Contemporary Photo Opps

[fan1080]

I remember reading here that someone managed to get a unique shot from the Contemporary. I think it was from the fire escape/outside stairwell from a fairly high floor without going to the top floor observation deck.

Can someone clarify/confirm this location. And, is it posible to get to the top floor observation deck from a lower floor fire escape/stairwell?

 

[YEKCIM]

I did this back in July. We were not staying at the CR, but explained to the guard at the parking lot guard shack what we wanted to do and he passed us on in w/no problems. We took the interior elevator to, IIRC, the 8th or 9th floor, then out the door at the end of the "hallway" to the stairwell door. We hiked up a few floors for a better vantage point, but not all the way to the top.

Note that the door leading from the interior to the stairwell will lock behind you (or at least it did in our case) so you'll have to hike all the way back down to the ground to get out! Well worth the effort, but Idiot Photographer (me) forgot to check his ISO and everything was shot at 1600. I coulda' kicked myself.

DO bring a tripod if you are shooting night or early morning, which is what we did.

Here are a couple from that early morning adventure:

~YEKCIM

 

[fan1080]

Thanks, YEKCIM. Too bad about the high iso setting, but the pics turned out quite nice regardless.

What is "IIRC"? Do you know if the stairwell leads all the way to the top observation deck?

 

[YEKCIM]

Thanks, YEKCIM. Too bad about the high iso setting, but the pics turned out quite nice regardless.

What is "IIRC"? Do you know if the stairwell leads all the way to the top observation deck?

IIRC = "If I Recall Correctly", AFAIK...

I'm an old geezer, so hiking up to the top floor was not something that appealed to me. The above were taken around the 10th or 11th, IIRC. That was sufficiently high, but that is JMHO.

~YEKCIM

 

[boBQuincy]

I took some photos from the fire escape landings in February. IIRC the normal elevators only go as high as the 12th floor, 13 and 14 are concierge, 15 is California Grille.

As on the other floors, I would expect a door that is locked on the top floor. The view from the 12th floor is pretty good, it's not much better at CG and probably not worth the hike.

The landings are frequented by a lot of birds and I wouldn't want to brace my camera on the railings, if you get the idea.

 

[Dznefreek]

10th Floor NW Stair well . . . . I think it was me

 

[boBQuincy]

Those close-ups of Cindy's castle are really neat! Here's the other end of the lens range, 10 mm.

 

[ukcatfan]

Do you know if the stairwell leads all the way to the top observation deck?

As on the other floors, I would expect a door that is locked on the top floor. The view from the 12th floor is pretty good, it's not much better at CG and probably not worth the hike.

It does go up to the top, but you cannot get in. It is locked. The last time I was up there, there was a warning sign that the door would lock behind you if you went out it. I agree that the view is not really that much better anyway. The view from the MK side of the platform is a little better though.

Kevin

 

[Groucho]

I did some back in January... YECKIM's turned out much nicer, he clearly picked a better time of the day with the nice shadows and lighting.

I think I went out the 12th floor fire door (which someone had propped open with a noisemaker - this was the morning on January 1st) and climbed the stairs to the 14th floor. If the door wasn't propped open, you'd have to walk all the way down.

It was kind of a dreary morning, so the colors are a little bland even after a little "vibrance" adjustment in Lightroom.

I could also see the North Wing from there - which is now demolished to make way for the DVC add-on. YEAH!!!

 

[Gdad]

Well I just made this trek a couple nights ago so I will add my two cents...

I went immediately after the park closed one night as I wanted to get it illuminated as much as possible. This actually helped because the California Grill was still open- So I did not have to hike down the steps. As was described I took the elevator to the 11th Floor- and hiked up 3 floors to the roof (15th Floor needs a reservation, 12 & 14 need a room key- there is no 13). The NW stairwell ends on the observation deck that connects to the restaurant. There were a few people wandering out for a look after a late meal around 10:00 so when I was done I just went into the restaurant (the door was kind of in the back by the restrooms) around the corner and down the elevator. I even spoke with the host in the California Grill for a moment- he asked how my meal was and I told him we (My 6yo DD was with me) were just taking a few pictures and he was fine. (Camryn was looking over her shoulder the whole way out thinking the mouse police would be after us. )

I used a 70-200/f2.8vr lens- it was all I took and I wished I had brought something wider also- I could not get the castle and space mountain in the same frame. I also only brought a very light weight tripod- definately my biggest mistake- it was way insufficient for the weight of the camera and lens and wind on the roof. I will probably give it another go in the near future but here is what I came back with on my first try.

I would like to know if anyone has ever shot Wishes from up there- or even watched it- I wonder is it crowded?

 

[ukcatfan]

Awesome Jeff!!!!

Kevin

 

[Dznefreek]

I would like to know if anyone has ever shot Wishes from up there- or even watched it- I wonder is it crowded?

I have watched it from here and the 4th floor many times, never really crowded.

Oh and great pictures. . . .

 

[boBQuincy]

I would like to know if anyone has ever shot Wishes from up there- (California Grille outdoor deck) or even watched it- I wonder is it crowded?
]

Yep, we watched it from the deck a few weeks ago and took some photos. It was a very stormy evening and many people did not venture outside the restaurant. By the time "Wishes" started the rain was down to a slight drizzle so I grabbed my umbrella (kept it over the camera, not over me) and took some photos.
They were not a good as I wanted, partly due to all the fog and rain in the air I guess.
The restaurant was not crowded, the deck even less so, but during a busy season I bet it's difficult to find a good spot at the last minute.

Btw, there is also a deck on the opposite side with a view of the rest of the World, although everything is far away.

 

[Gdad]

It's interesting how the fireworks are staged to to frame the castle when looking right down Main Street but go askew when viewed from just about anywhere else. When we went to MNSSHP last week we thought we had a good spot and most of the fireworks ended up off to the side of us behind some trees.