Red6

My wife and I are regular Disney World fans. However, due to the crowds and rapid pace of things going on, there really is not a lot of good photo opportunities that require high end gear. I have tried all combinations and found the cell phone the best option. I have carried lens and bodies, point and shoot cameras and even Go-Pros. The modern cell phone does the job nicely. One of the best tips I can give you on Disney is to travel light. If you are heading down now or in the summer it will be hot and it often rains most days in the summer.

Do not worry about photography enjoy the time with the family. Let Disney handle all the photos, they have all the iconic spots staked out to take photos of your family. Extra costs yes but worth every penny!

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Concur, enjoy the Grands while they are young, and make some memories with them.
The memories will be much more vivid than the "perfect pics".
Also, don't forget to . . .
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

I disagree with the advise of using a cell phone as a camera at Disney. There are too many bumps and slippery conditions that can can make you lose your phone. Wet rides and weather can damage it. Many situations offer opportunities for loss or theft.
If this does happen, you are out a lot of $$$. In addition, your cell phone contains a lot of financial or personal information.
If you bring an inexpensive P&S camera, all you lose are some pics.

delder Loc: Maryland

Yes, this catches the essence of vacation photography!
Both Smartphones & Digital pocket cameras have advanced significantly in the past few years.

Warhorse Loc: SE Michigan

bsmith52 Loc: Northeast Alabama

I decided to strike a balance on our trip to DW...cell phone and my fav p&s Sony RX100M7. My cell was perfect for Kodak moments, still shots, and low light.

But for anything moving cell cams don't cut it. So with the RX100's 200mm optical zoom and shutter set @ 250 it was the perfect setup for us.

My wife makes Shutterfly books and we had more than enough great shots and keepers for that.

DW for us was for making memories, not a photo shoot. Have fun!

delder Loc: Maryland

Agree!
Pocket Cameras also have wrist straps and a better form factor for camera use, better lenses, tripod mount built in AND far more affordable
[on the secondary market]

Craig Meyer Loc: Sparks, NV

I endorse the iPhone route, too. While I'm still not truly comfortable using any phone to make photographs, I believe after 70+ years of using all kinds--and I mean it, of cameras to make images, I can usually figure out a way.

As for the model, anyone of them that is supported today has the functions and features you will need to capture the moments, decisive and otherwise, of a Theme Park visit. My solution for the lack of control the earlier iPhone Camera App gave me, was to load Camera+ or Pro Camera to get a more camera like control over the Camera App in an older iPhone. I now have an iPhone 11 and the Apple Camera App seems to have caught up quite a bit.

Confession: After many years of learning f stops, Shutter Speeds, perspective, focus and depth of fields, and using them as part of my creativity, rather than accepting the "one" out of the automagic mode. These other apps actually let me do some of that. Not for the shot of the kid smiling broadly at Mickey, but of Snow White smiling at me or some other grandpa capturing the fleeting moments of grand children having the high-octane fun Disney World or Land so excellently (and exorbitantly) provides.

We're of the generation who remember Uncle Walt. He never impressed me as a creative genius-philanthrope. And if that is what he really had been, I personally doubt that the Disney Theme Park empire would have ever become a reality.

Take the phone, eat the popcorn, drink the Coke. Stay hydrated, rest in the shade. Avoid certain rides, cuz some grandpa tummies aren't as forgiving as they once were. Use that rest time to preserve your energy to keep ahead of the action and get those MOMENTS when they're right. I bet you'll come home happy, in need of a few easy days, but also with more than few keepers!

C

Red6

[quote=LXK0930]I disagree with the advise of using a cell phone as a camera at Disney. There are too many bumps and slippery conditions that can can make you lose your phone. Wet rides and weather can damage it. Many situations offer opportunities for loss or theft.
If this does happen, you are out a lot of $$$. In addition, your cell phone contains a lot of financial or personal information.
If you bring an inexpensive P&S camera, all you lose are some pics


Some of these may be valid issues. However, two other factors are at work here.

First, most people are going to bring their phone anyway since they need or want to maintain contact with home, family, etc. As I noted my wife and I are regular Disney visitors and I can usually count the number of regular cameras I see in a day on one hand. Cell phones as cameras in the thousands.

Second, it is almost a necessity to have a smart phone at Disney now to schedule rides, order food, determine what to do next and many, many other things. The Disney app controls almost everything you do at Disney and without at least one person in your party that knows how to use it you will have a bad day.

And last, been going to Disney for over 20 years and have never slipped, dropped anything, had anything stolen, or ruined anything due to rain. That is Disney Rule #1 - Always carry a poncho and a small bag to carry items

SalvageDiver Loc: Huntington Beach CA

[quote=Red6]

Very good points. And for those concerned with dropping their phones, wrist straps for cellphones are ubiquitous. Just search "wrist straps for iphones" on Amazon to see various selections.

jack schade Loc: La Pine Oregon

For this trip - cell phone.

jack

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I took my Canon EOS Elan twenty years ago - smart phones didn’t exist back then - and I would do the same sort of thing today. I could aim so much better with it, and the “telephoto” in my iPhone certainly is not up to the task. Kids are a treat on the rides if you can ‘capture’ them.

fotogeorge

I've been looking into getting a point&shoot. I like the Canon Powershot G1XMkIII. it looks like it has everything, except short battery life.

jgangjr

Last time I went to an amusement park, I took my phone and a Sony RX-10IV. Next time I will take my phone and a Sony RX100VII. The 600 mm was not really needed but the phone definitely does not cut it on moving rides and people in low light.

Besperus Loc: Oregon

Choosing from what you have. iPhone. A compact rangefinder type camera? Point and shoot camera from a thrift shop? I went with an Olympus EP5 two lenses in a jacket pocket. A friend had a Pentax Q and four lenses on a trip with his grandkids. Stick with the iphone.