Illuminations and Wishes, where are the best spots to get great photos?

[MiaShella]

We're leaving for Disney World 2 weeks from tomorrow, YEAH!!! Whare are the best locations to watch Illuminations and Wishes? I want to try and get some fabulous photos like the ones I have seen around here, I know mine won't come close to the fabulous ones, but I at least hope they are great or good. How early should we claim our spots?I'm going to try some new things in manual mode with my camera on the 4th, and see how it works, and then try it at Disney. If you have any tips for shooting manual or automatic modes for these shows please share, I have a Canon Rebel XSi.

 

[Experiment_626]

One of the problems I've always had with IllumiNations is that there are many good places to view it, but no perfect place. It's just so expansive that it is hard to take it all in. The other issue I have with it is that I think the globe is a better idea on paper than in practice; it is a bit smaller than it should be, in my opinion. For me it is difficult to make out the images it shows. I can tell there are images, but not really what they are. My favorite location is at the "top" of the lagoon, directly across from the American Adventure. Get there early and get right up at the edge, so no one will block your view.

For Wishes, I like to get just into the edge of Main Street beside Casey's Corner. Anywhere in that general area should be good, but it is helpful to find a place where existing obstructions serve to prevent anyone from coming in at the last minute to stand directly in front of you. Anywhere in front of the castle is good (and there are other interesting vantage points as well), but don't get too close to the castle or it can block your view of some of the fireworks.

SSB

 

[MiaShella]

Thanks! Are there any other suggestions for great spots to get great photos?

 

[Golf4food]

In the MK if you get there early enough the second floor behind the train station looking out over the circle up Main Street towards the castle can be good (though the Christmas tree will block you during that time of year) and there are some chairs, too. Some might find that spot a bit too far away for photos, however.

I agree about Illuminations. The globe is a joke. Makes me think of Stonehenge from "This is Spinal Tap". They just need to get some midgets on a barge to dance around it, lol.

 

[RBennett]

I'll second Experiment's location. I set my tripod up at the front of the lagoon looking towards the American Pavillion and loved my shots. It's nice there because there is a slope down to the guardrail, so I set up at the top of that slope. People sat in front of me and it didn't block my view. I got there about an hour and a half before the show just to make sure I got it.

And then here is a shot from Hallowishes. Personally, I like it and all but looking back I would not have been upset being closer to the castle. This was taken just past Casey's Corner in the middle of the street. It was about half way between Casey's Corner and the center hub.

 

[MiaShella]

Thanks! I'm just trying to get a few different ideas of where to set up for photos before we get ready to go, we leave on the 11th, can't wait.

 

[Maggie at the Fort]

We just got back last weekend. For Wishes the view from in front of the castle can't be beat but if you have more than one night to watch and photograph the show, we found two other places we really enjoyed.

From inside Fantasyland, it is intense but you feel inside the show. There are fireworks going off on all sides of you and you can get some interesting shots. (But you can't get the fireworks and the castle in a shot together from here.)

Also, from the beach at Fort Wilderness you can see all of the higher fireworks. They pipe in the music and you can also see the Electrical Water Parade too.

The beach at Fort Wilderness is also a great place because it is less crowded. There is room to set up a tripod and not feel in the way or bumped in a crowd. Kids can run and play and grown ups can relax and unwind.

Have an amazing trip!!!

 

[Coach]

I was able to get some good shots from the top of the Contemporary. It's not often you can photograph a fireworks display from a higher elevation then ground level.
My DW and I planed it out so that after enjoying a great dinner at the California Grill we went out on to the roof to watch and photograph Wishes. I was able to take my tripod with me but be careful to make sure no one bumps into it. It's a long way down to the ground below.

 

[MiaShella]

Thank you everyone! I will write everything down to take with me. I plan on trying to take some photos like I did last night with our local fireworks, I tried using my camera set on bulb and would leave the shutter open for various amounts of time. I came out with some really neat looking photos. I can't wait to try it with the castle.