Lenaapple1974

Thank you! I very much enjoyed that. The anticipation is building. I cannot wait to see the line you encounter while waiting to be let into the terminal. I heard it can get pretty long!

I am like a drug addict. Every time someone posts something, I am running here to see if you have your newest update!

1. i305 2. El Toro 3. Nitro 4. Tatsu 5. Montu Only five? If I were to add anything to that, I would add SheikRa because I love the feeling of the hang. Oh and Maverick... oh heck...Can't there be about 10? lol

That is a great site! I may just get lost at looking at all those pictures! I did not expect the Beast's castle to be THAT small. I am sure it will look fine once all is completed. Feels like it will be so long from now! I am kind of sad my trip is this year... 2013 will come soon enough though!

Hi again! Great to see you started posting your trip! I look forward to the rest. So far...great stuff. Your daughter got so big! I love your detailed stories and pictures. I also bring several cameras on my trips. I also love the camera upgrade. (I am a camera/photo geek - lol) I myself am upgrading this week before our trip in June/July! Actually, I switched from a Nikon D90 to the Canon 7D! I am so excited, I cannot wait til it arrives!!! It has been a nerve wracking few weeks, but it will all be worth it in the end. OMG... hopefully you find your missing card. That is the second thing I worry about with my photos on a trip. The first is my camera breaking. As we all know - that has happened to me already! Second is a lost card. I now bring my laptop with me, and back up the photos at the end of each day. I take so many pictures on vacation, I would be crushed. Who knows..maybe someone will find it, see the pics and find you! There was a story recently in the news here where there was a roll (or rolls) of film found. The person who found them developed them and posted them online to search for the owner, and it made its way back to the person who took the pics! TPR is well known, and maybe, just maybe someone will find it. Can't wait to see the rest of your trip!

I think Tili should be in the shows. I mean, the trainers - ESPECIALLY knowing his past, still deal with him from the sidelines. They do not go in the water with him, and that was in place prior to Dawn's accident. I think it should be entirely up to the trainers, as to whether or not they are involved directly with the whales. I know, being an animal lover - I would definitely still be involved. But this is what they do. They each know there is a risk every time, but they choose to continue on. I wish we could hear from a trainer...and how they feel about the scenario.

Universal does have photographers when you walk in. Honestly, not too sure if they are throughout the park, but they don't offer anything like Disney as far as scanning a card and looking at home. That would be great, because then I wouldn't have to worry about lugging a picture around the park, and could order it at home when I have time, and more money.

Yeah, they could definitely do an about face on us again. I wonder if they registered any of the other choices too.

You found a way to make that word stay! I don't know why it is a bad word, but it is hilarious to read a report and see lockers. I have tried a few different ways and spellings too, all with the same result. I am surprised your * made it. I wonder if there is a thread relating to it. Last time I was there they were free for up to 45 minutes, and then not too much after that. $1 or so, depending on how long you had your stuff in there. Great Aventure by me has a similar item, except you scan a ticket and the locker is $1 for up to two hours. I'd hate to loose the ticket though!

Wow, thank you so much for the nice compliments! Jenseib, I agree. Styles were definitely so different back then. But if you notice - they are slowly making its way back! I just hope that the horrible hair that went with it does not creep back into style! Have fun cruisin' next week! I look forward to the stories you come back with! I cannot wait to go myself. FreefallXL - We definitely have lots of fun when we are out! I honestly was thinking that my pictures seem to fall short of lots of others on here, and even to my own pictures on a daily basis. I don't update this too often, as I don't always have time. So it will make it's way to the top every now and again! I am so far behind, but, there are more days in the year than I have trip reports, so eventually I will catch up! We are almost done with my Florida update from 2009! There is so much to come after that, including SFGAdv with Big Mike, then KD, BGE and CP in 2010! The next day we went back to the Universal parks to get some last rides in. Not too many pictures from this day. In Universal, we continued on where we left off, and then headed back to IOA. Sadly this was my last park day. Next up SFGAdv! Overcast...SHEESH! I cannot catch a break, can I? I just want one day where I can take a picture of the Hulk, and be able to see the faces. Some cool photographers posed for us as we walked in toting similar cameras of the same species. We left off at T2 3D. And wow...first time ever NO LINE! I mean seriously - OK, so maybe I welcome dreary days more than I would like to admit. My park self wins over my photographer self. blurry...fail. waiting at the doors As the room fills up Cute little show I really never paid much mind to this part of the park My daughter will forever love Barney! And on to Shrek 4-D... but first let's just take a look...NO...HRRR was NOT testing. OH well. The most positively BEST idea ever. Who really wants to hold a bunch of crap while waiting on line for rides? I know I don't. Some HRRR pics as we leave the park And just b/c I love JP Random sky shot on the way back to the villa

Sidewinder @ HersheyPark last summer. I came off that thing with the worst headache. The cobra roll was fine...it was the loop that got me on the way back. Time before that was the Coney Island Cyclone. First drop smashed my shin into the side of the restraint. Definitely the most painful ride I have ever been on.

I love Manta! I wanted to get back actually to spend more time around the area, but never made it that trip. This year, I plan on doing just that!

Wow. I just spent my entire afternoon catching up with your 2009 trip. I had wondered how you kept so much detail in memory two years later. I am actually in the midst of posting from my 2009 vacation as well. Let's say my details are lacking. lol. You have me mesmerized though! I have to take a break and come back another time to finish the day you leave. Some of those photographers should most definitely not be doing what they are doing. Looks like some of the ones you mentioned that were bad, were just completely ill focused. You would think that for as much as they charge, they could make sure of the focal point and exposure compensation were up to par. The cameras they use are more than enough to get that IT shot. I did not think there were rude people in Disney... CMs that is. Awesome job! P.S. I love your second go at the balloons! EDIT: OK..so I came back and finished it. Can you say hooked? Have a great time on your upcoming trip! I look forward to the in depth report. I will be booking my Dream cruise for next year soon... any tips, or ins and outs would be great!

^^Thanks! I really wish I took more on my early trips. But 'them were the film days' and I was more selective. Every time I go back, I have a different approach, although rushed as always. This time, I am hopefully going to have new gear. (I just sold my "good" camera, in hopes of an upgrade - ASAP!) Since everyone seems to be at WCB this weekend, I figured I would take this opportunity to do an update. So, on to the next installment of my 2009 trip to Orlando. Just a recap - it was 4th of July week, the crowds were light, the heat was excruciating, and the day we went to Busch Gardens Tampa was cut short by some nasty torrential rain! I must say, that I was not completely fond of the drive from Orlando to Tampa. I felt confused... and I do not get confused while driving too often. I am the type who remembers dirt paths and can navigate them in the dark after one trip. It had a feeling of being out of place to me. Especially the parking lot being across a main street. But that gave us the view of Montu! The excitement builds up when I see the first coaster. And naturally, we headed directly for Montu upon entering the park. We meandered through the park, and sort of took our time. This being a new park, I did not know where to go first. In the end, we got to Montu, we rode the train, Kumba, and headed to SheikRa. Needless to say it was the longest line of the day. I started to chicken out because someone had to stay with my son. They did not want him to go on the line, holding our stuff, even though he was not riding. After about 30 minutes, we realized there were some technical problems going on. Not too long after that...it began to POUR! My son became the official..."unclog the drain" boy. We were soaked through and through. Everyone rushed under the little awning we were under when it started. Boy did it get crowded - QUICK. They allowed me to switch places, and we were on the stairs... and everyone decided they wanted to leave! ARE YOU KIDDING?? Really... total fail. The ride had started to go and the line wasn't that long from where we were. They did not want to re-ride anything at all. So no SheikRa credit for me. I most certainly look forward to getting back to Busch Gardens this year. With Chetaka - I mean Cheeta Hunt, it will be a great year! Montu, here we come! Topiary, in case you were wondering...this is a lion. It is kind of empty. Seems to be a trend on my trip so far. (And I like that!) Park map. It does not look like this anymore I guess. We stopped at the gators and crocs Some info to read later. Like I said, we rush through stuff. So...How you doing? Everyone was hiding. Here we are! Hanging in the shade. A thing of the past Some more Montu love Through the tunnel Long horns! Obligatory Clouds seem to have cleared... Who would have guessed that not long after this, the sky would just OPEN up! Getting ready for our first time.... quickly became a FAIL! And now everything was closed... Loved the hippos.... ....minus their nasty water! These guys were so cute and fun to watch Mr. Bird, how are you today He came closer to my son Pondering I suppose... Should I eat him??

Maybe we will get an in depth preview of what is to come at ECB. Aug. 2nd is not even a week prior to it.

WOW! What is wrong with people???!! I would love to know what coaster(s) these locals are comparing I-305 to, because in order for it to suck, they must have some coaster that is of higher quality in mind. If they felt that way they should have stayed home. I only rode it with the trims on the drop. I still grayed out. I loved it - went back for more! My daughter and I were determined to figure out if it was something we did, and if we could maybe have less of a situation going over that first hill. (We tried eating, drinking lots of water, breathing differently - to name a few..lol) And the ride still kicked @$$! I cannot wait to get there again! I had the pleasure of getting to Cedar Point last year too, and rode MF & I-305 within one week of each other. They may be the same height, but IMO different enough, that I cannot really compare them. Equally awesome though! I also have a great line up in my home park. With El Toro & Kingda Ka in my back yard - and I am eternally grateful to KD for bringing I-305 to their park. Shame on the boo-ers. The nerve and audacity they had to act that way - just embarrassing. How on earth did they think that would be O.K.? Here I am so excited to finally have the opportunity to attend a TPR event this year - why on Earth would I want to screw that up?? You don't like something, have enough respect for the awesome management team that allowed the most awesome coaster club come to the park and do what they do! Without all the hard work of the Alvey's and probably countless people, we would not even have these opportunities! Something like that could ruin future events! That really made me angry to hear that.

^^Maybe when the cable car is on the line, it weighs it down some? I agree, definitely not much clearance. Thanks for those pictures all! Drop + CH complete =

I am SO IN! Anyone wanting to carpool from the NY area, I have a 7 psgr Explorer. I will more than likely be making the trek on that Sunday.

WOW. Completely amazing. I just spent the last... I don't know how long reading all 24 pages. Thank you Robb for posting each day! Anyone who is a first time cruiser should totally read this thread. If anyone previously had questions, they are now all answered. I specifically did not read any menus today. I am starving...will not make it worse! Lady Gaga class....very scary. I will take nothing but the real thing! (4/23 GA!! Woot!)

Amazing stuff! Thanks Adam. Everything is definitely shaping up! The excitement is building. Before we know it, you will be reporting on the final results!

Just AMAZING! Thank you so much for that in depth report! I have been dying to take a cruise of some sort, but keep booking non cruise items. I was just saying the other day that I was looking to possibly go Sept 2012. I was originally looking into Carnival Destiny. (I think this is the one...the biggest of the Carnival line), but you have me trying to figure out how to get my husband to go Disney! (He is not a Disney Fan Boy at all!!) I think that there is enough on this ship to sway him! Thank you again for posting!!

Eric, Really? What is your favorite "era" then? I love that song. I so wish for her to do that live ...on tour. My favorite was when she did it on SNL. Who knows when the next album will come though. OH! Forgot to mention I finally got GA tix for Gaga! YAY!!!! For April, so we won't be seeing her in the Garden, but it will be warmer for the "wait". Hmmm... USO done. Next is.... Aquatica! My first impression of this place is that it is "pretty". SeaWorld-esque, of course. But then it feels incomplete. Things did not seem close enough together. I felt more annoyed navigating from ride to ride. Most of us just ended up in the lazy river, and then the rapids. This was super fun though. We spent most of our time in there actually. I cannot remember the name of it... too lazy to look it up too. There was this guy who was in there. I was watching him as we circled around. He would stand up, and take both of his hands and smash them into the water - palm down. He did this a few times to the life guards. Led me to believe he knew them, or even worked there. They said nothing to him. Then he was coming my way, and just as he had his hands up to me...my husband turned to him...stood up and told him to go ahead and try it. He looked at him...like he had no clue. UM REALLY? Had the nerve to say he wasn't doing anything. Right. We pretty much left after that. It was a short day. The day we go to a water park always ends up being short. The water just wears me out. I love that we rented a villa. We BBQ every day, instead of spending money on eating out. I just hate eating out. For July, I have rented a house. I cannot wait! (Sorry if that sentiment is a bit redundant! ) Pics aren't all that from here. I just wanted to capture what the place looked like. P.S. Christopher Walken = CrEEpy!! EEK! Next up: Busch Gardens Tampa Getting ready to go, we saw this little guy. Tiny is not the word! signage pay for parking... (not this year, thanks to my platinum pass!) SeaWorld always has nice landscaping It is still slightly overcast Come back at 4pm for something cool The lines were a little long... How do you get there? Nope, not this way! Ahhh...here we go. Ameilia says - 'PEACE' Empty seats Did you know they swim upside down? ToPsY TuRvY! last years prices I never even made it to this one And off he goes! This river was THE BOMB! And there he is...that dude... bottom right corner. His back is to the camera...I wasn't trying to capture him. I was taking a pic of the river... but there he is splashing away!

I had a feeling. Thanks! I wish I had gotten a look at that stuff that was leaked. I heard about it after it disappeared. Oh well.

I went searching for the rumor about the SeaWorld San Diego coaster, and this is what I found: http://dodgeprojects.construction.com/Sea-World-Manta-Exhibit---Ride-Attraction-2012-Carpentry---Millwork---California_stcVVproductId110042886VVcatId546259VVviewprod.htm Is this where contractors pick up the jobs? I am not sure. I will be going to SoCal in 2012...so I look forward to following this project, no matter what happens to it! Sorry if this has been posted already, I think I went through all the recent pages. The LA times shows pics of SWO's Manta and had a few errors in an article as well, but mentions a bid is out there. I won't bother posting because of the inconsistencies in the story.

Oh no, I would never process THAT many HDR, if I ever tried. I took over 2000 pictures on vacation and there would be no way. Imagine that x3?? I take more and more pics, but DavidMorton answered the question... Always bracketing. I will try a few when I go... if I remember. I am always running around trying to capture everything. But I have implemented the slowing down factor and will do my best to remember. I have only used my camera's bracketing a few times. I don't feel I am completely ready yet. Since I am self taught... (I did not even want to get off manual approx. 6 months ago.) I work on a section of my camera for a bit, instead of learning ten things at once. Right now, I want to use no flash...like always - and natural lighting. I want to go for perfect exposure in camera, not using RAW. I used exposure compensation -/+ for the first time this weekend. I am trying to learn the safe levels on my camera to raise the ISO to. I really hate noise... REALLY REALLY. I sadly notice the slightest bit and it is a pet peeve of mine. I will continue to browse Flickr and stuff here and pay attention to the right exposure. Thanks for the tips guys!