Work continues on Disney’s Polynesian Resort Monorail Station

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June 15, 2021

Resort Monorail Station under contruction

We are getting a little closer to an actual reopening date for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!, along with the Resort Monorail Station. We just happen to be doing a Monorail Loop yesterday and got some photos to share. Obviously, you can see they have capped the Porte Cochere of the updated Monorail station. (a Porte Cochere is defined as a covered entrance large enough for vehicles to pass through, typically opening into a courtyard.)

The Polynesian Resort is set to reopen, according to Disney at the end of July 2021. The Poly shut down last year for the pandemic along with the rest of Walt Disney World. It just never reopened, in contrast to the DVC rooms. Furthermore, the resort is updating the rooms to a Moana theme, which you can see by clicking the link below.

Disney's Polynesian Resort Monorail Station

You can see construction behind the lobby of the Polynesian. We witnessed them digging up the ground by the support beams.

Work continues on Disney's Polynesian Resort Monorail Station

Disney recently released info of Ohana reopening and giving previews of the new rooms to cast members who work at the Polynesian. We had previously reported on all the happenings at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. You can click on the links above to see the new room look and all the info on reopening Ohana.

Check out the video below of the Resort Monorail Station.

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Without a doubt, Ohana and the Polynesian are great stops on the Monorail loop, but what is your favorite spot on the loop for dinner?

More attractions reopening at the Disneyland Resort

By

Sara

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June 15, 2021

More attractions reopening at the Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resort is now open to all guests! No longer are the parks restricted to only California residents. Other changes have come to the parks as well. . Face coverings will no longer be required for vaccinated guests and social distancing will not be enforced. Now, we also know that more attractions will be opening soon!

Several attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will be reopening within the next few weeks. These are attractions that were either closed for refurbishment or closed due to social distancing requirements previously in place. The following attractions will be reopening soon:

Animation Academy: Scheduled to reopen on June 15
Golden Zephyr: Scheduled to reopen on June 15
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough: Scheduled to reopen on June 15
Sorcerer’s Workshop: Scheduled to reopen on June 15
Davey Crockett’s Explorer Canoes: Scheduled to reopen on June 18
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters: Scheduled to reopen on June 25
Matterhorn Bobsleds: Scheduled to reopen on July 2
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail: Scheduled to reopen on July 9
Jungle Cruise: Scheduled to reopen on July 15

The following attractions remain closed with no set reopening date:

Disneyland Monorail
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Sailing Ship Columbia
Star Wars Launch Bay
Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
Main Street Cinema
Mickey’s House, Minnie’s House, Goofy’s Playhouse, Donald’s Boat, and Chip and Dale Treehouse
The Disneyland Story Presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
The Bakery Tour
Red Car Trolley

Parades, fireworks, and other entertainment are still suspended at the resort as well. We are hopeful that these can return to the parks soon!

Do you have a Disneyland trip planned? If not, let’s start planning your next magical vacation! Contact me today for a free, no-obligation quote.

Disneyland Paris Cast Members get ready to Reopen!

By

Sara

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June 15, 2021

Disneyland Paris Cast Members get ready to Reopen!

Disneyland Paris is reopening on June 17, 2021! Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park, Disney’s Newport Bay Club Hotel and Disney Village will be opening and cast members are getting ready to welcome guests back to the resort.

Related – Disneyland Paris reopening on June 17th

Cast members are putting the finishing touches to the Resort before welcoming the magic again.

From high-octane thrills like Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror to family-friendly favorites like Peter Pan’s Flight and Ratatouille: The Adventure, guests will once again be able to experience their favorite attractions at both parks. Thanks to the work of Magic Keepers during the temporary closure, verdant spaces and well-manicured landscapes will provide a leisurely reprieve between adventures.

Reconnect with familiar friends with Selfie Spots and surprise appearances from favorite characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. New options like Star Wars Legends, a new galactic experience and The Cheshire Cat Express Train featuring friends from Alice in Wonderland will be added to both parks, while guest-favorite experiences like Mickey, Minnie & the Gang, Heroic Experiences with Marvel Super Heroes and Kingdom of Arendelle Enchanted Moments will return.

Those looking for a post-play stay can book at the following Disneyland Paris hotels which will open their doors progressively: Disney’s Newport Bay Club on June 17, Disney’s Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel on June 21, Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne on July 1 and Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch on July 13 – subject to the continued evolution of the situation.

Take a look at the cast members preparing for the magic to return:

Actress and director Kim Fields visits Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

By

Chip

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June 15, 2021

Actress and director Kim Fields visits Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Actress and director Kim Fields visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort last week.

Kim spent time in a galaxy far, far away as a vacation with her husband and two sons.

I have a feeling we might see Kim & Family on the Disney Wish next summer!

Hay Families!!! Stay tuned & ready to book your vacay!!! #FamilyTime #Disney #DisneyCruise #vacation https://t.co/v8QIkYjtlN
— Kim Fields (@KimVFields) May 19, 2021

(David Roark, photographer)

Storms shut down many Walt Disney World attractions

By

Chip

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June 14, 2021

Storms shut down many Walt Disney World attractions

Right now some severe storms are rolling through the Orlando Area and have forced Disney to shut down many rides and attractions including Disney’s Skyliner. The photo above was taken a little bit ago.

You can see on the radar they are just south of Walt Disney World moving east, with another band possibly heading towards the theme parks.

As you can see from the My Disney Experience that there are a few rides closed at the moment but they have been coming back up in the past few minutes.

Afternoon thunderstorms are quite common in Florida and rides do go down from time to time especially if there is heavy rain or lightning.

Stay tuned to Chip and Co for more.

First Look at Iron Man Roller Coaster coming to Disneyland Paris

By

Kevin Koszola

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June 14, 2021

First Look at Iron Man Roller Coaster coming to Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is reopening later this week for guests on June 17th. Even though Disney fans are eager to see familiar attractions, the theme park resort is busy working on future attractions featuring the Avengers! We also have a first look at the upcoming Iron Man attraction coming soon to the theme park.

The Iron Man roller coaster will be a thrilling addition to the Disneyland Paris version of Avengers Campus.

Disney will immerse guests into the Marvel-themed area through legendary storytelling, unforgettable heroic encounters, incredible new attractions such as the reimagined Rock’n’ Roller Coaster, as Iron Man will take guests on a high-speed, hyper-kinetic adventure. Guests will also experience more action and adventure than ever before in both indoor and outdoor shows and entertainment, a must do experience for all guests at Walt Disney Studios Park.

Check back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!

Float Away With The Mickey Balloon Loungefly Bag

By

Danielle

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June 14, 2021

Mickey Mouse has been reimagined as a mylar balloon! The Disney icon is recreated in die-cute figural appliqués on the front of this Loungefly mini backpack. The front zipper pocket features his iconic shorts. Unzip the main compartment to reveal an interior lining starring Mickey & Minnie as balloons!

Float Away With The Mickey Balloon Loungefly Bag

Find the new Mickey Balloon Loungefly bag now at BoxLunch.com!

Disneyland removes Face Mask and other requirements starting on June 15th

By

Chip

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June 14, 2021

Disneyland-Face-Masks — The Wotter family of Lake Elsinore, California, captures a special moment in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle as Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, reopens on Friday, April 30, 2021. Disneyland Resort welcomes guests back to this Happiest Place on Earth, reopening Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)

Disneyland removes Face Mask and other requirements starting on June 15th

Disneyland has just sent out an update for guests visiting their theme parks, the focus of this update for out of state guests, social distancing and face masks.

Let’s take a look…

As more people are vaccinated and the nation is turning the corner on this pandemic, we are encouraged that COVID-19 health and safety guidelines set forth by the CDC and state and local officials are being adjusted and eased.

Keeping with our thoughtful approach to health and safety measures, and taking into consideration these new recommendations, we are making some changes for Guests, effective June 15th, in conjunction with the reopening of California’s economy.

Guest Experience

We are excited to welcome out-of-state Guests beginning June 15th, at which time we will discontinue the requirement for on-site temperature checks. The state has removed the physical distancing requirements with respect to Guests, so we will allow Guests to self-determine distancing.

Face Coverings for Guests

Starting June 15th, face coverings will no longer be required for fully vaccinated Guests both indoors and outdoors. Guests (ages 2 and up) who are not fully vaccinated must continue wearing face coverings indoors, except when dining.

While Guests will not be required to show proof of vaccination, vaccinated Guests will self-attest that they are in compliance prior to entry. In addition, all Guests will need to attest that they are aware of the State of California’s strong recommendation that guests be fully vaccinated or receive a negative COVID-19 test prior to entering the theme parks when making their Disneyland Resort theme park reservations.

When the Toy Story parking lot reopens on June 18th, all Guests (ages 2 and up) regardless of vaccination status will be required to wear an appropriate face covering while on the bus transportation from the lot to the parks.

Theme Park Reservations

As we continue to welcome guests back to our parks, we will continue to do so through our reservation system, which was implemented due to capacity limits when the parks reopened.

Wakey Wakey Vegan Hash Recipe To Start Your Day!

By

Ana Leal

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June 14, 2021

The smell of this Wakey Wakey Vegan Hash would wake up any princess from their sleeping spell!

This vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dish features sweet potato, plantains, baby spinach and yellow onion scrambled with mushrooms and red bell pepper. Sounds super yummy!

Inspired by Sleeping Beauty and created by Dole, this recipe is super easy to make and a great option to start your day:

WAKEY WAKEY VEGAN HASH

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 tbsp of olive oil
1 large Dole sweet potato, peeled and chopped
1 green Dole plantain, peeled and chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups of sliced Dole mushrooms
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups loosely packed Dole baby spinach
1/2 tsp of kosher salt
1/4 tsp of ground black pepper
1/2 cup of roasted salted pepitas
Hot sauce and vegan sour cream for serving (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add potato, cover and cook 6 minutes or until almost tender, stirring occasionally.
Add plantain; cook, uncovered, 2 minutes or until almost tender, stirring occasionally. Add bell pepper and onion; cook 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
Add mushrooms; cook 4 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Add garlic, spinach, salt and black pepper; cook 2 minutes or until spinach is wilted and garlic is fragrant, stirring frequently. Makes about 4 cups.
Serve hash sprinkled with pepitas, topped with hot sauce and sour cream, if desired.

Enjoy!

Credit: Dole.com

Popular Disney Jewelry designer Alex & Ani files for bankruptcy

By

Chip

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June 14, 2021

Popular Disney Jewelry designer Alex & Ani files for bankruptcy

Popular Disney Jewelry designer Alex & Ani has just filed for bankruptcy according to The Providence Journal.

The company, which had been mired in sales slumps, lawsuits and internal conflict, said it will continue to operate while working with creditors and restructuring during the bankruptcy proceedings.

Related – Rebecca Hook Disney Jewelry Trunk Show

“In 2020, COVID-19 forced the company to pause its key strategic growth initiatives, temporarily close stores and scale back its operations in light of reduced in-store customer demand,” Robert Trabucco, Alex and Ani’s chief restructuring officer, said in a statement. “By utilizing the Chapter 11 process, we are able to ensure an expedited and orderly right-sizing of our balance sheet and operations.”

The Company nor Disney has issued a statement at this time. Fans are still able to find their products online and at the Disney Theme Parks.

Related – Simba Bangle by Alex and Ani

The company currently is controlled by British private equity firm Lion Capital, listed between $100 million and $500 million in debt to hundreds of creditors, and assets of about the same value, according to the filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

Black Widow will be available for free on Disney+ for all subscribers on October 6th

By

Kevin Koszola

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June 14, 2021

Black Widow will be available for free on Disney+ for all subscribers on October 6th

We are only a few weeks away from the release of Marvel’s highly anticipated Black Widow movie. The Avenger’s movie will have a theatrical release on July 9th, 2021. It will also be available on Disney+ Premier Access for an additional charge. But if you plan on waiting until it’s available , then you’ll be happy to hear Black Widow will be coming to Disney+ as part of regular streaming content on October 6th, 2021.

Experience all the action and adventure of the first Phase Four movie of the Marvel Cinematic Universe when you watch Black Widow!

In Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger. Directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige, the movie stars Scarlett Johansson reprising her role as Natasha Romanoff. Florence Pugh stars as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov aka Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff.

Check back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!

All-New Asian Fusion ‘Bend the Bao’ coming to Universal Orlando on June 15th

By

Chip

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June 14, 2021

All-New Asian Fusion 'Bend the Bao' coming to Universal Orlando on June 15th

Great News! Universal Orlando Resort will open an all-new quick service food venue called Bend The Bao at Universal CityWalk on June 15th, featuring a variety of delicious items that fuse popular Asian cuisine with diverse ingredients like crab cakes, pork belly, kimchee fried chicken, and more – creating an entirely new mash-up that “bends” the idea of a traditional bao.

Bend The Bao will be the latest original concept dining experience created exclusively by Universal Orlando, combining unique theming with an extraordinary twist on the traditional quick service restaurant. Incredibly-colorful pop art representing the creatures of the Chinese Zodiac will welcome guests to the venue, where they can grab tasty bao buns like the Crab Cake Bao with Maryland-style crab cake, shredded lettuce and mustard aioli, the Duck Bao with braised duck, kimchee slaw, XO sauce, cilantro and five spice aioli, and more.

Bend The Bao will be located on the second level of Universal CityWalk, adjacent to the Universal Cinemark theatre, and will open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. beginning Tuesday, June 15.

For more information about Universal CityWalk, please click here.