Ideas for unusual family photos at Walt Disney World

For many Walt Disney World visitors, photos of their magical vacations are the best souvenirs. At the top of everyone’s list, of course, is the iconic image of the family on Main Street, U.S.A., in front of Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom. That’s followed closely by the photos of kids with the characters and having fun on rides. Those are some of my most treasured photos, too, but I’d like to offer a few ideas for other fun family photos at Walt Disney World that might not be as popular but will be just as memorable:

** Walt Disney World resorts have beautiful lobbies and grounds that can be perfect for group photos. We love the entrance to the Polynesian, with its lush, tropical plants and waterfalls, and I have taken several photos of the kids there over the years.

** If you are staying at a Disney resort with a beach, consider using the location in your own backyard, so to speak. The monorail loop resorts have Cinderella Castle in the background, which is hard to top. The light on the beach will be best in the morning or late afternoon, but remember to bring sunglasses for the kids if there’s a chance they may be facing the sun for the photos.

** Check out the larger-than-life statues of beloved Disney characters at the new Art of Animation resort. Guests are welcome to walk through the public areas, where they will find characters from “Finding Nemo” and “Cars.” Tours also are offered daily. “The Lion King” section opens in August and “The Little Mermaid” wing opens in September.

** Take a photo in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom with the the construction behind you. The fence and cranes may seem less than ideal now, but it will be a great memory in the future once all of the new Fantasyland attractions open.

** Recreate a favorite childhood photo at Walt Disney World. If the attraction or location is still there, revisit it now and have a photo made in the same spot. My kids wish we could recreate many of my childhood photos at River Country — especially the one where my sister and I are dropping off slides into the pool. Unfortunately, River Country has closed.

** Epcot is the one theme park that the monorail enters, so if you are willing to wait a few minutes for it to pass by, you can capture a unique family photo. This is an especially pretty and colorful option during the Flower & Garden Festival.

** At Animal Kingdom, one of our favorite places to eat is on the bottom terrace of Flame Tree Barbecue. Keeping those drinks upright for the walk downhill is worth it because there’s a great view of Expedition Everest while you’re dining. This is also a good spot to take a family photo with the attraction in the background — you will get more of it than at the Kodak Picture Spot that is closer to the ride.

** Speaking of food, if your family has discovered a favorite treat, ask another guest to take a picture of you all enjoying it. Dole whips, anyone?

** You can take Christmas themed-photos even when the parks are not decorated for the holidays. Winter Summerland, the miniature golf course adjacent to Blizzard Beach water park, is full of great props. From the life-size sleigh out front for visitors to pose in to the Disney character statues that look like they are made of snow, this attraction has it all. Another great backdrop with Christmas characters is located outside Disney’s Days of Christmas store at Downtown Disney Marketplace.

Do you have a favorite off-the-beaten-path location for your best Disney photos? Tell us about it in the comments, please!