Discovery Island Today

Discovery Island was a nice bird and animal attraction in the middle of Bay Lake.  Until Animal Kingdom opened you could take a boat to this somewhat unknown location and spend a nice relaxed afternoon.

I did this every time we went down to Disney when I was a kid.  The elevated walkways took you by a number of different exhibits and displays.  Some of these can still be found in Disney World.  For example the Flamingos in Animal Kingdom are a feature that could be found at Discovery Island for years.  Also the live surgeries at Animal Kingdom are also throwback to the old island.

Sure there is a "Discovery Island" today in the Animal Kingdom but it's nowhere near the atmosphere of the old one.   You just can't recreate the old one in a theme park.

So what happened to the island itself? Nature has taken over.


This is the old boat that use to ironically make up the ship wreck.  Now it is a ship wreck and the are around it is now totally over grown.  It's hard to imagine this area right here fairly clear.

This was one of the open buildings. You use to be able to see out around Bay Lake from here.  It's so over grown now you wouldn't be able to see anything from here.

Amazingly this net, once used to keep birds in a set area, is still up. I would have thought it would have been destroyed a long time ago.  They should make everything in Disney out of this material.

Here was the old entrance to Discovery Island.  There use to be a pier here.  The storage hut still looks like it's in good shape.  I wonder if Disney still uses it for something. 

Jiko – Animal Kingdom Lodge’s Hidden Gem

There are a lot of restaurants in Walt Disney World. Some are good, some are ok, and some are just awful. A general rule of them is that the best restaurants are not in the parks. At times it seems like the further you get from the theme parks the better the restaurant is. This is the case with Jiko.


Jiko is located at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. That alone makes it a hike for anyone who wants to dine here and is not staying at the Lodge. Getting to Jiko is by far the worst part about dining at Jiko. One small tip that might help is the fact that it’s a short trip from the Animal Kingdom. If you are using Disney Transportation try to going to Jiko after visiting the Animal Kingdom. The only drawback of this tip is that you need pants (not shorts) to eat at Jiko. I solved this problem by wearing zip off cargo pants when I ate there.

Once you reach the AKL you still need to find Jiko. Out of all of the restaurants I’ve been to this was the only one I could not find on my own. I had to ask for directions. Most of the time it’s very easy to find a restaurant because there are a lot of signs of the restaurant just sticks out. This is not the case with Jiko. If you are heading over there I can help a little by saying you need to take the elevator down a floor from the main lobby to find Jiko.

Overall Jiko is a dark restaurant. It’s not as dark as the San Angel Inn but it is very dimly lit. It’s about as dark as Le Cellier. Unlike Le Cellier the ambient lighting comes from a few different sources not just the lights over head. For example the back wall is lit up with a cycling light that changes color. Most of the colors are reds, oranges, or other warm colors which adds nicely to the atmosphere.

One entire wall is made up of large windows that look out onto the grounds of the AKL. This would be nice during the summer but if you are going later in the year there is a good chance it’s going to be dark while you are there. Artist Pointe is also like this. Both would be awesome for lunch but who wants to go to an out of the way resort for lunch?

Unlike Artist Point Jiko has good food. Actually it’s not just good it’s some of the best you’ll find in Disney World. It doesn’t match the California Grill but it’s right up there. This is the real reason why Jiko is worth visiting.

What should you start with? We tried the Barbecue Flatbread and it was amazing but you can get a good flatbread in at a number of locations in Disney. We also tried the “Taste of Africa.” You will not find anything like this anywhere else in Disney World. This is an amazing dish with a wide range of flavors. You cannot go wrong with this dish.

For your entre it is a very hard choice. All of the offerings are good. If you want something you can’t get anywhere else try the Swahili Curry Shrimp. If you want something less adventurous you will not go wrong with the Barbecue Beef Short Ribs or the Oak-Grilled Filet.

For desert Jiko has a nice selection but they all tend to be overshadowed by the Tanzanian Chocolate Cheesecake. I don’t know if it’s because it’s Tanzanian or what but this is a great desert.

The service at Jiko was the best we received on our entire trip. They beat the great waiter we got at the Hoop Dee Doo. They beat the California Grille. They were the best. However, I would not expect to get this service again. The lady who waited on us was on loan from the dinner show at the Poly. She used to work at Jiko but got transferred. I feel bad for her. I don’t know what she did to deserve a transfer like that but she was the best we had. Too bad we had her before we went to the Brown Derby or else she would have easily restored our faith in the wait staff at Disney World.

Overall Jiko is worth the trip and that says a lot considering how long it can take to get there if you using Disney Transportation.

Photo of the Week - Upside Down Waterfall at Night

This is a classic feature of the old school Epcot.  Since the early days of Epcot the upside down water fall has been a fixture.  It looks amazing at night but there is a slight problem.  Back in the day Disney went to great strides to make sure all of the water jets were equal as you can see that is no longer the case. Kevin Yee spoke about issues like this on episode 223 of the WDWNT Podcast.  The problem is Disney cuts a little here and a little there hoping no one will notice. The problem isn't the fact that some people notice it's that you can sense something is less magical.  The overall refinement is no longer there.

What does this all mean?  Every time Disney does this they are one step closer the "other" guy.  It's just another step in the wrong direction.  If they are not careful they will one day wake up and realize that they are on the same level as the other guy.   It's at times like that when people ask "how did this happen?"  Sadly we already know the answer.

Photo of the Week - Big Thunder Mountain Sepia

It's hard to take a bad photo of Big Thunder Mountain.   One thing that can make your photos more interesting is change it to black and white or sepia.  Either one can really bring out more details.  The best thing to do is to change them to black and white or sepia after the fact that way you can undo it change if you want to.

The Hoop Dee Doo Review: Which Category Should You Pick?

The Hoop Dee Doo Review is the best dinner show in Disney World.  It's goofy humor, great atmosphere, and decent food have made it a fan favorite for over thirty years.

Like most things Disney the Hoop Dee Doo Review has different categories.  In this case there are three different categories.  Category one are the tables closest to the stage.  Category two is a little further back and consists of most of the floor.  Category three are a few tables with obstructed views and the second floor.

For category one the the price is rather high considering what you get.  You get a great view but it's hard to justify the increase in price.  Also you cannot book category one if you are on the dining plan.

Category two is a nice balance between what you get and what you pay.  your view can be very good depending on where you end up.  Also if you book the latest showing you can use two dining plan credits.  Here are a couple of examples of the view you get from a category two seating. You can click the photo to see a larger version.

It's hard to argue against a category three seating.  If money is a consideration then do not hesitate to book a category three.  The Hoop Dee Doo actors go all through out pioneer hall.  Just because you are in the back or on the second floor does not mean you are left out of the fun.  You still get a great amount of entertainment and the service is just as good if not better than than the other categories.  I don't know if it's the location or what but when we booked a category three we got the best service we ever got at the Hoop Dee Doo.  Here are a couple of examples of the kind of view you get from a category three seating.

 

Now if you are concerned that the photos are zoomed in then check out this video.  It's not zoomed in and it gives you an idea of what the view is like.

Now for the bad of a category three - it's really uncomfortable.  If you are on the second floor they put you on seats that swing around so you can see.  This sounds good but you are packed in so close to the people next to you and the table that you cannot swing all the way around.  To see you have to turn as far as you can go and the crank your back and neck around to see.  When you book a category two you do not run into this. 

So there are the three different categories.  No matter what one you pick you get a great experience.

Photo of the Week: Big Thunder Mountain Sepia

If you are going to do Big Thunder Mountain you might as well do it in style.  Fitting the time frame of tomorrow land nothing seems to fit as well as a nice sepia shot.

500 Posts: How Did This Happen?!?

How does this happen?  How does a blog this bad make it to 500 posts? I’m just stupefied.  I can’t believe I came up with this much stuff.

In the last 100 posts I did an in depth overview of my most recent (and possibly last) Carnival cruise vacation.  I explained the connection between the Beatles and Disney World.  I teased Len Testa and Lou Mongello again (like that shocked anyone). I caught Len Testa in his natural environment.  I started Park Wrecks.  I explained the connection between Disney World and resignation of Richard Nixion. I posted a bunch of videos photos. I also added some new dining reviews.

If you want me to stop too bad :P.  I've already had people complain.  I've also had people leave complaints about me emailing WDW Today too much.  I just want to clear something up.  I've only submitted one email in the last three months to WDW Today.  The problem is they are so backed up they are just catching up to emails I sent a year ago.

Ok so here they are - they last 100 posts:

Post #401

CMDTA on Vacation – Carnival VIP Check In

An overview of the VIP check in process on most Carnival ships

Post #402

CMDTA on Vacation – Carnival Miracle

My deck by deck overview of the Carnival Spirit

Post #403

Epic Mickey – Epic Fail

My review of the most disappointing game in recent history

Post #404

CMDTA on Vacation - Carnival Spirit Class Vista Suites

An overview of the Vista Suites on Carnival’s Spirit class ship.

Post #405

The Beatles and Disney World

I explain why the Beatles and Disney World will always be connected.

Post #406

CMDTA on Vacation – Carnival: The Food

An overview of the food on a Carnival Cruise.

Post #407

Photo of the Week – Universe of Energy

A nice photo of the Universe of Energy sign.

Post #408

Outsourcing – Disney’s Dark Side

A serious article about Disney’s biggest mistake.

Post #409

CMDTA on Vacation – Nick and Nora’s Steakhouse

An overview of the steakhouse on the Carnival Miracle.

Post #410

Disney Year in Review

My overview of 2010 Disney news.

Post #411

CMDTA on Vacation – St. Maarten – St. Martin

An overview of St. Maarten for poor people.

Post #412

CMDTA’s 1^st Annual Disney Podcast Awards

The most ridiculous awards in the last two weeks!

Post #413

New Video Posted

I finally get around to uploading a new video to YouTube. This is my first HD YouTube video. It’s a nice overview of the White Mountains in the fall.

Post #414

CMDTA on Vacation: St. Kitts

I give an overview of the St. Kitts port area.  Beware the monkey people.

Post #415

CMDTA on Vacation: St. Lucia

An overview of the port area in St. Lucia.

Post #416

Photo of the Week: Walkway to the Magic Kingdom

A nice photo of the Monorail passing overhead.

Post #417

What Would You Do?

When booking early backfires.

Post #418

Photo of the Week – Epcot at Night

A cool photo of Spaceship Earth at night.

Post #419

CMDTA on Vacation – Carnival’s Entertainment

My overview of the entertainment Carnival provides on their cruises.

Post #420

CMDTA on Vacation – Carnival – To Do or Not to Do?

I finally answer the biggest question about Carnival.

Post #421

Mickey’s Toontown Fair is Officially Gone

I saw goodbye to toontown and explain why people get upset about ride closures.

Post #422

New Video Posted – Carnival Vista Suite Overview

An in-depth video of a Carnival Vista Suite.

Post #423

Snow White Bites the Apple

My overview of Snow White closing.

Post #424

New Video Posted – Sunset Over Ft. Lauderdale

A stylized video of a sunset over Fr. Lauderdale.

Post #425

Photo of the Week – Old School Flower and Garden Festival.

A photo taken at the Flower and Garden Festival in the late 90’s

Post #426

Why Can’t You Swim in the Lakes?

I explain why Disney doesn’t want you swimming in the lakes in this post.

Post #427
Mickey Arrested After Shocking Find in Demolished House
A fake news story about a discovery in the remains of Mickey's demolished house in Toontown Fair

Post #428
Renewing Your Passport Just Got a Tiny Bit Easier
I review a photo service I used when I renewed my passport.

Post #429
Photo of the Week - Old School Castle
A photo of Cinderella's Castle from the 1980's.

Post #430
Disney Announces First Ever Bad Bus Driver Challenge
A fake news story about bad bus drivers.

Post #431
Photo of the Week: Mini and Mickey
A photo from the Flower and Garden Festival

Post #432
Lumberjacks Protest New Le Cellier Dinner Menu
A fake news story about a bunch of smelly lumberjacks holding a protest in the Canada Pavilion

Post #433
Disney's First Online ADR System
I do an overview of the Disney first public ADR system.

Post #434
Photo of the Week - Funny Sign In Norway
A very ironic sign located in the Norway Pavilion

Post #435
Walt Disney and Salvador Dali: Oddest Couple Ever?
I do a review of Destino.

Post #436
Movies You Didn't See: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
My review of the Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Post #437
Song of the South Review
I review Song of the South on DVD

Post #438
Disney Announces New Theme Parks
A fake news story about Disney announcing some new theme park locations

Post #439
Movies You Didn't See: Secretariat
My review of Secretariat

Post #440
There's No Booze at Disneyland...Oh Wait Yes There Is...
I explain where you can get booze in Disneyland in this post.

Post #441
CMDTA's Cruise Tips
Some funny and fun cruise tips.

Post #442
Brazil Coming to World Showcase?
I explain why you shouldn't get excited about World Showcase rumors.

Post #443
Movies You Didn't See - Prince of Persia
My review of an awful movie.

Post #444
Disney Announces New "Gold Rooms" At the Grand Floridian
A fake news story about new rooms int he Grand Floridian

Post #445
Photo of the Week - Tower of Terror
A photo of the Tower of Terror in the morning.

Post #446
The Most Famous Line Ever Uttered at Disney World
Who said what?

Post #447
Upcoming Disney Reviews
A list of reviews that will start in October

Post #448
Disney Announces Seal Team Six Video Game
A fake news story about what Disney is going to do with the Seal Team Six name

Post #449
Photo of the Week - CMDTA on Vacation - Sunset at Sea
A nice photo of a sunset at sea

Post #450
Disney to Dam Up Rivers of America
A fake news story about damming up the Rivers of America

Post #451
Photo of the Week - Original Magic Kingdom Entrance
A photo of the Magic Kingdom entrance before the crowds ruined it.

Post #452
Vegas Releases Odds For Next Unofficial Guide Cover
A fake news story making fun of the cover of the Unofficial Guide.

Post #453
Ticket Price Increases - The Lazy Way of Generating Income
I explain how Disney could make a lot more by not raising ticket prices.

Post #454
Movie Review: Waking Sleeping Beauty
My overview of a very good Disney Documentary.

Post #455
Photo of the Week: Gone But Not Forgotten
A nice photo of the old Droid Room in the original Star Tours.

Post #456
Disney to Add Surcharge for "Husky" People
A fake news story about Disney's greed.

Post #457
Photo of the Week - The Poly
A nice photo from the Poly.

Post #458
CMDTA's Travel Tidbits: The Isles of the Shoals
A review of a tourist spot in Portsmouth, NH

Post #459
Disney Announces Brazilian Tour Group Day
A fake news story about an annoying issue.

Post #460
Photo of the Week - The Contemporary?!?
A surprising view from the Contemporary.

Post #461
Photo of the Week: The Contemporary Magic Kingdom View
The view you get of the Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary.

Post #462
If You Can't Afford to See the Help
A challenge.  Can you beat this challenge (you won't want to)?

Post #463
CMDTA's Guide to Disney Dining
A centralized list of Disney Dining reviews.

Post #464
Where are the Discounts?
An explanation as to why we don't see many discounts being offered.

Post #465
Disney On A Dime - Where to Stay
A review of one of the best values in Disney World.

Post #466
Review: The Dark Side of Disney
I do a review of the Disney travel book for people who don't like Disney.

Post #467
The Annual CMDTA Disney Podcast Awards
I do my annual podcast awards.

Post #468
Donald Duck Involved in Terrible Misunderstanding
A fake news story about Donald Duck and an "incident" at Conservation Station

Post #469
CMDTA Travel Tidbits: Vintange and Vine
An overview of an amazing event that takes place in Portsmouth NH

Post #470
Avatar Is Coming to the Animal Kingdom
An actual news story.

Post #471
Why Disney Needs Avatar
I explain why Disney hooked up with James Cameron

Post #472
Forty Years of Magic
My comments on the Magic Kingdom turning forty

Post #473
CMDTA Travel Tidbits - Champney Falls
An overview of a great waterfall.

Post #474
CMDTA's Photo Tips for the Average Joe: How Your Flash Works
An overview of most built in flashes and how they work

Post #475
CMDTA's Travel Tidbits - The Sandwich Fair
An overview of a country fair.  Includes pictures and a video.

Post #476
What To Do Three Days Before You Travel
Some good tips to follow when getting ready for a trip.

Post #477
Photo of the Week - Bay Lake at Sunset
An HDR photo of a sunset on Bay Lake.

Post #478
Len Testa is Real
A fake nature story about an elusive animal.

Post #479
Dining Review: The Brown Derby for Dinner (Worst Dining Experience to Date)
A shockingly bad experience at the Brown Derby.

Post #480
New Video Posted: Moroccan Belly Dancer
A decent video of the belly dancer in Morocco.

Post #481
New Video: Mariachi Cobre Part One
A nice video of the Mariachi band in Mexico.

Post #482
Photo of the Week - The Haunted Mansion at Night
A cool photo of the Haunted Mansion.

Post #483
Review of the Polynesian
An review of the Poly complete with photos and a video.

Post #484
October Snowfall Predicted 13 Months in Advance
A very freaky but true overview of my weather predictions.

Post #485
New Video Posted: Citizens of Hollywood - Chef Pulls Table Cloths
A decent video of a performance by the Citizens of Hollywood

Post #486
New Video Posted: Fountain of Nations at Night
A nice video of the Fountain of Nations.

Post #487
Photo of the Week: Big Thunder Mountain
A nice black and white photo of Big Thunder Mountain.

Post #488
New Video Posted: Glass Working at the Mexico Pavilion
A cool video of someone making a glass rose in the Mexico Pavilion.

Post #489
Dining Review: LIberty Tree Tavern
A review of the lunch offered at the Liberty Tree Tavern.

Post #490
New Video Posted: Illuminations Globe Up Close
A cool video of how the Illuminations globe makes it into the lake.

Post #491
Review of Star Tours the Adventure Continues
My thoughts on the new Star Tours.

Post #492
Dining Review: Biergarten
A detailed review of Biergarten with multiple pictures and two videos.

Post #493
New Video Posted - The Seas Lockout Tank
A cool video of from the Seas Pavilion.

Post #494
Dining Review: Yak and Yeti
I hit Yak and Yeti again.  Will it be as bad as last time?

Post #495
New Video: The Ziti Sisters in 1080p
A funny video of the Ziti Sisters.

Post #496
Video Posted: Broke Splash Mountain in 1080p HD
A HD video of Splash Mountain in a sorry state.

Post #497
Introducing - Park Wrecks!
A funny new website dedicated to the worst dressed people in Disney World.

Post #498
Photo of the Week: The Haunted Mansion
A nice black and white photo of the Haunted Mansion.

Post #499
Photo of the Week: Big Thunder Mountain Sepia
A nice shot of Big Thunder Mountain in a sepia tone.

Photo of the Week: The Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is one of those attractions that is a great photo no matter what angle you shoot it from.  One of the reasons this is the attention to detail.  I honestly believe that no other attraction has as much attention to detail as the Haunted Mansion does.

Everyone talks about the details you can find inside the Mansion but what about outside?  The outside is so detailed that you could easily overlook things for years until someone points them out to you.  Not only that the look changes greatly at night.

Go ahead and blow this photo up.  I'm sure there is a detail or two you've never seen before.

Introducing - Park Wrecks!

We've all seen them time and time again.  The people go out in public dressed as if they do not own a mirror.  This fun phenomenon has spawned websites like People of Walmart and others.

A couple years ago I stumbled on a website called "People of the Parks."  Sadly it was shutdown a few months later.  That really bummed me out because it was a fun website similar to People of Walmart but it focused on Disney World.

After my last trip I started "Park Wrecks."  It's a website dedicated to the people who show up in Disney World dressed horribly.  It's truly a case of the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Now for Park Wrecks to keep going I'm going to need everyone's help.  I had enough pictures to make it a couple of months but now I am out of photos.  If you want to help out please send me your funny Disney photos. 

You can see Park Wrecks here.

Video Posted: Broke Splash Mountain in 1080p HD

Splash Mountain is one of the best rides in Disney World.  Sadly it's currently in possibly the worst shape in it's history. Many of the animatronics are broken, many of the water effects are out of order,  some of the lighting effects are not working, and it's in need of a paint job.

In the video you can see HERE I try to point out some of the glaring issues.  In time Disney will bring down Splash Mountain for a much needed rehab. You won't see it this year because Big Thunder is going down for a rehab.  You might see it in the winter of 2013 once a good chunk of the Fantasy Land expansion is open.

New Video: The Ziti Sisters in 1080p

All over Disney World you will find entertainment in the strangest of places.  For example over at the Italy Pavilion you will find the Ziti Sisters.  A troupe of goofy ladies who love to interact with the crowd.

I'd never seen the Ziti Sisters before so I had no idea what to expect.  They really are a funny troupe that manage to entertain everyone.

You can see a video of the Ziti Sisters here.

Dining Review: Yak and Yeti

My original review of Yak and Yeti, "Yak Yack and Yeti" was one of my harshest dining reviews.  I have to be honest though Yak and Yeti earned that awful review.  In fact it could have done so again if I hadn't changed up what I ordered.

The atmosphere at Yak and Yeti isn't bad.  It's above your average restaurant but it's a little lacking when compared to Disney standards.  The atmosphere is created by the use of a lot of Asian themed decorations and a somewhat open central atrium.  The problem with the atmosphere lies in the restaurant layout.  I just always feel like the tables are packed it.  In some ways it feels like a run of the mill restaurant.  I can't explain why I get this feeling.  There is just something inside that building that under whelms me.

I do know one thing that might ruin the atmosphere for me.  The small advertisements for Yak and Yeti's parent company blow the theme for me.  You just don't find this in a Disney restaurant.  If you do not know what I am talking about, Yak and Yeti is not owned by Disney.  Yak and Yeti is owned by the same company that owns the Rainforest Cafe and the T-Rex restaurant.

The service at Yak and Yeti was average for a Disney restaurant.  It wasn't amazing but the cast member was friendly enough. Our food was delivered quickly and the cast member checked in a few times to make sure everything was good.

The food at Yak and Yeti was better than last time but that's not saying all that much.  One thing that really stands out is are the fried green beans.  These are amazing.  I could eat these with every meal.  However, AVOID the pot stickers they are chewy and rubbery.  Not good at all.

When it comes to your main course avoid the duck at all costs.  Also avoid the ribs because they are a total disappointment.  The wok items are not bad.  I got the honey chicken and it was decent.  One problem with it was the fact that I couldn't help but think I could easily get it at home for less and it would also be better.

When it comes to desert Yak and Yeti hits a home run with the fried wantons.  I know they are such a simple food but they are really good.

One are where Yak and Yeti really excels is it's drinks.  Yak and Yeti has the best frozen drinks in Disney World.  The Yak Attack is one that really stands out.

If you want to have an amazing experience at Yak and Yeti do the following: Have an app of fried green beans, skip the main course, have some fried won tons, and order a drink.  You'll spend a lot less and have a better experience. 

New Video Posted - The Seas Lockout Tank

From another overlooked corner of the "World" comes the lockout tank at the Seas pavilion.  I would love to try this sometime but I get the feeling that really isn't going to happen.

This reminds me of the good old days before Nemo stuck his tail into the seas.  Back then the theming at the seas was top notch.  They really tried to convince you that you were going far below the ocean surface.

You can see the video here.

Dining Review: Biergarten

Biergarten is the restaurant located in the Germany Pavilion in Epcot.  For years I avoided this location.  I thought it was going to be a bunch of sausages and mediocre food.

To be honest my opinion may have never changed if not for Disney podcasts.  I listen to about seven different Disney podcasts.  Time and time again I heard how good Biergarten was.  In particular WDW Today really had a positive opinion of this location.

When I made our ADR my wife thought I was nuts but I assured her it had positive reviews.  After saying this I couldn't help but hold my breath and hope it didn't end up being a total mess. 

When we first entered Biergarten our waiter explained that it was tradition to sit with people you didn't know.  This seems like an ok idea when it works.  In our case it didn't really work.  We were seated with a another party that didn't speak or understand English.  They didn't know Spanish either so we didn't really have any way beyond gestures to communicate with them.

As we were brought to our table something hit us.  

Biergarten is one of the best, if not the best, themed restaurant in Walt Disney World.  Like the Mexico Pavilion you in the blink of an eye you are transported to night time.   In this case an outdoor banquet hall in Germany in the fall.  The detail level is amazing.  Click on the picture on the right and check out the details.  There are going to be a number of additional photos to expand on some of the cool details.  I'll be honest I was blown away because after all of the times I have been to Disney World I didn't think there could be such a detailed corner that I had not seen.  It just goes to show that no matter how many times you go to Disney World there will always be something new to experience.  Experiences like this make me excited to go back again and find another hidden gem.  They are out there.  Just being open to new experiences can lead you to a some amazing memories.

  

Here is a close up of a fall tree and a water wheel that could be overlooked.   It's just another example of how the imagineers go above and beyond when they design something.

In the corner you can find a full moon.  It's a really nice touch and I'm not 100% sure how they pull it off.  I don't know if it's an illuminated painting or a projection.

Now for the food.  I low expectations for the food.  After all I'd never really heard good things about German cuisine.  I honestly thought Germany mastered the art of beer making because bad food taste better after enough beer.  I now know that I was not only an idiot for believing that but I was completely pig headed.  The food at Biergarten is not just good it's great. 

Sure there are some sausages but there is a ton of other options too.  Oh and I should mention, the sausages are awesome.  To explain how good the food is I have to make some comparisons.  I have been to a bunch of buffets in Disney World.  I have been to Chef Mickey's, Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and Akershus.  Biergarten beats all of them hands down.  Yes the food is that good.

Now when you go to Germany you have to do what the Germans do.  You need to drink beer! Now Biergarten has some of the best beers you will find in Disney World bet there is something else that  makes the beers special.  You can get them in liters.  Yes a one liter sized beer as seen in this picture.  When the beers came all I could think of was the scene in the Lord of the Rings when one of the hobits comes back to the table with a pint sized beer causing one of the others to say "It comes in pints!?!"  That is how I felt as I lifted my beer.  Best of all you burn calories with a beer like this.  Just picking it up is like doing a bicep curl.  If take small sips you'll need to change arms before you are done.  So now you have an excuse to order a beer bigger than your head.  You need the exercise!

Next the service.  The service was top notch.  In fact it was the best service I'd ever received at a buffet.  Our waiter was very friendly and attentive.  I also tested him right off the bat.  I tested him on the beers on the menu.  I wanted to order the most bitter beer they had.  I like a good IPA so I wanted something close.  He hit the nail on the head.  We also asked him about the lightest beer because one of the members of our party didn't really like beer but we threatened to disown her if she didn't order one.  He did a good job with that too.  Overall he did an amazing job.

Unlike most restaurant reviews I have to add another section to this review, the entertainment. Yes Biergarten offers some entertainment.

The entertainment consists of a ompa band.  It's fun music and fits right into the theming but they really go beyond just playing some music.  They really do entertain.  There is one part where the tuba player goes out and scares people who are not paying attention, another part where they play an Alps Horn, and a fun part when one of the members plays the bells at an insanely fast pace. Click here to see the tuba guy scare people and click here to see the fastest bell player in the "World."  Overall the entertainment is really fun and almost everyone will enjoy it.

The end result is Biergarten is one of the best restaurants in Disney World and I don't say that lightly.  For what you pay it's hard to find a better dining deal in all of Disney World.  The food is great, the service is great, the theming is amazing, and the entertainment is fun.  Biergarten is truly a hidden gem.

Review of Star Tours the Adventure Continues

Star Tours the Adventure Continues was one of the most hyped overhauls that I can remember.  In most cases when something is so hyped it falls short of expectations.  Does the new Star Tours fall short?

Overall Star Tours does meet the hype but lets break this review into some pros and cons.

Pros

3D - the 3D is t he best 3D I've ever seen.  Normally I'm not a fan of 3D.
Glasses - The glasses are not your standard 3D glasses and they seem to fit better.
Multiple Stories - The mix of ride scenes is great and keeps the ride fresh.
New Queue - The new queue has some really nice features.
Use of visitors in the ride - Having one of the visitors being the spy is a really nice touch.

Cons

Motion Sickness - If you have a problem with the old, you will have a problem with the new one.  My wife got really sick.
Potential of seeing the same thing twice - I rode three times.  Two of the rides were almost identical.  That was a bummer.
Non-Star Wars fans would miss a lot - If you are not a fan of the movies there are a ton of details that you would miss.  If you are not a fan this is basically just a 3D motion simulator.

Overall the new Star Tours is a great overhaul and should stand the test of time.

New Video Posted: Illuminations Globe Up Close

If you have never seen the Illuminations globe enter the lake check this video out. 

I'd never really given it much thought before.  To get the globe in they raise one of the bridges near the Africa trading post.  This surprised be because I've crossed this bridge many times over the years and never realized that this was a drawbridge.

The globe itself is rather impressive.  I can't imagine how many hours of engineering went into it.  It also looks like it could be a monster to try and fix. 

You can see the video here.

Dining Review: LIberty Tree Tavern

The Magic Kingdom is not known for it's quality dining.  The Crystal Palace is an overrated buffet, Cinderella's Castle is an over priced joke of a meal, and Tony's is...Tony's.

If you do not want quick service food what are you going to do?

Go to the Liberty Tree Tavern for lunch.

The Liberty Tree Tavern offers the best menu in the Magic Kingdom.   If you are a meat and potatoes kind of person you will love the menu.  From a classic turkey dinner to pot roast this dining location has it.

For an app we ordered the fried cheese.  This is beyond just your typical fried cheese sticks.  There are some great cheese balls with them.  The marinara sauce is nothing to write home about.  If I had to guess it's out a jar and just warmed up.

For my main course I got the turkey. In the past I'd gotten the pot roast so I wanted to try something new.  The turkey wasn't bad but it seemed like it was sliced in advanced.  In fact everything about the meal seemed prepared in advance.  Nothing seemed like it was cooked to order.  The gravy seemed like it was out box or jar and had a fake consistency.  The potatoes were almost certainly out of a box.

Now all of the prepared in advance food might sound bad but the food tasted good.  Everything was enjoyable.  I couldn't complain about anything.

For desert I got the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake.  I don't know if this was made in advance or not.  It was awesome.  This cake is just dangerous. It's one of the best deserts I had on my entire trip and I hit 16 different dining locations.

The atmosphere in the Liberty Tree Tavern is great.  Between the dark wood and rustic colonial decor it really makes you feel like you stepped out of the Magic Kingdom and into a colonial kitchen / dining room.  The layout isn't bad either.  The only odd thing is the location of the restrooms.  They are up above the restaurant.  To get there you have to climb a flight of stairs, take a left, take another left, go up some stairs and you are there.  It's just a strange location.

The service in the Liberty Tree Tavern was also very good.  The cast member who waited on us was very friendly and attentive.  If all cast members were like this it would be a blessing.

My only complaint about the Liberty Tree Tavern is an odd one.  This complaint also applies to a bunch of the dining locations in Disney World.  They go through great pains to theme a location.  Between the decor and the way they cast members are dressed Disney goes all out.  The only problem is they have someone walking around with with a table logging tablet.  When you are supposed to be in colonial America it kind of blows the theming to have someone walk around with a portable computer.

Overall the Liberty Tree Tavern is the best table dining location in the Magic Kingdom.  If you want a sit down meal make sure to hit the lunch here.  Beware of the dinner you can't order off of the menu at dinner.

New Video Posted: Glass Working at the Mexico Pavilion

Another underrated tidbit you can find it Disney is the glass worker at Mexico.  In this case she is making a glass rose. 

It's a good thing they do this inside where it's air conditioned because the process is insanely hot. You can feel the heat right through the shield in front of you.

You can see the video here.

Photo of the Week: Big Thunder Mountain

It's hard to find a ride as old as Big Thunder with theming as good as Big Thunder.  It gets even better when everything is running like all of the water effects.  Sadly right now Big Thunder is in tough shape.  The good news is Big Thunder is going down for a full refurb.  WOOOOO!

New Video Posted: Fountain of Nations at Night

The Fountain of Nations is one of the most underrated things in Disney World.  There are multiple shows set to a number of different music tracks.

Everyone has heard of the fountain shows in Vegas.  Lots of people line up to see them.  People don't realize that the Fountain of Nations show started years before the shows in Vegas.

Next time you are in Epcot stop and check them out.

You can see the video here.

New Video Posted: Citizens of Hollywood - Chef Pulls Table Cloths

The Citizens of Hollywood are a troop found at Disney Hollywood Studios.  They do a number of random shows throughout the day.  All the ones I've seen before have been slapstick.  While this one has some funny moments the ending was totally unexpected.

You can see the video here.

October Snow Storm Predicted 13 Months in Advance

When I predicted the 2010 ice storm three months before it happened I thought it was dumb luck. After all, the worst ice storm in history hit NH when I went to Disney in 2008. So I figured something would happen when I went in 2010…and it did.


Based on history I joking said another massive storm would hit between 10/19 and 10/27. How was I to know that I was going to be just three days off on my prediction? The third most devastating storm in history of NH would hit on 10/30. Nearly 250,000 people left without power.

Yes this is no Joke. I predicted this event 13 months in advance. I tell you, when I go to Disney bad things happen. I’d make my next Disney trip in the summer but then a hurricane would hit.

Now if you think I am kidding check out the following:

2010 Storm Prediction:


http://thecousinmickeydoesnttalkabout.blogspot.com/2009/12/awful-weather-predicted-for-first-week.html

Confirmation of that storm:

http://thecousinmickeydoesnttalkabout.blogspot.com/2010/03/unofficially-banned-from-disney-world.html

October 2011 Storm Prediction

http://thecousinmickeydoesnttalkabout.blogspot.com/2010/09/state-of-new-hampshire-post-weather.html

Review of the Polynesian

A lot of people rave about the Polynesian and there are valid reasons for this.  The Polynesian has a lot going for it.  You can walk to the TTC, the Magic Kingdom is a short monorail ride away and then there is the decor.


Outdoors the Poly is second to none.  The place is swarming with flowers, plants, trees, and shrubs.  On top of that you also run into the stream, springs and volcano pool.  Oh and did I forget to mention the Electric Water Pageant and view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks?

Inside Poly is a mixed bag. The main building is nice and the fountain in the lobby great.  Sadly those are the best features that can be found inside the Poly.

The check in area is cramped.  I get the feeling that when it gets busy it's not a fun place to be.  The non flora decor is bland and almost ugly.  I guess if you really like that kind of style it wouldn't be bad.

The restaurants are okay.  Ohana is average in almost every way.  The Kona Cafe is actually is best dining location on property (see my review of both of those restaurants for more info).  Captain Cooks is good for a quick service meal. There are two aspects about it that stand out. First they have the cool ordering kiosks there. Second you can get a Dole Whip.  Yes you can get a pine apple Dole Whip at the Poly.

The pools are decent.  The adults pool is nothing to write home about.  It's small but it tends to be empty which is nice.  The main pool is larger but still a little small by deluxe standards.  However, the main pool has a volcano with a water slide in it.  The water slide is mostly in the dark an it's fast.  If you lay down on it you will hit the water so hard water will shoot right up your nose. I wish I didn't know that.

The rooms at the Poly are nice but are not as good as other rooms on property.   They are big but rather ugly. The colors are dark and that's not really a good thing.  No matter what the room seems dirty even though house keeping keeps them perfectly clean.  The balcony is bigger than the ones found at the Contemporary but it may have just seemed that way.  The beds and general decor did not match up to Contemporary.  Even the bathroom isn't as good as the ones found in the tower at the Contemporary.  Don't let all of this give you the wrong impression.  Even though you can find better rooms on property these rooms are still nice, large, and clean.

Overall the Poly is a nice hotel but in the end I can't help but feel that it's a little overrated.  Considering the HUGE price you pay I can't recommend staying at the Poly.  If you are going to pay that much the use a discount code and stay in the Contemporary Tower or at the Boardwalk.  Both have great locations and great rooms.

If you want to see a video overview of a room at the Poly click here.

Photo of the Week - The Haunted Mansion at Night

The Haunted Mansion at night is creepy but how can you make it creepier?  First - DO NOT switch your camera to black and white.  You can always convert a photo to black and white but you can't convert a black and white to color. 

Next - bust out the tripod.  Your going to put your camera on the dial that says "S." This is the shutter priority mode.  What this means is you can tell your camera how long to expose the shot and it will do the rest of the work. 

Now set your exposure to at least 1 second.  The reason for this is simple. Anyone who walks into the shot is going to show up as a ghostly blur. 

Now there is another way to pull this off but it requires a very high end camera.  When you set a long exposure the camera compensates by by using a lower ISO.  A low ISO like 100 has little to no noise.  When you speed up the ISO you see more and more noise.  The better the camera the higher you can push the ISO without noise.

If you have a mid range SLR camera you could pull off to 1600 ISO with low noise.  This means you can set your camera to a "multiple exposure" mode.  This means your camera will take two shots and combine them.  If you time it right everyone will be in focus but see through. 

Anyways no matter how you do it the effect is a cool photo.

New Video: Mariachi Cobre Part One

If you like mariachi then you will like this video.  If you don't like mariachi then you will like this video for another reason. 

When crowds hit the higher end of the spectrum Disney makes adjustments.  Normally the mariachi band is found inside of the Mexico Pavilion.  They typically play by the wall in between the entrance to the San Angel Inn and the Grand Fiesta Tour.  However, when the crowds grow more space is needed to expand the line for the tour.  When this happens the mariachi band moves outside by the stairs (as seen in this video).

I could see how this could be an issue in the summer.  I can imagine it would be tough playing in 90+ degree heat and brutal humidity with no shade.  Good times!

You can see the video here.

New Video Posted: Moroccan Belly Dancer

World Showcase has something for everyone.  I'm not sure who the belly dancer is for but I'm sure there is someone out there who is really into that.

If you are into belly dancing you'll love this video.  It was captured in October 2011 during the food and wine festival. 

I'm not sure how often the belly dancer dances outside.  I've only seen her in the restaurant in Morocco before but her being outside may have had something to do with the crowd levels.  To put it lightly the crowds were insane on the day this footage was taken.  According to Touringplans.com it was a 9 out 10.  It was wall to wall people.

You can see the video here.

Dining Review: The Brown Derby for Dinner (Worst Dining Experience to Date)

I'd been to the Brown Derby once before for lunch.  It was a very nice experience with good food and good service.  It was basically what you would expect from a signature dining experience at Disney World.

On my current trip we decided to try The Brown Derby for dinner.  We were really looking forward to considering our previous experience with the Derby.  In truth we were in for an exceptional experience that we will never forget.

We had an ADR for 6:25. My wife really wasn't feeling well so I asked if we could postpone our ADR.  The girl at the check in counter had no problem with it and said she'd put our ADR on hold. I actually thought this would work to our advantage because the first showing of Fantasmic was at 7:30 and I expected the place to empty out a little.  I had no idea what kind of impact would result from this decision.

At 7:10 my wife was feeling better so we headed over and got seated by 7:15.  Within a couple of minutes our server came over and introduced himself and took our soft drink orders.  At around 7:20 he came back and took our app orders.  At this point I got an odd feeling.  Something seemed off.  He was not following the old cookie cutter Disney dining process.  Instead of waiting and combining our drink (alcohol not soft drink), app, and main course order, he broke this up.  We ended up ordering our alcohol order with our main course.  This caused issues later.

about five minutes later he comes back to get our main course order and get our alcohol order.  Around 7:30 we get our Cobb Salads but no drinks.  A few minutes later the drinks come.  Overall things are a little slow and confused at this point but we were in no rush. Before asking if we need anything else he takes off and ignores our empty soda glasses.

Forty minutes (thirty minutes after going dry) after the start of our meal we get a drink refill. At least that's what it was supposed to be.  My wife got a Sprite (correct). I got an iced tea (no one at our table was drinking iced tea.  I was drinking Sprite).  My niece got what appeared to be water (correct).  My niece proceeds to take a sip of her water and nearly spits it across the table.  Her water was not water but a Sprite.

At this point our waiter's fast pass for Toy Story must have been up because he disappears for thirty five minutes.  I am not kidding THIRTY FIVE MINUTES.  That means it took one hour and fifteen minutes to get our main course.  Our waiter mumbled something that none of us could make out and then took off.

I take a bite of my lamb...it's hardly even warm.  I try the potatoes...less warm.  I try the green beans...cold.  My wife and nieces food...cold.  By the consistency of the sauce on my lamb I estimate it sat under a heating lamp for a very, very long time.

I sit there for five minutes with my hands in my lap before our waiter appears, looks at us, says nothing, and then runs away.

At this point I feel my blood pressure rising.

At the one hour and twenty minute mark he checks with the table next to us, looks at us,  makes eye contact with my niece and then starts to run away.  My niece bursts out laughing.  This causes him to stop, look back, and then continue his retreat.

At the one hour and twenty five minute mark he reappears.  Takes my wife and niece's plate.  Comes to me and asks if I am done.  I have a full plate of cold food that I have hardly touched since it arrived.  Wouldn't you think you should ask if the food is okay? I let him take the food.  I am in such shock my mind starts to shut down.

At the one hour and thirty minute mark he reappears with some desert menus and vanishes.

He reappears a couple of minutes later to take our desert order.  Order all of our deserts to go.

He shows up with the deserts and bill at at the one hour and forty minute mark.  At this point my wife offers to take care of the rest because she can tell that if I stay in my seat any longer I'm going to kill and eat the waiter so I can eat something warm.

My wife and niece finally escape the Brown Derby after a total of one hour and fifty minutes.

In the meantime I head right to guest relations.  After forty plus dining experiences in WDW I am making my first trip to guest relations to lodge a complaint.  I've never gone to guest services to complain about anything before.  This dining experience was so outstanding bad I could not sit back and let it go.  Normally I would simply write up a bad review and be done with it.  This was so bad it needed more.

I didn't ask for a refund or anything like that. I kept a cool head and tried not to laugh at the absurdity of what just took place as I relayed the details to college program cast member from Virgina Tech who took notes.

I wish this experience ended at that.  Yes there is more.  When I got back to my room I went to have desert.  I had a piece of grape fruit upside down cake.  Yes our waiter dumped my slice of cake into the box perfectly upside down.

I don't know what it was about us that so offended this waiter.  I do know that his kind service earned a 10% tip on a $240 bill.  We normally would have tipped 25% on a bill of that size.  Now some people would wonder why we didn't just blow him off.  Both my wife and I have working in the food service industry.  We always leave some kind of tip.  Maybe he was just  having a really bad day and our stiffing him a tip would cause him to take it out on another table.  Granted he should be more professional than that but he had already proved that he was not capable of being professional.

Final Note:  Just to drive home how bad this experience was - I took the time out of my vacation to write this review.  It was so bad I could not wait.

Len Testa is Real

The Yeti, ghosts, the boogie man, and Len Testa.  All of these mythical creatures have existed in folklore and legend but there has never been any solid evidence of any of them until now.

Late on Saturday afternoon the ever elusive "Len Testa" was not just spotted but photographed in his natural environment.  Notice his distinct "t" marking that separates him from the other wild animals in back of Epcot.

In this rare photo we also see that the "Len Testa" has taken a woman hostage.  You can tell by the fear clearly written on her face that she is terrified and desperately wants to escape the clutches of this dangerous specimen.

It is believed that the L.T. was lured to the rear of Epcot by the myriad of smells from the Food and Wine Festival.  However, there is one smell that the L.T. appears to have been following.

When this photo was taken the L.T. was seen heading in the direction of Mexico.  As all L.T. hunters know it's favorite consumable, mass quantities of tequila, can be found there.

Be forewarned for the next few days you could run into a L.T. in any of the parks in Disney World.  The only safe zone will be on Sunday at the Hollywood Studios.  The L.T.s natural enemy, the rarely spotted "Matticakes Hochberg" is expected to be roaming that park.

Photo of the Week - Bay Lake at Sunset

If you are wondering how you can capture this photo there it's a multi step process.  First you need a camera that does bracketing.  If you do not have that you need to set your camera to take a normal exposure for the first photo, under exposed for the second, and over exposed for the third. 

Next you will need some kind of HDR photo software.  What this software does is take all three of your photos and merges them.  It takes the master and layers the extra info from the bright sections from your under exposed and the extra info from the dark sections from the over exposed image.  In theory this provides an image that is much closer to what you actually saw in person.

Most people think HDR isn't natural because they have never seen photos like that.  In truth the human eye can see a lot more high and low tones than a camera can capture.  Using HDR allows you to capture more of those tones that you are seeing.

It is true that sometimes HDR photos can take on a strange look but in some cases they are still closer to what you really saw then a conventional photo.

What To Do Three Days Before You Travel

 (Take me with you! I can fit in a suite case!)

When you are three days from a Disney vacation reality really starts to hit home.  Are you ready to go? 

The best thing you can do when you are three days out is to do a quick inventory of what you are going to need.  This is a good time to pack a toiletries bag.  This might sound like you are jumping the gun but it's really not.  Nothing says you have to leave that bag packed.  The reason you are packing it now is so you are sure you have everything you need.   Better to find out  you are missing something now then when it's time to go.

Sure you could get replacements for anything you are missing when you reach your destination but keep in mind those items are going to cost at least double if you buy them from your hotel.  For someone who is traveling on a dime that extra amount could mean you have to cut back somewhere else.

The next smart thing to do at this point is to call your hotel and verify your reservation.  In line with this you may also want to verify your flight numbers and rental car reservation.  Doing this now can save a lot of money.  If one of your reservations was lost or is wrong you can replace it now at a much lower cost.  If you show up at your destination and find out you have no reservation you are most likely going to find yourself in a panic and booking whatever you can. That could cost you a lot of money.

This is also a great time to make sure all of your IDs and travel documents are in line and in your carry on.  This will give you peace of mind.  If you take the time to stash these away now you are less likely to forget one.  Nothing is worse than showing up at the airport to find out you forgot something.

If you tend to be a nervous person feel free to start packing the items you are not going to use until then.  I know from being married to someone who gets very anxious before she travels.  Doing a little packing now can go a long way to setting people who worry at ease.

One big tip if you have pets.  DO NOT let them see your suitcase if you start packing now.  My dogs wig out when they see the bags.  The last thing you want is crazy pets for the next few days.

CMDTA's Travel Tidbits: The Sandwich Fair

 

Country fairs are big in New England.  There are dozens and dozens of them.  I hope this statement doesn't offend anyone but the fairs tend to run the gambit from quaint to utter white trash.  For example because of it's location the Rochester Fair tends to be trashy with it's odd mix of people, demolition derby, and monster trucks.

Closer to the quaint side of things is the Sandwich Fair.  This fair doesn't have the demolition derby or monster trucks but it does have everything a classic country fair is known for.  Crafts, livestock, demonstrations, and enough junk food to kill a small nation; you can find it all at the Sandwich Fair.

The Sandwich fair is a little smaller than some of the mega fairs which means it's a little easier to get in and out of.  Granted you will still sit in traffic but it's nowhere near as bad as some of the other fairs.

You might wonder what you will see.  Here is a small walk through.  Through the main gate you you'll hit your classic fair carnival rides and midway games.  It's a little like that awful park of Animal Kingdom only better.  This is where you want to be if you want to see a poor kid get off of one of the brutal looking rides (pictured) and see him toss his cookies on the ground.  Also in this area is a barn where you can buy some local goods like fudge and other items.  The highlight of this section is the helicopter rides.  Yes you can get in a helicopter and go for a short ride over the fair.

The next section is line with food vendors and leads to the live stock and demo areas.




In the last section you can find horse pulls (click the photo for a video), donkey agility (that's not a joke), equestrian, tractor pulls, and stables with all sorts of animals you can get up and close to.  This area is where country fairs really stand out.  A lot of people don't have the opportunity to get up close to horses, donkeys, goats, alpacas, sheep, and pigs in their day to day lives.  Some of the animals are just crazy.  Like the goat pictured at the top of the page.  He actually stuck his head clean through the bars in an attempt to get attention from the people who were passing by.  The only ones that showed him up were the donkeys.  You haven't lived until you've seen people trying to get a bunch of donkeys through an agility course.  Donkeys do what donkeys want to do. When they don't want to jump...or move they don't.  You can pull and pull and it's not going to do any good.

They there is the food.  If you can fry it, it's at the fair.  Sure you have your normal artery cloggers like French fires and onion rings but you can also get such insane items such as fried pickles and Twinkies.  Yes Twinkies, because everyone knows they just weren't bad enough for you to begin with.

If you've never been to a country fair you really should try to get to one the next time you are in New England in the fall.   Almost every week from the end of August to the end of October you can find one.

CMDTA's Photo Tips for the Average Joe: How Your Flash Works

Some people have asked me why I tell people to shut off their automatic flash when taking photos. My answer is simple.  Most people do not know how their flash works and they end up ruining their photos with the flash. 

It might be good if I take a minute and go into some details about a camera’s flash system so people know why it can either enhance or ruin their photos.

Before I go into details let me explain that if you are taking photos of people (or a subject) who are less than twenty feet from you it is normally a good thing to leave your flash on.   If you are taking any other type of photo chances are your flash needs to be off.

Have you ever taken a picture of Cinderella’s castle in low light to find out that you have a great picture of people nearby but the castle is not so good?  This is a common flash mistake.  You see it a lot. Every single sporting event, every showing of Wishes or Illuminations, or any nighttime display is loaded with a myriad of flashes.  Almost none of these photos come out correctly.

When you enable your flash most cameras drop what is called the ISO level.  To put it in simple terms the higher the ISO the less light you need to capture a photo.  If the ISO didn’t drop with a flash everything captured would be insanely bright (that’s not a good thing). 

You might wonder why you would want a flash at all if a higher ISO can be used.  The higher the ISO level the higher the noise level.  Noise is that grittiness that makes your photos ugly.  So in theory you want the lowest ISO possible (the least noise is at 100). 

I hope I haven’t lost anyone yet.  When you kick on your flash your camera thinks your subject is close. That’s why it speeds up your ISO because it thinks the extra light from your flash is going to illuminate your subject.  If you are taking a picture of Cinderella’s castle your flash is not going to reach that far so you would need to shut off your flash.  When you shut it off your camera bases the settings it is going to use on the available light.  In this case the light coming off of the castle. Your picture will be of a higher quality as long as there is enough light coming off of the castle. 

How do you know if your subject is close enough to use a flash?  There is a term for this. Every flash has what is called a “Guide Number” or “GN.” I’m not going to go into detail because the GN is based on a lot of factors but in really rough (and I mean rough) terms the GN normally means how far your flash will go.  For example a GN of 25 typically means your flash will go up to 25 feet. If you bought your camera outside the states your GN might be measures in meters.  If that’s the case remember to multiply it by about three to find out how many feet it will go.  You can normally find out how far your flash will go in your user manual or online.

At this point I want to put a disclaimer in.  Do not go online and but a new flash for your camera because it has a high GN.  Like I said GN is based on a lot of factors.  If you buy a flash based solely on GN you might as well throw your money away.

The bottom line is if you want to use your flash keep in mind how far it will go.  If you subject is not in that range – turn it off!

Oh and as a side note – If you are on a dark ride or show your flash should NEVER be on.  Beyond being insanely rude your pictures are not going to come out.  You might wonder why.  If you promise to NEVER do it I’ll tell you.  The scenes in the Haunted Mansion, Pirates, or the Voyage of the little mermaid are perfectly lit.  If you go busting out your flash you will never get the photo you want.  You are going to get a crappy photo that you’ll most likely throw out later and you will annoy a bunch of people in the process.

CMDTA Travel Tidbits - Champney Falls

If you don't mind taking a thirty minute hike through the woods over rough terrain then this post is for you.

Off of the famous Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire's White Mountains is the Champney Falls trail which can be used to climb to the summit of Mt. Chocorua.  This is the best way to climb to the summit of Mt. Chocorua unless you are a sadist and think the boring as sin Piper Trail is fun.

After about thirty minutes of hiking on the trail you reach the falls.  They are best viewed in the Spring or after a heavy rain.  These falls can vary greatly and if the weather has been dry for a while they have been known to almost completely dry up.

There are two main falls and both are amazing.  One of the falls is a classic water fall.  The other (pictured)  is a cascade water fall.  To be honest the picture above is about 10% of the waterfall.  The cascade goes on and on and on.

I would not recommend this trek for anyone who is not in at least average shape. The terrain gets rough and there is a decent amount of incline involved.  If you are able to do the hike it is well worth it. It is one of the best waterfalls in New Hampshire.