It's gonna take a lot to take me away from this view! 7/10 - Finished!

[amazingact21]

Your trip was off to a reat start...a surprise room upgrade. And AKL is one of those resorts where that's a big perk!


Glad to hear your first 2 FPs worked without a hitch. And that you were able to get row 1 on Soarin'.


You might not be overly thrilled with your SE photos, but to this non-photographer, they look great! Made me feel like I was on the attraction for half a second. (Which is nice since I skipped it this last trip.)


I've never had the apple dessert at Sunshine Seasons, but it looks pretty good. I'll have to keep it in mind, since the restaurant's a personal favorite of mine. Sorry to hear Johnny does not share those same sentiments.

 

[MEK]

I love this one. I can never get enough light on the painting. I'm glad you don't hate your doing your job TOO much on vacation because we would all get to miss your cool photos.

I think walking in right after rope drop is the best!

Your trip is off to a great start!

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

I actually got over to AKL to have a look around and it was stunning!! I can't imagine waking up to that every day.

Glad your FP+ experience worked out to start. Me not so much, but I survived. And YES I thought the smells on Soarin' were much stronger now too.

Mmmm Strawberry Shortcake. No more needs to be said.

 

[freckles04]

I'm not a fan of taking pictures inside rides, but I have to say, yours are just lovely. At least yours are worth looking back on later, unlike most people doing this with their cellphone.

 

[teekathepony]

Love your pictures, as always! Those dark pictures in SE still look great if you ask me; I especially like the one of the man painting the fruit. ... Was that guy someone in particular? I cant' remember but I don't think so.
Thanks! And I don't think it's any one specific either. Just representative of all the painters who emerged in the Renaissance is my understanding.

I have never ridden M:S. I figured it would be too tight for me to handle. But I am considering it for my next trip, just to at least go up and see how tight it is before I say no. Seems like it's a pretty cool ride! I know the tech is state of the art!
I pushed myself to try it and found that when the panel is down, there is enough room between my face and the screen, I can see open space right down the whole vehicle so I'm ok. It really is a cool ride, feels so real!

Ok, tell me about blueberry boy. I haven't been on LWTL in 14 years.
Well as far as I know he's a bit of a Dis thing, no special story, he's just cute! If anyone knows anything different, let me know, but that's what I was told.

Great pics!

Thanks!

You know, as much as I LOVE Soarin' as a ride, I have to say that it has one of the least photogenic queue in all of Disney. There's really not much to take pictures of! Sure, I have a thousand pictures of Puddy (aka Patrick Warburton) telling to stow those "puppies" away. But that's about it.
It definitely is, I mean the neon lights are kind of cool but you can only do so much with them.

I was pretty surprised how much darker SE turned out to be than I had imagined. You probably remember me fessing up on my PTR that I had never gone on the ride prior to my October trip. Was not an easy ride to take pictures in. HM still ranks as THE most difficult for me but SE is up there too. But hey, Judi Dench narrates it and I could listen to her read the phone book.
Oh yeah, it is very dark in there, I was hoping for a little more light out of my 1.8 lens but I guess I need a 1.2 in there! And I completely agree, love Judi Dench.

Your photos of SE are great!!! I could never get that with my point and shoot! Awesome job!
Thanks! I was definitely expecting more, but it is so dark in there.

The "game" you photographed at the end of Mission Space is my kid's favorite thing in Future World. We could spend HOURS there competing as Orion and Triton but I eventually pull them away.
I've never played it! I guess if I ever have kids and go I'll discover a whole lot of things I've never done!

We still had pumpkin decorations at LWTL on our trip the week of Thanksgiving. Maybe it was their Thanksgiving display?
Really?? Wow... that's so strange! Maybe it was something they were leaving up for Thanksgiving. Looked awfully Halloweeny to me!

Your trip was off to a reat start...a surprise room upgrade. And AKL is one of those resorts where that's a big perk!
Absolutely! We definitely had a great start.


Glad to hear your first 2 FPs worked without a hitch. And that you were able to get row 1 on Soarin'.
I'm a big fan of row 1, especially in the middle.


You might not be overly thrilled with your SE photos, but to this non-photographer, they look great! Made me feel like I was on the attraction for half a second. (Which is nice since I skipped it this last trip.)
I think I just had higher expectations for my new lens and felt that I could have got those pictures with my old lens. I'm probably wrong, I just had my hopes up too high!


I've never had the apple dessert at Sunshine Seasons, but it looks pretty good. I'll have to keep it in mind, since the restaurant's a personal favorite of mine. Sorry to hear Johnny does not share those same sentiments.
I've never had the apple either, I'm always too busy with the strawberry shortcake. I have had bites of his in the past, it's pretty good.

I love this one. I can never get enough light on the painting. I'm glad you don't hate your doing your job TOO much on vacation because we would all get to miss your cool photos.
Hehe thanks Mary Ellen, I could never go and take no pictures, that's for sure, but sometimes I definitely need a rest from it.

I think walking in right after rope drop is the best!
Absolutely! No waiting in line, same low crowds.

Your trip is off to a great start!

I actually got over to AKL to have a look around and it was stunning!! I can't imagine waking up to that every day.
Welcome back Rob!! I still feel a little like it was a dream. I couldn't believe I was actually staying there!

Glad your FP+ experience worked out to start. Me not so much, but I survived. And YES I thought the smells on Soarin' were much stronger now too.
You not so much? Oh no! That's not good to hear.
Loved the smells on Soarin'! I wonder if Disney people read the Dis boards and started seeing too many comments about dirty film and weak scents...

Mmmm Strawberry Shortcake. No more needs to be said.
Agreed.

I'm not a fan of taking pictures inside rides, but I have to say, yours are just lovely. At least yours are worth looking back on later, unlike most people doing this with their cellphone.

Most of the time, I'm not either. I want to just sit back and relax! But I usually can't help myself.

 

[Nermel9]

I'm here! I didn't even know you started this! Subbing now, but will go back to read in a little while!

 

[IheartDDuck]

I am not a morning person at all. I really wish that I was though.

A picture of our intrepid photographer!

Hahaha, all the Prince John gif makes me think of is...."I've got a dirty thumb....."

Whenever we do Photopass and pre purchase, I try to use it to it's fullest. I'll stop at the same person multiple times on different days.

Wow, you're claustrophobic and you go on Mission: Space? That's impressive.

Hahahaha, Geordi!!!!!

 

[jash08]

Those are amazing pictures!

I am glad so far your magic bands are working. I had a friend who got back a few weeks ago and said she had so many problems with hers. She said one day it took an hour to get everyone in the park. Hopefully things are getting smoother everyday.

I could really go for some of that strawberry shortcake right now!

 

[MrsDrewsky]

Joining in!

Wow, love the view from your room. What an awesome upgrade!

Your photos around AKL are stunning. Definitely worth getting up early for.

I'm excited to hear the cleaned up the screen for Soarin'. Can't wait to smell the orange scent!

The strawberry shortcake looks yummy.

 

[teekathepony]

I'm going to come back for replies really soon but I wanted to squeeze out a quick update this morning before work. I won't really have a day off this week since I'm using it to go with Johnny to his allergy specialist appointment 4.5 hours away (coming your way, Rob!) also Christmas is nearly here (8 sleeps!!) and things are crazier than ever at work and home, so I can't see me getting another chance!

We left off just after lunch at Sunshine Seasons.

Tuesday, November 12
"Just Keep Swimming!"


We still had quite a wait before our next FP+ was coming up so we thought we would head over toward The Seas. We stopped on our way for a few pictures, of course.



















Of course there was no actual line up, just the long walk through the really cool queue.







We rode, and we enjoyed the ride...







... but we were, as usual, left with the feeling that there was so much untapped potential in this ride. There could be/should be so much more to it.

Johnny and I love fish and sea life so we always spend a good chunk of time in The Seas pavilion.





We usually watch the dolphins for a long time but we didn't see any on this trip. Divers were cleaning the tank that they're usually in so I wondered if they were in a holding tank somewhere for that.







I used to have a pair of these:








Marine fish are so lovely.



When we had seen our fill of everything and taken wayyyyy too many pictures, we decided to move on to the next attraction. I'm going to leave you there and go get ready for work! I have just 6 days of work left before Christmas!

 

[teekathepony]

I have exactly 3 minutes left to squeeze out some replies!

I'm here! I didn't even know you started this! Subbing now, but will go back to read in a little while!

and I just noticed you started yours too! I am heading there now!

I am not a morning person at all. I really wish that I was though.
I love mornings, with no alarm I'm up by no later than 7 every morning.

A picture of our intrepid photographer!
Can you imagine?? Hahaha I never have pictures of me!

Hahaha, all the Prince John gif makes me think of is...."I've got a dirty thumb....."


Whenever we do Photopass and pre purchase, I try to use it to it's fullest. I'll stop at the same person multiple times on different days.
Absolutely, and why not? I want my money's worth!

Wow, you're claustrophobic and you go on Mission: Space? That's impressive.
The first time I ever went on it I didn't know there would be an issue, then when I survived, I found myself able to go on each time after that! hahaha I trick my brain I guess!

Hahahaha, Geordi!!!!!

Those are amazing pictures!
Thanks!

I am glad so far your magic bands are working. I had a friend who got back a few weeks ago and said she had so many problems with hers. She said one day it took an hour to get everyone in the park. Hopefully things are getting smoother everyday.
I really had no problems at all, which was strange because I know a lot of people did.

I could really go for some of that strawberry shortcake right now!

Joining in!

Wow, love the view from your room. What an awesome upgrade!

Your photos around AKL are stunning. Definitely worth getting up early for.

I'm excited to hear the cleaned up the screen for Soarin'. Can't wait to smell the orange scent!

The strawberry shortcake looks yummy.

Glad to have you!
Oh it was such an amazing upgrade for sure, we were so lucky.
I was so happy that Soarin' got a clean up job, it needed it!

(Oops! One minute over!)

 

[amazingact21]

Those first 2 photos of the Epcot globe with the monorail going past are stunning. I might have to save one and make it my tablet's background for a few days.


You would think with the queue for Nemo the ride would contain so much more than it does.

 

[SAT887]

Ahhhh.... Strawberry shortcake...... There isn't a smiley face icon that drools is there?? Enjoying your TR - and loving the pictures.... Getting me excited for our trip next month!! I haven't gone on mission space is forever, like since my honeymoon - it made me not feel good.... Also, like your picture taking pictures of Johnny and the very posed ones of each other! Very silly/sweet!!

And I can't believe how close Christmas is!! Christmas is as fun as Disney

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Hahaha, I'm guessing you're coming to Hali!!! Hmm, if you happen to be in town nearby... just sayin'.

Oooh I love that Monorail/SE photo. Beautiful!! Like Disney promotional beautiful!!

Wow, I just realized I didn't step one foot in the Seas pavilion AT ALL this trip. Thankfully I have your awesome photos.

 

[emma212010]

I'm a little late to the party, but I'm subscribing!

You take absolutely GORGEOUS photos!!!

 

[B&WMickey]

Great pictures of the fish through the glass. Well done.

Also, I'd kill for a piece of that strawberry shortcake right about now.

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi Wendy! My gosh your photos are all amazing. Really, you can't take too many so no worries about constraint! The views of AKL and the savanna bring back such great memories.

I'm pretty much a morning person too. Even in Disney with late nights I still can't sleep much past 7am. (I know, that's not early but we were not getting to bed until after 1am so I'm sticking with 7am being early!)

What a great photo of you and Johnny with Santa. I hope you gave him you wish list since I'm sure you've been a very good girl.

I look forward to reading more but more than that seeing more of your amazing photos.

 

[MEK]

Those clown fish are SO cool. Tell me what kind of settings you use for photographing the fish in the small tanks. I find it somewhat confusing with the glass barrier.

So happy that you have almost finished your work schedule and have off for Christmas. Denny gets off for a big stretch before Christmas. Me? Well, I get off Christmas day.

 

[Tracy161]

Gorgeous photos! Makes me want to be there even more...

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

Great pictures!! I'm going to guess you were using your new Sigma lens for all those pictures in The Seas? That queue and ride for Nemo is pretty darn dark and love how your pictures turned out. And that shallow depth of field in the clown fish tank is just perfect. Love them!