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

[scoot241]

I think I almost shorted out my laptop by accidentally drooling on the keyboard after seeing the photography gear. You know...if you EVER want to get rid of some stuff... I'm a Canon user tooooooo

LOL I'll join the begging party too. I really want a 70-200 L and a speedlight. Those are my next two planned photography purchases eventually.

 

[Todd_H]

I think I almost shorted out my laptop by accidentally drooling on the keyboard after seeing the photography gear. You know...if you EVER want to get rid of some stuff... I'm a Canon user tooooooo

Will do

Pec pads, huh? Is that something you use prior to going into the pool or waterparks to make the chesticles look nicer for the viewing public?

Exactly

The gear looks good (considering it's Canon, since we all known Nikon is far superior). I'm assuming the second body is just for back-up rather than your DW shooting also, right??

Actually both. The second DSLR body is Ali's. I'm trying to get her off of the auto modes though.

Nikon does a pretty good job of making you THINK that it's superior with those fancy gold boxes and all, but we all know that's a dog & pony show

In truth, I really wanted to go with Nikon when I was looking to purchase my DSLR (I wanted a D300 baaaaaaad), but the Canon's just felt better and their menus were more intuitive to me.

 

[Todd_H]

LOL I'll join the begging party too. I really want a 70-200 L and a speedlight. Those are my next two planned photography purchases eventually.

Scott, when you get ready to buy the 70-200, make sure you take the f/4 into serious consideration over the f/2.8. The f/4 is at least equally sharp, half the weight, and half the price. If you don't have the need for the additional speed of the 2.8, I would definitely go with the f/4. The 2.8 is a BEAST.

 

[All7OfUs]

Holy Lemon-Cake-a-roni!!! do people REALLY buy and use all that!!???

I think I'd probably be able to put my firstborn through etiquette training AND university with all that gear!!

So, you've lost me on what all that stuff does, and I'm particularly curious about that ummm... thing, in the lower right hand corner... It looks vaguely like something grandma might need after having exhausting her more delicate options in the pharmacy's digestive section.

The GF movie option is a good one! Maybe even less chaotic than the campfire deal.

 

[Todd_H]

Holy Lemon-Cake-a-roni!!! do people REALLY buy and use all that!!???

Yep.

So, you've lost me on what all that stuff does, and I'm particularly curious about that ummm... thing, in the lower right hand corner... It looks vaguely like something grandma might need after having exhausting her more delicate options in the pharmacy's digestive section.

Well, I guess it could be used for that . Actually, it's called a rocket blower and it's used to blow dust and other debris out of the camera (compressed air can't be used for cleaning camera gear and lenses).

 

[Todd_H]

That's a good title for the actual trip report and is a prediction based on events of late.

Isn't this always how it seems to work out? A few days before a big trip (usually a vacation that you've been looking forward to for months), you get stricken with some illness, or a measly irritating cold? Seems like it happens to us every time. Matter of fact, the only one in our family who is 100% right now is Ali (knock on wood). I've been fighting a bad cough and have been on an antibiotic for about a week, DD is now coughing and sniffling, and DS has perpetual allergies that are really bothering him right now.

Oh well, we're going to go and have fun regardless! It's going to take more than that to keep us down!

4 days to go!!! Or is it 3? I never know if I should count the current day I'm on or not ?

 

[Todd_H]

Alright!

According to my trip countdown ticker, we're only 2 days away !

Also, I just noticed that Cinderella is dancing through my countdown ticker... I have seriously never seen her there. Guess it's too late to change it now, huh? Nothing against Cinderella, but had I paid more attention when I set it up, I would have used Donald.

Every morning for the past week when DS wakes up, he'll come downstairs and the first thing out of his mouth is "how many days til we go to Disney World?" DD is excited too, but she's a little more reserved about it (I suspect that she is a little nervous about some of the rides now that "go-time" is drawing near).

DS told me the other day that he didn't think he wanted to ride the Haunted Mansion because it might be too scary. While we will definitely not make him ride it, I hope he changes his mind.

I think both DS and DD are looking forward to Splash Mtn the most. DD is also gung-ho about the ToT, RnRC, Everest and (*cough*) Dinosaur! I've tried to explain to her how scary Dinosaur is, but she is determined to ride it.

Anyway, we are all packed! We just need to get some last minute things done (car serviced, do a grocery store run, go through what we packed one last time to make sure we haven't forgotten anything, etc).

 

[All7OfUs]

Ohhhh, I don't know. The Pretty Princess isn't toooo bad.

Too late to change her though...

I'll bet being packed makes it really feel like you're almost there!!! Congrats!

Can't wait to see which rides the kids actually get on and conquer.

 

[Gabrielsbigtrip]

I hope you guys feel better for the trip

I can't wait to see your pictures when you return

We just returned last week and we tried to get our son on Splash Mountain but he wasn't having it. I will only gently push him to a point and can tell when he REALLY can't do it.

He did get on Big Thunder Mountain and Pirates but those were the most adventurous His Daddy isn't too pleased when he has to do EE and Dinosaur by himself I am not a big coaster fan but last year when my MIL came with us - I did do EE with the hubby so he would be happy. It actually wasn't that bad

Usually we will switch off and ride alone so we get to do some of the more E ticket rides. This past trip during my chance at Dinosaur there was a family taking their small son on the ride (I would say about 4). He was crying that he didn't want to do it and they were saying..."it's not scary"

I want to cry when I see parents push their kids on the rides like that. I have read some kids LOVE Dinosaur so if your kiddo really wants to try it I would go for it. I just hate to see the crying in the line with the parents yelling at them to do it or else

I guess I'm a softy.

I hope you guys have a great time!!!!

 

[annnewjerz]

Matter of fact, the only one in our family who is 100% right now is Ali (knock on wood). I've been fighting a bad cough and have been on an antibiotic for about a week, DD is now coughing and sniffling, and DS has perpetual allergies that are really bothering him right now.

Oh no. Hope everyone starts to perk up a bit. It's easy to forget about feeling sick when you're in Disney---so I'm sure you guys will have a fantastic time regardless!

Alright!

According to my trip countdown ticker, we're only 2 days away !

Yeah, go ahead and rub it in a little more why don't ya?!

DS told me the other day that he didn't think he wanted to ride the Haunted Mansion because it might be too scary. While we will definitely not make him ride it, I hope he changes his mind.

If you don't make him ride it, will Ali sit out with your DS while you ride and/or vice versa? I wouldn't mind missing RnRC, Everest, etc. but HM is something that I've got to do each trip.

I think both DS and DD are looking forward to Splash Mtn the most.

I can totally understand why. This is my all-time favorite ride ever. It's just the best. So fun, nice and long, refreshing on a hot day and a song that's nice and catchy rather than repetitive and mind numbing like Small World.

Anyway, we are all packed! We just need to get some last minute things done (car serviced, do a grocery store run, go through what we packed one last time to make sure we haven't forgotten anything, etc).

If I don't stop in again, have a GREAT trip and I'm looking forward to hearing about it when you get back. Sounds like it's going to be a blast.

 

[Todd_H]

I hope you guys feel better for the trip

I can't wait to see your pictures when you return

We just returned last week and we tried to get our son on Splash Mountain but he wasn't having it. I will only gently push him to a point and can tell when he REALLY can't do it.

He did get on Big Thunder Mountain and Pirates but those were the most adventurous His Daddy isn't too pleased when he has to do EE and Dinosaur by himself I am not a big coaster fan but last year when my MIL came with us - I did do EE with the hubby so he would be happy. It actually wasn't that bad

Usually we will switch off and ride alone so we get to do some of the more E ticket rides. This past trip during my chance at Dinosaur there was a family taking their small son on the ride (I would say about 4). He was crying that he didn't want to do it and they were saying..."it's not scary"

I want to cry when I see parents push their kids on the rides like that. I have read some kids LOVE Dinosaur so if your kiddo really wants to try it I would go for it. I just hate to see the crying in the line with the parents yelling at them to do it or else

I guess I'm a softy.

I hope you guys have a great time!!!!

I agree and thank you!

I'll bet being packed makes it really feel like you're almost there!!! Congrats!

It does. Now if I can just make it through 1 and 1/2 more days of work... whenever I'm going to be out of the office for a long period of time, the couple of days leading up to it are pretty grueling

Yeah, go ahead and rub it in a little more why don't ya?!

Don't worry, Ann. You'll get your time to gloat

If you don't make him ride it, will Ali sit out with your DS while you ride and/or vice versa? I wouldn't mind missing RnRC, Everest, etc. but HM is something that I've got to do each trip.

Ali will probably sit out with him while I ride with DD. Or they can all sit out while I ride it .

I can totally understand why. This is my all-time favorite ride ever. It's just the best. So fun, nice and long, refreshing on a hot day and a song that's nice and catchy rather than repetitive and mind numbing like Small World.

Splash is an awesome attraction. What amazes me is how long it is... I think it's like a 7 or 8 minute ride. I've got the waterproof case for my p&s (which, if I had any common sense would be the camera to take on this ride), however, I think I'm going to make one of those ziplock-baggie rain jackets for my 5D tonight so I can take it on Splash... pray for Mojo. (<-that's an obscure Simpsons reference)

If I don't stop in again, have a GREAT trip and I'm looking forward to hearing about it when you get back. Sounds like it's going to be a blast.

Thanks!

 

[Todd_H]

Well, I just checked the current 10 day weather forecast for Lake Buena Vista and there's about a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms every single day of our trip except Friday when it jumps to a 60% chance . I really hope it changes by Friday since we're now attending the MNSSHP that night.

I've been down there enough to know that scattered thunderstorms in the forecast are pretty much a daily given for central FL in the summertime, but it still doesn't make me feel better about it.

 

[All7OfUs]

That's some seriously crappy news!! What a bummer! I guess it could be worse; you could have forgotten to check the weather and showed up with no raingear. That'd be right up there with showing up without Tums and caving to Caseys- again.

 

[scoot241]

Well, I just checked the current 10 day weather forecast for Lake Buena Vista and there's about a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms every single day of our trip except Friday when it jumps to a 60% chance . I really hope it changes by Friday since we're now attending the MNSSHP that night.

I've been down there enough to know that scattered thunderstorms in the forecast are pretty much a daily given for central FL in the summertime, but it still doesn't make me feel better about it.

We had 40% chance of rain in our forecast 10 days out, and it rained only a few times the entire trip and didn't mess up our plans at all. Saturday (the day we were leaving) was really the only time we were out in the rain.

 

[Todd_H]

That'd be right up there with showing up without Tums and caving to Caseys- again.

Sounds like you could be speaking from experience . Caving to Caseys is a given... thanks for the tums reminder !

We had 40% chance of rain in our forecast 10 days out, and it rained only a few times the entire trip and didn't mess up our plans at all. Saturday (the day we were leaving) was really the only time we were out in the rain.

That's good to hear. Thanks, Scott.

 

[annnewjerz]

Splash is an awesome attraction. What amazes me is how long it is... I think it's like a 7 or 8 minute ride. I've got the waterproof case for my p&s (which, if I had any common sense would be the camera to take on this ride), however, I think I'm going to make one of those ziplock-baggie rain jackets for my 5D tonight so I can take it on Splash... pray for Mojo. (<-that's an obscure Simpsons reference)

Actuuuuuually it's just shy of 12 minutes long , but you're right, a very long ride indeed.

I'm debating what to do about Splash Mountain camera wise. I have an Olympus waterproof p&s which would be the logical camera to keep out---but I keep getting the urge to try shooting on the way down with the D90. I'll probably regret it, but most times on Splash we barely get sprinkled, so what's the worst that could happen?

 

[scoot241]

Actuuuuuually it's just shy of 12 minutes long , but you're right, a very long ride indeed.

I'm debating what to do about Splash Mountain camera wise. I have an Olympus waterproof p&s which would be the logical camera to keep out---but I keep getting the urge to try shooting on the way down with the D90. I'll probably regret it, but most times on Splash we barely get sprinkled, so what's the worst that could happen?

Put the camera in a ziploc bag and keep everything except the front of the lens in the bag. That's what I've heard works well (will admit that I didn't actually try it though). I actually didn't take my camera on Splash (a first for me) because it was EMH and my sister and I were moving quick to ride the big kid rides.

 

[Todd_H]

Actuuuuuually it's just shy of 12 minutes long , but you're right, a very long ride indeed.

I'm debating what to do about Splash Mountain camera wise. I have an Olympus waterproof p&s which would be the logical camera to keep out---but I keep getting the urge to try shooting on the way down with the D90. I'll probably regret it, but most times on Splash we barely get sprinkled, so what's the worst that could happen?

Wow, 12 minutes really?

This is what I think I'm going to try either with my 5D or the XTi (it's the recommendation from WillCad):
http://willcad.org/image_cameraponcho.shtml

 

[mousemom23]

Hello!,
Our family is arriving Sept. 21st. I'll bet the excitement is unbearable for you as well!!! We are a similar family unit (DH37, Me38, DS10, DD7, DD2). Hope you have a GREAT trip and yes , we are concerned about the humidity too!!! Maybe we will see your beautiful family in the parks.

 

[Pollito916]

Well, I just checked the current 10 day weather forecast for Lake Buena Vista and there's about a 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms every single day of our trip except Friday when it jumps to a 60% chance . I really hope it changes by Friday since we're now attending the MNSSHP that night.

I've been down there enough to know that scattered thunderstorms in the forecast are pretty much a daily given for central FL in the summertime, but it still doesn't make me feel better about it.

We've been to WDW in Sept many times, and I would say that it has probably rained almost every day of each time we have gone. But it almost never rains for more than an hour (usually only 15-20 min) and it is usually in the late afternoon or evening, so by that time you are so hot from walking around in the humidity all day that the rain feels good. It's a good time to see an indoor show!

A little rain won't ruin your fun!