Day 5: Characters {10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips}

It's Day 5 of 10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips. We are at the half-way point and today I will be talking about taking photos of characters. My biggest tip here is to interact with the characters and take candid photos. When you bring out the character in a character the photo is that much better! If you see Chip and Dale walking by the pool on your Disney Cruise ship, start taking photos. You might get to play a little peek-a-boo with them :) 

Another tip - if you get the chance to have a dance party with the Country Bears or Goofy, do it! Just make sure you hand the camera off to someone to capture that perfect Disney moment. 

Always be on the look out when you are walking around the parks. You never know who you will see and get a wave from. 

When you are dining with the characters don't just take the posed photo with each character. Take photos of your kids interacting with them. Those are the priceless moments you want to capture!  

That's it for today! Pretty easy right? Just always be ready to capture that priceless moment with a character. Tomorrow I will be talking about light! If you missed the other posts from this series follow the links below: 

Day 1: Perspective

Day 2: Rule of Thirds

Day 3: Details

Day 4: Use Your Background

Day 4: Use Your Background {10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips}

Day 4 of 10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips is one of my favorites. We are going to talk about using the background of your image to really take the photo to another level. When you are about to take a photo just look around and see if you can capture some of the environment around you in the background to really tell the story of the photo a little more. The Seas with Nemo & Friends sign alone is a great photo. At another angle you would get the seagulls in the photo. Get a little lower to the ground and change your angle a little and you have Spaceship Earth and the monorail track behind the sign. It helps show that this ride is in EPCOT. It helps tell a story (we are going to touch more on telling a story with your photos later in this series). Now, timing it so the monorail is actually in the photo is only what OCD people like me do (or very lucky people) but it is so fun when it happens! 

Let's use this photo of Musketeer Pluto as an example. The one on the left is a great photo of the statue. It doesn't really show you where you are though. I mean, it is unlikely that you found a statue of Musketeer Pluto in your neighborhood park but hey, maybe you have a super awesome park! Step to the left a little bit and change up your angle and you have Cinderella's Castle in the background. Now the viewer knows Musketeer Pluto is in the Magic Kingdom. Fun right? 

Here's another great example. If you stand right in front of Gaston's statue he will block the sign that says Gaston's Tavern. Step a little to the left and you can get the sign along with the statue. 

Let's stick with a Beauty and the Beast theme. At certain angles the wall would block Beast's castle when you take a photo of the Be Our Guest sign. It takes just a minute to look at what is behind the sign to see that you could have an awesome photo! 

I never get tired of photographing Cars Land. The detail is extraordinary. It's fun to watch the cars from Radiator Springs Racers speeding by and you might find some cool shots while you watch! This is one that takes some timing but getting the cars in the background of this image really adds just a little extra magic. Here are just a few more examples: 

Fun right? I am usually the crazy person holding up my Mickey cupcake in one hand with my camera or phone in the other trying to get the castle in the background :) It's totally worth it though! 

Join me tomorrow when I will be talking about taking photos of characters and if you missed any of the previous posts follow the links below. 

Day 1: Perspective

Day 2: Rule of Thirds

Day 3: Details

Day 3: Details {10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips}

It's Day 3 of the 10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips! Today let's talk about photographing those Disney details. If Disney is good at something it is paying attention to the details. You may get caught up in taking that perfect photo of Cinderella's Castle but slow down and just look closer at everything around you. The photo above is in the window at the Cafe Orleans at Disneyland. The perfect place to spot Tiana and Naveen - you just have to "dig a little deeper". 

The pavilions around EPCOT's World Showcase are full of so many beautiful details. Like this camel in Morocco. Grab a margarita from Mexico or a beer in Germany and just spend some time in each country photographing some details. 

Even your Disney resort is full of wonderful details to capture like the lamp from our room at Aulani and these lanterns at Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I often will wander around during our afternoon break and take photos of our resort. The attention to detail is one of the reasons we love staying at a Disney resort! 

Try zooming in or getting closer to your subject to capture more detail. Like the photo above of the Nemo's Reef on the Fantasy. Seeing the water up close like that really gives you the feeling of being in that splash play area! 

Another great example of getting closer. This photo is from the Ooh La La Lounge on the Fantasy. Below is a photo of the lounge. I love having both the details of the glass bubbles and the whole room. It really makes me want champagne! 

You know another place to get some great detail shots? When you are waiting in line! A great way to pass the time. 

Ok these last couple of photos are because Christmas time at the Disney parks is my favorite time of year to capture the details. I just couldn't do this post without some Christmas photos! 

You can easily apply the topics we discussed in the first two days in this series to photographing details. Change up your perspective and remember that rule of thirds! If you missed that last couple of posts you can find them below. Tomorrow I will be talking about paying attention to what is in the background of your photo! 

Day 1: Perspective

Day 2: Rule of Thirds

Day 2: Rule of Thirds {10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips}

Day 2 of the 10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tip is all about the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a pretty simple concept. The idea is to break the photo up in to thirds both across and from top to bottom. Do you see the grid on the first photo? It is more pleasing to the eye to have the subject at one of those cross points (I have used Mickey heads to mark the cross points because we all love Mickey!). Often when you are using a photo editing software, like Photoshop, when you crop the rule of thirds grid will appear to help you crop so the subject is meeting a cross point as much as possible. Now, this not a hard rule. Centering a subject is absolutely acceptable. In that case putting the eyes along that first line from the top is how you would still use the rule of thirds. Let's look at some examples! 

You can see with this one I did not get him perfectly lined up with a cross hair. That's ok! This is just a guideline and in no way a hard rule. 

This last example is another way of using the rule of thirds. The photo is literally divided into three sections. The sky, water and boat. If the sky took up more of the photo it would be less appealing. Too much negative space. Same with if there was less sky. Does that make sense? Again you can see that the horizon does not line up perfectly with that top line. When you are taking a photo there is no way of truly dividing a photo up into a perfect rule of thirds grid. Sometimes when cropping in editing you can adjust it some but just simply having the rule in the back of your mind you will notice that you compose your photos differently! 

Ok, that's it for today! This was a very quick rule of thirds tutorial. If you want to learn more just google the subject. You will find loads of websites that go into much more detail. Tomorrow I will be talking about photographing the details on your Disney vacation! 

Day 1: Perspective

Day 1: Perspective {10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips}

Welcome to 10 Days of Disney Vacation Photography Tips! For the next 10 days I will be posting a little photography tidbit every day. All of the tips will be useful whether you are using your phone camera or a DSLR. So let's begin Day 1!

Today's tip is all about perspective and angles. Try to look at things around you from different angles. When you are walking through the castle, look up! Get down closer to the ground when taking a photo. Maybe shoot through the trees or bushes to create some depth of field. Are you ever watching the fireworks or a Disney parade and think "I wish this crowd of people in front of me would move so I could get a clear shot!" Next time use the crowd. Put the castle in between the people in front of you and see what you get. There are many ways to change up the perspective. Next time you are in a Disney park, have fun thinking of new ways to look at some of those Disney icons! Here are some examples.

I took this photo of Madam Leota's grave through the iron fence. It creates a great frame inside the photo drawing your eye to the subject. 

Here is a great example of "looking up". I did not get the entire castle, but that's ok! It shows some great detailing. 

This is a photo of the chess set in the club lounge at the Grand Floridian. I took it down at the level of the table. 

One of my favorite places to photograph the Hollywood Tower of Terror Hotel in California Adventure is from Bug's Land. The clovers create such a great frame for the ride.

Here I took a photo of the pirate ships on Peter Pan's Flight. I actually had a lens on my camera that wasn't wide enough to capture the entire ship but that's ok! It made me look at things differently and I love the result!

Sometimes it's fun to look down too! Here is the Ariel statue on the Disney Wonder using the glass sculpture to fill in some negative space and help guide your eye to the subject. 

The last example was taken with my iPhone. This is one of my favorite angles of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom! You can see the animals carved into the trunk.

Do you see how simply changing up where you take your photo from can really effect the perspective and feel of the photo? It can be a lot of fun! Come back tomorrow - I'll be getting a little more technical, talking a about how to compose your images using the rule of thirds (I promise it will still be fun!)

Disney Dining Plan {What is it?}

One of the most common questions I receive from clients when choosing their Walt Disney World vacation package is "What is the Dining Plan?" There are three dining plans to choose from - Quick Service, Basic Dining and Deluxe - and I will talk a little bit about each one. 

What is a Dining Plan?

Dining plans are a pre-purchased add-on to a Walt Disney World vacation package. That means you must be a Disney resort guest to purchase the dining plan (one of the many benefits of staying at a Disney resort!). For each night of your trip, each guest on your reservation will receive an allotment of credits plus a refillable resort mug. These credits will be divided into three categories: quick-service, table service and snacks. The dining plan you choose determines how many credits in each category you receive. Your Magic Band will hold all of these credits so all you do is scan and go (aren't those things just so handy?). 

Note: Everyone on your reservation must have the same dining plan and you must have it for every night of your trip. Children under 3 years of age can eat off your adult plate or you can purchase from the kids menu for them. You cannot purchase a dining plan for children under 3 years old. Children ages 3 to 9 years old on the dining plan must choose something from the kids menu when one is available.

Disney's Quick-Service Dining Plan

Each person 3 years of age and older gets the following per night on your reservation: 

*Two Quick-Service Meals

*One Snack

*One refillable resort mug

2015 Cost: $41.99 per adult, per night (10 years and older), $16.03 per child, per night (ages 3 to 9)

Disney's Regular Dining Plan

Each person 3 years of age and older gets the following per night on your reservation: 

*One Snack

*One Quick-Service Meal

*One Table-Service Meal

*One refillable resort mug 

2015 Cost: $60.04 per adult, per night (10 years and older), $19.23 per child, per night (ages 3 to 9)

Disney's Deluxe Dining Plan

Each person 3 years of age and older gets the following per night on your reservation: 

*Three Meals (any combination of table-service and quick-service)

*Two Snacks

*One refillable resort mug

2015 Cost: $109.53 per adult, per night (10 years and older), $29.86 per child, per night (ages 3 to 9)

What is included with a Quick-Service and Table-Service meal?

A quick-service meal includes an entree (or combo if available) and non-alcoholic beverage. If you are eating lunch or dinner you also get a dessert. 

A table-service meal includes an entree, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage. On the Deluxe Dining Plan you also get an appetizer. 

Snacks will be indicated on restaurant menus by this symbol:

How does it work?

For all three plans each category of credits will be pooled together at the beginning of your trip and you can use them as you choose. So if you want to use all your snacks on your first day no one will stop you, you just won't have any credits left for the rest of your trip. You can share any of your snack and quick-service credits with each other but you cannot share table-service credits. 

Let's use a family of four as an example. This family will be at Disney World for 5 nights and purchased the Regular Dining Plan. The two kids are ages 5 and 11. The dining plan will cost them for their trip $996.75. They will have a total of 20 snack credits, 20 quick-service credits and 20 table-service credits. 

What is not included with the Dining Plan?

All you will be responsible for is any alcohol or any tips at table-service restaurants. 

Is the Dining Plan worth it?

That is a tricky question. For me and my husband we think of it simply as a way to be able to relax while on vacation and know that our food is paid for. We don't worry about if we are truly saving money as long as we think we aren't spending more to do the dining plan. If you are going to do a lot of character meals or buffets the dining plan will usually save you money. On the other hand if your family doesn't tend to eat a lot or you have small kids that you fear won't be able to sit through a table-service meal every day of your trip you may want to consider the Quick-Service plan.  

Winter Walt Disney World Discounts

Disney released TWO new discounts today!

Play, Stay and Dine

Play, Stay, Dine and Save up to $600* on a 5-night/6-day Walt Disney Travel Company room, ticket and dining plan package for a family of four at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays most nights Dec. 14-20, 2014 and Jan. 5-March 7, 2015. 

Booking Window:

Oct. 9-Dec. 29, 2014

Travel Window:

Dec. 14-20, 2014Jan. 5-March 7, 2015

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Savings based on non-discounted price of the same package for 2 adults, 1 junior, 1 child in the same room. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Excludes campsites and 3-bedroom villas. Excludes alcoholic beverages and gratuities. Children ages 3-9 must order from children's menu, if available. Some Table-Service restaurants may have limited or no availability at time of package purchase.

Room Discount

Save up to 30%* on rooms at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels for stays most nights Jan. 5-March 28, 2015.

Booking Window:

Oct. 9-Dec. 29, 2014

Travel Window:

Jan. 5-March 28, 2015

Save up to 20% off at a Value Resort

Save up to 25% off at a Moderate Resort

Save up to 30% off at a Deluxe Resort and Deluxe Villa Resort

*The number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Length-of-stay requirements may apply. Savings based on non-discounted price for the same room. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than 2 adults per room at Disney Value, Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. Cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Advance reservations required. Offer excludes campsites, 3-bedroom villas and is not valid at Disney's Art of Animation Resort - The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms. 30% savings for select Disney Deluxe and Deluxe Villa Resorts; lower savings may be available for suites and at other select Resorts.