- Nice to meet you and your Mom! We always enjoy connecting with other Disney photography fans. We will be doing park walks and we have seats reserved at restaurants for meals together. We will put out sign ups much later with information about that. Keep in mind that you can opt in or out of anything we are doing. It's not uncommon for people to float in and out of the meets. There will be late nights and early mornings. Our motto is "You can sleep when you're dead... WE ARE AT DISNEY!!" Disney just released the park hours for December and we know that they will probably be expanded based projected attendance. More specific info as to our whereabouts on what day will be released as we get closer to the Pixelmania event. As for now, we know for sure that we are doing Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on Thursday Dec. 7th.. The Xmas party can be fun as we develop a plan of attack to get spots to photograph the parade and the fireworks, as well as the other party offerings. The great thing about interacting with a group of like minded Disney parks photography fans is that we benefit from the experience of others. This can be especially helpful when we are trying to be efficient in capturing the party. Consider purchasing your party tickets this summer if you are planning on attending that event with us. As far as camera gear is concerned we are all over the place. I shoot with a Nikon D4 and others bought into the gospel of the Sony Mirrorless system. Some of us keep it simple with a point and shoot. The bottom line is that gear or experience is irrelevant. We aren't camera snobs. We just love getting together while we are at WDW. When you have a group that has the same interest (Photography) and they can get together at WDW it can't help but be fun. We post here on this board all year long and we love getting together in the parks. We generally alternate between going in early December and then in the following year going some time in October for the Halloween and food and wine events. So stay tuned for more details about our adventures to come! ~Joanie
Welcome Crystal and family! Glad to have new members joining our informal little group and get together. As mentioned, no camera snobs here - we've got everything from P&S to professional full-frame DSLRs, and all are welcome, all can learn photography tips, and all can enjoy.
I'm looking forward to meeting up again this year: Scott + up to 6 others / disneyscott / SOG/ Dates TBD but probably for the duration that you will be there,
Thank you for the warm welcome! I would say I am an advanced amateur - I currently have a Nikon D600/D700 but anxiously awaiting the rumored announcement of the new Nikon D850? - which supposedly will happen about midnight for the 100th anniversary. I also have a Sony a6000 when I am lazy and don't want to carry the larger/heavier camera. Not a camera snob...only time I shake my head is when someone spends $1000s on camera equipment then just shoots in full auto when a nice point and shoot or entry level mirrorless camera would have done the job. I have several trips coming up - I want my coast to coast medal (the stupid stuff we do for bling) so doing a weekend trip for the Food & Wine Two Course Challenge in November, then this trip in December and back again mid-April for the Flower & Garden Festival and looking at the 1st week of October for a fall trip. We tend to get an AP and get several trips in, then take a couple years off, probably until 2021/2022 for the 50th. Not sure what if sharing links is allowed - but here a couple of my Disney flickr albums just to show my shooting style. Looking forward to words of wisdom from others who photograph Disney - it is always challenging but fun! Disneyland - my last two trips where west coast - https://www.flickr.com/photos/clj7181/sets/72157659843386414 WDW - last trip was in 2014 - looking through my older images I have quite a few I want to "try again" - https://www.flickr.com/photos/clj7181/sets/72157633260691245
Crystal, we're pretty relaxed when it comes to links. Linking to your own work is always allowed and encouraged since it keeps the site hosting costs down. Linking to useful information related to Disney and/or Photography is also fine. Since you mentioned a trip next October, if you can wait until this November to commit to a week, we plan to announce next year's dates sometime in November. Generally we alternate between Dec and Oct so people can double up on AP's. Having said that we're still working on this year's schedule so nothing is set in stone yet.
I won't officially be committed to a week until 10 months out when I book my timeshare (we have Wyndham points). I was looking at Sept 29 - Oct 7, 2018 since it is in value (less points) then the next three weeks.
Dates aren't final yet, but we typically lean toward the end of Oct. A couple of us have conflicts that prevent an early Oct meet.
Can I get a Whoop-Whoop!!! My waitlist for the one night at a Kidani came through so I have my entire stay there instead of having one night at Pop (and saves me $50 based on what I figure my cost per point is)! Not only that, but I also found out that the DVC AP deal that came out earlier this month can be applied to my current Gold AP at no charge. That means I get upgraded to the Platinum Plus for free (waterparks and no blackout dates)! Then to add to all that great news I also was told that I can purchase my renewal (using that great deal) early and as long as I don't link it to my account until after my renewal date then I'll also get an extra month (but won't necessarily affect me since bumping it last year got me past the PixelMania Oct/Dec thing - my old pass would have expired just before PM2K17). WooHoo!!! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Hi all, I'm Dave Punch, one of the admins for the Institute of Disney Photography Facebook group, and a member of the Disney Colors group. First, I'd like to thank Joanie for the invite. I'm excited to see what Pixelmania is all about. I'm a part time photographer from New Orleans, LA. WDW Annual Pass holder and DVC member (OKW!). I'm a Canon shooter, currently using the 5d Mk4. As for social media, I'm on IG as @DisneyPunch (for my Disney/Universal stuff), @Dpunchphoto for my business account, and I'm the man behind the curtain on the IDP account @disneyphotographyinstitute. My Flickr account leans heavily to the Disney side, and can be found at https://www.flickr.com/photos/dpunchphoto/ Looking forward to meeting everyone and representing IDP. I'll be flying in on Thursday night, staying off property with local friends until early Monday morning departure. Looking forward to meeting you all.
Welcome to the Pixelmania group, Dave!! Look forward to meeting you in December. Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk
Indeed welcome Dave. Good to have some New Orleans representation - they always know how to have a good time! I colleged in N.O. and go back as often as possible, which is never as often as I wish.
I am coming on Wednesday 6th early afternoon and departing Monday 11th mid morning. Currently on two waiting list for Kidani and Saratoga but have made reservations as a provisional at Courtyard Lake Buena Vista. Will let you know if that changes and DVC lets me in.... grrrr
