Clearskies photographic Journey to the World and Beyond - 8 theme parks & much more

[clearskies]

OMG, how awesome would Mission: Space be if, when you didn't do your responsibilities, everything goes haywire, and the mission fails or something? That would rock.

I was looking at your trip plans. I was actually just pricing today sending my mom and dad down there for an actual anniversary trip (meaning just the two of them) from August 31 - September 4. So not exactly me, but we'd be down there at the same time in spirit.

Oh, your post snuck in while I was responding to others and I did not see it.

Absolutely, they could make the experience better to add some excitement to executing your mission one way vs another.

If I see your parents I will tell them to say hi from Clearskies to you and of course not leave out the Yeti and Wicket

 

[clearskies]

This was an amazing trip report and such fantastic pictures. I especially enjoyed the US information/pictures as we have not been there in over 10 years or so. I think I might try to squeeze a day in at IOA in our upcoming Sept. trip. I'm also thinking of doing my very first trip report, but somewhat nervous after reading yours and so many other great reports.

Thanks for an enjoyable read!

Thank you so much Lisa. How nice of you to post that.

I am glad you found the US/IOA info enjoyable. I definitely reccommend carving out a little time to give it another look!

Regarding writing a TR, don't be intimidated. Everyone has something different to offer. I have photos but I knew after reading other TRs I could not stack up to the writing that others post. My take was that I was writing a TR as much for myself as others and as long as I got some people interested it was all good. At a minimum I least had something documented that I could go back to once in a while to reminisce. If you do write one, PM me and I will be a reader.

 

[clearskies]

When we last left off we had finished up a fantastic dinner at Le Cellier and my wife and I were going to head over to the MK for a rare evening without the kiddos. It was a little after 7PM when we were leaving the restaurant. My main reason to head to MK was to see the Main Street Electrical Parade. Disney duped me into thinking that the MSEP had a limited run and Spectro would be coming back again so I was driven to see MSEP this trip....We know better now. Anyway, MSEP was starting at 9PM which gave us a little less than 2 hours to get there an park ourselves on Main Street. Plenty of time to get there and grab a good spot right?

By the time we had made our way out of EPCOT, got to MK and made our way into the gates it was a little before 8PM. More than an hour in advance seemed about right to get a decent spot. So we walk in and Main Street and criminy there are already people lined up all the way on both sides of the street. Blast it, how far in advance did I need to get there? I think I may have been foiled by the fact that MK had AM EMH that day. Add that to one of the few nights MSEP was rolling through and it was a recipe for big crowds. Shoot, why couldn't all those early hour EMH goers be exhausted by now and have been dragging themselves out of the park by then? Well, I need some front row parade action and I am not about to try to squeeze my way in anywhere so I told my wife it was time for plan B and we headed off to other lands. Once I made up my mind to head away from Main street though I realized that I was going to be doomed to try to get me some Wishes pics from Main Street later. I was mainly here to catch this parade anyway.

We headed to a spot I found on my prior trip that is a great alternate viewing area to watch the parade. It is in Liberty square just on the other side of the bridge from the Hub. From there you can get the parade as it is coming over the bridge and catch the castle in the background still. Whew, there was plently of open space there when get reached it so my wife and I settled in and waited. It was about 5 after 8 PM at this point and the parade does not get to this area until about 9:15 so we had a little over an hour to wait. My wife said she was heading off to find a restroom and I stayed back to guard our precious spot. Shortly after she is gone the sky turns to twilight. This is a great time to take pictures since the sky will give you some nice hues. I took a picture of the castle from where I was standing but was yearning to get a picture with the water in front of the castle but I would have to go across the path from where we were and I would lose our spot. Ugh, I was kicking myself since my wife was gone and I was stuck there. I knew I had limited time to catch the sky until nightfall hit and the sky turned black. So I was watching the minutes whittle away while waiting for what seemed forever for my wife to return even though it was only about 7 min. Here is a pic while waiting

Finally my wife returned and I bolted over to get a better view. It was a little darker now but I still caught the sky before it turned black. I couldn't quite get the vantage point that I wanted though since there were other people there but I at least got this.

Soon thereafter the sky turned black and my window had closed. Not even enough time for the castle to change colors. By now my wife had made friends with all her neighbors and we were discussing their experiences and sharing ours. Nothing overly interesting though so let's fast forward to the parade. I'll shut up now and present to you the MSEP...

Ok, too many pictures to continue. I will continue in the next post....

 

[clearskies]

continuing MSEP.....

So you want to know my thoughts on WSEP eh? Well since you asked...MSEP is a good parade but it is just not as good as Spectro in my opinion. I am definitely not liking the MESP music as much. It's old style synth music and sounds real dated. I am not sure what to point my finger at to say what else was lacking compared to Spectro. I am definitely missing Chernabog (the Devil from Fantasia). The weird clownlike things from Spectro can stay lost though. Overall I think Spectro just seems more magical to me. Don't get me wrong though, MSEP still was good entertainment and any Disney lit nightime parade is a good night's entertainment for me. So, I am glad I saw it. Just bring Spectro back Disney ok?


After the parade was done it was about 9:35PM. I was not in a good spot for wishes and I figured was toast for those castle wishes pictures I aspire to get . I knew that Main street was going to be downright ugly by this time but I still wanted to give an attempt so we headed over with a teeny bit of hope. We made our way into the hub but it was packed! The CMs were keeping the street clear so we had to find a millimeter of space left in the hub up on the curb and we balanced ourselves on the edge waiting for the show to start. Anyone off the curb in the street was directed by the cMs to move along so we had to stand there on the edge hoping that once the show started they would allow people to move back just a little into the area they were keeping clear.

Once the show started I was able to inch back a little but there were just too many people and I had to angle my camera very high so that it was not getting blocked off by people. So, I had to cut out a lot of the castle in my pics. Anyway, enough whining, here are my pictures....

I have not been having very good luck in my last 2 trips getting Main Street pics of Wishes with full frontal Castle. Hopefully I'll have better fortune on my next trip.

By the time the show was over it was about 10:15 and time to head back to rescue my SIL from our kids.

Nothing eventful happened from this point on so I'll end the day here. Overall we had a fantastic day and we got a ton of things done.

Coming up in our next day will be another whirlwind day of MK for most of the Day and EPCOT in the evening including evening EMH.

 

[IheartDDuck]

I love MSEP, but I think the main reason for me is the fact that it was the parade that we saw the first time that I went to WDW when I was four. It sticks in my mind. I agree the music is dated, but I guess that's what makes it for me.

I love how you don't love your pictures because you had to cut the castle out of it, and yet I think they're just beautiful.

 

[clearskies]

I love MSEP, but I think the main reason for me is the fact that it was the parade that we saw the first time that I went to WDW when I was four. It sticks in my mind. I agree the music is dated, but I guess that's what makes it for me.

I love how you don't love your pictures because you had to cut the castle out of it, and yet I think they're just beautiful.

Oh, I can see the nostalgia factor for some. I was never lucky enough to see it as a kid.

Thank you on the wishes pictures Danielle. I sound too whiny I guess. I just want to get me some more castle in my pics.

 

[tammy]

I'm speechless...

 

[TanzUnited99]

at the crowd levels even with getting there an hour ahead of time! Hopefully it'll not be as bad on your next trip.

I love the castle shot with the reflection in the water - it is awesome!

Also your MSEP shots are great - I am so glad we are incorporating the parade into our plans.

Having never seen Spectro can't really comment but your shots of Wishes are incredible - I would be very happy with those shots.

 

[clearskies]

I'm speechless...

LOL...thank you Tammy

at the crowd levels even with getting there an hour ahead of time! Hopefully it'll not be as bad on your next trip.

Thanks Tanz. Overall I was lucky on crowd levels just not that one night. You will see some good fortune my next day.

I love the castle shot with the reflection in the water - it is awesome!

Thank you Tanz. Whew, that pic almost got away

Also your MSEP shots are great - I am so glad we are incorporating the parade into our plans.

Having never seen Spectro can't really comment but your shots of Wishes are incredible - I would be very happy with those shots.

You should enjoy MSEP. It is definitely worth adding to your plans. I just have more of an affinity for Spectro but I did enjoy MSEP as well.

Spectro was my fav nighttime parade in Disney until I saw the Boo to You parade in MNSSHP. You are going to be lucky enough to see that as well and you will love it! Just be careful since the music will get stuck in your head for a while.

Oh, and thank you as well on the compliment of the Wishes photos.

 

[clearskies]

We interrupt this TR for an important announcement....

I got our info packet and luggage tages for our upcoming trip

They have new luggage tags now.

They look a bit strange since they are using a hologram on the tag.


ok...we now return you to your irregularly scheduled TR.

 

[clearskies]

We have unfortunately reached our last day of park action for this trip. Fear not though, there is still plenty of adventure to experience today. Our plans for the day are to hit the MK for a tactical strike assault and then head to EPCOT for dinner and a show (illuminations) followed by some late night wandering of EPCOT thanks to evening EMH.

We got off to a bit of a late start. After chowing down on some breakfasts from Food Court we were not sauntering into the AS Music bus stop until about 9:30 AM. By the time we were heading into the gates it was about 10AM. A late start combined with the fact that we need to head out at about 4PM to make our way over to EPCOT means that I thought we would need to be a bit more selective on the attractions we see today. Even though it is the Friday before a 3 day Labor Day weekend and I am fearing the possibility of higher crowds I was hoping that the fact that MK had EMH and MSEP going on the prior day and that there was nothing going on today at MK would divert a lot of people to other parks this day. We'll see how we fared with the crowds.


After stopping to take some requisite pics of the family on Main Street we followed my usual mode of operation at MK and headed over to Fantasyland first to hopefully catch some of the attractions before the land got overrun by the masses.

First a castle shot for you on the way.

I like to get my pooh out of the way early in the morning so our first attraction of the day was over at the Hundred Acre Woods. When we got there we were thrilled to see that the wait was only 5 min. That's a great start! We quickly made it through the queue and were bouncing along in our honey pot in no time. Of course, I have pictures to show. Here you are....

That's a great way to start your day. After we got off we headed straight over to Peter Pan again hoping the line would not be too bad yet.

I paused for a sec and took a carousel pic.

Whew...my daughter is not asking to ride the carousel or Dumbo this time. Good I have an other plans.



Now, those select few that actually read my first TR may recall that Peter Pan was my bitter nemesis last trip and the ride was not at all kind to me. Out of all the Disney Dark Rides I rank this #2 in the list of friggin' drive me crazy blasted rides to get a doggone picture on. I do love the ride though even though you may see me shaking my fist at it in fury and vowing vengance each time I get thrown off in utter humiliation. Note that the top spot in this elite list belogs to Dinosaur and well talk about #3 soon as well since it is in MK.

So we get there to the entrance and score, it was only about 5 min wait! The gods are smiling on me today...perhaps..just maybe...they'll let me come away with something this day.

Soon we are boarding our vessel at the battle is on...snap....eh blurry still but not as horrible as in the past.

then we are flying over London. What a wonderful start to a ride......snap...blur...curse..........snap...blur...curse.........snap....blur...curse....ok perhaps the gods are not smiling on me. Note that I am not actually cursing on a Disney Ride. That is what is going inside my head. It is more an internal cry of anguish.

More blurry pics ensure. I guess I will be unsuccessful this go around as well.....but wait...the powers that be may have taken pity at seeing a grown man close to crying since after this I actually had some degree of success and got a few pictures that turned ok decent.

So we get off and I am feeling good. For once the ride is not laughing at me at the end. My batting average is still pathetic but I at least got a couple of hits.

continued in next post.......

 

[clearskies]

Up next was Snow White's Scary Adventure. Note that this is not easy to photograph either but not as bad as PP and well...I just don't care as much about this attrraction. That being said I am not sure if I am disappointed or not that they are closing it. I think I would feel better if it was not going away just to make a Meet and Greet area for Princesses. Since they are building a different Snow White coaster ride though I can deal with it. I will definitely take one last ride on this though on my upcoming trip in Sept and perhaps will get a little sad when saying goodbye.

Oh, here are some pics...

After Snow White we headed to the best 3D show in WDW and of course you all know that is Philharmagic. No need to take out my camera for this. You'll just have to close your eyes and create your own visuals from your memories. Whoa...watch out for those for those popping champagne bottles.

After this we were headed to #3 on my list of rides to befuddle me. Did you guess what it is?.....Well, I'll just have to keep you in suspense until my next installment since I 've got to head out.


We'll pick up from here next time.

 

[TanzUnited99]

Yay on getting your luggage tags!! Not long to go until your trip is here! We're still waiting on our tags - hoping to get them soon.

I am loving your castle shots - can't wait to see it in person!!

Yay on riding WTP first - I can't wait to have some fun in the new queue. Am glad DD was happy to skip Carousel and Dumbo.

Lol at Peter Pan being your nemesis! Maybe that's the reason I have not seen many pics of it. I think your pics turned out great, as always.

I'm looking forward to riding Snow White before it closes. Ooh looking forward to seeing what ride is #3 on your list of rides to befuddle you! Nothing springs to mind...

 

[ntikos]

Up next was Snow White's Scary Adventure. Note that this is not easy to photograph either but not as bad as PP and well...I just don't care as much about this attrraction. That being said I am not sure if I am disappointed or not that they are closing it. I think I would feel better if it was not going away just to make a Meet and Greet area for Princesses. Since they are building a different Snow White coaster ride though I can deal with it. I will definitely take one last ride on this though on my upcoming trip in Sept and perhaps will get a little sad when saying goodbye.

Oh, here are some pics...

After Snow White we headed to the best 3D show in WDW and of course you all know that is Philharmagic. No need to take out my camera for this. You'll just have to close your eyes and create your own visuals from your memories. Whoa...watch out for those for those popping champagne bottles.

After this we were headed to #3 on my list of rides to befuddle me. Did you guess what it is?.....Well, I'll just have to keep you in suspense until my next installment since I 've got to head out.


We'll pick up from here next time.

Still following along and enjoying!

I'm guess the HM as your #3 nemesis.

 

[IheartDDuck]

Funny thing is that I could totally envision you having this internal struggle with yourself and the pictures on Peter Pan.

I'm definitely going to say your number 3 is the Haunted Mansion.

 

[clearskies]

Yay on getting your luggage tags!! Not long to go until your trip is here! We're still waiting on our tags - hoping to get them soon.

I am more nervous than excited right now since I have a lot to do before we leave (including wrapping this TR up). You should get your Disney packet soon!

I am loving your castle shots - can't wait to see it in person!!

Thank you Tanz. It will be a special moment for you to see the castle in person for the first time. You will love it.

Yay on riding WTP first - I can't wait to have some fun in the new queue. Am glad DD was happy to skip Carousel and Dumbo.

You will have plenty of time to see everything and I recommend that you do. The crowds should be even better when you are there.

Lol at Peter Pan being your nemesis! Maybe that's the reason I have not seen many pics of it. I think your pics turned out great, as always.

I'm looking forward to riding Snow White before it closes. Ooh looking forward to seeing what ride is #3 on your list of rides to befuddle you! Nothing springs to mind...

PPF and I have a love / hate relationship. I love it and it hates me

Still following along and enjoying!

I'm guess the HM as your #3 nemesis.

Thank you for staying with me ntikos!

You are very astute

Funny thing is that I could totally envision you having this internal struggle with yourself and the pictures on Peter Pan.

I'm definitely going to say your number 3 is the Haunted Mansion.

I'm definitely going to say that you are also very astute Danielle.

 

[clearskies]

After about an hour in Fantasyland it was time to move on to Liberty Square to take a ride on a doom buggy on one of my fav attractions.
.

HM is indeed #3 on my list of dark rides that confound me but I still love it. How can you not? There is so much to see on this attraction. Unfortunately, the HM got the better of me this time around and I did not come away with much in photos. We still had a great time visiting the happyhaunts again though.

After picking up a hitchhiking ghost we headed off to Frontierland to visit the Mountains.


We followed the usual strategy to grab FPs for the ride with the longer wait and head to standby for the other. As usual the attraction with the shorter wait was

So, I grabbed FPs for Splash and we entered the 10 min wait for BTMRR. I never noticed this and got a chuckle as we walked by:

As is usually the case the wait time posted was longer than the actual wait time and we were soon boarding our mine car for the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness.
Sorry, no pictures of the actual ride.


After BTMRR I planned to eat lunch since our FP window was not open yet for Splash but since the wait was only about 20 min and we were making good time we decided, "why not?" and we got on the standby line so that we could ride twice today, once before lunch and once after with our FPs. Splash Mountain is my favorite ride in the park so no issues waiting 20 min for it so that I could get in another ride. The theming is top notch and it is a all around great attraction.

Rather than show pics now and then again later I am going to combine the two into a boatload of pictures here. I hope you share my love for this attraction.

too many pics....continued in the next post

 

[clearskies]

Ssshhhh...we are still on Splash....sit back and enjoy....we can talk later....

Ok, now we can eat. There used to be one place we would gravitate towards in MK and that was to get some chicken and ribs and a visit with Sonny Eclipse at Cosmic Rays. On our prior trip though we tried Columbia Harbor House and had a great meal. So since CHH was a heck of a lot closer we hoofed it over for some chicken and shrimp as well as my new fav the Anchors Aweigh SW.


Continued in the next post.......

 

[clearskies]

After eating we still had time for our Splash FPs so we dared a voyage past some pirates. We got there and it was only a 5 min wait. what a great day so far with wait times. One thing that I love about this attraction is that it is so refreshing to get into the queue and cool off when it is hot outside. We ended up riding this twice as well but again I am combining again into a whole lot of pics.

We saw some real pirates once we got out but we did not stop long to watch.

We now were heading back to Splash but I grabbed FPs for Jungle Cruise first and then we headed over to Splash.

We ended up riding Splash, then BTMRR and then Pirates again. The only ride with really much of a wait was splash and we had our FPs in hand.

 

[clearskies]

So it is 2:30 at this point and we have done a heck of a lot but we still need to need to finish up Adventureland as well head over to Tomorrowland. We first went to Jungle Cruise and started handing our FPs to the CM and he says we didn't really need them and we are soon boarding with the group that was waiting.

I decided to try something different on this ride and I put on a long "zoom" lens to get some different perspectives from my norm. I liked some of the results

I really liked this elephant shot

We finished up our cruise and I took one last pic in Adventureland.

It is 2:40 at this point and we still have things to do in Tomorrowland before we leave at 4PM so no carpets or Tiki rooom this visit and definitely no infernal treehouse for us.


I'll pick up from here in our next installment.