First Christmas Trip to Disney 12/07

[pjstevens]

A very short video of the Osborne Lights

Osborne Lights

 

[scottny]

great pics. the video of Osborne lights is really good.

I love the Stitch photpass pic.

 

[PrincessAlways]

I just love those lights!!! Cute Stitch pic!!!

 

[mymainmouse]

The pictures of the Osborne Lights were awesome. I really like the one of the blue light Christmas tree with the angel on top. It is soo pretty. All of your pictures are pretty but I love the color of that one. Great update!

 

[pjstevens]

great pics. the video of Osborne lights is really good.

I love the Stitch photpass pic.

Scott,

I can't believe only three days and you'll be back in the world!!!! Have a wonderful trip. Can't wait to read about all the fun. This was our first and only time seeing Stitch in a photo, I was so glad this was done.

 

[pjstevens]

I just love those lights!!! Cute Stitch pic!!!

I can only say that the photos do not do them justice. It was so awesome. My dd has a pretty good video, but I couldn't get it to upload. If so, I'll let you all know. It's so amazing. And everyone is viewing them in that same sense of awe. I think we need to go back that time of year all the time. It was so beautiful.

 

[pjstevens]

The pictures of the Osborne Lights were awesome. I really like the one of the blue light Christmas tree with the angel on top. It is soo pretty. All of your pictures are pretty but I love the color of that one. Great update!

Thanks Kelly,

If I remember correctly, that big blue tree actually was three layers of trees. When the music played you saw a red tree and a green tree (in addition to the blue one). It was so amazing. So many lights!!!

 

[MARY-IN-OH]

Sorry if someone asked you already and I missed it, but what kind of camera do you have? I am so impressed with your pics! I wish I could get better night parade pics!
Great report!
-mary

 

[pjstevens]

Mary,

I have a Kodak Easyshare Z712 IS. It's got a 12x optical zoom (allowing for great zoomed in shots) and it has the image stabiliztion. It has a lot of 'preset' features for those that don't have a lot of knowledge (as in night shots, fireworks, candlelight, etc). I LOVE IT. I just got it in May for my bday and used it for the first time for our trip in August. I've gotten a lot better and took a tripod (folded up small enough to fit in my backpack) for my night shots. My dream is to someday have a digital slr (as I grew up knowing how to set all those settings, but automatic ones make life easy and makes us dumb in what we use to know). (Not ment to offend anyone, just myself here).

Sorry if someone asked you already and I missed it, but what kind of camera do you have? I am so impressed with your pics! I wish I could get better night parade pics!
Great report!
-mary

 

[pjstevens]

Thursday, December 13th - Animal Kingdom - FINALLY!!!

I’ve kind of gotten a bit off from telling all the little things and making this more of a photo trip report. I can’t believe it’s been more than a month since we went to Disney. On one hand it seems like yesterday, on the other, it seems like it’s been MONTHS!!! Everyone got up and going as usual. Finally we make it to Animal Kingdom...

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We got parked and were a short walk to the entrance (no tram running from this lot as we were pretty close). As we come upon the entrance we see yet another HUGE beautiful tree.

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Fortunately, we had just missed the rope drop. Normally I want to get to all the openings, so enjoy all that the day has to offer (and the special shows that they have just at openings). At least it wasn’t wall to wall people (like we have seen when there for rope drop). Before dashing off to Expedition Everest we had to stop for a few photo. Unfortunately, it is so sunny as you are walking over the bridge that our group photos aren't too good as we all have our eyes closed (or squinting so hard to keep them open).

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After this we headed to EE. I wasnt' going to ride this one, so I said I'd take all the other tickets and get us a fast pass for Kilimanjaro Safari. Before leaving though, I waited while they went to see how long the stand by line was. Only a few minutes, so off I went.

The brand new Yak & Yeti Restaurant

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As soon as I got the fast passes, I walked back through the marketplace and saw these guys.

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I was surprised to see my gang back in no time. I couldn’t believe they actually rode Expedition Everest twice!!! They were excited. Being that was so fast, it wasn’t nearly time for our fast passes yet, so we decided to do the stand by line (20 minute wait)!!!! It’s always so hot walking through there.

Up next …. Kilimanjaro Safari and Rafiki’s Planet Watch (lots of photos).

 

[pjstevens]

A better video


Osborne Lights

 

[mymainmouse]

I love the pictures with Simba. We didn't get any photopass pictures at AK. We were on a mission to get to the safari in the morning and by afternoon were too hot to stop for pictures. The second day we were there seemed even warmer. I don't know if it's the park or what.
Great update!

 

[the_princess]

Hi, I found your report in your siggy and I just had to read it (Even though I should be studying right now) but your pics are just amazing. I went to DLP this x-mas, but I would love to go to WDW. It looks so magical!!!

 

[pjstevens]

I love the pictures with Simba. We didn't get any photopass pictures at AK. We were on a mission to get to the safari in the morning and by afternoon were too hot to stop for pictures. The second day we were there seemed even warmer. I don't know if it's the park or what.
Great update!

Kelly,

It's Animal Kingdom!!! It is always HOT there!!! No matter what the temp in the other parks. I was glad that we got the Simba pictures, just wish we had some better ones with the tree in the back, but you can't see, the sun is blinding in the morning.

Hi, I found your report in your siggy and I just had to read it (Even though I should be studying right now) but your pics are just amazing. I went to DLP this x-mas, but I would love to go to WDW. It looks so magical!!!

Stephanie,

Thanks for stopping by. (now get back to studying) DLP, WOW, I'd love to try that. This was our first Christmas (time) trip and it was amazing. I loved everything and am certain we need to go back that time of year again.

 

[pjstevens]

Kilimanjaro Safari. I have my little cheat cards from TGM and so we asked if we could wait for the last seat (we have never had the last seat). First off, if you haven’t sat here, DON’T if you want to get great pictures. It is the bumpiest ride I’ve ever been on. A lot of my shots were blurry (I was bummed), but it was great to have an unobstructed view. As we got in our vehicle, this was right behind us.

Off we gooooo







A better view



Look at the horns on this guy









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Up Next, Rafiki's Planet Watch

 

[wdwgirl03]

Great report! Your daughter must have loved the CP! I was thinking about doing it this spring since I'll be done student teaching but was afraid I'd get too homesick. I love all your photopass pictures (actually I love all your pictures!). I love the ones where they stick the characters in them (we got some of those taken too!)

I really want to go to one of the Christmas parties...it looks like so much fun, and we loved MNSSHP!

 

[mymainmouse]

I think you are right about AK just being hot. Both days we left there it seemed about 10 degrees cooler. I wonder what the deal is. Maybe it is from all the shrubs and trees. Maybe that stifles whatever breeze there may be.

Your pictures from the safari are great. Even with the bumpy last seat those pictures are way better than mine.

 

[pjstevens]

I know my daughter LOVED being a cp (so much so, she's talking about going again)... she'll never graduate, but hey she'll be getting great deals for us
Honestly, I'd recommend the program. I think she got 'homesick' for Disney when she came back 'home'.

This was our first year to do any of the parties and they were so much fun... I'd love to experience them all

Great report! Your daughter must have loved the CP! I was thinking about doing it this spring since I'll be done student teaching but was afraid I'd get too homesick. I love all your photopass pictures (actually I love all your pictures!). I love the ones where they stick the characters in them (we got some of those taken too!)

I really want to go to one of the Christmas parties...it looks like so much fun, and we loved MNSSHP!

 

[pjstevens]

Thanks Kelly, but honestly, I only showed you the 'good' pics. Some were soo bad I deleted them from my webshots, I didn't want anyone to see them. I do think it's all the vegetation that keeps the heat in at AK.

I think you are right about AK just being hot. Both days we left there it seemed about 10 degrees cooler. I wonder what the deal is. Maybe it is from all the shrubs and trees. Maybe that stifles whatever breeze there may be.

Your pictures from the safari are great. Even with the bumpy last seat those pictures are way better than mine.

 

[pjstevens]

Ok, I’m back (again). I can’t believe how long it is taking me to provide you with this trip report. After the safari, it was time to take the train ride to the Conservation Station and Rafiki’s Planet Watch. We went here once before and it was cute. I was hoping we’d get to see some characters so I thought it would be a nice place to visit and it’s air-conditioned. A couple photos on the train

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We finally arrived there after a short train ride. It’s really nice that you sit facing sideways instead of facing front, so you all get a good view.

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I love when you walk into the Conservation Station and they have that wall that turns with all the animals on it. Needless to say I didn’t take any photos this trip of that wall, but just wanted to make a mention, cause it’s so pretty. Then we got to see some special characters.

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Splitting up due to all the photos. Up next... an adorable tiny monkey