Katherine's 11th Birthday Dapper Day trip with Club 33!!!

I, too, miss the Tower of Terror. At least the look of it. But after riding Guardians of the Galaxy, and riding its Halloween overlay, Monsters After Dark, I am a fan. The ride itself is such a party, and I struggled with the spookiness of ToT, even though I thought the theming was awesomely done. So I miss the pretty hotel, but can't say I'm disappointed in its transformation, ride-experience-wise. Those are some awesome pictures! We did MaxPass both times we rode it, so it was nice to see some of the theming a little closer up in your photos.
 
Now that would be a mighty third gate! I was listening to Mousetalgia podcast recently and one of the hosts basically said the same thing - Star Wars Land should have been in its own park along with Marvel, but now that opportunity has gone. It's going to be nuts in DL once that area opens.
Kind of sad really. I feel both Marvel and Starwars are going to be net-negatives to each park-going experience as a whole between crowds, loss of area for lands, altering/sunsetting of attractions, etc.

Yep bit of post worked a treat (and this was just quick & dirty in google photos)

I need to do some reading on RAW processing - I tried editing RAW a couple of times while travelling in Photos on the MacBook but successfully made every photo look worse, especially ones with high ISO. Didn't have the time or patience to pursue further and wasn't sure if it needed a software investment (guessing it probably does). Plus I didn't want to get in the habit of thinking I might just fix things in post when shooting as odds on if I do that I never will...
Given that I shoot full-manual and am ALWAYS on the move, my settings aren't always spot-on. I need to adjust here/there at times, so shooting RAW is the only way to go. I can post-process a pic in about a minute and have it saved as JPG for further resizing.

And I just checked my Midway scores from our recent visit - 217,700 was my top. My 11yo always gets upset when I beat her yet she still wants to ride with me... she asks if I'll be nice to her and I say yes but the red mist descends and I can't help myself... Neither child likes the dart on the balloon with the puff of air or the rocket that flies directly too you so guess what I always go for...
That's my normal territory. Kids are getting better though.

I, too, miss the Tower of Terror. At least the look of it. But after riding Guardians of the Galaxy, and riding its Halloween overlay, Monsters After Dark, I am a fan. The ride itself is such a party, and I struggled with the spookiness of ToT, even though I thought the theming was awesomely done. So I miss the pretty hotel, but can't say I'm disappointed in its transformation, ride-experience-wise.
I was struggling with how best to describe the ride experience, and PARTY is the EXACT right description. Thanks!!

Those are some awesome pictures! We did MaxPass both times we rode it, so it was nice to see some of the theming a little closer up in your photos.
That was just our first MaxPass through. We experienced it 9-10 times this trip I think, and one time even in the standby queue, so there will be much more.
 
While we were in the miniscule line, I made MaxPass Reservations for Amy and Vic to do a repeat on Toy Story while I took the older girls on Screamin'. The passes were ready when we walked off the attraction. I snagged a rider swap on it as we walked on.

I have to admit, I'm going to miss Doogie Howser's spiel when this becomes the ill-themed Incredicoaster.

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The view from the main lift hill is the best in all the DLR.

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Three Mountain Shot.

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Which way is up?

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Love the framing the first hill provides.

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While we were screaming on Screamin', Amy and Vic were battling it out. Vic is getting pretty good.

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Victoria being Victoria...

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The ladies are super excited..

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Some adrenaline now pumping, we decided it was time for a bite, so we started to make our way through the Grizzly Peak Area.

The Grizzly Peak area is my favorite area of DCA. It is just so beautiful.

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LOVE the entrance to the Grand.

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Even the light poles are perfection

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Love the Grizzly Air Field too. SO GOOD.

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GOTG... SO HIDEOUS... RUINS THE VISTA.

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I was grumpy when they rethemed Condor Flats to match it, but I like it now. I am interested to see the changes they make to Paradise Pier. We probably won't do a trip again until May-ish 2019 (once some of the Star Wars crazy has died down and DD3 is almost 3 and we have time to save up for $$$ of a family trip again) so I'm hoping it will be all done and settled by then. I like Screamin', but while I used to like to ride it over and over, I'm getting kind of old, and about 2 is usually my limit before a headache sets in. I'm always sad about changes, but usually grow on me eventually. (Except removing the Skyway. I still miss that one.) I super love the Grizzly area, too. I hope they don't ever change it too much.
 


I was grumpy when they rethemed Condor Flats to match it, but I like it now.
I never found Condor Flats well-themed. Seemed like a lot of stuff just thrown on as an afterthought, not a cohesive land with any sort of a well-planned back story. (and I'm a huge aviation buff saying that)

I am interested to see the changes they make to Paradise Pier. We probably won't do a trip again until May-ish 2019 (once some of the Star Wars crazy has died down and DD3 is almost 3 and we have time to save up for $$$ of a family trip again) so I'm hoping it will be all done and settled by then. I like Screamin', but while I used to like to ride it over and over, I'm getting kind of old, and about 2 is usually my limit before a headache sets in.
They could send us around for a half hour straight only slowing for the station, and I'd be happy as a chicken in a field of June bugs.

I'm always sad about changes, but usually grow on me eventually. (Except removing the Skyway. I still miss that one.) I super love the Grizzly area, too. I hope they don't ever change it too much.
Grizzly Peak was the mascot of the park for so long. I hope the impending Marvel-hostile-takeover does not ruin that. I'm also saddened to see how much they POURED into Buena Vista Street only to have it's adjacent land of Hollywoodland be ruined by Marvel. Separate park it should have been.
 
Where could we possibly be headed for lunch in DCA? Well.. the best lunch in DCA after Cove Bar... Smoke Jumper's Grill. Its a GREAT deal.

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Chicken, Fries, and Mac n' Cheese for the kidlettes. Chili-cheese fries for Amy and I. The waffle fries are new thing since our last visit and oh-so-good.

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One of my favorite things about Smoke Jumpers is that they have Tower 10 IPA... LOVE This delicious brew. Wish I could get Karl Straus Products in AZ.

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Anybody who's seen my previous TRs knows a trip to Smoke Jumpers isn't complete with a pic of Amy eating an onion ring (Katherine even google searches for it to find previous TRs). On this trip, sorry, no onion rings, but here she is first bite of the chili cheese fries (we'll be back to the onion rings on the next trip).

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Char being cute.

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Amy and Vic being crazy little clones..

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The theming inside is SOOO good. I love it. If a CM reading this wants to know what to get me for Christmas, I want a Bearpaw Basin Smokejumpers coffee cup they have displayed everywhere inside. Disney is missing out on a merch opportunity there.

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One day when I have more time, I want to read everything in here.

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Most people seldom look up and behind them. I do constantly. You'll be surprised what you see when you do, especially at Disneyland.

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I bet that is a Simonds Royal Chinook. No better cross-cut saw exists. It is the crème de la crème of cross-cut saws (another of my expensive hobbies)

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Where do I sign up?

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Took the time to read a few in here.

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The primer for the Grizzly Peak Airfield backstory.

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Loving the Grizzly Peak photos - are they HDR shots or just zhushed up in post? Love how they really pop. And the Screamin' pics are great! I've never been brave enough to try and shoot and ride, always holding on too tight to the handles.

I have to admit, I'm going to miss Doogie Howser's spiel when this becomes the ill-themed Incredicoaster
Me too! I know some are critical of his presence, especially with his bit in the 60th version of World of Color, but it didn't bother me at all. I always call him Dorky Housecall after the Mad Magazine comic version of the show. Not looking forward it to becoming Incredicoaster, though I guess (hope) the ride remains unchanged because it is completely awesome. The music really makes it, I rode it once when silent and it just wasn't the same.
 


Loving the Grizzly Peak photos - are they HDR shots or just zhushed up in post? Love how they really pop. And the Screamin' pics are great! I've never been brave enough to try and shoot and ride, always holding on too tight to the handles.

On my DSLR, I've only ever shot maybe 3 HDR photos (put together in post through bracketed shots). All my pictures are taken out of the body, adjusted slightly in post here/there (mainly white balance, or exposure on dark rides)
 
Well filled and with renewed vigor, we kept heading East. Kind of sad that this won't be the same in a few years...

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It was time for YET another GOTG walk-on using MaxPass.

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I can't believe how well this statue mimics Benicio Del Toro. Amazing work.

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Not sure on the tie-in if any on this particular item.

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Or this octopus-type creature.

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Better Shot of Rocket's Blaster

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Wish I had taken the time to get a better pic of this portrait, but we were rushed through as is normal with MaxPass.

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Asgardian War Hammer, possibly the Stormbreaker.

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Varied set of weapons. None I've seen anywhere before.

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Victoria getting her hand prints scanned into the system for further access.

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Remnants of an animatronic which is reportedly Tom Morrow from Flight to the Moon and later your host for Innoventions.

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StarLord's Walkman..

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Presently being stolen by Rocket..

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This is another GOTG nod with the F'saki chow. F'saki are the small reptiles which are use in the game in the bar on Knowhere where people bet on the F'saki and the Orlonis they eat. The bit about "Now with Savory Orloni bits" is funny as heck.

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More feeding bins. Curious that the Terrans apparently eat grubs.

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Harold looks none too happy.

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And.... BACK ROW AGAIN!!

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Escaped from Tivan's collection once again, we were off. It was time to park hop, but not before we acquiesced to Victoria's plea to the "shoe ride".

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Who let those kids drive?

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The Christmas ornaments were a great touch in Bug's land.

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Sometime you just need to take time to smell the flowers...

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.. And appreciate the pollinators.

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If this sight doesn't bring a flutter to your heart, you aren't a Disney fan... or American..

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Where might we be going I wonder....

I sure love the monorail passing the Matterhorn..

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That's right... the Matterhorn using MaxPass we made WHILE still over in DCA.

I really love the carved details on the Matterhorn Queue Buildings.

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Amy hard at work determining what to use MaxPass on next.

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And this time, RED monorail.

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Wonder the significance of the crest.

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And just like that, after only being in line for eight minutes, the clouds parted, a heavenly beam of sunlight pierced down illuminating the Matterhorn like some holy beacon of fun.

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And we were off..

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I took some time to write about the significance of the Wells Expedition in one of my more recent trip reports. If you haven't read them, now is a good time to go do so since I don't feel like repeating myself.

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I LOVE the Yeti tracks.. never noticed those before.

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You really have to love attractions which use the drag from a splash through the water as a passive braking mechanism. And the splash is fun!

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Beautiful Matterhorn pictures! And I'm impressed you were able to shoot while on the ride at all! I've filmed on Screamin' a few times, but the Matterhorn is so jerky that I am hanging on to anything I can! :)
 
Beautiful Matterhorn pictures! And I'm impressed you were able to shoot while on the ride at all! I've filmed on Screamin' a few times, but the Matterhorn is so jerky that I am hanging on to anything I can! :)

My Harold pics didn't turn out. Shutter speed was too slow apparently.
 
After Matterhorn, we decided to split up. Katherine and I went for Tea Cups. Amy and the younger girls went to do Nemo.

I love the trees and lanterns here. So beautiful and even better at night.

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Katherine feels the same.

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Two people in a Teacup for the win!

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I feel like the Orange Monorail is following me...

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Katherine and I, still waiting for the rest of the group went to grab a Rose Sipper and some Grey stuff.

The Grey Stuff... It REALLY is delicious. The grey is an Oreo Creme. Inside this cone of deliciousness is a few fresh raspberries over Red Velvet cake on top of a lemon-wafer. OMG so good. It didn't last long..

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We started to make our way towards Tomorrowland for our next MaxPass and on the way passed Snow White's Grotto.

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And a decent-enough pic of the castle sporting its new snow

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By the time we crested Tomorrowland it was already 1:08. Katherine and I paused at the plaque and paid our respects. I literally hear Walt reciting this when I read it. It's like Morgan Freeman... you just hear the voice when you read certain things.

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First stop, reconnecting with the rest of the family, and then it was on to Start Tours, which we OF COURSE had a MaxPass for..

IC360 I feel is a new addition. I honestly can't remember him from previous trips, but maybe I just missed it.

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Katherine ended up being the Rebel SPY!!! I don't think any of us has had that happen before.

Afterwards, we headed in the direction of the larger buildings.. Space would be our destination for YET ANOTHER MaxPass. Not before we saw the TWA Moonliner though. I really need to finish my 40" model of this one of these days.

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The area above the Tomorrowland Theater which the Space Queue winds around is SOOO under-utilized. The vistas are beautiful.

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It was at this point that Tori tore off through the store back to the Space Entrance, none of us seeing her do it. We quickly realized she was missing. K and I headed towards the hub and Amy started doing circles in the Tomorrowland hub around the granite sphere. Eventually, she was located after she had apparently been knocked down by someone and identified as a lost child by a random mother. It never fails... one of the kids always gets lost.

Afterward we had recomposed the group, we used our MaxPass for Astro Blasters and fought Zurg!!

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Not my best score, but it would have to suffice. I'm usually above 600k.

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We cruised off of it at 2:26 and decided to head to the West side of the park.
 
We cruised over, grabbed a 4-pack of Dole Whips, and into the Tiki Room we went.

I have to say, if I could build a Tiki room this size with a bar to house all my mugs and assorted spirits from the Tropics, I'd be in HEAVEN.

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Of course I'd need the fountain.. if it spouted white rum, that would be even more magical.

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The canoes have always been one of my favorite parts. While they may be filled with singing flowers, I love the crocodile snouts on them.

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This pic is I honestly just loved the detail on the end of this lodge pole.

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Where the flowers sing!!

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Beat those drums!!

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Chant!!!

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These crocs are awesome!!

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And the show continues outside as far as I'm concerned. I wonder how many people in their rush to attraction X, Y, or Z never stop to appreciate all the theming which goes into Disneyland.


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Even the entrance alone is a treasure trove of awesome artifacts..

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I REALLY need to sculpt some torches like this to light my walkways!!!

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I miss the Moonliner and the rockets being up high. I felt the ride was so much more thrilling that way. Or maybe it's just because I was on it as a little kid when it was there. :) We also lost children on our last trip. Both almost-3-year-old and the 10-year-old for a few minutes each. Always a fun time. We did write our cell number on the 2-year-old's arm, and the 10-year-old knew it, so I wasn't TOO worried, but it's just never a good feeling!
 
I miss the Moonliner and the rockets being up high. I felt the ride was so much more thrilling that way. Or maybe it's just because I was on it as a little kid when it was there. :) We also lost children on our last trip. Both almost-3-year-old and the 10-year-old for a few minutes each. Always a fun time. We did write our cell number on the 2-year-old's arm, and the 10-year-old knew it, so I wasn't TOO worried, but it's just never a good feeling!

I've lost a child within 20 feet before. Katherine got separated in Adventureland at the cluster which is the entrance to Indy. A stranger not 20' away called Amy's cell phone. Just couldn't see the kids. Glad that area has gotten a little less congested.
 
Satisfied with admiring Adventureland, we migrated through the Frontierland stores while we waited for our BTMRR MaxPass to mature.

Disney just kills details in all their queues and retail locations. I LOVE just looking at all the details.

This canoe I wanted to strap to the top of the Axiom and bring home.

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The yokes are cool.

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GIANT carved buffalo..

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And automatic band!

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14 minutes after entering the shops to browse, and we were boarding our mine train (MaxPass sure is quick)
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Katherine was sulking over something. This pic is to reference it to embarrass her later in life.

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Ugh... Star Wars Land..

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Can you imagine the ribeye which would go with these bones? NOM NOM NOM

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Afterward, we headed up to Critter Country to use the much superior bathrooms and peruse the Pooh Corner store. While I was there, I checked the new entrance to SWL and noticed the Twain rolling by.

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I was really disappointed we didn't manage to take a tour of the Rivers of America on the Twain this trip. There's always next time.

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It was now 3:42 and I decided to high-tail it over to Blue Bayou to check in for our 4:15 reservation and request a water-side table. We waited for a bit, and what do you know, we were seated at a water-side table by 4:25. This trip was going quite swimmingly.

Our Menu:

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Amy and I both ended up getting the Louisiana Spiced Shrimp as our Appetizers. When I pass by the gumbo for another dish, you know it's good, and it sure was. Sopped up the sauce with the sourdough and it was sooo darn good. We both elected for the Surf and Turf as our Entrées to. And both had the Crème Brule for dessert. Yes, we've had that exact thing before and both apparently like it... creatures of habit. I think the kids all got the steak.

Vic is always a bit of a challenge. Definitely not going to take her anywhere fancier than Blue Bayou.

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Looking the wrong way...

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Katherine growing up too quick.

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After we wrapped up Dinner, it was time to head back to the hotel to rest a bit and get changed for Fantasmic!
 
Refreshed and sporting some cooler weather clothes, we ventured back to the parks. We got to the Blue Bayou seating area around 8:25 for our 9:00PM showing of Fantasmic and got a PERFECT spot. Only one group in front of us and the railing to the ROA.

Victoria promptly decided to FALL ASLEEP. What the heck. I swear, she always sleeps through Fantasmic.

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Here I was trying out the camera settings... Big Thunder from our seating spot.

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Checking out the performance stage over on Tom Sawyer's Island

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And the show started. Mickey came out and starting whipping the Rivers of America into a frenzy.

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The view the naked eye was seeing...

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And then Mickey started with the Pyrotechnics...

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And as quickly as it had started, the first act was over.

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