Daily Photo Tour - Waking up to City Hall

Disneyland is such a magical place in the morning. Everything glows with color, and has this amazing sense of wonder. I can't explain the excitement I get when I enter Main Street for the first time of the day. Maybe it's the child inside of me, but I seriously get giddy every time. Disneyland's City Hall always seems to have this golden glow to it, and even more during the morning hours. I caught a few angles through the trees and flowers, and couldn't help but stop to set up and snap some photos!

Daily Photo Tour -Hold on to Your Hats and Glasses

We were at the park bright and early for the beginning of the "One More Disney Day" event and one of the first places we headed to was Frontierland. We made our way over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and we were pleasantly surprised by the amazing light that seem to pour over the entire loading area. With the laid back atmosphere, we took a chance and entered one of the exits to grab a couple shots without drawing too much attention to ourselves. We ended spending a good 45 minutes in the exit without being asked to leave. It was a great feeling being able to take our time getting the shots we wanted and seeing the ride from a whole new angle. Not only that, but it was fun to watch people rushing to board, giggling and screaming the whole way. That is one of the things that I appreciate most about Disneyland, it's ability to bring out the goofy side of everyone, allowing them the freedom to act silly and crazy and have a good time.

A New Page for a New Week

We're pleased to share a new page we've published called Tour Guide Equipment. We receive a lot of questions regarding our cameras, lenses and the like, not to mention the software we use. We hope this page will help answer some of those questions, so make sure to visit by clicking here! (There's also a link in our sidebar)

Daily Photo Tour -Good Morning Disneyland

This shot is the very last shot I took from our twenty-four hour Disney extravaganza and in many ways it is my favorite from the day. This scene is always what I think of first when I think of Disneyland. I love the Main Street Depot and the ever changing Mickey Mouse flowers. It's the first thing you see past the turnstiles as you eagerly wait to enter and the last thing you look back on as you leave. As we walked through the tunnel, past the attraction posters and out into this grand entrance area, the early morning light seemed to make a point of highlighting Mickey. It makes sense, after all, Walt wanted us to remember that it was all started by a mouse. Even the sun seems to take note of such important things. But for me, more important than any of this, this image is the moment in which I remembered, very tangibly, how special this place is and how blessed I am to visit. To have taken part in such a wonderful event put on by dedicated hard working people is almost indescribable. Twenty-four hours culminated in so much more than exhaustion. This is the place, this magic kingdom, where we make memories and have special moments.

Daily Photo Tour - The Golden Glow Over the Gardens

It will be very sad when The Carnation Plaza Gardens goes away. I can't help but not think of that every time I pass by, take a picture, or hear the sweet sounds on Saturday nights. I was hoping for a large splash of golden light while we were in Disneyland for One More Disney Day, and was so excited when it finally made the crest over Tomorrowland and into Main Street and the Hub. The Carnation Plaza Gardens lit up with magic. It was seriously amazing to be in Disneyland so early. I almost don't even remember firing off this picture. When the light hit, it seemed like we were photographing the entire park in only a matter of minutes. But then again, time does seem to stop when the magic drops.

Daily Photo Tour - The Castle in Bloom

We were surprised to see the Tabebuia trees at the hub in bloom early this year. They don't usually last long so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to take advantage of them for the "One More Disney Day" event. We must have spent the better half of the morning taking pictures of these amazing trees, composing whatever we could around them. While searching for angles amongst the blooms I noticed the castle glowing in the morning light and grabbed one of my favorite shots of the day.

Daily Photo Tour -A Quiet Morning at the River

As our One More Disney Day drew to a close with the rising sun, we took the opportunity to spend time at the Rivers of America. We had missed the opportunity the prior morning with ABC's Modern Family filming right where I took this picture from. There's something really special about early morning at a river, even one that's not "real". It's so serene as light floods the dawn sky. The water is placid. Even the ducks seem to know how peaceful it all is.

Daily Photo Tour - Alone at the Carousel

Even with all of the energy of the overnight crowd from Disneyland's One More Day, there were still quiet moments to be found. It was an interesting, unusual contrast and I found myself drawn to the solitude of the carousel during interims between spinning its noble steeds. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how wild and crazy things get at Disneyland, there's always a special moment waiting just around the bend.

Insta-what? Instagram!

We've dived... doven?... jumped into a couple more corners of the ever growing Web. For those of you with Instgram, we got ourselves set up with the username @toursdepartingdaily last night. We hope to see you there! If you don't have Instagram, you'll still be able to see our posts there by following us on Twitter - @toursdeprtdaily. We have also joined Pinterest, so if you're inclined to poking things with small pointy objects, we look forward to mingling with you there!

Daily Photo Tour -Straight on till Morning

At first glance this sight may not seem all that strange. Perhaps not until you realize that this is, in fact, morning. We spent most of the latter part of our extra Disney day in Fantasyland, which was filled with adults. It wasn't completely devoid of children but there was a different atmosphere with so many of us who refuse to grow up pressing straight on till morning. I must say though that I had a little trouble finding the second star to the right.

Daily Photo Tour - Disneyland at One O'Clock in the Morning

This is Disneyland at one in the morning. A sight I have never quite seen before. Main Street is usually completely empty at this time. A few stragglers, and photographers making their way out of the park are usually common, but not this. This my friends was pure and utter chaos. Now imagine every hour, on the hour, classic hits and upbeat being music poured out of the hidden speakers on Main Street U.S.A. Even moments before this a conga line ensued around the entire hub. I uncontrollably jumped in...By myself...While Matthew and Michaela watched. What's a guy gotta do to get his friends in the conga line!? Main Street and the Hub were bursting with excitement. It will definitely be something I will remember for years to come!

Daily Photo Tour - Jolly Holiday Bakery

It was really interesting to watch the sun come up in different areas of Disneyland. It seemed to hit each land at a different time, allowing them to take turns having their moment to shine (pun intended if you find that sort of thing funny...). As Matthew was set up for a picture looking towards the Partners statue I noticed the sun start to glisten off of Disneyland's newest weathervane, Mary Poppins. It was beautiful. As the light made its way down to the rooftop, I knew I had to take a shot of morning's first gleam on the bakery. A jolly morning indeed.

Daily Photo Tour -A Small World After All

We were deeply saddened to learn of Robert Sherman's passing on Monday. As I sat down tonight to pick out a picture to work on, I knew it had to be It's a Small World. It's difficult to imagine a world without the music that Robert and his brother, Richard, made together. Sherman brothers melodies are ubiquitous and rightfully so. I have never heard a song with more ability to linger in one's head than one of theirs. The music so easy to sing to. The words so poignant and memorable. If you haven't seen the documentary on the brothers entitled "The Boys", you should. It gives insight to the lives of Robert and Richard that allows a much greater appreciation, which they are so deserving of. I read once that weeping endures for a night, but joy comes with the morning. While I mourn the loss of a great man, I know it's because of him and others like him, who generously share their gifts with the world in order to make it a better place, that there is a great big beautiful tomorrow with joy just beyond the horizon.

Here is a quote I really want to share with you from Jeff Sherman, Robert's son -

"My dad passed away peacefully in London on Monday night. He was an incredible man who loved life and lived it to the fullest. As he often said, he wanted to bring happiness into the world, and unquestionably he succeeded. His love and his prayers, his philosophy and his poetry will live on forever. Forever his songs and his genius will bring hope, joy, and love to this small world."

Daily Photo Tour - Walt's Fire Wagon

If there is anything I've learned from difficult things, it's that if you love what you're doing, the difficult part seems to fade away. Photographing Disneyland is difficult. I love the two so much, I sometimes forget how difficult it can be. I find that the more and more I get caught up in what I love doing, the ideas and things I'm trying to express actually come out and manifest themselves into something tangible and something that I can connect with people on. This process is so amazing.

For me, The Disneyland Fire Station in the morning light brings back some of my most vivid memories of Disneyland. To even begin to explain this to someone with the detail, imagery, and feelings I carry is nearly impossible. So when I sat down to work on this picture I really wanted to convey exactly how I see Disneyland. I try to do this with all my pictures, but when I finish, I've never had the feeling like I did when I finished this one. This is truly how I see Disneyland.

Daily Photo Tour - Sunrise Over Thunder Mountain

For anyone that knows even a little bit about me, they know that I don't fair well under slight sleeping conditions. I usually take on a zombie like state and can be very hard to understand or follow. That being said, it was quite difficult for me to pull an all-nighter at Disneyland for their "One More Disney Day" event. Most of it was a blur to me and keeping my eyes open felt like a monumental success, until I began to feel the chill of the morning that comes right before sunrise. It was then that I gathered what strength I had left and raced throughout the park grabbing whatever shot I could before the sun made it's way over the horizon. This one was taken as we were rushing through Frontierland to get to the Rivers of America. I almost considered passing right by this, not wasting anytime to set up, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't bring myself to deny my lens the beauty that was before me. The vibrant blue sky and the orange glow from Big Thunder made for such a beautiful contrast and this is, quite frankly, a weakness of mine. I can never pass up warm lights glistening in the midst of twilight, there is just something very magical about it.

Daily Photo Tour -The Waking Beauty

Spending the night in Disneyland for the One More Day event was very much a dream come true. It was one night spent at the Park without that feeling of having to leave. Even better than that was seeing the sun come up in a place where magic is made for people, by people. Walt said that it takes people to make the magic happen. That's truer I think than any of us realize. This special time in Disneyland, when the sun wakes Sleeping Beauty Castle, is a time typically reserved for those very special people who make Disneyland magical. Watching night turn to day. Seeing the sun pour its golden light across Disneyland the way milk falls across cereal before filling a bowl. It was a wonderful, humbling experience to share in. Next time you're at the Park, give a Cast Member a high five and tell them how awesome they are.

Daily Photo Tour - Pure Admiration

Pure Admiration. It's what I think of every time I see Minnie Mouse. She's just so into her man. I mean...her mouse. I don't find it by coincidence that just out of this shot lies the Partner's Statue. Minnie's pose just says it all. She looks so proud of Mickey, and all he's accomplished. Someday I hope I meet a woman who has a similar affection for me. It’s ironic though, after I took this shot I headed down to Main Street to catch the Fire Station in the brilliant morning light during the chaos of One More Disney Day. As I was crouched down in front of my camera, I felt a faint tap on my shoulder. To my surprise as I looked over, kneeling down with me was none other than Minnie Mouse. I couldn't’t help but burst into laughter. I was completely caught off guard. She gestured towards the fire station. and I asked, “Good shot right?” She shook her head and gave me a couple pats on the shoulder. I’m pretty sure she was totally admiring my photography skills. Watch out Mickey.

Daily Photo Tour - A Morning Welcome

Just a couple days ago Disneyland hosted their "One More Disney Day" event and it was an event we had been looking forward to for some time. When we arrived we headed straight to the Partners Statue to capture it in the glow of sunrise. We were not the only ones with that idea. There were a number of photographers circling the statue getting various shots of the hub as we walked up. It was the first time we had experienced anything quite like that and it was a very cool feeling being around that many people with a similar passion for photography and Disneyland. There are truly no words to describe the feeling of being in Disneyland during sunrise. I was in awe and needed a few moments to soak it all in before I could begin shooting. It was one the most amazing experiences I have ever had.