Disney merchandising has been like this for a long time now.  Anything that gets them to the magic number...  What's interesting is the photo-pass discount.  A lot of guests get that anyway so it'll be interesting to see if it ultimatly results in Disney losing more money than they're saving.  Incidentally it's hard to say they're gouging the price if people still readily pay it Jim.  It's not like central Floridians don't have options we're willing to use during the holidays...

I've never had the opportunity to be at WDW for the Christmas celebrations, it's something I'd love to do.

To me, I dont think the lack of a button and photo would be that much of a big deal. Fristly I would be buying the special pin which i'm sure will be available to buy (I only get pins for events, hotels etc that I get actually attend so my pin collection is more of a "I was there" collection).

Secondly, I think the Disney PhotoPass is the best thing introduced to the park for years especially now you can get the CD of every photo for $120 or so. My wife and I got the CD just from our week visit to New York and the dozen visits to the World Of Disney store where we had tons of photos taken with various characters; once we added all the various borders and signature combos we had something around 130 pics on the disc (so less than $1 each to have them all to print at will). So weighing it up, it's either one free photo from the night in the old system or now with the photopass I would be able to get as many pics as I want throughout the night and let the photopass cameraman/woman snap away all of which will be included on the disc which I would be ordering anyway and thus can either still be considered free or brings down the per photo cost of buying the disc (whichever way you want to look at it).

In short, anyone who is that bothered about the lack of free photo needs to look at PhotoPass more, take advantage of the system and just get them to snap away for your entire trip, get all those family photos all holiday in all the key locations and with all the characters, more importantly get all the family rather than 1 always missing taking the pics, then just get them all on the disc and print them at will. Forget the 5x7 or 8x10 prints, they are a rip off, pay $120 which i know is a lot, but if you've got 700 photos on there, then thats less than 20cents a photo, that's got to be value for money for proffessional high quality family photos.

(1) The free photo was discontinued in 2006.

(2) On 10 of the 19 dates, the price is $40.95 rather than $47.95. 6.5% tax applies to both.

(3) An increase from $17.95 to $47.95 in 20 years is an annual rate of 5%. An increase from $17.95 to $40.95 in 20 years is an annual rate of 4.2%. Somewhat more than inflation, yes. Outrageous? I don't think so. If you paid $36.95 in 2005 and $47.95 this year, yes that hurts a little. But $36.95 to $40.95 is just business as usual. It's your choice.

I've been to this event 2 of the last three years, and I never got the free photo. The lines were alweays too long to bother waiting for it.

Personally, the 50% off PhotoPass photos is worth more to me than a free picture that I have to carry around the rest of the evening. With the amount of photos we usually buy through photopass, that 50% savings could cover one of the family's admission tickets.

...and to add, that comment about Regis's ego is very humorous!

While I enjoy the Photopass System, I feel it is still in the developmental stage.  The day I can ride Space Mountain, smile big for the camera and then hand my photopass card to the photo lady, I will stop whining.  Until then I will continue to use my digital camera to "steal" the photograph of me.  

I also feel that it is horrendous to charge people to download a digital copy of a photo of themselves.  I feel you should be able to download the raw for free, but the system is probably set up where if the raw was downloadable, then any of the perks you can add to the photo could probably be hacked around.  So I just use printscreen and photoshop.  

all this being said, I actually approve this move by WDW.  Personalized photographs are giving way to the PhotoPass system which I think is awesome because i'd rather have a digital file than ANOTHER analog artifact to contend with.  

and since when did the wand come to symbolize cost-cutting?  or is it just the fact that the wand wasn't removed until several years AFTER the event it was celebrating?  

I do agree that eliminating the photo seems sort of "nickel and dime".  That being said, we've been to MVMCP a few times now, and NEVER gotten the free photo.  The waits are just WAAAAAY to long.

I'm sure much of the reasoning is, as Jim suggests, fiscal in nature.  I doubt the gridlock that the photos created really helped matters much.  That being said, the discount (provided it's on your ENTIRE order, and not just a) the MVMCP pics or b) a max $ amount (say, 50% off your first $25), is, at least, a decent replacement.  Not great, but decent.

Being able to add the ride photos to the PhotoPass would be excellent.

I'm already sold to just getting the CD, i did the print screen photoshop option last trip and now I really regret not buying the CD. My plan is just to get as many photos taken as possible, then add all the border combos etc just really get as many pics for the money; I'd drag one of their camera guys around the park with me to photo entire days if they'd let me.

Has the price of the Christmas event gone up since they dropped the included photo?

Yeah, I see this as offering a better experience. Like other people have said, you are avoiding having to stand in line. You are also going to be presented with a potentially larger array of photos to choose from, not just the one standard location they offered (I assume) in the past. This actually gives those attending a better choice.

The problem is, when offering that many photos, it is going to cost more - thus, I can see why they are not giving it away for free.

I also find the Regis comment difficult to believe. I cannot see Disney letting something like this slip into an official communications...

I feel like i'm taking crazy pills!!!

Get your facts straight. The photo was discontinued not only in 2006, but also in 2006 at the Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party as well.

Along with the buttons.

But you know what? They still give you AS MUCH complimentary hot chocolate and cookies (and applejuice and apples) ALL NIGHT LONG.

It still snows on main street.

You get to see 2 shows before the week of christmas (which, um I stay clear of disney, its so crowded!) that are spectacular. Also the fireworks show.

And while the free photo was a nice momento, NOW you can choose to take a picture most anywhere in the park, instead of on their droopy backdrop.

As for the pins. They were nice momentos. But when they discontinued the pins years ago, I started purchasing the "real" pins, which are better quality anyway. And its my "souvenier" from the party.

Ive been going to the parties religiously since 1987. Us FL residents LOVE THEM. I hate the slander of this article. Its so biased and it changes facts and leaves out information that makes this party worth the money.

bullfrog117 said:

While I enjoy the Photopass System, I feel it is still in the developmental stage. The day I can ride Space Mountain, smile big for the camera and then hand my photopass card to the photo lady, I will stop whining. Until then I will continue to use my digital camera to "steal" the photograph of me.

- actually test track is doing just that. Walk off the ride, swipe your card, your on-ride photo is now on your photo pass. Using space mountain is a bad example, since that ride doesnt have a photo system (unless you're referring to Disneyland)

StrongStyle I was with you I don’t think $120 is a lot of money for the CD, verse other tourist photo’s, and it is nice to be in one or two photo’s, but how even being persistent can you rack up 700 photos? On a 7-10 night that’s a lot of looking for photographers. We are usually there for four nights’ is a $1 a picture still a good deal. You make some great points.

I have my photo form Halloween line was too long for Christmas frankly, Jim may be right they are nickel and diming us, but this is one “perk” I will not miss all that much, this issue may not have been the best illustration of the belt tightening.  

I want to switch to Greenyskip's blog - can you please add it to my photopass?

Went to a few Christmas parties during the early years - frankly, the button and the free photo Were the highlights of the evening at that time. Thankfully, today's Christmas parties do not rely on buttons to make the guests feel their expectations were exceeded. As a suspicious tourist, I shooed the photopass photogs away when that program started up. Now, I am a complete photopass convert - there can never be too many of these folks. If they could add a photopass outpost in Vegas, that would be appreciated.  

Disney does their best, but after 12 years in Florida, I still find it hard to get the Christmas spirit.  That being said, the Candlelight Processional, Holiday Illuminations, and Christmas around the World at Epcot come pretty darn close. . .and for no extra money, unless you want the dinner package for the Processional.

Now if only they could get a new parade over there.

My problem with the MVMCP is that they just don't only keep raising the prices and taking stuff away is that they keep jacking up the attendance cap and allowing more people in these parties. There is that and the fact that the parties used to be an extra way to experience Christmas at the Magic Kingdom now it is the only way to experience Christmas at MK before December 22. That is ridiculous. I love the way DL does Christmas. You get snow, Holiday fireworks, HMH and IASW Holiday and guess what you don't have to pay extra for it. What a concept.

"The Beach Bears said:

StrongStyle I was with you I don’t think $120 is a lot of money for the CD, verse other tourist photo’s, and it is nice to be in one or two photo’s, but how even being persistent can you rack up 700 photos? On a 7-10 night that’s a lot of looking for photographers. We are usually there for four nights’ is a $1 a picture still a good deal. You make some great points. "

700 sounds like a lot, but you'd be amazed how quickly they rack up. I guess it depends what you do the most at Disney, My wife, son and I spend a LOT of time on character meets and now every character has a photopass photographer who will take probably an average of 4 photos.  Last time at WDW we met Mickey 7 times alone, so in total we probably did 40 character meets if not more, so thats 200 shots right there.

Then there's the key location photographers and I can't stress this enough, get a family shot taken EVERY time you go past them, every morning when you enter the MK get the family shot in front of the castle, every evening when you leave get the family shot in front of the castle and every time inbetween. It takes like 2 minutes, but to have that choice of photo for the one to print and frame especially if you have kids who will sometimes look away or not be smiling makes it worthwhile. What could  be worse than only doing it once and when you see it on your last day or after you get back realising that the kid wasnt smiling or looking away in every shot or one of you forgot to take off your sunglasses or any of the other reasons the shot isnt what you hoped for. Do it over and over again at every opportunity, plus if you're a scrapbooker like my wife (and I when it's Disney vacations) you never know if you want a certain time of day shot depending on how you are using it.

And then there's the borders, this will double (or triple) the amount of shots. It's time consuming but its worth it. My theory is add a border or a signature to EVERYTHING and save it as a copy so you keep the original and have the bordered one as well, you never know when you will want it. For instance my wife is a Genie nut, at WoD she had her pic taken with Genie and Aladdin. On the site I gave it the 2007 border, i gave it the Alladin signature, the Genie signature, I then cropped it to being just my wife and Genie and saved it and then again added the Genie border, the 2007 border and the Dreams Come True border because meeting Genie for the first time was HUGE for her (there were tears). So out of that one shot I actually ended up with 8 pictures. I know many people will say "ahh, why bother using their tools to crop, i'll just do it on photoshop" which is fine until you do it and then wish you could superimpose a border or signature into the corner - too late.

My next trip to WDW isnt until next October, I'd be amazed in the end if I dont have over 1,000 shots in my PhotoPass folder. But maybe that's just me, bare in mind last trip to WDW i took about 5,000 photos myself.

We went in 2004, 2005 and 2006.  It is a magical way to get into the Christmas spirit.  But... we won't be going back to this event.  

Why?  I feel that you pay a premium for something special.  And it seemed more and more that you felt herded by their operations staff.  They certainly fill the park just as much as it is during the day.  

But, to top it all, we had an innocent run in with their operations staff during the parade.  We decided to go to the hub, to see the fireworks, followed by the show, followed by the parade.  We were in the same spot the entire time.  Our 1-year-old had fallen asleep, and was bundled up warmly in his stroller.  Just as the parade started, somebody came up to us to tell us we had to put the stroller by the castle, as this was a "no stroller zone."  Thinking they didn't realize there was actually a child in the stroller, we explained that he was sleeping, and that we had been at this place for over an hour and a half.  Why did they wait until the parade was just starting to make us move?  She came back with her "supervisor," who said "Move, or I'm going to have you banned from the park by Security."  Flabbergasted, we began to gather our stuff, when security came and pulled me aside and asked why we were being uncooperative.  When I explained the situation to him, he changed his tune and escorted me to City Hall so I could complain.  I did... although the person I spoke with never wrote down a single word (including the employee's name).  They offered for me to come back the next night to see the parade uninterrupted... but that wasn't the point.  I declined.  

The Mickey Very Merry Chistmas Party has become just another day of overcrowded money-making operation for the park.  It's not something worth paying a premium for.  So we just don't bother.

Hey curmudgeon,  I can never tell if you are being sarcastic or if you are in love with me.  lol

I just wanted to respond to a few people...

Special_K:

Im sorry you went through what you did, and I will say that Disney could have been nicer to you, but... why do you feel like you needed special treatment? For whatever reason disney decided it would be a danger for your stroller to be where it was. Perhaps they were concerned it would roll out in front of a parade float, that a performer might run into it, etc etc. The reason doesnt matter. You know very well Disney doesnt make it a point to point at someone and decide to ruin their night. But there are rules we all have to follow. I think you were acting a little too entitled. It was a safety thing.

StrongStyle:

Im with you. You make things worth what youre paying for them. $120 is a good price for me not having to drag around my tripod to get those amazing night pictures. Since we go a few times a month, we use the same photo pass for a few trips, then buy a cd every 3 months or so. Its worth it for the thousands of family pics wed never get otherwise.

photoginit:

You bring up a valid point. BUT Disneyworld has NO PROBLEM bringing people in close to christmas. Those parties are to drive in buisiness through the slow times of nov. and dec.

Disneyland on the other hand has problems getting people to disneyland around christmas. Those perks are to drive people in period. Disney World doesnt have that problem.

Im a big 'disney party person' we're already booked for August for Pirates and Princess, Oct. for Mickeys Not So Scary and Dec for MVMCP. Since we  have the AP we find it affordable and worth it.

For those naysayers who say its crowded. Go on a weekday, early dates and you'll find the park to yourself. Its the same stupid argument... "its expensive, its hot, its crowded. Ill never go to disney again!" and then you ask 'When did you go?' They say 'July'. lol If you go Dec. 22 to the last christmas party uhh duh its sold out. Same for halloween. get a clue people!

My response to this article?  A big, fat yawn.

This is the typical tweaking that will go on with any long-running event.  Things do not stay the same and things always get more expensive.  It's silly to think that Disney would keep prices low.  Why?  In a free market economy, you raise prices until it meets demand.  If the demand can bear the burden of the price, then the price is fine.

I suspect that this article is more about Jim showing off how he can get an internal memo than actually putting forth useful information.  Otherwise, why add the Regis comment?  Is it news?  No.  Is it truly any business of anyone but those for whom it was intended?  It's just to prove he's got something "inside" that no one else was supposed to see.

greeny:  I love that you feel you can call somebody "entitled" and act as if know the entire story... when you weren't even there.  Believe me, it wasn't a safety situation.  If they have entire sections that are "no stroller zones" for MVMCP (which apparently they do), they need to tell people long before the floats arrive.  Period.

We attended the Christmas party twice.  The first time - probably its second or third year in existence - we didn't even know about the free photo, etc.  We certainly enjoyed riding our favorite rides without long lines.  The second time, in the mid 1990s, we learned of the freebies and took advantage of them.  The photo is one of the best family photos ever taken of us.  

Unfortunately, as I have heard of increasing crowds, we have not gone to this event again.  Our main reason for attending was the lack of lines (at an affordable price, although I'm sure I grumbled even when it was $17.95). Freebies were secondary, followed by the parade.

Thanks everyone for the tips about the photo pass.  I have never considered these because I'm tired of paying inflated prices for photos, but the full CD may be a way to go.

photoginit said:

My problem with the MVMCP is that they just don't only keep raising the prices and taking stuff away is that they keep jacking up the attendance cap and allowing more people in these parties. There is that and the fact that the parties used to be an extra way to experience Christmas at the Magic Kingdom now it is the only way to experience Christmas at MK before December 22. That is ridiculous. I love the way DL does Christmas. You get snow, Holiday fireworks, HMH and IASW Holiday and guess what you don't have to pay extra for it. What a concept.

I have to agree with this post.

Our family of four attended MVMCP for 10 consecutive years with 2004 being our last.  The price of the tickets kept increasing along with the number of guests.  Fewer attractions were open during the last few years we went.  We always did the photo and never waited more than 10 minutes in the line.  My kids liked the souvenir pins - they wore Mickey Santa hats with all their previous years pins on them.  There were fewer hot chocolate/cookie locations than there were originally.  Disney decided not to offer early purchase discounts on tickets for Friday MVMCP's.  The final straw was the decision NOT to have the Holiday makeover at the Country Bears Jamboree.  Yet another way for Disney to charge more money for something less.

What started as a very enjoyable experience became an overcrowded, overpriced event.  We have since started going to the Candlelight Processional instead because we feel it's a better value for the $$.