Breaking All the Rules: Pirates, Pixie Dust, and Pictures... a January 2012 Report

[NLD]

Update #4

Ahhhhhh my feet hurt!

MK felt less crowded tonight... and we only made it to 10:30 (emhh until 1:00 am). Don't know if Saturday is just always bad at MK?

Whispering Canyon for dinner=thumbs up. But... noisy!

Stopped by guest relations to fill out a comment card after major dose of pixie dust today. Hope they are able to pass along our appreciation to all the right folks... wish I could give the CM who masterminded that magic a big hug. Made my little girl's whole trip... actually she's calling this the best day of her life now!

Today in brief: eight rides, Pirate Tutorial, major dumping of pixie dust, Pirates League, Columbia Harbor House, swimming, Whispering Canyon, Wishes, MK at night.

Finding we are NOT commando this trip... and fine with it. Also not making photos a priority. Will still have plenty to share afterwards, but they are all done on the fly... no set up or thought really. Haven't broken out the tripod at all, not even for Wishes.

Peter Pan is still soooooo hard to shoot.

Haded to bed soon. Hollywood Studios tomorrow... but not for rope drop... we need some sleep!

 

[annnewjerz]

Don't know if Saturday is just always bad at MK?

Yep, Saturdays are usually not the greatest for the MK. It probably wasn't a "park to avoid", but the weekends at the MK are typically much busier than weekdays.

Stopped by guest relations to fill out a comment card after major dose of pixie dust today. Hope they are able to pass along our appreciation to all the right folks... wish I could give the CM who masterminded that magic a big hug. Made my little girl's whole trip... actually she's calling this the best day of her life now!

You can't leave us hangin like this!! What happened?!

Finding we are NOT commando this trip... and fine with it. Also not making photos a priority. Will still have plenty to share afterwards, but they are all done on the fly... no set up or thought really. Haven't broken out the tripod at all, not even for Wishes.

This was how my last trip was and honestly, I enjoyed it so much more. If it was someone's first trip, I still feel the need to "get it all in" but since we've been there so many times now...the pressure is off and it's much nicer to just do what you want when you want instead of touring at a backbreaking pace.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who goes to WDW with intentions of coming back with all sorts of planned pictures and usually don't come back with more than a handful...the rest being "because I was there and didn't have one hand occupied by a Dole Whip" kind of pictures. I am contemplating not even bringing my tripod this trip, but I'm sure it'll end up in the luggage when all is said and done.

Hope you have a great day today and looking forward to hearing all about it!

 

[NLD]

Update #5

Thanks to everyone reading and commenting. Posting from phone so hard to acknowledge everyone just now. But will upon return!

In line for TOT now. 40 min wait.

 

[NLD]

Really enjoying your PTR/TR/Live report! Thanks for sharing.

I love your screen shots of the computer. How do you do that????

I hope the crowds get lighter for the rest of your trip.

Hi PoppyGirl and ljcrochet, and welcome!

The screen shots are something most computers should be able to do... see if there is a key on your keyboard called PrntScrn (something like that) in the upper right hand area of the keyboard. If you press that, then open a simple photo program (like Microsoft Paint) and hit "Copy" in the program, you should see your screen shot appear! Then you can save it as a jpeg.

As for crowds... we are managing. I clearly picked the wrong parks for the wrong days... and we're not doing rope drop. So it is what it is. That said... given that we've never bothered with "best days" or rope drop in September, either, and never had these kinds of crowds then... I still tend to think this particular week in January, this particular year, is more crowded than our September trips have been.

Ah well. Still having fun!

What times of year do you usually vist?

 

[NLD]

You can't leave us hangin like this!! What happened?!


Glad to see I'm not the only one who goes to WDW with intentions of coming back with all sorts of planned pictures and usually don't come back with more than a handful...the rest being "because I was there and didn't have one hand occupied by a Dole Whip" kind of pictures. I am contemplating not even bringing my tripod this trip, but I'm sure it'll end up in the luggage when all is said and done.

Hope you have a great day today and looking forward to hearing all about it!

Hi Anne! You'll just have to wait for a full report on the pixie dust. Let's just say it made an eight-year-old's dream come true.

As for photos.... ehhhhhh. I've just given up this trip. Decided this trip is all about the kiddo. And tripods don't fit that agenda. Probably should have left it home this trip.

ALL the photos so far have been "because I happened to be there and didn't happen to have a Dole Whip in the other hand." LOL! (TOTALLY love that description, by the way! We ought to have a thread on the photography board for that... you know, along with wide-angle shots, nifty fifty, etc etc... we can have the "Because there was no Dole Whip in my other hand photos" thread!)

Anyway there's lot of HIGH ISO night shots due to the lack of tripod. That'll drive me nuts once we get home but... it's still the right decision for this trip.

And there should still be a few good ones in the mix.

 

[NLD]

Update #6

Recap of today (Monday):

Park: Hollywood Studios
Lunch: Sci-Fi Diner: counter service on Sunset Blvd... Catalina Eddie's? (Is there a place called that?)
Attractions: Great Movie ride, Muppet Vision, Little Mermaid, Star Tours, Tower of Terror (Sunshine's requet! won't mention whether she liked it just yet), and Toy Story Mania
Extras: hula hooping on Commissary Lane, Mickey ice cream treats

Up next (tomorrow):

Animal Kingdom... and lunch with a special duck. Crowds should be better? Tuesday, and no EMH at AK.... we'll see!

 

[DsnyMama]

I'll join!

Love the pictures from the reveal! Can't wait to hear about the pixie dust!


We love January TR's - honeymooned in January 2008 and heading down Jan 28-Feb 5 next year!

 

[PoppyGirl]

How long are we going to need to wait to find out about this "pixie dust" moment???

I'm running out of things to distract myself....

 

[Liza111577]

Subbing! This will keep me busy for the next 2 weeks before our trip!!
I've been checking "Lines" daily and it does seem to be a busy week for January!!

 

[OziJo]

I'm subbing! Enjoying your TR so far. We had dinner at Artist's Point and loved the look of the Wilderness Lodge. Can't wait to hear more about it. If I ever go back with fewer people I want to stay at there.

 

[NLD]

Update #7

Hi and welcome to all the new folks!

Thanks for sticking in (if you still are), and sorry about the lack of update yesterday. We totally crashed after Animal Kingdom, just so tired.

So, a couple updates:

Crowds

First off, there's a thread on the theme park boards discussing recent crowds. I've posted thoughts about the crowds this week there and will refer anyone interested (for folks going soon) to that thread: End of January crowd thread...

For a summary for anyone who doesn't want to read the other thread: while I have no recent January experiences with which to compare this trip, I whole heartedly believe it is busier than it should be right now. These are not 1 and 2 level crowds.... even when we're at the recommended parks and avoiding EMH (like yesterday at AK).

Weather

Weather continues to be spectacular. Not a drop of rain yet, highs in the 70s (maybe 80s today?), lows in the 50s. Sunny. Today we all wore capris and shorts, short-sleeve shirts, and light cotton hoodies (which were around our waists most of the day). And sandals.

I'll post some particulars about our last two days in the next post...

 

[NLD]

Update #8

And now, recap of yesterday (1/31) and today (2/1):

1/31/12 (Tuesday)

Park: Animal Kingdom

Dining: Tusker House breakfast

Attractions: Safari, Festival of the Lion King, Everest (just me), Maharajah Jungle Trek, Primeval Whirl, Triceratops Spin

Characters: Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Mickey (breakfast) plus a couple more we stumbled on in Camp Minnie-Mickey... stay tuned to find out who!

Mishap of the day: I broke Sunshine's camera! And, umm, do you all know what disposable cameras cost in Disney? ? ? (Free popcorn to anyone who knows!)

Pixie dust: CONTINUED! Seriously all.... Sunshine is a pixie dust magnet.


2/1/12 (Wednesday)

Park: Epcot

Dining: Via Napoli for dinner

Attractions: SE, Living with the Land, Nemo, Turtle Talk, Soarin', Figment, TT (twice), Gran Fiesta, Maelstrom

World Showcase: Sunshine and I got halfway around... Deb and Carole got all the way around. Kim Possible mission in China.

Mishap of the day: lost a jungle-print water bottle holder we'd just bought in AK the day before

Adult beverages: one Italian margarita. Okay but no Grand Marnier slush!

Pixie dust: I'll tell you about today's sprinkling, since it's so minor. Today's pixie dust was: towel animal toothbrush-holders and a stuffed animal arrangement. (Probably doesn't even qualify but I'm counting it, because then I can say we've had pixie dust every single day so far!)

Photography: still a struggle. Still no tripod. There will be no decent fireworks pictures in the final report.

Headed to bed soon. Nothing planned for tomorrow... Deb and Carole say they're going to Downtown Disney. Sunshine and I are going to sleep in and then swim. Maybe hit a park afterwards.

Friday we go home.

But still... one more full day to enjoy!

Goodnight everyone!

 

[OziJo]

Crowds

First off, there's a thread on the theme park boards discussing recent crowds. I've posted thoughts about the crowds this week there and will refer anyone interested (for folks going soon) to that thread: End of January crowd thread...

For a summary for anyone who doesn't want to read the other thread: while I have no recent January experiences with which to compare this trip, I whole heartedly believe it is busier than it should be right now. These are not 1 and 2 level crowds.... even when we're at the recommended parks and avoiding EMH (like yesterday at AK).

Weather

Weather continues to be spectacular. Not a drop of rain yet, highs in the 70s (maybe 80s today?), lows in the 50s. Sunny. Today we all wore capris and shorts, short-sleeve shirts, and light cotton hoodies (which were around our waists most of the day). And sandals.

That's what it was like when we were there. I was surprised at the crowds too. I'll check out that thread...

 

[NLD]

That's what it was like when we were there. I was surprised at the crowds too. I'll check out that thread...

Hi OziJo. Hmmmm. While I'm sorry you ran into crowds too, I'm glad to know this might not be just a matter of my perception being off. KWIM?

Did you manage okay with the crowds?



Are you doing a TR? Would love to read it!
Edited to add: Ummm DOH, just saw your TR link! Thanks and I'll be reading when we're home!

 

[NLD]

Update #9

One thing I fogot to mention about today:

Talked with CM while waiting for bus this morning. Asked about any rumors for Pandora in AK, and he said there will be an interactive area / exploration area in addition to any rides. He used the word "tunnels."

No idea how accurate this might be, but thought it was interesting. An interactive play / exploration area would certainly be fun.

 

[NLD]

Update #10

Driving home from the airport now... sad and happy all at once. Fantastic trip!

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I can't believe I'm only finding your PTR/LTR after you already got home!!!

I can't wait to see you're pictures, you have amazing talent

Glad to see you guys had a great time!

 

[Grumpy's Wife]

By the dates I think you came home yesterday. I look forward to reading all about your trip. I hope your daughter's birthday was the best yet.

 

[mom2rtk]

I missed the WHOLE TRIP!

Classic rookie mistake...... I posted and always sign up to get emails with each new post. I hadn't gotten any emails, so I thought you hadn't been posting! I saw you on another thread tonight and decided to click your link and found my mistake.... Oh well, I'm all caught up now. Glad it all went well, and sorry it went so fast. Can't wait to hear all about those tarps and pixie dust!

Hi, Ann! Eagerly looking forward to seeing your photos when you're back, too! (Now if we can just get NatenLogansDad and mom2rtk to post more TR updates, we'll have a regular photography board TR extravaganza!)



Welcome, saintstickets! Exciting about staying at VWL. And May should be beautiful weather! I'm jealous. January's not my first time of choice to go, but it IS when Sunshine's birthday happens.

Where are you staying--studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom?

As for the photographs--I know! Will add some later. Pics of the Christmas morning reveal are coming, though.



Hi mom2rtk! Glad to see you here. Only hoping I come home with a few photos as good as yours.

"Tarps Around the World..." sounds like a song, does it not? "Tarps, if you want to. Tarps around the World...." (Sung to the tune of "Roam.")

LOL! Thanks for the kind comment.

Here now! Sitting at Wilderness Lodge sipping a Dole whip float from MK. Had some pixie dust in our room tonight. MK was crowded this evening!

Oohhh.... can't wait to hear about the pixie dust! And I read about that 1/28 crowd at the MK. We were at Disney the last week of January in 08 and never had a single crowd issue. I just think it's the new normal. My own theory is that people who used to go at peak times are still going, but picking the less expensive off season.

 

[dara00]

looking forward to reading more!