Discovering Another Mad Dash (Oct 14): Heading Home and Finally finishing this TR #1523 (05/03)

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It's all about Rides Today....But We Do have to Eat


Discovery #51. It's always worth taking some time out for a break and to eat after a full morning of rides at DLR.



It might be all about rides today but we do have to eat. The group talked about possible food options but as we were right there, this was the logical quick service stop.






I can't speak for Bret or Alison but by our standards, it was a late lunch. Evidently, a lot of people eat late by our standards!






I tried to focus on what I was going to order.






Really I did. But the details didn't escape me that day.






There was a lot of reflecting on the menu offerings. Breakfast seemed like such a long time ago that everything on the menu seemed delicious. It was hard picking which dish we were going to eat.






Being a quick service, there were examples of the food on offer. If anything, it made the decision even harder.






Especially the seasonal sweet treats.












The thing I've always loved about the French Market is that despite being a quick service, the salads are made-to-order. I do traditionally order a soup and salad here.






DH got the Na Awlin's salad.






He was the only one that went with a salad. DS got the corn chowder.






Bret got the Market French Dip.






The beef looked great!






Alison and DAF split the French Quarter Chicken.






With soup and salad taken care of by my boys, I got the Jumbalaya. It was delicious!






I'm not sure who's TR it was that I read about the Mint Julep. Whoever you are, I thank you! It was a great way to top off my meal.






In fact, after packing in the rides this morning, taking a break and eating lunch was a great idea. It sure refuelled us all again.








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[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It's all about Rides Today....Big Thunder Mountain


Discovery #52. This old favourite really is awesome.



I know that visitors to Disney get disappointed when rides they are looking forward to are down for a scheduled maintenance or rehab. I have to say that I am one of those visitors. Last year, I had been disappointed to learn that an old favourite was down and out for a long duration.






It left a big empty space in my Disney wish list; and whilst I was able to experience the WDW version of it on the same trip, it just wasn't the same.






However, I was pleased to learn that this old dinosaur of a ride was undergoing a major refurbishment. Afterall, Disney is open 365 days of the year so the only way that they get to do their maintenance and rehabs is whilst the park is opened. And it also means that the favourite attractions are going to be around for a long while to come.






We had managed to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad yesterday but there had been this rather tall person in front of me that I felt like I missed out on the full effects of the refurbishment. Today promised to be better! (Picture courtesy of Bret.)






Roll up! It really feels like a Magical Mystery Tour is waiting to take you away through this mountain.






And we're off!






Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side. It’s the Climb!






Someone was having a lot of fun!






I enjoyed keeping an eye out for the critters on this mountain.











It really is such a rush to be this high.






Another great run round the mountain....






....before we hit the explosive section.







Yup. As I expected.











This section is so MUCH better without someone in front of me.






This old favourite really is awesome.

 

[franandaj]

Great lunch photos! That was a very good meal. I'll have to go back there yet again. That was a nice shot that Bret got of my hair!

Big Thunder was a lot of fun and your explosion shots are really good!

Where low light photography is concerned, the right camera and lens combination does help. You already got a great camera, it might be time for a good lens.

You and Fran just need to decide on price and whether you want a zoom lens or a prime lens.
FWIW, in case you're thinking of a prime lens, the 50 mm f/1.8 lens is a good lens and at a good price. I personally find that it is too tight for the dark rides. The 28 mm or 35 mm prime focal lengths are better for Disney. For me, the zooms give me a lot more flexibility as I shoot other subjects (other than just Disney). It just comes down to what you want to shoot and whether the lens suits your shooting style.

I do want a F/1.8 lens. My Dad must have had a pretty good camera because I liked that aperture, and mine only goes to 4.0. So does the mm represent how far or how wide the lens goes? A lot of my shooting would be at Disney. We don't get out to other places a lot, though Fran says she wants to.

 

[ACDSNY]

Lunch looks great and BTMRR is my fav!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Great lunch photos! That was a very good meal. I'll have to go back there yet again. That was a nice shot that Bret got of my hair!

Big Thunder was a lot of fun and your explosion shots are really good!

Bret got great shots of both our hairs!

Thanks.

I do want a F/1.8 lens. My Dad must have had a pretty good camera because I liked that aperture, and mine only goes to 4.0. So does the mm represent how far or how wide the lens goes? A lot of my shooting would be at Disney. We don't get out to other places a lot, though Fran says she wants to.

Yes, the mm is the width of the lens.

Canon makes a 35mm f/1.4 lens. If money were no object, that would probably be the best one for Disney shooting.

Sigma makes a 30mm f/1.4 lens. I haven't tried this lens out but lots of Canon photographers like this one too. It's definitely a value for money lens.

Canon also makes a 28mm f/1.8 lens. I can't decide between this one and the Sigma; so neither have made it into my bag yet.

I shoot with the Canon 17 - 55mm f/2.8 zoom. That's a great lens as well. It just comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend.

Lunch looks great and BTMRR is my fav!

It's a hard pick for me. Everest Expedition and Radiator Springs are great as well.

 

[mvf-m11c]

It was nice to ride Splash that afternoon and I knew that DS wanted to go on that ride during the trip. Good thing I was in the back or I would have gotten soaked.

It was a nice choice to eat at the French Market that day.

BTMRR is great and amazing with the new additions. But I also do miss the old version especially the mine scene.

Great lunch photos! That was a very good meal. I'll have to go back there yet again. That was a nice shot that Bret got of my hair!

Big Thunder was a lot of fun and your explosion shots are really good!

I do want a F/1.8 lens. My Dad must have had a pretty good camera because I liked that aperture, and mine only goes to 4.0. So does the mm represent how far or how wide the lens goes? A lot of my shooting would be at Disney. We don't get out to other places a lot, though Fran says she wants to.

Your welcome.

Bret got great shots of both our hairs!

Thanks.


Yes, the mm is the width of the lens.

Canon makes a 35mm f/1.4 lens. If money were no object, that would probably be the best one for Disney shooting.

Sigma makes a 30mm f/1.4 lens. I haven't tried this lens out but lots of Canon photographers like this one too. It's definitely a value for money lens.

Canon also makes a 28mm f/1.8 lens. I can't decide between this one and the Sigma; so neither have made it into my bag yet.

I shoot with the Canon 17 - 55mm f/2.8 zoom. That's a great lens as well. It just comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend.

Your welcome.

Looks like PiO gave you a nice selection of lenses to choose that has an aperture of f/1.8 or better. Since I shoot Nikon, I know the choices that PiO wrote down are good lenses to choose from.

 

[skier_pete]

Mmmmm, the French Market looks pretty good. I do love me some Jambalaya.

Last year (OK 2013) we missed BTMRR at DLR, and then again we waited until our lasted day at WDW that year, and it was down again (broke down), so we missed it on Both coasts. SO annoying.

Nice job of capturing that explosion effect. I look forward to seeing it someday...

 

[LegoMom3]

I love that, between DLR and WDW, there is so much familiar, yet things are just different enough to be....well, different! Love the BTMRR shots! And glad you had no one blocking your view.

.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Thank you - I have now seen what the holiday overlay at HM actually looks like - so different. Def have to experience that one day. I still love Pirates the best at DL. BTMR looks like the refurb is good. Also looks like you had a great day. Belated happy new year to you and to all reading along.

 

[scottny]

Nice place to have breakfast.

I am afraid to do the submarine when we go for claustrophobia reasons.

Ooh those Christmas cookies looked good.

Nice pics on Autopia.

Teacups are fun but spinning fast is not. LOL.

Nice Small World pics.

Nice pics of POTC. The Paris one is great.

Love the pics inside Haunted mansion.

Nice fireworks pics. Happy New Year!

The French Market looked delicious. I must remember it for September.

Nice pics on BTMRR.

All caught up again.

 

[PrincessInOz]

It was nice to ride Splash that afternoon and I knew that DS wanted to go on that ride during the trip. Good thing I was in the back or I would have gotten soaked.

I knew I was doomed when I got second seat.

It was a nice choice to eat at the French Market that day.

BTMRR is great and amazing with the new additions. But I also do miss the old version especially the mine scene.

It sure is bittersweet when rides get a refurb makeover.

Mmmmm, the French Market looks pretty good. I do love me some Jambalaya.

Last year (OK 2013) we missed BTMRR at DLR, and then again we waited until our lasted day at WDW that year, and it was down again (broke down), so we missed it on Both coasts. SO annoying.

Nice job of capturing that explosion effect. I look forward to seeing it someday...

That would be pretty annoying to miss out coast to coast. Hope you get to ride the BTMRR at DLR soon.

I love that, between DLR and WDW, there is so much familiar, yet things are just different enough to be....well, different! Love the BTMRR shots! And glad you had no one blocking your view.

.

I like that there are differences. It just means that we have to visit ALL the parks to enjoy the differences.

Thank you - I have now seen what the holiday overlay at HM actually looks like - so different. Def have to experience that one day. I still love Pirates the best at DL. BTMR looks like the refurb is good. Also looks like you had a great day. Belated happy new year to you and to all reading along.

The holiday overlays at DLR are great. I also like the Ghost Galaxy version of Space Mountain. Hope you get to experience both some day.

Nice place to have breakfast.

I am afraid to do the submarine when we go for claustrophobia reasons.

Ooh those Christmas cookies looked good.

Nice pics on Autopia.

Teacups are fun but spinning fast is not. LOL.

Nice Small World pics.

Nice pics of POTC. The Paris one is great.

Love the pics inside Haunted mansion.

Nice fireworks pics. Happy New Year!

The French Market looked delicious. I must remember it for September.

Nice pics on BTMRR.

All caught up again.

Thanks Scott. Glad to see that you're definitely heading to California in September.

 

[PrincessInOz]

It's all about Rides Today....Time for California Adventure


Discovery #53. Nothing beats being able to walk between parks in under 10 minutes.



After lunch, we headed across the promenade to the other park.







And before anyone else points out the gaping holes in our rides to date....







No one was interested in the Toontown rides. We walked past Alice in Wonderland twice on this day. Both times, the ride was closed.






We also took a look at Indiana Jones on the walk out. We all decided to pass on it.



In truth, we had spent the better part of the day at Disneyland and it was time we got to the rides in the other park. I love that it takes less than 10 minutes to transition between the two parks.







We walked the straight line to Carsland.







No stopping anywhere.







You know where we're heading to, right?









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[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It's all about Rides Today....Radiator Springs Racers


Discovery #54. With the wind in my hair, I look like Cousin Itt!



We got right in line. (Thanks to my DH for taking this shot).






With the ECV, we were directed to this side.....






....Where the tracktorglyphs are.






Pretty soon we were strapped in staring at the No Dancing signs.






A couple of tugs on that yellow belt and we were off.






Willy's Butte always looks great from this vantage point.







As does Radiator Falls.






And then it was time to head inside and meet up with some old friends.






Mater had been out tracktor tipping again.






I've always liked the inside Radiator Springs Main Street area.






The neon lights are bright in Carsland.






And then it was on to check out the tyres.






Time for us to get white walled.






It really is fabulous in here.






And there is still the race to come!






I love this track!



















Time to say goodbye.






And check out how windblown we were! Or more accurately....me. Anyone else spot Cousin Itt??








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[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It's all about Rides Today....Who Said Toys were Cute and Fluffy? It's Just a Story!


Discovery #55. Shooting Toys is so much fun!



Next in our line-up.






It was our turn to don on those yellow square-eyes.






After San Diego, I had discovered that shooting was a lot of fun.






I was definitely looking at shooting cute, fluffy, unfocussed subjects to shoot.






Yeah. I guess I must have done some of this kind of shooting too.







I've never really concentrated on the Toy Mania part of this attraction. But after San Diego, I think next time, I'll work on unlocking some of the secret targets a bit more and seeing a different animal other than beaver.







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[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It's all about Rides Today....Grizzly Bearing down the last Mountain


Discovery #56. I really need to remember to bring water protection for my camera on the wet rides!



When we set our minds to it, my family really likes getting wet.






We'd already conquered Space, the Matterhorn, Splash and Big Thunder Mountains. That really only left one mountain at DLR to grizzly bear down on.






It looks like DS took some time to catch up on a little rest.






But it wasn't for long. He was wide awake and happy to be getting wet yet again.






Bret, DAF and Alison sat this one out.






But before I got on the ride, Bret loaned me his plastic protective sleeve so that I would take my camera for a spin. Thanks Bret!






It really did nicely cap off this Mountain for me. Both up....






....and down.






And as we dropped....






....everyone was focussed on that wall of water that would wash in at the bottom.






The waterwall ended up mostly on DH and me. We got soaked!







Thankfully, the protective sleeve did work. My camera stayed dry. I have two of those sleeves somewhere in my house. I really need to remember to find them and bring them with me next time I head on a wet ride!





And thanks again, Bret. For the loan of the plastic sleeve and for the above picture!





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[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


It's all about Rides Today....Soarin' in the real California


Discovery #57. Enjoy the moment. You never know when you experience a bittersweet moment.



Everyone in our group loves this attraction. There's nothing like Soarin' in California proper.






I am so glad that I got to experience the original version before the refurb. Whilst I agree that this favourite attraction is due for a re-haul, the original still has a charm to it.







Hindsight is a wonderful thing. This memory is now a bittersweet moment. The next time we get on this ride, the film will probably be completely revamped.

 

[mvf-m11c]

We had a fun afternoon of going on all those different rides at DCA that afternoon from RSR, TSMM, GRR (which Alison, DAF and I didn't ride), and Soarin.

Your pictures from GRR are very nice and glad that you used the bag on the ride. I knew that DS wanted to go on GRR that day as well as Splash so he could get soaked. And I remember clearly after you got off GRR that all three of you were soaked.

It will be sad that Soarin is closed and getting a new refurbishment. Hopefully the new version will be good.

Great updates.

 

[IowaTater]

I love your pictures from Carsland. I would really love to make it out to California to experience it but DH still has his sights on another Florida trip. For some reason, even though I've shown him pictures of DL, the thought of going there over WDW just doesn't appeal to him .

I also can't talk him into water rides unless it's the log type ones. He doesn't like the raging rapids ones because he gets too wet. But Grizzly Mountain looks like so much fun!

Soarin' is one ride I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing yet. Sometimes I get motion sickness and I've heard sometimes this ride can bring it on in people. I may have to give it a shot on this trip though.

Glad you had a happy new year as well! When we were watching all the celebrations and they showed the fireworks in Australia, it made me think of you.

 

[PrincessInOz]

We had a fun afternoon of going on all those different rides at DCA that afternoon from RSR, TSMM, GRR (which Alison, DAF and I didn't ride), and Soarin.

Your pictures from GRR are very nice and glad that you used the bag on the ride. I knew that DS wanted to go on GRR that day as well as Splash so he could get soaked. And I remember clearly after you got off GRR that all three of you were soaked.

It will be sad that Soarin is closed and getting a new refurbishment. Hopefully the new version will be good.

Great updates.

Hopefully we'll get to have another fun afternoon again in the future, Bret.

I was happy with the GRR pictures. I really need to find that packet of those plastic sleeves! I think they are with my suitcases but I need to go look.

I hope the new version will be good too. Time will tell.

I love your pictures from Carsland. I would really love to make it out to California to experience it but DH still has his sights on another Florida trip. For some reason, even though I've shown him pictures of DL, the thought of going there over WDW just doesn't appeal to him .

I also can't talk him into water rides unless it's the log type ones. He doesn't like the raging rapids ones because he gets too wet. But Grizzly Mountain looks like so much fun!

Soarin' is one ride I haven't had the pleasure of experiencing yet. Sometimes I get motion sickness and I've heard sometimes this ride can bring it on in people. I may have to give it a shot on this trip though.

Glad you had a happy new year as well! When we were watching all the celebrations and they showed the fireworks in Australia, it made me think of you.

Nice to hear that they showed fireworks in Australia! I presume they would have shown the Sydney ones. They really are quite spectacular on the Harbour.

Aww. I hope that your DH relents at some stage and you get to go to California. It is worth being able to experience both.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

Love the pics of the rapids ride. I too hope Soarin is still as good with the refurb - I love that ride.