Disneyland To Do List - updated 2/13

[greens_in_WA]

We're going to Disneyland in one week and the DW as agreed to me going back to the parks, after the kids are bedded down, alone. I'm trying to compile a list of shots I want to shoot before I go, but I'll have a notebook with me so I can jot down some more as we're walking through the parks.

So far my list is:
-Sleeping Beauty's Castle from the left side and other misc. shots
-Remember Dreams Come True fireworks
-Disneyland Firestation at night (with WED apartment)
-Main Street night and day - long exposure
-Pixie Hollow at night
-The DCA "CALIFORNIA" sign panoramic
-Tower of Terror at night
-GRR mill wheel at night
-Paradise Pier area in DCA at night (CS and Fun Wheel) and Daytime with reflection in lagoon
-Indy queue inside and out
-Cave behind BTMRR
-Tomorrowland @ night (esp Astro Orbiter)
-DCA lighthouse (taken from the Fun Wheel area with GRR in background)

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

TIA

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Photos at http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35418849&postcount=19

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I'd add the plaza area at DCA - the Hollywood Studios entrance sign and several other neon's around that area.

 

[Master Mason]

We're going to Disneyland in one week and the DW as agreed to me going back to the parks, after the kids are bedded down, alone. I'm trying to compile a list of shots I want to shoot before I go, but I'll have a notebook with me so I can jot down some more as we're walking through the parks.

So far my list is:
-Sleeping Beauty's Castle from the left side and other misc. shots
-Remember Dreams Come True fireworks
-Disneyland Firestation at night (with WED apartment)
-Main Street night and day - long exposure
-Pixie Hollow at night
-The DCA "CALIFORNIA" sign panoramic
-Tower of Terror at night
-GRR mill wheel at night
-Paradise Pier area in DCA at night (CS and Fun Wheel) and Daytime with reflection in lagoon
-Indy queue inside and out
-Cave behind BTMRR
-Tomorrowland @ night (esp Astro Orbiter)
-DCA lighthouse (taken from the Fun Wheel area with GRR in background)

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

TIA

I'don't know if the water level is up enough to get the relfection in DCA, last time I was there it was still below the level of the water cannons.

Also, there are a large amount of temp walls while they are doing the remodel, so your normal angles may be blocked.

 

[scoot241]

FYI, I think the new fireworks show is called Believe.

 

[greens_in_WA]

I'd add the plaza area at DCA - the Hollywood Studios entrance sign and several other neon's around that area.

This is a great idea, I'll add it to my list

I'don't know if the water level is up enough to get the relfection in DCA, last time I was there it was still below the level of the water cannons.

Also, there are a large amount of temp walls while they are doing the remodel, so your normal angles may be blocked.

Thanks for the info, I'll have to see what I can do to work around the walls. When were you there last?

FYI, I think the new fireworks show is called Believe.

According to the DL website, they are still going to be doing the Remember fireworks.

 

[Master Mason]

This is a great idea, I'll add it to my list



Thanks for the info, I'll have to see what I can do to work around the walls. When were you there last?



According to the DL website, they are still going to be doing the Remember fireworks.

I was there last at the end of November. They did Believe during the summer, but I honestly think it was a cost cutting thing as it wasn't as good as remember.

 

[NostalgicDad]

FYI, I think the new fireworks show is called Believe.

Magical was done last summer, Believe was during the holidays, and RDCT has made a return but I don't recall how long it will be running.

 

[greens_in_WA]

I was there last at the end of November. They did Believe during the summer, but I honestly think it was a cost cutting thing as it wasn't as good as remember.

Then I should be glad that it RDCT

Any other shot suggestions?

 

[scoot241]

Magical was done last summer, Believe was during the holidays, and RDCT has made a return but I don't recall how long it will be running.

Wow, that's confusing. RDCT is an awesome show though. When I saw it, at first I though it was going to be similar to Wishes because it uses the same music at the beginning. I was very wrong, and I think RDCT is better than Wishes.

 

[Master Mason]

Then I should be glad that it RDCT

Any other shot suggestions?

You can get some interesting shots of the Materhorn from near space mountain.

Danny has some great shots of the fountians in DTD.

Here are my disney shots, for what I have found interesting.
http://ghsportphoto.com/Travel/Disney

 

[KCmike]

RDCT is much better than Wishes. It is by far the best firework show. It will run till Summer. Fantasmic! is also better than WDW's version but it won't show until late May. World of Color won't begin until May either. Oh well you can make a return visit.

Here are some possible great shots.
It's a Small World at night
Haunted Mansion
Adventure Land and the Tiki Torches
Obvious front of DL at night with the clock tower
Peter Pan's Clock Tower at night
Teacups at night - its outside under the lights with the Matterhorn in background
Mickey's Fun Wheel

Have a great trip!

 

[greens_in_WA]

You can get some interesting shots of the Materhorn from near space mountain.

Danny has some great shots of the fountians in DTD.

Here are my disney shots, for what I have found interesting.
http://ghsportphoto.com/Travel/Disney

I've seen some of Danny's work and I wish I was half as good as he is. I'll have to see if I can get a long exposure shot of the shooting fountain in DTD.

I could page through your photos for hours, but alas I must go to bed.

RDCT is much better than Wishes. It is by far the best firework show. It will run till Summer. Fantasmic! is also better than WDW's version but it won't show until late May. World of Color won't begin until May either. Oh well you can make a return visit.

Here are some possible great shots.
It's a Small World at night
Haunted Mansion
Adventure Land and the Tiki Torches
Obvious front of DL at night with the clock tower
Peter Pan's Clock Tower at night
Teacups at night - its outside under the lights with the Matterhorn in background
Mickey's Fun Wheel

Have a great trip!

We're a little bummed that F! won't be running, but we gotta get our fix and we have seen it in the past. We have gone to DL a least once a year for the last 6 years, except we went to WDW for the first time in Jan 2009. This is my first trip with a DSLR at DL, it's just been a p&s in the past. We hope to go again in Dec, but we'll have to see what happens with DW's job situation.

These are all great suggestions, I hope I can do them all

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Buzz lightyear!!! I loved trying to take photos on the ride. I also went to some show with live animals. Im pretty sure I was at disneyland. I took pictures of a sign with a aligator and a flower and I think these are the best photos I ever took (and they look great cut out in my scrapbook)

 

[Master Mason]

Buzz lightyear!!! I loved trying to take photos on the ride. I also went to some show with live animals. Im pretty sure I was at disneyland. I took pictures of a sign with a aligator and a flower and I think these are the best photos I ever took (and they look great cut out in my scrapbook)

I'm not aware of any live animal show at either DL or DCA. In DTD they have a small one in front of the Rain Forest Cafe. There is the Round up in DL where they have a few animals, but they are either for petting or just to look at depending on what animals they have out.

 

[DBL101]

I'don't know if the water level is up enough to get the relfection in DCA, last time I was there it was still below the level of the water cannons.

Also, there are a large amount of temp walls while they are doing the remodel, so your normal angles may be blocked.

There was enough water in November for me to get this from the bridge:

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

RDCT is much better than Wishes. It is by far the best firework show. It will run till Summer. Fantasmic! is also better than WDW's version but it won't show until late May. World of Color won't begin until May either. Oh well you can make a return visit.

Here are some possible great shots.
It's a Small World at night
Haunted Mansion
Adventure Land and the Tiki Torches
Obvious front of DL at night with the clock tower
Peter Pan's Clock Tower at night
Teacups at night - its outside under the lights with the Matterhorn in background
Mickey's Fun Wheel

Have a great trip!

+2 I agree RDCT is the best fireworks show Disney puts on! I also think F! at DL blows the WDW version out of the water! (pun intended)
OP have a great trip to our Laughing Place and come back and show us your awesome photos!

 

[greens_in_WA]

Thanks everyone for the tips and ideas.

We leave day after tomorrow and DW and I really excited. The best part is we have been able to keep it a secret from the kids (DD8 & DS4). We'll be taking video when we tell them Saturday morning at breakfast.

 

[Groucho]

Wow, that's confusing. RDCT is an awesome show though. When I saw it, at first I though it was going to be similar to Wishes because it uses the same music at the beginning. I was very wrong, and I think RDCT is better than Wishes.

RDCT is much better than Wishes. It is by far the best firework show. It will run till Summer. Fantasmic! is also better than WDW's version but it won't show until late May. World of Color won't begin until May either. Oh well you can make a return visit.

Ditto - RDCT blows Wishes out of the water. I'm glad to hear that it's made a return though probably not for long enough. World of Color looks like it should also be incredible.

FWIW, I have some form of these shots in my most recent DL gallery, if you're curious for an approximate idea of what to expect. Feel free to improve upon them.
-Sleeping Beauty's Castle from the left side and other misc. shots
-Remember Dreams Come True fireworks
-Main Street night and day - long exposure
-The DCA "CALIFORNIA" sign panoramic
-Tower of Terror at night
-GRR mill wheel at night
-Tomorrowland @ night (esp Astro Orbiter)

 

[greens_in_WA]

We got home late on Wednesday night from a five day adventure. It was rainy Saturday before we got there and on Tuesday.

The parks closed early due to the rain on Saturday and the fireworks were cancelled, but the rain had stopped and the parks were quiet (we walked onto Dumbo). They were also cancelled Sunday night due to winds aloft.

It rained buckets Tuesday morning up until about 5:30PM, this actually turned out to be a good thing, the parks were DEAD. We're from the Seattle area, so whats a bit of rain to us, we just did the inside rides. We did the Fantasyland rides in the with the Early Entry, and a whole lot of other stuff (Tomorrowland, Indy, DW and DS rode Splash MT 3 or 4 times in a row). We were able to ride POTC twice without getting off, then Haunted Mansion. We decided to go to the Blue Bayou for dinner walked up at 5PM, no ressies, and got seated almost immeadiately by the water. After dinner, we went over to Fantasyland, walked onto Peter Pan twice, did Mr Toad's, Snow White, it's a small world and the carrousel.

My final list was:
-Sleeping Beauty's Castle from the left side and misc.
-Remember Dreams Come True fireworks
-Disneyland Fire station at night (with WED apartment)
-Main Street night and day - long exposure
-Pixie Hollow at night
-The DCA "CALIFORNIA" sign panoramic
-Tower of Terror at night
-GRR mill wheel at night
-Paradise Pier area in DCA at night (CS and Fun Wheel) and Daytime with reflection in lagoon
-Indy queue inside and out
-Cave behind BTMRR
-Tomorrowland @ night (esp. Astro Orbiter)
-DCA lighthouse (taken from the Fun Wheel or carrousel area with GRR in background)
-Restroom signs
-It's a Small World at night
-Haunted Mansion
-Adventure Land and the Tiki Torches
-Obvious front of DL at night with the clock tower
-Peter Pan's Clock Tower at night
-Teacups at night under the lights with the Matterhorn in background
-Matterhorn from near space mountain
-DTD fountains.

I was only able to do the following:
Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Disneyland Fire station

Main Street night

Pixie Hollow at night

The DCA "CALIFORNIA" sign panoramic

Paradise Pier area in DCA at night

DCA lighthouse (taken from the Fun Wheel or carrousel area with GRR in background)

Not to thrilled with this shot, the lighthouse was not lit and I cut off too much of the base.

Indy queue

Tomorrowland @ night

Adventure Land and the Tiki Torches

Obvious front of DL at night with the clock tower

Bonus shots
Big Thunder Mountain RailRoad

Aladdin show

Jedi Training Academy both DD8 and DS4 got picked

I guess I have to plan another trip to go back to get the rest of the list

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

Very nice photos of my favorite park!