Universal Orlando Resort Photo Package: yay or nay?

Universal Orlando Resort Photo Package Review: Is it Worth It?

Fresh off my latest adventure at Universal Orlando Resort, I’ve decided to share my experience with their photo package. Nowadays, everyone wants to capture every thrilling moment and keep forever memories. But is the photo package really worth it? Let's find out.

During our fun-filled visit, where we hit three parks (Universal Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe) within only two days, we chose the 3-day photo package over the 1-day. Here is some insight into what the package entails and my personal experience with it:

How it Works

• You receive a badge or card to scan and upload photos to your account.
• After each ride or character photo, you must visit a photo booth machine to manually add the snapshot to your account.
• Contrary to expectation, it does not operate automatically like a MagicBand style identifier.

Issues I Encountered

• Some photos never showed up and appeared to have been lost or misplaced.
• Some cases of misinterpreted accounts added others' photos to my collection, and I suspect mine to others'.
• Some photos, specifically one ride, showed up locked requiring additional payment to access.
• At certain machines, locating photos was difficult unless aided by an employee.
• Though discounts on prints were mentioned, I was unable to locate them and suspect that they may only be available in the park.

Before Purchasing: Things You Should Know

• Keep track of your snapshots and immediately verify that they've been successfully added to your account. In case of missing photos, this allows you to make timely requests, conditional on whether you remember when and where it was taken. By that night I already forgot where and when there were photos.
• I found the package ideally suited for individuals who love character meet & greets (since those photos add up quickly) or those wanting the visually stunning Epic Universe entrance photos.
• Families, especially those with children, will probably extract the most value, as they are more likely to opt for meet & greets and want prints.

Is the Universal Orlando Resort Photo Package Right for You?

Here are some benefits and potential drawbacks to help you decide whether to go for it:

Pros:

• Ideal for families with young kids.
• Excellent for guests planning to have tons of character photos.
• Great for people who are organized and punctual to scan, add and verify photos right away, and perhaps, purchase prints in the park.

Cons:

• Not ideal for those who—like me—feel awkward at posing for character photos or aren't too keen on taking numerous photos.
• May not be a good fit if you're not interested in spending time at machines post each ride.
• It could prove less beneficial if you simply want ride photos but aren't committed to diligently overseeing the process.

My advice if you are like me or not sure you would benefit from the full package would be to just get the ones you genuinely want. For instance, I am glad I have the ones I did get, particularly one from the Frankenstein ride at Epic. Our joyful, wonder-filled expressions were truly priceless!

In summary, despite managing only 3–4 photos, one of which was just me on The Mummy ride with complete strangers (which made for a good laugh looking at what the strangers were all doing, but not particularly sentimental), I believe the cost didn't justify the value for us. Nonetheless, for the right type of guests, it certainly can!

I hope this review aids those debating the Universal Orlando Resort photo package decision. Have more questions about Universal? Feel free to ask! I’m more equipped than ever to assist following this recent information-gathering trip, with yet another planned already!