Tripod at WDW

[Tigerlulu]

Ok I am getting ready to go with my 4 kiddos in a few weeks. Vacationing for me is MISERABLE w/out my camera so photography is very much a large focus of mine on vacation. I have a good travel tripod but I have also read that there are plenty of surfaces to use in place of one. Thinking nighttime photography and that I need to suck it up and bring the tripod. But will it fit in lockers? What to do with it on the park until dark?

Also, is set up around the castle at night a problem? I am concerned about the potential crowd. Thoughts? Tips???
Thanks!!

 

[zackiedawg]

If yours is a 'travel' tripod, it should have no problem fitting in the lockers. Only the biggest, heavy-duty pods, or full-size pods with large pistol grip heads, have difficulty fitting - almost any 'normal' or travel tripod should fit fine.

Setup with tripod isn't too difficult - just stake out your spot early enough, and try to put a little courtesy and logic into where you're setting up. If you want to reduce the number of people bumping into you or getting angry around where you are, don't set up in the middle of the road - rather, find a spot where you are right in front of a trash can, backed up to a fence or right up against one, just in front of a tree, beside the popcorn cart in a dead zone where no access is needed, and so on. By setting up in such a place, you're out of most people's way, and at the same time tend to have less people around you who might bump into the tripod. Stay friendly, talk to people who are settling in near you, invite them to sit in front of you and just let them know to try to avoid bumping the legs, etc...with a friendly attitude, you can even end up with some 'bodyguards' around you in the crowd who will make sure others don't impede your view or bump your camera rig.

 

[DSLRuser]

when we drive ( 1/2 the time) i take a tripod. but i never have taken it to the parks. It's that one extra pice of equipent that i just dont want to lug around.

Therefore, i dont have an propper castle night time shots. I am always looking for an open trash can, and wadding up napkins to elevate the lense.

maybe this march.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I can't attest to this personally, but others have posted that if you rent a locker and your tripod doesn't fit in it, you can leave it with the attendant who rents the locker.

My biggest issue with the tripod at night is that the darn thing is painted black and people just don't see it. Once it's set up, we try to stand around it in such a way as to "guard" the legs. So far, no one has knocked it over but I'm thinking it's just a matter of time. I don't leave the camera on the tripod while I'm waiting for that reason. It's only up there while I'm actually taking photos.

The funniest thing about having a tripod in the park? No matter how you're dressed, no matter what you look like, someone's going to come up to you and hand you a PhotoPass card expecting you to take their picture.

 

[wbeem]

The funniest thing about having a tripod in the park? No matter how you're dressed, no matter what you look like, someone's going to come up to you and hand you a PhotoPass card expecting you to take their picture.

This just happened to a friend of mine who was shooting in MK last weekend with her tripod. I just told her, "welcome to the club."

 

[Tigerlulu]

I can't attest to this personally, but others have posted that if you rent a locker and your tripod doesn't fit in it, you can leave it with the attendant who rents the locker.

My biggest issue with the tripod at night is that the darn thing is painted black and people just don't see it. Once it's set up, we try to stand around it in such a way as to "guard" the legs. So far, no one has knocked it over but I'm thinking it's just a matter of time. I don't leave the camera on the tripod while I'm waiting for that reason. It's only up there while I'm actually taking photos.

The funniest thing about having a tripod in the park? No matter how you're dressed, no matter what you look like, someone's going to come up to you and hand you a PhotoPass card expecting you to take their picture.

That's funny!
If I could leave it with the locker attendant that would be great! I hope it really works that way! I can't see leaving it at home but I can't see carrying it all day either. Thanks!

 

[Tigerlulu]

If yours is a 'travel' tripod, it should have no problem fitting in the lockers. Only the biggest, heavy-duty pods, or full-size pods with large pistol grip heads, have difficulty fitting - almost any 'normal' or travel tripod should fit fine.

Setup with tripod isn't too difficult - just stake out your spot early enough, and try to put a little courtesy and logic into where you're setting up. If you want to reduce the number of people bumping into you or getting angry around where you are, don't set up in the middle of the road - rather, find a spot where you are right in front of a trash can, backed up to a fence or right up against one, just in front of a tree, beside the popcorn cart in a dead zone where no access is needed, and so on. By setting up in such a place, you're out of most people's way, and at the same time tend to have less people around you who might bump into the tripod. Stay friendly, talk to people who are settling in near you, invite them to sit in front of you and just let them know to try to avoid bumping the legs, etc...with a friendly attitude, you can even end up with some 'bodyguards' around you in the crowd who will make sure others don't impede your view or bump your camera rig.

Thanks for the advice. I definitely won't be in the middle of the street--people would drive me insane!

 

[njtree]

Using tripod at Disney is gold. If your going back to the park late and then you don't have to "lug" it around. Stay as late as you can. Suggestion maybe send Wife and kids back to the room if you really want those pictures.


DSC04351 by NJtree, on Flickr

I have only had "photo pass" problem at animation resort taking pictures of Cars section. It was funny!


DSC04140 by NJtree, on Flickr

 

[Tigerlulu]

Using tripod at Disney is gold. If your going back to the park late and then you don't have to "lug" it around. Stay as late as you can. Suggestion maybe send Wife and kids back to the room if you really want those pictures.

Haha! I am the wife!!
And yes, my husband will be left with 4 kiddos while I go shooting. A lot.

 

[njtree]

Haha! I am the wife!!
And yes, my husband will be left with 4 kiddos while I go shooting. A lot.

my bad....

 

[WillowBelle]

One trip I lugged all of my equipment with me in the parks. It was just my DDs & myself (so no DH muscle). I rented a single stroller & just pushed my stuff. Got a lot of weird looks, but my body thanked me. My tripod weighs 8lb. add the weight of my bag and after a long, hot, July day, my body is typically screaming. It was also nice because no one had to carry their extras. The stroller did all the work.

 

[famousmockingbird]

I was wondering about tripods. I have a travel tripod I plan on throwing in, just in case. We will be taking afternoon breaks and coming back at night, so I can totally carry it with me then. I know i won't be the only one. I'm cracking up over the "Photopass" comment!