I took the opportunity from being up early to snap a couple photos, I went and got a soda, and just took in the resort on a beautiful cool morning.
Once we got everyone going, we were out the doors and in the cars on our way to the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a breakfast ADR at Boma. Now this ADR was made for two reasons: 1) I had never been to AKL and had to get there to photograph it and 2) it's Boma breakfast!
The breakfast buffet at Boma is excellent, with a great selection and from our experience, more excellent service. You will hear me say a lot how lucky we were on this trip to have such great service with such a large group.
After we were all properly stuffed from breakfast, we lazily roamed the lobby and gift shop. From there we headed to Animal Kingdom. Moments like this are when having a car really came in handy. Taking the Disney bus system this morning would have been a bit daunting. We would've had to bus from our resort to a park, from there to AKL, and then from AKL to Animal Kingdom. The cars took out a lot of time in getting around.
Back to Animal Kingdom, we of course headed straight back to the Kilimanjaro Safari, which has always been an amazing attraction. I of course was lagging behind the whole way taking photos.
After the Safari we saw the Pagani Forest Exploration Trail. This is something I really love about Animal Kingdom. Aside from the main trails like this, there are others around the park, I thinking more around the Tree of Life. On top of these great spots, there is detail that abounds around every corner in Animal Kingdom. It's a photographers dream in that park, my favorite of the areas in Animal Kingdom has to be Asia though.
Speaking of Asia, we headed that way next. Strolling through the Maharajah Jungle Trek, we saw all the pretty animals. And at that point we started having what I'd like to call the "Animal Kingdom heat breakdown". It happens to us all and we decided to make our way towards the front of the park since we would be back later in the week.
On the way out, I couldn't help but run down to this really neat spot I kept hearing about in the seating area for Flame Tree BBQ. And since we were there, why not eat lunch too right? Lunch was very good, easily my new favorite quick service I'd have to say (or maybe a tie between it and Sunshine Seasons), but the view was even better. A full view over the water of Expedition Everest.
So after a stop back by the resort for some relaxing and pool time, we headed to Magic Kingdom for a night of fun. We were going to see the Main Street Electrical Parade, which I'd never seen before and was very excited for. It was also our first time seeing the Magic, Memories, and You show that exceeded all expectations. And then of course Wishes! which is always a great fireworks display.
We were walking around taking some golden hour photos and catching some quick attractions before the nights festivities began, when we got a call. It was my sister, and a LOT of noise. "I found the best spot," she said over the music. "Come to the hub." So that's exactly what we did. We got to the hub from Tomorrowland and the Move it! Shake it! Celebrate it! was going on, no wonder I couldn't hear my sister. After we waited to the show to be over, I called my sister back. They had gotten a spot on the interior of the hub, right on the curb, right in front of the castle. The best part was that they did it just for us photographers in the group. :)
Main Street Electrical Parade was amazing! I love the music, and seeing the Alice floats and Pete were highlights for me.
As I said, the Magic, Memories, and You show on the castle was absolutely mind blowing! I think have of the group was getting a bit misty by the end. I hope they keep this show around, as it's something that can evolve and be used for quite some time I think.
Wishes! of course was a fantastic show, but how are fireworks behind a castle not awesome!
After Wishes! was over, Jenea, Andy, and I went off into Tomorrowland for some night shooting and another ride on Space Mountain. From there we decided to call it a night, and headed back to the ever wonderful Port Orleans French Quarter.
Be sure to check out the other parts of this trip report here:
One Year Later - 2011 Disney Trip Report - Day 2
One Year Later - 2011 Disney Trip Report - Day 1
5 comments:
I love this comment: " I of course was lagging behind the whole way taking photos." Mostly because I am almost always the same way.
Awesome photos. Sounds like another great day in the parks.
I love Animal Kingdom Lodge and Animal Kingdom - both are extremely fun to take photos at!
Your photos are absolutely gorgeous! What software do you use? I don't have a really fancy camera, but I'm trying, lol
Steve, the family will never be able to go as slow as we need them to, right? lol.
Amanda, Day AND night at AKL cannot be missed IMO.
Matt, I use a combination of Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop mostly. And you don't need a really fancy camera to take good photos. Just the drive and the eye, and both can be developed. :)
Thanks a lot everyone!
Love all the deep colors and the photos you got in the Pre-fireworks show are awesome. I have some I need to look at and see if I captured them the way you did.
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