Cinderella Castle Through The Forest Photo

Shortly after sunrise in the Magic Kingdom, as I was passing from Liberty Square to Fantasyland, I saw some rays of light striking the ground through this heavily-wooded area. I noticed a bit of clearing, so I leaned over the rail here and saw the top turrets of Cinderella Castle peaking out from behind the trees. I knew I had to stop and capture a few photos.

This is my second-favorite path in the park, right behind the wooden-plank path right along the Rivers of America in Frontierland, mostly because it seems so few guests traverse back here. The views of Cinderella Castle on this path normally aren’t very good, but I was really pleased with the view I found here. Not only was Castle and the early-morning sunrise visible through the trees, but the sunrise was actually reflecting perfectly off the water in the Castle moat! It may not be the most awe-inspiring photo of Cinderella Castle, but I like it because it offers a rare view of the Castle, and it truly appears as if it could be a castle found deep in Europe, surrounded by trees, rather than a castle deep in Walt Disney World, surrounded by attractions.

Technical details: single exposure; handheld Nikon D7000 and Rokinon 8mm Fisheye Lens. See our Disney Photography Guide for more photography equipment recommendations.