Disney Tourist Blog News – Vol. 1, No. 6

TOP STORIES

Which restaurant is the most romantic at Walt Disney World? We shared our list and reasons why (and one sleeper pick) earlier this week.

The stunning conclusion of Brickers’ February 2012 Walt Disney World trip report posted; IT WILL SHOCK THE CONSCIENCE.

Our Plaza Inn Review was one of the most ridiculous things on the internet this week. In it, we quoted Abe Lincoln (president) and Sallah (intrepid adventurer.

I posted one of my favorite Spaceship Earth photos ever earlier this week.

Making ADRs soon? Make sure you consult our newly-created (and organized!) index of Disney Restaurant Reviews!

UPCOMING

Monday/Tuesday – Best-Value Character Dining on the Disney Dining Plan

Tuesday/Wednesday – Best Disneyland Attractions

Later this week… – Dining Reviews

Throughout the week… We’ll be sharing exclusive photos on DisneyTouristBlog Facebook Fan Page – “Like” us there to see them, as we won’t be posting them anywhere else!

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Imagineering Disney presents a fan-made miniature Main Street Electrical Parade. Pure awesome.

TouringPlans.com Blog with a breakdown of the worst-value restaurants on the Disney Dining Plan (by Tom).

ImagiNERDing details the evolution of character dining.

…MAKIN’ MEMORIES

Layout production is ongoing for the big Disneyland project…

SHUTTERMOUSE

It’s okay to blow out highlights, and sometimes even sky, in your photos. Sometimes this can give a shot added pop. Rich blacks and bright brights can be a good thing, despite what many HDR photographers may think.

Check out ISO 5571 – Disney Photography Podcast, co-hosted by me, for more great Disney photography tips!

NEWS YOU CAN USE

The Disney Blog covers the Avengorail.

Mousesteps offers an awesome photo update from the Polynesian & Magic Kingdom that includes Orange Bird and John Lasseter!

Disneyland Live reports on the AP Preview for Cars Land and Buena Vista Street merchandise.

MiceAge’s Kevin Yee analyzes the “Declining by Degrees” of Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival.

Inside the Magic covers the debut of Disney Dreams! at Disneyland Paris.

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We hope you enjoyed our story tonight, The Disney Tourist Blog News. If you have any suggestions for “article” ideas, please leave them in the comments.

-Tom Bricker, Editor in Chief

Disney Tourist Blog News – Vol. 1, No. 5

TOP STORIES

Depending upon who you ask, cupcakes are at the foundation of the food pyramid. Check out our reviews of Walt Disney World’s Top Cupcakes.

Parts 7, 8 and 9 of Brickers’ February 2012 Walt Disney World trip report posted, lots of Epcot and night photos.

Ever wanted to take awesome Disney photos with only your iPhone? We have you covered with our in-depth iPhoneography (iPhone+photography, get it?) at Disney tips!

We continue to share fun and exclusive photos on DisneyTouristBlog Facebook Fan Page – we’re doing a photo caption contest featuring an embarrassing photo from my childhood!

Making ADRs soon? Make sure you consult our newly-created (and organized!) index of Disney Restaurant Reviews!

UPCOMING

Monday/Tuesday – Gorgeous Spaceship Earth photo, February Walt Disney World trip report CONCLUSION!

Tuesday/Wednesday – Disney Book Reviews

Later this week… – Dining Reviews

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Passport 2 Dreams present part 1 of a thoughtful examination of the lighting fixtures in the Magic Kingdom.

TouringPlans.com Blog with the FINALE of their recap of “One More Disney Day” at Walt Disney World and Disneyland (Disneyland recap by Tom).

Progress City, USA with a look at “The Sweatbox,” a leaked documentary on the troubled making of Kingdom of the Sun.

Daveland takes a look at Casa de Frit0s at Disneyland.

…MAKIN’ MEMORIES

I’ve completed editing on over 300 photos from “One More Disney Day” at Disneyland. Now, layout production begins on the project…

SHUTTERMOUSE

Instead of getting closer to the subject your photographing, move away from your subject and use your optical zoom. This causes what’s known as “perspective compression” and makes the background behind your subject appear closer to them (and thus larger). It can add an interesting element to an otherwise normal shot.

Check out ISO 5571 – Disney Photography Podcast, co-hosted by me, for more great Disney photography tips!

NEWS & RUMORS

Disney Food Blog covers the Disney Fantasy dining menu.

WDW for Grownups reports that free WiFi is now available at all Walt Disney World Resorts.

Disneyland Live reports that Alice Davis will be honored with a window on Main Street.

MiceAge’s Kevin Yee gives a balanced review of Storybook Circus at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Q&A

Any chance you will be adding dining reviews specific to character dining?? In our trips we’ve done 1900 park fare, plaza, garden grill, donald breakfastasaurus, liberty tree tavern (when they had it ) and cinderellas royal table but looking for a new option! Thinking o’hana breakfast (reliving the moments I stayed at polynesian as a child before it grew out of price range) or chef mickey (yes haven’t done chef mickeys yet). Thoughts?

-Bridget

We’ve only done Chef Mickey’s and ‘Ohana’s breakfasts once each, so no review until we do them once more each. We’ve done Cape May Cafe twice (haven’t done a review yet), and have liked that the best. I’d rank Chef Mickey’s as #2 and ‘Ohana #3, but really, all were AWESOME. You can’t go wrong with any of them! Crystal Palace is another great option (read our review here), especially if you get reservations prior to park opening, as you can get photos all alone on Main Street!

If you have Disney-related questions for us, please post them on our Facebook page!

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If you’re going to make a purchase on Amazon.com, please click the banner above first. Using the banner here helps support DisneyTouristBlog.com (at no cost to you!) and helps us continue to provide you with great content.

We hope you enjoyed our story tonight, The Disney Tourist Blog News. If you have any suggestions for “article” ideas, please leave them in the comments.

-Tom Bricker, Editor in Chief

 

Disney Tourist Blog News – Vol. 1, No. 4

TOP STORIES

Tamron 17-55mm f/2.8 lens review – the PERFECT lens for Disney; now with a rebate on it at Amazon.com!

Enter to WIN a copy of The Muppets Blu-ray from Disney Tourist Blog!

Part 5 of Brickers’ February 2012 Walt Disney World trip report posted – sunset in Epcot.

Storybook Circus is (soft) open! – hear our thoughts on this and the rest of the Fantasyland Expansion!

We continue to share fun and exclusive photos on DisneyTouristBlog Facebook Fan Page – look for the Facebook-exclusive neutral density filter photo of guests flowing down Main Street during “One More Disney Day” at Disneyland.

New “Top Posts” section added to Disney Tourist Blog – Check out these great posts from 2011 that you might have missed! (Navigate to older or newer “top posts” at bottom of that page)

UPCOMING

Sunday/Monday - The Muppets Blu-ray Review

Monday/Tuesday – Top Disney World Cupcakes

Later this week… – Disney Book Reviews, Disney Dining Reviews, Top Disney Cupcakes, Disney iPhoneography

NEWS YOU CAN USE

TouringPlans.com Blog with a recap of “One More Disney Day” (part 3 of 4) at Walt Disney World and Disneyland (Disneyland recap by Tom).

Disney Food Blog offers a detailed summary of the D23 “Off the Map” event at Disneyland!

The Explorium with a tribute to 45 years of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Mouseplanet takes a look back at Walt Disney’s photographer.

WEDWay Radio presents a riveting interview with longtime Disney animator, Floyd Norma.

…MAKIN’ MEMORIES

I just can’t get enough of the beautiful trees that were in bloom during “One More Disney Day” at Disneyland. What a great day for shooting!

SHUTTERMOUSE

HDR is useful, fun, and sometimes even necessary to capture the full dynamic range of what the human eye can see through a photo. However, it’s not always necessary. Not every highlight needs to be in-check, and not every shadow needs complete detail. Sometimes there is beauty in the imperfect, and deep darks and bright brights can actually make a photo pop a bit more. Trying to over-perfect a photo in the digital darkroom can make that photo seem fake and less compelling. This type of editing also takes a lot of time for what can be very inconsequential gains. Remember to balance the incremental gains with the amount of time you’re editing a photo. Time is finite, and although sloppy editing to achieve quantity over quality can be just as bad, there’s something to be said for efficiency!

NEWS & RUMORS

Zannaland with an examination of some Storybook Circus details.

Disneyland Live wonders whether Fantasy Faire has been canceled.

MiceAge reports from the Walt Disney Company annual shareholder meeting.

Q&A

I am staying at a non-Disney hotel, so I can’t take part in the attraction part of the EMH. However, do they kick people out? If I want to walk around and take photos and just stay in the park as long as I want without riding attractions…can I do this?

-Sonya

Although I’m sure other guests (and maybe Disney) frown on what you’re asking to do, I don’t think you’ll have an issue. Disney checks room keys at attraction entrances, but nowhere else that we’ve seen. That doesn’t mean you definitely won’t have an issue, but we doubt you will.

If you have Disney-related questions for us, please post them on our Facebook page!

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We hope you enjoyed this issue of The Disney Tourist Blog News. We’re looking forward to refining this concept and adding new segments in the coming weeks. If you have any suggestions for “article” ideas, please leave them in the comments.

-Tom Bricker, Editor in Chief

Disney Tourist Blog News – Vol. 1, No. 2

TOP STORIES

DisneyTouristBlog.com celebrates 1-Year Anniversary. Many puzzled that FCC hasn’t shut website down for dangerous levels of awesomeness.

Parts 1 and 2 of Brickers’ February 2012 Walt Disney World trip report posted, featuring Brickers invade Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

“One More Disney Day” planning tips highlighted. Critics scoff at half-hearted endorsement of 5 Hour Energy, feeling Mr. Pibb & Red Vines received cold shoulder.

Club 33 lunch review revealed, featuring ridiculous number of photos – bust out your monocle and top hat!

Newly processed and “rare” photos shared on DisneyTouristBlog Facebook Fan Page – stunning revelation that most “fans” of Disney Tourist Blog are communists due to their failure to endorse dinosaur-additions!

Disney Visa – worth it?!

UPCOMING

Sunday/Monday – February trip report part 3

Monday/Tuesday - Epcot Flower & Garden Festival preview

Later this week… – Photos and live updates from “One More Disney Day” (and beyond) at Disneyland!

NEWS YOU CAN USE

DesignerLand presents its World Showcase prototype shirts. Disney, hire this dude!

Long Forgotten Haunted Mansion takes a stroll through the graveyard.

TouringPlans.com Blog weighs the pros and cons of PhotoPass.

Progress City, USA discusses the never-built Scandanavia pavilion.

DisneyFoodBlog shares Disney-food themed Facebook Cover photos (designed by me).

Zannaland reflects upon Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom with an incredibly thorough and fair review.

Passport 2 Dreams takes a stand against the treatment of Walt Disney World’s rich history by Disneyland kids.

The Explorium with a fond look back at the WESTcot park that never came to fruition at Disneyland.

…MAKIN’ MEMORIES

It’s the doldrums of winter, and we’re really itching to escape to a tropical paradise right about now!

SHUTTERMOUSE

When taking family photos outside during the daytime, turn on your camera’s flash. Your camera will default to the flash being off (if you’re using auto-mode) because of the light levels present during the daytime hours, but portraits of people can sometimes contain unflattering shadows on your subject’s face if you don’t use the flash. Daytime flash for portrait photos fills out these shadows and creates a more visually pleasing image!

NEWS & RUMORS

TouringPlans.com reports that the The Boulangerie Patisserie in Epcot’s France pavilion at Walt Disney World will soon be expanded.

Al Lutz of MiceAge shares some of the exciting little changes being made at Disney California Adventure in preparation for its summer reboot.

WDWMagic provides details on the closure of Habit Heroes at Epcot.

Disneyland Live discusses the Mobile Magic app, now available for smart phones.

Q&A

My fiancee, normally being a t-shirt and jeans gal, has me on the ball to take advantage of this situation to possibly buy her some nicer and, likely, more comfortable clothing for our honeymoon. So, do you think you could tell me where Sarah’s dresses come from?

-Justin

Ahh…the number 2 question we receive via email (after “what kind of camera does Tom use?”) is where does Sarah buy her dresses. There is no succinct answer to that. All over the place. To save ourselves a lot of time typing redundant emails over the years, we’ve made this page: Where Sarah Shops.

To answer some other similar questions: yes, dresses are more comfortable than other park attire. No, it’s not an “issue” getting into or out of attractions when wearing them.

If you have Disney-related questions for us, please post them on our Facebook page!

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We hope you enjoyed this issue of The Disney Tourist Blog News. We’re looking forward to refining this concept and adding new segments in the coming weeks. If you have any suggestions for “article” ideas, please leave them in the comments.

-Tom Bricker, Editor in Chief

Disney Tourist Blog News – Vol. 1, No. 1

TOP STORIES

Brickers return from Walt Disney World trip, report on visit to Journey Into Imagination Upstairs ImageWorks.

Facebook Cover Photos gallery updated – now contains over 60 high quality cover photos!

Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta review – lukewarm mark for this Disneyland fan favorite

February 2012 trip report photos previewed on DisneyTouristBlog Facebook Fan Page–see if you give them the thumbs up!

Disney theme park games reviewed

UPCOMING

Sunday/Monday – February 2012 Walt Disney World trip report, part I

Monday/Tuesday – Behind the Seeds at Epcot tour review

Later this week… – Disney book reviews; “One More Disney Day” planning; Epcot Flower & Garden Festival preview; Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom review

NEWS YOU CAN USE

ImagineeringDisney.com explores the Rhine River

Yesterland shrinks readers down and propels them on an exciting Body War(s).

DisneyFoodBlog showcases a decadent cupcake from Disneyland’s Bayou Bash.

Gorillas Don’t Blog takes a look at 1968 Tomorrowland

…MAKIN’ MEMORIES

For the first issue of The Disney Tourist Blog News, we chose a fitting photo: a 1955 original, Sleeping Beauty Castle. It looks so peaceful at night, doesn’t it?

NEWS & RUMORS

TouringPlans.com reports on monorail beam damage at Walt Disney World.

OTPN reports on developments at Epcot, including Via Napoli and Habit Heroes.

WDWMagic provides schedule details for “One More Disney Day” at Walt Disney World.

Q&A

i’m planning to buy an expensive camera for my trip in march. i’m concerned about where to leave it while on the larger rides. thanks.

-Ralph

With the exception of Sum of All Thrills at Epcot, you can take your camera with you on every ride at Walt Disney World. The only one you might not want to take it on is Kali River Rapids. We’ve never had a problem on any other attractions. Usually, it doesn’t fit in the small storage areas on rides, but as long as you bag is a reasonable size, it’ll fit at your feet. Most of the time, I keep my camera in my hand for the duration of the ride. Hope that helps.

If you have Disney-related questions for us, please post them on our Facebook page!

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We hope you enjoyed the first issue of The Disney Tourist Blog News. We’re looking forward to refining this concept and adding new segments in the coming weeks. If you have any suggestions for “article” ideas, please leave them in the comments.

-Tom Bricker, Editor in Chief