How to Photograph a Magic Kingdom Flyover

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Wondering how to photograph a Magic Kingdom flyover? Every few years (give or take) the U.S. Navy Blue Angels or the U.S. Airforce Thunderbirds will do flyover photo opportunities over the Magic Kingdom or Epcot in Walt Disney World. The Air Force Thunderbirds recently performed at Disney’s Magic Kingdom as a tribute to National Veterans and Military Families Month. It’s usually announced on Disney’s social media about a week before it happens and it typically is tied to dates of local airshows like Pensacola, Ft. Lauderdale, and Sun ‘n Fun.

As an Orlando local and an Annual Passholder with a flexible schedule, I was fortunate enough to photograph two of these events: The Blue Angels at Epcot in May 2019 and more recently, the Thunderbirds at Magic Kingdom in October 2022, and I’m sharing some of my tips for how to get great photos during a Disney World flyover.

Preparing for the Shot

Before the flyover, it’s essential to prepare your gear and plan your shot. Here are some tips to help you get ready:

Arrive at the park early to secure a good spot, especially if you’re planning to photograph the flyover at Magic Kingdom or Epcot. The best locations tend to fill up quickly, so getting there early ensures you have a prime position.

Bring a DSLR or mirrorless camera, as they offer better image quality and more manual controls than point-and-shoot cameras. These cameras will give you the flexibility needed to adjust settings on the fly and capture the jets in all their glory.

Choose a lens with a focal length of at least 70mm to capture the jets in flight. A 24-70mm or 70-200mm lens would be ideal, providing you with the versatility to frame your shots perfectly, whether you’re close to Cinderella Castle or further back.

Make sure your camera battery is fully charged, and bring a spare battery and memory cards. The last thing you want is to run out of power or storage space just as the jets make their pass.

Dress comfortably and wear sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun. Florida weather can be unpredictable, and it’s important to stay comfortable while you wait for the flyover.

Bring water and snacks to keep you hydrated and energized throughout the event. Once you’ve claimed your spot, you won’t want to leave it, so having refreshments on hand is a must.

Composing Your Shot for Great Photos

When these flyovers happen, they typically make two passes. The first pass is in a tight, triangular-shaped formation with one jet leading the group in a straight pass. The second pass is typically what’s called a Delta breakout where the jets break formation and split off in various directions leaving a fan of contrails in the sky. While this gives you two opportunities to get your shot, you need to be conscious that the second pass, the Delta breakout formation, requires a wider frame to adequately capture it.

For Magic Kingdom Park flyovers, the jets come from the back of the park over Cinderella’s Castle towards the front of the park. This event is often highlighted during National Veterans and Military Families Month, with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performing a flyover to honor national veterans. For Epcot flyovers, the jets come from the front of the park and fly towards the World Showcase. It’s important to know that when picking the spot you want to photograph from.

In terms of picking your spot, you’ll want to arrive at the parks early. Each time I’ve seen a flyover, they’ve happened within an hour or so of the park opening, so I would suggest rope-dropping the park where the flyover is happening. It’s helpful to have the shot you want in mind when you arrive at the park so you can stake out your spot immediately. In addition to your hardcore Disney fans, you get a lot of aviation fans, plus your regular parkgoers who have no idea the flyover is happening so it can get quite crowded.

Travel Photography Tips for Disney Parks

For both of my shoots, I chose to keep things simple and iconic, focusing on Cinderella’s Castle and Spaceship Earth. I didn’t want to miss the moment by trying to do something too outside the box, but if I have another opportunity to photograph a flyover, I would definitely think about more unique and interesting compositions that still have a Disney flair. Once you’ve chosen your spot, dial in your settings, keeping in mind that you’re likely going to have dark jets against a bright sky. More on settings in a minute.

Before each pass of the flyover, Disney makes an announcement over the PA system that it’s about to happen. Once they make the announcement, put your camera to your eye and keep it there. Soon after you’ll hear the roar of the inbound jets and you’ll literally have seconds to capture the jets as they fly over. You’ll be shocked at how quickly it happens. The second pass typically happens between five and ten minutes after the first, and there will be an announcement preceding it.

Camera Gear

A DSLR or mirrorless camera is the ideal way to capture a jet flyover. In terms of lenses, since you’re likely framing up your shot to include a landmark, you could use something like a 24-70mm. But it will depend on where in the park you are positioned, so if you have a longer lens like a 70-200mm, I’d bring that too. Flying low over the Magic Kingdom for aerial photography provides a unique perspective that can result in stunning images.

You’ll want a large capacity, fast memory card so you can shoot continuously and capture as many You’ll want a large capacity, fast memory card so you can shoot continuously and capture as many frames as possible during the flyover pass.

Because it will be crowded and you’ll be shooting with a fast shutter speed, there’s no need for a tripod. Honestly, it will only hinder you if you want to change locations between passes.

Don’t forget to pack water, a hat, and sunscreen as it can get rather toasty while you’re waiting and once you claim your spot, you’re not going to want to give it up!

Camera Settings

First and foremost, I’d suggest shooting in RAW. As previously mentioned, you’re going to be photographing dark jets against what is likely to be a bright sky. While you can dial in your settings as close as possible pre-flyover, there’s virtually no time to tweak them while it’s happening. Shooting in RAW will allow you more latitude in editing if your exposure is slightly off.

Speaking of exposure, I suggest shooting in manual mode and using your histogram to check your exposure. You want your shutter speed to be 1/1000 of a second or faster to freeze the motion of the jets (they can fly as fast as 1400 mph or Mach 2, so they’re FAST). I’d suggest an aperture of around 5.6, depending on your lens. Most lenses are sharpest two stops up from wide open, so I’d use something in that range. ISO 400 is a good starting point, but depending on the day you’ll need to adjust as necessary for proper exposure.

If you’re not comfortable shooting in manual mode, I’d suggest shutter priority mode with a shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second.

You also want to shoot in continuous mode and grab as many frames as you can during the flyover. Again, I can’t over-emphasize how quickly this happens, giving you very little time to think and adjust on the, well, fly. Your auto-focus mode should also be continuous. This is not the time to muck around with manual focus.

Most importantly, take a deep breath and have fun! Jet flyovers, especially at the Disney parks, are quite fun to see, so even though you may be trying to get a great shot, try and take a moment to soak it in and really enjoy it now that you know how to photograph a Magic Kingdom flyover.

Post-Processing and Sharing

After capturing your photos, it’s time to post-process and share them with the world. Here are some tips to help you enhance your photos and share them with others:

Use photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop to adjust the exposure, contrast, and color balance of your photos. These tools can help you bring out the best in your images and correct any minor issues.

Crop your photos to remove any distractions and emphasize the jets. A well-cropped image can make a big difference in the overall composition and impact of your photo.

Add a watermark or copyright information to protect your photos from unauthorized use. This is especially important if you plan to share your images online.

Share your photos on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Use relevant hashtags like #MagicKingdomFlyover, #AirForceThunderbirds, and #NavyBlueAngels to reach a wider audience and connect with other enthusiasts.

Consider submitting your photos to photography contests or exhibitions to showcase your work. This can be a great way to gain recognition and share your passion with a broader audience.

Common Challenges and Solutions

Photographing a flyover can be challenging, but with the right techniques and equipment, you can overcome common obstacles. Here are some common challenges and solutions:

Challenge: The sun is too harsh, creating unflattering shadows and highlights. Solution: Use a polarizing filter to reduce glare and adjust your camera settings to compensate for the harsh light. This can help you achieve more balanced exposures and richer colors.

Challenge: The jets are too far away, making them appear small in the frame. Solution: Use a telephoto lens with a focal length of at least 200mm to capture the jets from a distance. This will allow you to fill the frame with the aircraft and capture more detail.

Challenge: The crowd is too dense, making it difficult to get a clear shot. Solution: Arrive early to secure a good spot, and consider using a monopod or tripod to stabilize your camera. A monopod can help you keep your camera steady without taking up too much space.

By following these tips and being prepared for any challenges, you’ll be well on your way to capturing stunning photos of a Magic Kingdom flyover. Enjoy the experience and happy shooting!

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