While I agree that the Memory Maker is worth it, I'm gonna have to disagree about the quality and "artistry" you get with MM photos! If you've had professional shots taken that aren't as good as the Memory Maker photos, you need to find a new professional photographer!! I have had legs, arms and other body parts cut off in pictures at places that a well-trained photographer would never but off. I have several pictures with my feet cut off right at the ankle! It's an awkward picture at best. Plus I've gotten blurry pictures, pictures where we weren't posed to show our best side, dark pictures, etc... Yes, there are a few well-trained photographers (that were professionals before going to Disney), but the norm are not well-trained. I've had some of them not even give me direction as to where to stand. I am an advocate of the MM because pictures mean a lot to me, but let's be honest in what we're saying. These are not beautifully lit and posed pictures. They are candid pictures taken with a flash on the camera, by some person that was assigned to take pictures and had very little training.

I just got back from Disney and here are my thoughts.
First, when you get off a ride that offers photos, they scroll so quickly its hard to get through the crowd in time to scan your bracelet for your photo, and frequently you are put in a seat with other people (ruining a good photo, IMHO, because you don't want a picture of strangers) or you are in the back seat, and the photo has a great pic of the people in the front seat only, you only get half of your head and your 6 yr old son is hidden behind someone else's raised arms and smiling faces.
Also, not every restaurant accepts the memory maker. We had to pay more for the photos taken at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney.
They also don't apply to the kiosks where they superimpose your face onto character backings (like Avengers or Guardians of the Galaxy) which we had to pay more for. I think at least ONE of those per family should be included!
I do like the Magic Shots but they did not have a good selection of those. Only Tinkerbell and Monsters Inc. I feel they should have different magic shots for each park, instead of repeating the same.
Finally, I think for the price, they should have something at the resorts themselves so you can get a nice photo with a backdrop done when your hair isn't frizzed out and your makeup hasn't melted off, and your husband doesn't already have sweat stains on his shirt! Just saying!

We are visiting Disneyland soon but won't be staying in a Disneyland hotel. I understand that when we purchase our ultimate ticket we will receive a card but not the Magicband. How do we inform the photographers that we require photos and how do they know where to send them? Can this be done?

We will only be in the park for the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and will be on a cruise the next day with many of the characters. Is it still worth the price?

Can you purchase a memory maker and use it at both Disneyland and WDW? or do you have to purchase one for each? Thanks