Got Pixie Dust? A June 2009 PTR ~TR Link, Page 180

[wigdoutdismom]

We decided on the ap this past July and the dde as well. I'm not sure but I think I may like the ddp better..... It's just nice to have all of the meals paid in advance.

 

[JenAusty]

As far as batteries go, it really goes depend on your camera and how much a battery life sucker it is! hehe Because with my camera I prefer regular AA batteries with lithium. I was using chargeable batteries.. but it seemed like they would go dead really quick.. and last time I was on vaca, I forgot my batteries and they suggested lithium batteries.. so I bought them and they have been the BEST darn batteries I've used. They last like 2 weeks.. it was crazy to me. I use my camera a lot to. The GB is really up to you- how many pics you REALLY want. I find that a huge amount on a daily basis is not really necessary but not having a computer on vaca- I'm like you and can't upload- soo.. I like the large GB, that way you don't have to switch a lot and worry about losing them.. and it holds a good amount. The chart that was posted should help. I don't know much about them. Nightshots also depend on your camera- in terms of quality. The camera I have right now takes great pictures. I don't have to set it at a night setting, with my flash they just turn out great. But I bought a camera about 2 years ago- and even though it was more expensive- and suppose to be better than the one I had- the picture quality was poor at night. So I sold that one and kept mine. Now I want a new one.. but am lost as to what I want. I hope you figured things out!

 

[JenAusty]

I wanted to tell you.. I seen this on disneyworld.com.. this might help with your planning.. idk the price but its an option.

Digital Camera Services

CD Burning
At certain locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, Guests with digital cameras can download their images and other media information from a digital media card to a CD.

Each of the camera centers in the four Theme Parks has been equipped with this useful technology. The following locations offer CD burning of digital camera memory card photos:

* The Magic Kingdom Theme Park camera center is located at Exposition Hall at Main Street, U.S.A.
* Epcot Theme Park offers CD burning and other camera services at the Camera Center in the Main Entrance Plaza.
* Visit The Darkroom in Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park on Hollywood Boulevard for all your photography needs.
* Garden Gates Gifts in the Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park Entrance Plaza provides camera services.

 

[debraW76]

OMG! All the times I have been to DW and never knew this!!! Thanks so much for posting!

I wanted to tell you.. I seen this on disneyworld.com.. this might help with your planning.. idk the price but its an option.

Digital Camera Services

CD Burning
At certain locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, Guests with digital cameras can download their images and other media information from a digital media card to a CD.

Each of the camera centers in the four Theme Parks has been equipped with this useful technology. The following locations offer CD burning of digital camera memory card photos:

* The Magic Kingdom Theme Park camera center is located at Exposition Hall at Main Street, U.S.A.
* Epcot Theme Park offers CD burning and other camera services at the Camera Center in the Main Entrance Plaza.
* Visit The Darkroom in Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park on Hollywood Boulevard for all your photography needs.
* Garden Gates Gifts in the Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park Entrance Plaza provides camera services.

 

[JenAusty]

OMG! All the times I have been to DW and never knew this!!! Thanks so much for posting!

Your very much !! hehe I actually read about this is a disney book I've been reading but completely forgot and then ran across it on accident.

 

[MegansMom]

CP---can't help you too much in the battery department because ours has an internal battery (like a cellphone) that we just hook up and charge everynight back in the room. I would recommend having at least two memory cards---mine are both 2G---they hold PLENTY!!!!

The dogs are SO cute!!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

I use rechargeable batteries. I bought an energizer recharger that plugs into the wall, it charges up to four batteries at a time. My Canon is really good on batteries and I think I only changed them twice on our last Disney trip. I used rechargeable Energizers as well, they are silver, black and green. The auto shut off is good because it extends the life of your batteries and doesn't drain them as quickly or so I have read.

I tend to over do it with the memory cards but I have this great chart for you. This will give you an estimate on how many pictures a memory card can hold.

As for the night settings, the great thing about your camera is that you can preview your photo. I am constantly tinkering with my settings, so take one in the night setting and then maybe the auto setting or whatever you want to try to see which one comes out best.

You ROCK, LL! I have put the rechargeables on my shopping list and printed off your chart for the binder. This is just what I was looking for!

I need to tinker with my settings a little more to figure them all out.

My two cents... first I love LL chart on the cameras.. way cool.

I used a 2G card last year... for WDW through Halloween. (remember I took tons of baby pics in August and birthday and well lots of pictures.) I would recommend having a second smaller one though in case you have trouble. I did have one card go "bad". I now have a 2-2G cards, got one cheap day after Thanksgiving. I plan to take both.

I have one 2G card right now -- I will pick up another one before we leave!

As for batteries... you need to get to know your camera. My last camera seemingly ate batteries... so I got a 1 hour charger and 8 batteries. This camera did me great at WDW... I barely changed batteries, but always took extras. These two cameras were virtually the same, just the current one was a bit newer model!

My camera case btw is a vera cosmetic bag... thought you would like that!

So far I have not had to change the batteries, but then I haven't had the camera on for long periods or anything.

That's a great idea about the cosmetic case -- I hadn't thought of that -- I was disappointed to find the dimensions on the tech case were too small for my camera.

As for night pics.. not my thing... I take poor ones! I am afraid of the super nice cameras because I seemingly always break mine!

I worry about breaking mine -- the screen is so big I don't want it to crack.

Thanks! I forgot to say that you should have at least two cards no matter the size just for back up!

Definitely. I had already figured I would want more than one -- I worry about something happening to one of them. I have also thought about bringing the other camera -- just in case. Besides, it has a bigger zoom lens just in case we score an Epcot side balcony.

I have a canon myself, but it takes the ion battery so I'm no help there. But whatever you decide bring back up batteries because you know how much they charge in WDW for those puppies!

I have 2 memory cards for my camera, a 4GB and an 8 GB. The 8 holds like 5000 pics at a great quality, the 4 I use for video mostly so it doesn't eat up space on my card. Backups are always a good idea!!!

8 GB??? Wow! I didn't even know they came that big -- I clearly have a lot to learn about digital photography!

Oh, I will be bringing back-up batteries -- I would probably go into shock having to pay WDW prices for them!

Love the pictures!

I use rechargeable batteries. The camera zaps the life out of them so quickly that I'd be paying a fortune if I didn't.

I think two cards would be plenty. I have two 1 GB cards, but you also have a much higher megapixel. I'd say two 2 GB cards would be sufficient.

My experience has been that it's difficult to get decent fireworks pictures wihtout a tripod. The shutter speed is so slow that it makes my pictures blurry trying to take them by hand. I was able to get some decent ones last year at the Pirate and Princess Party fireworks, but I think I was able to rest my arms on something (we were in the Tomorrowland Terrace).

I may just skip trying to do nighttime pics -- I don't see any of us wanting to lug around a tripod.

Nala is cute enough to get away with a little 'driving you crazy'! That's such a sweet picture of them all sleeping together.

Nala is able to get away with quite a bit. The worst thing is every night at 9:00 when everyone is winding down, she decides she wants to be hyper. Right now she is hopping around and looking for a playmate.

Nothing new to add on the camera. Like most others, I use rechargeables and have a spare set, so I never run low. I carry two cards, a 2 and a 4, but we usually put them on a laptop every couple of days. I take an ungodly amount of pictures, as you know, so if I know I won't have a laptop with me, like in March, if we go, then I'll just take another card. I think it would be safe for me to have another 4.

As for getting good pictures, I take a bunch on different settings and just see what is working best. Real professional-like, huh? Drew tries to explain things to me, but I forget, or I get in a hurry and just start shooting before I recall what he said. I think I'm going to make him write down the basics and take a cheat sheet with me this time.

Your pictures are always so pretty that you must be doing something right.

I LOVE it!!!! So cute! Nala is a cutie!

As far as batteries go I use rechargeables. We have two digital cameras. One "nice" one that is good with batteries, and a cheaper one that eats batteries like crazy. I would go broke if I didn't use rechargeables in that camerea.

As far as memory cards go I would say at least 2. We have several between the 2 cameras. We have a little memory card wallet that they fit in. It's about the size of business card.

Thanks! She is truly all puppy these days.

I am also adding the memory card wallet to my shopping list -- I was thinking a ziploc bag, but that sounds much safer!

I actually use the Energizer Lithium batteries and they work very well for me. I'd say I take a fair amount of pictures, and change the batteries 1-2 a year. I could see the benefit of the rechargables, though.

I usually bring one memory card (a rather large one) and then a smaller one as a backup. Also, I'm usually traveling with Mom and Nana, who both have cameras, so we always have backups. I can see that you might want some spares as it's just your lovely family.

Nala is so stinkin' cute! I can't believe how big she's getting. And that picture of her on top of the other dog? Priceless.

Do the lithiums come in AA size?

Thanks for thinking Nala is cute -- right now I am wondering if you would like her to come for an extended visit since she will not settle down.

OMG Nala and all the dogs are adorable! I love the picture of them lounging on the couch with Nala ON Bella! My dog sits on the couch too but luckily there is still some room left over for me!

The funniest thing is when we are sitting on the couch and they all try to squeeze on with us -- someone needs to tell them they are not lap dogs.

Re:the memory cards, if you run into an emergency I've heard (but haven't tried myself) that you can go to any camera center and they will download the pictures from your card to a DVD for you. The advice I've seen is to be sure to check the DVD before you leave the camera center. Good to know in case you ever need back up.

I need to search through my guidebooks and see if any of them list a price for that.

I also use rechargeable batteries but ran into an emergency one day and just replaced with regular. No issues - worked fine.

As others have said I think experimenting with the settings is probably the best way to learn about night shots.

In general I think that the photography board here on the DIS and The Magic in Pixels have good photography tips.

Thanks for the link! I am looking forward to heading over there to see what they have to say! There are so many great photographers on the DIS boards (including you) that I look at their stuff and realize I am so not on the same level.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Rechargeables here....I bring 3 sets. I put freshly re-charged batteries in every morning and have a set with me in the camera bag. Then I have another set that is re-charging in the room while we are in the park, that way I can change them again if we go back out at night.

Why am I not surprised?

I can't speak to the memory cards....I have two but I download every night to the laptop. In fact my memory cards are usually empty as I download them very frequently even when I'm not on vacation.

I wonder if I can justify buying a laptop for this reason alone? Hmmm...

For night shots/fireworks if you don't have a tripod, try using a trash can or fence to steady the camera. Practice with those settings are much as you can before hand.

And if you are going to take food porn shots......learn how to use the "up close" setting so there are not blurry. So many DISer's don't know about that setting and it shows in their pictures.

I didn't even know there was such a thing as an up close setting -- I need to find that so I don't take blurry shots. Heidi, let's open a Disney planning agency together!

I am definitely not the one to ask about cameras BUT I LOVED the pictures of all the puppies together! Too cute!

Thank you! Nala must know I am typing about her because her ears are all pricked up and she is staring at me.

Yay for new cameras!! For night shots, you can try using either a ISO setting or a Twilight setting.

This is (not a Disney photo) a fireworks photo on ISO setting. July 4th at the Jefferson Monument in Washington DC.

Hope you don't mind me sharing.

It's decent. Try using a no-flash setting, at the least.

That is a gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous shot! How neat to live near enough to DC to go there for fireworks on the Fourth! Are you going to miss it when you move back to Texas?

Wow CP, those dog shots are just adorable! Nala is getting sooo big! Shes cute so I'm sure she gets away with being bit of a pain sometimes! haha

With the camera, I've pretty much a novice too. My camera is really really crappy but I just bought BF one for Christmas, a 10.3 megapixel Kodak something or other (is it bad if you buy a present for someone that you want too? ) Anyway, his has an actual setting specifically for fireworks. We haven't tried it yet but you should see if your camera has one. I always run into the problem of having such blurry pictures so I can see why you're nervous about wanting to bring a tripod. As for batteries, definitely use rechargeable. You'll save yourself tons of money on batteries because cameras do tend to eat them alive. And memory cards, I'd agree with everyone else and get 2-2GB, it seems like that should be enough.

If Charles hadn't bought me the camera, he was going to get it for a gift before we left.

We decided on the ap this past July and the dde as well. I'm not sure but I think I may like the ddp better..... It's just nice to have all of the meals paid in advance.

I do like having all the meals paid for in advance and knowing that if we should happen to spend all our money on souvenirs, we will still eat.

As far as batteries go, it really goes depend on your camera and how much a battery life sucker it is! hehe Because with my camera I prefer regular AA batteries with lithium. I was using chargeable batteries.. but it seemed like they would go dead really quick.. and last time I was on vaca, I forgot my batteries and they suggested lithium batteries.. so I bought them and they have been the BEST darn batteries I've used. They last like 2 weeks.. it was crazy to me. I use my camera a lot to. The GB is really up to you- how many pics you REALLY want. I find that a huge amount on a daily basis is not really necessary but not having a computer on vaca- I'm like you and can't upload- soo.. I like the large GB, that way you don't have to switch a lot and worry about losing them.. and it holds a good amount. The chart that was posted should help. I don't know much about them. Nightshots also depend on your camera- in terms of quality. The camera I have right now takes great pictures. I don't have to set it at a night setting, with my flash they just turn out great. But I bought a camera about 2 years ago- and even though it was more expensive- and suppose to be better than the one I had- the picture quality was poor at night. So I sold that one and kept mine. Now I want a new one.. but am lost as to what I want. I hope you figured things out!

Thanks! All of your information is so helpful!

I wanted to tell you.. I seen this on disneyworld.com.. this might help with your planning.. idk the price but its an option.

Digital Camera Services

CD Burning
At certain locations throughout Walt Disney World Resort, Guests with digital cameras can download their images and other media information from a digital media card to a CD.

Each of the camera centers in the four Theme Parks has been equipped with this useful technology. The following locations offer CD burning of digital camera memory card photos:

* The Magic Kingdom Theme Park camera center is located at Exposition Hall at Main Street, U.S.A.
* Epcot Theme Park offers CD burning and other camera services at the Camera Center in the Main Entrance Plaza.
* Visit The Darkroom in Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park on Hollywood Boulevard for all your photography needs.
* Garden Gates Gifts in the Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park Entrance Plaza provides camera services.

Printed this off for the binder! Thank you so much!!! Now, I just need to find out what they charge for CD burning -- just in case!

CP---can't help you too much in the battery department because ours has an internal battery (like a cellphone) that we just hook up and charge everynight back in the room. I would recommend having at least two memory cards---mine are both 2G---they hold PLENTY!!!!

The dogs are SO cute!!!!

Thank you for thinking our puppies are cute. They are available for visits.

Have you ever used both memory cards on a trip?

 

[Charleston Princess]

I just HAVE to share the following story with my fellow Disney fanatics. It is just too good to pass up.

Yesterday afternoon I got home from school and logged onto Facebook. Imagine my surprise when one of my best girlfriends (we have known each other for 13 years and met when we both worked at the Lenox Square Mall Victoria's Secret) had posted the following status update:

"Amara needs help understanding planning a DisneyWorld trip."

I had no idea she was going. None. Zilch. Nada. She knows me just about as well as anyone could and had she thought to mention this little tidbit of news? Nine other people responded to her post with various suggestions.

The following "conversation" on Facebook then ensued:

Me: You seriously posted this as a status update??? I am so hurt I can't even begin to tell you. Hmmmppfff. So, you know what? I am so not going to answer any of your questions until you acknowledge that you goofed on this one.

Amara: I knew I'd lure you in with that.... please, you are DYING to tell me your Disney secrets. Dying... oh, you can't stop yourself from typing.... you are going to have a a binder plan ready for me by the time I get to Book Club..... I won't even get a choice of hotels.....

Me: You haven't apologized yet...YOU DON'T HAVE A HOTEL YET??? What are your exact dates? How long are you staying?

Amara: We have to be there for a Cheer Comp with a required stay at the hotel the gym picks. Then DH's parents will meet us there and we'll move to whatever hotel we can all agree on (they pick). We think DH's dad will insist on being in a hotel on the Monorail. DH is pushing for Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'm sorry. I bow down to your Disney genius. (I did edit out dates and names).

She has less than two months to plan a Disney trip! She doesn't even have ADRs yet!!! I am twitching just thinking about it.

Anyway, this morning this was her status update:

"Amara bows down to Jackie's Disney genius and will now flog herself for not going directly to the Disney Oracle."



Maybe I will help her just a little bit and maybe, just maybe, I will make her a binder, too. She's lucky I love her.

 

[MeMom]

I won't even get a choice of hotels.....

Hotel? Does Disney even have hotels? I think not.

But, I'll bet you'll have her a resort soon.

Followed by another.

And another.

And then a final decision.

And if you can get Animal Kingdom Lodge on the monorail, that's gonna work great for all of them.

Happy planning!!!

Jill planned a trip for friends who are going this weekend. She had fun listening to them get more and more excited as time went along. The dad was opposed to a trip, but one of the daughters is in some kind of competition, so they added a few family days to that. They're all excited now - even Papa Bear.

 

[addictedtothemouse]

You might want to check to see if you camera has auto shut off. If I leave my camera on after a certain amount of time (unsure of how much) it shuts itself off. With this I've never run my batteries down from forgetting to shut it off (but I have gotten some pictures of the inside of my park bag. )

 

[IluvXU]

I think planning trips for others is tons of fun- there are moments of envy but 99.9% fun.

 

[jewels1916]

I just HAVE to share the following story with my fellow Disney fanatics. It is just too good to pass up.

Yesterday afternoon I got home from school and logged onto Facebook. Imagine my surprise when one of my best girlfriends (we have known each other for 13 years and met when we both worked at the Lenox Square Mall Victoria's Secret) had posted the following status update:

"Amara needs help understanding planning a DisneyWorld trip."

I had no idea she was going. None. Zilch. Nada. She knows me just about as well as anyone could and had she thought to mention this little tidbit of news? Nine other people responded to her post with various suggestions.

The following "conversation" on Facebook then ensued:

Me: You seriously posted this as a status update??? I am so hurt I can't even begin to tell you. Hmmmppfff. So, you know what? I am so not going to answer any of your questions until you acknowledge that you goofed on this one.

Amara: I knew I'd lure you in with that.... please, you are DYING to tell me your Disney secrets. Dying... oh, you can't stop yourself from typing.... you are going to have a a binder plan ready for me by the time I get to Book Club..... I won't even get a choice of hotels.....

Me: You haven't apologized yet...YOU DON'T HAVE A HOTEL YET??? What are your exact dates? How long are you staying?

Amara: We have to be there for a Cheer Comp with a required stay at the hotel the gym picks. Then DH's parents will meet us there and we'll move to whatever hotel we can all agree on (they pick). We think DH's dad will insist on being in a hotel on the Monorail. DH is pushing for Animal Kingdom Lodge. I'm sorry. I bow down to your Disney genius. (I did edit out dates and names).

She has less than two months to plan a Disney trip! She doesn't even have ADRs yet!!! I am twitching just thinking about it.

Anyway, this morning this was her status update:

"Amara bows down to Jackie's Disney genius and will now flog herself for not going directly to the Disney Oracle."



Maybe I will help her just a little bit and maybe, just maybe, I will make her a binder, too. She's lucky I love her.

<---Me! Definitely the kind of conversation I would have to be having with some of my friends! *You haven't made any ADRs? *You haven't picked a RESORT? *Are you crazy?

My next trip all started because of a Facebook status.

And, thanks, I thought the pic was pretty good. It's a funny story how it all came about too. Some friends and I were driving into DC for the fireworks and we got turned around. So we are on this bridge right by the Jefferson monument as if we were heading out of DC and suddenly, they shut down the bridge! So everyone on the bridge shut off their engines and we all got out of our cars and sat on the car roofs, or on the curbs and watched the fireworks over the top of the Jefferson Monument. Someone had a Hendrix cd and they turned it on and cranked up the volume, so we had Jimi Hendrix playing the Star-Spangled Banner as a soundtrack. One of the best experiences I've had living out here. That is something I am definitely going to miss when I move back to Texas. The crazy snow and ice we are getting right now...not so much.

 

[addictedtothemouse]

<---Me! Definitely the kind of conversation I would have to be having with some of my friends! *You haven't made any ADRs? *You haven't picked a RESORT? *Are you crazy?

My next trip all started because of a Facebook status.

And, thanks, I thought the pic was pretty good. It's a funny story how it all came about too. Some friends and I were driving into DC for the fireworks and we got turned around. So we are on this bridge right by the Jefferson monument as if we were heading out of DC and suddenly, they shut down the bridge! So everyone on the bridge shut off their engines and we all got out of our cars and sat on the car roofs, or on the curbs and watched the fireworks over the top of the Jefferson Monument. Someone had a Hendrix cd and they turned it on and cranked up the volume, so we had Jimi Hendrix playing the Star-Spangled Banner as a soundtrack. One of the best experiences I've had living out here. That is something I am definitely going to miss when I move back to Texas. The crazy snow and ice we are getting right now...not so much.

I live 20 minutes from Tekas and we're getting some of that snow and ice right now. Everything has been shut down the last two days and it looks like it will be tomorrow also. Thank goodness this is unusual for here.

 

[jewels1916]

I live 20 minutes from Tekas and we're getting some of that snow and ice right now. Everything has been shut down the last two days and it looks like it will be tomorrow also. Thank goodness this is unusual for here.

Y'all have been getting crazy weather! I know that Oklahoma State University closed down for today and probably tomorrow due to weather! Love me some OSU! That storm system is stretching from Lubbock TX all the way out here in DC. So crazy!

 

[TarzansKat]

Do the lithiums come in AA size?

Thanks for thinking Nala is cute -- right now I am wondering if you would like her to come for an extended visit since she will not settle down.

They do come in AA size, and I really can't speak highly enough about them. They work great for my camera.

And I'm over Nala coming for a visit. If it were that simple, I would totally take her for a little vacay, DS would love it. Alas, we live in a pet-free apartment complex. I'm allergic to cats (get allergy shots), so that's why I picked pet free.

We can have fish.

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh, Jackie, that's too funny about your friend on facebook.

Surely we all acknowledge the wisdom that is your infinite planning skills.

 

[xoktenox]

haha that convo just had me laughing out loud lol

Thats so exciting that you get to help plan a trip for your good friend! Planning is half the fun as all us DISers/planning fanatics know

 

[Lady Lallie]

about being the Disney Oracle. I love it.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Another thumbs up for rechargeable batteries!! I used to use the lithiums, which are very good - but the rechargeables are even better because you don't have to keep buying more. They are a much better quality than rechargeables used to be. I have two sets of rechargeables but I usually keep a set of lithiums in my camera bag too.

That story about your friend is too funny!! I have a friend like that... she's going to WDW the week before us. She knows I'm the guru, but barely ever asks me any questions. It might have something to do with the fact that when she asked me about the BBBoutique I emailed her about 12 hours worth of reading material.