What a disaster!!

[ehagerty]

I have tried a tripod - and ran into the same challenges you did - if my location has a clear line to the castle, someone will always step into it (they are entitled, just observing). I finally gave up, pumped up the ISO (to 1600) and went hand-held, shooting over everyone's head. Do you avoid going over ISO 200 because the clarity is too important to you to compromise?

For what it is worth - I do not have any special lenses or filters - just a 2006 digital Canon SLR - and am "just" a technology worker-bee by day (not a photographer).

In any case, here are some results - could you comment on what you might do differently?

Or, another view from the Contemporary balcony

Walt & Mickey saying good by to their guests - I can see where this shot would be much sharper with a tripod. I always tell myself I am NOT going to take one this vacation - then end up buying a cheap one at Wal-mart - and still not using it. Maybe now that my children are only enough to be on their own more, I can carve out some vacation time just for me and my camera!

BTW - here's an esoteric shot of a seldom seen activity - blowing off the excess gas from the center of the World Showcase lagoon after Illuminations. It is something I'd heard happening while staying at the BWV or BCV, but hadn't seen - until now. Apparently, it takes place around 10:00 - after most of the guests have left the park. Must have had my camera out and already set to ISO 1600...

.

 

[manntra]

Mmmmmm that toast does look yummy! I have also never tried it and I didn't realize how thick it was!! Anxiously awaiting some wallet news!!

 

[topdog]

Great pics with the fisheye lens! And that toast looks yummy!!!!

Thank you. That toast is a must for me now.

What incredible photos! They look like professionals!

Thanks. I tried to be professional.

Great update!! Love your pictures as usual. Can't wait to find out the rest of the story!!!

I will try to update soon.

your latest fisheye of WL are my favorite pics so far. Just stunning! Kona for bfast is on my must do's for our next trip. We LOVED it for dinner, great food.

Fingers crossed for the wallet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you. Glad you like my pictures. I had dinner at KF a few years ago. Equally stunning.

Yummy! That tonga toast looks delicious. It is huge. I have always wanted to try it but in my 6 trips to WDW I have never had it. Next time it is on my definate "To Do" list.

I am dying to know what happens with your wallet....

Tonga toast is the bomb. Just make sure you bring your sweet tooth first.

Great Report!

Thank you.

 

[topdog]

Those pics are gorgeous.

Great update. Love Kona for breakfast or any meal really.

Hope you get your wallet.

Thank you. You would've think by now, my appetite would've slow down already.

Great pics, Great breakfast. I have a prediction... See I am a teacher. and I make my students predict what will happen next every time we read a book or story. Trust me this TR is better than most of the stories I usually read. I don't mean the students' work, I mean the stories in our reading book. My students write brilliant stories.

Anyway, prediction, Your good karma that you built up by being nice to your waitress that morning will mean that you get your wallet back with everything in tact. What do you think???

Now many times our predictions are wrong, very very wrong.

More PLEASE!!!

Interesting prediction!! You'll just have to wait and find out what happened.

Lovely photos, as usual!

Just curious if you ever happened to photograph Boardwalk? I would love to see the photos if you have.

On our last trip (Aug. 08), my 11 yr old dd lost her cell phone our first day at Disney. We thought maybe she dropped it in the room at All Star Sports (we stayed there our 1st night.) We called and they didn't have it. We then went on with our vacation. We moved over to BWVs, was there for seveal nights, did the 3 night cruise, came back and stayed AKL. On our last day (9 days later) we were in Epcot, we were on Soarin'. At the end I went to retrieve my bag and my phone had fell out of my bag, the same bag that dd had. We get out into the land and I started thinking, didn't we go on Soarin' our first day in Disney - yes we did. So we walked over to Epcot Lost and Found and they said that at the end of the day they transfer all lost & found items to the central lost and found.

They provided me the Central number, I called and told them exactly what day the phone was lost and what ride we were on. They looked and indeed they had the phone.

It was nice to see that my dd was capable of going days without texting! We drove over to Central L&F - over by the kennels and retrieved her phone. I also think she was a little bummed because I told her I would buy her a new phone and now I didn't have to!

The moral of my story is if you lose something in 1 of the parks, go to the park L&F during the same day before they tranfer the items to Central L&F.

Can't wait to hear if you find your wallet, that is just plain scary!!!!

Thanks. I do have a few pictures of the Boardwalk, not much though. You'll just have to wait until I get to it.

Good story about your DD's cellphone. Glad to hear it has a positive outcome. I was amazed to find out they have a L&F dept. My vision of a L&F was a shoebox under the counter.

I am loving your TR. I just found it and spent most of yesterday and this morning reading your report. Your pictures are awesome. I hope you find your wallet. Can't wait to read the rest.

Loralie

That's great Loralie. So glad you can join us. My disaster journey isn't over yet.

Another great update! In all of the million of trips to WDW, we have never had breakfast at Kona. We may have to try it.

Just be prepare for sugar shock. LOL...

So sorry about your wallet. Hope you end up finding it and the 2nd martini glass.

I have a question about the tonga toast. What's the red sauce that came with yours but not DW?

The red sauce that came on the Tonga Toast was Strawberry Compote. It came on a separate jug so you can choose to dip or not. I happened to like Strawberry. DW thought she had enough sweet for her breakfast.

 

[GoofyFairie]

All I can say is "WOW!" topdog! That lobby pic was amazing! It was beautifully lit; you can see the different colors in each element they used. You are really making me homesick! As for the Tonga Toast, that is going on my Disney To Do list! I know I'll never eat it all, but dang it sure does look delicious!

I'm guessing that you get good news where the wallet is concerned. I definately can't wait to find out what happens next! Post soon!!!!!!!

 

[desparatelydisney]

Awesome! I LOVE the first one!

 

[topdog]

I have tried a tripod - and ran into the same challenges you did - if my location has a clear line to the castle, someone will always step into it (they are entitled, just observing).

How true! I thought that could only happen to me.

I finally gave up, pumped up the ISO (to 1600) and went hand-held, shooting over everyone's head. Do you avoid going over ISO 200 because the clarity is too important to you to compromise?

Yes. ISO 200 is pretty much the highest I am willing to go. For my D200, anything higher than ISO 200 will get noisy picture. I know there are software that can reduce it but I am just to lazy to deal with it. So I choose to kept the ISO at 125 with a tripod so I can slow down the shutter speed a bit.

For what it is worth - I do not have any special lenses or filters - just a 2006 digital Canon SLR - and am "just" a technology worker-bee by day (not a photographer).

Same here. In fact, to shoot the MK firework, I only use a fairly plain zoom 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. It's a much slower lens.

In any case, here are some results - could you comment on what you might do differently?

These are great shots. I can see some noise in them but better than most I've seen. I know Canon sensor always do a much better job with high ISO than Nikon. If you want to keep shooting without tripod, you'll need a faster lens like a f/1.4 or f/2.0. Then you can lower the ISO to minimize the noise. IMO, tripod is a must when shooting firework. It's unavoidable. Using tripod allow you to slow down the shutter, in turn you can see a slightly longer tail of the firework. It gives a little more motion look. Unfortunately, a wire remote shutter release is also a must.

Walt & Mickey saying good by to their guests - I can see where this shot would be much sharper with a tripod. I always tell myself I am NOT going to take one this vacation - then end up buying a cheap one at Wal-mart - and still not using it. Maybe now that my children are only enough to be on their own more, I can carve out some vacation time just for me and my camera!

Absolutely!! With a tripod, you can get a much sharper shot with excellent perspective. I would even open the aperature as wide as possible to get the best depth of field.

BTW - here's an esoteric shot of a seldom seen activity - blowing off the excess gas from the center of the World Showcase lagoon after Illuminations. It is something I'd heard happening while staying at the BWV or BCV, but hadn't seen - until now. Apparently, it takes place around 10:00 - after most of the guests have left the park. Must have had my camera out and already set to ISO 1600...

Yay! You got the inferno shot. Unfortunately, it wasn't working when I was there.

Mmmmmm that toast does look yummy! I have also never tried it and I didn't realize how thick it was!! Anxiously awaiting some wallet news!!

That toast was "Gianormous"!!

 

[topdog]

All I can say is "WOW!" topdog! That lobby pic was amazing! It was beautifully lit; you can see the different colors in each element they used. You are really making me homesick! As for the Tonga Toast, that is going on my Disney To Do list! I know I'll never eat it all, but dang it sure does look delicious!

I'm guessing that you get good news where the wallet is concerned. I definately can't wait to find out what happens next! Post soon!!!!!!!

I can use a Tonga Toast right about now. LOL...

 

[LaurenMic]

Hi Topdog! Great updates as usual. I can't believe you lost your wallet, i"m so sorry! Now I fully understand the title of your TR! I hope that in a future update we discover that you found it.

The Tonga Toast looks awesome, we will be trying that for the first time on our next trip as well, it's on the must do list!! Love your illuminations pictures! Can't wait for more. Have a great weekend

 

[KeepSwimmingDory]

Costanza wallet

Missing wallet

Tonga toast sounds like it might be too sweet for me for breakfast but it does look delicious.

Your grand nieces are precious.

Hope there are no more disasters only a happy ending to a great trip!

 

[momto2greatkids]

Wonderful pictures! I need to take some photography lessons from you!!

I'm hooked waiting to know if you found your wallet!

DH bought me a new camera for Christmas. Can't wait to get back to WDW to try it out there. Our last pics weren't so wonderful.

 

[GBShorts]

So I pretty much just sat here and read your ENTIRE trip report and I have a few things I wanted to say:
1. your photography is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
2. I have the same "Ted" your DW has! I got it in high school from my parents for Christmas. It's floating around her somewhere. It doesn't have quite the same story yours does.
3. I can't wait to see what happens next! Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us!

 

[OneTreeHillAddict]

That Tonga Toast is looking good! I just don't know if I can try it over the pancakes...I have a strong love for those things! I am not a pancake person but those I could eat every day! I'm beginning to think all the servers at Kona has something wrong with them. You were so nice to let her rant like that. I would have been like, "The pancakes are getting cold honey...don't worry, I'll tip you."

 

[Jeanine3kids]

Topdog your wallet i had a sick feeling just reading about it. Thanks for all of the camera advice i ordered the p90 last night.

Jeanine

 

[topdog]

Hi Topdog! Great updates as usual. I can't believe you lost your wallet, i"m so sorry! Now I fully understand the title of your TR! I hope that in a future update we discover that you found it.

The Tonga Toast looks awesome, we will be trying that for the first time on our next trip as well, it's on the must do list!! Love your illuminations pictures! Can't wait for more. Have a great weekend

You are going to love the Tonga Toast. Just be prepare to bounce through the roof afterward.

Costanza wallet

Missing wallet

Tonga toast sounds like it might be too sweet for me for breakfast but it does look delicious.

Your grand nieces are precious.

Hope there are no more disasters only a happy ending to a great trip!

Ha! Ha! There are still a couple more disasters on its' way.

Wonderful pictures! I need to take some photography lessons from you!!

I'm hooked waiting to know if you found your wallet!

DH bought me a new camera for Christmas. Can't wait to get back to WDW to try it out there. Our last pics weren't so wonderful.

Congratulation with the new camera. There are no better place to try out your new camera other than Disney. Magical scenery and magical moment!!

So I pretty much just sat here and read your ENTIRE trip report and I have a few things I wanted to say:
1. your photography is amazing. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
2. I have the same "Ted" your DW has! I got it in high school from my parents for Christmas. It's floating around her somewhere. It doesn't have quite the same story yours does.
3. I can't wait to see what happens next! Thank you so much for sharing your trip with us!

Glad you like my pictures. You have the same "Ted". No way!! Do you have a picture of your "Ted"? Maybe they are long lost siblings.

That Tonga Toast is looking good! I just don't know if I can try it over the pancakes...I have a strong love for those things! I am not a pancake person but those I could eat every day! I'm beginning to think all the servers at Kona has something wrong with them. You were so nice to let her rant like that. I would have been like, "The pancakes are getting cold honey...don't worry, I'll tip you."

Ha! Ha! That's okay. As long as the server felt better after the rant, I don't mind listening. After all, I am at Disney. If the CM can create a magical moment for me, it's also my pleasure to create a magical moment for them.

Topdog your wallet i had a sick feeling just reading about it. Thanks for all of the camera advice i ordered the p90 last night.

Jeanine

That's great. Remember, you camera is only a tool. How you see behind the viewfinder and how you use your imagination to create the picture is the most important part of photography. Don't let it discourage you if your doesn't comes out the way you want at the beginning. Practice makes perfect. You don't want to know how many rolls of film I have wasted when I started this hobby.

 

[duffy]

I've been enjoying your report.

We stayed at the lodge in Feb. 2008 and I loved it sooo much! We were in room 4132, so we had almost exactly the same view as you. I'm an early riser too, and I loved sitting on the balcony for a few minutes at sunrise and watching the mist on the surface of the quiet pool and the bay.

I also enjoyed sitting in the quiet little nook on the 4th floor (I think) right above the front entrance.

Anxiously awaiting the fate of the Costanza wallet....

 

[topdog]

I've been enjoying your report.

We stayed at the lodge in Feb. 2008 and I loved it sooo much! We were in room 4132, so we had almost exactly the same view as you. I'm an early riser too, and I loved sitting on the balcony for a few minutes at sunrise and watching the mist on the surface of the quiet pool and the bay.

I also enjoyed sitting in the quiet little nook on the 4th floor (I think) right above the front entrance.

Anxiously awaiting the fate of the Costanza wallet....

Hi duffy. Thank you for reading my TR. I love snoozing at my balcony. LOL...

I know exactly where that little nook where you were talking about. Love that spot too.

 

[topdog]

This has nothing to do with my TR but I heard so much about this last week. I am sure many of you have already watch this. It was all over the news. I didn't have a chance to watch until this morning. All I can say is WOW!!!!! If you are going to watch this, be prepare with some tissue. What a magical moment!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related

 

[Carrie772]

"Every time you pluralize a word by adding an apostrophe and an "s", God kills a kitten.

Please, think of the kittens. "

This is the funniest sig line I have seen in a while! May I copy it?

 

[MICKEY4EVER!]

topdog: My heart bleeds everytime I see a photo of WL. I didn't realize you could miss a PLACE so much! Thanks for sharing: as always, your photos are fabulous.

Looking forward to more!