Castle decorated for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Disneyland
posted by paul g @ Tuesday, September 20, 2005
1 comments
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Castle decorated for the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Disneyland
Our Trip to Disney
No matter how many times we visit Walt Disney World, the magic of Disney is always overwhelming.
This was our first extended stay on property. We stayed in our popup at Fort Wilderness. The campground is beautiful.
The campsites were very private and clean. I hadn't had to back into a space in awhile so I was a little concerned. But the loops are layed out very well. I was able to pull straight back into the site. The comfort stations are incredible. These are the cleanest bath houses we've ever seen. We didn't even setup our camper's shower. And they are air conditioned!! We don't see that a lot in campgrounds.
Our first night at WDW we joined in with a campfire sing a long at Fort Wilderness. While Chip and Dale walked through the crowd, a singer had everyone singing with her. We both felt like we were back at summer camp singing songs! Afterwards we walked down to the marina to watch the boat parade. Then went back to the camper to enjoy Kelli's birthday cake.
Saturday we spent the entire day in Magic Kingdom. We left the camper at 7:00 am and didn't return until after 10:00 pm. It was a full day of Disney fun.
The day started with the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. This is a 4-5 hour tour of the Magic Kingdom and some backstage areas. I've heard lots of people say that backstage tours take the magic out of Disney. I disagree! Seeing the effort and care that Disney puts into their parks is incredible and only makes me appreciate it more.
Our lunch on the tour is a great example of the pride Disney takes in everything they do. During lunch our tour guide Matthew took a break to eat. While in the restaurant another guide was there to help us. He arrived before us to set the tables, get the lunches ready, and then answer questions we might have. Although we weren't his group, he treated us like he had been with us from the beginning. I was very impressed with his attitude. He took time to answer everyone's questions and made sure we had what we needed for lunch. As he talked it came out that he has been doing the tours for years. He actually reviewed Matthew during his training. He even told us about some of the celebrities he's taken around Magic Kingdom. I was impressed that the senior tour guide took enough pride in his work to do everything the best he could.
After the tour, we hit all of our favorites rides including Space Mountain, Snow White, It's a Small World, etc. We finally were able to ride Pooh's ride. On all of our previous visits the wait was over an hour with no Fastpasses!
That evening we watched the SpectraMagic parade and the Wishes Night Time Spectacular. They were great. But I prefer Electric Night Parade and the fireworks show during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
After a long, hard, and very hot day, we finally made it back to Fort Wilderness. Kelli had a present waiting for her! Mickey left her a card with a personalized note and signed photo. And we took advantage of one of the best benefits at the campground--24 hour pool!!
With a long day we decided to sleep in a little late on Sunday. We awoke to rising temperatures in our camper! The entire campground lost power sometime in the early morning hours!! So we got moving and headed out for Disney's MGM Studios as quick as we could.
Within minutes of entering the park we were bombarded by Disney characters. They were everywhere!! And as we made our way through the park we continued to see them throughout! This was by far the best place to visit with the characters!
The first attraction we visited was the Lights, Motor, Action Extreme Stunt Show. Wow!!! Great show!! This is a must see on any Disney trip.
But our favorite thing during the weekend (besides the tour) was the Stars and Motor Cars Parade. This parade is one long line of Disney Characters from Lilo and Stich to Luke Skywalker (not really a Disney character) to the Power Rangers, to Mickey and Minnie. The characters were all close enough to make eye contact and those walking stopped at all the young kids. We both got excited thinking about seeing Brooke at her first parade in a few years!!
We ended the night at Fantasmic. This is an awesome show that combines live action, video, fireworks, and more.
It was a great trip!! Disney is a fantastic way to celebrate a birthday. Everywhere we went I made sure Kelli had a birthday button. And dozens of castmembers stopped to wish her a Happy Birthday including several during the Stars and Motor Cars parade.
We can't wait to take Brooke on her first Disney trip!! We're already planning it--December 2009!!!
View the photos from our trip:
Disney Photo Album
This was our first extended stay on property. We stayed in our popup at Fort Wilderness. The campground is beautiful.
The campsites were very private and clean. I hadn't had to back into a space in awhile so I was a little concerned. But the loops are layed out very well. I was able to pull straight back into the site. The comfort stations are incredible. These are the cleanest bath houses we've ever seen. We didn't even setup our camper's shower. And they are air conditioned!! We don't see that a lot in campgrounds.
Our first night at WDW we joined in with a campfire sing a long at Fort Wilderness. While Chip and Dale walked through the crowd, a singer had everyone singing with her. We both felt like we were back at summer camp singing songs! Afterwards we walked down to the marina to watch the boat parade. Then went back to the camper to enjoy Kelli's birthday cake.
Saturday we spent the entire day in Magic Kingdom. We left the camper at 7:00 am and didn't return until after 10:00 pm. It was a full day of Disney fun.
The day started with the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. This is a 4-5 hour tour of the Magic Kingdom and some backstage areas. I've heard lots of people say that backstage tours take the magic out of Disney. I disagree! Seeing the effort and care that Disney puts into their parks is incredible and only makes me appreciate it more.
Our lunch on the tour is a great example of the pride Disney takes in everything they do. During lunch our tour guide Matthew took a break to eat. While in the restaurant another guide was there to help us. He arrived before us to set the tables, get the lunches ready, and then answer questions we might have. Although we weren't his group, he treated us like he had been with us from the beginning. I was very impressed with his attitude. He took time to answer everyone's questions and made sure we had what we needed for lunch. As he talked it came out that he has been doing the tours for years. He actually reviewed Matthew during his training. He even told us about some of the celebrities he's taken around Magic Kingdom. I was impressed that the senior tour guide took enough pride in his work to do everything the best he could.
After the tour, we hit all of our favorites rides including Space Mountain, Snow White, It's a Small World, etc. We finally were able to ride Pooh's ride. On all of our previous visits the wait was over an hour with no Fastpasses!
That evening we watched the SpectraMagic parade and the Wishes Night Time Spectacular. They were great. But I prefer Electric Night Parade and the fireworks show during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
After a long, hard, and very hot day, we finally made it back to Fort Wilderness. Kelli had a present waiting for her! Mickey left her a card with a personalized note and signed photo. And we took advantage of one of the best benefits at the campground--24 hour pool!!
With a long day we decided to sleep in a little late on Sunday. We awoke to rising temperatures in our camper! The entire campground lost power sometime in the early morning hours!! So we got moving and headed out for Disney's MGM Studios as quick as we could.
Within minutes of entering the park we were bombarded by Disney characters. They were everywhere!! And as we made our way through the park we continued to see them throughout! This was by far the best place to visit with the characters!
The first attraction we visited was the Lights, Motor, Action Extreme Stunt Show. Wow!!! Great show!! This is a must see on any Disney trip.
But our favorite thing during the weekend (besides the tour) was the Stars and Motor Cars Parade. This parade is one long line of Disney Characters from Lilo and Stich to Luke Skywalker (not really a Disney character) to the Power Rangers, to Mickey and Minnie. The characters were all close enough to make eye contact and those walking stopped at all the young kids. We both got excited thinking about seeing Brooke at her first parade in a few years!!
We ended the night at Fantasmic. This is an awesome show that combines live action, video, fireworks, and more.
It was a great trip!! Disney is a fantastic way to celebrate a birthday. Everywhere we went I made sure Kelli had a birthday button. And dozens of castmembers stopped to wish her a Happy Birthday including several during the Stars and Motor Cars parade.
We can't wait to take Brooke on her first Disney trip!! We're already planning it--December 2009!!!
View the photos from our trip:
Disney Photo Album
posted by paul g @ Tuesday, September 20, 2005
0 comments
Monday, September 12, 2005
Brooke's first steps in the arena
I've been working to learn more about PhotoShop. Here is a pop out I did of Brooke's special at the AICA Pow Wow back in June.
posted by paul g @ Monday, September 12, 2005
0 comments
2005 National Museum of the American Indian Pow Wow
Last month I attended the NMAI Pow Wow in Washington DC. I was able to visit the dance on Saturday to shoot some photos and video for PowWows.com.
I want to first thank the committeee. They were great to work with. And they put on a wonderful event. The dancers and singers I talked to were all very happy with the weekend. I hope the museum can find a way to do this more often!
I've published my photos and videos to PowWows.com. You can view them here:
http://www.powwows.com/galleries/showgallery.php
I've posted 2 here on the blog. One is of a Southern Buckskin dancers. The other is a panoramic of Grand Entry Saturday evening.
Hope you enjoy!!
I want to first thank the committeee. They were great to work with. And they put on a wonderful event. The dancers and singers I talked to were all very happy with the weekend. I hope the museum can find a way to do this more often!
I've published my photos and videos to PowWows.com. You can view them here:
http://www.powwows.com/galleries/showgallery.php
I've posted 2 here on the blog. One is of a Southern Buckskin dancers. The other is a panoramic of Grand Entry Saturday evening.
Hope you enjoy!!
posted by paul g @ Monday, September 12, 2005
0 comments
2005 National Musuem of the American Indian National Pow Wow
posted by paul g @ Monday, September 12, 2005
0 comments
2005 National Musuem of the American Indian National Pow Wow
posted by paul g @ Monday, September 12, 2005
0 comments
Weekend of Moral Victories
It was a weekend of moral victories for me!
First USC played pretty well in their game against Georgia. I expected a blowout. My score prediction was 45-10. I was elated to be wrong on this one! We were able to compete with a top 10 team. And a couple of less mistakes by us and we win the game!!
At the same time I played in a poker tournament. I helped host a 13 person tournament for Joe Davis's wedding. It was the worse night of cards I've ever seen. I played for over 2 hours before I won a pot. My best pocket pair all night was 5's. And I won a nice sized pot with them--hitting trips on the turn. The only "premium hand" I had all night was AK. And it was unsuited!! A jack came on the flop, and I had a pretty good read that my oppenent had a jack. He confirmed it after I laid down big slick. Most of the night I was looking at 23, 42, 52, 93, etc. But with all those bad cards I was able to finish in 6th-1 out of the money. Not bad for a night of bad cards. I was happy with my discipline not to get impatient and chase flops!
First USC played pretty well in their game against Georgia. I expected a blowout. My score prediction was 45-10. I was elated to be wrong on this one! We were able to compete with a top 10 team. And a couple of less mistakes by us and we win the game!!
At the same time I played in a poker tournament. I helped host a 13 person tournament for Joe Davis's wedding. It was the worse night of cards I've ever seen. I played for over 2 hours before I won a pot. My best pocket pair all night was 5's. And I won a nice sized pot with them--hitting trips on the turn. The only "premium hand" I had all night was AK. And it was unsuited!! A jack came on the flop, and I had a pretty good read that my oppenent had a jack. He confirmed it after I laid down big slick. Most of the night I was looking at 23, 42, 52, 93, etc. But with all those bad cards I was able to finish in 6th-1 out of the money. Not bad for a night of bad cards. I was happy with my discipline not to get impatient and chase flops!
posted by paul g @ Monday, September 12, 2005
0 comments
