So glad you overcame your self consciousness though because wow! Your pictures in there are amazing! Mine are so much less sharp and more grainy. Also never having been on the ride before and not knowing any better, I totally blew out Sebastian's face.
Thanks! Sarah and I talked about Sebastian's overexposure problem on FB so I was more prepared this time. As soon as I saw him approaching I frantically started dialing up the shutter speed.
I somehow was able to get a few good shots off at Kiss the Girl scene.
Love your first Ariel shot - I found some of the lighting cast difficult shadows on her face.... Made for not so flattering pictures! Also, way to go on Sebastion!! While I can understand the hesitation - I'd be more freaked out by a stranger with your camera gear at my daughters gymnastics class - and not WDW! I bet people often thought you may have worked for Disney!
Totally agree about the shadows on Ariel's face - makes taking her picture so difficult. It's sort of like the opposite of Sebastian's lighting issues.
Funny you mentioned people thinking I worked with Disney. That actually happened on a couple of occasions where people would come up to me to ask questions thinking that I was a CM. Both times they corrected themselves halfway through their question when they quickly realized either by my totally confused look or the lack of name tag that I was not a Disney employee.
I have to admit Dave, I have yet to find a Disney activity I won't do solo. Well, other than Enchanted Tales, lol.
I remember riding Under the Sea for the very first time (and the very first day open to the public... just sayin') and EVERYBODY seemed to have their flash turned on. That's annoying enough, but the clamshells face one another at times so we got loads of flashes right in the eyes. Not pleasant.
And as a side note, the photos always look better with no flash anyway as your's totally demonstrate. Just beautiful.
Too funny about your solo activities because Enchanted Tales was the only princess attraction that didn't cause as much anxiety. I think it was because I could just blend into the crowd and it was less obvious that I was solo.
I completely agree with you about how photos from dark rides come out when a flash is used. That's actually my main beef about flash - it white washes out the beautiful colors and lighting. Everything is bathed in harsh light and you completely lose that ambiance that is unique to each of those rides. There's a reason why Disney decided to set up these rides in very dark settings. They just look better.
Um, yeah you are absolutely lucking out with your conference locations!
I agree, I think there are some things that you mentally have to get past when you're traveling solo. You mean you wouldn't want to ride alone on a princess ride every day?
Great Ursula picture! I love her on that ride. I have to get a shot every time. Although mine is with my iPhone, not a fancy dancy camera.
Glad you didn't turn into a pumpkin.
My next conference is all the way in Vancouver so no Disney solo trip in May.
Trying to get to Vancouver is a big pain from DC. I believe I have 3 hour layovers each way, once in San Francisco and once at O'hare.
Ursula is also one of my favorite things on that ride. Wish she had one more appearance considering that the Imagineers decided to completely omit the whole climax battle in the sea scene.
I am glad you got over your solo fear and you were able to enjoy LM. Did you wear dark glasses and a hat while you were getting on the ride.
I have done one solo trip from start to finish, but I have also traveled solo to meet other people at Disney/ Not quite the same. On my solo trip the only thing I really didn't want to do was eat at a TS by myself. When I am alone I just want to eat fast and get it over with.
I figured a hat and sunglasses would draw even more attention to me so didn't do it.
Here's one trick I've learned about eating solo at a sit down restaurant at Disney and other places. I always ask the hostess if I sitting at the bar is an option with the full menu being available. If it is, I take it because it feels so much more natural facing forward towards the bar and the bartender rather than staring at an empty chair. Also, if he/she is not busy the bartender is a good person to chat with during the meal.
Sorry, got off on a rant there Ill save my soapbox rant about flashes on dark rides for another time but let me just say she did ruin a good half of my pictures by shooting of her flash the same time I was taking the pictures. 
