Hidden Mickey Challenge!

Remember, entries are due by tomorrow night for the Hidden Mickey Challenge! Here's one to wet your palette while you guessers wait for the photos to be posted!  Where in Walt Disney World can you find this Hidden Mickey?

All Aboard!

When I look at this picture all I can think is how I wish I was right there, right now!

PHOTO TIP: Take some pictures while waiting for your ride vehicle, train, or monorail.  This is the most liked picture on our Facebook page and it was simply a girl waiting for her ride into Frontierland! ;)

Hidden Mickey Challenge Contest & Giveaway!

I recently picked up some new Disney books to wet my palette while I plan a trip that is tediously far away.  In my mini stack (which included the Birnbaum's Dining Guide 2012 and Pat William's How to Be Like Walt) was the newest edition of the Steve Barrett's Hidden Mickey's books! Wow was I blown away! Sure the description says over 200 new Mickey's but these were some great ones that I am itching to go check out! It got me thinking... what about having our very own hidden mickey contest that incorporate both this incredible book series and my love of Disney pictures??

So here is how it works:

1.  Email your best Disney Parks hidden mickey picture to picturingdisney@gmail.com and with your attachment include how you would like your name viewed (Maybe a nickname or something like "Melissa P. from New York" to be internet safe.) Also include where your Hidden Mickey is located in the parks You will have about a week to send pictures from today until midnight January 31st.

2.  On February 1st,  head over to our Facebook page where you will find the "Hidden Mickey Challenge 2012" album.  Guess where each Hidden Mickey in the album is located.  In the evening on Friday, February 3rd I will announce via the Facebook page that the contest is closed and tally the number of correct answers.  If your photo stumped the most people YOU WIN!

3.  There may be other small prizes for things like the person who guesses the most correct or the person who guesses a particularly difficult one right so keep your eye out!

In any case, I am super excited about this and hope you all will join in the fun!
Can't wait to see all your Hidden Mickeys!

xo Picturing Disney

Epcot is love.

I made my husband pose for this last year and I think it says it all.  Epcot is love and no amount of hand hearts could properly complete this little photo tour. 

PHOTO TIP: Take advantage of the forced perspective.  This was inspired by watching people leaning on, holding up, eatings, and kicking Spaceship Earth! 

Mouse Gears

My favorite shopping can be found near the Innoventions pavilion at Mouse Gears! They offer a great selection of not just Epcot merchandise but Walt Disney World merchandise as well as offer the Disney Visa Cardmember discount! I often hit this as my last shop if I can't make it out to Downtown for some last minute souvenirs and gifts! 

PHOTO TIP: Use props! I wish I had discovered this idea sooner since I buy a different stufftee each trip! Use your new vinyl or toy to add a little cute to your otherwise landscape or shop shot! 

O Canada!

And last but certainly not least on this visit to World Showcase is the Canada pavilion.  Home to my favorite beer (Moosehead) and full of photo ops! Be sure to walk all the way back to check out the "mountains" and if you can snag a ressie to Le Cellier I highly recommend it!

United Kingdom

Head over to the United Kingdom for a journey through fun shops, character meets, and glorious food!

Street Shows in France

Not sure if streetmosphere is the technical Disney term for the great shows and performers features in all the World Showcase pavilions but these guys are my favorite of ALL! Don't miss this show next time you are heading passed the Eiffel Tower towards the France pavilion! Oui! 

Minaret

Morocco is another place to just take a moment to look around you.  You will really feel transported into the Middle East.  The Minarets are beautiful and the art and architecture style is so different than anything we have here in the United States, you will feel like you are in north Africa not somewhere in central Florida.

Changes.

Check out the new logo! 

Hope you like it as much as I do! I scoured iStockPhoto today and spent my whole afternoon adjusting everything to my liking.  

I've also enable the dynamic blogger layout.  As you can see its very crisp, clean, and smooth. The top bar has links to each major label and our Facebook and About Me pages.  Additionally, all the way on the left  there is a drop down menu where the page will reorganize itself in a way that is most pleasing to each reader! I love that! 

Be sure to search using the "Flipcard" setting.  It makes a really cool animation and its fun to explore! Once blogger tweaks it a little and I can add a Facebook and Twitter button as well as a "Follow" link I can clean up some of the header bar and I will be very pleased.  

Really awesome design day here at Picturing Disney!

Here's hoping your day is filled with Disney magic! :)

Torii

The red torii gate that marks the Japan pavilion has also come to symbolize traditional Japan.  These are used to mark the entrance to a holy or sacred place in the Shinto religion and you will find that the pavilion feels a little like a sanctuary garden.

The American Adventure

The shop located here and the show are worth a stop.  Although mostly overlooked the architecture is classic and the photo ops are abundant. 

Don't forget to look up :)

Inside the replica Temple of Heaven is this great artwork on the ceiling.  I love the way Disney gets even the intricate details right! Don't overlook the beauty above you when you are there (with your eyes or your camera lens)!

Viking fun.

Also found in Norway is this might Viking.  Here's a pic of me last February as my husband and I made our way back from our World Showcase segway tour.  ;)

The Lion King on Broadway

I've been waiting for 15 years and I finally got to see The Lion King on Broadway today!

Here's the Simba plushie Rob bought me when we first got to the theatre! 

And of course I could not resist stopping at the Times Square Disney Store!

This was the best Christmas Gift Ever!

A little Norwegian Village

The next pavilion is Norway and here there are an abundance of shops as well as the only other ride in World Showcase, Maelstrom.  Definitely worth a stop considering its a Fast Pass attraction and there is a lot to take in here to see and do. 

Free Nemo Crochet Pattern

I wanted to thank Chip and Co for doing a joint contest with me and YOU for joining my blog !

Donde Esta Donald?

Its hard to get a good picture while riding one of my all-time favorite Disney rides but this remake of the old Rio de Tiempo boat ride is fabulous.  I love the integration of the cartoons, the music, and the very short waits! 

Take a ride Aboard the Friendship!

After a quick run through Future World, off to World Showcase!

Living with the Land

Living with the Land is often overlooked which means that unless its raining and people are escaping the wet weather you can usually walk onto this fun ride and see some of science behind Epcot's Land.  Also, there are quite a few hidden mickeys to be found here! 

Some sunshine for 2012

Nope, those aren't New Years balloons from a snazzy celebration they are the art found on the ceiling of The Land in Epcot.  You will notice they are seasonally themed since they reside above Sunshine Seasons!