If you're looking to buy a new camcorder or
camera visit the camera store for discounted
camcorders from amazon.com
If you want to tape on rides, go on the ride first
to see what you want to tape.
If going on a ride such as the Jungle Cruise,
or Backlot Tour, sit at the side or front if possible then you get a
good view for taping.
Ask to sit in the front cab of the monorail, especially
the Epcot monorail, this will make a great video.
Make sure you take enough spare tapes & batteries
with you, you'll be surprised how much you use.
When I was taping in WDW & I was in in an
attraction where you get wet, or if it was raining, I covered the camera
with a guide map, because I had nothing else with me. Take a small plastic
sheet, or invest in a waterproof camera cover.
Quite a few attractions are very dark inside so
your camera may have trouble focusing, & you aren't allowed to use
video lighting.
Use a wireless microphone to pick up the voices
when your kids meet the characters, especially for 'face' characters
such as Snow White, & Cinderella.
Use a tripod for filming the parades, & also
for filming shows - you'll need to get on the back row for this.
If you want to tape people on a ride, try to get
in the car in front & turn round to film them.
Avoid using flip-out screens in dark rides - they
are almost as distracting as a video light.
On seated rides, try to rest your arm on one side
of the car, or on the centre bar, this helps to keep the shot steady.
Before you enter a ride or show, check that your
tape or battery isn't about to run out.
Remember not to spend the whole time looking through
the viewfinder, focus on your subject then look away from the view finder
& watch the attraction in real time, just keep checking through
the viewfinder that you're still focused on your subject
Avoid panning (turning the camera from side to
side) when possible. It may look ok at the time, but when you play the
tape back you'll go dizzy & won't see anything! If you must
pan, move the camera very, very slow. The same goes for zooming in &
out.
Tips for taping attractions
Magic Kingdom
Attractions & rides where you may have a problem
because of light levels (you will need to use manual focus) - Pirates
of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's
Adventure
Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad,
and Space Mountain - you will have a problem taping on these rides because
they are so fast, I certainly wouldn't recommend you taping on Space
Mountain or even Big thunder Mountain, but if you do, hold on tight!
Splash Mountain has some nice scenes to tape whilst your going slow,
but beware of the water when you go down the drops!
If you want to tape the parades, get a spot early.
Great places to sit are in Town Square, facing the castle, or at the
hub, looking down Main Street, or on the platform of the Main Street
Station looking down Main Street.
You aren't allowed to tape the Carousel of Progress,
or on Alien Encounter.
For the Fantasy in the Sky fireworks get in front
of Cinderella's Castle on the opposite side of the Walt Disney and Mickey
statue. From here you can get Tinkerbell descending and use the Castle
as the foreground of the shot.
EPCOT
Attractions & rides where you may have a problem
because of light levels (you will need to use manual focus) - Spaceship
Earth, Maelstrom.
You won't be able to tape Honey, I Shrunk the
Audience, Cranium Command, The American Adventure.
For IllumiNations get on the Epcot side of the
lagoon directly across from the American Adventure. The area directly
behind the railing is for non-videotaping sitters, so set up your tripod
or stand behind that area on the lower level.
Disney -MGM Studios
The Hunchback of Notre Dame show - The seating
is quite flat, so you will need to get a seat at the front to tape.
The Beauty and the Beast show seating is more on a slope, so you shouldn't
have as much of a problem.
Muppet Vision 3D - you won't get the 3D effect
on tape, & your camera might get wet.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid is quite dark, sit
near the front if possible, you may get quite wet!
Backlot Tour - when you go through Catastrophe
Canyon, put your camera away as you will get very wet!
You won't be allowed to tape on the Backstage
Animation tour, Star Tours, Sounds Dangerous.
If you sit in the first few rows at Fantasmic
you will be very wet by the end of the show.
Animal Kingdom
Kilimanjaro Safaris - try to sit at the side of
the jeep, it's very bumpy, so hold onto your camera!
Kali River Rapids - probably not worth trying
as your camera will get too wet.
You won't be able to tape in It's Tough to be
a Bug.
