One of my favorite parts of riding the Mark Twain is standing on the top deck and watching the steam. It floats off into the sky and lingers as though it weren't ready to leave. Those steady sounding puffs thrust the vessel along the river and before you know it, it's time for you to leave and make way to your next adventure.
The Mark Twain offers a few options for your journey through the Rivers of America. There are the decks which offer a view of the surrounding wilderness and then there are cozy cabins where you can rest a spell. Fortunately the steamer takes her time, leaving the opportunity to enjoy all she has to offer. Go ahead, have a seat and listen to the whistle sing, the stacks puff steam into the sky and the paddle wheel churn the open river.
Daily Photo Tour - Sunset at the Frontierland Dock
Sunsets like this create a new, inexplicable layer of magic to Disneyland. It's almost as if you've stepped into a painting or a dream. You can't waste any time enjoying enjoying it either; soon the light and color fade, giving way to a blanket of stars.
It's starting to finally get a little chilly here in Southern California. I've noticed that guests in Disneyland have replaced sandals and shorts with pants and parkas. We've seemed to really skip the whole in between phase of shorts and a hoodie. Yes, it's common to see local residents sporting shorts and sweatshirts. What can I say, it's a California thing. This year, the cold winter weather is falling on us quick. The Rivers of America is so beautiful, and I love it even more during the Holidays. It just feels right. There is a very unique atmosphere that is caused by the surrounding area of Frontierland and New Orleans Square that brings a cheerful spirit to the river during Christmas.
I'm really starting to get in that autumn spirit. Is there one? I think so. For me, it involves completely changing my wardrobe. Shorts to pants, shirts to long sleeves. Finally pulling that year old jacket out of the closet, or a reason to buy a new one. Leaving the window open at night to closing it and adding a few more blankets to the sleep machine. The iced caramel macchiato has turned into a hot caramel macchiato which means minus one espresso from my morning routine. That's definitely not good. But it also means seeing amazing scenes of the Mark Twain steaming away through a tree of changing leaves. The changing atmosphere of fall has always given me a sense of something to look forward to. Autumn has always been that season of change for everyone. I can't wait to see what this winter season has in store.
The Rivers of America really start to glow during the fall. As the sun makes its way to the west and drops late in the year, a golden glow reflects off of the waters in a real magical way. The leaves begin to turn just enough to remind local Californian's there is such a thing as autumn. I was able to barely catch the Mark Twain a few weeks ago as it passed quickly by the Sailing Ship Columbia. It is truly remarkable to see the size of these boats next to each other, and then to realize the enormity of the tree in the center of the frame. It dwarfs the masts and doesn't even fit within the composition. For me, it's the authenticity of theses rivers that pull me in every time. Walt sure knew what he was doing when he saved those trees.
I love it when the Rivers of America is busy. The traffic between the Mark Twain, the Columbia, and the canoes reminds of those classic hot summer days at Disneyland. There is just something about jumping aboard one of those moving vessels and rollin' on the river.
We're back from a hiatus with a new "Behind the Shot". This time, join Michaela as she takes on a beautiful Disneyland sunset over the Rivers of America. We hope you enjoy another trip behind the scenes with us!
The Mark Twain is such a beautiful riverboat. I remember as a kid this enormous white giant moving ever so slowly through the Rivers of America, and now as adult, it's still pretty much the same thing. The only difference now is my sincere appreciation for its legacy, and nostalgia. It blows me away to know The Mark Twain in all the classic footage of Disneyland is still the same boat we board today. I find some sort of crazy connection with that. If I could go back. Oh boy would it be amazing. All of you real Disney die hards who've been going to Disneyland since its opening are very lucky people to have seen the park move and grow. I have so much respect for you guys. And I am super jealous.
Daily Photo Tour - The Sweetest Words a Riverman Can Hear
Mark Twain. Two of the sweetest words a riverman can hear. We would submit that that's not only because of the water's depth either. Boarding the Mark Twain for an excursion around the Rivers of America is one of the sweetest, most relaxing rides at Disneyland. The whistle and the steady puff of steam are the serene soundtrack for your voyage, unlike that pesky Sailing Ship Columbia and the canon they fire in hopes of making you jump in front of your friends or spill the last bites of your sandwich into the river for the ducks. So if it's a placid and pleasant journey through the frontier you're after, "Mark Twain" are the sweetest words you'll hear... not Columbia.
One of the awesome things about the three of us having a photography blog together is that we all help each other out. We have fun at Disneyland together, we critque each other's work to help make it better and we also share shots. Matthew and I were headed for Adventureland from the Frontierland bridge when he saw this amazing display of clouds trying to match the grandeur of the Mark Twain. It was a lovely photo opportunity that he shared with me because he knows how much I love taking pictures of the stalwart steamer. Not to be outdone, I noticed and shared a glistening Golden Horseshoe opportunity with him. Life is so much better when it is shared.
A few evenings ago the three of us (Matthew, Michaela, and I) had the chance to meet with a follower of ours from Twitter who also takes interest in the same two things we do, Disneyland and Photography. We had the chance to talk for a little while, but it wasn't too long before we moved deep into Disneyland and began shooting some HDR. One of our first spots we tackled was in Frontierland. As we were making our way, I caught an angle that really grabbed my attention. I noticed that workers were preparing The Sailing Ship Columbia, and The Mark Twain for something very special.
It's the peacefulness of the River's of America that always sets the stage for a great night of Fantasmic. Its the stillness in the air on those warm summer nights that helps provide a great contrast for what is to come. That is, Mickey's Dream. I can imagine all the hard work and preparation that goes into such a production like Fantasmic. It takes a skilled bunch to prepare the cast, the cues, and all the technical aspects of the show. Of course all of it leading up to those very special moments that leave lasting memories in the hearts of all the children watching.
I can't help to think of the preparation all of us must have to create the dreams we have in our hearts. We all have something in life we'd like to achieve. Maybe a passion that's been with us for a long time, or something new we've stumbled upon that means so much to us. Whatever it is, think of the things you can do to prepare yourself for that dream to come true. Because believe it or not, there is no such thing as luck. People like John Lasseter, Steve Martin, or Walt Disney didn't just get lucky, they were great at what they did, and what they wanted to do, and they made sure of it. They were prepared. So whatever your goal in life may be, however far away it may seem, however difficult the path may be, you better start preparing for a dream, because odds are, it just may come true.
Mark Twain Disneyland. Three words on a life preserver and you're off on an adventure into the frontier. I wish I could get the ship all to myself for a trip through the Rivers of America. Wouldn't that be something? Could you imagine roaming such a beautiful vessel uninhibited? I imagine myself running across, from rail to rail, taking in as much "wilderness" as I could manage. Of course I'm not the only person at Disneyland so that's not likely to happen. I do my best to linger though, when the Mark Twain returns to the dock. You can get a taste of having her all to yourself while everyone else rushes off to their next destination. Mark Twain Disneyland... three of the sweetest words you could hear.
Daily Photo Tour - All Aboard the Rivers of America
One of my favorite things to do at Disneyland is board the Mark Twain or the Sailing Ship Columbia. Disneyland already offers an escape from the ordinary, but sailing on the Rivers of America takes you even further into another world. There is something about sailing away, chaos slowly drifting behind you with the wind blowing through your hair, whispering a sense of freedom and adventure.
Daily Photo Tour - Reflections on the Rivers of America
This shot was taken past midnight one evening as we were making our way out of the park. We were already meandering too late, but when I saw this I had to take advantage and risk being shooed by security. I scanned the area for their white hats and when I saw none, quickly set up. It took a few goes to get what I wanted and longer than I had anticipated. I barely got off my last set of shots before security started approaching. Matt grabbed the camera and I grabbed the tripod, quickly folding it up as we walked away as if nothing happened. We like to think we're sly.
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