Traveling in Orlando? Need a Camera? Rent one from Orlando's Kingdom Camera!

** I'd like to start this blog post with a THANK YOU to Ron at Kingdom Camera for letting me interview him, as well as an apology that it took so long to post it!**

Recently I learned of an awesome company in the Orlando area that was opened with the intention of making it easier for vacationers to use great cameras and get amazing memory filled photos without the hassle of lugging a ton of camera equipment from home to the parks. Ron of Kingdom Camera was nice enough to sit and talk to me and tell me how he and his wife Lenise came up with this amazing business idea.

Ron grew up as a military kid and spent his life traveling the world, or at least the parts of the world the military sent his father and the rest of his family to. His interest in photography came from his father. Originally Ron was a film photographer, even winning a few photography contests, and was resistant to take up digital photography, but once his wife picked up the habit, he found him self coming around to the concept. After Lenise gave him a digital SLR for Christmas his passion for this new format took off, cause them to travel sometimes with up to ten lenses, four camera bodies and tripods, equipment you do not necessarily want to check. While on vacation in Hawaii their camera broke, forcing them to scramble to find a repair place, and as luck would have it not only did they find a repair place, they stumbled across an ingenious idea. The repair place they found not only fixed cameras, they rented out camera bodies and lenses as well.

Being regular travelers these avid photo takers would travel with up to four camera bodies and ten lenses as well as luggage.  After returning home to Orlando, they realized ton of people come to Disney and have the same issues as amateurs and pros when it came to traveling with camera gear.

They started investigating this idea and tested various camera bodies and lenses for hours and hours. They also had to decide what bag or backpack or tripod would be best for travelers and started testing them as well.  One of the final steps was meeting with a website developer that could help them set up and run a website and blog.  All of this research and set up took about a year. They started renting out equipment and delivering it to customers in August 2012. They started averaging about 30 rentals a month, which was more than they had initially expected, but due to their large inventory they were able to accommodate all their customer’s needs.

A part of their program is they don’t deliver to local photographers; their specialty is concierge level service and packages for vacationers. They also don’t ship their cameras, and their rentals are strictly theme park rentals. Their rental packages include bags, cameras, tripods, and memory cards (which the client keeps). Other companies in the area rent out camera equipment but don’t deliver to the client, and Kingdom Camera prides themselves on the fact they are always on time when meeting a client for drop off and pick up. They even go over the camera with the renter and will help out and rent in camera emergencies.

A typical day with Kingdom Camera starts at about 5:30 am, with deliveries starting at the hotels around 7-7:30 am, and ends about 5pm. Cameras are delivered to renter personally instead of being left with bell stands to ensure items are 100% perfect when the client receives them. Meetings for delivery occur in the clients hotel lobby where Ron goes over camera with the client to make sure they are comfortable with using it. There is also a quick start guide in the bag just in case the client forgets something.  The client then signs the rental agreement which also sent to them in an email, and a pick up time is set up with enough time to keep people from missing a flight home etc.

When I asked what happened if a camera isn’t returned, Ron told me that has never been an issue and that all their clients have been a joy to work with.  At the time of the interview only one piece had come back damaged, and that was a filter.  Magic Kingdom’s has gone above and beyond to try and protect the camera equipment as much as they can by only renting out branded lenses, UV filters, and LCD protectors on screens.

With three packages options that include cameras, accessories, and SD cards, there is a package for every  level of photographer from beginner to professional.  Kingdom Camera also offers great camera add-ons like tripods, filters, battery grips, filters and flashes. I definitely recommend this awesome company if you are traveling to Walt Disney World. They can be found online at www.kingdomcamerarentals.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KingdomCameraRentals.

Kingdom Camera Package Info as of 7/2013:

Fun Package: Canon Rebel SL1, Camera w/ HD Video, Canon 18-55 IS STM Lens, 2 Batteries & 2 Chargers, Camera Bag, 4 GB SD Card (Yours to keep!)Adventure Package: Nikon D5000 Camera w/Video, Nikon 18 - 200mm Zoom Lens,Camera Bag, Battery & Charger,4 GB SD Card (Yours To Keep!)Enthusiast Package: Nikon D7000 Camera w/Video, Nikon 18-200mm , Compact Tripod, 1 Battery & Charger, Camera Bag, 4 GB SD Memory (Yours to Keep!)

OmronPedometer Ambassador

I’m applying to be a paid #OmronPedometer Ambassador and agreeing to walk 10,000 steps a day for 30 days with (tag Mamavation) and (tag Omron Fitness). You can encourage me on my journey for better health AND apply yourself  here, http://bit.ly/138xgD5

My Top 10 Disney Parks must buy list

Recently Disney Dining put out their"Top Ten Walt Disney World Souvenirs" list. Here is a summary peek of that list.

10) Christmas Items
9) Kitchen Items
8) Disney Jewelry
7) Food
6) Cups and Mugs
5) Hats
4) Toys
3) Clothing
2) Pins
1) Mickey Ears

Now.. Personally I don't agree with this list. I feel key things have been missed. So here is my top 10 WDW Souvenir/Collectible Item list..

10- Personalized items-
Those great things like park ride "id cards", pens, magnets etc.. They all show you were there, and you mattered to the House of Mouse enough to make chachkeys with your name on them, that is as long your name made the print list that year.

9- Car stickers-
I would add magnets, but after someone STOLE the Stitch magnet off my husbands truck with a friend sitting in the truck, from now on we stick with sticky backed vinyl. Car stickers show your love for Disney. I even excuse the annoying stick family car vinyls if they have mouse ears on the family members.
Some of my favorite Disney car stickers are:

  

8- License Plate holders-

In Virginia we have to have a front and back state issued plate, so those cool plastic "Support my fave cause/team/place on earth" license plates become wall hangings in the man cave or office. The plastic plate holders still allow us to show our love/dedication, but avoid getting a ticket.

7-Christmas Ornaments (Kind of)-

I have an issue with buying a $20 ornament to only display it MAYBE a month out of the year. Yes, Disney Christmas trees are adorable, as are the Jack Skellington Halloween ones I have seen, but they only come out for a bit. Instead my vote on this one goes to the "not obviously a Christmas ornament" ornaments. For example the new decorative resin Mouse Ear lineup, or the upcoming high heel line, or the Christmas shop items that don't scream I AM FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE!! these items allow you to display them where ever you want all year.

 

7- Art
Disney is at the end of the day, an art studio in my opinion. So Lithographs, paintings, prints etc are always great things to purchase and then display on the wall at home. 

6- Useful daily items
Seriously I wouldn't get through the day without a hairbrush, so why not get a Dinglehopper hairbrush in the New Fantasyland. Or Disney themed dishes, cookware etc. These are great useful items you use on a regular basis and remind you of your time in the parks.

5- Clothing of the none dated variety:
Ok I can actually HEAR y'all going "none dated??". Yes, I personally prefer my clothes NOT be dated. Why? Because it DATES how long I have had a specific sweatshirt/shirt etc. I currently am in possession of 4 Disney park themed sweatshirts. All lack a year, well the newest has a year on the shoulder recognizing the year the Disney Cruise Line started but that is different it's a HISTORIC date. The only dated items I buy are a yearly scrapbook and some collectors pins.

 

4- Vinylmations
I'll admit, I had to come around to the Vinyls. I don't know why I didn't love them instantly, except maybe the fact I envisioned them taking over my home like our Disney pin collection, but these are a cute item. From the ones you can decorate yourself, to the special series they are so cute. AND going back to the "design your own" the larger version of that Vinyl can be used as a guestbook at a Disney themed wedding!!

3- Scrapbooks
I am, per my one friend, a "attack scrap booker", meaning due to my personal schedule, and my cats who want to be in EVERYTHING, I don't scrapbook at home, or very often. So a few times a year I go with friends to an all day crop and bust out a massive amount of pages at once. After a trip to the parks I put everything scrap-able into a 12x12 envelope and then when I got scrapping I grab the oldest, uncompleted scrap-wise trip and work on it. Several years ago I started buying one of the FEW dated items I will buy, a 12x12 park album with the year on the cover. That way it's easier to keep the trips in order by year. 

2-Disney Trading Pins
Our very first trip to WDW in 05 started us of on trading pins. Interestingly enough my husband started collecting Stitch based pins, because "he just liked how he looked", yup that's right folks he had NEVER seen Lilo and Stitch. Currently we are working on putting the pins on paint canvases to hang around the house. They also make GREAT gifts for the nieces and nephews after our trips.

1- Duffy
Duffy is Mickey's bear. Before he became HUGE you would see the "My First Disney Bears"around the parks. THEN Duffy exploded in Disneyland Japan. I have no issue admitting I have a 17" Duffy (that travels to the parks with me) and quite the closet of clothes for him. On the plane he doubles as a pillow. In the parks he's something the characters at meet and greets go nuts over creating some really fun photos, and at home he's just a fluffy comforting friend when I need a hug.

Redo in the works.

So it's time to make this awesome tool into something more original. I plan to share Disney Park Blog posts of news importance, but also personal posts. :) Keep an eye out!!

Irish Brown Bread with Guinness Reduction

Put a jig in your St. Patrick’s Day party with this recipe from Raglan Road™ Irish Pub and Restaurant at Downtown Disney®.
Makes 1 (3-pound) loaf

Irish Brown Bread
6 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
4 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup Guinness
1/4 cup molasses

Guinness Reduction
2 cups Guinness
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup olive oil, for service

For Irish brown bread:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9 1/2x5x3-inch loaf pan or a 9×9 square pan; set aside.
2. Combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, 1 cup rolled oats, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl.
3. Whisk together buttermilk, Guinness, and molasses in a medium bowl.
4. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture in three batches, mixing and folding dough by hand lightly; the mixture should be sticky.
5. Transfer dough to prepared pan and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup oats, pressing lightly to adhere.
6. Bake until bread is golden brown and makes a hollow sound when top is tapped, about 40 to 50 minutes.
7. Remove from pan and cool slightly before serving. Serve with Guinness Reduction and olive oil.

For Guinness reduction:
1. Combine the Guinness and sugar in a medium saucepan.
2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Note: Do not leave the pot unattended while it is coming to a boil, as it may boil over.
3. Simmer until mixture is reduced by half and is thick and syrup-like, about 1 hour.
4. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature
5. For service, place 1/4 cup olive oil in a saucer or small plate. Drizzle with 1/4 cup Guinness Reduction.
6. Refrigerate any remaining reduction for up to 2 weeks.

This recipe has been converted from a larger quantity in the restaurant kitchens. The flavor profile may vary from the restaurant’s version.

200 Facebook Fans Event

Ok ladies and gents, we hit 200 followers on Facebook so I want to do something special and fun :) So here it is.
Everyone who books a NEW Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Resort, or Disney Cruise Vacation between tonight (2/25/13) and 3/16/13 at 11pm est, gets a free Disney Growth Chart, one for each child (minor under 18 years of age) in your home, while supplies last. (Trip does not have to be taken during that time frame, just booked, and deposit placed.)
Follow me at www.facebook.com/AutumnDisneyTravelSpecialist and fill out the form out in full for a free, no obligation quote today or follow me at www.askamouseaddict.com 

The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

Originally Published January 3, 2013 on WWT written by Autumn Barnes

From 2008-2011, the building in Hollywood Studios between One Man’s Dream and Toy Story Mania was a one-room walk through Narnia memorabilia tour. The exhibit housed short movie clips, authentic concept art, storyboards, as well as some of the actual props and costumes used during the making of the Disney movie series. From September 2011 until December 2012, this building sat empty. In May of 2012, Disney announced a new attraction “”The Legend of Jack Sparrow” would be filling this space. For several months after the announcement very little information was released about the Jack Sparrow attraction, but walls went up with those wonderful “Pardon Our Pixie Dust” signs, while Disney worked it’s magic. In November, Hollywood Studios announced this new attraction would open December 6, 2012.   
I happened to have the pleasure of seeing this attraction the week of December 11 while I was at the parks.  Going off the original concept from the old Narnia tour, I was expecting to walk through a prop and costume tour. Boy was I WRONG!  The outside of the attraction’s building is decorated to look like a treasure map with the Pirates of the Caribbean skull and cross bones over the banner  “The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow” with Jack’s personal Jolly Roger flying high to ensure all know this is Captain Jack’s place!
Upon entering the building you realize, this is NOT going to be a walk through memorabilia tour. As you enter the first room you come face to face with a large door adorned with a Skull and sword style crossbones sculpture over it. Or IS it a sculpture? Once the magic of the sea surrounds you, you are warned by a now enchanted Skull and Crossbones, who will become your guide through the rest of the attraction, that those seeking adventure on the seas are searching for Captain Jack Sparrow. You are also told only a true pirate is fit to sail with Captain Jack.  You are then allowed to proceed to the next room, and of course as a last warning, you are told, Dead Men Tell No Tales.

 

Once all the members of the tour have entered the second room you learn the room is magic and anything can happen. From this point the show now surrounds you, with video, sound, light and interaction from the rest of the “crew” you have joined. While standing in the room the focal point is in fact the bow of the Black Pearl, but you are surrounded by pirate treasure, contraband, and a small stage where the lucky person chosen prior to the show gets to present the skeleton key to the attacking skeletons so that the adventure can begin.

From this point the “crew” led and directed by the enchanted skull will then battle the Flying Dutchman and Davy Jones, the Kraken, Mermaids of the non-Ariel variety and other such nautical villains. But when the Dutchman returns for another battle the skull reveals it is time to swear in the crew, and call them to muster for the Captain. At this point Captain Jack, in film format played by Johnny Depp and the Red-Head (we wants the Red-Head) from the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction appear on the deck.  After the ship is fired upon Jack realizes it’s time to be a Captain, and that he must protect the Pearl, with the help of his new crew.

Once the new crew has proven itself Jack and the “strange talking skeleton in the sky” decide the crew has performed well and that they should take the Pirate’s Oath, or at least Jack’s shortened version of it. Once everyone says “aye” the crew is told to prepare to make sail, and the is invited to join the skeleton in a round, not Jack’s concept of a round, but in signing a round of  “A pirate’s life” and then told to weigh anchor as the ship will be sailing with the tide.  The crew then makes it’s way back out of the building to continue on with the pillaging and plundering of helpless tourists, I mean to continue their day at Hollywood Studios.