Disney Treasure Photo Package Review

Is the Photo Package Worth It on Disney Treasure?

Before boarding Disney Treasure, I was super torn on whether I should pre-order the photo package or just wing it and maybe grab a few photos here and there.

To be honest, I used to think cruise ship photo packages were just for families who wanted dozens of posed shots and stateroom door portraits (not really my vibe).

But I quickly learned during our week that with two little kids, there are SO many moments you just cannot capture yourself—unless you want to carry a camera around the whole time, and if you know me, I would rather keep my hands free for carrying coffee, snack plates, or wrangling one of our kids from the splash pad.

From meeting Peter Pan (my suddenly obsessed five-year-old could not stop talking about that moment) to the excitement of Pirate Night, the photographers seemed to just pop up exactly when things were happening.

We ended up with over 100 photos—many I could not have taken myself, at least not with everyone together and looking at the camera.

What Exactly Do You Get with the Photo Package?

There are different tiers: we picked the digital package for the whole sailing, which gave us digital access to all the pictures taken of us during the cruise.

If you want physical prints, you can get those too, but honestly, for us, digital was perfect because I can order prints from Shutterfly (or wherever) later if I want to make an album or frame some pictures for the grandparents.

You get all your character photos, dinner portraits, random candid shots around the ship (our best ones were from the splash pad), and even pictures taken on Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Disney’s photo staff has their own stands scattered around the restaurants and atrium, plus you will catch them walking around events like Pirate Night or deck parties.

I didn’t even notice half of them—until later, scrolling through the photos in the Navigator app, I found cool family pictures I had forgotten about.

Where Can You Get the Best Family Photos Onboard?

We had some great shots with Mickey and Minnie near the entrance to the main atrium—our three-year-old was covered in ice cream, but the photographer was somehow patient enough to catch one where he looked clean and smiling.

Pirate Night photos were a huge memory maker for us, especially because we did not know how into it everyone gets, and our thrown-together outfits made us look like amateurs, but the joy in the kids’ faces was all that really mattered.

I also love the photos from Castaway Cay, where my wife and I both finally got into bathing suit pictures with our boys (neither of us is super confident about beach photos, but the backgrounds are so beautiful, you honestly forget).

The splash pads on both the ship and at Lookout Cay made for some hilarious photo memories, especially with my kids racing each other down slides or collapsing in fits of giggles under water jets.

One simple tip: when you see a photo stand or a photographer, just jump in—we took almost every opportunity, even if the kids were tired or grumpy, and sometimes those were the cutest pictures of all.

How Does the Photo Package Work? Tips for Maximizing Your Package

The digital package links your room key (and all your kids wristbands) to every photo they take of you, so you just show your card or band whenever you pose for a photo op, and everything ends up in your photo gallery in the Navigator app.

If you travel with extended family in another stateroom, you can link your reservations so you all get your group photos under one package—really handy for getting grandparents or cousins in the memory books.

My biggest tip is to make sure you ask the photographers to take a few with AND without hats, sunglasses, or masks, depending where you are (especially poolside or during Pirate Night).

Sometimes, you won’t notice until you’re looking back that your favorite new family photo includes your toddler’s swim goggles or a pirate bandana you don’t actually want in every picture.

Also, check your photo gallery early in your trip—if you notice any missing pictures, go down to Shutters on the ship and ask to have them tracked down, before the cruise is over—Disney’s team was able to recover a few for us just by telling them roughly when and where we were when the photo was taken.

Comparing Disney Treasure's Photo Package to Taking Your Own Pictures

I am not going to pretend I stopped snapping pictures with my phone (honestly, no one ever does, especially when you have little kids who randomly do something adorable every five minutes), but I was shocked how hard it was to actually get all four of us looking at the camera or get the whole family in the same shot.

Disney’s staff was incredible at getting my five-year-old—who is usually too shy for group shots—to open up and actually smile, especially when Peter Pan popped in for a surprise hug.

Sometimes, the photographers even managed to make the kids laugh, so the energy felt really natural in the pictures.

My three-year-old would run into group photos with other families we met, and the photographers always made sure to check with us before snapping photos, making sure everyone was comfortable and included.

If you are a camera enthusiast or you love bringing your own DSLR, you can absolutely skip the package, but for us, the convenience alone was so worth it.

Photo Package Pros and Cons for Families

Reasons I Think the Photo Package Is Worth It

• Effortless all-family photos and candid shots without carrying a camera
• Covers the little moments at character meets, pool time, and theme nights
• Loads of magical backdrops (Castaway Cay beaches, themed ship spots, Pirate Night setups)
• Digital delivery lets you print only the photos you want, at home
• Great value if you take photos at most events and meet and greets
• Lets parents actually be in the photos, not just behind the lens
• Easy to link galleries with friends or extended family in other rooms

Why You Might Want to Skip the Package

• Can be pricey if you only want a few pictures or are camera-happy yourself
• Not every photo turns out perfect (kids will be kids, messy faces and all)
• Sometimes lines to pose for character or themed scenery photos can be long
• Hard copy prints are extra unless you buy a top-tier package

Packing Tips and Must-Brings for Getting Great Cruise Photos

One lesson we learned: bring at least one or two matching outfits for the big themed dinners or Pirate Night so your family can look coordinated and festive.

We felt a little out of place when almost every other family rolled up in coordinated pirate costumes or fancy princess dresses for dinner, but the next cruise we are absolutely planning some theme-appropriate outfits.

Magnetic stateroom door decorations make for adorable background in photos, and are a great way to meet other families (we got surprise door gifts from total strangers—and I only found out what a fish extender was after the first night).

For Pirate Night, if you forget to pack costumes, Disney gives out free eye patches and bandanas at dinner, which is a great bonus.

If your kids love swim goggles or pool floaties, bring them for the bright-colored splash pads—trust me, these make for the happiest smiles in pictures.

I also brought along a portable phone charger so my phone was always ready to take extra candid shots—nothing kills the moment like a dead battery when your three-year-old is swinging his pirate sword on deck.

One thing I wish I had before the cruise was a bigger magnetic photo clip or frame, so I could display some of our best shiplife pictures right on the door or cabin wall—something to remember for next time.

The Little Details That Made Our Cruise Photo Memories Even Better

It was such a relief that Disney Treasure never felt crowded, even with so many passengers, meaning we rarely had to wait to get a photo at the themed spots or character locations.

Our stateroom window on deck 2 turned out to be the perfect private photo spot during the fireworks, since our kids were way too tired to go up on deck—the port window gave us that magical feeling without the late-night overstimulation.

I learned the hard way to check the daily Navigator app schedule for photo ops, so we didn’t miss special appearances—Peter Pan photos are now legendary in our house.

Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay each had beach photographers capturing sandcastle moments, and those shots are now some of my favorite memories from the trip.

The photographers are usually more than happy to take photos with your phone if you ask, so you can get a few quick shots to text family members at home right away.

Another bonus: If you want photos with fewer people in the background, hit the beaches or atrium before 10 am or during late afternoon, when many families are at lunch or napping.

For anyone nervous about the price, think of it as bringing home a digital scrapbook of your vacation—and way less stress than trying to get all those pictures yourself.

I would absolutely recommend taking a little time to play fun games in your stateroom or on deck as a family—our kids loved it, and some of our favorite photos are from those relaxed game sessions, something you can find ideas for if you check out family board game night ideas here.

How Disney Handles Photo Packages and Digital Delivery

Your photos are ready to view on the Navigator app within hours of them being taken, making it easy to scroll through and share with relatives.

You can also stop by Shutters (the onboard photo center) to view pictures on larger screens or ask for help with downloading or linking your gallery.

Once you leave the ship, you still have access to the photos for some time (Disney says for up to 45 days), so you can download and back them up on your devices after you get home.

This system made it much easier than stressing about losing printed copies or worrying that my toddler would spill juice on photobooks on the flight home.

Family Memories: The Most Magical Shots from Our Voyage

I thought our best cruise memories would be the ones we planned, but the best photos turned out to be the spontaneous ones, like our boys watching fireworks out our stateroom window or our five-year-old so proud after mastering the Hero Zone obstacle course (definitely recommend checking it out if you are sailing with kids—be sure to also see some great games you can bring for travel with younger kids).

Some of our favorite prints ended up being silly ones—pool hair everywhere, sand stuck to the kids faces, all of us a little sunburnt and totally happy.

I love looking back at those, because it really captures what makes a Disney cruise so memorable—you do not need perfect outfits to have a magical time, and the best family photos tell the honest story of what your vacation was really like.

Making the Most of Character Meet and Greets with the Photo Team

On Disney Treasure, character meet and greets were a highlight for our family, even as first-timers.

I cannot overstate how crucial the photo team was during these moments—whenever our kids met Captain Mickey, Peter Pan, or Spider-Man, the photographers were quick to capture the big hugs and goofy faces we would have missed while fumbling with our phones.

The best part is that you do not have to stress over getting a perfect shot yourself, since the pros get multiple angles and candid laughs before and after the main pose.

For shy or reserved kids like my five-year-old, having a character gently coax out a smile makes for truly memorable photos—you really see their personality shine once they relax with a favorite character.

We noticed that lines to meet the characters can get long, especially for popular times after dinner, so grabbing some of the early morning or late afternoon slots will get you more relaxed, less crowded photos without a rush.

If you want to see exactly how many fun moments you can collect from these meets, the all-digital package pays off in spades.

How We Used the Navigator App for Photos and Daily Planning

The Navigator app was surprisingly helpful in keeping track of when and where to find photographers or where special backdrops would pop up onboard.

I set notifications for character meet and greet times, Pirate Night festivities, and certain deck parties, so we would not miss the chance to add more photo memories to our gallery.

My wife used the app to scroll through our photo gallery with the kids each evening, letting them pick their favorite moments before bed—a fun end-of-day ritual that helped us see how many memories we were capturing in real time.

If you have any confusion about which photos belong to your family (sometimes kids’ MagicBands can get mis-scanned if they are with a group of friends), the Shutters staff is great at untangling things so the right photos land in your gallery.

Ordering Prints and Sharing Photos After Your Cruise

We opted for digital images only, but for families who want high-quality prints, you can order them directly through Shutters onboard or later through Disney’s photo site after disembarking.

Some photographers had great tips for getting everyone in focus, especially in the bright sunshine of Castaway Cay, so those photos printed out beautifully for our family wall.

After getting home, I loved having full-res files to create my own vacation books with Shutterfly and gifts for the grandparents—something I would have hit myself for not doing if I had only snapped phone pics with low resolution.

One extra suggestion I learned is to print a few favorites to frame right in your kid’s bedroom—it makes those magical memories feel closer and gives the kids something to talk about even after the trip.

Why Matching Outfits and Themed Accessories Are Fun for Photos

We seriously underestimated how into themed dressing families get on Disney cruises—especially on Pirate Night and at the specialty restaurants.

Our thrown-together pirate bandanas looked pretty last-minute next to full family Jack Sparrows and custom Disney tees, but looking back, the photos still captured our happiness.

If you want to go big next time, doing custom shirts or matching dresses and vests is both adorable and a nice way to spot each other in crowded areas.

Even small things like special Minnie ears, pirate hats, or magical pins show up so nicely in the professional photos and become keepsakes in their own right.

I plan to order a fun family set from Amazon before our next trip, since it adds to the excitement and makes photo ops feel extra special for the kids.

How Candid Photos Add to the Experience

Some of the funniest and most real moments happened when the photographers simply caught us in the middle of melting ice cream or racing across Lookout Cay sandbanks.

If you are traveling with little ones, do not feel pressure for every photo to be a perfect pose—sometimes the wild giggles and sandy faces are the real treasures.

The photo team was also quick on the draw during Hero Zone games and poolside races—those bursts of activity can be near impossible to capture well on a phone, but the cruise photographers have rapid-fire skills and encourage everyone to keep things light and fun.

It reminded me of how our favorite family board games are never about who wins, but about those unexpected, joyful interactions, something that makes me recommend strategy games that encourage teamwork for downtime with older kids onboard.

Saving Money While Still Getting Great Cruise Photos

If you are on the fence about the price tag for the full package, consider checking out the smaller photo bundles—sometimes, Disney offers deals if you just want 10, 20, or 40 of your favorite shots instead of the complete digital album.

This can make sense if you are comfortable taking your own daily snaps but want a few professional pics from character meets, formal night, or the main dining rooms.

For families traveling with relatives or friends, splitting the package between staterooms by linking reservations can offset the cost and make it easier for the whole group to get copies.

We also found that if you wait until after the cruise to buy prints, you can better choose only the photos that matter to you instead of impulse-ordering while in vacation mode.

Other Ways to Capture the Magic: DIY Options and Creative Keepsakes

In addition to the professional package, we brought along a few disposable waterproof cameras for splash pad and beach use—those candid, slightly blurry shots turned out to be some of the most charming photos we got.

Some families we met on the ship also suggested instant-print cameras like the Instax Mini for kids to snap their own pictures—this can make for a great hands-on souvenir and gives little ones creative ownership of the memories they want to remember.

Another easy keepsake is to bring or make a custom photo album just for your cruise—letting each kid pick a few favorite prints to slip in the pockets and decorate with stickers helps turn photos into a personal project once you are home.

This is where the digital package shines, since you get to print as many copies and sizes as you want—no worrying about marked-up onboard print prices.

Extra Photo Perks for Families on Disney Treasure

One of the most generous features was that even after we left the ship, we had up to 45 days of access to download photos, giving us plenty of time to settle at home and sort out our favorites.

The memory-sharing factor was a huge deal for my extended family, since we could send secure download links to grandparents and aunts or uncles who were not able to join us.

For milestone events — like birthdays or anniversaries — let the crew know ahead of time, because sometimes they will go out of their way to capture special group shots in the dining rooms or even set up specific backdrops and themed props.

Disney is famous for little extra touches, and I noticed crew members offering to coordinate quick family flash mobs, birthday serenades, or even group jump shots if you ask for something unique.

Advice for First-Time Disney Cruisers About Photography

If you are cruising Disney for the first time, my biggest advice is to approach the photo package as a chance to free up your own hands and really be present in the moments with your family.

You will absolutely get more out of the package the more you participate, so make it a point to stop for photos, pose with characters, and say yes to the funny setups, even when the kids are fussy or tired.

Take advantage of quieter times (like early morning or mid-afternoon) for less-crowded backdrops and better light, and do not be afraid to ask photographers to try silly poses or groupings—you will be surprised which of those end up being favorites.

Remember, everyone onboard has kids so there is zero judgment if yours are being wild, messy, or just want to hold their favorite stuffed animal in every shot.

What to Pack for the Best Family Cruise Photos

Besides door magnets, coordinated outfits, and swimsuits for the splash areas, we found that a lightweight tote bag was perfect to keep all our accessories, goggles, and sunscreen handy for spontaneous beach or deck photo sessions.

Also, extra kids sunglasses and hats not only help with the sun—they add a pop of color and fun style in pool and island photos.

Packing a stain remover stick and baby wipes made it easier to fix messy faces and outfits right before a scheduled shoot, especially for younger kids who attract every snack crumb on board.

If you love crafting, bring washi tape or stickers for a quick DIY cruise scrapbook right in your room each evening—your kids will love decorating pages with their favorite shots, and it is an easy wind-down activity after a long Disney day.

Final Thoughts on Family Photography with Disney Treasure

Throughout the week, my family ended up with more frame-worthy memories than I expected, and the package made it easy to enjoy being both in the photos and present in the fun.

Between themed dinners, splash pad chaos, and spontaneous hero encounters, every day brought something new, and the photo package gave us a stress-free way to relive it all once we got back home.

I would encourage any family planning a sailing to give it a real shot—if you end up with a few extra silly photos or missed shots, those are part of the honest story and will make you laugh for years.

We are already planning our next trip and adding matching shirts, bigger door magnets, and some new games for our stateroom downtime—if you want a few simple activities that are age-appropriate and easy to pack, check out these relaxing games for family travel before you go.

Creating Lasting Family Connections Through Cruise Photography

Looking back, one of the best surprises about the Disney Treasure photo package was how it pulled our whole family into the frame, even during chaotic or unplanned moments.

As a dad and website developer used to being behind the lens for every birthday and family trip, actually stepping into the photo with my wife and boys was a treat.

Having the freedom from fiddling with my phone or worrying about camera settings gave me a chance to be present and soak in the kids’ contagious excitement, whether we were meeting Peter Pan, splashing in the pools, or managing meltdowns waiting for dinner.

For my wife, whose day job as a physician assistant is all about schedules and constant vigilance, this break meant more time laughing together and less worry about documenting every second—Disney’s team really did that job for us.

These pictures do more than just fill up a hard drive.

They tell the story of our family’s vacation — the magic, the silly mishaps, the surprises that turned out perfectly even though we had not planned them at all.

Best of all, the digital photos gave our extended family a way to connect, since I could send highlights to the grandparents and let them be a part of our adventures almost in real time.

Practical Advice for Maximizing Your Disney Cruise Memories

If you are planning your first Disney cruise, or returning for a new adventure with young kids, I cannot recommend strongly enough: treat photo opportunities as part of your family experience, not just something to cross off your list.

Every rotation restaurant, themed night, or quiet morning by the splash pad can become a highlight, if you just take a minute to snap a photo and laugh at the imperfection.

Take a few minutes each day to scroll through your photo gallery with the kids and talk about their favorite moments—it makes the trip feel longer, and helps little ones process all the excitement.

Do not stress over every missed shot or every imperfect smile.

The memories captured will feel even more special once you get home and see the trip through your kids’ eyes.

When packing, set aside a little space for those matching outfits, photo-friendly accessories, or a favorite stuffed animal that your child may want to hold onto for every character photo—it will all be worth it when you look back later.

And if your family loves to hang out together, adding in some lighthearted party games can lead to more great snapshots and happy memories, without needing anything fancy or expensive.

Family Fun Beyond the Photos: The Magic of Shared Experiences

For us, the photos are just part of the bigger picture—what stands out most is how Disney Treasure enabled us to relax, reconnect, and simply enjoy being together without the pressure of everyday routines.

My once-shy five-year-old asking for more time in the Marvel Super Hero Academy, my three-year-old racing down the Hero Zone obstacle course, and all the wide-eyed moments at character breakfasts: these are the occasions that matter most, and the photo team made sure we have them forever.

Our visits to Hei Hei Cafe (shoutout to Kevin, again!) became our daily ritual, giving my wife and me a little grown-up time and a chance to chat about the day over surprisingly great coffee drinks while the kids colored or played nearby.

It is little things like that—unplanned, magical, and made stress-free thanks to Disney’s thoughtful details—that turn a trip into a true family memory.

Looking Ahead: Planning for Even Better Cruise Photos Next Time

Next time around, I am definitely bringing bigger and brighter door magnets, prepping matching pirate outfits, and maybe even some custom family Disney shirts to amp up the fun for themed nights and group shots.

We are also going to sign up for a fish extender group before boarding, after discovering all the sweet gifts families exchange on board—it seemed like a creative way to meet other parents and add more happiness to the trip.

Another thing on our list for the next cruise: pack some disposable cameras just for the kids, so both boys can snap their own versions of what made the trip magical.

And yes, I plan to rebook the photo package—especially after seeing how much easier it made the vacation, and how excited our families were to get updates and new photos the very same day we took them.

Final Recommendation for Families Considering the Photo Package

Whether or not your kids are diehard Disney fans yet, the photo package takes the extra weight off your shoulders and lets you actually be present, mess and all, for the moments that matter most.

From perfectly imperfect group shots to silly nautical selfies and beachside candids, these photos are now at the center of our family gallery wall and get flipped through whenever anyone wants to relive the trip.

If you are debating between professional photos or DIY, my honest advice is to try it at least once—you may be surprised which pictures end up meaning the most after the vacation ends.

Sometimes the best family art is just laughter caught in the split second before the next adventure begins.