One more. :-)
I'm going to an amusement park on vacation next week (Busch Gardens, VA). How do you shoot (manual, program, auto) when the lighting changes with every step you take chasing a four year old around to snap shots. I did pretty good last year but that was in Auto mode. I'm hoping to be brave this year and not do Auto, unless it's my best option!

Ahhh, vacation. Lucky lady! This is a great question, perfect for vacations, day trips and the like. 

Honestly? I’d land somewhere in the middle for a situation like this. Here’s what I could see myself doing…

• Set up shop in Shutter Priority mode and set the shutter speed high enough to freeze the action. The camera will work hard to compensate with the appropriate settings to match. 
• If there’s a quieter moment where a pose is more of a guarantee, you could switch over to Aperture Priority to add some variety for the scrapbook. Keep it a high f/stop for posing in front of a ride, a low f/stop for a quick headshot sipping slushies at the snack bar. 

You could go manual, but you’ll run the risk of missing more than the satisfaction could be worth. You could miss awesome shots because of fiddling with buttons and dials, or the LCD could trick your eye in the sun only for you to discover when you get home that they’re all off on their exposure. I’m not questioning your capability by that, either! It’s everyone in this situation. Sometimes, it’s a blessing to go on cruise control in an automatic zone much like a point and shoot. 

If you have time — and not to add to your pre-vacay to do list or anything — I would also suggest playing around with shutter priority before setting off, even if you’ve used it lots before. Vacations are those “must haves” on my photo list so I’m a bit neurotic about it all working out. Start playing with a shutter speed of 1/320 and see how they turn out, adjusting from there if needed and trying in sun and shade. 

Have a great trip!