Getting great shots on vacation is something nearly every Disney visitor aspires to.
Whether you’re posting instantly to your favorite social media sites or looking for something special to take home and frame, there are some simple tips and tricks that you can use to get the best pictures possible on your next trip.
1. Wear Your MagicBand
Your MagicBand is good for much more than park admission. Keep it on you at all times and you can reap some surprising benefits. For example, your MagicBand will store ride photos for you as long as you wear it on the attraction. No longer will you have to make a fast decision about whether you really want that picture from Splash Mountain. Wait till you have a neat collection of ride photos and compare them all to make sure you’re really getting the best scream.
Just wear your band as you’re on the attraction and you’ll find your pictures waiting for you when you log in to check out PhotoPass pictures. Speaking of which, you’ll use your MagicBand every time a photographer snaps these for you as well.
2. Know the big PhotoPass spots
The best sights in the parks are nearly always staffed with PhotoPass photographers. You’ll find three or four on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom alone. Stop by and let these talented photographers take your picture in front of icons like the castle, Spaceship Earth and the Tree of Life. In many cases, you’ll find that they have fun props on hand. Sometimes they’ll ask you to do a seemingly strange pose that will later reveal a character in the photograph, like Tinkerbell above your hand or baby Simba cradled in your arms.
These special elements are difficult to recreate on your own and may make it worth the money to buy some of these professional shots. You don’t have to commit to a thing when you have the photographer take your picture, though, so there’s really no reason not to collect a few shots and see how they turn out.
3. Look for bored PhotoPass photographers
Sometimes you’ll see PhotoPass photographers in areas that aren’t prime picture spots. Here, they’re often looking a bit bored without the line that you’ll find in other places. These photographers offer an excellent opportunity to get some quick but professional pictures in. Feel free to make special requests. If you want to get a picture of yourself strolling down the street hand-in-hand with your little ones, go ahead and ask one of these meandering photographers to capture the moment for you. They’re usually happy to oblige and may even have some great suggestions for improving the shot.
You should also ask these photographers where the best spot is for a picture in the area. Though you may not see a big icon around, chances are excellent that the photographer knows of a few picturesque places that you would easily overlook.
4. Use your own camera but ditch the selfie
Disney parks are filled with people who are willing to take your picture. You don’t have to squash everyone into a selfie to get a good shot on your camera. Most PhotoPass photographers will also use your own personal camera to snap a shot for you. Some, such as those at a character meet and greet, are accompanied by another Cast Member who will take your camera and get a few pictures for you.
You can also ask nearly any other Cast Member to take your picture for you, provided that they’re not busy with something else. Greeters outside an attraction, for example, are a great choice. The Cast Member checking seat belts or dispatching the roller coaster, however, is not.
5. Check for Kodak Picture Spots
Keep an eye out for these little signs. “Kodak Picture Spot” signs will alert you to great photo ops that you can enjoy on your own. When you see a Kodak Picture Spot sign, you know you’re near something good. With the right positioning and a creative pose, you’re sure to get a fun shot with a beautiful backdrop. Often these areas have backgrounds that look bigger than they really are, simply by way of smart placement in the photograph.
Getting great pictures on your Disney vacation is easy when you know how to start. Use these tips to get some great shots on your next visit.
