From Europe to Africa in America - A Sisters' Expedition

[Flossbolna]

At the end of the last chapter Katharina and I were back at AKL for a brief break after an exciting morning at AK on the Wild by Design Tour...

And then it was time to head over to DHS! I was really excited to show this park to Katharina since I love it a lot. Also Tower of Terror is one of my favourite rides and it is so different from the Disney rides Katharina had experienced so far. Besides that I really wanted her to have an idea of the layout of the park before we would attempt the Toy Story Mania stampede at rope drop!

This time we did not have so much luck with the bus. First we had to wait for 15 minutes and then the bus detoured into the empty parking lot of Blizzard Beach which was closed for refurbishment. Of course nobody wanted to get on or off the bus there...

When we arrived at DHS we found it to be rather empty which was wonderful! Btw, AK had not been very crowded either, but more so than on the day before. Our first day there had been recommended by touringplans, this day was not recommended for AK.

We celebrated our arrival at DHS with a photopass picture:

This is the one the photographer took with my camera (some of you saw it already on the PTR):

And this is with his camera:

I have no idea why he took it so off center. It is a good example that sometimes these pics just don't turn out so great. Therefore it really makes sense to take lots of pictures with different photographers if you are planning to buy the CD. I had to work with the photopass online editor to make it look better. This is the result:

Katharina really liked the old car parked on Sunset Boulevard and wanted to get a picture for her DH:

We then headed over to ToT for Katharina's first ride on it! Since it was so empty there was no need for a FP. I think Katharina was rather nervous at first, but then really enjoyed the ride. I love ToT even though I am afraid of hights. In 2004 I really only did go on it because I felt that I need to experience every ride Disney builds. After my first trip, I absolutely hated it, but the friend I was travelling with loved it and insisted to go on it again immediately. I really did not want to, but was still so in shock that I did not really protest. And the second time round I fell in love with it! It also helped that I realized that there are small handles which you can hold onto between the seats. Now after so many times on it, I don't need those handles anymore, I love the airtime you get!!

We also got some pictures with ToT in the background:

Next we went on the Great Movie Ride. I am not a great fan of dark rides and find this one of the more boring ones. I love the old trailers in the queue, but most of it isn't really exciting. This time we even had a really bad gangster – he was talking so badly that we did not understand a word. And it wasn't a foreign accent or so, it was just that he mumbled. But still I can appreciate all the work they put into the scenes. It is a once every trip attraction for me, but I would never wait in a long line for it.

I think at that point we were starting to feel a bit low and realized that we were getting rather hungry. We had never eaten a proper meal this day, just snacks. However since we had the ADR for California Grill, now wasn't the time to get a real meal either. So we got another snack. This time we got the Spicy Mickey Mix from the Chip & Dale food line. It was tasty, but also pretty spicy. We were sitting on a bench on Sunset boulevard enjoying the evening sun on this beautiful street. If only the bench had been more comfortable! The back was too high and the seat too small.

After our break we walked over to Toy Story Mania to scout out our plan of attack for Monday morning and did some more shopping (without buying anything). And then it was time to catch a bus to the Contemporary!


Next: Chapter 15: Dinner at California Grill

 

[swwake]

It's nice to have a leisurely afternoon at DHS. Sounds like you had a good time. How did Katharina like ToT? I can't wait to hear about California Grill - one of our favorites!

 

[klacey1]

Definitely a chill afternoon at DHS! Figuring out the layout of the park was definitely a good idea--the first time we went to DHS our last trip was the first time we'd been since TSMM was put in and I had no idea where we were going at rope drop. Definitely stressful!!

 

[glennbo123]

Yes, you really have to do some editing on those Photopass photos sometimes! Sometimes I don't know what they're looking at through their lens. You did a nice job editing yours. The pictures really turned out nicely.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Your Photopass pictures are great!!

I agree with the editing...we had several that were off center and not cropped at all. I edit almost every single one.

I like your dress, it's simple, and has a great mix of casual and elegance all in one.

 

[Flossbolna]

It's nice to have a leisurely afternoon at DHS. Sounds like you had a good time. How did Katharina like ToT? I can't wait to hear about California Grill - one of our favorites!

It was a great afternoon! I am working on the CG update, but so far we just took the elevator up. I am just not nearly as efficient as you are with your cruise TR!

Oh and I let Katharina answer what she thought about ToT (to be honest, I don't know what her first impression was... )

Definitely a chill afternoon at DHS! Figuring out the layout of the park was definitely a good idea--the first time we went to DHS our last trip was the first time we'd been since TSMM was put in and I had no idea where we were going at rope drop. Definitely stressful!!

When I went in January 2009 I had seen the map a DISer called Robo made which helped a lot if you knew DHS. So I knew what to expect. But Katharina had never been at DHS. And we were planning on me running ahead to get fastpass and I wanted her to know where exactly we would meet up before entering the queue.

Btw Robo's maps can be found on stitchkingdom and they are very helpful: http://www.stitchkingdom.com/maps/

Yes, you really have to do some editing on those Photopass photos sometimes! Sometimes I don't know what they're looking at through their lens. You did a nice job editing yours. The pictures really turned out nicely.

The one thing that annoys me the most is when the horizon of the picture isn't straight but lower on the one side than the other. Do you understand what I mean? In my photo programm on my computer I can adjust that, but not with the photopass editing tools...

I really like those photopass pictures, too. Especially the borders from Up!

Your Photopass pictures are great!!

I agree with the editing...we had several that were off center and not cropped at all. I edit almost every single one.

I like your dress, it's simple, and has a great mix of casual and elegance all in one.

Thanks for the compliments on the pictures and the dress. The dress is really great for travelling and I like it a lot!

 

[englishrose47]

Great update as usual !!I don't do the Thrill Rides at all !!!But I do like Great Movie and so does my DGS Kyle , after taking him on it while his sisters were on RnR , he LOVED it and in all I think we rode it 5 times that day !!!

 

[All7OfUs]

I love your strategy of scoping out the park before attempting a stunt like RD to TSM! Good planning!

Yes, Katharina! Did you like ToT? It's one of my very favorites too!

Snacking through a day- that's a strategy I haven't heard a lot of people doing. But great if you had a BIG dinner planned, for sure!

GMR- I like it; I LOVE old movies! The gangster we got was actually bordering on rude. I know he was trying to be funny, but it was too much and crossed the line some. Anyway, we asked (and waited a LONG time) for the cowboy side next time, and it was GREAT! It needs an update, that's FOR SURE!! THe ride is "tired".

I like the pix on YOUR camera better in general. The PP's is too light.

 

[Flossbolna]

Great update as usual !!I don't do the Thrill Rides at all !!!But I do like Great Movie and so does my DGS Kyle , after taking him on it while his sisters were on RnR , he LOVED it and in all I think we rode it 5 times that day !!!

5 times in a row! I guess you know the whole spiel by now?

I love your strategy of scoping out the park before attempting a stunt like RD to TSM! Good planning!

Well, I am a DISer - and you know we like to plan!

Yes, Katharina! Did you like ToT? It's one of my very favorites too!

You will all have to wait for a bit for Katharina to answer this. She is on holiday this week, but they have her computer with them, so she might pop in if I tell her that there is an update and questions for her!

Snacking through a day- that's a strategy I haven't heard a lot of people doing. But great if you had a BIG dinner planned, for sure!

The snacking through the day more or less just happened and wasn't really a plan. There were so many different things we wanted to try, so we got this to share and then the next thing to share...

GMR- I like it; I LOVE old movies! The gangster we got was actually bordering on rude. I know he was trying to be funny, but it was too much and crossed the line some. Anyway, we asked (and waited a LONG time) for the cowboy side next time, and it was GREAT! It needs an update, that's FOR SURE!! THe ride is "tired".

A rude gangster! I think those attractions that have a spiel can be so different depending on whom you get as a tour guide (or whatever the CM is supposed to be in this attraction). We had had this wonderful guy at the Safari in AK just a few hours before and this had made the ride really great.

While I like old movies, too, I am just not a great AA fan. I think they are a bit cheesy.

I like the pix on YOUR camera better in general. The PP's is too light.

The Photopass people tend to switch the flash on on their camera, that's why they are so light. We had quite a few which were absolutely overexposed due to that. But on the other hand it helps against ugly shadows on your face. I just love the different borders so much, that's why I post the photopass pictures as well!

 

[lovealldisney]

Great update!! Love all the pictures! My kids and DH love Tower of Terror not me I don't like that free fall feeling.

I too love your dress! I am looking for something like that for our trip this September. No luck so far.

 

[podsnel]

Hi Ladies! I was at MGM on opening day years ago- I think we waited nearly 2 hours to ride TGMR!! Can you imagine?? I agree, I would NEVER do that now!!

 

[glennbo123]

The one thing that annoys me the most is when the horizon of the picture isn't straight but lower on the one side than the other. Do you understand what I mean? In my photo programm on my computer I can adjust that, but not with the photopass editing tools...

I know exactly what you mean. I struggled with that last year, but knew not to even worry about it this year. I have some pictures from Morocco this year where Marlene and I are in front of tiles, so it's very easy to see how the horizon should be. Somehow, miraculously, we got a good photopass photographer who lined them up perfectly!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Great update!!

I love DHS. I agree with you on some of the benches though, some of the seats are just not large enough. It's weird. Maybe they had smaller benches back in the old days of Hollywood.

Love the dress you are wearing, it's very pretty!

 

[TyRy]

I'm still a BIG chicken when it comes to Tower of Terror...I've been dragged on it twice now, and I'm still not thrilled with it. Maybe this year will be different - but I doubt it!

I also ended up editing more photos from photopass this year than before...don't know why that seems to be a trend. Would be nice if it is fixed for the next trip.

Can't wait to hear about Califonia Grill - we have not been in a couple of years, but booked it for October.

 

[All7OfUs]

I know exactly what you mean. I struggled with that last year, but knew not to even worry about it this year. I have some pictures from Morocco this year where Marlene and I are in front of tiles, so it's very easy to see how the horizon should be. Somehow, miraculously, we got a good photopass photographer who lined them up perfectly!

Well, I have NO idea what you're talking about- could someone post a pic that shows what irks you ? I'm a visual learner....

 

[Flossbolna]

Great update!! Love all the pictures! My kids and DH love Tower of Terror not me I don't like that free fall feeling.

I too love your dress! I am looking for something like that for our trip this September. No luck so far.

I actually love the free falling feeling! Once I got over my fear of heights, this is the thing I really love at ToT. But I can see that some people wouldn't like it!

Thanks for the compliment on the dress! Looking for something specific is always difficult. I picked it up last fall when it was on sale just because I kind of liked it! I have been wearing it in winter as well with a cardigan and dark green tights, very stylish!

Hi Ladies! I was at MGM on opening day years ago- I think we waited nearly 2 hours to ride TGMR!! Can you imagine?? I agree, I would NEVER do that now!!

Wow! But then there wasn't much else to do, was there? No ToT, no RnRC, no TSM! But you did get to see Residential Street and a Backlot Tour which was a real tour... I am sorry that I never saw those attractions.

Great update!!

I love DHS. I agree with you on some of the benches though, some of the seats are just not large enough. It's weird. Maybe they had smaller benches back in the old days of Hollywood.

Love the dress you are wearing, it's very pretty!

Thanks for the compliment on the dress! DHS jsut looks so beautiful in that late afternoon/early evening sunlight! I just think that there is a design flaw in those benches. Katharina is rather a bit petite and she was not comfortable on those benches either... I think they are built to look good.

I'm still a BIG chicken when it comes to Tower of Terror...I've been dragged on it twice now, and I'm still not thrilled with it. Maybe this year will be different - but I doubt it!

I also ended up editing more photos from photopass this year than before...don't know why that seems to be a trend. Would be nice if it is fixed for the next trip.

Can't wait to hear about Califonia Grill - we have not been in a couple of years, but booked it for October.

I would say you need to go on it multiple times just after each other. That will really help to build up your confidence!

I think the problem with photpass is that these photograhers aren't professionals and while some have some talent, others don't. We had some really great ones where you could tell that they loved there job, while others were nice, but not spectacular either...

I am working on CG! I hope to post it soon!

 

[Flossbolna]

I know exactly what you mean. I struggled with that last year, but knew not to even worry about it this year. I have some pictures from Morocco this year where Marlene and I are in front of tiles, so it's very easy to see how the horizon should be. Somehow, miraculously, we got a good photopass photographer who lined them up perfectly!

Sounds like a great picture! I will look forward to seeing it in your TR!

Well, I have NO idea what you're talking about- could someone post a pic that shows what irks you ? I'm a visual learner....

Ok, this time we only had it a few times and I tried to pick the ones that were most obvious:

I think you could better describe it as: the horizon is tilted?

Liesa, are you planning to get the photopass CD?

 

[eandesmom]

Adorable picture...once you edited it! I love the UP designs, really really fun!

Great dress as well.

I like the free falling feeling too, but it took me a couple of rides to fall in love as well.

I was going to comment on how little you two seem to eat...splitting a danish here and there or an egg roll. I'd be dying!

Somehow the mix doesn't sound very filling.

Why in the world would the bus go to a closed park? That's just plain odd. Driver on autopilot or something else?

 

[glennbo123]

Ok, this time we only had it a few times and I tried to pick the ones that were most obvious:

I couldn't remember which one of mine I struggled with last year until you posted this one. This was it -- same exact spot! In front of the train station.

 

[Flossbolna]

Adorable picture...once you edited it! I love the UP designs, really really fun!

That's why photopass is so much work, you actually need to experiment a lot with editing and such. And the UP designs are just adorable!

Great dress as well.

Thanks! It seems to be a huge success on the DIS! I think I might wear it to work tomorrow since it is stil baking hot here... 90 degrees at 10:20 pm.

I like the free falling feeling too, but it took me a couple of rides to fall in love as well.

Yes, I think the point is that you need to develop some trust in the whole thing and then it is a lot of fun!

I was going to comment on how little you two seem to eat...splitting a danish here and there or an egg roll. I'd be dying!

Somehow the mix doesn't sound very filling.

Well, wait for the next update! You will get a different impression then. I think part of the problem is the jet lag as well. In my experience I am just hungry at odd times during the first few days in the US.

Why in the world would the bus go to a closed park? That's just plain odd. Driver on autopilot or something else?

It actually happened every time during Blizzard Beach's normal operating hours. Perhaps it was for the minigolf there?

I couldn't remember which one of mine I struggled with last year until you posted this one. This was it -- same exact spot! In front of the train station.

Perhaps you had the same photographer??