Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photographic Innoventions by Scott Thomas

I enjoyed Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It is not a show with a lot of “Wow” factor like a fireworks show. The music, floats and use of projections on water is very soothing. I will say my experience in watching it was not enjoyable.

I saw Rivers of Light in its third week of production. Yet, the Cast Members seating people were not prepared for what happened to my wife and I. We had used a Dining Package at Tusker House so we would not have to fight the crowd to get a good seat. Our server told us to show up about 30 minutes before the show. Turns out that was not a good idea. Even though we had tickets showing we should be seated in the reserved area, the area was already full. Confused, I asked how this could be? Again, the Cast Members did not have an answer. I had to be very firm with them to get into the handicap area so we could watch the show while standing.

The photos are not from a very good viewing location because of this. You can see poles and lights and I did the best I could.

The boats are a challenge as they move slowly but they still move. I decided to use spot metering and a shutter speed of 1/60th of a second for the show and let the ISO climb as needed up to 6400.

Boat float in the Rivers of Light show at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Boat float in the Rivers of Light show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Nikon D750/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/5.6, ISO 3200, EV +1, 116mm focal length.

The lighted animal floats are much easier to photograph as they are lighted.

Lighted animal floats in the Rivers of Light show at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Lighted animal floats in the Rivers of Light show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Nikon D750/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/5.6, ISO 3200, EV +1, 116mm focal length.

Towards the end of the show, every float used in the show are in the lagoon. It is a beautiful sight.

Rivers of Light show at Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Rivers of Light show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Nikon D750/28-300VR, 1/60s, f/5.6, ISO 6400, EV +1, 28mm focal length.

While my experience was not what I am used to at Walt Disney World, I will go see this show again. Hopefully with a Fast Pass and will show up a lot earlier. I wonder if Disney should look into a full reservation system for shows presented in an auditorium or amphitheater setting.

I did complain to Disney and have talked with a Customer Service Cast Member. I hope my feedback will improve other’s experience at Rivers of Light in the future.

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Scott's "Photographic Innoventions" blog focuses on intermediate to advanced photography concepts and techniques relevant for Point and Shoot and Digital SLR cameras.

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One Reply to “Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom”

  1. While on our trip we secured a FastPass for 8:30pm. Not knowing where to go for seating I asked a cast member near the stadium and told her the time of our FastPass. She told me to if we lined up before 8:15 they wouldn’t let us in. So, at 7:30 or so we sat near Expedition Everest killing time and saw the stadium filling up. I asked another cast member who was walking by and was told that I should have already been seated (it was 7:50)so we were allowed in and had fantastic seats. If we had waited until 8:15 as the first cast member told us we would have been standing. I don’t know if the first cast member I asked was new or not, but I am so glad that I asked someone else. The show is amazing and is worth the wait if you are comfortably seated. We could have never stood for that long a time and fought the crowds after it was over.

    Scott replies: Yes, I hope Disney works out the kinks of seating people for this show. I will try again on my next trip and hope to get a better location to photography from.