Trip Report Yia-Yia, Yetis and Epcotonians. A sweltering Summer of '22 adventure!

It was the night before our Disney trip and I found myself scrambling. So much to do besides "Disney but "Disney" needed to get done. Where are my SD cards? Where are all my Star Wars shirts? Where is my camera bag? We had just moved after-all and things were not where they should be because well we were in a different house. Toni was scrambling too. She is spending the Summer waitressing in Bethany Beach Delaware and came home THAT DAY to get everything ready for Disney. Her Mom however also wanted her to help get her "crap" ready for college (leaving in a few weeks). Tensions were running high and the early morning flight out of Baltimore was like lighting a fuse to a stick of dynamite. Time was ticking away!

This was going to be a different trip for us. Just three of the five in the family as my wife Val decided to sit this one out and my daughter Alex couldn't get her schedule to work. So Val will be going to New Mexico to visit Alex in a month as the final three, the triumvirate headed to Walt Disney World to meet up with my sister Marina's family and my mom (Yia-Yia).

The Triumvirate -

Toni (center), Sterg and yours truly.

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As you may or may not know, one of the things I love about going to Disney is honing my photography skills. For this trip I decided to rent two fantastic (and expensive) lenses. The Sony GM 50mm f/ 1.2 and the Sony GM 14mm f/1.8 lenses to be exact. The cost to buy both of those lenses would be as much as the cost of the entire trip. Additionally I rented a lens adaptor to pair with my old Minolta 70-210 "beercan" lens that I wanted to try out on the Safari.

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I've been crazy after the 14mm lens due to it's wide angle nature. It's actually so wide it's referred to as an "ultra-wide angle" lens. Wide angle lenses have wonderful applications at WDW and I was going to see how this baby was going to work for me. The 50mm 1.2 is a lens with a great reputation. Very fast, very sharp and producing beautiful bokeh as your sharp subject stands in front of a background that literally melts into a dreamy blur of photographic delight.

By 11pm all that was packed, what was left of my Star Wars shirts was packed - "Chris, aren't we just getting a bit too old for Star Wars shirts?" Val quipped - and everything else on my list was packed.



Toni was also packed and had full-filled her "getting ready for college" obligations.

Val said her goodbyes and goodnights..
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and went to bed.


It was soon time for me to lay down for 3 hours of sleep. The hardest thing left for me to do was wake up with my alarm. I think I'll have a glass on wine (or two?). After-all, what could go wrong?
 
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Billy6

Well-Known Member
He's in Tampa but went to his cousin's place in DelRay. He was scheduled to move into a new apartment on Saturday but not so sure now. My in-laws are staying in a hotel in Melbourne. Luckily for them the storm hit south of the Tampa area.

Our Friend Beth, who appeared in my 2017 report...

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Our friend from High School moved down to Florida about 15 years ago and married a great guy. They live 2 hours from Sue and Al and made the drive to visit and have dinner with us. Now that's a good friend!

Val & Beth (or Bethie as we call her).




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She lives in Cape Coral which has the highest winds recorded yesterday (140mph). Her and her husband are safe and ready to access the damage today.




Thanks @Wicked Sisters ! He's doing well. 👍
Heather's aunt and uncle live in Cape Corral as well. Went to FTL to evacuate
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Our log transported us to the realm of Splash Mountain and all it's characters...

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It seemed a bit more dangerous under a dark night's sky which only heightened our senses and enjoyment.

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He's off for adventure and "gone for good".

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Leaving behind a pretty good life.

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No going back now!

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Brer Rabbit gets a second chance and we sing Zip-A-Dee-Do-Ha!

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Along with all sorts of creatures and such...

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Not gone for good after all. Brer Rabitt going to think this through a little better and learns that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

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fractal

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Sterg and Toni wanted to continue hitting rides in MK while I wanted to put the tripod weighing down my right shoulder to some use.

So with the 50mm lens attached to my camera and camera locked in the tripod I captured some more photos along the Rivers. Yes I could have used trashcan and fence tops but the tripod allowed me more freedom to compose.

f/8, 20 seconds at ISO 100.

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Not sure which I like better.

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Another view of Tom Sawyer Island.

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Another castle shot.

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and the Mill.

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Another from the river.

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UP NEXT - More night time shots in MK, Drama with the 2/3rds, and crazy morning with YiaYia in Animal Kingdom (like really crazy) along with some of my best photos I've taken.
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Heather's aunt and uncle live in Cape Corral as well. Went to FTL to evacuate

Wishing them the best with their home.

I wonder if they'll repurpose this boat (and maybe some of the animatronics?) for the re-theme. 🤔

I would guess yes.

Those are gorgeous, with the castle and water! Do you print your pictures out and hang around your house? If I was you my house would be covered in all your photos!

Thank you @Wilsonfamily4 ! I have a couple in my office at work. Not nearly enough at home!
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Thank God Sterg is ok. The power and destruction of those storms is difficult to understand until you go through one. I’ll never not evacuate after going through a couple.

Yesterday he finally moved into his new apartment. I've never gone through a major hurricane. I can't imagine the fear if your trapped in a house with no electricity, water rising and the hearing the roaring of the storm all around.

Always watching…!!!!! :D:hilarious:;)

View attachment 670455

Ha!
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
It was around 20 after 10pm on July 19th and I was setting up for a long exposure shot of the Country Bears Jamboree when I received a text from Toni.

"Dad, are you going to check in our flight?"

We had a late, late, Southwest flight the next day. In fact it was the last flight out; 10:30pm. Of course I had completely forgotten about it.

"Doing it now" I replied.

I proceeded to scramble on my phone to pull up Southwest. While doing this Toni and Sterg were texting me constantly then calling me which each time they did it would pop up on my screen and interfere with
my checking in process.

"I'm doing it!"

"Stop texting and calling!"


I hurriedly replied with the anger building. It seemed every time I was in the middle of typing, an "incoming call" window popped up. So I had to swipe it away and start over. Then a call from the other one came up.

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From their side however, they were not getting my texts for whatever reason.

"Don't forget Yia-Yia!" popped on my screen as I'm trying to type in my password in the dark. My Mom was flying back with us but I did remember that.

I was going hither and thither on my phone for a few more panic stricken minutes but I did check us all in between 10:30 and 10:31. All of us were end of Boarding Group B but at least I avoided the dreaded
Boarding Group C. Then I called back Toni and flipped out on her not know she wasn't getting my texts. After we all calmed down I took my shots.

The blue streak of light was some accidental "light painting" cause by a little boy carrying an illuminated souvenir of some type.

f/8, ISO 100 for 25 secs for those keeping score.

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Then the shooting range and some more unplanned light painting.

f/8, 13 seconds, ISO 100.

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Meanwhile, the 2/3rds hit up the Confectionary for a second helping of dessert.

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DznyRktekt

Well-Known Member
Sterg and Toni wanted to continue hitting rides in MK while I wanted to put the tripod weighing down my right shoulder to some use.

So with the 50mm lens attached to my camera and camera locked in the tripod I captured some more photos along the Rivers. Yes I could have used trashcan and fence tops but the tripod allowed me more freedom to compose.

f/8, 20 seconds at ISO 100.

DSC01942-X4.jpg


Not sure which I like better.

DSC01943-X4.jpg


Another view of Tom Sawyer Island.

DSC01944-X4.jpg


Another castle shot.

DSC01947-X4.jpg


and the Mill.

DSC01948-X4.jpg


Another from the river.

DSC01949-X4.jpg



UP NEXT - More night time shots in MK, Drama with the 2/3rds, and crazy morning with YiaYia in Animal Kingdom (like really crazy) along with some of my best photos I've taken.
Award winning sight lines and composition both from Imagineering and Photographer.
 

Spash007

Well-Known Member
It was around 20 after 10pm on July 19th and I was setting up for a long exposure shot of the Country Bears Jamboree when I received a text from Toni.

"Dad, are you going to check in our flight?"

We had a late, late, Southwest flight the next day. In fact it was the last flight out; 10:30pm. Of course I had completely forgotten about it.

"Doing it now" I replied.

I proceeded to scramble on my phone to pull up Southwest. While doing this Toni and Sterg were texting me constantly then calling me which each time they did it would pop up on my screen and interfere with
my checking in process.

"I'm doing it!"

"Stop texting and calling!"


I hurriedly replied with the anger building. It seemed every time I was in the middle of typing, an "incoming call" window popped up. So I had to swipe it away and start over. Then a call from the other one came up.

giphy.gif


From their side however, they were not getting my texts for whatever reason.

"Don't forget Yia-Yia!" popped on my screen as I'm trying to type in my password in the dark. My Mom was flying back with us but I did remember that.

I was going hither and thither on my phone for a few more panic stricken minutes but I did check us all in between 10:30 and 10:31. All of us were end of Boarding Group B but at least I avoided the dreaded
Boarding Group C. Then I called back Toni and flipped out on her not know she wasn't getting my texts. After we all calmed down I took my shots.

The blue streak of light was some accidental "light painting" cause by a little boy carrying an illuminated souvenir of some type.

f/8, ISO 100 for 25 secs for those keeping score.

DSC01950-X4.jpg


Then the shooting range and some more unplanned light painting.

f/8, 13 seconds, ISO 100.

DSC01951-X4.jpg


giphy.gif


Meanwhile, the 2/3rds hit up the Confectionary for a second helping of dessert.

97FBF267-66EA-42AF-A252-DE4EEBCFD72F-X2.jpg


8A1417DD-77BE-4F7E-BAE0-AF4D509B56CE-X3.jpg
It’s like Pandora meets Frontierland! Don’t let Disney see or else we may get a new IP in Frontierland!
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Award winning sight lines and composition both from Imagineering and Photographer.

Thank you sir! A lot of eye-candy at night in MK.

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Glad Sterg was a-ok this week and I hope he enjoys his new dogs!

Yes!! That’s why we love riding this at night!!

Thanks @slipperalwaysfits ! So far so good.


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It’s like Pandora meets Frontierland! Don’t let Disney see or else we may get a new IP in Frontierland!

Nothing would surprise me!
 

Zipadeelady

Well-Known Member
Sterg and Toni wanted to continue hitting rides in MK while I wanted to put the tripod weighing down my right shoulder to some use.

So with the 50mm lens attached to my camera and camera locked in the tripod I captured some more photos along the Rivers. Yes I could have used trashcan and fence tops but the tripod allowed me more freedom to compose.

f/8, 20 seconds at ISO 100.

DSC01942-X4.jpg


Not sure which I like better.

DSC01943-X4.jpg

I was going to say the first one is my favorite but the contrast between the castle and the shack is what I love. That's a tough one to decide on.
 

fractal

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I was going to say the first one is my favorite but the contrast between the castle and the shack is what I love. That's a tough one to decide on.

Thanks @Zipadeelady - I really wanted to get the shack in the 2nd shot. I like both - the 1st is more symmetrical but the 2nd, as you pointed out has that contrast and follows the rule of 3rds. I'd go with the 2nd.
 

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