This is an entry for “Magic Shot” in our Disneyland 101 Glossary: Disneyland Resort definitions in under 101 words, from Mouse Brief. For answers to frequently asked questions about MagicShots at Disneyland Resort, see reading after the entry.
Magic Shots are enhancements to digital photos offered by PhotoPass photographers at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. These enhancements are illustrated additions of Disney characters or other fun embellishments that might even make you appear to have magic powers. You can ask a PhotoPass photographer to do a Magic Shot. If a photographer asks you to pose a certain way—like looking at your upturned palm—that photographer is probably setting-up a Magic Shot. You can see the Magic Shot additions in your Disney photo gallery. You might have a longer wait to view these than for other conventional photos.
Thank you for reading this entry for “Magic Shot.” To explore more Disney destinations in under 101 words, please explore our Disneyland 101 Glossary. And for answers to frequently asked questions about Magic Shots at Disneyland Resort, keep reading.
Magic Shots at Disneyland Resort, FAQs
Can you give me examples of what would be in a Magic Shot?
Sure. In Fantasyland, a PhotoPass Photographer might have you hold out your hand and then “place” Chip from Beauty and the Beast on your upturned palm. In Avengers Campus, if a PhotoPass Photographer has you extend your hands, you may see superpowers emanating from them (in your photo) as if you were Doctor Strange. Your PhotoPass Photographer could also add some characters next to your family or put a festive embellishment around your photo.
You can get an idea for what Magic Shots are available by checking out the social media pages for Disney PhotoPass.
How do I know if my Disneyland PhotoPass photographer is making a Magic Shot?
Usually, if a Disneyland PhotoPass Photographer is asking you to hold your arms out in a certain way or point or look in a particular direction (other than at the camera), there is a good chance they are setting-up a Magic Shot. Of course, they could also just be making sure they can clearly see everyone in your group or are making the best use of the surroundings.
If you do or do not want a Magic Shot, let your Disneyland PhotoPass Photographer know. Magic Shots are not available at all locations at all times, but it is okay to ask
My Magic Shots have not appeared in my Disneyland photo gallery. What is going on?
First, make sure you have linked each set of photos to your Disney photo gallery. You can do this by either (1) taking PhotoPass cards from photographers and scanning the codes on the card after each session or (2) offering your PhotoPass code to photographers for them to scan. Both of these options are in the main menu of the Disneyland mobile app under “Link Photos” or in the (+) symbol menu under “Link PhotoPass Photos.” Some guests like to save their PhotoPass code as a screenshot or as their phone’s lock screen to speed the process.
Remember, you must link your photos after each individual session. So if you take photos with a photographer in Fantasyland, another in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and a third at Pixar Pier, you will need to go through this process three separate times.
If you believe that you have successfully linked your photos, and you are still not seeing your Magic Shots, keep in mind that they take a little longer to process than conventional photos. But, if you give it some time, and you are still not seeing your photo, the Disneyland mobile app has PhotoPass support built into the app. So, reach out for help.
How do I get photographs with Magic Shots?
First, find a PhotoPass Photographer in Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park. You can see the locations of these photographers by opening the map in the Disneyland mobile app and selecting the map heading “PhotoPass.”
When you find a photographer you can let them know that you would like to take some Magic Shot photos or just leave it to chance and see what happens. Just follow the photograph’s directions for how to pose or where to look.
You will need to link your photos to your Disney photo gallery by either showing your PhotoPass code to the photographer or taking a card from the photographer and scanning that code with the Disneyland mobile app. Either of these procedures should do the trick. You do not need to do both.
Not sure where to find your code or how to scan the photographer’s code? Open your Disneyland mobile app, and then open the menu (three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner). In the menu, you should see a tile called “Link Photos.” Select this tile, and you should now be able to toggle between the different options for linking photos. Alternatively, select the (+) icon in the bottom center of the screen, and then select “Link PhotoPass Photos” from the menu that pops up.
How do I download my Disneyland Magic Shot photos?
If you like a photo and want to download it, you will need to do one of the following (1) purchase an individual digital version of that photo, (2) purchase PhotoPass+ One Day or (3) purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Lighting Lane Premier Pass. If you choose option 2 or 3, you may download any photos Disney takes of you that day for no additional cost.
To download the photos, first make sure you have added them to your Disney photo gallery (see the previous FAQ). When you are viewing a particular photo in your Disney account photo gallery, you should see the option to download it from that screen.
You can access your photo gallery directly from the Disneyland mobile app or by logging into your account on an internet browser. We suggest downloading your photos promptly, as they are only saved in your Disney account for a limited time. In general they are deleted after forty-five days, but please check the policy at your time of purchase.
Is a Magic Shot the same as a PhotoPass Lens?
PhotoPass Lenses are not the same as Magic Shots. While both add digital augmented reality enhancements to your photos, you obtain the photos differently.
Disneyland PhotoPass Lenses are included with the purchase of Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Lightning Lane Premier Pass. If you have one of these passes (or have used one in the last forty-five days) open the PhotoPass Lenses in the Disneyland mobile app and choose the lens you would like. You will be able to see the digital enhancements that come with that lens, and you can snap a photo as soon as you are happy with the shot. These photos do not go into the photo gallery in your Disney account. Rather, you can save the snaps straight to your mobile device.
Magic Shots come from Disney PhotoPass Photographers. To get them, find PhotoPass cast members in the parks and ask them to take your photo with their cameras. After you connect the photos to your Disney account, you will be able to see any enhancements added with Magic Shots.
Thank you for reading this entry for “Magic Shots” from our Disneyland 101 Glossary.
For more Disney definitions in under 101 words plus answers to frequently asked questions, please explore our Disneyland 101 Glossary. For help planning your Disneyland visit from start to finish, check-out our Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. Thanks again for reading!