By Mike Ellis.

Last week I wrote about the changes that are coming to My Dreams of Disney, so welcome to the inaugural edition of Disney in Pictures!  In this episode, we are going to share some of our favorite pictures that capture the spirit of the incredible Disney Magic, plus we’re going to share some photos that you have submitted to us!

First up in our exploration of those Disney pictures that capture the spirit of Disney Magic is this shot from the 40th Anniversary.  That day was a wonderful example of Disney Magic at work.  The day itself was perfect — the 40th Anniversary of Walt Disney World!  Couple that with beautiful blue skies, wonderful temperatures, just being there was Disney Magic!  It was meant that we should be there, simply because the 40th Anniversary just happened to fall on a Saturday, and in addition, the day before was a school holiday, so what better time to be able to plan a trip!

Mickey & Minnie walking in the 40th Anniversary Celebration Parade

Next up on our look at Disney Magic are these pictures, again of Mickey and Minnie, when they surprised some special young guests with a ride on the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride! This was taken during extra magic hours when we visited in June, 2010; it was around midnight, Cindy and I were waiting to ride Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel while Sophie and Stephanie were waiting in line for Dumbo.

Mickey & Minnie with surprised Guests

And riding Dumbo with the kids!

As we continue our look at pictures that create that special Disney Magic, I bring you three photos from colleagues of mine.  The first one is from Dave over at YourFirstVisit.net, who shared this photo that he took with his iPhone!  Normally he doesn’t get very good pictures of fireworks with his iPhone, but the Magic was turned up for the 40th Anniversary when this picture was shot, and this was the result!

Image courtesy and ©YourFirstVisit.net

The second photo is from Deb over at Focused On The Magic.  You may know Deb because I’ve been part of her Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop for several weeks, as well as her Friday Flashback series, so if you’ve seen her work, you know that she is an incredible photographer!  Please enjoy her nighttime photo of Patriotic Wishes, in honor of President’s Day.  As Deb said, “This fireworks show is really the highlight of our day and to me it’s filled with Magic especially when it’s a Patriotic Celebration.”

Image courtesy and ©Focused on the Magic

The third photo is from Amanda over at MouzeKateerz.com.  Amanda had this to share with us about Disney Magic:

“It’s something you can neither touch or possess, but you can feel it all around you, and a photograph can bring it home with you. My Disney vacation goal is always to make it as long as I can after closing time, when the lights are low, the crowds have thinned out, but the music still plays and the castle colors shine. I feel the magic as I sit on a Main Street sidewalk.  I feel the magic as I walk hand in hand with my children to the monorail. I feel the magic in images I bring home. And I hold the Magic in my heart until I return…

Image courtesy and ©Mouze Kateerz

Gaylin emailed me a photo on how she keeps the Disney Magic alive at home.  In her comments she said:

“This is what can happen when you are nice to mousekeeping!  We came home with 45 bars of soap, that means I can stay Disney clean until my next vacation!”

Image courtesy Gaylin

The last bit of Disney Magic I want to share with you happened last June — June 19, 2011, to be exact.  It was on that day that my baby Sophie turned ten years old, and to celebrate, Cindy and I booked her and her cousin Anna Jane’s first visit to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside Cinderella Castle.  Neither girl had any idea of the treat that awaited them that day, and I don’t think that my sister-in-law Nancy had any idea either, as you can see by looking at these three pictures!

Nancy’s expression when she saw the girls!

Anna Jane after her Princess Makeover

Sophie after her Diva Makeover

I have shared a lot of special pictures that really capture what the Disney Magic means to me, but perhaps the best example I’ve got that shows the wonderful Disney Magic is the video I shot when we were at the Magic Kingdom for the 40th Anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSYkv5OTIBM

What does Disney Magic mean to you?  How do you incorporate the Disney Magic even at home?  Let me know in the comments, and thanks for stopping by on the inaugural run of Disney in Pictures!  Look for the theme for next week’s edition later on this week!