Wishes/Illuiminations Photo Op Locations?!?!?!?

[AUBandPilot]

I'm a newbie here so bare with me.

I've got a business trip to Orlando 11/14-11/19(Luck me) and I'm staying at CBR for $79(Lucky me again). I'm wanting the best locations for photos of Wishes and Illuminations. For Illuminations I will be in the park(of course), but for Wishes I doubt that I will be in MK. I would like locations that are relativly less crowded and with wide unobstructed views. I have already viewed MK fireworks from on top of the Contempory, but want to know if there are any better spots. I'm wanting to be able to setup a tripod and get some good professional photos. Thanks in Advance, AUBandPilot

 

[WDWScottieBoy]

For Wishes, you can get great shots of the the park overview from atop the Contemporary Resort. If you want a nice shot with MSUSA, get there really early and head to the train station for a spot. My personal favorite is around the hub where the Partners statue is, great place for photos. You might also want to look into the Wishes cruise on the lake.

For Illuminations, directly across from the America pavillion is a great spot. Anywhere around the World Showcase provides great shots for pictures, just depends on where you'd like to be during it. I find the above mentioned spot to be the best although from the France/England part of WS, you can get a good view as well. Check which way the wind is blowing and go according to that as well!

 

[PhotoDave219]

For Wishes, you can get great shots of the the park overview from atop the Contemporary Resort. If you want a nice shot with MSUSA, get there really early and head to the train station for a spot. My personal favorite is around the hub where the Partners statue is, great place for photos. You might also want to look into the Wishes cruise on the lake.

For Illuminations, directly across from the America pavillion is a great spot. Anywhere around the World Showcase provides great shots for pictures, just depends on where you'd like to be during it. I find the above mentioned spot to be the best although from the France/England part of WS, you can get a good view as well. Check which way the wind is blowing and go according to that as well!

Okay, well I'm going to do my best as to not sound rude and condicending here, so my apologies in advance if i sound that way.

First I'm assuming that youre knowing what youre doing. F/8 or 9, ISO 125 and a shutter release. And a tripod. Tripod wont be a huge problem if youre responsible and nice about it. Ive never had a problem.

Wishes .... From the contemporary, I'm gonna have to say no. Its a nice vantage point but for professional shots, fugettaboutit. Great spot for a beautiful sunset shot, but thats about it. Ive shot from there, im not impressed.

Best spot for wishes, I will continue to go for Middle of Main street, between Caseys and the Castle Hub. Too far back, you get buildings in the way. Too close and you miss the aerial shells behind the castle.

Right behind the statue can be nice but is almost bordering on too close.... plus if you keep the shutter open too long, you get hot spots on the statue where its been washed out.

Train Station - Upstairs isnt gonna work, the roof cuts off the aerial shells and the flagpole is in the way. If you set up right in front of the flagpole, you get the buildings in the way and lose the low level effects. (The roof on the other hand, well even i dont get that kinda access)

Wishes cruise aint gonna work - youre on a boat and you cant keep the camera still. You still get waves and some bobbing of the boat and thats bad for pictures.

Illuminations....

The problem with shooting illuminations is being able to get the lens wide enuff. When youre back in Showcase plaza, in order to set up a tripod, you have to be back by teh platers, bbecause right in front everyone has to sit. Thus you get shots of all these sitting people at the bottom of the frame. If you can get there early enough and clamp on to the railing, youre in decent shape. Other than that, its just a matter of finding a pretty shot and going with it.

Just look for a good background. Bridge to france sometimes works. As well as japan, with the arch and SSE in the bkgd.

The entire show is easily shot except for the ending, with the intense magnesium(?) that gets extremely bright. Ive shot it at f/22 and higher before and it gets insane.

For examples, check my photo gallery, there should be some examples of what im talking about...

 

[AUBandPilot]

Thanks Guys!!!!

Hopefully I'll be able to post back a week from now with some half decent pictures.

Take Care

 

[WDWScottieBoy]

Dave, I've never taken photos of Wishes other than by the hub, I was just mentioning other places I've heard people mention that they really liked seeing it from. I can't personally say how they would look as I've only done around the central hub and had great photos turn out. I know you're a photographer on the side and know better than me. I was just speaking for most as places they enjoy and from my personal experience.

As for Illuminations, as you mentioned, it's hard to get a wide-angle shot of it from up close. I've been able to pan my camera around to get that effect as I don't have a wide-angle lens. I've watched it from France and in the front right up to the rail on the side closest to SSE. So I can't say what spots are the best there either but going by what others have said again. As for the wind/smoke...just check beforehand to see where the smoke will be.

Thanks for clarifying and giving the best advice on this Dave! :wave:

 

[PhotoDave219]

Dave, I've never taken photos of Wishes other than by the hub, I was just mentioning other places I've heard people mention that they really liked seeing it from. I can't personally say how they would look as I've only done around the central hub and had great photos turn out. I know you're a photographer on the side and know better than me. I was just speaking for most as places they enjoy and from my personal experience.

As for Illuminations, as you mentioned, it's hard to get a wide-angle shot of it from up close. I've been able to pan my camera around to get that effect as I don't have a wide-angle lens. I've watched it from France and in the front right up to the rail on the side closest to SSE. So I can't say what spots are the best there either but going by what others have said again. As for the wind/smoke...just check beforehand to see where the smoke will be.

Thanks for clarifying and giving the best advice on this Dave! :wave:

Ive shot wishes and Illuminations from almost every concievable spot in the parks that a guest can have access to.

And for those who care, Swiss family Robinson Treehouse does not proved a good vantagepoint for fireworks. We scoped it out during MNSSHP. Its possible to get shots of the aerial shells and BTMRR in the same frame, but its still being looked at.

In front of crystal prison...err... Palace, and on the path by the popcorn cart works for neat shots, but thats in the same ballpark.

 

[AUBandPilot]

Back from the trip with a very small sampling of photos from the trip. See link in Sig.

Unfortunately, the trip was cut short by a day because my Mother-In-Law is in the hospital battleing cancer(diagnosed 4 years ago).

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

NICE!!!
I'm sorry to here about your mother-in-law. I hope everything turns out for the better!

 

[speck76]

I took some Wishes shots from the Contemporary.........the location limits you to the fireworks located by the castle......those shot from behind the park are really too far away.

Check out my photo gallery....the 11/13 MK collection......not too impressive.

 

[stuart]

I find the above mentioned spot to be the best although from the France/England part of WS, you can get a good view as well.

The England part of WS??? Whats that all about?

The UNITED KINGDOM hehe part of WS has some good photo opportunities, but make sure u get there early and get a table near to the wall. If you go to the restaurant and get an inside table there are really too many people infront of you wen u get out to take photos so i would say you are better in the beer garden part. Its always funny watchin the people who have been in the restaurant fight it out for a space....but even more annoying when they decide to stand in front of folk...but thats another story...

 

[celticdog]

Here are some interesting spots to shoot from:

Wishes:

From the Poly with a good zoom lens can give some real good photos of the castle and fireworks.

Illuminations:

From the Canada gift shop, there is a stone wall that's perfect for setting up with a mini tripod, plus you're above the trees and people.