Ashley,
PhotoPass is a wonderful program from Disney that allows you to leave your camera at home!
With PhotoPass, Disney has photographers throughout the theme parks. They will take your pictures in a variety of locales, including famed settings like in front of Cinderella Castle. They are experts, so you get really wonderful quality photos.
When you get your first picture taken, just ask for a PhotoPass card. From that point on they can scan the card to keep all your pictures in one account. Then, when you get home you can see all your photos online. You can also have multiple cards and merge their pictures together later.
Now the program is 'free', but of course when you view them online later (you have a limited time to view them) you have to pay for prints or a CD with all of your pictures. You can also purchase a variety of products, like mugs, photo books, stationery, and other gifts that have your pictures on them.
There are some other related programs, like
PhotoPass+ where you can have photos from Character meals and select attractions that take ride photos added to your account for an incremental charge. You can also book PhotoPass photographers for a personal photo shoot at select Disney resorts. My family did this, and the pictures are wonderful keepsakes that we still use to this day.
BOTTOM LINE: I think PhotoPass is a Must Do! on your first trip. Visit the site to see the current promotional offers, and take special note of the opportunity to pre-order the CD with all your pictures.
Write me back if you have any follow-up questions!
Have a magical vacation!