USA Disneyland Anaheim

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, is the original Disney theme park, opening on July 17, 1955. Walt Disney himself designed it and has become a cultural icon. The park features themed areas like Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Known for classic rides such as Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean, Disneyland offers immersive experiences and attractions for all ages, continuing to be a top tourist destination.

If you're looking to photograph areas with as few people in the shots as possible, the first couple of hours in the morning after opening offer a great opportunity to hit areas before they open. Most of the rope drop crowds race to the top attractions, leaving many of the walkways and not yet open dining areas available to be photographed with minimal distraction. Crowds tend to get busier closer to 11 am. When the parks officially close, the Main Street USA/Buena Vista Street entry corridors of both parks remain open for an additional hour for last-minute shopping. You may have luck getting some last-minute shots of the park without crowds, as security directs the remaining crowds to these entry areas for that extra hour.

Many of the rides and attractions feature what are called "Hidden Mickeys." The Imagineers purposely arrange objects of a larger circle with two smaller circles and hide them as a detail for fans to notice. Even the custodial crews have been known to sweep fallen leaves into a shape of Mickey's head for guests to discover.

There are lots of great details throughout the parks to shoot, allowing those shooting with macro lenses as many opportunities as those who like to shoot with longer lenses. The dark rides offer opportunities to push the low-light capabilities of your camera bodies to their extremes, and many like to capture shots on the roller coasters.

Be sure to incorporate park and attraction signs into your photos to make it easier to identify later where the photos were taken in the park. They help tell the story of your trip as you retrace your steps through your photos. Also, theme parks are constantly evolving and making changes, so the signage will help you remember things that may eventually be changed or removed from the park over time.

I recommend getting a locker inside so you can store your camera gear when you decide to go on a ride.