For anyone looking to time their castle photos to avoid the crane: Looks like they tuck the crane away behind the castle sometime before wishes, then it goes back up after the fireworks are done.
I have a mid day photo of the Mickey and Minnie topiaries (by the rose garden heading into Tomorrowland) and the castle is in the background. Another one from just in front of castle. I recall the time because we had just finished eating at BOG which we arrived at 11:15 and finished a bit after noon. Took them last Thursday 2/19. No crane in photos. I even zoomed in to look closer for it being "hidden". Maybe I just got lucky, I really have no idea, but definitely no visible cranes in any of my photos.