What photos to take in an empty MK?

[Wadecool]

Ok, another thread elsewhere made me think of a great question to ask the photographers. We have an 8:15am reservation at BBB in MK on our first day. While DW and DD are getting their hair and nails done, how much access do you think I will have to an empty MK and what are some good ideas of photos to shoot before rope drop?

 

[C&B Young]

I'd love to get some pictures of the Partners statue without the usual gaggle of people sitting around it. Also some shots down an empty Main Street USA.

 

[ssanders79]

For early reservations before rope drop only Main street is open. The pathways to each of the lands is a rope. We had an early ADR at the castle and there quite a lot of people milling around main street, around partners and in front of the castle. It is easier be the last out like WDWFigment if you want to shoot an empty MK.

 

[boBQuincy]

It may depend partly on the day, this was at 8:52 on a cold Sunday in February:

 

[Marlton Mom]

From my past experience they are only going to let you in as far as the entrances to each land (i.e. Fantasy, Tomorrow etc). Cast members at these entrances prevent you from going further and they do a mini rope drop at each land. I don't know if this has changed since. Perhaps someone else will know of more recent procedures..... but I'm betting it's the same deal.

That being said you can get some great panoramas on main street, the train station areas and the castle.

To give you an idea here is one of my favorites taken before an 8:30 Crystal Palace ressie.


Partners Statue, early morning by Marlton Mom, on Flickr

I think in the Magic Kingdom the earliest they let you in with ADR's for Crystal palace is 7:50am. This does not seem to be in relation to the TIME of your ADR, rather that you have one for before park opening. I asked a cast member at the "ADR gate" if we were too early coming at 7:50 for an 8:30 ADR and she said no we weren't. She did see my tripod and camera so I think she figured out what the deal was...

I would recommend coming at 7:50am and having ADR's for the 8:30 to 8:50 range before a 9:00 am park opening. That should give you enough time to play with your shot selections and wait for the few people that are there to wander out of your way. Do not try to do this with Early morning magic hours as the park will be inundated. We always make a Crystal Palace ADR for a day when the park opens at regular time.


Good luck and Great weather.

Marlton Mom

 

[NateNLogansDad]

How about going over by the Partners statue with a decent zoom. Lay down or just get low and snap the crowds as they first com into the park?

 

[DisneyChristmas]

My husband has often stepped away as I assumed an odd pose to get a photo. Belly down in front of the Partners defitiely would qualify...but the photos could be fun.

 

[maccagerl]

It's really fun being in the empty park!
After roaming around the empty park a bit, I returned to the Train Station and grabbed a few photos from there- cool to see the crowd swarming in, and to see the characters being led out to Main St, and Mickey and characters with the Family of the Day coming up the ramp to the train!
Here are some of my photos from that day, or you could click on the link to my photobucket to see more.

http://s26.photobucket.com/albums/c124/maccagerl/Empty Magic Kingdom/

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

I have an adorable (well I'm biased) photo of my DD3 skipping in front of the castle while we were waiting for our Crystal Palace reservation. I wish I had a wider angle lens and could have dropped to the ground so I could have gotten more of the castle in the shot.

 

[Mckymousefn]

It may depend partly on the day, this was at 8:52 on a cold Sunday in February:

Very nice picture!!

 

[Phil Cirrone]

It may depend partly on the day, this was at 8:52 on a cold Sunday in February:

This is a great photo.

 

[Phil Cirrone]

It's really fun being in the empty park!
After roaming around the empty park a bit, I returned to the Train Station and grabbed a few photos from there- cool to see the crowd swarming in, and to see the characters being led out to Main St, and Mickey and characters with the Family of the Day coming up the ramp to the train!
Here are some of my photos from that day, or you could click on the link to my photobucket to see more.

Amazing shots

 

[Mckymousefn]

It's really fun being in the empty park!
After roaming around the empty park a bit, I returned to the Train Station and grabbed a few photos from there- cool to see the crowd swarming in, and to see the characters being led out to Main St, and Mickey and characters with the Family of the Day coming up the ramp to the train!
Here are some of my photos from that day, or you could click on the link to my photobucket to see more.

Amazing shots

Sorry Phil, I don't see pictures or a link.