One Day Only: Special Disney Character Meet-Ups and Photo Experiences Coming Soon
Disney is bringing back their special PhotoPass Day this year on Aug. 19 at both the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida as well as Disneyland in California. During PhotoPass Day, guests can meet rarely seen Disney characters and take cool photos with special effects and props.
PhotoPass is a Disney service that has been around for years, featuring roving photographers and pre-set picture backdrops throughout the parks. Having a Disney photographer take your photo with their camera (or yours!) is free, but if you want to access the photos there is typically a fee for you to download or print them at a kiosk. Called Memory Maker, that service is typically $199 for 30 days, with a $30 discount if you buy it in advance — enough to cover your entire Disney vacation.
Disney World also has a version where you can purchase Memory Maker for just one day at a cost of $69.99. (So be sure to take tons of photos that day!)
But once a year on Disney PhotoPass Day, there are a number of special photo opportunities in the parks. — and the price of a one-day Memory Maker photo package drops to just $39. A full day's worth of professional Disney pictures for $39 is a heck of a lot better than the normal rate.
If you're planning to be at Disney World or Disneyland on Aug. 19, here's what you can expect from Disney PhotoPass Day.
Walt Disney World PhotoPass Day Details
Magic Kingdom
Character experience:
Our kids love "Pinocchio," and while Pinocchio and Geppetto can be spotted for photo opportunities, it does not happen very often. Fortunately, you're guaranteed to find them during Disney's PhotoPass Day near Pinocchio Village Haus from 10:00am to 5:30pm.
*Additional photo opportunities:
- Dole Whip Magic Shot across from Sunshine Tree Terrace
- Dumbo Magic Shot near Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mickey Mouse Magic Shot on the bridge near Fairytale Garden
- Jungle Cruise prop near the attraction entrance
- Pretzel prop at the Purple Wall near Tomorrowland Terrace (available from 9:00am to 7:00pm)
*These additional photo opportunities at Magic Kingdom Park are available from 9:00am to 8:00pm, unless otherwise noted.
Epcot
Character experiences:
EPCOT has a few meet and greets, but they're only easy to find during Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. On PhotoPass Day, however, you can meet villainous Cruella de Vil from "101 Dalmatians" and Jafar, from "Aladdin," who will be lurking near their respective pavilions all day long.
- Meet Cruella de Vil at the United Kingdom Pavilion from 9:00am to 8:30pm
- Meet Jafar at the Morocco Pavilion from 11:30am to 8:30pm
*Additional photo opportunities:
- Original Selfie Magic Shot at the France Pavilion (available from noon until 8:00pm)
- World Traveler Magic Shots are available at all 11 countries in World Showcase from noon until 8:00pm.
- Baby Groot Magic Shot at Future World East at the Galaxy-themed wall
- Finding Nemo prop near The Seas with Nemo & Friends
- Spaceship Earth prop near the attraction entrance
*These additional photo opportunities at Epcot are available from 10:00am to 6:00pm, unless otherwise noted.
Hollywood Studios
Character experience:
If you're a "Star Wars" fan, you may have been bummed when the Jawas were retired from the regular meet and greet at Star Wars Launch Bay. But good news — they're back for PhotoPass Day. Meet the Jawas at the Star Wars Launch Bay Cantina from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
*Additional photo opportunities:
- Rizzo Magic Shot near Muppet★Vision 3D
- Green Army Man Magic Shot near the entrance to Slinky Dog Dash
- Hollywood Tower Hotel luggage prop at Sunset Boulevard
- Beauty and the Beast light painting next to Theater of the Stars (available from 8:00pm to 10:00pm)
*These additional photo opportunities at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are available from 9:00am to 7:00pm, unless otherwise noted.
Animal Kingdom
Character experiences:
Like the Jawas, Baloo and King Louie (from "The Jungle Book") have recently been retired from regular meet and greets. Bolt, on the other hand, can be found from time to time. During PhotoPass Day, Disney parkgoers can easily score photos with all three characters. Meet Bolt at Discovery Island Trails from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, and catch Baloo and King Louie at Upcountry Landing in Asia from 10:00am to 5:30pm.
*Additional photo opportunities:
- Huey, Dewey and Louie Magic Shot at DinoLand USA
- Kevin Magic Shot near UP! A Great Bird Adventure
- Russell’s grape soda bottle cap pin prop near UP! A Great Bird Adventure
- Finding Nemo prop near Finding Nemo — The Musical
- Kilimanjaro Safaris prop near the attraction entrance
*These additional photo opportunities at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are available from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Disney Springs
This might be an example of saving the best (or cutest) for last, but it's hard not to be a "Peter Pan" fan. Call me sappy, but I know the Peter Pan Shadow Magic Shot would be a total win with our kids.
- Peter Pan Shadow Magic Shot between the LEGO® Store and World of Disney®
- Original Selfie Magic Shot outside of the Disney PhotoPass Studio
- Special balloons virtual background at the Disney PhotoPass Studio
Both Disney Springs Magic Shots are available from 11:00am to 7:00pm. The virtual background at the Disney PhotoPass Studio is available from 9:30am to 10:00pm.
Disneyland PhotoPass Day Details
Disney California Adventure Park
Character experiences:
Across the country, at Disneyland in California, guests can enjoy meet and greets with "Inside Out's" Joy and Sadness at Paradise Gardens Park — across from Jumpin’ Jellyfish — from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Park guest can also have a heroic encounter with either Doctor Strange or Loki near the Hollywood Backlot Stage from 11:00am to 5:30pm.
*Additional photo opportunities (available until 7:00pm):
- Koda Magic Shot near the sawmill in Grizzly Peak
- Huey, Dewey and Louie Magic Shot near the Hyperion Theater entrance
- Russell’s grape soda bottlecap pin prop at the Grizzly Peak waterfall
- Piston Cup prop at the entrance to Cars Land
- Clapperboard prop at the Storytellers statue on Buena Vista Street
Disneyland Park
Character experiences:
For a classic "Peter Pan" meet and greet at Disneyland Park on PhotoPass Day, find Hook and Mr. Smee near “it’s a small world” from 8:00am to 2:00pm. Marie, from "The AristoCats," will be at Toon Park in Mickey’s Toontown from 9:00am to 3:30pm.
Additional photo opportunities (available until 7:00pm):
- Dumbo Magic Shot next to Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Mickey Ice Cream Bar Magic Shot at the Town Square flagpole
- Fairy Wings Magic Shot near Pixie Hollow
- Mickey pretzel prop in front of Main Street Photo Supply Co.
Want to learn more ways to maximize your family's fun at Disney while minimizing costs? Learn about the best $69 you can spend at Disney World, read up on this workaround to use Chase Ultimate Reward Points to book Disney Resorts, and find the best Disney Springs hotels for you and your family.
Featured photo by Cody Board on Unsplash
