Do you take your DSLR with you to the parks?

[monkeybug]

I plan on buying one with tax returns !!
Last night my husband went to Best Buy and bought a sony cybershot (he got a good deal). I asked him why he bought it and he told me it was so that when we went places, like Disney scared1 where we wouldn't want to lug around the bulky camera or risk it getting damaged.
I was excited to bring it to Disney!! Especially since our trip will likely be a few weeks after we get it. I figured what better place to play with my new camera? I mean whats the point in buying an expensive camera if you can't use it to capture your favorite memories?
Now that I think about it more though maybe he is right? Maybe I should leave it in the safe in the room and just use it for when we are wondering around exploring but not going on rides or running with the rope drop crowd to Dumbo??
Is there a safe place in the parks to store things like cameras? I would love to have it in the morning (we have adr's for before the MK opens) and then stash it when we get into full swing, and get it back out at night for fireworks and stuff.

 

[disneyboy2003]

Oh no! What are you going to do when you see all the other guests running around the parks with their DSLRs, while yours is sitting in the hotel room in the safe?

Or, what if you've got a magical moment taking place right in front of you, but your camera's safe in the hotel room?

One thing to remember is that these DSLRs are very rugged! Photographers bring DSLRs all the time to football / basketball games where they might get run over by another player. Photographers bring DSLRs on assignment all the time to natural disasters, local protests / riots, war zones, etc. Wedding photographers carry their DSLRs all day for a full day's event and get pushed around by tons of guests. Paparazzi bring their DSLRs and get pushed and shoved by celebrities, security guards, and themselves. Those DSLRs are built to take a beating!

All the beautiful Disney pictures that you see on this message board were taking by folks who "took a chance" and brought their DSLRs to the parks.

I guess I figure that I bought my DSLR for a reason...to take pictures, especially pictures of special moments. Sure, there's always a very small risk of breaking the camera. But the benefits of bringing your DSLR are soooooo much greater! Just take the usual care and precautions when carrying your DSLR.


Edited to add: Oops! I forgot to mention that, yes, there are lockers available at all the Disney parks to store your stuff throughout the day. However, these lockers are located in the front entrance of each park. So if you're way on the other side of the park and decide that you want your DSLR, you'd have to trek all the way back to the front entrance to your locker, grab the camera, and then trek all the way back to where you were. Just a thought. But at least the option is available.

 

[monkeybug]

Oh good to know they are more rugged than I thought!! Maybe I can convince my husband that it would be fine for Disney. (but I'll leave it in the bag at sea world during the shamu show )
I'm sure with all the awesome pictures of Disney on this board my questions sounds super dumb, but I wasn't sure if people carried them around with them the whole time, or just brought them at times they weren't going to be hitting up the rides or chasing around kiddos.
I really do want to have it with me the whole time though. I remember looking at the photopass pictures of my daughter after BBB in front of the castle and wishing that I had been able to take the pictures!! Not that I'm some great photographer, but some of those pictures are way too posed for me.
My husband can use the cybershot!

Oh no! What are you going to do when you see all the other guests running around the parks with their DSLRs, while yours is sitting in the hotel room in the safe?

Or, what if you've got a magical moment taking place right in front of you, but your camera's safe in the hotel room?

One thing to remember is that these DSLRs are very rugged! Photographers bring DSLRs all the time to football / basketball games where they might get run over by another player. Photographers bring DSLRs on assignment all the time to natural disasters, local protests / riots, war zones, etc. Wedding photographers carry their DSLRs all day for a full day's event and get pushed around by tons of guests. Paparazzi bring their DSLRs and get pushed and shoved by celebrities, security guards, and themselves. Those DSLRs are built to take a beating!

All the beautiful Disney pictures that you see on this message board were taking by folks who "took a chance" and brought their DSLRs to the parks.

I guess I figure that I bought my DSLR for a reason...to take pictures, especially pictures of special moments. Sure, there's always a very small risk of breaking the camera. But the benefits of bringing your DSLR are soooooo much greater! Just take the usual care and precautions when carrying your DSLR.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

That's why I bought the DSLR - to take it to Disney! Seriously!

There may be times I don't take it to the parks but for the most part I carry it all day. Or some days are heavy lens days and others are compact and light lens days. Once you get used to it it isn't bad. And it can't do the job you bought it for if it's sitting in the hotel or a safe. I understand the concern of the expense but you have to weigh that against the cost of not getting that priceless picture at the opportune moment which is probably why you bought the camera in the first place.

 

[shawn68]

My DSLR is an extension of my eyes. It usually goes everywhere with me. I don't ever really think of not taking it with me wherever I go. I even take it with me to my job, because you never know what might take place, or who you might see.
I couldn't imagine not taking it to the parks. Sure there is a slight possibility that it gets hurt, but for all the magical moments you might miss without it, not bringing it isn't worth it.
Also, get the extended warranty.

 

[MICKEY88]

I carry two of mine around the parks every day, the 3rd stays in the car as a backup..
the twins and I will be at WDW the 7th -22nd

 

[monkeybug]

I carry two of mine around the parks every day, the 3rd stays in the car as a backup..
the twins and I will be at WDW the 7th -22nd

"The twins" I Love it!!!
Do you go on all the rides with them? The twins don't have issues with expedition everest or space mountain?

 

[KarenAylwood]

One of the draws to Disney for me is using my dSLR! I'd never leave it at home, and only left it in the hotel room once on our last 9 day trip (I was really sick and tired and couldn't bring myself to bring it... not to mention I had no inclination to take pics that day).

I say bring it. Bring a p&s as a backup, and tell DH he can take pics with his P&S

 

[Suburbanmom]

The only ride I put it away for is Rock N' Roller Coaster. And that's only because of the way the ride locks you in (over your shoulders). I have a gallon size zip lock bag that I put over it to ride Kali River Rapids and Splash Moutain.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I carry two of mine around the parks every day, the 3rd stays in the car as a backup..
the twins and I will be at WDW the 7th -22nd

The 7th to 22nd eh? So close to getting to see the one twin again. I think I'll be there a couple of weeks after you for a few days following one of my conferences.

 

[handicap18]

I've been to Disney 5 times and each time I have had either a film or digital SLR with me. I've traveled all around the world and have always had an SLR go with me. I wouldn't even think about not having my dSLR with me where ever I travel.

 

[MICKEY88]

"The twins" I Love it!!!
Do you go on all the rides with them? The twins don't have issues with expedition everest or space mountain?

I'm not as fond of coasters as I wsas when I was younger so that's not an issue

 

[MICKEY88]

The 7th to 22nd eh? So close to getting to see the one twin again. I think I'll be there a couple of weeks after you for a few days following one of my conferences.

that's too bad it would have been great to meet up with The Angel that helped me aquire my first A700

 

[vandort]

Why don't we state your question a different way? Does anyone NOT take their DSLR into the parks?

For me, I would honestly feel lost without it. In general, I put my camera backpack (with gear) in my car when I leave the house. If I don't have it with me, I find that I regret leaving it at home.

 

[KramBerries]

You've got to be kidding! I can't imagine anyone dorky enough to lug around a camera and a bunch of lenses all day at Disney World. Your on vacation, not some professional photo shoot. Have fun. Besides, the newer p&s cameras take pictures just as good as a fancy DSLR most of the time anyway.

Lug around several pounds of camera gear? What's next, people bringing tripods?

 

[Groucho]

I've mentioned this before, but I've had recurring dreams for, oh, 20 years or so of going to Disney and forgetting my camera. I think it was around the time I got my first "real" camera (my K1000)... always the fear is of forgetting an SLR, never a PnS.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Of my 14 day trip a few monthes ago, I carried my dSLR backpack with my D60, 3 lenses, 4 batteries, 3 memory cards, 2 tripods, and an external flash... I could not imagine taking a trip like that without that camera... I have all of my camera gear insured on it's own policy... It is only $35 a year, and it covers everything from accidental damage, theft, and everything in between.... I could drop it in the hotel pool and it is covered, no deductable... I did this so that I could enjoy the trip more, cause my trip last year, I was so worried about it that I couldn't enjoy myself... Insurance is the way to go for sure!

And, to the original qustion, BRING THE DSLR TO THE PARKS FOR SURE!

 

[hugo]

Of my 14 day trip a few monthes ago, I carried my dSLR backpack with my D60, 3 lenses, 4 batteries, 3 memory cards, 2 tripods, and an external flash... I could not imagine taking a trip like that without that camera... I have all of my camera gear insured on it's own policy... It is only $35 a year, and it covers everything from accidental damage, theft, and everything in between.... I could drop it in the hotel pool and it is covered, no deductable... I did this so that I could enjoy the trip more, cause my trip last year, I was so worried about it that I couldn't enjoy myself... Insurance is the way to go for sure!

And, to the original qustion, BRING THE DSLR TO THE PARKS FOR SURE!

Can I ask where you get insurance on your camera equipment?

 

[oregondaddyof2]

I bought the policy through State Farm... They were the only insurance carrier that would do the stand alone policy... I tried calling all the other insurance carrirers and none of them would do it...

I double checked last night, and I pay $43 a year.... You read that right, less than $4 a month... I have all my electronics covered... ie: dSLR camera, P&S camera, all of my lenses and accessories (flash, batteries, flash), my tripods, and I added my laptop and all of our IPods to it also... It has surely eased my tension level when using any of these things, especially when on a vacation... They said it covers everything 100% for damage, theft, or if I lose them...

 

[MichelleVW]

I've mentioned this before, but I've had recurring dreams for, oh, 20 years or so of going to Disney and forgetting my camera. I think it was around the time I got my first "real" camera (my K1000)... always the fear is of forgetting an SLR, never a PnS.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that has that nightmare!!

My kids like to tell the story of the Disney Meltdown I had when my batteries died during the Beauty and the Beast show one year. I flipped out...