Tripod or no?

Do you bring a tripod?

  • Every day

  • Some Parks

  • Never


Results are only viewable after voting.

DisneyFreak06

DIS Veteran
Joined
Oct 17, 2006
How many of you bring a tripod to the parks with you? I've brought one a few times, but only once brought it in to the parks. That was in 2007 when I was both brand new into SLR photography and only on my second trip to WDW. What a newb! I have used it in the resort to take some pictures. Is it worth the hassle? I'm going March 17-24 in case that helps.
 
I was in the same boat when we went to the parks. I am so disappointed that I didn't at least take a tripod into the parks a few days. I kept looking for things to set my camera on to take pics, and it was just a huge pain. Next time I will definitely be planning a few days to take it with me, at least 1 day in each park.
 
I used too and used it a lot. But with two kids and all their stuff, I usually leave it for space issues.
 
I take it when I know I will be there after sunset, or for Wishes or Illuminations. We usually plan out our trips really well, so I know if I have time to use it, then decided to bring it. When I spend a whole day at the park I'll put the tripod in a locker for the day and take it out at night. Also, if you park hop, you only pay for the locker once. At the next park you would just put a deposit down, which you get back when you return the locker key. Just keep the receipt from the first park.
 


2 trips, brought full dSLR with tripod on the trip. First trip, lugged the tripod to a few dinners, but never to roam around the park. It was really only useful for a couple evening shots, done with a rear curtain flash.
Second trip, tired of lugging it around, only pulled it 1 or 2 times for shots at the resort. Really, not necessary at all.
Third trip, brought gorilla pod with RX100. Thus, fit in my pocket. Used it for Epcot Illuminations twice.

So IMHO... Good to bring along some version of a tripod if you want to shoot fireworks. Otherwise, you can probably live without it. And not bad to explore smaller tripods like gorillapods.
 
To me it depends on what i plan on shooting that day and how late I plan on staying as to whether or not i take both of mine.

I have 2 tripods, a full adjustable and a table top. The table top is in my bag all the time. If i am going to take any kind of long exposure shots then yes the adjustable goes in with me. It will collapse to about 2 feet and is not a problem to carry around and go on any rides with until needed. I have done this quite a few times. I love taking empty park pictures. I have also done some fireworks pics.

If you are planning on shooting the parades and shows then you have to worry about everyone hitting the legs when it gets crowded and it does.

The week you are going should not be that bad. The 2 weeks after your week are when most of the schools go on spring break. That will bring those crowds.
 
In the day I would leave at the room. When you going back to the park at night most likely for some night time photography then it is a must. Second trip to a park in the day I would have my tripod with me.

-Dan
 


Similarly to others, I bring tripods sometimes, depending on what I'm going to be shooting. I didn't answer in the poll, because none of the answers quite matched my use. I mostly bring tripods to parks when I know I intend to do long-exposure shots, which is most often at night. If I won't be heading back to my room during the day, I'll put the tripod in a locker earlier in the day and retrieve it at night, otherwise I'll head back to the room and bring it with me when I head back into the parks. Occasionally, I've shot daytime long exposure shots in the parks, during which I will obviously bring the tripod as well. I've brought my tripod to all 4 parks at one time or another - I'd say Epcot probably gets the tripod treatment the most, followed by Magic Kingdom. I never use a tripod just for standard shooting - only long exposures that exceed the hand-holdable limit greater than 1 second.
 
I don't take a tripod into the parks at all. I do a ton of hand held low light shooting and the only thing I'd really use the tripod for is fireworks. And honestly, there are so many amazing shots of Disney fireworks already out there to enjoy that I don't even worry about getting those myself.
 
Last trip I bought a Slik Sprint Pro which is small and light. It was attached to my camera bag during the day and was usex at night for long exposures. We stay in the parks all day so I bring it with me.
 
I only get to WDW approximately every 1 1/2 years and since I'm not always in control of our intinerary through the parks, I carry it with me at all times. I'm always afraid I will only have one opportunity to get a shot that is on my shotlist and if I don't have the tripod I will miss it. Now saying that, the question is how do I carry it? I purchased a travel (nearly full size) tripod that weighs less than 3 lbs. and folds flat. It fits conveniently in the water bottle netting on the side of my camera backpack. I have a strap around my back pack to stabilize it and for additional security. Its always on my camera bag even at home. I also have a gorillapod that hangs on the DW's bag. I will admit that I am a pack mule, but its all part of my Disney experience. Whatever you want your experience to be is what you should carry. For me, photography is a huge part of my trips.


Tripod Backpack by Terry McGraw Photography, on Flickr
 
Whether you should carry a tripod is a personal decision based upon a myriad of factors that are unique to you. I don't really think a poll is going to appropriately answer it for you.

There are compelling reasons for and against carrying them. The key, though, is your circumstances when you visit.
 
Whether you should carry a tripod is a personal decision based upon a myriad of factors that are unique to you. I don't really think a poll is going to appropriately answer it for you.

There are compelling reasons for and against carrying them. The key, though, is your circumstances when you visit.

Perfectly stated. I carry mine, but that's because of the kind of visit I have planned. I can drive there when I want, so it's not like I'm planning a major family vacation. If I were, then my priorities could be different.

It comes down to your priorities. What kind of vacation do you want to have, and what compromises are you willing to make?
 
It comes down to your priorities. What kind of vacation do you want to have, and what compromises are you willing to make?

Very true. If I were going to WDW before I had kids, or if I go after they are grown, I could see taking more gear into the parks and having a much different approach to photography when I'm at WDW than I do. Right now my focus is on my kids experiences at the park rather than the park itself. If I didn't have the kids my approach would be much different.
 
Thanks everyone. I actually think the problem is my tripod. It does not fold down to smaller than 2 feet plus and does not fit in my bag. I think I will look into a smaller one and go from there. For me Disney is the whole deal but the photography is a big part or it. My trip reports are basically slide shows with captions. Lol.

I just value what of all of you think sp that is why I came to you for advice. :)
 
I'm surprised nobody has brought up bringing a monopod. I actually got far more use out of my monopod than my tripod. The funny thing is that I didn't use if for my camera much, but used it with my GoPro quite often. We almost always had the GoPro attached to a stroller for walk around shots, and would attach it to my monopod when we went on rides. The videos I got on Big Thunder Mountain were worth it alone.

Luckily we had a stroller for my nieces and I usually put both in the storage area which was convenient, but I still didn't use it much, because the trip was about them and the temps were in the high 90s most days. For our trip this summer I plan on spending some more time shooting for myself and expect to using it more.

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards
 
In the day I would leave at the room. When you going back to the park at night most likely for some night time photography then it is a must. Second trip to a park in the day I would have my tripod with me.

-Dan

Yes! This is what I did, that way I could get firework photos. I didn't bring mine to Epcot, & during the fireworks I wished I had!! But I did get great pictures at the Magic Kingdom.
 
I'm surprised nobody has brought up bringing a monopod. I actually got far more use out of my monopod than my tripod. The funny thing is that I didn't use if for my camera much, but used it with my GoPro quite often. We almost always had the GoPro attached to a stroller for walk around shots, and would attach it to my monopod when we went on rides. The videos I got on Big Thunder Mountain were worth it alone.

Luckily we had a stroller for my nieces and I usually put both in the storage area which was convenient, but I still didn't use it much, because the trip was about them and the temps were in the high 90s most days. For our trip this summer I plan on spending some more time shooting for myself and expect to using it more.

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards

My travel tripod converts to a monopod, and the reason I didn't bring it up was I never found a use for it using still photography while at WDW. As you state, if you use video (DSLR, GoPro, etc.), it would be useful.
 
I'm surprised nobody has brought up bringing a monopod. I actually got far more use out of my monopod than my tripod. The funny thing is that I didn't use if for my camera much, but used it with my GoPro quite often. We almost always had the GoPro attached to a stroller for walk around shots, and would attach it to my monopod when we went on rides. The videos I got on Big Thunder Mountain were worth it alone.

Luckily we had a stroller for my nieces and I usually put both in the storage area which was convenient, but I still didn't use it much, because the trip was about them and the temps were in the high 90s most days. For our trip this summer I plan on spending some more time shooting for myself and expect to using it more.

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards

A monopod is still susceptible to shake or blur. If you want a stable platform, you want a tripod.
 
wbeem said:
A monopod is still susceptible to shake or blur. If you want a stable platform, you want a tripod.

Completely agree, especially at night, but a monopod can still be a decent compromise and easier to use if your with your family. For photos tripods are the way to go, but if you are shooting much video a monopod is nice.

On our last trip a tripod just wasn't very practical. Maybe it was just the fact that we went in June (hi 90s) with crowded parks and on my brothers family schedule, but the tripod was too much of a hassle. My next trip, I plan on blocking out some time for myself and hope to use my tripod much more.

Sent from my iPad mini using DISBoards
 

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