How do you Handle it ALL?

[pinkdiamonds1007]

Maybe i am thinking this over too much, but i know with other trips we have been on we always seem to miss out on taking alot of video..b/c we always have our hands on our daughter keeping track of her..and taking still shots. I have heard on the boards that some of their kids favorite part of coming home was watching themselves again at WDW. How did you handle it all? Any advice? I am imagining my DH with the camcorder..and me with my digital cam..and the both of us running down Main street after our 3.5 yo daughter...both of us missing the experience b/c we are too busy video taping or still shot taking. * Probobly being dramatic..in fact, i am sure that I am. But any guides to how other people do their video camera taking as far as how much you actually use it..and if it is even worth bringing???would be great!...Just to ease my mind.

Signed..being dramatic from NY.
*lol*
Thanks,
Nicole

 

[DisneyTeasers]

It's so funny that you posted this topic... DH and I were just talking about this very thing yesterday!

We watched the videos from our 10/2003 trip when DS was only 3 and commented how we didn't really "remember " doing a lot of the things we taped because we were filming the whole time. On the flip side though, we have those wonderful videos of his reactions and have a moving record of just how much he's grown!

So, although we agree that this year we won't go too crazy with the cameras, I don't know if we will be able to decide how much is too much!!

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

Maybe you hit upon something...our first DW trip, should be the one we video tape, then we will plan another one..for a few months later..just to go and relax! lol

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

One handles the video camera while the other is taking stills. DH gets tired of it VERY QUICKLY. I stopped taping on rides as they don't change and we have them already, but I LOVE the videos of the girls. We OFTEN view them and LOVE them, so even though it's a bother sometimes, I HAVE to video tape. ESPECIALLY character interaction. Those are the ones that put HUGE smiles on all of us when we view them back home!!

 

[the kabuki]

Totally know what you mean. We're so busy while we're there , that I don't get as much video or pictures as I'd like to. I've found taking turns using the camera, then the camcorder on different days works good, but you will end up missing some stuff.
Just do as much as you can.
It always amazes me that we have all become so dependent (myself included) on these technologies, what in the world did we do before them??

 

[reeeoga]

Give the camera to the kid . Let your kid decide what is to be filmed sometimes. Then switch to someone else. You will be suprised at what your kid finds Film worthy and what you think is. Also film only a few things like the family entering the parks or other major things.


1:30 AM, Insomnia can be you friend

 

[princesspiglet]

We have a camera that can take stills and doubles as a camcorder. It is very tiny and can be held in one hand. It has worked wonderfully on all our trips. DH is usually the one in charge of it. We don't go overboard recording though. We will record her first time entering the park, character interactions, fireworks and any character dining. Most everything else is stills.

 

[buzzmom3]

I felt the same way last year when my son was 2.5. I regret not having the video camara. i would love to have his reactions on tape to watch over again. So, my solution this year is to take the camera on some of the days we go, like our first day at MK. I know I don't want to be the parent who hogs the characters b/c I have my video camera.

 

[dismom9761]

I understand completely. I was wishing I had filmed our first trip.I just don't see how I could have. It took both of us to keep up w/ 4 kids.My SIL took some great pics though. My favorite is at the parade in MK. My DD was 13 mths old .She is looking at Mickey and pointing w/ a huge smile and he is waving to her.I pulled it out the other day when someone asked why I took her to WDW when she was a baby and would not enjoy it.

 

[F1Julie]

I don't video tape. I would spend more time messing with the video camera than I would just enjoying and experiencing the vacation. I'm a single mom, so when we go to WDW, its just me and DD5. We have too much fun doing things to lug around a video camera. I take a still camera and thats it. I'd rather remember my vacation in my mind than watch it through video.

 

[MrsPete]

we have been on we always seem to miss out on taking alot of video..b/c we always have our hands on our daughter keeping track of her..and taking still shots.

I really don't see the point in video cameras on vacation. The idea of the pictures is to bring back memories -- a still shot, which takes only a moment, does that. Do you really need to see the whole two-minute Dumbo ride to remember it? Doesn't one good picture of the fireworks serve to spark the memory just as well as a tape of the whole show?

 

[monorailsilver]

I only bring the video for part of the vacation. This way I am not stuck with videoing everything.

This trip I will have a camera that has the ability to video so while I will bring the video camera for parts of the trip if I need to take a video I know I can with the camera video.

 

[dsnymomof4]

I am the official photographer in our house. On our trips, we always bring our video as well as our digital camera. I agree that you have to take time to enjoy the trip. But, as much as I would like to think that we will never forget all of these wonderful memories, the truth is that you probably will not remember years from now a lot of the "details" about your trip. Yes, you will probably remember seeing spectromagic, but will you remember the sheer look of awe in your daughters' faces as they watch the parade go by?(one of my favorite pieces of video from last year's trip). We enjoy looking at our still pictures, but enjoy the video even more because it makes you feel like you are there again! (and makes you want to go back even more!) I would suggest taking your cameras and getting pictures and some video, but don't be a slave to them. Enjoy yourself while you're capturing those wonderful memories that you will cherish forever!

 

[Kanga1]

DH and I just got back with our DD4 and handled everything easily. (I even had a day when DH was at a business conference that it was just DD and me and I still could manage nicely with both digital and video.) Here's what we did:

Months before our trip we invested in a very small digital camera and a very small video camcorder. We practiced with them regularly to get a good feel for them so we wouldn't be "fumbling" with them while in WDW.

We rented a multi-day stroller pass so DD4 could ride in that and we wouldn't have to be chasing after her or keeping up with her....or rather, she keeping up with US! (She actually preferred this...she LOVES riding in the stroller!)

DH kept the camcorder in his waistpack and I kept the digital camera around my neck or in my waistpack. This made it easy just to whip them out and turn them on. We took short clips of video whenever we thought there was something interesting or memorable going on. We never tried to tape whole shows or parades...I feel you would miss the magic that way, just short segments so we could "feel" the magic at home. We still ended up with 2 and a half hours of video and almost 600 pictures! It was great. We never felt like we were spending our vacation looking through the lens cap, yet we can still relive our vacation over and over again. And don't forget that video captures that WONDERFUL Disney music that fills the air...that adds tremendously to the memories.

Hope you enjoy your trip!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Give the camera to the kid . Let your kid decide what is to be filmed sometimes. Then switch to someone else. You will be suprised at what your kid finds Film worthy and what you think is. Also film only a few things like the family entering the parks or other major things.


1:30 AM, Insomnia can be you friend

I did this with each of my kids with disposable cameras, they each had one and ds was 3 at the time so I had an entire roll of film that was the backs of stranger's legs and bottoms!

 

[DiscoverWDW]

We have a relatively small camera that does both stills and video (on tape). I take the majority of the pictures and video for all our trips. The main problem I have is when I get home, I am in about 1% of the pictures so it's hard to find a picture of the whole family. My wife tries takes a few shots with me in it when I forget. My advice is to just take turns with the camera and you should get some good shots.

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

Thanks for all the advice..i know kind of silly ? to ask. Just want to make this a memorable trip. Thanks again.
Nicole

 

[StephMK]

I did this with each of my kids with disposable cameras, they each had one and ds was 3 at the time so I had an entire roll of film that was the backs of stranger's legs and bottoms!

That is hilarious and probably accurate of their viewpoint! LOL

It's not a silly question, I debated taking our old, heavy one since we were flying & it was one more thing to lug. We didn't take any rides but the parades are amazing & neat to see on video. Plus our parents have never been & nice to show at least clips of the types of things we saw. I don't regret lugging it along & plan to bring it again.

We watched one where I asked the kids their fav parts - my daughter couldn't believe how babyish her brother sounded then. We'd forgotten how little he really was. Our videos were more while we were standing waiting or sitting at a table reflecting on the day.

 

[pinkdiamonds1007]

That is hilarious and probably accurate of their viewpoint! LOL

It's not a silly question, I debated taking our old, heavy one since we were flying & it was one more thing to lug. We didn't take any rides but the parades are amazing & neat to see on video. Plus our parents have never been & nice to show at least clips of the types of things we saw. I don't regret lugging it along & plan to bring it again.

We watched one where I asked the kids their fav parts - my daughter couldn't believe how babyish her brother sounded then. We'd forgotten how little he really was. Our videos were more while we were standing waiting or sitting at a table reflecting on the day.

ooo..i just realized i have been upgraded to a Mouseketeer. LOL I am all excited now.
lol, so anyway..i am glad to hear that you had a good experience with your video cam. I think we will take ours as well, we are going to try and swing buying a smaller one before the trip, and get to know it. I like the idea too of giving my dd a camera to take pictures with their as well. they will be fun to see when we get back. I am thinking i will get her, her very own little souviner photo album and let her put the pictures in while I am doing our family album when we get back.
Thanks for all the advice everyone! Good ideas.
Nicole

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Rather then taping the rides, and parades etc. (after all if you want that I believe Disney sells videos that show all that, at least DL does)... I love to tape the kids when we go back to the hotel for our break or in the evening. Another fun time is just before going into the parks the first day. Talk to them for a few minutes each day about their favorite rides, favorite magical moments etc. Those comments are priceless and you can really see the magic in them with their answers and expressions. We also have a teeny tiny digital camcorder that fits in dh's waistpack, but we don't want to experience WDW through a viewfinder. Every once in awhile though you have those amazing moments where you are just soo glad you have it.