DDW Pic 2207. Donald Duck

Donald Duck

Mickey’s Philharmagic, in Fantasyland, is one of the best 3-D shows on the planet. At the end of the film, Donald Duck gets shot out of a tuba, and crashes thru the back wall of the theater. He ends up falling thru the ceiling of the adjacent gift shop. I took this shot today, while giving a Magic Kingdom tour.

DDW Pic 2206. Be Our Guest

Be Our Guest

The Be Our Guest restaurant in Magic Kingdom is one of the most popular dining spots at Walt Disney World. The food is good, and the theming is excellent, both inside and out. I took this shot from the entry bridge, while giving a tour today. I then applied the new iPhone “long exposure” effect.

DDW Pic 2205. The Seas

The Seas

The Seas with Nemo and Friends is a gigantic pavilion located in Epcot’s Future World. It contains the 2nd largest aquarium in the country. I took this shot while cruising by on the monorail.

DDW Pic 2204. Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios

I have so many “attraction” photos at Hollywood Studios, so I’ve recently decided to take more general area shots. While touring a few weeks ago, I took this photo while waiting for my guests to finish lunch at Hollywood & Vine. The blue building is part of that restaurant, and the beige one on the corner is a gift shop called Disney & Co.

DDW Pic 2203. The Contemporary

The Contemporary

Walt Disney World is one of the most popular spots in the country for conventions and corporate functions. The Contemporary has a very large amount of convention space. I was walking around this resort today when I snapped a shot of the Ballroom of the Americas area.

DDW Pic 2202. Food and Wine Festival

Food and Wine Festival

The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is an annual event with many good photo opportunities. Although a majority of it takes place in World Showcase, there are a handful of kiosks in Future World. This includes "The Art of Pairing" section that features wine, cheese, and chocolate.

DDW Pic 2201. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

I don't often get the chance to walk thru the standby queue at Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. So, when I rode it recently, I took a few shots. This Les Paul guitar and reel-to-reel tape deck go along with the recording studio theme.

DDW Pic 2200. Dinoland

Dinoland

Dinoland in Animal Kingdom is an area full of hidden details. These small dinosaurs on top of the roof at Restaurantosaurus are a good example of why it is important to look up every once in a while. So many guests walk thru the parks looking at their cell phones, that they miss little displays like this one.

DDW Pic 2199. Epcot

Epcot

I have taken thousands of photos at Epcot over the years, but not to many from this elevated angle. As someone who lives close to this park, I rarely have the need to ride the monorail from the Transportation and Ticket Center to Epcot. However, my family and I decided to do this today, just for fun. I took this shot just as we were passing between thru the area between World Showcase and Future World.

DDW Pic 2198. The Drawing Room

The Drawing Room

One of the things I enjoy doing at the Disney resorts is looking for quiet spots to sit and relax, or get some work done on my iPad. This common space in the Beach Club Villas is called The Drawing Room. It is a nice place to sit, with comfortable chairs and a couch. I rarely see anyone in this room, as I don't think the average guest knows about it.

DDW Pic 2197. Pirates

Pirates

Pirates of the Caribbean has one of the most detailed queues at Magic Kingdom. There are actually two separate lines for standby and FastPass guests. There are many nooks and crannies in each of these, and it is fun to look for things you may not have spotted in the past. I noticed this staircase on a recent visit. It is in a very dark area, but my flash allowed me to get this shot.

DDW Pic 2196. Barnstormer

Barnstormer

Whenever my tour guests ride the Barnstormer coaster, I take a picture of them coming thru the billboard. However, this is the first photo I have taken of the backside of the billboard, while actually riding thru myself. I took this shot a few days ago, while enjoying a quiet Magic Kingdom, the day before Hurricane Irma.

DDW Pic 2195. Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Most people know that they shouldn't use a flash when they take pictures on a Walt Disney World "dark ride," as it can negatively affect the experience for other guests. However, when an attraction stops in the middle of your ride, I feel that it's ok to snap a quick photo with a flash. This situation happened to me yesterday, while I was enjoying my favorite attraction, the Haunted Mansion. It stopped right in front of a spot that contains a "hidden" Jack Skellington, which can be seen on a book on the floor. The only way to see it is by using a flash, and I finally had the opportunity to grab this shot, due to the ride stoppage.

DDW Pic 2194. Roy Disney

Roy Disney

The "Sharing the Magic" park bench statue of Roy Disney and Minnie Mouse currently sits in Town Square, not far from the fire station. It was sculpted back in 1999 by Blaine Gibson, who also created the "Partners" statue of Walt and Mickey. I took this shot of Roy today, while enjoying the Magic Kingdom with family and friends.

DDW Pic 2193. Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest

Expedition Everest, at Animal Kingdom, is an attraction where I am discovering new photo angles all the time. Today, just before getting to the bridge between Everest and Finding Nemo, I noticed this view. I always like when there is a "natural" frame around my subject.

DDW Pic 2192. Bats

Bats

I enjoyed a stroll thru Maharajah Jungle Trek at Animal Kingdom today. I was able to grab a few quick pics of these Malayan Flying Foxes. I like how there are clear openings, and you don't have to look thru sceeens or glass in this area.

DDW Pic 2191. Food & Wine Festival

Food & Wine Festival

The 22nd Epcot International Food & Wine Festival began last week. This is my favorite time of year at Walt Disney World, and this year's festival has some fun new additions. This Chef Mickey topiary greets guests as they head into World Showcase from Future World.

DDW Pic 2190. Beach Club Pool

Beach Club Pool

Disney's Beach Club Resort is one of my favorites, for many reasons. It is in a great location, conveniently located close to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. It also has several great pool areas. I took this shot today, just prior to heading over to Epcot for the Food and Wine Festival.

DDW Pic 2189. The Great Movie Ride

The Great Movie Ride

A few weeks ago, The Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios closed forever. Although it will certainly be missed, I am looking forward to what is coming next in that very large building. As I was waking thru the Stage 1 Company Store in the Muppets area last week, I had one more reminder of this classic attraction. This small "sign" can be seen in the part of the store near the exit on the Mama Melrose side.

DDW Pic 2188. Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror is arguably the best themed attraction at Walt Disney World. With a great backstory and detailed queue, this is definitely a fan favorite. This shot of the exit area is themed to a hotel basement in the 1930s. The door in the center is actually the "chicken out" elevator that allows guests to leave without enduring the intensity of the actual ride.

DDW Pic 2187. General Store

General Store

Frontierland has some of the best theming in Walt Disney World. This area really conveys the story of the "old west" during the 1800s. The General Store mixes this rustic motif with modern day treats. I grabbed some Reese's Pieces while moseying thru that shop a few days ago.

DDW Pic 2186. Enchanted Tiki Room

Enchanted Tiki Room

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room features a prominent tower in the middle of Adventureland. Although it appears to have a thatched roof, it is actually thinly cut pieces of sheet metal. Since Central Florida has so much lightning, real thatching would create a constant fire hazard. I took this shot a few days ago, standing near the exit of the Swiss Family Treehouse.

DDW Pic 2185. Liberty Bell

Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is a focal point in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom. According to this sign, it was cast from the same mould as the original Liberty Bell. I took this shot using the iPhone 7 "portrait" mode, while giving a tour yesterday. 

DDW Pic 2184. Mickey Pumpkin

Mickey Pumpkin

Halloween season seems to come earlier and earlier at Magic Kingdom. The first Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party this year was on August 25th. I took this shot of a Mickey pumpkin near the Emporium, while giving a tour today.

DDW Pic 2183. Indiana Jones

Indiana Jones

I have taken many shots of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular finale over the years. Today, I took this one using "burst" mode. I like how the background fire created an Indy silhouette.

DDW Pic 2182. Grand Floridian

Grand Floridian

The Grand Floridian is a great place for photography, especially in the early morning hours. The sun rises across Seven Seas Lagoon, providing perfect illumination of the large, Victorian style buildings. I took this shot prior to a Magic Kingdom tour last week.

DDW Pic 2181. Liver Lips McGrowl

Liver Lips McGrowl

Liver Lips McGrowl is one of the stars in the Country Bear Jamboree in the Magic Kingdom. He has been strumming the guitar in that show since 1971. Recently, he has been spotted greeting guests around Frontierland. I took this shot while giving a tour last week.

DDW Pic 2180. One Man's Dream

One Man's Dream

Walt Disney: One Man's Dream at Hollywood Studios has received a few updates over the past week. This wall highlights the Disneyland Resort. These are modern pictures, as they include the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, as well as the future Star Wars area.

DDW Pic 2179. Casey's Corner

Casey's Corner

Casey's Corner is a classic quick-service hot dog stand on Main Street in Magic Kingdom. It has a fun baseball theme, and authentic Coca Cola posters from the old days, when you could grab a coke for 5 cents. I like how this sign says that "It is the best, and most refreshing beverage an athlete can drink." We don't often think of cola as being a drink for an "athlete" nowadays.

DDW Pic 2178. Rey

Rey

Star Wars: The Force Awakens features a character named Rey, played by actress Daisy Ridley. This character is part of a show at Hollywood Studios, and Disney did a great job of finding an actress that looks just like Ridley. It is always tough to find "look alike" actors, but they hit the mark with Rey.

DDW Pic 2177. Cruz Ramirez

Cruz Ramirez

Guests who visited Hollywood Studios could meet Lightning McQueen and Mater, up until the middle of last year. Due to the building of the future Star Wars area, and the need for that space, they are no longer at this park. However, in conjunction with the release of Cars 3, Cruz Ramirez has arrived to meet guests. She is located down near the new exit of Toy Story Mania. 

DDW Pic 2176. Tortuga Tavern

Tortuga Tavern

While walking thru Adventureland today, I came across this entertaining sign near the entrance to Tortuga Tavern. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" area of this land is full of fun details, and the theming is great. If you take the time to look at the details around Magic Kingdom, you will find more examples like this in every area of the park.

DDW Pic 2175. Eclipse

Eclipse

Today was the great solar eclipse of 2017. I thought it would be fun to get some pictures from the most popular tourist destination on the planet. Although it wasn't a "total" eclipse for Central Florida, about 85% of the sun was blocked by the moon. You can see the crescent of the sun in the opening in the clouds. I was standing near the back of Cinderella Castle, and you can see a spire to the left.

DDW Pic 2174. Main Street Railroad Station

Main Street Railroad Station

The Main Street Railroad Station is the backdrop for one of the most photographed spots in the world.....the Magic Kingdom entrance. Until recently, the park opening show took place on this platform every morning. A few days ago, I took this shot from the station, looking out toward the park entrance and the Seven Seas Lagoon.

DDW Pic 2173. Magic Carpets

Magic Carpets

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is the first and only Adventureland attraction based on a Disney animated feature. It is very similar to the Dumbo ride, but can hold more guests, since there are two rows per carpet. I took this shot by the spitting camel yesterday.

DDW Pic 2172. Tomorrowland Speedway

Tomorrowland Speedway 

Tomorrowland Speedway is one of the original Magic Kingdom attractions. The best view of the track is from above. I took this shot today, while riding the PeopleMover thru Tomorrowland.

DDW Pic 2171. Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge

I spent some time at Animal Kingdom Lodge today. It is one of my favorite resorts to visit. I took this shot from the savanna overlook area, after viewing the animals that were nearby. The quietness of the afternoon and beautiful weather conditions made for a nice panorama.

DDW Pic 2170. Pirates

Pirates

The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is as popular as ever. The movies continue to do well at the box office, and the attraction always has a good number of guests in line. The Pirate's Adventure is a fun, interactive experience that takes place all around Adventureland. This shot features one of Pirate's Adventure locations, which is right outside of the attraction entrance.

DDW Pic 2169. Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

The entrance area of Magic Kingdom is one of the most photographed spots in the world. This park is also the most visited theme park on the planet, topping 20 million guests per year. So, it is very rare to get a picture like this, without people in it. However, a couple of days ago, this area was vacant for just a few seconds, so I quickly took a panorama.

DDW Pic 2168. Pandora

Pandora

There are so many beautiful views in Pandora, which makes it a photographers dream. This landscape includes a river, giant tree roots, and Pandoran chalice plants. I took this shot while giving a tour on this moon, just a few days ago.

DDW Pic 2167. Universe of Energy

Universe of Energy

Today marks the end of an era for an "opening day" Epcot attraction. The Universe of Energy closed its doors for good tonight, after nearly 35 years of entertaining and educating guests. We enjoyed the attraction one last time this afternoon, and I snapped a few shots. Although the "show" changed in 1996, the dinosaur scene has been there since 1982, when Epcot opened.

DDW Pic 2166. Jungle Cruise

Jungle Cruise

Disney has done quite a bit of foliage trimming around Swiss Family Treehouse recently. This has allowed for much better views of the entrance to Jungle Cruise. I was standing near the Treehouse stroller parking area, when I took this shot a few days ago.

DDW Pic 2165. Tree of Life

Tree of Life

I'm always looking for new angles to photograph the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. I noticed this view while waiting for my tour guests at the "It's Tough to be a Bug" exit today. The large leaves on this plant perfectly framed the owl on the tree.

DDW Pic 2164. Beast's Castle

Beast's Castle

While giving a Magic Kingdom tour today, I noticed this nicely framed shot. I was standing outside of the Winnie the Pooh gift shop, looking toward Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Although Beast's Castle is a small structure atop Be Our Guest Restaurant, it looks like it could be "full size" from a distance.

DDW Pic 2163. Pete's Silly Sideshow

Pete's Silly Sideshow

Pete's Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus is one of the best spots in Walt Disney World to meet some of the traditional characters. First off, the air conditioning is extra cold in this location. Secondly, if you visit shortly after it opens, you can meet four characters in about 15 minutes. This large sign can be found in the queue on the Minnie and Daisy side.

DDW Pic 2162. Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

This quiet pathway connects Tomorrowland to Storybook Circus. It can be accessed next to Space Mountain on one side and Barnstormer on the other. It is a great way to avoid the crowds when moving between these two lands, especially on a busy day.

DDW Pic 2161. Disneyland - Thunder Mountain

Disneyland - Thunder Mountain

Today was our last day at Disneyland, and I wanted to do one more attraction comparison. Thunder Mountain is another "similar but different" ride. It has basically the same look and feel as the one at Magic Kingdom, but the track is situated in an opposite configuration. So, when you are turning left in Florida, you go right in California. Also, the Disneyland version feels a little smoother. Finally, the queue area is quite different.

DDW Pic 2160. Disneyland - Monorail

Disneyland - Monorail

The Walt Disney World Monorail and the Disneyland Monorail are much different. First off, the Disneyland version is smaller, and there is no "standing room." Next, the Disneyland Monorail station is actually inside the park in Tomorrowland. Finally, the Walt Disney World Monorail is a major mode of transportation, while the Disneyland one is more of a sightseeing ride.

DDW Pic 2159. Chinese Theater

Chinese Theater

The Chinese Theater is the main "park icon" of Hollywood Studios. The exterior is an exact replica of the "real" Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. I had the pleasure of visiting the real one today.

DDW Pic 2158. Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle

Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle

Disneyland features Sleeping Beauty Castle at the end of Main Street, while Cinderella Castle is the park icon at the Magic Kingdom. They are similar in importance, but very different in size. The California castle stands at 77 feet, while the Florida version is 189 feet tall.