Hiya, Jillianne! Thanks for stopping by planDisney! I’m happy to help you with this enchanting question. What a fun activity for you and your little shutterbug!
Photographers call the time just after sunrise and just before sunset the magic hour (how appropriate!) or golden hour because the sunlight is a warmer hue and less intense than midday, making it perfect for photography. I checked the
Capture Your Moment reservation system, and it looks like you are able to choose between a morning session (8:30 AM to 12:00 PM) or an afternoon session (12:15 PM to 4:00 PM). With sunrise being around 7:00 AM and sunset happening around 8:00 PM in mid-August in Orlando, I think you’re more likely to get the soft magic hour sunlight if you book a morning session.
No matter what time of day it is in the Magic Kingdom, I love getting my family’s photo taken by the
Disney PhotoPass photographers every chance we get. We always get a photo in front of Cinderella’s Castle (or…ya know…maybe two or three), and there are often fun photo opportunities in front of the Haunted Mansion and near Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid. You can find PhotoPass locations across Walt Disney World by searching the
My Disney Experience app map. When you’re looking at the map (the little pin icon along the bottom), there are a series of filter icons across the top. Scroll all the way to the right and you’ll see the “PhotoPass” icon. Clicking on it will show you PhotoPass photographer locations as well as special lens locations.
Jillianne, I hope this information helps you book your photography session and have the most magical birthday celebration for your little Mouseketeer. Come right back to planDisney if any other questions arise during your vacation planning.
Strike a pose!
Matt