Come along on our Spring Break Photo Trip/Dining Report 2012! Update 9/12 Epcot

[FairyGodmotherJen]

Oh, your pictures made me decide that we need to hit an afternoon parade this trip! I don't think we have on the past two trip (unless you count the Star Wars parade during SWW in 2010... We usually don't make it back in time (we're still in the "take a break in the afternoon" crowd). Between looking at these and hearing parade music on DIS Radio, I've decided that we're going to just have to fit it in! Great pics!!

 

[amandaw]

Such lovely parade pictures! Looks like it was a lovely day to be in MK!

 

[solana131]

Oh that makes me feel so bad for those CMs in the costumes! It must've been so hot! Especially the Beast

 

[anhower]

Hi there! Your trip report is wonderful, and the pictures are absolutely amazing. We stayed at POR in January and loved the resort. I can't wait to read more, keep up the great work!

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Your parade pictures were wonderful. Our last couple of trips we have skipped the parades. This year I need to add them to the lisit.

Love the Parades!! Spectro used to be a MUST when it was there. Not in love with Electrical Light Parade but it's still pretty.

Oh, your pictures made me decide that we need to hit an afternoon parade this trip! I don't think we have on the past two trip (unless you count the Star Wars parade during SWW in 2010... We usually don't make it back in time (we're still in the "take a break in the afternoon" crowd). Between looking at these and hearing parade music on DIS Radio, I've decided that we're going to just have to fit it in! Great pics!!

It's pretty quick so it's worth it if you can see it!!

Such lovely parade pictures! Looks like it was a lovely day to be in MK!

Isn't every day a lovely day at MK???

Oh that makes me feel so bad for those CMs in the costumes! It must've been so hot! Especially the Beast

I've been told they have cooling devices in some of the heavy ones. Hopefully that's true. The beast is so cute! Espically since he waved at me!

Hi there! Your trip report is wonderful, and the pictures are absolutely amazing. We stayed at POR in January and loved the resort. I can't wait to read more, keep up the great work!

Thanks so much and welcome along!! POR was a great resort! ? When in Jan were you there and how were the crowds??

 

[DisneyDoc5]

Going through all my folder I found another resort photo I wanted to share. I know I said we would be done with resort photos but I thought this may be of interest to some.

We had a garden view room, and to us, it really doesn't matter that much at a moderate since were not in our room enough for it to matter. I will avoid parking lot views but really to avoid the noise.

Our garden view was in the inset of the middle part of this building.

But if I walked to the outer edge I saw this...

This was a quite pool, not the mail pool. So the people in the corner room were paying for the water view room even though were were neighbors. I saved $ by taking a small walk to the corner to see the pool (but I had to take the walk any way to get cell and wi-fi service). I wonder if the people on the corner had service????

Joining in your TR, still catching up. We were in building 36 on March 29 and 30 that week, so just a few doors to the right and just another right, we would have been able to see each others doors. We just did a short stay and Blizzard Beach before heading to Ft. Myers for the rest of the week - I hate leaving but I have to compromise with my DH on the 'content' of our FL trips, he needs beach, I could do Disney only of course! So anyway, loving all the pictures and will look forward to catching up more later after church!
Erin

 

[mom2rtk]

Loving the parade pics! We didn't make it to the afternoon parade at al last trip. We really need to do that this time.

You really would love the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. I love that focal length so much better than the 50mm fast lenses, not to mention that extra stop of light. I used it on our trip to the Denver aquarium this past week and it as perfect. I tried to get by with my 2.8 so I could go even wider, but I did need that extra light.

 

[NORMA MUNOZ]

Love your pictures great trip report..

 

[emma212010]

Great shots of the parade! I'm really hoping we aren't too tired to watch it! I haven't seen it in a very long time, so I'm hoping to see it again!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Just found your TR and I'm loving it! Thanks for sharing your (and your daughter's) great photography skills!

 

[vicceja]

Love your report and pictures! We usually visit every year but unfortunately we will miss the World this summer....your pictures are great!

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Joining in your TR, still catching up. We were in building 36 on March 29 and 30 that week, so just a few doors to the right and just another right, we would have been able to see each others doors. We just did a short stay and Blizzard Beach before heading to Ft. Myers for the rest of the week - I hate leaving but I have to compromise with my DH on the 'content' of our FL trips, he needs beach, I could do Disney only of course! So anyway, loving all the pictures and will look forward to catching up more later after church!
Erin

How funny we were neighbors and didn't even know it!!! Our building was very quite but the walk to the front took way too long for us.

Glad you found the report!!!

Loving the parade pics! We didn't make it to the afternoon parade at al last trip. We really need to do that this time.

You really would love the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. I love that focal length so much better than the 50mm fast lenses, not to mention that extra stop of light. I used it on our trip to the Denver aquarium this past week and it as perfect. I tried to get by with my 2.8 so I could go even wider, but I did need that extra light.

It seems as though a lot of people don't do the afternoon parade. It was hot and crowded though!

Yes, my 50mm made it's first and last trip to WDW. I want that 1.4 before the next trip, just not sure how soon that will be. Hubby is facing double surgery after the first of the year so $$ will be tight.

Love your pictures great trip report..

Thanks so much, glad your like it!!!

Great shots of the parade! I'm really hoping we aren't too tired to watch it! I haven't seen it in a very long time, so I'm hoping to see it again!

It's a fun parade and quick, so not too long in the sun!!

Just found your TR and I'm loving it! Thanks for sharing your (and your daughter's) great photography skills!

Thanks so much! Trying to teach my DD early! Wish I woudl have learned at an earlier age!! Welcome along!

Love your report and pictures! We usually visit every year but unfortunately we will miss the World this summer....your pictures are great!

Thanks so much and welcome! I have a feeling we will be missing next year, but maybe when I get back the FL expansion will be done!!

Up next, Dinner at Fultons!!

 

[DisneyDoc5]

all caught up now - LOVE your TR style and all the pictures, including food!!! Question, are you a self taught photographer or did you take classes? I am ready to progress to the next level with photography, I am a scrapbooker and miss my Canon SLR shots (film, not digital) from years ago when we first had kids, then went to the point and shot high end, but miss the clarity and zoom shots. I am not hung up on Canon verus Nikon, but I need a good tutorial or should probably take a class before my next purchase. Thanks for your advice, I really value your opinion after seeing these pictures. With our kids getting a little older, I'm not afraid to going back to carrying a bigger camera and lens, it's worth it! You are inspiring me!

 

[mouselovenfamily]

all caught up now - LOVE your TR style and all the pictures, including food!!! Question, are you a self taught photographer or did you take classes? I am ready to progress to the next level with photography, I am a scrapbooker and miss my Canon SLR shots (film, not digital) from years ago when we first had kids, then went to the point and shot high end, but miss the clarity and zoom shots. I am not hung up on Canon verus Nikon, but I need a good tutorial or should probably take a class before my next purchase. Thanks for your advice, I really value your opinion after seeing these pictures. With our kids getting a little older, I'm not afraid to going back to carrying a bigger camera and lens, it's worth it! You are inspiring me!

Thanks so much! I figure a picture says more thanI can type so I let the photos do the talking...

I am self taught...I've taken a couple of photography classes but I didn't learn anything. I was wanting them to give me techniques and really they didn't' work like that.

As I try to train myself I use the web a lot. I look at a photo I really like and try to figure out how I can duplicate it. Night shots,depth of field, etc.

Time and money go hand in hand with that too. I may not have the time to shoot, I may not have the right equipment with me (tripod) or I may not be able to afford the right equipment. It all goes into play.

I just try to improve and enjoy myself. It's funny to see photos I thought were good a few years ago and now I see my growth. I think my last trip in 2010 at Coronado were my best photos. This trip was so crowded and busy, I really didn't get too much into shooting.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

We wanted to go to the wishing well and on our way we saw this huge line! Couldn't figure out what it was for. It went from the bottom of the hill, wrapped up the hill past the wishing well and up to the castle. It as for:

That is parent dedication to stand in that line!! I have done it when Pixie Hollow opened. My dd and I were in line for 2 hours!!!

We decided to skip the wishing well and had to DTD for dinner. With Fultons being added to the DDP we had to try it. On the DDP is is a signature and two credits.

You can find the complete menu here:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=82

We were seated in a back room, very nice and by the windows.

First came bread:

My DD had:
Chef Frank's Seafood Boil - Snow crab, clams, mussels and 11/4 lb. Maine lobster boiled in seafood stock with fresh corn on the cob. - $49.95

DS had:
Narragansett, Rhode Island Lobster - One pound and a quarter lobster, shrimp, scallop, spinach and mushroom stuffing, toasted breadcrumbs $48

and the rest of us had:

Alaska Snow Crab & Maine Lobster - 10 ounce steamed snow crab, one pound and a quarter Maine lobster $51

Very good seafood. Nothing out of the ordinalry for a seafood restaruant though.

For dessert we had:

Chocolate Creme Brulee

Berry Cobbler:

Key Lime Pie:

and a Hot Cookie Skillet:

Dessert prices were $7-9 in most cases and were great!!!!

We are not big out to eaters, but we do like nice when we go out. I was bummed with the atmosphere of this place. California Grill has such a nice atmosphere and Fultons was okay. If I'm using two credits, I want the full package. Fultons was a great place to try the food was very good. For our family, we would probably have rather had done two regular restaurants rather than Fultons. Again the food was yummy but nothing extra special.

 

[amandaw]

Glad y'all had a nice dinner even if it wasn't spectacular. I had considered doing Fulton's on our upcoming trip. I'm glad I went with another choice.

 

[cgerdon02]

Just found your tr and I'm loving it!! We always go in the fall as well, but we are expecting a new baby this fall, so Disney just isn't going to happen. I thought about doing it during the kids Spring Break, but fall is just so nice. We'll be staying at POR when we go and your photos have me super excited about it!!

 

[jennykay]

Just got caught up on your tr - you really do have a good eye for composing your shots. They are just really nice looking pictures. I have been debating getting a 50mm prime lens, and thinking I'd rather have a 28mm. You are confirming what I thought. Too bad the 28 costs almost 5 times as much. Oh, well. Maybe someday. Honestly, though, I really liked your dark ride pics, even though they weren't what you were hoping for.

 

[mom2rtk]

Just got caught up on your tr - you really do have a good eye for composing your shots. They are just really nice looking pictures. I have been debating getting a 50mm prime lens, and thinking I'd rather have a 28mm. You are confirming what I thought. Too bad the 28 costs almost 5 times as much. Oh, well. Maybe someday. Honestly, though, I really liked your dark ride pics, even though they weren't what you were hoping for.

Have you considered the Sigma 30mm f/1.4? It's awesome for dark rides, and just about anything else. It's sharp, and my "go to" for the darkest of dark rides.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Glad y'all had a nice dinner even if it wasn't spectacular. I had considered doing Fulton's on our upcoming trip. I'm glad I went with another choice.

It was a good dinner, but we've had some great dinners for 1 TS credit and this just didn't feel like it was worth 2 TS credits. Where are you going???

Just found your tr and I'm loving it!! We always go in the fall as well, but we are expecting a new baby this fall, so Disney just isn't going to happen. I thought about doing it during the kids Spring Break, but fall is just so nice. We'll be staying at POR when we go and your photos have me super excited about it!!

Welcome!!!Fall is a beautiful time to go. The last time we went in Oct it was HOT! And crowded, not as bad as spring break but pretty bad.

My son's first trip was when he was 6 months old, now he's a Disney pro!!

Just got caught up on your tr - you really do have a good eye for composing your shots. They are just really nice looking pictures. I have been debating getting a 50mm prime lens, and thinking I'd rather have a 28mm. You are confirming what I thought. Too bad the 28 costs almost 5 times as much. Oh, well. Maybe someday. Honestly, though, I really liked your dark ride pics, even though they weren't what you were hoping for.

I'm just not a fan of the 50mm. Sounds like the 28 is out of my price range! I just really want to master the dark ride and night pictures. I'll just keep working at it!