The Magic in Pixels Disney Photo Blog

June 2010 is Cast Member Appreciation Month

2010-05-27T10:23:00.000-04:00

The Disney Parks are truly amazing pieces of art and entertainment but there is an often-overlooked portion that needs to be given some thanks. It is not an attraction, marvel of architecture, new technology, or animatronic. Quite the contrary, this piece of the park really is a living, breathing, attraction in itself. It is the wonderful Disney CAST-MEMBER, and June of 2010 is Cast Member Appreciation Month at The Magic in Pixels. Without the Cast-Members, the Disney Parks would just be another place to go to blow off some steam and have fun, but the Cast-Members personally, and often thanklessly, transform Walt's Dream into what we all know and love today. Day after day, these dedicated individuals go on-stage in the heat, rain, and crowds to add another dimension to the experience. By performing their roles with enthusiasm and vigor, they can personalize your experience into a one-of-a-kind magical moment and make your children feel as if they are on top of the world.

http://themagicinpixels.com/component/trackback/112-cast-member-appreciation-month?format=raw

TMIP and MagicMeets 2009 Photo Contest

2009-07-12T20:32:00.003-04:00

MagicMeets 2009 is proud to present something new … we want to see your “Magical Memories!”

In a photo contest sponsored by The Magic in Pixels, our guests are hereby invited to enter one photo – from any Disney-related trip – that showcases their perfect Magical Moment, frozen in time. The first-, second- and third-place winners will receive a variety of prizes courtesy of TMIP, Scrapping the Magic, the Disney Moms Panel, WDWRadio/Disneyworldtrivia.com and AllEars.Net. A panel of 10 judges – including MagicMeets founder Fred Block, CMMO Justin Muchoney, Mouse Fan Travel’s Beci Mahnken and WDWToday’s Matt Hochberg – will view all the submissions and each select 10 photos. The 10 photographs with the most votes will be professionally printed, mounted and given to the owners at the end of Saturday's event, compliments of TMIP.com.

The finalists’ photos will be displayed at MagicMeets throughout Saturday’s Main Event. There, all guests may vote to select the top three shots, with the results to be announced at the meet.

Entries must be e-mailed to Tim Devine via The Magic In Pixels Gallery ( tim (at) themagicinpixels (dot) comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) by July 18, and all submissions must come from an e-mail address of a registered MagicMeets 2009 attendee. Entrants should also submit a title for their photo, which will be displayed on The Magic In Pixels Web site.

The rules are these:

* You must be a paid attendee of MagicMeets 2009.
* A guest may enter only one photo.
* The photo must be yours. You may not submit other people's work or copyrighted material (this includes Photopass photos and on-ride photos).
* The photo must be acquired “legally” (i.e., do not submit a photo that used a flash in a flash-prohibited location).
* The photo may not have been judged a winner in any other previous photo contests.
* The photo should be submitted at a high resolution, 4 megapixel (about 2,272x1,704) or larger.

So start sifting through those miles of Disney photo files on your computer or in your Facebook account. We want to see your smiling faces and starry-eyed gazes!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE MAGICMEETS 2009 MAGICAL MEMORIES CONTEST GALLERY!

Farewell Harry Kalas - The Voice of the Phillies

2009-04-13T23:35:00.003-04:00

Anyone who knows me at all knows how I feel about my beloved Phillies. Today, Phillies phans everywhere lost a true legend, a piece of their collective soul, their voice. Hall of Fame broadcaster Harry Kalas collapsed and died in the broadcast booth in Washington, DC, prior to the Phillies game versus the Washington Nationals. The Phillies have lost their voice, a part of their identity.

My love of the Phillies started in 1985 when I was eight years old. Players like Mike Schmidt, Juan Samuel, and Steve Carlton inspired me to want to play but it was the voice and enthusiasm of Harry Kalas that made me love the game. Harry had a style and delivery like no other and you could instantly see how much he truly loved the game. Harry's wonderful rapport and chemistry with Richie Ashburn brought them out of the booth and into your home.

I listened to Harry during Harry's induction into the Hall of Fame, his tribute and eulogy of Richie Ashburn in 1997, and his tribute to America and baseball following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

After 24 seasons of watching the Phillies with diehard enthusiasm and faithful, I finally got to hear Harry Kalas call the final out of the World Series in 2008 as they Phillies finally won the World Series that I had been waiting so long for them to win. 24 years of baseball equates to almost 3,900 baseball games and for once, finally, I got to hear Harry cry out, "Swing and a miss, struck him out.... the Phillies are 2008 World Champions of baseball!"

I wish we could bring him back, just like anyone wishes they could bring back a loved one. Harry felt like he was one of my family. I loved listening to him and I couldn't wait until Spring Training every year after a long, cold winter so I could hear Harry call a Grapefruit League game.

Harry was certainty in a world of change. As I grew older and my life situation changed from year to year, as Presidents changed, as economies rose and fell, and entire countries came and went, I could always count on hearing Harry broadcast a Spring Training game and know that all was right as long as we have baseball in the world. I always felt like Harry was speaking directly to me, as did millions of others in the listening area.

I got to meet Harry one time, briefly, in Clearwater, Florida, about ten years ago. It was a pleasure to speak with him and he was a gracious and genuine person. He even signed a baseball bat for me. At the time, his signature was just one of about twenty-five or so signatures that I was able to collect. Now, that bat is all about Harry's signature with twenty-four others.

I write this post with tears in my eyes and heaviness in my heart. With his death, I feel like I lost a dear friend, a family member, a loved one. Now that he is gone, he becomes even more immortal than he was in life. The Phillies have lost their voice and baseball will never be the same. Thanks for the memories, Harry, we all loved you and will miss you. Your legend will live on forever, as long as there is baseball in the world.

So long, old friend.

A few new milestones...

2009-03-31T23:57:00.002-04:00

The TMIP Disney Photo Forum recently passed over 4,000,000 page views and just today, the TMIP Disney Photo Gallery passed it's 3,000,000th photo served. Thanks for all of the support and patronage over the years.

Remember, there is a coupon special running on the TMIP Print Gallery... head over to The Magic in Pixels Homepage for complete details.

Pixelmania!

2009-03-17T22:54:00.004-04:00

The Magic in Pixels proudly announces it's first signature event, PIXELMANIA!
Walt Disney World Resort, December 3 - December 6.
A gathering of photography, friends, and fun.

WHAT IS PIXELMANIA! ?
Pixelmania! is a festival of Disney Photography, friendship, and fun!

WHO IS THE COMMUNITY THAT IS PRESENTING PIXELMANIA! ?
Pixelmania! is a presentation of The Magic in Pixels.com, the #1 community for Disney Theme Park Photography!

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
Pixelmania! is being held so Disney Photography Enthusiasts can have fun taking pictures and learning with each other in a relaxed environment with other like minded enthusiasts. It is also an opportunity for members of TMIP and other communities to meet and share a common interest.

WHERE IS IT?
Walt Disney World Resort

WHEN IS IT?
December 3, 2009 - December 6, 2009

WHO CAN ATTEND?
ANYONE who enjoys taking photos in the Disney parks.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE?
Events are going to be fun and informative, such as learning how to improve night time photography or get that perfect photo of your favorite location. The format will be open so you don't have to feel rushed going from event to event.

IS THERE A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS?
The official schedule is currently on the drawing board so stay tuned and keep yourself up to date!

I ONLY HAVE A SMALL CAMERA....
Hakuna Matata! You will have just as much fun as everyone else or you get your registration fee refunded.

OK. SO HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO REGISTER?
Basic registration is FREE! There will be opportunities to help defray costs by purchasing t-shirts, etc., at a later date.

I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A SUGGESTION!
Send an email to tim(at)themagicinpixels(dot)com with your suggestion and it will be given consideration.

I WOULD LIKE TO HELP!
Please help by making a small contribution via Paypal (please email for details) and sharing this information to the members of the communities that you run and participate in to help make Pixelmania! a smash hit.

EVERYTHING ON SALE, 25% OFF!

2009-03-15T15:06:00.003-04:00

SAVE 25% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER NOW THRU APRIL!

From now through the end of April, all items in The Magic in Pixels store can be had for 25% off the regular price! Even better, spend $75 and get free shipping as well. New prints will be arriving very soon, so check back often and load up while the special sale is going on. Prints from The Magic in Pixels are professionally printed and are perfect for your home or office, and also make great gift ideas!

Special requests, such and digital artwork and customization can be made by emailing tim(at)themagicinpixels(dot)com. Looking for a particular subject? Send in your requests as well (no characters, please).

You must use discount code 25OFF to get the special price. Go to themagicinpixels.com/shopping to get started!

Cinderella Castle Fantasy HDR

2009-03-14T22:10:00.006-04:00

This fantastic image of Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom combines a series of photographs of varying exposures, combines them with HDR creation software, then tops it off with a touch of Photoshop magic for one amazing image. Quite a bit of time went into the creation of this beautiful scene, with one person commenting that, "it has an Annie Liebowitz look it to". Complement accepted for sure.

This print is available for purchase at The Magic in Pixels in the following sizes: 8x10, 11x14, 16x20. Go to themagicinpixels.com/shopping and get one for yourself or as a gift for someone else today!

Use discount code 25OFF to save 25% on your entire order!

Sir William, King of Fantasyland

2009-03-13T00:51:00.003-04:00

Once upon a time there was a Sword named Excalibur which was lodged in an anvil in an enchanted place called Fantasyland. The stone on which the anvil rested was inscribed, "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rich and wise ruler born of England".

Along came the young price, Sir William, full of vim and vigor and in his youthful exuberance did he try to free said sword from it's prison of iron and stone. But, alas, it was not to be.

Even with his father, Lord Timoteo, by his side, young Sir William could not free the sword, despite his most passionate attempts. Clearly, all of the muscle power the young men could amass would not be enough to release Excalibur from it's prison.

Along came Lord Timoteo's father, whom Sir William doth moniker as the Mighty Pop-Pop, and try as they might, they three nobelmen could not manage to retrieve the mighty Excalibur. This was going to take more than sheer muscle and might to solve. What to do? What to do?

After wishing on a star with his tender heart, the sweet and loving Sir William got his wish in the form of a fairy named Valerie, who wore a magical white straw hat and carried a magic wand that made bubbles with every wave. Could Valerie grant Sir William the magical powers needed to release Excalibur from it's place of confinement? Did Sir William possess the purity and innocence to free the Sword from the Stone?

With some magic words and little bit of pixie dust, something incredible started to happen... the sword began to lift from the anvil! All hail Sir William, the new King of Fantasyland!

Off to the 'World!

2009-03-06T22:22:00.001-05:00

Hey all, just a quick note to let you know that I am off to the 'World with my son and father for a few days. A much needed vacation, the highlight of this trip will be the Phillies vs. Braves Spring Training game at Disney's Wide World of Sports. Accompanying us to the game will be my grandfather, making four generations of guys in our family catching a Phillies game in Walt Disney World. It doesn't get any better than that.

Stay tuned for news and updates!

The Joys of Chaning Servers

2009-03-02T00:04:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note to anyone who noticed that The Magic in Pixels has been a bit "wonky" the past few days...

I had to make a sudden and unexpected change in hosting companies with very little notice and no time to debug and test the site on the new server before going live. Needless to say, things don't always go as smoothly as planned. Thanks to some nice help and support from friends of TMIP, most of the issues have now been resolved and we are back to operating as close to normal as possible.

If you are in need of quality hosting with a small outfit where you can get some help when you need it, I recommend you check out Krypton Hosting and see if they have a solution that fits your needs.

Thanks for your patience during the transition period and have a magical week.

TMIP Forums upgraded to Version 2.0

2009-02-09T19:09:00.004-05:00

I just recently upgraded The Magic in Pixels Disney Photo Forums to Simple Machines Forum version 2.0/RC1 and all in all it went pretty smoothly. A few oopsies by me due to lack of sleep crashed the site completely, but thanks to making numerous backups and some quick assistance from my hosting company, catastrophe was averted.

The forums have a slick new look and some new functionality, not to mention a major new feature coming very soon, just for members of the TMIP Forum. More and more addons and upgrades are coming all the time, so if you are not a member of the TMIP community, you should come on over and register for the forums right away.

Thanks to all of my loyal participants for being patient through the upgrade process; I can promise you that the forum will remain a work in progress and be subject to constant upgrades new features to keep it fresh and growing at the breakneck pace that it has been.

As always, feedback and suggestions are welcome.

Getting Colors to POP! (Method #2)

2009-02-05T16:03:00.003-05:00

I recently posted a new article about getting your colors to POP! in Photoshop CLICK HERE when a question was asked in the forum if this was the way I popped the colors in the Sorcerer Mickey hat in the forum. When I alluded to the fact that there is more than one way to skin a cat, I was asked to post the second technique of making colors POP! Well, HERE YOU GO! (click).

Mousefest 2008 + A Secret Contest = RandyHolbrook.com

2009-02-05T09:16:00.006-05:00

A special Magical Moment occurred at Mousefest 2008, in which members of The Magic in Pixels were unknowingly thrown into a photography contest to create images for RandyHolbrook.com. Randy is the guitar player for Off Kilter, the Celtic rock band that perform in World Showcase at Epcot. The winning image was supplied by Katie McNamara and is featured on Randy's website She also scored a nice prize pack as well. For the complete recap, visit THIS LINK at The Magic in Pixels. Congrats, Katie!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

2009-02-03T00:38:00.011-05:00

Tom Sawyer Island is a hidden yet very exciting portion of the Magic Kingdom where you can get some great views of local attractions. Here is Big Thunder Mountain at Walt Disney World as seen from the edge of TSI. I really love the beautiful colors in the rocks and the sky. A very peaceful and scenic image.

Happy New Year, 2009

2009-01-01T14:05:00.003-05:00

The Magic in Pixels would like to wish all of your a blessed, healthy, and Happy New Year. As we enter the year 2009, let us all reflect on how good we all really do have it, and be thankful for all of the good things that have happened in our lives.

Thanks to the entire TMIP community for the way TMIP exploded in 2008. Without the participation of it's members, a community cannot and will not survive and TMIP is thriving and continuing to grow every day. Be sure to look for all kinds on new content in 2009, and if you are not a member of the TMIP community, be sure to register and being participating.

Happy New Year, everyone! Onward and upward!

Spooky Abandonment

2008-12-31T00:11:00.000-05:00

I recently obtained a new plugin for Adobe Photoshop CS4 which will turn any color photo into a vintage black and white image. Through a careful mix of layers and blending, the resulting image is as shown. I think the treatment suits the image quite perfectly. Got any other ideas for this treatment (besides the Hollywood Tower Hotel, which is a given)? By adding the black and white to a new layer and changing the opacity of the black and white layer, some of the underlying color was allowed to blend through, creating a new image with a spooky tone.

TMIP to donate percentage of sales at MagicMeets to Dream Team Project

2008-03-13T18:12:00.002-04:00

Tim Devine, photographer and owner of TheMagicInPixels.com, has announced that he will donate a portion of his sales at Fred Block's 2008 MagicMeets to the DisneyWorldTrivia.com Dream Team Project.

"As a father of a very healthy two year old, I know first hand the magic and thrill of a Disney vacation, as seen through my son's eyes and mine," says Tim. "I have also seen how the Disney magic can bring a smile to the faces of ill children as well and that really inspires me to want to do what I can to help. I just think it's the right thing to do to try to give that magic to someone else who may not be as fortunate."

The Magic In Pixels will have a large selection of matted 8 x 10" prints, 16 x 20" prints, and photo CDs. Additionally, orders for 16 x 20" prints may be placed in advance through TheMagicInPixels.com or at the table at MagicMeets. He will donate on-the-spot a percentage of the sales that are made at his table by the end of the Auction that day.

This is a wonderful opportunity for MagicMeets attendees to purchase some beautiful art for their homes that will also help a worthy cause!

The Dream Team Project thanks Tim Devine for his generous contribution!

16x20 Print Sale at The Magic in Pixels

2008-03-11T01:11:00.001-04:00

All 16x20 mounted prints in THE MAGIC IN PIXELS WEBSTORE are now on sale at 20% off the everyday prices. Each 16x20 print is mounted on hard backing and shipped flat, ready to be framed and displayed. Most of the 8x10 matted prints in the store can also be printed as a 16x20 so if you see something that you like and would want larger, please send an email to sales (at) themagicinpixels (dot) com. Go over to THE MAGIC IN PIXELS WEBSTORE and make your selections today! For a limited time only.

New Forum Features

2008-03-11T01:09:00.001-04:00

For any of you who peruse The Magic in Pixels Disney Photo Forums, you would be glad to know that there are a ton of new features that were just added:

1. Recent posts at the bottom of the forum index have been tweaked a bit to show number of replies and the post icon.
2. The TAB button now works in the posting box so you can very easily align text without needed to use a table.
3. A TMIP favicon is now next to the URL in the address bar (see above).
4. The breadcrumb trail at the top and bottom of the forum itself is now a bit more hierarchal for easier navigation.
5. You can preview a post by hovering with the mouse over the title of the post itself.
6. Most recent poster's avatar now shows on the forum index and board index pages.
7. Filtering options now appear at the bottom of the board index pages (makes it easy to sort among the posts).
8. Inside of your profile, you can now see the number of monthly posts and topics started (profile -> show stats).
9. At the top of the recent posts (bottom of forum index) is a new "Most popular topic today" block.
10. "Quoted" images show no longer appear more than once in the original post.
11. There is a new "spoiler" button which covers up potential spoilers. Use the "Sp" button in the posting tools.
12. The topic starter inside of that specific topic now has the tag "Topic Starter" in his profile box on that specific board.
13. The stats page now has a new "Top 10 Posters Today" and "Top 10 Posters This Week" section.
14. Everyone has a new User Control Panel instead of the original profile editor.
15. There is a new "email user" in the member list and each member's profile which takes you to a contact form.
16. Several new administrative tools and modifications.
17. Dormant members now get an automated reminder to come back and check out what's new.
18. An new button (blue arrow) was added in the posting buttons next to the add image button so you can now wrap text around an inline image.
19. Avatars have been repositioned on the post pages to be right under the stars and above the other information. Labels have been bolded as well.

So head on over and join this really great community and talk Disney Theme Park photography.

New Banner on TMIP

2008-01-25T23:25:00.000-05:00

I am sure by now you have noticed the stunning new banner that is featured on this site. Well, time to give a bit of props to the designer. Thanks to Jeff Pepper (2719 Hyperion), there is a new banner and logo for The Magic in Pixels. Jeff is also the owner of JP Graphics and Design and he has designed custom graphics for Grumpy's Hollow, ImagiNerding, and the cover for Lou Mongello's Main Street CD. If you contact him, he can design some stuff for you too at a very reasonable price.

Great job, Jeff, much appreciated.

A few milestones and little bit of bragging...

2008-01-01T20:16:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, 12/31/2007, The Magic in Pixels Disney Photo Forum hit 10,000 posts in it's short history. Congrats to forum member Dan for hitting the milestone with his post. Also, today, 1/1/2008, The Magic in Pixels Disney Photo Gallery hit 1,000,000 photos viewed since the new gallery software package was installed less than a year ago. So, congrats to TMIP for continuing to grow and bring a lot of enjoyment to Disney Photo Enthusiasts the world around. Happy New Year!

Spaceship Earth - Then and Now

2007-12-22T02:00:00.000-05:00

There is a new article on The Magic in Pixels titled, Spaceship Earth - Then and Now. The article takes you on a scene by scene tour of the attraction at Epcot, pointing out the new vs. the old and some points of interested in between. To read the entire article, head over to THE MAGIC IN PIXELS and click on the articles link. Here is a brief teaser of the article...

EXTERIOR

THEN

NOW

Well, it's clear to see that the classic, pure look of Spaceship Earth has returned to Epcot. Gone is the Mickey wand and "Epcot" wording in favor of the pure geosphere in it's perfect round form. There are new signs for the attraction on the legs as you enter, however other than that, not too much has changed except for some new palm trees on each side of the attraction.

To read the entire article, head over to THE MAGIC IN PIXELS and click on the articles link.

NEW Castle Dream Lights Print Available

2007-12-16T21:58:00.000-05:00

Here is my latest creation... the Castle Dream with featuring the Partners statue. It's the lead item in the shopping section and I think it's my favorite Dream Lights pic that I have gotten so far. I love the purple color of the castle and the way the Dream Lights twinkle and pulse. Disney really did a fantastic job with this one and I hope this is a yearly thing.

To get your own print of this baby, CLICK HERE.

Holiday Discount Code at The Magic in Pixels

2007-11-22T21:56:00.000-05:00

Hi there and thanks for another great year at The Magic in Pixels. If you are thinking about purchasing some great prints from The Magic in Pixels, you might be glad to know that there is a special discount code which gets you $1 off per item. Simply use the code holiday07 and that's all there is to it. More prints and items are being added very soon, and the store now defaults to showing the newest items first so you never have to worry about what is new or not.

If you have something in mind that you don't see, or have a special request, simply send an email to sales@themagicinpixels.com and make your request.
Simply head over to http://www.themagicinpixels.com/shopping and you're in business.

Happy Thanksgiving and have a great Holiday 2007 season.

The Castle Dream Lights

2007-11-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

Here is another view of the Castle Dream Lights from about 25 feet in front of where I took the photo that I posted yesterday. Thanks to a little new Photoshop technique that I have been learning, these things really have quite the twinkle, don't they?

I only wish that I could have seen them for more than one night this past trip but there's always Mousefest in a few weeks. See you there!

To purchase a matted 8x10 print of this beautiful photograph, CLICK HERE,

Cinderella Castle Holiday Icicle Lights

2007-11-12T11:25:00.001-05:00

This thing is GORGEOUS... words cannot do it justice. The lights officially were turned on last night (11/11) as a soft opening surprise and wow did they not disappoint. The lights sparkle, shine, and shimmer in random patterns and part of Wishes! is synchronized to the lights as well. I am sitting in the airport right now posting this and there are plenty more great photos from this past trip to share,
including a few surprise shots that I don't think have been gotten before...

'Til then, enjoy!

The Haunted Mansion - Enhanced Version - Review

2007-10-06T14:31:00.000-04:00

Recently The Haunted Mansion re-opened in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom after a length hiatus. I had a chance to experience this attraction 5 times during the weekend of 9/29 - 9/30 and can sum it up in one word: WOW. It's almost like a brand new attraction.

The changes and improvements are subtle, save for five areas (more on that later). Generally, the lighting and effects have been improved throughout the attraction, the audio, notorious for cutting in and out repeatedly for years, has been significantly upgraded, especially in the stretching room, and the Doombuggies now ride much smoother and less herky-jerky than they have in years.

SPOILER ALERT
- SKIP THIS SECTION IF YOU DON'T WANT THE EXPERIENCE RUINED -

Major changes to the attraction come in five areas:
1. The Stretching Room
Right off the bat, you are escorted into a rounded chamber that promises no windows and no doors. You will instantly notice that there are more gargoyles than there used to be and that hideous yellow wallpaper has been replaced with a red and green vertically stiped pattern that is reminiscent of Disneyland's Mansion. Also, the wooden paneling around the room appears much darker than before.

As the room begins to stretch, you will hear incredible new effects that make one wonder why they weren't there all along. The ghost host pans seamlessly around the room, swooping in and out, before rushing to the top of the ceiling as you see his former body dangling for eternity at the end of a taut rope. And, what was that... are those gargoyles HIGHER than when you entered the room?

2. The Portrait Hallway
Gone are the sinster portaits whose eyes seemed to follow you as you went past and in their place on the right are replicas of the changing portraits from the Disneyland mansion in which the portraits appear in the native form, until the lightning strikes from the thunderstorm on the left to reveal what these things are in real life. Several of the original sinister paintings have been relocated to the Doombuggie load area but are subtly hung in the background and hard to see unless you are looking for them.

3. The Staircase Scene
WOW. In the place where the giant spiders used to reside with nothing more than darkness is a huge paranormal set staircases that go here, there, and everywhere - even upside down. The scene is eerily reminiscent of the works of artist M.C. Escher whose endless and impossible staircases captivated his fans. The plussing here is there are ghostly footprints that slowly walk the staircases, fading in and out with an eerie green glow. A fantastic addition to the Mansion that makes one wonder how we loved the Mansion so much without it.

4. The Floating Leota
5. The New Attic Scene
If you've seen the Disneyland Haunted Mansion, then you have seen these two particular effects but they are brand new for the Walt Disney World version. Madame Leota no longer sits on top of her seance table but rather floats around the room, while the new Bride in the attic looks graceful and elegant until she decides that you will lose your head over her! Gone is the "floating" animatronic bride and in it's place on the opposite side of the Omnimover tracks is the new projected apparition. Portraits on the Bride (Constance) and her several husbands appear throughout the attic scene, and the husbands all seem to have lost their heads in love with Constance.

The rest of the attraction features enhanced lighting and audio effects but remains true to the original version. I am thrilled to death (no pun intended) that Disney did such a solid update to my favorite attraction. I could ride this for two hours straight and not get bored. I didn't want the attraction to go down in June, but after seeing this new work of art, I didn't realize just how much it needed a bit of tender loving care. A+, Imagineers, and thank you.

Wallpaper CD with widescreen monitors...

2007-09-19T21:46:00.001-04:00

A few people have asked recently what the wallpapers would look like on a wide screen monitor. Here is my desktop with the wallpaper (screen rez is 1680x1050 and wallpaper is 1152x864)... It looks pretty darn good. The border gives you some room for your icons as well. The same look applies to all of the wallpaper cd's.

To order the Haunted Mansion Wallpaper CD, click this link:

http://themagicinpixels.com/shopping/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=98

NEW! Haunted Mansion Wallpaper CD

2007-09-18T21:07:00.000-04:00

Welcome foolish mortals... Celebrate the re-opening of The Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World with this spooktacular wallpaper CD. Featuring 37 different wallpapers from the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Haunted Mansions, this CD offers a total of 111 total different wallpaper choices in sizes 1152x864, 1024x768, and 800x600 to suit any need. Featuring photos that were carefully selected and prepared from the galleries of The Magic in Pixels.com.

Here are some sample images:

To order, click this link:
http://themagicinpixels.com/shopping/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=98

The Magic in Pixels Mousefest Event Schedule

2007-09-16T20:11:00.001-04:00

12/6/2007 at 500pm
MEET AT: Tomorrowland Noodle Terrace
FOR: Introduction to Photography
Tim Devine from The Magic in Pixels sits down with photography enthusiasts to teach you the basics of photography, from terminology, to camera modes, to basic rules of composition. If you ever wanted to improve your photography skills, this is a great place to start.

12/7/2007 at 1200pm
MEET AT: Pangani Forest Trail
FOR: TMIP Animal Hunt
Join Tim and The Magic in Pixels Community on a wild animal hunt, using your camera as your primary weapon. We will meet at the entrance to Pangani Forest Exploration Trail near the Safari and after walking through that attraction, move over to the Maharajah Jungle Trek and walk through that as well. Open to all skill levels, bring your big lenses if you have them!

12/8/2007 at 700pm
MEET AT: Lights of Winter Gateway (Future World Side)
FOR: Epcot Night Photo Tour
Join Tim and The Magic in Pixels Community on night time photo tour of WDW's 2nd Theme Park. This meet is designed to help folks improve their night time photo taking. d/SLR style camera and tripods are STRONGLY recommended. Group size could be limited for safetly concerns.

12/10/2007 at 800pm
MEET AT: Fantasia Gardens Mini-Golf
FOR: Fantasia Gardens Mini-Golf Shootout
Join Tim Devine (The Magic in Pixels), Michael Suhrbier (Explore the Magic) and Nathan Rose (Magical Mountain) as they play golf among dancing hippos, marching broomsticks and attempt to maneuver around obstacles inspired by Disney’s Fantasia. Prizes will be given for best foursome and individual scores! All playing spots are done on a first request basis. We are limiting this meet to 24 participants so RSVP early. Cost: Adults $11.45 and Children (ages 3-9) $9.06. RSVP to tim (at)themagicinpixels (dot) com.

RSVP'S ARE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR THESE EVENTS SO AN ACCURATE HEAD COUNT CAN BE MAINTAINED. PLEASE RSVP TO TIM (AT) THEMAGICINPIXELS (DOT) COM TO BE SURE YOU ARE ON THE LIST. THANKS AND SEE YOU THERE!

Tree of Life at Night (Animal Kingdom)

2007-09-06T00:50:00.000-04:00

Ah, the most magical oil platform in the world. The Tree of Life, illuminated as only Disney can do, is one of the most awe inspiring things I have ever seen in a Disney Park. At night, I find it to be even more beautiful, especially since Extra Magic Hours are so hard to come by at Animal Kingdom (Mondays only).

This beauty of a photo (if I do say so myself) will be going up on the wall of my office in a nice 16x20 mounted print. If you notice the small lone palm tree to the left of the Tree, you can get a nice sense of scale for just how big the Tree of Life really is.

Disney's Electrical Parade (DCA)

2007-09-03T22:17:00.000-04:00

There are very few things in the Disney Parks that "get me in the Disney Zone" as much as a night time parade.

Coming from the East Coast, Walt Disney World would be my "home" resort, and the SpectroMagic parade in the Magic Kingdom certainly doesn't disappoint. While the orchestral score and fantastic lighting effects during the parade certainly don't disappoint, there was no way that I would be passing up the opportunity to see Disney's Electrical Parade at California Adventure this past June.

I don't remember the Main Street Electrical Parade at the Magic Kingdom, but I have heard the music and seen photos of the parade many times. Seeing it in person, however, made the trip worth it.

I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the synthesized music and the older floats but I was instantly blown away by the "newness" of the "oldness". To me, it was the only reason I wanted to go over to DCA while in Disneyland and I am really glad that we did it. I saw the parade twice and tried to get as many photos as possible, as we probably won't be able to get back to California for at least two years.

If I had to choose between SpectroMagic and Disney's Electrical Parade, it would be a tossup. The parades, although substantially similar, are completely different at the same time. Both are night time electrical parades, but have different scopes and concepts. For now, I will leave it as a 50/50... I love 'em both!

Official Press Release for The Epcot Thing

2007-09-01T16:36:00.001-04:00

Delray Beach, FL - August 2007 - Join Magical Mountain, The Magic In Pixels, and The Magical Definition Disney Podcast as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Epcot at Walt Disney World on October 1st, 2007. We have an entire days worth of events planned including the now famous "Beverlyfest"!

Award Winning Podcaster Nathan Rose and co-host Tim Devine (from Magical Definition Podcast) will be joined by Ron Schneider (The Original Dreamfinder), Kendra Trahan (NFFC President and Author), Jeff Lange (Disney Historian and DVD Author), Jim Hill (MDP Guest Podcaster and Disney Insider), Michael Suhrbier (Explore The Magic), Mike and Julie Neal (Complete Guide to Walt Disney World), Steve Barrett (Hidden Mickey's Guide).

So What Exactly Is The Epcot Thing?

Epcot has always been a huge part of Nathan Rose's, (founder of Magical Mountain, FlickDirect, and Magical Definition) life. As a young child of 8 when Epoct Center first opened to the public he was in love. Upon hearing that the 25th Anniversary was coming up Nathan was beside himself with joy eagerly anticipating the events that Disney would have to celebrate. His dreams of a 25th Anniversary celebration were crushed when Disney officially announced back in January of 2007 there would not be any sort of celebration. However, this would not deter Nathan. In February 2007 Nathan along with his team at Magical Mountain and

Magical Definition, along with Tim from The Magic In Pixels came up with a plan to have their own celebration, "The Epcot Thing". We invite you to join us on October 1st, 2007 in celebration of Walt Disney's Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

The day has many fun events and meets scheduled including Beverlyfest, an Illuminations meet and possibly as Adventurer's Club meet. Activities begin at 7:00 a.m. and continue through the ENTIRE day so not to worry! You will have plenty of time to stop by! For more information, please go to the official Epcot Thing Website

Please note if you are planning to attend the any events of "The Epcot Thing" Magical Mountain would like to encourage you to please R.S.V.P. to epcotthing@magicalmountain.net so we may get a rough count on how many people will be attending.

About Nathan M Rose
An award winning podcaster, Nathan has been in love with the mouse ever since he was a child and spoke his first words, "Mickey Mouse". He currently resides in South Florida with his family and visits Walt Disney World® monthly. Nathan is the owner of Magical Mountain, FlickDirect, and a variety of other websites under his company, Magical Mountain, LLC. Mr. Rose was also the co-host of one of the first Disney based podcasts, MouseTunes. Aside from all the hats Nathan wears at Magical Mountain he is also on the board of director's for the NFFC World Chapter, and is the webmaster for the non-profit NFFC (National Fantasy Fan Club) organization. He is still trying to find a way to convince his family to move up to the Orlando area (any help would be greatly appreciated!). Mr Rose is also the co-host of the FlickDirect Movie Podcast.

About Tim Devine
Tim Devine grew up at the Jersey shore, minutes from Atlantic City. The first toy that he can remember having was a Mickey Mouse plush along with a Mickey Mouse lamp in his room. After his first trip to Walt Disney World® in 1985, he was hooked. Photography became a serious hobby in 2003 and became a second profession in 2004. The Devine family are members of the Disney Vacation Club and frequent the Disney theme parks often. Tim's Internet presence started in June of 2005 when he was introduced to blogging (Tim Devine's Disney Photo Blog) while in California and about a year later The Magic in Pixels was created in response to the overwhelming positive feedback that the blog generated. Back in 2006 appearances at various Disney events gave Tim a stage to showcase his photography and formally introduced him to other members of the Disney online community. Tim's portfolio can be viewed at his website, themagicinpixels.com, and his prints are available for sale in the Magical Mountain Emporium. Mr. Devine and his wife, Karen, live in southern New Jersey with their son, Billy.

About Magical Mountain, LLC
Magical Mountain, LLC was formed in January of 2004 out of the need to encompass Magical Mountain's growing size. Magical Mountain, LLC is the parent company the MagicalMountain.net website, Magical Definition, MouseTunes,and FlickDirect, an up-and-coming movie informational website and movie podcast.

Media Contact:
Magical Mountain Press Relations
press@magicalmountain.net

###

Information on The Epcot Thing

2007-08-30T18:51:00.001-04:00

What is the Epcot Thing?
Epcot has always been a huge part of Nathan Rose's, (founder of Magical Mountain, FlickDirect, and Magical Definition) life. As a young child of 8 when Epoct Center first opened to the public he was in love. Upon hearing that the 25th Anniversary was coming up Nathan was beside himself with joy eagerly anticipating the events that Disney would have to celebrate. His dreams of a 25th Anniversary celebration were crushed when Disney officially announced back in January of 2007 there would not be any sort of celebration. However, this would not deter Nathan. In February 2007 Nathan along with his team at Magical Mountain and Magical Definition, along with Tim from The Magic In Pixels came up with a plan to have their own celebration, "The Epcot Thing". We invite you to join us on October 1st, 2007 in celebration of Walt Disney’s Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

"EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are emerging from the forefront of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed. It will always be showcasing and testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems." -- Walt Disney

What about those free T-Shirts I have been hearing about?
We have 50 t-shirts to be given away to the first 50 people at the event. Sponsored by Maple Leaf Tickets and Orlando Vacations.com

Attending Disney Internet Celebrities include:
Nathan Rose (Magical Mountain.net)
Tim Devine (The Magic in Pixels.com)
Jim Hill (JimHillMedia.com)
Jeff Lange (JeffLangeDVD.com)
Kendra Trahan (president, NFFC)
Ron Schneider (Orginial Dreamfinder)
Steve Barrett (HiddenMickeysGuide.com)
Mike & Julie Neal (authors, The Complete Guide to Walt Disney World)
Michael Suhrbier (ExploreTheMagic.com)

Schedule of Events
September 30th, 2007 - Pre-Meet Schedule:
* 7:30 Raglan Road Shandy Gathering (RSVP Required) - Kick off the celebration at Nathan's favorite restaurant with Magical Mountain and Shandy, of course! Starting at 7:30pm Raglan Road will be closing off a section of their resturant for us. The space can only hold about 40 people so RSVP is required.
Door prizes donated by Surplus Kingdom. Including the Main door prize of an entire Grand Floridian Resort & Spa hotel room set including a bedspread, pillowcase, tables, chairs, chest of drawers, and more!

Monday Oct 1st, 2007
* 07:30 Boardwalk Inn - This meet is designed for those who need coffee before our 9 am meet. Join us at Epcot's World Showcase entrace hotel for some joe and to walk with us to Epcot.
* 09:00 Soarin' – get fast pass, after getting fast pass go to Coffee meet inside the Land Pavilion (co-hosted by MouseMom.com)
* 09:35 Living With The Land - Join the gang on this relaxing boat ride to see how Walt Disney World experiments daily with aquaculture and desert farming.
* 10:15 Beverlyfest - Join Nathan as he tests his gastric skills!!! Watch him attempt to take 25 shots of the infamous Italian drink, Beverly. If we can get 150 people to celebrate with us, Nathan will up the ante to 50 shots!!! This is one meet NOT to be missed!
* 11:00 Explore The Wonders of Epcot - Free time. This bit of a break in the day will give everyone the opportunity to go off on their own if they please to eat and explore the wonders of Epcot.
* 01:00 A Tour of Epcot's Past - Meet at Spaceship Earth as we begin our tour of Epcot's Past with Jeff Lange. Join Jeff as he guides us through the classic Epcot attractions that are still making a big impact on all those who experience them. Included in the tour will be attractions such as "Maelstrom" and "The American Adventure".
* 04:45 Rose & Crown Dinner Meet (RSVP Required. Wait list available) - Enjoy great English fare with us at Rose & Crown. Be sure to let us know in advance if you plan on attending!!! As of right now, we have ONLY waitlist available. Make sure you send us an email if you are interest just in case someone else can't make it!!
* 08:00 Illuminations - This is a spectacular show held daily at Epcot. Why not see this wonderful presentation with all of the Magical Mountaineers? Make sure to meet us the front entrance to the Rose & Crown Pub at 7pm sharp, so we can grab all go together to find a great spot.
* TBD Adventurers Club - For the late nighters (immediately following Illuminations) For all you night owls, join us at the Adventurer's Club for some fun and "winding down" time. You may even be picked to be part of the show!

"The Epcot Thing" Official Website: http://www.magicalmountain.net/scrapbook/epcot-thing-epcot-anniversary.aspx

The Battle for Jungle Supremacy

2007-08-16T23:32:00.000-04:00

Nammi.
Sam.

Two salesmen. One Jungle. East meets West. One battle to end this Audio-Animatronic turf war that has been raging since 1971.

Nammi was quoted as saying, "That skinny dude can't hold a candle to my machete. He should try eating something once in awhile."
Sam retorted with, "Just because you ordered one of everything on the menu at TGI Friday's doesn't mean you can take the tablecloth with you."

The battle is on.

Who is still standing at the end of the day?

To purchase a copy of this print, CLICK HERE.

TMIP Raises $156 for Make a Wish at Magic Meets!

2007-07-30T17:46:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release

July 14, 2007
Camp Hill, PA

Over 500 Disney Fans made some magic happen this weekend, raising $9000.00 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America through the DisneyWorldTrivia.com Dream Team Project Silent Auction, held at Fred Block’s MagicMeet in Camp Hill, PA. The auction included over 115 lots of Disney-related theme baskets, collectibles, and experiences.

Tim Devine, photographer and webmaster, generously donated an original 16 x 20” framed print featuring a quote by Walt Disney over a photograph of fireworks at Walt Disney World. Winning bidder Jeff Crosley paid $156.00 for the inspirational print. Tim Devine’s work can be seen and purchased at his website, http://www.themagicinpixels.com.

Since its founding in 1980, the Make-A-Wish Foundation® has granted the wishes of over 50,000 children with life-threatening illnesses to visit a Disney Theme Park, and continues to grant over 5,000 Disney-related wishes each year.

The DisneyWorldTrivia.com Dream Team Project was founded by author, webmaster, and podcaster Lou Mongello for the purpose of raising money to grant the wishes children with serious illnesses to visit Walt Disney World. Portions of the proceeds from the sale of all merchandise sold on DisneyWorldTrivia.com, as well as personal donations made by Lou Mongello from sales of the Walt Disney World Trivia Book, donations from DisneyWorldTrivia.com “Family Members” and friends, and the proceeds of special fundraising events run by the Dream Team Project are all used to help make the life of a child a bit brighter during a difficult time for them and their family. All monies raised by the Dream Team Project are given to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America, through a donations page at http://www.firstgiving.com/dwtdreamteam.

Fred Block’s MagicMeets Fan Gatherings is the largest gathering of Disney fans in the Northeast.

Main Street Flag Retreat (Magic Kingdom)

2007-07-28T17:36:00.000-04:00

My grandfather, Bill Neidig, served the county in the Army Air Corps from 1943 - 1946 as a Lt. who flew domestic transports during WWII. Unfortunately, the need for airmen was reduced after the war so he was unable to continue with his service and he had to leave the service. He has always been one of my best friends and he and my grandmother practically raised me growing up so my mom and dad could work and go to school. After finding out about the Main Street USA Flag Retreat last summer, I felt that this would be the perfect honor to try to give him, a man who loves his country, family, and the mouse.

After the Color Guard came out and got him ready (I didn't tell him about this until about 5 minutes beforehand), the Main Street Philharmonic played the Star Spangled Banner while the flag was coming down, then he was presented with it while the Dapper Dans sung God Bless America, the the Philharmonic played a medley of the theme songs from all four branches of the Armed Forces. Finally, he was able to march with this flag back up Main Street USA where the Color Guard secured the flag for the evening backstage.

The last photo is the proud family... from left, my wife Karen, son Billy, Me, Bill, and my mother, Barbara. The experience was amazing... for one 15 minute period, the Magic Kingdom was HIS. Walking into the Magic Kingdom will never be the same for any of us...

NEW! Animal Kingdom Wallpaper CD

2007-07-11T00:08:00.001-04:00

70 different images in 3 sizes (800x600, 1024x768, 1152x864) to make a total of 210 images on one awesome wallpaper CD. Featuring the beautiful scenery found all around Disney's Animal Kingdom, this CD from The Magic in Pixels' Tim Devine will make you feel like you're right back in Animal Kingdom, without the 300% humidity and 98 degree temperatures.

Fantasmic! (Disneyland)

2007-07-03T20:59:00.001-04:00

'Nuff said!

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

2007-07-01T23:49:00.000-04:00

Hi, I am FINALLY back again, just returning from a trip to California which featured a 4 day jaunt through Disneyland. What a wonderful and beautiful tribute to Walt Disney, the man who single-handedly invented the theme park and much of the movie magic that we enjoy so much today.

This wide angle night time view of Sleeping Beauty's Castle features the brass compass which is set in walkway in front of the drawbridge to the Castle.

Podcast Awards Nomination

2007-07-01T12:24:00.001-04:00

It's podcast award nomination time again. Tim, Jackie, Jim, and Nathan are going for an award in the travel category..

The show is magical definition podcast and the url is http://podcast.magicaldefinition.com

Please spread the word and have everyone do a nomination before nomination's end in about 10 days. Go to www.podcastawards.com, click the nominate link near the top, go down to the bottom right and look for the TRAVEL category, and please nominate the MDP for this year's awards (using the information listed above).

Thanks for your help with this... if you need help in nominating, send an email to tim@themagicinpixels.com

Indiana Jones Extreme Epic Stunt Spectacular

2007-06-12T22:57:00.001-04:00

This past trip, I was able to catch a rare personal viewing of the Indiana Jones Extreme Epic Stunt Spectacular in the Disney-MGM Studios. Having not seen the show since 2003, this was a rare opportunity to patch a hole in my photo galleries with images of this exciting show.

The show educates the audience on how stunts from the movies are safely done, despite the potential for disaster at any given moment...

Taken with a Canon 5d and 70-200 f/4 L.

The Mad Hatter Teacups

2007-06-11T21:34:00.000-04:00

This super wide angle of the "teacups" was taken well after The Magic Kingdom closed on 6/4/2007. I find this shot to be quite intriguing as I don't particularly enjoy rides that spin you around like you are trapped in a washing machine. Taken with a Canon 5d with 17-40 f/4 L lens on a Velbon Ultra Luxif Tripod with Manfrotto Pistol Grip Head...

My buddy Michael from Explore the Magic and I pretty much had our run of the place until we were passively aggressively nudged out the door by Disney Security, but it was a really nice opportunity to get some new photos that I was never able to get before.

The Perfect Castle Photograph

2007-06-11T04:59:00.001-04:00

I was with my buddy Michael from Explore the Magic.com in the Magic Kingdom last Monday, long after most of the crowd had left and we were walking around taking night time photos with a tripod.

I was finally able to get what I consider my perfect Cinderella Castle night time photo. Nobody in the shot, not a hint of blur, 100 % sharp, 100% beautiful.

I have found my holy grail of Cinderella Castle photos and now it is time to order a 16"x20" print of this photo to frame and hang on the wall of my office.

So, what do you think? Interested in a copy for yourself? Head over to THE MAGIC IN PIXELS STORE and you might just be able to get a copy for yourself.

It really is a fun and rewarding thing to take a photo and know that you nailed it on the head and as soon as I fired the shutter on this one, I knew I had found gold.

Taken with a Canon 5d with 24-105 f/4 L lens on a Velbon Ultra Luxif Tripod with Manfrotto Pistol Grip Head...

Trip Report 6/4 - 6/7

2007-06-11T04:58:00.000-04:00

6/4/07
Got off work, 2 hours sleep, on a plane to WDW. Got picked up at MCO by Jackie-O and April (hi, April) and went to Magic Kingdom, rode the TTA, and met up with Agent 71. Rode Space Mtn. twice and then ate dinner at the Plaza Restaurant before meeting Michael from Explore the Magic in Town Square. We then rode the Jungle Cruise, heckling the skipper (Chelsea) with a rousing Hi-O (think Ed McMahon from the Tonight Show) after every punch line but she was a good sport about it.

A trip through Pirates, Thunder Mtn., and Haunted Mansion and we hustled back to Town Square for Wishes! The other folks went home and Michael and I had the run of the park for photos before leaving exhausted but photo-filled.

6/5/07
Went to MGM and saw Indy Jones for the first time in years then saw Muppetvision and also rode the Backlot Tour. Met up with a cast member friend who created a Magical Moment for me to get some awesome new photos. I don't want to go into too much detail so as to not get the cast member into any potential trouble but it was really awesome.

Then it was off to Epcot to see some of the Flower and Garden festival. Unfortunately, some of the flowers and exhibits had been removed already but the remaining topiaries were beautiful. A trip around World Showcase with stops at Gran Fiesta Tour (love it), the Chinese Acrobats, and the World Showcase Players in Italy before eating dinner at the Liberty Inn set the stage for a lot of fun the rest of the night in Future World. Also met a new cast member friend, Jaime, Stops on Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, Imagination, Living with the Land, and Soarin' rounded out the night.

6/6/07
Met up with Michael and spent significant time on Tom Sawyer Island, getting lots of great photos of an area I very rarely visit. After that, we spent some time in the Hall of Presidents before doing some shopping...

After going to MGM and meeting up with Agent 71 and Jaime once again, the skies opened up and never stopped... it rained, and rained, and rained. Finally Agent 71 and Jaime and I went to Beaches and Cream, ate dinner, then attempted a Kitchen Sink.... we failed miserably to finish it but it was a lot of fun.

All in all about 1000 pics taken in 2 1/2 days, saw at least 4-5 members of the TMIP forums while there and had a great time. Pics coming soon....

ABOUT THE UGLY LAYOUT...

2007-06-03T13:39:00.000-04:00

It seems that Blogger is having a lot of issues right now where layouts and templates are not being updated without causing some serious errors. As of now there is nothing I can do to fix this and the problem is not on my end. I ask that you bear with me through this aggravation and hopefully the nice layout that you are accustomed to will return shortly.

Thanks for your patience and support in this problem.

UPDATE
OK... Layout has been reverted back to normal.... sorry for those few days... More pics coming very soon.

Spaceship Earth Wallpaper CD Pre-Order Special

2007-05-31T21:31:00.000-04:00

The Future World is born today. With those words from the former theme song of Spaceship Earth, Tomorrow's Child, comes this time of remembrance and nostalgia. Now you can always remember this classic Disney attraction and signature Epcot landmark in it's classic state before it goes down for an extended refurbishment/enhancement. Featuring 35 different wallpapers from the Walt Disney World Resort, this CD offers wallpaper choices in sizes 1152x864, 1024x768, and 800x600 to suit any need. Featuring photos that were carefully selected and prepared from the galleries of The Magic in Pixels.com.

This CD is being released very soon... pre-order now and save $3. Pre-order price $9.95, regular price $12.95.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ORDER...

Some samples...

Pirates of the Caribbean Desktop Wallpaper Pre-Order Special

2007-05-30T11:25:00.000-04:00

Avast there ya scurvy scalawags! Now you can celebrate the Year of the Pirate and experience the adventure all year long on your computer's desktop with this Pirates of the Caribbean wallpaper CD. Featuring 25 different wallpapers from the Walt Disney World Resort, and a bonus additional 4 from Disneyland Resort in California, this CD offers 29 different wallpaper choices in sizes 1152x864, 1024x768, and 800x600 to suit any need. Featuring photos that were carefully selected and prepared from the galleries of The Magic in Pixels.com.

This CD is being released very soon... pre-order now and save $3. Pre-order price $9.95, regular price $12.95.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO ORDER...

Some samples...

Meeting a legend... Roy E. Disney

2007-04-08T00:00:00.000-04:00

I had the opportunity to go to Philadelphia's Prince Music Theater tonight (4/7/2007) to see Roy E. Disney, nephew of Walt and son of Roy O. Disney, be presented with the Philadelphia Film Society's Inspiration Award. I was able to join Jim Hill and Jeff Lange along with their significant others at this event which was hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin.

The film opened with a lengthy montage of clips from Disney animated classics which was very well produced. After being presented with the award, Maltin interviewed Disney on stage before opening the event up for audience questions and answers. Mr. Disney spoke candidly and honestly about his upbringing as the son and nephew of Walt and Roy, respectively, and gave insight at what it was like to grow up Disney. He spoke about how Walt and Roy did not coddle to him or treat him any differently than any other employee of the Disney company just because he was their relative. He was frank and honest about his relationship with former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, pulling no punches, and spoke with great reverence about his time in Disney Feature Animation and especially about his pet project, Fantasia 2000.

It was a refreshing look into the persona of Roy Disney himself. It is one thing to see Mr. Disney on DVD in a produced and recorded setting, but to see and hear him on stage not 30 feet away from where I was sitting was a true treat for any Disney fan. He was relaxed, dressed in a sweater, brown corduroy pants, and sneakers, and seemed to truly enjoy telling his anecdotes for what must be the thousandth time. It is obvious that he and Leonard Maltin have a special friendship and appreciation for each other, and they played off that relationship throughout the presentation.

After the event, I got the opportunity to shake hands with Mr. Disney, pose for a photo with him, and get his autograph. I must say that he came across as a true gentleman, very down to earth with no hint of pretense or arrogant bravado. If it sounds like I truly enjoyed this event, it's because I absolutely did and would go again in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose.

Magical Definition Podcast Update...

2007-04-06T08:07:00.000-04:00

Well, it's been a little over a month and there are 5 episodes of the Magical Definition Podcast in the books. Here's a brief recap of the 1st five episodes...

3/4/2007 - The inaugural MDP, featuring Jim Hill and a talk about Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End
3/11/2007 - A special report from Jim Hill at the Disney Shareholder Meeting in New Orleans
3/18/2007 - All about Peter Pan and the newly released Special Edition DVD, plus a discussion about the Tinker Bell movie with Jim Hill.
3/25/2007 - Pirate Mania is running wild! This show featured another discussion with Jim Hill about the history of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, plus we welcome Jackie-O to the crew for her opinions about the classic Disney attraction.
4/1/2007 - 1st in a series of discussions with Disney Legends and Imagineers. This show featured a talk from Terri Hardin, Disney Imagineer, from the NFFC convention last year in which she talks about her career as an Imagineer and the creation of the Dragon's Lair in Disneyland Paris and her special love of Jim Henson.

This week (4/8) will have a jam packed show, so if you haven't subscribed through iTunes yet, just go to the iTunes Music Store and search for the show. You can also download direct from the website (podcast.magicaldefinition.com) or stream the show from the site as well.

Your feedback is wanted and needed. There is an upcoming listener email/voicemail show so the more you send in, the more we can babble about. Send your emails to podcast@magicaldefinition.com or leave a voicemail at 206-888-MDP2. Also, Shandy wants your emails as well so he can answer them on the air as well. Send those emails to shandy@magicaldefinition.com. Thanks again for your continuing support.

Disney's Dolphin

2007-04-06T07:46:00.000-04:00

This nighttime view of Disney's Dolphin Resort was taken from the walkway between the Swan and Dolphin (aka 'Swolphin). This highly themed and landscaped area is beautiful at night, and is one of my favorite Disney Resort areas, even if it isn't owned by Disney (Starwood).

Tomorrowland Transit Authority

2007-04-04T12:14:00.001-04:00

Take a ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and you will pass right though the heart of Space Mountain. This scene, photographed without using a flash, shows the lift hills for Space Mountain as the TTA passes right through. After passing the lift hills, you get a birds eye view of the load and unload areas, and you can see the rockets (er...cars) streaking around the tracks while inside the 'Mountain. The TTA is a classic underrated attraction and we really enjoy.

Tune in to this week's MAGICAL DEFINITION PODCAST to hear a really amusing Tomorrowland Transit Authority story, as reported by our very own Agent '71.

World of Disney, Downtown Disney Marketplace

2007-02-28T22:16:00.000-05:00

The World of Disney Store at Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney Marketplace (whew!) underwent a major renovation in early 2006 and part of that renovation was the addition of the new Pirates scenese in the Adventure Room. The Adventure Room is a pirates-themed area exclusively for boys, in contrast to the Bippity-Boppity-Boutique on the other side of the store. These pirates are definitely an entrance clogger, as the attention to detail and wow factor take command as you walk past these exhibits.

MEET THE MAGICAL DEFINITION PODCAST CREW

2007-02-27T14:18:00.000-05:00

Nathan M Rose, Co-host
An award winning podcaster, Nathan has been in love with the mouse ever since he was a child and spoke his first words, "Mickey Mouse". He currently resides in South Florida with his family and visits Walt Disney World® monthly. Nathan is the owner of Magical Mountain, FlickDirect, and a variety of other websites under his company, Magical Mountain, LLC. Mr. Rose was also the co-host of one of the first Disney based podcasts, MouseTunes. Aside from all the hats Nathan wears at Magical Mountain he is also on the board of director's for the NFFC World Chapter, and is the webmaster for the non-profit NFFC (National Fantasy Fan Club) organization. He is still trying to find a way to convince his family to move up to the Orlando area (any help would be greatly appreciated!).

Favorite Character: Donald Duck, Roger Rabbit, and any Gummi Bear!
Favorite Attraction: Space Mountain, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Favorite Resort: Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Tim Devine, Co-host
Tim Devine grew up at the Jersey shore, minutes from Atlantic City. The first toy that he can remember having was a Mickey Mouse plush along with a Mickey Mouse lamp in his room. After his first trip to Walt Disney World® in 1985, he was hooked. Photography became a serious hobby in 2003 and became a second profession in 2004. The Devine family are members of the Disney Vacation Club and frequent the Disney theme parks often. Tim's Internet presence started in June of 2005 when he was introduced to blogging (Tim Devine’s Disney Photo Blog) while in California and about a year later The Magic in Pixels was created in response to the overwhelming positive feedback that the blog generated. Back in 2006 appearances at various Disney events gave Tim a stage to showcase his photography and formally introduced him to other members of the Disney Internet community and many of the fans who love his photography. Tim's portfolio can be viewed at his website, themagicinpixels.com, and his prints are available for sale in the Magical Mountain Emporium. Mr. Devine and his wife, Karen, live in southern New Jersey with their son, Billy.

Favorite Character: Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck
Favorite Attractions: Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth
Favorite Resort: Disney's Boardwalk, Old Key West Resort

Magical Definition™ Extended Podcast Crew

Jim Hill, Disney Insider Expert, Guest Host
Jim Hill is this guy who lives 'way out in the woods of New Hampshire. (Hey, it's not like he wants to live there. But the Witness Protection Program has got rules, you know.) He has one beautiful daughter and three obnoxious cats. When he's not looking for real work, Jim writes about the Walt Disney Company and related matters at JimHillMedia.com.

Jonathan Dichter, Voice of Shandy
Jonathan honed his vocal skills both at law school and as a professional stand-up comedian doing impressions for years. Jonathan is proud to be a part of the Podcast Crew, despite his wife's constant eye-rolling (don't let her fool you, she dropped pixie dust outside Peter Pan's Flight on their honeymoon) Be sure to visit Jonathan's blog at voiceofmousetunes.blogspot.com

David Recchione, Composer
David is honored to have his music a part of the Magical Definition Podcast. A Western New York native, he has been involved in many area concerts, recording sessions and theatrical productions including the area premier of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast". For more information about Dave and the other projects he’s working on, you can visit www.djrmusic.com.

Bob Frazier, Sound Engineer
A Walt Disney World® Cast Member and a Disney historian, Bob sometimes helps out "backstage" with the podcast, editing interviews and assisting with some post-production work.

Agent '71, The Inside Scoop
Every great podcast needs some double-secret insider information, and the Magical Definition Podcast is no different. Agent '71 is our eyes and ears in the parks when we cannot be here, reporting anonymously on the happenings and doings in the 'World. Nobody has ever seen or heard Agent '71; he is as mysterious to his own friends as he is to others...

PRESS RELEASE- MDP LISTENING PARTY

2007-02-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

Delray Beach, FL, February 2007 - Join award winning Disney podcaster, Nathan M Rose, (owner of MagicalMountain.net and FlickDirect.com along with Tim Devine (The Magic In Pixels) on a magical journey into the world of Disney. Featuring the latest Disney News and Rumors, Interviews with Disney Imagineers, Disney Photography Tips, Debates on a variety of Disney topics, and so much more Disney magic!

This weekly unofficial Disney podcast will debut on March 4th, 2007 at 8pm. Mr Rose and Mr. Devine will be online at a virtual listening party on the unofficial Disney informational website MagicalMountain.net to answer questions to give away prizes and more.

For more information visit the Magical Definition Disney Podcast website at MagicalDefinition.com. For more information about the listening party visit the Magical Mountain forums.

Epcot's Fountain of Nations

2007-02-24T20:31:00.000-05:00

The Fountain of Nations in Epcot's Future World at the Walt Disney World Resort erupts in a magnificent display synchronized to a fantastic fanfare. The photo, taken during a night time performance, does not even remotely capture the wonder and power that this exhibition elicits in people. In my opinion, the Fountain of Nations is a truly overlooked attraction, one that every Disney-goer MUST experience during a visit to Epcot.

New Article... "Make a Backup"

2007-02-21T21:05:00.000-05:00

When you get back from your vacation, outing, sporting event, or wherever else you were taking pictures, copy them to the computer and then burn them to a CD, DVD, or copy them to an external hard drive. This separate copy is your archival copy, the one you will revert to in the event something happens to the one you are working on or keeping in your computer. Things DO happen, hard drives DO crash, and no matter how careful you are, overwrites DO happen so make the copy first to be safe.

Now that you have a backup copy, you can work on your photos to your heart's content. Do not EVER EVER EVER work on your original files because if you make a mistake and over-write them or delete them, they are gone and you are not going to get it back. Don't you wish you had a backup??? I have worked on the original countless times, in my haste to get something done or out of plain laziness, and have been burned on this. This also applies to those cameras that shoot in RAW (such as .cr2 or .nef)...even though you can't destroy the original by editing it, you CAN delete the file or lose it to a hard drive crash so follow this advice.

When you are done working on your files in the computer (resizing for email, fixing minor problems, or doing any major photoshopping), I recommend you save that file (ie. DSC0000.jpg) with a unique name, such as DSC0000-1.jpg. The next time you make a change to the file name it DSC0000-2.jpg and so on so you can keep track of your edits. This way you can immediately tell the original from the retouched file, and you won't accidentally save over the original. Memory and storage are very inexpensive these days, so take a few extra minutes to insure your precious memories so you won't be heartbroken later.

questions? comments? make yourself heard! your feedback may even make it to the podcast...
direct link to the article.... http://www.themagicinpixels.com/articles/make-a-backup.aspx

Podcast Cover Art

2007-02-17T23:58:00.000-05:00

Here it is, folks.... the new cover art for the Magical Definition Podcast. The premier episode is coming on 3/4/2007 and it already gearing up to be one wild ride. So, look for it, subscribe to it, download it, and enjoy it. The show is all about you, the listener, and we hope you will join in the silliness by calling the voice mail line and leaving a message at(206) 888-MDP2 (6372) or by sending us an email to podcast@magicaldefinition.com. Voice mails and emails will be played or read on the air and commented on so if you have something you want to say or ask or just leave general well wishes for the new show, now is the time to do it. Be sure to visit the official site at www.magicaldefinition.com

African Details (Animal Kingdom)

2007-02-12T19:55:00.000-05:00

The magic is in the details, and in Disney's Animal Kingdom, those details are everywhere, especially in the African Village of Harambe. These weathered notices and fliers are everywhere, and they advertise such businesses as hot air balloon rides, and post warnings about poaching and dangerous animals. I have said before, it is in the often overlooked details that the real Disney magic shines through.

Wishes! (Magic Kingdom)

2007-02-11T16:19:00.000-05:00

Wishes! is the night-time fireworks spectacular at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Set to a moving score featuring Jiminey Cricket, Wishes! is an unforgettable way to end any day at the Magic Kingdom.

The Adventurer's Club (Pleasure Island)

2007-02-09T20:11:00.000-05:00

The Adventurer's Club in Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney Pleasure Island (that is a mouthful right there) is a themed comedy show that features a cast of wacky adventurous performers telling tall tales of explorations and conquests of a time long ago. Here we see the finale of the Hoopla, a show that brings each night at the Club to an end. From left to right we have Samantha Sterling (jungle adventuress), Otis T. Wren (club treasurer and ichthyologist) , Pamerlia Perkins (club president), Emil Bleehall (adventurer of the year), and Hathaway Browne (club aviator). Although a trip to the Adventure's Club costs some extra money in addition to the theme park admission, I think it's worth every penny and it really is a riot. Good times.

Casey's Corner (The Magic Kingdom)

2007-02-07T22:42:00.000-05:00

WOW... 3 straight days with a new post....

Jim, the ragtime pianist at Casey's Corner in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, is a truly talented musician. He plays requests off the top of his head and never has a note of music in front of him while playing. I asked him to play something from Mary Poppins for my 10 month old back in Mousefest '07, and not only did he play a song from Mary Poppins, but unleashed a furious ragtime medley of Mary Poppins songs one after another that got the entire group of folks listening rocking along with him. Jim, you are a true talent, and a class act, and I enjoy all the time I get to spend listening to you and speaking with you at Casey's Corner. Keep playing and I hope to see you this summer.

Spaceship Earth (Epcot)

2007-02-06T21:27:00.000-05:00

This breathtaking view of Spaceship Earth is from the edge of the Leave a Legacy area in the Epcot entrance plaza. I really like the way the marble plaques sort of frame the geosphere and at the same time give it a sense of scale. Spaceship Earth truly takes on a new character and dimension when it is illuminated at night. Out goes the cold silvery-white of the day and in comes the glowing purple of night. Truly beautiful.

Some updates to the site... and a new photo - FINALLY!

2007-02-06T00:52:00.000-05:00

As you can see, I have made some adjustments to the blog, including adding a link to the newly announced Magical Definition Podcast to the header. Also, I FINALLY FIXED THE QUICK LINKS ON THE LEFT SIDE PANEL so they actually work and not return a 404 page error. But enough about that.... how 'bout a new photo?

This photo of Bruce the shark was taken during Mousefest 2006 and comes from the Seas with Nemo and Friends attraction. I was personally very impressed with the new attraction and felt it was a very worthy addition to the Future World lineup. The clam-mobiles had a natural fit for that type of attraction and the queue was simply incredible. The look and feel were absolutely spot-on. The EAC portion was a bit underwhelming but all in all I liked the ride and would definitely do it again.

Magical Definition Podcast....Starring Nathan Rose and Tim Devine

2007-02-06T00:43:00.000-05:00

Coming March 2007...
Join former MouseTunes Disney podcast host Nathan M Rose (owner of MagicalMountain.net, FlickDirect.com, yada yada yada) along with Tim Devine of The Magic In Pixels on magical journey into the world of Disney. Lez Do It!

Be A Part of the Magical Definition Disney Podcast crew call our voicemail at (206) 888-MDP2 (6372)

New Content Coming Soon...

2007-01-04T11:48:00.000-05:00

Hi folks, I know this hasn't been updated in quite a while but there is a good reason for that. There is a TON of new stuff coming for The Magic in Pixels and I am sure you will love it. Coming soon is an all new photo gallery that I have been working really hard on, some improvements to the forums, a Mousefest 2006 recap with pics, some projects that I hope to be able to complete, and some other things here and there that I am sure you will really love. So bear with me and as always, thanks for your loyalty, I do appreciate it.

Hope everyone has a happy and healthy new year.

Happy Birthday, Walt!

2006-12-05T22:27:00.000-05:00

A quick note to say Happy Birthday, Walt. Today marks the 105th birthday of the man who created all of what we love so much. Congrats, and Happy B-day, big guy!

Vote for your favorite Tim Devine Disney Photo...

2006-11-24T20:32:00.000-05:00

Steve from The Disney Portal has started a contest on TMIP Forums in which you can pick your favorite Tim Devine Disney Photo. No prizes, just a fun way to see what you like the most.

CLICK HERE

DisMeets.com is now MagicMeets.com

2006-11-24T20:31:00.000-05:00

Since Fred Block is a buddy of mine and an all-around helluva guy, I decided I would post his news release on the blog...more photos coming soon.

Sayreville, NJ., November 21, 2006 -- The group responsible
for organizing the largest annual gathering of
Walt Disney World internet fans in the
United States' Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions
has changed its name --
DisMeets.com is now MagicMeets.com.

"This change establishes our identity as separate from
other Disney fan organizations," notes MagicMeets.com
founder Fred Block. "We want people to know that we
welcome ALL Disney fans no matter where they're from. We
initially appealed to Disney enthusiasts who were part of
various internet groups, or "communities," but now we'd
like every Disney fan to know that they are welcome
to our Northeast Disney Fans Gathering."

Attendance at the annual gathering
has grown rapidly in just three short years.
In 2004, the first get-together was
held in Edison, NJ and was attended by just 44 people.
By the following year, word had spread about the
gathering, and the meet moved to a larger venue in
Allentown, Pa., so that it could host 170 attendees. This past
summer, the third annual MagicMeets.com event
had more than 350 participants -- in fact, more than 100
people were turned away due to space limitations.

This coming summer, MagicMeets.com's fourth get-together
is poised to be its biggest and best gathering yet.
A new venue with facilities to accommodate a larger group
is being located, and the event details should be announced
soon.

This year's Northeast Disney Fans Gathering
will again feature a full day of activities, including
special guest speakers, contests, breakout session seminars,
a kids' play area, door prizes, and pin trading, as well as
plenty of time for conversation over a relaxing meal. In addition
to their special presentations, each speaker will also be available
for personal chats with attendees at tables set up in the
main hall.

"We may have changed our name to MagicMeets.com,
but our goal remains the same as it has always been," Block
says, "and that is to help Disney fans meet
other Disney fans, so we can share the magic that
Walt Disney World holds for all of us."

For more information on the fourth annual
Northeast Disney Fans Gathering, visit:
http://www.magicmeets.com.
For further information, contact:
Fred Block
MagicMeets.com Founder and Senior Event Coordinator
PHONE: 888-77MEETS
EMAIL: info@magicmeets.com

Rumor has it.....

2006-11-18T21:18:00.000-05:00

I was talking to a buddy earlier today, and I have it on good accord that the offical date and location for the 2007 Northeastern Gathering of Disney Fans has been selected and is in the process of being finalized. Don't ask me where/when, 'cuz I ain't talking.... but let's just say if you listen to MouseTunes during the next week or two you might be let in on the secret....

I'm just sayin' ..................

Like Day and Night...

2006-11-18T21:14:00.000-05:00

These two nearly identical views of Expedition Everest in Disney's Animal Kingdom were taken from the bridge leading into Africa from Discovery Island. I think they exemplify the magic that Disney Parks take on once the sun goes down. While I didn't get to ride EE due to the massive lines during the Extra Magic Hour, I spend quite an amount of time gawking at how beautiful it is all lit up.

The Magic in Pixels Discussion Forums

2006-11-12T16:45:00.000-05:00

There is a new feature at The Magic in Pixels. TMIP is pleased to announce Disney Photography Discussion Forums. At this dedicated forum, you can share images, tips, and techniques while learning to improve your Disney Park Photography. Registration is required and is 100% free. The forums are for folks of all skill levels, so please don't be intimidated. The boards are designed to be family friendly and helpful for you and others, while at the same time sharing your images on TMIP. So, head over, sign up, and start posting.

Click here to go to the forums

Wishes!

2006-11-08T20:56:00.000-05:00

This photo from Wishes! is one of my all-time favorites. Taken from right to the flag pole on Main Street, there is no better view of the fireworks spectacular that this one.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Disney-MGM Studios)

2006-11-01T19:14:00.000-05:00

This photo of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at The Disney-MGM Studios in oozing in atmosphere. Taken from a bit futher up Sunset Blvd. with a very slow shutter, the people in the foreground almost look like the same ghosts that are involved with the attraction (which I have never ridden due to being a chicken).

Club 1928

2006-11-01T00:28:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to tell you all about the new Club 1928 website, the Ultimate Club for Disney Fans, from which you can purchase official Disney merchandise at whopping discounts. From the same folks that brought you the Relive the Magic DVD sets, Club 1928 makes it possible to own pieces of The Magic for pennies on the dollar. With your membership to the Club, you can purchase Disney DVD's, books, or merchandise at up to 80% off or better. So, follow this link and go check it out.

The Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)

2006-10-27T14:04:00.001-04:00

The cemetary outside the Haunted Mansion at Walt Disney World contains tombstone with witty epitaphs that pay homage to the Imagineers that designed this legendary attraction.

The Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)

2006-10-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

Since Halloween is fast approaching, I think I will share some photos from my favorite attraction of all time, The Haunted Mansion. Stay tuned, because the Haunted Mansion pics are going to be coming fast and furious. Here is a classic shot of the Walt Disney World Haunted Mansion facade. Atmospheric and ominious, this facade is based on the old New York Hudson River Valley Mansions of the 1700 and 1800's, as opposed to Disneyland's Louisiana plantation house.

Be sure to visit THE MAGIC IN PIXELS

Star Tours (Disney MGM Studios)

2006-10-10T05:20:00.000-04:00

This is the exterior to Star Tours at the Disney-MGM Studios. A little fancier than the exterior at Disneyland, no? This is one of my favorite rides at the Disney-MGM Studios, although I would like to see the movie updated to be a little more modern. The queue (line) for this attraction is one of the best in Walt Disney World and simply must be seen. It's a Star Wars fan's dream come true.

Your Help is Needed...Rock the Vote!

2006-10-02T21:44:00.000-04:00

CLICK HERE to go to The Disney Portal where you can vote for The Magic in Pixels and this site and as two of your favorite Disney sites. Please go there and vote for these sites in order to improve the rankings... I do appreciate the time you spend on my sites and hope you will help me help you. Thanks!

One Man's Dream (Disney MGM Studios)

2006-10-02T21:39:00.001-04:00

THe Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)

2006-10-02T21:39:00.000-04:00

This is the legendary "Bride's Ring" from the exit of the Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World. The band is the remnant of an old post in the concrete and the "stone" is the tip of a screwdriver used to try and pry out the "band".

Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)

2006-09-28T01:09:00.000-04:00

Expedition Everest at night, during Extra Magic Hours at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This is a site to see and I would have ridden the darn thing but the ride was down due to an electrical storm that had passed through earlier in the evening. Another classic piece of lightscaping by the Imagineers.

Wishes!

2006-09-19T23:31:00.000-04:00

Wishes! is the night time Disney fireworks spectacular at the Magic Kingdom in Florida. This photo was taken from the ferry launch at the Transportation and Ticketing Center ("TTC") across the lake. Wishes! features a moving soundtrack, accompanied by sparkling effects such as these and a whopping amount of aerial shells. It is one moving display and folks often have tears in the eyes while watching it.

CONTEST WINNER...

2006-09-11T23:00:00.000-04:00

The winner of the how many photos did I take contest is Tara who guessed 10,476, which was the closest to the correct answer of 8,655. I have sent Tara an email so she can choose her prize; thanks to all who entered and stay tuned for another contest in the future.

In the meantime, please visit THE MAGIC IN PIXELS for a complete listing of Mousefest 2006 events featuring Your's Truly! I will be hosting several photo tours in the parks and be appearing at the Mega Mouse Meet on Saturday 12/9/06, so I really hope to see you there. More photos coming soon!

The Power of Shooting RAW

2006-09-10T16:01:00.000-04:00

This is a before and after photo of the Walt Disney World Dolphin used to illustrate what is possible when shooting in RAW. If your camera has the capability (very few point and shoots have it, all D/SLR's have it), this is what is possible. The top image is a shot of the Dolphin straight out of the camera with no processing other than opening the RAW file. The bottom image is the completed photo, taken from the RAW and processed with a workflow that I use on all my images. The purpose of this exercise is not to divulge my workflow or host a lesson on Photoshop technique so please don't ask about that as it is beyond the scope of this post, but to illustrate what is possible when using the RAW format to it's capability.

For more information on processing RAW images or workflows, simply Google RAW workflow, Photoshop RAW, etc.

Be sure to visit THE MAGIC IN PIXELS. Contest winner to be announced tomorrow, so stay tuned!

Innoventions (Epcot)

2006-09-05T23:55:00.000-04:00

This neon sign outside Innoventions in Epcot really is something to see once the sun goes down. To get this image, I used a tripod and a long exposure to capture all parts of the sign as illuminated, as the sign flashes randomly. I really enjoy Future World at night, as there are all sorts of nice touches, such as this sign to see and discover.

DON'T FORGET TO VISIT THE MAGIC IN PIXELS and enter the current contest...see a few posts below. Still plenty of time to try to win a great prize.

Mousefest 2006

2006-09-03T21:07:00.000-04:00

Hi guys...

Just wanted to let you know that The Magic in Pixels (and Tim Devine's Disney Photo Blog) is going to Mousefest from 12/7 - 12/12. I will be hosting at least one photo tour in which we will talk about how I get some of the images that most of you are familiar with from my sites and take some more photos while we are at it.

The tour(s) are open to folks of all skill and experience levels. Be sure to bring lots of batteries and memory cards. Exact dates are still being working out, but if you are interested, please shoot me an email at tim@themagicinpixels.com and let me know that you are interested. I am also open to suggestions and ideas, so pls. let the emails fly.

The exact times/dates/locations are still being worked out but I will announce them as soon as I know something.

The Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom)

2006-09-02T14:32:00.000-04:00

The Crystal Palace, Buffet with Character, is a character dining experience in the Magic Kingdom featuring the gang from Winnie the Pooh. Situated at the end of Main Street USA near Adventureland, this Victorian themed restaurant serves up quite the assortment of foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This photo shows the "topiary" figures of Pooh, Piglet, and Eeyore made out of mini roses tightly woven together. A nice touch on the way into a great eating establishment. Better make reservations!

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE MAGIC IN PIXELS and don't forget to send me your guess for the contest...see a few posts down for details!

Main Street Barber Shop (Magic Kingdom)

2006-08-27T22:08:00.001-04:00

The Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom is a truly remarkable place. Here the stylists post for a little fun in front of the camera while there was nobody in the shop. The shop is a great place to get a haircut and the Little Man will be getting his first haircut there in December. Stop in and say hi to these nice folks, the conversation and atmosphere are great.

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE MAGIC IN PIXELS

Tree of Life (Animal Kingdom)

2006-08-23T23:52:00.000-04:00

The Tree of Life, legendary icon of Disney's Animal Kingdom, illuminated at night in a photo only possible during the Extra Magic Hours.

Please be sure to enter the contest (see previous post) and be sure to visit THE MAGIC IN PIXELS.

MAGIC IN PIXELS.COM SITE UPGRADE AND CONTEST

2006-08-21T02:28:00.000-04:00

If any of you have been checking out my new site, THE MAGIC IN PIXELS.COM, you will be pleased to know that phase I of the new major overhaul of the site has gone live. I will be adding more all the time but for now I want you to be able to see what you are going to experience when you go to the newly revamped site. I am really excited about it and I am sure you will love it as much as I do.

OK...CONTEST TIME!!! (ends 9/9/2006 at 11:59pm, EST)
We have been to Disney Theme Parks six times since 12/2004. The contest question is simple.....How many photos did I take TOTAL during those trips? Closest one wins, doesn't matter if you go over or not....this isn't the Price is Right, of course. Winner gets their choice of one of the following books (signed by the author):

Disney World Trivia Vol. 1 or 2 by Lou Mongello
Passporter: Walt Disney World - 2006 by Dave Marx
Passporter: Disney Cruise Line by Dave Marx
Passporter: Walt Disney World for Special Needs by Deb Wills

Plus...they will get a few goodies from AllEarsNet and maybe a signed 4x6 photo of your choice from me. GOOD LUCK AND PLEASE CHECK OUT THE MAGIC IN PIXELS.

ALSO, IF YOU HAVEN'T YET CHECKED OUT THE RELIVE THE MAGIC DVD SETS, PLEASE GO TO THEIR SITE VIA THE LINKS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAGE. $49 FOR A 17+ DVD SET FEATURING ALL OF DISNEYLAND OR WALT DISNEY WORLD ON DVD.

Mission Space (Epcot)

2006-08-21T02:24:00.000-04:00

OK, so I am finally back and I am now a card carrying member of the Mission Space: GREEN TEAM! That's right, I refuse to go on the intense version with the centrifuge because, I don't know, the thought of getting dead just doen't appeal to me one bit. I have to say, I LOVE this attraction. I went on it over and over and over because the green team has little or no wait and it's just fun!

BACK FROM WDW

2006-08-05T01:33:00.000-04:00

hey all,

just wanted to let you know that i am back from wdw with some 2328 photos to process and post but they will be up on the site as soon as i can get some time to do it.

i want to especially thank the following cast members for making our trip extra magical (you all know what you did and you know that i appreciate it very much)- erin from fantasyland, kevin from the dapper dans, and cindy from the 50's prime time cafe. thank you and nice job, all of you.

i would also like to make a special thank you to steve barrett, author of the hidden mickeys book for his entertaining visit and the hospitality and generosity that he showed my family. steve, you and vicky are the best!

many more photos coming soon so stay tuned!

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE MAGIC IN PIXELS and be sure to check out the Relive the Magic DVD Sets (see links on the left of the screen or several posts below).

The Magic in Pixels. com

2006-07-25T14:13:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to officially announce that my new site THE MAGIC IN PIXELS is now open. The site is the culmination of all the hard work and nice comments that I have received from you readers. So, go over there, check it out, and let me know what you think and what your suggestions for improvements are. I value all feedback and try to respond to all emails so please continue with your support and thanks for everything!

Now...I am off to WDW for some more fun in the sun and to work on a MAJOR surprise project that I can't announce quite yet but I am sure it will bring a smile to your faces once it is announced.

New Site I Found...

2006-07-18T20:08:00.000-04:00

i just wanted to let everyone know about a new disney information site that i discovered after meeting it's creator and webmaster, Tim Foster at the DisMeets in Allentown this past weekend. His site, GUIDE TO THE MAGIC . COM is fantastic.

it is wonderfully designed and has a very attractive layout. i suggest anyone looking for information on a disney trip or looking for a bit of trivia or anything else go check out his site and click around for awhile. even if you don't care, go there just to see what good web design looks like.

Tim is a great guy who puts a lot of time and effort into his creations and what he designs is really top notch. Stop reading this and go check it out....NOW!

Relive the Magic....new incredibly low price...

2006-07-17T18:58:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Relive the Magic: All of WDW on DVD is now only $49 for a limited time. Also the brand new Disneyland 20 DVD set is also just $49 for a limited time. To purchase, just click through the ads on either the left side of this page or the banners at the bottom. In addition to getting a nice souvenir of the parks, you are helping to support this site.

What is Disney Magic all about?

2006-07-17T13:13:00.000-04:00

One of the speakers at the DisMeets was Mike Scopa from Mouseplanet.com and he spoke about "Disney Magic" and what it is all about. Which got me to thinking....what does Disney Magic mean for me personally? I had always enjoyed going to the parks and seeing the sights, smelling the smells (good and bad), riding the rides, seeing the shows, etc. I liked it because it was fun and you could check your brain at the gate (a few folks seem to check a little too much brain or didnt have enough to begin with, but I digress) and just have pure childlike fun despite your age. I mean, seriously folks, here I am at almost 30 years old -with a chance I might not ever see my wife and baby again every time I go to work- getting all excited over someone in a "halloween costume"...err, Mickey costume. One of my co-workers likes to kid me about "going to Disney World AGAIN?" and reminds me over and over that "IT'S A FAKE CASTLE", among other unrepeatable barbs and jabs all made in good fun.

I came to understand the true meaning of Disney Magic at the end of June when Karen and I took our son, Billy, to the Magic Kingdom for the very first time. Here we are, 29 and 28 respectively, with this little 5 month old bundle of joy, and I can honestly tell you that walking down Main Street USA for the first time toward that "fake castle" I was absolutely overcome with joy and wonder that I was able to share this place that I love so much with this precious child that I love so much, that I thought I was going to have tears in my eyes.

Which brings me back to Mike Scopa's talk about Disney Magic. He asked if anyone ever had tears in their eyes during IllumiNations at Epcot or Wishes! at the Magic Kingdom and I raised my hand to say YES! I was not ashamed of this, but rather proud as a father to be able to have my beautiful wife and precious son in this "magicial" place that I love so much. During the fireworks that I have seen so many times, I looked over at my wife who was holding Billy and I saw this look of pure wonder and joy on Billy's face that I got this photo and the tears started welling up, in my eyes and in Karen's.

We could have seen fireworks anywhere and I am sure he would have had quite the similar look on his face, but being there near that fake castle in Fantasyland with all of the other fake things, listening to the Wishes! soundtrack among all the other "believers" made me realize the true meaning of Disney Magic. It's not what you see with your eyes; we all know that it's not real. Rather, it's what you feel with your HEART and what you allow your IMAGINATION to tell you is real and what isn't. As Jiminey Cricket tells us, "When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." So the next time you go to a Disney theme park, which I hope is soon, take a second to stop and think about what Disney Magic means to you....

Dis Meet, Allentown 2006

2006-07-08T14:23:00.000-04:00

I am going to attend the DisMeets in Allentown next Saturday, sponsoring a table and man am I excited. For those who don't know what a DisMeets is, they are gathering of Disney fans with a large amount of "Disney Internet Celebrities" thrown in. The meet is sold out, but if any of you are going, please stop by my table and say hi.

For more information, go to THE OFFICIAL DISMEETS WEBSITE.

IllumiNations (Epcot)

2006-07-03T22:45:00.000-04:00

Posted per request of Andy...plenty more where this came from.

Not a lot of time to write anything, just got back from Florida this afternoon and I have a ton of stuff to do around the house and a crying baby to boot, so see you tomorrow. Have a safe and healthy 4th and please don't drink and drive.

WDW Trip Report

2006-06-30T21:00:00.000-04:00

Day 1 - 6/25/2006
Billy's (age 5 months) first ever day at Walt Disney World! We celebrated the occasion by taking him to the Magic Kingdom. Walking down Main Street we stopped to listen to the Dapper Dans (love 'em) then I spent some time looking at my son as he got his first glimpse of Cinderella Castle. Beaming with pride and a small lump in my throat we continued on to the hub where I took a bunch of photos of the Partners statue before moving on to Liberty Square and lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern.

Once we were full, we moved on to Tomorrowland (stopping by the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh for Fastpasses) and it was time for Billy's first Disney ride - drum roll - the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Space Mountain had the lights on as we went by and Billy did pretty well on the ride. Then it was on to Winnie the Pooh and the look on Billy's face was the stuff dreams are made of. Beaming from ear to ear, eyes big as lollypops, he was just the cutest thing I have ever seen and it really made me proud to be a dad. We then went back to the resort (Old Key West - WOW! the room and the resort were beautiful and it was a really nice first visit to OKW as Disney Vacation Club members).

We met one my friends and his family (and my wife made some new friends as a result) at Akershus in Norway for dinner. I had never met my buddy's family and my wife had never met any of them but it was a wonderful meal, complete with Disney Princesses. I swear Belle wanted me but maybe it was wishful thinking. After that I hung around by myself and watched IllumiNations then quickly monorailed over to the Magic Kingdom and caught Wishes! from the Transportation and Ticket Center. Two quick trips around the Carousel of Progress and it was time to call it a night.

Day 2 - 6/26/2006
We met up with our friends again at the Magic Kingdom and while they rode the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Karen fed Billy at the baby center and I walked through the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. We then stopped by Pirates of the Caribbean and saw Jack Sparrow doing his thing then it was off to the Liberty Tree Taven for lunch once again (do they have anything beside the Pilgrim's Feast? It's all I ever get). After another wonderful meal with our friends, they had to say goodbye to go home and we were off to play. We took another trip around the TTA and went back to the resort (Old Key West).

We went back to the MK later that night and Billy took his first trip through the Haunted Mansion. He went in bubbly and giddy and came out of it sound asleep. We then took two trips thought It's a Small World and it was time for his first ever fireworks. He watched Wishes! from Fantasyland and absolutely LOVED it. No fear of the noise, no fear of the brightness, just wide-eyed wonder and a tear in the eyes of Mommy and Daddy. Time to call it a night.

Day 3 - 6/27/2006
Back to the Magic Kingdom. Mommy fed Billy while Daddy went on the Enchanted Tiki Room. After that it was time for another trip through It's a Small World then off to Tomorrowland and Mommy and Daddy spent time with Billy while each other went on Space Mountain. Shocking enough, after that we went on the TTA. We then walked through Toontown and caught the railroad back to Main Street USA just in time to see the Share a Dream come true parade. We then went back to the resort and called it a night after Billy woke up from his nap screaming as he is teething. It was raining so we all just stayed in and enjoyed a quick restful night.

Day 4 - 6/28/2006
Off for adventure at Animal Kingdom. Yeah, right. It was so hot and massively crowded that we only got to see the Festival of the Lion King show and then we retreated back to OKW for lunch at Olivia's then it was time for a dip in the pool (Billy's first time in a pool). After a nap we went back to the Magic Kingdom for Dinner at Tony's Town Square Restaurant. We then watched SpectroMagic and Wishes! before going home for the night.

Day 5 - 6/29/2006
Epcot for the second time this trip. We went on Journey into Imagination with Figment before lunch at the Garden Grill and Billy's first time meeting characters. He met Chip and Dale, Pluto, and the 'man' himself, Mickey! To show his excitement for the occasion, he fell asleep but the characters were really cute with him and it was a nice proud moment for Mommy and Daddy. We then went on the Living with the Land boatride before a trip through Spaceship Earth and back to the resort for a nap.

Back to Epcot and we took turns going on Soarin' before heading out to World Showcase Lagoon to see IllumiNations once again. We ate dinner at the Liberty Inn (burgers) in the American Adventure and rode through Spaceship Earth before calling it a night.

Day 6 - 6/30/2006
Getaway day. We went back to the Magic Kingdom and went right to Adventureland for a trip through the Tiki Room and then the Jungle Cruise. We ate lunch at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and then listened to the Tomorrowland Countdown band before we took another trip on the TTA. After riding Peter Pan, it was time to call it a vacation and travel 3 hours south to my mother-in-law's for a family visit.

Bye WDW, see you again in 3 weeks! Until then...