Have you ever wanted to get to know your tour guides here at Tours Departing Daily? We get asked all kinds of questions, so we decided to make a page that includes all kinds of information about us. We hope you find it entertaining and informative.

Kevin Crone

A wacky, fun, ultra-sarcastic five year old, in a twenty-four year old’s body.

Basics:

Hometown - Helendale, CA
Current Residence - Helendale, CA (yeah…lol)
Occupation - Draftsman, Director

The Condensed Version

I like to break society norms. Different cultures and people in general fascinate me. I am driven by concepts and ideas. I am a strong believer that if you follow your passion, that thing that drives you, motivates you, and gives you hope, that you will actually start to live the life you were supposed to.

Hobbies:

Guitar, piano, skimboarding, snowboarding, basketball, weightlifting (it’s a hobby because I don’t do it as much as I should), road trips.

Movies:

People often ask me what my favorite genre of movie is. My answer is always, “any genre of movie that tells a great story.” Story is everything. My all time favorite movie is “The Goonies”, close behind is “Back to the Future.”

Music:

I honestly enjoy all types of music. I have a strong connection to music and am inspired by it all the time. People that consistently are turned off by what style of music you listen to or don’t listen to frustrate me to no end. My all time favorite band is Emery. I also enjoy Relient K, AC/DC, Rush, Led Zepplin, Dave Matthews Band, OneRepublic, U2, and in general, classic rock, anything 80’s, techno, and classical music (so I can think while I drive erratically in the rain).

Food:

I love food. No. Let me say this again. I LOVE FOOD. About 50 percent of my budget goes to food. As a kid my family very rarely “ate out” at restaurants, so I’ve been making up for it recently. I love Buffalo wings, Bleu Cheese, Seafood, Italian Food, and hamburgers bigger than my face. I have the unfortunate addiction to Starbucks. Venti Caramel Frappucino w/heavy whipping cream, and extra caramel. Yeah it goes down like that. If you work at Starbucks and forget either of these two things (extra caramel, heavy whipping cream), I'm probably gonna ask for you to make it again. Why? Because I'm picky, it costs me 5.85 for that mess, and the sign says, "If your coffee isn't perfect, we'll make it over."

Places to Eat:

Cheescake Factory (I like my menu’s in the form of a novel), In n Out, Mo’s Barbeque, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sushi, BJ’s Pizza, Oggi’s Pizza, Subway
 

Quotes:

“Just keep rollin’" - Lefty

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

Disney Stuff

Favorite Character:

Pinocchio.

Favorite Attraction:

World Famous Jungle Cruise.

Favorite Spot at Disneyland:

The Hub.

Favorite Moment at Disneyland:

The first time Matthew, Michaela and I went to photograph Disneyland. We dropped everything one night and decided to make the trek to Disneyland. It was in the Spring of 2010, and the park had officially closed at 10:00PM. I remember standing in front of the Partner’s Statue, camera and tripod sitting right in front of me. I was lost in a trance staring at Walt and Mickey. I glanced down Main Street to locate Matt and Michaela. They too were standing in front of their cameras and tripods. For once, we were all doing the very thing we were made to do. And we were doing it together, sharing in our passion. I will remember this moment for the rest of my life.

Favorite Jungle Cruise Joke:

“Shhhh, Nobody move. Don’t make a sound like a white marble because these are hungry hungry hippos.”

Fantasmic or World of Color?

World of Color.

First Trip to or Memory of the Park:

I think my first trip to Disneyland was when I was a baby. But the one that I remember most was when I was five years old. I remember eating at the Big Thunder Ranch Barbeque and while waiting, getting a splinter in my finger from crawling all over the wooden fences (yeah I was that kid). I remember this almost ruined my day as it may have been my very first splinter. I remember coming back to Disneyland as a Jr. Higher to find all the wooden railings and fences glazed over with a fine finish. I like to think that I was the kid who caused Disneyland to finish and treat all their railings, but this probably isn’t the case.

Photography Stuff

How Did You Get Started in HDR? What do You Like About it?

I remember that I kept seeing images across the internet of large sweeping landscapes in vivid color and dynamic lighting. At first glance I just thought they were single pictures, until I tried to do the same on my own. I remember taking a picture of a sunset one evening. The reds, magentas, and oranges all looked fabulously vibrant, but the amazing foreground that I wanted to include in my composition was completely black, and silhouetted. Don’t get me wrong, there are some awesome shots like this that really have a great feel to them, but for this situation I really wanted to show the expansive feel of the area, but I couldn’t capture all the different light levels in one shot. I did a little research and found exactly why my pictures [landscapes] weren’t coming out how I wanted them too. They weren’t HDR. So I took my first HDR really late at night in my kitchen, glamorous right? I threw it together and thought, wow, this has a real fantasy feel to it. There must be a perfect application for this right? Disneyland.

My favorite part of HDR photography is being able to exaggerate certain aspects of a scene during processing to the extent so that it looks more appropriate to what the human eye sees. There are certain details and atmospheric elements that occur that can’t easily be captured in a single photograph. With Disneyland, some of these elements can be pushed a bit further to create a real fantasy feel that Disneyland offers in the first place. I love this.

Favorite Thing About the Photography Process:

I love being behind the lens. For me, there is just something that happens when you look through the viewfinder. It's really difficult to explain, but in a way its really magical. It's kind of like entering another world. I think I may have finally figured it out.
There is something I've tried to equate over the years about what the human eye sees on its own, and how the human eye sees what a lens has captured in a finished photograph. I feel that there is a connection between the two things. Otherwise, why would we enjoy photography? What measure would we have in saying, I like this photo, or I like this one. Our eyes are constantly moving, while our mind is constantly interpreting. I'd like to believe that our mind takes snapshots of images when we subconsciously feel things during significant times in our life. Our mind then stores these snapshots in our memory. Think about it for a second. What about the moment you found out someone close died. Maybe that moment when you had your first kiss? Or what about the moment you got that really great job? You experience a rush of emotion, and your mind takes subconscience snapshots of what the sunset looked like during that moment you found out that very close person died, or the rose you glanced at right before that big kiss, or the amount of light and shadow in the room when you got that awesome job. And then, when you see a photograph, your memory database is uploaded with an image that is similar with a real image you have experienced with your own eye, and you say, "Hey I like that picture."
For me, this is why I love being behind the lens. I feel like I have a memory that is overloaded with emotional times, happy moments, and significant events, so that when I get in the lens, it's like a plethora of creativity and ideas. Suddenly everything in the frame can be formed from my subconscious, from these moments in life when I was really living. Because, don't we remember the times in our lives that have had the most effect on us? It's like playing back a movie.

How Long Does a Picture Take to Edit? Which One Took the Longest?

To process a picture, it usually takes on average about 2 hours per photo. The longest I have taken on a photo has been up to 6 hours and the shortest has been 1 hour 30 min. If the photo is of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street U.S.A., or a very recognizable part of Disneyland, I know it’s going to be a long haul.

Favorite Picture You've Done:

My favorite picture I have done is Tours Departing Daily - The entrance to the World Famous Jungle Cruise.

What do You Hope People Get From Tours Departing Daily?

It has always been my hope that people who view our photographs are immediately taken back to Disneyland. That for one instance they can feel the magic they did when they were in the park. For those people that can’t visit the park often, or who haven’t been to Disneyland in a very long time, I hope that our photos serve as a form of excitement for their next trip. And mostly, I hope that the essence that is Disneyland somehow touches your heart and causes you to remember that whatever it is you aspire to, whatever it is you want, whatever it is you dream for can really come true.

Michaela Hansen

A lady who loves to find beauty in everything and convince everything of its beauty.

Basics:

Hometown - Rohnert Park, CA
Current Residence - Victorville, CA
Occupation - Administrative Assistant for an architecture firm

The Condensed Version

I have many ideas and will work tirelessly to see them through to fruition. My love for my friends, family, and husband is surpassed only by my love for God and desire to be used by Him to share love with others.

Hobbies:

Drawing, painting, reading (although I don’t do it nearly as often as I’d like) and snowboarding.

Movies:

The Goonies, Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, My Fair Lady, Singing in the Rain, Tron: Legacy, Indiana Jones, Up, Ratatouille, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, period films and classics.

Music:

Adele, Stavesacre, Sia, A Fine Frenzy, Daft Punk, Sara Bareilles, Windham Hill Guitar, Ellie Goulding, Helen Jane Long, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington (old school jazz makes my heart sing), Big Band and classical.

Food:

My father used to convince me to try all sorts of crazy dishes growing up and because of that I am completely comfortable trying most anything. I am very blessed to have an amazing cook for a husband and would have to say his cooking is my favorite. My favorite types of food are Italian, French and Japanese.

Places to Eat:

P.F. Changs, Cheesecake Factory, Karl Strauss Brewery, Smokin' Mo's BBQ, Oggi’s, BJ’s, Sushi. I have yet to find a really good authentic Italian place locally, but I’m determined to do so.

Quotes:

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

"Whatever course you decide upon there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires....courage."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein

"Keep rollin'" - Lefty

Disney Stuff

Favorite Character:

The Matterhorn Yeti... does that count? Ok, but really let me explain…one of my fondest memories of Disneyland is riding the Matterhorn with my sister. She would always scream and cover her eyes whenever we passed the yeti, even as an adult. It always gave me a good chuckle. My favorite character would have to be Mickey, because this amazing place that has brought so much joy to so many, was all started by him. Thanks Mickey!

Favorite Attraction:

The original Pirates of the Caribbean and The World Famous Jungle Cruise.

Favorite Spot at Disneyland:

New Orleans Square. There’s just something about the cool breeze, the Rivers of America and that sweet sweet jazz. Does it get any better than that?

Favorite Moment at Disneyland:

My favorite moment at Disneyland would be the first night the three of us went to the park to take pictures. There was no blog, no grand plan or scheme, just the pure enjoyment of doing something we love together. It was the first time in a long time that I felt alive and like I was doing what I was meant to do. From that moment on, something amazing grew and it has been an exciting and blessed journey ever since.

Favorite Jungle Cruise Joke:

"Don't worry, the natives tell me that the hippos are only dangerous when they climb up in the trees and start doing big hippo cannon balls right down on top of us."

Fantasmic or World of Color?

It‘s too hard to pick one over the other. I love Fantasmic! For the live action, epic story and, of course, the monkeys, I mean you just don’t get that kind of entertainment anywhere. WoC is also fantastic, really, it is just awe-inspiring and absolutely beautiful. It also offers something completely new to Disney night shows. So my answer would have to be both.

First Trip to or Memory of the Park:

The most vivid memory I have of going to Disneyland as a child, was my first ride on Pirates of the Caribbean. I remember being so engrossed in the “reality” of the ride that when we encountered Captain Blackbeard as he was firing away canons, I immediately ducked and hid between my parents to avoid being hit. I really felt like I was in the middle of a battle in another world (the imagination of a child is a beautiful thing). It was such an adventure and that has stayed with me all these years.

Photography Stuff

How Did You Get Started in HDR? What do You Like About it?

To be quite honest, I never really thought I would be a photographer. I had always been interested in drawing and painting as a child and it was what I loved most. I had never even taken a picture of anything before that first night the three of us shot together. So my journey into photography began with HDR. Before our first night of shooting, we came across some insanely beautiful landscape photography that was unlike any photography I had ever seen. It was almost reminiscent of a painting and I was instantly intrigued and determined to find out how this was achieved. I love the concept of HDR, capturing a moment in time that more closely resembles what you experienced yourself in that moment, but what I love even more is the artistic freedom that comes with it. I love the ability it gives you to take a beautiful subject and mold it and create it into something all your own. To convey the feeling you had in that moment of capturing it. To share the warmth of a sunset as it kisses the tops of buildings and the beautiful tones that emanate from them or the warm glow from street lights as they dance across the cobble stone pavement. To create a fantasy world, as it were, a world seen through your eyes and what better subject for such an expression than Disneyland?

Favorite Thing About the Photography Process:

I would have to say the entire process, from capturing the photo to processing it. The moment I “see” something, there is an instant excitement that comes from discovering something new or a discovering a new way of capturing it. The same excitement comes when I’m processing my photo. Each photo takes on its own style and tone and I feel as though I’m just along for the ride.

How Long Does a Picture Take to Edit? Which One Took the Longest?

A picture can take anywhere from 2-8 hours. Some can take even longer. The photo that took me the longest was Parting Glance of Magic. I came back to it over the course of a few days before it was completed.

Favorite Picture You've Done:

My favorite photo I have done would have to be Parting Glance of Magic. It was one of the first evenings we spent closing the park. We were sitting on a bench enjoying some coffee and the ambiance when Main Street cleared out. It was a very surreal moment.

What do You Hope People Get From Tours Departing Daily?

My hope is that our photos would be a source of joy and inspiration for everyone that visits. That they would bring back fond memories of moments past and excitement for moments to come. Most importantly, I hope that people are inspired. Inspired to pick up their camera, paint brush or pen and create. To pursue that which makes them feel alive and filled with purpose, to make a difference, because dreams can come true, if we have courage to pursue them.

Matthew Hansen

A witty, warm hearted, logical gentleman addicted to adventure & alliteration, infected by idealism & curiosity.

Basics:

Hometown - Helendale, CA
Current Residence - Victorville, CA
Occupation - High School Custodian

The Condensed Version

I get lost in the things I take interest in, researching them until they are like an old friend, which is often useless to others. I'm drawn to things much older than myself. I am often optimistic because I believe that with God, all things are possible.

Hobbies:

Cooking, graphic design, writing, guitar, computers, web design, bodyboarding, video games that involve flailing about even when flailing about isn't necessary.

Movies:

(Movies are such an amazing form of creativity and communication. There are so many great films it's difficult to list just a few)
Tron: Legacy, The Goonies, Harry Potter Series, Up, Wall-E, Ratatouille, Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (not a big fan of the sequels), Alice in Wonderland (Burton/Depp version), Indiana Jones series, The Ghost and the Darkness, Most Russell Crowe Movies, Most Johnny Depp Movies, Classic films starring the likes of Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck or Humphrey Bogart, period films, Westerns that are more adventurous than depressing.

Music:

(I should start by stating that I love all types of music, but in an attempt to be brief, here's what I listen to most) Stavesacre, Anberlin, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, anything that swings, Ragtime, Jazz, instrumental guitar (especially the spanish flamenco variety), Techno, Motion Picture scores, classical.

Food:

I love a wide variety of foods and thanks to my lovely wife, am always looking to try something new. My absolute favorite foods are the ones I make. It's not that I am some fantastic cook or anything but I love creating and it's a wonderful outlet for that. The food you make yourself always seems to taste a little better. If you happen to find me at Starbucks, you'll probably hear me order a Skinny Caramel Macchiato.

Places to Eat:

Smokin' Mo's BBQ (No longer in Huntington Beach which is really quite depressing, the closest one is now just a quick drive up to Pismo Beach!), Karl Strauss Brewery, PF Changs, CPK, Cheesecake Factory, BJ's Pizza, The Yardhouse, Sushi.

Quotes:

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

"Keep rollin'" - Lefty

"Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy" - Dumbledore

"One day my ashes will return to earthly slumber, spread far and wide across the desert and the seas, until then I will live each day in awe and wonder, look forward to each sunrise" - Mark Salomon

"Drug dealers wouldn't be caught dead in those polyester rags" - Data

Disney Stuff

Favorite Character:

I am going to cheat because, well, I am in front of the keyboard and you have no way of stopping me. If I had to pick just one, how could I choose anyone other than Mickey? If I can give a nod to my other favorites, they would be - Gus (Cinderella), Rolley (101 Dalmatians because I really am hungry), Ray (Princess and the Frog), Dug (UP), Wall-E.

Favorite Attraction:

Pirates of the Caribbean pre Jack Sparrow, now the World Famouse Jungle Cruise.

Favorite Spot at Disneyland:

The old Disney Gallery with the sound of Ernie McLean jazzing up New Orleans Square.

Favorite Moment at Disneyland:

Again I must cheat (are you sensing a pattern here?). To my defense, I feel the moments would be categorized differently, thus making it okay... or something.
One would have to be getting into Disneyland on the 50th anniversary after waiting in line all night with my mom and dad, being greeted by wonderful cast members applauding guests down a red-carpeted Main Street. That was something I will never forget.
Another would have to be the first time Michaela and I went together. There's nothing quite like the first time you go to the happiest place on earth with the person on earth who makes you the happiest.
My last would be the night Kevin, Michaela and I went to take pictures together at Disneyland for the first time. Life sprung anew in us that night. We had no sense of time, no sense of needing to eat or sleep. The energy between us could have probably powered the park. The intense contentment and satisfaction we left with that night is something I'm not sure many people get to experience. The world would be a better place if they did. One thing is for sure: something changed for us that night, and it sparked the beginning of what would become Tours Departing Daily and getting to share some Disney magic with all our wonderful readers.

Favorite Jungle Cruise Joke:

"It is no longer considered sporty to hold small children over the edge of the boat while traveling through the hippo pool. Contrary to popular belief, this does not stop their ears from wiggling. That's the hippos of course, not the children..."

Fantasmic or World of Color?

World of Color.

First Trip to or Memory of the Park:

I was too young to remember my first trip to Disneyland. My first memory though is very clear. I remember my parents telling me that I needed to finish eating my hamburger before meeting Mickey Mouse. When I did meet Mickey, I ran up and hugged him, exclaiming "I ate my hamburger for you!" The things that Mouse must hear every day.

Photography Stuff

How Did You Get Started in HDR? What do You Like About it?

We really sort of stumbled on it thanks to the internet. There were these amazing pictures that looked nothing like what we had ever seen before. The pictures looked like what I would imagine the places to look like, not what pictures would capture. Naturally, we had to figure out how this was done and try it ourselves. At the time I didn't have a DSLR, I was using a Panasonic Lumix point and shoot camera. Nevertheless, I took pictures of anything and everything I could find and began making my own HDR's. Early shots were mostly of desert scenes, Huntington Beach and some local mountain scenes.
The thing that I love about HDR is that I feel like it does not only the scene justice, but my feeling of the scene as well. I feel like I am able to capture and express, with much more clarity, my own experience with a subject.

Favorite Thing About the Photography Process:

I love the hunt. Finding intersting things on a photo "expedition" is an adventure in creativity and self expression. It can be a challenge to capture with a camera what you see with your imagination. Working that out and solving that mystery is rewarding like few other things. I also really enjoy post-processing pictures. That's where a lot of the tone and character of a picture is achieved.

How Long Does a Picture Take to Edit? Which One Took the Longest?

A picture can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 8 hours. I would say it takes about 2 hours on average. With each picture we do it seems we get a little better with our workflow. As they say, practice makes perfect.
The picture that took me the longest was The Christmas Castle. It was my first picture of Sleeping Beauty's Castle in its entirety and at Christmas no less. I stayed up all night and worked on that picture to kick off the holiday season on our site. It took me almost nine hours to finish the picture you see posted on our blog. I loved every minute of it.

Favorite Picture You've Done:

I am most proud of The Christmas Castle, but I think my favorite picture is probably Home for Christmas. There's something about Walt & Mickey looking down a warmly glowing Main Street toward a grand Christmas tree that makes me feel all warm and tingly inside. Michaela and I stood there in the pounding rain while I took it. The rain was coming through our umbrellas and the drops hitting near Mickey's feet proceeded to blast water all the way up to his head. You really can't tell any of that within the picture itself, but it was truly an experience.

What do You Hope People Get From Tours Departing Daily?

Tours Departing Daily is such a project of love for the three of us. We pour a lot of time and money into it because we believe in it. What I hope more than anything else is that we can be a source of joy and inspiration to everyone that visits and help people to relive fond memories. I think that if we can do that that we are making the world a better place. If you come to this site and you feel love, hope, joy, belonging or magic, then we have done our job.