Discovering A Whole New World of Disney-An October 2013 Photo Safari **Updated 2/20

[afwdwfan]

Great job, Dave! I'm sorry your ideal spot was taken, but your backup looks like it was just as good. The castle in the background of the shots is really a neat touch. Well done!


Oh... and congratulation on your ability to resist the siren song of Sleepy Hollow. At least until after the parade was over.

 

[MEK]

Subbing in even though I am ridiculously behind on the DIS boards. We were at the world at the same time.

 

[geckodani]

Wow. That's all I've got. Wow. Seriously, your pics are amazing. The ones of MSEP had me tearing up at my desk - I swear I could hear the music playing!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Great job, Dave! I'm sorry your ideal spot was taken, but your backup looks like it was just as good. The castle in the background of the shots is really a neat touch. Well done!


Oh... and congratulation on your ability to resist the siren song of Sleepy Hollow. At least until after the parade was over.

In hindsight I think I ended up liking my Sleepy Hollow spot a lot more than the FP+ hub location. At the hub I may have had a tougher time fitting in the castle in its entirety in my pictures.

Yep, it was a test of will trying not to leave my spot to grab a waffle. Good pictures vs. sugary goodness. Good pictures won out.

Subbing in even though I am ridiculously behind on the DIS boards. We were at the world at the same time.

Welcome!! Happy to have you on-board! Hope you had a good trip in October as well!

Wow. That's all I've got. Wow. Seriously, your pics are amazing. The ones of MSEP had me tearing up at my desk - I swear I could hear the music playing!

Thank you and Welcome!! I think this crop of pictures of MSEP are one of my favorites from this trip. I have some pictures that are upcoming in future posts including FotLK, Dream Along with Mickey, and my pictures from Tower of Terror that I would rank slightly above them. (A little teaser for coming attractions )

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

There are so many things to look at in Animal Kingdom and every building, corner, and alley is filled with small details that are easy to miss but when combined produces the atmosphere that is uniquely Disney. I think this is especially true in the Asia section. During past trips a lot of these details and theming went by in a flash as we hustled to the next show or ride. So I made it a point during this trip to take a slower stroll through Asia.

Riiiiiight after I finished my ride on Everest. Priorities, people. There’s no way I could walk through Asia without a Yeti sighting. If you followed my last trip report you saw the extremely (and I mean EXTREMELY) lucky shot I got of Mr. Disco Yeti. I wasn’t so lucky this time as all of my shots were not in sync with the strobe lights. I still had a great time on that runaway train and the scenes leading up to it. Like ToT, I have rarely in the past used the standby queue so I spent some extra time in the queue scoping out some of the details.

Everest looked especially inviting this day.


IMG_8565 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

You see that little booklet hanging behind the statue? It’s actually exists in the real world! I googled it and sure enough the author is a famous mountain climber.

IMG_8539 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

I found this poster quite amusing because it really didn’t say what kind of meat or food is packaged in that can. Could it be that they are selling Yeti meat??? Does it taste like chicken? Yeeesh. Well at least it’s hygienic!!


IMG_8541 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

I’m in the process of trying to talk DD into going on this with me in January. She’s tall enough but last year she refused to go on it after watching the drop from the viewing location. So I’ve been slowly grinding away for the past 10 months trying to convince her that it’s a fun coaster. I think I’m making some headway. She’s mostly worried about Mr. Yeti. I’ve even told her that the Yeti is really frozen due to the extreme cold temperatures and can’t move so she has nothing to worry about.

How my brain felt after a single ride on the Expedition served as a reminder that I am now a middle aged man. The ground wouldn’t stop spinning for a couple of minutes and I had to lean up against a post in the gift shop for a couple of minutes. While doing so I happened to look up and saw this.


IMG_8560 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

I don’t think I noticed before that this shop was themed as a supply store. Cute. So I had to take a picture even though the room seemed to be spinning slowly and with it my camera aim. Thank goodness for Image Stabilizers!

Also during my prolonged stay in the gift shop I noticed the small Yetis they were selling in the toy section. So naturally I grabbed one to purchase thinking I could give it to one of my kids as a souvenir from this trip. By the time I approached the cashier the cobwebs in my head cleared up and I realized I was making a huge mistake. So I went back to the shelf and grabbed a second Yeti. Seriously, what was I thinking? I was inviting weeks of arguing and fussing between the two children on who gets to play with the one Yeti I brought home.

It was time to start my slow stroll through Asia. It’s amazing how many abandoned vehicles line the streets. There are wagons packed to the brim and just sitting there waiting to be taken. Then there are the numerous snack locations. I don’t think I truly appreciated exactly how many snack and drink stations Disney built and positioned throughout the parks until this trip. Normally the only time I’m paying attention to these is when DD and DS is in dire need of a drink because their dad made them go attraction to attraction non-stop. What’s even more amazing is the extent Disney went to design a lot of these little huts and shacks. Sure they still have the vendors out there with just a cart and an umbrella but many of the other vendors are situated in permanent structures.

Here’s one example that I just happened to stumble onto after crossing the bridge into Asia from Discovery Island. It’s sort of tucked away in the corner so it makes sense that I hadn’t noticed it before. Plus I think I crossed that bridge maybe twice all together before this trip. Speaking of the bridge I found these cool carvings on one of the pillars of the bridge.


IMG_9551 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Anyway, I had to look up the name of this snack location after I got home. Drinkwallah. All they sell are drinks and some assorted fruit cups. But I just loved what they did with this place.

Not sure what those things are hanging down from the roof. They sort of remind me of the “fruits” from Monsters Inc . but I’m pretty sure that’s not it.


IMG_9556 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Another abandoned wagon next to Drinkwallah. This one happens to have lots of Coke on it.


IMG_9557 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Ok. Maybe Drinkwallah is sort of like a giant billboard for the Coca Cola company. Still very cool. Like Club Cool.


IMG_9560 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

I probably should have gotten a drink from there to commemorate the occasion but I had a pretty full bottle of water still on my backpack so I was still good from the hydration standpoint.

A tour of Asia wouldn’t be complete without a trek through the Tiger Trails.


IMG_9564 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Not sure what the definition of "frequently" is in this Asian country because I rarely get to see the said tigers. Still the rest of the trail is filled with other interesting animals and I just love the design of the trail that transports you to the jungles of Asia.

Have no idea what these plants are called but they look so other worldly.

IMG_9566 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_9571 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

The temple ruins are my favorite part about these trails.

IMG_9574 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

The infectious disease doctor in me shudders at the mere image of this.

IMG_9577 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

The bat cave (as I call it even though it’s really not a cave) is always a fun visit for me. These were one of the bat sculptures lining the top of the entrance.


IMG_9568 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Oh and the Tibetan Prayer Flags. I love these and they are so much fun to photograph.


IMG_9579 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_9584 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Finally the bird sanctuary is one of my kids' favorite part of the trail. This was right above the exit of the sanctuary.


IMG_9588 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Now that I've gone through all these pictures I'm coming to the realization that some how I managed not to take a single photo of an actual animal on this ANIMAL TRAIL! Not even the Komodo Dragon which usually just sits out in the open like a sack of potatoes for all to see. I'll try to do a better job in January of photographing the animals but we all know that all I'm going to end up with is another 100 pictures of the prayer flags.

 

[DVCGail]

Your photos are amazing, Nice to see Disney through some one else's eyes.

 

[mecllap]

details.





A tour of Asia wouldnt be complete without a trek through the Tiger Trails.


IMG_9564 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Not sure what the definition of "frequently" is in this Asian country because I rarely get to see the said tigers. Still the rest of the trail is filled with other interesting animals and I just love the design of the trail that transports you to the jungles of Asia.

s.

Your photos are fabulous -- almost gets me inspired to go back to large body with changeable lenses (but I had gotten tired of lugging all that print equipment around in the early days of digital anyway). My little Canon P&S pales in comparison to your shots. Sorry you keep missing the tigers -- I've even seen them walking around in the water (and can always find at least one or two snoozing somewhere).

I always snap a larger frame of the mural tiger to include the border below with the "hidden Mickey" - I love all the details in AK.

Looks like you had a very successful photo safari (except for lack of animals!!!!). Thank you for sharing your report and wonderful photos in a timely manner -- wonderful job!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

I am very appreciate of anyone who cannot avoid Everest when passing through Asia. Seriously how could anyone NOT go on?

Bahaha, ok that's a pretty good explanation as to why the YETI doesn't move... He's frozen solid. Disney should build that into the story.

Oooh nice save there Dave with the second Yeti purchase. Yikes.

Haha, you know what I find amusing. You can see things like that Coca-Cola billboard all over WDW, and yet some people went NUTS at the thought of Starbucks. Honestly, I don't care either way, but I do find it amusing.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Your photos are amazing, Nice to see Disney through some one else's eyes.

Thank you!

Your photos are fabulous -- almost gets me inspired to go back to large body with changeable lenses (but I had gotten tired of lugging all that print equipment around in the early days of digital anyway). My little Canon P&S pales in comparison to your shots. Sorry you keep missing the tigers -- I've even seen them walking around in the water (and can always find at least one or two snoozing somewhere).

I always snap a larger frame of the mural tiger to include the border below with the "hidden Mickey" - I love all the details in AK.

Looks like you had a very successful photo safari (except for lack of animals!!!!). Thank you for sharing your report and wonderful photos in a timely manner -- wonderful job!

Thank you!

Hmmm, I must have missed that hidden Mickey. I'll definitely have to look for it in January.

I'm pretty sure I saw a good number of animals on the trail. I think I was so focused on taking pictures of the non-animal things on the trail that I just neglected to take pictures of the animals. Those darn flags I tell ya.

I am very appreciate of anyone who cannot avoid Everest when passing through Asia. Seriously how could anyone NOT go on?

Bahaha, ok that's a pretty good explanation as to why the YETI doesn't move... He's frozen solid. Disney should build that into the story.

Oooh nice save there Dave with the second Yeti purchase. Yikes.

Haha, you know what I find amusing. You can see things like that Coca-Cola billboard all over WDW, and yet some people went NUTS at the thought of Starbucks. Honestly, I don't care either way, but I do find it amusing.

Just had another thought about the Yeti. Maybe the Yeti doesn't move anymore because it's just a shell now and the rest was packaged up in that "hygenic" canned good they are advertising now. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I'm with ya on the whole Starbucks thing. To tell you the truth, I hardly noticed the coffee shops are there in MK and Epcot because they did such a good job blending them into their surroundings. That and because I'm just a huge addict to all things Starbucks. I'm pretty sure I earn a free drink on their reward program every 10 days.

 

[StaciMc]

I just found your TR and am so enjoying it! Wonderful pictures!! This makes me really want to make a solo trip at some point. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!!

 

[jkc0325]

Great pictures once again!!! I love to see all the different ways that people "see" AK! I think this park has so many wonderful things to see. I can't ever get my family to slow down enough to appreciate it.

I had to laugh at the safe water picture. I drive my kids crazy with my "no water bubblers" rule!!!!

I will be so sad when you're trip report is over.

 

[chattadisser]

Awesome pictures as always! I bet it was fun to be able to notice the small details that you never get to when you have kids to keep up with.

I can't get my oldest DD on Everest yet either. She's been tall enough for a while and I think its the Yeti combined with the in the dark part, that keeps her from going. I also think she's just not a huge daredevil, now my younger DD...that's another story.

Christine

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

I just found your TR and am so enjoying it! Wonderful pictures!! This makes me really want to make a solo trip at some point. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!!

Thank you for following!

If you can arrange it I would wholeheartedly recommend a solo trip at least once. It just puts Disney in a completely different light.

Great pictures once again!!! I love to see all the different ways that people "see" AK! I think this park has so many wonderful things to see. I can't ever get my family to slow down enough to appreciate it.

I had to laugh at the safe water picture. I drive my kids crazy with my "no water bubblers" rule!!!!

I will be so sad when you're trip report is over.

Thanks!

This upcoming trip I'm going to make a concerted effort to slow down our touring pace. In our family I'm usually the one who is pushing the pace so I think everyone will be happy with it. I think it'll be a lot of fun with the kids to point out some of interesting and funny details throughout WDW.

And don't worry. I think I'm only about a third through my pictures. I did a rough count and I still have another 500-550 or so pictures to share so I think this TR will be going into January. Riiiiiight around the time we go for our family trip to Disney.

Awesome pictures as always! I bet it was fun to be able to notice the small details that you never get to when you have kids to keep up with.

I can't get my oldest DD on Everest yet either. She's been tall enough for a while and I think its the Yeti combined with the in the dark part, that keeps her from going. I also think she's just not a huge daredevil, now my younger DD...that's another story.

Christine

Thanks! My DD has the same issues. It's mostly the Yeti and the dark caves that are worrying her. Hopefully she'll go on it and enjoy it in January!

 

[afwdwfan]

Riiiiiight after I finished my ride on Everest. Priorities, people.

Naturally. There's no going to Asia without taking some time to taunt disco yeti.

I found this poster quite amusing because it really didn’t say what kind of meat or food is packaged in that can. Could it be that they are selling Yeti meat??? Does it taste like chicken? Yeeesh. Well at least it’s hygienic!!

I think it falls under the classification of "if you knew, you wouldn't eat it."

So naturally I grabbed one to purchase thinking I could give it to one of my kids as a souvenir from this trip. By the time I approached the cashier the cobwebs in my head cleared up and I realized I was making a huge mistake. So I went back to the shelf and grabbed a second Yeti.

Good save. That could have been ugly.

Ok. Maybe Drinkwallah is sort of like a giant billboard for the Coca Cola company. Still very cool. Like Club Cool.

But without the Beverly.

Or air conditioning.

Not sure what the definition of "frequently" is in this Asian country because I rarely get to see the said tigers.

Really????? I've always seen them. They might not be more active than those lions that hold down the rocks over at the safari, but they're always there.

Oh and the Tibetan Prayer Flags. I love these and they are so much fun to photograph.

Now that I've gone through all these pictures I'm coming to the realization that some how I managed not to take a single photo of an actual animal on this ANIMAL TRAIL!

How in the heck did you manage that????

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

You know how there’s that one movie which you have seen many times in piecemeal but never in one sitting from beginning to end? Dream Along with Mickey is like that for me. I’ve seen the show many times but in bits and pieces and never from the beginning. We would just happen to be walking across the Hub with the show already in progress and it will catch our eye. Or a couple of times we would leave the show before it was over because our young children would get too freaked out by Hook or Maleficent.

So for the first time ever I actually paid attention to the time and grabbed a spot at the front of the stage 15 minutes before show time! Well, was more stage left since I was going to be standing the entire show I didn’t want to block the kids views who were sitting in the center front. And not to give any false expectations of the view to anyone who happened to grab a seat behind me after I got there,I stayed standing during the entire wait. See? I learn some things from the DIS boards. I must have not obstructed anyone’s view because everyone stayed around me and behind me stayed seated during the entire show probably because the stage was up so high.

Soon enough the show began. I like to think of this show as the dancing version of Wishes. It follows the basic storyline when you think about it. Both start out with the premise that there are those who don’t believe in dreams or wishes. Then they go on to show how dreams or wishes come true by parading out some of our favorite Disney characters and their dreams and wishes. These are then inevitably interrupted by a villain who wants to have her own nightmare or wish come true. Finally the world is back to good again when everyone dreams and wishes together. See? Same story! And I’m a fan of both!

Here comes the dancers and Mickey’s friends! Mickey of course is not here yet because he always has to make a grand solo entrance. Just like all of the other shows the supporting and dancing CMs do a great job and it was hard not to focus my camera on them. I had my telephoto zoom lens or as one of my uncles calls it the CIA lens on my camera ready for the occasion!


IMG_1953 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_1958 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_1964 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_1968 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_1972 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_1978 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_1993 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2003 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Finally, the Big Cheese himself!


IMG_1980 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2000 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Oh Donald. Always the contrarian and being ahh-fooey about dreams. Actually he sort of reminds me of DS4 who finds pleasure these days in disagreeing just to disagree with his sister or us.


IMG_2002 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2001 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Minnie wishing to become a princess.


IMG_2004 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

That opens the fairytale floodgates and the princesses and their princes enter.


IMG_2006 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Is it just me or does Prince Charming bear a striking resemblance to Gaston? Hmmmm.


IMG_2009 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2011 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2014 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2021 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2024 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2029 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2034 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2040 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr


IMG_2050 by DaveinFallsChurch, on Flickr

Continued in Part II! Apparently I kind of went shutter crazy with this show and took lots of pictures so will have to split this into two updates which I promise will have up in a couple of days.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Ooops. In my eagerness to post an update forgot to reply first!

I think it falls under the classification of "if you knew, you wouldn't eat it."

Agreed!

Good save. That could have been ugly.

What I didn't say is buying two Yetis still led to bickering between the children later because they couldn't tell which one belonged to whom. I can't win.

Really????? I've always seen them. They might not be more active than those lions that hold down the rocks over at the safari, but they're always there.

I think it's just bad luck. Hopefully the January trip will break this string.

 

[SAT887]

I am so terrible! I did look through your AK update the other day I swear!!! I have a question for you - what is up with you and these prayer flags?? Hehehe.... Seriously lots of fantastic shots yet again! You fail to disappoint!! Also, I now spend my life buying everything in pairs as well - its just easier! The scorn you can receive is brutal from little kids!! I too love all the detail in AK, it is such an interesting park.

Oooo the castle show! I don't think I have caught this in its entirety either... However, a few observations, Donald looks very fluffy! I have to say, the performers in Disney are fabulous - truly great at what they do. Love that you really caught that in your photos - I like how you singled them out.

Ok... I promise I will try and keep up!

 

[MEK]

I really enjoyed scrolling through your pictures while sipping my morning coffee. Unfortunately, I have to get ready for work now. Blah!

Loved all the pics. Great perspective and some really unique shots. I especially loved the Finding Nemo shots. I am never close enough to actually SEE the expressions on the actors face. That Dory is adorable.

There is also a very unique shot of the guitar outside of RnR. Very cool.

The private event at HS looks fun.

 

[khertz]

Despite knowing every word to Dream Along With Mickey, this year was the first year for us seeing it beginning to end too!

Your CIA lens is pretty amazing to get such close up shots of all of the performers! They always look so into their performance, you know they are all working so hard! I definitely recognize that Prince (as in, the one whose name is just The Prince from Snow White) as the one we met at MNSSHP. I guess I thought the ones out meeting in the parks would be different from the ones on stage. So that's pretty cool to see that they can do both!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Wow, you're in my head Dave. I'm in the exact same boat in that I have never seen Dream Along beginning to end. I've been close, but never completely start to finish. I even did as you and arrived for one finally before the start time... and then... it rained. It's on the list though.

Excellent description comparing to to Wishes too!!!

I love looking at your photos of this so much!! I specifically remember the dancer in your first photo too. I remember how great her facial expressions are throughout the show. Obviously the characters are fab, but the dancers really bring this show to life.