Trip Report The "We Wrote a Trip Report just because we went to Disney World" trip report.

This year our big WDW vacation was in the spooky month of October when the weather finally cools off to at least tolerable temperatures (or so we hoped).

Our tale involves a cast of two: me (Tweedledum) and Lyn (Tweedledee). This is our story...

Magic bands arrive (actually...forgot to take pictures of them, these are from our last trip)

 

[photoflight]

LOVE this! Great start to your report. I'm in!

Thanks

 

[sheriffwoody]

Following along! Loving your photos. It's amazing what you can do with a good point and shoot. I have never carried my pro camera to the parks (mainly because it's my livelihood and I'm not a risk-taker), but I can definitely see where it would get tiring!

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

Great photos...especially the aerial shot. Do you know why they stopped making towel animals? I remember staying a couple nights at Coronado Springs and they had towels on the bed shaped like Mickey; that was only a couple years ago.

 

[photoflight]

Following along! Loving your photos. It's amazing what you can do with a good point and shoot. I have never carried my pro camera to the parks (mainly because it's my livelihood and I'm not a risk-taker), but I can definitely see where it would get tiring!

Thanks I usually take my D800 and a lens (rarely more than one lens) on a day-trip to WDW. I've done several days of that in the past and wanted to be more relaxed. That little Sony is good but has some minor issues I may expand on at my "epilogue".

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

Thanks I usually take my D800 and a lens (rarely more than one lens) on a day-trip to WDW. I've done several days of that in the past and wanted to be more relaxed. That little Sony is good but has some minor issues I may expand on at my "epilogue".

I just bought a Nikon D3000. I'm no photography guy, but someone had mentioned upgrading the lens. Any recommendations on what a good lens would be?

 

[photoflight]

Great photos...especially the aerial shot. Do you know why they stopped making towel animals? I remember staying a couple nights at Coronado Springs and they had towels on the bed shaped like Mickey; that was only a couple years ago.

No idea why they stopped with the animals. But that brings up another story: we did our customary tipping routine and had no animals or anything other than a typically cleaned room. After two days we thought "wow - what's with 'mousekeeping'". I googled it and found threads on forums talking about how the practice was outright banned in June. Lots of speculation about why they did it, but I didn't see anything definitive. Some people claimed it was because some guests complained they didn't get towel animals. Others claimed it was to make the housekeeping process more efficient. There was also mention that a lot of guests would take the towels home with them (I never thought that was the hotel's intention but apparently people did it).

Regardless of why management decided to "ban" the animals, including that old three-towel Mickey on the bed for new guests would be a nice touch.

Here's what our Pop Century visit looked like last year:

 

[Ms.Sunshine]

Awesome pictures! following along...

 

[photoflight]

I just bought a Nikon D3000. I'm no photography guy, but someone had mentioned upgrading the lens. Any recommendations on what a good lens would be?

Best answer: it depends.

I use an old Nikon 35-70 when I want a lightweight compact lens to carry around. It doesn't do anything particularly well but it is sharp. When I want to concentrate on large areas or interiors I carry a Nikkor 16-35. If I want to do something like Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular I use a Nikkor 300mm lens.

Most people who aren't really "into" photography end up with something like an 18-200 with the thought that it will cover most of their needs. It will. Those lenses aren't really the best in low light and they may not be the sharpest, but they're the most convenient and cost effective.

Others will no doubt have other opinions

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

Best answer: it depends.

I use an old Nikon 35-70 when I want a lightweight compact lens to carry around. It doesn't do anything particularly well but it is sharp. When I want to concentrate on large areas or interiors I carry a Nikkor 16-35. If I want to do something like Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular I use a Nikkor 300mm lens.

Most people who aren't really "into" photography end up with something like an 18-200 with the thought that it will cover most of their needs. It will. Those lenses aren't really the best in low light and they may not be the sharpest, but they're the most convenient and cost effective.

Others will no doubt have other opinions

I would just like something that takes nice sharp photos and would be considered an upgrade to the lens I have now. Though not being into photography like others, it may not be worth the money to get a better lens lol.

 

[photoflight]

Day one continues: The buzzing, dwarfing, and barnstorming part

A short wait for the bus and 15 minutes later we're walking up to the Magic Kingdom! Bag-check was quick and easy. Left my camera belt-pouch on my belt but pulled the camera out. They were OK with that, then on we went!

Another hint: Access to the Magic Kingdom is easiest by bus. Driving in usually means waiting for - then taking a tram - or walking a long way to the Ticket and Transportation Center. Once there you have to get into another line for either the Monorail or the ferry boat. The whole process can add 20-40 minutes to the trip into the park (and again on the way out). The ferry is great and has it's magic of it's own, but the additional time is just a pain. Conversely it only takes a few minutes to walk from the bus to the entrance.

So here we are. Look at that orange. Lots of it. Everywhere. It's October. A week before Halloween. One of the very best times to visit the Magic Kingdom. Probably better than Christmas (although without the Christmas Party snow).

We've arrived just in time to see the end of the flag retreat.

Orange Mickey heads everywhere

Slowly progressing our way to our first Fastpass in Tomorrowland. Lots of people. Lots of...orange too

Pumpkins!

...and still more orange

 

[photoflight]

Tweedlestrolling around the new hub. Amazing. This is the first time we've seen the completed hub up close. Not really sure about having all the sculptures inaccessible, but it all looks nice.

Approaching our first stop of the day - Tomorrowland!

 

[photoflight]

...and our first Fastpass is for Buzz Lightyear. We're buzzing...well, Tweedledee is buzzing while I take pictures. First time taking pictures in the dark with my new pocket camera. Wasn't sure what to expect...
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...so I kept taking pictures anyway...
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...and more...
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...and more...
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...and...it's Buzz!

 

[P_Radden]

Cool Pics!! Following along!

 

[photoflight]

Having escaped from the clutches of Evil Emperor Zurg we found our tweedleselves continuing our tweedlestroll around MK waiting for our next Fastpass. Photography spontaneously ensued.

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At last. Time for Seven Dwarfs. First time for us. The line was long. The next day the line was 2.5 hours long - insane! Thank goodness for Fastpasses!
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WHOSH!

Done. Quick ride. Really enjoyed it. Fun ride. Wish it was just a little longer though. Didn't take pictures until the exit:
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Have some time to kill before the next ride so we had a nice relaxing Tweedlestroll in the sunset. Not that it was a really hot day (it really wasn't), but the cool night really was a welcome change. We had a good stretch of relatively dry air to enjoy too.

The Tweedletwins chose this week wisely!

 

[photoflight]

I changed the way the pictures are displayed. Looks better to me! Back to the story...

Here we are at Storybook Circus. I took this on the way out because I forgot to take one going in. A Tweedledum moment. Silly Tweedledum! Just pretend things flow here

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Ended up poking around the Big Top for goodies
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MmmmMmmm stuff here looks good enough to eat
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Except Duffy. Please don't eat the Disney Bear. Things are bad enough now that they've fired his full-size counterpart. Poor Duffy.
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[lostpro9het]

Your camera > my phone!!! Your pictures are outstanding! Almost makes me want to buy an actual camera.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

I love the Storybook Circus!! We go in there every trip to MK. Everytime I say I'm going to get a treat, but then I never do. I could go for some fudge right now though!

 

[MinnieM123]

Oh my goodness! Your pictures are so sharp and the colors are so brilliant--regardless of whether they were indoors or outdoors. I think that both you and @fractal are the most talented photographers on this site! I'm very much enjoying your TR. Looking forward to more.

 

[photoflight]

Oh my goodness! Your pictures are so sharp and the colors are so brilliant--regardless of whether they were indoors or outdoors. I think that both you and @fractal are the most talented photographers on this site! I'm very much enjoying your TR. Looking forward to more.

Thanks

 

[photoflight]

Time for the Barnstormer.
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Ok, I've been going to WDW for years and have never been on this thing. Tweedledee has gone on it enough times that she offered to drive it blindfolded! Actually I made that up. Anyway, we went on it. Tweedletwin fastpasses activate!

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Whirrrrrr... GREEN! We're in!

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Done!