*This is obviously just an opinion but I had to participate in this thread.
I think some people (of which I will not mention) are getting to big for their britches. It seems that the watermark issue is more of an ego problem than a problem of wanting recognition for their hard work. It's tacky to have a watermark on a poster and it distracts from the photo. I don't recall ever seeing a watermark on a poster of Miley Cyrus or Elle McPherson.....and I doubt the photographer is upset about it. When you give a CD of images or free prints to clients, do you have your watermark on those? I doubt it.
The OP made a valid request and I hope it was fulfilled.
OP....if you didn't get your picture that you want I will be happy to take one for you when I go in May.
although you didn't mention names, I'll reply since it doesn't take much to figure at least part of your reply is directed at me, since I've spoken the most on watermark/copyright,
anyone who knows me would laugh at your suggestion, because one thing I do not have is an ego,
just as disney must be strict in enforcing their copyrights and trademarks, so must photographers...if you ignore it, in most cases and then try to bring a case against someone for copyright infringement, your previous lack of enforcement can be used against you in court..
you will never see a watermark on a poster of a celebrity, because that type of photo shoot is a work for hire job, the photographer is hired to shoot the photos and the client owns the copyright, not the photographer, and since they are paid nice money for the shoot, rather than giving the picture away, of course they are not upset, they get exactly what they contract for..
but you will almost always see some sort of text on a poster of a celebrity so they are rarely word free
when I personally, and most other photographers I know give a cd of images to a model, there are 2 sets of files, one full size that they can have printed for a hard copy portfolio, and a set of web ready images with copyright/watermark on them, there is also a contract involved that clearly states what the pictures can be used for, self promotion only, no commercial use unless a new contract is negotiated between the model and the photographer, the contract also clearly states that the images can not be edited, cropped or altered in any way, including the removal of the copyright, which for the record makes the copyright infringement a felony...
all of those things are fairly standard in a contract between model and photographer in a tfcd shoot..
what I find really interesting is that years ago all studios included their name on the front of 8x10s etc, usually in gold, no one ever questioned it or thought it shouldn't be there until the proliferation of one hour mini labs,
although the OP made a valid request I'm fairly certain that most photographers, would react negatively if asked for a free picture, and then be told the person receiving it plans to crop it to make it look better per their opinion..
and just for the record if the tone of the OPs replies to me had not taken the direction they did, I most likely would have tried to get a workable shot when I'm at WDW the 13th thru the 27th
one last thought, I just visited your website, nice work, but I'd be really careful about publicly making the special offer you have for May, it's my understanding that the owners of the location don't look kindly upon people making profit off of their property and unique backgrounds...