Hiya Tara,
Welcome back to planDisney! We are so happy that you continue to visit us for help with your planning questions. We love helping you plan magical vacations for your family. As a mom myself, I completely agree with you about pictures. One day, my littles won’t remember their first meeting with Mickey Mouse or the time we got to see Tinker Bell fly directly above us, but they can look at the photos, and we can all be transported back to the time when we were together in this magical place.
Normally, Tara, I recommend doing Capture Your Moment in the place that means the most to you. When I did one to celebrate my pregnancy, I chose to do it at
Magic Kingdom because it had special significance for my Prince Charming. But I really want to make sure that where you do your photo shoot is a place that your son can feel comfortable, not too overstimulated, and you can feel stress-free as a mama. Although the 20 minutes go by fast, in my experience, it is 20 minutes of taking photos, so it can feel longer. As magical as Magic Kingdom is, I did feel like it could get overstimulating, so my top two suggestions are Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. I think
Animal Kingdom would be a potentially great place to take photos if your son gets overstimulated easily. The trails around the Tree of Life tend to be calmer and not as crowded, especially with a Cast Member assigned to keep other Guests from getting the shot. Plus, you can still get a hint of Disney magic with the Tree of Life in the background, for example. I know you chatted with Allyn last year about your son building a droid, so I think Hollywood Studios is another good option. Batuu can get crowded, but I think the
Capture Your Moment in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge would also be a great place for a Star Wars lover. There are a lot of little corners in the land that could give your son a sensory break and also give you amazing photos. Plus, he could bring his droid with him and maybe include that in the photos. One of our alumni panelists, Kate, just did her family of six’s Capture Your Moment there, and the photos were amazing! The great thing, Tara, is that no matter where you choose, I think it will be magical. My biggest tip is to let the photographer know when you check in that your son has autism, so they can ensure the locations they pose you all in give you not only the best photos but also sensory-friendly spaces (and space for breaks) even if you choose Magic Kingdom.
I hope this was helpful, Tara. One last idea: if you are worried that 20 minutes straight of photos may be too much, you can always book two sessions. With the additional 20 minutes, you can take those much-needed breaks when you need them without feeling like you didn’t get enough photos. Remember, the time is yours; if you or your family need breaks, take them. If you just want the photographer to focus on candids because posed photos may be too ambitious, let them know. Some of my best photos of my littles (a one-year-old and a three-year-old) are the ones where they are just “caught in the moment.” Disney PhotoPass photographers are magic makers, and I’m sure they will get you the best shots possible. One last thing, don’t forget that your photo downloads are not included with Capture Your Moment. You will either need to purchase them individually or purchase
Memory Maker (which I recommend so you don’t have to pick between photos). If you need anything else, please come back and see us.
Happy Planning,
Ashley F.