Unique Family Photo Ideas at Disney World
Everyone gets a family photo in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World on their Disney vacation. It’s practically a law or something that you do. You probably don’t need any pointers when it comes to those photo locations, so this article will point out great photo options that do not include the main icons in each of the Walt Disney World theme parks.
While the classic Walt Disney World photos are great, wouldn’t it be nice if visitors to your home saw something a bit outside the norm when they look at your family photos. The photos we have up in our house are pretty much all unordinary. We love when guests come over and ask where a photo was taken, and are surprised when the answer is Walt Disney World. It sometimes challenges their preconceived negative impression that Walt Disney World is all about kiddie rides like Dumbo and meeting Mickey Mouse. Now, expecting that simply taking and displaying the photos below is going to cause your non-Disney fan friends to have epiphanies about the greatness of Walt Disney World, but these shots will at least add some flavor to your mantel!
Don’t think of this as a definitive list, but instead a handful of examples to get your creative juices flowing. It seems like many people only stop for photos at “designated” or popular locations (I can’t count the number of times I’ve been taking photos in odd spots only to have a few others approach with cameras and try photos from the same vantage), when really, there are great locations for photos just about anywhere in the parks!
Here are some of our favorite locations for family shots.
Tomorrowland Palm Trees
If you’re from the Midwest like us, you might be flat out mesmerized by the majestic palm trees that grace the state of Florida. You know what will impress your friends even more than a photo of you next to a palm tree? A photo of you next to a metal palm tree…of the future! Okay, so maybe neither photo will impress anyone, but we love these metal palm trees in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. If you don’t like awesome things like metal palm trees, another great option in Tomorrowland is the globe that is a veritable magnet for kids. Pretend like you’re moving the earth (much more original than holding Spaceship Earth).
Oh, and yes, we are doing “the robot” in the photo above. Yes, we are major dorks.
Morocco Courtyard
Suggesting unique World Showcase photos is like shooting fish in a barrel, so I’m only going to include our #1 spot. This location is tucked away near the back of the Morocco pavilion, and is usually fairly quiet. We recommend relaxing back here even if you have no photos in mind. There are literally hundreds of other great spots throughout World Showcase, especially once you get deeper into the pavilions, so we encourage you to explore and think up other interesting spots of your own. These photos are the ones people are most likely to think are from locations other than Walt Disney World (for obvious reasons), so if that’s your goal, go nuts in World Showcase!
Deluxe Resorts
Since I only want to do one location outside of the theme parks, I’m going to combine several spots into one with this pick. First, the beaches of Disney’s Polynesian Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Second, the Boardwalk at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn or the lighthouse at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts. There are a lot of other locations at Deluxe and Moderate Resorts beyond these picks, but we figure you are most likely to visit these resorts on your Walt Disney World vacation. (If you are on vacation and you don’t visit at least one of these five resort hotels, chances are, you’re doing something wrong.)
All of these resorts are great locations to get dressed up (here’s where Sarah gets her dresses…to pre-preemptively answer questions that would otherwise likely be asked in the comments) and have nice photos taken. Non-Disney professional photographers can do shoots at the hotels, and in most cases local pros are the best option at the resorts. (Disney Fine Art has some great photographers, but also some mediocre ones.)
Toy Story Game Rides
I love to take photos of Sarah while we’re riding Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin or Toy Story Mania. They’re often fun and intense, heat-of-battle shots. I don’t often do it on Toy Story Mania as we so seldom get to ride that, but if you do want photos there, get them during the first screen, which is a warm up and doesn’t count toward your score, anyway. The lighting is better in Toy Story Mania, and your subjects will be wearing 3D glasses, so unflattering shadows under their eyes won’t be a problem (like it is in Space Ranger Spin).
Gardens
Walt Disney World is known for its many gardens, with so many that you should have no difficulty finding one in every land of every park that would make a nice backdrop for a photo. If I’m just taking a photo of Sarah, I’ll often look for a particular flower bed filled with flowers that match or compliment her outfit. This is more difficult with more people, unless you all have those delightful matching family vacation shirts!
Sunset Boulevard
As you might have gathered from the lead photo, we enjoy sitting on dirty pavement at Walt Disney World! There are a lot of great locations for this, but Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is probably my favorite because of the lights all around and the Crossroads of the World in the distance. The bonus here is that you can literally set your camera on the ground if you don’t have a tripod (assuming it’s late at night) and capture an interesting photo. During the Christmas season, the Streets of America–decked out with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights–make a great location to capture a Disney-inspired Christmas card photo.
Main Street Clock
This is one we love to get on the way out of the Magic Kingdom for the sole purpose of demonstrating how late it was (and thus how hardcore we were…Disney street cred is totally earned based on how late you stay in the parks…right?) when we left. Even if you aren’t doing it for street cred, it’s a fun photo, and one that might have a ‘hint’ of Cinderella Castle in it without being dominated by the icon.
Journey into Imagination ImageWorks
We know what you’re thinking…this place is a shell of its former self and you can’t imagine stopping here even for a few moments. We aren’t suggesting that you play here for hours, but ImageWorks does make a great spot for some moody photos bursting with color. Thanks to these colorful lights, you can capture a photo that’s lit “naturally” (in other words, don’t use a flash). If your kids are anything like me, they’ll be drawn to these lights, and you can get some great candid shots here. If this doesn’t work, go outside to the leapfrog fountains, which are also a great candid photo op location!
Gift Shops
We’re definitely not the first people to think of taking our photos using items in gift shops are props, but we think we’ve done it in some unique ways beyond just the normal “put on a hat that hundreds of other people have tried on before” method. Any gift shop with Christmas decorations is great by us. We also like the Tower of Terror gift shop at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Not only does this gift shop have a lot of unique items, but it’s also very well designed. Another great option (for the same reason) would be Splash Mountain, but we have actually never tried to pose for photos here. I actually didn’t even think about it until I sat down to write this article (blogging can even help the blogger, apparently!). We always pass through here quickly on the way to the restrooms to dry off, but next time we’ll stop and get shots! If you want a nice photo with good lighting, the best place for a photo is either of the gift shops at the entrance to World Showcase. These shops are well lit and free of harsh lighting.
Cigar Shop Native American
We can’t take credit for this idea–it was shared with us a while ago by a reader–but it’s such a good one that we want to share it with you. This native American is a great measuring stick for annual photos with your kids’ growth if you visit Walt Disney World annually, or on a semi-regular basis. We think this is a great idea, and the perfect subject since this Native American is in a great location on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom. We like this spot at night because Main Street is bright enough that you can have a moody photo with natural, no-flash lighting. However, we highly recommend grabbing a “backup” photo somewhere else (our secondary pick would be by the Cinderella Fountain just behind the Castle in Fantasyland) because it seems somewhat likely that this Native American will disappear at some point in the future given that it could be construed as culturally insensitive, even if period-accurate. It would stink to take an annual photo here for 5 consecutive years only to find it gone on your sixth visit, and have no backup locations!
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
We are Disney dorks. Exhibit A in support of this was the robot photo above, Exhibit B is the fact that we’ve ridden the TTA Peoplemover over three times as much as any other attraction at Walt Disney World this year. (For those curious, second place is Haunted Mansion, third is Carousel of Progress, fourth is Spaceship Earth, and fifth is Impressions de France.) With all of these rides come many photos. Since the TTA is primarily an ambiance ride, there are plenty of opportunities for photos here without the family becoming irritated that you want to stop and capture pictures of them. The lighting here is harsh at night, but during the day, it’s generally very good. We recommend capturing a bit of those blue seats in your photo. Not just because we consider them iconic (that’s probably just us), but also because they are a pretty color that will likely compliment the rest of the photo.
Animal Kingdom Animals
What I really mean is the living animals (well, I suppose Rafiki is living, but you know what I mean), but the other kind work, too. There are a ton of animals throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and many can be included in the background of your photos, or even as subjects themselves. This is possible in the Oasis and back at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, the two places in the park where animals are closest to guests.
Dinosaur Gertie
This should come as little surprise given my article proclaim that “Dinosaur Gertie is Awesome,” but it’s a good spot, nonetheless. Normally we go for a view close to Gertie with her head peeking over us, but when I was looking for illustrative photos for this article, I couldn’t find those shots. Across the water is an okay perspective, too.
Tomorrowland Entrance
We know that Tomorrowland is already way over-represented in this article, but it’s a favorite spot for photos of us. The entrance to Tomorrowland is one of our favorite spots, and the vibrant colors and plenty of background interest makes this a shot we try with regularity. As with all of the Tomorrowland photo spots, this is significantly better at night.
Accomplished Celebrities in Front of Grauman’s
You might be thinking that I’m breaking my “no icons” rule with this last shot, but I’m not. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is not the official icon of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, so I’m really just circumventing the rule (sort of an odd thing to do since I set the rule myself…). There are no rules when it comes to this, as I’m willing to do just about anything to convince people to take photos in front of Grauman’s rather than that Sorcerer Hat. Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is considered a true real world icon because it’s gorgeously designed, whereas UFO-spaceship hats are not. So play the part of an accomplished celebrity and get a classy photo in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre! (When you really think about it, that oversized sorcerer hat does fit the “Hollywood That Never Was…” theme of the Studios better than Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, since there really never was a giant sorcerer hat in Hollywood and there actually is a Chinese Theatre, but I think that’s sort of missing the point.)
Just in case we didn’t list enough locations, here are a few others: Sword in the Stone (Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom), Silk Water Fountain (Asia, Animal Kingdom), Liki Tikis (Adventureland, Magic Kingdom), Fountain of Nations (Future World, Epcot), Animal Bench (Asia, Animal Kingdom), Rivers of America Boardwalk (Frontierland, Magic Kingdom), Independence Bell (Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom), Muppet Fountain (Streets of America, Disney’s Hollywood Studios)…you get the idea.
The list goes on and on. Just because there isn’t a PhotoPass photographer or Kodak “Photo Spot” sign somewhere doesn’t mean it wouldn’t make a great location for a family photo. Most of the time, the real “quality” of a photo will be determined by the subjects in it and the memory of capturing it, not how awesome the icon in the background is. I’ve found that when we have fun and capture a photo in the moment, rather than drag ourselves to a specific spot for a photo that’s “on the list,” we tend to cherish the photo a lot more. So don’t worry if you find yourself taking family photos in some seemingly odd locations–in fact, you should embrace it!
If you’re interested in improving your Disney photography, check out a few of my top photography blog posts:
Photography Buying Guide: Everything from Underwater Cameras to Software
Best Books for Improving Your Photography
5 Indispensable Tips for Better Vacation Photos
Choosing the Best Travel Tripod
Choosing the Best Camera Bag for Travel
For Walt Disney World trip planning tips and comprehensive advice, make sure to read our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide and related articles.
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Your Thoughts…
What are your favorite ‘less-common’ family photo spots in Walt Disney World? Any locations you’d like to try? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your thoughts in the comments!
The gallows in Liberty (ha! if you’re the one in the gallows) Square always make for fun shots, if you want something more lighthearted. Though I’ve never done it, I’d think that if you did it at the right time around sunset, if you took a photo from the train station overlook on Main Street and angled it the right way, it would look spectacular, with or without the castle in the background.
I’ll also share this deluxe resort spot, for anyone that might be interested. On my last trip, we stayed at the Wilderness Lodge. One morning, my wife was sleeping in and I went on a photo expedition. I went to the Villas because I wanted to see the train room with Walt’s original Carolwood scale train cars. It is a quiet game room (for checkers, chess, etc, no video games) off of the lobby of the villas. It has the train stuff in there, along with a few couches and a fireplace. While I was there (in April), there was a family that had brought along their tacky Christmas sweaters just so they could take a picture there. Even when it’s not decorated for the holidays, it has a very Christmas-y feel. The family asked me to take the picture so they could all be in it. The photo was to be a part of an invitation to other family members to join this group for another trip at Christmastime.
If you look carefully in the background of this photo, in the middle, on the right, you can see one of the girls that was sitting on the couch.
Dave
The Liberty Square gallows is one we actually haven’t done. Too touristy! 😉
Actually, both that and the Carolwood Room of the VWL make for great options. We’ve taken a number of photos in the lobby of the VWL, and I’ve liked them all!
(Nice photo, btw.)
Thanks for the compliment, that means a lot coming from you!
Tom and Sarah…3am! How late can you stay in the park till they sweep you away?
We always force my father to have his picture taken at Magnetron in DTD every year. His name is Ron…. Magnet Ron… I’m a dork too 🙂
Is the entrance to MK (the first picture) new? I don’t remember the blocks creating that pattern.
Nope, that shot is from the first night of our honeymoon in 2010. Been like that as long as I can remember!
We just got back from WDW last Sunday! We use the character statues at Downtown Disney as our “every time pictures”. My 7 year old loves it that one of his first Disney pictures at 5 months old is in front of Mickey and Minnie at Pin Trading. I also take a shot of my kids and my husband wearing sombreros in Mexico. Lots of other people use that idea too! We got pushed out of the way by some rude people who needed a sombrero shot!
By the way- I love your blog. It’s awesome.
The little pink/peach door on the the little cottage in between Disneyland’s Alice in Wonderland ride and the Tea Cups is our family’s childhood measuring photo spot…It’s great for showing toddlers turning into giants!
We began when our first child was 18 months…his first visit to any Disney property. Two little sisters joined him, and we always posed them all there. Now our oldest is a 34 yr old dad of 2 and we have 3 additional grandchildren as well. The tradition continues!
That’s a great idea. I’ll have to remember it for when I do a similar Disneyland list!
This is our spot too! ( we only have 3 so far….)
Do you have any tips for getting the most out of photos of people and architecture with a wide angle lens (like the nikon 10-24 on DX)? I won’t have much time to practice because I’ll probably be renting from kingdom camera.
Put people in the very middle of the frame. Edges will lead to unflattering distortion. Really, an ultra wide angle is not a good lens for portraits, but I still think it’s fun to use on Disney portraits.
While the standard “Kids in front of the castle picture” may be overdone, I have taken a “different” kind of picture there on everyone of our visits (dating back 16 years). My three children (a twin on each end with their “little” brother in the middle) looking AT the castle (backs to the camera). Taking that picture is a highlight of every one of our trips!
That’s a great idea! Also, just because a photo is “overdone” doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done. A lot of those photos are overdone for good reason–I just recommend getting some unique photos to go along with the overdone ones!
We LOVE the Peoplemover in Tomorrowland. I have a lot of fun shots of my kids on that and it’s their favorite ride. PLEASE tell me that your post doesn’t mean that they have take it out permanently 🙁
Michelle, I do believe the Peoplemover in Disneyland is now history, for a few years I think, but it’s still there (TTA) in Disney World.
People should beware on the Toy Story Mania ride, hold on to your cameras!!! I wanted to catch a cute pic of my child in the glasses, and was shocked at that first hard jerk and almost lost my camera! Now I am wiser… For two years in a row I’ve gotten a picture of my girls in front of the fireplace directly across from the Akershush enterance in Norway. They pretend that it is their house, and for some reason they pretend to be arguing over the hardships of life, and they are most favorite pictures! When I took it the first time, I had no idea how beautiful the background would be when printed, and I think that we will take a picture there every time we go now 🙂
I laughed out loud at the picture in front of the Tomorrowland entrance because of how you guys are just having fun and not looking very posed. It is my favorite photo in this post and one you should pass on to any future children.
We have plenty of “dumb” photos like that! When we take photos of ourselves at night, the camera is on a tripod and I have it fire 3 shots. The first one is posed, the second two are “throwaway” shots…I end up liking the throwaway ones more often than the posed ones!
My last fav family photo was taken under the “Singing in the Rain” umbrella. My middle son even had his tongue out to catch the raindrops!
TTA is our favorite attraction in any Disney park!
The Morocco Courtyard was where my fiance and I took some of our first pictures on our first trip there as a couple. Glad other people get back there to enjoy it! I love taking pictures in the teacups. You can’t help but smile in them! Even if it does slow you down for an instant.
We use the totem pole outside of the Wilderness Lodge gift shop as our kids’ growth chart. We are DVC members and that’s our home resort. Plus, it’s nice that we don’t have to have park admission to get that picture!
That’s an AWESOME idea. More meaning since that’s your home resort, plus that totem pole is really cool (and likely not going anywhere anytime soon).
We got back from WDW 2 weeks ago. Our “quiet, romantic trip” became a family trip to include our daughter, her sweetheart and out 1-year-old grandson. Fun (exhausting) trip, but not romantic at all. Moments after I read your blog, I sent my man a text that said, “Found a great blog post on all the awesome places to have your picture taken at WDW. So far, we don’t have ANY of these pictures. We must go back (alone) and remedy this problem.” I think he might actually go for it! YIPPEE!
Tom – I’ve loved your photography over the years (here and posted on other sites). Many of your shots, including some of these it looks like the parks are completely empty – often at night. Do you get special entry/exit times – if so, you two are so lucky! What’s the secret?
I’m also wondering about this! Share your secret please! Do you have special access because of your blog?
None of these photos were taken via any sort of special access. It’s just a matter of staying as late as possible.
Just a quick note to tell you that seeing your photography over the past couple of years has single-handedly got me to dive full-time back into photography (it has been a hobby all my life). Just purchased my new Nikon d3200 and have been spending a lot of time getting to know my new friend. Wow, DSLRs have changed in 6 years! I really love all of the advice you give on this site related to photography tips and techniques!! I love how your pictures are so sharp and vibrant – great style too!
Glad I could help. Best of luck with your photography! 🙂
Just found your web site a month or so ago, fabulous photos. I like the idea of staying in the park as late as you can, but when you stay to 3:00am how do you get back to your hotel?
At Disneyland, we always take a picture of the kids on the steps of the treehouse. I think I was the only person who was disappointed when the WDW treehouse was closed when we were there 2 years ago!
Hopefully you were at least able to get a photo near it. On the bright side, those fake leaves are looking better than ever thanks to that refurb! 😉
We ALWAYS take a family photo in Germany under the entrance to the “Weinkeller”. Because, well, our last name is Keller. And there’s nothing that says “wholesome family photo backdrop” like a wine cellar 😉
Still more wholesome than a family photo in front of Captain EO! 😉
Your top 5 rides are also our dork family’s top 5 as well! Another great blog post. Thanks!!! Imagine my disappointment when I got to Disneyland this summer for the first time in 25 years and found no Peoplemover😞
The track is still there! That has to count for…nothing.