Disney World - What to bring

zackiedawg wrote:

A few suggestions from a very regular Disney World visitor...I go up there for 4-5 days every few months, as it's close by, I've got a resident annual pass, and even have a vacation villa on property to stay in.

First off, I always recommend bringing as much as you can fit into your travel bag or kit - unless you're facing restrictions in packing due to airline baggage restrictions or just because you're bringing too much other stuff, I would always bring my whole kit or a large portion of it, and just let it live in the hotel room...on any given day, you can lighten the load by picking the camera and one attached lens, maybe bring a second lens or two more along...leave the rest in the room. This gives you maximum flexibility to have the lens or lenses you need but without carrying them all over the parks.

Secondly - if you're going to Disney World for family primarily, and will NOT have any personal time or slow-down time to really get into taking photos - and if most of the photos are intended to capture family memories and family shots, then I agree with going with wider lenses, fewer lenses, and just enjoying the trip and the kids and the rides, and snapping a few shots along the way. If on the other hand you really want to take some nicer, scenic style photos to capture the parks, if you'll have any time after the kids are asleep to wander around the resort grounds (especially if you're staying at one of the Disney resort properties) and take nicer photos or slow shutter landscapes, night shots, etc), then I'd say have a few of your better lenses along...some families are forgiving of someone who is photography-addicted, and may allow you an hour or two of your own time to go off taking photos, while the kids or rest of the family stay entertained on the rides and such...if that's the case with you, then take advantage and bring a good lens along - Disney World has astounding diversity of subjects and styles to shoot - there's literally no type of photography you can't shoot there, and you get really nice opportunities with most - stage performances, architecture, night lighting, landscape, sunsets, wildlife, details, macro, portrait...it's all there. But if the family will be with you at all times, and it's their trip more than yours, pare it down and don't worry about it.

Third - bring a small bag alongside a larger one - the large bag can bring all your stuff with you to Florida and stay in the room, the smaller bag can come with you in the parks to carry the extra lens or two, and to throw the camera in for safety when you get caught in a bad rain or just want to protect it or put it away.

I always try to make recommendations that match the person going to Disney - because there are many different ways and reasons people can go. I often travel up there with family or friends, and on those occasions often will just bring my mirrorless cam and each day just grab 1 or two lenses - they dictate where we go, and I just snap pics opportunely along the way. Other times, I go to Disney with some photography friends, and the entire trip is about nothing but photography - we take all kinds of shots, bring all kinds of gear - I'll bring my DSLR and mirrorless body, plus upwards of 20 lenses between them, tripods, multiple bags, flash units, remote releases, etc. Still other times, I go up there solo, just as getaway time - I'll mix relaxing and photographing with listening to live music events and taking in the good food and drink, and meeting people at the parks. I won't bring as much gear into the parks each day, but do still bring a lot of gear with me, and can really take the time to set up long exposure shots on tripod, and wait for perfect breaks in the crowd to get a good shot of a building or landscape...I'm on noone's schedule and can spend the whole day going slow and looking for the shots.

Hope that helps! I just got back from Disney last week from a 5 day partial family trip - I brought the DSLR and mirrorless, and split duties between them throughout the trip - a few days I just had the mirrorless and 1 or 2 lenses, and on other days I had the DSLR and one or two lenses. I had some photography time to myself, but also a few of the days that were more about family time...and so less of the grand scenic photos and more 'snaps' of family and rides and food.

--
Justin
galleries: www.pbase.com/zackiedawg