Big Top Souvenirs and Pete's Silly Sideshow Photo walk-through

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On Oct. 3, the final segments of Storybook Circus opened up: Big Top Souvenirs, Pete's Silly Sideshow, and the third yellow tent that hold FASTPASS machines and some tables (there are nearby food carts).

Pictures speak a thousand words, so here is the photo walkthrough!
























































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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.

Peter Pan's Flight (Magic Kingdom) on-ride photos

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It's notoriously difficult to take pictures in dark rides, especially VERY dark ones like Peter Pan. I freely admit I'm basically a hack with no high-end photography skills, and I use amateur equipment (most of the pictures in our recent Epcot-30 retrospective book are historical in nature, and most were taken by Jeff Lange).

These here were shot in one ride-through using a Canon Rebel XT, a Sigma 1.4 lens (great for dark rides), on aperture priority ("TV") mode and manual focus. I discarded several dozen pics from the same trip. My method is to focus early on something bright, then switch to manual and not touch the lens again, but fire rapidly through the whole ride.



I used Photoshop to lighten the Levels on all these pics, making them grainy. Like I said, a hack, but I lack real equipment. And since I process thousands of pics per month, I shoot in JPG (the horror!) since I have no time to deal with RAW on so many pics and still have a life.

All that said, here are the dark ride photos, for what they are worth!
















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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.

Buccaneers Cheerleaders at Howl-O-Scream (pics)

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Press Release:

BUSCH GARDENS TERRIFIES THE BUCCANEERS CHEERLEADERS AT HOWL-O-SCREAMTampa, FL (Oct. 11, 2012) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders challenged their fears inside the Dark Side of the Gardens at Howl-O-Scream last weekend. The cheerleaders toured the new houses Blood Asylum and Circus of Superstition 3-D.In Blood Asylum, the cheerleaders ran from “The Creature” in a high-security asylum for the criminally insane. Then, in Circus of Superstition 3-D, the 14 cheerleaders faced 13 superstitions and crazed circus clowns in a 3-D tent of terror. This is the fourth year that Buccaneers cheerleaders have braved through their scream at Howl-O-Scream. The tradition began in 2008, when they toured Death Row Vengeance. Since then, members of the team have toured a dozen haunted houses and scare zones at the top-rated haunt event.  The Bucs cheerleaders that came to Howl-O-Scream this year included: Karen, Kara, Miwa, Katrice, Jessica B., Sydney, Samantha, Amanda, Taylor, Jacqueline, Julianne, Kasey, Tricia and Jessica J.Thrill seekers only have three weekends left to experience Howl-O-Scream 2012. The event runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, now through Oct. 27, operating hours are 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thursday nights and 7:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. General admission to Howl-O-Scream is $79.99 plus tax. Reduced advance-purchase rates and special offers are available for Busch Gardens pass members at TheDarkSideOfTheGardens.com. A $35 savings on general admission tickets is available in advance at participating Publix Supermarkets and AAA locations or with promotional codes found at participating Taco Bell and Applebee's locations in Central Florida.For guest information, visit TheDarkSideofTheGardens.com or call 1-888-800-5447. For media information, call Busch Gardens Public Relations at (813) 987-5097. Howl-O-Scream is intended for a mature audience. This year's event contains intense adult content such as violence, gore and blood. 













 

Spyder's Pop-Up

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I was hoping we'd do some pneumatics at this last Florida Haunter's make and take, but alas it didn't happen this time. However our friend "Spyder" (John Nilsen) had his pop-up on display and was kind enough to show us how it's put together. I was expecting a little "psst' and it would pop-up 10-12 inches like most do.
...Wrong!
This thing popped up about 48 inches and the arms came out from it's sides! It's a guaranteed "loss of bladder control" for at least some of our Halloween guests!

Note to self :  "Must find cheap 36" plus air cylinder.... Forget anymore store bought pop-ups this year!"

Spyder's Pop-Up

To contact us Click HERE
I was hoping we'd do some pneumatics at this last Florida Haunter's make and take, but alas it didn't happen this time. However our friend "Spyder" (John Nilsen) had his pop-up on display and was kind enough to show us how it's put together. I was expecting a little "psst' and it would pop-up 10-12 inches like most do.
...Wrong!
This thing popped up about 48 inches and the arms came out from it's sides! It's a guaranteed "loss of bladder control" for at least some of our Halloween guests!

Note to self :  "Must find cheap 36" plus air cylinder.... Forget anymore store bought pop-ups this year!"

Wizard World's Ohio Comic Con

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Todd Jepperson



If you've got plans for this weekend, cancel them. Wizard World is throwing their Ohio Comic con, and it's gonna be one hell of a party. It all kicks off today with a Wizard World Drink and Draw with Tommy Castillo from 9:00 - 11:00. If you don't know who Tommy is, I'd click the link up there and go check him out. In brief, he's a total badass. His twisted work has been circulating the industry for as long as I've been alive. He'll be personally interacting with anyone who shows up to draw and at the end of the night, he'll be picking someone to win a free table at a Wizard World Con down the road. So yeah, Drink and Draw today with Tommy Castillo.




Tomorrow, we've got Michael Golden; Eliza Dushku; CM Punk; Humberto Ramos & Jorge Molina; Patrick Stewart & John DeLancie; Alan Davis; Val Kilmer; Norman Reedus, Sean Patrick Flannery, and David Della. There will be an adult costume contest. Then, there will be a Masquerade party. All of this, and you'll have the chance to shake hands with the man, Jason, king of Zombies&Toys, as he makes his way through the crowd throwing Zombies&Toys SWAG to anyone sporting a zombie shirt. You know what? If you're sporting a Zombies&Toys shirt, and you get a picture with Jason, you can be entered to win a  free Drew Falchetta "Zombies" print from our zombie toy store. Email the photo to me, Todd, at todd@zombiesandtoys.com with your name and address, and I'll pick a winner on Sunday night. Yeah, that's right. I said it, and I won't be taking it back. If you don't recognize this sexy bastard by now, it's been your loss. He'll be attending the con damn near all day Saturday, so make sure you find him.

(Sorry ladies, there's only one of him, and he's taken.)
Sunday kicks off with Vampire Lore and Other Urban Myths and Legends with Rebecca Housel, A Q&A with Neal Adams, another with Dean Cain, a Kids' Costume Contest, and wraps up with Crazy Coasters W/COSI. Bring the kids, because Sunday is their day.

Get out to Wizard World's Ohio Convention, hit them up on Facebook, do your thing on Twitter, and make sure you shake Jason's hand while you're there if you're into free stuff.