Did you miss me? I know I’ve been about on Instagram and twitter, but I have had a little blogging break whilst I spent some r&r time with the family. Well, we are now back from a fantastic family holiday in Orlando, Florida. I kinda wish this was a vlog, so that you could see the smile that seems to be permanently on my face since we’ve been back. I’m battling serious jetlag, but this is a small price to pay for the amazing adventures we’ve just been on.
We have been to Walt Disney World in Florida before, in fact this is our sixth visit as a family (can you tell we love it?) but this is the first after a three-year break. As we have been so many times and each of those times visiting the six parks of Walt Disney World (WDW) I thought I would write a series of blog posts. Hopefully this will give you a little insight on all things Disney in Florida, including what my recommendations are in terms of planning and tips whilst you are there. I know sometimes planning a trip to WDW can feel daunting, but honestly with a just a small amount of planning (and a few hints and tips) it’s the kind of holiday you will remember forever, and one you will definitely want to repeat!
First up I wanted to let you into what I feel is a bit of a secret that people don’t realise in the UK I think. If you purchase a WDW adult Ultimate ticket in the UK and Ireland, it includes Memory Maker, which is a great saving as it normally costs $169 on the gate. If you get a code when you purchase your tickets, USE IT!
What’s Memory Maker I hear you ask? Well, when you go around all of the theme and water parks (including Disney Springs) you will notice Disney Photographers. They are easy to spot, as they all wear the same uniform. They are there to take and record all of those magical moments you have. So simply ask them to take your photograph. Honestly, don’t feel embarrassed, that’s what they do every day. You can find them in iconic places throughout the parks, at experiences and when you meet the characters during your stay. Also capturing special moments, like when Miss A met a few of her absolute favourite characters – Tinkerbell and Minnie Mouse.
It’s so simple to do, you simply tap your magic band on the device each photographer has. The images are then transferred to your My Disney Experience account, so you can edit, download them and share them with family and friends, for FREE. If you are on a ride, just look out for the mickey head symbol, and hold your band against that to record both images and animation depending on the ride.
I don’t know about you, but I am hardly ever in photographs, as I’m the one who takes them, and sometimes I don’t want to take a bulky camera around with me, so just use my phone, and then I’m worried my battery will go flat. The beauty of Memory Maker is that the photographers are dotted around, in all of your favourite and iconic places to record the magic for you.
Not just images though, there are videos :
As well as special ‘Magic Shots’:
Once home I’ve now downloaded over 400 photographs, plus lots of mini videos. Candid images and memories that I simply couldn’t have captured myself. How great is that! So even if you purchase it at the gate, it works out great value for money, I think.
I have a few Memory Maker tips for you, to help you get the most out of it.
First I would make sure to download the My Disney Experience app. Using the app you can find out where all of the photo opportunities are, on the handy map. Its simple to read, and tells you where the photographer, ride and character experiences are throughout the parks are. You can view the images almost immediately on the app too, as well as download and share. It’s very clever technology.
If you have a photograph in mind, just ask! I wanted to get one of my girls in front of the castle in Magic Kingdom, wearing their mouse ears. Even though I tried to take it myself, I’d not managed to quite get it. So I asked one of the photographers, and he was able to get it straight off the bat.
Adding special digital animation, sometimes even giving you props, these photographs are professional quality and best of all great fun! Keep in mind when you are in the parks they are unlimited too. All the photos you have taken are magically stored in your online account, ready for you to download when you get home, So no need to worry about your storage running out.
They are even in the water parks, where you really don’t want to have to bring a camera.
Here is a top tip not many people know. If you head to Epcot there is also a photobooth that you can use Memory Maker with too. It’s in the shop as you leave Figment’s Journey through Imagination at Epcot.
I love how WDW and Memory Maker is for everyone, including my teenage daughter, who was so happy to pose on photographs. I even managed to have a couple of photographs of us on our own, which is very rare and totally special.
Well I hope that helped and de-mythed Memory Maker a little for you. If you do have any questions please let me know in the comments, as I will be answering them at the end of this series, and it would be great to include as many of my readers questions as possible.
This post is in partnership with Walt Disney World. All opinions here are my own
Here are the posts in the series so far :
Grown ups guide to packing for Disney
Making Memories that last forever at Walt Disney World : Memory Maker
Our favourite places to eat in each of the park.
7 things you need to know before your next trip to Walt Disney World Florida
oh your pics are so lovely. I would love to get my family there one day really does look magic.
Hi Becky, truly magical! Let me know if you have any planning Q’s.
Oh wow! ‘Well Jell’ 😉
I’m really delighted you had a great time and the kids had a blast. Great photos!
You would loved it I’m sure!
I think you had a wonderful time there. Beautiful pictures of a happy family . Walt Disney World park that deserves to be visited.
Thanks for the kind comment.
OK, so I had NO idea about Memory Maker, even though I’m currently planning a trip there so THANK YOU. It looks amazing. That video of you on Thunder Mountain (is it Thunder Mountain? Looks like it) is ace! Going to go and read up more on Memory Maker now….
So many cool little videos we’ve collected. It’s the seven dwarves mine train Alison, definitely one to fast pass
Aw lovely, lovely photos Amanda – what a fab holiday for you all. xx
It looks wonderful – lovely photographs. xx
Wow, how cool is Memory Maker?! I went to WDW when I was 14 and it wasn’t as high-tech then, I can’t wait to take my two and we’ll definitely follow your advice x
Thanks Alice, more to come soon!
We’ve got the UK package but don’t seem to have the code for memory maker to link to our account. Do you know if that is something that they will do at our hotel or do we need to get one from our travel agent? Thanks for any help.
Belinda.
Fabulous photos. We’re going for our 2nd trip next August but our first time with memory maker. For the ride videos does each member of the family have to tap their band on the mickey head or just one? Thanks
Me and my 2 children (6&9) fly out to Disneyworld Florida on Sunday and we have everything planned on my disney experience i think it is a fantastic tool. And can’t wait to use our magic bands and memory maker and so happy the photos are such good quality
It looks like you all had a fantastic time, Amanda! I’d love to take our family over there sometime in the future, so this information about Memory Maker is really good to know! A great tip to remember 🙂
You seem Disney mad like us , we are also from the UK and in November it will our 5th visit in 4 years
People that haven’t been just don’t get it and look at us funny when all we talk about is Disney
All 3 of us have differnt collections from the parks
Me Baseball
Our 51/2 year old collects vinyl mation amongst lots of other things and the wife as a love for Pandora charms
I love the fact that I’m a 36 year old male and I get to be a kid again
Along with going to the parks we love to go to the special events and mickey’s very merry Christmas party being our favourite (can’t wait until November the 2nd so we get to feel the magic again
Especiallyas we get the free Memory Maker this year
Great blog and lovely to find another Disney mad family
We’re going on the 1st November, and we’re getting married on the 5th! It’s my 4 year old and fiances 2nd time but it will be my 12th time.. Disney mad. I can’t wait.. See you there 🙂
Hi me and my family go September what are magic bands and how do I get one for the Disney magic maker I have downloaded the app my disney experience
Thanks for the tips for memory maker, I’m not very technical so this helps, I go with my wife and 3 children at the end of October, our first trip to Disney really looking forward to it
Thank you
Tim
This is fantastic, and so helpful!
Thank you for this advice it’s very helpful.
We are going to Orlando for Christmas and new year with our children and grandchildren (a family of 9), it’s 10 years since we last went when we were just a family of 4. I am so excited I could burst, the grandchildren don’t know, we will tell them on Christmas Eve just before we go to the airport.
Big hugs
Den
XXx
Ooooh, I’d read about memory maker, but hadn’t realised how great it was and good value for money too!
If we ever go back, I’d seriously look into purchasing it.
Lovely read Hun,
We are visiting in 10 weeks and getting married out there this time too (on bonfire night) and we plan to make full use of our memory maker 🙂
I highly recommend my Disney experience app to anyone as you can use it for book fast passes throughout the day at the park too so book you 3 early then another 3 then another 3 etc.
It will be my 12th trip to Disney and I’m already planning our 2018 trip too.. It really isn’t a once in a lifetime trip.. Once you’ve been.. You won’t want to go anywhere else in the world x
Fantastic blog, thanks for posting! We are visiting for the first time in May 2017 and are very excited!!! Any tips you have for doing Disney with pre-schoolers would be much appreciated! (Our two boys will be 4.5yrs and 10 months when we go) x
This is such a cool idea – if we ever take the kids we will certainly get this extra band as there are never any photos of all of us and this is the perfect way to capture those memories on Holiday with zero stress and lots of fun. Looks like you all had a fantastic time
Laura x