Taking gear on attractions

[Monorail Lime]

I am off to WDW next month and I've been anxiously wondering about taking my photography gear on the attractions. On past trips I spent part of the day just doing photography and left my gear in the hotel room while "riding the rides". Unfortunately we are staying at an All Star Resort this year and forgoing car rental which means every trip back to the room could end up being a 90+ minute bus ordeal. I plan to carry all my gear throughout the day to avoid this downtime.

I have the following unresolved questions that hopefully you all can help with...

1. Are there any attractions where carrying on a photo bag is not allowed?

2. Are the lockers for "all day" use or are they lost the first time they are opened back up? (I got burned on this at Tokyo Disneyland...)

3. What type of bag is most convenient for extended use at the parks? I prefer a sling-type backpack most of the time but I am worried it would require too much transition time when boarding sit-down rides.

I've narrowed my trip gear down to a gripped body and three lenses (17-50 2.8, 30 1.4, and 28-135 3.5-5.6 IS). I am not taking a full tripod this time around but might bring a Gorillapod if I can find the space for it.

Thank you for reading and may your days be magical! :wave:

 

[E P C O T]

Void.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I took a lowepro bag on my last trip and found it to be more than adequate. Comfortable to carry as a rucksack, protective compartments inside and individual pockets for my equipment.

The only ride that I didn't try and take it on was RockNRoller Coaster - left it with the wife

 

[krankenstein]

I take a backpack with me on everything from RNRC to Dumbo without incident. They do have lockers available for rent in the front of every park if you feel the need.

 

[C&B Young]

We had a small backpack, and on rides where it wouldn't fit beside me (TOT, RnRC) I kept it at my feet, behind my legs (put my leg through one of the shoulder straps just in case it tried to go anywhere!).

 

[Ravenscroft]

I suggest, for a bag, the lowepro Flipside 300. It is a great bag and is like a backpack. I carry one everyday to and from work and basically any where I am going. It doesn't have a rain cover built in like the Flipside 400 but you can go to Eastern Mountain Sport and buy a generic rain cover. It also has the ability to carry a tripod on the back so if you do decide to take the tripod you can carry it. I also like how easy it is to maneuver when getting on rides, the handle on the top REALLY helps. I think some of the other guys here have used it before and can tell you if I am just talking out of my tail pipe.

Bag:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...LP35185_PEU_Flipside_300_Backpack_Black_.html

Video of how to use it:
http://www.video.bhphotovideo.com/?...tory=dbfcdd7b3b45e575ced71fa23e962d4c8073b8c0

Rain cover for when you don't have a tripod:
http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3662371

Rain cover for when you do have a tripod:
http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3662372

 

[princess5195]

I don't have a suggestion a a certain bag I just want to say be careful with a back pack (or any bag for that matter). We were at WDW in September and were almost pick pocketed. My Mom has to use an electric scooter due to health problems and has a backpack type bag on the seat and I watched a guy approach it like he was going to take something. At first I wasn't sure so I just watched. He got really close behind my Mom, kept his face hidden and kept shifting positions like he trying to figure a way in the bag. After a minute or so he just dissappeared. We were moving so it made it harder for him. I was walking a few feet behind so I saw everything. There wasn't anything of any value (water bottles, plastic cups, ect) in the backpack so even if it was a successful attempt it wouldn't have been worth it.

I always think of WDW as a happy place and would never of imagined someone trying to pick pocket you there. I just wanted to mention it because I would hate to have someone's trip ruined because of it.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

I always think of WDW as a happy place and would never of imagined someone trying to pick pocket you there. I just wanted to mention it because I would hate to have someone's trip ruined because of it.

It IS the Happiest Place on Earth and that makes it an ideal place for a thief to operate. Where else on this planet are you going to get as many people congregated together, in a totally relaxed, care-free mood ? The last thing on so many peoples mind is their own security.

 

[Monorail Lime]

Thanks for the suggestions! I checked out the Flipside 300 as Ravenscroft recommended and totally fell in love with it. One of the things I dislike about my Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW is how easy it would be for someone in a crowd to open it and remove my camera without alerting me. The Flipside on the other hand is impossible to "ninja" open and I think my back will appreciate the extra shoulder strap by the end of the day as E P C O T suggested.

I had a close call a few years back that taught me to be very conscious of security and my surroundings even at WDW. I very stupidly left my camera bag on a bench across from Living Seas while getting the cliché 'monorail in front of spaceship earth' shot a few feet away. Someone made a grab for the bag but fortunately I turned around just in time and they fled empty-handed. Never going to make that mistake again!

 

[Ravenscroft]

Thanks for the suggestions! I checked out the Flipside 300 as Ravenscroft recommended and totally fell in love with it. One of the things I dislike about my Lowepro SlingShot 200 AW is how easy it would be for someone in a crowd to open it and remove my camera without alerting me. The Flipside on the other hand is impossible to "ninja" open and I think my back will appreciate the extra shoulder strap by the end of the day as E P C O T suggested.

I had a close call a few years back that taught me to be very conscious of security and my surroundings even at WDW. I very stupidly left my camera bag on a bench across from Living Seas while getting the cliché 'monorail in front of spaceship earth' shot a few feet away. Someone made a grab for the bag but fortunately I turned around just in time and they fled empty-handed. Never going to make that mistake again!

And this is the exact reason I have the flipside. I carry my camera everyday to and from work, and I live in a major city and take public transit. Generally no one knows what you have in the bag until you open it and pull out the camera. There is a lowepro label on the back but I cut that off when I got it. The major issue that I DO have with it is when you have a tripod on the back and you decide to flip it around to get the camera out, the tripod will hit a guy in an unpleasant spot. I didn't know that the first time and I can tell you I NEVER forgot it either. So for any guy buying it remember that.

 

[PhotoDave219]

.... All these stories are more reason not to carry huge amounts of gear. I don't advertise what i carry. Plain black strap. Tape over the NIKON logo on the front. Tape over the model number. I look very non-descript when in a theme park. Generally.