If you’ve been looking forward to the Magic Kingdom’s Casey Junior Splash ‘n’ Soak Station being reopened, you’re not alone! The weather is warming up, and every time I walk into Storybook Circus, I see parents with young children peeking over to see if they can utilize the space yet.
The bad news is that the refurbishment continues. The good news is that Casey Junior is looking better than ever! The main section with Casey’s engine is complete, but the side portions are still being worked on. Those areas are marked off with walls of bushes. Hopefully, the renewed splash zone will be in working order by the time families travel down for the summer heat!
The Splash ‘n’ Soak Station has been a favorite of parents and young children for years. It’s one of the rare spots in Walt Disney World that is designed for children to run and work off some of that pent-up energy after riding in a stroller all day! Some parents have the forethought to bring swimsuits for their kids, but either way, it’s a fantastic place to cool off.
Since Walt Disney World closed in March 2020, the area has remained off-limits. Though we have no official reopening date, this refurbishment is starting to appear advanced. We can certainly hope to see children playing there again soon!
Guests visiting Walt Disney World from the UK now have a special 50th anniversary package offer available! This package has quite a few elements to it so let’s break it down.
The package includes up to $950 in Disney dining credit for guests staying two weeks at select Disney hotels. Also included are 14-day park tickets for the price of 7-day tickets for arrival dates in 2022. Memory Maker is also included with those tickets. Every booking will also receive a $200 Disney Gift Card.
Finally, book this package by July 17 in select Disney hotels and enjoy a free celebration gift basket! The basket includes a Limited Edition 50th Anniversary commemorative coin, exclusive Disney merchandise and treats, and a Mickey insulated cooler bag.
This special offer must be booked by August 3, 2021 and is valid for select dates in 2022.
Stitch has crashed spirit jerseys! Disney’s most popular troublemaker is joining the trend and getting on another spirit jersey. The adorable oversized shirt is made of a new material that makes it even more comfortable. If you’ve ever wanted one, this may be the time to buy one!
The largely popular clothing item has taken on several colors like Hydrangea purple and Briar RoseGold, as well as tie-dye. They’ve displayed several films; from Star Wars to The Emperor’s New Groove. There are spirit jerseys for holidays such as Christmas and Halloween. And of course many characters have had their spirit jerseys; Captain America and Mickey Mouse to name a couple. They’re available in sizes for the whole family, even your canine babies!
So of course Experiment 626 should be featured on a spirit jersey. But he just can’t sit still, so he’s chewing on the wording! The spirit jersey is also made of a lighter and thinner material; perfect for native Floridians. It’s a splotchy blue acid wash that forms the perfect canvas for all the mayhem Stitch is sure to cause.
This spirit jersey is $69.99 before taxes or Annual Passholder discount. Find it at World of Disney in Disney Springs, and other retail locations in Disney Parks!
Have you been missing taking pictures up close with your favorite Disney pals? Well, Disney is now teaming up with Snapchat to bring guests some magical filters! Disney PhotoPass Service x Snap will allow guests to experience Walt Disney World in a whole new way. Plus, there’s some special 50th Anniversary surprises coming!
It all starts with new ways to meet up with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse at the resort, with Snapchat Lenses starring your favorite duo. Mickey and Minnie will be right beside you in Snapchat with their playful expressions and gestures. They can even give you a hug!
The Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Lenses will be available in the Snapchat app* only at Walt Disney World Resort, but to celebrate the launch – and other special experiences to come! – you can try them at home, anywhere in the U.S., until June 3.
That’s not all Disney PhotoPass x Snap has in store! They are working on more amazing photo experiences, including some magical surprises in celebration of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary.
Generations have come to Walt Disney World Resort to escape the everyday, be part of their favorite Disney stories, and travel to new worlds. This fall, The World’s Most Magical Celebration will bring Disney fans together to commemorate 50 incredible years of magic.
To mark the occasion, Disney PhotoPass Service is working with Snap to virtually transform Cinderella Castle. With the My Disney Experience app, you’ll be able to place your favorite image captured by Disney PhotoPass photographers on the iconic castle with augmented reality. Look through your camera lens in the app and you’ll see a beautiful mosaic of special moments shared by Guests to celebrate the 50th. The best part is, you can share your memory with your friends and family, and the next time you return during the 18-month 50th Celebration, your photo will be there waiting for you!
There will be even more to discover in the My Disney Experience app this fall – including special Disney PhotoPass Lenses you can use right from the app, powered by Snap’s camera technology. You’ll be able to take selfies with your favorite Disney characters, experience unique Walt Disney World moments, and even make some magic of your very own with augmented reality! There will be more news to share ahead of the 50th anniversary, so stay tuned.
Channel your inner artist with this Pop’t Art recipe!
Have fun with your friends baking your own masterpiece with these Pop’t Arts. Inspired by the popular treat from Epcot International Festival of the Arts, these pop tarts will let you get creative and put your own touch to them.
D23 shared this easy recipe so you don’t have to wait until next year to enjoy this treat at the festival, so get your friends and family together and start baking!
Summer returns to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, as the phased reopening of the hotels continues. The Disneyland Hotel, pictured here, will reopen and welcome back guests starting July 2, 2021, with limited capacity. Guests can also look forward to the return of some favorite dining locations, including Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill, Trader SamÕs Enchanted Tiki Bar and the Coffee House. (Disneyland Resort)
Summer returns to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, as the phased reopening of the hotels continues. The Disneyland Hotel will reopen and welcome back guests starting July 2nd, 2021, with limited capacity.
Guests can also look forward to the return of some favorite dining locations, including Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar and the Coffee House.
Here are more details:
During the closure, the upholstery and fabrics throughout the guest rooms, lobbies and meeting rooms were refreshed and updated. The guest rooms now feature a fun new fireworks pattern in the carpet and upgraded platform beds to help maximize storage. The corridor flooring features new patterns inspired by the art of Mary Blair with graphic elements recalling the park lands each of the towers are named for.
If you’re yearning for some yummy nibbles during your hotel stay, make a date at Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar, Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill or the Coffee House. We recommend using the mobile order service on the Disneyland app** for added convenience at Tangaroa Terrace and the Coffee House.
Also, don’t forget, select restaurants in the Downtown Disney District also provide delivery services. For added convenience, guests of all Disneyland Resort hotels can scan QR codes from their in-room TV to access the links to those restaurants’ delivery webpages and order food and beverages that can be delivered to Disneyland Resort hotel lobbies.***
Planning to visit the theme parks during your stay? The Disneyland Hotel is ideally situated just steps from Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park, as well as the gateway of the Downtown Disney District.
Remember that all guests ages 3 and up need both a valid ticket and theme park reservation for the same day and same park to enter the park they want to visit.**** Theme park reservations need to be made in advance, and they’re limited and subject to availability.
You can also use your hotel confirmation number to view the latest reservation availability for theme parks. Be sure to have a valid ticket to book your theme park reservation. Keep in mind: a hotel reservation does not guarantee theme park access, and you’ll need to link your park tickets to a Disney account to make a separate theme park reservation. If you do not have an applicable theme park reservation confirmation and a valid ticket, you will not be granted access to the theme parks. Remember that appropriate face coverings are required for all guests ages 2 and older throughout the resort.
And as always, visit Disneyland.com for the latest details and everything else you need to know before you go!
*Reservations required and additional fees apply.
**Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations and features may vary by handset or service provider. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first.
***Downtown Disney District locations have various operating hours and delivery menus, and may be subject to change and restrictions including required minimum order amounts. Disney is not responsible or liable for the operations of such locations, any food or beverage, or the fulfillment and delivery of such food and beverage orders. Please contact the applicable location for questions and concerns.
****Certain parks, attractions, restaurants, experiences and offerings may be modified or unavailable, will have limited capacity, and will be subject to limited availability or even closure. Park admission and offerings are not guaranteed.
Another major milestone is reached on the Brightline Florida expansion! Recently leaders with Brightline reached their 50% construction milestone at the vehicle maintenance facility- located to the south the Main Terminal.
The Orlando International Airport was built over 40 years ago and has seen many passengers and flights since then- with the goal of having a rail network at this airport, this milestone is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations on the great work to the teams who have worked on this project!
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their roles as the delightfully wicked Sanderson Sisters in the live-action comedy “Hocus Pocus 2,” the spooky sequel to Disney’s 1993 Halloween cult classic “Hocus Pocus.” The film will premiere exclusively on Disney+ in 2022.
Singer/actress Bette Midler (“The First Wives Club,” “Beaches”) returns as Winifred Sanderson, with Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and the City”) and Kathy Najimy (“Sister Act”) back as her sisters, Sarah and Mary, respectively. In “Hocus Pocus 2,” three young women accidentally bring the Sanderson Sisters back to modern day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on the world.
“Hocus Pocus 2” will begin production this fall under the direction of Anne Fletcher (“The Proposal,” “27 Dresses”), who is taking over directing responsibilities from her friend and colleague Adam Shankman (“Hairspray,” “The Wedding Planner”), with Lynn Harris (“The Shallows”) serving as producer. Shankman is currently in production on “Disenchanted” for the studio, which he is directing, but will remain on this project as an executive producer along with Ralph Winter (“Adrift”) and David Kirschner (“Curse of Chucky”). Steven Haft (“Tigerland”) is co-producer.
Fletcher and Shankman first met in 1990 when they were both dancers for the Academy Awards® broadcast. Shankman went on to hire her as his assistant choreographer, working together on over 100 different jobs. Fletcher’s first directing gig was in 2006 on “Step Up,” which Shankman produced.
“As heartbroken as I am that I won’t be able to direct my friends Bette, Sarah Jessica and Kathy in what is sure to be nothing short of a major event for Disney+ due to scheduling conflicts, I couldn’t be more pleased to be handing over the reins to Anne, who has brought so much laughter and joy into people’s lives with her previous work,” says executive producer Adam Shankman. “I am still grateful and proud to help shepherd this ingenious project as executive producer alongside producer Lynn Harris, whom I have loved and admired as a colleague and friend since she helped get me the job choreographing ‘Boogie Nights.’”
“Now more than ever, people need to laugh. We should be laughing every day, and there is so much fun to be had with these three unbelievable women playing delicious characters from such a beloved film,” says director Anne Fletcher. “I am so grateful to be able to play a part in bringing these witches back to life, and to be working with my friends at Disney again makes it all the more special. This is a movie for everyone, from the fans who grew up with the first film to the next generation of viewers, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Starting today the Boardwalk Ice Cream Shop will be serving up some delicious frozen treats on Disney’s Boardwalk.
Bring your sweet tooth to this “cool” ice cream parlor located at Disney’s BoardWalk, featuring ice cream and sundaes to go. Enjoy menu items such as the Shore-Side Sundae with SNICKERS®, Bay-Side Brownie a la Mode and the Strawberry Splash Shortcake—all inspired by Beaches & Cream Soda Shop.
You will be able to chow down on sundaes, and single scoops of ice cream that you can enjoy at one of my favorite places to visit Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.
Here is the full menu for the Boardwalk Ice Cream Shop.
The Classic Wave of Double Scoop – Ice Cream Cup . . $7.00
Vanilla
Chocolate
Chocolate-Vanilla Swirl
Strawberry
Butter Pecan
Cookies ‘n Cream
Mint Chocolate Chip
Rainbow Sherbet
Coffee
Fat-free Chocolate or Vanilla
Ride the Wave Sundae – Two Scoops . . $8.00
Choice of one of the following toppings: Marshmallow, Strawberry, Pineapple, Peanut Butter, Hot Fudge, Caramel, or Chocolate Syrup topped with Whipped Cream, Toasted Almonds, and a Cherry. Additional Toppings $1 dollar each.
Surf’s Up Sundae – Three Scoops . . $10.00
Choice of one of the following toppings: Marshmallow, Strawberry, Pineapple, Peanut Butter, Hot Fudge, Caramel, or Chocolate Syrup topped with Whipped Cream, Toasted Almonds, and a Cherry. Additional Toppings $1 dollar each.
Shoreside Sundae . . $11.00
Three Scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream smothered in Hot Fudge, Marshmallow Topping, and Snickers bar pieces with Whipped Cream, Chopped Peanuts, and a Cherry.
Bayside Brownie A la Mode . . $9.00
A gooey, chewy Brownie, Hot Fudge, and Vanilla Ice Cream topped with Whipped Cream, Chocolate Sprinkles, and a Cherry.
The location of Boardwalk Ice Cream shop is in the old Ample Hills Creamery location on Disney’s Boardwalk.
Take a First Look at the Disney+ Original Series “The Mysterious Benedict Society”. It’s National Streaming Day, and to celebrate Disney+ has released the trailer and key art for its upcoming original series The Mysterious Benedict Society! Based on the best-selling book series by Trenton Lee Stewart, the show follows four gifted orphans who are recruited by the eccentric Mr. Benedict (Tony Hale) to save the world.
“After winning a scholarship competition, four gifted orphans are recruited by the peculiar Mr. Benedict for a dangerous mission to save the world from a global crisis known as “The Emergency”. Reynie, Sticky, Kate, and Constance must infiltrate the mysterious L.I.V.E. Institute to discover the truth behind the crisis. When the headmaster, the sophisticated Dr. Curtain appears to be behind this worldwide panic, the kids of “The Mysterious Benedict Society” must devise a plan to defeat him.“
“The Mysterious Benedict Society” stars Tony Hale, Kristen Schaal, Ryan Hurst, MaameYaa Boafo, Gia Sandhu, Seth Carr, Emmy DeOliveira, Mystic Inscho and Marta Kessler.
Check out the trailer for The Mysterious Benedict Society below:
The series is executive produced by Sonar Entertainment, 20th Television, Jamie Tarses, Karen Kehela Sherwood, Deepak Nayar, James Bobin, Matt Manfredi (writer/creator) and Phil Hay (writer/creator). Showrunners for the series are Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin.
Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for updates and all things Disney+!
Thora Birch May Return for ‘Hocus Pocus 2‘ Coming to Disney+. Actress Thora Birch who played the iconic Dani in the original Hocus Pocus film may be returning to her role for the upcoming sequel! Birch posted a teaser to Twitter with a gif from the original film along with the caption “2022 will be “Mah-velous!”
Needless to say, many Hocus Pocus fans believe this is an unofficial confirmation from Thora about her involvement in the upcoming Disney+ Original Movie. Though Disney has yet to confirm Thora’s involvement or if any characters other than the Sanderson Sisters will be returning for the film, we would love to see the original cast reunited in Hocus Pocus 2!
It’s all just a bunch of Hocus Pocus 2️⃣ Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy will reprise their roles as the delightfully wicked Sanderson Sisters in #HocusPocus2, coming fall 2022 to @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/antKQqf61e
— Walt Disney Studios (@DisneyStudios) May 20, 2021
Disney has confirmed all three of the Sanderson Sister actresses Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy are on board to join the sequel, and recently Najimy confirmed they are simply waiting for instructions from the studio about “when and where.”
Jen D’Angelo has penned the script for the film. Adam Shankman has stepped down from his role as director in order to focus on Disney’s Disenchanted, but has promised some exciting news is coming soon regarding Hocus Pocus 2. Currently, the Hocus Pocus sequel is set to begin production this Summer and Fall, with the premiere set to take place around Halloween 2022. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for updates and all things Disney!
Disney Channel’s Jenna Ortega Cast In Leading Role of Tim Burton’s ‘Addams Family’ Series. Stuck in the Middle, Elena of Avalor, and Jane the Virgin star, Jenna Ortega has snagged the leading role of Wednesday Addams in the upcoming “Addams Family” live-action series coming to Netflix. The series will be named Wednesday and is being helmed by famed director Tim Burton.
The news of Ortega’s casting was shared by the official Netflix Twitter account with a photo of Jenna posing with her script and the caption, “Happy Wednesday! [Jenna Ortega] will play the iconic Wednesday Addams in our upcoming live-action Wednesday series, directed by Tim Burton.“
Happy Wednesday! @JennaOrtega will play the iconic Wednesday Addams in our upcoming live-action Wednesday series, directed by Tim Burton. pic.twitter.com/yQRJXgnUo4
Wednesday will mark Tim Burton’s first live-action television project. The series will primarily focus on the character Wednesday Addams as she navigates a more modern world in the 2020’s with her unique outlook on life and death. Joining Burton as executive producers will be Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville). Gough and Millar will also co-write the series and act as showrunners throughout production.
Netflix has yet to announce a premiere date at this time, so be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for updates and all things entertainment!
