December 16th Chip and Co Weekend Roundup

New tools are coming to make your trip to Walt Disney World even more magical. From December 16 to mid-January, the Walt Disney World Resort will welcome the Guest Experience Team to the Magic Kingdom Park as part of a test. This team will help Guests make the most of their day by proactively assisting them with:

Additionally, just as Cast Members throughout the park already do, the Guest Experience Team will provide recommendations, help Guests view attraction wait times, and give tips on how to best navigate the park.

1. Main Street, U.S.A. – Castle Hub
2. Tomorrowland – Near Stitch’s Great Escape
3. Fantasyland – Along the castle wall, near Enchanted Tales with Belle
4. Frontierland – The porch at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café

3). Check Out the New Food Items at Disneyland Parks and Hotels.

I would like to talk about the Honey-spiced chicken sandwich because that would be at the top of my list to try.  This sandwich features that magical twist with the sweet and spicy spread that gives it a good kick then topped off with lettuce.  Complete with fries, this sandwich sounds so good!! In addition to the sandwiches guests can choose from the classic cheeseburger, the BBQ Double Cheeseburger, or the Messy Melvin’s Vegan Specialty Burger.  The BBQ Double Cheeseburger sounds amazing!  The BBQ Burger comes with BBQ Sauce, an onion ring, and jalapeno pickle relish.

All this food talk is making my mouth water!!  After reading some of the new items at Disneyworld – you can find the article here if you missed it – and reading about some of the new items at Disneyland, which would you like to try?  I mean it all sounds so tasty, but I think my first stop will be to Boatwright’s Dining Hall for that Chef’s platter. MMM, MMMM! Next, the crispy fish sandwich.  This sandwich also has a special twist with its sweet and spicy slaw and lemon-citrus mayonnaise on a bun.  I personally am not a slaw fan, but I still want to try it!! Recently Hungry Bear Restaurant recently implemented a whole new menu!  This is so exciting!  There is a plethora of food here to fill anyone’s hungry stomach!  Apparently, there are two new sandwiches that are on the can’t miss list! These new can’t miss sandwiches are the Honey-spiced chicken sandwich and the Crispy Fish Sandwich.

4). Booking for Garden Rocks Dining Packages at Epcot Flower and Garden Festival Now Open

Garden Rocks Dining Packages are the best way to get a fabulous meal and enjoy primary seating for one of the concerts going on at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival.  You can now book your dining packages! You can book your packages here or contact your travel agent this week. Last month we shared that the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival dates were announced and now we have more news about the event. New this year, the Garden Rocks Concert Series will expand to seven days a week!  This means over 270 concerts spanning over the entire 90-day event. Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival offers outdoor kitchens and beautiful flower and topiaries all around the park. There have been a limited number of artists announced and more will come as weeks go on. Keep checking back as we add to this list.

March 9-10: Glass Tiger “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)”
March 17-20: Simple Plan “Welcome to My Life”
March 28-29: Berlin featuring Terri Nunn “Take My Breath Away”
March 30-31: The Smithereens (NEW to Garden Rocks) “Top of the Pops”
April 3-4: Christopher Cross (NEW to Garden Rocks) “Sailing”
April 5-7: The Spinners “Working My Way Back to You”
April 12-13: Sister Sledge (NEW to Garden Rocks) “We Are Family”
April 17-19: Sister Hazel (NEW to Garden Rocks) “All For You”
April 20-21: Steven Curtis Chapman (NEW) “Cinderella”
April 22-23: TobyMac (NEW) “The Elements”
April 24-26: Lonestar “Amazed”
April 27-30: The Orchestra starring former members of ELO “Evil Woman”
May 1-4: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone “I’m Henry VIII I Am”
May 5-7: Don Felder, Formerly of the Eagles “Hotel California”
May 20-21: Colin Hay of Men at Work (NEW) “Who Can It Be Now?”

5). Disney World Worker Fired After Stealing $49K From the Company

Monday, a man was arrested for stealing nearly $50,000 from Walt Disney World. WFTV 9 Orlando is reporting that Orange County Sherrif’s arrested Jamaica Hall of Kissimmee, Florida.  Between April and December of 2016 Hall issued fraudulent credit card refunds to hotel guests which he then transferred to his own personal checking account.

Hall worked the front desk at several Walt Disney World Resorts throughout the time of the theft. Hall has admitted to taking the money and has been arrested, investigators say. There were not any hotel guests affected by the $48,531 in fraudulent refunds to Halls personal account. Walt Disney World has since fired him and filed charges.

6). Actor Gary Sinise Sends Hundreds of Children of Fallen Military Heroes to Walt Disney World

Gary Sinise is taking a total of 1750 people to Walt Disney World this December as part of his “Snowball Express” program through the Gary Sinise Foundation.  He chartered flights and with the help of American Airlines and they took flight from LAX. Gary started his foundation as a way to give back to children of the fallen and their surviving parent or guardian.  This week they left on a five day adventure to Walt Disney World as a way to enjoy a stress-free environment making lasting memories with new friends.