Can you get professional Disney World family photos without losing a day of park time? Is there a way to get your Christmas card photos done at Disney? Do you have to stay somewhere fancy to book a session like that?
I hear these questions constantly. Until recently, my honest answer was “not really.” Disney had cracked down on outside photographers working on resort property, so the small businesses families used to hire for this kind of session lost access. I looked into it myself more than once for my own family and kept hitting the same wall.
That has now changed. Disney launched a new pilot program called Signature Portrait Sessions. For the first time, you can book a private, professional photo shoot directly through Disney PhotoPass, with no park ticket required.
How to Book Disney World Family Photos
You do not have to stay at a deluxe resort to book one of these sessions. Disney currently offers the session at two specific resort locations, but anyone visiting can reserve a spot there, no matter where they’re actually staying. So whether you’re at a value resort like Pop Century, a moderate like Port Orleans, or a deluxe resort, this option is on the table for your trip.
Are These Good for Christmas Card Photos?
Yes, and here’s why. A 40-minute private session with a professional photographer gives you a polished family photo for your holiday card without adding an extra activity or losing an hour of park time. Book it on arrival day, a rest day, or right before checkout, and your card photo is done before you even get home.
Where Can You Book a Session?
Signature Portrait Sessions are currently available at two resort areas:
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Both resorts offer indoor and outdoor locations. Your photographer will guide you toward the best spots based on lighting, crowds, and weather that day. Because this is a pilot program, Disney may add more resorts if demand stays strong.
What’s Included in the Session
Each session includes several things:
- Up to 40 minutes of photo capture and consultation time
- A specially trained Disney PhotoPass portrait photographer and assistant
- Access to a variety of photo props
- Professional retouching before delivery
- Digital downloads of your session photos
Most guests receive around 60 retouched photos, depending on how many locations they visit. Your photos will typically show up in your Disney PhotoPass gallery within about a week.
What Does It Cost, and How Do You Book?
Sessions cost $399, and Disney charges the full amount at booking. You can reserve a session up to 60 days in advance. Unlike most Disney reservations, you can’t book this through the My Disney Experience app. Instead, email the Signature Portrait Experience Team directly at [email protected] with your preferred date and time. Or is you use my planning service I will take care of this for you.
A few details worth planning around:
- Disney charges the full session price for cancellations within 24 hours, and for no-shows
- Guests 14 and under need an adult 18 or older with them
- Disney does not permit wedding attire during this session
- You can bring your own props, as long as they follow Walt Disney World property rules
Planning Your Trip Around Disney World Family Photos
If you’re staying at a value resort, you can still add this as a special extra for your trip. If you’re using DVC points at Grand Floridian or Polynesian, you can build a session directly into your points stay. Either way, timing matters. Scheduling your session around your park days, arrival, or departure makes a real difference in how relaxed everyone looks in the final photos.
Want help figuring out where to stay and how to time your Disney World family photos into your trip? Reach out for a free quote, and I’ll help you build the whole itinerary around it, whether that means a value resort stay, a deluxe splurge, or renting DVC points to access Grand Floridian or Polynesian.
