Return to the Scene of the Crime: The Lurkyloos’ First Anniversary at WDW! New VIDEO!

[DisneyDmbNut]

no..I am better with poop jokes..it is the mother in me

 

[annnewjerz]

I those photos too! I want to make a Blurb book just of our anniversary (never mind that I still haven't finished the one for our wedding...)

I wasn't going to post again (was just going to lurk and drool over the remaining cake in your TR) but I had to ask---how do you like your blurb book? I saw in your other thread that you got one as the guestbook for your wedding and have been really interested in what you thought of the quality.

Like I said, I'm pretty regular on the photo board and since we will be going to WDW at Christmas this year, I'm really looking forward to getting great shots at The World (or at least trying to) and usually---I make a photo album with handwritten captions or a scrapbook, but since it's Christmas I would really like to make something more like a coffee table book to keep out on display for visitors to look at.

Did you get a hard cover book or soft cover?

How did you like the quality of the photos? You obviously used the Roots' pictures and I just wanted to make sure that photos from my nice fancy pants SLR camera aren't going to be really poor quality printing in the book.

Was the program for creating the book easy to use? After photoshopping all of my shots, I'm going to want a program that's reasonably user friendly!!!

Any and all details about your experience with getting a Blurb book would be greatly appreciated!

 

[lurkyloo]

I wasn't going to post again (was just going to lurk and drool over the remaining cake in your TR) but I had to ask---how do you like your blurb book?

Hi! Bear with me – I may go on at length about Blurb....

Did you get a hard cover book or soft cover?

I’ve made one hardcover book (engagement photos) and one softcover (wedding photos for our at-home reception).

The dust jacket on the hardcover book is gorgeous, but if there are any flaws, they have to reprint your entire book. They can’t just send you a new dust jacket. It took me three tries to get a good version of our engagement book because when they sent the first replacement to address a cover issue, there were problems with the interior pages, so they had to send a third book.

The softcover was OK – it seemed like it would start curling after a while if you didn’t put the book under something or wedge it between other books. They also now offer an ImageWrap hardcover where the photo is printed on the cover instead of on a dust jacket.

How did you like the quality of the photos? You obviously used the Roots' pictures and I just wanted to make sure that photos from my nice fancy pants SLR camera aren't going to be really poor quality printing in the book.

I liked the quality of the printing. You can see the halftone screen in some of the photos that have Root filters on them, but it’s not distracting. The colors all seemed true, and the paper stock – while not super-thick – feels like real coffee-table book paper.

However, just to warn you, my MIL tried making a book through Blurb and never could get the photos to print right – they all came out really dark. I’m not sure if the problem was with her pix or the Blurb printers, but after 3 tries they just gave her the money back.

The good thing is, customer service seems to be very good about shipping replacement books, refunds, etc.

Was the program for creating the book easy to use? After photoshopping all of my shots, I'm going to want a program that's reasonably user friendly!!!

This is tricky to answer. It has way more layouts (and better ones, I think) and flexibility than Shutterfly, Snapfish, and even MyPublisher. It also has a simple drag-and-drop interface and will even autofill with your images. However, as someone who’s been using professional graphic design software for almost 20 years, I found I couldn’t do the kind of tweaks I’m used to. I did OK working within Blurb’s templates for the books I’ve had printed so far, but for the wedding album I am designing pages in Photoshop and then importing them so I can have complete control.

Here are pix of the standard Blurb layouts I used to create the softcover book:

Also, the last few updates of Blurb’s software have been kinda buggy – it runs really slow, it seems. However, Blurb just released a new update that may have fixed these things – I just haven’t tried it yet.

I hope this helps – let me know if I can elaborate or clarify... I love to elaborate and clarify...

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

now I will sound stupid..what is a blurb book?
I made a photobook from Kodak Gallery WAYYYYYY too soon..before I got all my pictures from everyone

cakecakecakecake!

 

[annnewjerz]

Hi! Bear with me – I may go on at length about Blurb....


I’ve made one hardcover book (engagement photos) and one softcover (wedding photos for our at-home reception).

The dust jacket on the hardcover book is gorgeous, but if there are any flaws, they have to reprint your entire book. They can’t just send you a new dust jacket. It took me three tries to get a good version of our engagement book because when they sent the first replacement to address a cover issue, there were problems with the interior pages, so they had to send a third book.

The softcover was OK – it seemed like it would start curling after a while if you didn’t put the book under something or wedge it between other books. They also now offer an ImageWrap hardcover where the photo is printed on the cover instead of on a dust jacket.

I LOVE the idea of having the cover image printed right onto the book rather than the dust jacket. We have cats (and dogs) and I can imagine one of them getting a hold of the corner of the dust jacket somehow and having the whole thing be torn to shreds. For the replacement books when you had flaws (whether in the book or on the cover)---were the reprints free, or did you have to pay each time it was messed up??


I liked the quality of the printing. You can see the halftone screen in some of the photos that have Root filters on them, but it’s not distracting. The colors all seemed true, and the paper stock – while not super-thick – feels like real coffee-table book paper.

I'm glad to hear the pages are thicker. I definitely don't need stock but was worried that the pages may be thin or cheap looking. Were the photos printed out matte or glossy and did you have the option of choosing one or the other?

This is tricky to answer. It has way more layouts (and better ones, I think) and flexibility than Shutterfly, Snapfish, and even MyPublisher. It also has a simple drag-and-drop interface and will even autofill with your images. However, as someone who’s been using professional graphic design software for almost 20 years, I found I couldn’t do the kind of tweaks I’m used to. I did OK working within Blurb’s templates for the books I’ve had printed so far, but for the wedding album I am designing pages in Photoshop and then importing them so I can have complete control.

I have VERY little experience with graphic design and while I do think I have a good eye, I'd rather use a program that has page lay-outs that I can use rather than designing my own. I won't make excuses---it's sheer laziness I do have Photoshop and really use it for minimal editing on my photos. I've never made a photo book ever---whether on Shutterfly, Snapfish or anything. Regarding quality, which do you think is best? I would guess Blurb since you are using them again, but just wanted to check.

Here are pix of the standard Blurb layouts I used to create the softcover book:

I love the layouts. I don't need anything super fancy...just want something that I can put say, one large picture of the castle on the left page, with a bunch of photos of Wishes in a sort of collage on the right, etc. I saw in your engagement photo book one of your pictures was sort of...in the middle of two pages, half on one page and half on the next---was this one of the default page layouts that you could selet? Thought it looked really neat.

I hope this helps – let me know if I can elaborate or clarify... I love to elaborate and clarify...

Thank you for the offer to clarify, I am obviously taking you up on that. I haven't peaked at the prices or anything on their site at all yet since our trip isn't until December but am really hoping this will be a good site to use.

One last question, do you know if you can print words on the pages along with photos? For example, if I had a large picture of the castle at night on the left page, would I be able to under it insert a caption about what it was, or a quote that I thought related well to the picture...yadda yadda yadda, or are they STRICTLY photo books? I would hate to have pictures of DH on our trip and not be able to insert a goofy caption. I like showing the pictures to people and not having to worry about explaining everything to them.

Sorry---one more. I'm sure the soft cover is MUCH cheaper than the hard cover. I will be shooting a co-worker's daughter's bridal shower as a favor in May and thought a soft cover photo book would make a nice gift. Although the covers seem to curl a little, do you still think the soft cover is worth the money?

All of my comments are above in red. Sorry---I have no self edit button so I have inevitably written you a novel. Feel free to take as long as you need to respond and also feel free to give me as lengthy a response possible, I need as much feedback as I can get. I hate spending money and being disappointed with the end result.

Thank you so much!
Ann

 

[lurkyloo]

now I will sound stupid..what is a blurb book?
I made a photobook from Kodak Gallery WAYYYYYY too soon..before I got all my pictures from everyone

cakecakecakecake!

www.blurb.com has free bookmaking software and prints coffee-table quality hardcover and softcover books. I like them because they offer sophisticated layouts and a finished product that looks like you bought it at a bookstore. They also have cheaper prices than a lot of the other similar sites. I made our engagement guest book for the reception there, and then some softcover wedding albums for the grandmas.

All of my comments are above in red. Sorry---I have no self edit button so I have inevitably written you a novel. Feel free to take as long as you need to respond and also feel free to give me as lengthy a response possible, I need as much feedback as I can get. I hate spending money and being disappointed with the end result.

I know what you mean - I always do SO much research before I buy, like, everything.

For the replacement books when you had flaws (whether in the book or on the cover)---were the reprints free, or did you have to pay each time it was messed up??

No – they replaced it free every time. They seem to be aware of the problems and really willing to work through them with you.

I'm glad to hear the pages are thicker. I definitely don't need stock but was worried that the pages may be thin or cheap looking. Were the photos printed out matte or glossy and did you have the option of choosing one or the other?

No choice – the pages are matte-ish. They’re certainly not glossy. It’s just like regular coffee table book paper, if that helps.

Regarding quality, which do you think is best? I would guess Blurb since you are using them again, but just wanted to check.

Blurb is definitely a notch above Snapfish and Shutterfly and more in line with MyPublisher and Apple’s book-making software in terms of customizability and layout sophistication. Snapfish and Shutterfly have only very basic templates and layout options.

I saw in your engagement photo book one of your pictures was sort of...in the middle of two pages, half on one page and half on the next---was this one of the default page layouts that you could selet?

You have to create that yourself, but it’s pretty simple. You select two full-page layouts and bring the same photo into both pages. Then you slide one photo over until the two pix almost line up in gutter (where the book is bound) as a continuous image but have about ¼ inch of repeated image. Then, when it’s printed and bound, that repeat is swallowed up and the picture appears to continue across the gutter.

One last question, do you know if you can print words on the pages along with photos? For example, if I had a large picture of the castle at night on the left page, would I be able to under it insert a caption about what it was, or a quote that I thought related well to the picture...yadda yadda yadda, or are they STRICTLY photo books?

What you would do is choose the set of templates for a book with words and pictures. They have all different types of book templates: photo-only, cookbook, wedding album, guest book, baby book, etc.

Sorry---one more. I'm sure the soft cover is MUCH cheaper than the hard cover. I will be shooting a co-worker's daughter's bridal shower as a favor in May and thought a soft cover photo book would make a nice gift. Although the covers seem to curl a little, do you still think the soft cover is worth the money?

I think so – we gave our softcover books to the grandmas and they really loved them. They just aren’t, you know, coffee-table worthy. But people really enjoyed leafing through them at our at-home reception. They feel less “precious” and more, uh, manhandle-able!

 

[PopArtGal]

Thanks for the link.

I am now in the process of scanning all the pictures we have in the house. And we even have black and white pictures of my grandparents when they were young, and even older. That would make a great keepsake.

And for once, the shipping price is not astronomical for Canada

 

[annnewjerz]

No – they replaced it free every time. They seem to be aware of the problems and really willing to work through them with you.

No choice – the pages are matte-ish. They’re certainly not glossy. It’s just like regular coffee table book paper, if that helps.

Blurb is definitely a notch above Snapfish and Shutterfly and more in line with MyPublisher and Apple’s book-making software in terms of customizability and layout sophistication. Snapfish and Shutterfly have only very basic templates and layout options.

Thanks again for all of the information. Free reprints is GREAT, matte finish on the pages is GREAT (I always print in matte or metallic, glossy reminds me of prints you would get at Walgreens...fine for snapshots of vacation, not fine for my framed shots or my photo book.

I'm glad to hear blurb is a step above the others in your opinion. Do you know what size book you got? I was looking at the largest size (just to get an idea of the max no. of dollars I would be spending) and it seemed really reasonable. I could get a huge book with well over 100 pages and the cover printed on the book rather than the dust cover for less than $100 it seemed---me likey

I did see that you can add text as desired in the photo book, I looked at their samples and to be honest, not I don't know if I would put much text in at all---it seemed to make them look less like a nice sophisticated coffee table book and more like a photo album (which is what I usually have and wanted to try doing differently this time). Maybe if there is a funny quote, song lyric, etc. associated with a photo here and there I might throw in some text, but I definitely won't be captioning every photo.

Now---I just have to wait for December so I can take the trip, take the pics and get my book made. We just tacked a night at POP onto the beginning of our stay at BWV, so at least today---the trip is one day closer than it would have been without it!

Thanks again for all of the information, very helpful and I think I'm sold. Now, back to the regularly scheduled programing and the next installment of your TR!

Ann

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

Wow Carrie what a fabulous anniversary you and Patrick had!!!!

Your cake looked amazing!!!

I love your Blurb book. I was going to make a photo album from MPix but I didn't like they layouts they offered which was pretty much no layouts at all. I agree that Blurb has more layouts and you can make your book much more interesting. Not to mention they are a heck of a lot cheaper! I am going to go with the Blurb book for my wedding album. I loved my engagement book I made. I just think I will make a bigger book for the wedding. Your book came out beautiful!

 

[ElleBren]

Now I might (might) not be able to post the next installment til later this evening,

What was that??

 

[lurkyloo]

I am now in the process of scanning all the pictures we have in the house. And we even have black and white pictures of my grandparents when they were young, and even older. That would make a great keepsake.

And for once, the shipping price is not astronomical for Canada

Hooray! That's a good idea, to scan all the pictures you have and make a book. I also know a woman who constantly has a new book in the works. She just adds photos as her family takes them and has it printed when it gets to a certain number of pages.

Do you know what size book you got? I was looking at the largest size

I got the biggest size - 11x13 - for our engagement pix. At the time, anyway, it was the largest book you could get anywhere. And for me, the bigger the pix, the better! I had the wedding books done in 8 1/2 x 11 (or whatever the exact dimensions are). They were cool too, but I prefer BIG!

I did see that you can add text as desired in the photo book, I looked at their samples and to be honest, not I don't know if I would put much text in at all---it seemed to make them look less like a nice sophisticated coffee table book and more like a photo album (which is what I usually have and wanted to try doing differently this time). Maybe if there is a funny quote, song lyric, etc. associated with a photo here and there I might throw in some text, but I definitely won't be captioning every photo.

The only text I've put in was on the first spread in our engagement book - I put the lyrics to our first-dance song, and it came out really well:

I love your Blurb book. I was going to make a photo album from MPix but I didn't like they layouts they offered which was pretty much no layouts at all. I agree that Blurb has more layouts and you can make your book much more interesting. Not to mention they are a heck of a lot cheaper! I am going to go with the Blurb book for my wedding album. I loved my engagement book I made. I just think I will make a bigger book for the wedding. Your book came out beautiful!

That's exactly what I'm going to do Toni! I considered doing a flushmount album through Mpix, because then you get their high-quality photos mounted directly into a book. But they don't offer nonstandard sizes that fit the aspect ratio of my photos, and I don't want any of them cropped. So, Blurb it is!

What was that??

I finished! See below!

 

[lurkyloo]

Today was the last day our Annual Passes were good – boooooo! Fortunately, we had leftover one-day MYW tickets from our free dining trip in September that we planned to use the next day, but there’s just something depressing about the end of unlimited admission for a year.

We got to sleep in a little the morning after our anniversary blowout, and when we woke up, we got to have cake for breakfast! Does it get any better than this?!

I give you Cake:The Morning After...

“Why, look at that lovely cake!”

(cue Psycho music) “Aiyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!”

Closeups of the carnage

Pretty details

“Dude, we ate a lot of cake last night!”

The Breakfast of Champions!

Ignoring Tour Guide Mike’s well meant and well compensated advice, we set out for the Magic Kingdom on a “red” day. We even DROVE [the horror!].


Don’t anybody forget where we parked!

When we got to the TTC we saw that no one was waiting for the boat to the MK and thought it might be a nice change of pace. Until we spent 45 seconds standing around on the breezy dock in 30-degree weather and realized WHY no one was waiting for the boat!

Fuggedaboutit!!

We took the cozy Monorail instead – and even got to ride up front!

DH took a picture of me in my fleece and gloves with a scarf wrapped around my head under my hat, but it is simply too unflattering to post! You’ll just have to imagine it here:

How about some fuzzy photos taken through the scuffed-up Monorail windshield taken by a fuzzy iPhone?

And a real photo....

I think maybe the fact that it was 30 degrees out had something to do with the low crowds. Having already spent plenty of time in the MK and with our last day of free admission burning a hole in our pocket, we felt OK about our completely un-commando decision to walk straight to Exposition Hall and sit around watching Silly Symphonies. Hey, it was warm in there!

After that we bummed around Main Street a bit.

One place that never seems to be empty is the Barber Shop. Do they do grown-up lady hair there? I’d love to have a reason to visit.

Check out the customer's expression...

DH loved the store window displays. The ones they’ve had at Disneyland for, like, ever, are looking a little worse for wear.

 

[irisbud]

Quick question about the phtobooks: Right now I am working on truning my TR (edited of course) into a photobook about our DFTW and HM. I was going to do 2 copies: hardcover for us to keep and softcover just for our at home recpetion (if we ever have it, LOL) as I wouldn't want to have our only copy get torn up.

I also want to do a couple more: a wedding book for us, one for my parents, and one for DH's mom. I am using Shutterfly for the 1st book as I tried to download Blurbs software and had major issues. I'll probably stick with it as you can't cut/paste text with it and I'm pretty far in. Are the Blurb books better quality enough to start all over (and try to redownload) for the wedding books I want to do though? I don't mind for those as I don't need the same text.

Sorry for continuing the hijack!

 

[lurkyloo]

As you can see in the reflection, while DH was snapping this picture...

...I was snapping a picture of a group of dancers who'd leapt off a passing trolley and started caterwauling about dreams wrapped in pixie dust.

Somehow our mirror shot doesn’t look as foxy as any of Nathan & Jensey’s!

At the end of Main Street we discovered they have this big ginormous CASTLE!!!!

Inside the tunnel we took a picture of this:

Not only did Dorothea Redmond design the gorgeous mosaic there, she did tons of beautiful concept art for New Orleans Square in Disneyland, including the art for Walt Disney’s private suite. She’s my all-time favorite Disney artist, and I just found out that she passed away a few weeks ago. Her LA Times obituary has the most info I’ve ever seen about her.



Apparently the princess shop just inside Fantasyland had recently been redone, and the new decor includes this:

Make it pink!

Make it blue!

We came around the corner of the castle right as the mini stage show was ending and got this shot.

(I apologize that nothing funny has happened so far, but hang in there – there’s a pile of poop jokes on the way!)


DH looooves Country Bear Jamboree, and I slept through it on our last visit, so we decided to check it out again.

I found that by actively engaging in the show, I was way more interested. I mean, duh.... but I had fun trying to figure out which country music star each act was based on using my extensive knowledge of the genre (i.e., one viewing of the movie “Walk the Line”).


OK, lessee.... latter-day Elvis? Burl Ives? Notorious B.I.G.?

Dolly Parton? Nicole Kidman in “Moulin Rouge”? No, wait - Miss Piggy?

Moose caught in the headlights

From there, it was off to Adventureland and the Tiki Room, which, now that it’s under new management, we don’t so much ride as we do take pictures of the exterior and weep softly to ourselves over the travesty perpetrated on this classic attraction.

“Hey, it wasn’t OUR idea...”

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

i was about to come here and complain..er, inquire as to where you were..

hahaha

 

[ElleBren]

I believe they do cut adult hair, at least they have a price they charge for it. I also saw a couple of guys getting their hair cut when I took my DD for her first one.

I don't know if I'd go myself. I am most likely bringing DD 20 months back next time as it cost just as much as if I went where we live. I find Disney more fun!

 

[lurkyloo]

At the nearby bazaar...

Hey, does anyone else see these and have the uncontrolable urge to run their fingers through them?

When we got back to Main Street, we stuck blogger’s GOLD – a pile of horse doots in front of the castle!

“What...? Hey, don’t look at ME!”

I immediately hit on the idea of a funny caption contest on my live blog, and as it turned out, I got more responses on that post than I ever had on my endless posts of shots of the “first ride of the day”... But maybe it was because this time there was a prize for replying – a souvenir from Walt Disney World!

The photo again, along with the contest entries (in chronological order):

Jensey! said...
"Patrick, I told you to go *before* we got to the Magic Kingdom!"

Nathan said...
We all knew Donald's pants-free lifestyle was a mistake.

Andrea & Brian said...
Hey, don't crap on Walt Disney World!

jb29apr00 said...
Sh*t happens, even at the Happiest Place on Earth!

momme30 said...
Once Mr Ed got to saw the castle, he could no longer contain his excitement!

Heidi said...
"Oh God honey, I told you you shouldn't have had that turkey leg..."

melanie said...
Well crap we missed the castle show!!!!!

Molly Brown said...
Disney World is known for its world famous fudge...

Kendra said...
"Hmm... Sorry Carrie, but I *really* don't see the Hidden Mickey in this one!"

Lacey said...
I guess those Brazilians are on their way to the Dream Suite again!

Kendra said...
"Oh, good! I thought they only sold (insert your favorite exotic food here) at Epcot!"

Moma said...
Oh poop!

Anita said...
Welcome friend, to the Magic Kingdom! Where you'll find a little bit of pixie dust sprinkled everywhere!


Who won the contest, and what fabulous prize did the lucky boy or girl win? Find out tomorrow, as “Return to the Scene of the Crime: The Lurkyloos’ First Anniversary at WDW” continues!!!

 

[irisbud]

Well, at least you guys used plates and utensiles to eat your cake in the morning. DH and I needed to eat our top layer before we left for our cruise and we couldn't find anything to eat it with and the lounge had closed so we ate it with our hands

Hey, you can't waste good cake

 

[lurkyloo]

Quick question about the phtobooks: Right now I am working on truning my TR (edited of course) into a photobook about our DFTW and HM. I was going to do 2 copies: hardcover for us to keep and softcover just for our at home recpetion (if we ever have it, LOL) as I wouldn't want to have our only copy get torn up.

I also want to do a couple more: a wedding book for us, one for my parents, and one for DH's mom. I am using Shutterfly for the 1st book as I tried to download Blurbs software and had major issues. I'll probably stick with it as you can't cut/paste text with it and I'm pretty far in. Are the Blurb books better quality enough to start all over (and try to redownload) for the wedding books I want to do though? I don't mind for those as I don't need the same text.

Sorry for continuing the hijack!

That's OK! I think, for me, the quality is more about layout than actual printing, so if you have a book style you like on Shutterfly and it's easier to use, then stick with that.

I know Blurb's software can be really frustrating and buggy for some people (which is why I haven't upgraded my old version yet!).

I'd be interested to hear your method for putting your TR into book. I can't figure out a way to do it like in a message board trippie, where you have the pic and then the text and then another pic all in a vertical chunk...

i was about to come her and complain..er, inquire as to where you were..

hahaha

OK, from now on I'm numbering my posts so you guys know when I'm not done posting! This wouldn't be a problem if the DIS let me post more than 25 images in one go...

I believe they do cut adult hair, at least they have a price they charge for it. I also saw a couple of guys getting their hair cut when I took my DD for her first one.

I don't know if I'd go myself. I am most likely bringing DD 20 months back next time as it cost just as much as if I went where we live. I find Disney more fun!

Cute! Can't wait to see pix of that!

 

[lurkyloo]

Well, at least you guys used plates and utensiles to eat your cake in the morning. DH and I needed to eat our top layer before we left for our cruise and we couldn't find anything to eat it with and the lounge had closed so we ate it with our hands

Hey, you can't waste good cake

That would've made a good picture!