Boo to You...and Food & Wine Too! - October 26 to November 2, 2012 Updated Post #282

[mvf-m11c]

Day 5 – October 30, 2012 – Part 12​

We left off riding “Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid” ride at the New Fantasyland Enchanted Forest. We were really lucky to be able to ride the Little Mermaid ride at the New FL before it was open to the public in December. The ride experience of the MK version is the same as the Disney California Adventure. The only difference between the two version is outside of the building where the MK is based on Prince Eric Castle and the Ariel’s Grotto when you walking through the queue to enter the ride. The first part of the ride was the same as DCA and I expected it to be the same when we go to other scenes of the ride. Everyone in my group except my DB have ridden the DCA version. Enough of that and let’s get back to the ride.

We were in the clam mobiles riding the Little Mermaid ride and the first part of the ride is exactly the same as the DCA version. I try not to be all that bored on the ride since I was excited to ride it at the MK before it was open in December. But I was glad that my family was able to go on the ride and experience it.

We just passed Ariel’s Grotto scene and now in the next scene which was the underwater passage where Sebastian tells Ariel about the wonders of being under the sea.

Sebastian

Ariel just looks the same as the DCA version which she doesn’t have the spiral hair.

We are now entering dark canyon which leads to Ursula’s lair which is the same as DCA.

Flotsam and Jetsam were at the top of entering Ursula’s lair

Ursula

Ariel with a swirling vortex around her, revealing her new legs

Now entering the lagoon where we see Ariel and Eric floating in a boat. Sebastian sings “Kiss the Girl” as Flounder and other fishes encircle the boat.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid ride.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Hmmm......Those pictures seem very familiar to me.


Nice capture of Ursula!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Bret - Not that I'm trying to talk you out of spending money on a lens....but if the primary use is for fireworks, then try that kit lens a few more times. It is something that you do get better at over time. And rather than rushing out to spend money straight away, figure out if you can get pictures that you're happy with using that lens.

I would also check the focal length of the other pictures that you take and like. If you tend to stick within the 18 - 55 range, and if you really want to spend money, then you may be better looking at replacing the 18 - 55 kit with something better. Do you have any other lenses?

With your basketball, do you shoot there?

I understand and I'm not trying to rush to buy a lens quickly. I just want to hear opinions about different lens that I might get in the future. If I do get a wider lens, it is for fireworks but primary for taking pictures of the park during the daytime like taking pictures of the buildings, flowers, vehicles, etc. at the parks. As you have seen through my pictures that I do take a lot of pictures of different things when I am walking at the parks. I have used the 18-55mm lens for taking regular pictures with the 35mm, but I want to have better quality pictures with a lens that is set at 10mm, 12mm, etc. My primary lens is the 35mm lens when I am walking through the park and will use the 18-55mm lens for wider pictures and the 55-200mm lens for longer shots. Both kit lens are nice, but they don't provide better quality like the 35mm lens. When I watch RDCT in January, I will use the 18-55mm lens with the ND lens and compare those pictures with my previous pictures of Believe fireworks.

I bought a MacBook Pro a couple of days ago a few days ago for $1000 and Christmas presents for the rest of my family and friends. So it might be awhile until I get a new lens for my DSLR.

I don't shoot pictures at basketball since I am a basketball coach and I want to concentrate with my basketball team. The only times I use my DSLR is for family functions and trips.

 

[tksbaskets]

Nice pictures inside TLM ride. It does look almost exactly like the DCA experience. I'm looking forward to seeing Eric's castle. Hopefully the wait won't be too long.

Looking forward to more of your day at MK.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Nice pictures inside TLM ride. It does look almost exactly like the DCA experience. I'm looking forward to seeing Eric's castle. Hopefully the wait won't be too long.

Looking forward to more of your day at MK.

Thank you TK. After experience the MK version, it was clear that it was the same as the DCA version. I looked very closely to see if there was anything different between the two version but I didn't see any. There are people that do take it seriously notice something different than what I have seen.

I am getting excited for you and your family since you are only a couple of days away till your trip to WDW during the Holiday season. Have a great time seeing the New Fantasyland and seeing Eric's castle along with Belle's Village.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 5 – October 30, 2012 – Part 13​

We left off riding “Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid” ride at the New Fantasyland Enchanted Forest. We were really lucky to be able to ride the Little Mermaid ride at the New FL before it was open to the public in December. The ride experience of the MK version is the same as the Disney California Adventure. The only difference between the two version is outside of the building where the MK is based on Prince Eric Castle and the Ariel’s Grotto when you walking through the queue to enter the ride. The first part of the ride was the same as DCA and I expected it to be the same when we go to other scenes of the ride. Everyone in my group except my DB had ridden the DCA version. We are almost at the end of the ride and let’s get back to it.

Now we are above the sea level and now are seeing the characters from the Little Mermiad.

We just passed lagoon scene and now entering the final area of the ride.

The gigantic Ursula in the background was something that the DCA version didn’t have which her body and tentacles move left and right a little bit while the DCA doesn’t move one bit.

The kissing scene of Ariel and Eric

The finale of the ride which all the sea creatures along with King Triton

Ariel and Eric

Can’t forget about Scuttle

We exited the ride and now are exiting.

While we were outside right by the Little Mermaid ride, we looked at the exterior of the ride and I want to see what it looks like closely.

A look down towards Belle’s Village and the castle of the Beast

Right as we were walking on down right by the Little Mermaid ride, there was a ship wreck that had a wood-carving statue of Ariel on the bow.

There was a Disney’s Fastpass Return clock right on the other side of the shipwreck. At first, I was surprised to see that this ride had a FP system while the one in DCA doesn’t have one. But with the MK and all and it gets more visitors than DCA, it does make sense to have a FP system for this ride. Maybe in the first couple of years that it will need it but I don’t think that this will need it.

The wood carving of Ariel on the ship wreck

Right by the ship wreck is a plaque of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

Another look at Eric’s castle

We left the Little Mermaid ride and we are now back at Belle’s Village looking at the village closely. There is a restaurant that serve snacks and drink which is Gaston’s Tavern. Bonjour! Village Gifts shops that sell items inspired by Beauty and the Beast. But some of us had to use the restrooms so I took a few pictures while we were in the area.

That is a very nice statue of Gaston and Lefou

A few more pictures of the village while I was waiting for my party

That’s it for this post and I had a lot to talk about Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. One is that the same ride experience is exactly the same as the DCA version at the DLR. The only difference between the two is just a few minor improvements over the DCA version. I was excited to go on this ride during the preview in which I wasn’t on planning to see that day. I wasn’t too surprised about the ride since I knew that it was going to be the same. The only thing that I was so impressed with the ride is the queue and the exterior of the ride which is way better theme than DCA. I have mixed reviews of this ride since most of my group have experienced this ride and some like it while some don’t.

I will have more from the New Fantasyland and around Enchanted Forest.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 5 – October 30, 2012 – Part 14​

We left off finishing riding “Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid” ride at the New Fantasyland Enchanted Forest. After getting off the ride we are now at Belle’s Village while some of us are using the restroom while I was walking around the new village and getting pictures of the area. The New FL village is very well detailed and once again that we were really lucky to be able to go to this new land.

While we were in the New FL to use the restroom, I went around the village to look at all the new details of the buildings, the quick counter restaurant which is Gaston’s Tavern & Bonjour! Village Gifts. The whole area is well decorated just like in the movie.

After we all had met up at the center of Gaston statue, we started to go on over to our next destination which was to leave the New FL and head on back over to the old FL. I wanted to spend a little bit more time at the New FL but I had other groups with me that wanted to do other things that day instead of just staying in this land. I would have spent most of my time at the New FL and getting pictures every little inch but I had to do what is best for my group during our trip and we were lucky to be able to go inside the New FL and eat at the restaurant and ride the Little Mermaid ride.

Just about to leave the New FL while there were some people right by the block-off area to enter the New FL.

Construction on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train that is opening in 2014.

While we were leaving, I thought about going to Enchanted Tales with Belle house for the interactive character meet-and-greet area. I have heard about the interaction with the characters from the movie which is really neat that you are able to interact with Belle and Lumiere.

We are now leaving the New FL and entering at the Old FL. I was trying to look for the CM that let us eat at Be our Guest restaurant. But he wasn’t out there and I would have said thank you to him again for letting us go in that day.

Now we are back at the old FL and it was quite busy that day at the rides than the walkways where it was walkable. Originally we are supposed to go to PhilarMagic, but since we went to the New FL our plans have changed and we are not going to see PhilarMagic.

It was a little busy around Peter Pan and It’s a Small World.

I thought about taking them on PP since it is a classic ride and one of the most popular rides at the MK, but the wait time was over 30 minutes which is not surprising to me. We could have used the GAC for that ride but I don’t want to use it to cut in lines and be known for that. So we skipped that ride and head on over to the next ride which is right across from it which is IASW. IASW at the MK is very nice but it can’t beat the original one at DL where it is decorated for the Holiday season.

So we head on over to IASW and the wait time was 10 minutes which was not that long. We went through the handicapped line instead of the regular line since I thought that it would be a lot faster to go on the ride than the regular line. I was completely wrong and we waited 10 more minutes longer to get on the ride than by going through the handicapped line. I mostly don’t get that wrong but this time it was wrong to go through the handicapped line. But we all did talk while waiting to get on IASW about the New FL which was a treat.

While we were waiting, I had to get a picture of the smiling face just like the one at DL where it doesn’t get old but on a smaller scale from the DL version.

Once we boarded our boat, now we are on our way to see IASW. The boats at the MK are very similar to the DL version. Both versions are completely different and some people say that they are the same. Some of the AA are the same just like at DL where there will be some that aren’t at DL which I always like to see something different than the same thing at DL IASW.

I used my camera instead of videotaping the ride since I was experimenting with my 35mm Nikkor lens for the dark rides. Even though IASW is not a dark ride like the Little Mermaid or Pirates of the Caribbean, it was good practice to use that setting. Pictures from IASW with the Nikkor 35mm lens during the ride.

Welcome to the happiest cruise that ever sailed

That’s it for this post and I will have more from IASW from the MK.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice updates Bret. I think I do remember seeing your previous post on LM but it was close to Christmas and I was just doing drive-by's.

Nice shots in IaSW. Look forward to seeing more.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Nice updates Bret. I think I do remember seeing your previous post on LM but it was close to Christmas and I was just doing drive-by's.

Nice shots in IaSW. Look forward to seeing more.

Thank you PiO. My group had fun riding IASW even though we waited a little longer then I have expected.

The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 5 – October 30, 2012 – Part 15​

We left off just riding It’s a Small World at the MK. We got to go to the New FL at the MK and now we are now on IASW. This ride is completely different from the DL version but it is a fun cruise to go on when you are at the MK. All of us are on the ride after a long wait to get on the ride. Now let’s get back with more from IASW.

We were on IASW going on a cruise to see all the different AA children from all around the world. I was using my DSLR since I wanted to work on my picture taking with my DSLR. Some of the pictures during the ride were good while some of them turned out bad which is not surprising to me since I was still experimenting on dark ride pictures.

Most of my group except for my DB haven’t seen IASW since they were at DL in a very long time. So they were all amazed to see one of the most popular rides of all time at the Disney parks.

I always like to see the Laughing Hyenas at DL & MK versions

Now in Mexico area

I will have more from IASW on the next post.

 

[PrincessInOz]

You got some lovely shots in IaSW.

Thanks for sharing and I'm looking forward to more.

 

[franandaj]

Wow! I finally got all caught up! You have soooo many pictures on each page (not to mention each post), that the only way I can view your TRs is when I have some time on my hands to sit down at my computer and take the time to download the pics! If I try to look on my phone, the connection times out before most of the pictures download. Hopefully this weekend we will get new phones with a new carrier and all that will be solved!

That said, you got in quite a bit in the couple days I read about! I haven't been to the Space Center in almost five years, but it was really neat when we went. It looks like the second stop where they let you off on the tour is about the same, but I guess the main area is doing a lot of refurbishment. I got to ride the launch simulator when I was there, but I guess they are updating it. Such cool pictures you got.

I'm really glad you got to preview Be Our Guest and the LM ride. At the Blue Sky Cellar, they did say that WDW's version was going to be basically the same as ours, but the queue looks really nice. I'm looking forward to eating there for lunch in February, the Onion Soup and the Potato Leek Soup both looked very good. I am looking forward to trying the Croque Monsieur that they serve. The dining rooms look fabulous!

Thanks for sharing!

 

[mvf-m11c]

You got some lovely shots in IaSW.

Thanks for sharing and I'm looking forward to more.

Thank you PiO.

Wow! I finally got all caught up! You have soooo many pictures on each page (not to mention each post), that the only way I can view your TRs is when I have some time on my hands to sit down at my computer and take the time to download the pics! If I try to look on my phone, the connection times out before most of the pictures download. Hopefully this weekend we will get new phones with a new carrier and all that will be solved!

That said, you got in quite a bit in the couple days I read about! I haven't been to the Space Center in almost five years, but it was really neat when we went. It looks like the second stop where they let you off on the tour is about the same, but I guess the main area is doing a lot of refurbishment. I got to ride the launch simulator when I was there, but I guess they are updating it. Such cool pictures you got.

I'm really glad you got to preview Be Our Guest and the LM ride. At the Blue Sky Cellar, they did say that WDW's version was going to be basically the same as ours, but the queue looks really nice. I'm looking forward to eating there for lunch in February, the Onion Soup and the Potato Leek Soup both looked very good. I am looking forward to trying the Croque Monsieur that they serve. The dining rooms look fabulous!

Thanks for sharing!

Nice to see you still here Alison. There are a lot of updates on each page and I am barely half way done with the trip report. I still have the DL trip report to complete and I have a trip coming up next month. So there is so much to do. That is nice to hear that you wil be getting new phones. What phones are you and Fran going to get?

The Kennedy Space Center is a great place to go. I can't believe I haven't been to it in years while other members of my party went there. The Apollo/Saturn V building is part of the tour which is still the same after all these years. It was neat to see the construction at the KSC for the Atlantis Shuttle which will be in display next summer.

Thank you. I was completely shock that the CM let us go into the New FL and eat at Be Our Guest restaurant and ride the Little Mermaid ride. The queue at the MK is way better than the DCA version. But it was nice to ride both versions and see a similarity of the ride. The food at the restaurant was very nice. You will have a great time to have lunch there and you should also consider having dinner there too since it will be full service dinner at night.

Thank you


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 5 – October 30, 2012 – Part 16​

We left off just riding It’s a Small World at the MK. We got to go to the New FL at the MK and now we are now on IASW. This ride is completely different from the DL version but it is a fun cruise to go on when you are at the MK. All of us are on the ride after a long wait to get on the ride. Now let’s get back with more from IASW.

Now back to more pictures of IASW

Is it raining?

There’s the alligator with the umbrella in the background

The last scene where all the children all dressed up in white just like the DL version

I got to have at least one touch color during IASW while we were waiting to get to the docks since it was all backed up.

We got off of the boats and now got back to our wheelchair and ECV. We then head on out of IASW and back at FL.

That’s it for this post and I will have more from FL.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Nice shots, Bret.

Looking forward to seeing what you got up to next.

 

[franandaj]

Be Our Guest is completely booked for dinner during our trip this Winter. I think I will try for it during the gamers meet, either before the others arrive or if folks are up to it, once everyone is there. I looked at the menu on allears and the dinner doesn't look all that exciting. Lunch actually looks better.

We are looking at getting Samsung Galaxy III phones. Fran has been doing research. We are also looking to move to Verizon from AT&T. There was a pre Christmas Sale, but we just didn't have the time or strength to take advantage of it. Supposedly on Sunday Staples will have a sale where the phone are $50 a piece with a two year contract.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Nice shots, Bret.

Looking forward to seeing what you got up to next.

Thank you PiO.

Be Our Guest is completely booked for dinner during our trip this Winter. I think I will try for it during the gamers meet, either before the others arrive or if folks are up to it, once everyone is there. I looked at the menu on allears and the dinner doesn't look all that exciting. Lunch actually looks better.

We are looking at getting Samsung Galaxy III phones. Fran has been doing research. We are also looking to move to Verizon from AT&T. There was a pre Christmas Sale, but we just didn't have the time or strength to take advantage of it. Supposedly on Sunday Staples will have a sale where the phone are $50 a piece with a two year contract.

I did forgot about the reservations at Be Our Guest. That is nice to hear that you will try to eat dinner at the restaurant during your gamers meet later on. The menu looks standard when I first looked at it. The lunch menu looks nice and just like you said that it is better to have lunch at the restaurant over dinner for the first time.

My DB has a Samsung Galaxy III phone and he uses it a lot. You will like that phone a lot. That will be neat that the phones will only cost you $50 a person with the two year contract.


The next post will be up shortly.

 

[mvf-m11c]

Day 5 – October 30, 2012 – Part 17​

We left off just riding It’s a Small World at the MK. We got to ride a classic ride which is fun to ride at the MK. Even though it doesn’t have a Holiday version like DL, the MK version is still a fun one to go on and compare both version of what is different from one another. Now we got off IASW and ready to go on over to our next destination at the MK that day.

We just got off of IASW and it was a little busy I the area where rides like IASW and PP were crowded. We knew that we weren’t going on PP since it was busy in that area so we were on our way over to Adventureland and ride Pirates of the Caribbean. I knew that they will like to ride PotC since it is another Disney classic ride. Even though it is almost exactly as DL version but I will still like DL PotC way more because of the Blue Bayou restaurant in NOS.

We head on out of FL and over to Adventureland. There were a lot of strollers around the area of IASW and PP.

We were about to enter Liberty Square while one of the buildings was covered up for refurbishment.

A look at the new Tangled area which is under construction. This area used to be the former Fantasyland Skyway station.

Just going down Liberty Square and it was really busy in this area.

The reason it was so busy around Liberty Square is that A Dream Come True parade was starting around 3pm. So it was busy to walk through over to PotC. While we were in the area, I took them over to The Hall of Presidents which they would like to see all the AA of the presidents. I knew that they will like to see the HoP at LS. Right at the entrance of HoP which was close to the parade route. But we weren’t planning on seeing Dream Come True parade since most of the spots on the route are already taken.

When we entered the HoP building, we were looking at the portraits and items that were used by famous people.

We had to wait 10 minutes in order to get a seat for the show. We watched the show and all the elders really like the HoP show a lot that it was amazing to see all those AA presidents and especially the Barack Obama AA.

After the show was over, the parade was over and we started to head on over to Adventureland to ride PotC.

Some flowers right by the Liberty Bell

It took us quite a while to walk from Liberty Square on over to Adventureland since it was a little busy around the area.

Now we are at PotC and ready to go on the ride.

While we were walking to get on the ride, I got a few pictures of the queue while walking

We only had to wait 5 minutes to get on PotC. Now here are some pictures on the ride with my DSLR camera. Some of the pictures were a little dark and blurry due to the darkness of the ride. One of the reasons why I got the 35mm lens is for the dark ride experience with the aperture setting as low at f/1.8 I would be able to get dark rides in better quality than with the other lens that I have.

The PotC at the MK is nice but there are some different parts of the ride that are completely different from the MK version to the DL version of which I have experienced. I like the DL version way more than the MK version where the DL version is longer and have more drops while the MK is shorter and doesn’t have the scenes that are amazing like DL.

Who is that in the barrel?

At the end of each PotC is Jack Sparrow sitting with the treasure. It was hard to get close up shots of him since I only had the 35mm lens but I was able to get pictures of him.

We got off PotC and started to go on over to our next destination. But that will be on the next update.

 

[PrincessInOz]

LS looks really busy but there hardly seems to be anyone in PotC. How strange!


I don't think that I've ever done HoP.

 

[mvf-m11c]

LS looks really busy but there hardly seems to be anyone in PotC. How strange!


I don't think that I've ever done HoP.

It looked busy around LS since the 3:30pm A Dream True parade was about to happen shortly. So we decided not to go on over to PotC and went to HoP instead.

HoP is a nice show and you should consider seeing it during the trip in October.