Earlier this year, Walt Disney World began cracking down on third-party vendors that were providing unauthorized guest services on Disney’s property. We first reported on this crackdown after Disney sent cease and desist warnings to vendors, which were then shared on social media.
While some of these vendors offered alternatives to services Disney already provides on property, others helped fill gaps by offering services that Disney did not provide. Now that is changing as Disney is moving to fill the empty void created by this crackdown, which removed many popular services provided by third-party vendors. Mickey Visit brings you the latest Disney news and planning resources, including the expansion of a popular Disney World airline perk and changes to Disney princess dining and food items.
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Disney World Expanding Resort Photography Offerings
Only authorized vendors are permitted to do business on Walt Disney World property, according to the resort’s official rules. This rule is there to ensure guest safety and to verify that these services have the appropriate licenses and registrations. The crackdown on third-party vendors was initiated in January when cease and desist warnings were sent to a number of local small businesses providing services on Walt Disney World property.
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These businesses impacted by the crackdown included photographers, massage therapists, chefs and catering companies, stylists performing services like princess makeovers in hotel rooms, hotel room decorators, and more. Disney responded a few months later, sharing that the large increase of unauthorized third-party vendors raised concerns over safety and guest experience, which is why they had to begin a stronger enforcement of their long-standing property rules. They also reminded guests that not all third-party vendors are unwelcome, and that they work with more than 2,500 Florida-based small businesses to supply products and services, like ScooterBug and Joffrey’s Coffee.
However, some of these third-party vendors helped fill gaps in services that Disney World itself did not offer, with Disney World Resort hotel photography services being one of the most popular examples. Now Disney World is making a move to expand its own services to meet its needs. A new pilot program has just launched, with sessions that started May 18, offering Signature Photography Portrait Sessions at select Disney World Resort hotels. Previously, Disney PhotoPass did not offer photography sessions at Disney World Resort hotels, which is why there was significant backlash when the small business photographers who had been filling that gap were later restricted from operating at Disney.
These private 40-minute photo sessions with Disney PhotoPass photographers are available for $399, which includes all photo downloads, photo retouching, and a variety of props to enhance photos. The service is currently offered at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. This experience can be booked up to 60 days in advance, and reservations can be made by emailing the Signature Portrait Experience Team at DisneyPortraitSessions@disney.com. Full payment is required at the time of booking.
These two Disney World Resort hotels are both popular for photography, so it makes sense that they are the two included resorts. I imagine if the test pilot demonstrates a strong demand, more Disney World Resort hotels will be included in the list of options.
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Photography at Disney World Resort hotels is a popular choice for couples celebrating anniversaries, engagements, and honeymoons, as well as for family portraits, graduation photos, and more. The third-party photographers who operated at Disney World Resort hotels were quite popular, so this compromise from Disney at least provides an option to continue offering photography at the resorts for these occasions.
See the full guidelines and details for the photography sessions below:
- Signature Portrait Sessions are available at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
- Keep in mind that wedding attire is not permitted. For wedding photography, guests need to contact Disney Fine Art Photography and Video.
- Access will not be provided to restricted areas. Your photographer will share the available locations. Locations are subject to change based on inclement weather and Resort operations. Please inquire at the time of booking if you have further questions about locations.
- Guests can pick their date and time with the Signature Portrait Experience Team doing what they can to accommodate requests.
- Guests can bring their own props but they must comply with Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules.
- While it is not guaranteed, most parties will receive around 60 retouched photos. Only photos meeting Disney’s quality standards will be made available to view and download.
- Once the photo retouch process is complete, session photos will appear in your Disney PhotoPass gallery, accessible online or via the My Disney Experience app.
- Please allow up to one week after your session for photos to appear in your gallery.
- A large party may reduce the number of photo locations you can visit during a session and/or the number of photos you capture, but the team will explain your options.
- Guests 14 years of age or younger must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.
- If you cancel within 24 hours of your reservation time or are a no-show, you will be charged the full price of the session.
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