Day 1634: Why I Love Being a Photographer

If there's one thing I remember most from my childhood trips to Walt Disney World, it's the constant presence of cameras. There were the old ones with film, and yes, even slides, the point and shoot cameras I first used while learning the art of photography, and finally the digital varieties that we carry with us everywhere today, my iPhone included. I'm actually in the process of converting many of our old family videos from tape to digital, and it's sort of reminded me of the reason I walk around Magic Kingdom with a video camera in hand, even as a hurricane rolls in. 

Earlier this year I went on a trip to Florida with the Knights on Broadway, which was, without a doubt, one of the best experiences I've had in my entire life. I visited parts of Florida I'd never been to before, I got to go somewhere warm for spring break, performed for donors of the college while watching the sun set over the gulf, and went to Walt Disney World with some of my best friends. In short, it was incredible, but I struggled a bit too. 

For the past seven years specifically, I've taken the video camera (or at least a camera) with me pretty much everywhere. It came with me to the Twin Cities, Colorado, New Mexico, California, and of course, Florida. It feels almost wrong to be walking through a Disney Park without the video camera in hand now, but as we approached the KOBreak trip, a friend of mine suggested that I leave the cameras at home. 

Their argument was entirely valid: leaving the cameras at home would offer me a chance to be "in the moment" with my friends instead of seeing everything through the lens of the camera, as I often do. I'd see everything through my own eyes and capture mental memories, and after all, there are plenty of moments where, even on a Disney vacation, we turn the cameras off and we bask in the moment. 

Still, the thought of leaving the cameras behind was hard for me. As I mentioned earlier, my family never travels without a camera, and it's absolutely become a part of the Disney tradition for me, stopping every five minutes to take a picture of something we probably already have pictures of. Plus, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd regret not bringing them along. Yes, I'd take mental pictures, but what happens when those start to fade? Would I truly remember some parts of our day at Epcot as clearly as I remember so many of the spectacular experiences cataloged in my vlogs? Probably not. 

And while it's not what he intended at all, the suggestion felt as though they were  asking me to give up a part of myself. I take pictures and film videos at Disney World not because I feel like I owe it to anyone, but because it's what I love to do. Can I have fun at WDW without the cameras? Yes, of course! I ended up leaving them behind after all and still had a wonderful time, but because of how I grew up, with a video camera capturing everything from my smiling face to my temper tantrums, having a camera around is second nature. Filming every waking moment in a Disney Park isn't for everyone, and maybe it wasn't for him and that's where the suggestion came from, but in the long run, I won't be separated from my cameras for too long, and it all boils down to this: 

As I watch the videos from my childhood, there's nothing I love more than reliving the memories behind them. Memories I've since forgotten. Truth be told, they'd be lost if not for the videos my dad took, and that's exactly why I love being a photographer (and videographer). That's why I keep filming even after I can't feel my hand from holding the camera too long. That's why I willingly lay down on the ground next to a cockroach to capture the perfect shot. That's why I sprint to the nearest building in an attempt to protect my camera from the pouring rain, and immediately turn the camera back on to show how much it's raining. 

My friend didn't understand that standing behind the camera isn't about missing out on the moment itself, because you're there living it too, and you're also preserving that moment for years to come. It's never been abut the hassles of carrying the camera or the continuous "in your face" feeling. It's always been about making memories. Taking pictures, and making memories. 

Have a magical day! 

(Bonus points if you caught the vintage Epcot reference)!

Day 1272: It Works!

If you think my career in film started a couple of years ago when I made my first real Disney vlog, you'd be wrong.

I honestly don't remember when the first time I picked up a video camera was, but I certainly wasn't very old, and I remember the experience itself pretty well. In fact, my family constantly makes fun of me for the first video I took, since it's mostly just me whipping the camera around our room at Old Key West so quickly that it makes pretty much everyone who watches it sick unless you look away regularly. From there, I obviously gained a steadier hand and some vision as to what makes for a good video. 

That first camera I used, however, is almost as old as I am, and in fact, it's not even the camera in the above picture. It's an old Sony, just like the other video cameras we've gotten over the years (a number that's just rising to four...mostly because we all want to use the camera so much we can't share anymore), but it's also almost as old as I am...20 years old. My parents got it not long before my first trip to Walt Disney World in October of 1996 and it continued to record most of our trips until 2011 when we went to Disneyland, soon after which we decided it was time to upgrade to a new camera. 

We made the decision to upgrade largely because we believed the old video camera had finally died, and so it sat on a shelf in our kitchen, of all places, for the last four and a half years. Until the other night when I explained an idea for an upcoming video to my dad, which would require old footage that we literally haven't looked at in years. So, on a whim, we tried to use the playback on the old camera, and amazingly enough, it worked. 

After watching one of the tapes from my very first trip to Walt Disney World, we decided that maybe it would be best if we updated all this footage, which is actually decent high quality, to digital before the camera decides to die for good. There will definitely be updates and posts focused on memories I find as time goes on, since I'll be starting the transfer of the footage as soon as I get a disc drive to install programming on my computer (something I neglected to look at when I bought a new laptop) and have a system made for transferring old tapes to digital. 

All in all, I couldn't be happier that the camera does indeed work, because really, I was a sassy and adorable child, and who wouldn't want to see that? 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1194: How Disney Will Change Your Life

If you don't believe that Disney has changed or will change your life in some way, you might want to reexamine your life. Not everyone has an opportunity like I've had, to literally grow up with Disney as constant a presence as any of my family members. In regards to friends, my relationship with Disney has lasted much much longer than even the best and strongest of my friendships, which are often additionally strengthened by a mutual love of Disney. 

The truth is, Disney changes us. Even me. Take the above pictures for instance. You've got one of me when I was about three, another from some age in the middle (ten maybe), one from high school, and another from college, but more than my appearance has changed over the years. Yes, Spaceship Earth has always been my favorite attraction and Epcot my favorite park, but there was definitely a period of time somewhere in there when I almost didn't care that I was at Disney World. A part of me grew bored of the parks even, but then I woke up and realized that I was being ridiculous and my life spiraled into the Disney blogging, video making mania it is today. Disney has taught me about friendships, leadership, adventure, and magic, but it teaches us all something different. 

For you, maybe the lessons are more focused on friendship or relationships, making and strengthening them. Perhaps Disney helps you be more self-confident, something I think a lot of us experience, or confident in general. Disney might help you get out of your comfort zone and to try new things. Honestly, it could just make you happier in general, because the magic that is Disney definitely has something for everyone. 

Although, on the side, I do know that a love of Disney will have you watching more movies and tv shows than you ever expected, and will eat up a good portion of your paycheck through purchases such as Disney Parks tickets, Disney food, or that entire set of tsum tsums you liked. Those changes happen to everyone, and really, it's best just to accept it now. 

How has Disney changed you? 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1181: Positives and Negatives

There's something to be said about a Disney vacation in comparison to pretty much every other trip. When you combine the pure magic that is Walt Disney World, or any of the Disney Parks around the world really, with your closest family and friends, favorite characters, and world class attractions, it usually turns out pretty great. Yeah, we definitely all have our meltdown moments, and who wouldn't with the heat and crowds that the parks are so well known for, but somewhere along the line, I've found that I rarely remember those low points. 

Something goes wrong on every trip. It doesn't matter where you're going or how many times you've been there - something goes wrong. From there on out, you can try to enjoy the remainder of your trip, and usually that works out rather well, but upon returning home you're left with the bitter distaste of that terrible experience, whatever it may be. For instance, when I went to Colorado years ago, I had the absolute worst day of my life, and it just happened to be my birthday too. I had intense motion sickness on the bus, only made worse by minor altitude sickness, and when we finally got the amusement park we were heading to, security was terrible (we ended up walking back to our bus multiple times) and there wasn't much for me to do in the park anyway. Likewise, when we went to Chicago the following year, the trip was sort of a hot mess, and left most of us feeling like we'd wasted a couple hundred bucks. In either case, I still to this day remember those negative moments of the trip. 

With Disney, on the other hand, things are a bit different. My trips sort of start to muddle together, but I certainly don't remember the downsides of most of the trips, other than maybe the more recent ones. And in any case, they don't really define the trip, at least not the way those other memories defined the other trips. Bad things definitely do happen - I've gotten sick at Disney before, had arguments with family members, and so on and so forth - but I just don't seem to recall many of them. So why is it that anytime I travel somewhere else I remember those struggles, but I don't with Disney? 

Could it be a subconscious effort to make Disney consistently the ideal vacation destination? Or rather, an effort to make sure Disney is never tarnished in my mind, regardless of the bad things that might happen? Maybe the good moments just outweigh any less than favorable memories? Or maybe, because it is Disney, the magic just turns everything around? It's sort of hard to say, but it is an interesting debate, and no matter what, really we should be focusing on the good moments anyway, like seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time or hanging out in a giant hotel room in Chicago with my friends. Those are the memories worth focusing on anyway. 

Have a magical day!

Day 976: First Flight

With every new semester comes new classes, and that means awesome new opportunities for Disney connections! This fall I'm taking several new classes, including one on Marriage and Family as Vocation that fulfills an upper level religion requirement. The course covers everything from Hook Up Culture to Marriage to Friendship, and it was one of our first days in class that our professor shared an adorable video that really stuck with me. The title? "An & Ria's First Flight." You can watch it below:

When I first watched this, I couldn't help but think of my friends and I as we headed to Disney this past January. None of us are exactly fond of planes...or rollercoasters, sort of like An. And yet, by the end of the day, every single one of us is like Ria, laughing all the way home. 

Ashley and I especially talk a lot about how Disney has made it possible for us to try new things. A few years ago I wouldn't go anywhere near a rollercoaster, but largly thanks to Expedition Everest, I went on several large ones this past summer at ValleyFair. I wouldn't of tried sushi, and now I eat it as often as possible. I can't speak for Ashley, but I do know that the best part about all of it is that we get to experience these things together. Sure, I've been to Disney how many times, and she's only been there twice, but it's all about the moments we share together, the same way An and Ria got the chance to fly together for the first time! 

Now...if only we could fly in a beautiful little plane like that. 

Have a magical day! 

(Note: This blog post was written on September 24 due to a tight schedule).

Day 876: Picture Frame

I asked Megan what this blog post should be on today, because in a world where I've somehow come up with hundreds of blog post topics, I just couldn't find one more to fill in the empty slots a broken laptop and no time left. Luckily for me, Megan came up with a topic almost immediately, and it only took one try for my mind to form at least a short post on what she told me!

The other day she happened to see a photograph in one of the other offices on campus, as she works at our college, and the picture was of one of the ladies from the office and one or two other people (I'm a bit fuzzy on what she said at this point, but it's not essential to the post, as you'll see in a minute). There weren't any children in the photo, although it was definitely taken at Walt Disney World, and it got me thinking about just how often photos like these pop up.

Of course, I always have a supply of Disney photos around me. I have several that sit on my desk at school and my bedroom and home is filled with them as well. The way I see it, the more pictures I have, the more I'm reminded of the positive memories I have, even when things get rough. The trips I've taken to Walt Disney World with my best friends have been amazing, so of course I have photos from our travels everywhere, even on my desk at work!

But I'm definitely not the only one to have photos from Walt Disney World around. My band director obviously has several of them placed around the band room in our High School, reminders that we accomplished something great and had the spectacular opportunity to perform at the most magical place on earth. One of my best friends, Ashley, has Disney photographs all over her house, many of which feature me (actually they all do I think...). Even Megan has some Disney photos around, specifically on her desk, or rather, she did have some on her desk in our dorm room. We're moved out now...in that awkward summer period before we move into our next housing.

Finding pictures from Walt Disney World scattered around the world make me incredibly happy. After all, they make for a great conversation starter, but they're also one of those little things that's able to bring me a simple smile in the middle of a hard day.Not everyone may love Disney the way I do, but those photos are symbols that there are happy memories there for so many people, and that's what I like to see. Happy memories.

And if it leads to conversation about the magic of Disney in the process? Well then...all the better!

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on June 4 due to computer issues).

Day 809: Timehop

As a frequent user of social media, Timehop has definitely become a part of my life. At first I was skeptical, like I am with most new social media things, but I eventually got on board and now I feel like there's just no going back. But what I love about the app is that it DOES allow you to go back in history and see what you were doing a number of years ago. Sometimes it's amusing, like the fact that not long ago I had a reminder that a year ago my roommate, Megan, "kicked me out" of our dorm room because I watched a sneak peek for OUAT. Occasionally it's sort of inspiring, like the fact that a year ago I was just starting with my tweets from OUAT Cast Members and now I'm going full scale not only with my favorite fairy tale actors and actresses, but others as well, and for the most part, I'm good at it...not to brag or anything.

But sometimes...sometimes timehop is just darn depressing. As if I wasn't already bummed out enough about the fact that it seems like everyone I know is in Florida over Spring Break, my timehop has to remind me that yes, indeed, one year ago I was in Florida over Spring Break. I'm getting about 20 pictures from Walt Disney World on my timehop feed each day and it's...sad. Depressing. And it most certainly makes me miss home.

So in honor of my trip a year ago, I've put together a few more color palettes with some of my favorite and most colorful Instagram photos from the trip. If you missed the first edition of Color Palettes, you can find it HERE, and since I had so much fun with it the first time, it felt like the perfect way to remember a former trip, especially when I Instagramed almost constantly during it.

Ahh yes, my March 2014 Trip. There are some seriously great memories stacked into those Five Days, and to be 100% honest, it's one of my favorite trips. I mean, I met so many people, had so many great experiences, got to see the Flower and Garden Festival for the first time AND got to film throughout the four parks for the band trip video. All in all, it was literally amazing. 

And I miss it...a lot. Soon though. Soon I'll be back with yet another trip! But until then...

Have a magical day!

(P.S. I'll be back tomorrow...you don't have to wait until June for another blog post, Haha!)

Day 522: When I Was Young

Day 25: A picture of your favorite childhood Disney memory. 

Blast from the Past: 

What the heck? Didn't I already answer this one? 

I guess that was just my "general" favorite Disney memory. 

Well, let's see. What is a memory I really like from when I was a kid (well, younger than I am now). Favorite Disney memory...favorite Disney memory. This is really, really hard! 

I'm just going to go with all of them, because I really don't have a favorite. There have been so many amazing experiences I've had at Disney, and I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be able to pick just one. So here's a collection of pictures from my Disney vacations over the past several years, including Disneyland. I don't have pictures from anything before that because that's back when a digital camera was a thing of the future, and I certainly am not about to transfer them all to digital (maybe next summer...)

Back to the Future: 

All of them. It's as simple as that. I said this with the other day as well, and I've said it before on the blog. I cherish every single moment at Walt Disney World (and Disneyland when I'm there), because it's always too short a time. Plus, since Disney has been such a crucial part of my life, how could I NOT be thankful for all the memories I've had the chance to make, right from the beginning to now to all the Magical Moments in the future?

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on August 21).

Day 483: Just One?

Day 3 of the Disney Photo Challenge: A Picture of your favorite Disney memory. 

Blast from the Past: 

This is a real tough one. I have so many Disney memories! 

But, after much thought, I have come to the conclusion that my favorite Disney memory is actually fairy recent, and while I don't have a picture of the memory itself, I'll still tell the story. The picture I chose is one where the top tier is blasting off, as you'll hear about what that means in a moment. 

During the summer of 2011, I traveled to Orlando, Florida for the National FBLA conference with other members of the Seymour FBLA Chapter, including Mrs. Grassel's son, Gordon. For two days before the conference started, I toured a few of us through the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, with some help from my mom. But the moment that really got me caught up was when we were watching the "Magic, Memories, and You" show in the Magic Kingdom. It's a display on  Cinderella Castle, including scenes and ideas from movies and attractions, and it features pictures taken by Photopass Photographers throughout the day. 

But the time we got to Main Street, it was already crowded, but we made sure we found a spot where Gordon could see for the most part. He was a little frustrated at how late it was and he was getting tired, plus he didn't have the best view. Having watched the show before, I knew what was coming, and I told him to listen for words from one of his favorite characters..."To infinity and beyond" -Buzz Lightyear. 

Throughout portions of the show he would whisper to me and ask when Buzz Lightyear was coming, and I told him to keep listening. Finally, he heard the words and said to me, "Lizzie! I heard him" or something like that. I watched his reaction as the top tier of the castle blasted off into space, and if you haven't seen video of this, go do. It's amazing how realistic it looks....it seriously, I'm not not kidding, looks like it's taking off. Gordon's face lit up and all of his worries about being tired and hungry were gone. He was so excited, and the look on his face was all I needed to see. 

It's expressions like this that make me want to work at Disney, so I can bring happiness to kids like that all the time. I'm sure you've all seen those faces when a child you know opens a Christmas or Birthday gift and it's just what they wanted...well in these moments at Disney, like when they see a favorite character for the first time, or find out they are going to Disney World, or even see the castle blast off into space...it's like that expression plus more. Most people call it priceless...I just call it magic. 

Back to the Future:

Dear Lord, how am I supposed to choose?

I think, in terms of trips for me, my favorite one would have to be a triple tie between my last three, so July 2013, March 2014 and June 2014. All three just held a lot of brilliant moments for me. Like, July was spectacular because it was my Birthday and Graduation Trip and we stayed at Bay Lake Tower, which is just one of my absolute favorite places to stay now and my whole family was there and there were a ton of moments I just really appreciated. I got to meet my favorite artist (Larry Dotson), and my brother and I were the last ones in the Magic Kingdom on my birthday and so on and so forth.

Then March was great because I had a chance to explore a lot of Disney in my own unique way. I really spent a lot of time with only my brother on the trip and that seriously made a difference. In addition, I got to meet TONS of awesome people, including meeting Max. It was SUPER awesome getting to meet him and can't wait to head out to his area next summer for a trip to Disneyland & D23.

And finally, June was wonderful because I got to experience Disney with two of my best friends. I don't really get to travel much with friends versus my family, and having them along just made everything even more spectacular. If June was any indication, January is going to be amazing.

So I pick all the memories from those three trips, although there are countless other memories, the one from two years ago included, that rank right up there near the top. You really can't just pick one. It's impossible.

Have a magical day!

(Note: This blog post was written on August 19).

Day 394: Experience It

I haven't done a Pinterest post specific to one particular picture in a while. I mean, I do the ones where I have a whole bunch of pictures on one board, but I haven't done one like this recently. It's one of those times when I go on Pinterest and find a post that I can just sit down and write whatever I want about it. 

This is something I tend to talk about a lot actually. I can't count the number of times I've said to someone that Disney isn't just something you can talk about. I can talk about going to Walt Disney World all day long and yet you still won't be able to experience it the same way I do just through my words. 

In fact, it's something I've talked more and more about with the Band Trip to Walt Disney World. A lot of people have questions about why you should go to Disney World because either they have been there before or they have some sort of idea about what it is. In reality it's normally not the truth. 

The only way to really experience Walt Disney World is to go there for yourself. To see and experience everything through your own eyes. And since every Disney Vacation is different, you're going to have different memories. My favorite experiences come from the entire range of my trips, not just the first couple I remember. Every time I go it's more magical, and I can't wait for my two trips this year because they both promise to be great. 

Have a magical day!

Day 283: All Sped Up

I follow pretty much every Disney thing I can on Facebook. Ok, maybe not every Disney thing, but I do follow Walt Disney World and Disneyland and Disney Studios and the job things and the Passholder page. You get the idea. Lots and lots of Disney.

So yesterday when I was checking my Facebook quickly before starting homework I found something that totally made my day! A couple of times I've done my Youtube Video series, and I believe it was in the first one that I shared two of my absolute favorite Disney videos on Youtube: the Disney Parks Tilt Shift Videos. Just in case you missed them, here's a recap:

I mean, there are a couple of other ones out there, but these two were always my favorite. And for a long time I've been waiting for new ones. In fact, these tilt shift videos helped inspire my video "Memories" that I did. The stop motion one that I did for Creative Writing with my poem. Yep, that one. The music matches up too, if you're observant. 

So you can see how when I found this last night (and just a few minutes ago for the California Adventure one!) it totally made my day! So excited! And then I posted it on Facebook and was like "TOMORROW'S BLOG POST!" because I already had my topic for yesterday done. 

I really do hope you enjoyed the videos because I know I did. Whoever had the bright idea to do these, THANK YOU! 

Here's today's Disney History: 1961: Singer & Actress Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel in Disney's The Little Mermaid (including the sequels) and Barbie for both Toy Story 2 and 3, is born Jodi Marzorati in Rockford, Illinois. She's also lent her voice to Hercules: Zero to Hero, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure. She was named a Disney Legend in 2011.

Have a magical day!

Day 148: Memories

Today marked our first day of finals for seniors, which is, honestly a day I've been dreading for the entire school year. Finals means the end...and that means graduation...and that means leaving, and that's terrible. But finals also means that it's my last chance to make a lasting impression on those in the school, and it requires a little backstory.

Throughout high school, I, often times along with my best friend, Megan, have produced a great number of over-the-top projects. We made the Silent Film, The Amazing Chase, which was 8 hours of editing and two days of filming to create what really appears to be a silent film from the 1920's. There was the Les Paul National History Day Project...which is honestly the most stressful project I have ever done, but I'm proud of it none the less. There was our American Bandstand skit...which was just awesome. The Julius Caesar Project and Animal Farm Scrapbook, in which many sophomores still want to hunt us down with pitchforks for. Freshman year, Megan and I dominated in our Public Service Announcements, and our debate was a rift of only one vote between us (she won, but it was still a lot of fun!). And during this final year, while we had less projects, in psychology we were still on top, and our English papers were some to remember!

And so, when it came to my final semester of my senior year, and specifically my final projects, I wanted to keep going. I wanted to create projects that really showcased my hard work.

Now, it gives me great pleasure to share with you the first of my two final projects (The other will be in a blog post this Thursday), Memories. For my final in Creative Writing, we had three parts. First, the memoir I discussed on Sunday, second, a short story we wrote, and finally a collection of three poems. Earlier in the semester we had to write a total of ten poems, but for the final we were instructed to edit and digitally produce three of these poems to present to the class. It wasn't hard to decide on three poems: One I wrote on the Gettysburg Address, another on Google Chrome (Oh, I love thee!), and the last on my memories of Disney World.

But when it came to how to digitally produce each one, it took me quite a while to decide. The first two I created using Animoto, but the Disney one, I wanted to make that one special. My teacher, who I am absolutely and completely lucky to have as a teacher, hadn't seen some of my other projects. Megan and I didn't take the advanced English course our Freshman year, which he taught, due to some interesting circumstances, so I never had him up until creative writing this year, which I took both to have him as a teacher and because the class sounded like a great class for me to take. I spent most of Saturday attempting to figure out what to make for this Disney video, and came up with nothing. So on Sunday, when I was on my computer trying to figure out what music to use....it hit me. Stop motion and the tilt shift video.

If you have read my blog for a while, I have a series of posts on Disney inspired Youtube videos. The first videos I shared were the Disney Parks tilt shift videos for Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Each features a great soundtrack with music I love, and the music from the MK video was perfect for what I wanted to do. So I jumped in my car and went to shopko, picked up a big white board, came back and had my dad set up the camera and lights and went to work on my video.

Here is the finished project:

When it came to presenting it in class, I was a little nervous. My Creative Writing class is filled with a lot of really inappropriate people, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that some of them even politely asked me about how I made it and said honestly that they liked it. But it was the comments from my teacher that made it worthwhile. 

Back in January, during my last finals, a teacher said to me "I don't think it's childish," five small words about my love of Disney that really meant a lot to me. This time around there were more words, but there are few that really stood out. I won't share them all here, but one was that it was projects like this and people like me that remind him why he loves teaching. 

It sounds really strange, but I honestly don't like it when people lavish praise on me, and as I read How to Be Like Walt, it came to my attention that Walt was the same way. He didn't like to have all kinds of praise. He just loved what he was doing. He wanted to make people happy, and as I look back on all my projects in high school, I feel the same way. If I can bring a smile to someones face, often times the teacher, then my job is done. I have accomplished what I set out to do. It's things like reminding them why they love teaching that makes me want to do what I do, and that's hopefully something that will never ever change. 

But along with that, this project opened my eyes to a few more things. It reminded me why I love Disney. It gave me a chance to reflect on why I personally love the company, and it brought me closer to home. It reminded me why I want to become a Disney Employee. And most of all, Memories sums up everything I have done so far, and it lays the foundation for what I want to achieve in the future. 

Here's today's Disney History: 1994: Disney's Wilderness Lodge opens at Walt Disney World. The 728-room lakeside deluxe resort (inspired by the beautiful early American National Parks) features an 80-foot tall fireplace in its lobby. Only a mile away from the Magic Kingdom, the resort is surrounded by 56 acres of oak and pine trees and includes and artificial geyser and hot springs. 

Have a magical day!