Starling Travel

Throughout Disneyland (and apparently Disney World) there are Kodak Picture Spot signs there to show you cool places to take a picture of yourself. I don’t quite think they meant them to be used like Wil Wheaton used them this last trip.

• another batch of pictures from disney worldWIL WHEATON dot NET | WIL WHEATON dot NET

Despite the lack of scenery, his collection of photos made me laugh and were interesting in their own right. Each land in Disney World has a different font for its Kodak Picture Spot sign. The fact that Wil and Anne just took a picture of the sign with Wil goofily smiling for the camera just makes me laugh!

Click on over to Wil’s website and check out his entire collection of photos!

• another batch of pictures from disney worldWIL WHEATON dot NET | WIL WHEATON dot NET

This old Home Movie of DisneyLand in 1956 from Jeff Altman really made me happy to see.

He said:

Shot by my grandfather on his Bell & Howell Filmo using 16mm Kodachrome film stock. This footage was taken a year after the California theme park opened.

It was quite a surprise going through this and seeing my grandmother meeting Walt Disney himself! (Continue Reading…)

Retronaut posted an awesome photo of Disneyland’s backstage cafeteria from 1961.

I love seeing Snow White with a lunch tray. Right behind her is a spaceman and to the right is a cowboy. It’s all that I love about Disneyland all wrapped up in one photo!

Mike and I have been to Disneyland three times since they started the World of Color show at Disney’s California Adventure. We never quite understood it. Once, we were kicked out of the boardwalk area because the show was going to start. We had the vague inkling that we needed to have tickets to watch it, but had no idea if there was a charge for the tickets. Honestly, I really didn’t want to spend an hour in a huge crowd of people.

So we skipped it. Apparently, we shouldn’t have. If this video is any indication, it’s spectacular.

It appears to be a dramatic amalgam of light, fire and water show, but those words don’t entirely describe it. If Las Vegas took the Bellagio fountains, added ever-changing colors and perfect musical choreography, they might get a close approximation of what the Imagineers at Disney have achieved.

For all my questions, the Disneyland Website had answers:

• There is NO charge to watch Disney World of Color, but you do need a ticket. They are distributed on a first come, first served basis.
• You get the FastPass Disney World of Color ticket at the FastPass machines near the Grizzy Run ride. I remember seeing the kiosks there, but I didn’t know how cool it would be to see the show.
• The show is 25 minutes long and we are meant to stand while watching it, so if you have issues with standing for long periods of time, this might not be the show for you.

Next time we go to Disneyland, I’m going to make sure that we get tickets to see the show. I can’t believe I missed it THREE times in a row!

I love to travel and see parts of the world that are different than mine, but the photography collection of Charles W. Cushman allows me to travel not only all around the world, but through the past as well.

• Indiana University’s Digital Library Program: Charles W. Cushman Photograph Collection

Charles Weever Cushman, amateur photographer and Indiana University alumnus, bequeathed approximately 14,500 Kodachrome color slides to his alma mater. The photographs in this collection bridge a thirty-two year span from 1938 to 1969, during which time he extensively documented the United States as well as other countries.

It was so lovely to look at all the old photographs! Here are some of my favorites. (Continue Reading…)

This postcard from PostSecret made me so happy.

Here is the front of the card:

It reads:

Your pal, Mickey Mouse
Love, Minnie Mouse XOXO

Here is the back of the card:

It reads:

The best part of my job is seeing your child’s face as they meet their “best friend.” Don’t ruin it by rushing them for a pic. Hearing them talk is the best part!

I love knowing that the people who play the characters at Disneyland actually CARE about the kids. I had seen an inkling of it, watching them sign the autograph books for the children, but knowing that my thoughts are true makes me want to visit The Happiest Place on Earth again.

How long until I can go to Disneyland again?

PostSecret‘s beneficiary is the National Hopeline Network. It is a 24-hour hotline (1 (800) SUICIDE) for anyone who is thinking about suicide or knows someone who is considering it.

Last year, my sister, Stacey, wanted to go to Disneyland for Christmas. After a HORRIBLE flight delayed by a snow storm, we arrived in California the day after Christmas and enjoyed the park all dressed up for the holidays.

Here is a video showing what it’s like:

Considering how much a fan of the Haunted Mansion I am, you might think that I hate what they do to the ride for Christmas, but I loved it. Here of some photos of the Christmas decorations:

What I loved most of all, however, is the parade and fireworks every evening. They had SNOW! I know it sounds crazy that they would be able to produce a gentle snow fall every evening in southern California, but they did. I don’t know what the snow flakes were made of, but they felt just as cool and fluffy as the snow that delayed our flight in Salt Lake City for so long.

When my sister suggested that we fly to Disneyland for Christmas, I thought she was crazy. I just went along for a family trip that we could laugh at and remember. Now, it’s a year later and I’m sad that I will miss Christmas in Disneyland this year.

Did you know that Disney had a YouTube channel about their amusement parks and cruises? I had no idea, but I’ve spent the last hour or two enjoying it!

• YouTube – DisneyParks’s Channel

Here are my favorites:

The 40th Anniversary of the Haunted Mansion: I love the Haunted Mansion, so seeing this video with it’s history made me happy today.

A Model Day at the Magic Kingdom: This GORGEOUS tilt-shift video makes Disneyland look like a scale model. Watch it in full screen mode so that you don’t miss a thing. LOVELY!

Barack Obama Joins Hall of Presidents: I had no idea that Disney World had a Hall of Presidents. Just seeing this video makes me want to go to Florida NOW!

Of course, you’ll NEVER see something like this on Disney Park’s YouTube channel. Here is a snippet of Be Our Guest, in which a dancer topples his cart. Keep an eye open on the right side of the screen at the 0:36 mark.

It looks like work on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is well underway.

Construction photo via: PostSecret on Twitpic

It will be at Universal Studios Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando Florida. According to Universal, it’s going to be a big deal:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is not just a single attraction. This new themed environment will provide fans with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to experience the magical world of Harry Potter and his friends, and to see some of their favorite locations from the books and films such as the village of Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forrest, and even Hogwarts castle itself. The area will feature attractions, experiential shops and restaurants.

They have conceptual designs of the attractions on the Universal website. Here is what Hogwarts Castle will look like:

It looks nice, but will you be able to go in it?

The new land will be anchored by the most recognizable landmark in Harry Potter’s world: Hogwarts castle. Fans will get to experience some of their favorite locations both within Hogwarts and around the castle grounds.

Here is what Dervish and Banges “experiential” shop will look like:

Universal is going to have a huge surge of visitors just because of this single attraction. I hope they are ready for the crowds. You can find out more here:

• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Universal Orlando Resort

Here is a video of the construction underway:

Here is the official Universal Studios announcement:

I love these photos from Rudy and Cassie on their trip to Disneyland. I always wanted to have a picture of myself trying to pull out the sword in the stone, but no one would take one of me. Next time I go, I’ll have to finally get a snapshot of me.

You can see all the photos here:

• DisneyLand (April 2009) – a set on Flickr

I love this tweet from Rudy:

• Twitter / Rudy Jahchan: Loving the tweetbacks I got from you all regarding our Disney trips. Also awesome learning many of you are insiders at one time or another.

It seems like whenever I tell the Internet I’m going to Disneyland, the whole world wants to experience it with me. We all turn into children again when we talk about Disneyland.