Daily Photo Tour - Pooh's Honey

There's nothing better than a pot of honey at the end of a long day, that is, of course, if you're a willy nilly silly old bear.

Daily Photo Tour - The Hungry Bear

On the outskirts of Critter Country sits the peaceful Hungry Bear Restaurant. This area of Disneyland is just one of those get away places. The noise of the crowds seems to drift away as soon as you enter the wooden structure. What's most pleasant is the great view of the Rivers of America. The river front dining is a very special place to relax and enjoy the passing vessels as they traverse their route through the river. The three of us have had many great meals here, and epic conversations that really seem to flourish in the tranquil environment.

Daily Photo Tour - Headed to the Hundred Acre Wood

We got to meet an internet friend for the first time, hanging out at Disneyland yesterday. It's awesome to live in a day and age where you can connect with someone that lives hundreds of miles away and kindle a friendship before you've ever seen them face to face. There's something about the ability to express yourself online that makes this whole process easier and faster. Posting pictures, videos or works of art are huge insights into a person and a great way to make a connection. Within a few hours of meeting face to face we were already singing princess songs in the most manly way imaginable. Later in the evening we enjoyed what must have been a three hour conversation over dinner at Cafe Orleans, which brought us to Fantasmic!, which of course we quoted to each other for the bulk of the show. By the end of the evening I was even persuaded to ride the Tower of Terror, which if you have read previous posts on this, I have not been a fan of. You know, the whole dropping thing. Yeah... I got over that and had a blast, thanks in part to a great new friend.

Daily Photo Tour - Explorer Canoes for the Frontier King in You

I might be in the minority, but I love the canoes. It's the only ride where whether you make it back or not is up to you, sort of... More than that I love that it's titled after a man I greatly admire, Davy Crockett, the real one and Fess Parker's. I always root for the standup guy. His slogan, which are truly words to live by, "Be sure you're right, then go ahead." Don't be afraid of stepping out into the unknown or the opposed, so long as you're sure you're right.

Daily Photo Tour - Drifting off into Adventure

Adventure is that one thing you may only get a few chances at. You just have to be able to recognize it, continuously be prepared for it, and have the courage to follow it. You just have to grab the balloon by the horns...Wait no, I'm sorry that's bull. You grab the bull by the horns. Let me start over... Sometimes you just have to grab the balloon by the string, hold on, and believe that the wind will carry you where you are supposed to go. Some may think you're crazy, and tell you to stop. Some may be so scared that they never take the leap themselves, and worry you to death that you'll ultimately fail. There will be those that wave you on, and wish you good luck, but would rather play it safe and go on with their normal lives at home. And then, there will be those individuals that you'll never forget. The ones that always told you to follow your heart, and believe you can do anything. They were the ones that supported you through thick and thin. Sometimes, they were the ones that made your journey possible and sometimes they're the people that help direct where you should go in the first place. Whoever they are, they're the people that deserve an enormous amount of credit and recognition. Never look back, and keep moving forward. Keep moving forward, yes. Never look back, no. Always look back. When you're floating away on the balloon ride of a life time, always look back and remember those that got you a float.

Daily Photo Tour - Christmas in Critter Country, Est. 1889

Critter Country is an especially cozy place at Christmastime with its rustic charm. It's also a great place for some delicious treats any time. Just watch out for bears who might try to steal your delicious treats... or snuggle.

Daily Photo Tour - A Splash of Christmas

Disneyland pulls out all the stops this time of year. Garland is strung throughout the park and Christmas trees can be found in almost every corner. Or in this case, hanging from the rafters of a barn.

Daily Photo Tour - Catching the Morning Train

Passing over Critter Country is one of the unique highlights of taking a grand circle tour of Walt Disney's original Magic Kingdom aboard the Disneyland Railroad. You leave the pitch darkness of the Splash Mountain tunnel for a bright glowing forest. It's a marvelous transition. Watch out for bears though; I hear they're hungry in these parts.

Daily Photo Tour - The Night Mill

I've always been fascinated with this little mill. I'm not exactly sure why. I've kinda always wanted to live in small little cottage in the middle of the forest. And, if I ever did, it would have to have a mill right? And, I'm pretty sure that it would look exactly like this one from Splash Mountain. Wow. I have a fantasy about living in a cottage in the middle of the forest, with an attached mill. Either I have taken a gander at one too many Thomas Kinkade paintings, or I've just been single way too long. I think we all know the answer to that question. Dang it...

Daily Photo Tour - The Mountain Across the River

I've always enjoyed this view of Splash Mountain. It seems to always be a great surprise to see the riders splash down through the tunnel. I don't know about you, but I keep getting that feeling that fall is just right around the corner. It's always the feeling of change that gets me every time. Soon the green leaves will be fading, and the hot summer nights will turn into cool autumn chills. I honestly can't wait.

Daily Photo Tour - A Splash of Sunset

For some, Splash Mountain is the highlight of a hot summer, providing a sweet respite from the heat. As much as I enjoy the ride, my favorite thing about this mountain is the way it glows at sunset. The peak itself almost seems ablaze. Beneath the cool cast trees of Critter Country it is truly a sight to behold.

Daily Photo Tour - Plenty of Sunshine Headed My Way

In the midst of darkness, it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But, it's there. It's always there. Whatever the goal might be, you just have to keep pressing on towards it. It's true, hard work pays off, and there is not such thing as luck. Luck is that magical thing when preparation (the hard work) meets opportunity. So make sure you are prepared. You never know what opportunities might arise. It is definitely safe to say there will be plenty of sunshine headed your way.

Daily Photo Tour - Remain Seated Please

The outer queue of Splash Mountain has so many neat spots to peek through and see bits of the ride.This little sign is a reminder to keep your bottom in contact with the flumes. It reinforces the safety spiel - "Remain seated please". If you're a Disney lover, you can't hear those words without following them up in your head (or aloud) with "permanecer sentados por favor". Such a simple phrase that carries with it the joys of riding the many wonderful attractions at Disney Parks.

Daily Photo Tour - Splash Mountain at Dusk

I can't remember the last time I rode Splash Mountain. I suppose the fact that I rarely make it to the park without my camera has something to do with it. That or the fact that one of my least favorite things is walking around in wet clothes. That doesn't stop me from hanging around the queue watching people plummet, screaming the whole way down. There's just something about the screams and laughter that puts a smile on my face. I'm continually amazed by the number of people that ride Splash Mountain late at night and in the cold. As I was getting this shot close to midnight, swarms of people continued to rush through the line for the chance to find their laughing place, albeit a cold and wet one.

Daily Photo Tour - A Golden Splash

To this day, I still remember my first experience riding Splash Mountain. It's as if it were yesterday and that is probably due in large part to the fact that I was beyond freaked out through the entire queue. I must have been 5 years old and I was riding Splash with my dad. I became tense as soon as we entered the queue and I began to tear up the closer we got, My dad comforting me the entire time. I had calmed down enough to stop crying by the time we boarded, but the nerves wouldn't let up. Even the cheerful singing throughout the ride seemed to taunt me. The ominous music right before the precipice and then the drop, inevitable destruction. I quickly found out that total annihilation was not our fate. Splash Mountain was nothing more than a large steep slide of sorts that was really quite fun. I ended up having a blast and the relief I found from surviving something I was so afraid of was priceless. My Dad is very much responsible for most of the risks I've taken in my life. He taught me fearlessness. Ok, so Splash Mountain may seem like a small feat, but at 5 years old, it was huge. It was one of the many ways he taught me to dive into things regardless of how afraid I was and I will be forever grateful to him for that.

Daily Photo Tour - Serene Memories

For me, it is the area in front of the river of New Orleans Square, Frontierland, and Critter Country that bring back the most memories of Disneyland when I was a kid. And, it's moments like these that let me know I am at The Happiest Place on Earth. Disneyland is one of the only places where in the snap of a finger you can go from busyness to complete serenity. Or visa versa for that matter. I grabbed this shot right before the sun set for Fantasmic! It was the only peace and quiet left until Mickey showed up!

The Disneyland Railroad Project

We are so close to finishing our Disneyland Railroad Project. We've spent a good couple months of pre-production, planning, and shooting, to bring you something very special. It's coming down to a few minor adjustments and post production tweaks so that every bit of magic can be squeezed into it. We hope that you can join us tomorrow as we release for the first time, The Disneyland Railroad in a new light. We'll be working hard over the next 24 hours on fine adjustments, and you can stay up to date with the progress on our Twitter Page.

Daily Photo Tour - Waving to the Trains of Disneyland

I am a Disneyland waver. Yes. It's true. While this may not be a profession, and there is no pay involved, there is somewhat of a small compensation in the form a chuckle or a brief smile. I really get a kick out of counting the number of patrons who decided to participate in this quick moment of human interaction that leaves some people astonished with laughter, and others happy to connect. I'll even wave to the people on trams leaving the park at the end of a long day to see how many still have enough energy to lift there hand to say hello. My highest wave count at the end of the day is 4. What is really special is when that wave comes back to you. Watching a train go by with several waving passengers is something you don't see too often, but it happens all the time at Disneyland. I was happy to catch a glimpse of a grandfather and his grandson waving from the C.K. Holliday in Critter Country. Catching small moments like this in Disneyland are always very heart warming.

Daily Photo Tour - Steamy Splash Mountain

Leaving Critter Country one day I noticed that the perilous plunge (no Knott's Berry Farm reference intended) of Splash Mountain was filling up with steam between logs. Each log full of screaming riders would cause the steam to disappear with a rush of air and a splash. Within moments the steam would almost completely conceal the water flowing behind it. I was quite intrigued by this phenomenon and perhaps it's not as rare of an occurrence as it seemed to me to be. I stood there for quite a while waiting for a moment like this all the same.

Daily Photo Tour - Everybody Has a Laughing Place

When it's been a long day full of good times and great experiences, and the laughs keep on coming, you know that you are with good friends. Splash Mountain is a ride that will bring you closer to someone, push you farther apart, or will just leave you soaked. Splash Mountain isn't a ride the three of us get on too often (mostly because our cameras don't operate after water damage), but when we do it's always a great ride that leads us to some sort of laughing place. Whether that's laughing at someone's wet rear end, or laughing because we had such a great time, at the end of it all, someone is always laughing.

Finding a Laughing Place

The Briar Patch

The Sun Sets With a Splash