PhotoPass

Friday Five: 5 Tips for Using Memory Maker & PhotoPass+ at WDW

/ lifeinears / Leave a comment

When I go on vacation, I don’t purchase souvenirs…my souvenirs are the pictures that I take and use to create a scrapbook album of our vacation.  Since I am usually the one in control of the camera (or the one who lugs it around the entire trip) there are very few photos of me on our trips.  Disney puts me in the pictures with their Memory Maker product and PhotoPass+ services.  Here are 5 tips for making the most out of this product & service…

????????????????????????????????????
  1. Purchase Before Your Trip

If you purchase your Memory Maker at least 3 days prior to your departure, you will save enough for 4 Mickey Bars ($20).  I don’t know about you but I like the idea of saving money at Walt Disney World.  Also, you only need 1 Memory Maker for your travel party, so if you are traveling with a large group, split the cost.

I can easily add this onto your vacation package when you book your Walt Disney World Vacation through me.  This way it is part of your payments and is paid in full prior to your trip.

????????????????????????????????????
  1. Make Sure your Memory Maker is Linked

If you want Memory Maker to work with your Magic Bands, you need to make sure that it is linked in your My Disney Experience reservations.  Also check to make sure that everyone who is using it is on your friends and family list in My Disney Experience and their reservations are linked to your account.

When you book your Walt Disney World Vacation through me, I will make sure that Memory Maker is linked prior to your departure as well as you family and friends are also linked that you are traveling with so you don’t miss any pictures!

  1. Use as Much as Possible

Pictures really are the best souvenir there is and who wouldn’t want to come home with hundreds of photos of their vacation and actually be in them?  If you see a PhotoPass Photographer, take the few moments to stop and take both serious and goofy photos.  No matter how many pictures you take, the price is still the same.  Get your money’s worth!  If you are stumped for ideas how to pose, ask your PhotoPass Photographer, they usually have great ideas and suggestions.

  1. Ask for Magical Shots

After you take a few serious or goofy photos, ask the PhotoPass photographers what Magical shots they have.  There are many different shots throughout all of the parks including adding props, and funny poses where characters will be inserted into your photograph.

????????????????????????????????????
????????????????????????????????????
  1. Use a Back Up Camera

If there are really important pictures that you want to make sure you have, use a backup camera or phone camera, your PhotoPass Photographer will be happy to snap a few extra pictures with your device.  Trust me, nothing feels much worse than your pictures being lost in cyber-space.  This happened for me with my son when he met his hero, Lightning McQueen.  I still cry thinking I don’t have those pictures.

For me as a scrapbooker, pictures capture the moment and Memory Maker along with the PhotoPass+ services helps me to relive those memories long after our trip is over and is certainly worth the cost.

Tammie’s Take Thursday:  Expedition Everest Challenge

/ lifeinears / Leave a comment

 

????????????????????????????????????

One of the most popular and thrilling attractions at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is Expedition Everest located in “Asia”.  Expedition Everest takes riders on a trek from a base camp in Tibet to the top of the “forbidden mountain,” where riders encounter the allusive creature called the Yeti.

Expedition Everest, or EE, is a favorite of mine and each trip I challenge whoever is with me to my EE Challenge.  There is only 1 rule, “How Many Times Can you Ride BACK TO BACK before you have to tap out?”  My record is 6 times, set back in November of this year.  Did I happen to mention, that this is a high speed steel roller coaster and I am pushing the 50 year old birthday soon (my stomach is not what it used to be)?  Trust me EE has multiple surprises and thrills that only Disney can provide.

Before I go into how it is possible to ride 6 times in a row without standing in line the entire day, let me tell you that I LOVE to stand in line for this ride because the theming is INCREDIBLE.  The queue for EE will keep you engaged the entire wait time.  While in line you will get to look at artifacts brought back from Nepal by Disney Imagineers while in the planning stages of this attraction.  There are tons of things to see and read that are fascinating, and really make you feel like you are at as base camp high in the Himalayan’s and that just maybe the Yeti is real.  Make sure at least one of your rides in the challenge is through the queue, and don’t hold the line up because you are reading.

images

If possible try to score seats in the first car. I am not going to spoil the ride for a first time rider, but make sure you take a look around when you reach the top of the mountain…the view is incredible and trust me you have a few moments.  Make sure you (and your stomach) are prepared for what is next, because you won’t know if you are coming or going.

What’s my secret to riding 6 times in a row without standing in line all day?  My #1 tip is to make sure you are at “Rope Drop,” opening time of Animal Kingdom and head directly to EE.  You can ride 2-3 times without long waits in line, usually by the 3rd time the wait is 20 minutes.

single

Once the crowd builds, locate the single rider line entrance, between the entrance and exit of the ride near the gift shop.  Your wait will be just a few minutes…and if you really want a challenge go through the regular line 1 time and then hit up the single rider line until your stomach has had enough.  Warning, you will be separated from your challenge group, don’t argue with the Cast Members…this is the SINGLE RIDER LINE.  For your final ride, schedule your FASTPASS+ selection around 10:30 am.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

One of my favorite things during the challenge to do is ham it up for the camera.  If you purchased Memory Maker and taking advantage of PhotoPass+ services you can document each ride.  The ride camera is located just as you escape the Yeti towards the end of the ride, the coaster will take you back outside the mountain.  Just as you come out the mountain and take the big drop, the camera will be to your right.  Have fun with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opWNofuWPnc&feature=youtu.be

WARNING:  IGNORE THE INCESSIVE GUM CHEWING and NO HUGE SPOILERS!

phm 042

 

And if you are even more daring, document your ride with your camera on video as well as taking a few selfies of your own while on the ride…after several rides you know when you can do this.

THROW

When you are all finished make sure you find the PhotoPass Photographer in front of EE and take an after photo throwing up how many rides with your fingers!

When you’re finished, or rather your stomach is finished with the challenge…there are Mickey Bars next door or if you need to celebrate with a more celebratory drink, try the Triple Yeti Blast (mix of Mango, Lime & Strawberry frozen margaritas) at Warung Outpost near EE.

Are you up for the challenge?  If you are, post your pictures and results on my Facebook Page or here in the comments! Let me know if you were able to escape the Yeti.