"What's Your Problem?" Caught by loop and hook... (COMPLETED 4/20, post 426)

[stopher1]

I think they're doing the "Give a Day, Get a Disney DaY" promotion to get people into the parks, but keeping the "Celebrate" theme once you are there.

I think you're right...that Celebrate junk is still all over the websites.

 

[stopher1]

I just saw photos today of DL after the Christmas tree and other decs came down Wednesday night - and all that What Will You Celebrate junk is back up. So, it looks to me like that and the 55th will be their thing this year. I'll let you know about WDW and if it's any different in a few days.

 

[Emma's Dad]

I just saw photos today of DL after the Christmas tree and other decs came down Wednesday night - and all that What Will You Celebrate junk is back up. So, it looks to me like that and the 55th will be their thing this year. I'll let you know about WDW and if it's any different in a few days.

Thanks for the update I can't imagine they would change the theme in the middle of the year... but I guess anything could happen.

 

[Emma's Dad]

May 3, 2009

IllumiNations is a show that I have wanted to see for many years now. We did not get to see the show the previous year because it was a short trip and DD's bedtime was around 7:00PM. So... this is a special treat for all of us I think our main concern is actually keeping DD awake and interested in the show!

It's getting close to 7:00 and we want to make sure we get a good view for the show starting at 8:00. And we want to make a quick escape when the show is done... so we decide the best location would be at the end of the plaza... right by the lagoon. On our way there, as the sun was setting, I could see some of the lights starting to peek through the walkway concrete. Here is closer view of the lights:



I thought I had more pictures of the walkway lights/art, but alas... can't find them. I think those are so cool! I'm thinking one day I'm going to do a project like that. Reminds me of my Christmas Mickey I made several years ago. I took a 1/4" foam poster board... drew a Mickey with a Christmas hat... then took several strands of light and manually poked the board, put the lights in, then hot glue each bulb connector to the board. Took many hours to complete... but still have it today. May have to take a picture and post it here some day.

Anyway... we find ourselves milling around the edge of the lagoon scouting out our viewing location. Seems all the good spots are reserved for other people. But we finally choose a spot that is next to the boat launch by Mexico. There is a small area where it is elevated and has a small grassy area in front of it. Here we set up camp and wait for the show to start. (Click here for a Google map satellite view of the location). DD and I were entertained by a couple of ducks who looked like they had seen better days. They would fight with each other for positions in the turf... I guess this is the perfect spot to get dinner treats for them. Unfortunately for them... they did not get any from us. I certainly did not want to have annoying, quacking ducks hover around through the show. Here's one of Donald's long lost cousins:



DW and DD decided to go for a stroll and find the closest restrooms. So... while they were gone, I took the opportunity to fiddle around with my camera. It was interesting watching the crew going out to the barges for the last minute checks. Here are more shots from this location:







Closeups of the barges:








Beautiful night for the show... not hot, not cold... just right. I like these shots:





This is the only good shot I got of the show... as I was enjoying the show too much:



I guess it had been a REALLY long time since the last time I saw this show... because I never knew there was a torch lighting ceremony at the beginning. That was pretty cool... and DD was captivated by what was going on. The show was enjoyed by all of us, and as it drew to a close, we started to make our way towards the exit. Didn't take long at all to get there and before we knew it our bus carried us back to CSR and we retired for the evening. Another day at WDW ends with a perfect day at Epcot. I'm glad we left more things to see there for the upcoming years. If we take it slow enough at Epcot, DD might be able to join us for a drink around the world!

Only 2 more days left of our vacation (one full day and a travel day). Thanks for tuning in to the TR and for those following along I appreciate your patience as I chug along (rather slowly). My next installment will bring you to one of Disney's competitors ssst

Day 7, Part 1: "We're not in Disney World anymore, Toto..."

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Nice pictures!

That's really a fun show. Our kids were too young to stay up for it last time, so we'll have to catch it on the next trip!

 

[Emma's Dad]

Nice pictures!

That's really a fun show. Our kids were too young to stay up for it last time, so we'll have to catch it on the next trip!

It really is a nice show. Hope your little ones can stay up for your next trip!

 

[trennr]

We watched Illuminations from about the same spot.

Thought I t was pretty neat how much heat you could feel from the Flame Burst(s). I was ther in July...Florida Summer heat + Flame heat = HEAT.



I like at the end when my Company lasers the SIEMENS logo on Spaceship Earth

 

[dvczerfs]

nice pics don!!

 

[FreezinRafiki]

If we take it slow enough at Epcot, DD might be able to join us for a drink around the world!

There's got to be a joke in here somewhere about how long this TR is taking, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

Interesting tidbit of Disney trivia that I learned on a Segway tour a few years ago. Just a few steps to your left from where you took this picture is the only place in Disney World (aside from the tops of some rides) that you can see one park from another. Just before you cross the bridge into Mexico, if you look across the lagoon towards Morocco, you can see Tower of Terror at DHS. But you don't realize that's what you're looking at because when they built ToT, they used the same color scheme and architectural style as Morocco. Thus, you think it's just another building in Morocco. If you look close enough at this picture, I think you can see the tip of ToT sticking up beyond the trees in the right-center of the picture.

My next installment will bring you to one of Disney's competitors

I hope your visit "off property" went better than mine did!

Great Pictures, by the way.

 

[itJeff]

DD and I were entertained by a couple of ducks who looked like they had seen better days. They would fight with each other for positions in the turf... I guess this is the perfect spot to get dinner treats for them. Unfortunately for them... they did not get any from us. I certainly did not want to have annoying, quacking ducks hover around through the show. Here's one of Donald's long lost cousins:

Okay, here's a little piece of trivia from my youth...
I had a pair of ducks as a kid, a male and female. I named them, are you ready for this?... Scrooge and Goldie. I'm not sure what happened to them... you may have been in the presence of some real celebrities.

I love the lights in the sidewalks too. Nice update! I hate for the fun to end. But, you'll probably have another TR to do by the time you get this one done.

 

[Emma's Dad]

We watched Illuminations from about the same spot.

Thought I t was pretty neat how much heat you could feel from the Flame Burst(s). I was ther in July...Florida Summer heat + Flame heat = HEAT.



I like at the end when my Company lasers the SIEMENS logo on Spaceship Earth

Oh yeah... forgot about the HEAT. For us it was OK... it wasn't Florida hot at that time.

Hehe... that's good advertising there

nice pics don!!

Thanks

There's got to be a joke in here somewhere about how long this TR is taking, but I can't quite put my finger on it...

Interesting tidbit of Disney trivia that I learned on a Segway tour a few years ago. Just a few steps to your left from where you took this picture is the only place in Disney World (aside from the tops of some rides) that you can see one park from another. Just before you cross the bridge into Mexico, if you look across the lagoon towards Morocco, you can see Tower of Terror at DHS. But you don't realize that's what you're looking at because when they built ToT, they used the same color scheme and architectural style as Morocco. Thus, you think it's just another building in Morocco. If you look close enough at this picture, I think you can see the tip of ToT sticking up beyond the trees in the right-center of the picture.

I hope your visit "off property" went better than mine did!

Great Pictures, by the way.

Cool trivia! I never knew that... or I would have investigated it. Added that note to our next trip

Yeah... if you ask both DW and I the same question, you'll get 2 different answers about our "off property" adventure. Stay tuned

Okay, here's a little piece of trivia from my youth...
I had a pair of ducks as a kid, a male and female. I named them, are you ready for this?... Scrooge and Goldie. I'm not sure what happened to them... you may have been in the presence of some real celebrities.

I love the lights in the sidewalks too. Nice update! I hate for the fun to end. But, you'll probably have another TR to do by the time you get this one done.

Another bit of interesting trivia. Come to think of it... the one was a bit "scroogy".

The lights are just another small piece of that big Disney magic. Way back when I first visited Epcot I remember those lights and I can remember being mesmerized by the beauty of them and also marveled at the engineering it would have taken to make it. Doesn't seem like it would be so hard to make the lights now... considering how much we work with fiber optics in everyday items... but back then it was wayyyy cool!

I am also a bit sad the TR is almost at an end. I am really debating whether or not to do a PTR for the April trip.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

I'm not sure what happened to them...

I only know two things about what happened to them.
1. Your parents told you they went to live on a farm.
2. They were delicious.

 

[dvczerfs]

Okay, here's a little piece of trivia from my youth...
I had a pair of ducks as a kid, a male and female. I named them, are you ready for this?... Scrooge and Goldie. I'm not sure what happened to them... you may have been in the presence of some real celebrities.

I love the lights in the sidewalks too. Nice update! I hate for the fun to end. But, you'll probably have another TR to do by the time you get this one done.

jeff, after they went missing, you didnt have chicken one night for supper did you?

 

[Emma's Dad]

I only know two things about what happened to them.
1. Your parents told you they went to live on a farm.
2. They were delicious.

jeff, after they went missing, you didnt have chicken one night for supper did you?

 

[itJeff]

I only know two things about what happened to them.
1. Your parents told you they went to live on a farm.
2. They were delicious.

jeff, after they went missing, you didnt have chicken one night for supper did you?

We gave them to some friends, actually. They gave them to someone else. (Yes, I really do believe that is what happened). So, I know I didn't eat them .... and I really don't know what happened to them. It's entirely possible that they were passed along from family to family, all the way to somewhere in Florida where they were donated to Disney and placed in Epcot. Hey, it could happen.

 

[carissanboys]

All of your pictures in this installment were really beautiful!

I love the beginning of Illuminations, too. My favorite part.

 

[Emma's Dad]

All of your pictures in this installment were really beautiful!

I love the beginning of Illuminations, too. My favorite part.

Thanks, Car Glad you could catch up with the TR... you are one busy person

I look forward to seeing the show again this year!

 

[stopher1]

I love, love, love your pics in your latest installment. Beautiful. What type of camera do you have?

 

[Emma's Dad]

I love, love, love your pics in your latest installment. Beautiful. What type of camera do you have?

Thanks Those were taken with a Sony Cybershot DSC-W55. Bought this camera from a box store several years ago. I also love the movie feature (all videos in this TR was also taken with this camera). I can drop this thing in my pocket and go!

 

[stopher1]

Thanks Those were taken with a Sony Cybershot DSC-W55. Bought this camera from a box store several years ago. I also love the movie feature (all videos in this TR was also taken with this camera). I can drop this thing in my pocket and go!

Well it sure takes some nice pic - that and you seem to have a very steady hand! I need to get a new one, and am starting to look at options. We've only ever really had a point & shoot type Olympus models from Costco. Never anything super fancy, but a few features like video and such. But I think it's time to get something a bit better this next time around. The ones we've had do nicely in bright light, but never very well in low light situations. Perhaps I'll have something in place by the time I take the family out west to DL later in the year...