6057 pictures, 11 videos, and more - with videos and more DONE

[rteetz]

I have a lot of catching up to do! I just got back from Disney today.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Great trip report! The pictures are amazing and what I hope to be able to do with my Nikon D5000. I've had my camera for about 5 years now and I've taken about 7000 pictures at WDW. I've ruined sooooo many of them as I have no idea what I'm doing. Night pictures? Forget it... I knew that the pictures of this TR were going to be great the minute I saw your pictures of the resort at night....just stunning....and the Great Movie Ride....awesome. I don't have one good picture of the GMR and I put my camera on sports/action mode. I get so angry!!!! Any advice? Sorry to take this from a great TR to camera/picture advice.... Thanks!

I love talking cameras! No worries there! Anyone else can skip over those comments. LOL Do you just have the kit lens or do you have other lenses? I learned a lot from the book Understanding Exposure, but really, you can found out as much as you can asking me or looking things up on line. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nikon-d5000-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html is somewhere to start. I leave mine on A (AV on my camera) quite a bit and I can adjust the opening, but then the camera sets up the shutter speed for you. You can change the ISO yourself or leave it on auto ISO. The smaller the number when you are on the aperture priority (A) setting) means the more open the lens in, but it also makes the background blurrier. That's enough for now, but please, ask me anything you want and I'll do what I can to help!

I have a lot of catching up to do! I just got back from Disney today.

Welcome home! How was it?

 

[rteetz]

Welcome home! How was it?

It was fantastic! I'll be starting my own TR very soon.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

After singing along with the Country Bears, we were of to one of our FP+ for the evening.

from raw-5982 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

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Blanche decided that she didn't feel like riding, and the stairs were tough anyways, so I went alone.

from raw-5984 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

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Then I saw this:

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Seriously? It looked so long! It didn't take long though. Either people just didn't know that it wasn't their time, or they were just quick at scanning MBs.

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I took tons and tons of pictures of course!

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Where is that bluebird?

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I tried to get some different shots that I hadn't gotten other times. I don't remember ever taking these guys. They make me think of Moncheechees.

from raw-6020 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

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And I did my Splash face...

MK_SPLASH_7459787950 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

No, I'm not scared. I just like to pretend. I usually pretend to be terrified, or to be sick. LOL

 

[DisneyFreak06]

We were ready for a snack. I love MK snacks. Especially the Citrus Swirl. I'm not a Dole Whip fan. At all. I tried to like it, I really did! In fact, I got a regular one and then a float on the same trip to try to like it. I just couldn't do it. In 2014 Blanche got a Dole Whip and liked it, and tried my Citrus Swirl. In my memory, she told me that she really liked the Citrus Swirl better. But she still got the Dole Whip. Oh well, doesn't bother me at all! She can like what she likes. LOL

I understand whey they switched the Aloha Isle and the Sunshine Tree Terrace, but it still messed with my head. Everything was not where it should be!

from raw-6045 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

Oh my gosh I love this stuff!

from raw-6046 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

By the time Blanche and I met up again, she had already been enjoying her Dole Whip.

from raw-6047 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

Again we said that we wished Pirates was open for us.

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We decided to do something that was closed the last time we'd gone together, The Jungle Cruise. How do I know it was closed? Because I'm behind in my photo books and I'm currently working on that trip! Hahaha It was open in 2014 when I went with my sister and the rest of the Royal Family (toilet trip report) so I did ride it then. Blanche wasn't on that trip, so she hadn't.

from raw-6050 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

The wait time was listed as 35 minutes, but MOST of the time the wait is a little less than the wait time listed, so we figured it was worth a shot as we waited for our next FP+.

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I try to take the menu each trip, it makes me laugh.

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Need a job? Maybe I can send one or two of my brothers....

from raw-6058 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

It was a little hard to take pictures, as it was getting dark. My camera is good, but it struggles with focussing sometimes when it is darker.

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I didn't take as many pictures as I would in the day time, but it's fun to do JC at night too, it totally changes the feel of the ride.

 

[rteetz]

I like both the Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl but prefer the Dole Whip.

I have never done Jungle Cruise at night. I think I need to change that!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I like both the Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl but prefer the Dole Whip.

I have never done Jungle Cruise at night. I think I need to change that!

That's what so great about the snack options.... there's bound to be something for everyone! Yes, you do need to do the JC at night! It totally changes the ride. I rode it once near 1 am, it was a little creepy. But not as creepy as riding POTC near 2 am alone. In my own boat. All alone. I didn't see anyone in the queue until I saw the CMs at loading, then I could not see a single person in any boat ahead or behind me either. It was really creepy! I was scared they were going to forget I was there and shut everything down!

 

[jsrj21]

I love talking cameras! No worries there! Anyone else can skip over those comments. LOL Do you just have the kit lens or do you have other lenses? I learned a lot from the book Understanding Exposure, but really, you can found out as much as you can asking me or looking things up on line. http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/nikon-d5000-for-dummies-cheat-sheet.html is somewhere to start. I leave mine on A (AV on my camera) quite a bit and I can adjust the opening, but then the camera sets up the shutter speed for you. You can change the ISO yourself or leave it on auto ISO. The smaller the number when you are on the aperture priority (A) setting) means the more open the lens in, but it also makes the background blurrier. That's enough for now, but please, ask me anything you want and I'll do what I can to help!

Thanks so much for the reply!!! Yes, I have the kit [18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses]. It's a sweet camera and I have lots of decent photos but I know they can be better. I have great WDW pictures during the daytime - nothing good AT ALL during dusk or evening...which again, is very frustrating since WDW glows beautifully at night. Did you use a tripod for any of your night shots? I am going to peruse the link you attached and I will look for that book as well. Thanks again!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Thanks so much for the reply!!! Yes, I have the kit [18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses]. It's a sweet camera and I have lots of decent photos but I know they can be better. I have great WDW pictures during the daytime - nothing good AT ALL during dusk or evening...which again, is very frustrating since WDW glows beautifully at night. Did you use a tripod for any of your night shots? I am going to peruse the link you attached and I will look for that book as well. Thanks again!

The problem is that with those lenses, the lens can't open wide enough for you to take good night shots without a tripod. Think of a bucket and a tap. You can fill the bucket with a drip but it will take much longer. If your lens (tap) can open wider the light (water) comes in faster. I have a tripod, but I tend to not bother taking it with me. I took it once into MK, and that was in 2007 when I was still learning how to use my FILM SLR. LOL I have taken it since, but never really used it and I am too lazy to take it into the parks. So I use high ISO and my fast/wide lenses. Take your camera out, put it on A setting and play with the numbers while taking a picture each time. You'll see that the smaller the number (The numbers will likely be something like 3.5 or 8 or 22 etc) the blurrier your background is, but the faster the shutter speed. Your lenses can't open as wide as mine that I use for night/dark shots. I use my lenses that can open to 1.4 or 2.8.

Here's a link to someone that explains it better than I do!

https://photographylife.com/what-is-aperture-in-photography

 

[disneyAndi14]

Great pictures of the Country Bears, Splash, and JC. I like the dole whip when it is swirled with the vanilla, we were able to have that at the Poly. I have never tried the citrus swirl, is it orange with vanilla? We love the JC at night. POC was closed when we were there in September missed it.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Great pictures of the Country Bears, Splash, and JC. I like the dole whip when it is swirled with the vanilla, we were able to have that at the Poly. I have never tried the citrus swirl, is it orange with vanilla? We love the JC at night. POC was closed when we were there in September missed it.

Thanks. I haven't tried the swirl Dole whip, I might need to try that one! Citrus Swirl is orange juice with vanilla ice cream. Soooo good. I hated that POTC was closed! I love that one!! I'll likely be back in 2017, and it will be open then! Hahaha

 

[jsrj21]

The problem is that with those lenses, the lens can't open wide enough for you to take good night shots without a tripod. Think of a bucket and a tap. You can fill the bucket with a drip but it will take much longer. If your lens (tap) can open wider the light (water) comes in faster. I have a tripod, but I tend to not bother taking it with me. I took it once into MK, and that was in 2007 when I was still learning how to use my FILM SLR. LOL I have taken it since, but never really used it and I am too lazy to take it into the parks. So I use high ISO and my fast/wide lenses. Take your camera out, put it on A setting and play with the numbers while taking a picture each time. You'll see that the smaller the number (The numbers will likely be something like 3.5 or 8 or 22 etc) the blurrier your background is, but the faster the shutter speed. Your lenses can't open as wide as mine that I use for night/dark shots. I use my lenses that can open to 1.4 or 2.8.

I see..... Sooooo, what lens [specs] do you recommend I get to accomplish the results I'm looking for? I would totally buy one. The last thing that I want to do is haul a tripod or mono-pod to the parks....I go in August and it's hot enough carrying just the camera around! Ordered the book by the way....thanks so much again.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I see..... Sooooo, what lens [specs] do you recommend I get to accomplish the results I'm looking for? I would totally buy one. The last thing that I want to do is haul a tripod or mono-pod to the parks....I go in August and it's hot enough carrying just the camera around! Ordered the book by the way....thanks so much again.

My first faster lens to use was the nifty 50. It's a 50mm lens, so no zoom, but it can open wide to 1.8. It's a lot cheaper than many other lenses and it's a great first start. Nikon makes one as well. I used it quite often to take dark ride shots and night shots. You just need to be sure to focus where you want to.

Here are a few I took with an old camera and the nifty 50.

2009:

IMG_7769 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

IMG_7812 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

IMG_7854 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

These ones I'm not too sure because they're on photobucket and I don't use it anymore! I'm thinking 2010 because I switched to flickr for my 2012 DL trip report.

Anyways, now I'm getting carried away. My point is that if you can learn to use your camera you will be able to get some hand held shots in the dark with this lens.

I just checked amazon.com (assuming you are in the USA?) and found the lens for $131.95 http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-NIKKOR-...TF8&qid=1452806833&sr=1-3&keywords=nikon+lens

There is another similar lens that is more expensive, but this one should be fine.

Good luck.

 

[jsrj21]

Anyways, now I'm getting carried away. My point is that if you can learn to use your camera you will be able to get some hand held shots in the dark with this lens.

I just checked amazon.com (assuming you are in the USA?) and found the lens for $131.95 http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-NIKKOR-...TF8&qid=1452806833&sr=1-3&keywords=nikon+lens

There is another similar lens that is more expensive, but this one should be fine.

Good luck.

Awesome! The pictures look great! I would never be able to do that with my current set-up. Yes, I am in Connecticut [USA]. That's not a bad price for a new lens....some can be very pricey. I am so happy and shocked quite frankly, that for night/dark shots, this smaller lens [and not too expensive] could do the trick!

I was playing around with my camera outside last night and the pictures were better, but still too dark [underexposed]. I had a tripod too...and boy was it freezing out. All in the name of a good night shot!

If I wanted to step it up another notch, what other option [lens] would you recommend? ....and thanks so much for your help....so nice of you.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

This lens : http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/lens/zoom/normalzoom/af-s_dx_zoom17-55mmf_28g_if/index.htm seems to be similar to what I use quite often. The f stop is the aperture or how wide the camera can open. I love my lens, but it's not quite as good in the dark as the other ones, although it might be a better lens in all. I don't shoot Nikon, so I'm not as familiar with their lens line up. Another option is to buy something made by Sigma or another name that makes various lenses. (Tokina I think is another one). I use a sigma 30 mm 1.4 now. That's what I would have used on this trip in all the dark rides. And then I have a Sigma wide angle lens too. It's not good in the dark, but it is fun to get really wide (zoomed all the way out) shots.

This is the wide angle lens equivalent and this is the 30 mm (really good in the dark) one. The good thing with the 30mm is that it is wider than the 50 mm on a crop camera especially.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I know Blanche rode the Jungle Cruise with me (mainly because I remember being really worried as she climbed in and out) and I know she left early before our final FP+. I just can't remember if she rode the Little Mermaid with me or not.

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I don't think she did, because I seem to remember her leaving me right around here.

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I love this area at night, but I can't do it justice!

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It looks like it was a little crowded...

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I went inside to browse the shop some.

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It's the Beauty and the Beast story in French!

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See why I decided to ride along with the Little Mermaid?

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[DisneyFreak06]

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Ariel looks a little tired.

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Blanche must have left before Under the Sea, because I only had about 2 minutes to wait until it was time for my FP+.

 

[rteetz]

I love exploring any park at night it just is a different atmosphere than during the day.

You really got some great photos of the little mermaid!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I love exploring any park at night it just is a different atmosphere than during the day.

You really got some great photos of the little mermaid!

I totally agree. It's so beautiful to walk around in the dark. Maybe one day I'll get there around December some time and I'll have more night time to explore! Hahaha. Less heat though, that's not so good.

Thanks, it's a fun ride to shoot.

 

[DisneyFreak06]

I didn't have long to wait for my FP+ opening, so I snapped a few pictures in the area while waiting.

from raw-6249 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

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This is my entrance:

from raw-6254 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

Not this one:

from raw-6257 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

Sorry, new ride or not, I'm not waiting 2+ hours. I have waited 90 minutes and I didn't enjoy it. That was for Soarin' with my nephew. He really, really wanted to ride, so fine, we did. And in 2014 we waited about 70 minutes for Test Track, but the ride kept going down. The posted wait time was 40 minutes when we entered the line.

from raw-6259 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

I didn't take many pictures, but I did keep a few.

from raw-6260 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

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Well, okay, maybe I took more than I remembered! Hahaha

On the way out, I stopped to get this shot.

from raw-6279 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

I'd decided I was ready to head out myself at this point.

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I snapped a parade shot as I walked, as I'm not allowed to stop on the walkway!

from raw-6286 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr


I don't think I waited too long for a bus, because before long, I was looking at this:

from raw-6291 by disneyfreak0306, on Flickr

I think I missed keeping track of my 'firsts' on the second day, so I guess I'll have to update that now.

Copied from the first day:

1. Blanche stayed at AoA for the first time, which meant it was my first time staying at AoA with someone else! LOL
2. Blanche ate at Landscape of Flavors. (which meant I ate... LOL)
3. 1st time staying in the 70s section at Pop Century (Okay, maybe I'm kind of stretching things)
4. Columbia Harbour House
5. Talking Mickey Mouse Meet
6. Strawberry Lemonade from Prince Eric's Market

2nd day:
7. 1st breakfast at Be Our Guest
8. 1st time having BK and lunch at BOG on the same day
9. 1st Olaf cupcake (haha)

3rd day:
Can't seem to stretch anything, unless I go with first veggie pizza at Pizzafari, but that's a little too far, even for me!