Tips for Capturing Golden Hour at Theme Parks - Navigating the Parks for Success

Hogsmeade and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure during a Golden Hour Sunset

Welcome to the thrilling part of our journey where we'll dive into navigating the parks to maximize your photography success! In this series of articles we’re discussing how to craft more unique theme park photos that will really stand out amongst what everyone else is taking. In the previous article we discussed ways to capture unique images of frequently photographed locations in the parks. In this installment, we’ll be talking about maximizing the time you have at the parks! Whether you're an early bird chasing the perfect sunrise or a night owl capturing the magic of the evening lights, this section is all about timing and making the most of every moment of your day at the parks.

Arriving Early for Golden Hour Magic:

Guardians of The Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT in Walt Disney World as the sun begins to rise.

Picture this: the sun is just peeking over the horizon, casting a soft, warm glow across the park. This is the golden hour, the time when photographers around the world come alive. The Sun, as it rises, casts super soft light that easily enhances the quality of lighting in any photo. Arriving early might mean a bit less sleep, but the rewards are well worth it.

Peak golden hour over skyline of Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

If the park that you’re planning on visiting is open early enough to catch the sunrise, I highly recommend taking advantage of it. During this magical hour, the lighting is incredibly soft and flattering. It can turn even the most ordinary scene into a work of art. Not to mention the crowds will be significantly less.

Take advantage of any opportunity you have to capture a moment in the park without people in sight. These are rare photos, but can have the most wow-factor to them. Fewer people means less distraction in your shots and more opportunities for unobstructed views.

A beautiful pink sunrise over a waking Cinderella Castle with no guests in the park at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World.

I remember a particular morning at Magic Kingdom when I arrived just as the sun was rising in late 2020 during the pandemic. The crowds were nonexistent, and the way the golden hour sun illuminated Cinderella Castle was absolutely mesmerizing. I was able to capture one of my favorite images of the castle that I’ve ever taken. Capturing one of the most photographed icons in the world with no people in frame and the sky powerfully exploding with color made a typically common shot super unique. So, set that alarm clock a bit earlier and get ready to capture the parks in a whole new light!

A powerfully beautiful sunset over the World Showcase Lagoon and Japan Pavilion at EPCOT in Walt Disney World.

Likewise, sunset also offers its own golden hour. If your park doesn’t open early enough for sunrise, the chances of capturing explosively colorful skies in the evening are even higher. Sunset is personally my favorite time of day. Its colors are often more punchy than during sunrise, and as we’ll talk about next, it also offers some unique views with the lights of the park beginning to turn on. The only downside is that the parks remain crowded during sunset, and in some cases like at Magic Kingdom, the large crowds can offer difficult shooting conditions in certain sections of the park if everyone is gathering to watch the fireworks.

A stormy sunset over Cinderella Castle at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park

Regardless of which golden hour time you choose to shoot, be prepared! Golden hour has its name for a reason, it only lasts for a short period of time. This means that it will be impossible to catch every single shot of the park at this time of day. If your goal is to capture everything, you’ll end up catching nothing. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way multiple times. Plan out which shots you want during this time, and be realistic! If you want two shots from two different spots that are on the opposite sides of the park from each other, your chances of capturing those will be much lower. Decide which photo is the most important to you, plan to capture that one, and then shoot in locations nearby to photograph other subjects during this prime time.

Exploring Unconventional Shooting Times:

Spaceship Earth and the EPCOT entry fountain over a night sky in Walt Disney World

Now, let's fast forward to the evening. As the sun sets and the park's lights begin to twinkle, a whole new world of photography possibilities opens up. Nighttime photography is like adding a dash of magic to your shots. The parks take on a different character after dark, and they often inspire other unique forms of photography that you wouldn’t have considered during a bright mid-day shoot.

A long exposure shot of the Incredible Hulk coaster as it roars through its inverted loop at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

One of my favorite memories is from a night at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. As the sun set, the lights to The Incredible Hulk roller coaster turned on, and it allowed me to capture a powerful, unique, and personal image of such an iconic ride for the park, and one of my very first roller coaster credits. To capture these moments, you'll need to be comfortable with longer exposure times and maybe even have a small tripod to keep your camera steady. This particular frame was taken handheld but with the support of a nearby ledge and the use of In-body Image Stabilization, or IBIS for short.

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with a stormy sunset shooting overhead at Walt Disney World

Pro Tip: If there’s a dining or special reservation event available at your park, book the reservation for the latest time possible. When it’s time to leave, you’re almost guaranteed an empty park to take photos at after closing on your way out. Next time you’re at Galaxy’s Edge, book an Oga's Cantina reservation for the end of the night to snag a photo of the Millennium Falcon with no one else around while you’re leaving!

Moral of the story, don't pack up when the sun goes down – that's when the real adventure begins. Whether it's Cinderella Castle illuminated in a sea of lights or the Hollywood Tower Hotel glowing mysteriously in the dark, the parks at night offer a whole new canvas for your photography skills.

The Incredible Hulk Coaster framing a beautiful sunset at Universal’s Islands of Adventure

In the next section, we're diving deep into the art of capturing stunning portraits and dynamic ride photos! Get ready to unlock a new perspective on photography in the parks and what’s possible for capturing famous icons in creative ways.

Previous Article: How to Capture Unique Photos

Next Article: Dynamic Portraits and Ride Photos

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