PRINCESS Palooza 2011! 9/9 Update: Departure Day

[mom2rtk]

You must share...how did you do this one? AWESOME!!!!!

Thanks Jen! I think I mentioned early in the TR how I had worked to perfect my technique on both Splash and BTMRR over many rides on the trip. By late in the week I figured out I needed my wide angle, set as wide as I could get (10mm). As we got to the top of the drop, I wrapped the strap around my hand and held it up over my head. I used a slow-ish shutter speed of 1/30 to get the blur. I shot on burst mode and hoped for the best.

And now you know how I ended up with over 6K shutter releases over the course of 10 days.......

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

We'll just call ya trigger.

 

[mom2rtk]

We'll just call ya trigger.

LOL! That about covers it!

I probably won't do as well with on-ride photos on future trips. We rode Splash and BTMRR at least 7 or 8 times over the course of the week. Each time I took what I learned on the previous ride and tried to improve on it. To be honest, with them stopping the use of late fastpass, I doubt I'll ever get that many repetitions in a single trip ever again.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

LOL! That about covers it!

I probably won't do as well with on-ride photos on future trips. We rode Splash and BTMRR at least 7 or 8 times over the course of the week. Each time I took what I learned on the previous ride and tried to improve on it. To be honest, with them stopping the use of late fastpass, I doubt I'll ever get that many repetitions in a single trip ever again.

I know, right???

Good thing you got it!

IDK - I've never been a fan of how FP works at WDW... I think it works better at DLR but I digress.

Who knows... if you pay for X-pass, you'll get unlimited rides!

 

[mom2rtk]

I know, right???

Good thing you got it!

IDK - I've never been a fan of how FP works at WDW... I think it works better at DLR but I digress.

Who knows... if you pay for X-pass, you'll get unlimited rides!

I'm confused.... how is it different from DLR?

I've been thinking on it.... and would absolutely pay for X-pass. I think.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I think FP is more efficient at DLR than WDW. WDW is so much bigger and has more limited attractions than DLR and the FP distribution seems better out there - having the ability to get FP when you'd like versus the mad run and having FP be out by noon in the off season.

But that's just me.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think FP is more efficient at DLR than WDW. WDW is so much bigger and has more limited attractions than DLR and the FP distribution seems better out there - having the ability to get FP when you'd like versus the mad run and having FP be out by noon in the off season.

But that's just me.

I guess that makes sense. But DLR left TSMM and Peter Pan off the FP list. So that makes it less efficient in my book. I always have a hard time prioritizing the non-FP rides at DLR since when we've gone, we've only gone for 2-3 days tops, so only 2-3 rope drop opportunities. We were near the front of the pack one day and still had a 20 minute wait for Peter Pan.

 

[Glennie5]

Loving your AK pictures. We did AK that day and MVVCP that night too. Can't wait to see your party pictures!

 

[mom2rtk]

Loving your AK pictures. We did AK that day and MVVCP that night too. Can't wait to see your party pictures!

Thanks Glennie! Remind me.... are you the ones we ran into outside the Crystal Palace that night?

 

[mom2rtk]

December 11: Continued

When they dropped the rope, we headed straight for the Safari and were on the first car out. I decided to put all thoughts of the missing tripod right out of my mind and focus on the ride.

I've only done the Safari a few times because we have only been to AK a few times. And if you'll recall, our day there in 2010 it poured like crazy. It was nice to ride through on a beautiful sunny morning.




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[mom2rtk]

12/10: Continued

The goal was to leave the park by noon that day so we could rest up for the party that night. And since it was Drew's only day at AK, we needed to cover the high points. Still.... Katie and I missed both animal trails in the rain last time, so we decided to take a.... quick.... walk through the Pangani Trail when we came off the Safari. The down side of course is that there wasn't time to wait for a better view of any of the animals. Those dang gorillas just didn't seem interested in giving me a good shot.

I think these guys were part of the trail..... I sort of lost track. But they were pretty cool to look at:


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Katie of course insisted we stop and watch the ducks. We had to drag her away....


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These guys were in the hippo tank. No good shots of the hippos, but I did like the shot of the ducks......


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This guy looked so much like a deer I wasn't that excited. But I enjoyed him practically climbing the tree for his breakfast!


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My neck hurts just thinking about this.........


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Over here! Look THIS way.....


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This guy actually put his food up in FRONT of his face when he saw me taking pictures. I SWEAR he did......


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And who doesn't love a cute baby picture???????


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Sadly, this was the most common view.......


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Although we were in a hurry, Katie can never pass an instrument and not stop:


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Next we were on to one of our top priorities......


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[jenseib]

I love your giraffe pictures...you got some fabulous shots...same with the long necked deer looking guy.

 

[mom2rtk]

I love your giraffe pictures...you got some fabulous shots...same with the long necked deer looking guy.

Thanks Jen! The giraffes seemed far more cooperative that morning than anyone else. I really do wish that ride wasn't quite as bumpy though. It drives me nuts to be there close to the animals with my camera, but have to fight the bumps to get some shots.

 

[Caretames1]

Well, as it shouldn't surprise anyone, Kadence loves the gorilla booty shots

We saw more of his hinder in Jan as well. We didn't see the baby, so thanks for that shot!

The giraffe shot are so neat, like they were posing for you! Also, that deer looking thing.... my neck would have snapped at half that!

Your shot of EE are breathtaking. It's is a beautifully themed area.

 

[PlutosRHM55]

Great Safari Pictures! I love the baby picture, so cute and those deer pictures I was watching Bambi while reading this update and they were just double better than if I was just looking at them Love the picture of the ducks too, such a cool angle to take a picture of them from. to ride Expedition Everest!

Can't wait to read more!

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, as it shouldn't surprise anyone, Kadence loves the gorilla booty shots

We saw more of his hinder in Jan as well. We didn't see the baby, so thanks for that shot!

The giraffe shot are so neat, like they were posing for you! Also, that deer looking thing.... my neck would have snapped at half that!

Your shot of EE are breathtaking. It's is a beautifully themed area.

LOL! So why am I not surprised! I almost pulled out all of the animal behind photos to post as a theme. It almost seemed like they had something against me!

I did love the giraffes though. There seems to be a lot of them, and they did pose quite nicely for me. I'm gonna have to save more time for those dang gorillas next time!

It was nice to get to photograph the EE area on a sunny day this time. Now I just need to do it on a sunny day when we aren't in such a dang hurry!

Great Safari Pictures! I love the baby picture, so cute and those deer pictures I was watching Bambi while reading this update and they were just double better than if I was just looking at them Love the picture of the ducks too, such a cool angle to take a picture of them from. to ride Expedition Everest!

Can't wait to read more!

Thanks you!

And seriosly... you were watching BAMBI???? LOL! How perfect is that!

 

[KCmike]

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Look straight outta Africa. Love it.

I must confess AK is my least favorite park of all the U.S. Disney parks. Hope I don't get flamed for that. I must admit though that your shots are fantastic and maybe I should give it another try?

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I was going to quote that same giraffe pciture! It is wonderful! If I didn't know better, I would sear that was taken in Africa.

I know I have said this a million times, but you seriously have talent. All of those pictures are beautiful! I can't believe you got a real picture of the lion! They are never out and awake. I love all the pictures from the trail. We love walking through those too!

 

[mom2rtk]

Look straight outta Africa. Love it.

I must confess AK is my least favorite park of all the U.S. Disney parks. Hope I don't get flamed for that. I must admit though that your shots are fantastic and maybe I should give it another try?

I was going to quote that same giraffe pciture! It is wonderful! If I didn't know better, I would sear that was taken in Africa.

I know I have said this a million times, but you seriously have talent. All of those pictures are beautiful! I can't believe you got a real picture of the lion! They are never out and awake. I love all the pictures from the trail. We love walking through those too!

Many thanks to both of you! Who's up for a real photo safari trip to Africa? I'm in training. I've watched countless episodes of "Man vs. Wild", "Dual Survival", and "Man, Woman, Wild". So I'm SURE I can do it. Of course those crazy loons would probably have using my camera battery to start a fire and breaking the lens apart to start a fire if that didn't work.....

Actually, I don't need to go to Africa. I'd just be happy if they'd slow the jeeps down at AK a bit.....

And no flames needed Mike. We've shortchanged AK a lot over the years. I'm the one who's gonna get flamed here though....... I rank AK right above ...... Epcot!

Now who needs flaming?????

 

[jenseib]

I had a series of rear end shots too. I took it as a personal insult!