A trip to Disney World means endless opportunities for capturing great photos. For people who can’t imagine lugging around a gigantic DSLR, there’s nothing more convenient than having a compact camera to snap all of your shots.

Countless hours of taking photos at Disney World has taught me a lot about the best point-and-shoot cameras to use. I’ll share which ones I like best.

My Favorite Point-and-Shoot Cameras for Taking Photos at Disney World

• Sony RX100 (Click to check current price on Amazon): This is definitely the top pick for anyone who wants the most capable point-and-shoot camera without getting too close to DSLR-level pricing. The RX100 is super versatile. It will take incredible pictures in just about every scenario. Snapping pictures on a sunny day in Magic Kingdom? No problem. Trying to get an action shot of a ghost in the darkness of the Haunted Mansion? Also no problem.
• Canon PowerShot SX620 (Click to check current price on Amazon): If the RX100 is out of your budget, the PowerShot is hard to beat. Overall, it’s a great camera that gives you an outstanding bang for your buck. It works well in varying light conditions, has a good optical zoom, and is very compact. The PowerShot makes it very easy for beginners to take great photos.
• Sony DSCW800 (Click to check current price on Amazon): This is the budget alternative. It’s a super compact, super lightweight point and shoot camera. This is the best choice for someone who wants something one step above their smartphone camera without spending too much.

Why I think the Sony RX100 is the Best Point-and-Shoot Camera for Disney World

Simple- The RX100 takes amazing photos and is a fraction of the size of a DSLR. And honestly, the average Disney fan is going to get better pictures out of a good point-and-shoot like the RX100 than they will a large, expensive DSLR.

Whether you’re a beginner photographer or a seasoned professional, most people absolutely do not love spending a day at Disney with a 2lb camera hanging from their neck. The problem is that you lose a lot of features when you go to a smaller camera. That’s why the RX100 shines- it’s small, but has a feature set that’s awesome for Disney World applications.

I’ve seen so many situations where someone missed great photo ops at Disney because they didn’t have a camera on them. A lot of people simply get tired of carrying their large camera, so they’ll just go without it. That leaves them only with their smartphone.

Even though smartphones have come a long way, they simply can’t compete with a good point-and-shoot. Smartphone camera sensors are very small and their performance is especially poor in low light. Disney World is full of low light rides and restaurants, so this is a big problem.

The RX100 is super sleek and fits easily in a pocket, so you don’t have to spend any time stressing about whether or not you want to lug around a camera bag.

My Favorite RX100 Features:

• Overall image quality is superb: To be short and simple, the RX100 just takes great photos. You’re not really going to many point-and-shoot cameras that will take pictures with so much clarity.
• Large sensor: Compared to the average point-and-shoot camera sensor, the RX100’s is massive, meaning that it can take in a lot more light than most compact cameras. Not only is this important for taking photos in general, but it’s extra important for taking photos in low-light. You’ll benefit from this greatly when you’re shooting at night or on one of Disney World’s many dark rides.
• Quick focusing: This is an important feature for a compact camera in terms of convenience. It doesn’t take long at all for the RX100 to adjust to whatever you’re aiming it at. This is big for Disney, as many of your pictures will be quick shots while you’re on-the-move.
• Strong video capability: Sony is known for having the industry’s best image stabilization when shooting video and the RX100 delivers on that reputation. Also, the continuous autofocus is great, even in low light. This means that you’re going to get smooth, properly focused video.
• Full manual control: This is a huge deal for intermediate and advanced users. Many point-and-shoots don’t come close to giving you the level of control that the RX100 does. You can fine tune everything on this camera to get perfect shots. It’s also worth mentioning that you have on-the-fly control in videos too.

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up, Sony found a way to cram an astounding number of features into a camera that can comfortably fit in anyone’s front pocket.

The RX100 will handle everything Disney World can throw at you. Its large sensor helps it to provide you with clear, crisp photos in the sunlight, at nighttime, or inside the darkest ride. You’ll also be able to take above-average photos while you’re in motion, which you will be quite often during a Disney vacation.

There’s only one real downside to it and that’s a little higher price. But even with that higher price, the RX100 is a pretty good deal, because it comes about as close as you can get to DSLR-caliber photos from a point-and-shoot camera. In many head-to-head comparisons, it has even outperformed some lower-level DSLR’s in certain areas.

Just be honest with yourself about your needs and your photography skills. If you’re serious about great photos and plan on getting the most out of your camera, go with the Sony. If you’re a more casual user or you want to spend a little less, go with the Canon Powershot I mentioned earlier.

All-in-all I’m confident that you’ll be thrilled with the Sony RX100. It will help you take your vacation photos to the next level without the need for a huge, bulky camera.

Tips for Using a Point-and-Shoot Camera at Disney World

• Take more pictures! The only way to get better is to practice, so don’t be afraid to take pictures, even when you don’t think they’ll be interesting enough.
• Tripods are awesome and generally Disney-approved, but avoid extendable handheld camera grips. Selfie sticks and other extendable handhelds were banned years ago inside the parks.
• As far as tripods go, a miniature flexible tripod is a lifesaver at Disney World. Just don’t get one too small, because they can have trouble supporting even the lightest cameras. I really like the GorillaPod. (Here’s a link to one that fits most regular cameras)
• Find ways to use natural light as much as possible.
• Avoid using the flash in settings that don’t call for it. The flash can often wash out the colors in your photos, leaving you with a less vibrant, less interesting photo.
• Don’t always center your subject in your pictures. Centering everything will result in boring photos.
• Take some time to learn about your camera’s settings. Watch a Youtube video tutorial or breakdown of your exact camera.
• Make sure you always have extra memory cards. There are few things worse than realizing that you’re halfway through the day and you have no way to take new pictures without deleting others.
• Sometimes, the best camera advice is to simply put it down for a while. Don’t be so overwhelmed by the need to take photos that you forget to enjoy your trip.