The Empty Nesters Magical Mystery Tour *1/28* Link to New Girl's TR p141

[MeMom]

I enjoyed the pictures as always, MEK! Wish I was headed out on a safari this morning, although I will say that going to Alabama for Bella's birthday celebration is a pretty good thing, too.

My DH says next trip he's riding EE!! None of us have done it. I'm going to have to watch some POV ride videos. It looks high and fast - not sure I can handle it, but I'll take my bonine and see what happens!

I personally think it's a pretty intense coaster, but some people ride it 3-4 times in a row and love it. I am glad I did it once, just to say I did, but I'll be fine if I never do it again. I'm good with Big Thunder Mountain, and I think Mine Train is going to be more in my coaster comfort zone than EE.

 

[PrincessCaitlin]

I am so happy you are excited for our breakfast! I am stocking up on Star Wars stuff to wear for the three days we will be enjoying Star Wars Weekends! I just got red light saber sunglasses but unfortunately only one side lights up so I have to return them and hopefully find one that has both sides light up

Great pictures around AK!

I will have to check out your hidden spot! It looks gorgeous in that area!

At least you got to see the lions awake!

 

[dawnbu40]

As someone who doesn't do EE, I really appreciated all the great pictures you got. It made me feel like I was there minus the motion sickness

 

[Disneystorymania2]

Great report following

 

[khaleesi]

God bless all of you who not only enjoy roller coasters, but manage to take pictures while ON them!!! It was actually nice to see, because I rode EE once. Have no clue what the scenery looked like because my eyes were screwed shut the entire time and I was gripping the safety bar for dear life!!

I love those prayer flags as well!!

And I could look at safari pictures all day!

Which Star Wars meal are you doing? I am sooooo jealous!!! I am a HUGE SW fan!!!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey Mary Ellen...

I'm very late subbing on to this... but for an MEK tr I figure page 34 is only about maybe a third in?

Looking forward to the read and ride...

 

[jenseib]

Loving the safari pictures. I take the same over and over too.
We planned to do the jungle trails this time around, but we started in one, but it was FP time so we headed back out and never made it back. I am disappointed but it just didn't work out. We only had so much time that day. Next trip we will do the trails!!!!

 

[IheartDDuck]

That's awesome that you are doing the Star Wars breakfast! I tossed the idea back and forth, we're pretty big Star Wars fans. It just didn't fit into my BFP.

Awww, those kiddos on Everest behind you are adorable! That's one of my favorite things about ride photos. Seeing everyone else.

Ugh! Cigarette butt, horrible! When I worked at Six Flags, it was a consistent problem. I felt like I was cleaning them up all the time.

 

[Wood Nymph]

As someone who doesn't do EE, I really appreciated all the great pictures you got. It made me feel like I was there minus the motion sickness

I feel the same way. I won't ever ride EE so it is really nice to be able to see what the ride looks like.

The last time we rode on the safari we saw an Africa trek group tethered to that cable while overlooking the park. I had never paid much attention to it before. We also had a seat in the front row of the truck, which is the best way to see the safari. You get a great view and can ask the driver questions, too.

 

[DisneyKid4Life]

Oh wow, that Star Wars breakfast sounds amazing!! I remember Caitlin being a HUGE fan in a past TR, so that should make it extra special. How fun!

AHHH the picture of the tracks just before the train heads out. LOVE IT because the whole ride is yet to come.

Oh EE I love you!!!

Even without animals I think the Jungle Trek is a worthwhile walk. So photogenic.

OOhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhh. FP+ return lines. Insane and really need to be corrected. You are absolutely right that it still moves quickly, but... perception is reality so the perception needs to be fixed.

Ah boo, no cheetah. You should have looked Under those trees!!

 

[Pinkocto]

Hi Mary Ellen

I'm back from the cruise and from a totally selfish viewpoint I'm super glad you didn't do more updates while I was gone

Beautiful pictures even without the 'right' lens. And of course those lions were out

 

[MEK]

Well, I was having a perfectly boring Friday night until I came here and saw you updated! YAY!

Awww Sherri! That made me laugh! I'm glad I gave your boring Friday night a lift! Thanks for reading! You just gave me a big lift!

Your pictures, no matter the lens, are absolutely stunning! So clear!! It does stink that this is the safari where the lions were out and you didn't have the other lens though. Bummer.

Thanks! I knew those Lions were going to be out simply because I had the wrong lens. Figures, doesn't it? (But shhhh - I had the right lens in Feb and I finally got those darn lions!!!!!!)

My DH says next trip he's riding EE!! None of us have done it. I'm going to have to watch some POV ride videos. It looks high and fast - not sure I can handle it, but I'll take my bonine and see what happens!

You really should try it. It's less intense at the front of the ride and it doesn't get weird at all until you hit the dark, backwards part. Just keep your eyes closed for that. Then close your eyes - or look at your feet- as you go down the hill. You can DO this!!!!!

Fabulous updated, MEK.

Thanks Kathy!

I love the pictures on Expedition Everest. I am having to ride that awful ride in June with Avery...I made her a promise (and after her great showing at the State Meet in Gymnastics today, I probably owe her two rides).

OMG you crack me up! I wish I could ride with her. And, yes, after that meet she DEFINITELY deserves back to back rides. She is quite the gymnast. Hopefully our trips will overlap again because I'll take her right up there on the front row. I love it. If only I didn't have to work I would head right back with guys in late May!

Love your trail pictures (although I skipped the pics of the bats) even without the zoom camera. What a pretty colored bird.

I forgot you are NOT a fan of bats! That bird was so super cool. I forgot all about him until I saw my pictures again.

And, as always, fabulous safari pictures.

Thanks!

I like the photopass pictures too.

Thanks. I have a few more that I still have to post!

And kudos on the Star Wars meal that Cynthia got you all.

I am SOOOOOOOOO excited about that. Cynthia did all the calling because I really can't from work. I'm so glad she was able to get a reservation for all 5 of us. It's going to be SO. Much. FUN!!!!!

Mary Ellen, I REALLY love your updates. All those great pics bring me right back to our happy place.

Thanks! What a nice compliment! It's always great to go back to your happy place. I feel the exact same way!

Love your EE photos - you got a lot of the same ones I get every ride.

Taking rides on EE is so addictive, isn't it? The first time I did it I was certain that the camera would fly right out of my hands. Now I just sit there and snap away (in between screams!)

The Jungle Trek - we have not been in a long time and your photos convince me that we have to do it again SOON, but that will have to wait until summer 2015.

I love the Mahalarjha (which I can't spell) trek. I don't feel like looking up the correct spelling. It's so cool back there and I am glad we took advantage of it in October because the weather was so perfect!

Count me in on the ones who have a gazillion of Safari photos. But it never gets old and yours are awesome as always!

It never does get old, does it? I love the Safari. It's the same road but yet its different every time!

 

[MEK]

What great updates. I am sorry you forgot your lens. You still took better pictures than I do... if it is any consolation.

Thanks and thanks. I actually didn't forget it. But in my attempt to be efficient and avoid the bag check I brought the wrong lens. I simply did not think at all. Safari = long lens. Doh!

And you are so brave taking those pictures on EE!!!

I love taking pics on EE. It's such a great ride and it is actually easier without the long lens because that sort of weighs the camera down and crashes into the restraint.

I enjoyed the pictures as always, MEK! Wish I was headed out on a safari this morning, although I will say that going to Alabama for Bella's birthday celebration is a pretty good thing, too.

OMG - Bella's party looks SO cute. Way better than the Safari because the Safari will always be there. But I know what you mean. It's really easy to day dream that you are in the world and on a favorite attraction.

I personally think it's a pretty intense coaster, but some people ride it 3-4 times in a row and love it. I am glad I did it once, just to say I did, but I'll be fine if I never do it again. I'm good with Big Thunder Mountain, and I think Mine Train is going to be more in my coaster comfort zone than EE.

I don't ride it more than twice in a row tops! I'm fine while I'm on it but I always get a little dizzy coming off and I am subject to the dreaded coaster headache which I HATE!

Have a great time a the party today!

I am so happy you are excited for our breakfast! I am stocking up on Star Wars stuff to wear for the three days we will be enjoying Star Wars Weekends! I just got red light saber sunglasses but unfortunately only one side lights up so I have to return them and hopefully find one that has both sides light up

OMG! Light Saber Sunglasses - that is too cool! I can't wait to see them! It's going to be such a fun breakfast. I really can't WAIT! I'm so glad Cynthia was able to get it all booked. Can't wait to see you guys again!

Great pictures around AK!

Thanks!

I will have to check out your hidden spot! It looks gorgeous in that area!

It's so pretty back there. I didn't discover it until last October and now I have to sit there for a few minutes every trip because its like a little oasis.

At least you got to see the lions awake!

Yes - that I did. I was So frustrated that I didn't have the right lens and its so hard to see through the other lens. Ugh! But I have good news - I finally got a really good picture in February. It's about time!

As someone who doesn't do EE, I really appreciated all the great pictures you got. It made me feel like I was there minus the motion sickness

I'm glad you liked the pictures. I'm not sure how many years of riding EE I have left so I have to take advantage of it now. I always walk off a little wobbly!

Great report following

Disneystorymania2! Thanks for joining in!

 

[teekathepony]

Oh Man, I'm so excited for you guys for the Star Wars breakfast! I want to do that so bad, so I'll have to do it vicariously through you.

Great update, and great pictures! Johnny used my 50mm almost exclusively this past trip, for the first time, and he fell in love with it. I can definitely understand wanting a tele for the safari of all things though! But think of it this way, you got some really different shots than you normally would have! And they're great too! Looks like you had a great time through the trail and on the safari, lots of active animals!
Love the pics on EE too, I am usually too nervous to take pictures on the ride.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[DaveinFallsChurch]

So jealous of your upcoming visit during Star Wars Weekend time and especially the SW character dining! Take lots and lots of pictures please! Would love to see how those characters look in their new dining environment.

Great pictures at AK! Such a fun park to photograph! I too have lots and lots of pictures of the prayer flags and abandoned vehicles along the trails of Asia and Africa.

 

[MEK]

God bless all of you who not only enjoy roller coasters, but manage to take pictures while ON them!!! It was actually nice to see, because I rode EE once. Have no clue what the scenery looked like because my eyes were screwed shut the entire time and I was gripping the safety bar for dear life!!

I know the feeling! That's pretty much what I do on ToT. Seriously - that ride scares the crap out of me, although I swear its gotten tamer over the years.

I love those prayer flags as well!!

Aren't they wonderful? I know the writing on them means nothing, but they are very cool and I was sad to see (especially in March) that they were almost non-existent on EE.

And I could look at safari pictures all day!

Me too! I actually think that the Safari is one of WDW's all time best rides! It's so immersive and I can't imagine what it costs and the man hours needed to maintain it.

Which Star Wars meal are you doing? I am sooooo jealous!!! I am a HUGE SW fan!!!!

We are doing a breakfast on May 16th at Sci Fi. The meals are rather pricey and Cynthia thought breakfast would be better because its at Sci Fi. I tend to agree. It will be fun to watch the Star Wars films while we are there. I am definitely going to watch as many Star Wars DVDs as I can before I leave home!

Hey Mary Ellen...

PPP - Patricia - Is it REALLY YOU????? Where the heck have you been????? I have been wanting to contact you so I am so happy to have seen your recent FB posts and know that you are alive and well. I miss you!

I'm very late subbing on to this... but for an MEK tr I figure page 34 is only about maybe a third in?

You calculated that just about right.

Looking forward to the read and ride...

Yay! Please stay on the DIS boards and don't disappear this time!

Loving the safari pictures. I take the same over and over too.

Jen - welcome back! I hope you and the family had a great time in WDW. Did you start a TR yet? I better go look for it!

Isn't the safari the best. I just love it!

We planned to do the jungle trails this time around, but we started in one, but it was FP time so we headed back out and never made it back. I am disappointed but it just didn't work out. We only had so much time that day. Next trip we will do the trails!!!!

I don't do the trails every trip. They are pretty hit and miss for me, but the weather was so perfect in October and it worked out so well as a filler between FP+ times that I couldn't help but meander a bit. It was fun!

That's awesome that you are doing the Star Wars breakfast! I tossed the idea back and forth, we're pretty big Star Wars fans. It just didn't fit into my BFP.

I am really excited for the Star Wars breakfast. I think its going to be very cool and I'm so glad the Caitlin, Dawn, and Dale are meeting us. It's going to be great to see them again and meet Dale for the first time! Can't wait!

Awww, those kiddos on Everest behind you are adorable! That's one of my favorite things about ride photos. Seeing everyone else.

Aren't they adorable? When you are in the front row you never really pay attention to who is behind you until you see the picture. If I had known those two little cuties were there the whole time I probably would have been looking at them and not the Yeti!

Ugh! Cigarette butt, horrible! When I worked at Six Flags, it was a consistent problem. I felt like I was cleaning them up all the time.

I was absolutely shocked to see that there. I think that has to be the first cigarette butt I have seen in all of WDW. I was like Wooooooh So nasty!

 

[jenseib]

I started my Disneyland one. the link is in my signature

 

[MEK]

I feel the same way. I won't ever ride EE so it is really nice to be able to see what the ride looks like. .

I'm glad that my pictures can show you what the ride looks like. It really is a cool rie. There is a lot to see.

The last time we rode on the safari we saw an Africa trek group tethered to that cable while overlooking the park. I had never paid much attention to it before. We also had a seat in the front row of the truck, which is the best way to see the safari. You get a great view and can ask the driver questions, too.

I did the African trek and it was really cool. It as weird to be tethered. It almost seemed like too many safety restrictions. But I totally understand why its like that. I love sitting in the front of the safari vehicle. The drivers are always the best!

Oh wow, that Star Wars breakfast sounds amazing!! I remember Caitlin being a HUGE fan in a past TR, so that should make it extra special. How fun!

Caitlin is a HUGE Fan which is a big part of the reason why this breakfast is going to be so much fun. I really can't wait. In fact, the day we booked it I happened to stop at a local mall and managed to gina a $3 Star Wars T- shirt. It's like it was meant to be!

AHHH the picture of the tracks just before the train heads out. LOVE IT because the whole ride is yet to come.

Exactly! I just love EE so the start is always filled with so much anticipation.

Oh EE I love you!!!

Me too!

Even without animals I think the Jungle Trek is a worthwhile walk. So photogenic.

It really is. Well, the whole park is really photogenic. I just love everything about the AK park, but I especially love the fact that its so fun to take pictures there.

OOhhhhhh Yeahhhhhhh. FP+ return lines. Insane and really need to be corrected. You are absolutely right that it still moves quickly, but... perception is reality so the perception needs to be fixed.

I have heard of people with FP+ actually getting out of line because the line looks so long. It's very intimidating. I'm glad we decided to not let it bother us because when we went back with friends later in the trip we were able to reassure them that it really would move.

Ah boo, no cheetah. You should have looked Under those trees!!

Believe me, I tried but with that lens things looked even further away than usual. It was a total bummer.

 

[jedijill]

Great updates MEK! Glad you waited until I had a break between trips!

Jill in CO

 

[GoofyFan1515]

For only taking your 50mm lens, you got some amazing pictures! It always happens when I try to cut down on what I take in the parks. Even after thinking it out thoroughly........I always miss having something I left behind.

It was great seeing all of your EE pictures from the front seat. Actually I went back and scrolled through them all quickly and guess what??? It was like watching a video!

Love your animal pics, but how dare that tiger showing you his butt!!! At least you were patient enough to wait him out and get him on the return trip.

Such pretty birds, and in spite of the short lens, I can still find that monkey. I have gotten pretty good at locating the monkeys at AK with practice!

Animatronic lions.............

And congratulations on finally mastering that "suck it in and still smile" pose!