I have to apologize for being a bit MIA lately; I have a pretty big presentation to give to my masters committee next week and panicking about that has taken up all my time. Well, except for the 128723 (approximately) times I watched the new Brave clip. And all of the Scrubs episodes weve been marathoning. Or the time Ive put in to trying to restore my iPhone after it got scrubbed during an update. There was also a good few hours on Words with Friends somewhere in the mix as well.
ANYWAY, since Ive been panicking about the ~quality of my research~, I have become simply unable to throw out any photo I took whatsoever (they are all precious to me!!!). I know my updates are usually showcase a small snippet of my day but Im pretty sure this is a new record for me: twenty pictures describing my walk through Cinderellas Castle.
You have been warned.
I rarely go around the sides of Cinderellas Castle when Im in MK. If I have to, Ill cut through either Adventureland or Tomorrowland. There really is no substitute to the walk through the Castle, even now that theyve taken out the gift shop.
Apparently Im one of very few people who make this a priority because most of the guests around me were unaware that it was a usable path (I eavesdrop a lot). Or that it was free to use? People are weird.
But its good for me, leaving one of my favorite spots practically empty any time its accessible. I love the quiet and the dark here; I find it very peaceful and a nice retreat from the tumult of the park proper.
I hope that this is actually a lioness and its really Cinderellas symbol. Like, after joining the castle she became took over pretty much everything: PR, educational outreach, and an elite group of female spies. And then everyone realized how boring the Prince was and unanimously decided to redo everything in her colors. And then she was super nice about it and the Prince decided he didn't really care and went along with everything. Then there was cake and tea for everyone!
Architectural continuity is seriously one of my favorite things. They look the same! Like they could have come from the same place, where subjects enjoy emulating their royal family!
Bushes! Fun fact: this is as close as Ive ever been to the Rose Garden (?), Swan Boat Landing, etc., etc. I really dont go down here very much. Or even over by Rapunzel's meet'n'greet spot (which is super adorable).
This is, no lie, one of my very favorite pictures from this trip. I
love this mural. I have many, many edits of this picture tucked away, from whenever Im bored or having photo-editing-block. I mean, how perfect a mosaic is it?
Too perfect. thats right.
Theres just so much detail in it and given that Im not a mosaic maker Im sure it had to have taken
ages. This was originally one of my outtakes but I think some judicious cropping makes it into an okay picture. I really would like to know who made the executive decision on the Fairy Godmothers design, though.
See? Not very reminiscent of the Disney movie Fairy Godmother. I like both interpretations; this seems more traditionally Fairy-ish while the movie one focuses on the godmother aspect. I do like the mosaic Fairy Godmothers fashion sense that hat is freaking amazing and I want one just like it.
My very favorite part of the mural is the dapple grey with the pink-y/purple-y blanket. I just love his expression, being all sassy and knowing he is totally better looking than Prince Charmings horse.
Because he is.
When I finally came out of the Castle (really, I used to spend more time in there, back in the days of the Castle shop), I had the pleasant surprise of walking straight into the Cinderella fountain. I
always forget the exact placement of this fountain. I want it to be on the other side of Fantasyland for some reason. Or on the side of the Castle? Im not sure why!
The Tremaines were out as well (there was one lady who was VERY excited by this that I cropped out). Their set was almost up so I had to be satisified with creeping around, trying to optimize the number of pictures featuring them but no park guests.
This was about as close as I got, minus the lady who kept swinging her hand into my shot. I dont know why! She had a very aggressive walking style and thus I will forever have a disembodied hand floating in the foreground.
We could have had it all.
My fountain! I always forget that I really like Cinderella until I come face-to-face with themed art. Or various novel rewrites (my favorite has to be the Mercedes Lackey one, but its a LONG list). Even though I cant remember its location, Im pretty sure it loves me too.
See? Its so nicely photogenic with really lovely details at practically every angle. And its not crowded back here, giving me plenty of time to figure out exactly what I want to shoot (not that I took the time wisely, since another guest was soon to come out)
Fairy Godmother! Slightly more popular than the Tremaines, there was a whole bunch of little girls dressed as Cinderella waiting for her. It is really hard to photograph characters without anyone else in the shot. I like watching them interact with children but I dont want children in my picture! And it seems weird to stand in line just to ask to take their picture.
I loitered by the gift shop windows, oohing and aahing over the pretty dresses displayed. Is this even a real shop behind the fountain? I figured it had to be, given that pretty much every piece of available space is a dump shop for something. I don't go into that many gift shops (we were never a souvenir family so it's habit to skip them) so I can't recognize the (very well done) windows. Even when they turn out a bit coloring-book-y.
I finally managed to sneak a few shots of Fairy Godmother (children not included) and took one final Castle picture. It was time to actually head into Fantasyland proper once more.