Don't Fear the Rain, We Have the "Ducky of Death!"-Jan '14 **Bonus TR DCA 9/1 x2

[afwdwfan]

I still have yet to have caught a glimpse of Peter's shadow in this scene.

Well there's a shadow in the upper right corner...

Is Peter's shadow supposed to be a hidden Mickey somewhere in that room? I've never seen nor heard of that one!

He seemed to understand where I was coming from.

Or realized arguing with you would be futile... either way...

I don't think this hippo ever comes out looking good with that lazy eye. Always has that drunken look.

How do you think you'd look if you were bolted to the floor in there?

Entering the time warp! The lighting is all downhill from here.

I've never really thought of it this way before, but it kind of looks like you're being shoved through the slot of a toaster...

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Well, that title is certainly better than "Phantom Menace"...

Oh my your PP photos are wonderful. I'm not sure I've even attempted to get photos in there with the darkness AND the movement.

Pan is one ride I would be mortified if they even changed or updated. This needs to always stay exactly as is.

Small World still scary.

The strangest thing about Dinosaur for me is how I always hear about the "Dinos jumping out at you". I'm a jumpy person, but I've never understood that as I never felt "surprised" from the very first time I ever rode.

 

[khaleesi]

That DC photo is truly awesome. I miss it there. I lived in the Laurel/Beltsville area for a year and a half.

Boo to bad service... although, I guess there are different levels of bad. I've had service that was downright rude (not at Disney). And to be honest, I probably would have paid for the pizza, too.

I love Peter Pan's Flight and that scene over London is definitely my favorite! It's not my favorite movie by any stretch but I love the ride.

 

[khertz]

The dark rides always give DH quite a bit of a challenge too! Peter Pan is an especially difficult one, but you managed really well. The London scene looks fantastic! Since it was closed in October, we are really looking forward to taking Paxton on it again in May.

Paxton is kind of the same way on Small World! He always wants to go on it and proclaims it his favorite ride, but he always just sits there silently. I guess like you said they are just taking it all in!

It's nice to see your photos of Dinosaur because I haven't been on that ride in years and don't plan to for a long time. I'm such a chicken for that ride! Give me the biggest, scariest looking coasters any day over that ride!

Looking forward to see what you got inside of Haunted Mansion.

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Dave, don't sell yourself short. You make the difficult look easy, and the impossible look good.

Ditto!!! I would love to have your skills!

Thank you to you both for such kind words! Really appreciate it!

Fun to read through your photographs (not really sure if "read" through is the right term) as it make me feel like I am reliving the rides - especially for Peter Pan and It's a Small World (less so for Dinosaur since I have never been on that ... I know, bad DISer right?)

Fully agree with you about the scene "flying" over London - especially with the forced perspective they use of the buildings getting smaller to make it feel like you are flying higher.

I actually like photographing It's a Small World because there are just so many bizarre scenes

That's the one thing I do like about Small World. Each time I go on it, I spot something that I had not noticed before!

The flying over London scene on Peter Pan always gives me a bit of goosebumps.

Is Peter's shadow supposed to be a hidden Mickey somewhere in that room? I've never seen nor heard of that one!

I've never really thought of it this way before, but it kind of looks like you're being shoved through the slot of a toaster...

I didn't realize the whole Peter Pan's shadow thing until a couple of weeks ago when I someone's photo that captured a clear silhouette on the wall behind Wendy. Either it's really there or someone photoshopped it in.

And now that you mention it, you're totally right about the toaster! From now on I'll call it "entering the toaster" instead of the time warp.

Well, that title is certainly better than "Phantom Menace"...

Oh my your PP photos are wonderful. I'm not sure I've even attempted to get photos in there with the darkness AND the movement.

Pan is one ride I would be mortified if they even changed or updated. This needs to always stay exactly as is.

Small World still scary.

The strangest thing about Dinosaur for me is how I always hear about the "Dinos jumping out at you". I'm a jumpy person, but I've never understood that as I never felt "surprised" from the very first time I ever rode.

Oh, the Phantom Menace. When they announced that title way back I thought it was some sort of joke.

I'm not going to lie. The very first time I went on Dinosaur I nearly jumped out of my seat (but couldn't thanks to the seatbelt!) when that giant dinosaur popped out and roared in our faces!

That DC photo is truly awesome. I miss it there. I lived in the Laurel/Beltsville area for a year and a half.

Boo to bad service... although, I guess there are different levels of bad. I've had service that was downright rude (not at Disney). And to be honest, I probably would have paid for the pizza, too.

I love Peter Pan's Flight and that scene over London is definitely my favorite! It's not my favorite movie by any stretch but I love the ride.

I love photographing DC! I'm going to try to get out a lot more for photography this spring once the temperature warms up. Probably a couple of night time photography along the National Mall and would like to do a photo tour of Georgetown area for the first time.

The dark rides always give DH quite a bit of a challenge too! Peter Pan is an especially difficult one, but you managed really well. The London scene looks fantastic! Since it was closed in October, we are really looking forward to taking Paxton on it again in May.

Paxton is kind of the same way on Small World! He always wants to go on it and proclaims it his favorite ride, but he always just sits there silently. I guess like you said they are just taking it all in!

It's nice to see your photos of Dinosaur because I haven't been on that ride in years and don't plan to for a long time. I'm such a chicken for that ride! Give me the biggest, scariest looking coasters any day over that ride!

Looking forward to see what you got inside of Haunted Mansion.

Thanks Kristy! I got just a few shots from the Haunted Mansion but will post them tomorrow evening.

I forgot that Peter Pan was closed back in October! But you're right and now I remember being a little disappointed about it back then. Well, your May trip is getting ever so close so you can make up for it then!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Continuing on the subject of dark rides we now arrive at The Haunted Mansion. This is probably my favorite dark ride in all of Disney. There’s so much history behind this attraction and so many memorable characters. Mix that in with some childhood nostalgia and the awesome experience during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and it easily becomes my favorite dark ride attraction. My childhood memories didn’t start out quite nicely. For some reason I remember being terrified of trying it for the first time. I vividly remember my mom trying to convince me that it would be more fun and less scary. My younger brother who was always fearless when we were kids also tried to coax me into going on it. So the three of us squeezed into a Doom Buggy and during the entire time I had my eyes tightly closed and just listening to the sounds of the Mansion with the occasional exaggerated screams from a near by Buggy filled with teenagers. I also remember near the end of the ride my mom telling me it was okay to open my eyes because we were at a funny scene – the mirrors with the Hitch Hiking Ghosts. I don’t quite remember when I stopped being afraid of it but it did eventually happen.

All of this to tell you that our DD has been treating this attraction in the exact same manner. I’m pretty sure this is all from my side of the gene pool. Every trip we try to convince her that she will actually enjoy it and every time she decides not to and wait with another adult while the rest of the group goes in. This trip was no different. Having been that child myself I really still didn’t feel like pushing her so DW volunteered this time to stay with her and check out the shops around Liberty Square while the rest of went in. DSIL was also a bit hesitant about trying it because it turned out she had envisioned a very adult-oriented haunted house, something you would expect to find over at Universal’s Halloween fest. That’s when I realized that my brother’s family had never been on HM during that one trip they took two years ago! I actually joked out loud at that moment “Just exactly what rides ***did*** you go on last time?” because it almost seemed that they pretty much missed out on all of the iconic attractions at Disney.

DS was feeling quite adventurous so although I could tell he wasn’t a 100% sure if this would be good for him, he tagged along with me and ended up enjoying it, a LOT! He didn’t even flinch when the lights went out in the Stretching Room! He particularly enjoyed the Happy Haunts in the cemetery scene. After he came hopping out of the exit, he began encouraging DD that “It really isn’t scary at all! It’s a lot of fun!” Still didn’t change her mind. DSIL also said afterwards that this was her favorite attraction at Magic Kingdom!

As far as photography is concerned, the Hitch Hiking Ghosts has become an obsession of mine as I try to nail that perfect shot. Each time I’m getting closer and I was happy with my attempt this time around with the only exception of cutting off part of the ghost on the left hand side of the photo.



Madame Leota is always a fun subject to photograph from the various angles as the Buggy circles around her.



Of all of the interesting characters that HM introduces to us, I think I’m most fascinated by The Bride. She does have the darkest backstory and it’s interesting to read various versions of her story on the internet. There doesn’t seem to be an official version from Disney which I think makes it more fun for fans to come up with different theories on how she came to be.



I think that provides a perfect segway to the last dark ride for the update – Winnie the Pooh! Ok, you’re right. The two rides couldn’t be more different. We were able to do this back to back on the standby queue around 10:30am on our first MK day when crowds were as low as it could be thanks to the weather. I think the kids enjoy the interactive queue as much as the ride itself. Drums. Ball poppers. What’s not to like?



Judging from the pictures I took (a lot of Tigger and very little Pooh), I clearly thought that this was Tigger’s ride and not Pooh’s.



The hopping with Tigger portion of the ride is my favorite.











I still have trouble following the storyline through the ride but it’s got some good visuals. As soon as we got off the kids wanted to go right back again. Since the wait was still only at 5 minutes we entered the queue right away.

 

[MEK]

Those dark ride pictures are absolutely amazing. Your best work yet. I am amazed that you got the Hitch Hiking Ghosts and all those dark shots on Peter Pan are incredible. Strong work!

 

[JDUB]

Amazing photos as always Dave! You nailed the Hitch Hikers!!! Can't wait til yer DD finally goes on HM.... Will be a proud moment to photograph!!! Luckily my kids have no fear and when my youngest was 2-1/2 yrs old riding ToT. Also lucky I have very tall children who can ride at a young age. We are still waiting on RnRC on our youngest now. Although having a group of 5 scares me when I can't be next to them on the big coasters.

What's next now that the dark rides are over?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I too love the history of the HM - still can't believe it was originally going to be a walkthrough attraction.

Nice pics of HM.

I too have trouble following details of the plot of Pooh. Granted I tend to just focus on how I wish it was still Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

 

[Credit Man]

Your photographic skills continue to amaze, Dave. Beautifully done!!!

 

[amazingact21]

Well, those are some of the best dark rides photos I've seen on a trip report, hands down. I especially love the hitch hiking ghosts one. Pretty amazing.


I never put too much thought into the fear factor of HM before. I didn't go on it until I was a teenager, and by then the "scary aspect" was gone. Perhaps one day your DD will take that turn on the attraction like you did years ago and develop a smiliar passion for the ride.

 

[jordansmama]

Great pictures (as always)!! Loved the HM and Pooh ones!!

 

[momabbate]

Love your Hm and Tiger ride pictures. I always thought it how a shy bear could steal the show over a Tiger. Funny story of you riding HM as a child.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Of course, I couldn't agree more about HM and it's icon-isity (new word). I honestly do not remember ever having a fear of this ride ever. I really don't. But I sure do have great memories of it like my father scaring the life out of a couple of teen girls in the adjacent Doom Buggy when I was but a child. That's something I will never forget (clearly).

AHHH those HM photos are SO FREAKING AWESOME Dave!!!

I love the Pooh ride, but like Phil, I really miss Mr. Toad and could not have been more excited to ride it in 2012 out west.

 

[emilyindisney]

I think the neon/black light paint translates really nicely in your pictures. Better than in person, I think!

 

[Aristocath]

Your pictures are amazing! Great job on the dark rides.

 

[afwdwfan]

All of this to tell you that our DD has been treating this attraction in the exact same manner. I’m pretty sure this is all from my side of the gene pool. Every trip we try to convince her that she will actually enjoy it and every time she decides not to and wait with another adult while the rest of the group goes in. This trip was no different. Having been that child myself I really still didn’t feel like pushing her so DW volunteered this time to stay with her and check out the shops around Liberty Square while the rest of went in.

I have a feeling we might have to use this strategy with DS. He seems to be scared of just about everything here lately...

That’s when I realized that my brother’s family had never been on HM during that one trip they took two years ago! I actually joked out loud at that moment “Just exactly what rides ***did*** you go on last time?” because it almost seemed that they pretty much missed out on all of the iconic attractions at Disney.

Well... there was the carousel...

DS was feeling quite adventurous so although I could tell he wasn’t a 100% sure if this would be good for him, he tagged along with me and ended up enjoying it, a LOT! He didn’t even flinch when the lights went out in the Stretching Room! He particularly enjoyed the Happy Haunts in the cemetery scene. After he came hopping out of the exit, he began encouraging DD that “It really isn’t scary at all! It’s a lot of fun!” Still didn’t change her mind. DSIL also said afterwards that this was her favorite attraction at Magic Kingdom!

I'm glad the kids that rode, enjoyed it!

I still have trouble following the storyline through the ride but it’s got some good visuals.

There's a story line????


Great pictures. Especially of the ghosts. I realize it may not be framed perfectly, but that really is an iconic picture and probably the first thing most people imagine when they think about HM. Just keep trying to improve!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Those dark ride pictures are absolutely amazing. Your best work yet. I am amazed that you got the Hitch Hiking Ghosts and all those dark shots on Peter Pan are incredible. Strong work!

Thank you! Next time I hope I can get a good shot of Peter and Hook's duel!

Amazing photos as always Dave! You nailed the Hitch Hikers!!! Can't wait til yer DD finally goes on HM.... Will be a proud moment to photograph!!! Luckily my kids have no fear and when my youngest was 2-1/2 yrs old riding ToT. Also lucky I have very tall children who can ride at a young age. We are still waiting on RnRC on our youngest now. Although having a group of 5 scares me when I can't be next to them on the big coasters.

What's next now that the dark rides are over?

That's awesome that your kids go on all those attractions! DD tried ToT for the first time on this trip and was less than thrilled to say the least.

I think for my next update we'll be making another visit to Animal Kingdom!

I too love the history of the HM - still can't believe it was originally going to be a walkthrough attraction.

Nice pics of HM.

I too have trouble following details of the plot of Pooh. Granted I tend to just focus on how I wish it was still Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

I really miss Mr. Toad's! Was happy to try it a couple of years ago when I had a chance to visit DL.

Your photographic skills continue to amaze, Dave. Beautifully done!!!

Thank you very much for the kind words!

Well, those are some of the best dark rides photos I've seen on a trip report, hands down. I especially love the hitch hiking ghosts one. Pretty amazing.

I never put too much thought into the fear factor of HM before. I didn't go on it until I was a teenager, and by then the "scary aspect" was gone. Perhaps one day your DD will take that turn on the attraction like you did years ago and develop a smiliar passion for the ride.

Thank you so much!

I think DD will be willing to go on HM next time. Pretty sure DS will provide some reassurance for her now that he knows how much fun the attraction is!

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Great pictures (as always)!! Loved the HM and Pooh ones!!

Thank you! I love taking pictures in HM!

Love your Hm and Tiger ride pictures. I always thought it how a shy bear could steal the show over a Tiger. Funny story of you riding HM as a child.

I have to agree with you about Tigger and Pooh. It's good though that both Tigger and Piglet had their "own" movies recently.

Of course, I couldn't agree more about HM and it's icon-isity (new word). I honestly do not remember ever having a fear of this ride ever. I really don't. But I sure do have great memories of it like my father scaring the life out of a couple of teen girls in the adjacent Doom Buggy when I was but a child. That's something I will never forget (clearly).

AHHH those HM photos are SO FREAKING AWESOME Dave!!!

I love the Pooh ride, but like Phil, I really miss Mr. Toad and could not have been more excited to ride it in 2012 out west.

Thanks Rob!

I got to ride Mr. Toad at DL back in October of 2012! Have lots of childhood memories about that one too!

Funny you should mention how your Dad scared the occupants of a neighboring buggy because someone did that to me a couple of years after my first ride.

I think the neon/black light paint translates really nicely in your pictures. Better than in person, I think!

Thanks Emily! Those neon/black light paints kind of give Pooh's ride a bit of a "psychedelic" feel to the ride, doesn't it?

Your pictures are amazing! Great job on the dark rides.

Thank you so much!

I have a feeling we might have to use this strategy with DS. He seems to be scared of just about everything here lately...

Well... there was the carousel...

Great pictures. Especially of the ghosts. I realize it may not be framed perfectly, but that really is an iconic picture and probably the first thing most people imagine when they think about HM. Just keep trying to improve!

You're right! They did go on the carousel on their last trip!

Our DS is soon going to be way ahead of DD in terms of trying out new rides.

Yep, I'm going to keep trying for those Hitch Hiking Ghosts! I think I'm so close to nailing it.

 

[DDuck4Life]

Looks like the lens you rented really worked out well for you. You were able to get some great shots in the dark rides. love the HM ones. I'm still trying to get the hitchhiking ghost, since now DS has decided he is too scared to ride I really haven't had a chance to try and get it. Hopefully he will be more willing and not as scared this trip.

I wish I could ride some of these over and over to try and get the shots I want. With only one ride through I usually miss something. Ready for when DS to wants to ride more than small world and the carousel over and over again.