On my way back from Star Wars, Electrical Parade, and Nightastic

[Groucho]

OK, got a decent chunk of the first full day done...

We got to Hollywood Studios at around 8am (early EMH) and found the lines for autographs. We talked to CMs and apparently folks had been waiting in line for Billy Dee Williams since 2pm the previous day, and at this point, they were 45 minutes from handing out the signing fastpasses and there was a good chance that we were far back enough that we wouldn't even get a standby pass, so we decided to just go in. We made a beeline for Toy Story Mania since Jack loves it, grabbed fastpasses, and waited about 20 minutes. (My score: 183,600. I think I have yet to hit 200k.)

Next was wandering around a bit then heading to the SWW special stores that were set up, then grabbing an early spot for the parade.

While waiting, we caught some of a Jedi Mind Challenge, and I was happy to see Deevy See as one of the hosts:

Darth Goofy trying to remember what he forgot to put on that morning...

Here're some of the fan costumes:

You had to feel a little bad for the Tuskan Raider baby in the heat...

I didn't notice at the time, but R2-D2 could even pop some tools out of his dome.

Ray Park, who really seemed happy to be there.

Billy Dee Williams.

Ashley Eckstein.

Jeremy Bulloch, who also seemed really happy to be there.

That's enough for one post!

 

[amyy]

Nice pictures. I found your thread since you replied to my thread about buying a Pentax today. Reading how many pictures some of you take I am thinking I did not buy enough memory. I assume we can pick up the the extra cards at a store?

 

[ukcatfan]

Nice pictures. I found your thread since you replied to my thread about buying a Pentax today. Reading how many pictures some of you take I am thinking I did not buy enough memory. I assume we can pick up the the extra cards at a store?

I would not pick up extra at a Disney store if that is what you mean. They are way overpriced. I almost always buy from Newegg and they usually deliver within a week. The Walmart prices are not too bad anymore, but I doubt they have fast memory. Some place like Best Buy or Office Depot might be your only option if you need it fast.

Also consider that Groucho takes more pics than the average person and shoots in RAW, which takes more space than JPG. If you are only shooting JPG you might have more than you realize. I personally shoot RAW+JPG, which takes the most space but I at least have something to share to my wife right away

 

[giantstu]

Hey Groucho, im in your Boba fett photo!!

I am the guy with the white Canon lens behind the girl in pink (my DD) to the right of Fett behind the girl in the Princess Leia costume.

 

[Groucho]

Hey Groucho, im in your Boba fett photo!!

I am the guy with the white Canon lens behind the girl in pink (my DD) to the right of Fett behind the girl in the Princess Leia costume.

I checked and you are in a bunch of the shots I took, but usually well outside the depth of field. Most of the shots didn't make the cut as usually I was looking at the back of the characters by that point. You're probably in that last fisheye photo too, if you get out the magnifying glass.

 

[giantstu]

I checked and you are in a bunch of the shots I took, but usually well outside the depth of field. Most of the shots didn't make the cut as usually I was looking at the back of the characters by that point. You're probably in that last fisheye photo too, if you get out the magnifying glass.

I think i got you in a yellow t shirt with a Pentax with grip hung on a black rapid strap? ( i zoomed in to look at the make of camera whilst we stood waiting for the parade, sad eh )

 

[Groucho]

I think i got you in a yellow t shirt with a Pentax with grip hung on a black rapid strap? ( i zoomed in to look at the make of camera whilst we stood waiting for the parade, sad eh )

Heheh - yep, Susquehannock Trail Pro Rally yellow t-shirt, blue SWRT hat, R-Strap, and K-7 with aftermarket grip (exact clone of factory minus weathersealing.) Grips and the R-Strap don't really get along well but that's a topic for another day.

I check out the DSLRs too - your might be the only "white" lens I saw this trip - maybe one other. Usually there are a few of them running around. Actually, I usually through a "DSLR report" in my trip reports... this trip, the main thing I noticed was that Nikon seems to be dominating the entry-level market now; I saw a lot more basic Nikons than Canons. Highend-wise, probably similar numbers of FF Nikon and Canons - but few of each. Pentaxes, Olympuses, and Sonys were pretty equal, probably a few more Pentaxes but not by much. I didn't notice any film SLRs or rangefinders unlike most previous trips.

 

[mom2rtk]

Awesome shots!! I still would like to make it there myself one day for the SW parade. Alas, my boys are now too old to care, but I'd sure like to see it!

I'm sitting here downloading my countless pics from our westward journey (volume 4!) and it's been nice to be able to peruse your shots while I wait. I can't wait to see the MSEP shots!

 

[SrisonS]

Awesome parade shots!!!! You were standing in the spot I usually go for. Too bad I was behind a few people each time I went this year. It did make for an interesting shot or two though.

 

[DznyFan]

Groucho as always, your work is fantastic! I was thrilled to see this thread pop up... I have to live my SWW vicariously through everyone else this year. Thanks for the great shots, I'm looking forward to seeing more!

 

[lumpy08]

awesome photos. Can't wait to see more.

 

[Groucho]

Thanks so much, mom2rtk, SrisonS, DznyFan, and lumpy08! SrisonS - I'm really happy with that location. We have a nice straight-ahead view as the parade came down the road and a good view of the stage, too. DznyFan - I've been living it vicariously up until now I feel your pain, and we probably won't make it back for SWW for quite a while, so I'll be back to just looking at everyone else's next year.

I got some more shots done...

I tried to get some Star Tours shots since it will be changed by next time I'm there.

While I was nearby, a Bith from Figrin Da'n and the Modal Nodes came by and checked out the Star Tours warning sign, going through line by line and checking his heart, back, etc - quite funny. He then attempted to climb into our stroller but upon measuring his butt, realized that he was too big. You kind of had to be there but it was fun.

R2-D2 was taking pictures near the Fastpass machines. We went over by them to get a closer look, while Jack had his new R2-D2 spinner going making a bunch of noise, and R2 came over to say hi inbetween seeing the kids in line.

We had lunch at 50s Prime Time - I am very glad that I made afternoon dining reservations, to give us a break from the oppressive heat! It doesn't hurt that their pot roast is incredible, too. We then went to the Indiana Jones show, which was cut short due to lightning in the air. All the did was the opening scene, no picking volunteers or anything, but they did a good job of explaining why and apologizing.

Next up, MuppetVision 3D, always a must do.

We then caught the tail end of a Jedi Training, a Jedi Mind Challenge which was cut short due to rain, and another Jedi Training while waiting for the Hoopla. A couple times during the training, Ventris would come over and glare at Jack, who would promptly try to hide under the stroller, pulling the canopy over him - pretty funny.

Apparently Oopla can levitate!

A rather unconvincing Luke Skywalker squeezes Snig a little too hard. You can see a few raindrops in the air if you look closely.

The rain was starting to really come down now.

Next up - a zillion Hoopla photos.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Great pics.

 

[DznyFan]

Yay!!! Hoopla photos! Can't wait!

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Great pics so far! We have to get there someday.... maybe next year wont be as hectic and we can take off for a weekend!

 

[giantstu]

Heheh - yep, Susquehannock Trail Pro Rally yellow t-shirt, blue SWRT hat, R-Strap, and K-7 with aftermarket grip (exact clone of factory minus weathersealing.) Grips and the R-Strap don't really get along well but that's a topic for another day.

I check out the DSLRs too - your might be the only "white" lens I saw this trip - maybe one other. Usually there are a few of them running around. Actually, I usually through a "DSLR report" in my trip reports... this trip, the main thing I noticed was that Nikon seems to be dominating the entry-level market now; I saw a lot more basic Nikons than Canons. Highend-wise, probably similar numbers of FF Nikon and Canons - but few of each. Pentaxes, Olympuses, and Sonys were pretty equal, probably a few more Pentaxes but not by much. I didn't notice any film SLRs or rangefinders unlike most previous trips.

I have to agree with all you said,Nikon seem to definately have the market on the entry level DSLR.
I only saw one other white lens and it was a 70-200 F4, i did regret carrying the 400 2.8 the day of the parade!! , it did make the 70-200 2.8 IS feel light though.

 

[Groucho]

Thanks folks! I'm glad you're enjoying.

I think I am setting a personal record for post-processing - I've finished the Hoopla photos tonight! The bad news is that I had a minor tragedy - it looks like I accidentally locked the ISO to 100 at some point before the Hoopla began, and between being frustrated at the crowd pushing forward ahead of us, the heat, the holding of my son up so he could see, and the absolute hilarity of the show (probably the funniest 20 minutes in any Disney show ever?), I didn't notice the problem until halfway through the show. It happened once more later on in the show but I noticed it more quickly. I don't know how it happened - maybe I meant to adjust exposure compensation, as they button is right next to the ISO button? Either way, it meant that the main three dances were at ISO 100, F2.8, and usually somewhere about 1/60th - and that means blur! Especially with a telephoto lens.

OK, enough excuses! First, a couple more Jedi Training shots.

Yeah, so we waited an hour and twenty minutes, pressed against the rope, then 5-10 minutes before the show, the rope moves and this is where we end up. Argh.

Then again, we were still a lot closer than most people... It seems to me that they should maybe put up a "Jumbotron" or similar somewhere further back, since there is so little room for spectators with the stage where it is.

Here they are... Snig and Oopla.

Chewie doing "Walk This Way."

This is one of my favorite shots... one of the Modal Nodes wandered through the crowd during the Chewbacca and the Jawas routine and was rocking out!

The ladies do some "Material Girl"...

Darth and the stormtroopers do a little "Beat It". It was getting really hard to take any photos, I was laughing so hard!

Now, the following is making me scour YouTube every couple days to see if soemone posts a video of the show from this day (6/4) - so far, they've all been other days. On this day, there was a big group of people with "Let the wookie win" stickers and a big sign saying the same, and their cheering was enough to let Chewie win instead of Darth. Naturally, Chewie and the Jawas are jubilant...

Then, as Chewie takes the mike to give his victory speech, it's snatched out of his hand by a stormtrooper...

...and in front of the shocked contestants, says something along the lines of "I'm sorry, Darth Vadar did the best dance ever..." I don't remember all the lines but it was, of course, a parody of the Kanye West/Taylor Swift awards controversy from a couple months ago. I am barely aware that such a thing even happened but it was hilarious and I'm hoping that video of it appears online one of these days!

The rest of the show is a non-stop parade of silly dancing.

Check out Amidala in the background!

Finally, the stormtroopers come to break it up.

A goodbye from the Modal Nodes...

...with an appearance by Boba at the very end.

This show alone is worth the whole trip, people!

 

[Golf4food]

Sounds hilarious.

 

[Groucho]

Golf4food - yes it is. Search YouTube for "Hyperspace Hoopla 2010" to get an idea of what it's like.

I haven't posted many kid shots yet - here's a few to make up for that.

Leila loves to play with plastic bottles; this helped amuse her while we waited for Jack and my wife to ride Star Tours.

...then Jack and I rode it.

Jack spent a lot of time on the seat in the back of our new stroller, buried behind a camera bag and a misting fan. He loved it!

The kids were sweaty messes the whole time but never complained about the heat. OK, some of the wetness here is the misting fan, but not all!

Back to the other shots... after the Hoopla, I had just enough time to get over to the Tower of Terror and get in one ride before the park closed.

We all went back to our hotel, got the kids in bed, then I headed out, tripod in hand, to the Magic Kingdom for the 2am Extra Magic Hours. Since it was closed last trip, I headed straight for Splash Mountain and "tested" my camera's weathersealing again... note the big splashed of water coming at us! I got pretty wet just after the pic was taken.

Here's going down the big drop; the flash for the on-ride photo froze the rocks a little.

Speaking of flash, here was one experiment... a long exposure, and I manually fired the flash as the train went by, hoping that it would "freeze" it. Unfortunately, between the distance and my camera settings, the flash did not light it up nearly as well as I had hoped. It's there, but hard to see. If I try the shot again, I will have to go for a higher ISO and bigger aperture, to let in more light for the flash. Using a larger flash (which I don't have) or even triggering two flashed via Cactus triggers may help, too.

Another flash experiment, this time using Disney's own flash. In this case, I should have gone for a smaller aperture and/or lower ISO in order to not blow out the ride vehicle as much.

The dangers of spinning dials in the dark and being in a rush - I had been in Manual mode and wanted to switch to Program mode (which can then be instantly put into Aperture priority with the rear dial), but accidentally ended up in Green mode, which is like Auto and which sets you to jpg instead of raw. Fortunately, the auto WB works awfully well so I didn't need to mess with that.

It took some time to get this shot... I'm pretty happy with the result.

That's it for the biggest day of photos. The next day is all Magic Kingdom.

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

Now I gotta get a wide angle!!! You have me drooling with the possibilities.

Thanks for posting your attempts as well, its nice to read the thought around the process, and maybe some other Pentaxians may try the shot as well... or DISers :lol: