Discovering Another Mad Dash (Oct 14): Heading Home and Finally finishing this TR #1523 (05/03)

[shushh]

WOW! I'd be happy if I owned those photos. Which lens did you use?

 

[usnuzuloose]

All the pics are awesome and I enjoyed seeing them all again. Its okay hunchback and dumbo will have there own someday. One day youll look back and have a good laugh at it. I am always checking in and seeing if anything is new. Keep it up your doing a fantastic job. I have yet to learn how to add pics in here. Need to do that before my reg TR starts.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

Disney added a Tron segment to the original ending of WoC…and I know that DisneyFirefly loves Tron…so these are for Firefly….Happy 3 months Early Birthday to you!

As soon as I read Tron, I was like "Yay, Tron!" and then read the rest of the sentence Thank you for taking those, they look awesome! I hope that segment is still there when I go in May!

 

[hjd0411]

Great photos! Thanks so much for sharing. It's always so hard to get the photos without anyone else in them! But it does give the sense of being there!

 

[franandaj]

GREAT pics, yes I want copies of your whole day! They are all great and you see so many things I never do.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

As you would have seen, I had two unexpected guest stars in my photographs – The Hunchback and Dumbo the Dinosaur. To say that I had been unhappy with them appearing in my shots would be a gross understatement. Usnuzuloose will be able to attest as to my dissatisfaction with their appearances in my pictures when I shared them with her on my camera at our DisMeet 2 nights hence (coming soon in a future post).

We didn't get to do WOC heck with the crowds in DCA the week we went we literally could not get to paradise pier at all so we did nothing there. Yours are some of the better ones I have seen so thank you. Colton (My DS6 for those that don't know) was looking at them with me and he says that unexpected guest of yours was Darth Vadar the shadow looks just like his helmet.

 

[skiingfast]

I have to ask, Are you from Australia? You keep saying World of Colour, but it sounds like you are pronouncing World of Color in an odd way. So I have to know about this accent.

Love all the WoC pics. Also it's awesome you got to run ahead to DCA to do a quick picture tour before the boys caught up! You make me want to watch WoC again.

 

[TheColtonsMom]

I have to ask, Are you from Australia? You keep saying World of Colour, but it sounds like you are pronouncing World of Color in an odd way. So I have to know about this accent.

Matt u are so funny!

 

[PrincessInOz]

WOW! I'd be happy if I owned those photos. Which lens did you use?

Thanks Shushh. I was using the 17 - 55mm f/2.8. I originally started out in Aperture Priority mode and found that most of the shots were being blown out. I quickly shifted to manual. Most of the time I was in ISO 1600 (or 3200), f/2.8 and around 1/30 sec.

I contemplated using the 50 mm f/1.8 lens; but figured it was better to have a tele-lens that I could play with than a prime. Because of the Hunchback and Dumbo, it turned out to be a great decision.

All the pics are awesome and I enjoyed seeing them all again. Its okay hunchback and dumbo will have there own someday. One day youll look back and have a good laugh at it. I am always checking in and seeing if anything is new. Keep it up your doing a fantastic job. I have yet to learn how to add pics in here. Need to do that before my reg TR starts.

Thanks. There is a link somewhere that shows you how to add pics on the Dis. If I find some time, I'll go looking for it and send it to you.

As soon as I read Tron, I was like "Yay, Tron!" and then read the rest of the sentence Thank you for taking those, they look awesome! I hope that segment is still there when I go in May!

That was the thought that crossed my mind....I hope the segment is still there in May; otherwise you can come back here and look at my pics.

Great photos! Thanks so much for sharing. It's always so hard to get the photos without anyone else in them! But it does give the sense of being there!

I figure that if I ever get the opportunity to get back there for WoC, I'll take a hunchback swatter with me; complete with extendable arms. I don't mind the heads at normal height in the shot...but to have a 5' 10" father put a child and extend it up past Goofy height is probably just pushing my tolerance limit a little.

GREAT pics, yes I want copies of your whole day! They are all great and you see so many things I never do.

I'll get round to it....sometime.

It only took me 3 months to send Firefly her CD...let's see if I can beat this record!

We didn't get to do WOC heck with the crowds in DCA the week we went we literally could not get to paradise pier at all so we did nothing there. Yours are some of the better ones I have seen so thank you. Colton (My DS6 for those that don't know) was looking at them with me and he says that unexpected guest of yours was Darth Vadar the shadow looks just like his helmet.

As the fireworks, Fantasmic! and Aladdin were all NOT on when I went, I was pretty pleased to have been able to get to Paradise Pier for WoC.

Thanks! In the end, I'm pleased with my pictures (now).

I have to ask, Are you from Australia? You keep saying World of Colour, but it sounds like you are pronouncing World of Color in an odd way. So I have to know about this accent.

Love all the WoC pics. Also it's awesome you got to run ahead to DCA to do a quick picture tour before the boys caught up! You make me want to watch WoC again.

Ou sure u know how to spell Colour??? It's a bit like a doughnut!

I was born in South East Asia and we learnt how to spell like the Brits. Are you sure you can't hear the accent? I can't!

Matt u are so funny!

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

Wow, those pictures of WOC were really brilliant. I wish I could go there to see it. I think I might head to youtube and have a look at a video of it. Do you ever think they will move a version to WDW? If so where would they put it?

I think that your accent sounds very normal it has been a while since I have gone overseas and I know it is going to be quite a culture shock to be surrounded by American accents

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wow, those pictures of WOC were really brilliant. I wish I could go there to see it. I think I might head to youtube and have a look at a video of it. Do you ever think they will move a version to WDW? If so where would they put it?

I think that your accent sounds very normal it has been a while since I have gone overseas and I know it is going to be quite a culture shock to be surrounded by American accents

Thanks QB.

I don't know if they will move a version to WDW. They sure need a big water space for it and a wide promenade area for guests to view it from. It made sense at DCA because of the 'lake' in the middle; and I remember seeing the lake completely drained and under construction in 2008. There was some MAJOR plumbing that needed to be done for this show.

Your accent sounds normal to me too....

 

[skiingfast]

Wow, those pictures of WOC were really brilliant. I wish I could go there to see it. I think I might head to youtube and have a look at a video of it. Do you ever think they will move a version to WDW? If so where would they put it?

I think that your accent sounds very normal it has been a while since I have gone overseas and I know it is going to be quite a culture shock to be surrounded by American accents

There have been a lot of discussions on a WoC for WDW. Honestly I don't think anyone within Disney is talking about a duplicate show over there. But they are getting a bit of it in the new Tokyo Disney Seas water show.

What I find makes WoC so photogenic is MFW and Screemin behind it. Without those enhancements it may not look quite the same.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Final Moments at DLR


We’d just spent the whole day enjoying our time at DLR, capped off by a first time viewing of WoC for our family.

For me, the World of Colour did not disappoint. The wall of water created by the jets and fountains is just amazing and has to be seen. It provided the perfect screen to project all the various Disney movies on it, all set to the appropriate music. I thought it was an amazingly technological achievement for a water, laser, sound and light show. But then, I am a Disney tragic.

I lingered around after the hazy mist (and I mean the water) died down to soak in my last views of a Disney park for a while.

I reasoned that the crowds would all be crushing out at the same time and we would be at the back of the pack so we might as well stay to enjoy the dimming lights.

Truth be known – I do not know when I will be returning and wanted to take some time to make some lasting memories.

Turns out that there is a whole perspective of Disney at Night that most of us miss out on or just fail to consciously register.

After most of the crowd had gone, I noticed a group of CM standing in a pack waving us goodbye. I turned to take a shot and sadly, with the lights all dimmed, it was way too dark for me to get a decent image.

So, I decided to do something that I had yet to do at DLR! And because I told the CMs that I was going to “Flash”, most of them laughed and turned in my direction for this classic. The one and only time I’ve FLASHED at DLR for this trip! Look at them all - waving at me!

Far too often, we forget that what makes Disney…well…Disney, is the service, smiles and care that the Cast Members provide. Way too often, I read about Dis-sers complaining about this Cast Member or that ‘ruining’ their holiday because of poor customer service.

Cast Members are people too…and at the end of a long shift, I think we forget that they might be tired and cranky or just plain beat from standing on their feet all day, day after day. I think we all can associate with the feeling….

And as one shift finishes and our perfect Disney moments end, another starts….so that the Park is pristine again for us the next day.

The boys and I made our way out of the park. By this time, we were the LAST people around and there was only one way to head…towards the Grand Californian side of DCA.

As we turned the bend, we all stopped to take a look at the Grizzly Peak, headstrong against the moon light.

Against the darkness of the night, poor Grizzly definitely looked rather high and dry.

By this stage, our thoughts were turning towards the Hotel…

We kept walking towards the promenade entrance..

…enjoying the solitude of a pretty empty park…

…and turned our thoughts towards the next part of our adventure.

As I left, I sure hoped that these words would be true.

Post Script. For anyone who thinks that we just headed back to the hotel on this night – think again!

We had one final thing to do…and a promise to keep to DS.

We were advised that this was “just like BaB; only better!” by the server.

If price is anything to go by, it better well be.

And whilst DS is enjoying his toy at home, our poor cats are in complete disarray by the new addition.





[Up Next – Day 3]

 

[skier_pete]

Great pictures! You really do a great job. Do you find though that you "miss" the shows? I used to videotape a lot of stuff on our trips, but cut back a lot when I realized I was paying more attention to the camera than the actual show...

Great pix of the CM. I think the same thing...they have a difficult job that involves making my (and others) family happy. That's why I always try and approach CM with a smiling attitude and feel that's partly why I always get one in return.

Also, what was your opinion of world of color? I'm curious to see it, but I can't say it's driving me to get out to DL. The reason: The first time I saw Fantasmic @ DHS, while I enjoyed it, I got really tired of the water screens. They were an effect that when it first started, I thought "that's pretty cool" but after 15 minutes of watching film on a water screen I was getting really bored. In fact, while I like Fantasmic, it prevented me from really loving it. (I only really, really like the last 5 minutes of it.) Between that and DD hating it, and them dropping to twice a week when we go, we haven't seen F! in a few years.

So, I look at WoC and think: "OK, maybe a little fancier, but isn't it just pretty colors and water with movies projected on fountains? I didn't like that at Fantasmic, why would I like it better here, when I can't even sit?"

So, just curious as to how it compares...

Looking forward to your SF reviews...One of my 3 favorite North American cities. (Boston and Toronto being the other two.)

 

[TheColtonsMom]

So, I look at WoC and think: "OK, maybe a little fancier, but isn't it just pretty colors and water with movies projected on fountains? I didn't like that at Fantasmic, why would I like it better here, when I can't even sit?"

Although my family does like Fantasmic esp my DS6, I kind of feel the same way about world of color. Fantasmic has scenes projected on water which I did not like as much as the rest of the show. So a bunch of lights and water, a little fire and not even a storyline just a series of movie trailers and the amount of time it would take away from other things we can do while at DLR just doesn't seem worth it. Our last trip was Christmas and didn't want to brave the crowds for this but we are considering it for our Oct 2011 trip if the arrangements for getting a seat or the crowds for it change before then. So PrincessinOz convince me since you obviously love this show why it is so special?

 

[Mum from oz]

Wow! World if Colour looks amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing your photos. I think you got fantastic shots!

 

[QuirkyButterfly]

How great that the CM's wave you goodbye at the end of the night. What a wonderful touch. Smart idea not to leave with the crowd but wait until everyone has gone, it seems like a good photo opportunity.

 

[JH87]

Awww I love the picture of the CMs waving!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great pictures! You really do a great job. Do you find though that you "miss" the shows? I used to videotape a lot of stuff on our trips, but cut back a lot when I realized I was paying more attention to the camera than the actual show...

Great pix of the CM. I think the same thing...they have a difficult job that involves making my (and others) family happy. That's why I always try and approach CM with a smiling attitude and feel that's partly why I always get one in return.

Also, what was your opinion of world of color? I'm curious to see it, but I can't say it's driving me to get out to DL. The reason: The first time I saw Fantasmic @ DHS, while I enjoyed it, I got really tired of the water screens. They were an effect that when it first started, I thought "that's pretty cool" but after 15 minutes of watching film on a water screen I was getting really bored. In fact, while I like Fantasmic, it prevented me from really loving it. (I only really, really like the last 5 minutes of it.) Between that and DD hating it, and them dropping to twice a week when we go, we haven't seen F! in a few years.

So, I look at WoC and think: "OK, maybe a little fancier, but isn't it just pretty colors and water with movies projected on fountains? I didn't like that at Fantasmic, why would I like it better here, when I can't even sit?"

So, just curious as to how it compares...

Looking forward to your SF reviews...One of my 3 favorite North American cities. (Boston and Toronto being the other two.)

Dang! I was trying to do the very PC thing and not compare WoC to anything. And I find between you and ColtonsMom that I'm going to have to do something about this!

If you don't like the water show component of Fantasmic!, then this is not the show for you.

DS does NOT like the last 5 minutes of Fantasmic! Until last year, he wasn't very good in dark places and he didn't like loud noises. So, DH and I used to have to do the tag team thing in order to experience the live entertainment/shows at Disney. Fireworks are my most favourite thing in the world to see - and we even have to make sure we bring earplugs for DS so that we can stay for the show at Disney. I'm sure DS is going to need therapy before he turns 30 about how cruel his mum was dragging him to every fireworks event around!

DS has gotten a lot better in the last year; so we thing we no longer have an issue with live shows at Disney.

WoC is the first show where he thoroughly enjoyed it, didn't want to leave halfway nor bug us about anything. Whilst there is scary music and scary scenes in the middle, because there is so much colour and motion with the rest of the fountains, he was able to enjoy it all. Maybe it is a sign of maturity on his part as well.

For me (and this is my personal opinion), fireworks are THE major drawcard for me. Unfortunately, because I was there in winter and midweek there was no fireworks at DLR. I also love live musical shows - and yes, I have seen Aladdin before - and would have loved to be able to go back and see Aladdin. But winter and midweek - it wasn't on either. In fact, the only night show that was on was WoC.

I'm also a Disney tragic...and the thought of there being a show out there that I hadn't seen - particularly at DLR - well.....good, bad or indifferent, I was going to get there to catch it one way or the other...sooner or later. It just turned out to be a lot sooner than I thought.

Part 2 below...

Although my family does like Fantasmic esp my DS6, I kind of feel the same way about world of color. Fantasmic has scenes projected on water which I did not like as much as the rest of the show. So a bunch of lights and water, a little fire and not even a storyline just a series of movie trailers and the amount of time it would take away from other things we can do while at DLR just doesn't seem worth it. Our last trip was Christmas and didn't want to brave the crowds for this but we are considering it for our Oct 2011 trip if the arrangements for getting a seat or the crowds for it change before then. So PrincessinOz convince me since you obviously love this show why it is so special?

Let me just say that this is my personal opinion here....but I'm not sure I'm going to convince you either way to go see WoC or not. I think you should see it when it is convenient for you and your family to see it and make your own mind up.

Yes, WoC is a bunch of lights and water, a little fire and no storyline....with a series of movie trailers projected on a moving water screen. And there are no seats. Plus...given the hype, in order to get a decent spot, you pretty much have to queue up for about 30 minutes before the CM let you; and then spend another 45 minutes waiting for the bunch of lights and water. Then the 25 minutes for the show. All of this from a standing position.

I mentioned in Pete's response that I'm a Disney tragic.

One of my earliest childhood memories is from growing up as a child in South-East Asia, developing nation, where television did not launch in the country till the 70's (compare this with when TV started in the US). And when it did launch, broadcast was only available from 5 pm to 11 pm during the day.
With not many program options available, one of the only shows that I remember running in to watch every week was Disney's Wonderful World of Colour. The water show could have been absolute c%$p for all I cared.....the name itself just brings me back to my childhood and strongly connects me with the inner child inside me. For me, that is pretty much the initial allure and the magic of Disney.

But I also happen to love a bunch of lights and water, with a bit of fire thrown in. The geek in me thinks that the effect of this is pretty cool and the Disney tragic in me can watch a whole bunch of Disney trailers and be mesmerized by it all. Heck - I can even watch the kaleidescope that used to play at the start of Disney's World of Colour TV show on the water screen and be happy!

Is it the best thing that Disney has ever produced? Again, this is debatable and everyone will have their own personal opinion. I love fireworks and given the choice would have gone to see fireworks over the castle anyday over any show; no matter how brilliant. In fact, I'm one of those people that have NEVER seen the early show of Fantasmic at DL because, for me, it just doesn't compare with the fireworks.

But I knew before I left Oz that WoC was going to be the ONLY night show available on the one day that I had. And as I mentioned in response to Pete - I just couldn't stand the thought of there being a Disney show out there that I hadn't yet seen....particularly at DLR.

Hope this answers your question....

Wow! World if Colour looks amazing!!!! Thank you for sharing your photos. I think you got fantastic shots!

Hey there! Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my TR. Not long for you now...

How great that the CM's wave you goodbye at the end of the night. What a wonderful touch. Smart idea not to leave with the crowd but wait until everyone has gone, it seems like a good photo opportunity.

It was a very "quirky" touch. And I loved that most of them looked my way....

Awww I love the picture of the CMs waving!!!

Thanks! So do I!

 

[TheColtonsMom]

I'm also a Disney tragic...and the thought of there being a show out there that I hadn't seen - particularly at DLR - well.....good, bad or indifferent, I was going to get there to catch it one way or the other...sooner or later. It just turned out to be a lot sooner than I thought

We will prob see it sooner or later for just that reason I just hope by next trip the hype will have died down some or a lot. If not then we will wait another year after all they did to create it I doubt it will go to the archives any time soon. It just didn't seem to be amazing enough to spend half a day getting FPs then waiting in line for hours (and it would have been hours for the FP and the actual line it was Christmas week)