New Wishes fp+ Viewing Area

[mom2rtk]

I shot these from the FP+ viewing area in front of Casey's:

Friday Fireworks by Allen Castillo, on Flickr


Friday Fireworks by Allen Castillo, on Flickr

There are 2 large bushes in the middle of the viewing area. I suggest setting up your tripod behind the 2nd bush - the one closer to Main Street. Extend your tripod to its maximum height and you should get an unobstructed view of the castle. This spot avoids the light posts. I had my lens at 28mm and was able to get all of the bursts.

Good luck!

I was thinking of posting a thread on the photography board, but it seems you have answered my question already.

The shots are perfect.

The exif info says that last shot was 2 seconds but I'm thinking that's not right. Do you have an idea what you did? And were you using a ND filter?

 

[PythonFan888]

I was thinking of posting a thread on the photography board, but it seems you have answered my question already. Were you in the viewing area in front of Casey's?

The shots are perfect.

The exif info says that last shot was 2 seconds but I'm thinking that's not right. Do you have an idea what you did? And were you using a ND filter?

Thanks @mom2rtk!

Yes, these were taken from the FP+ viewing area in front of Casey's.

The 2nd shot is actually a composite of 2 exposures. During this particular burst sequence, the castle lights are actually dimmed. I did a 2 second exposure of the castle (no fireworks) with the blue/green light. I then opened the 2 exposures as layers in PS then blended the 2. That's why the EXIF shows only the 2 second exposure. I think the fireworks burst was a 10 second exposure IIRC.

I didn't have my ND filter for this trip(totally forgot to pack) but thankfully the shots came out OK.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks @mom2rtk!

Yes, these were taken from the FP+ viewing area in front of Casey's.

The 2nd shot is actually a composite of 2 exposures. During this particular burst sequence, the castle lights are actually dimmed. I did a 2 second exposure of the castle (no fireworks) with the blue/green light. I then opened the 2 exposures as layers in PS then blended the 2. That's why the EXIF shows only the 2 second exposure. I think the fireworks burst was a 10 second exposure IIRC.

I didn't have my ND filter for this trip(totally forgot to pack) but thankfully the shots came out OK.

Very nice. Thanks for helping me make sense of that!

 

[Candleshoe]

IMO, they should make the FP areas sitting only except for allowing people to stand about 2rows deep in the back.

I cannot sit on the ground or stand for long periods. However I can always rent an ECV when needed.

We have dessert party tickets. First and last time. I hope the views aren't too bad, and that we can see tinkerbell.

I'll probably get a FP for later in the week, too.

 

[Cormoran]

Actually they did have a lot of detail, some just choose to ignore them. Also LT confirmed he had a lot of success as well.

I don't think LT said there was a lot of success with same day FP+. The first week he was there, it was slow and he had better luck, but the second week.... not so much. Here's his post:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/fp-who-hates-it.3392240/page-2#post-53295947

 

[Mad Hattered]

I don't think LT said there was a lot of success with same day FP+. The first week he was there, it was slow and he had better luck, but the second week.... not so much. Here's his post:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/fp-who-hates-it.3392240/page-2#post-53295947

Yeah...not even close to what LT said. It can be "magical" though....when the parks are empty. Nah...

 

[disneyjr77]

What do you think the crowd will be like the last Saturday in September? I know it's a slower time, so i'm hoping it won't be as crowded as it has been recently.

There's 11 of us so fp+ will be perfect so we don't have to find a spot and hour ahead of time.

 

[mom2rtk]

What do you think the crowd will be like the last Saturday in September? I know it's a slower time, so i'm hoping it won't be as crowded as it has been recently.

There's 11 of us so fp+ will be perfect so we don't have to find a spot and hour ahead of time.

It's during Halloween party season so the crowds at the MK that week will crowd up on non-party days. Expect it to be very busy.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks @mom2rtk!

Yes, these were taken from the FP+ viewing area in front of Casey's.

The 2nd shot is actually a composite of 2 exposures. During this particular burst sequence, the castle lights are actually dimmed. I did a 2 second exposure of the castle (no fireworks) with the blue/green light. I then opened the 2 exposures as layers in PS then blended the 2. That's why the EXIF shows only the 2 second exposure. I think the fireworks burst was a 10 second exposure IIRC.

I didn't have my ND filter for this trip(totally forgot to pack) but thankfully the shots came out OK.

One more question. How early did you get to the FP viewing area to get that spot?

 

[jade1]

I don't think LT said there was a lot of success with same day FP+. The first week he was there, it was slow and he had better luck, but the second week.... not so much. Here's his post:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/fp-who-hates-it.3392240/page-2#post-53295947

Just got back after two weeks and the first week FP availability was pretty good, even same day - and SB waits were nice and low for many attractions.

Sound familiar?

And that was the week after mine.

 

[PythonFan888]

One more question. How early did you get to the FP viewing area to get that spot?

They were letting people into the FP+ viewing area 2 hours before the start of Wishes.

I was on a solo trip (conference at the CR) so it was a park visit purely for photography. I got to the viewing area about an hour and a half prior to Wishes and saw a group of 3 people inside relaxing on the astro turf. I chatted with the CM and asked her how busy they expected to be this night. She said they expected to be busy tonight so I should get in early to get my tripod setup at a nice spot. I got in and scouted the area. I was looking for a spot where the light posts weren't in the way and you could get an unobstructed view of the castle. I found the perfect spot behind the bush that was closer to Main Street.

The area slowly filled up in the next hour but it was not as bad as expected. Since I was behind the bush no one stood or sat in front of the tripod. Most of the people around me were sitting on the astro turf. There were a few people standing by the rear railings. Definitely much better than setting up in the middle of Main Street.

 

[Alfalfa]

Just got back after two weeks and the first week FP availability was pretty good, even same day - and SB waits were nice and low for many attractions.

Sound familiar?

And that was the week after mine.

Looks like he/she(?) went on to say:

"The second week, though, was the exact opposite. FP's were gone very quickly and by late morning/early afternoon selections were poor."

 

[jade1]

Looks like he/she(?) went on to say:

"The second week, though, was the exact opposite. FP's were gone very quickly and by late morning/early afternoon selections were poor."

Yes-I have never compared other weeks.

I have never even said you shouldn't plan ahead-even the first week of March.

 

[jade1]

Way to go with the selective edit, Jade. But here's LT's entire post, not the edited version you provided:

Just got back after two weeks and the first week FP availability was pretty good, even same day - and SB waits were nice and low for many attractions. I think even Touring Plans revised their crowd level estimates downward for that week.

The second week, though, was the exact opposite. FP's were gone very quickly and by late morning/early afternoon selections were poor. I felt sorry for the people standing in long lines at the kiosks knowing that when they go their turn they were only going to find attractions that they probably could have spent less time the SB line than to stand in line getting an FP for it.

Between a couple of weeks in Nov/Dec and a couple of weeks this month, I'm seeing a pattern - when crowds are low and SB lines are short, FP selection is pretty good even same day. When crowds are higher (7+) and SB lines are longer the FP selection is pretty poor very quickly - and a lot of the headliners are gone a day or two before.

Definitely takes more planning than it used to.

As to the comment about long kiosk lines, I took this picture Thursday (3/19) at MK:

Again-first week of March is my report for "in park" availability. Even the next week is backed up by LT. Nothing more.

 

[Cormoran]

Again-first week of March is my report for "in park" availability. Even the next week is backed up by LT. Nothing more.

OK, so the week that Laketravis reported no FP+ same day availability doesn't support your position , so you just "omitted" this from your posts.

 

[jade1]

But if I "had" planned ahead-I would not have been able to "TEST" in park availability.

My goal was to see what was available if guests were to just wake up, pick a park, walk in to a kiosk and pick 3 FP+.

Even we had no expectations on what would be available.

And certainly did not expect every single headliner to be available-but they were.

 

[SmithSmith]

Way to go with the selective edit, Jade. But here's LT's entire post, not the edited version you provided:

Just got back after two weeks and the first week FP availability was pretty good, even same day - and SB waits were nice and low for many attractions. I think even Touring Plans revised their crowd level estimates downward for that week.

The second week, though, was the exact opposite. FP's were gone very quickly and by late morning/early afternoon selections were poor. I felt sorry for the people standing in long lines at the kiosks knowing that when they go their turn they were only going to find attractions that they probably could have spent less time the SB line than to stand in line getting an FP for it.

Between a couple of weeks in Nov/Dec and a couple of weeks this month, I'm seeing a pattern - when crowds are low and SB lines are short, FP selection is pretty good even same day. When crowds are higher (7+) and SB lines are longer the FP selection is pretty poor very quickly - and a lot of the headliners are gone a day or two before.

Definitely takes more planning than it used to.

As to the comment about long kiosk lines, I took this picture Thursday (3/19) at MK:

What are you trying to prove? Jade already said:

Regardless-there was huge availability the first week of March, that's all I'm able to provide. You can believe it or not. How that translates to other times of the year can only be assumed.

And again-LT came the 2 weeks after (busier) and reported a lot of availability as well-so maybe question him as well I guess.

She can only speak about her experience the first week of March. LT had similar experience the second week of March, but not the third. Just because LT had a differing experience on his second week, doesn't negate his experience during his first, or even negate Jade's experience.

I, for one, love Jade's posts, I find them very informative, and hope she continues to document the rest of her trips.

 

[jade1]

OK, so the week that Laketravis reported no FP+ same day availability doesn't support your position , so you just "omitted" this from your posts.

It does for the week I presented.

 

[jade1]

What are you trying to prove? Jade already said:

She can only speak about her experience the first week of March. LT had similar experience the second week of March, but not the third. Just because LT had a differing experience on his second week, doesn't negate his experience during his first, or even negate Jade's experience.

I, for one, love Jade's posts, I find them very informative, and hope she continues to document the rest of her trips.

Thanks so much. And thanks for getting what I apparently have a hard time explaining.

It's really weird actually. Most guests come on here and say what happened on their trip. It's generally believed, often questioned which is fine, but you go out of your way to not even preplann to test the system, hit the parks in the AM (which most on here know we never do) document it with pics, and you have to be making this all up.

 

[SmithSmith]

Thanks so much. And thanks for getting what I apparently have a hard time explaining.

It's really weird actually. Most guests come on here and say what happened on their trip. It's generally believed, often questioned which is fine, but you go out of your way to not even preplann to test the system, hit the parks in the AM (which most on here know we never do) document it with pics, and you have to be making this all up.

No prob.

Apparently pictures aren't good enough. Perhaps you should just vlog your entire trip next time?