We Defected to the West! DLR 2013

[Mkrop]

Love it!

 

[YodasMom]

Love your recent photos, Janet! IASW is amazing with the holiday overlay! They had shut it down my last day there in October to do the makeover. Would love to see it some time!

I saw HM with the NBC overly also in October. I'm not a fan of NBC either but it was better than I expected. Looking forward to seeing their regular version of HM in a couple of weeks! At least DL did a little more for JC's overlay than WDW did this past Christmas since I couldn't really see any difference other than the boats, themselves, had a holiday name!

I think you would enjoy the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour, if you haven't done that. I would wait till Club 33 is done, in case they return there, though.

 

[mom2rtk]

Wow the updates are coming fast and furious! Alright Alright Alright!

Well let's see. Let's start with the crazy lady. That's just too bad. I can't imagine you being that big of a distraction for her to enjoy the show.

The Holiday Tour looks fun and you got some great shots. I've never eaten at Ariel's before. How was the main course?

My two biggest fav's at DL at Christmas time are HM overlay and IASM overlay. I mean they are drop dead fun for me.

You continue to rock your Disney photographs. This is so much fun to see you going through the paces at Disneyland and DCA!!!!!

I know...... I decided if I didn't get moving I'd never get through this before our next trip! And I love that doing the TR forces me to sift through and edit all my photos.

I really enjoyed the 2 holiday overlays as well. As I said, I'm not a huge NBC fan, but it's hard to resist the detailed and colorful overlay. Of course, I'm still sad that it means we don't get to experience traditional HM, especially since we'll be back during the holiday season again this year and miss it again.

Now IASW...... I didn't care one bit that we had to miss the traditional ride. Probably because so much of the original ride is still there to see, just decorated for Christmas. But that ride really turned out to be the highlight of the trip for me, both inside and out.

And I think I had the barbeque tri-tip for lunch, but don't remember too much about it. I do remember that I loved the salad so much I ate Katie's too. I think she was on strike over the appetizer tower. Actually there was something on it she didn't like, maybe some nuts or cranberries or something?

And thanks for the encouraging words as always. It was great to finally get a longer stay at DL. We've been 4 times before this, but they were pretty quick visits, usually just a couple days.

I adore your castle and fireworks pictures

Luvin the idea of the goat selfies. You should post some of them

Sorry bout the rude lady at Aladdin trying to stop you taking pictures. It happened me on my last chance to ride Snow White's Scary adventures in WDW some child moaned at it's mother that my camera without flash was bothering it and the mother was like I've no doubt she'll stop in a minute glaring at me. I felt bad because I was on my own so didn't take any more pictures and it was my last time to go on the ride

Not liking the idea of them keeping a tree in the window at Walt's apartment during holiday season. We're going in November. I want to see the lamp not a tree!

Luvin the Small World pics as well.

LOL, I'll have to ask if Katie wants to send me some of the goat selfies to share.

That really is disappointing about your last ride on SW. I'd be upset too. I bet the girl has just heard her mom complain so much about other people taking pictures that it's second nature to her. Mom probably left out the part about only the flash being the issue. And seriously........ there are so many flash users out there to complain about, no need to include the people actually following the rules!

I bet Walt's lamp is still up in the apartment. Maybe you could take the tour that includes seeing that area (I bet YodasMom or Jenseib can confirm if that's the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour????)

Did your Tour Guide take you to DCA first when you started the tour? When I did the tour back in 2009, DCA was under construction and the tour was only in DL. I am out of touch on the tour since the DCA expansion is all finished in 2012. I might consider it now with the tour going into DCA where it was only DL back in the days. Some people do enjoy the tour like me and some don't like it as well. Disney's Happiest Haunts tour is a very popular one during the Halloween season.

Your pictures from the HMH with the Sigma f/1.4 lens are very nice and clear. I will have to consider renting one of those lenses one day.

If I recall properly, we pretty much headed straight for the exit and over to DCA. We didn't really spend a long time over there though, just a few stops in the Carthay Circle area. I enjoyed it, and would do it again. Just not sure yet if we'll do it again this coming year. It would likely just feel like too much of a repeat. Does anyone know if they tend to change things up on the tours from year to year? I'm sure I'd love the Happiest Haunts tour though and hope to get there at the right time to do that some year.

I do love my Sigma 30mm f/1.4. Since they came out with the new version, I do hear about people getting decent deals on the older model. If I was going to rent though, I'd probably be looking around to see if you can find the Sigma 18-35 f/1.8. I love the idea of finally being able to shoot the dark rides with a little bit of focus range flexibility. I shoot IASW with my 2.8 lens and love the variety of shots I can get with more range.

Love it!

Thanks! Glad you're still along and didn't give up on me!

 

[mom2rtk]

Love your recent photos, Janet! IASW is amazing with the holiday overlay! They had shut it down my last day there in October to do the makeover. Would love to see it some time!

I saw HM with the NBC overly also in October. I'm not a fan of NBC either but it was better than I expected. Looking forward to seeing their regular version of HM in a couple of weeks! At least DL did a little more for JC's overlay than WDW did this past Christmas since I couldn't really see any difference other than the boats, themselves, had a holiday name!

I think you would enjoy the "Walk in Walt's Footsteps" tour, if you haven't done that. I would wait till Club 33 is done, in case they return there, though.

Thanks Karen. I'm sure you know I was in my element riding through taking pictures of those gorgeous rides I had never seen before. I give both a huge thumbs up! Bummer that you had to miss IASW. I hope you can get back for that sometime.

As I mentioned, the biggest deal to me was having to miss traditional HM. We last did it December 2012. Now it looks like fall 2015 will be the next time we see it.

I'm really considering the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour. Do you know when Club 33 is supposed to be done?

 

[YodasMom]

I bet Walt's lamp is still up in the apartment. Maybe you could take the tour that includes seeing that area (I bet YodasMom or Jenseib can confirm if that's the Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour????)

Yes, Walt's lamp is still in his apartment. During the holidays, they move it to the side so it's against a wall, but it is still there. They move it right back in front of the window after the holidays. It will be there when I'm there again in 2 weeks for ABD.

If you take Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour, you will get a photo with you and the lamp in the background.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, Walt's lamp is still in his apartment. During the holidays, they move it to the side so it's against a wall, but it is still there. They move it right back in front of the window after the holidays. It will be there when I'm there again in 2 weeks for ABD.

If you take Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour, you will get a photo with you and the lamp in the background.

That was quick. Thanks Karen!

 

[PHXscuba]

I can't remember everything from our Holiday Tour in 2010, but I'm certain we didn't go over to DCA. And obviously there was no Jungle Cruise overlay before this last Christmas. So those were two additions.

Too bad about the lady in Aladdin. I've never minded people near me snapping photos quietly unless they are getting in front of me or checking their very-bright viewscreen every time. Or the iPad people with their bright 8-inch screens held at head-level.

Your daughter and the "posing" photos reminded me very much of my own DD14, goofy attitude, tall, smiley and skinny. And loving Disney.

PHXscuba

 

[missangelalexis]

Bummer about the menu change at AG

Love all the pictures of Katie in front of the tree haha

Wow what a rude lady! But glad you got to see the carpet fly!

Great pictures of the Haunted Mansion, I would love to see the NBC overlay one day.

Woah awesome characters you stumbled upon, sorry you couldn't spend more time with them!

 

[PrincessInOz]

That common pose of Katies - I know it well. My DS13 rocks that pose too. *sigh*






Fantastic pictures of IaSW and HM. I too love the holiday overlays of that ride at DLR. It's one of the reasons why I love DLR so much.....the seasonal changes make it so much more special.

 

[petals]

Yes, Walt's lamp is still in his apartment. During the holidays, they move it to the side so it's against a wall, but it is still there. They move it right back in front of the window after the holidays. It will be there when I'm there again in 2 weeks for ABD.

If you take Walk in Walt's Footsteps tour, you will get a photo with you and the lamp in the background.

Oh yay.. Momma agreed to do that tour as well

LOL, I'll have to ask if Katie wants to send me some of the goat selfies to share.

That really is disappointing about your last ride on SW. I'd be upset too. I bet the girl has just heard her mom complain so much about other people taking pictures that it's second nature to her. Mom probably left out the part about only the flash being the issue. And seriously........ there are so many flash users out there to complain about, no need to include the people actually following the rules!

Oh she should share they'd be fun

I know I was so disappointed that I couldn't get more pics because of her

 

[rndmr2]

Great last couple of updates! I love the pics of the Holiday overlays at Haunted Mansion, and Small World. I wish they did those at WDW. Especially the Small World one.

The tour overall sounds like fun too.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Subbing in!

I will be entirely honest, on my last WDW trip I took a few selfies with some of the ducks in Epcot...my Dad was NOT amused!

 

[DisneyFreak06]

Great shots! I love that you did the Holiday tour; maybe one day!

One of my favorite things to do at DL is search for the characters in It's a Small World!

 

[jenseib]

OK, I was hoping to find some sort of smiley to insert here. You know, since the DIS doesn't have a cow smiley. Then I decided to google "cow selfie" to see what I could find. I really did expect to come up empty. Who knew it's really a "thing"?????

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2531243/Animals-dont-want-craze-selfies-Farmers-self-portraits-reluctant-looking-dogs-cows.html

Still though, you know I need to see your take on it, right?

And you sell yourself short. With a tripod, you'd take great photos of the fireworks. But thank you.

You crack me up! And that is so funny!

You have been an updating fool lately!
I am loving all the pictures....they are just gorgeous! The castle shots, the characters, jungle cruise....Small world, Haunted Mansion....All fabulous!
I am not a NBC fan either,(I thought I was the only one) but it does look really neat with that overlay.
That toru looks like a lot of fun too. I just need to get there during a holiday now!

What a bummr you saw all those rare characters and couldn't stop!At least you got a few shots in.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can't remember everything from our Holiday Tour in 2010, but I'm certain we didn't go over to DCA. And obviously there was no Jungle Cruise overlay before this last Christmas. So those were two additions.

Too bad about the lady in Aladdin. I've never minded people near me snapping photos quietly unless they are getting in front of me or checking their very-bright viewscreen every time. Or the iPad people with their bright 8-inch screens held at head-level.

Your daughter and the "posing" photos reminded me very much of my own DD14, goofy attitude, tall, smiley and skinny. And loving Disney.

PHXscuba

I'm definitely with you on the bright screens and ipads. That problem has really exploded in recent years too since everyone has a phone or ipad with them any more. And I turn my review screen off when I shoot in a dark place. Honestly, I'm not that great at adjusting on the fly anyway, so I use semi-automatic mode (aperture or shutter priority) and rely on the camera to do some of the thinking for me so I can still enjoy the show.

And aren't we lucky to have 14 year olds (near 14 year old in my case) who can still love Disney?

Bummer about the menu change at AG

Love all the pictures of Katie in front of the tree haha

Wow what a rude lady! But glad you got to see the carpet fly!

Great pictures of the Haunted Mansion, I would love to see the NBC overlay one day.

Woah awesome characters you stumbled upon, sorry you couldn't spend more time with them!

I need to keep an eye on the AG menu. Maybe it will change back before we get there again!

The carpet flying was really a great moment, especially after missing it on 2 prior trips. The rude lady is just a funny Disney memory now.

That common pose of Katies - I know it well. My DS13 rocks that pose too. *sigh*






Fantastic pictures of IaSW and HM. I too love the holiday overlays of that ride at DLR. It's one of the reasons why I love DLR so much.....the seasonal changes make it so much more special.

So much just seems universal to us parents of young teens, doesn't it? It's new to us though since the boys didn't have phones yet at that age. They didn't really even want them. Timmy got his in high school and uses it a lot, but he isn't glued to it. Robbie only carries one on his way to and from school because we make him.

Seeing the holiday overlays really did add so much to the trip for us, especially IASW. It was almost like having Osborne Lights inside the MK.

Oh yay.. Momma agreed to do that tour as well



Oh she should share they'd be fun

I know I was so disappointed that I couldn't get more pics because of her

I'll ask Katie about the goat selfies.

And YEAH that you get to do the tour! You'll really enjoy it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Great last couple of updates! I love the pics of the Holiday overlays at Haunted Mansion, and Small World. I wish they did those at WDW. Especially the Small World one.

The tour overall sounds like fun too.

I really do get that WDW is aimed more at first time visitors, but I also wish they'd do more things like the overlays. It adds so much for frequent visitors. Honestly, part of the reason we enjoyed DLR so much is that even going to WDW once a year it had started seeming "same old same old" in some ways. I would love it if they'd change things up a bit more.

Subbing in!

I will be entirely honest, on my last WDW trip I took a few selfies with some of the ducks in Epcot...my Dad was NOT amused!

OK, now I have to decide whether to share that tidbit with Katie. She would be all over it!

Great shots! I love that you did the Holiday tour; maybe one day!

One of my favorite things to do at DL is search for the characters in It's a Small World!

There was SO much to see in IASW between the dolls and the Christmas decorations that I'm sure we missed some of the character dolls. I know some people don't like them, but we think they're adorable. We did that ride at least 3 times and I still think we missed some.

You crack me up! And that is so funny!

You have been an updating fool lately!
I am loving all the pictures....they are just gorgeous! The castle shots, the characters, jungle cruise....Small world, Haunted Mansion....All fabulous!
I am not a NBC fan either,(I thought I was the only one) but it does look really neat with that overlay.
That toru looks like a lot of fun too. I just need to get there during a holiday now!

What a bummr you saw all those rare characters and couldn't stop!At least you got a few shots in.

I really need to get going with another update too. This was just day 2 of 5 park days. I still have a lot of ground to cover. Of course, I think this was our longest day. And it's not over yet!

Thanks for the comments on the photos. It's a great place to be with a camera, isn't it? Especially at Christmas.

And why am I not surprised you don't like NBC either. We seem to be on the same wavelength so often.

 

[mom2rtk]

Friday December 6, 2013 Continued:

When we came out, it was almost time for the parade, and it was awesome to walk out and find our chairs reserved and waiting for us. We sat down, and were handed mugs of hot chocolate. We took a few photos and the parade started a few minutes later. I enjoyed photographing the night parade from there, although would have preferred if the parade was going the opposite direction. It came from Main Street so it was harder to get the shots with the Small World facade behind. But there was no arguing it was an absolutely magical experience.




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[mom2rtk]

Friday December 6, 2013 Continued:


More parade photos:



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I was so wrapped up in photographing the reindeer, I didn't get a decent shot of Santa. Not to worry though, we made a point of watching during the daytime another day so you'll get to see him later.

We LOVE the Christmas parade at WDW. We loved this one too, for different reasons. Of course, my favorite elements are the Toy Soldiers, the dancing reindeer and the gingerbread cookies, and we enjoyed seeing them at DLR too. Katie fell in love with the dancing snowmen too, and if I had to guess, she'd probably prefer this parade because of it.

 

[Woth2982]

Such great photo of the parade! I agree having it go the other way to get SW in the background would have been cool. SW looks so great with its xmas overlay. I also love the HM makeover. I was stunned at how much detail went into it when they re-do it. It is always closed Labor Day when I go there. Gonna have to try and made a Nov/Dec trip out there again.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Wonderful parade pictures. Great shots! Seems like reserved seating might be the way to go. Did you think it was worth it?