Photo Trip report: Day's 1-7 Completed! (finally) 1/10

[scottny]

the pictures are really great. loved the night time AK ones.

 

[handicap18]

Got my missing photos recovered from the SD card. Here are a few more from MVMCP including some fireworks shots:

Mrs Claus blowing kisses to youngest DS who was blowing kisses back to her:

Holiday Wishes, got my now "regular" spot on Main St. Same spot I got last summer for Wishes. I used bulb mode and tried to time things. Nothing spectacular, but good results overall. I do have 2 images that I want to combine. I just need to play around with PSE to figure out how to merge to seperate files.

Fantasyland with its Holiday lights:
taken with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4

The kids had a long night:

A shot of the castle taken with the 30mm f/1.4:

Looking down Main St on our way out, again with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4:

 

[scottny]

WOW

those r really nice.

 

[alan]

I can see why you wanted to recover these - well done!

regards,
/alan

 

[Gdad]

Very creative- nicely done Kyle.

 

[jann1033]

i like the balloon one as well, nice unique shot...and the kids look so cute in the stroller!

 

[handicap18]

Thanks for the kind words. I like that balloon shot too. It was just one of those things that presented itself. I never would have looked for something like that. I just happened to be in the right spot and thought it looked cool.


Ok, now onto Day 5: EPCOT

Yep the day the lens fell appart. I used the 18-135 as we entered the park. Took about a dozen or so shots with it before changing to the 30. Actually I used it, then changed to the 30, then changed back for a bit, then when we hit Living Sea's I switched back to the 30. Oh well. We'll see what Nikon says when they get it.

For the first time we went into Innoventions. I believe we went into the West side. The kids liked playing in there. Lots for them to touch and expirment with. DD got to sit and color for a while. After Innoventions we went to the Living Sea's. Again another place the kids really like. We did the Nemo ride. That was cute. We were also able to do Turtle Talk with Crush for the first time. That was a lot of fun dude! Oldest DS was very excited afterwards because he got to talk to Crush. He didn't actually ask him a question. He just told him that he was 5. Crush did a big flip and "DUDE!! You've just been hatched Dude!!!" We got to the park on the late side. We ate lunch before Innoventions, then after Living Sea's we started to make our way around the World Showcase starting in Canada. We had 4:30 ADR at the Princess Storybook Dinner in Norway so we had some time to do a bit of exploring. We got lucky because just after we got to the Canada area the 2 young ones fell asleep. That made for an easier walk.

Nothing really out of the ordinary on this day. DD did love all the attention she got from the Princesses at Dinner. Most of us had the Grilled Venison and it was very good. Oldest DS loved the pizza. One of the few things besides french fries that he ate all week. We had a great waiter and the chef that came out for DW (she has a glute/wheat alergy) was awesome and very thorough.

After dinner DW and her dad went to watch the Candlelight Processional. The rest of us went to get EMH wrist bands. After that DW went back to the hotel with her dad and the 2 boys. DD stayed with me along with my Dsis and Dbil. Sis and her hubby had FP for Soarin. After that we did Mission Space twice (well 2 of us at a time while 1 stayed with DD). Then we walked around WS starting in Mexico. Watched Illuminations, then were able to ride the Grand Fiesta in Mexico. We wanted to do the ride in Norway, but it was having mechanical issues. After that we took our time wandering around the rest of WS and ended up eating Fish & Chips in the UK (YUUUMMMMMYYY). For the EMH the park was not to crowded. DD ended up falling asleep before we got to the UK area. The Sigma 30mm f/1.4 performed well. Again, the only issues is the extra noise at ISO1600 and f/1.4. But it was all I had and with that focal length it worked out well. I am very happy with it. I did have the tripod with my, but my Dsis was giving out these looks everytime we stopped to take pics (both me and Dbil). So I just kept on the move.

Here are some highlight shots:

Waterfall in Canada:

Father Christmas in the UK:

Morocco lamps:

The train set in Germany with holiday decorations:

Lamp in Norway:

 

[handicap18]

A few more. Night shots with the Sigma 30mm f/1.4:

Germany:

American Adventure:

Orniment in Germany:

 

[Amy]

Kyle, that night shot in Germany is PERFECT!

 

[Gdad]

Awesome two shots of your daughter- drawing and with the stingray- very nice.

 

[scottny]

great pics. the night shots r great. wish mine would come out so nice.

 

[Groucho]

Man, it's great to see Spaceship Earth bare and beautiful again. (Though I'm not happy about one of the new additions inside, but that's another topic...)

Nice dog backpark/harness, we had one on my son for a good bit of time last trip and they're just fantastic for places like WDW!

Nice work, now you just have to schedule your next trip.

 

[handicap18]

Man, it's great to see Spaceship Earth bare and beautiful again. (Though I'm not happy about one of the new additions inside, but that's another topic...)

Nice dog backpark/harness, we had one on my son for a good bit of time last trip and they're just fantastic for places like WDW!

Nice work, now you just have to schedule your next trip.

I didn't mind the wand and sign all that much. Though my first trip to WDW was in '01 so I never saw SSE without that stuff before this last trip.

That harness thingy is also a backpack (though small) and it makes it much easier to keep track of the kids rather than having them wander off. DD would VERY much just decide to all of a sudden wander off. She didn't mind the backpack though. Every now and then she would pull back on the leash and get mad, but it was definately worth having it.

If I seriously think about scheduling a next trip DW would not be to happy. I have to at least wait another few months. Though she loves going just as much as I do. Not sure yet when the next trip will be. I'm thinking no later than Sept/Oct '09, though DW very much likes going around this time of year.

I have to get going on getting day's 6 & 7. Its been a tough week with the weather, DW being sick and the kids being sick (including DD having been diagnosed today with pneumonia. She has to take some nasty smelling antibiotics, but she takes it with no fuss). I'll get to pics soon enough.

 

[handicap18]

Ok, so I figure its time to get this report finished. Between getting the last 2 days of RAW files converted, having computer issues (less than 4 weeks now before I get a brand new computer!!!), everyone in the house being sick at one point or another over the last 4 weeks, the holidays, work, bla bla bla...

Here goes:

Day 6.
Downtown Disney, Some hotel visiting and Magic Kingdom at night.

We left day 6 open. It was a saturday and near the end of the trip so I figured it would be good to let the kids sleep in (not to mention letting us sleep in too). DW went to MGM for EMH and got ToT in 2 times as well as RnRC twice along with some shopping. After she got back the 2 little ones took a nap and oldest DS and I went to check out Port Orleans French Quarter then took the boat to Downtown Disney. We checked out World of Disney and the Lego Store. Also stopped in the Pin store, but nothing jumped out at me. DS got a cool lego truck which we put together on the plane ride home. The boat ride was very cool. We happened to get the same captain in both directions. Dan who happens to be from Martha's Vinyard. DS got himself a co-captains pin for holding onto one of the ropes (aka line as its called on a boat) while made the trip back to Riverside.

For dinner we had reservations at Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge. We were able to get there early and check out the hotel. WOW! AWESOME! I so want to stay there. Absolutly loved everything we encountered there. Our dinner at WCC was great. Most of us got the All You Can Eat Skillet!! YUUUMMMMYYYY!!! Ribs, and pulled pork and bbq chicken and potatoes and corn on the cob! I definately ate way to much, but it was soooooo good. Will definately eat there again. Oldest DS asked for ketchup and I think we ended up with 10 bottles!! I didn't get a chance to get a picture because not long after he got his bottles, someone else yelled for ketchup and he and my sis took most of the bottle to them. He thought that was fun.

After dinner we took the kids back to the hotel. DW's dad was also tired so he stayed with them. They all fell asleep pretty quickly. DW and I took off to meet up with my sister and brother-in-law at MK. We got there right after Spectromagic started. I thought it started 15 minutes later. Oh well. I snapped a few quick pics, then after the last float went by I made a b-line through the emporium, came out behind Casey's, flew past Crystal Palace into Adventureland then snuck through to Frontierland. I got there about 4 floats in. So I didn't get them all, but did get most. The 30mm f/1.4 performed well. Only had 1 issue. Brer Bear came up for a closeup, but it was to dark to focus. Oh well. It was a nice thought. After that we did Philharmagic twice then were able to do Monsters Laugh Floor. That was pretty cool. For those who have done it. I was chosen as "That Guy"!

Over all it was a very nice day. Got some decent pics and made it into MK again. I wanted to get pics of Spectro and while I didn't get the whole parade I did get most of it.


Some from DTD:

My favorite Star Wars ship!

I have to go in and photoshop that spot of his forehead. Don't know where that came from. might be a reflection off the lens from the sun. ??

A few from Whispering Canyon:

Didn't have a tripod, so I rested the camera best I could on a log. This is what I got:

Magic Kingdom:

the parade making its way down Main St towards the Castle:

Snapped this one at the end of Philharmagic. Think it needs some post processing. I'll get to that eventually:

Upclose of the Castle:

Thought this was pretty cool and different. Castle stage from behind looking towards Tomorrowland:

I was very happy with this Castle photo. Handheld with the 30mm f/1.4:

 

[handicap18]

Day 7:
our final day. We head to Disney MGM Studio's (I know the name has changed to Disney Hollywood Studio's, but when we were there it was still MGM Studio's).

Got there a little later than I would have liked, but we ended up staying all day long right though for the EMH. First thing we did was head over to Star Tours and checked out the Jedi Training Academy. DS was a little to shy to try and get up, but he LOVED it. He had his own lightsaber and was doing all the moves along with all the kids on stage. When Vader came out, he yelled along with everyone else. We also took him on the Star Tours ride and he enjoyed it, but would only do it once. We went next to the Streets of America to find the Power Rangers and see Lightning and Mater. Oldest DS wouldn't go up to the PR's but DD did. We also got a peak at Lightning and Mater then let the kids play in Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground. We did lunch at Pizza Planet then went to find a spot for the Holly Days Parade. Got a spot near the park enterance which was great for the kids, but terrible for me and taking pictures. Light was very harsh. I ended up using the flash a lot because of the severe backlighting from the sun. We split up after the parade and I roamed around with DD who had fallen asleep and took some pics before meeting up with everyone for dinner at Mama Melrose (which again was a great dinner). After dinner the Osborne Lights were on so we checked those out. This is when our fellow Dis'er Amy and her DH met up with us for a quick chat and hello. We then cought the late Fantasmic show and I got some very usable pics with my 70-300mm VR lens even at f/5.6. I would have preferred a faster aperture at that length, but you go with what you have.

For EMH we rode RnRC twice and also went on The Great Movie Ride. Then rode RnRC again before heading out. I was trying to snap night shots when I could with the 30mm f/1.4. Results were ok, but not as good as previous nights. Not really sure why. Focus didn't come out as sharp. Maybe I was just tired and not completely paying attention, but I certainly would have prefered to use a tripod for night shots of the Hat and ToT. Oh Well there's always next time.

 

[handicap18]

More from MGM:

Used the flash on low power to light up the "snow" flakes a little:

Here's the group pic Amy took for us. Thank you AMY!!!!!!

Fantasmic Pics:

 

[AndrewWG]

Great job Kyle!

Where is the picture of Amy? You had her take a pic of you? Sheesh. I met you probably 37 years ago, I've never met Amy. just kidding of course.

Nice pics!

 

[wingawh]

The pictures are wonderful.

Would you mind sharing the EXIF info or shutter and aperature setting for some of the night time pics such as AK Tree of Life and MK parade pics?

We are headed back to WDW next week and would like to give them a try.

Thanks,

 

[Amy]

Good shots Kyle! I can't believe the great ones you got at Fantasmic! And I'm glad the one I took of your family turned out nice - your camera scared me! I haven't touched an SLR in years, well before the digital era.

Great job Kyle!

Where is the picture of Amy? You had her take a pic of you? Sheesh. I met you probably 37 years ago, I've never met Amy. just kidding of course.

Nice pics!

Hey Andy, give Kyle a break - I think Kyle and I spent a whopping 5 minutes together. DH and I caught the early Fantasmic and Kyle & family were going to the late Fantasmic and we met back at the Osborne Lights in between shows. I'm just glad we got to meet at all! (Besides, I'm one of those "Nervous Nellies" who doesn't like posting photos of their family members on public internet sites; you'll notice even when I post photos of my DS's, they'll be in their band uniforms and you can't really see their faces, usually just a mouth connected to a trumpet or sax.)

 

[AndrewWG]

Hey Andy, give Kyle a break - I think Kyle and I spent a whopping 5 minutes together. DH and I caught the early Fantasmic and Kyle & family were going to the late Fantasmic and we met back at the Osborne Lights in between shows. I'm just glad we got to meet at all! (Besides, I'm one of those "Nervous Nellies" who doesn't like posting photos of their family members on public internet sites; you'll notice even when I post photos of my DS's, they'll be in their band uniforms and you can't really see their faces, usually just a mouth connected to a trumpet or sax.)

I am the same way. You don't see pictures of me or my family members on here. I made that decision a long time ago and even if I PM a pic to someone, I delete it within a day or two. Just the way I do things.

Sounds like you and Kyle met for about the same amount of time me and Steve's Girl met! Not much time when we are running around the parks, but it is fun to meet in person anyways.