A New Site Coming Soon

I've been working on a shiny new website for a while now and can't wait to launch it. It should be very soon. If I had to describe it, I would say that it's the same... but different, mostly because I think I'm funny but also because being vague seems like a good tease. In reality, it's mostly different and will probably take a little getting used to. A couple of our big goals with the new platform are to share more of our creative works, including the many non-Disney things that inspire us, and to share more about ourselves and our process. A separate project that we can't share just yet has kept us from having the time to do so. We're also looking to offer products and services for sale in the near future and need a cleaner, more user-friendly space. So stay tuned!

Daily Photo Tour - Carthay Circle

As wonderful as Buena Vista Street is, it's become a hazard for me and Carthay Circle is my worst spot. I am prone to standing in front of the trolleys. I guess I just have no regard for the bricked safety zone. In fact, I would argue that all of the best angles on Buena Vista Street require standing in it.

Daily Photo Tour - Down the Dark Streets of Buena Vista

A cold and dreary ambiance came over Buena Vista Street. It was the first time I had been on the street during a rainy night. The streets glistened as the Christmas lights shinned onto the pavement. The Red Car Trolley glowed as it passed in front of the Carthay Circle Restaurant. Here I was standing in the midst of everything. I sometimes feel like these fleeting moments can be the gems of Disney. They become personal, but different then a souvenir that sits on a table for years. They are moments in time that only happen once, but they stay with us forever.

Daily Photo Tour - A Tree for Buena Vista Street

There's just something about a giant glowing Christmas tree that makes me feel warm inside. The new tree on Buena Vista Street is certainly no exception. It doesn't matter what the looming Winter weather may have in store. It's easy to hope and to dream in the presence of such a brilliant beacon of the season. Some classic Christmas tunes and a cup of hot cocoa never hurts either.

Daily Photo Tour - Christmas at California Adventure

Christmas in California is probably one of the most unique ways to spend the Holidays. The newly decorated California Adventure Entrance, and Buena Vista street really have a great Christmas vibe going on. California Adventure is really starting to grow on me. You've got the Christmas Caroler's on Buena Vista Street, hot coffee from Starbucks, and an array of Christmas decorations that deck the street in a classic holiday fashion.

Daily Photo Tour - A Journey to the Yule Treats Township

On Buena Vista Street, at the South end of Trolley Treats, deep in the heart of Fancy Frosting Forest lies the township of Yule Treats. Unbeknownst to many, this tiny town is an enormous exporter of jelly beans, chocolate truffles, rock candy, assorted chocolates, candy bars and yummy gummy gum drops; not to mention Yule Treats is home to the contractor responsible for the finest gingerbread edifices this side of the North Pole.

Daily Photo Tour - Christmas in the Air

As simple as the singular Christmas wreath adornment of the Carthay Circle Restaurant appears, I find it strikes those notes of refinement and elegance that so saturate DCA's "castle". The tower does such a noble job of hoisting that wreath high above Buena Vista Street for all to see. It causes me to stop and reflect on my own efforts. If something so simple can be so effective, why do I feel the need to surpass simple? Ah well, sounds like a resolution is trying to creep in before the new year!

Daily Photo Tour - Oswald's Gas and Garland

The glow on Oswald's was amazing as we entered DCA during our last visit and it was one of those times when there wasn't really time to stop and do much about it. I took this shot as we hustled further into Buena Vista Street. Hurried moments aren't usually my preference but in this case it was a sweet fleeting moment to enjoy the ambiance and a welcome challenge to try and capture it quickly. What was so pressing? Coffee...

Daily Photo Tour - Christmas Has Come to Elias & Co.

It is true then. What they're saying. Christmas has come to Elias & Co. You'll soon find that some department stores are better decorated for Christmas than others. You don't want to go wandering into the wrong store. I can help you there. The exterior of Elias & Co. is surprisingly deceptive. There's lovely garland and wreaths adorning the outside, but it's no match for what lies inside. Inside, the real jewel of Christmas at Elias & Co. can be found. Enough snowflakes, garland and Christmas trees are spread throughout the entire store that it's guaranteed to put a smile on everyone's face. So be careful not to be deceived at first glance and trust me; wander inside.

Daily Photo Tour - The Height of Fashion

The height of fashion. For some it may be the '80s, though I would strongly object, and for others it may be the '50s, for which I would more easily agree. For me, the height of fashion is the very definition of the '20s. It was the beginning of a new era in fashion. Women did away with the cumbersome attire of the victorian era in exchange for more comfortable clothing. Heavy hairdos gave way to bobs. Skirts climbed knee-ward. Trousers found their way to the feminine form. Even men began to ease up a little, wearing athletic attire for the first time. For some men, athletic attire included a leather jacket with a rocket attached to the back.

Daily Photo Tour - Storytellers

Overnight success. It's a term used often enough that it would seem impossible to view the subject for which it's intended as anything more. While the reality lies in hours upon hours spent perfecting a craft, the risks taken, failures suffered, but with a passion to drive one forward. This is what inspires me most about the 'Storytellers' statue. It honors Walt's humble beginnings, while embodying the hope and tenacity he possessed for the future.

Daily Photo Tour - A Serene Evening at Carthay Circle

I know the parks have to close at night but it's been difficult to leave DCA. We grab some Starbucks coffee at Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe and sit around Carthay Circle just watching people go by and enjoy this wonderful new environment. The new fountain is truly a beautiful centerpiece to the area and in typical Disney horticultural fashion, the brilliant red flowers surrounding it are beautiful. Swing wafts on the evening air above the energetic sound of the steadily flowing fountain. It's a serene way to spend an evening and one you'll remember.

Daily Photo Tour - Disney Bros. Studio

This door on Buena Vista Street is one of the simpler forms of theming, yet it instantly transports you to another era. I can only imagine what it must have been like to walk through doors like these, perhaps making a delivery for a project like Bambi or Pinnochio. The romanticist in me imagines creative pixie dust (you know, that stuff of dreams) bursting from within if the door were to open even a little.

Daily Photo Tour - The Stop at Buena Vista Street

One of the very neat things about Disney Parks is the opportunity to go almost anywhere. Not just anywhere, but any time. From prehistoric dinosaur scenes along the Disneyland Railroad to an elevator plunge in a Golden Era Hollywood hotel. Disney California Adventure's restructured Buena Vista Street entrance reminds us of just that with this stop on the Red Car Trolley line. It greets us with the question, "Where do you want to go?"

Daily Photo Tour - Elias & Company

The Elias & Co. department store is truly phenomenal. The theming is so smooth that you hardly notice what's going on; it just feels right. On a late evening at DCA I spotted what I considered a sort of visual echo of the store's name and that's what I tried to capture with this image. The three Elias & Company signs lined up at varying distances. I love details like that.

Daily Photo Tour - Lady in Red

Sometimes it doesn't take a lot to say a lot. Such is the beauty of the simplistic California stylings found in Carthay Circle and Buena Vista Street. This gorgeous mural and its counterpart truly shine to the sides of the Carthay Theater's commanding peak.

Daily Photo Tour - Entering the Elysian Arcade

Upon first entering the Elysian Arcade from the beginning of Buena Vista Street you may notice that it has quite a resemblance to Union Station in Los Angeles. I love the architecture of Union Station and have several great memories of trips to downtown. After stepping inside the Elysian, I was immediately taken back. Only at Disney right? The features and details are amazing. Only a small portion of this side of Buena Vista Street is themed this way. It serves as the Photopass Return area. There are several dated pictures in and around this area, not to mention a few awesome vintage cameras!

Daily Photo Tour - A Mural for Snow White

At the heart of the Carthay Circle Restaurant you will find a mural depicting scenes from Snow White painted on the vaulted ceiling. This extravagant and beautiful feature could easily be missed amidst all of the artistic detail and craftsmanship to be found at eye level and below. Fortunately, Cast Members are so excited and proud of their new DCA, they won't let you.

Daily Photo Tour - Goddess of Speed

It doesn't get much classier than a Packard. So why would the hood ornament be anything less than the "goddess of speed"? She leads the way for this beautiful machine with grace and poise and this Packard leads the way at the entrance to DCA and Buena Vista Street, setting the tone and getting park goers in the mood.

Daily Photo Tour - Every Story Begins With a Dream

Every story begins with a dream. Walt Disney set out to realize his with a big break in Tinseltown. It was not without hardship or heartache, but Walt was not the kind for quitting. If he had a vision for something, he would dog it 'til it was done. His story backs up a motto he seemed to live by, "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." Courage was not something Walt ever appeared to lack and I imagine it's because he had the understanding that if you don't take big risks, you'll never know what you're capable of, or maybe even what you're meant for. Risk stares us in the face with "what ifs?" but it also frees us from "what could have been?". For me Walt's story is a reminder that no matter how you're feeling, if you keep on fighting, believing and risking, you can have your very own story worth telling.

Daily Photo Tour - A Night of Luxury

The crowning jewel of DCA could not have turned out any better. Our first night on Buena Vista Street was spent dining at the Carthay Circle Restaurant. It was absolutely incredible. Having eaten at Club 33 only months prior, we were surprised by how familiar the lobby at the Carthay felt as we entered for the first time. The same high class that saturates Club 33 can be found here. Whether you're having a full meal upstairs or enjoying a small bite in the lounge, the food and atmosphere is impeccable.