In our efforts to keep things lively while the Disney parks remained closed, we thought we’d start a new tradition—Photopass Friday! where we share photopass photos and walk about them a bit. As with all our new traditions…time will tell how long this one lasts.
Photopass and Memory Maker are sister services at Walt Disney World for having photos taken and for purchasing / accessing those photos. You can read more about Photopass and Memory Maker at Walt Disney World here.
This week’s Photopass Friday focuses on the rides of Magic Kingdom. Throughout, we’ll talk about the photos but also about the rides and when / how we suggest riding them.
How Many Magic Kingdom Rides Have Photopass Ride Photos?
There are six rides with ride photos at Magic Kingdom:
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Haunted Mansion
Pirates of the Caribbean
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain
Along with Tower of Terror it has to be one of the ride photos that can define a vacation. I’ve literally has a friend simply refer to Splash Mountain as “the one with the pictures.”
The nice thing about this great photo is you don’t really have to put much work into preparing for it. You’ll have a long trip uphill to ready and put your hands up. If you don’t prepare, the thrill of the ride will take care of things for you.
This was one of several photos we took on an awesome October Saturday which still forms the backbone of our Magic Kingdom One Day Plan.
Splash Mountain is typically easy to visit early as part of rope drop at Magic Kingdom. On cooler days, the ride is more pleasant in the afternoon, when you’ll usually want to have a FastPass+ booked.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
There’s only one right pose on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger spin, and it’s the “I already hit 999,999 so I’m just chillin’” pose. Of course, you have to earn that pose.
Okay, fine. The “this is the most intense moment of my life!” pose is also acceptable:
Like Splash Mountain, the Buzz picture is well enough timed that you don’t have to stress too much about it. Just play the game and you’ll get a good picture. (The camera is in one of the last rooms with Zurg, you’ll see his canons or whatever flashing as you approach.)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is usually a midday same day FastPass+ for us, but we’ve occasionally pushed it later into the evening for a short wait. If your day starts in Tomorrowland, it will be a part of your rope drop strategy.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has a few photo/video spots throughout the ride, so just be prepared throughout. Mostly, what I want to emphasize here is that this is where you can find photographic proof that bloggers are bad people:
I’ve never felt like such a jerk as I do in that photo! I was doing a ton of Magic Kingdom research that week, so I probably rode that ride at least five times. WHY DID I PUT MY HANDS UP? WITH MY PHONE IN MY HAND? AND WHY NOT PUT THEM STRAIGHT UP?
I’ll never live that down or forgive myself. Since then, I usually don’t even put my hands up unless I’m in the back row.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the cornerstone of Magic Kingdom touring. If you don’t have a FastPass+ for it, you’ll head there at rope drop.
Space Mountain
There are two kinds of people in the Disney parks world—people who know where to look for the early Space Mountain photo, and people who never remember it’s coming:
Actually, there’s a third kind who coordinate the group photo and then they all look the wrong way, but I don’t have a photo of that.
The Space Mountain photo is bizarrely placed early in the ride. You’ll pass through a blue tunnel quite quickly and then take a turn, the camera is on the inside of that turn…but that side depends on which side your board on.
When you enter the Space Mountain loading room, you’ll be sent one of two ways. Facing the track when loading, if you are on the left side the camera will be on the right. If you are on the right side, the camera will be on the left.
Put another way, if you turn left when entering the loading room, the camera will be on your left. If you turn right, the camera will be on your right.
Space Mountain is a good FastPass+ to have so you can focus your attention on the opposite side of the park. If you don’t have a FastPass+, it typically makes sense to visit it early as part of rope drop.
Pirates of the Caribbean
This ride photo is completely unnecessary and pretty low quality. People in the back may struggle to spot themselves. It occurs early in the ride as the pirate skull is talking to you overhead.
We typically visit Pirates of the Caribbean near the end of the Frontierland/Adventureland portion of rope drop. It’s also usually easy to get a same-day FastPass+.
Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion is a new addition to the ride photo family. The photo is taken early as you pass by a collection of portraits just after boarding your Doom Buggy.
As with Pirates of the Caribbean, we usually visit Haunted Mansion toward the end of our rope drop, before breaking for coffee. It’s not an easy same-day FastPass+ to get, but if you search throughout the day you’ll typically come across a few times.
Bonus: This Social Distancing Photo Is A Mood
I think this was from Early Morning Magic (Fantasyland), which was a fantastic event for social distancing…
All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered
Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.
Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars. For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.
When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets. Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations!
Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes.
Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip. And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish.