Devores' New Years Celebration- A Day Early

[devores 382]

Well, as per our tradition (we have allot of them), we went to the Polynesian on Dec 30 to watch the New Years Fireworks. As ussual, I anticipated trouble with getting in. DW had to work, so I aired on the cautious side and made ressies at Kona Cafe for DD and myself. This got us in the parking lot with no problems. Good thing I did because they were checking a list to ensure we did infact have ressies.

We ate and managed to make it downstairs in time for the torch lighting show.

This was a good thing for me. This was the first outing with my new camera and it gave me a chance to practice some. I did manage to enable a setting I did not know I had. You will notice the "ghost" images in some of the pictures. This was due to that setting.

Ive always enjoyed this show. DW seems to enjoy it more than me, not sure why though. She insists we see it anytime we are there.

After the show we head out to the beach and stake our claim on some chairs. They were showing Cars 2, so DD watched that while killing time. Holiday Wishes were first.

Just fair warning before we get too far into this TR, you will get more than you care for in fireworks pictures.

After Wishes, we were treated a nostalgic show and I hear is a favorite of a one busman.

I know this show is source of contraversy here, but I enjoy watching it. I do feel it needs some updating, but will not be dissapointed either way.

While waiting for the New Years show to start, I took some pictures to figure out the setting. Here is an HDR of the Grand.

For those familiar with my TRs, you know this is the part where I forget how many photos Ive linked and am too lazy to go back and count. So we use this natural pause to start another post to continue.

Next up: Jackwagons, rockstars, and the final countdown

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

[SCTigerCock 171]

Awesome!!

[ctaurie1 - AKA Chris 9]

Great pictures.. Thanks for sharing.

[devores 382]

Continuing on

We had been on the beach for some time. There was a bit of a nip in the air, but we had GREAT seats. The castle was directly in front of us and we were set for the show.

The beach began to fill up about 30 mins before the show. The water parade barges were brought out to use as a sound system for the show. This is a nice touch you do not get at any other resort. The Polynesian is the best place to watch the fireworks outside of the MK.

So, the show is about to begin, did I mention our great view?

Wait a min. What is this?

Some jackwagon decides to sit directly in front of us. Ive seen this happen before in another famous TR author. Seems every fireworks show they did had a person standing directly in front of them. Well, this will not happen to us.

Im about to confront our human wall when I realize, this is no ordinary blocker. This wall was famous. Now Im torn, do I ask them to move, do I ask for an autograph? What to do.

Yall are probably wondering who could be so famous.

Ill give ya a clue.....

That folks, in none other than TCD. Now I cant ask him to move. He is busy working on his own TR. Maybe if Im nice, Ill get an honorable mention in his TR. TCD and I spoke for a bit and found it ironic that I had sent him a message about meeting at the beach for the fireworks this night. He never read the message, but here he was, sitting directly in front of me.

Dont worry TCD, I wont post a picture of your face. I know your anominity is needed to continue to bring us breaking stories from the Fort. So folks, this is the best youll get, TCDs backside.

Now is the part we have all been waiting for. The fireworks. An observation I had during the show. The beggining was oddly similar to the Summer Nightastic Show they ran for a bit and the countdown was the same as last year. Is Disney loosing its creative touch?

This is my favorite part of the show. The countdown. I like how they do the count in fireworks.

You will notice in this next picture an interesting thing. Look at TCD in front there. See that in his hands? Yes, that is the camera he uses to bring us all those TRs. Look for his report soon and you may find a similar picture.

For those who have never seen this show, my pictures can not show you the magnitude of the finale. The below picture only shows as far as my lense would let me. Not zoomed at all. And the fireworks extended past my field of view. The entire sky is lit up and there are fireworks everywhere. You really must see this and the 4th of July show at least once.

And with that, we rung in the new year, a day early.

To my Fiend Family, Happy New Year and may 2012 be good to you.

[devores 382]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Carol

Awesome!!

Thank you Genia

Great pictures.. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Chris

[PureTcrazy...rita 380]

WOW! I have got to see those one day! Thanks! Happy New Year, Dave and family!

[devores 382]

WOW! I have got to see those one day! Thanks! Happy New Year, Dave and family!

This and the 4th shows are a must for at least once. It is breathtaking. I do suggest you see it from the beach at the Polynesian though. Ive seen this show from several different locations and the beach is the best location.

[doodlebug....Cherie 461]

Simply beautiful! That is an awesome camera, Dave what kind is it? I also agree with Rita, I need to go and see the fireworks firsthand.

[devores 382]

Simply beautiful! That is an awesome camera, Dave what kind is it? I also agree with Rita, I need to go and see the fireworks firsthand.

I got a Sony a580 for Christmas/Birthday/anniversary/every holiday in 2012. Im still learning the ins and outs of it. Its a higher grade camera than my older one.

Thanks for the compliments.

[blm2003 2]

Loved the pics, thanks for sharing! I hope to be there next year for this celebration....we shall see!

[momof3kids-Yvonne 594]

Beautiful!

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Wow, amazing pics! And I can't believe the nerve of that jackwagon to sit in front of you. :rofl2:

[MicknMin...Holly 54]

Great pictures! I hope that one day we will be able to visit the Fort for New Years. I would love to see those fireworks.

[kampfirekim 260]

great, beautiful photos Dave! I've never seen the torch lighting ceremony! I'm with Ms. Devores on this one!

Looking forward to more! :yay:

[stefa70 205]

Looks like a good time Dave! You got some really good firework pics.

I can see why your wife likes the torch lighting show! Fire is quite fascinating. :hah:

Good TCD pics too! I like all of his sides. :heartsmiley:

[Lou... 3,118]

Great photos Dave, except for a few really unnecessary ones.

I'm sure Andrew will really like the one below. It's a shot he could never take.

And although honorable mention in a TCD TR is a good thing, your years of service and nearing retirement is what is most honorable, a huge thanks.

[devores 382]

Loved the pics, thanks for sharing! I hope to be there next year for this celebration....we shall see!

Thanks

Beautiful!

Thank you Yvonne

Wow, amazing pics! And I can't believe the nerve of that jackwagon to sit in front of you. :rofl2:

I know, right? But, it being TCD, I let it slide. Thanks for the compliments on the pictures.

Great pictures! I hope that one day we will be able to visit the Fort for New Years. I would love to see those fireworks.

You really must plan on seeing them. It is by far the best fireworks show I have ever seen. The sheer magnitude of it is amazing. At one point during the show, there were so many bursts going off at once, it was as bright as noon.

great, beautiful photos Dave! I've never seen the torch lighting ceremony! I'm with Ms. Devores on this one!

Looking forward to more! :yay:

Thanks Kim. Im still not sure why all of the women have this fascination with fire, but as long as she is happy. Sadly, no more pictures from this quick trip.

Looks like a good time Dave! You got some really good firework pics.

I can see why your wife likes the torch lighting show! Fire is quite fascinating. :hah:

Good TCD pics too! I like all of his sides. :heartsmiley:

Another woman fascinated with fire....WTFort???

Mrs Devores had a similar response to TCD when we caught him out in his speedo one trip. He was modest and tried to cover up with a towel, but KampFireKim and Mrs Devores could not contain themselves.

Great photos Dave, except for a few really unnecessary ones.

I'm sure Andrew will really like the one below. It's a shot he could never take.

And although honorable mention in a TCD TR is a good thing, your years of service and nearing retirement is what is most honorable, a huge thanks.

Thanks Lou. I have to confess I did use TCD as a creative tool and tried to get some family moments captured. If it was a total stranger, I would have felt weird doing that.

[MLM5.. aka Judy 97]

that is awesome and I'm taking notes on where to watch the fireworks. I find it amusing that the TCD gang is in almost every firework picture.. I couldn't have ask him to move either, in fact those silhouettes are very appropriate for a feind report, adds a very nice touch :)

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Hey Dave-

Great photos!

I honestly had no idea that I was blocking your view of the fireworks- sorry about that! I thought I was more off to the side.

It was good to see you, and thanks for the tip on walking over to the TTC for the ferry. We ended up getting there before the ferry was back in action, so we hopped the monorail, and got back to the MK with no problem at all.

For anyone reading along, we attempted to go to the Polynesian for breakfast on 12/31. Since it was getting late in the morning, I drove from the Fort. We were turned away at the parking lot- they were not letting anyone in other than registered Polynesian guests and guests with dining reservations and they had a list that they were checking. Usually, I have always been able to talk my way around something like that, but not on 12/31. So, if you ever want to go to the Polynesian from the Fort on a holiday, you had better have dining reservations of take Disney transportation.

TCD

[devores 382]

that is awesome and I'm taking notes on where to watch the fireworks. I find it amusing that the TCD gang is in almost every firework picture.. I couldn't have ask him to move either, in fact those silhouettes are very appropriate for a feind report, adds a very nice touch :)

Thanks

Hey Dave-

Great photos!

I honestly had no idea that I was blocking your view of the fireworks- sorry about that! I thought I was more off to the side.

It was good to see you, and thanks for the tip on walking over to the TTC for the ferry. We ended up getting there before the ferry was back in action, so we hopped the monorail, and got back to the MK with no problem at all.

For anyone reading along, we attempted to go to the Polynesian for breakfast on 12/31. Since it was getting late in the morning, I drove from the Fort. We were turned away at the parking lot- they were not letting anyone in other than registered Polynesian guests and guests with dining reservations and they had a list that they were checking. Usually, I have always been able to talk my way around something like that, but not on 12/31. So, if you ever want to go to the Polynesian from the Fort on a holiday, you had better have dining reservations of take Disney transportation.

TCD

Andrew,

You were not int the way at all. I may be a bit snarky, but if anyone was in my pictures, Id rather it be a fiend. You actualy provided me some very good family shots. Feel free to take any of the ones I posted for yourself. One day, those kids will be moved off to college but these memories will last a lifetime.

I learned that tip a few years ago. Of course, they never held the ferry. They must have had another one allready docked on the MK side. But Im sure the monorail wasnt busy going to the MK either. Then a quick jump to the FW boats and your home. Another tip is to get off at the contemporary and catch the FW boat from there. But sometimes this could take longer that late at night as they only have one boat making the loop.

They were checking the list when we went on 12/30 as well. They started this last year, but of course we just parked across the street in cast parking when we were turned away. DWs cast ID wouldnt even get us into the Polynesian lot. So now, if I plan on a day trip to a resort during a holiday, I make reservations.

[kampfirekim 260]

Thanks Kim. Im still not sure why all of the women have this fascination with fire, but as long as she is happy. Sadly, no more pictures from this quick trip.

Mrs Devores had a similar response to TCD when we caught him out in his speedo one trip. He was modest and tried to cover up with a towel, but KampFireKim and Mrs Devores could not contain themselves.

Smart man. Keep the wife happy. Of course, It may not have been the torches. It could be the Polynesian males holding said torches. :rofl2:

As far as the TCD sighting goes... well... what did you expect. It's not everyday there is a TCD sighting at all, much less in a speedo. Mrs. Devores and I shared a moment. ;D (Sorry you couldn't be there Stef.)

[stefa70 205]

Smart man. Keep the wife happy. Of course, It may not have been the torches. It could be the Polynesian males holding said torches. :rofl2:

As far as the TCD sighting goes... well... what did you expect. It's not everyday there is a TCD sighting at all, much less in a speedo. Mrs. Devores and I shared a moment. ;D (Sorry you couldn't be there Stef.)

KIM! Did you just break "woman code?" :nyd: I'm SURE his wife wasn't looking at Polynesian male, Yuck!! It must have been the flames.

Who said I haven't seen TCD in his speedo? We are pals after all.

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

It was most definitely the flames!!!!!!!!!!! Fire is sooooooo mesmerizing!!!!

[TnBob 311]

Great Pictures Dave!

Isn't always the case, you get somewhere early and there is always some pinhead that will sit right in front of you.

Last 4th of July was all went down to the beach at the fort to watch the fireworks, the fireworks start and we hear some people bitching about us being in their way. I felt bad for a second until I realized that they were sitting in lawn chairs, not at the front of the beach near the water but at the very back of the beach under the trees, did they expect everyone to keep the beach clear so they could have a view?