May 2015 Flower Wars weekend mini meet!

As a matter of fact for this last trip (Feb 22-28th 2015) I had pretty much counted the moon out in the shots I was aiming to get. This was the family trip so it's a nightmare for me as I have to "herd" everybody around and do stuff that they would like, only they don't want to listen to me so they are always deviating from my carefully crafted plans. We all know how that's going to end... especially with the way a Disney trip is now with FP+ and all the other bull you have to deal with.

So anyway I check out Ephemeris and I figure out that the moon will be setting to the west at night when I am in Epcot, which I think to mean Canada. I'm not really going to be over that way because I had dinner in Germany with the family on my one Epcot night. I ditch the family after Dinner and I set up for Illuminations. Then I do the long slow walk out heading for the International gateway via the Germany to Morocco to France route where I will catch a cab at the Beach Club back to Caribbean Beach with security gently on my tail as they flush the park of camera nerds.

As I am coming up on Morocco I see a beautiful Moon, a chubby crescent, right over the tower. COWABUNGA DUDES!!! I hit the jackpot. So I start bracketing my brains out! I had never shot Morocco at night so it was on my bucket list. The sky was great with all these fast moving wispy clouds and stars galore. It was one of those things where you knew it was going to be an awesome capture. I had to repeat my brackets a couple of times because of the tools with the ipads stopping right in my frame to get their shot or the kids with the light up whatever's or the people with the cell phone cameras but I'm sure it will all be worth it in the end.

I have yet to run those shots through Photomatix and then import them to Photoshop for some camera raw processing. This was the only "clear" night that I had for the entire week. Those low cloudy skies really suck and February seems plagued by them. But on that night I got my favorite dreamy skies!

~Joanie

 

Oki dokie. I'll throw it in my camera bag. Remind me to pass it when we next see each other.

~Joanie

 

Thanks Joanie!

On my last attempt at the FoF parade I was on the train station balcony all the way over to the right (out in the sun). I felt like I was always shooting down on the parade although for the taller floats (like Ariel) it was great. Will probably catch the parade twice this trip to get a ground level view as well as back up on the balcony.

I think part of my problem was using the wrong AF mode. I had trouble nailing the focus on a lot of my shots. I just upgraded the D5100 to the D7100 so I'm hoping the improved AF and actually using the right mode will help me. I just need to get out and practice a little around town before the trip. Looks like I'll be hitting a St. Patrick's day parade this month.

I'm liking the thought of catching the HS fireworks from outside the park. The links @ExploringWDW posted looked pretty good.

--Mike

 

Are you getting ready to make those FP+ reservations for your “Flower Wars” trip the week of May 13th-ish to the 18th-ish?

Are you planning on going to any of the special Star Wars Weekends show like: Stars of the Saga - Visit to the Maul - An Ewoks Tale - Obi Wan and Beyond - Behind the Force?


Do you need to know and understand the process for getting FAST PASSES for these shows?

Well then you are in luck because boy do I have the thread for YOU!

NOW is the time to start monitoring THIS THREAD: http://www.disboards.com/threads/official-star-wars-weekends-thread-tips-and-tricks-2015.3324422/

It’s the Dis Boards Star Wars Weekends thread! Here you will find valuable information on how this event was run and organized in the past. People will also post breaking news alerting you to when vital information about this event is released, like which celebrities appear on what weekends or what time this show with this celebrity will happen. You’ll even find fantastic information about where to find the Disney Star Wars characters throughout the day.

The first page is gold! It’s filled with info on past events and it helps you to understand what the hell everyone is talking about regarding the events.

Here is an example of the kind of information that you will find on this site:

Schedule for the SWW shows at Theater of the Stars by Weekend
The ability to book fp+ opened 5/5/14 (note: that’s last year’s date!!) for SWW 2014 All the shows are in Tier One. From most popular to least popular:
Stars of the Saga - Visit to the Maul - An Ewoks Tale - Obi Wan and Beyond - Behind the Force.

~SNIP!~

After the first page there is a ton of brain numbing questions and chit chat. That’s great while we are waiting for this year’s details to be released but we are really in need of this year’s details and schedules. Well I am here to tell you that stuff will be trickling out any day now so start reading at the end of this thread and watch for that info. Keep up with the posts every day from now on out.

Like they USED to sing on the Carousel of Progress “Now is the time, Now is the best time, NOW IS THE BEST TIME…” (to start paying attention).

This site is a feast of information so act now! Start paying attention and you’ll be glad you did.

~Joanie

 

For this trip, my fast pass MINUS selection day is at 12:01 am or 1:00 am on Saturday March 14th. I've been working out a schedule of where I think I'll be and I thought I would share it to see if there is any overlap in our schedules.

On Wednesday May 13th I will get to "Plop" Century at around 11:30 am. I'll ditch my carry on somewhere at the resort (room if ready/Bell services if room not ready) and grab a cab to Walmart for some supplies for the room. Back by Two pm-ish I'll drop the groceries at Plop and head to EPCOT. My projected Fast passes are for EVENING FP : Test Track Mission space, Disney pals. I plan to try and shoot Illuminations but it's not essential that I do that. I'll be trying to shoot the Flower and Garden stuff, especially in the afternoon as the sun sets in the west and that means that areas like the butterfly house and the Monorail will have the better light on them. Sunset @8:08pm, Moon sets at 3:34pm


On THURSDAY it's another Epcot day. FP MINUS will probably be for Illuminations, Mission space (MORNING) Disney pals. I don't really give a flying fig about the Disney pals but there is nothing else that catches my eye. Suggestions for that 3rd FP+ anyone? I'm thinking that I will have dinner with Dave so we will have to see where and when he books it. I've never shot from the Illuminations FP+ area so that will be interesting.

On FRIDAY it's going to be a Hollywood Studios day. This kind of sucks because they don't release the FP+ for the special Star Wars shows until after the 60 day window opens so you have to save your Hollywood Studios Tier 1 FP+ for when ever they decide to announce the special events. I'm not a complete lunatic so I'm not planning on camping out at DHS to get in line for the guy that played Jar Jar Bink's autograph.

Also It's really bumming me out that my Dear Son Evan is not making the trip this year. He is rowing for his High School and they have a regatta this weekend so there is no way he would skip that. Besides, the other guys in the boat would KILL HIM if he were absent. My one Tier 2 FP at DHS will be for my beloved Tower of Terror. I have no clue as to the other tier two FP+ unless that Jar Jar Binks guy falls into that category. Then and only then I might think about it before deciding to ditch him yet again for something formative like the Muppets ; )

I have no plans for dinner (Suggestions anyone??) and I will definitely be shooting the fireworks from outside of the park.

On Saturday It's more of the same at DHS for Star wars stuff. I have to figure out what shows are when and work out that schedule once they release the information. Yeah I know, it sucks to be me.... No Dinner plans as of yet (Anyone interested??)

ON SUNDAY It's Groundhog day all over again at DHS with the Star wars crap. Ditto on the lack of Dinner plans as above (I'm open to suggestions!)

On MONDAY things get interesting because Mike and I are going to that SCI-FI Star wars breakfast at DHS at 9:15 am. Then I'll shoot on over to The Magic Kingdom where I'll be making an evening FP+ in the dark hours for the Mine train ride. I Want to get the cottage at the end of the ride when it is lit from with in. Sunset is @8:11pm, Moon set at 8:51pm so that means I'll probably be riding Mine train after the 10pm Wishes Fireworks. MK is open until 11pm that night so I'll probably get my FP+ window for the mine train at around 10:30 pm. Other FP+ will be for the Big Thunder (7pm to get the setting sun on it) and the Little Mermaid ride, which they just refurbished and added some more scenery (Probably justa couple of fish!)
I probably will have Dinner plans on Monday.

On TUESDAY I check out of Plop Century and I have to leave the Magic Kingdom by 3:45pm to allow time to get back to the resort and catch the Magical Depress back to the airport. I probably won't head to the MK until 11am where I will FP+ Mine train, Haunted Mansion, Little mermaid ride.

So that's my trip. It's time to start to figure out YOUR schedule if you want to line up those Fast Pass Minuses.

~Joanie

 

Last call for @ddindy and @rocket2722 to get in on the dinner reservation on Thursday the 14th at San Angel Inn. Let me know if you are interested and I will book it.

@Joanie Eddis-Koch any preference on a time? Since it looks like you are thinking IllumiNations fp, we probably want to be done with dinner no later than 7:30 so you can be first in the fastpass line. I guess that probably means 6:30PM at the latest??? I'll work around your FP plans...

 

@ExploringWDW I would love to tag along for dinner on the 14th. I have never tried the San Angel Inn so thank you for the invite. Not sure if I'll FP Illuminations that night but I have no preference on a time. Thanks!

 

6:15 to 6:30 would be better for Dinner. I think they want you in the FP+ area starting somewhere after 8pm. I know I'll need to get there early so that I can secure a railing spot.

Thanks Dave! I'm looking forward to having Dinner with you and Mike and I hope Dennis can join us!

~Joanie.

 

I have a reservation for 6 people at 6:45PM. We can show up a bit early in hopes of being seated at 6:30PM if you think its necessary @Joanie Eddis-Koch. My only other option was 5PM. If we would rather do that I will try to switch it. Let me know...

@ddindy, no pressure. If Mexican does not sit well with you, don't risk having a bad opening day of SWW!

 

Nope, that sounds fine to me. Thanks for arranging the reservation. That should give us enough time with all the check in conniptions to really enjoy our meal.

~Joanie

 

Here is a link to their menu: http://allears.net/dining/menu/san-angel-restaurante/dinner
The reputation is that the food is not crazy spicy, more like "Disney spicey".

I can't eat spicy food as I literally don't have the stomach for it, as in LITERALLY don't have the stomach (cancer) but I know that I love Sopa Azteca - traditional tortilla soup with avocado, cheese and pasilla pepper and I'm thinking that Quesadillas Rebozadas - battered corn quesadilla stuffed with Huitlacoche, corn, mushrooms, and queso fresco topped with sour cream $12.00 is something that I will definitely want to try.

I hope that helps!
~Joanie

 

Sounds good to me. @ExploringWDW Thanks for setting this up. Looking forward to both the dinner and the company.

 

Well, as ridiculous as the pricing is, I snagged a breakfast reservation at BOG on Thursday the 14th at 8:10AM. Not a very good use of morning EMH but whatever, the menu looks quite good. This would be an excellent use of quick service credits if we were on the dining plan.

With the park opening at 8AM, do you think that they will let us in early for our 8:10AM reservation? I am wondering if we will have time to hit 7DMT before breakfast...

 

They start letting people with ADR's into the MK at 7:50 am. The buses to MK will be running early enough to get there in time. Be sure to get there early enough to get to the MK and through bag check BY 7:45 OR a little earlier if you want to be in the front of the line to get in to the park for pictures before your meal. After bag check walk all the way over to the left side and find a CM to check your name on the list and direct you to the early admittance line.

~Joanie

 

Well @ExploringWDW, you are not alone! I couldn't resist since my plan was to go to MK for the EMH anyway. My reservation is for 8:05am on the same day. I was thinking if I can get in early enough I can snag some interesting, almost empty, morning images on my way back to BOG.

@Joanie Eddis-Koch - thanks for the tips on crashing the gates early!