4 gigs of pics, 3 blisters, 2 pairs of new shoes, 1 bleeding toe = our great trip!

[Mombits]

I just started reading today and read it all! Great TR so far and can't wait to read more. Subbing!

 

[WillowBelle]

I am sorry to hear about Angelina's toe I had a bloody toe situation on my last trip but mine was in the american adventure

I hope it doesn't bother her too much during the rest of the vacation!

It wasn't bad all the time, but I do know there were times when she wished the toe would just fall off -- poor baby!

I just started reading today and read it all! Great TR so far and can't wait to read more. Subbing!

Welcome aboard! Lucky for you, I just finished getting through my next batch of pictures......off to post now!

 

[WillowBelle]

OK, had a moment and was able to muddle through this nights worth of photos. Let's sufice it to say that I was less than impressed with my work .

OK, so dinner is over and we hop on the monorail straight to the MK. When we got off the electric parade was going by. Stopped to watch it at the railing for a few minutes. Gabriella sang along with 'Grand Ol Flag'. It was cute. A few years ago her school chorus sang this song during a Veteran's day presentation.

Anyway. Went and picked up Angelina a stroller. Didn't want to pay for a double, so crammed her in a single. Spectromagic was going on when we arrived, so we hung out under the train station until the parade ended.

Pushed our way through the crowd and stopped at the confection shoppe at the front end of Main St. Pulled out my camera and snapped a few shots of candy:

Some magic in the making:

These guys saw me snapping away and wanted a piece of the action:

The girls got in to building their own sugar sticks:

Got everything paid for and moved out to Main St. Went about 1/2 way down. There were too many of us to fight for a spot much closer to the castle, and I was trying to use my new tripod (successfully) for the first time and wanted space to spread out.

I so wish DH had come along with me on this trip to point out that I was doing it wrong. The tripod he bought for me does a million and one positions. I thought I had to remove an arm of it to get the camera held in a vertical position, but then I couldn't figure out how to raise it up above the crowd. I couldn't raise it because I wasn't doing it right....here is the best of what I did:

Wishes ended and we started towards TL. The girls wanted to ride the Indy cars. They went on the cars and I sat and chilled. As soon as the kids got off of the cars, they headed towards Astro Orbiter, since the line was "only 35 minutes long", I figured that would give me ample snap away time.

Took some pics of the neon around TL:

I like this one because of the streak the blinky necklace made:

Wrapped up TL and decided to do another round on Pirates. Snapped this picture along the way:

Rode Pirates 3x's in a row with zero wait. Then the kids (and me sometimes) rode the magic carpets 5x's in a row with zero wait. Decided it was time to move on and hit the HM for one last go-round.

After the HM, I wanted to take some long exposure photos by the castle.

and my favorite photo to date......

It was funny, while I was dragging my stuff all around, I had several people at different times ask me if I was still doing my PP work and if I would take their pictures :lol:. Then had another great couple stop and chat it up with me about pictures, etc. I snapped a few of them with his camera in front of the mosaic tiles in the walkway to FL.

After I snapped those pics, decided to let the girls go on the teacups again. They rode it 6x's without even having to get off

Finally get everyone off and together. I'm beat - it's 1:30 in the morning now. Work our way to the front of Main St. and back to the confectioners shoppe - had seen 2 coffee cups that I wanted to pick up. Grabbed the coffee cups, found Tinker, returned the stroller and hopped on the monorail to get back to the GF.

Got the van out of vallet and drove home. It was nearing 3:00 when we pulled back in to Pop. Needless to say, at this point both girls are sleeping in the back of the van. I'm such a terrible mommy. Head to bed ourselves after what can only be described as a completely full day!!!

Up tomorrow: MGM and will Angelina go on Star Tours since she's announced already that she won't?

 

[bballbabe]

OMG!! I just love your photo's. I am also enjoying your trip report!

 

[momsavealot]

Great photos!!! Did you use a tripod for the ones of TL? The Wishes ones are great but how did you use a tripod when all those people are in front of you. Sorry for the questions but I too wanted to try a tripod this time and bought a travel one that folds up and I hope I'm not too embarassed to set it up in front of everybody. My hubby thinks I'm nuts with the photos!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Those are great castle shots!! Did you have to do something special to them or they were just the angle / distance you shot them from? Love them!!!

 

[WillowBelle]

OMG!! I just love your photo's. I am also enjoying your trip report!

THANKS so much!!!!

Great photos!!! Did you use a tripod for the ones of TL? The Wishes ones are great but how did you use a tripod when all those people are in front of you. Sorry for the questions but I too wanted to try a tripod this time and bought a travel one that folds up and I hope I'm not too embarassed to set it up in front of everybody. My hubby thinks I'm nuts with the photos!

I used a tripod for all of the nighttime shots. They are all long exposure pictures - some up to 20 second exposures (to make the people disappear). For Wishes, I just set up smack dab in the center of Main St and held on to the camera REAL tight, in case someone would bump in to me. Last year we were in the hub with the tripod set up and this is what I got:

People look at you like you're nuts, I just know that my end results will be fantastic. My tripod is a full size, 8lb. monster. Your hubby will only think you're nuts with the photos until he sees the fantastic pictures you get to bring home preserving your memories.

 

[topdog]

Ahh...My most favorite Disney restaurant, Ohana. Their BBQ shrimp is the best. I just can't get enough of them.

Sorry to hear about Angelina's toe. At least it doesn't need stitches.

I like the night shots. These two are my favorite.

I don't know how you do it. I am an early riser. There is no way I can stay up until 2am in MK. Well, if I am at Disney, I guess I will make an effort to stay up that late. However, I do like to ride HM at night. It does have a very creepy effect.

I am really impress how great some of the long exposure shots came out. Very little noise. It almost convince me to switch my gears to Canon...NOT.

Thanks to you, now I have a new challenge. Take a panorama night shot in front of the castle.

 

[ellajeansmom]

Wow!! Some more stunning shots! I never realized that the carousel is centered with the walkway through the castle - I guess we never went through in that direction, we only came through from Fantasyland.

 

[heaven2dc]

Oh My Gosh!! Those pics are fabulous!! Could I please borrow your fav of Cinderella fountain for my desktop background?

I showed these to people at work and I agree with you - you need to become a PP!

What a wonderful time you and the girls are having - you will always cherish these memories

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Amazing nighttime shots at MK. I really need to start practicing getting long exposures. I got some great shots of Wishes and HalloWishes last year just using a tripod but I'd love to time the exposures. Do you use a remote?

 

[tinkgurl]

Aw....I miss the MK! A month ago today we were just arriving.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

OK - so get to AO...by now Gabriella is skipping and doing a little jig. Basically no line. The first time we rode this was last summer. Gabriella has always had to ride alone because Angelina is terrified of going all the way up. We made a compromise and all 3 squeezed in:

and rode it together so we could take the rocket all the way up so that Angelina wouldn't be afraid to ride it alone and I could ride with G for the first time. When I say we squeezed in, BOTH girls had to help me get out because I was so crammed in with camera bag and carry along bags, etc.

Loving your report and the pictures are awesome.

Last year we took my mother in law with us and we did AO. My husband got in with my son and I had intended on riding alone. My MIL stood around so long she HAD to get in with me. I was in the front and told her to get in the back. Well......she plopped down behind me and crammed me in tighter than a sardine. It was quite the show getting us out. My husband had to come over and of course laughing hysterically doesn't help. It was pretty embarrassing.

 

[sarahcor]

Loving your report, your pictures make me feel like I'm there.

 

[mansionterror]

AWESOME night photos. I love every single one of them, I don't think I can pick a favorite.

I also am quite fond of the picture of the twisty lollipops in the candy store.

 

[Mombits]

I actually really like all the pics, but the one of Fairy Treasures where you can see the vacuum and the broom but the person looks like a ghost is awesome. It is almost like "Look, magic! That's how we clean around here!" The ghosts just come in and take care of it. That pic that you took last year is fantastic. You could put out a Disney photo book with all the great shots you have!

 

[WillowBelle]

Those are great castle shots!! Did you have to do something special to them or they were just the angle / distance you shot them from? Love them!!!

They are VERY long exposure shots. There were lots and lots (for the hour of night) people walking by. Those photos wouldn't have been possible without the long exposure.

Sorry to hear about Angelina's toe. At least it doesn't need stitches.

I don't know how you do it. I am an early riser. There is no way I can stay up until 2am in MK. Well, if I am at Disney, I guess I will make an effort to stay up that late. However, I do like to ride HM at night. It does have a very creepy effect.

I am really impress how great some of the long exposure shots came out. Very little noise. It almost convince me to switch my gears to Canon...NOT.

Thanks to you, now I have a new challenge. Take a panorama night shot in front of the castle.

I really thought it was going to need stitches. There was so much blood! I am NOT an early riser, except at Disney. Dh can't understand how it is that I can be up and showered by 7:00 and am dragging here at the house.

Almost had a Canon convert, huh? My best friend is a Nikon girl. I wish she'd change so we could share gear.

I took a panorama last year from the train station looking down Main. St. I took it during the day. The only issue I had was the flag pole. Apparently it's only down certain times of the days around Christmas? I didn't take a night time one though, I would think that dusk would come out better than a black sky.

Wow!! Some more stunning shots! I never realized that the carousel is centered with the walkway through the castle - I guess we never went through in that direction, we only came through from Fantasyland.

Could be also that there are so many people coming through you just can't see the end of the walkway .

Oh My Gosh!! Those pics are fabulous!! Could I please borrow your fav of Cinderella fountain for my desktop background?

I showed these to people at work and I agree with you - you need to become a PP!

Sure you can use the photo. I feel like a celebrity now . Glad you liked it. So far, that is my favorite photo that I've taken on this trip.

Amazing nighttime shots at MK. I really need to start practicing getting long exposures. I got some great shots of Wishes and HalloWishes last year just using a tripod but I'd love to time the exposures. Do you use a remote?

I use a shutter release. It's a wired one, but will hopefully be upgrading to a wireless one before next year!

Aw....I miss the MK! A month ago today we were just arriving.

I know! Seems like time putts along in preparation and then it's gone in the blink of an eye once you come home.

Loving your report and the pictures are awesome.

Last year we took my mother in law with us and we did AO. My husband got in with my son and I had intended on riding alone. My MIL stood around so long she HAD to get in with me. I was in the front and told her to get in the back. Well......she plopped down behind me and crammed me in tighter than a sardine. It was quite the show getting us out. My husband had to come over and of course laughing hysterically doesn't help. It was pretty embarrassing.

That's a funny story! We were pretty packed into the rocket also. My legs were killing me from the pressure of all 3 of us zooming around.

Loving your report, your pictures make me feel like I'm there.

Thanks so much for reliving it with me!!!!!

AWESOME night photos. I love every single one of them, I don't think I can pick a favorite.

I also am quite fond of the picture of the twisty lollipops in the candy store.

I had a really good time snapping pics of all of the candy. There comes a point where you don't really care if people are looking at you like you're nuts for taking pictures of m&m's or not .

I actually really like all the pics, but the one of Fairy Treasures where you can see the vacuum and the broom but the person looks like a ghost is awesome. It is almost like "Look, magic! That's how we clean around here!" The ghosts just come in and take care of it. That pic that you took last year is fantastic. You could put out a Disney photo book with all the great shots you have!

I waited soooooo long for that CM to leave and she never would. *GRUMBLE* so finally I just decided TAKE THE SHOT AND GET IT OVER WITH!!!

 

[WillowBelle]

Previously on the wild and crazy trip we were rolling in to bed around 3:30(ish) from spending a great EMH night at the MK.

I was still startled when Stitch called to wake me at 10:30. I got up showered and then got the girls up. We grabbed some pop tarts, bottled water and headed to the bus. This was our first bus ride and both girls were excited. Angelina not as excited as G because she was missing her beloved tram ride.

Made it to DHS around 11:00, 11:30. Weren't sure where to start first. Decided that it would be the camera shop because I was trying to find the Mickey lens cloth like JM bought. They didn't have it.

Had a PP photographer take our picture:

And then left towards ST. This is G's favorite ride at DHS. Angelina wasn't so sure about getting back on it again. In 2006 she was still small and REALLY didn't like it. This is the one main drawback about being the only adult in the group, it's all or none on the rides. If one of the girls decides she doesn't want to ride, none of us can go.

The line for ST was 30 minutes, the FP return was in 40. That was a complete no-brainer, we grabbed a FP and headed towards:

Thankfully we were:

And went right in.

Then took some of the props:

Went in to watch the show and listened as these guys piped up every once in a while:

I know this show is outdated and needs to be refurbished. I still like to watch the reactions of people that you can just TELL have never seen it before.

Once the show was over, we still had a bit of time so took a quick potty break. Came out and the girls wanted to spend $6 each for a temporary tatoo. I decided it was worth it because (even though it is going to be gone in a few days) it was better than a stuffed animal that they could buy to just let lay around their bedroom floor.

Angelina wanted hers on her face. She did not win this discussion.

NOW it was time for Star Tours:

BOTH girls were in hog heaven with the ride, so we grabbed another FP on our way out. I really, really, really wanted to go to VotLM and try out my low lighting photography there so, took Angelina kicking and screaming (really she was whining because it "wasn't a ride") and G and got in line. The next show was in 40 minutes, so we opted to just stand in line. While we were - the heavens opened up and the rains begain!!!! Thankfully we were in the covered area so were ok.

Doors opened and we started moving.....closer.....closer.....wait, what there are 5 people in front of us and we can't fit into the theater! I was irritated to say the least - the girls were hungry/thirsty and I'd listened all about it for 40 minutes only to need to wait ANOTHER 45 minutes for the next show? I don't think so - went and got a milkshake and headed towards Indiana Jones. At least the rains had stopped (for a bit)!

Unfortunatelly due to the rain, they didn't do the airplane sequence so the show was shortened a bit. This was the first time Angelina was seeing this show - she was sad she missed that part but agreed that it was something to look forward to "next time".

By now it was time to go to dinner at HW&V. So we went and put our name down. There was quite a line at the check-in podium. Gal said it would be about 25 minutes and handed me my buzzer. About 4 minutes later it went off. Wandered up and she was like ???, double checked that it was indeed time for us to be seated.

Had a great table not too, too far from the buffet line. TBH with you I can't remember what we ate here. I remember some sort of caeser salad, french bread with butter, spicy taco pasta salad, some sort of spicy chicken concoction....I didn't take a picture of the food. I do remember that it was all good.

Re-took pictures from 2006:

Before:

After:

Wrapped up that meal and headed back towards ST. Angelina got a pressed penny along the way while Gabriella was getting pins. There were no pictures this go-round.

Got off ST and started working our way across the park.......

One guess where we went next .

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Look how grown up your DDs got!!! That's amazing!

Think you've convinced me to rent that fisheye!!!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Great update! I would've slept in, too!! The pix of the girls in the napkin holder are such a cute idea!! Love it as always! Keep 'em coming!