Best Disneyland Photo Spots and PhotoPass Tips

Where are the best Disneyland photo spots for family and PhotoPass pictures? There are so many picture perfect places to choose from at Disneyland Resort and I am here to help you find the best for your vacation pics.

Quick Picks Best Disneyland Photo Spots

Ready for photos at Disneyland Resort? I’ve got all the best spots, including Downtown Disney, character interactions, magic shots and more. 

 

The most popular Disneyland Photo Spots include iconic scenes like:

• Sleeping Beauty Castle – great spot for holiday cards and group photos in front of the castle
• Partners Statue in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle – this is a perfect backdrop for a couples piv
• Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square – if you’re quick you can get a good shot outside the mansion while you’re in line 
• Pink Tea Cup in Fantasyland – seats about 3 but more people can be behind the cup
• Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – one of the best places for Star Wars fans
• Mickey Mouse and friends – early mornings in Mickey’s Toontown helps you get that perfect shot
• Pixar Pal-A-Round in California Adventure – look for one of the professional photographers in front of The Little Mermaid ride with the ferris wheel in the background
• Pixar Pier Sign – this out of the way spot near Emotional Whirlwind allows you to take your time
• Cars Land on Route 66 – a popular spot with lots of photographers around
• Cars Land Postcard – it’s a great way to show off that Disneyland vacation
• Avengers Campus Entrance – Super Heroes will love this spot with photographers who give suggestions on poses for a different take on the traditional Disney Parks pic here

 

But these are just a few of the iconic Disneyland Resort photo spots, there’s many more to explore and ways to get everyone in the photo. Keep reading for the best spots to take photos at Disneyland Resort and PhotoPass tips. Let’s get started!

Disneyland PhotoPass Photographers

The photo opportunities at Disneyland Resort are seriously endless and you’ll quickly find your camera roll filled with amazing memories. But there’s also a few ways to step up your Disneyland photo game with zero photography skills!

The solution is Disneyland PhotoPass! PhotoPass helps you capture magical memories throughout Disneyland Resort without having to haul your own bulky, expensive camera around.

And even if you’re only working that cell phone camera, Disneyland photographers can help make sure everyone is included in the picture with PhotoPass. 

Where can I find Disney PhotoPass photographers?

You can find Cast Members designated as Disney PhotoPass photographers throughout the Resort, but the best way to find their current locations is on the Disneyland app. 

1. Go to the map icon, second from the left on the bottom of the app. Then select your category “PhotoPass.”

 

2. The default view, once you select PhotoPass category, is a map with Disney PhotoPass icons where you can find the photographers.

3. You can also select “show list” on the top right and view locations in a list mode. 

 

 

At any point during the day there are dozens of Cast Member photographers, now wearing bright green and blue and of course carrying a camera. 

Disneyland PhotoPass Cost

I love that getting family photos of everyone is such an affordable souvenir. The cost is minimal and makes it easy for everyone to join in.

How much is Disneyland PhotoPass?

Disneyland PhotoPass is free with purchase of Lightning Lane. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass starts at $30 per day. You can also purchase PhotoPass for an entire week for $78. Another option is an extension for $19.95. I’ll explain each of those options below.

 

Free PhotoPass with Lightning Lane is usually the best and most economical option. Even if you’re not using Multi Pass for the Lightning Lane feature (but you should!), I recommend at least one person in your party purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass for the PhotoPass benefit alone. 

This is especially cost saving if you plan to get all your photos done on one day. You can easily buy one Lightning Lane Multi Pass to use for the PhotoPass benefit alone and spend about $30 for unlimited pictures that day.

 

$78 Weeklong PhotoPass+. This is the same service attached to Lightning Lane Multi Pass but often makes the most sense if you’re spending more than 3 days in the parks and will not purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass. 

$19.95 Disney PhotoPass Extension. This is ideal for those who want to purchase their Disneyland photos after their vacation or after seeing a super special photo moment but did not buy it on the day-of. With a one-time extension, you’ll get an additional 15 days to access the unexpired images in your account. 

Can I buy Disney PhotoPass after my trip?

Yes, you can buy your Disney PhotoPass pictures after your trip with the Disney PhotoPass Extension, as explained here. 

 

Disney PhotoPass photos, dining photos and attraction photos in your account will expire 45 days from the date the photo was taken. If you would like to extend the expiration date to 60 days from the date the photo was taken, you may purchase an Expiration Extension.

All photos in your account as of the day the Expiration Extension is purchased will now expire 60 days from the date the photo was taken (instead of 45 days). Expiration dates of photos may only be extended once. See all the expiration details here.

Make the Most of Disney PhotoPass 

Make the most of iconic Disneyland photo spots with Disney PhotoPass. Some of my top tips include:

• Add photo spots to your Park Plan itinerary, it’s easy to forget if you don’t add it to your list of must dos.
• Take photos in the morning, even before rope drop if possible. This way everyone looks their best and are happy and excited to start off. 
• Don’t be afraid of the look of the line to wait for a photographer. Lines in front of the castle can be especially intimidating. But there is often 3 or more PhotoPass photographers stationed there, so the line moves quickly. After all, it is one of the best places to snap a family pic.

How do I use Disney PhotoPass?

My first, best tip is to purchase your discount tickets preloaded with Lightning Lane Multi Pass and free PhotoPass. 

When you pre-purchase you not only lock in the lower prices of Lightning Lane Multi Pass, but you have the ability to snap pics with any PhotoPass photographer all day long!

How do I link my Disneyland photos?

Cast Members are super awesome at making sure you know how to download your photos after a quick photo session. There are a few ways to do so:

• After you take your photos ask for PhotoPass card to scan into the Disneyland app.
• Show your PhotoPass download from the Disneyland app.
• Show your previously issued PhotPass card, or even ask for a new one.

 

I personally prefer to use the hard plastic PhotoPass card so I limit the use of my phone (and battery!) throughout the day. 

How do I download my Disneyland photos?

After you’ve linked your Disneyland photos and the images have been added to your account (sometimes within minutes, sometimes hours), navigate to the photos section on the Disneyland app. You’ll see a grid of all your recent photos like this. 

 

From here you can select any or all of your favorites and select edit, save or share. It’s super simple to download in large or medium files and have them on your camera roll.

Some photos, like the one above are special images called “Magic Shots” and may take a bit longer to land in your account. 

How can I get lost Disneyland Photos?

If you lost your Disneyland PhotoPass card or don’t see images loading to your account there are ways to get lost Disneyland photos. Fill out the lost Disney PhotoPass form here. Provide as much details on the form, such as dates and times the photos were taken, and a description of the missing photos, like what you were wearing, who is in them, etc. 

Are ride photos included in Disney PhotoPass?

Yes, ride photos are included in Disney PhotoPass. Ride photos are also included in Disney Genie+. 

Best Disneyland Resort Photo Spots

Now we’re moving past the technical and into the fun stuff! Almost all the possible PhotoPass spots at Disneyland Resort.

Photographers move around often but some standard spots remain, including in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle and on Main Street, U.S.A.

I love trying out different locations and thanks to the members of my Disneyland with Kids Facebook group, we can showcase some of the options for you here.

Best Disneyland Park Photo Spots

 

• Entrance with Mickey Mouse flowers in the background
• Main Street, U.S.A. with classic Disney characters
• Main Street, U.S.A. with Sleeping Beauty Castle in the background
• At “The Hub” with the Partners Statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse
• Directly in front or to the side of Sleeping Beauty Castle

 

• Sword in the Stone with Fantasyland as your backdrop
• In the Tea Cup in Fantasyland
• Critter Country near Pooh’s Corner
• Near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Along the Rivers of America
• Star Wars Launch Bay
• Tomorrowland entrance

 

• Meeting Mickey & Minnie Mouse in Mickey’s Toontown
• All over Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Best California Adventure Photo Spots

We haven’t listed every possible PhotoPass spot in California Adventure Park, but our goal is to keep this list growing. Help us add to it and get started posing with the spots listed below. 

 

• Join Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse on Buena Vista Street at the Storytellers statue
• Meet classic Disney characters on Buena Vista Street, even Oswald the lucky Rabbit
• Grizzly Peak’s airfield in front of the airplane
• On Pixar Pier with Pixar characters

 

• In front of Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: Breakout!
• Marvel characters in Hollywood Land
• Cars Land main entrance in front of the postcard
• Cars Land Route 66
• Cars Land near Flo’s V8 Cafe with Radiator Springs in the background

 

• Cars Land with the racing cars and cool desert background, on the side of Flo’s V8 Cafe
• Cars Land with characters at Cozy Cone Motel
• In front of the water falls in the Grizzly Peak area
• Pixar Pier entrance
• Pixar Pal-A-Round at Pixar Pier

 

• Paradise Bay with Pixar Pier as your backdrop
• Red Car Trolley in Hollywood Land or Buena Vista Street

Best Downtown Disney Photo Spots

Many of us spend a lot of time in Downtown Disney. We shop, we eat and we take pictures. It’s great to see Disney embracing the Instagram life and giving us plenty of opportunities to snap a photo. And during the closure, this was all we could get, masks and all!

 

I love trying out new photo spots at Downtown Disney, here are my top picks.

• Various Disney backdrops on the windows of the old ESPN Zone building, west end of DTD
• Rotating Disney mural on the main window of the Old ESPN Zone 

 

• Downtown Disney sign, north of the Old ESPN Zone building

 

• LEGO store exhibits
• Anything with delicious food or must have Disney merch

 

• World of Disney Windows
• At the gates of Disneyland and California Adventure

 

• In the esplanade with various Mickey spots on the ground, at the center between the two parks 
• Under the Mickey Sorcerer Hat at The Disneyland Hotel east entrance

Which spots at Downtown Disney are your go-to for photos? Be sure to bring a good selfie arm, because there is no PhotoPass service offered at Downtown Disney.

Disneyland PhotoPass Magic Shots

Magic Shots add a bit of pixie dust to your Disney PhotoPass pictures. Each photographer and PhotoPass location has different Magic Shots to offer.

Be sure to ask around for a specific one if there’s one your have in mind. And please, share in the comments which Magic Shot you got and at which location so we can add to our list!

 

Magic Shots at Disneyland Resort

• Mickey Mouse balloons in your hands
• Tinker Bell in your hands
• Baby Groot in your hands in front of Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: Breakout!
• Baby Jack Jack at Pixar Pier
• Stitch being crazy near Hollywood Land or Buena Vista Street
• Cauldron with poison apple

Katie R. says, “When I go to each photographer I ask what magic shots they could do. Sometimes I told them to surprise me!“

 

What other Disneyland Magic Shots have you seen?

Best Disneyland Holiday Photo Spots

When special seasons or celebrations arrive, there are even more photo spots at Disneyland you won’t want to miss.

Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort brings along lots of rare PhotoPass opportunities with Disney villains and favorite characters in Halloween costumes.

 

The holiday season adds to Disney PhotoPass value with unique photo set ups, including Santa Claus, giant Christmas trees and more. 

 

I love all the photos we get during our vacations to Disneyland and watching the kids get bigger and bigger over the years. 

Disneyland PhotoPass Reviews

Should you buy Disney PhotoPass during your vacation? I say absolutely yes, but I have a few other reviews and testimonials to share with you too.

Loved it! Much better than our phone pics!  Shayla H.

Love the character pics! Especially in Critter Country where you can often see multiple friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. One line led us to Tigger, Rabbit, Eeyore and Pooh! Cyra B.

On getting to popular PhotoPass spots, we had [Early Entry] and utilized it. I’d say we were at that spot within 30 minutes of opening for hotel guests. Morgan N.

 

Sometimes I feel like it doesn’t work. I’ve taken way more [at certain spots] than what has shown up in my app. Rowena L.

PhotoPass photographer captured this shot—only Disneyland can make him smile like this! -Laura H..

*All photos taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers and used with permission, provided by the following Disneyland with Kids group members (in no particular order): Morgan Noll, Michelle Savary, Laura Hawley, Megan Atkinson, Erika Perez, Jatziry Mier, Trisha Moosman, Courtney Hennagir, Samantha Duffey, Kayla Saavedra, Jennifer Pardilla, Katelyn Furr, Brittany Lentz, Cyra Benedict, Limary Guzman, Krissy Baker, Shayla Holyoke and Niki Yamanaka

If you’re looking for more of the best PhotoPass spots at Disneyland, please add to the conversation here in the comments section. I’d love to hear what your favorite places are for getting that professional photographer shot at Disneyland.