Photopass is a service Disney provides at their parks. These are cast member photographers trained to capture your vacation through photos with characters and Disneyland icons. Utilizing the Photopass service is fantastic because it ensures that everyone in your party is in your photos and that they will be of the highest quality. All your photos are kept on a photopass card, which you will receive with your first encounter with a Photopass Cast Member. You only need one card for your entire trip or, if you have an annual pass, you can use that card as a Photopass. The following are some helpful tips in order to make the most of your Disneyland experience.
1. Spot your Photopass Cast Members
They are scattered throughout the parks at character meet and greets as well as Icon locations (anywhere with a great photo background). For the 60th Anniversary of Disneyland there are also stations set up around Disneyland and Disney California Adventure where you can pose in wooden set-ups. Cast members can often be spotted easily thanks to their stylish khaki vests.
2. If you are visiting Disneyland for 1 or 2 days, get Photopass+ One Day
This is a product available through the Disneyland app. It costs $39 a day and for that price you get all of your photos taken by Photopass photographers, attraction photos (Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, California Screamin’, Radiator Springs Racers and Tower of Terror) and dining photos. If you have even four attractions / Photopass photos that you want to download, this product pays for itself. If you have a park hopper, all your photos from Disneyland and DIsney's California Adventure are available.
3. Be Silly
Photopass cast members take minimal variations of the same three or four shots all day. However, cast members are encouraged to think outside of the box. Cast members are recognized by the entertainment department for photo of the day, month and even year! With the exception of a couple of very busy locations, (entrance and sometimes in front of the castle) if you show a cast member your silly side or let them know you are open to creative shots, you will walk away with some amazing one-of-a-kind photos. Pro tip: look/ask for a roving photographer. They have a lot of freedom to move around and time to pose you.4. Be Creative
Cast members will also usually go out of their way to help if you have an image or pose in mind (provided it is a safe pose and inoffensive). Characters will also pose with you about 70 percent of the time if you have a certain idea. However, characters often will not pose in a style outside their personality though, so don’t ask Gaston to do a princess pose.5. Ask For Magic Shots
Magic shots are photos that cast members add a little magic to. A Photopass cast member will ask you to pose in a specific way (that may not make total sense in the moment) but when you look at your photos, some animated magic will show up in them. Disney Parks are always adding new magic shots so even if you are a frequent visitor, ask what the cast member can do for you. Magic shots are only available with Photopass cast members who are not taking photos with a character and certain magic shots can only be done in certain locations, so ask around.
6. Designate A Single Camera/Phone For Your Group
Photopass cast members are happy to take photos on your camera/phone for you. However, the harsh truth is, they are responsible for their equipment first, your device second. So make things easier on your Photopass cast members by designating one phone/camera as “the one” and have that person text/email/Snapchat the photos to everyone in the group. It is a lot easier (and safer for your phone) for a cast member to hold their equipment and one phone than their equipment and everyone in your party’s phones.
7. Andy Isn’t Coming
There is a popular internet rumor that if you yell, “Andy’s coming” within earshot of a Toy Story character that they will drop to the ground and pretend to be just a regular toy. This is 100 percent not true. If you do this, you will likely get a very exasperated reply from a cast member reminding you that Andy is in college and the toys belong to Bonnie now.8. Know What NOT To Do
There are a lot of no-nos when taking photos with cast members. Dabbing and other “squad poses” are not allowed, and everyone’s feet must be on the ground (with exception for children who are being held). Jumping is fine using your camera but not using Photopass cameras. Selfie sticks are not allowed in the parks, no signs, etc.
9. Try it out!
When taking a photo with a Photopass cast member, you are under no obligation to purchase the photos. You have 45 days to make that decision so even after your vacation is over, you still have weeks to make up your mind if they are worth having. You can buy a single photo or, using the aforementioned Photopass+, all the photos from your trip!
