What's in a title anyway? How about 1300 pictures? 4/15/11-> Bonus Section pt1 & 2 [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

NateNLogansDad

01-11-2011, 01:36 PM

So here’s my second trip report coming at ya strait from the home of the 2011 World Series Champs.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/phillies-logo.jpg
First, let me introduce the stars of our show.
Mommom Ginny (My mom)
Tina (the best wife ANYONE could ever ask for)
Nate (DS6 wants to be the next Capt Jack Sparrow)
Logan (DS5 Can be quiet but is also deadly with a toy sword)
Rob (me Family Historian)
Brandon (DB)
Tracey(DSIL)
And Austin (DNef2)

Just to give you a visual here’s Tina, myself, Nate, and Logan…….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8128.jpg

This is Brandon, Tracey, and Austin

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8129.jpg

And here’s Brandon and myself along with Mom Mom Ginny
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8134.jpg

Now, you may be sitting there thinking to yourself, why should I keep reading THIS trip report when there are so many others? And Why in the world does this guy think Philly is going to win the World Series of baseball this year? Well, for both questions I guess you’ll just need to stick around to see what happens! With as many pictures as I am about to force upon you, and the fact that the Philadelphia Phillies now has the best pitching lineup in baseball HISTORY, I’m thinking this is going to be a good time…..unless you’re from NY :o)

My last trip report was started about a year and a half ago and gave you the background of how Disney came into our lives and just how much it means to me and why. I’m not going to put you through the tears and what not, but if you’d like to start from the very beginning, feel free to check out my past………

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2207850

Ok, all caught up? No? No big deal. In that TR I took over 9000 pictures and posted many of them. For this TR, I know I took more than that but I’m hoping to only show you the better ones. This year I have not only a better camera (Nikon D5000) but also a better understanding of how to use one thanks to the unbelievably tolerant good people in the Photography section of the Disboards to which I owe so much and would like to thank ahead of time. Thank you guys!!!!

So, hopefully this is the largest section of words you’ll find in the rest of the report, after all, you’re here for the pictures right??? If you’ve read this far, I thank you. If you haven’t, I’m assuming your feelings are still hurt from when Cliff Lee signed with the Phills. So, without further ado, lets get this party started!!!!!!

NateNLogansDad

01-11-2011, 01:37 PM

So, real quick, before we get started, I just want to fill you in on where we are at. 2010 was a big year for my little family. Tina finished Nursing school and past the boards
:cool1:
which now makes her a full fledged nurse! She started working for a fertility clinic and I can’t tell you just how proud I am of her. One thing I promised her was to head down to Disney before everybody for some bonding time with just her and the boys. Originally it was set for two days before the trip was set to begin, but I kind of crashed the party a day early which only gave her a full day to herself (Sorry sweetheart.)

So Thursday November 11th started pretty normal. Logan doesn’t have preschool on Thursday so he was home. Tina took the day off, and Nate went off to school at 8am. Dude, seriously. Is that just not mean or what!?!?!? Poor kid knows he’s going to Disney World that day and has to spend the morning wondering when he will be getting picked up. :lmao:

So, 12 noon comes around and we all show up at the school, car packed and ready to go. I wish I had a video of him running down the hall from his classroom because it was better than any Disney commercial I’ve seen so far!

Off to the airport we go. The excitement was high and the smiles were had by all. We drove to the airport and said our goodbye-for-now’s and I left them there……with all the luggage….including mine! (on purpose haha!)
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/tinaairport.jpg

So, no wife, no kids, no responsibilities, what’s a guy to do?!?!?!?

I slept.

Yep, for me there’s nothing like an uninterrupted nap.

Working 7pm-3am I get roughly 3 hrs of sleep a night before the kids need to get ready to go to school. Sleep was something I was looking forward to because the next day would be the longest I’ve had in a very long time!

I promise, coming up next will be when the pictures start, and once those floodgates open……

NateNLogansDad

01-11-2011, 01:38 PM

So, now that I’ve bored the crab out you with all my babbling, I think it’s FINALLY time to start this thing up. Thanks for sticking with me. Hopefully, you feel like you’re on board with us and now it’s time for vacation!

Friday November 12th.

I walked in the door at 3:30 am and put the dogs out. I checked on my carry on stuff which included my camera, laptop bag, and some cash. I love not having luggage! My flight was set for 10am so I needed to be at the airport by 8 which left me about 3 hrs to sleep. No problem right? Yea, OK. So, after tossing and turning with excitement, my ride pulls up and off to the airport we go. First stop was a power breakfast.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7261.jpg

Yea I know, just fulfilling the Philly boy stereotype eating a cheese steak for breakfast. Well, in my defense, it was a CHICKEN cheese steak. Yep, I’m eating healthy. The gate I was sitting at had tons of kids running around with their Disney shirts on, but I kept to myself and left the camera in the bag. After all, I am traveling alone and don’t wan’t to look like that creepy guy us parents always keep an eye out for.

Anyways, I hop on a flight and tried to get some sleep but to no avail. By now I’m in a daze and probably looked like I may have been under the influence, but honestly I was just tired. Once we touched down I get a text message from Tina saying she forgot to pack one thing…. underwear for the boys. So, now I’m walking around the gift shops in the airport…..alone…..looking for little boys underwear. Yep, I know *sigh*

So now I’ve lost about an hr wandering around the airport and not finding a single shop that sells little boys underwear, but I did find plenty of weird looks from plenty of people. Sleep deprived, head spinning, and probably being watched by security I stagger outside and onto a bus only to see this…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7262.jpg

and instantly the world is in perfect balance.

Our driver is Bill Kanack. Nice guy, loves Disney, and takes great photographs. He had a binder that we all passed around of pictures he’s taken over the years that was very impressive. He even slowed down so we could check out some gators on the way to the hotel. Everybody, say hi to Bill…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7266.jpg

Of coarse I had to get the obglatory picture going in…..
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7282.jpg

Finally at our happy place!

Our first stop was at
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7287.jpg

And if I ever have a need to buy a golf cart, it’s gotta be pimped out like something like this…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7288.jpg

Next stop was to go see Tina and the boys at
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The magical express dropped us off at the main building and I hopped on another bus that goes around the resort. Apparently Friday’s are a good day to check in, and apparently everybody knows it. Here’s the resort shuttle bus….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7294.jpg

Hopping off the bus I was determined to make a grand entrance and surprise the boys but they surprised me by hiding at the bus stop! It was the best thing ever after not seeing them for 24 hrs!

I dropped off my bags to the room and off we went. After seeing the shuttle bus first hand we decided to walk to the food court which was by far the best option because I got to see the resort a little.
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The gift shop…..
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We grabbed a bite to eat and the boys lead the way to my first park. The night before Tina took the to Epcot but the boys refused to get on any rides until dad got there. Is that not too sweet or what? I really am a lucky guy.

We hopped on a bus……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7328.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7333.jpg

And in a very short half hr we were here
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I love the big Epcot Ball. I could take pictures of it all day. Just move a little and it’s a totally different picture

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7339.jpg

Zoom in a little and maybe you’ll get another ball in the picture

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7340.jpg

Go inside it and there’s even more opportunities
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7342.jpg

NateNLogansDad

01-11-2011, 01:39 PM

If you’ve never been there, the ball hides a ride inside it’s belly called
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7503.jpg

Spaceship Earth is a slow moving ride good for all ages from infant to elders or as I’d like to say diapers to diapers :o) If you’ve ridden the ride, I’d like to invite you to ride it again with all of us. If you’ve never been, please note the spoiler alert!
SPOILER ALERT!!!

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Told you I had some pictures to show you! If you’ve stuck around this long, I hope you’re hear to the end and I hope you’re looking for some visual stimulation Disney Style!

But for now I’m going to take a break. I promise to be back with an update real soon. After all, we have 9 days to get through and so far I’ve only covered an hr since we left the hotel room (which you still need to see some cool pics of!)

See ya real soon!

ddstratton

01-11-2011, 02:35 PM

Great pictures!!! Am looking forward to seeing more.

NateNLogansDad

01-11-2011, 02:43 PM

I took over 10,000 and plan on posting at least 1,300-1,700 of the better ones.

Stick around. The popcorn is complimentary and the intermissions will be brief.
popcorn::
:surfweb:

__disneygirl

01-11-2011, 02:44 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-11-2011, 02:58 PM

Hopping on board for this one! I love all the pics! You are bringing me back to CBR with all these fabulous pics. I miss it there so much! Same with Pop. I've never seen the pimped out golf cart before, that is so awesome. Keep up the good work! :thumbsup2

There will be more pics of CBR among other hotels, I promise!!! I was surprised how much I liked that resort! It really is beautiful. The golf cart was so sweet wasn't it!?!? Some day......

__disneygirl

01-11-2011, 03:09 PM

There will be more pics of CBR among other hotels, I promise!!! I was surprised how much I liked that resort! It really is beautiful. The golf cart was so sweet wasn't it!?!? Some day......

You know, while we were there in April of last year, I loved it but not as much as I thought I would. I didn't feel the need to return right away. However, as the months have passed, I find myself REALLY missing it there! Every time I happen to hear Caribbean style music, it takes me right back there and now I really want to stay there again soon!

luckylady

01-11-2011, 03:15 PM

I'm in. Handsome boys you have. Can't wait to see pictures of CB it's been so long since I was there and forgot how cute is it.

NateNLogansDad

01-11-2011, 04:06 PM

I'm in. Handsome boys you have. Can't wait to see pictures of CB it's been so long since I was there and forgot how cute is it.

Thank you and welcome aboard! Unfortunately I didn't get around the whole resort but what I saw was really nice. Definitely a step up from the value resorts!

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 11:27 AM

deleted.....brb

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 11:30 AM

So, the last time we left off we had just left Spaceship Earth and I had now been up for just over 36 hrs strait. One thing I forgot to mention, believe it or not, was that that was our first time ever riding that ride. Can you believe it? We’ve been to Disney now 4 times, and it took that long to finally get on it! I thought it was pretty good myself!
So, we head out and took a minute to just take it all in. The boys decided to share a snack with a couple of Donald’s cousins

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7506.jpg

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and we moved on to one of our family’s “must do’s”

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7514.jpg

The boys love riding along with figment and always jump at that one part when it does that one thing……you know what I’m talking about. I don’t want to spoil it for everybody else!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7515.jpg

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A couple of my favorites……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7545.jpg

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Now do you believe me when I say I have some pictures for ya? Ladies and gentlemen, we still have not yet begun to scratch the surface! C’mon, follow me this way. There’s so much more to see!!! First we have to get out of here. Right this way through Imagine Works……

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 11:33 AM

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There’s some more pics I have from in here, but we’ll save something for later :o)

We headed outside and stumbled across this
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7590.jpg

I managed to get a few pictures of the holding area but when we were seated they kindly asked us not to take any photographs of any kind. Even though it’s not like me, I complied. They did say please after all.
The holding area….

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7581.jpg

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If you’ve never seen or heard of Captain EO, don’t worry, many people haven’t. It was created by Disney around 25 years ago and starred Michael Jackson. When the pop star passed away, Disney brought it back as part of a little tribute towards him. If you’re not really a Michael Jackson fan, you aren’t missing much. If you saw it when you were younger and would like to re-live that feeling in 3-D, go for it.

We headed out somewhat confused and maybe a bit gypped of our time, but hey, it was another first that we can check off our list. And this would become a thing for us this trip…getting in as many firsts as we possibly could! Outside, what kid walks by without trying to catch some flying water?

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We decided to head to one of the rides in Epcot that was not only another family favorite, but also either pretty forgotten or just downright overlooked. So many people don’t even know it exists in the world showcase…..The Three Caballeros! Excited about the idea, we head towards the World Showcase with full intentions of running strait for the border when we were stopped by another family of four, heading in the opposite direction. The mother of the bunch asked us if we would like to have their fastpasses to ride Soarin’ but the only thing is, they had to be used in the next ten minutes. Another first for us! We’ve always given out our fastpasses but have never been given passes back at random!
We took them and made a 180 back towards The Land.
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SCORE!!!
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We head down the chosen path past all those people that have been waiting an hour in line, feeling slightly guilty but giggling at the same time.

Within a few minutes, we were watching out training video

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7614.jpg

Professionally done by this man
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7616.jpg

Now you may not recognize him at first, but he’s also a star on Family Guy when he’s not off flying around over California.

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 11:36 AM

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!

We head in to our assigned seats
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7621.jpg

and set sail for the joyride of a lifetime. I can still hear the music as I look back at these pictures……..

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Now granted I’ve never been hang gliding, but I’m sure it is EXACTLY like Soarin!!! OK, maybe not exactly but it is really cool. MOVING ON!
By now it’s going on 7pm and even with the Disney air in my lungs, I’m running out of steam pretty quickly from the lack of sleep. Somehow it took us almost an hr to get over to the Seas with Nemo so I’m going to guess we stopped to do something but thinking back, for the life of me I couldn’t tell you what that may have been. I’m not one for taking notes on a trip but usually I’ll snap a picture. Not this time. Nope, Notta, Nothing. The next hr I may have been abducted by aliens, I’m not really sure but ,eventually we made our way over to find Nemo. The great thing about going to Disney in November is the fact that the lines are almost non-existent. The bad thing is when you want to take some shots of the queue and your family is sending you dirty looks for slowing them up. Dirty looks aside, welcome to that big blue world called The Seas……

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7829.jpg

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 11:37 AM

I remember seeing myself in a restroom mirror right around then and noticing my eyes only opened about ½ way no matter what I tried. We started heading down to the Showcase again to try to catch Illuminations

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7831.jpg

But tonight wasn’t really going to be a “fireworks pictures” kind of night especially with the food and wine festival going on. The crowds were just insane down there. We did enjoy most of the show but tried to cut out a little early to beat a few thousand people back to the busses.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7834.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7840.jpg
See, no firework pictures tonight but I promise to make up for it later.
Making our way out of the park with 30,000 of our closest friends, I reached up and grabbed a shot of the ball.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day1/DSC_7841.jpg

Have I mentioned how much I like shooting that thing? Thought so. Just change your angles, or wait a bit till the sun goes down and you can always get a different picture.

We made our way back to CBR and walked up to our room right around 9:55. Not quite sure what time the boys fell asleep or how long Tina was up, but by 9:56 I was out cold.

I needed to get some Z’s, tomorrow was going to be a big day for us. After all, we were going home!

Our home resort that is!

Stay tuned, I’m hoping to have another update VERY soon!

ddstratton

01-12-2011, 12:12 PM

More great pictures! What a nice thing - being given Soarin' fastpasses to use RIGHT NOW!

luckylady

01-12-2011, 12:21 PM

Lots of wonderful pictures. Hope you got enought sleep. Ca't believe you were up that long with none.

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 02:15 PM

More great pictures! What a nice thing - being given Soarin' fastpasses to use RIGHT NOW!

It was really nice to just have gotten there and be handed the passes. So, if anybody else ever decides to do that for someone, I just want to let you know that it is appreciated.

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 02:24 PM

Lots of wonderful pictures. Hope you got enought sleep. Ca't believe you were up that long with none.

My average night I get about 3 hrs of sleep before I take the kids to school and during the day I steal any naps I can get since Logan only has school 3 days a week for 2 1/2 hrs at a time. That day was just skipping my nap times:thumbsup2 Granted, if we weren't at Disney I probably would have passed out in the middle of the day ;)

Who goes to Disney World to relax anyway? :confused3

Antigua08

01-12-2011, 02:37 PM

Wow, that's a lot of pictures! :woohoo: Loving them all so far, especially the Soarin ones.
Looking forward to following along and seeing the rest :)

Revan

01-12-2011, 03:03 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 03:48 PM

Wow, that's a lot of pictures! :woohoo: Loving them all so far, especially the Soarin ones.
Looking forward to following along and seeing the rest :)

I'm pretty sure that's the least amt of pictures for a single day that I will post. The last day may be close but the other ones should have more.

GiGiJoeysMom

01-12-2011, 04:04 PM

Hi
First, please tell Tina I said congrats. I have not been on the boards for awhile and lo and behold I come back and my favorite disney phanatic (like the play on spelling) is doing a trip report. I am so happy. I can live through your pictures thank you.

I pm'd you.

Kim

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 04:11 PM

subscribing . . . I read your previous trip report and I have to say your photography has really improved - these photos are great! What are you using for lenses? Using Flash? Interested in whether you are stopping down of cranking the ISO - your night shots are really nice.

First off, thank you! That really means a lot. I've been having so much fun with the new camera. It's a Nikon D5000. The lens I had on all week was a Sigma 18-250mm. I did take a 35mm 1.8 with me but I never once put it on. Looking back I really wish I did, especially on the darker rides. Oh well, guess we'll have to go back again soon!
I did tried to keep the ISO pretty low whenever I could. Whenever possible, I just kept the shutter open longer to compensate. I have to say, switching over to a DSLR and being able to shoot in RAW is awesome too! There's so many times that my post processing tweeks saved my butt!

Thanks for posting and I hope this one can live up to the bar I set for myself from my first TR!

Hopefully I'll have another update up tonight or tomorrow morning.

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 04:27 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-12-2011, 07:55 PM

Saturday November 13th 2010. Day 2.

It’s the dawn of a new day, which for me started around 10ish. After about an 11 hour nap I was ready to go! We woke up and got everybody ready and packed up any little things that Tina and the boys had pulled out of the suitcases for the two nights they spend here and were ready to get moving. To where you might ask? Well, if you’ve read my other trip report, you already know where our home away from home is. That’s right, we are going back! For all you other new-comers who are lurking without posting (yea I see you) I’m going to leave you in suspense muahahaha.

We called down to Bell Services and in less than 10 minutes our suitcases disappeared and in the room was just us. Oh, but wait. Did I not show you our room? Unfortunately I wasn’t there when the boys first saw it, but I heard they loved every part of it!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7846.jpg

Yep, we went with the pirate’s room! After almost booking the All Star Movies which we’ve been to before, Tina found this for about $50 more total for the 2 nights on Expedia.com.

The lights weren’t the brightest so bare with me a little bit. I’m not a fan at all of using a flash.

The first picture, I adjusted the white balance a little to give it a nicer look, here’s what the yellow lights make it look like at night.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7847.jpg

Did I mention that Tina is awesome? Not only is she more than perfect for me, she’s also one great mother to these guys. She knows these boys like surprises and brought a new outfit for them.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7851.jpg

The beds in here are modeled after pirate ships. Seriously, how cool is that?

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7854.jpg

In the shower, you set sail with the Flying Dutchman.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7857.jpg

What pirate wouldn’t have wanted this set up on his ship?
Flat Screen TV, the crates have drawers for clothes gold or rum, The barrel hides a fridge, and a coffee maker!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7862.jpg

The sheets are adorned with gold and jewels

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7865.jpg

The table is a compass that doesn’t work
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7869.jpg

And you always sail away at night with a sister ship!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7867.jpg

We left our little room to begin our new adventure. We needed to watch our time because we had reservations to keep! Where you might ask? Well, I’ll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with eating!

Stay tuned!

NateNLogansDad

01-19-2011, 06:41 PM

Feels like it's been forever since the last update but life is really getting in the way lately! Just wanted to stop by and say that one is in the works and will be up soon. :thumbsup2

Anybody out there still reading this thing??? :confused3

NateNLogansDad

01-19-2011, 11:03 PM

So, just to recap, the last time we spoke (more me than you) my little family was leaving our oh-so-sweet pirate room at CBR. Our bags were packed and taken away by bell services, and we were watching the clock for plans that did not involve food. Any idea what we’re doing yet? Stick around!

So we head out of our room with our little pirates in full gear. We learned yesterday that the busses inside the resort get packed and, the view around CBR is just beautiful, so we hiked out of there by foot just taking it all in.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7871.jpg

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It’s just so nice and peaceful looking isn’t it? I wish I could just spend a week at a few resorts and never do a park. There’s just much that goes into these places to either keep you busy or prevent you from doing a gosh darn thing at all. Back home, we’re expecting yet ANOTHER wave of snow this week. One lucky powerball ticket and I’d be right here sound asleep.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7877.jpg

So we headed over to http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7878.jpg

To catch a ride to a ride to one of the parks. I have a thing for fountains and this one was just calling to me
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7879.jpg

But, like I said, we had a schedule to keep so there would be no lollygagging!

The bus ride was uneventful and pretty much empty which made it seem more like a private limo. I guess it pays to sleep in sometimes. 20 minutes later and here we are!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7882.jpg

Our first stop?

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7884.jpg

We needed to kill a few and the boys needed to burn some energy so we went for a climb

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7886.jpg

Remember how I mentioned that the boys were in full gear? I knew you would!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7887.jpg

The boys loved the treehouse even though it’s not very interactive.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7889.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7891.jpg

If you didn’t know we were at the treehouse, wouldn’t you say that this just fits?

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7893.jpg

It gets better……

So now our time is getting cut close when we heard this noise not like any ever heard at any of the parks except maybe over at Animal Kingdom. Several people stopped short and I think one lady pulled her baby from the stroller and ran for the exit.

That was my stomach growling….Rob was HUNGRY.

Knowing a full meal was out of the question, we grabbed some

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7894.jpg

And shared company with
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7896.jpg

By now it’s just before 1:00 and we headed off to…….

NateNLogansDad

01-19-2011, 11:06 PM

THE PIRATES LEAGUE!!!

If you’ve never done the Pirates League, and have a little one at home that is into POTC, TRY IT OUT! We all had a blast with the whole thing.

First off, we went in and got the boys their new pirate names by spinning the treasure chest.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7898.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7903.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7905.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7907.jpg

Than we were taken away to a secret room never seen by the eyes of the common town folk.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7909.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7913.jpg

There are small reminders around that make you realize you’re not in Kansas anymore….this is serious pirate stuff!!!

East India Trading Company crates
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7918.jpg

Pirate Booty
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7922.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7928.jpg

Here’s our wench that be taken care of our fine young lad Logan

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7930.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7935.jpg

And next Nate was called over to start his transformation

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7940.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7944.jpg

We’re making progress….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7954.jpg

Doesn’t he look pretty with his eyes all done?
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7957.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7961.jpg

Our little Panda Bear….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7963.jpg

They grow up so fast don’t they?
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7964.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7966.jpg

NateNLogansDad

01-19-2011, 11:08 PM

Before long, it was time for Nate to take his pirate oath
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7973.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7976.jpg

As did Logan
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7984.jpg

The end result……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7991.jpg

The experience was worth it in my opinion and I’d love to go back and do it myself with the boys if possible. They were awarded a Pirate League sash and a brand new sword and taken back to a hidden chamber where no photography of any kind is permitted. I later purchased the documents and will share them towards the end of the report. :o)

We stepped outside to mingle with the mere mortals in the park, knowing that true pirates would be hard to come by……or so we thought!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7995.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_7996.jpg

So after that, what’s a pirate to do????

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8000.jpg

Yep, it had to be done!

I think we scared many people away because POTC was completely a walk on…..kinda
Moving quickly is great unless you are the one holding the camera and want to grab a few pictures. I did get a few….

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8006.jpg

These are my two ghostly pictures
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8008.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8009.jpg

Now, I want to share a little something with you and feel free to do your own research to back me up. Kids, please don’t read this next paragraph.

The Pirates of The Caribbean ride has a resident ghost. The ghost’s name is George. Please don’t freak out, I’m not making this up. Every night, the crew operating the ride says goodnight to George when they leave or the ride will have all sorts of problems the next morning. George isn’t mean, he’s just playful. HOWEVER, it’s pretty well known that if someone says George’s name 3 times loudly, the ride will break down. Again, not making this up. over the last 3 years, we have done this at least once on every trip. So far it has NEVER failed. So, what do you think I had Nate do? Like clockwork, after the third time he said it, the ride shuts down. My mistake was telling him to say if BEFORE we got on! Duh. Live and learn.

Here’s Nate after breaking the ride single handedly.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8017.jpg

I was able to grab this pretty cool picture while standing in line. I have a feeling most people walk on by and never even notice it.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8015.jpg

I could see the people in the operations room getting frustrated. They know someone said it.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8019.jpg

So, almost 20 minutes later we are on our way.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8023.jpg

Tina thinks I’ve learned my lesson. I guess I have…..next time wait till AFTER we get on!!! LOL
Remember……Dead men tell no tales.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8031.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8072.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8075.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8077.jpg

So now it’s official. Pirates for life. So far this was turning out to be a pretty good day even though we hadn’t done all that much yet.

With grins on our faces we head toward the main gates. Some Bell Services guy has our luggage and we needed to track him down. Now what hotel were we supposed to go to from here………

Stay tuned! I’m hoping to have another update tonight but we’ll see how busy it gets at work :o)

AlisaMom

01-20-2011, 12:58 AM

Great pictures and report :thumbsup2, waiting for the update :cool1:

NateNLogansDad

01-20-2011, 01:16 AM

Great pictures and report :thumbsup2, waiting for the update :cool1:

Welcome aboard! Always nice to see a new face! Sorry I didn't post another update tonight. Do you believe they want me to do stuff while I'm at work :confused3 I tried to tell them that I was getting another update together but they weren't very sympathetic :lmao:

I hope by this time tomorrow I should have at least one more up. I have to get strict with this before the weather gets nice enough here to start fishing and crabbing! (plus there's a 50/50 chance of another Disney trip in the next 3 months ;) )

annnewjerz

01-20-2011, 01:38 PM

Just popping in to say I've been reading. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip. I head out in two weeks, barring any weird New Jersey weather situations...so I'll (hopefully) be starting a TR of my own soon!

NateNLogansDad

01-20-2011, 02:38 PM

Hey Anne!!! So glad you stopped by!!! I'm so jealous you get to leave all this in February! In my opinion, it's the worst month of the year. It's just way to cold here. Hopefully all this snow will be out of the way before you leave. You know we're getting another 4 inches tonight don't cha? :mad:

I'm hoping to have a decent size update done tonight :surfweb:

princessjv

01-20-2011, 07:27 PM

AMAZING SHOTS! You put me to shame. Shame. SHAME!

Your boys are adorable! I wish the pirates league was around when my DH was little~ He would of loved it!!

cyndiloveswalt

01-20-2011, 07:56 PM

NMW

01-20-2011, 08:03 PM

Subscribing

NateNLogansDad

01-20-2011, 08:07 PM

AMAZING SHOTS! You put me to shame. Shame. SHAME!

Your boys are adorable! I wish the pirates league was around when my DH was little~ He would of loved it!!

I'm sure he would have loved it, it really was awesome! We're planning a trip back in October and I'm thinking that this is a must do for us again, especially if we are going to do the MNSSHP. :banana:

As for the compliments about the pictures, thank you so much. I'm not nearly as good as some of the pros here on the boards but I think I've come a long way. But, at the same time, I have seen some of your pictures and I'm so going to try to mimic them :worship: I may be PM'ing you for some advice if you don't mind.

NateNLogansDad

01-20-2011, 08:09 PM

Hey! Just joining in and enjoying it very much. We went in Nov also (for Thanksgiving). Last year we did the Pirate's League, and it was a blast, but MAN trying to get that make-up off!!!!
Also just as a side note, the fast passes are good anytime after the time it says to come back (you don't have to use them in the hour)

It took hours to get that stuff off back at our room :rotfl2: Than another 15 minutes getting the ring around the tub clean :lmao:

With the fast passes, we got there with 5-10 minutes left on the back end of the time frame. It was close but we made it:thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

01-20-2011, 08:10 PM

Be back in a little bit.....duty calls.....stupid job stuff:confused3

MissMichelle

01-20-2011, 08:15 PM

MadilynnsMomma

01-20-2011, 09:47 PM

Hi Rob - Tagging along on this TR! I will be taking good notes as we are tentatively planning to go the same week this year... Great reading and pics so far!

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 01:00 AM

LOVING it and can't wait to read on ...Great photos and such quirky reading. I am having a good time and its only page 3. Going to have to say "George" 3 times next month---I like to test ghost stories...I was the girl in the mirror saying *Bloody Mary* :)

If you remember to do it, wait till you are already on the ride! If it breaks down and you are already floating you bump into the backlog of people at the end of the ride which works out great if you want to get some good pictures of Jack at the end, which I might have some around here somewhere ;) But that's not till later!

Also, when you get off at the end and before you go up the escalator thingy, there's a cast member to your right. Ask him/her about George and if they said goodnight the night before.

One word of warning. If there's a big burly guy there wishing everybody a good 'morrow as they leave and you have this big honken camera around your neck you will be blamed for the person in front of you using a flash on the ride. Point to your right and say "Look it's the Governors daughter!" and run up the escalator! He has a sword and isn't afraid to use it....again!

Hi Rob - Tagging along on this TR! I will be taking good notes as we are tentatively planning to go the same week this year... Great reading and pics so far!
So glad you came back for round 2! The week was amazing. Shorts and T-shirts during the day with Jeans and t-shirts at night. Just remember the Food and Wine Festival will be going on till November 13th I believe. That could be good or bad, depending on your point of view :confused3

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 01:05 AM

Wow, I’m loving having all these new subscribers! Welcome aboard everybody!!!! It’s so nice to see both new faces and familiar friends who have been here for my first report! Welcome everyone!

Now back to your regularly scheduled program…….

So, Pirate League? Check. POTC? Check. Food? Eh….sort a kind a. Unfortunately there still wasn’t any time for a big meal yet because we needed to find that crazy bell hop with our bags! I wasn’t positive, but I don’t think Nate had brushed his teeth yet……

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8082.jpg

So, before an oral surgeon needed to be called we hopped on the next bus home. Back to Philly you ask? Oh no no no. That’s where our HOUSE is, we were looking to go home…
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/DSC_2653.jpg

Yes ladies and gentlemen, we went back to the Beach Club. After all, home is where the heart is right? As I’m typing this, the snow is falling outside at work and the temperatures keep dropping. All I want to do right now is roast marshmallows on the beach at the campfire behind Storm Along Bay. Oh cruel fate, why did you have me born so far north???

…..sorry I drifted off there for a minute. But yes! WE WERE HOME! For the next week we would be living here!

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Whoa! What the heck was that?!?!?

Oh yea, it’s just me :o)
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8092.jpg

So after checked in and found that pesky Bell Services guy I got a text message from my brother. Him, Tracey, Austin, and my mommy were already there, checked in (we had rooms next to each other), and went on the prowl for something light to eat. My message was to meet them in the World Showcase.

Have I ever mentioned that the World Showcase is probably my most favorite park in all the parks? I love love LOVE the world showcase. But, when it comes to the food and wine festival, you can have it. It’s just way too crowded ALL THE TIME. And of course, it’s the last weekend of F&W. *Sigh* Oh well, I can do two days without going all Philly on anybody ;)

We headed out right when the teams were setting up for Illuminations.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8094.jpg

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Being a little kid with way to much access to fireworks when I was kid, I was drooling over this

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8103.jpg

And being a boat guy now, I needed to grab another picture like this

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8105.jpg

Usually, when we visit the Showcase it’s very calm and quiet with not to many people around. In my opinion it’s the perfect park. There’s still a few rides, good food, and plenty of things to see and do but without all the crowds and the one or two people who refuse to be anything but miserable somehow, even though they are in the Happiest Place on EARTH!

Today was not a peaceful day like that.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8109.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8110.jpg

To tell you that for the hour or two we were there, I did not take one more picture, should say something about how bad it got. We met up with everybody and grabbed some snacks here and there but nothing to really write home about. We talked about their flight down and how they had all been up since 4am for their 7:00 flight and how their room must have been overlooked by the cleaning staff that morning. On a side note… if your room is still a mess when you check in, it might be considered a good thing, those guys got a $75 credit on their room key! Can’t cry too much about that!

So, after battling around for a bit with a double stroller in a crowd that rivals a baseball game letting out, we headed back to our hotel for a swim and a quick bath to get the boys cleaned up.

Remember this?

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8003.jpg

Yea, I’ve seen car paint come off easier. I think DuPont must own the rights to Disney face paint. Anyway! All cleaned up and with somewhere to go! We have a tradition in our family now! Whenever we stay at our Beach House (Thank you DVC!!!) our first real meal has to be here.

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Sorry, just like my first TR, this one is rated G. So, NO FOOD PORN!
What I can do is tell you that they have a clam bake every night for dinner and the buffet is amazing. The snow crabs were perfect, the beef was delicious, and the seafood was plentiful! My mouth is watering just thinking about it, but I won’t do that to you so I’ll end it here for now.

Man, after all this you’d think we’d at least be done Day 2 by now wouldn’t ya? Nope! There’s still lights, fireworks, ghosts, shows and more on the way! (Stay tuned, I might have another update in a few more hours but I can’t promise that.)

BsAngel

01-21-2011, 05:19 AM

I am in off to work then cant wait to read a trip report

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 07:45 AM

I am in off to work then cant wait to read a trip report

First off, Glad to have you! Welcome aboard! Grab some popcorn, it's complementary! The seats all have a great view and later on tonight we will be bringing out hot chocolate for everybody :surfweb: popcorn::

Second, I have another one started but I'm running on about 1 1/2 hrs of sleep so I'm a little afraid to finish it just yet. I may post something around lunch time depending on whether or not Logan lets me take a nap after preschool. How come kids don't care too much for naps anymore :confused3

Worse case, I'll have something up just after dinner-ish :thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 08:09 AM

Angel, I changed my mind. Here's a little bit for now.......

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 08:10 AM

So our first Disney sit down diner was done and over, and with my belly wondering what in the world just happened, we head out. Since this is baby Austin’s first time to Disney and Mommom’s first day here with Brandon and Tracey, where would you go?

I’m pretty sure Austin doesn’t care. He has no idea what he’s in for. So far, between the airplane and the bus rides, he’s had a pretty exciting day!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8122.jpg

Logan knows and can’t wait!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8123.jpg

The boys are on the lookout for any signs of our next adventure. I think the girls are getting annoyed with my camera….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8124.jpg

Within a few minutes we made it!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8126.jpg

I think everybody needs to start their vacation at the magic kingdom! That is what Disney is all about!

Oblivious to everything going on inside, I made everybody stand out front and make a few memories.

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We step through the magical gates underneath the train station into what I can only describe as my own fountain of youth. Instantly, I’m 5 again. Can’t you just feel it when you walk into the park? You know what I mean.

However, not having a clue of what time it was, I wasn’t ready for the crowds we very quickly became a part of. It took me a minute to grasp the fact that a parade was about to start. And not just any parade, it was the Electrical Parade!!! I freaked out for a second because this one was kind of special to me and I hadn’t seen it since I was a tiny tot. We tried to grab a spot but were told by the closest cast member that we needed to move. I thought we were all moving towards the front of Exposition Hall and grabbed Nate, threw him on my shoulders, and moved on. Apparently I heard Mr. Cast Member wrong as everybody else just needed to take a few steps back. So, with Nate on my shoulders I walk around the front and up the steps with everyone else and wait, and wait, but Tina and everybody else was no where to be seen. With the show starting, what’s a guy to do? We watched the parade, just the two of us. With Nate on my shoulders it was a little difficult to get some of the shots I wanted and from the angles I wanted, but that’s what being a dad is all about right? There was no way I’d let him miss this. It was just so cute, because just before he left school two days earlier, the vice principle made him promise to get a picture of Tink. So, of course when she came around first he kept “tapping” me on the top of my head begging for a picture. I couldn’t stop laughing and I tried my best……

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8138.jpg

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To be continued…..

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 08:13 AM

…….continued
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Like I said before, I had Nate on my shoulders dancing around ( I may have danced a bit during the show:lmao:) so I knew the pictures weren't going to be as good as I wanted but I at least had to get something for my Dis friends for when I got home!

I love that show and wish they would do that every night along with Spectromagic. I’m greedy I know, but what can ya do. I’m going to leave you guys here for now because I’m running on fumes from not enough sleep last night……or the night before…or………..wait what was I saying? Sorry, nodded off there for a sec. I’ll post another update tonight if you feel like swinging by.

Till we meet again!

princessjv

01-21-2011, 08:39 AM

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I can't believe they FINALLY have Tink back in a parade! I remember the days {not too long ago} that she was NEVER seen in WDW. I love it!

I think you did a great job with the parade pictures. Those are tough! :thumbsup2

MadilynnsMomma

01-21-2011, 09:23 AM

Madilynn and I did Epcot this last October, on Halloween to be exact, and I was very "eh" about it too... I only tried food from on vendor, South Korea - that was where my fiance was stationed when he was in the army. It was spicy and just eh. I think we are planning on arriving on Saturday and not hitting Epcot until after F&W is over. Shamus may want to go to F&W and I may have to suck it up so he can do it - cause as the Disney Junkie of the family, I have to satisfy his appetite if I want to continue these superb family vacations (Madi & I went solo last year and it turned out to be a mild disaster during the trip, but a enjoyable, memorable vacation after the fact...). Our Halloween F&W crowds were not bad, and your pictures make me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit... Oh well, at least it's almost over for you during this trip and we can carry on...

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 11:59 AM

I can't believe they FINALLY have Tink back in a parade! I remember the days {not too long ago} that she was NEVER seen in WDW. I love it!

I think you did a great job with the parade pictures. Those are tough! :thumbsup2

It was so much fun to see that parade again after all these year! If you get down there again while they are still running it, she came out in the very beginning so make sure you get there early!

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 12:02 PM

MadilynnsMomma

01-21-2011, 12:54 PM

It sounds like we may be down there again on the week of Halloween this year. I hear the crowds are usually pretty good unless you stumble into the world showcase :mad: Unfortunately I'm not the planner this time or else I'd be there the week before it all starts. Oh well, we'll still have a good time right???

So we're trading weeks this year? I went for Halloween, you went the week before T-giving and this year, we switch... I spent our Epcot day scouring for castmembers to sign Madi's birthday book:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d131/TeacherJenny/epcot.jpg

We, like you, stayed for the beginning of Illuminations, but quickly bee-lined it ahead of the crowds. The crowds def weren't as thick as your pics, but it was steady...

blessedby3

01-21-2011, 01:50 PM

Subbing to your TR....Im enjoying all your pictures and your boys are adorable:goodvibes Cant wait to read more and see more pictures:thumbsup2 Its getting me excited for our next trip in May:cool1:

mickmom728

01-21-2011, 02:30 PM

Really loving all your pictures...and your family is adorable! My son is in the College Program and I highly recommend it to your sons(even though they have quite awhile before they get there). My DH loves POC and we have to ride it numerous times when we are there. Just so happens that both my DH and DS are named George so we can usually get the ride to "break down" just in our conversations--which we test every time without fail:rotfl:!

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 04:30 PM

Subbing to your TR....Im enjoying all your pictures and your boys are adorable:goodvibes Cant wait to read more and see more pictures:thumbsup2 Its getting me excited for our next trip in May:cool1:
May is an awesome time to go! Towards the end of the month it get pretty hot but the beginning is awesome! We're still up in the air on if we are going or not but I'll post it if we do!:thumbsup2

Really loving all your pictures...and your family is adorable! My son is in the College Program and I highly recommend it to your sons(even though they have quite awhile before they get there). My DH loves POC and we have to ride it numerous times when we are there. Just so happens that both my DH and DS are named George so we can usually get the ride to "break down" just in our conversations--which we test every time without fail:rotfl:!

I'm sure when the time comes, as soon as they hear about it I'd have no problem convincing them to go for it. If things go as planned, we'll be living down there by then!:woohoo: I'm thinking of telling him about it the year they starts slacking off in school. Maybe that would be enough to keep them in line :laughing:

NateNLogansDad

01-21-2011, 04:33 PM

b/t/w almost ready to post another one but I have to go into work in a few. Hopefully it won't be too busy when I first get in. I want to finish up day 2 tonight so that means we'll have at least another 100 pictures minimum. See ya in a little bit!

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 01:23 AM

Hey, believe it or not I finished day 2 :cool1:

Work was pretty busy tonight but I squeezed it in.

I just have to wrap up a few things here and I should have it up in the 1/2 hr or so if anyone's still awake (I'm looking at you Russia :lmao: )

eeyore7360nc

01-22-2011, 01:45 AM

Joining in for all the great pictures. Some of us are still awake down in North Carolina, so I'll be waiting patiently for the next installment.:)

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 01:52 AM

Welcome back everyone. If you’ve been with us from the beginning, please return to your chosen seats as the show is about to begin. If you are just joining in, we ask that you move as far over to the right as you can to make room for others. We do not expect this to be a sold out show but others may want to enjoy the show at a later time. Thank you, and enjoy the show.

So to recap…. mentally I’m 5, Nate is now feeling heavier than me since he’s been on my shoulders for the last half hour, and the Electrical Parade is now over, and I split up from the rest of the family by accident leaving them near the gates and I’m on the steps at Exposition hall.

It took a few minutes but somehow I found Tina and everyone amongst around 10,000 other people….right where I left them…..woops. Now regrouped we decide to head towards the castle to catch Wishes. We still have a good half hr till the show starts. No problem right?

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8308.jpg

Piece of cake. We pushed kicked and shoved out way down the street as fast as we could. There’s a good chance that old lady is still trying to upright her wheelchair!

Oh c’mon, you know we wouldn't be like that! This is our happy place! Somehow the CM’s keep everything pretty organized and we made it down past Casey’s in pretty decent time. We set up camp with the two strollers (ours and Austin’s) and I whipped out ol’ Betsy my ginormous tripod. I wanted to be able to watch the show in person and not through a lens so I set the camera to take a picture every other second with a 3 second shutter speed. These are un-edited but I may tweak touch them up in Photoshop later on, we’ll see.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8335.jpg

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NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 01:54 AM

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I LOVE WISHES! There is no other fireworks show in the world that will ever top it in my eyes. I know I can do better and I’m looking forward to combining some of them later on to make one really good one. There are two shots I am really proud of. A few people asked me if I got that one firework shot that really made me smile when I saw it. I tell them I nailed it. TWICE.

Here’s my two.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8495.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8498.jpg

The show ended with a finale that made my camera question it’s existence. There is just no way I could ever get a shot of that to come out good. It’s just too bright. I wish I could see what was going through Austin’s mind after watching this for the first time on his old man’s shoulders.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8505.jpg

Without a real game plan, we headed over towards the Crystal Palace to use the bathrooms just past it. I stayed outside with the boys and Mommom Ginny and grabbed a few shots.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8510.jpg

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Maybe I should work for Disney because while I was there playing around, a photopass photographer set up right behind me and started taking people’s pictures in the same spot. I moved over while I changed a few settings and gave him a full unobstructed view and when I went to take another picture, he did the same by making the people wait. They didn’t seem to mind after he told them I was there first which was really very nice. I was gone in 10 seconds and life for the photographer was business as usual.

Brandon Tracey and my mom were getting pretty tired by that point so we figured they only had one ride left in them so we made it……

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8527.jpg

Yea, I know I used my flash but we were on the move since there was only a 10 minute wait. I did get one without but I think the first one looks better. What do you think?

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8529.jpg

I wish I had time to myself with a tripod just in the queue. There’s so much you could get there at night, I love it! Ah, maybe one day I guess.

The view of the ferry is beautiful at night from the queue line. Again, I’d love to get back there with at least a least a monopod some day but for now, here’s my handhelds.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8536.jpg

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We stepped inside the holding area, which even though I’m sure to be labeled a cornball, I’ll admit it to be so cool.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8546.jpg

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NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 01:55 AM

After that was a fast walk onto our doom buggy’s
Someone really overlooked this place when they set up the cleaning schedule!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8554.jpg

Ever look down on the conveyor belts? Even they are decorated with bats. I love Disney’s attention to detail!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8559.jpg

Without further ado, I give you Madame Leota.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8574.jpg

Real quick, have you ever heard how she was picked to be in the haunted mansion? This is how I remember it……She was a Cast Member back in Disneyland when walt was around. Walt loved the way she looked and told her that her face belongs in the haunted mansion :lmao:It was never meant as an insult it just came out wrong. She accepted and has since made her way through the spirit world over to Disney World to entertain us here on the East Coast.

And for some of the others, I give you…..the ghosts.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8582.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8600.jpg

In the middle of the ride there is also a hidden Mickey on the dinning room table. Sorry about the quality, there will be a better one later on……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8584.jpg

I don’t know how much truth there is to this, but rumor has it that the hidden Mickey it not supposed to be part of that scene. A compliance crew used to come in and arrange the table the way it’s supposed to look and the very next morning Mickey would be back. Eventually they gave up and now it is a permanent fixture. Like I said, take that one with a grain of salt.

Moving right along (we have to wrap this day up!) Brandon, Tracey and Mommom Ginny were dozing off and decided to throw in the towel. We bid them a good night and made our way around to Logan’s most favorite attraction.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8603.jpg

If you don’t know where this is, I hope you are excited for your first trip coming up! LOL
Here’s another one of my little confessions….. I like It’s A Small World! Yes, even the music! Yep, that’s me. A 32 year old truck driver, addicted to Disney, and loves IASM. Nothing wrong with that right??? Just do me a favor and keep it between us!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8609.jpg

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NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 01:57 AM

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8672.jpg

Now maybe not everybody, but I know that there was some of you were hearing the music while looking at those pictures. C’mon, admit it. We’re all friends here….

It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears
It’s a world of hope, it’s a world of fear
There’s so much that we share
That it’s time we’re aware
It’s a small world after all.

See, you should have admitted it. Now that song is going to be stuck in your head the rest of the day :rotfl2:
So, by now it’s just after midnight in the Magic Kingdom and you know the boys are exhausted by now right? Wrong!

There’s no wait times for anything and we can’t waste extra magic hours right???

PONY TIME!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8675.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8680.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8684.jpg

He’s such a ham isn’t he?

All week, there was a line for the carousel during the day. After midnight, there’s no one to ride it.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8686.jpg

My one complaint would have been just how short the ride was. There literally was no one waiting to get on and yet we only went around 4 times. Maybe there was a shift change or something, I don’t know. What I do know is that I’m glad we didn’t wait 20 minutes in line for that!

Now ladies and gentlemen, just so you get the full idea of just how empty the park was…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8694.jpg
That was the wait time posted for Dumbo! To make it even more shocking, the real wait time was more like 3 minutes! I know!

I love Dumbo the cartoon. I still remember watching it on VHS when we were very young. I also remember the ride from when I was about Nathan’s age during my first ever trip. I hope they can say the same thing in 26 years…….

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8700.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8723.jpg

So nostalgically cool.

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 01:58 AM

Next stop…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8753.jpg

Now, for anyone that remembers anything about my last TR, I’m not going to try to hold my 3-d glasses up to the camera this time. I don’t think those pictures do it any justice. I did take some inside before the movie started…….

Love the posters when you first go in. Of course, since there was no lines I had to keep moving so I only got this one.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8728.jpg

The holding area

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8731.jpg

(B/T/W as I’m typing, I can’t get the small world song out of my head either)

Magical Doors

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8741.jpg

And the theater…..

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After the show was over Mickey waved goodbye

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8755.jpg

And we made our way towards main street
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8758.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8760.jpg

Tina was totally exhausted but bless her heart still gave me a few minutes to hang around the castle before we made our exit.

Just like the giant ball at Epcot, the castle can look as different as you’d like it to be. Whether you take a few steps off to the side, or just wait for the colors to change, there’s so many things you can easily do with it!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8763.jpg

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We headed down Main Street USA one last time

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8796.jpg
And I should say I was surprised at just how many people were still there.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8798.jpg

After all, it was
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8801.jpg

With one last look back
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8804.jpg

It was time to head for the buses.

It’s funny just how quiet the ride is back to the hotel. Kids sound asleep still replaying in their minds everything they did and saw that day. The adults so relived to finally be sitting and already dreaming about just how good it’s going to feel once they finally lay down. And the soothing music played quietly throughout the bus making it just the perfect ending to a perfect day.

I ask you, if this doesn’t tell you how perfect a day at Disney is, than what possibly could?
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%202/DSC_8807.jpg

Thanks for sticking with me everybody.

We still have so much more to see and do……Days 3-9….. we get another guest with us for a few days….. and I’d like to think the pictures will get better. I hope you all don’t get too bored too soon. It’s going to be a fun ride, I promise!!!!

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 02:02 AM

Joining in for all the great pictures. Some of us are still awake down in North Carolina, so I'll be waiting patiently for the next installment.:)

GO TO BED:lmao: I seriously didn't think I'd get anyone from the East Coast up this late!!!!

Welcome aboard and thanks for joining in!!!:thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 02:06 AM

At this time, I'd like to open up the board for any constructive criticism anybody might have. Any ideas on how to make this any better please feel free to let me know!!!

Also keep in mind that most of the time I'm writing this, I'm usually running on around 3 hrs of sleep so if I messed anything up please feel free to speak up or send me a PM. This is your nostalgic trip after all! (I already went and mentally never came back :rotfl2: )

TeaForTulips

01-22-2011, 08:05 AM

blessedby3

01-22-2011, 08:17 AM

Oh my goodness!!!! I LOVE ALL those pictures of the Castle during Wishes:goodvibes They are absolutely AMAZING...you did a great job! I wish I could get pictures like that, but I only have a little sony!!
Sounds like you had a great evening at the MK during those EMH's. My dd3 (Alexa) loved looking at the Small World pictures...its her favorite ride :goodvibes The low wait times are amazing. We have done late EMH before and that is what we experienced.
You keep getting me more and more excited for our May trip with each of your posts:dance3::dance3:
Cant wait to read and SEE more:thumbsup2

cyndiloveswalt

01-22-2011, 08:19 AM

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 10:55 AM

joining the show! popcorn:: thanks for making room!

your family is adorable and i love your pictures!

started your last trip report last night, but didn't get all the way through just yet.

Can't wait for more! :goodvibes

Absolutely! There's always room for at least one more!
Don't start feeling rushed, I don't want to drag this out too long, but there's plenty of time to catch up. Management has made sure that there is more than enough popcorn for every one :o)

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 10:59 AM

lovegrumpy

01-22-2011, 11:32 AM

LOVE the castle shots with the fireworks.

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 12:26 PM

You're doing a gret job! It's great to hear it form a dads perspective. My DH loves Disney, but I can never see him doing this (plus I'm the one who takes all the pics).
Loved your pics of Wishes! How many people were cussing at you for the giant tripod?!

Sorry I didn't leave you out, my phone battery dies while I was responding you you.

I love being the family historian! It really is so much fun. Sometimes I wish I were in more pictures but I know that there is no way Tina would ever be caught lugging around a tripod for ANYTHING :lmao:

As far as setting one up on Main Street, it's no too bad really. I try to keep it between myself and a stroller for protection. I keep the legs narrow so it doesn't use up too much room. It gets set up before the show starts so anyone coming in after me knows ahead of time if it will block their view. And I'll try to keep my head near the camera so it seems like just one area that would have been mostly been blocked by my big dome anyways.

As long as I'm respectful to others I'll usually get the same in return. Of course there's always one person in a crowd that large that just wants to be mean....I'll be nice and not get into details :littleangel: this is a Disney Trip Report after all:thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 12:29 PM

LOVE the castle shots with the fireworks.

Thank you! I know really I should have only posted one or two of the better ones but I figured what the heck. We're all on vacation! Let's be there as much as we can!

Purpleblanket

01-22-2011, 01:14 PM

MadilynnsMomma

01-22-2011, 03:07 PM

Don't go doubting yourself! You are a great narrator with the right dose of humor and inclusion (I might second guess that second word for something else... but alas, my brain decided that inclusion was the key term...). You have great pictures to go along with your report and an adorable family. Keep em coming!

P.S. - thanks for today's theme song that will play on a continuous loop in my head...

DisneyRed95

01-22-2011, 04:36 PM

Joining In! popcorn::

Your pictures are great! Can't wait to read more! :yay:

blessedby3

01-22-2011, 06:04 PM

Thank you! I know really I should have only posted one or two of the better ones but I figured what the heck. We're all on vacation! Let's be there as much as we can!

NO NO NO....post tons and tons....not one or two!!

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 07:46 PM

THANKS FOR POSTING!!!
You've taken some amazing photos! What kind of camera do you have?
We were there the week during Christmas and New Years Day!
and I'll be honest... I've hijacked some of your photos and copied/pasted for myself. It looks exactly the same as when we were there with all the beautiful christmas decorations. I especially love your shots of soarin and it's a small world.
Thanks again...
I'll stay tuned for more!!

Debbie
See, now you're going to make my head swell up a few more sizes :laughing: Thanks for the compliments and let me know if you'd like any of the original pictures for possibly printing larger formats later. Just right click on the picture and go to properties. The picture number starts with DSC and than a 4 digit #. I have no problem emailing them out.

My camera is a Nikon D5000 with a Sigma 18-250 lens. But really once you start playing around and learning what makes up a proper exposure, you'd be surprised at what you can get out of your every day camera anymore. When I first got this one, I was so disappointed with it because my old one that costs 1/3 the price was getting better pictures. Than the good people like Annnewjerz over on the photography boards set me strait saying the camera itself only plays a small part of taking photo's. It's really been a learning process and there's still so much to learn and more toys to buy, but it's been so much fun and I have so many memories that will last forever now.

Don't go doubting yourself! You are a great narrator with the right dose of humor and inclusion (I might second guess that second word for something else... but alas, my brain decided that inclusion was the key term...). You have great pictures to go along with your report and an adorable family. Keep em coming!

P.S. - thanks for today's theme song that will play on a continuous loop in my head...
Oh, you are just too good to me! I'm going to figure out a way to include the word inclusion into a conversation sometime in the next few days....I think it'll make me sounds smarter :rotfl:

It's funny because when I first read your post I was like "Theme song?" and than it popped back in my head and now it just won't go away :rotfl2: I love it!
Joining In! popcorn::

Your pictures are great! Can't wait to read more! :yay:
Thank you! You guys really are too nice! There will be more. So far we've only scratched the surface!

NO NO NO....post tons and tons....not one or two!!
OK....I just hope you know what you're getting into ;)

princessjv

01-22-2011, 08:18 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-22-2011, 09:06 PM

Your pictures bring me right back! What a nice CM for waiting and letting you finish. :thumbsup2

I too have heard that about the HM and the plates. In fact I have been there a few times {years ago} that the plate were NOT looking too Mickey'ish. :confused3 In recent years they always been there when I've been... whcih si far too little of times. ;)

The shot of your wife holding your son and the other one grinning ear to ear is PRICELESS!

I knew I wasn't crazy! :cool1: Well, at least not as crazy as some people think! ;)

Yea, I love those pictures. I took a bunch but those came out better than the others. I wish I had a faster lens, they would have been a bit sharper. For now, where I'm at, they look just fine.

I could take thousands of pictures of everything in all the parks, but pictures like those are two are what Disney really is to me.

annnewjerz

01-23-2011, 02:13 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-23-2011, 03:45 PM

Great updates Rob! I've got to say, I'm jealous at how late you all managed to stay out...if we are up and at the parks by 9, I'm ready for bed by 9!! Unfortunately that means no park closing pics for me! :headache:

Nice work on Wishes and IASW, the shots of your DW and boys watching fireworks are precious.

So psyched for our trip, can't wait to see if I come back with anything worthwhile enough to do a TR with. :woohoo:

Oh you are so full of crap :rotfl2: Don't forget, I've seen your work before!!! That being said I will take you compliment with a big ol grin on my face. I know some of my better pictures would end up in your recycling bin ;) The only reason I haven't told people to start looking for yours is because I'm afraid of loosing some subscribers :rotfl:

But seriously, thank you very much. I do appreciate it! One day I hope to get down there for a photo trip and get some right at (or before) rope drop and maybe an hr or two after the park closes. Maybe get a room with a view and do a tilt shift video while I nap in the afternoon. I did do one night at the beach club till around 3am which was AWESOME! But that's a story for another update......:laughing:

cyndiloveswalt

01-24-2011, 06:13 PM

Disney_Jill

01-24-2011, 06:20 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-24-2011, 06:38 PM

I was at a Pine wood derby this weekend too. My DS7 actually placed 5th overall and now we get to go to divisions!!
Do you use Photobucket? and is there a way to cut and paste multiple pics or do you have to do it 1 at a time? I'm new at this. I also ordered a Sony DSLR this weekend, so I may need some of your contacts in the photography board here soon!
Can't wait for a new update!

Were you at the Springfield mall? If so, I may have you in some pictures!

Yes, I do use photobucket and there is a way to upload more than one.

Log onto photobucket and create a folder you want to upload to.

Go into that folder.

Click on the green "upload now" button.

On the next screen, underneath the green button that says "Select
Photos and videos" there's a link in blue that says "Bult Uploader" Click on that

On the next screen, choose the folder on your computer that has the pictures you want to upload

Click on each picture you want to upload or you can choose "select all"

After you choose all the pictures you want, click on the blue "Upload" button on the bottom right.

Good to go:thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

01-24-2011, 06:50 PM

Those pictures are AMAZING! I love the ones with the boys watching Wishes and sleeping. The sleeping picture brings back so many good memories of great days and nights at MK and being dog tired at the end of the night. :thumbsup2
Those pictures really hit the spot while I am waiting for our trip next month for my ds's 16th b-day. It seems like just yesterday he was the tired kid sleeping in the stroller.

You guys on the dis are just too good to me! I really love those pictures of them watching wishes. For a dad, they are the best firwork pictures I could have asked for:thumbsup2

Awe...good for you taking a trip for his sweet 16!!! I hope all those memories come flying back to both of you! Just remember, when you start tearing up he might not get it, so don't embarrass him :lmao: I hope one day when my boys are older, they will remember all this and take it to heart. Worse comes to worse, if they don't remember, I can always break out a few thousand pictures to refresh their minds :rotfl2:

NateNLogansDad

01-24-2011, 06:54 PM

Hey guys, just a heads up.......

I'm going to try to have an update done tonight but I can't promise it will be before you go to bed. My night doesn't end till 3am eastern time so maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow :confused3

We gotta start getting day 3 moving!!!!!popcorn::

Purpleblanket

01-24-2011, 09:15 PM

I'm staying tuned!!!

Debbie

NateNLogansDad

01-25-2011, 12:45 AM

Sunday November 14th Day 3 of our happy place.

Last night was a late night so we slept in a little bit. I know I know, who sleeps in a Disney World?!?!? Well, apparently we all did. We skipped breakfast at the room this morning because….. well…..we slept through it :laughing: We finally rolled out of bed around 11am and I’ll tell ya what, it was so nice! We all got showered and dressed and threw the kids in the stroller and headed out to lunch. A quick call over to my brother’s room confirmed that they were on the same page as they were still getting ready. Today we had early reservations to do lunch over at the Coral Reef. I figured get a large meal in early and work it off during the day and follow it up with a Quick Service meal later on.

We arrived right on time at 11:55. The hostess was a little perturbed that we all weren’t there and refused to seat us until Mommom Ginny and the rest of the crew showed up. A call to Brandon’s cell told me that they were through the International Gateway and would be there any minute. Nope, no dice. All here or no seats. *sigh*

We went in to have a seat

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8811.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8814.jpg

Our hostesses
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8816.jpg

Now, don’t go thinking that there were being rude. I tried giving them the benefit of the doubt. After all, we would be needing a larger booth to fit all 8 of us…..but on the other hand, the booth was empty the whole time, so…eh whatever.

Here’s another example of the Disney Details that are sometimes overlooked.
The light fixtures in the ceiling

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8813.jpg

Like seriously, who thinks to themselves “Let’s make the lights look like they are underwater also?” And yet, how many people stroll by them without ever bothering to look up? Gotta love those imagineers!

So 5 minutes later and the rest of the gang shows up. We were shown to our table and of course the kids run over to the fish tanks. For those who have never been here, the fish tanks aren’t small tanks just scattered around the room…….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8825.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8849.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8855.jpg

See what I mean? Very cool indeed! The restaurant itself isn’t very big and every table has an excellent view of the tanks

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8833.jpg

Although, if you have a smaller party I’d definitely ask for a table right up front so you can get acquainted with one of the more popular employees of the reef

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8858.jpg

Well, I needed to put the camera down because our food came out pretty quickly. You know there’s not going to be any food porn here but I will tell you that there was chicken, salads, steaks, fish, lobster soup, and you know the deserts are more than most people can handle!

Moving right along! (Are your taste buds salivating? See, that’s why we need to keep this rated G!) So, after eating under the sea and enjoying every minute of it, where do you think we went next?

Yep, right back under water…..don’t want to get the bends!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8873.jpg

For the next few shots, I wanted to make up my own story line. This one is for the fellas, so ladies feel free to skip right past the pictures.

Last night was one night Orville would never forget but can also only remember bits and pieces. It started out simple enough, he was going out after work with some of the birds he grew up with. One thing led to the next and somehow he woke up in some stranger’s bird feeder. Blinded by the sun and not knowing what time it was he staggered back to his rock hoping that his wife was still asleep. Suddenly he heard a noise…….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8880.jpg

He knew he was in trouble and couldn’t get a word in edgewise
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8882.jpg

He tried to explain what happened last night but she wanted nothing to do with it
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8885.jpg

Sorry, got a little off track there. Gotta break it up a bit sometimes!!!

Where were we?

Oh yea, going diving under…..
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8876.jpg

So we strolled down the beach and past the lifeguard shack
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8886.jpg

And watched some small feeder fish do some synchronized swimming

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8890.jpg

Mommom Ginny took the boys so Tina and I could ride together. The boys said it was so we could have some romance…..so cute!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8898.jpg

And Brandon, Tracy, and Austin got on the next car
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8901.jpg

Which left Tina and I. You’re going to have to believe me since no one took our picture *sigh*

Hey, before we go any further I want to pat myself on the back in front of any photography nuts. The 2 pics up there in the clam mobiles were taken at 1/15th and 1/10th of a second respectively……hand held….while moving on a conveyer belt! (So what, I thought it was cool……)

ANYWAYS…….I promise to have some pictures later on in the TR, but for this time, I put the camera down (which is NOT an easy thing for me to do!) and enjoyed the ride with my sweetheart. It was really nice and someday I hope to learn to do that more often. Looking through the lens makes it hard to steal a kiss in the dark ya know!

So I don’t want to leave anyone in suspense, I will tell you we found Nemo and he is absolutely fine in his Big Blue World. We strolled off of our clam mobiles and thought the world was a great place to be, when out of the clear blue…..

BRUCE!!!!!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8903.jpg

I know it looked bad, but just ask Nathan and Logan and they will tell you that their daddy can beat up a shark! After narrowly escaping with all of our fingers and toes, we looked for safer waters to play in and came across

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8910.jpg

Mr. Ray is awesome but after watching animal planet, we decided to stay on this side of the glass.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8920.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8922.jpg

We had so many questions we wanted to ask, but instead Mr. Ray pointed us in the direction of a friend of his named Crush. Crush is awesome and loved getting new questions from all the little dudes that stop down to see him. Right before he came out, this gentleman asked that all cameras be put away.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8930.jpg

With a frown, I put my camera on the floor. I wasn’t going to hurt crushes eye with an underwater flash! Oh well, I guess Disney doesn’t want to take any chances……and who could blame them!

NateNLogansDad

01-25-2011, 12:47 AM

We left Crush after a bit and headed back towards out hotel. No, we weren’t looking for a siesta, we were looking for transportation of the aquatic kind. I want to take a little sidebar for those ever looking to spurge a little (lots.) The Beach Club, Yacht Club, Swan & Dolphin, and Boardwalk are all awesome hotels. All very beautiful in their own way and all a little pricey. But, if you enjoy either Epcot, or Hollywood Studios (MGM,) they are all so worth it. There is nothing like walking out the back door and right into the parks. Please be prepared though, you will not want to stay anywhere else after that!

So we head back toward the infamous lighthouse at the Yacht/Beach Club. Instead of walking all the way over to Hollywood, we decided to take a ferry. Being there before I know that in the shallow water on the Beach Club side of the pier, small bass like to hang out so while we waited for the boat to arrive we threw in some crackers, and whata ya know?
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8936.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8938.jpg

Me and Nate
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8940.jpg

A friend came over to see what was going on
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8945.jpg

But he left hungry as we had just ran out. Sorry there Mr. Duck. We’re not supposed to feed you anyway!

I grabbed a few shots of the famous Pirate Ship Slide and along the beach of our hotel
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8950.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8951.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8953.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8954.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8956.jpg

The Yacht Club
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8957.jpg

The Boardwalk
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8958.jpg

And some things you may see just about every day on the pier
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8960.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8968.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8972.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8982.jpg

Our chariot arrived and we were off.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8986.jpg

We made our way over to the Boardwalk

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8987.jpg

And before you knew it, our destination was within sight!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8990.jpg

Make no mistake about it, those guys are real Captains. The ferries are free moving and they need to keep an eye out for smaller boats on the water. They are good at what they do and I hope they know that they are appreciated!

We made dry land in no time flat and were greeted by one of the biggest Christmas Trees I had ever seen.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8994.jpg

It was just after 3pm and our day was just getting started. Little did we know that when we entered into that park, we would be heading back to our hotel with one more very cool kid………
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9502.jpg

………..but I guess you’ll need to stay tuned to hear all about that one! Muahahaha……

To Be Continued……….

NateNLogansDad

01-25-2011, 08:07 AM

I'm staying tuned!!!

Debbie

So glad you could make it!

I'm hoping to have more up tonight:thumbsup2

blessedby3

01-25-2011, 09:04 AM

Great update and pictures. We have never eaten at the Coral Reef. It looks awsome. Cant wait to read more!

eeyore7360nc

01-25-2011, 09:15 AM

When we had lunch at Coral Reef, we decided we would not like to sit directly in the turtle's line of sight. We would be afraid that we were eating one of his friends or relatives in front of him.:rotfl:

MadilynnsMomma

01-25-2011, 10:21 AM

NateNLogansDad

01-25-2011, 03:00 PM

Great update and pictures. We have never eaten at the Coral Reef. It looks awsome. Cant wait to read more!

We liked it. The selection isn't quite what it used to be but it is a very cool place to eat. The food is pretty good, but the deserts.......

OK I'm ready to go back:laughing:

NateNLogansDad

01-25-2011, 03:05 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-25-2011, 03:14 PM

You tricky fox, how dare you hold us in suspense! Eh, I am sure we'll all get over it while we patiently wait for the next installment! Great update :thumbsup2 - Did Crush talk to your boys? Madi still gets upset that "she didn't get her turn."

No, they always try but to no avail. It just gives us another reason to go back right??? :rotfl:

At least that's not the only show we tried to be a part of that day! <--hey look, more suspense!!!! :rotfl2:

Tell Madi we said :hug: and to hang in there....hopefully one day she will get her turn!

Brae's Mom

01-25-2011, 06:51 PM

mtmbyck

01-25-2011, 06:54 PM

Oh no. I was all ready for the movies on the beach.

MadilynnsMomma

01-25-2011, 07:52 PM

No, they always try but to no avail. It just gives us another reason to go back right??? :rotfl:

At least that's not the only show we tried to be a part of that day! <--hey look, more suspense!!!! :rotfl2:

Tell Madi we said :hug: and to hang in there....hopefully one day she will get her turn!

She said to me tonight as I was tucking her in - "Mom. I want to go back to Disney." ---- me too baby, me too! She doesn't know about November, and I likely won't tell her, try my hardest anyways!

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 01:16 AM

Love it so far! I found this while I was at work today and was only able to read the first couple of installments. I'm caught up and ready for more. Really enjoying your photographs they are great!! Your boys are completely cute!!!!!

Thank you so much! And welcome aboard!!! There will be more soon I promise. I have one started but don't want to break it up yet. If I get caffeinated early enough, I might have the next update around noon tomorrow. No promises, but I will try.

Oh no. I was all ready for the movies on the beach. Awe...so sorry! We're supposed to get another 6-10" of snow on Thursday, so I feel your pain. I'd love to go watch a movie on the beach right now!!!! :lmao:

She said to me tonight as I was tucking her in - "Mom. I want to go back to Disney." ---- me too baby, me too! She doesn't know about November, and I likely won't tell her, try my hardest anyways!

That will be the hardest thing you will have to do for a long time!!!
We did a surprise trip for the boys and we wanted to SCREAM the closer it got. As hard as it's going to be, it's so worth it to wait and not tell her! I love hearing about the surprise trips!!! Now I'm getting excited for you!!!!!:cool1::banana::woohoo::yay::dance3:

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 01:24 AM

Just to give everybody an idea of where I'm at. I did put in a good 2 hrs tonight working on an update, and I REALLY want to post it, but I don't want to leave it off here. I'm going to try to put some time in tomorrow morning to post by the afternoon and hopefully finish up day 3 by late in the evening. Right now it's 2:20am here and I am zonked. I get home from work close to 4am and have to back up by 7am to get the kids ready for school, so if there's no update by noon the coffee isn't doing anything for me.

With 6-10" more of snow due right when I'm clocking in at work tomorrow, I'm hoping for a slow day with an early update.

See ya real soon!::MickeyMo

dismagiclover

01-26-2011, 08:38 AM

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 12:03 PM

I'm a bit late, but I'm here now! You obviously already know this, but your wife is just beautiful and you have two pretty good looking boys too. I love reading about the adventures of little boys. Because wherever little boys are adventures are bound to follow;)

Hey there! C' mon in and get out of the cold! Your never too late to join in!
Thank you so much! I do already know that, but for some reason, you just can't tell her that:confused3 I don't get it. I say it all the time, but i'm just the husband.....supposed to say it and all. Now, i'f I could get her to read my tr she'd probably be beaming:sad2:

As for the "adventures" part yea, we can call them adventures:rotfl:

princessjv

01-26-2011, 12:59 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 01:28 PM

This was our sad day. :sad1: We went home. :sad1::sad1:

I LOVE light fixtures! I grab a few snaps of those on our trip! I totally agree that they add that little extra special magic that normally is overlooked!

The clam mobile snaps with details are a hoot. You photography nerd, you... {ment in the ut most kind way}. ;)

:rotfl2: Leave me alone! So what if I keep looking outside to see if the UPS guy/gal is here yet with my new flash :lmao: Any minute now......

tigerdragon

01-26-2011, 01:47 PM

I just found your TR and I love it! Your pictures of Wishes and the castle are just beautiful!

I can't wait to read more!

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 03:04 PM

I just found your TR and I love it! Your pictures of Wishes and the castle are just beautiful!

I can't wait to read more!

Thank you very much! I'm working on an update as we speak. Hopefully it will be up in the next few hrs.

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 03:27 PM

So, my morning didn't work out as planned. After a whole 2 hrs of sleep this morning, Tina woke me up as she was leaving for work and told me that the rain we were supposed to get early was actually snow.

I prayed to the snow gods to cover the roads enough to give the kids a snow day. Kept checking the computer for the school listings every 15 minutes. No Dice.

Got ready, dropped Nate off, came home. 45 minutes later dropped Logan off Came home. Slept for about 1hr and 20 minutes. Picked up Logan. Grabbed breakfast at Dunkin Donuts and came home. 15 minutes later went to pick up Nate because of an early day. Ran errands. Came home and cleaned up. Showered, got ready for work and here I am.

I know I know, I should have been working on my updates instead of sleeping......

I'm going to work on it now for an hr and than battle the snow on my way back to work. Tonight may be near white out conditions on the highway so hopefully it will just a lot of sitting and Trip Reporting :thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 03:44 PM

HEY GUESS WHAT!?!?!? After I typed that last post I thought I heard something out front and I got a present from the UPS fairy!!!

http://www.digidirect.com.au/plugins/Cart/ProductImages/4154_sigma_ef-530_dg_super.jpg

So now I'm looking at my TR, and than my instructional book for my new toy.

Instructions- TR
TR- New Toy.......:confused3

OK, I promised to get an update posted and I will. :thumbsup2

but than it's playtime!!!

Typing fingers, don't let me down!:surfweb:

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 04:39 PM

Good evening, morning, afternoon, or whatever time it is there. I just want to say thank you to those who have been following along this far and a warm welcome to those who are just joining us. I had such a great time doing my last trip report and wasn’t sure if I really wanted to do this one, but here we are. I wouldn’t have gotten this far if it weren’t for all of you tuning in, and I just want to say thanks. And just to show my appreciation, there is extra butter in the popcorn tonight!

So, Day 3. We ate lunch at the Coral Reef, beat Bruce the shark up, saw Crush and took the ferry to Hollywood. For whatever reason we have a habit of walking in right as a parade is starting, and today would be no exception.

Upon entering the gates we joined the masses…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9001.jpg

And just caught the tail end of
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_8999.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9000.jpg

Austin was sad to see them go
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9006.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9012.jpg

So Brandon followed them around a bit.

We, on the other hand, had different plans.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9013.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9017.jpg

Since our last trip, Tina had been trying to get Nate to try one of her top ten rides, and somehow, she talked him into it. Poor Nate, he had no idea what was waiting for him behind those walls……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9028.jpg

With a wait time of

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9032.jpg

He was going to on before he had a chance to back out.

I stayed behind with Logan since there’s just no way he will be going on ANY time soon. I could hear the screams outside and my heart was breaking for Nate.

Let’s rewind for a second to our last trip report. Last year, both boys were sound asleep in the Magic Kingdom when we gently woke them up and asked them if they would like to go on one more ride before we left for the evening. We were nice enough to let them sleep while we waited in line, holding them in our arms. The both agreed that one more ride would be a good idea. We let them sleep until we only had one train left before it was our turn……..

Take a minute to let that sink in. That was the first time they had ever even heard of Big Thunder Mountain :rotfl2: They went from barely having their eyes open, to being wide awake and fearing for their lives in just about 4 seconds. MORE :lmao: So wrong….but pretty funny :o)

Back to Day 3. Nate had an idea of what was going on…. but not really.

Logan and I waited near the photo viewing area.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9034.jpg

Until, finally we saw it.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9040.jpg

Right hand side, in the middle. Mommy and Nate with two totally different expressions. Tina LOVES that ride. Nate cried for about ½ hour after it was over. Bad mommy!!!

So, one thing that always makes my kids forget their problems is a toy. I grabbed a light up skull from the gift shop as a trophy for Nates first TOT ride, and all was good in the world. I’m sure someday Nathan will need to talk to a professional about narrowly escaping death in a haunted elevator, but for now, he has a new toy and bragging rights with his brother…..he’s good.

Before we go to much further, I want to share something with you. Hollywood Studios is my least favorite park out of all four parks. It’s not that I don’t like what it has to offer, it just needs more in my opinion. Everything in the park is great don’t get me wrong, I just don’t think you need to spend a whole day there unless you feel the need to wait 3 hrs in line at Toy Story Mania. In my least favorite park, there is a restaurant that is by far my least favorite anywhere. 50’s Prime Time Café. We had a bad experience there in ’08 and I just can’t see myself giving it another chance. HOWEVER inside the Café is maybe the best kept secret when it comes to adult beverages! (I have a picture of the bar menu somewhere and if you’d like to see it, I’ll post it later.) The bar has 4 signature drinks that are amazing. The problem is you don’t taste the alcohol in them. At all.

See where I’m going with this?

After Tina stopped giggling from the Tower of Terror, we headed over to grab a cocktail. She had a Grandfather’s Lemonade as per usual and I figured we’d each try a new one also, so I got one of each.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9047.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9049.jpg

In an alcoholic kind of way, doesn’t it look patriotic?
Unbeknownst to me, one was all she was in the mood for today….so what’s a guy to do? I can’t waste them right?!?!?

Appropriately, we sipped our drinks next to

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9059.jpg

And Logan practiced his photography

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9063.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9066.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9068.jpg

(I will post some of the pictures the kids took at the end of the report if anyone wants to remind me)

Now all day long, Logan had been asking to see one particular show. That’s all he wanted. Every time we went to head over to said show, we were a tad too late. I promised him we would make it one way or another. I promised him that all day. By now it’s right around 6 and I had just finished my second drink…..one to go. We had about 15 minutes till the show was starting so we rushed over there as fast as we could. Just out front, I killed that last drink. $30 in drinks in 15 minutes……at least I’d be able to go sit down for a bit!

So the show Logan HAD to see was here…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9071.jpg

Yep, Indiana Jones.

We managed to get front row seats which was so awesome! For a quick second, I thought I felt that first drink kick in but that passed…..there wasn’t really that much alcohol in those things anyway right? They tasted too good to have any kind of kick to them. Besides, I was still able to get some decent pictures……

This one turned out ok.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9074.jpg

Yep, kept my hands steady. No problem. Hicup. Huh? Nothing. OK, Logan was asking mommy about Indy

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9076.jpg

When the show finally started

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9078.jpg

He was so excited, and I was so happy we made it to the last show.
For those who have never seen the show, it really is a great one and I highly recommend it. There is a lady that comes out on stage and asks for around 10 volunteers from the audience and they become part of the show.

Yep first drink had some alcohol in it, I’m sure of it.

So they pick all but one volunteer and when she looks over at our section, Nate says to try to be part of the show soI put my hand up…..why not right? There’s another 1000 people behind me going nuts and I’m cracking up. She points out this guy with a black hat and sunglasses. I tell him “oh well, maybe next time.” And go back to my camera’s settings. Tina taps me on the shoulder and politely explains “Hey idiot, you have your sunglasses on you hat.”

Huh?

.

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 04:41 PM

The audience cheers as I enter the stage slowly. I give them a bow. I could get used to this.

I remember EXACTLY what was going on in my head when Tina grabbed my camera and took this picture. “For some reason, I can’t understand what she’s saying” and “That second drink may have been too much”

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9080.jpg

What she wanted was my best villain laugh, and boy did I deliver. You see, I’m good at Villain Laughs and that third drink just helped me forget that there was an audience watching every move :laughing:
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9086.jpg

I don’t think she was expecting that! She seemed a little blown away and fed me all kinds of compliments……I think ;)
I walked back to wardrobe feeling all good about myself for performing under pressure.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9087.jpg

Tina continued photographing Indy and I think she took more pictures in that timeframe than throughout the rest of the vacation.

Indy can be tricky to photograph especially if you are not used to a camera like mine. I have to hand it to her, she did a pretty good job!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9106.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9106.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9109.jpg

We (the stars) were brought back out in full costume and given different scenarios to play.
We just won a sporting event….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9110.jpg
(^ feeling good)

We were told to be monkeys. Yes, I pretended to pull a bug off of the other guys hair and put it in my mouth. That’s what monkeys do!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9113.jpg

Pointing at something or someone inside a volcano ( I think)
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9116.jpg

Not a clue
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9118.jpg

After that the director pulled me aside and explained that for every show the best actor or actress is selected to do their own scene.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9119.jpg

And I won
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9121.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9124.jpg

There was one downside. He was going to kill me.

Do I run? Did I fight? Did I even survive? Stay tuned later on tonight hopefully and I’ll fill you in with all the details with plenty of pictures to back up my story!

NateNLogansDad

01-26-2011, 04:44 PM

I forgot just how long it takes to write one of these! Off to work, feel free to mingle amongst yourselves.

Brae's Mom

01-26-2011, 05:09 PM

Great update!!! Looks like you had fun being an actor.......maybe a new career....LOL!!!!

dismagiclover

01-26-2011, 05:29 PM

What an afternoon you had! First of all poor Nate! Clinging to his mother like his life really is about to end. We really shouldn't laught at that, right?:laughing: I'm happy to see that you put those drinks to good use as well. Too bad you don't have a recording of the evil laugh!

TeaForTulips

01-26-2011, 05:30 PM

What a fun update! :rotfl:

I cannot wait to see what happened! popcorn:: I must say I agree with your monkey acting! I think I would have done the same. :thumbsup2

I think the ToT ride was adorable. Makes you laugh and feel bad for him all at once. :hug:

I didn't know you could take take the boats to Hollywood Studios... I will have to keep that in mind! :wizard:

Great pictures of course! :goodvibes

MadilynnsMomma

01-26-2011, 09:20 PM

Congrats on your award winning performance! LOL

Ohhh DO I know ALLLL about the torture of Tower of Terror... but in my defense - I had never been on it before. Yes, I knew what went on, but do you REALLY know what goes on if you've never been on it before?! Long story short - Madi and I went on it for the first time (for both of us) on our last trip.

And this is the result... :sad2:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d131/TeacherJenny/DSCN4504.jpg

***NIKON SIDE NOTE: Any good, bad, otherwise advice to give a wannabe photographer that is seriously looking into the D5000 within the next month?

AlisaMom

01-27-2011, 04:50 AM

We want more :yay:

NateNLogansDad

01-27-2011, 11:08 AM

Great update!!! Looks like you had fun being an actor.......maybe a new career....LOL!!!!
I had a blast. It's not over yet, I just haven't been able to update today. There's still some really good shots from Indy coming up!

What an afternoon you had! First of all poor Nate! Clinging to his mother like his life really is about to end. We really shouldn't laught at that, right?:laughing:
We probably shouldn't laugh....but is really is pretty funny :lmao:

I'm happy to see that you put those drinks to good use as well.
I wouldn't ever abuse alcohol....by pouring it down the drain :rotfl:

Too bad you don't have a recording of the evil laugh!
Maybe I'll throw a recording up on youtube towards the end....remind me :)

What a fun update! :rotfl:

I cannot wait to see what happened! popcorn:: I must say I agree with your monkey acting! I think I would have done the same. :thumbsup2
The guy next to me was confused at first but played along and we were cracking up. That was such a great time

I think the ToT ride was adorable. Makes you laugh and feel bad for him all at once. :hug:
:lmao:
I know I'm the dad, and not supposed to laugh but.....:rotfl2:

I didn't know you could take take the boats to Hollywood Studios... I will have to keep that in mind! :wizard:

From Epcot, the ferry goes to the different hotels. You can go to the Boardwalk and walk the 5 minutes or so, or get off at any of the hotels and wait for the Hollywood Boat.

Great pictures of course! :goodvibes
Thank you too much

NateNLogansDad

01-27-2011, 11:10 AM

Congrats on your award winning performance! LOL
I don't know about award winning. They haven't even announced the other nominees yet :lmao:

Ohhh DO I know ALLLL about the torture of Tower of Terror... but in my defense - I had never been on it before. Yes, I knew what went on, but do you REALLY know what goes on if you've never been on it before?! Long story short - Madi and I went on it for the first time (for both of us) on our last trip.
Notice how I didn't go on right? I hate that ride, and I have a good reason (with a story) as to why......but that's going to come up later in the TR. ;)

***NIKON SIDE NOTE: Any good, bad, otherwise advice to give a wannabe photographer that is seriously looking into the D5000 within the next month?

Where do I begin:surfweb: Best piece of advice is to go to the store and hold a couple different ones. You'll know which one is meant for your hands.

It does do video pretty well but doesn't autofocus while taking video.

The 2 lenses that usually come with the "kit" are the 18-55mm (Equivalent to a 3x zoom on a point and shoot) and the 55-200 (10x zoom.) They are fine to start with but I switched over to a Sigma 18-250 lens. I got it used from www.bhphotovideo.com for under $400 and it looks, acts, and feels brand new. It's sharper and the one lens has a longer reach than the two did combined, so now I never have to switch lenses which I hated how often I did it.

Every manufacture has some kind of image stabilization. Nikon calls it Vibration Reduction (VR). Unless you have really steady hands, always get the VR.

One of the biggest advantages to having a DSLR is being able to shoot in a raw format (Nikon calls it NEF) instead of a compressed JPG. If you decide to shoot in raw, you need some piece of software that lets you open/edit/save-to-jpg like Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, or Photoshop Elements. Lightroom is the standard, I use Photoshop Elements because it was familiar to me.

If you know how Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO work together, you're set. If not, check out the book Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. Good read and makes it pretty easy to understand.

A wireless remote on ebay goes for $5 from China and works just fine.

Tripods are your friend.

My prediction is the next lens you by will be a Nikon 35mm 1.8 :)

After all this, I could have done another update:lmao: I am in some desperate need of coffee. Hope that helped a little. I'm no expert but I'll gladly pass on what I've learned or what I'm doing at any time. Don't hesitate to ask :thumbsup2

Oh yea, you need to use the camera if you want to learn the camera. When I first got it, I loved it the first week and thought I wasted a lot of $$$ by week 2 because I didn't like the pictures I was getting. After I learned how to really use the camera, I fell in love.

:teacher:

NateNLogansDad

01-27-2011, 11:17 AM

We want more :yay:

I will try soon. Last night I left work 4 1/2 hrs early because of the ice/snow we got hammered with. People were stuck everywhere and the plows couldn't get in until the cars were moved. I was there, I have 4 wheel drive, and a tow strap soooo.....long story short I should have stayed my full shift at work. At least then, I would have gotten paid for my time! Oh well, that's what I get for being a nice guy :confused3

My eyeballs are burning out of my head still, so if there's a new update it's not going to be for at least 12 hrs from right this minute.
Even then, I'd only give it a 50/50 chance, but you never know!

Gotta go get coffee and then shovel this ice out of here!:surfweb:

twinmom

01-27-2011, 07:06 PM

I have only read your first post and feel the need to comment. First, the Rangers will not allow the Phillies to win the World Series. Second, I plan to read your whole report, and third, our feelings are not hurt, we are PISSED that Cliff Lee left!!!

Great report so far except for your delusional beginning :rotfl2:

twinmom

01-27-2011, 08:07 PM

I am all caught up :banana: You have some awesome photos and I love your writing style. I am really enjoying this report. I will forgive your Phillies talk since I decided that in your Indiana Jones pictures you look like Josh Hamilton :worship: You can have your Cliff Lee, we have our MVP!!!:goodvibes

NateNLogansDad

01-27-2011, 10:17 PM

MadilynnsMomma

01-27-2011, 10:55 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 03:08 AM

Important side note that I left out - I am taking a Digital Photography class this semester. I wanted a bird class that I knew I would get a lot out of! I will go out and fondle some gadgets this weekend - thanks! ---but wait - did you say you spent $400 on a lens? EEK! :scared1:

Yep, $400 and I can't tell you how much more I love that lens over the 2 I originally got with the camera. I wish I had originally gotten this one since you figure those 2 probably cost $250 ish I'm guessing.

If you are looking to shoot things like birds or other wildlife and are buying the kit, I'd consider looking at something like the 75-300mm over the 55-200. You loose a tiny bit of range in between the two lenses (56-74mm) but probably won't miss that at all. The extra 100mm reach makes a pretty big difference when photographing from far away.

The more you play with your new camera, you find that this is a hobby that can be as expensive as you want it to be (notice how I didn't say cheap?)

It really is so much fun though!!!:thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 03:14 AM

If anyone tried to check out any pictures earlier, it appears I ran out of bandwidth....and before day 3 was even finished!:woohoo:

So, the problem has been fixed and Day 3 should be finished sometime this morning. :dancer:

cyndiloveswalt

01-28-2011, 07:43 AM

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 08:37 AM

Great update! We took our DS7 on Big Thunder Mountain this time (he is timid when it comes to rides, and we are spoiled with our DS12 who has always wanted to ride everything) and he was not too happy. And I love thrill rides, but hated TOT, so I feel for Nate!
Enjoyed the extra butter, try to wrangle up some snow caps or raisinets this time!

There's so much I want to blurt out right now but I don't want to throw spoilers out there about what's ahead! Lets for now just say that there were a lot of firsts the boys, and us, this year! I don't want to throw out there my feelings for TOT yet either.....that's coming up soon too. :surfweb:

I just noticed the Dream in your signature.....NICE!!!
Will there be a Trip report in your future?

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 10:59 AM

Continuing where we left off, the director wanted to kill me. Apparently he has done this before because he wanted me to charge him with an imaginary knife so it would be considered self defense. I wasn’t able to bring my own imaginary knife because of the TSA check points back home so he let me borrow his. Usually I know better than to bring an imaginary knife to an imaginary gun fight, but that 3rd drink must have clouded my judgment.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9125.jpg

He again asked me where I was from. I replied “Philly.” He replied “I thought so. You look like you’ve done this before.”

Enraged, I drew my imaginary knife and lunged at him, determined to plunge it directly into his cold directors heart.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9127.jpg

He fired a shot. It was a hit.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9128.jpg

Still maintaining a firm grip on the knife, I staggered back. The pain was almost unbearable.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9124.jpg

Wanting to say goodbye to my wife and kids, I staggered back into the audience.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9131.jpg

The guy interpreting this into sign language paused in shock at what was going on. I don’t think this was what he had signed up for (No pun intended.)
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9134.jpg

I desperately tried again to soak my imaginary knife in the blood as black as only a director can bleed. At the same time, on the left, you can see he leveled his gun.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9135.jpg

He fired, hitting me directly in the chest.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9136.jpg

I was going down, and I knew it.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9138.jpg

He fired again. This time I took it in the left shoulder. My knife was gone. This was no longer self defense, this was a cold blooded murder.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9139.jpg

I inched closer. I knew it was over but I wanted to see into my killers eyes. I wanted to see into his soul and I wanted him to know that this would never be over.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9141.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9143.jpg

In my final moments, all that went through my head was my wife and kids. With my last breath, I reached out to them. Told them I loved them. And went to sleep.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9144.jpg

The End.

No wait! The whole thing was imaginary remember?!?!?

I rejoined the rest of the cast and went back to work. It’s not easy being an actor!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9145.jpg

These other guys tried to upstage us. I wasn’t impressed.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9148.jpg

Until they all STARTED FLYING!!!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9150.jpg

These guys were really good. So much goes into what they do and they deserve more credit than they get. If only they would put their skills to good use, instead of being evil.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9153.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9155.jpg

Hey look, right in the middle. Told you I’m still alive…..
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9172.jpg

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 11:00 AM

The action moved to stage 2 and we were right there on top of it.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9179.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9180.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9185.jpg

Indy grabbed his whip and we feared for his life
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9186.jpg
(yes back then they had baseball hats turned backwards…..I looked into it)
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9191.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9197.jpg

It was time for us to get out of the way, so I tried my hand at flying just like the bad guys.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9199.jpg
But I guess I’m just not evil enough….*sigh*

The rest of the show is awesome but you need to see it for yourself. Here’s a few more to give you a taste of what it looks like…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9204.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9210.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9212.jpg
After the show was over I took the boys back stage to meet Logan’s hero, and my co-worker.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9221.jpg

And THAT my friends was the tale of how I will be known as Rob, the dead guy from Philly.

*wait for applause*

*waiting*

*cough* OK, moving right along.

So here’s the story about finding the third kid…….

Tina’s cousin had decided to book a trip with her family for a few days during the same week that we were there. The Beach Club was totally booked as far as the 1 Bedroom rooms go and they really didn’t want to do a Studio so they went with the Boardwalk. Their youngest daughter wasn’t feeling good right before they left and it got worse when they finally arrived. To top things off, it spread to both parents. Of course it couldn’t be just a head cold. They had projectile vo….well, I won’t get too graphic. So everyone was sick except for their son Kyle. Poor guy, 8yrs old and had been stuck in his room all day at Disney World with everybody throw….you know.

So, after we got out of Indy’s show, Tina got a text with what was going on. Without a second thought, she called her cousin and asked if we could come get Kyle. Needing a breath of fresh air, her cousin decided to walk over to the studios and drop him off.

We went back over to our spot, this time with just a snack
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9226.jpg

And Nate had a turn with the small camera
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9227.jpg

She showed up with Kyle and we told him we were taking him to see a show. (Unfortunately he would never get to see me act *sigh again*)

Our double stroller became a triple and we headed down the Blvd along with 9,995 other people

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9233.jpg

Just to stand in line next to this
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9238.jpg

Nate informed Kyle that he was brave and got on the Tower of Terror today. Kyle had never been on it but really wanted to give it a try. Nate used about 500 different words to describe what went on but what he was trying to say was “never never again.”

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 11:03 AM

Within roughly 15 minutes, the line began moving. Brandon was with us and practically did a crowd surfing move but was able to score us some seats about 5 or 6 rows back.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9241.jpg

I ran back to one of the kiosks to grab something the boys had been begging me for since the minute I got down there……Light Sabers! Of course now that Kyle was with us enjoying his first few minutes of freedom at Disney, I had to grab him one too. There’s no way I could leave him out! I wish I had my camera out when I met them back at the seats. You would have thought Christmas just came early!

Sorry, back to Fantasmic! I was loving it. I have a lot of shows on my list of awesomeness, but this one up there with Wishes. If we came home from a trip without seeing Fantasmic! I would probably consider that trip a bust. Sad I know, but this is a MUST SEE with one of the highest priorities!

Where else do you get to see this guy….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9253.jpg

with this kind of setting……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9259.jpg

battle the dark villains in person and show that good will always conquer over evil?

I know that there may be someone reading this that either has never been to Disney yet, or just has never been to this show. I want you to take these pictures with a grain of salt. However good the show might seem through the eye of my lens, it is actually roughly 9745 times better. I’m not going to narrate through the show this time, I’m just going to post the pictures.

BUT

I think the pictures would look and feel SO MUCH BETTER if you took a second to open up a new window in your internet browser, go to Youtube.com, do a search for Fantasmic WDW, click on any video that’s at least 15 minutes long, let it buffer, buffer, buffer (sorry, that’s a SNL joke) and when it starts to play the music, minimize that window and come back to my trip report to view the pictures. It will add a little something to it, I promise! If you know the show, it’s fun to flip back and forth till you get to the part where the picture falls into play. Let me know if you get a little teary eyed or goose bumps….it’s OK, I get both every time too :o)

And now, ladies and gentlemen I invite you to experience Fantasmic! A journey beyond your wildest imagination……..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9251.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9255.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9259.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9260.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9262.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9266.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9286.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9303.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9306.jpg

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 11:04 AM

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9309.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9312.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9342.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9345.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9352.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9355.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9363.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9371.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9373.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9394.jpg

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 11:06 AM

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9404.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9413.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9452.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9460.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9480.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9484.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9489.jpg
(^See Mickey at the top of the mountain?)

As usual, Fantasmic! was the best. I wish they showed it EVERY night but since it is the most expensive show in all of Disney world (including Wishes) they only ran it 2 nights during our week.
We headed out when the show let up with out poor stroller struggling to keep up with the weight of all three kiddies piled up on it. Kyle is the one on the right, Logan on the left, Nate up front, all armed to the teeth with light sabers.
We opted to pass on the ferry because the line to get on would have taken a couple of boats for us to get under way. As nice as the weather was, we would have been foolish not to enjoy it anyway. The path along the waterway is pretty romantic, even while pushing a stroller.

As we came up to the Boardwalk, I asked Kyle how he liked the pool. Poor guy didn’t get to see the pool yet! Personally, clowns freak me out but since we had never seen it in person we headed up there.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9504.jpg
What crazy goof ball ever decided to go with a psycho clown that spits out children for a fun time at the pool was off his or her rocker. Clowns are scary. Nuff said.

We walked around to the other side of the hotel till we ended up on the actual boardwalk. I wasn’t quite quick enough with the camera but if you look off in the distance, you can just barely make out the last of the fireworks in the distance coming from Epcot.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9519.jpg

We waited for Kyle’s mom by the water and the kids practically had the whole area to themselves to have sword fights.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9516.jpg

We said our goodbye’s for the night and headed back to our beach house just across the pond for a late night swim.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9522.jpg

We had offered Kyle to come with us but I think he missed his little sister and wanted to check up on her.

We told him that he had an open invitation to come out with us whenever he wanted. After all, we were only a hop, skip, or a boat ride away!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9524.jpg

tigerdragon

01-28-2011, 11:30 AM

Wow, more great updates!

I was once that mean mommy that made my little 5 year old ride something he wasn't so sure about. It was Dinosaur and he was terrified of it. So I bought him a dinosaur toy after the ride and he was okay. Now at 10 it's one of his favorite rides.

How cool that you got chosen to be in the Indiana Jones show! I think it would take three alcoholic drinks for me to be able to get in front of that crowd.:laughing:

I haven't seen Fantasmic! in a few years but your pictures make me want to go back. We're going to try to make it to the show in March.

dismagiclover

01-28-2011, 11:41 AM

Fabulous update! I think you missed your true calling in life. You should have been an actor! Love all of the Fantasmic pictures. I really love all the pictures of the Boardwalk (well except maybe the clown with the scary eyes. He really does look less scary during the day.) That is one of the prettiest places in Disney at night.

jaiwin

01-28-2011, 12:46 PM

Let me tell you , I have enjoyed spending the afternoon in the parks, via your pictures. Im sitting at my desk at work, and the systems are down. so lucky me i get to read your trip report and get paid for it. :thumbsup2So after patiently waiting for the next installment of this report, i decided i would go and read you last trip report. I got to day 7 or 8, i forget, and they told me that systems are back up... But not for long, so i caught up on this one, and now i will be returned to trip report with 9100 pictures ( or however many pictures that was ):laughing:

DisneyRed95

01-28-2011, 02:45 PM

Great updates! I think it's hysterical they picked you as to volunteer after you had enjoyed a few adult beverages! :rotfl: Too funny! I'm glad you had fun!

Great pictures of Fantasmic! I love that show. :)

NateNLogansDad

01-28-2011, 06:52 PM

Wow, more great updates!
Did you expect anything less? :rotfl: Just kidding. Thank you ;)

I was once that mean mommy that made my little 5 year old ride something he wasn't so sure about. It was Dinosaur and he was terrified of it. So I bought him a dinosaur toy after the ride and he was okay. Now at 10 it's one of his favorite rides.
Hopefully, TOT will be the same way for them! They loved Dinosaur.....but I can't talk about it YET:sad2:

How cool that you got chosen to be in the Indiana Jones show! I think it would take three alcoholic drinks for me to be able to get in front of that crowd.:laughing:
I know right?!? That's just my luck :lmao: I wasn't even really trying to be picked, I was just fooling around! I'm thinking the drinks may have helped out a bit though :rotfl2:

I haven't seen Fantasmic! in a few years but your pictures make me want to go back. We're going to try to make it to the show in March.
I am so jealous!!! With all this snow we're having, I want to be down there in the WORST WAY!!!!! You have to see Fantasmic! when you get down there!!!! Check ahead of time to see what days they have it running for the week you are there. Keep in mind, the schedule can change without warning and isn't considered "set in stone" till that Sunday.

Fabulous update! I think you missed your true calling in life. You should have been an actor!
That's what I said! Maybe in the next 2-3 yrs when we move down to FL, I could go back and work there full time. Whatcha think? Can you imagine the pictures than????:rotfl2:

Love all of the Fantasmic pictures.
Thank you! That's totally my favorite show! Can you imagine the talent that must have had to come together to make Fantasmic!? Amazing!

I really love all the pictures of the Boardwalk (well except maybe the clown with the scary eyes. He really does look less scary during the day.) That is one of the prettiest places in Disney at night.
It really is beautiful. It's one of the reasons I love the Beach Club so much. When you come out back, day or night, I get a little teary eyed because I know I'm home! As for the clown....they never get less scary :eek:

Let me tell you , I have enjoyed spending the afternoon in the parks, via your pictures. Im sitting at my desk at work, and the systems are down. so lucky me i get to read your trip report and get paid for it. :thumbsup2So after patiently waiting for the next installment of this report, i decided i would go and read you last trip report. I got to day 7 or 8, i forget, and they told me that systems are back up... But not for long, so i caught up on this one, and now i will be returned to trip report with 9100 pictures ( or however many pictures that was ):laughing:

Ah ha! So that's where all that bandwidth went too! I thought I was becoming really popular out there but it was you! :lmao: Just kidding, I'm so glad you found our little party and I hope you stick around. Apparently we are only about 1/3 of the way in and haven't even done all the parks yet, so there's still SOOOO much more to see!

Great updates! I think it's hysterical they picked you as to volunteer after you had enjoyed a few adult beverages! :rotfl: Too funny! I'm glad you had fun!

It's not worth doing if you can't have fun right!?!? How often do you get to perform ON STAGE in front of a crowd at Disney? Apprently, never if you are stone sober :confused3:rotfl2:

Great pictures of Fantasmic! I love that show. :)
I was listening to the music when I was typing last night. I need to get back down there or I'm going to loose my mind soon. The real world isn't for me.....Disney World is my kinda place!

.

TeaForTulips

01-28-2011, 07:31 PM

Fabulous! I love your report! :lovestruc I'm laughing out loud. :rotfl:

Your acting was great! Bravo!

How awful to be so sick at Disney! So great for yall to take the little guy with you. Isn't is amazing how kids are genuinely concerned for their siblings? :hug:

It has been too long since I caught Fantasmic. I agree that it is such an awesome show! Last time we saw it there were so many gnats in the air swarming you it was hard to enjoy. Definately a must do soon.

When we go to Disney I usually get poked, wacked, and jabbed enough times in one evening to want to kill Disney for those light sabers, but then there are those moments where you see a child light up with joy or have such a fun light saber fight that you let it go. :wizard:

Lastly, that clown slide is horrible! I have never seen that. I am surprised at that poor judgement call! Yikes! :eek:

Purpleblanket

01-28-2011, 10:07 PM

We loved Fantasmic!! Our daughter wasn't sure she wanted to wait one hour in line for it but she was sure happy she did afterwards!!
I love your photos once again!

Debbie

NateNLogansDad

01-29-2011, 12:13 AM

Fabulous! I love your report! :lovestruc I'm laughing out loud. :rotfl:

Your acting was great! Bravo!
Thank You Thank You!!!!

How awful to be so sick at Disney! So great for yall to take the little guy with you. Isn't is amazing how kids are genuinely concerned for their siblings? :hug:
Yea it is. We had a great time with Kyle. The whole family is really nice and would do the same for anyone else. I wish we could take him with us for a whole week honestly, he was that cool to hang around. I know it's a spoiler, but he will be joining us again ;)
It has been too long since I caught Fantasmic. I agree that it is such an awesome show! Last time we saw it there were so many gnats in the air swarming you it was hard to enjoy. Definately a must do soon.
I don't want to jinx our upcoming trip(s) but I have never seen a single bug at Disney! We always say how weird that is :confused3
When we go to Disney I usually get poked, wacked, and jabbed enough times in one evening to want to kill Disney for those light sabers, but then there are those moments where you see a child light up with joy or have such a fun light saber fight that you let it go. :wizard:
They know I'll break them in half while they watch if they started bothering people with them....sometimes it's good to be strict :thumbsup2
Lastly, that clown slide is horrible! I have never seen that. I am surprised at that poor judgement call! Yikes! :eek:
I know right!!! I get why they did it, I do. The Boardwalk Hotel is supposed to based loosely on 1930's Atlantic City which wouldn't be out of the ordinary to see something like that. That being said, I'm glad I'm not able to see it from the Beach Club!!!! :rotfl2:

.

NateNLogansDad

01-29-2011, 12:21 AM

We loved Fantasmic!! Our daughter wasn't sure she wanted to wait one hour in line for it but she was sure happy she did afterwards!!
I love your photos once again!

Debbie

I remember my first time seeing it back in 2008. My brother had already seen it with friends of his and described it to me. Keep in mind, I wasn't a Disney nut back than and my most expensive camera cost me less than what I just spent on a flash for my new camera......oh how so much has changed:rotfl2:
I had no desire to go in there, especially when I heard about how many people watch it at once (Almost 10,000)
When we left, I had this huge, 5 yrs old child, kind of smile on my face.
I'm so glad I just "went for the ride" that year:rotfl:

Now I have a whole drawer full of Disney T-shirts......but I'm not allowed to wear them outside the house according to my wife :rotfl2: I embarrass her too much with some of the things I do:lmao:

Antigua08

01-29-2011, 03:35 PM

Yet more great pictures! How cool that you got to take part in the Indy show, my DH would be very jealous :cool1: We've yet to see Fantasmic so are really looking forward to catching it this time round, your pics certainly let me know what to expect :)

princessjv

01-29-2011, 03:50 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-29-2011, 06:29 PM

Give the a drink and he'll... ;)

Okay, so where did you get those drinks from? I can't say that I've seen them before.

I'm embarrased to say that I've missed both the Indy show & Fantasmic for a few years. I need to see them next time. Your pictures have enticed me.

So worth it. They will go down in Disney History!

The drinks are from the 50's Prime Time Cafe. There's a bar inside and to the left. They have a drink menu and the one's we had were $10.95 each I believe. The blue one is the Grandpa's Lemonade and is probably the best but the other ones were very good also!

annnewjerz

01-30-2011, 10:18 AM

On my iPad so I don't want to try quoting your TR, but a few comments.

1---the story of your DS on TOT is hilarious. My DH won't even ride it with mr, but I may have to show this to him and explain that if a grade schoolers can do it, so can a 28 year old.

2---love the shot of your DS practicing his photography.

3---your acting in Indy is hilarious and I'm sure the yummy adult beverages made your acting that much better. So what was your favorite drink? I'm gonna have to pick one up!

4---how long before Showtime did you line up for Fantasmic? We are going to see it (for only my second time ever) next week and I HATE lining up an hour and a half in advance for anything. It'll just be two of us and we dont need front row seats, and we are going to see the second showing in hopes of less crowds.

Looking forward to another update, glad we are only 3 days in!

NateNLogansDad

01-30-2011, 12:21 PM

On my iPad so I don't want to try quoting your TR, but a few comments.

1---the story of your DS on TOT is hilarious. My DH won't even ride it with mr, but I may have to show this to him and explain that if a grade schoolers can do it, so can a 28 year old.

Since you are leaving to head down there on Saturday, if you need to make a case for him, I'd be willing to show you some pics from say....Day 7 :thumbsup2

2---love the shot of your DS practicing his photography.
The boys LOVE that camera. It's my old Nikon P80. Tina freaks out because we bought it brand new 3 years ago for $400. I keep telling her that it's out dated and not worth what it once was but she's not hearing me :lmao: Personally, I'd love for them to get into it.....my secret agenda is to one day borrow some lenses from the kids :rotfl2:

3---your acting in Indy is hilarious and I'm sure the yummy adult beverages made your acting that much better. So what was your favorite drink? I'm gonna have to pick one up!
Favorite drink is always gonna be the Grandpa's Lemonade. But, I haven't had a bad one from 50's yet.

4---how long before Showtime did you line up for Fantasmic? We are going to see it (for only my second time ever) next week and I HATE lining up an hour and a half in advance for anything. It'll just be two of us and we dont need front row seats, and we are going to see the second showing in hopes of less crowds.
We try to get there about 1/2 hr before showtime. Usually we get seats towards the back or the middle which is just fine for us. There's no bad seat (that I've seen) for watching. Taking pictures....I'm sure you'd look for up front and in the center :confused3 There was one time when we went just as the show was starting and the seats were all taken so we had standing room only. That's just not fun with kids:mad: As long as it's a seat, I'm happy. You guys should be OK in February. I can't see the crowd levels being that high.
Looking forward to another update, glad we are only 3 days in!

There is still SOOO much more to share!!!! :surfweb:

I hope there's enough popcorn!

.

annnewjerz

01-30-2011, 01:18 PM

DH isn't going with me, so no need for convincing just yet---maybe later this year though. :thumbsup2

Soopafly

01-30-2011, 01:57 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-30-2011, 07:16 PM

DH isn't going with me, so no need for convincing just yet---maybe later this year though. :thumbsup2

Sounds good. I think you can poke him enough to get on. I'll make sure you get some ammo ;)

NateNLogansDad

01-30-2011, 07:21 PM

Hey! Didn't even realise you had a trip report until I saw your post from the 'your favourite lens' thread, I can't wait to get out next weekend and start using my new Sony :goodvibes Going back to read through now!

Welcome aboard! I didn't want to interrupt your guys report at all. Stef has had some great updates and I didn't want to distract her :)

Wait a sec, what's going on next weekend??? You guys doing ANOTHER trip???:scared1:

If you think of it, send me a link when you post some pics from that Sony of yours! Still didn't see the sword you got at the castle!

MelMel11

01-30-2011, 08:02 PM

Count me in. Great pics and enjoying your review.

NateNLogansDad

01-30-2011, 08:36 PM

Count me in. Great pics and enjoying your review.

Thank you!!! I'm loving getting all these new subscribers! Tell your friends! Tomorrow is animal night, bring your pets!

Soopafly

01-31-2011, 02:48 AM

Welcome aboard! I didn't want to interrupt your guys report at all. Stef has had some great updates and I didn't want to distract her :)

Wait a sec, what's going on next weekend??? You guys doing ANOTHER trip???:scared1:

If you think of it, send me a link when you post some pics from that Sony of yours! Still didn't see the sword you got at the castle!

Lol no no, not going back until September honeymoon but we can dream right?

Stef is out with friends and I am going to London Zoo on my own to try and get some shots. I usually go with a point and shoot and do reasonably wellb ut I want to see what this Sony A390 can do, though I only have the starter lens kit, 18-55mm I believe so no zoom shots but will see how it goes :goodvibes

Yeah Stef hasn't really been on the Dis very much, the next update is a pretty short one as there aren't really many pictures but it was a special day that I will stop talking about now as this isn't my trip report lol! That sword, darn it I didn't even get a picture of it, there must be one online somewhere, if I find it i'll let you know.

Didn't finish reading yours yet but you explored more of Carribean Beach than we did, how did you find the buses in the end? We weren't very keen on them when we stayed but we were in Barbados, right in the middle of the bus loop. Next time preferred room is a must I think. Will finish reading later today :)

OThopeful35

01-31-2011, 03:31 AM

Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. You captured the very essence of the DisneyWorld experience. We cannot wait to go back:)

ToonTagTrolleyDollie

01-31-2011, 06:06 AM

Hey! Just caught up and loving this thread :love: Your pictures take me right back to Disney :) Looking forward to seeing whats next! :yay: :surfweb:
party:

NateNLogansDad

01-31-2011, 07:22 AM

Lol no no, not going back until September honeymoon but we can dream right?

I hop online everyday to see if I can find the deal that we "can't" pass up:lmao: I guess if we can't get there soon enough and you want to dream about it, the Trip Report section is the place to be!

Stef is out with friends and I am going to London Zoo on my own to try and get some shots. I usually go with a point and shoot and do reasonably wellb ut I want to see what this Sony A390 can do, though I only have the starter lens kit, 18-55mm I believe so no zoom shots but will see how it goes :goodvibes
Take the P&S with you also if it has a decent zoom. The 18-55 has the same zoom factor as a 3x on a P&S. Use the DSLR to go wide and the P&S for some animal close ups. I don't know if you have many flea markets over there like we do, but keep an eye out for some older Minolta lenses. They should work on the Sony just fine:thumbsup2

Yeah Stef hasn't really been on the Dis very much, the next update is a pretty short one as there aren't really many pictures but it was a special day that I will stop talking about now as this isn't my trip report lol! That sword, darn it I didn't even get a picture of it, there must be one online somewhere, if I find it i'll let you know.
Oh please, feel free to post as much as you want! You guys are always welcome;) As for the sword, please do let me know if you find one! Do you still have it? I can't wait for the next update! Tell her we are being very patient! Well, not really patient, but at least we're being good ;)

Didn't finish reading yours yet but you explored more of Carribean Beach than we did, how did you find the buses in the end? We weren't very keen on them when we stayed but we were in Barbados, right in the middle of the bus loop. Next time preferred room is a must I think. Will finish reading later today :)
I have to check to see what building we were in but I think it was more near the end. I'd have to say that unless it was raining, I'd skip the buses altogether. The walk is so nice and the bus is so crowded I can't see why not unless the weather got bad outside. Even if you don't book a preferred room, you can always ask for one at check-in. Just don't ask for a "preferred room" specify where you want to be. At ASMu we asked for a Buzz Lightyear room, and it wasn't a problem ;)

.

NateNLogansDad

01-31-2011, 07:26 AM

Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. You captured the very essence of the DisneyWorld experience. We cannot wait to go back:)

Right now it's 18 degrees outside here and 73 in Orlando!!! Trust me, I know what you're going through!!!:rotfl2:

NateNLogansDad

01-31-2011, 07:27 AM

Hey! Just caught up and loving this thread :love: Your pictures take me right back to Disney :) Looking forward to seeing whats next! :yay: :surfweb:
party:

If things go right tonight, Day 4 will be started before I go to bed tonight:thumbsup2

Soopafly

01-31-2011, 08:04 AM

I wish we could get a pin code or something some day, but I don't really hear about those being offered to international guests, the only deals we ever get are free dining & 14 day ticket for the price of 7. Still pay full rate for the rooms unfortunately.

Don't tell me to look for new lenses lol! I have been looking at old Minolta ones and trying to find a good all rounder for our trip to WDW in September, something like a 75-200mm but we have a wedding to be saving up for so no lens buying for a while :rolleyes1

I once had to go get breakfast in the pouring rain one morning at CBR, the bus was a godsend but I would never have walked round it, im too lazy ;)

I sadly didnt get to keep the sword, no room in my suitcase due to all the clothes I buy every year so it was left behind. It wasnt anything special, just a plastic sword but I did want to keep it :(

Oh and I have told her you are waiting patiently for an update, perhaps she might do one tonight or tomorrow. See how she feels. The next day we didnt take many pictures but its good :)

NateNLogansDad

01-31-2011, 08:59 AM

I wish we could get a pin code or something some day, but I don't really hear about those being offered to international guests, the only deals we ever get are free dining & 14 day ticket for the price of 7. Still pay full rate for the rooms unfortunately.
Better than nothing though right? We've never had any real deals yet. We bought annual passes in November and used DVC before that, so the free dinning is out of the question because you need to buy park tickets and pay rack rate on the room to qualify. If only these room prices would drop for a few minutes, I'd book today!

Don't tell me to look for new lenses lol! I have been looking at old Minolta ones and trying to find a good all rounder for our trip to WDW in September, something like a 75-200mm but we have a wedding to be saving up for so no lens buying for a while :rolleyes1
I'll be good and won't push it because the Mrs may stop by and read this.....but maybe when the honeymoon gets closer :rolleyes1

I once had to go get breakfast in the pouring rain one morning at CBR, the bus was a godsend but I would never have walked round it, im too lazy ;)
Maybe after you get some new lenses........nevermind :laughing:

I sadly didnt get to keep the sword, no room in my suitcase due to all the clothes I buy every year so it was left behind. It wasnt anything special, just a plastic sword but I did want to keep it :(
At least you have the pictures to remember it by. That was an awesome day you guys had!

Oh and I have told her you are waiting patiently for an update, perhaps she might do one tonight or tomorrow. See how she feels. The next day we didnt take many pictures but its good :)
:rotfl: You're just going to leave me in suspense??? NOOOO!!!!

No, don't spoil it......I'll be patient. :surfweb:

pirate:

Soopafly

01-31-2011, 09:32 AM

Haha yeah best not to mention it, though she will check your TR out soon she said. I did buy a spare battery earlier and a photography book to mull over before the weekend. I dont think i am going to get any fantastic shots as I havent actually taken it out the house yet, im expecting shaky hands syndrome until i get used to it :rotfl:

It was a great day and a great score for that table. Though there are plenty more meals to come though and a birthday :rolleyes1

I can take some time at work to look through your report now :) Really enjoying the photos and when I can afford one, I am picking your brains for lens advice :laughing:

Edit:

Just been through and loving it so far, though it is really busy everywhere you went! Stef and I wouldn't be able to handle it lol.

This is the best picture ever! I actually laughed out loud when I saw it :laughing: Love the cheesy grin and the lowered inhibitions the alcohol brought you!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%203/DSC_9087.jpg

cyndiloveswalt

01-31-2011, 06:28 PM

NateNLogansDad

01-31-2011, 11:37 PM

[QUOTE=Soopafly;39767251]Haha yeah best not to mention it, though she will check your TR out soon she said. I did buy a spare battery earlier and a photography book to mull over before the weekend. I dont think i am going to get any fantastic shots as I havent actually taken it out the house yet, im expecting shaky hands syndrome until i get used to it :rotfl:

I'm sure you will be just fine. The only way to learn it is to go out and use it right? I have to start changing my way of thinking when it comes to my gear. I focus a lot on what I can't do with it more than what I can do. I need to start looking at certain thing as more of an advantage rather than a handicap. Once you can get into that mindset, there's a whole new level you can go to with your pictures. You've seen what those do over on the photography boards! Sometimes I'm SHOCKED when I find out that they were using the kit lens to get certain pictures. I feel like a pup still with SOOOO much to learn.

It was a great day and a great score for that table. Though there are plenty more meals to come though and a birthday :rolleyes1
You guys had a birthday too? Opps, I've said too much! ;)

I can take some time at work to look through your report now :) Really enjoying the photos and when I can afford one, I am picking your brains for lens advice :laughing:

I'll try my best but I can't promise anything :thumbsup2
Edit:

Just been through and loving it so far, though it is really busy everywhere you went! Stef and I wouldn't be able to handle it lol.
Na, it wasn't bad at all it just seems that way. We didn't really wait for anything all week except for one or two of the really popular ones.
This is the best picture ever! I actually laughed out loud when I saw it :laughing: Love the cheesy grin and the lowered inhibitions the alcohol brought you!

:rotfl2: I hadn't really given it to much thought till you pointed it out.....now I can't stop laughing!!!:rotfl2:

NateNLogansDad

01-31-2011, 11:42 PM

The boys must have loved that you were picked for Indy. My DH was chosen for the Backlot Tour once (he was the guy inside the boat that all the water comes down on) it was very cool!
We are going on the Dream this year and are super excited! Haven't attempted a TR yet, but we'll see.
I also just bought a Sony DSLR A550 and would also love some lense advice. I had a really good Minolta 35 mm, so I have some lenses, but I hear talk of a 18-250 and it sounds so much easier. I'm not sure I'll be wanting to change lenses at the park, I can so see myself dropping my camera.
Great day 3, keep it coming!

That's my next move! I want to be in the backlot show!!!! Let me know if you do a TR!

The 18-250 I have is made by sigma. I wish I had swapped it out with my little 35mm 1.8 for on the dark rides BUT it was sooooo nice walking around with just the one lens. I ended up not even taking my camera bag into the parks which was AWESOME not having that thing around my neck all day. The only thing is, the 18-250 is heavy at almost 2 lbs so make sure you have a decent strap that is really comfortable. I carried it across my body all day instead of around my neck which made all the difference in the world. At the end of the day, I didn't even notice it anymore.:thumbsup2

Soopafly

02-01-2011, 02:45 AM

NateNLogansDad

02-01-2011, 10:18 AM

[QUOTE=NateNLogansDad;39778794]

It's a great picture, and did I detect a hint of 'hamming' it up for the audience during your 'death' scene? :rotfl:

Me? No....never ;)

The photography board is INSANE! I spent hours just going through threads looking at all those pictures, im amazed they get such great shots at night. From what I can gather from it, you need a tripod, remote shutter control and a long exposure, around 10 seconds in some cases. That's crazy because how often in WDW can you stand and take a picture without someone walking in front of your camera! :lmao:

That's the best part about having the tripod at night. If it's dark enough or you set the aperture number up high enough you can get a proper exposure with a long shutter speed. When you have a long shutter with a few seconds or more, people can walk right on by and it won't show up in your picture!

Also keep in mind, many of those pictures are edited by taking multiple pictures and merging them together. Photoshop makes it very easy to clone people out that way
My 25th birthday is the next update :cool1:

Speaking of updates.......waiting patiently for yours ;)
I know....I'm totally falling behind. Work was busy last night and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. Nate almost missed school this morning because I never really woke up. Soon, very soon.

:surfweb:

Soopafly

02-01-2011, 10:46 AM

"That's the best part about having the tripod at night. If it's dark enough or you set the aperture number up high enough you can get a proper exposure with a long shutter speed. When you have a long shutter with a few seconds or more, people can walk right on by and it won't show up in your picture!"

Ah right, I wasn't too sure but glad to have that cleared up. Still don't understand how that's possible, i guess the camera keeps taking 'pictures' internally and overlaps them all until it creates the final shot?

Also keep in mind, many of those pictures are edited by taking multiple pictures and merging them together. Photoshop makes it very easy to clone people out that way

I haven't used photoshop for a long time but I can understand what you mean by that. Is that also the case for those fireworks shots? I dont know how people get those so perfectly, they obviously use a shutter release but what else? Is it long exposure or shutter speed priority?

Don't worry about updating, I know what you mean, Stef is pretty much the same :thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

02-01-2011, 12:52 PM

Ah right, I wasn't too sure but glad to have that cleared up. Still don't understand how that's possible, i guess the camera keeps taking 'pictures' internally and overlaps them all until it creates the final shot?

I'm not good on the technical side but I might be able to dumb it down enough to where I can understand it :rotfl: It's not that that camera keeps taking picture, it's only one. If you have your camera set to shutter priority for 10 seconds, that shutter opens once and stays open for exactly 10 seconds letting light in the whole time. Picture one of the old like this one....
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/images/Camera.gif

The photographer would put a special plate in the back which would act like film. He took the lens cap off which would let light in and burn an image onto that plate. The darker it was outside, the longer he needed to keep the cap off to let the light burn in more. The downside was that if he were trying to photograph a person, they needed to stay PERFECTLY still the whole time, or the picture was blurry so the photographer wanted to use hoot outside on a bright day because he wouldn't need to leave the cap off very long which reduced the chance of the person moving because it was only a second or so.

Now skip ahead to present day. When he took the cap off, that is exactly what your shutter does. It lets light in to be captured by your cameras sensor(acting like the plate in the back.) For a 10 second shot, it's usually letting light in at a slow rate for both what you are trying to capture, and also that guy who doesn't see you with the tripod set up and walks right past.
When someone walks by they might appear as a ghost in the picture or if they weren't in the frame long enough, the light from your background will eventually overwrite it.

I haven't used photoshop for a long time but I can understand what you mean by that. Is that also the case for those fireworks shots? I dont know how people get those so perfectly, they obviously use a shutter release but what else? Is it long exposure or shutter speed priority?
Sometimes yes sometimes no. There are a good amount of guys and gals over there that have tricks to do everything in camera like filters for example. Strap on a 4 stop filter, and now you can take a picture with a 10 second exposure and it won't be too bright even with fireworks. It's crazy :dance3: I know that's oversimplifying it, but I'm just making a point that it is possible, and yes, a lot of them are THAT good.

I've done fireworks merges in photoshop before and made a 1/2 decent picture look pretty darn good in about 30 seconds or so.

Don't worry about updating, I know what you mean, Stef is pretty much the same :thumbsup2
It will be soon. I want to get this thing over with before our next trip. We've been planning one with Tina's mom's family in October, but we've decided we can't wait that long......so......:cool1: Looks like a May trip is in order!

:dancer:

NateNLogansDad

02-02-2011, 12:46 AM

Day 4 Monday November 15

So, I’m thinking it’s time for another update, no matter how small. We need to get this ball rolling!

Today we woke up a little early but not quite as early as I had hoped. We didn’t get back to the beach house till 11PM the night before and since the kids had Kyle to play with till 10:30, they had taken a while to finally calm down and fall asleep. So we slept in compare to all the other Disney lunatics, but by 8:50 we had arrived here……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9535.jpg

No, sorry. I meant we were HERE!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9533.jpg

Now just to get you to where are heads are at. Animal Kingdom was not a place I ever thought I’d want to go back to. 2 years prior, we went in with Brandon and my mom and the place was packed. It was end of May beginning of June and IT WAS HOT. The streets were small and I was cranky. We went in, saw the petting zoo, did the bugs life and left. I was NOT impressed. In fact, whenever anyone asked me about it I said to just skip it and go to the zoo when you get home.

Since then, the good people on the photography boards have posted pictures that were so amazing that they dared me to go back and try it out for real.

So, here we are. With 10 minutes before the morning Extra Magic Hours ran out, we headed in. Remember, we gave up on this park in about 1 hour last time so EVERYTHING we do today will be a first for ALL four of us.

I know it’s hard to see, but the wait posted for Kali River Rapids was 35 minutes but oddly enough, they were not issuing fast passes.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9538.jpg

So, being the good Diser that I am, I tell Tina to stay with the boys near the monkeys (her FAVORITE) and I’ll go grab fastpasses for Expedition Everest.

I know it’s around here somewhere……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9541.jpg

Oh yea…..there it is!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9543.jpg

I took a minute to grab a few pics but didn’t want to keep Tina and the boys waiting
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9545.jpg

5 minutes later I was back with the family and they had found some ancestors just hanging around

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9547.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9549.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9550.jpg

Those monkeys were LOUD that morning. They were yelling back and forth to each other and we were cracking up the whole time.

Donning our ponchos, we headed down to wait in line still posting a 35 minute wait. I think the CM’s were having some fun with us because it was another WALK ON!

Logan was still not sure he wanted to do this.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9552.jpg

Nate on the other hand was all about this one!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9554.jpg

Tina faked a smile for me. She knew I’d keep the camera out till I got one 
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9556.jpg

Do you not just love the décor here? Have I mentioned the details? I love Disney Details!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9557.jpg

We waited for a second to see if anyone else wanted to ride with us but I guess that 35 minute wait that was posted scared everybody off because we had the whole thing to ourselves!
And we were off….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9559.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9561.jpg

A few minutes ago, Logan wasn’t sure about this. Now he was positive. He did not want this AT ALL.
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9566.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9567.jpg

Nate was still loving this!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9570.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9574.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9577.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9578.jpg

This is where I got nervous and put the camera away. Sorry, this was my first time on the Rapids and I was not about to ruin the camera for a few more shots. I did pay attention though and the next time I would keep it out longer.

I had gotten a text from Brandon saying they were almost here so we waited by the monkey’s….can’t get enough of those monkey’s!!!!!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9580.jpg

If anyone has any info on this tower, please speak up! It was so LOUD. The monkey’s would scream into it and it would reverberate strait across the park!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9581.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9582.jpg

NateNLogansDad

02-02-2011, 12:47 AM

We had gotten there at a good time. The monkey’s were having breakfast. They really are very smart. See that canteen? They know that breakfast is hiding inside. Each canteen dispenses one carrot stick when flipped over.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9594.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9598.jpg

This guy was just waiting his turn

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9600.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9604.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9607.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9610.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9616.jpg

Mommom Ginny, Brandon, Tracy, and Austin showed up a few minutes later and we headed off to catch our breakfast reservation……Is it me or are does it seem like ½ of a Disney vacation is eating????

I couldn’t resist another picture……especially with the water this calm
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9585.jpg

Finally we reached our breakfast destination. I’ll give you a hint on where it was. There was this guy here to greet us
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9627.jpg

and a not to distant cousin!

Give up?

Guess you’ll have to stick around to find out!

dismagiclover

02-02-2011, 07:27 AM

NateNLogansDad

02-02-2011, 07:54 AM

Great pictures, as always. I know how you felt about AK on the first vist. For some reason that park just gets so hot and it doesn't hold crowds as well. We've pretty much vowed to avoid it in the summer too. However, as you've discovered, if you go there when it isn't hot and crowded it is amazing. So many awesome details and suprises to find. At the right time of year it is one of our favorite parks.

Crazy isn't it? Last time , I felt like I was in a sea of people and had no control over anything. It actually made me nauseous.
This time was AWESOME and I can't wait to go back in a few months!

When we first got to the park that morning, I was nervous because there was a pretty big crowd at the gate waiting for the gates to open but throughout the day everything was walk on :yay:

Purpleblanket

02-02-2011, 08:19 AM

Crazy isn't it? Last time , I felt like I was in a sea of people and had no control over anything. It actually made me nauseous.
This time was AWESOME and I can't wait to go back in a few months!

When we first got to the park that morning, I was nervous because there was a pretty big crowd at the gate waiting for the gates to open but throughout the day everything was walk on :yay:

We loved Animal Kingdom. We were there on Dec. 29th for early hours at 7 am and it was so cold they had big heaters blowing on the folliage.
We also felt like we were in the park alone and we rode everything we wanted and the lion king show by 11 am. By then, the crowds were coming and we decided to leave!! We didn't do the River Rapids though, as way too cold!!

Loved your photos!

Debbie

NateNLogansDad

02-02-2011, 01:47 PM

We loved Animal Kingdom. We were there on Dec. 29th for early hours at 7 am and it was so cold they had big heaters blowing on the folliage.
We also felt like we were in the park alone and we rode everything we wanted and the lion king show by 11 am. By then, the crowds were coming and we decided to leave!! We didn't do the River Rapids though, as way too cold!!

Loved your photos!

Debbie

Living right in the middle, I never thought I would here someone from canada call florida cold:rotfl2:
But I do know what ya mean, we were there last january and it was freezing cold all week. We had 3 or 4 layers of clothes on all night at the parks. That is not what you'd expect on vacation in florida!!!

I almost think i,d rather have the crowds.....almost.

tigerdragon

02-02-2011, 03:53 PM

I'm glad you gave AK another try. It's my favorite park! Love your pictures of EE (of course).

I have to say that I agree with Logan about Kali. That and Primeval Whirl, or Primeval Hurl as I call it, are the only two things I never want to do again at AK.

NateNLogansDad

02-03-2011, 06:54 AM

princessjv

02-03-2011, 07:10 AM

NateNLogansDad

02-03-2011, 07:44 AM

You were a daring man keeping that nice camera out! ;)

I totally agree with you on AK sometimes NOT being the most "comfortable" park to be in. It always is hotter than hot! Your weather was great that day, though ... right? {It was the day after we left WDW... insert saddness!}

The weather was pretty close to perfect. Honestly I didn't notice the slight breeze until after I got off of Kali. I forgot to mention that we were 1 poncho short (well, not really "short" I just couldn't find it when I looked) so I went on in jeans and a T-shirt with no poncho. I WAS SOAKED when we go off of there.

For the camera, I went over to the stand that sells the throw blankets and got a plastic bag. When I felt like I had pushed it far enough, I threw the camera in the bag, twisted the top, put it under my shirt, and leaned over top of it :lmao:

NateNLogansDad

02-03-2011, 08:02 AM

Just to show you how cold it is outside here right now.....

I just booked a trip in May!!!! :cool1:

MadilynnsMomma

02-03-2011, 08:37 AM

Just to show you how cold it is outside here right now.....

I just booked a trip in May!!!! :cool1:

May AND October?!:worship:

You lucky dog!!!

NateNLogansDad

02-03-2011, 08:41 AM

May AND October?!:worship:

You lucky dog!!!

We gotta make these annual passes worth it right? :rotfl:

MadilynnsMomma

02-03-2011, 08:43 AM

Kali River Rapids could possibly be my favorite ride at Disney World... maybe I am just saying this because your pictures and story helped me relive it all all over again!

I love the monkey with the canteen, I am going to have to check that out next time!

****Did you know the D5000 is no longer being produced :confused3 - I went to Best Buy last night and they have ONE in stock. I am about 2 weeks away from buying it and now I am unsure... I may think about the Canon t1i - or the D3100 or D90... thoughts?

MadilynnsMomma

02-03-2011, 08:44 AM

We gotta make these annual passes worth it right? :rotfl:

Ahhh annual passes - you ARE a lucky dog!!! :banana:

Purpleblanket

02-03-2011, 08:49 AM

Living right in the middle, I never thought I would here someone from canada call florida cold:rotfl2:
But I do know what ya mean, we were there last january and it was freezing cold all week. We had 3 or 4 layers of clothes on all night at the parks. That is not what you'd expect on vacation in florida!!!

I almost think i,d rather have the crowds.....almost.

Ha... Your're right and if I knew what my weather was going to be these last two weeks at home, I would have been calling Florida "balmy" at the time we were there!! :scared1:
It's been in the high -30's all week and with windchills in the low-40's
(And that's Celcius!) It's crazy. And we have so much snow the snow clearers are having trouble finding places to put it when they clear the streets and driveways!

Newly married son and DIL are leaving for Jamaica in a week. I wish I was going with them!!!

debbie

blessedby3

02-03-2011, 09:27 AM

Just to show you how cold it is outside here right now.....

I just booked a trip in May!!!! :cool1:

Thats when we will be there....May 27-June 5!! What are your dates?
Glad you enjoyed AK. It is 3rd on my favorite parks list (behind MK and DHS). We always spend one day there in a weeks trip, but dont need more than that. They have some good rides and shows.

NateNLogansDad

02-03-2011, 10:06 AM

Ha... Your're right and if I knew what my weather was going to be these last two weeks at home, I would have been calling Florida "balmy" at the time we were there!! :scared1:
It's been in the high -30's all week and with windchills in the low-40's
(And that's Celcius!) It's crazy. And we have so much snow the snow clearers are having trouble finding places to put it when they clear the streets and driveways!

Newly married son and DIL are leaving for Jamaica in a week. I wish I was going with them!!!

debbie

OMG, I could never even imagine living with that kind of weather!!! We've got a 3 year plan with a goal to be living in FL before the end of that. I can't stand this cold weather anymore!!!!

NateNLogansDad

02-03-2011, 10:07 AM

Thats when we will be there....May 27-June 5!! What are your dates?
Glad you enjoyed AK. It is 3rd on my favorite parks list (behind MK and DHS). We always spend one day there in a weeks trip, but dont need more than that. They have some good rides and shows.

April 30th we will be heading down. 87 days :lmao:

heidijanesmith

02-03-2011, 12:22 PM

JJBEAN

02-03-2011, 01:44 PM

Joining in...your trip report is fantastic and the pictures are AWESOME! We just booked the Beach Club Villas for November. The kids (and parents too) are so excited! Can't wait to read/see more!

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 01:09 AM

I am lovin' your TR and the great pics!

I am glad you enjoyed volunteering to be in the Indiana show. That was one of the highlights of my first trip to WDW!

I am glad you gave AK another chance. It is our families favorite park, my kids are older, so they really enjoy EE.

Keep those updates coming :thumbsup2

The Indy show was great! I really loved being in it. You know I'm going to have to try to get in it again :thumbsup2 Even if I don't, I need to try to get some pictures as good as the ones Tina got:thumbsup2

I have to say, with AK my opinion made a full 180 on it this trip. I'm REALLY looking forward to getting back there and doing it again....in 86 days!!!!!!:dancer:

As for the updates.....if you were awake, I'd say give me about 10 more minutes!

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 01:12 AM

Joining in...your trip report is fantastic and the pictures are AWESOME! We just booked the Beach Club Villas for November. The kids (and parents too) are so excited! Can't wait to read/see more!

Unfortunately, that will be the one sad thing for us this year.....no Beach Club :sad2:

BUT We are up to trying new things, so in a few months we will try out Pop Century and in October AKL.....so, not all a bad thing but we will miss being HOME :wizard:

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 01:14 AM

A new update should be ready in about 5 minutes........:banana:

brb
popcorn::

Oh yea.....there is some Snow Caps out in the main lobby if anyone wants some :thumbsup2

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 01:22 AM

Hey, I’m back! Miss me?

So, we were going to a late breakfast. We passed by that duck and went to go see another.

Ever figure out where we were going? Here’s another couple hints…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9629.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9631.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9635.jpg

Yep. For our next First Time we had ressie’s for

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9636.jpg

Here’s that other Duck I mentioned….along with Mommom Ginny, Brandon. Tracey, and Austin

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9638.jpg

And my crew…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9643.jpg

We went in and enjoyed the buffet, some (me) more than others (every one else who had ever stepped foot in there.) I don’t know what my deal was but I felt the need to “Carb up” everywhere I went. Looking back, that may have something to do with all the weight I put on that week…..hmmmm. Anywho, along with the good eats we had company join us.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9645.jpg

This next picture made the whole thing more than worth while. I know I know, I’m such a mommas boy but it make me tear up a little when I see it. I think I’m going to print this out for her so she can have it at work. It just oozes with what I call “Disney Emotion”
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9649.jpg
I know right? :hug:
More company….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9652.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9657.jpg

Than the Goof came out and did a little parade around the room. Logan was a little skeptical but the Goof has his ways……

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9663.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9664.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9666.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9668.jpg

Right about this time I had some pieces of paper that were burning a whole in my pocket and the need was there to spend them. No sorry it’s not cash….I’ve been married way too long to have any of that stuff (it is still green right?) No Sir! It was our time for fastpasses to…..drumroll……..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9671.jpg
Remember in the last update when I had gotten them before breakfast? Brandon’s group was still sleeping back then so they missed out! They went off on their own and we headed for the big ride!

Oh heck yea. We had seen this on Stacy’s Must Do’s, and Samantha Brown’s Disney episodes blah blah blah, but had never done this in person. Yep, another first!

Parental note, and take this one seriously: Don’t try to trick your kids into getting on this one. Take them on when they are ready…..the toys are just too expensive at the end!

With the fastpasses in hand we walked right in. If I remember correctly, there was only a 20 minute wait posted but with the FP’s, it was knocked down to 2 minutes. Yeppers 2 minute wait for EE! Try doing that in August! I didn’t have any time to get any real “good” pictures so I popped up the flash and grabbed a few to document what we saw.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9677.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9682.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9635.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9683.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9684.jpg

Yep, I’ll admit it, that was a forced smile. I wanted to get at least one before he decided if he liked it or not.

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 01:23 AM

Tina on the other hand couldn’t wait to get on!

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9686.jpg

Logan……not so much. (Do you see a pattern with him?)

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9687.jpg

Just another beautiful day in the woods

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9689.jpg

We hadn’t even done a hill yet, and Logan was petrified
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9693.jpg

Tina was LOVING it already
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9698.jpg

The view of the park is awesome….look close and you can see the Tree of Life in the middle there
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9701.jpg

And then all of frozen heck broke loose
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9706.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9713.jpg

At this point, Nate realized we were about to go backwards and grabbed my arm TIGHT so for a few seconds, there are no pictures…..I was more worried about loosing the camera!
A few seconds later…..
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9716.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9717.jpg

And here’s our Picture!
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9720.jpg

When we got off, the boys were terrified and I was shocked. They actually both shed some tears for a few minutes. Between you and me, I think they just wanted another toy from the gift shop…..it worked.

With their new EE swiss army knives, binoculars, and whistles (all plastic) in hand we headed West I think.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9724.jpg

I have heard different names for this area of the park. Chester and Hester’s. Heckle and Jackal, C&H, but there was one ride in particular that I was interested in and it only went by one name…….

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9726.jpg

DINOSAUR!

Again, totally a walk on. I know it’s crazy, but I wanted to take some pictures so bad by this point in the week, that I was starting to miss the crowds. A 10 minute wait would be perfect sometimes *sigh* I guess when they say “You can’t please everybody” I’m that guy sometimes…..

That ride is way darker than I thought it would be. I tried to get a few pictures but really, this is all I got.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9734.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9736.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9738.jpg

Believe it or not, I actually put the camera down after a minute and just enjoyed the ride.

Totally Worth It!

Sometimes I get a little out of hand with the pictures and I need to remind myself to have a little fun. After all, there’s always time to go on a second time and try your luck with pictures then….but that’s for later :)

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 01:24 AM

So, we knew we had to be at certain places at certain times to do certain things, but for now we had a few minutes and the kids wanted to check out C&H’s a bit.

I took them on….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9753.jpg
…while Tina went for a soda.

I learned that if all you want are a few snapshots of an area, hop on a ride that spins around in circles! Makes sense doesn’t it? Try not to get dizzy…….

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9755.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9769.jpg

We hung out for a few more minutes but Brandon had sent me a reminder text that it was getting time to meet up for a show.

The kids didn’t feel like walking so I threw them the keys and they drove there
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9773.jpg

Tina and I got stuck walking, which takes longer…..which is why you have to wait till the next installment to see where we went!

princessjv

02-04-2011, 05:27 AM

I love that you're a mommas boy! That's the best way to show your boys your lOve for your mommy... And they hang onto theirs! Your wife will always appreciate that!

Those poor boys on ee... Or should I say your poor pocketbook? I'm glad they made it off ok... Tears and all!

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 06:34 AM

DisneyRed95

02-04-2011, 06:56 AM

Love the picture of your mom and Goofy! Definitely frame that for her. :)

It sounds like you guys had a better day at AK this time around. :cool1: Can't wait for the next update!

dismagiclover

02-04-2011, 08:34 AM

Love the picture of our mom and Goofy too. It shows what I love best about Disney. You never have to grow up! Oh and "Don't take your kids on Everest before they are ready. The toys are too expensive.":rotfl: FYI we spent money in that store last trip while we were waiting for DH to get off the ride. Maybe if we'd all gone together we could have walked out empty handed. Doubt it. My guess for your destination is Nemo since you are right there.

Purpleblanket

02-04-2011, 09:05 AM

OMG, I could never even imagine living with that kind of weather!!! We've got a 3 year plan with a goal to be living in FL before the end of that. I can't stand this cold weather anymore!!!!

My niece and her family live in Jacksonsonville. She said they would never come back. Her teen boys are golfers and they live on a golfcourse. They play disney courses in tournaments often.

I don't blame her. We often ask ourselves why we stay, but then summer comes and we have beautiful summers and falls and some beautiful beaches and we don't live on fault lines or have hurricanes etc.... but we sure know how to deal with winter!!! When we see how a snowstorm can close a city down, we laugh because we just get up and deal with it. Plus the city has the equipment to deal with it!!! lol Oh well.... too much family to move now!!

Debbie

Purpleblanket

02-04-2011, 09:18 AM

sorry, I accidently doubled the post. Just ignore!

Purpleblanket

02-04-2011, 09:19 AM

Quote: "Believe it or not, I actually put the camera down after a minute and just enjoyed the ride."

This is what my daughter kept saying to me! And I did put it down on the rides and I'm glad I did (BTW.... I just copied and pasted more of your good scenery shots for my photo scrapping album!! LOL :rotfl:

Actually, when my kids were little I videotaped everything and watched life through the lens of a camera, but when my son just got married, I decided to put the camera down and just witness and live in the moment and I'm so glad I did. But in the meantime... I'm hoping you enjoyed more of disney through your lens because I just love your photos!

We loved EE! I didn't think I would get enough nerve to ride, but I decided to suck it up and ride everything. Afterall, it is Disney!!

Debbie

NateNLogansDad

02-04-2011, 02:28 PM

Love the picture of your mom and Goofy! Definitely frame that for her. :)

It sounds like you guys had a better day at AK this time around. :cool1: Can't wait for the next update!
I was out today and forgot to pick up a frame:eek:
She's got some kind of stomach bug right now anyways so I have some time, but by Sunday I should have it done up:thumbsup2

Love the picture of our mom and Goofy too. It shows what I love best about Disney. You never have to grow up! Oh and "Don't take your kids on Everest before they are ready. The toys are too expensive.":rotfl: FYI we spent money in that store last trip while we were waiting for DH to get off the ride. Maybe if we'd all gone together we could have walked out empty handed. Doubt it. My guess for your destination is Nemo since you are right there.
I agree, growing up is for chumps! That's why we keep going back right???
But no, it's not Nemo :rotfl:

My niece and her family live in Jacksonsonville. She said they would never come back. Her teen boys are golfers and they live on a golfcourse. They play disney courses in tournaments often.

I don't blame her. We often ask ourselves why we stay, but then summer comes and we have beautiful summers and falls and some beautiful beaches and we don't live on fault lines or have hurricanes etc.... but we sure know how to deal with winter!!! When we see how a snowstorm can close a city down, we laugh because we just get up and deal with it. Plus the city has the equipment to deal with it!!! lol Oh well.... too much family to move now!!

Debbie
We are slowly trying to recruit people to go with us. So far, my best friend can't move till his wife's grandparents go to heaven. I'd never pray for that no matter what.....but he will be down there with us right after that happens! Wait, should I be happy about that? Hmm.... I rack that up to taking the good with the bad ;) As for the hurricane's, I'll take that over 2 ft of snow any day! You can't go crabbing or fishing the week after it snows!
sorry, I accidently doubled the post. Just ignore!
That just means twice the fun! As long as it's Disney related, I have no problem reading it more than once :upsidedow
Quote: "Believe it or not, I actually put the camera down after a minute and just enjoyed the ride."

This is what my daughter kept saying to me! And I did put it down on the rides and I'm glad I did (BTW.... I just copied and pasted more of your good scenery shots for my photo scrapping album!! LOL :rotfl:

Actually, when my kids were little I videotaped everything and watched life through the lens of a camera, but when my son just got married, I decided to put the camera down and just witness and live in the moment and I'm so glad I did. But in the meantime... I'm hoping you enjoyed more of disney through your lens because I just love your photos!

We loved EE! I didn't think I would get enough nerve to ride, but I decided to suck it up and ride everything. Afterall, it is Disney!!

Debbie
I think I more or less gave up that time on Dinosaur. It is really hard to get any picture at all unless you want to spoil the ride for everybody by using a flash. BUT, along with enjoying the ride I also used it to study for the next time I got on it so I'd have a better chance at getting SOME kind of pictures ;)

Everest was intense! I loved the whole thing, from the ride queue to the last drop. Sometime in the next 90 days, we will definitely be on it again!

NateNLogansDad

02-07-2011, 10:23 PM

So, just a recap, we’re in Animal Kingdom and just left Dinoland. The kids stole the only car in the park and we are heading to a show. Yep that about sums it up! Welcome BACK!!!

So, this may be a fairly quick update with not so much me talking as much as showing you pics. That’s what you came for anyways right? I mean who wants to sit around listening to what I gotta say when you could be imagining you were there visually! So, without further ado, I’d like to take you to the show!

Festival Of The Lion King!

We got there a maybe 15 minutes early and scored some pretty good seats, 2nd row to be exact! Here’s our view….

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9778.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9780.jpg

We had a small little bench which was just big enough for all of us. I was given the end because everybody expected me to take the pictures. I know right??? Where would they get an idea like that?

Here’s a crowd pic to give you an idea of the show area in case you’ve never been there…..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9781.jpg

So really not a bad seat in the house.

I’ll be quiet now for a minute and let you enjoy the show……..

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9785.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9860.jpg

NateNLogansDad

02-07-2011, 10:24 PM

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9864.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9944.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9949.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9966.jpg

OK, I gotta chime in for a second. Anyone who has ever seen this show should be able to back me up on this. The monkey’s are friggen AWESOME. What they do in the show is nothing short of AMAZING. And being true to their character, they will also ham it up for the camera. So, if you have a camera with a big ol’ lens on it, try to sit up close. They like their picture taken and I’m pretty sure you will get some funny shots…..maybe inappropriate for some, but I was cracking up!

This one was blurry but I wanted to post it anyway….
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9968.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9970.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9972.jpg

And during the show, they called the kids up to perform with them. Nate was a little hesitant as first but went up anyway. And don’t worry, the monkey’s were well behaved :lmao:

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9974.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_9981.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_0004.jpg

NateNLogansDad

02-07-2011, 10:24 PM

He had one heck of a time up there and I think Logan was upset with himself for not going up
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_0012.jpg

And the show went on……
http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_0023.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_0046.jpg

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http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/Disney2010/Day%204/DSC_0092.jpg

After this show I was kicking myself for banning Animal Kingdom the last few years but was so happy we decided to give it another try. I have 82 days left till we get back down and it’s going to take a lot in order for me to miss this show! I’m going to pause here for a bit but will try to have another update in a few hrs…..depends on how busy work gets tonight!

MadilynnsMomma

02-07-2011, 10:54 PM

Those monkeys are the reason I keep going back - you are quite right, they are nothing short of amazing! Love, love, love the monkeys!!! :thumbsup2

Oh, you are just too good to me! I'm going to figure out a way to include the word inclusion into a conversation sometime in the next few days....I think it'll make me sounds smarter :rotfl:

It's funny because when I first read your post I was like "Theme song?" and than it popped back in my head and now it just won't go away :rotfl2: I love it!

BUAHAHAHA - I was just scrolling back through to find your October dates and happened upon this comment - darn IASW is stuck in my head yet again! Did you ever get inclusion through into everyday conversation?

Reason for back tracking - what are the dates for October? I am beginning to second guess my dates of mid November... I think I may go late October or early to mid December... Thoughts?

NateNLogansDad

02-07-2011, 11:46 PM

Those monkeys are the reason I keep going back - you are quite right, they are nothing short of amazing! Love, love, love the monkeys!!! :thumbsup2

BUAHAHAHA - I was just scrolling back through to find your October dates and happened upon this comment - darn IASW is stuck in my head yet again! Did you ever get inclusion through into everyday conversation?

Reason for back tracking - what are the dates for October? I am beginning to second guess my dates of mid November... I think I may go late October or early to mid December... Thoughts?

Do you have any idea how hard it is to stick a word like "inclusion" into a sentence? Especially when 80% of your conversations are with a 5 & 6 yr old or a wife who already knows you're an idiot :rotfl2: What about when you're a truck driver and trucks are all the guys at work know?

No. Inclusion never came up :lmao:

Our dates in October are 22-29. If there's ANY way of getting the planner to change his mind (there's 5-6 families going) I will. Doesn't he realize that that's the week the Phillies win the World Series!!!!!! :scared1:

NateNLogansDad

02-08-2011, 07:32 AM

Just wanted to throw this in there. Sorry I didn't finish up day 4 last night but it should be up later this evening. I gotta grab some shut eye for now:surfweb:

dismagiclover

02-08-2011, 07:58 AM

I love that show too! I think it's the best one at Disney World. And the acrobatic monkeys are definitely the highlight! Almost felt like I was there.

Purpleblanket

02-08-2011, 09:24 AM

We loved the Festival of the Lion King Show!!! Thanks for posting the fabulous photos.
what section were you in? We were in the Lion Section! ROAAAARRRRR!! :rotfl:

Debbie

NateNLogansDad

02-08-2011, 01:32 PM

I love that show too! I think it's the best one at Disney World. And the acrobatic monkeys are definitely the highlight! Almost felt like I was there.
Awe, thank you! That's the whole reason to follow a TR right? To relive it!

We loved the Festival of the Lion King Show!!! Thanks for posting the fabulous photos.
what section were you in? We were in the Lion Section! ROAAAARRRRR!! :rotfl:

Debbie

I was waiting for someone to ask:confused3 Honestly I have no idea but I'll ask everybody else to see if they remember........

NateNLogansDad

02-08-2011, 03:54 PM

Just looking to vent a little so please feel free to ignore this post.

Disney is really getting under my skin today. I know we can't always have what we want when we want it but it just seems like there is no slack with them if you are trying to cut costs at all.

Here was the plan for the next trip.
Arrive at MCO on April 30th around 5:30.
Take a cab from the airport to HS to do some minor things and be there early for fantasmic.
Disney says Nope. Sorry. Not gonna happen. We won't deliver your luggage to your hotel unless you hop on our bus.
I asked if I can show up to the Magical Express bus, show him my ticket, tell him we are here and still take a cab instead.
Disney:Absolutely not. (Kinda rude too)

2nd beef
Tina booked through Expedia
I called to add the quick service dining.
Nope, Disney says they can't do it and to call Expedia.
I call Expedia, they don't have the option but the lady with better customer service skills calls the hotel.
Penny at customer service says that I need to call this other Disney number and they can do it for me.
I think, no problem right? Na. I called that number and the guy says to call Expedia. I explain that I already did and was told by another Disney Employee to call this number. He says I don't know who told you that but you have been given the wrong information. I told him it was Penny. He said sorry, call Expedia.

I feel like I'm getting crapped on for staying at Pop. :confused3 There was never any issues when spending more money at the nicer hotels. This trip is turning into more headaches than it's worth.

GOOFYsince71

02-08-2011, 04:48 PM

[QUOTE=NateNLogansDad;39881452]Just looking to vent a little so please feel free to ignore this post.

O.K.popcorn::

Purpleblanket

02-08-2011, 04:51 PM

[QUOTE=NateNLogansDad;39881452]Just looking to vent a little so please feel free to ignore this post.

O.K.popcorn::

Glad I'm not the only one who needs to vent when things aren't right!
You just go ahead and vent!!

Debbie

NateNLogansDad

02-08-2011, 05:15 PM

Thanks Deb:thumbsup2

Tina just came home from work and she's feeling the same way. I told her not to cancel the trip yet but hopefully by the end of the week we will have a definite answer on whether we will go or not.

We already committed to the October trip with her family but after that, it might be time to start introducing the kids to other vacations.

I'll admit we've been more than spoiled with DVC. The customer service you get is like such a different world.

Time for me to head out to work.

C-ya!

cyndiloveswalt

02-09-2011, 06:44 PM

annnewjerz

02-10-2011, 03:44 PM

I know what it's like to need to vent. Unfortunately, the two problems you are venting out are probably legit. I know for a fact the rule is that you have to ride the ME to get them to transfer your luggage. That being said, I know there are rule breakers who have gotten away with it in the past. Only one person from your group has to ride---is there any way to have the DW and kids go ahead and get lined up for Fantasmic while you ride along to POP?

The Expedia thing I also sort of understand, because they are an outside entity with their own amount of rooms to book, etc. I don't think that's an excuse for poor customer service on Disney's part, but I know that if you even book with a travel agent you HAVE to call the travel agent, not Disney, so I'm sure that's the issue. It's Expedia's reservation and they are probably the only ones allowed to make changes to it.

No trip to Disney is without flaws, even if they are more minor---so just take a deep breath and remember that in only 80-something more days, you'll be back in Florida. That alone, should make all the hassle worthwhile.

Stefy

02-11-2011, 02:36 AM

Finally made it over! You are naughty for not telling me you started your TR, I'm soooooooooooooooo behind! :laughing:

Going back to catch up now :)

MadilynnsMomma

02-11-2011, 07:57 AM

Do you have any idea how hard it is to stick a word like "inclusion" into a sentence? Especially when 80% of your conversations are with a 5 & 6 yr old or a wife who already knows you're an idiot :rotfl2: What about when you're a truck driver and trucks are all the guys at work know?

No. Inclusion never came up :lmao:

Our dates in October are 22-29. If there's ANY way of getting the planner to change his mind (there's 5-6 families going) I will. Doesn't he realize that that's the week the Phillies win the World Series!!!!!! :scared1:

You must have gotten the information wrong - that is the week the Red Sox win the World Series! Silly Phillies fan!

I think we are switching our Nov 12-19 to Oct 22-29. I am a little worried it won't be Christmassy enough for me, so we're gonna go back and do Halloween again!

---------------------------------

About your current conundrum: I agree with Annie - if you can take ME to POP and have Tina and the boys go on to HS that would probably be your best bet. Second, I have heard others complain about trying to tweak things when going through Travelocity and other internet travel sites. ---Sorry for the headaches!

NateNLogansDad

02-11-2011, 02:30 PM

Haven't been around in a bit, great updates. Your AK photos are awesome!
Too bad you're having trouble with Disney, but think hard before you cancel, how will we live vicariously through your TR if you don't take a trip to report on? Good luck with the plans. We are also DVC and I would have a hard time going any other way too. We do buy Annual passes and get atleast 2 trips, but I keep trying to squeek in a mid year break, it just hasn't worked out yet.

Flattery and a guilt trip all in one post....very nice. I have to say that with the attitude I got from the customer service people on the phone I didn't even want to finish Day 4 but I'm having a change of heart. I'm trying to turn this around and look at it as more of a challenge. I think I've reached a compromise that might work out more in our favor but that will be for the next trip report!

NateNLogansDad

02-11-2011, 02:38 PM

NateNLogansDad

02-11-2011, 02:42 PM

Finally made it over! You are naughty for not telling me you started your TR, I'm soooooooooooooooo behind! :laughing:

Going back to catch up now :)

So glad you could make it Ms. Stefy!!!

I knew you were working on your own (which I am LOVING) and didn't want to interfere with the creative process ;)

Dave's been by;)

Tell him I said hi and was asking how he made out in the zoo last weekend!

NateNLogansDad

02-11-2011, 03:14 PM

You must have gotten the information wrong - that is the week the Red Sox win the World Series! Silly Phillies fan!

I think we are switching our Nov 12-19 to Oct 22-29. I am a little worried it won't be Christmassy enough for me, so we're gonna go back and do Halloween again!

---------------------------------

About your current conundrum: I agree with Annie - if you can take ME to POP and have Tina and the boys go on to HS that would probably be your best bet. Second, I have heard others complain about trying to tweak things when going through Travelocity and other internet travel sites. ---Sorry for the headaches!

I'm smelling a friendly bet brewing. This cold be fun....well fun for a Phillies fan, depressing for ummmm.....well.... :rotfl2: Yea.

Are you sure you'd want to change the date to that week? Why spoil a week in a happy place with that feeling a fan get when their team goes home empty handed :confused3

As for Expedia, we wish there was some kind of warning or something. I was just totally blown away when I was talking to the people on the phone. Hopefully someone else reads this and learns from our mistake. The upside is that we have up till a week before the trip to cancel and still get a full refund. Till then, I will be doing some homework!

mtmbyck

02-12-2011, 06:52 AM

Natenlogansdad, I never thought I'd say it, but we found a place as great (my kids say greater) than Disney.

We stayed at Beaches Turks and Caicos last Jan and I was magical. Kids will have pirate parties with Elmo and Cookie Monster instead of Mickey Mouse . If you begin looking for an alternate to Disney, get a Beaches Resorts book.

MadilynnsMomma

02-12-2011, 10:15 AM

I'm smelling a friendly bet brewing. This cold be fun....well fun for a Phillies fan, depressing for ummmm.....well.... :rotfl2: Yea.

Are you sure you'd want to change the date to that week? Why spoil a week in a happy place with that feeling a fan get when their team goes home empty handed :confused3

As for Expedia, we wish there was some kind of warning or something. I was just totally blown away when I was talking to the people on the phone. Hopefully someone else reads this and learns from our mistake. The upside is that we have up till a week before the trip to cancel and still get a full refund. Till then, I will be doing some homework!

Loser wears the winners team tee shirt one FULL day in the parks?! I'm game if you are!!! :cool1:

I am sure you are like me - win or lose, they will always be my team -- trophy in hand or coming home empty handed -- I love me some Red Sox!

I now know for sure never to deal with Expedia - that's one person at least!

NateNLogansDad

02-12-2011, 01:29 PM

Loser wears the winners team tee shirt one FULL day in the parks?! I'm game if you are!!! :cool1:

I am sure you are like me - win or lose, they will always be my team -- trophy in hand or coming home empty handed -- I love me some Red Sox!

I now know for sure never to deal with Expedia - that's one person at least!

I can honestly say I just don't see it happening. I told Tina about it today and my face went all red just thinking about it. :rotfl2:

annnewjerz

02-12-2011, 05:02 PM

camsmomE

02-12-2011, 06:37 PM

NateNLogansDad

02-12-2011, 09:41 PM

Rob---when in October are you guys headed back? We have two one-day tickets leftover from this trip and with the $75 RT airfare I scored on Spirit, I'm trying to convince DH to head back sometime at the end of the year. :rotfl:

Hello, my name is Ann and I'm an addict. I've been back for 4 days and I'm already itching to get back down there!!

October 22-29. BUT be careful.....World Series should be going on that week!

There's nothing wrong with being an addict right?!?!? :confused3 We usually talk about dates for the next trip while waiting in the Orlando airport to come home. :rotfl2:
How's this for addicted....
January 2010. On the Magical Express Ride back to MCO we didn't want to leave. Tina is looking out the bus window at houses as we drive by and says "Why can't we just live here? Wouldn't that be nice?"
Our goal now is by 2014 to be moved and settled. Hopefully a year earlier but we're being realistic. :woohoo:

By the way....how's your pictures looking???? Will there be a trip report?

NateNLogansDad

02-12-2011, 09:47 PM

I'm tagging along! It's slow-moving though, with a two-year old asking me for something about every 25 seconds. I managed to get all the way through post #65, even if it DID take me all day- worth it! :rotfl:

I love your writing style, but more importantly, I think you might become a fellow DISer that I run to with my Nikon questions!!

I hit post #66 as soon as I get munchkin to sleep... in other words, tomorrow. :lmao: GREAT REPORT!

You are way too kind but thank you! I'll be more than happy to answer any questions to the best of my ability, but I'm still just learning myself. However I'll be more than happy to pass on any knowledge from all the mistakes that I've made :lmao:

NateNLogansDad

02-12-2011, 09:55 PM

Sorry about the delay in updates lately, I've just been pulling my hair out over life in general and some nights I've been getting less than my normal 3 hrs of sleep. Grumpy? Yea, I've been a little Grumpy but that's all changing ASAP. By the end of Monday I'm hoping to finish day 4 and be well into Day 5. Please bear with me :ewok:

Soon I promise!!!

Stefy

02-13-2011, 01:00 PM

Hey Rob how you guys doing?

Am all caught up and loving every minute. You guys looked like you were having the time of your lives and the boys are just too cute.

Amazing pictures too, love the FotLK ones, such an awesome show :goodvibes

So cool you are going back in May, bet you can't wait :teeth:

Looking forward to more popcorn:

annnewjerz

02-13-2011, 01:15 PM

By the way....how's your pictures looking???? Will there be a trip report?

Pictures are going, not nearly as many keepers as I would have liked, but I should be able to squeeze out a few handfuls. My photography went as follows:

Day 1 - Took out two bodies with a lens on each and another in my bag. Decided to skip the tripod because we'd been up since 2:30am and I knew I wouldn't want to lug it around.

Day 2 - Down to one body already because I realized I wasn't using both anyway. Still had four total lenses with me. Still no tripod because we would be seeing Fantasmic! that night and I knew I wouldn't need it for that.

Day 3 - I was still using one body, but had decided that I didnt need four lenses and we might be taking a break mid-day, so I went out with three lenses. Still no tripod, because I had planned on drinking around the World Showcase. Unfortunately, I only made it two tequila shots and a margarita in and then called it a night. :rotfl:

Day 4 - I was still using one body, but had decided since we were just doing some stuff at DHS I'd take my 85 for Citizens of Hollywood and 180 for the Beauty & the Beast show. Still no tripod, because by now I had to pack it back up in the box I shipped it in and drop it with the concierge.

Do you notice a pattern? Walking around with all that crap is a lot harder when I don't have DH with me! :rolleyes1

Oh, and no TR. No one reads mine anyway, and I usually stop half-way through because I get bored writing it...so why even bother?! Photo report will have to be enough!

annnewjerz

02-13-2011, 03:30 PM

So I lied, I started a TR...but more a photo TR that's on the TR boards instead of on the photography board, so more people can join in the fun!

And now, some shameless self-promotion, here is the link to my TR. I hope all your readers come on over!! ;)

A Wordless Report from my Disney Quickie (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=39937923&posted=1#post39937923)

Bethislucy

02-13-2011, 09:04 PM

Just started reading your report. Wonderful pictures and it sounds like your trip was wonderful as well. Can't wait to hear how it ends. Thanks for sharing.

cyndiloveswalt

02-14-2011, 06:53 PM

I was worried, because i've been so busy I couldn't even check in and there have been no more posts!! What's a matter you? Just kidding, I can tell you're just as crazy as me! Looking forward to it when you get a chance (just don't forget about your poor dis friends who hang on your every word!)

NateNLogansDad

02-14-2011, 10:39 PM

I was so ready to get a huge update done tonight but right now I'm stuck at jfk airport waiting to get my truck unloaded. Honestly I'm shocked my phone gets internet where I'm at right now! I promise to make it up as soon as I get a chance :)

annnewjerz

02-15-2011, 07:25 PM

popcorn::

Popcorn is starting to get low, Rob!

Snappy in OK

02-15-2011, 09:01 PM

I generally lurk on the boards, with an occasional comment. I just wanted to tell you that I have been enjoying your TR - photos & commentary!! :goodvibes I am looking forward to reading & seeing more.

We are also planning our next trip - Oct 20 - 29th, and we will be staying at BCV for the first time!!:cool1: We are definitely looking forward to it.

Of course, with the 25+ inches of snow in NE Oklahoma this month, it is a good thing we have this trip booked. I would have been looking for a spring trip otherwise.

MadilynnsMomma

02-15-2011, 10:48 PM

...always patient... :rolleyes1

NateNLogansDad

02-16-2011, 08:11 AM

Purpleblanket

02-16-2011, 03:50 PM

Oh my Dis friends, how good you are to me :worship:

Last night I planned on this mega update that just wasn't meant to be. I was supposed to have it easy at work since I was stuck in New York on Monday but low and behold, as soon as I walked in I was told to head to Virginia :scared1:

I tried to tell dispatch that I am loosing subscribers by the minute but it was to no avail. Right now I'm running on roughly 1 hr and 45 minutes of sleep so now is not the time to get one ready even though my heart aches to post some picture. Heck, if it weren't for spell checker, you probably wouldn't even be able to read this post.

Tonight better be better. This work stuff is cramping my style! Nate is at school and I'm taking Logan in a minute, than I get a full hr and a half nap before I pick him back up. I don't want to make any promises because, well lets look at my history this week and that's why.....but lets just say my fingers will be crossed while typing tonight!

For those of you who should be working but feel like wasting time, I'll offer you this to kill a few minutes. The kids and I were playing around with "Just Dance 2" on the Xbox on our last snow day............ (make sure your sound is on-nothing bad)

http://s561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/?action=view&current=NateSolja1.mp4

http://s561.photobucket.com/albums/ss53/natenlogansdad/?action=view&current=Logan1234.mp4

I know, it's a cheesy attempt to keep you around but I never said I was above being cheesy :happytv:

The video is too funny! Us Dissers must be a "special" breed! :laughing:
I've made the same video of soldia boy with 2 of my boys last year! I should post mine too but I'd be too embarressed ! :scared1:

Our family loves to dance and at weddings and socials etc... we are not afraid to get up and show our "moves" ! Our latest dance moves are to Shakira's "waka waka Africa!!" Check that one out on Youtube and maybe nate could learn that one next! I'll stay tuned for it!!

I agree with what you said about work!! I've just gotten back into my full time job after being off for 6 months ( I work term during the busy tax season) and all I can say is I don't know how people manage when they're working full time! :rolleyes: It just gets in the way of Life!! :rolleyes1
(and in the way of making and reading TR's)

Well have a good day! Now, that I'm home from the full time job I have to get to the 2nd job which is my home based business! (I have a hair salon in the basement)

Debbie