Trip Report *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 2 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 3 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 4 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 5 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 6 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 7 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 8 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 9 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 10 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 11 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 12 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 13 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 14 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report

Day 15 Update - *FINISHED* The "How did all these people get in here?" That's what she said Trip Report


Hello!

First off my thank you's to people will be held at the very end of my report. So if you feel like you should be thanked for something, or shown my appreciation for something...you're going to have to wait a while. Nobody cares about you anyway.

Secondly, I used the up-loader on this site for my pictures and it kind of did a number on them. Once I get everything situated with a photo hosting site this will continue. Thing that sucks is all those sites are blocked through my work computer so I am going to have to actually do this on my on time and not works time.

*Warning*

What you’re about to read are my thoughts and feelings from my most recent trip to Walt Disney World. A lot of sarcasm and pointing out the moronic things other humans do…along with their rudeness and pure oblivious behavior to others around them will be written here.

If you put kids on your shoulders to watch fireworks, leave messy food trays at tables or other places other than a trash can for someone else to clean, take flash pictures on or in “dark attractions”, stop in the middle of rows to sit down, talk during shows, pull that metal latch on the hotel door so it stops your door from closing and you continue to open your hotel door and let it slam shut 20 times in a row at 7am and other dumb inconsiderate things…you MIGHT not want to read this.

If you enjoy sarcasm, “decent” photography, food ography, side stories, pictures of people dressed “special”, and most of all ME!!! Then you are in the right place.

Swear words might be abbreviated. I may think that things YOU do are ignorant and inconsiderate to others around you. Please don’t be offended. LEARN from it. Don’t cry about it. I am not going to argue with you or justify why you should be beat with wet dish rags because you like to hang out and talk with other guests in your party in doorways leading to the entrance/exit of an attraction or the middle of stairs. There is just no hope for you.

This report is made to be funny. It is also made to be serious and informative as well. I don’t have ANY behind the scenes knowledge but I do feel like I have a pretty good grasp on how to have a pretty great time in Disney World and where you should eat delicious food.

I take a TON of photographs and I work rather hard to get good photographs not only for myself but for all of you to hopefully enjoy as well. I pride myself in taking awesome food photographs. I like to feel someone responsible for the big “boom” on this around here.

When I first started planning Disney Trips on my own I always wanted to see what the food looked like before I arrived. There was really NOWHERE to find it. So, I said to myself “Take pictures of EVERYTHING you eat and see and post them to help other people in the same boat as you.” I am a picky eater, which is why this was important to me. I hope along the way I have helped some people out. I hope this report does too. I took 3,444 photographs on just MY camera alone!

This trip is two years, well it WAS two years in the making.

The cast of this trip my fiancée Colleen and me.

Here I am...

ALS_01.jpg



Here is Colleen, she is so hood.

ALS_03.jpg


Also an "Artist"

ALS_04.jpg


...and the much needed couple post...

ALS_02.jpg


We knew we were going to, and when we were going to go but we booked it for real in April. That was the deadline so that we could do our 180+10 dining reservation thing.

We booked All Star Sports Resort arriving on October 9th and departing October 23rd! I missed the big turf field and being able to go out there and throw football after a long day of Typhoon Lagooning, Dining and Park Hopping. But that plan would soon crumble just like most of our plans this trip.

After calling and speaking to Disney World for what feels like 80 times checking for further discounts on the Cast Member plan never ever never once did they mention to me “Oh by the way, the food court at All Star Sports will be closed during your stay.” I had to accidentally find out about it on here.

So now we are faced with our first “White People Problems” of the trip.

Stay at All Star Sports and use Movies and or Music Food Courts?

Or…

Try for Art of Animation or Pop Century which we both hated on a previous trip?

We ended up at Pop because Art of Animation was booked solid. We figured we could walk across The Generation Gap Bridge and eat at AoA because that was really the only thing that appealed to us about staying at AoA in the first place. So here we are now at a hotel we both really did not want to stay at. We are 3 months out and we are already switching things around that we really did not want to switch at all. We almost considered spending more money and staying at Port Orleans or Caribbean Beach. It just did not make sense because we do not spend a lot of time at the resort, or so we thought…

About a month our from our arrival date I got an email asking if I wanted to participate in testing for Magic Bands. Umm, of course I do. You just made me feel really important by sending me this email. So we selected our colors and a day later we got these via UPS!

ALS_1377.JPG


ALS_1379.JPG


A few days later our Magical Express packet came.

Now all that is left is our trip. No more ADR’s, no more waiting for things in the mail…the next big step is near.

ALS_1380.jpg


Day 1 10/9/2013

Finally…The day has come. Up at 3am, well alarm is set for 3am. We don’t have to leave until 4am. I think we dragged ourselves…yes we still had to drag ourselves out of bed knowing what was waiting for us a few short hours away. I think we left the house at like 4:15am for the 25-30 min right to Pittsburgh International Airport. Pretty weird that it’s 25 minutes from Pittsburgh though. Oh well.

We got to the airport checked our bags got through security all less than 10 minutes. Our gate for Air Tran was as far away as possible. I never have been that far back in the airport. The funniest thing I noticed at the airport is that it was 5:20am and Quaker Steak and Lube was about to open up. (Skip ahead 15 days) We passed it again when we returned home at 9:50pm and they were closed. That is pretty weird.

(Back to present time)

It is now time to board our flight. Our flight was pretty full. Normally our plane is half full but there were not too many seats open on our plane. AWESOME flight though. No bumps or dips at all. We arrived at MCO in about 1 hour and 50 minutes. 25 minutes earlier than posted. Sorry no airplane pictures. It was dark the whole time and then nothing but clouds. We came out of the clouds and landed 5 minutes after.

I know where I am going once we get off the “monorail” at MCO but it always strikes me as odd that they have pretty much zero signs saying where to go to check in for The Magical Express. Oh well…good thing I am not new at this. This is really all the help you get, but it is down on the bottom floor when you should pretty much already know where you are going!

DSC_0022.JPG

Then at the 2 mile point we saw this...

DSC_0024.JPG


To be continued...
 
Last edited:

Disneygal1

Well-Known Member
Seriously, I can always count on your trip reports for Disney food . I have no idea how Colleen stays so skinny; I'm pretty jealous!
 

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
Alright, read through the whole thing. Well, skipped through the uninteresting parts, places where you're whining about various things, and parts with your odd slang (I shouldn't have to bookmark urbandictionary.com to understand this report)...so I guess I only read about 5% of it.

Anyway...good report thus far. Your loyalty to Le Cellier despite the price/DDP hikes over the years astounds me, but then again, so does your prolific Care Bears collection. To each his own, I suppose. Your photos of the food there (and elsewhere) do make it look good.

As for other specifics, I forgot some, but here are a few random thoughts... Not surprised that your stance on Pop Century changed. I agree totally about ECVs boarding buses--then again, I'm not exactly an ECV fan in general. Women don't think you're creepy because you're looking at their name tags, they think you're creepy because you're creepy (although I do have the same issue with name tags...oh well).

Photography-wise, you've definitely improved since your last report. From a purely technical perspective, I think food photography is your strong suit. Lots of good shots there, and that's not as easy as it seems. I also really like the fisheye stuff--you used it advantageously without going overboard. You have a good eye, which is what matters most. I think the biggest thing you could do to improve at this point is taking photos earlier in the morning and around sunset--the times when light is the best. But I know you don't get up until 2 p.m. everyday and probably eat dinner during sunset, so maybe that's not possible. Colleen's shots of Le Cellier are pretty good, too!

Stop posting photos of you and your shirtless boyfriend on my Facebook wall.
 

blackthidot

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
Alright, read through the whole thing. Well, skipped through the uninteresting parts, places where you're whining about various things, and parts with your odd slang (I shouldn't have to bookmark urbandictionary.com to understand this report)...so I guess I only read about 5% of it.

Anyway...good report thus far. Your loyalty to Le Cellier despite the price/DDP hikes over the years astounds me, but then again, so does your prolific Care Bears collection. To each his own, I suppose. Your photos of the food there (and elsewhere) do make it look good.

As for other specifics, I forgot some, but here are a few random thoughts... Not surprised that your stance on Pop Century changed. I agree totally about ECVs boarding buses--then again, I'm not exactly an ECV fan in general. Women don't think you're creepy because you're looking at their name tags, they think you're creepy because you're creepy (although I do have the same issue with name tags...oh well).

Photography-wise, you've definitely improved since your last report. From a purely technical perspective, I think food photography is your strong suit. Lots of good shots there, and that's not as easy as it seems. I also really like the fisheye stuff--you used it advantageously without going overboard. You have a good eye, which is what matters most. I think the biggest thing you could do to improve at this point is taking photos earlier in the morning and around sunset--the times when light is the best. But I know you don't get up until 2 p.m. everyday and probably eat dinner during sunset, so maybe that's not possible. Colleen's shots of Le Cellier are pretty good, too!

Stop posting photos of you and your shirtless boyfriend on my Facebook wall.


Apparently you did NOT read it all because you would have seen where I said I was not that impressed with the change in "pricing" of Le Cellier. It was just not better than it was before. Hell I don't even think it was as good as it was before. That did worry me but here is the thing(s).

1. What if I only booked it once, and it was AMAZING? Then I would feel like someone who dresses up like bald kittens or elves. Oh wait...I'd feel like you.

2. It WAS my/our favorite restaurant by FAR leading up to this trip.

I really do believe that if I book it at all next trip it will be once and once only. It is still good. It's just not 1 credit good as it was before. The 2 credit hike may have soured my tastes a little bit but Colleen even said the same thing and that was the first time she ate meat (hardy har har) since February. Last time we were there in 2011...it was GREAT as it was in 2010, 2009, and 2008 which was my first time there.

As far as the food photography goes...for some reason that is what I really take the most of my time with. You can even tell if you look at the photobucket links and see how far the photo number changes from her entree to mine...I take a LOT of pictures to get it the best I can with the little bit of camera accessories I have...which is basically a low light lens.

I LOVE shooting everything but most things I just don't have the patience for. I LOVE shooting Wishes but they aren't all they CAN be because I get annoyed with all the people around me and I get nervous they are going to bump or knock my stuff over.

The first Wishes shoot was from the VIP viewing area and a Cast Member was talking to me the WHOLE time. I missed a shot I really wanted to get because of it. The second time was from the TTC and it was SOOOOOOO windy that I broke my tripod down so it was not extended at all and placed it on a bench. It still shook a bit, which you can obviously tell but it is what is it. There was just WAY too many people out on Main Street to shoot it. Literally from the beginning of Main Street all the way to the castle it was jam packed.

The photography "improved" because of editing. I watched quite a few videos on linda.com on editing. But for the most part I just kind of taught myself outside of a few tips from you. I can't read stuff and remember it. I have tried to read books you've recommended and what not...I just don't process it. I've always been that way...even with things I WANT to read about.

The bottom line is from the time I would go to Disney with a little punk a$$ digital camera and really thought I was taking awesome pictures, up until I saw you're pictures you have totally inspired me to do and be better. For that I want to say Thank You and also F-You. This photography game is like the biggest headache/reward on earth aside from being with the person you love. I've never been so annoyed and frustrated trying to do something and then when I get to see what I have done with the finished product and being so happy with it.

Please man...you go to Disney 382930218 times a year. Space something out, adjust something so that sometime during Sept 18th through the 30th you guys will be down there. I really really want to hang out with you and Sarah again. Eat some food, take some pictures and hopefully Sarah won't get West Nile again.

We miss you guys!
 
Last edited:

blackthidot

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
Do I just gotsta say a bunch of swear words at each of you? Cuz I'm really good at that.

Also, John, don't tell TB, but I cut the power to his house a couple days ago, right in the middle of the snow storm. It was epic.

I know you got the swearing thing down. I've seen it buddy. I like it.
 

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
Apparently you did NOT read it all because you would have seen where I said I was not that impressed with the change in "pricing" of Le Cellier. It was just not better than it was before. Hell I don't even think it was as good as it was before. That did worry me but here is the thing(s).

1. What if I only booked it once, and it was AMAZING? Then I would feel like someone who dresses up like bald kittens or elves. Oh wait...I'd feel like you.

2. It WAS my/our favorite restaurant by FAR leading up to this trip.

I really do believe that if I book it at all next trip it will be once and once only. It is still good. It's just not 1 credit good as it was before. The 2 credit hike may have soured my tastes a little bit but Colleen even said the same thing and that was the first time she ate meat (hardy har har) since February. Last time we were there in 2011...it was GREAT as it was in 2010, 2009, and 2008 which was my first time there.

As far as the food photography goes...for some reason that is what I really take the most of my time with. You can even tell if you look at the photobucket links and see how far the photo number changes from her entree to mine...I take a LOT of pictures to get it the best I can with the little bit of camera accessories I have...which is basically a low light lens.

I LOVE shooting everything but most things I just don't have the patience for. I LOVE shooting Wishes but they aren't all they CAN be because I get annoyed with all the people around me and I get nervous they are going to bump or knock my stuff over.

The first Wishes shoot was from the VIP viewing area and a Cast Member was talking to me the WHOLE time. I missed a shot I really wanted to get because of it. The second time was from the TTC and it was SOOOOOOO windy that I broke my tripod down so it was not extended at all and placed it on a bench. It still shook a bit, which you can obviously tell but it is what is it. There was just WAY too many people out on Main Street to shoot it. Literally from the beginning of Main Street all the way to the castle it was jam packed.

The photography "improved" because of editing. I watched quite a few videos on linda.com on editing. But for the most part I just kind of taught myself outside of a few tips from you. I can't read stuff and remember it. I have tried to read books you've recommended and what not...I just don't process it. I've always been that way...even with things I WANT to read about.

The bottom line is from the time I would go to Disney with a little punk a$$ digital camera and really thought I was taking awesome pictures, up until I saw you're pictures you have totally inspired me to do and be better. For that I want to say Thank You and also F-You. This photography game is like the biggest headache/reward on earth aside from being with the person you love. I've never been so annoyed and frustrated trying to do something and then when I get to see what I have done with the finished product and being so happy with it.

Please man...you go to Disney 382930218 times a year. Space something out, adjust something so that sometime during Sept 18th through the 30th you guys will be down there. I really really want to hang out with you and Sarah again. Eat some food, take some pictures and hopefully Sarah won't get West Nile again.

We miss you guys!

I think our last really good meal at Le Cellier was in 2010. Maybe 2009. Lunch in 2012 was just so-so. I'm sure we'll be back at some point just to give it another shot, but there are so many other places I'd rather try (especially in and around Epcot) that we just can't justify the price. I want to try some of the restaurants in the Swan and Dolphin, although them not being "Disney" restaurants dissuades us a bit (even though plenty of in-park restaurants technically aren't "Disney" restaurants, they still feel like it).

When someone starts talking to me, etc., when I'm trying to shoot, I just say, "not now chief, I'm in the in' zone." Actually, Sarah has become pretty adept at stopping these situations and 'taking over' the conversation. If that doesn't work, I'll just politely say, "hey, can we finish this conversation after ____, I really want to watch this." I don't think people view this as rude...but I could be wrong. (Besides, isn't it rude of them to be talking during the fireworks or an attraction?) You and I have a mutual friend who just loves to talk during every attraction, it seems!

I've never used lynda.com, but have heard good things. Glad that has worked for you--good editing skills definitely help, but you don't want that to be a crutch.

There's about a 50/50 chance we'll be gone during your September trip, but nothing is concrete yet. If we are around, we'll try to make it down for a weekend. It all really depends upon airfare, and whether we get annual passes by then (didn't renew this year).

We miss Colleen!
 

WDWFigment

Well-Known Member
Do I just gotsta say a bunch of swear words at each of you? Cuz I'm really good at that.

Also, John, don't tell TB, but I cut the power to his house a couple days ago, right in the middle of the snow storm. It was epic.

It was the best prank ever...we were without power for over 2 days and our pipes almost froze!

...I think the only thing that saved us was pouring RV antifreeze in the toilets and drains. Both of our neighbors' pipes did freeze and burst.
 

blackthidot

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
I think our last really good meal at Le Cellier was in 2010. Maybe 2009. Lunch in 2012 was just so-so. I'm sure we'll be back at some point just to give it another shot, but there are so many other places I'd rather try (especially in and around Epcot) that we just can't justify the price. I want to try some of the restaurants in the Swan and Dolphin, although them not being "Disney" restaurants dissuades us a bit (even though plenty of in-park restaurants technically aren't "Disney" restaurants, they still feel like it).

When someone starts talking to me, etc., when I'm trying to shoot, I just say, "not now chief, I'm in the ****in' zone." Actually, Sarah has become pretty adept at stopping these situations and 'taking over' the conversation. If that doesn't work, I'll just politely say, "hey, can we finish this conversation after ____, I really want to watch this." I don't think people view this as rude...but I could be wrong. (Besides, isn't it rude of them to be talking during the fireworks or an attraction?) You and I have a mutual friend who just loves to talk during every attraction, it seems!

I've never used lynda.com, but have heard good things. Glad that has worked for you--good editing skills definitely help, but you don't want that to be a crutch.

There's about a 50/50 chance we'll be gone during your September trip, but nothing is concrete yet. If we are around, we'll try to make it down for a weekend. It all really depends upon airfare, and whether we get annual passes by then (didn't renew this year).

We miss Colleen!


My buddy who is a pro in NY ( tanakablaney.com ) has a member ship and lets me use it. They had like HUGE piece on editing in bridge/raw. Helped with a few things but it was more for shooting portraits of people.

Normally people do not bother me when I am taking pics. It was just that CM wanted to know everything about life that night. I guess I could have told her to take a hike but people crap on her all day. I did not want to add to it.
 

Tom

Beta Return
It was the best prank ever...we were without power for over 2 days and our pipes almost froze!

...I think the only thing that saved us was pouring RV antifreeze in the toilets and drains. Both of our neighbors' pipes did freeze and burst.

Ouch! Good call on the antifreeze.
 

blackthidot

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
Ouch! Good call on the antifreeze.


I drew a picture in my mind of Tom making bears on the pot and the toilet exploding.

It was...

Epic
Fail
Epic Fail
Jus' Sayin'
ijs
FTW
lulz
LOLz
I can has
Kitteah

...and any other cool internet words I forgot.
 

Tom

Beta Return
I drew a picture in my mind of Tom making bears on the pot and the toilet exploding.

It was...

Epic
Fail
Epic Fail
Jus' Sayin'
ijs
FTW
lulz
LOLz
I can has
Kitteah

...and any other cool internet words I forgot.

Was it YOLO too? I only learned the definition of that one very recently. Apparently if you yell YOLO before you do something really a-holey, there are no consequences.

In an unrelated story, I yelled "YOLO" when I cut the power lines to Tom's house.
 

blackthidot

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
In the Parks
Yes
Was it YOLO too? I only learned the definition of that one very recently. Apparently if you yell YOLO before you do something really a-holey, there are no consequences.

In an unrelated story, I yelled "YOLO" when I cut the power lines to Tom's house.

That was his place you snuck in and gave the upper decker too, right?
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom