Disneyland – Page 43

Whenever Candlelights Flicker

The details of Disneyland are what really makes it extraordinary. I think it’s the secret to Disneyland’s ability to immerse guests and it inspires me. I love trying to notice something new each time we’re at the Park because I’m convinced no matter how hard I look or how many times I go, there will always be something unique to discover. I get a lot of enjoyment from taking pictures of these details as well, because the looks we get from passersby are wonderfully entertaining. Kevin was once taking a picture of a light in the exit to Indiana Jones, which drew some looks, but it also prompted a girl to shout “It’s just a light!” There’s something rewarding to noticing the details – a richer experience. How would you get chills from ghostly inhabitants if you didn’t stop to observe the staccato flickering of candlelights or listen for the gently piercing creak of old, neglected hinges? So here is my offering to you today, just a light. Is the air deathly still?

Night Falls on the Jungle

Adventureland, Disneyland

I have wanted to get a nighttime picture of The World Famous Jungle Cruise since we started. It has been a long time coming but I’m so glad it has. I read something from a photographer I respect about waiting on some shots that you are really excited about because as you go on, you will continue to improve. By doing so, you bring more to the table. Patience is not an easy thing for me. I know that if I had rushed to get this picture, however, that I would have done myself a disservice. I have learned so much in the course of time and from Kevin and Michaela. Sometimes we get asked why we do this together. Well, aside from the sheer enjoyment of each others’ company, we make each other better.

Disneyland is amazing at night. The atmosphere changes entirely. It’s my favorite time to be at the Park. And my favorite place to be at that time is Adventureland, with its torches and lanterns burning brightly. I love the smell of the dense foliage in the damp evening air and I can all but taste adventure, arriving at the Jungle Cruise.

Monorail at the Tomorrowland Station

Disneyland, Tomorrowland

The Monorail is one of the coolest looking things at the Disneyland Resort. I always imagine it should travel much faster like a bullet train, with its sleek, aerodynamic curves. I’m certainly not complaining, however. I would never want to rush the many unique views you get of the Disneyland Resort while riding the Monorail. A lot of times I wish it would go slower so I could spend more time enjoying its perspective. Either that or I wish someone would let me honk the horn. No request is too extreme, right?

Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom

Disneyland, Main Street USA

Late night lingering at the Partners statue is one of those really magical experiences at Disneyland. It’s wonderful to sit there in the hub anytime, but when the stars can be seen above the radiant glow of a tranquil Sleeping Beauty Castle, it’s different. Walt and Mickey stand there, a testament that dreams really can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. And the notion of wishing upon a star greets you like an old friend.

A Storm Over New Orleans Square

Disneyland, New Orleans Square

Gloomy, foreboding clouds have such a cool feeling around New Orleans Square and Adventureland. I took this shot on the bridge we all love bouncing across in Tarzan’s Treehouse (which was an adventure in itself!). There’s something about the way the vibrant, mysterious jungle leads into the cold stone and iron scroll of New Orleans. It’ll have you singing about “really bad eggs” in no time!

Evening River

Disneyland, Frontierland

Sometimes I think the Rivers of America are the most peaceful place at the Disneyland Resort. We’ve been spending a lot of time during our recent trips at the Hungry Bear Restaurant, overlooking this view. It’s easy to let the hours pass and enjoy the tranquil beauty of the river, and the circling of the Mark Twain and Sailing Ship Columbia. If you hang around long enough on a Fantasmic! night, you can see the crew going back and forth on rafts and give them a friendly wave. They like that.