Hiya Kate,
Welcome to planDisney. It is never to early to start planning your magical
Walt Disney World Resort vacation, including all the little extras that will help make your trip even more memorable. Of course this includes capturing the perfect family photo in front of Cinderella Castle!
I might have hundreds of photographs with our family posed near Cinderella Castle, and no matter how many times I think I timed the crowd correctly, I later realize other Guests have made an appearance in our family. Therefore, over the yEARs, I have gathered a few tips to help minimize how many other people appear in my perfect family photo. One definite way to limit crowds in your photo is to make an
advanced dining reservation for the earliest breakfast time possible. If you are able to grab one of these popular spots, you will find the only other Guests in the theme park are the select few that also have dining reservations. This will give you a great chance to snap a number of pictures with few, if any, Guests in the background.
Likewise, if you are a night owl and able to stick around until the end of the evening, not only will you find smaller crowds but you will also have an opportunity to snag photos with Cinderella Castle displaying the beautiful nighttime lights. Remember, even after the official park closing, take your time exiting the park! The Cast Members will slowly move Guests towards the gates, however there is plenty of time to hang back and let the crowds exit, allowing time for these ideal photo opportunities. If you are not an early riser, or a late night straggler, you can still grab some great photos though by moving off to the side of the Castle. A great spot is off to the left, over the bridge, just as you head to Liberty Square. If you choose a spot along the bridge, you will find a great side view of the Castle with no access for Guests to walk into the photo. One additional suggestion is to consider booking a
Capture Your Moment -Magic Kingdom session. This
Enchanting Extra will provide you with a 20 minute photo session in which your family will be photographed with a number of shots to choose from, including Cinderella Castle. These sessions are extremely popular, so be sure to book as soon as possible.
I hope this information helps you capture the perfect photo. If I can help with any additional planning questions, please stop back and
see me.
T-T-F-N (Ta-Ta for now),
Margaret