Here's a smattering of shots from MK, taken a few weeks ago on my most recent trip. I was up there solo for a business conference, so I had all the time in the world to just relax and shoot whatever I wanted and for as long as I wanted (nice not feeling pressured to take a pic and move on because your non-photography friends or family are getting impatient!).
Before Wishes began, I had to wait for alot of people taking their flash snapshot portraits in front of the statue to get out of the way in order to get a few seconds without anyone in front of me...fortunately the background folks are mostly sitting as they wait for the parade. I was able to get a decent shot of Partners and the castle all lit up on a crisp cool night (taken on a tripod, of course):
There's a great spot to photograph the trains without any rides or people in the background...the back pathway to Toontown behind Space Mountain. I waited out the train at this spot along the rail. I thought it would be fun to do a sepia conversion to make it look more 'historic':
While there one night, I decided I wanted to try a spinning action shot of the Teacups...I only had my T100 ultra-compact that day, so I couldn't do more than 1 second exposure. It's handheld, and steadied against the fence rail:
A little after 7pm one night, I came into MK after my conference all day to enjoy the Extra Magic hours night. The sun was just hitting that golden time before sunset, and the lighting on Exposition hall was nice - it's just a snapshot, but the colors were beautiful to see:
And here was a first...that's right, an actual first for someone who has been to Disney every year since 1971 and who spends about 30 days a year up there: A place I've never been in MK! I was thirsty, just got off Haunted Mansion, and decided to head to a food place for a drink. I was trying to think of what was closest...Pecos Bill's was definately closer than Starlight Ray's. But as I'm coming out of the Mansion, there in front of me is Columbia House. Doh! I always manage to overlook that one - so I popped in for a Coke (no...I've been in Columbia House before). I felt like sitting down for a bit, and was headed for a table to the right when I noticed a staircase. And it didn't have a 'castmembers only' sign on it. Hmmm...a second floor in MK accessible to the public? Couldn't be!
Sure enough...there is a HUGE and VAST seating area, all designed like the interiors of New England colonial seaside buildings and ship interiors. I could not believe it...but in 37 years and uncountable days, I've never been up there before! Now normal people would wonder what the big deal is...but I'm not normal - I'm a Disney person. Besides all of this ship-style decor and themery that I've never seen, I was also thrilled at the idea of having windows looking down from the second floor onto the theme park below! What's more, clearly almost nobody realizes there are people up there, since in 30 minutes people watching from the windows that sit atop the tunnel between Frontierland and Fantasyland, looking in two directions, noone ever looked up. And I admit I have done the same - in decades of walking through that spot, I've always dismissed all the small, curtained, decorative windows above to be purely cosmetic. Needless to say, I was quite excited and thoroughly enjoyed my peoplewatching time up there (as well as the great conversation with the cute 20yr old college girl working there, who had noone to serve since I was the only person upstairs!). Here's a quickie snap looking down from the top of the tunnel towards Fantasyland...taken right from my chair and table above:
Pics inside Space Mountain are nearly impossible because of how dark it is...not to mention most people don't want to be carrying a big ol camera while riding! Fortunately, the Wedway (TTA) provides the opportunity. I snapped a quick flash shot while passing through the launch area:
On my way out of the park one day, I witnessed a rare sight. I was just exiting through the security area, headed towards the Fort Wilderness boat dock to turn left to the bus depot, when I spotted a dark shape and a trail of bubbles in the water by the dock:
It was a cute little river otter playing around in the water by the boat dock! I've only ever seen these otters on rare occasion over by Fort Wilderness, and once by the Contemporary dock. I didn't think they'd want to be so close to all the people streaming by - of course noone seemed to notice him until I stopped and aimed by camera at him. He would only put his head up for a few seconds before diving again, so I couldn't get much of a shot. Still, it was a nice capper to a fun day.
Hope you enjoyed a little bit of my Magic Kingdom variety!
Before Wishes began, I had to wait for alot of people taking their flash snapshot portraits in front of the statue to get out of the way in order to get a few seconds without anyone in front of me...fortunately the background folks are mostly sitting as they wait for the parade. I was able to get a decent shot of Partners and the castle all lit up on a crisp cool night (taken on a tripod, of course):
There's a great spot to photograph the trains without any rides or people in the background...the back pathway to Toontown behind Space Mountain. I waited out the train at this spot along the rail. I thought it would be fun to do a sepia conversion to make it look more 'historic':
While there one night, I decided I wanted to try a spinning action shot of the Teacups...I only had my T100 ultra-compact that day, so I couldn't do more than 1 second exposure. It's handheld, and steadied against the fence rail:
A little after 7pm one night, I came into MK after my conference all day to enjoy the Extra Magic hours night. The sun was just hitting that golden time before sunset, and the lighting on Exposition hall was nice - it's just a snapshot, but the colors were beautiful to see:
And here was a first...that's right, an actual first for someone who has been to Disney every year since 1971 and who spends about 30 days a year up there: A place I've never been in MK! I was thirsty, just got off Haunted Mansion, and decided to head to a food place for a drink. I was trying to think of what was closest...Pecos Bill's was definately closer than Starlight Ray's. But as I'm coming out of the Mansion, there in front of me is Columbia House. Doh! I always manage to overlook that one - so I popped in for a Coke (no...I've been in Columbia House before). I felt like sitting down for a bit, and was headed for a table to the right when I noticed a staircase. And it didn't have a 'castmembers only' sign on it. Hmmm...a second floor in MK accessible to the public? Couldn't be!
Sure enough...there is a HUGE and VAST seating area, all designed like the interiors of New England colonial seaside buildings and ship interiors. I could not believe it...but in 37 years and uncountable days, I've never been up there before! Now normal people would wonder what the big deal is...but I'm not normal - I'm a Disney person. Besides all of this ship-style decor and themery that I've never seen, I was also thrilled at the idea of having windows looking down from the second floor onto the theme park below! What's more, clearly almost nobody realizes there are people up there, since in 30 minutes people watching from the windows that sit atop the tunnel between Frontierland and Fantasyland, looking in two directions, noone ever looked up. And I admit I have done the same - in decades of walking through that spot, I've always dismissed all the small, curtained, decorative windows above to be purely cosmetic. Needless to say, I was quite excited and thoroughly enjoyed my peoplewatching time up there (as well as the great conversation with the cute 20yr old college girl working there, who had noone to serve since I was the only person upstairs!). Here's a quickie snap looking down from the top of the tunnel towards Fantasyland...taken right from my chair and table above:
Pics inside Space Mountain are nearly impossible because of how dark it is...not to mention most people don't want to be carrying a big ol camera while riding! Fortunately, the Wedway (TTA) provides the opportunity. I snapped a quick flash shot while passing through the launch area:
On my way out of the park one day, I witnessed a rare sight. I was just exiting through the security area, headed towards the Fort Wilderness boat dock to turn left to the bus depot, when I spotted a dark shape and a trail of bubbles in the water by the dock:
It was a cute little river otter playing around in the water by the boat dock! I've only ever seen these otters on rare occasion over by Fort Wilderness, and once by the Contemporary dock. I didn't think they'd want to be so close to all the people streaming by - of course noone seemed to notice him until I stopped and aimed by camera at him. He would only put his head up for a few seconds before diving again, so I couldn't get much of a shot. Still, it was a nice capper to a fun day.
Hope you enjoyed a little bit of my Magic Kingdom variety!
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