Trip Report *Food Update* The Get Out of My Way, Watch Your Child, Turn Your Flash Off & SHUT UP Trip Report!!!

Food Update here *Food Update* The Get Out of My Way, Watch Your Child, Turn Your Flash Off & SHUT UP Trip Report!!!


Wow, so I am just digging in here on this thing. Picture editing, camera issues, and pure laziness has had this on delay.

Before I get started though I want to say thanks to Tom (WDWFigment). He really has helped me in so many ways with camera questions, photoshop, lens stuff. Anything I asked he has been great and always willing to take a phone call from a disgruntled "photographer". Pretty much any great or good pictures you see...he knowing, or unknowingly had a hand in there some how. So in all seriousness...thanks bud.

Now a little bit about my upcoming trip (that already happened)...

Travel Dates were August 25th through September 7th.

We have a 6:30pm flight to leave Pittsburgh.

The stars of this show will be my fiance Colleen, and myself. There will be some guest appearances but you guys only are here because of me so screw them. HAHA no we will get to them once their spot come up.

Leading up to this trip the time FLEW BY. 1 year went by so fast that it's pretty crazy when I sit back and think about where all that time went. It seemed like 180 days was here in an instant. Then 100 days, then before I know it my Magical Express and Vouchers are in my mail box. Then I am on the airplane...

The flight was pretty interesting to say the least. I am not the most relaxed person so to speak when on an airplane. It's not my most favorite thing in the world to take part in...flying, that is. We were flying down as the Hurricane was flying up. So winds in Orlando were pretty wild, and the flight was pretty bumpy. Nothing CRAZY but still...the more smooth the better. With that said the captain kept giving us weather updates for Orlando saying it was windy and raining. We flew right in and touched down and there was no wind or rain. I was very happy about that.

So we exit the plane and walk over to the tram and this greets me...

Yeah so now I am pretty amped up at this point and I am starting to get that feeling that "Okay...we are here"

So off the tram and down to the Magical Express area. Now anyone who "knows" me or read my trip before you know that I am a huge fan of taking pictures of people who are doing weird things, wearing odd clothes, or speedos. Some of you are fans of it and some of you are not. I have said time and time that I do not look for this, if it presents itself I will snap it and so on. Well we are not even in line yet and something crazy presents itself...

Yeah this lady was dragging her child around on her luggage through the whole first level of the airport. Aint that like half a mile, or does it just seem like it? Anyways for the most part that is pretty much the only "people pics" I got. There are 2 or 3 more so I am sure that will have some of you on the edge of your seat biting your toe nails...

Anyways back to the adventure...

We are on the bus!!!

We arrived at All Star Sports and Nick was waiting for us at the front door. I quickly said what's up and ran to check in before everyone else. Online check in this time was pretty shocking. I walked up to the counter and everything was ready. Dude basically handed my packet and room keys and basically was like "peace dude". I was like ummm is that it?

Our room was located right on the first building outside the cafe on the left. Touchdown something...I forget. But to my surprised the football field was all fenced off. I am immediately ed. I go look and they have new turf down, painted plays all over the field. It looked pretty much like it was almost finished so I calmed down a bit. So we went to our room, put our carry on bags down and headed out the door to go to Planet Hollywood and to meet up with a buddy! We got to Planet Hollywood where we met up with Karen (MillerPoppins) who just happened to be hanging out in Orlando while we were there! Prior to leaving she messaged me and told me she would be down there for a good portion of our trip and she wanted to try The Crunch Chicken. I agreed to meet up with her after careful review. Turns out she was okay. My review was dead on and we are very happy to have got to meet her/know her.

After Planet Hollywood we said out goodbyes and discussed meeting up again and that was that. Nick dropped us off and I dragged Colleen back to the lake at Sports that I wanted to fish at. First we stopped at "The Tennis Court" because I wanted to get a picture of Donald with a new friend next to him...

After seeing the lake we walked back through the lobby for some stupid reason...

Here are a few room shots...

That concludes the first night....

More to come!

 

[blackthidot]

Next up was Pirates of the Caribbean...

I really really really hate this.

After Pirates we headed back to Main Street to get a spot for The Castle Show, and Wishes...

 

[blackthidot]

This next sequence is my absolute FAVORITE part of the Castle Show...

Pictures really do not do it justice. It's something you have to see, it is VERY cool.

 

[eagles]

oh my those castle pics are awesome! i haven't seen those colors yet. this must be something fairly new?
all your pics are really good. enjoying this trip report also.

 

[blackthidot]

Annnnnnd Wishes!

 

[nngrendel]

Nice.

Your camera handles noise very well. Did you have to do any noise reduction during post or just re-sized? This of course only on the high ISO shots.

Great TR. I cant wait to go back and take my own shots.

 

[minnielaw]

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!! :sohappy: I am so excited to see your trip report!! I skipped all the way to the end just so I could tell you how excited I am and now I will go back to page one to begin reading.

I laughed until I cried when reading your last trip report and I have high hopes for this one too! I did catch a glimpse of the child being dragged through the airport on the suitcase and had a small chuckle...tee hee. I love people watching and WDW definitely has some of the best people watching!

Your pictures look awesome and I am glad to see that you and Tom put your bickering aside to work together. I love to read the back and forth between you two!

My next trip is one year out and reading trip reports keeps me pumped and gives me ideas for dining, resorts and experiences we haven't tried.

P.S. Totally off the subject, but have to ask.....what does your user name "blackthidot" mean? I always refer to you as "Black the dot" and my husband is very curious as to the meaning of blackthidot.

 

[blackthidot]

After Wishes ended it was the start of Extra Magic Hours...till 1am! This was the latest we would ever be at the park! We somehow made it going against the grain of the crowds and ended up in Liberty Square and decided Hall of Presidents is what we wanted to start with...

After HoP we wanted to go on Haunted Mansion before we made our way over to Tomorrowland.

 

[blackthidot]

 

[blackthidot]

Awesome report - the shot of the girl in the airport cracked me up!

Fantastic pics as well....got a new DSLR this spring and can't wait for our November trip to try it out!

Better start practicing with it now! Don't let that thing stress you out while on vacation!

Now you know why it irritates the heck out of photographers when people say, "man, you have a nice camera," or something to that effect. Expensive cameras don't take good pictures, good photographers do.

I've said this before, but a skilled photographer with a point and shoot can take much better photos than a novice with a several thousand dollar DSLR. I can get the same quality of photos with Sarah's much less expensive D3100 as I can with my D7000. However, I use the D7000 because it has more robust features and build quality. Plus, it makes me feel like a badass holding an expensive camera!

Anyway, the photos here have been really good for the most part. This is relieving for me, as I was worried that I was wasting my time answering all of your questions. I always pegged you as a little slow upstairs, but I guess you're not quite as slow as I thought. That, or (and the more likely scenario) you're even more slow than I thought, and Colleen took all of these photos!

That's what you get for that little purse-comment, bud.

I have always done well with a point and shoot. For me to do what I wanted to do in terms of photos it was just time to upgrade. And you're right it is an awesome feeling carrying the 7000 around.

First thing I learned in photo class, couldn't be truer. Truer, it just looks so wrong as a word.

Yeah you could have gone with "More true" Haha that looks crazy. Oh well...roll with!

oh my those castle pics are awesome! i haven't seen those colors yet. this must be something fairly new?
all your pics are really good. enjoying this trip report also.

Yes, it's the new castle show before Wishes. It is AWESOME.

Nice.

Your camera handles noise very well. Did you have to do any noise reduction during post or just re-sized? This of course only on the high ISO shots.

Great TR. I cant wait to go back and take my own shots.

I really do not do much to my photos. I straighten them, and do spot heals. That is about it.

Hooray, Hooray, Hooray!! :sohappy: I am so excited to see your trip report!! I skipped all the way to the end just so I could tell you how excited I am and now I will go back to page one to begin reading.

I laughed until I cried when reading your last trip report and I have high hopes for this one too! I did catch a glimpse of the child being dragged through the airport on the suitcase and had a small chuckle...tee hee. I love people watching and WDW definitely has some of the best people watching!

Your pictures look awesome and I am glad to see that you and Tom put your bickering aside to work together. I love to read the back and forth between you two!

My next trip is one year out and reading trip reports keeps me pumped and gives me ideas for dining, resorts and experiences we haven't tried.

P.S. Totally off the subject, but have to ask.....what does your user name "blackthidot" mean? I always refer to you as "Black the dot" and my husband is very curious as to the meaning of blackthidot.

Haha well I am glad you are enjoying it.

Black-thidot is from my favorite rapper from a group/band called The Roots. The guys name is Black Though and in a song a LONG time ago he referred to himself as Black Thidot and so I have been using it ever since.

If you REALLY care http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7PoUhWLyXs It "Happens" at 1:08

The Roots are not your typical "rap" group so don't expect to hear "junk" if you or anyone else does click that. They are a very old school oriented group and use live instruments.

K I am am done with my Roots rant...kill whitey.

 

[PolynesianPrincess]

Some nice glasses as well...

Where did you see those glasses?! We are doing our kitchen all the classic black, red, yellow and white Mickey pattern but these glasses would perfectly keep the Disney theme!!

 

[blackthidot]

And let the back tracking begin...Our plan was to head over to Tomorrowland to get a few pictures in front of Space Mountain then come BACK to HM and get pictures in front when the park closes and nobody is around. Here is our "journey"

Now I actually have to stop here and tell a story. Quite possibly the most ODD thing I have ever seen at Disney World, maybe anywhere has just taken place.

I am setting up my tripod so that Colleen and I can get our pictures in front of Space Mountain when we hear this kid (about 11 yrs old) crying and pleading with his mother. NOOOOOO idea what he is saying because they are not speaking English. He is crying his eyes out though. His mom sorta walks away so she does not have to hear him and he is sitting there crying and talking to himself now. This kid is dressed really nice too. He has a white button down shirt on, and some nice khaki shorts. About 5 minutes pass and this is all still going on and I notice a little chubby kid (around 7 or 8) with the WEAKEST hair cut ever coming out of Space Mountain. His hair looked like if you removed the face mask from a football helmet. Thing about this kid was he was dressed SUPER nice and was with a guy. I automatically pegged him as the other kids brother. So the little chubby kid is walking towards where his mom and brother are and I said to Colleen "Do you see this" and then I said "He looks like he is gonna beat someones face in" So he gets within about 8 feet of his brother who is STILL crying and the crying brother throws his arms open with his mouth open and frowning. The little brother than runs into his arms and they just sit there holding each other. Like they just didn't hug. They were like massaging each other and sitting in each other lap. I am 32. My brother is 28. I have NEVER in my life hugged my brother like that. It was soooooo weird seeing these two interact like that. In all honesty it probably would have been 90% less funny had the little kid not been all chubby with such an awful haircut. That and how mad he looked coming off Space really "set the mood" I guess? We both figured that the older brother must have done something to the little one and his parents would not let him ride SM. I mean, is this funny to anyone else or am I just really that big of an idiot? Colleen and I thought it was hilarious. The rest of the trip we kept throwing our arms open at each other with that face of sadness and desperation.

Anyway here are the pictures from Space!

And we make our way back to HM...

 

[blackthidot]

And finally back to The Mansion!!!

 

[blackthidot]

After we were done with our HM pictures we wanted to make our way to The Castle for a few pictures there and on Main Street.

 

[nngrendel]

I am 32. My brother is 28. I have NEVER in my life hugged my brother like that. It was soooooo weird seeing these two interact like that. In all honesty it probably would have been 90% less funny had the little kid not been all chubby with such an awful haircut. That and how mad he looked coming off Space really "set the mood" I guess? We both figured that the older brother must have done something to the little one and his parents would not let him ride SM. I mean, is this funny to anyone else or am I just really that big of an idiot? Colleen and I thought it was hilarious. The rest of the trip we kept throwing our arms open at each other with that face of sadness and desperation.

Um Yea this is funny! I am the same way. I would NEVER hug my brother like that either. I cant remember a time where I actually hugged my brother period. Not to say we do not get along now that we are older its just not something we would do. Strange!

Im shocked you didnt take a photo of this. Probably would have been a bit creepy.

 

[blackthidot]

Um Yea this is funny! I am the same way. I would NEVER hug my brother like that either. I cant remember a time where I actually hugged my brother period. Not to say we do not get along now that we are older its just not something we would do. Strange!

Im shocked you didnt take a photo of this. Probably would have been a bit creepy.

Well the thing is I was trying to get Colleen set up so when I started the timer for the picture to take I knew where to go. When the little brother came out I was standing with her and my camera was mounted. Then when they started hugging I was stunned. Not many things in the world can make me shut down and lose all focus. That was one of them.

 

[nngrendel]

Not many things in the world can make me shut down and lose all focus. That was one of them.

:ROFLOL:
I can agree with you on that. I just read the story and I am feeling a little creeped out.

 

[blackthidot]

No lies...this is EXACTLY what they were doing...

What's even funnier is the little brother looked just like dude being hugged...like he was all mad...HAHAHAHAA

 

[SleepingMonk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmTRFvZ_Cp4

 

[nngrendel]

How about this...

 

[blackthidot]

How about this...

Ha!!! They were dressed the same!!!