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

[annnewjerz]

Our plan was to get through the gates and b-line it to TSM to grab fast passes, but when we got there, they were gone! And this was by about 1:30pm!

After that, we checked out the wait times for RnRC and ToT with the WDW Wait Times application for the iphone (which worked really well while we were there... it was very accurate). The iphone said RnRC was the longer wait, so we headed over there, picked up our FP's and decided to warm the kids up with Star Tours. DS was a little nervous about the ride, so Ali and Caroline were both pepping him up by giving him fives and holding his hand.

Well, Caroline loooooooooved the ToT, but Leighton didn't like it at all (I suspect that most 4 year olds probably don't like it). I'm proud of him for braving it, but one time was enough for him. Ali and I felt kind of bad because his whole body was shaking during the drops. Of course, after the ride he said he really liked it, but when asked if he wanted to do it again, he said "well..." and we knew that was a "no." At this point we wondered if we had ruined his taste for the rides the rest of the day or even the week!

Bumping this baby up, I don't think anyone has realized that you updated since it was so close to midnight.

I'm not surprised at all that FPs were gone by 1:30, in fact, it actually makes me quite happy and much less nervous about getting to DHS slightly later than rope drop in case someone decides they want to "sleep in" until 7:30.

Do you know the exact name of the iPHONE app you have for wait times and how much you paid for it? There were a few on iTUNES last time I checked and I've been hesitant to buy one for fear that it would suck. Since you reported back that the wait times were pretty accurate, I'd like to have it for our trip that's coming up since we'll be entering the parks in the afternoon and trying to jam in as much as possible.

Your DS is so brave!!! I can't believe a 4 year old went on ToT---my husband won't even go on it. I'm going to have to show him pics of your DS and tell him that if this little cutie can suck it up and try it out, so can DH.

 

[Todd_H]

I'm not surprised at all that FPs were gone by 1:30, in fact, it actually makes me quite happy and much less nervous about getting to DHS slightly later than rope drop in case someone decides they want to "sleep in" until 7:30.

If you get there around rope drop or just a little after, you'll have no problems getting FPs and probably getting little to no wait in the standby line too. I noticed that the crowds tend to start showing up in the parks about 10:30am. By 11:00 or 11:30, it's full-on.

Do you know the exact name of the iPHONE app you have for wait times and how much you paid for it? There were a few on iTUNES last time I checked and I've been hesitant to buy one for fear that it would suck. Since you reported back that the wait times were pretty accurate, I'd like to have it for our trip that's coming up since we'll be entering the parks in the afternoon and trying to jam in as much as possible.

The one I bought is called WDW Wait Times and it was actually free. It has some ads in it that can be avoided if you buy the full version for .99, but the ads don't bother me and never threw me out of the application while I was using it. The little icon for it is a picture of the Astro Orbitor.

Your DS is so brave!!! I can't believe a 4 year old went on ToT---my husband won't even go on it. I'm going to have to show him pics of your DS and tell him that if this little cutie can suck it up and try it out, so can DH.

Just don't tell him that the little cutie actually had NO IDEA what he was getting ready to experience (nor did he have parents that exercised good judgment in taking him on it that day).

 

[scoot241]

The one I bought is called WDW Wait Times and it was actually free. It has some ads in it that can be avoided if you buy the full version for .99, but the ads don't bother me and never threw me out of the application while I was using it. The little icon for it is a picture of the Astro Orbitor.

That's the app I used too. I found it to be quite accurate, and the ads aren't very intrusive. It seemed to get a lot of updates from users around the parks, so it had data to go on. Other wait times apps seemed to only have one (or sometimes no) entries for the day.

 

[lynn71092]

Did you post your older pictures a different way? We can't get Photobocket pictures here at work and I can see all your older pictures (awesome) but not the newer ones.

 

[crocko]

We had a similar experience on ToT...as far as the "hardly any info" given....similar response from our son as well.

 

[Todd_H]

Did you post your older pictures a different way? We can't get Photobocket pictures here at work and I can see all your older pictures (awesome) but not the newer ones.

Hmmm... not sure. Sometimes I link pictures from flickr and sometimes I link them from smugmug. All of these newer pictures are linked to smugmug so maybe that's why you're not able to see them ?

Here's the direct link to the gallery in my smugmug account where these pictures are located http://thh.smugmug.com/Family/Trips/WDW-September-2009/9772035_7WVvx#663872919_N9oyV. If you can't get to this page, chances are your IT department has the smugmug site blocked.

 

[lynn71092]

I was confused on which TR I was looking at, but I still wan't able to see but I can on your Ficker account.
Thanks!!

 

[jordanyosh]

These 2 pix are absolutely beautiful.

Note to self: Get FP for TSM early! Wow...

Muppets 4-D. Great show. I appreciate it now more than I did a few years ago. Maybe more a nostalgia thing now.

Can't wait to hear and see more.

 

[Todd_H]

These 2 pix are absolutely beautiful.

Note to self: Get FP for TSM early! Wow...

Thanks, Jordan! Yes, definitely get a FP for TMS early.

 

[Todd_H]

Well, we got lucky because the ToT didn't ruin Leighton's taste for the rides (just THAT ride). After the ToT, Caroline and I used our FPs for RnRC (which she loved as well) and then we headed over to the Great Movie Ride.

I think Leighton got a little nervous during the shootout

Caroline loved the Wizard of Oz section

After the GMR, we headed over to the Animation area and met some characters including Mr. & Mrs. Incredible, Sorcerer Mickey, Pinnochio and Gepetto, and Russell and Dug from UP

After meeting the characters, it was dinner time so we headed over to the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater where we had an ADR. I set up my camcorder (like a complete dork) and videoed the entire movie loop . I love that loop and am surprised that someone hasn't posted the entire thing online yet... I had to take matters into my own hands.

Dinner at Sci-Fi was pretty good (they used to have a barbeque chicken sandwich that I thought was really good, but it's no longer on the menu, or maybe it's on a lunch menu ).

Since DHS added a late Fantasmic show at 9:30 and we got such a late start into the park, we decided to hit that late show and ride some more rides in the meantime. Ali and Caroline headed back to the ToT and Leighton and I headed back to Star Tours. On the way, I happened to look over my shoulder and caught a fantastic sunset over the BAH.

After riding our rides, we caught back up with Ali and Caroline (who had actually ridden the ToT 2 more times). Caroline wanted to ride it one more time, so she and I rode it.

Before the drop (I wish I had gotten this one a little more in focus)

 

[Todd_H]

After a quick stroll around the Hollywood Blvd shops, it was time to head down to the Hollywood Hills for the Fantasmic show. If you've never done Fantasmic let me just warn you now... there are soooooo many people crammed into this area before they open the gates, it must get to 115 degrees . It was already hot that day, but this was just about unbearable.

At about 9:00pm, they finally opened the gates for us and we found some pretty decent seats on the right side. The show was amazing (as usual), but my pictures from it are not. These were a couple of the better ones.

It had been a long (but great) day so we drove back to the VWL after Fantasmic and collapsed in the bed.

 

[annnewjerz]

Great update, your DD seems to be a real trooper.

I love the picture of the sign from ToT and the shots from the GMR, but I have to ask---what is BAH? Big Annoying Hat? (and yes, I just made that up)

 

[scoot241]

Great update, your DD seems to be a real trooper.

I love the picture of the sign from ToT and the shots from the GMR, but I have to ask---what is BAH? Big Annoying Hat? (and yes, I just made that up)

Hmm, that's a good one for BAH. I've always thought it was slightly different; the first and last words are the same, but the middle word is three letters long and the last two letters of the word are the same letter.

 

[Todd_H]

Great update, your DD seems to be a real trooper.

She did awesome this trip. She walked the entire time with us (and kept up) and never complained about it one bit. I think she had the most fun of all of us and really liked all the thrill rides (like her dad ).

---what is BAH? Big Annoying Hat? (and yes, I just made that up)

Hmm, that's a good one for BAH. I've always thought it was slightly different; the first and last words are the same, but the middle word is three letters long and the last two letters of the word are the same letter.

Yep, what Scott said.

 

[crocko]

That picture of the park from the top of the ToT ride is Amazing. Awesome shot!!

Most of our time at the parks was during morning and afternoon, so I didn't get a whole lot of cool dusk/nighttime pics this time around. You definitely got some nice ones.

 

[jordanyosh]

After riding our rides, we caught back up with Ali and Caroline (who had Before the drop (I wish I had gotten this one a little more in focus)

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the quality of the pix you're taking!

I absolutely love them...not only are they great pix, but I can also attach my own emotions to them, if that makes sense.

 

[Todd_H]

I'm a bit overwhelmed by the quality of the pix you're taking!

I absolutely love them...not only are they great pix, but I can also attach my own emotions to them, if that makes sense.

Thanks, Jordan! That's quite a compliment (and it makes complete sense). One of the things that photographers (and aspiring photographers like me) do with their pictures is to try to evoke some kind of emotion.

 

[Todd_H]

I completely forgot to include this picture in my Day 1 post. These guys are hanging around over in Pixar Place by TSM.

 

[annnewjerz]

I completely forgot to include this picture in my Day 1 post. These guys are hanging around over in Pixar Place by TSM.

Ahhhhh I love Barrel of Monkeys!!

 

[qcmommy]

Enjoying all of your photos. Your family is just too adorable.