paris? Let us know your thoughts on it!
See you real soon,
Josh & Becky
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