Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World at Sunset
The Polynesian Village Resort at Walt Disney World is brightened by the light of the setting sun, seen from the nearby boat dock on Seven Seas Lagoon. So if you are wondering, I wasn’t swimming out in the water with my camera to get this photo. I was just standing on the boat dock waiting for a boat to take us somewhere.
Since I have not yet been to the real Polynesia (although I am always happy to accept donations), this is as close as I have been. I would imagine that in most ways the real thing is much better than this, although the Disney version is pretty nice, too. Even if we have never actually spent the night there.
Yes, we are some sort of Disney hotel “lurkers,” wandering in to spend an hour or two at the different Disney resorts without actually spending the night there. It’s much cheaper that way, and you still get to enjoy the cool atmosphere of the resorts, even if only for a little while.
It usually isn’t a problem for us to do so. Sometimes we ride a bus to the different resorts from Downtown Disney, I mean Disney Springs. Gotta start calling it by its right name now. Or sometimes we just drive our car to the resort and say that we are there to shop and eat. If there is ever a problem with that, it is that they are out of parking space for us freeloaders. We have been told that a few times at the Contemporary Resort, and once or twice at the Polynesian Village Resort we have had to circle around and park in the corner of the Transportation and Ticket Center lot closest to the hotel, although they didn’t charge us the parking lot rate to park there. So that was nice.
For the record, they have never entirely turned us away, although they have had to suggest other places to park before. So it is almost as if they don’t mind that we just wander through for a while, like some sort of tourists or something.
It’s not like Disney is losing out entirely. Yes, they don’t get our money for the room rates. But we usually end up buying a few things in the different shops. And we often eat a meal or two at the different resorts or at least buy a few snacks. So they still get money from us.
And then I take all of these photos and share them here, so they get some free publicity out of all of it, too. You’re welcome, Disney. No need to thank me. Unless you just really want to. In which case feel free to contribute to my vacation fund!
The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. - Proverbs 19:23
About the Photo
This photo was actually made of three different “exposures” from a single Raw file. One exposure was used to add a little more color to the sky, while another was used to add a little more brightness to the buildings and trees. I also manipulated the colors just a bit to bring out the golden glow caused by the setting sun, although most of that was present already. I just accentuated it a little.
I always like the view of the Polynesian Village from across the water, and thankfully the boat dock provides a good place for that, so that you can be close enough to get some detail but still have the water in the foreground. You could also do the same from a boat as it is passing by, but with the dock, you don’t have to worry about the motion of the boat, so that makes it a little easier.
Photo: A single Raw exposure, processed in Photoshop. Read more about photography tips, photo software, camera gear, and more at Steve’s Photography Tips.
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M10
Lens: Olympus M.Zukio 25mm f1.8
Date: June 7, 2015
Location: Polynesian Village Resort, Walt Disney World, Florida
