The Wandering Disciple

A Great White Egret searches for dinner extremely close to an American Alligator who might be looking for a meal himself at Myakka State Park in eastern Sarasota County. (Photo: December 31, 2013)

The SS Gaylord provides a dramatic background for the Key West Atrium at Gaylord Palms Resort. The Key West atrium features a large saltwater lagoon, a replica Mallory Square and more Southernmost reminders throughout. (Photo: December 27, 2013)

The big green ogre Shrek entertains guests at Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee. Here guests can have breakfast with Shrek during the Shrek & Friends Fairytale Feast. (Photo: December 27, 2013)

The Christmas classic "This Christmas" is just one of the many classic performed during the Luminescence show as part of the Christmas at Gaylord Palms event at Gaylord Palms Resort.  The show features music and aerial acrobatics to dazzle the audience.  (Photo: December 26 2013)

Bundle up and head inside the frozen world of Frosty the Snowman at Ice! at Gaylord Palms.  It may be 70 degrees outside, but when you step inside you will be transported to Frosty's world and a chilling nine degrees.  The childhood classic comes alive through ice sculptures featuring scenes from the cartoon.  (Photo: December 26, 2013)

Kissimmee, Florida: Every year the holiday’s come alive at Christmas at Gaylord Palms. The Central Florida resort comes to life as a winter wonderland with holiday surprises around every corner. While much of the focus is directed towards the ICE! exhibit, Christmas at Gaylord Palms is much more. Live music, millions of lights and a giant Christmas tree help to deliver the holiday spirit. The atrium is decorated with over two million lights and a 54 foot Christmas Tree, providing a stunning backdrop for the Plaza Stage. The Plaza Stage is where you can watch both of the holiday shows. Each night the festivities are kicked off with a tree lighting ceremony followed by two great musical shows. Musicians perform all of the holiday favorites during the Christmas Wonders show. Then rock out with high energy show Luminescence featuring a rock & roll band, great singers and aerial acrobatics. In addition to the stage shows, Gaylord Palms also has Gingerbread Decorating, V...

Christmas comes alive at Gaylord Palms.  Thousands of twinkling lights, entertaining stage shows and the popular Ice! exhibit brings smiles to guests faces during the holiday.  We have had the privilege to visit Gaylord Palms during the holiday.  Be sure to check back later for many more photos from our trip.  (Photo: December 26, 2013)

Celebration, Florida: Downtown Celebration transforms nightly into a winter retreat featuring hourly snowfall, ice skating and much more during their Now Snowing event. Every night in December, Market Street in the heart of Celebration comes alive with a one of a kind event. Every hour, guests are treated with a snowfall to make the event even more special. In addition to the snowfall, the block is decorated with holiday displays and Christmas music fills the air. Admission to the event is free and it runs through December 31.

Kissimmee, Florida:  Where in the world can you go sliding down a water slide one moment in 70+ degree temperatures and then slide down an ice slide at 9 degrees just moments later?  At Gaylord Palms in Central Florida of course and its popular ICE! exhibit. This year, ICE! features Frosty the Snowman.  Enter the frozen word of the holiday icon Frosty as you wind your way through the story from his creation to his return to the North Pole. One of the highlights of the exhibit is the ice slide.  Climb the stairs, sit down on the ice and slide down to the bottom.  It is as close to sledding as you can get in the Sunshine State. New to the exhibit this year is the "Artisans in Action" portion of the exhibit.  Here you can watch the ice sculptors create these frozen masterpieces.  A team of artists from Harbin, China travel to Florida each year to create this exhibit and now you can take a behind the scenes look at how it is done. At the end of t...

Kissimmee, Florida: Located in the heart of the Central Florida tourism district, Gaylord Palms is a elegant resort that is an attraction itself. Inside the glass atrium of the resort, guests can travel the state from historic St Augustine to the southernmost city of Key West without ever leaving the resort. Opened in 2002, Gaylord Palm is located just outside Walt Disney World and is just a short drive to Sea World and Universal Orlando. It features over 1,400 guest rooms of which 106 are suites. The resort also has 400,000 square feet of meeting space making it the largest convention center in Osceola County. So much attention has been placed it making the resort resemble Floridian landmarks. Three distinct areas are re-created including St Augustine, the Everglades and Key West. St Augustine is the largest of the three atrium. It features a replica of Castillo de San Marcos which had a collection of treasures recovered from a Spanish galleon. Next to the fort is Gator...

All of us here at Donten Photography would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas. Today's Photo of the Day comes from the Santa Sleigh display at Busch Gardens Tampa. (Photo: December 31, 2006)

Twas the before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring ,not even a mouse. It won’t be long before trees like this are transformed with presents thanks to Good Saint Nick. (Photo: December 1, 2013)

A Lockheed P-3 Orion from US Naval Station Jacksonville performs a touch and go maneuver at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The Orion is used by the United States Navy for anti-submarine patrols and maritime surveillance. It joins the B-52 Stratofortress and the KC-135 Stratotanker as the only three aircraft to be used for over 50 years by the military. (Photo: December 23, 2013)

The newest addition to the North Port Fire-Rescue, Station 84 was dedicated in 2011 for the late Captain Earl Conrad.  The station is home to Truck 84, Rescue 84, Rapid Attack 84 and Battalion 8.  (Photo: October 25, 2013)

A brown pelican searches for food in Sarasota Bay near Whitaker Gateway Park.  (Photo: December 17, 2013)

The Englewood Crabs 9u team warms up before the semi-finals of the Fall Classic presented by Suncoast Travel Ball. (Photo: September 15, 2013)

The baserunner for the Englewood Crabs slides under the tag at home during the opening round game of the Fall Classic. (Photo: September 15, 2013)

The shortstop for the Progress Village Hawks makes the play on a infield pop-up during pool play at the Fall Classic sponsored by Suncoast Travel Ball. (Photo: September 14, 2013)

Be sure to check back to Donten Photography after Christmas for an exciting new photo collection from Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee. The staff at the resort has extended a warm welcome for us to cover their holiday festivities. The 4 1/2 acre resort goes all out for the holidays including some of the best holiday decorations in the state. A 54 foot Christmas tree, 2 million lights and their popular ICE! exhibit await us on our visit. We will bring you photos of all of these and much more during our stay. If you would like to learn more about Christmas at Gaylord Palms or book a stay for yourself, visit their website . (Photo provided by Gaylord Palms)

A reliever takes over the mound for the Englewood Crabs during pool play during opening pool play in the Fall Classic presented by Suncoast Travel Ball. (Photo: September 14, 2013)

The Englewood Crabs second baseman makes a play on a ground ball during a scrimmage game between the Crabs 9u travel ball team and a team from the Hit Factory.  (Photo: August 31, 2013)

Charlotte Stone Crabs mascot Stoney grabs an umbrella to stay dry during a Florida State League game between the Stone Crabs and the Jupiter Hammerheads.  (Photo: August 25, 2013)

Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Alexander Simon slides safely into third base during a Gulf Coast League game against the GCL Orioles. (Photo: August 23, 2013)

A pitcher for the Englewood Crabs 9u travel ball team throws during the opening round of the Back to School Bash presented by Suncoast Travel Ball.  (Photo: August 18, 2013)

The manager of the Englewood Crabs rallies his team during pool play at the Back to School Bash 9u travel ball tournament.  (Photo: August 17, 2013)

The Englewood Crabs runner slides safely into third during a pool game during the Suncoast Travel Ball's Back to School Bash in Sarasota.  (Photo: August 17, 2013)

Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Jose Paez makes a backhanded grab on a sharply hit ball during a Gulf Coast League game between the GCL Rays and the GCL Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium.  (Photo: August 16, 2013)

George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida is the spring training home of the New York Yankees and the regular season home of the Tampa Yankees of the Florida State League.  The field has the same dimensions as Yankee Stadium making it a great place to prepare the prospects for life in the big leagues.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)

The marine patrol unit from the Venice Police Department patrols the intercoastal waterway prior to the start of the Venice Christmas Boat Parade. (Photo: December 7, 2013)

Venice, Florida: After dodging the cancellation bullet, the supporters and performers of the Venice Christmas Boat Parade showed up in large numbers to shine brightly in the night sky. Several thousands spectators lines the banks of the Intercoastal Waterway in Venice to watch the 25th annual parade. The parade was almost cancelled this year due to lack of support, but supporters of the event rallied and the parade took place. The annual parade has been entertaining Venice on the first Saturday of December since 1989. The parade starts at the public boat ramp at Casey Key. It continues through the Jetty before coming to an end near the Circus Bridge. At the conclusion of the parade route, the boats are judged and awards are given in multiple categories. Forty-six boats participated in this years event. Click on the photos above to view the participants and the winners in my 2013 Venice Christmas Boat Parade photo gallery .

Almost 50 colorful boats lined the intercoastal waterway in Venice for the 25th annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade. (Photo: December 7, 2013)

Charlotte Stone Crabs manager Brady Williams contests a call with home plate umpire Rich Gonzalez during a Florida State League game between the Stone Crabs and the Tampa Yankees at George Steinbrenner Field. (Photo: July 27, 2013)

A water lily floats in a water fountain at the Henry Plant Museum in Tampa. Created by railroad tycoon Henry Plant, the Tampa Bay Hotel was the crown jewel for the west coast. Today the building serves at the administration for the University of Tampa as well as the Henry Plant Museum. (Photo: July 27, 2013)

A learjet departs Tampa International Airport with Raymond James Stadium in the background. Located west of downtown Tampa, TPA services over 16 million passengers a year making it the 31st busiest airport in the country. (Photo: July 27, 2013)

Tampa Bay Rays minor league player Riley Unroe drives a ground ball back up the middle in a rookie league game between the Gulf Coast Rays and the Gulf Coast Orioles.  (Photo: July 19, 2013)

The statues atop the Belvedere Tower stand guard over the Ca' d'Zan. The Ca' d'Zan was the magnificent winter estate of circus magnate John Ringling. Built in the early 1920's, the the 56 room palace features an 82 foot tower in which Ringling used to wow his guests. (Photo: August 2, 2013)

The Boylston Nature Trail meanders along the calm waters of the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park. One of the more popular trails, the nature trail takes you on a forty minute stroll through a small portion of the park where you can see deer, turkey and many more species of wildlife. (Photo: November 30, 2013)