Castle Rehab

[KCmike]

Does anyone know when the Castle rehab will be complete? I have an outside chance that I might be able to visit Disneyland in Mid March and wanted to get some clean shots of the castle at night.

 

[dieumeye]

All I’ve seen officially is spring 2019. If you’re going mid-March, that’s pretty soon. This is just me speculating, but it doesn’t feel like they’ll have the scrim down that soon.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I don’t think it will be ready next week. This is a huge project and I’ve no doubt they’ve had to deal with project delays due to the rain.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

It’s on the refurbished list as far out as you can check online still earlier this week, so for right now mid-April or later it seems.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Hi, Mike! Unfortunately, MP has the castle on the refurb list through at least April 15th. Of course, the work could be done sooner, but all the rain we've been having lately has slowed things down. If your trip includes a Saturday, hope to see you at the Royal Swing Ball!

 

[KCmike]

Hi, Mike! Unfortunately, MP has the castle on the refurb list through at least April 15th. Of course, the work could be done sooner, but all the rain we've been having lately has slowed things down. If your trip includes a Saturday, hope to see you at the Royal Swing Ball!

I wish we could. We are coming in on a Sunday and heading back out on a Thursday. My real reason for the trip is to go to Joshua Tree NP. I am trying to hit as many National Parks as I can these days and while we are doing some beach time near Torrey Pines, we decided to spend some time hiking and photographing Joshua Tree. I am really into photography these days. We are squeezing in DL for a day during the week. I really contemplated not even going as we don't have much time but we all decided we needed a "Disney Fix". Is it crazy that I am more excited about Plaza Inn chicken dinner than riding any rides? Lol. I also hope to take some DL night images.
Do you guys still go every Saturday to dance?

 

[mom2rtk]

I wish we could. We are coming in on a Sunday and heading back out on a Thursday. My real reason for the trip is to go to Joshua Tree NP. I am trying to hit as many National Parks as I can these days and while we are doing some beach time near Torrey Pines, we decided to spend some time hiking and photographing Joshua Tree. I am really into photography these days. We are squeezing in DL for a day during the week. I really contemplated not even going as we don't have much time but we all decided we needed a "Disney Fix". Is it crazy that I am more excited about Plaza Inn chicken dinner than riding any rides? Lol. I also hope to take some DL night images.
Do you guys still go every Saturday to dance?

Just saw your post, Mike! I hope you have a great trip. Can't wait to see the images you bring back.

 

[KCmike]

Just saw your post, Mike! I hope you have a great trip. Can't wait to see the images you bring back.

Thanks Janet. I'm so excited to visit Joshua Tree NP.
I would like to get some clean night shots of main street usa, Golden Horseshoe, Pirates Que, and the Mark Twain at night. Since there won't be a Fantastic! while I'm there I'm hoping to get the Rivers of America with some still water with the Mark Twain.

 

[Summer2018]

Hi, Mike! Unfortunately, MP has the castle on the refurb list through at least April 15th. Of course, the work could be done sooner, but all the rain we've been having lately has slowed things down. If your trip includes a Saturday, hope to see you at the Royal Swing Ball!

We will be in the parks on the 17th & 18th. I hope that we get lucky. This may be our one and only trip out west, and We really want to see the castle.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks Janet. I'm so excited to visit Joshua Tree NP.
I would like to get some clean night shots of main street usa, Golden Horseshoe, Pirates Que, and the Mark Twain at night. Since there won't be a Fantastic! while I'm there I'm hoping to get the Rivers of America with some still water with the Mark Twain.

I'd love to see Joshua Tree one day! I can't wait to see your shots. And I think your list for DL night shots is very doable, especially without Fantasmic.

What lenses are you bringing to the park?

 

[KCmike]

I'd love to see Joshua Tree one day! I can't wait to see your shots. And I think your list for DL night shots is very doable, especially without Fantasmic.

What lenses are you bringing to the park?

All of them. Since I got my gear stolen in SF a few years ago I'm down to 24-105, 50mm, 85mm, and 16-35. I would love to get a real telephoto lens something like the 100-400. We are planning on hitting Yellowstone this summer (might have to camp with the bears though as repairs have been hitting us hard lately) and I would love a telephoto to shoot the animals at safe distances. Maybe I could rent I suppose.
Good thing at DL for our visit though is that they are open till 11pm the day we are going during the week. It's been two years since we've had a Disney Fix. I hate to say it but I've been secretly missing WDW. I just need to hang on till Tron Light Cycle and the Epcot refurbs are complete.
Any plans for you this year?

 

[mom2rtk]

All of them. Since I got my gear stolen in SF a few years ago I'm down to 24-105, 50mm, 85mm, and 16-35. I would love to get a real telephoto lens something like the 100-400. We are planning on hitting Yellowstone this summer (might have to camp with the bears though as repairs have been hitting us hard lately) and I would love a telephoto to shoot the animals at safe distances. Maybe I could rent I suppose.
Good thing at DL for our visit though is that they are open till 11pm the day we are going during the week. It's been two years since we've had a Disney Fix. I hate to say it but I've been secretly missing WDW. I just need to hang on till Tron Light Cycle and the Epcot refurbs are complete.
Any plans for you this year?

Wait, what happened in San Francisco? How awful!

I'd want something longer for Yellowstone too. We went in 06 and I'm itching to get back there myself. This summer we're heading back to Moab. Probably not breaking any new ground though. Just visiting old favorites.

Our Disney plans will change this year with Katie starting college in the fall. We're thinking of going back to WDW right after New Year's. There's a lot that's new since our last real visit in 2012. Heck, Katie doesn't remember most of it. And I'm still not sure I'm going to like DL as much with Star Wars open.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... Do you guys still go every Saturday to dance?

We were just there tonight! Funny, the band was the Swing Machine -- the same band you saw the last two times you were there.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We will be in the parks on the 17th & 18th. I hope that we get lucky. This may be our one and only trip out west, and We really want to see the castle.

Fingers crossed, then, for drier weather and lots of pixie dust! A good, long spell of dry weather should help speed up all the work and help make up for the lost time.

 

[Hensandchickens]

Hopefully it's okay if I also ask a castle question here. I was just checking out the page about DLR refurbs and noticed a photo of a huge fence blocking the view of everything but the top of the castle. Will we be able to see the castle? I figured we'd just not be able to walk through. How can you go to any Disney park without a castle selfie?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

...Will we be able to see the castle?..

This is the current view of the front of the castle (HT: WonkaKid):

 

[Summer2018]

This is the current view of the front of the castle (HT: WonkaKid):

Wow. That's rough.

However, I would imagine that California really needs this rain, so I think that me missing out on seeing the castle won't be a big deal. I would rather see California residents stop having to deal with wildfires.

 

[KCmike]

Wait, what happened in San Francisco? How awful!

I'd want something longer for Yellowstone too. We went in 06 and I'm itching to get back there myself. This summer we're heading back to Moab. Probably not breaking any new ground though. Just visiting old favorites.

Our Disney plans will change this year with Katie starting college in the fall. We're thinking of going back to WDW right after New Year's. There's a lot that's new since our last real visit in 2012. Heck, Katie doesn't remember most of it. And I'm still not sure I'm going to like DL as much with Star Wars open.

Someone busted a window out of our rental car at a McDonalds in SF while we ran in to get breakfast before heading to the Walt Disney Museum. I had my 60d and two lenses in a bag that I stuffed under a seat while the my 6d/24-105 was stuffed further under the seat as well. They took the backpack and missed the other. I was told by rental agency that 110 other cars on Alamo were already hit the same day. The policeman told me his personal car was hit a few weeks earlier because his daughter left his backpack in the backseat. Then another friend of ours visited SF and drove down to Monterey and they had their baby gear stolen out of their car. Just crazy. Don't leave anything in your car in California at anytime. The Policeman asked if we saw any nice dressed young people inside the McDonalds and I was like what? Then I said Yes there was a group of them. They were dressed in suits like they were headed to Church or a funeral or something. He said that was probably the bunch. Now I leave nothing in the car at any times anywhere. Shame on me for leaving it in there in the first place! They must have watched me stuff the gear under the seat.

I love MOAB! I want to head back ASAP. The next time I want to hit Zion and Canyonlands and then head down to Sedona. Oh I also want to hit Antelope Canyon badly. The wave would be cool as well but I hear its impossible to get passes to see.

 

[mom2rtk]

Someone busted a window out of our rental car at a McDonalds in SF while we ran in to get breakfast before heading to the Walt Disney Museum. I had my 60d and two lenses in a bag that I stuffed under a seat while the my 6d/24-105 was stuffed further under the seat as well. They took the backpack and missed the other. I was told by rental agency that 110 other cars on Alamo were already hit the same day. The policeman told me his personal car was hit a few weeks earlier because his daughter left his backpack in the backseat. Then another friend of ours visited SF and drove down to Monterey and they had their baby gear stolen out of their car. Just crazy. Don't leave anything in your car in California at anytime. The Policeman asked if we saw any nice dressed young people inside the McDonalds and I was like what? Then I said Yes there was a group of them. They were dressed in suits like they were headed to Church or a funeral or something. He said that was probably the bunch. Now I leave nothing in the car at any times anywhere. Shame on me for leaving it in there in the first place! They must have watched me stuff the gear under the seat.

I love MOAB! I want to head back ASAP. The next time I want to hit Zion and Canyonlands and then head down to Sedona. Oh I also want to hit Antelope Canyon badly. The wave would be cool as well but I hear its impossible to get passes to see.

That's terrible Mike! What a terrible experience to have on vacation. Honestly, there are some times we just can't help but leave some stuff in the car. I'm definitely going to recall your story and try to find a way not to though.

So did you lose the 6D or the 60D? Did you have insurance coverage? What lenses did they get? I'll definitely buy the insurance when I rent lenses now!

I'd love to do Antelope Canyon but don't think we'll be fully committed in time to get a spot. Probably just Canyonlands, Arches, and maybe Zion. Honestly, we haven't made specific plans yet. Probably a stop in Rocky Mountain National Park on the way out. I hope to rent a lens to take. But last time I wanted one they were out of the one I wanted so I passed.

 

[KCmike]

That's terrible Mike! What a terrible experience to have on vacation. Honestly, there are some times we just can't help but leave some stuff in the car. I'm definitely going to recall your story and try to find a way not to though.

So did you lose the 6D or the 60D? Did you have insurance coverage? What lenses did they get? I'll definitely buy the insurance when I rent lenses now!

I'd love to do Antelope Canyon but don't think we'll be fully committed in time to get a spot. Probably just Canyonlands, Arches, and maybe Zion. Honestly, we haven't made specific plans yet. Probably a stop in Rocky Mountain National Park on the way out. I hope to rent a lens to take. But last time I wanted one they were out of the one I wanted so I passed.

They got the 60d (thank goodness) with my 10-22 and 50mm. I didn't have insurance. The car rental lady told me that anytime you rent a car to peel off the rental sticker on the window. When I got home I purchased the 16-35 to replace my wide lens on the crop. It's my favorite lens by far now followed by the 85mm.
On a side note, do you clean your own sensor on your camera? I've tried several methods but can never get it fully cleaned. I took it to a place in OP about a year ago after Arches NP and they did a great job but I'm starting to see several dust spots again.