Ride Cameras

One of my favorite things about riding the bigger coasters and thrill rides in Disneyland is checking out the photo afterward. Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re embarrassing, but they’re always a great way to remember your trip to the park. The following is a list of the rides at the resort with cameras, with my best description of where to find them within the rides themselves.

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE RIDE CAMERAS

California Screamin’ – In my opinion, this is the most poorly placed ride camera at the Disneyland Resort. After you go over all the major drops, you’ll pass through a series of mini drops, and the camera goes off right at the end, as you sweep down on your way back to the loading dock. At this point, the coaster is nowhere near it’s peak speed, so the camera should be easy to spot.

Radiator Springs Racers – This camera is definitely the most challenging to time if you want to pose for a picture. At the end of your race, you’ll dip down right as you travel under a rock formation. The camera flashes about halfway down the small hill, so be ready with a pose just as you start to descend, and hold your pose longer than you think you need to.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – I must confess, I have never seen this camera with my own eyes. When I am brave enough to ride the Tower of Terror, my eyes are glued shut for the entire horrifying experience.

NOTE: This attraction is now themed as Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout. The camera is still in the same place.

It’s fun to be scared…right? (and how do I always end up in the front?!)

Anyway, I have it on good authority that the camera flashes right at the top, before your first major drop down the elevator shaft. If you’re not as chicken as me, you should have no trouble posing for this photo op. And if you are chicken, all the more reason to check out your photo; your genuinely terrified expression will be priceless.

DISNEYLAND RIDE CAMERAS

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters – When you enter into the final battle room, you’ll pass through a dark tunnel and you won’t be able to control your car. Once the car is fixed, look slightly to the right, and you’ll see the camera flashing. As you exit the Astro Blasters, you’ll find a wall where you can look up your photo and email it to yourself. Note: this is the only ride photo in the park available for free!

Space Mountain – This ride camera is right at the very end of the track, so it’s easy to miss. After making the only sharp left turn of the ride, the track straightens out and you will enter a bright tunnel. About two seconds into the tunnel, the flash goes off, so be quick if you’re going to pose for a picture. But beware – you’re still going really fast, so posing can be a challenge.

And last but not least, Splash Mountain – this camera is in the most obvious spot of any ride: right at the big drop. My family takes Splash Mountain Photos very, very seriously. We plan our photos well in advance and almost always use props and rehearse our poses beforehand. Here are just a few of our favorites:

A Morning on Splash Mountain

Santa’s Sleigh

Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest

If you’ve never paid much attention to ride cameras, I highly recommend planning some sort of scene or pose at least once. It’s really fun to see how the photos turn out, and cast members often tell us they get a kick out of the goofy group shots. So if you want a genuinely unique souvenir from the Disneyland Resort, consider going all out in a ride photo!