Should I take a camera to Disney World? (2024 Edition)

Disney World Magic Kingdom

INTRO

A very common question I always see in the Disney Groups is, “Should I take my “real camera” with me to Disney World?”. If you’re struggling with this question, today I’m going to provide you with a simple set of statements that will help guide you in your decision.

Disney World Coronado Springs

HISTORY

For context, when I started going to Disney World in 2014, cell phone cameras did not have the capability they do today. Back then I had an iPhone 5. I brought along my Nikon 1 V1 mirrorless camera kit to save on space. (It is a very small and compact kit). As I got more into photography, I started bringing my Nikon D750 and 24-120 F4 lens and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Disney World Animal Kingdom 

“Should I bring my camera to Disney World?”

If this question is bothering you and you want some clarity on what to do, here are some thoughts to consider.

If you find ANY the following statements TRUE for you, then YES, you should probably bring a camera!

• Photography is very important to me.

• I really love photography and want to get the absolute most out of my photos at Disney World because I will be post processing them to maximize their beauty and creativity.

• I have a camera and want to really learn how to use it and will take the time to experiment with it in a variety of conditions (early morning, mid day, night time) and try things like long exposure photography of fireworks.

• I want to get the absolute best quality images for printing and making a photo book.

• I have a lower end phone or an older phone that doesn’t have all the whiz-bang features of the newest devices.

If you find ANY the following statements TRUE for you, then NO, you should probably not bring a camera!

• Photography is not very important to me.

• I want to have a minimalist approach to the stuff I bring in the parks and not deal with something else.

• I either a) don’t have time to do post production on my photos or b) I don’t want to take the time to learn post production.

• I’m traveling with kids who are younger and we have a jam packed schedule and are bringing 1-2 bags of stuff already into the parks and a stroller every day.

• We’re planning on doing a lot of water activities while in the parks and resorts.

• I’m worried about having my camera broken or stolen while in the parks.

Disney World Epcot

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Many times, things may be far away. Even with the new optical zooms of cell phone cameras, the optical quality still cannot compete with midrange camera lenses (like a 24-120 F4). I’d venture to say, even the super zoom lenses like a 24-200 or 28-400 lens will perform better than cell phone cameras. If “reach” is important to you, then a real camera is a must.

If you get really creative and want a challenge (which I just thought of and haven’t done) - try macro photography and get extreme close ups and details of Disney things. Some phones may have this mode too. So, depending on your technology and whether or not you want to make part of your trip a science experiment, ponder that.

Disney World Magic Kingdom

CONCLUSION

Bringing a camera to Disney World can be a big decision because on the one hand it’s another expensive item to keep up with and protect during your day. On the other hand, when it comes to image quality, even the latest phones in 2024 cannot produce an image that beats a dedicated camera. Hopefully my statements above provided you with how to think about this and come to a decision. The bottom line is, I think if you want to enjoy Disney to the max and not have to fiddle with bringing a bunch of stuff into the parks, just use your phone. If you don’t mind bringing an additional bag in and keeping up with it during a busy day, then by all means, bring a small camera kit with you if you will use it.

What am I doing?

Obviously I love photography and will be bringing a camera. My plan is to continue a hybrid approach as we plan for our October 2024 trip. In all likelihood, the iPhone will be the main driver during the day time outings, but I’ll have the Z6 and 24-120 for Animal Kingdom. If the 24-120 proves to be a hassle, then I’ll just use the 26mm 2.8 and that makes the kit considerably smaller and easier to work with.

I’ve found that I love staying after closing in the parks and photographing things without big crowds around and doing long exposures of the buildings and other things. It really is fun having the opportunity to be creative and I encourage everyone who has an interest in photography to try it while at Disney.

Disney World Magic Kingdom

All the images in this post were taken with a Nikon camera and I believe would have been impossible to get with a cell phone in terms of color and clarity. While modern phone cameras are great in daylight, as soon as that starts to fade, a regular camera will win every time.

Disney World Coronado Springs

GEAR

If you’re needing new gear, I’d encourage you to visit Adorama Camera using my affiliate link. I’ve been buying new and used gear from them since 2014 and am proud to have partnered with them recently.

The Z6 is now up to version 3, but version 2 is on sale for a good deal. Check it out here: Nikon Z6ii

My main lens is the Nikon 24-120 F4

My secondary lens is the Nikon 26 2.8

My ultrawide lens is the Nikon 14-30 F4

As noted in my post, I’m not sure what bag and tripod I’m bringing. I will update this post when I figure it out.