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.

Daily Photo Tour - An Evening at the Mine

Walking through Frontierland one evening I noticed smoke billowing from the stack atop Big Thunder Mountain Railroad's queue. The sun was setting and hitting the side of the mountain, creating a beautiful vibrant backdrop. The sky was full of amazing colors and interesting clouds catching the last light of a long day. It's not hard to picture yourself out on the frontier in a moment like that.

I grew up in the desert. My childhood was filled with searching out interesting rocks, watching sunsets in the big, open sky and make believe that I was a rootin' tootin' cowboy. One of my most frequent imaginings was finding a mine with all sorts of rich stuff and valuables, not realizing that all along, what was truly valuable was the incredible beauty that surrounded me. There's nothing quite like a desert sunset or the way sand glows around dusk and dawn. It's as if the earth was made of gold.

These are the kinds of rabbit hole thoughts I find myself diving into at Disneyland. Sights and sounds ignite memories in a meaningful, tangible way. This is the treasure we constantly find at the Park, to be grateful for good things.

In November we set out to create a story about the Disneyland Railroad that was unique and authentic to the history and legacy it has left. What we ended up with was our first ever film, "All Aboard: The Disneyland Railroad." We couldn't have anticipated the amount of amazing castmembers we've met, and the great comments and feedback we've received from all of you. We wanted to take the time to share it with you again.



by Michaela Hansen, Matthew Hansen and Kevin Crone

NOTE: To watch the video in HD, visit our Cinemagic page by clicking here. Video quality selections will appear as a bar at the top once you have clicked the play button (but not in full screen mode). Full screen mode can be achieved by clicking the diagonal arrows in the lower right corner of the video player.

See the video on YouTube