Visit... Carousel of Progress

The Carousel of Progress first premiered at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. The show then moved to Disneyland, where it opened as part of a new Tomorrowland. In 1973, Carousel of Progress relocated to its current home here in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, where it continues to entertain guests from around the globe.

More Than Meets the Eye at Magic Kingdom

posted on February 24th, 2011 by Kent Phillips, Photographer, Walt Disney World

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(I would like to preface this post with an advance apology for its mildly technical content. Those with an intense physical aversion to science may elect to skip today’s text entirely and go straight to the pretty pictures. No offense taken.)

Just beyond the spectrum of light visible to the human eye lies near infrared light. And though we can’t see it, the silicon-based sensors of many modern digital cameras can. By using a filter which blocks all visible light, you can get pictures that offer a wonderfully surreal view of the world. Foliage and clouds, which reflect infrared light, look ghostly and white, while sky and objects that don’t, go very dark. This is different than far infrared (thermal) photography, which registers heat.

Okay, science is over. Thanks for hanging in there.

Today’s offering is from Magic Kingdom park, though I may very well take my trusty #87 filter through the other parks at the Walt Disney World Resort in the near future.

A Sunny Day at Epcot

Spaceship Earth with Monorail

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom

[1 YEAR AGO] Gameday Photos at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex: When Every Shot Counts

posted at the Official Disney Parks Blog on February 9th, 2011 by Jeff Nickel, Associate Producer, Disney Photo Imaging

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If you’ve had the opportunity to visit or compete at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World recently, you may have seen us there to capture your glory in a photo. Our newest offering, Gameday Photos, is a professional photography service from Disney Photo Imaging that specializes in action photos of athletes and fans during the various competitions and tournaments at the complex. We photograph a wide variety of events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex including basketball, baseball, softball, gymnastics, lacrosse, soccer, field hockey and many more.

Gameday Photos Photographers work the best angles from the closest distances possible to get closer to the action. After the competition, you can visit any viewing locations at the Complex to search for your photos by event or team name, or visit us at the HP Field House, Jostens Center, or the HESS Gazebo to create cool prints and products. Your photos are then added to a Gameday Photos card that can be claimed at our new website, www.gamedayphotos.com.

From home, you can view and share your photos or create any number of personalized products from Photo Books and Calendars to Mouse pads and Water Bottles. You can also purchase all of your team’s photos from the entire event on one convenient Gameday Photos CD. You’ll get the high-resolution JPG files and a limited license agreement, allowing you to share and print your photos on your own time. 

Special moments pass by in the blink of an eye. Let ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Gameday Photos preserve the memories you will treasure for a lifetime.

Walt and Lillian’s 30th wedding anniversary- A Unique Anniversary Party

A Unique Anniversary Party

posted [Official Disney Parks Blog] on February 8th, 2010 by Heather Hust Rivera, Manager, Social Media, Disneyland Resort

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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seemed like a good time to share a photo I recently saw for the first time. It’s from a unique anniversary party of two sweethearts: Walt and Lillian Disney. They are photographed with their daughters, Diane and Sharon, around a huge cake inside the yet-to-be-opened Golden Horseshoe on July 13, 1955, just four days before the official opening of Disneyland park.

It was the ultimate celebration. Three hundred guests were invited to celebrate Walt and Lillian’s 30th wedding anniversary. Invitees included Spencer Tracy, Cary Grant and Gary Cooper. Can you imagine getting this invitation?

WHERE: Disneyland . . . where there’s plenty of room . . .
WHEN: . . . Wednesday, July 13, 1955, at six o’clock in the afternoon . . .
WHY: . . . because we’ve been married Thirty Years . . .
HOW: . . . by cruising down the Mississippi on the Mark Twain’s maiden voyage, followed by dinner at Slue-Foot-Sue’s Golden Horseshoe!
Hope you can make it – we especially want you and, by the way, no gifts, please – we have everything, including a grandson.
Lilly and Walt

If you’ve haven’t heard the story, party guests piled into horse-drawn surreys and were taken down Main Street and into Frontierland where they boarded the Mark Twain Riverboat and sipped mint juleps. At the Golden Horseshoe Saloon (as it was called then), guests were treated to the very first, but unofficial, performance of the Golden Horseshoe Revue, created by Wally Boag, the original Pecos Bill.

Next time you visit Frontierland, step inside the Golden Horseshoe and imagine what that anniversary party might have been like nearly 55 years ago.

Hand-Painted ‘Disney’ Basses Will Be Auctioned Off To Benefit Music Education

posted [Official Disney Parks Blog] on February 4th, 2010 by Thomas Smith, Social Media Director, Disney Parks

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We showed you “Genie” first on the blog…and then promised more. Well, here they are — the remaining Disney-artist designed and painted instruments created specifically to benefit music education. And yes, you can possibly own one.

There are five hand-painted string basses. A few of them celebrate Disney classics and others tell the stories of Disney’s newest characters. But it’s best to hear it from the artists themselves and learn how and why they transformed the Conn-Selmer, Inc., donated instruments into one-of-a-kind works of art.

So, want one? The instruments will be auctioned off by Julien’s Auctions after they’re showcased at music and art museums across the nation – with proceeds benefiting the music education programs of GRAMMY Foundation. More details on the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Disney Magic Music Days at Walt Disney World and an event calendar now live at www.disneyartformusic.com.