Carrying a Vid Camera Around???

[DisneyBound2007]

What are your opinions on carrying a video camera around in the parks. My personality leans more more towards what we here at the DIS would consider Disney Commando. I want to see it and do it all and plan things out relatively well. However, I have not been HOME in 10 years and this trip will be the first one with my girlfriend. I want to document as much of it as I can as I don't know when I will be able to get her back there (hopefully she gets the bug as bad as I have it ) I have a smaller digital video camera, but it would probably need the little camera bag I have for it, which means I have to through the bag check line. My g/f may have to as well as she usually carries a little nylan back pack with her when on trips. We are going in Sept and plan on being at parks for opening so we hope this will not slow our entrance into the park up. We also plan on coming to each park more than once, so I thought about bring the cam one time and then not the other but am not sure what to do. I dont want to miss out on anything, but I don't want it to become burdensome. I want to enjoy the sites with my own eyes rather than through a 2.5 inch LCD screen the whole time. Also, when you go on some of the bigger thrill rides like, RnR and Kali River Rapids where you go upsidedown or can get wet, are there places to put the camera where they will be secure or will it just be my job to hold on as tight as possible. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MouseLover]

I suggest you take it for the first day or two, or to you favorite park(s), and leave it the rest.

I hate tugging a video camera around everywhere, but at the same time, I really enjoy watching the park videos for years to come.

Last time I was at WDW, I took the camera to MK, AK, and MGM. I had to have a little video of my daughter with the castle, and also took some video in a few attractions at MK and AK. I took it to MGM, which was a pain hanging on to on ToT & RnR, but I really wanted to video Fantasmic! I watched Fantasmic 2x, videoing the first and watching the 2nd. I did have to just hang on to it the best I could. My bag has a strap, and I wrapped the strap around my ankle on RnR, and squeezed the padded bag between my feet. (I had to keep my hands on the safety bar!)

My camcorder is a VHS-C and I probably won't take it in March unless I get a new, smaller digital cam.

I did not take my cam into Disneyland 2 years ago, and I really regret that now. My only video is from the hotel view across the street.

 

[seashoreCM]

You just need to do the parks twice, once as a photographer (videographer) and once as a guest. (And maybe a third time as a parent if you have a family.)

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

The problem with some of the smaller digital still cameras that also take video is that the video output is composite only. Composite is terrible quality (smeared colors) compared with S-video or component video.

 

[LindaOwl1]

Going through bag check will not hold up your entrance to the parks if you are there well before opening. The bag check area is open earlier than the park, and then you go to a holding area to wait for opening. I try to be there at least 30 minutes before opening so we're through bag check & in position to GO!

 

[ag2000]

My suggestion: Bring it with you on certain days and others leave it at the room. You could possibly leave it home for half the day but then what if something great unfolds in front of you, youll wish you had the camera. maybe yoiu and your g/f could take turns carrying it. you could also get a locker at the parks too if it gets to heavy.

 

[tiki23]

My husband loves his video camera! Our 1st trip was last year and we have hours of tape that is so fun to watch. (Same with DL tapes from when the kids were small - those tapes are precious.) He taped EE, which came out awesome.

This trip he's taking the camera - of course! - but has said that he'll only take it on our 1st day to each park so that on the 2nd day he can just enjoy the Disney atmosphere. He really does want to take it the 1st day in each park though as he has things he wants more/better video.

I have to say though, that the rest of us sometimes get a little impatient with him wanting to film everything but he's learned that if the ride line is short, we're not waiting!

Take your camera, pick and choose the events/attractions/GF reactions that you want on tape....and then put it away so that you can enjoy.

 

[amery]

If your intent is to live vicariously through a childs eyes while stolling the hallowed grounds of the world than havinng your vid cam with you is possibly justifiable.

Otherwise, it will just be something else that you have to keep track of especially when dealing wiht a water ride or another attraction where you wouldn't be able to bring it worth.

At the end of the day, it's risk versus award coupled with means of storage or lack there off. Pictures, films and there memories typically last forever as would the memories of the raging fit that you throwe should something happen to your camera along the way.

 

[Abby's Dad]

We will be going in September, and I just bought a new video cam to use there - a Canon DC230. It records to mini-DVD (the whole camera is smaller than my whole hand, must be like 3 x 5 x 2). Besides its size, the two features that got me were that it has a 35X optical zoom, and it has provision for taking still pictures (without taking them out of the movie later) - has a separate shutter release for still photos, and actually takes to the a mini-SD care, separate from the movie. To me this will be plenty handy, take it in and out of my bag as desired, use the regular digital camera when desired, and have a good time the rest of the time (I've done the pro thing, complete with 3 bodies and a limited selection of only 8 or 10 of my absolutely most favorite lenses - with film - OK, historical reference, but that does not refer to the stuff on bathtubs ). I think that whatever you use to record the experience, spend a lot of time practicing with it ahead of time, so that you are totally familiar with it and using it is second nature.

 

[tiki23]

At the end of the day, it's risk versus award coupled with means of storage or lack there off. Pictures, films and there memories typically last forever as would the memories of the raging fit that you throwe should something happen to your camera along the way.

DH had a poncho and a ziplock bag to put the camera bag in when there was a danger of getting wet. We used a locker a couple of times, too. It wasn't a problem.

 

[Cyndibear]

DH usually carries it the first day at each park too. We just love the memories it has given us the opportunity to re-live. One year he had the thing taping Splash, Thunder, Peter Pan, Pooh, and most recently EE. It's fun to "ride the ride" all over again. It does become a pain sometimes and we end up leaving it in the room towards the end of the trip and we always swear next time will take it everywere. That never happens!

DH just got a new Cannon digital camera so I guess this time I will be in charge of video.

When are you going in Sept? DH and I will be there 9/3-9/10.

Have fun!

Cyndi

 

[ransom]

With our small video camera, I had no problem bringing it around the parks in the small bag I bought for it. I didn't film every minute, though - far from it! I just got what I thought was important at the time. But it was worth it for me to have it with us at all times.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

I say if you're bringing the video camera, bring it with you as much as you can. Most magical things that happen in Disney are spontaneous and you would hate to have the camera back at the hotel just when you need it most. Case in point, sometime in the 90's my family and I were in Disney. We carried that thing around the WHOLE tip...and I mean old school camcorder that fit an actual VHS tape in it. Well, one night we went to PI and decided we could leave it at the hotel. That night, we went to the Comedy Club and I happened to sit by the phone that rang (I don't think they do that anymore) and they made up a song about me and my family and I would have LOVED to have that on tape. Now I always take it!! Lesson learned!

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We tooks our last time and I'm not sure it ever made it out of the hotel room. But we sure wished we had it when our son, then 15 months, had his first experience with Pooh & the gang at AK. And then later that same night, we wound up being able to walk in at Crystal Palace - and we would've liked to have that on tape too. Lesson learned: I bought a mini-DV cam a few months ago, it's really small, easy to use and was very affordable. We have to carry a backpack anyway and it shouldn't take up much room. We don't want to miss the same excitement and joy in our sons' eyes this time around. We're hoping to re-create CP with our younger son, who will be 18 months old. I hope he loves it as much as his big brother did.

 

[Robo]

I carry mine on selected trips, for recording selected attractions and shows.

 

[ltp74]

I used a waterproof fanny pack to carry my video camera around in, no problems at all.

 

[mdfdisney]

I always carry my video camera. Sometimes I keep it out for long periods of time and sometimes it stays in the bag for a long time, but always available.

I have a large flip out screen, so I usually hold the camera at hip level and shoot video while walking or watching. I've gotten good at holding the camera steady on a subject so I don't have to check the screen very often. That way I can watch and participate in what is going on without looking through a tiny screen or viewfinder.

I also bought a video camera that takes nice still pictures with the flip of a switch, so I only need one camera for everything.