Braved the Sept humidity in WDW - We're back! (new pics added 12/2/09)

[oregonmommyof2]

Do you allow wine drinkers in your club??

Oooo... How about daiquiris or margaritas???

We better watch Terry's beer intake or he will look something like this...

 

[All7OfUs]

YES, YES, YES!! I am so looking forward to scoring one of those (or 2) next year!!! AND I like my glass of wine with a quality dinner!

 

[Todd_H]

....great role model Calipari! Bet the UK fans don't care.

Nope, they don't. I wonder if anything else will come of this. I hope UK had the foresight to put some clauses in his contract that address this kind of thing, but probably not. They're just excited at the prospect of rebuilding their dynasty.

Do you allow wine drinkers in your club??

Absolutely! I like wine too and have only recently started really appreciating wine as not just a means to an end. We went to Bordeaux back in January on a business trip and toured a couple of wine châteaux. The whole wine making process is very interesting and it was the first time in my life I drank red wines that didn't give me a migraine headache . That was exciting for me because I like reds much more than whites.

Oooo... How about daiquiris or margaritas???

Absolutely! You are all o.k. in my book

 

[Todd_H]

Our plans for Day 3 take us to Animal Kingdom. The first couple of times I went to AK, I was not very impressed. There wasn't much there and what was there was, well, just not very interesting to me at that time (for the record, that was just after it opened). Walking around, it really looked like a park that was half-baked. As a matter of fact, we would only spend 1/2 day there and then head over to MGM or MK for some more thrilling rides.

That has all changed now. AK has really grown on me and I see it now in a completely new light. It really is a beautiful park with incredible theming throughout. The kids loved the safari back in 07 and DD loved Expedition Everest. We'll definitely be revisiting those attractions and DD and DS are adamant about trying Dinosaur, which IMO is now the scariest ride on the property (since Alien Encounter was rehabbed into Stitch). We saw the Festival of the Lion King show last trip and, due to it's length, we probably won't see it this trip. There are four things in AK that we have never done: 1) Nemo The Musical, 2) the Birds of Flight (or Wonder, can't remember the name) 3) Mickey's Jungle Parade and... can you believe it... 4) Kali River Rapids ! It seems like every time we started to do the rapids in the past, we just didn't feel like getting soaked from head to toe. This year, we're going to plan for it and bring a change of clothes for everyone.

So, to summarize, I think we'll beat down the doors at opening and head straight for EE to either 1) grab a FP or 2) go ahead and stand in the queue (or maybe grab a FP AND stand in the queue <-that's my vote, then tackle Dinosaur (of which I want to attempt to photograph... I say attempt because I have never seen ANY decent pictures from inside Dinosaur so I don't know if it's even possible. I have a couple of strategies I'm anxious to try). This will probably get us close to some show times, Nemo and the Birds of Flight, then it will probably be pushing lunch time... don't know here... maybe Yak & Yeti take out, Pizzafari, or the Flame Tree Barbeque. What are your favorite CS spots in AK? We'll probably then head to Kali and finish our day at AK with Mickey's Jungle Parade.

I would love to try to get some night shots in AK, but it doesn't look like that will happen this trip either. Plus, I'm not sure it stays open late enough to get dark in AK any day we're there .

Why, do you ask, are we calling it a day in AK after the parade? Well, two reasons really. 1) the park closes at 5 and 2) we have ADR's at the Hoop De Do this night ! They're not until 9:30pm, so we have some time to kill at the WL pool (or just have some "rest" time back in our room. Since our kids are still little, we have to be careful not to push them too hard... especially if we need them to put their game faces on for a 9:30pm dinner show).

I haven't done the HDDR in a loooooong time and Ali and the kids have never seen it. I can remember it's a really funny show and the food is pretty good (fried chicken and ribs IIRC, plus all the beer/wine you can consume). It should be a good time and a great way to end Day 3.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

great plans for day 3! I was the same way with AK. Didn't really care for it but now I love it more than DHS. Did you guys like the Lion King show? I've never seen it but it's SO long and not sure if we want to sit through it. Tried watching some videos of it on youtube and it honestly doesn't seem like much?

 

[scoot241]

great plans for day 3! I was the same way with AK. Didn't really care for it but now I love it more than DHS. Did you guys like the Lion King show? I've never seen it but it's SO long and not sure if we want to sit through it. Tried watching some videos of it on youtube and it honestly doesn't seem like much?

My mom LOVES FotLK. It's a good show, but it does get a bit long. The coolest parts are the fire dancer and the tumbling monkeys. There's some crowd participation stuff (each section is an animal and makes that noise).

I'd say see it once and see how much you like it. Personally, I could skip it this September, but I think just about everyone else going with me wants to see it. If nothing else, it'll keep you out of the heat for a while.


Todd, I don't even remember where I ate last time I was at AK, so it must not have been very memorable. This time I think we're going to do Flame Tree BBQ.

 

[Todd_H]

My mom LOVES FotLK. It's a good show, but it does get a bit long. The coolest parts are the fire dancer and the tumbling monkeys. There's some crowd participation stuff (each section is an animal and makes that noise).

I'd say see it once and see how much you like it.

Scott sums it up pretty well. That's exactly the way I feel about FotLK.

 

[crocko]

Don't remember how long you are staying but AK is open until 8pm on Friday the 25th.

 

[oregonmommyof2]

Don't remember how long you are staying but AK is open until 8pm on Friday the 25th.

Yup, we are going this day as well, and hoping to get good AK pictures in the evening...

We are going to try the Picnic in the Park... Either that or Rainforest Cafe...

 

[Todd_H]

Don't remember how long you are staying but AK is open until 8pm on Friday the 25th.

I saw that but as of now we're either going to do MNSSHP that night or head over to Epcot in the afternoon for the first day of the F&W festival and stay to see Big Bad Voodoo Daddy that night.

There's actually quite a lot happening that Friday night. Usually, when you have one of the parties going on in the MK, the park that has evening EMH will get slammed (which is AK this particular night). However, you also have the first day of the food & wine festival in Epcot, and the only other night that week that Fantasmic is being shown at DHS. So, hopefully the non-MNSSHPartying crowd will be equally pulled between DHS, Epcot, and AK that night and no park will be overcrowded. I'm again jumping ahead in my PTR, but I'll come back to this topic as we are still undecided on what we're going to do that night (our last night).

 

[crocko]

Wow!

Hadn't realized that so much was going on that night. That's our last full day at the parks...and thus right now, have no idea of what will actually end up doing that night.

 

[jordanyosh]

Flights Of Wonder is a good show. I really like it. Kinda corny, but really cool to see birds doing some cool things. They bring out one or two birds that take your breath away for sure. I won't ruin the surprise.

Finding Nemo the Musical is a great addition. The A/C alone makes this attraction worth it. It's amazing that they capture the spirit of the movie in only 40 minutes. It's my favorite show at WDW. I try not to miss this one when I go.

My choice as far as CS is Flame Tree. If it's unbearably hot and humid, try Pizzafari. The pizza is meh, but they have this Italian Sandwich that's pretty good and the breadsticks are pretty serviceable.

 

[oregondaddyof2]

then tackle Dinosaur (of which I want to attempt to photograph... I say attempt because I have never seen ANY decent pictures from inside Dinosaur so I don't know

Good luck bud! I rode this last year, and could barely hold my camera, let alone try to get a picture... I want to see what you end up with... I will try to get a picture or two also, just for laughs ...

 

[scoot241]

Good luck bud! I rode this last year, and could barely hold my camera, let alone try to get a picture... I want to see what you end up with... I will try to get a picture or two also, just for laughs ...

I'm thinking turn the shutter speed (especially) and the ISO way up and pray. Tv, as fast as you can get it to go while still exposing a decent picture. I remember Dinosaur being very jerky, so that would be my plan.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Good luck bud! I rode this last year, and could barely hold my camera, let alone try to get a picture... I want to see what you end up with... I will try to get a picture or two also, just for laughs ...

I'm thinking turn the shutter speed (especially) and the ISO way up and pray. Tv, as fast as you can get it to go while still exposing a decent picture. I remember Dinosaur being very jerky, so that would be my plan.

Haha...you should have seen me trying to get a photo last time I went on! I think I almost stabbed my eye out with all the bouncing. I'm attempting it again this year too though so I'm crossing my fingers.

 

[scoot241]

Haha...you should have seen me trying to get a photo last time I went on! I think I almost stabbed my eye out with all the bouncing. I'm attempting it again this year too though so I'm crossing my fingers.

Just don't stick your crossed fingers in your eye while you're trying to take pictures while bouncing around.

 

[All7OfUs]

Here to second Flame Tree. We loved the food, and the seating areas are delightful.

Nemo is just out of this world- or under this world, depending on how you look at it. Our whole family was mesmorized, especially the little ones. Amazing acting and singing!

Curious to see what your evening plans end up being. Keep it coming!

 

[Todd_H]

I'm thinking turn the shutter speed (especially) and the ISO way up and pray. Tv, as fast as you can get it to go while still exposing a decent picture. I remember Dinosaur being very jerky, so that would be my plan.

Definitely shooting in shutter priority (i always do for dark rides) and I'll probably set the ISO to as low as I can get away with (thinking 3200 or 6400). From what I can remember, there are several stops during the ride where you get good looks at the Dinosaurs. Those scenes are what I'm going to shoot for, no pun intended .

Haha...you should have seen me trying to get a photo last time I went on! I think I almost stabbed my eye out with all the bouncing. I'm attempting it again this year too though so I'm crossing my fingers.

That's my biggest fear... getting a black eye from my camera !

 

[Todd_H]

O.K.

Ali insisted that I post this tip for anyone who chooses to do Mickey's Backyard BBQ in the future... dress your kids alike or at least in a way that they will stand out to the characters. When Goofy came out during the dancing, he went straight for our kids and pulled them out of the crowd to dance because they were both dressed like tablecloths:

and just a few more:

Here's DS putting the moves on Alice

DD posing with Brer Fox and Brer Bear

DS wondering where Pluto is and why he didn't take his bone with him

Day 4 plans coming soon so please stay tuned!!

 

[oregondaddyof2]

Here's DS putting the moves on Alice

Very nice! Teaching him young... WTG Todd! That is a very cute picture... Great one to bring out around high school time, maybe the meeting of his first girlfriend ...