Lots of Characters, Lots of Firsts but Lots of Drama: Why We Say NEVER AGAIN!! 3/21

[Charlefours]

Great shots on the teacups Steph! What lens were you using? Did you take more than one or just use the same one the whole trip? I rented a lens for our trip and was glad I did so I didn't have to change lenses!

Thank you Karen! For those, I think it was the 18-55mm that came with my camera. I have one other lens, a 50mm which I used at several points, especially during indoor shots. The shuffling was a bit cumbersome some of the time but I love playing with my prime lens.

 

[Charlefours]

Like everyone else I love the teacup shots! Looks like you're having a fabulous time

Thanks Jenny!

 

[Charlefours]

Oh my goodness, those pictures of Lillian on her very first ride made me cry!

Thanks for sharing, they were just so sweet!

Aw! Thank you

 

[Charlefours]

I am soo enjoying your TR. I take care of my DM an DF who has stage four bone cancer BTW and it is a job and half. I live with them too since my divorce 5 yrs ago. U r one brave woman to take ALL with u and your daughter is beautiful and loooks sooo sweet.

You are a wonderful daughter to help you parents they way you are. Thank you!

 

[my2disneyboys]

Hi Stephanie!!
Great updates I, just like everyone else, LOVE the picture of Lilian on the Tea Cups! It came out so great!! I knew from your wonderful pictures on FB, that your trip report would have some great shots. I can't wait to see more!!!

 

[-Hope-]

Thank you Karen! For those, I think it was the 18-55mm that came with my camera. I have one other lens, a 50mm which I used at several points, especially during indoor shots. The shuffling was a bit cumbersome some of the time but I love playing with my prime lens.

Ooooh, I'm itching for that 50mm!

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Your pictures are beautiful. Even if I had a great camera, I'd never be able to take such nice pictures. You really have an eye for the scene.

 

[Pooh&OurHunny]

I am cherishing the memories already. Thank you so much! I use a Canon Rebel XS. You know I have not added them all yet but I had an 8G memory card in my camera and there were several days I came close to filling it up. Mind you, I took many duplicate shots with the faster shutter speeds. I would guess 1500 on average a day, with duplicates. Pairing down to discount duplicates and out of focused shots--900 shots at least per day. On Tuesday, her birthday, I took way more than that I'm sure. I am still going through pictures actually because of the large volume.

I have a Canon Rebel too but your pictures cames out so much better than mine...but then my husband had the canon rebel on the stroller and my son saw chip and dale (he was 2 yrs old and he hopped out of the stroller and my canon fell on the ground...it did not break but it was not the same). I also bring a canon point and shot. I had about 5000 pictures on his first trip but I night I do go over some and delete. Then I buy the photopass too.

 

[MaryAz]

Yay for updates! Great tea cup pics!!

 

[BippityBoo]

I'M HERE!!! Loved your traveling days. Seems like you have a really, really long drive! Your first MK day looks beautiful...but crowded!!! Great family pics, too.

Updated my PTR. Check it out (in my siggy). We have had some drama lately.

 

[Cory's Gal]

The pics of Lilian on the MTP are awesome Stephanie! I have never thought to try and take pics while spinning! Looks like she had a wonderful and fun time!! Glad you finally made it to MK!!! I love all of the Halloween decorations and all of your pictures are fantastic!! Can't wait to see those princesses!!!!

 

[annmarieda]

You will find that things lighten up considerably towards the end of the trip. I am going to write out some lessons learned, that may be beneficial (or not ) to those reading along planning extended family trips.

DH and I felt overwhelmed many moments because of the situations causing drama, but we found if we stepped back and focused on DD, we could get out of any funk quickly.

OOOH, I would love to read your lessons learned!!! I think we will go for Christmas next year and it might be that we go with dh's family. If so..I will NEED to be prepared.

 

[lexmas]

All caught up! So glad you posted links. I used to do that on my PTR, but I got lazy. When I do a TR I will have to remember how useful they are!

I LOVE all the pictures. I'm sitting here tearing up, because I can't believe that I will be there soon! It is all so very beautiful!

I LOVE the pictures of Lilian! She looks so happy and excited to be there. That picture when she saw the castle and let it sink in...so precious!

I also love your touring style...that you let her pick what she wanted to do, that is such a great way to tour the park!

Great teacup pictures. Your pictures are so beautiful and really capture the moment.

I'm really enjoying reading along! Can't wait to read more!

 

[Charlefours]

I am back with another update--I was out of town for a few days for my graduate school classes. When I last left you, we had finished up our ride on the Tea Cups and had made our way into TT for the first time. After riding the MTP, Lilian was adamant about wanting to meet the Princesses. Enough distractions, let’s get to it!

What would the lines be at Cornelious Coots Bounty where we can meet the Princesses? I was a bit nervous seeing how NOJ crowds were starting to fill in but I kept hoping that would not want to stand in line for the Princesses. What was the wait time? Only 15 minutes!!!! We were really happy with that amount of time, so we quickly jumped into line. When we got up to the front of the line, the CM asked us how many and we replied 11 since the whole group was waiting in line. She led us down the hallway and we ended up with our own room! That was really exciting to realize that we were going to have all the Princesses to ourselves.

Here is the PP picture of Lilian going up to her first

Here is Lilian meeting her first princess, Princess Aurora:

Lilian with Princess Aurora:

Some of the Photopass pictures taken:

I think you can really see how sweaty Lilian already was by this point.

We had a family photo done:

The PP version:

Up next was Cinderella. Aurora walked Lilian to meet Cinderella who was patiently waiting to collect her from Princess Aurora. Aurora pointed out to Cinderella, that Lilian had a hair clip that looked like their dear friend Princess Ariel.

PP version:

I love this photo of Lilian and Cinderella walking, even though it is out of focus. It adds a dreamy element in my opinion:

Cinderella liked her lanyard:

PP pictures with Cinderella:

A Slight Disappointment:
I had wanted to get a picture of Lilian with each princess separately—looking forward not just with Lilian’s back to the camera. DGM jumped into the picture with Cinderella, which is fine, but I never did get a picture with Lilian facing forward with Cinderella. I hoped the PP photographer managed to get one, but as you will see they did not either. It was a precious memory nonetheless and I knew I would get a chance at a solo shot hopefully again at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall on another day.

Here is DGM, Cinderella and Lilian:

And the PP version:

Too many pictures for this post, continued in the next post.

 

[Charlefours]

Meanwhile, Belle was patiently waiting for us to make our way there:

I have to think the dress would be heavy to wear, but it is beautiful. Lilian and Belle talking:

(Photopass picture)

At one point, Belle asked who everyone was with her:

Belle and Lilian:

PP Picture:

After getting some pictures with Lilian by herself with Belle, DMIL and DFIL joined them and here is the PP picture of all of them:

Here are the autographs from meeting Aurora, Cinderella and Belle:

She gave it a little kiss after she signed

Next up is Cinderella:

Last is Belle’s signature:

It was such a wonderful moment! It took a lot for me not to cry while I watched one of Lilian's dreams come true by meeting these Princesses. After these meetings, I could not wait for Lilian to meet Ariel as she is her favorite princess.

Up Next: The end of Day 1

10/20: Meeting the Fairies

 

[wlwilliams9]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!! I have to admit.....I teared up seeing Lilian with her beloved princesses and knowing how special that moment was for you, oh and her too!!!

 

[KatMark]

What wonderful pictures with the Princesses and Lily. I absolutely love them. These are the one reason I miss having a daughter.

 

[wlwilliams9]

Ha ha ha!! LMAO!! 24 pages and you're not even done with the 1st day!! This is going to be a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG TR! I just hope you finish before next Oct!!

 

[Charlefours]

I am going to start replying in multiples to cut down on the number of pages. I love that you all are commenting on my TR!!

Ooooh, I'm itching for that 50mm!

I love it Hope! I actually have the midlevel lens--it is just fabulous!

Your pictures are beautiful. Even if I had a great camera, I'd never be able to take such nice pictures. You really have an eye for the scene.

Thank you!!

I have a Canon Rebel too but your pictures cames out so much better than mine...but then my husband had the canon rebel on the stroller and my son saw chip and dale (he was 2 yrs old and he hopped out of the stroller and my canon fell on the ground...it did not break but it was not the same). I also bring a canon point and shot. I had about 5000 pictures on his first trip but I night I do go over some and delete. Then I buy the photopass too.

Most of the times I downloaded pictures in the morning when everyone was still sleeping. I would periodically scan through them during the day and delete off the duds. I have deleted off many duplicates and other bad shots since coming home. I am still going through them but I will post at the end of the TR how many pictures I personally took.

I'm so sorry to hear about your camera! I would have a heart attack. I had mine hit really hard while at Disney and I about died. The lady did not even apologize. She was like a linebacker hitting me so hard I fell into the counter, banging the C**P out of it. Scared me crazy so I rushed to put my food down to check it out. Luckily it was fine.

 

[Charlefours]

Yay for updates! Great tea cup pics!!

Thanks Mary!

I'M HERE!!! Loved your traveling days. Seems like you have a really, really long drive! Your first MK day looks beautiful...but crowded!!! Great family pics, too.

Updated my PTR. Check it out (in my siggy). We have had some drama lately.

Katie to my TR! I am glad you could stop by here. Thank you. I hope to get back to your PTR soon--things have just been so hectic for us.

The pics of Lilian on the MTP are awesome Stephanie! I have never thought to try and take pics while spinning! Looks like she had a wonderful and fun time!! Glad you finally made it to MK!!! I love all of the Halloween decorations and all of your pictures are fantastic!! Can't wait to see those princesses!!!!

Thank you Beth! It is lots of fun to try to take the pictures on the MTP. Definitely try the next time you go. I know the TR is s-l-o-w moving but I wanted to savor these first few events than it should go faster hopefully.