Live Trip Updates From Disney w/ Photos!

[tinkandhook]

wow that drop picture is awesome! i can't wait to see more.
I also like the parade pics.
thanks for sharing!
tinkandhook

 

[civileng68]

Oh, also, tonight at 9:00 we're going to watch Spectro (and I'm going to try to get some great shots without the flash, since the flash screws up those shots).

Then at 10:00 we're going to watch Wishes.

By the way, I know there's a couple of people reading this post who are at WDW right now as well. After posting the photos, I've found out that one of you was very close to me during the parade yesterday.

So, if you see me today, come up to me and say hello to my wife and I.

I'll be wearing a sky blue t-shirt with dark blue basketball-type shorts with some nike tennis shoes. However, the best way to see me is, I will have a backpack on with a tripod in it, visible at the top, with a camera around my neck (yes, I look like the stereotypical tourist, but I dont care. I love taking photos!)

 

[civileng68]

This is the Buzz Lightyear animatronic at the end of the ride in tomorrowland.

 

[serendipity]

great pics thanks for sharing!

 

[TLHB70]

I can't wait to see pictures from Spectromagic and Wishes!!!!!

The picture of the drop is fabulous! Thank you so much for taking us along on your vacation!

 

[Plutofan1]

Great trip report!! One of the best I've read! Will you pleeeeeeeeeease take some photos of the construction of the Theatre in the Wild (Finding Nemo Musical) at Animal Kingdom and/or some photos of the construction of The Seas with Nemo and Friends (nemo ride)? Also if you have the chance will you ask a CM when they think the attractions will open? There is some confusion on when they will be opening but nothing has been officially announced. I would really appreciate it if you could take some pics or find some info. (we are hoping they will be open for our november trip). Thanks sooooooo much and I love the splash mountain pic. It is my wallpaper on my computer (i hope you don't mind). Thanks again and fantastic trip report!!

 

[pickles]

Jack Sparrow pics, the one in the show, not the one in the ride

 

[Lillypug]

I can't wait to see more of your pictures! Thanks for sharing your trip with us

 

[S.Poppins]

Great pics! Your DW must be much more patient than my DH, he hardly tolerates my Dis addiction at home! If I tried to take it to WDW - talk about fireworks! Tell your DW we appreciate her letting you share this trip with us!

 

[civileng68]

Hi everyone!

I just got back from the park for the night. We did MK all day! I have ALOT of great information and WOW DO I HAVE SOME PICS YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO LOVE!

I have some GREAT pics of the new pirates show, a pirates review (the ride), Spectro pics, and Wishes pics from tonight!

I'll give you guys a FULL detailing of crowds and anything else I can think of! Im working on it now and will post it shortly. Photos will come as I can get them uploaded and put on. As last night, the trip report will be first.

Be back very shortly!

 

[civileng68]

Great trip report!! One of the best I've read! Will you pleeeeeeeeeease take some photos of the construction of the Theatre in the Wild (Finding Nemo Musical) at Animal Kingdom and/or some photos of the construction of The Seas with Nemo and Friends (nemo ride)? Also if you have the chance will you ask a CM when they think the attractions will open? There is some confusion on when they will be opening but nothing has been officially announced. I would really appreciate it if you could take some pics or find some info. (we are hoping they will be open for our november trip). Thanks sooooooo much and I love the splash mountain pic. It is my wallpaper on my computer (i hope you don't mind). Thanks again and fantastic trip report!!

WILL DO! Epcot may be tomorrow, so I'll definately get some focus on that, as well as the France area with restaurant by request.

 

[civileng68]

Thursday:

Today we went back to the Mk, mainly because the weather was bad yesterday due to Ernesto, and my wife didn't go to the parks. So basically, today was her first day playing in the parks.

We got into the parks around 4:00 (yes, it was a late day. My wife was moving slowly and enjoying the vacation. She doesn't do thrill rides, so I normally get up, go to the parks and do the more exciting rides, then come back to the hotel, pick her up and then go wherever she wants to go).

When we got into the MK, as we started up Main Street USA, we noticed the "Dapper Dan's" were performing. They performed about 1/2 way up Main St, near the end of the Emporium closest to the hub. I got some great photos of them to share later.

First off, I want to say that today, as a nice day, it was still nearly empty at the parks, so it's likely not related to the storm. Only Minnie, another lot and about 10 rows of Goofy were used today.

Anyways, after the Dapper Dan's finished, the Main St. band performed, and they are great as always. I noticed many of the members are the same one's that have been there for years.

After listening to them for a few minutes, we moved towards Pirates. We got over there and saw the new Pirates show. It is VERY good! The "Jack Sparrow" is VERY good. I think he looks alot like him but, dont get me wrong, you're not going to get confused and think It's Johnny Depp. He plays the part perfectly and sounds JUST like Depp. I got some great photos, including a closeup of the Sparrow character's face during the show.

After that, we went to ride Pirates. First off, the outside of the attraction looks great. The new mast looks really nice there. As you walk under the overhang towards the queue area, you'll notice a cool painting on the wall, with the pirate skull from the movie poster. The painting welcomes you to the ride basically since you have to walk under it to get to the ride. It's right before the turnstiles. Under the skull, it says "Yo Ho Yo Ho a Pirates Life For Me". Then it's on to the ride. The queue is all the same. However, the area before you get to the turnstiles is now playing music from the movie. It's a very cool track they play.

Now for the ride: All I can really say is "Wow!". They honestly did a great job. It's so much better. I really looked at the changes and I think I may have one that I've not read on the boards. Anyways, when you get to the boats, one thing I notice is they really stress no flash photography. That was either something they do now, or it was directed at me, since my camera is a pro-grade camera. Anyways, unlike in the past, when you get in the boat and look ahead, you notice immediately that the cave is completely black. No lighting! You move into the cave and all of the lights are off. Remember when you went into the cave and the waterfall was there on the right, all lit up? Well that's no more. Instead, that is the area that the mist waterfall effect is in. The effect is great. The music is great! Then you move to the drop. Immediately I notice something that I havent seen mentioned................the drop is changed. The drop is MUCH shorter. In the past, you go to the bottom of the drop, and took a quick, jerky left turn to go out into the battle scene. Now, the drop is much shorter and the track is changed a little. When you get down the drop, you slow down and dont get the jerky left turn. Then, the track turns more left (seemingly) than it did in the past, literally facing you at the ship when you enter the scene. It's obvious that when you enter the scene they want you focused on it. When you come out of the cave, you are facing directly at the ship.

The new cannon effects are great! However, the thing I love is the sound. The sound effects from the cannons is great! You nearly feel the concussion of the blasts.

The first Depp animatronic is great. It blends seemlessly. The second is great but if you didn't know where to look, you may miss it. The last scene is incredible.

In the last scene, as you came up on the jail scene, you used to look left and see the scene with the "loot". Not anymore. Now they built a wall to look like the side of a castle. You can't see anything there. This is fine as it sort of lets you put all of your attention on the jail scene.

My wife and I noticed right away that the dog at the jail scene has either been replaced or covered in fake dirt. The dog now looks as if it has rolled in the mud. They obviously wanted to create a darker effect.

Then the last scene is great! The "loot" scene is no longer an unorganized mess of loot. It is an organized room with all sorts of silver and gold. Depp's Sparrow is in the chair rocking back and forth talking. This Animatronic is the best by far. It looks so realistic, it's nearly scary. His voice is even Depps seemingly. Gone are the old pirates that were laying around, shooting guns at the last scene. They're gone. I'd love to know where Disney put these. This is all the more reason that I wish Disney would use some space on it's property to create a massive park related museum. I wish they'd put pieces of old rides or refurbished rides in the museum. They could have things like the old Mr. Toad cards, 20,000 leagues subs, old animatronics from things like Haunted Mansion and now Pirates. I am a guy who while loving change, missed the old, and I just hate to think those old Pirates are going to be dismantled.

Anyways, moving on. We then went to Splash Mountain. NO WAIT! I got some great photos but, let me tell ya, I got a GREAT shot coming down the big drop. It's incredible! Can't wait to share it! The last one is nothing to this one!

Next, it was Big thunder Mountain Railroad. Again, NO WAIT! Not only did we ride, I got ON RIDE PHOTOS! That's right, I was the idiot holding up a $1,600 camera with a $600 lens taking photos on an out of control rollercoaster. My wife, who normally get annoyed with my camera taking, was cringing.

After that ride, we went across the park to have dinner around 6:00 at the Plaza. Our ADR's were not until 7:00 but, the park is so dead, there was no need for ADR's. After dinner at the plaza, we left the park to go visit our dog at the kennel. Then, it was back to the park. We went over to Buzz Lightyear, and rode with NO WAIT! I actually got into a little trouble on this ride by getting too competitive with my wife. She only got 30,000 points to my 220,000 and I sort of rubbed it in. I got the "you get too competitive" speech. I deserved it though and made it up with a ride on Stitch, which to me, is like cutting me with dull razor blades.

Next we walked over to Space Mountain. Again, NO WAIT! In fact, the only thing with a wait was Peter Pan @ 30 mins. Space Mtn was great as always. I am a big kid, so as always I do something funny in the cameras while leaving, normally embarassing my wife. Normally I act as if I'm picking my nose (not knowing the camera is on me) but this time I just went with a funny face. The "You are a big kid" comment from my wife followed shortly.

Next we headed to Winnie the Pooh since there were no waits around the park. We got on in 10 mins and had a great ride. Again, I embarassed my wife by skipping from the teacups to the Pooh ride. I LOVE THE TEACUPS MUSIC! Ok I can't wait to have kids so that I have an excuse to act like this. I guess some dont find it funny to see a 27 year old guy act like this without a kid to go along with it. Oh well, IM a big kid so I have fun!

After the Pooh ride it was 8:30 and with Spectro at 9:00 we wanted to get settled. So we went over to Adventureland for a Dole Whip and then went to the flag area on Main Street, grabbed a curb seat and watched Spectro.

After the Spectro show, we waited around for Wishes. Wishes was just great! Afterwards, we headed back to the kennell, picked up our pup, and walked to Goofy parking, trying to give the puppy some good exercise after a day cooped up in a kennel.

Just FYI, I noticed the back side of the kennell had one of those construction approval signs (as if the county had approved it) and assume they may soon be either rebuilding or adding on to the MK kennell. Also by the way, while day stays at the kennells used to be $6.00, they are now $10.00. Im okay with it considering they treat our dog so well there, and they really care.

Well that wrapped up the day. Tomorrow, I think really am getting up and going to AK at opening to ride Expedition Everest. As I did before, with a lesser camera, Im going to get onride photos. I will with my additional flash, attempt to get a great shot of the yetti.

After that, I expect we'll be at Epcot and maybe MGM for a while, likely ending at Epcot. Im going to try to get to the TTC by 10:00 for Wishes. I want to get photos of the show from the Ferry Landing, so I can get the full water reflection in the shot.

As always, photos and a trip report for tomorrow will be on tomorrow night. I will be posting photos from today soon, as I get them loaded up.

Thanks!

 

[civileng68]

This is my wife as we entered the MK today.

 

[civileng68]

Because it takes my photos so long to upload, I may post a couple more, and then let them upload overnight and then post them tomorrow.

Goodnight.

 

[civileng68]

This is the express monorail at the TTC arriving to take us to the MK. Taken around 4:00 today (Thursday).

 

[civileng68]

I took this today when we got into the park. This is the fire house.

 

[civileng68]

This photo gives you an idea of the crowds in the MK on Thursday. This photo was taken around 4:20 pm.

 

[civileng68]

Donald was in the house today!

 

[nomie74]

This is great, I can't wait until November!

 

[Glendamax]

Thank you for including us on your trip. Does it freak you out to know that there are DIS ghosts with you on your trip? I'm surprised that in the picture of your wife, you couldn't see us DISers making "KISS" rock n roll faces! You know we'll all be there with you as you go to AK in the morning! Hope I don't scream too loudly on Expedition's drop - I'm nervous . . .

Looking forward to tomorrow! Don't forget to report your touring plan and suggestions for AK now that Everest is there!

OH! Your wife looked really cute in her picture! I was debating about doing my nails before the trip, now I guess I will !

Have Fun!