Wednesday, October 29, 2014

PhotoFlashback! Halloween at the Magic Kingdom + Spherical Photo

We were fortunate enough this year to be at
Walt Disney World for
 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.


Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom October 2014

The Magic Kingdom does wonders decorating for Halloween.
The highlight of MNSSHP is the Castle Show and Happy HalloWishes fireworks.
This has to be one of the best fireworks show Disney puts on during the year.

Ridge and I stood out in front of Cinderella Castle for what seemed like hours as we waited for the Castle Show and Fireworks to begin.  It was worth the wait.  The show is fantastic.

Here are a few pictures I took this year.

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

A special Halloween treat is the Magic Kingdom at night.

GrowingUpDisney has a unique collection of spherical photos.
I hope you enjoy this one.
  
Click on the photo below or the caption to open
the spherical photo on the Theta360 website. 


 GrowingUpDisney Spherical Photo
Partners and Cinderella Castle


--DisneyDad



Happy Halloween!
Focused on the Magic

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Photo Flashback! EPCOT Monorail Spherical Photo

There are many unique sights at Walt Disney World.
  
WDW is known for its beautiful landscaping and one of a kind sights.
One unique sight is the view of Spaceship Earth and the Monorail together.
This photo was taken between The Living Seas and The Land pavilions.  You just need to find a beautiful day and wait for the Monorail to come by.

EPCOT Monorail
EPCOT

A unique view here on GrowingUpDisney is our Spherical Photo collection.  
Click on the photo or the caption below to open the photo on the Theta360 website.
It is an interactive spherical photo where you can look up, down, and all around.
Be sure to look at the photo full-screen on your PC/Mac to get the best effect.


EPCOT Monorail Spherical Theta360
EPCOT Monorail Spherical Photo
I love riding on the monorail.  It is an unique bit of transportation Walt Disney envisioned for Disneyland.  This vision was expanded at WDW with the longest of the loops going from the Ticket and Transportation Center to EPCOT.

I took both of these photos in May 2014 during the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.  Both are rather unique views of the Monorail as it makes its loop through EPCOT.

--DisneyDad


Magical Transportation
Focused on the Magic

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Photo Flashback! Disney at The World and At Home

My parents and brother are at Walt Disney World this week. My family of four wasn't able to join them on our regular fall trip but we have enjoyed getting photos from DisneyDad and Ridge. I don't want to steal their thunder but I would like to share a couple of DisneyDad's photos. 

As usual they are staying at Old Key West and this time, their villa has a canal view. Looks like a very relaxing spot for morning coffee to me. 

DisneyDad and Ridge went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on Sunday. DisneyDad is usually behind the camera but this selfie proves he was there...and having a ball. 

Around here, I had a couple of Disney sightings this week. My husband and I went out for ice cream on Saturday and spotted this sign. Crystal Palace was my work location during college program so I instantly felt at home. 

My crew recently attended a parade in a nearby town. The high school band is performing a Lion King halftime show this year. I loved their flags and I'm hoping to get to a game to see the whole show.

And if you like the Haunted Mansion, be sure to click the link below to check out DisneyDad's 360 degree interactive photo of the exterior of HM. 
https://theta360.com/s/TWl

Hope everyone is having a good week! And to my family, see ya real soon! 
-Amy

Friday, October 3, 2014

October at Walt Disney World!

Walt Disney World does a wonderful job of decorating for seasons.  October turns the Magic Kingdom orange for Halloween and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.  There is special entertainment and the Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and the Happy HalloWishes fireworks. October means the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is in full swing.


Magic Kingdom Halloween 2012


Sunday night, Ridge and I, (Mom decided to skip this) will be at the Magic Kingdom for MNSSHP.  I hope to post some and tweet (@DisneyDad28) some from the Party.  I'll do what I can but Amy normally does the live posting, but unfortunately she was not able to be on this trip.

Train Station Halloween 2012


The rest of the week Mom, Ridge, and I will be having some fun the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.  Unlike some trips we only have one meal reservation.  We have a Fast Pass for lunch at "Be Our Guest".  We were fortunate for our last trip and this one to have an invitation to use the Fast Pass for BOG.  You don't just get a time to go to the restaurant, you go ahead and order your lunch on line.  You check in at the Fast Pass entrance, verify your order, pay and find a seat.

If you have never been to Be Our Guest Restaurant, there are 3 massive dining rooms that seat a total of about 550 guests. The dining rooms are easily recognizable from Beauty and the Beast.  You may dine in the Grand Ballroom, the Rose Gallery, or if you dare, the West Wing where you may catch a glimpse of the enchanted rose.

October has been a family trip for years, but this year Amy and her family won't be with us.  So no granddaughters on this trip. :-(  So without children we don't have to try to keep to the kiddo's schedule. And can dine places you wouldn't want to take a small child (like the BOG West Wing).  But this also means we have not scheduled any character breakfasts or meet-and-greet with any characters.  

Olivia's at Old Key West Resort 2013

It also means we will spend more time trying out the different offering of the Food & Wine Festival. For the 2014 EIF&WF there are 25 Global Marketplaces where you can "Taste Your Way Around the World".  I always love to start in Canada where they have Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup and “Le Cellier” wild mushroom beef filet mignon with truffle butter sauce.  Wow!  What a way to start!  This year they have 2 new booths and a lot of returning favorites.  New this year is Farm Fresh that is "straight from the farm too you" and Patagoina where you can sample some South American cooking.  Check out a full list at the official F&WF website at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/food-wine-marketplaces/

At each marketplace there is also a selection of beer and wine representative of the countries.  And Hanson (who performed in September at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series) has their craft beer - Mmmhop - at the Fife and Drum at the American pavilion.

EIF&WF 2012


I'll also try to give an "unbiased" review of the Lumber Jack Show replacement for Off Kilter which is reported to begin next week.  I'm not sure how unbiased I'll be as I absolutely loved Off Kilter and am very disappointed Disney has gotten rid of them after all these years.

--DisneyDad


Thursday, October 2, 2014

Happy Birthday Walt Disney World!

Birthdays tend to come and go.  When we are young they don't come around fast enough and as we get older they fly by and sometime we even forget them.

October 1, 2014 is the 43 Anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World. 

Orlando's WESH TV has some historic photo's of how Walt Disney World came to be.
I don't know how long they keep these on line so enjoy them soon.

http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/disney/18403560

Enjoy!
--DisneyDad