Originally Posted By ssWEDguy Maybe it's just me -- but does anyone else feel like you're running some sort of photographer gauntlet when visiting Disney parks lately? You just get inside the turnstiles, and there's several photographers who want to take your picture. Round the corner into Town Square, and there are more, with Mickey, Minnie and the others. Proceeding up Main Street there seems to be a photographer every 50 feet or so. And then there's another cluster up at the castle hub. Toontown seems to be a #1 photo opportunity all around, but you decide to go there yourself for photos. On the "public" Disney streets, you have to go past photographers whether or not you're interested. Now they're not pushy, and they do provide an excellent service. They're very personable, and even are willing to take your picture with YOUR camera if you ask. But they just seem to be everywhere. Is this just me? (To be fair -- everyone else's parks do the same thing. Disney at least is not aggressive about it.)
Originally Posted By lesherb Now that Disney has implemented the photo pass system, I gladly pose for a picture when asked. It doesn't hurt and we can look at the photos online. This way, we don't have to make an instantaneous decision at the park on whether or not we want the picture with my red-eye or my husband's cowlick!
Originally Posted By vbdad55 My feelings exactly-- I had about 8 cards last time and viewed all pics on line . They happened to catch a great one at Star Wars Weekends we bought and we always get on eeach visit on Main Street with the Castle behind ( watching us age year to year) - So they don;t bother me at all
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy I have found the PhotoPass service to be a quite attractive thing. Especially the internet accessibility feature that lets you see your photos even after you've gone home. There are rumors of new, digitally based photo products that will make this photo service even more popular.
Originally Posted By danyoung I guess a 49 year old chubby bearded balding guy isn't in the demographic for photos, cuz they never bother me . . .
Originally Posted By Blackie Pueblo They kind of bother me cause there are so many of them. I guess it's neat that you can check them out online, but I usually can't afford to buy them. I usually just take my own pics. I usually tell them, no thanks we just got one, or we got one yesterday thanks. movie release dates, news, and indpendent short films at: <a href="http://www.newlineagefilms.com" target="_blank">http://www.newlineagefilms.com</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <There are rumors of new, digitally based photo products that will make this photo service even more popular.< This service is easy to use-- and others ( Like the Chicago Cubs ) use it also -- then you go home --look at the pix ( or have others sign in to look at) and order pix - mousepads - t shirts etc
Originally Posted By mickhyperion >>"I guess a 49 year old chubby bearded balding guy isn't in the demographic for photos, cuz they never bother me . . ."<< I'm a middle aged solo male visitor myself and I have never been approached by the photographers. I would think people traveling solo would be a great market for the PhotoPass because they could sell it to people by saying "Look, there's no one else with you to snap a picture of you so the only way you'll get a photo of yourself here having fun is with PhotoPass." I might even try it next time.
Originally Posted By mickeymeg Are they using the photo pass system at Disneyland now too ? or just at Walt Disney World ? If so for how long have they been using it ? We had pictures taken July 17 and I asked about viewing them online, but was told I still need to view and purchace them in the park. so I am just curious, Thanks ºoºMeg
Originally Posted By Labuda They started PhotoPass at WDW back in May. At DL, unless it's changed since July, it's still the old-fashioned way.
Originally Posted By danyoung >...they could sell it to people by saying "Look, there's no one else with you to snap a picture of you so the only way you'll get a photo of yourself here having fun is with PhotoPass."< I've thought this many times as I was being ignored. I've even thought "hey, if they ask me, I'm gonna go ahead and take the pic". But not once have they done so. Sure, I could ask, but I never feel that strong a need to get the pic taken. Still, seems like a revenue source that they're ignoring, us chubby bearded bald single guys!
Originally Posted By Jim_n_Ruth Still, seems like a revenue source that they're ignoring, us chubby bearded bald single guys! That was GREAT!
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> Are they using the photo pass system at Disneyland now too << The PhotoPass online system is only at WDW. Disneyland still uses the straight-to-print method. The word is that as it proves itself at WDW, it could roll out to DL and even DLP.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I've read about a system that will have permanent cameras mounted strategically throughout the park. A guest would sign up at the front gate and get some kind of digital chip. As you walk through the park the cameras would pick up a signal from your chip and snap your picture as you go buy. Basically, you would have an unstaged memory book of your trip which you could look at online when you got home and buy pictures. Pretty interesting idea. I, too, don't mind because there is no commitement to buy the pictures.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> permanent cameras mounted strategically throughout the park. << I've heard about this as well. Disney is always pushing technology for new opportunities. But I also heard that in trials that the "saleable" image quality is not very good. Most totally unstaged pictures turn out to be quite uninteresting. As much as they'd like to remove the cost of a human from the picture-taking loop, it turns out that it really takes a human to decide what a good picture is.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper Maybe they need a "trigger" that you carry around with you so that you could stage your own picture and then snap it. If they can take a picture of a moving rollercoaster digitially and have it come out ok I don't know why they'd have trouble with a moving group of people.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy It sounds like it should be doable, doesn't it? The technology is there... The issue is that most people aren't naturally artistically inclined, and try as they might don't compose a good picture, even when they have the time to set it up. (I'm not bashing people here -- most people could learn to do it better -- it's just that they haven't gotten enough practice at it) It's even hard for a lot of people (myself included) to simply smile convincingly on queue. A human photographer, talking away while photographing, has a better chance of getting people to pose in a comfortable way. Or to smile for real. Usually it's by getting them to giggle at something they said, instead of the command to "Okay, smile now!" When you get your picture automatically taken on attractions, it's at a point in the ride where you're taken by surprise. So the image on your face is a true, emotional response. It would be hard to do otherwise. Even so, I think most automatic pictures still aren't that good. Though they still tend to be better than what most people would shoot themselves if they were trying. If you put 10 automatic pictures on a table, and 10 pictures taken by a human photographer on the same table, even the untrained eye will pick more of the one's taken by a human as being "more attractive." Even if they can't say why. They just are. I'm sure the search for an automated solution with a higher success rate continues.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper The one thing I like about this idea is that you don't have to carry your own camera around. That is always cumbersome for me and I worry more about taking pictures/protecting the camera than just enjoying the experience.
Originally Posted By itsme I dont mind it at all, They are not pushy about it. Some of the people taking the pixs are aspiring photographers that i have enjoyed a good conversation with over equipment and the like, some you can tell just are doing it for a job. When there in May i did not find one that would not take one with my camera afterwards. I had my Canon 20d which is a nicer camera then the Nikons they use, and quite a few of them asked me to preview the shot they took and if it was good enough. So while yes the park is doing it for money, they are also wiling to help the guests enjoy/remember the trip even if it means using your camera to get a better pic then what they are selling.
