Family Portraits On Board Disney Cruise Line

While I have written about getting your family portraits taken at the Walt Disney World Resort using Disney's Photopass service, I haven't mentioned that almost the same service is available aboard the Disney ships. (Click here to read more about getting your family portrait taken at the Walt Disney World Resort.)

On our first cruise, we avoided the photographers. We weren't sure how the process worked and we didn't want the hassle or expense of photos. Needless to say, we came home with a handful of photos we had taken with all of us.

On our second Disney Cruise, we planned for a photo purchase and therefore, we had more photos taken. On the ships, you can have as many photos taken as you like by the ship photographers without charge. The cost comes in purchasing photos. Rather than purchase individual photos on our second cruise, I chose a package. So many 8 X 10's and so many 6 X 8's. I was given a punch card to be punched whenever I picked a photo that matched the size. (Different photos are made into different sizes--example character photos are typically produced as 6 X 8's.) If I picked out a photo early in the cruise and changed my mind later, I could return that photo and trade for another. I could even upgrade my package, which I did. The cast members at Shutters, the photo shop on board, were always very helpful. Know that you can purchase single photos either by themselves or in addition to a package.

I came home from our second cruise with a set of pictures which I scanned and with an on-line copyright release, made a few prints. Go to Platinum Castaway Club to find the on-line Shutters Photo release to take to your local photo producer.

Fast forward 18 months to our third Disney Cruise. Once again, I had planned on purchasing photos, but this time the system had changed. Now the packages were based on points. You purchased a certain amount of points and then 8 x 10's were so many points and 6 X 8's were so many points and your card was punched based on how many points you were using to get your photos. The point system allowed for more flexibility. You could have all of one size if you wanted, rather than a certain amount of photos of various sizes. Again, individual photos could be purchased either by themselves or in addition to a package. And, upgrades to your packages--meaning more points--were available.

Another noted change was that the photographers scanned your room key or Key to The World Card when taking your photo, as a new service was offered--a photo CD--and the photos were categorized by your stateroom number. Now, while this service sounds a bit like Disney's Photopass Service, there were remarkable differences. (Click here to read more about Disney's Photopass Service.

A major difference in the photo CD on board was the cost. The CD was $399--much more expensive than the largest photo package and significantly more expensive than the Photopass CD from the parks which lists at $149, but can be purchased for $99 if a pre-purchase discount is available.

Another difference is that you are not able to view your photos on-line when you get home, which you can do with Photopass. You could, however, view your photos at various photo kiosks around the ship after scanning your stateroom key.

Also, any creative or decorative borders added to the photos on board, were not included on the CD. The photos were included, but they came without the borders.

I guess the only plus would be that the copyright release would be included with the CD.

We came home with a set of photos that I scanned and had some prints made using the on-line copyright release.

Would I ever buy the CD on the ship? It depends. If I were traveling with a large group or large family and we were able to combine our photos on a CD and share the cost, then it may be worth it.

On our last trip to Walt Disney World, we were visiting with a "suited" cast member (meaning management) at Studios. His name was John and he was from Des Moines, which was another reason we started a conversation. Come to find out, John was in charge of Photopass. I'm not sure if he is in charge at Studios or beyond, but anyway, we told him we wanted to see Photopass on the ships. He said that Photopass is already a part of Adventures By Disney. I replied, "I know," pointing to my Adventures By Disney pin. He did indicate that they were trying to get Photopass on the ships. Hopefully, by our next cruise.

Anyway, the point of this is that if you would like to get your family portrait taken on board--go for it. All of the photos in this post were taken on board. Remember, being photographed is free! My advice, have as many photos taken as you can on a variety of backgrounds. No appointments are needed. The backgrounds and photographers are typically in the lobby atrium around dinner time and you just go to the background that you like, hand them your stateroom key, and smile! Most likely you are already "dressed" for dinner. Later pick out your best pictures later when they are displayed at Shutters--usually later that night or the next day.

Finding Winnie the Pooh Characters

You are at the most magical place on earth and you want to meet some of the most huggable and friendly characters. . . the Winnie the Pooh characters featuring Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, and of course, Pooh. Well you are in the right place, as there are several places you can find the characters from Winnie the Pooh.

One location to consider for guaranteed face time with the characters is at breakfast at 1900 Park Fair at the Grand Floridian. Now, the characters rotate, but typically, at least two of the Pooh characters are on hand to say good morning. 1900 Park Fair is located on the ground floor of the main building at the Grand Floridian. If you are taking the monorail, enter into the grand lobby--1900 Park Fair is to the left, just down one floor. Enjoy the lobby and the grand staircase. Imagine being a Victorian bride being photographed on the grand staircase. . . Oh, it is so easy for me to digress!

For even more guaranteed face time with the characters, make an advanced dining reservation for the Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily via buffet, all four characters are in residence and they come right to your table. Click here to read more about dining at the Crystal Palace.

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While the Pooh characters can also be found at the train station in Toontown in the Magic Kingdom, if the weather outside is . . . "blustery," then check out Exposition Hall just inside the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. That's where we saw Tigger and Pooh in the photo above.

If you are in EPCOT's World Showcase, what pavilion do you think you might find Pooh and friends? You're right, the United Kingdom Pavilion. It makes sense as A.A. Milne was from Great Britain. Just head into the store and keep going to the back and then hang a right for the cozy meet and greet. Click here to read more about the United Kingdom Pavilion.

And, where else might you find these lovable ANIMALS? Animal Kingdom, of course. OK, finding this meet and greet can be a bit tricky, but I'll do my best. Make your way to Dinoland. Just before you head under the "bridge" which is the dinosaur tail, and just across from the Flame Tree Barbecue is a sign that says "Character Landing" on the right. Check the hours on the sign and then head down the trail. Typically, all 4 characters are in residence with PHOTOPASS Photographers for most or all of the characters. Click here to read more abut Disney's Photopass service. Again, since this meet and greet location can be difficult to spot or is relatively unknown (meaning you just can't run into the characters when walking by) the lines are typically short and/or move quickly.

And, last but not least would be just outside Pooh's Playful Spot in the Magic Kingdom, which is now closed due to the Fantasyland expansion. The above photo was taken at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party when even the characters dress up in costumes. That concept sort of boggles the mind. Click here to read more about Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.

So, grab your camera, smile, and get ready for some great character hugs from Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and Pooh!

Souvenirs

I wore a Mickey necklace to work today. Not an "in your face" Mickey necklace, just a single, elongated strand of gemstones of various shapes and colors with a surprise of some of the gemstones being in the shape of Mickey's head. Subtle, and I hope, stylish. I have another Mickey necklace, too, and a watch. . . All of this, along with an e-mail from a family excitedly planning their first Disney vacation, got me thinking about souvenirs. You can click here to read about what we collect each trip. But now, I'm talking about the items that speak to you, that say bring me home. It is more of a sixth sense shopping experience rather than a "I have to remember to buy _______(fill in the blank) experience."



The more I thought about this idea of souvenirs, it dawned on me that many, dare I say almost all, of our souvenirs are items we would use on a regular basis back at home. . . like a necklace. . . and that the use of those items bring us a bit of Disney magic at home. Like for instance my black gloves with Mickey on them. I wear them daily during the winter and they make me smile. Or, how about our ice cream scoop. I just scooped up a dish of ice cream for the boy yesterday using our Mickey ice cream scoop and again, it made me smile. We have Mickey measuring cups, a few drink glasses--not a set or anything--just random cups, picture frames, throws for the bed or couch, music CD from the parks, a Mickey waffle maker (that was a gift!), and Mickey silverware.


Someone asked me once if our house was all Disney. The answer is no, our house is not all Disney. That would be like having a house that is all football or all cats or all gardening or all whatever the hobby the inhabitants enjoy. I don't know anyone whose house is "all" something. Do you? But I can say that we have many Disney touches as mentioned above.


So back to souvenirs. The point that I want to make is this: Disney has lots of stuff to purchase and bring home. I would say those items are either things to use while you are on vacation or things to enjoy once you get home. We, as a family, tend to go for the stuff that we can use and enjoy while at home to bring us more magic after our Disney vacation is over or to help us build anticipation for our next Disney vacation. Take a week ago Sunday for example. It was just after eating Mickey waffles using our Mickey silverware that I dialed 1-407-WDW-DINE to make our dining reservations for our next trip. While making the reservations alone would have built anticipation and excitement, we celebrated the occasion with Mickey waffles for breakfast. Now, if I just hadn't worn out my Mickey slippers!


Whatever your dream and desire to bring home from Disney, we hope it will be magical and bring you smiles and memories!




P.S. The above photo is one I left out of the "3 Characters of More Challenge" post. Click here to read more.