Do I REALLY NEED...

[mom2rtk]

I think we should ban together, I will be there December 8 thru the 14th and going to do MVMCP on the 9th. Was that one of your dates? We could have power in numbers lol

Ah..... bummer. We'll be at MVMCP the 14th and 16th. Any chance you're doing the MK on the 13th? I think the "Great Wall of Tripods" is a great idea!

 

[WDWFigment]

How early do you all stake out your spots? Maybe that's the issue. I never set up my tripod more than 20 minutes before the show, and at that point I pick a spot where I won't interfere with anyone else and where no one interferes with me. The longer you're set up somewhere, the greater your chances of ending up with someone in front of you.

The later set-up strategy is especially good during the parties, where it isn't that crowded (if you go on the right nights), anyway. If it's really a concern, just set up where no one can possibly stand in front of you (or buy a taller tripod).

 

[Docarino]

Ah..... bummer. We'll be at MVMCP the 14th and 16th. Any chance you're doing the MK on the 13th? I think the "Great Wall of Tripods" is a great idea!

I'll be there the 9th-14th, and probably at the MK on the 13th. I'll be on the lookout for a barking woman

 

[mom2rtk]

How early do you all stake out your spots? Maybe that's the issue. I never set up my tripod more than 20 minutes before the show, and at that point I pick a spot where I won't interfere with anyone else and where no one interferes with me. The longer you're set up somewhere, the greater your chances of ending up with someone in front of you.

The later set-up strategy is especially good during the parties, where it isn't that crowded (if you go on the right nights), anyway. If it's really a concern, just set up where no one can possibly stand in front of you (or buy a taller tripod).

That makes a lot of sense. But I honestly feel like the nights we will be there will be CRAZY packed. It's a slow-ish time of year overall, but MVMCP really drives the crowds. Since the party is held 4 times that week, everyone who wants to see regular Wishes is squeezed into just a few nights. I think if I wait that long, I'd be lucky to find room to squeeze ourselves in.... let alone the tripod! I did get a pretty tall tripod for this very reason. And the MVMCP parties we will be at are during the last week they are offered. I understand the ENTIRE last week of MVMCP sold out last year.

So I'm probably not going to be comfortable with the "wait til 20 minutes out" approach since our opportunities are limited.

I'll be there the 9th-14th, and probably at the MK on the 13th. I'll be on the lookout for a barking woman

I usually don't see THAT many tripods out. If you see some on the 13th, start listening in for barking! Woof Woof! Right now I'm leaning toward being right in front of the Partners statue the night of the 13th.

 

[Docarino]

That makes a lot of sense. But I honestly feel like the nights we will be there will be CRAZY packed. It's a slow-ish time of year overall, but MVMCP really drives the crowds. Since the party is held 4 times that week, everyone who wants to see regular Wishes is squeezed into just a few nights. I think if I wait that long, I'd be lucky to find room to squeeze ourselves in.... let alone the tripod! I did get a pretty tall tripod for this very reason. And the MVMCP parties we will be at are during the last week they are offered. I understand the ENTIRE last week of MVMCP sold out last year.

I agree with you that the MK is likely to be very crowded on a non MVMCP night that week. I was at the MK last Saturday night and despite the generally low crowds, since it was not a MNSSHP night, the MK was mobbed. They had added a second MSEP and EMH were extended until 3 am. When we arrived at 7:45 pm, Main Street was a least 5 rows deep of people sitting waiting for the 9 pm parade. Because it was so crazy, I chose to watch Wishes from Frontierland. The spot I chose wasn't great and I would pick a different spot next time but I figure that if I get even 1-2 unique shots from it, that was better than repeating 10 shots I already have and definitely better than fighting the crowds on Main Street.

 

[ColleenG]

Anyone going to be down Nov 2 to 10? Let me know and we can band our tripods together! Last year we went with my in-laws and DH and I were able to sneak off on our own to catch Wishes. So this year with 4 kids in tow and a double stroller. Hopefully we can stake out a lot of space.

 

[tlcmommyx4]

I usually don't see THAT many tripods out. If you see some on the 13th, start listening in for barking! Woof Woof! Right now I'm leaning toward being right in front of the Partners statue the night of the 13th.[/QUOTE]

I think that I can be there on the 13th and we could set up our attack lol.

 

[Groucho]

And what is your strategy for making you have an unobstructed view? My tripod isn't incredibly tall and the one time I did shoot HalloWishes, someone with a Sorcerer Mickey hat came up and stood right in front of me.

What I try to do is set up right behind a bench or behind a railing (the latter can be tricky if you're not there very early!)... getting some heads in is difficult to avoid. If you're willing to go to one side or the other, you may have more luck since most people will try to get straight in front of the castle; the problem with moving to the sides is that the trees can get in the way.

If you want to visualize the difference between your UWA and a "regular" or even a telephoto lens, try thinking about it this way: what the telephoto lens does is make far-away objects look large, and the UWA will make far-away objects look small. Remember that most of the fireworks are launched from far behind the Magic Kingdom entirely... if you're right up close to the castle, not only will the castle block most of them but an UWA will make them look pretty tiny in comparison.

For example, here's Wishes from the beach at Poly, taken at 115mm:

Note that the castle towers over the trees and the fireworks look massive. For comparison, here's a shot from one side taken with a 16mm fisheye lens (which is probably not dissimilar to an UWA at a wider focal length.)

Note that the castle looks not a lot taller than the trees, and the fireworks barely clear the castle.

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks for the post with the comparison Groucho. Maybe if I am lucky we'll catch Wishes on 2 nights and I can use the UWA for one and my kit lens for another.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the post with the comparison Groucho. Maybe if I am lucky we'll catch Wishes on 2 nights and I can use the UWA for one and my kit lens for another.

If you do, be sure to post examples for us like Groucho did. Those of us participating in the "Great wall of Tripods" need all the info we can get before the big meeting!

 

[ColleenG]

If you do, be sure to post examples for us like Groucho did. Those of us participating in the "Great wall of Tripods" need all the info we can get before the big meeting!

I definately will. I am hoping to use my kids and the stoller to "mark my territory"!

 

[tlcmommyx4]

Well I did it! I ordered the Tokina 11-16mm F 2.8. I hope that I can get this learning curve before we leave for CO. for Thanksgiving and then to off to Disney

 

[mom2rtk]

Well I did it! I ordered the Tokina 11-16mm F 2.8. I hope that I can get this learning curve before we leave for CO. for Thanksgiving and then to off to Disney

Yeah! Have fun! And watch for us near the Partners statue on the 13th!

 

[Suburbanmom]

Well I did it! I ordered the Tokina 11-16mm F 2.8. I hope that I can get this learning curve before we leave for CO. for Thanksgiving and then to off to Disney

Good for you! Can't wait to see what you do with it.

 

[tlcmommyx4]

Yeah! Have fun! And watch for us near the Partners statue on the 13th!

What time are you going to try and get there? I cant wait!

 

[mom2rtk]

What time are you going to try and get there? I cant wait!

We'll be in the park from early entry on, so I think we'll be ready to get off our feet early. I think we'll watch the last castle stage show and castle lighting from the same spot, so we'll just set up camp and stay for MSEP and Wishes. It's a girls only trip, so just my daughter and me. So definitely look for us!

 

[tlcmommyx4]

Sure thing! We will take the spot by storm

 

[ColleenG]

Well we are here at the World and we've been getting a lot of rain, so my new toy has not gotten used as much as I would have hoped. Even the camera hasn't gotten a lot of use. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny. We'll be at DHS. I'll use the UWA to get a shot of the BAH!

 

[mom2rtk]

Here's hoping for better weather tomorrow! Note to self....... order a couple more disposable rain covers for camera..........

Just remember........ some of the most stunning shots I've seen posted here the past year were during or right after rain. The wet pavement reflects colors and light so well!

 

[tlcmommyx4]

Here's hoping for better weather tomorrow! Note to self....... order a couple more disposable rain covers for camera..........

Just remember........ some of the most stunning shots I've seen posted here the past year were during or right after rain. The wet pavement reflects colors and light so well!

I would like to know where to get\find disposable rain covers. I thought you just used Turkey roasting bags lol