DON'T Read This TRIP REPORT If You're a Princess Hater!

[mom2rtk]

I just got sooo excited, I was going to see your Tea Party pictures. I just booked it with Kadence! I guess I need to come back ....soon?

I am debating on if I should get Kadence a Sleeping Beauty gown or not. I can't ask her, maybe I should just look for one and if I find one that wows me, I dicuss it with DH. We'll see

You were posting just as I was! So the photos are there now.

I'm so glad you get to do the tea party. You will have a wonderful time! Most of the girls go in costume, but not necessarily Sleeping Beauty. However, I do think it makes for some really memorable photos.

Let me know if you have any questions about it!

 

[mom2rtk]

Those were some great night shot pictures. What kinda of camera did you use?

Thank you! Here's your official...........



I have a Canon T2i, and a variety of different lenses I use for different situations. Some situations need a high ISO and fast shutter speed. Some need a long shutter speed and a tripod. If you have questions on anything specific, ask away. You might have noticed, we chat a lot of photography here too!

 

[Caretames1]

Let me know if you have any questions about it!

I have aquestion, I edited my last post to include it. But, here goes,

The doll that is included, is kind of like an American Girl doll? Is it nice?

 

[mom2rtk]

I have aquestion, I edited my last post to include it. But, here goes,

The doll that is included, is kind of like an American Girl doll? Is it nice?

The doll is the same size as an American Girl doll. It's not the same quality, but still nice. And I believe American Girl clothes will fit. I think the biggest difference is the quality of the hair.

My tip for the day? The doll will be there when you are seated. Immediately confiscate her shoes....... or you might be going home without them!

TEA PARTY FLASHBACK:

Here's my daughter and her friend in 2008:

And here's the doll we got:

This is the doll photo I took in 08. But I believe the doll and costume were the same on this last trip. I just didn't focus on the doll this trip since we already had one. If we could have booked the experience without the doll for a lower price, I would have.

 

[mom2rtk]

12/15/10: Perfectly Princess Tea Party & Fantasmic (Continued)

Once we got back to DHS, we had just enough time to find the Monsters, Inc. character photo op. I really wanted photos with Sulley, but it turns out only Mike was there. Maybe we’ll catch up with the big blue guy next time. Dinner at Mama Melrose was slow, but relaxed, which was nice. I really did enjoy having a slower day in the midst of all the park days this time.

As soon as dinner was over, we were just in time to head for Fantasmic. I wanted a good seat for taking photos. It was still pretty chilly out, but I wanted to brave the weather and water spray and sit closer this time. We sat just a few rows back, but the child in front of us had one of every light toy they were selling, and wasn't afraid to use them! We both envisioned him continuing to wave them in our faces through the entire show, and both agreed to move a few rows back. It was much more peaceful.

The show was good, but didn’t grab me the way I thought it would. I’m glad we saw it, but wouldn’t want to wait in line for 2 hours for it like some do. The show was over by 7, and we were back at the POP by 7:30. I passed out soon after that. Katie read for a few minutes, but was asleep fairly early too.

It was a pretty low key day, but it was nice to regroup and get to bed early before our next day in our favorite park..... yep....... Thursday it's back to the Magic Kingdom!

 

[basketkat]

I hope we can do the princess tea someday. I want to wait until my youngest can do it too.

I love love love all of your pictures!

 

[mom2rtk]

I hope we can do the princess tea someday. I want to wait until my youngest can do it too.

I love love love all of your pictures!

Many thanks! Every time I take another photo, I feel like I take another piece of Disney home with me. So you see I have to just keep taking them!

I do highly recommend the tea party. It's a wonderful show, and a very special time to share with your daughters. I'm sad that we're done with it, but so glad I have all the photos to remember it by.

 

[Tinkermom76]

The tea party looks like fun!!!

We missed F! last trip so we have the Dinner package booked for this trip

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

You know I'm going to have to save the TR for 5 years now...

I promised DH that I would forego any discussions (well begging sessions... ) for 5 years. I told him that I'd do that if, and only if, we'd skip staying back at CSR and go deluxe. I have to start saving my pennies.

DH said that he knew that we'd have to do BBB, but I think he'd let me take DD to tea if he saw your report!

Now I'll just have to find something to do for DS! He doesn't like facepaint or hair coloring (thanks to my mom, but that's a WHOLE other thread...) so Pirates League will probably be out of the question. We'll see what else pops up in a few years!

 

[jenseib]

Did you have to buy the big boy his own seat on the airplane?

I can't wait to see what you come home with!

I've been watching the focus thread and reading everything over there. I still think you need to stop the lens down just a little. Even the best lenses don't perform at their best wide open.

Also, I think Disneyboy2003's post about where you are focusing was very good. If you're going for the cheek, there isn't any contrast there to catch the focus, and then the camera will decide. And you say it happens more with people than objects. So go for the eye and I bet it will improve.

As for which focus mode to use..... Single shot is just as it sounds. It's great for a static object. And it's what I normally keep it on. I believe the AI in AI Servo stands for "Artificial Intelligence". It is designed for a moving object. Once you prefocus on an object (usually a person here) in this mode, it will lock onto that object or person and constantly refocus until you take the photo. I use this for sports. AI Focus I'm not as familiar with, but I think it's sort of in between. But for posed people and character shots, you should be fine with single shot focus.

I feel like I need a seat for the big boy. I want to take 4 lenses, and I'm trying to figure the safest way to pack the telephoto. It won't fit in my camera bag with the other lenses, and I refuse to take the big backpack. I basically want the telephoto for SeaWorld.
I usually shoot in AI Focus. It is where it goes back and forth with the two different modes. I think I'll switch over to one shot and see how that goes.
I did the test with my lenses suggested over there, and my lens I use the most was off. Quite a bit off. So I adjusted it and hopefully it will do a little better job. The other lenses for the most part were fine.

Your track meet photos were awesome!!!

And onece again I have the urge for the princess tea party...well I never lost the urge, but it puts me in higher gear. It will have to wait though.

 

[jenseib]

You know I'm going to have to save the TR for 5 years now...


Now I'll just have to find something to do for DS! He doesn't like facepaint or hair coloring (thanks to my mom, but that's a WHOLE other thread...) so Pirates League will probably be out of the question. We'll see what else pops up in a few years!

You could try one of the pirate cruises.

 

[llaxton]

I am taking Mary in May for the Tea Party with SB, what did you wear? I am trying to figure out what I need to wear - Mary will be dressed as SB if that matters for suggestions.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

You could try one of the pirate cruises.

Very true... he'll be 9 at the time. I'd love to take him on one of the tours, but IDK if he'd want to know that much about the "magic" at that age... I'd love to plan the trip for ESPN the Weekend for DH, but the crowd are so high then... maybe somewhere close to that time for better weather - maybe I could send DH and DS to a Braves game??

Either way... I know where DD and I will be! At GF with Aurora!

 

[DISNEYaddict4evr]

Right there with you on Fantasmic, BORING! I did not get it and neither dig my boyfriend. We wished we had skipped it and come to DHS another day because the show made the park insanely crowed, I have learned a hard lesson.

 

[mom2rtk]

The tea party looks like fun!!!

We missed F! last trip so we have the Dinner package booked for this trip

I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but we had the dinner package for this trip. It was the only way I was interested it doing it. We had seen it in Jan 08, but skipped it ever since then. I did love not having to wonder and stress about a potentially long line. We just walked up and went right in. It was great!

You know I'm going to have to save the TR for 5 years now...

I promised DH that I would forego any discussions (well begging sessions... ) for 5 years. I told him that I'd do that if, and only if, we'd skip staying back at CSR and go deluxe. I have to start saving my pennies.

DH said that he knew that we'd have to do BBB, but I think he'd let me take DD to tea if he saw your report!

Now I'll just have to find something to do for DS! He doesn't like facepaint or hair coloring (thanks to my mom, but that's a WHOLE other thread...) so Pirates League will probably be out of the question. We'll see what else pops up in a few years!

So what are you waiting for? Show him the pictures! They really do age out of this stuff so fast. And you want to do it while it's still magical for them.

I feel like I need a seat for the big boy. I want to take 4 lenses, and I'm trying to figure the safest way to pack the telephoto. It won't fit in my camera bag with the other lenses, and I refuse to take the big backpack. I basically want the telephoto for SeaWorld.
I usually shoot in AI Focus. It is where it goes back and forth with the two different modes. I think I'll switch over to one shot and see how that goes.
I did the test with my lenses suggested over there, and my lens I use the most was off. Quite a bit off. So I adjusted it and hopefully it will do a little better job. The other lenses for the most part were fine.

Your track meet photos were awesome!!!

And onece again I have the urge for the princess tea party...well I never lost the urge, but it puts me in higher gear. It will have to wait though.

Thanks for the nice comment on the track photos. By the end of the season I'll have a few hundred more just like it, but some will be in daylight! I hate the waiting for track, but mostly I hate that there's no variety. Maybe I'll ditch my son and start photographing the high jumpers or something???? Nah, just kidding. The photography is secondary. It's awesome watching him succeed at something he set his mind to.

I hope all that discussion on focus helped. And I'd want the telephoto for Sea World too. I'm sure you'll find a way to squeeze it in somewhere! I usually bring them all, then pick one or two to bring with me each day. I hope the adjustments helped on your lens. I really wish my model had that feature.

So maybe you schedule the tea party for your fall trip?????? Sheesh.... Skip still needs a trip, right????

You could try one of the pirate cruises.

I was going to suggest the same thing.

I am taking Mary in May for the Tea Party with SB, what did you wear? I am trying to figure out what I need to wear - Mary will be dressed as SB if that matters for suggestions.

Hi Liz! to our trip!

I just work khakis and a polo shirt. On our first trip, we were heading for the airport. This time our initial plan was to head for the park, so I wanted to be comfortable. I don't really recall what everyone else was wearing, but I also don't recall feeling out of place.

Very true... he'll be 9 at the time. I'd love to take him on one of the tours, but IDK if he'd want to know that much about the "magic" at that age... I'd love to plan the trip for ESPN the Weekend for DH, but the crowd are so high then... maybe somewhere close to that time for better weather - maybe I could send DH and DS to a Braves game??

Either way... I know where DD and I will be! At GF with Aurora!

Heck, I don't even know if I'm ready to have some of the magic spoiled! So I've never taken a tour. I think when Katie's older we'll probably do it though.

I do like the idea of sending the boys to a ball game.

Right there with you on Fantasmic, BORING! I did not get it and neither dig my boyfriend. We wished we had skipped it and come to DHS another day because the show made the park insanely crowed, I have learned a hard lesson.

I didn't dislike the show. But it just doesn't grab me the way so many other shows do at Disney. Maybe I need to see it at Disneyland next time we make it out that way. They say it's much better there. I like the show, but I don't love it. Does that make sense? We'll probably skip it next time. I'm sure some of it is the hassle factor. I hate having to schedule our touring around trying to see it. I dislike the way it bottles everyone up in that park on 2 days of the week.

I DID like the way we approached it this time. We had a full DHS day on a no-F! day. Then we used our "down" day just for the F! Dinner Package. That worked pretty well.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

So what are you waiting for? Show him the pictures! They really do age out of this stuff so fast. And you want to do it while it's still magical for them.

I'm giong to have to get off of dial-up at home first. The pages take too dang long to load!

 

[Caretames1]

Thanks for the Doll pics. Kadence got a doll for last Christmas from Wal-mart that is like a American girls doll ( 18 inch) and she also got clothes and a bed set. I figured that if the Tea Party doll was the same size, it'd be great!

I was eyeballing your picture of Mike (sorry couldn't stop myself.) Too bad you didn't get Sulley too. We got both together, and I can't wait to get to that day. Kadence was a bit awkward in her hugging with Mike

Your son's track pics are very nice. I took about a hundred million pictures of Sammy, as she was the JV pitcher for softball her freshman, sophmore & Junior years. This year being her last, and being Varsity pitcher I forsee another million or so shots. I have the most awesome senqence of shots starting with the stare to the plate, the wind-up and the pitch. I want to get a long frame with about 6 spots in it to put on the wall.

Carey

 

[canongirl]

Just a cute story to share. I have a 6 year old dd and I was showing her all of the pics in your tr. We are taking our first trip in August. She saw a pic of your dd in the Mary Poppins costume and just flipped. She says I HAVE to have a Mary Poppins costume. So I told her we would look for one on e-bay. I get onto e-bay and search for Mary Poppins and up comes your dd. She looks at me completely exasperated and says "mmaaaahhhhhmmmm! You told me we were going to stop looking at pictures of that little girl and we were going to try to find a Mary Poppiins costume for me!" Yours was the only one. I think showing her pics of your dd was a big mistake. You are a hard act to follow!

 

[taylor91]

just read through 30 pages to get to this point I love all your dresses you are very talented! Your photos are really professional too, your daughter is very lucky to have a mom like you
Your daughter will have lots of amazing memories to cherish forever

 

[jenseib]

Just a cute story to share. I have a 6 year old dd and I was showing her all of the pics in your tr. We are taking our first trip in August. She saw a pic of your dd in the Mary Poppins costume and just flipped. She says I HAVE to have a Mary Poppins costume. So I told her we would look for one on e-bay. I get onto e-bay and search for Mary Poppins and up comes your dd. She looks at me completely exasperated and says "mmaaaahhhhhmmmm! You told me we were going to stop looking at pictures of that little girl and we were going to try to find a Mary Poppiins costume for me!" Yours was the only one. I think showing her pics of your dd was a big mistake. You are a hard act to follow!

Mary Poppins dresses are VERY hard to find. You pretty much have to find a custom one made. I was on the search a few years ago...and what a hunt it was.