Looking for a delicious way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day? You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy this holiday (but it does help!), and an Italian dessert is proving just that in Disney Springs. Vivoli Il Gelato has some tasty green creations that will bring out the leprechaun in you.
Get ready for St. Patrick's Day with a classic Vivoli Affagato made with matcha tea or the Green Velvet Cake Shake!? ? Available for a limited time. #DisneySpringspic.twitter.com/J2iZPrj6vm
If you love sweet things, the Green Velvet Cake Shake is for you! Make sure to bring a friend if you’re going to attempt this one though because it’s two desserts in one. It contains cake batter gelato, green velvet cake, cannoli cream, and it’s topped with whipped cream and a little green velvet cupcake. It’s a sweetness overload, but we aren’t complaining!
If you’d love a green drink but shakes aren’t your thing, try the Vivoli Affogato made with matcha tea. You can choose your flavor of gelato, which then has matcha poured over it. A fantastic and refreshing drink, especially for those who love the unique flavor of matcha! Try it with the Cake Batter gelato if you like the taste of matcha cake!
While you’re at Disney Springs and trying green things, you should also check out the Wandavision Frappuccino at Starbucks. You’ll need to know how to order it though, since it’s a secret menu item, so check out our recipe here!
No matter whether you’re Irish or not, you can celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with special offerings at Disney Springs. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, we wish you Happy Saint Patty’s!
Are you planning on visiting the Walt Disney World Resort anytime soon? If you are, then these tips might interest you!
Recently we asked Disney Addicts to share their favorite Disney World tips with us, is always good to plan and have a better idea about what to expect when you visit a Disney Park. So whether its your first time or not, you might find tips you didn’t know about.
TICKETS AND DATES
First of all, the best months to visit Disney World are January, February, the second half of April, first half of May, second half of August and September. This due to kids being in school and avoiding marathons and big holidays.
If you are worried about those months not having enough things to do, don’t worry! You will find Festival of the Arts, the Flower and Garden Festival, as well as, the famous Food and Wine Festival at Epcot! Plus many other things, there’s always something to do at Disney.
For tickets, make sure to look for special offers, usually Disney will launch limited time offers from time to time during the year. You also need to remember that you will require a Disney Park Pass Reservation for the rest of the year and part of 2022.
DINING RESERVATIONS
Getting a dining reservation can be hard sometimes, specially with those popular restaurants that require 180 days in advance to book them. One tip Disney Addicts shared was to try to look by breakfast, lunch or dinner first depending on what you are looking for, and if you don’t see the place you want, try to start going through the times a half-hour at a time! Sometimes you might get lucky and find that popular reservation that didn’t show up when you selected breakfast, lunch or dinner.
If that doesn’t work, you can also try to look again a day before or the same day because many guests cancel at the last minute, so who knows! You might find it after all.
Florida can be very unpredictable sometimes, it can be sunny and nice and the next minute is gray and rainy but one thing is for sure, its always humid.
Disney Addicts recommend always packing a little umbrella or poncho just in case you get one of those 3pm rains. Another tip to fight the heat are cooling towels, these ones work perfect for those super hot summer days! Mini fans are another great option too.
Many people prefer to go back to their hotel or eat while its raining but this is also a great time to take advantage of those short wait times at your favorite attractions! So keep that in mind, the rain doesn’t last that long anyway.
DISCOUNTS
According to Disney Addicts, a great way to save money is by taking advantage of Disney Gift Cards. Many of them recommend getting them using a Target Red Card or getting them at Costco or Sam’s Club, this way you get a discount.
PLACES TO STAY
Staying on Disney property can come in handy since resorts offer complementary transportation to all the theme parks and Disney Springs, so you don’t have to worry about driving around.
PARKS
Before the pandemic and the introduction of Disney Park Pass Reservation System, getting super early to the parks was a must! But that’s not the case anymore.
Since FastPass+ is not available at the moment, many guests rush to the parks first thing in the morning to get to their favorite attractions first, but many guests recommend getting to the park an hour late, this way wait times are shorter, the only exception was Hollywood Studios since you had to be in the park to get into the queue for Rise of the Resistance but that’s not the case anymore! Now you can get in the queue from the comfort of your Disney hotel.
Since park operating hours are shorter now, you have to make sure you plan ahead and select the rides you want to go on the most! Remember FastPass+ is not available right now, so you have to wait for every single one.
SHOWS
Shows might not be available for now but the parks are still offering modify versions of parades and meet&greets to guests with cavalcades and socially distanced photo-ops with characters.
Disney Addicts also shared tips for when the fireworks show come back, one mentioned a great way to see the fireworks from outside the parks is from the balcony located at the 4th floor of the Contemporary Resort! They even have benches and speakers so you can still hear the music.
When it comes to preparing your bag that you will take to the park, make sure to add extra face masks, some hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes. These are some thing we never thought about packing before but that are a must now.
Another thing to pack is a portable charger, due to the pandemic, a lot of the things in the parks are now contactless, so you will be using your phone a lot!
Like we mention before an umbrella and cooling towels are great things to have just in case. Also make sure you have your water bottle and wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking a lot.
Harmonious, EPCOT’s brand new nighttime spectacular, will be one of the largest that Disney has ever produced! There is still no date set for the spectacular to debut, though Disney has announced that it will be later this year.
— Brooke Geiger McDonald (@BrookeGMcDonald) March 5, 2021
You can see in the video above, posted by Twitter user Brooke Geiger McDonald, the fountains peeking out above the trees and just left of the top of one of the barges.
— Brooke Geiger McDonald (@BrookeGMcDonald) March 5, 2021
This exciting nighttime spectacular will feature custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, colorful lights, lasers, pyrotechnics and more! The fountains will even stay on throughout the day for guests to be able to enjoy while traveling throughout EPCOT’s World Showcase.
Love cinnamon and pastry then you must check out the all new cinnamon roll donut now glazing at Everglazed Donuts over in Disney Springs! This cinnamon roll would put Gaston over in the Magic Kingdom to shame!
We honestly couldn’t wait for the opening of this delicious donut heaven, which opened its doors on the 6th January this year! Everglazed Donuts, famous for their warm, handmade donuts, delicious sandwiches and incredible ice brew coffees is definitely a place you need to visit in Disney Springs. Offering the most mouthwatering combinations and even wacky combinations like the fruity pebbles (breakfast cereal style donut) or the Maple Double Bacon Donut- who doesn’t love a sweet and savoury mix!
Today it’s all about the Cinnamon Roll donut, which isn’t just an ordinary cinnamon roll, its a cinnamon roll the size of your palm! This super light and fluffy creation is simply perfect full of delicious sweet cinnamon. If you don’t believe us check out their Instagram post below!
Just like their Instagram post promised, this Cinnamon Roll donut is oozing with icing, not coated but full to the brim with icing in and round the swirls of this roll! This cinnamon roll has the perfect ratio of dough to cinnamon and it definitely did not disappoint! Likewise, neither did the price as this mouthwatering treat costs $5.50 plus tax!
Remember, if you aren’t in the mood for sweets, you can get a delicious sandwich. All sandwiches are served on a sweet bun or a griddled glazed donut for an extra $1.
Not only do the drinks and donuts at Everglazed taste good, but they also look pretty too! Now is definitely the time to try their Cinnamon Roll donut!
Nothing ruins pictures in Walt Disney World quite like construction going on in the background. Sometimes you plan and daydream how your kids will look in a particular spot, but when you get there, ready to say “cheese, ” there’s a hideous brown scrim blocking the view. That’s been the case the last several weeks at Peter Pan’s Flight in the Magic Kingdom. However, a decorative scrim has finally been put in place to help the area look beautiful again!
The new scrim mimics the look of the attraction’s exterior, so you know what it looks like underneath. That’s especially nice for first-time Walt Disney World guests. While the exterior of the building is now covered, it leaves us to wonder how long the upkeep will take. You can check out our photos of the current exterior appearance.
The queue remains largely indoors and simply goes around the scrim when necessary. Much like “It’s a Small World” during its update last year, once inside you wouldn’t know that a paint job is taking place. And now that the “happiest cruise that ever sailed” has been refreshed, it looks as good as new. We can’t wait to see how Peter Pan’s Flight looks when it’s done!
While some of the scrim is still brown and boring, we really like the themed version! Keep checking back to see how the renovations are going!
For more information about everything coming to the Walt Disney World Resort for ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration,’ click HERE!
Are you excited for ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration?’ Let us know in the comments!
Check back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!
Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly, what a day! That’s because there is a new Robin Hood Dooney And Bourke Collection headed our way! Releasing March 8th is a new collection of Dooneys featuring the classic characters of Disney’s Robin Hood.
This is a beautiful design is also created by Fabiola Garza Villalobos. She’s a published author and illustrator, and has designed a very cute forest print of Robin Hood.
There are three silhouettes available with a delightful mint green color, and lots of florals. There will be a tote, a crossbody, and also a mini barrel bag. Each bag also has a hangtag with Fabiola’s signature. The heroes of Robin Hood aren’t the only characters we’ll find. It looks like Prince John, Sir Hiss, and the Sheriff of Nottingham are also lurking in the print too!
That’s not all though! Fabiola Garza Villalobos will be at Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories on March 8 from 10 a.m.-noon for a meet and greet! This is part of Disney’s HER Story event in March. HER Story is a Disney Springs even celebrating the contributions of women all month long!
Florida transportation authorities are giving Brightline a final deadline of mid-summer to iron out agreements with local and state governments. Brightline is reviewing the extension of passenger rail service from Orlando’s airport to Tampa for Florida government officials. Being a privately owned and funded company, Brightline must agree to a method for compensating the state and the authority for lost toll revenues.
The proposed Brightline route going west from Orlando’s airport to Tampa involved crossing the north-south SunRail tracks. So, Brightline must secure an agreement with SunRail’s local commission of elected leaders. The timeline is also contingent on “right of way acquisition, permitting, final design and engineering.”
“The station at Disney Springs will provide a fast, convenient and enjoyable alternative to driving or flying for the millions of trips made by guests traveling between South Florida and Orlando to visit the Walt Disney World Resort each year,” Brightline wrote. “As part of a future planned extension to Tampa, the station at Disney Springs could also serve the millions of annual visitors to Disney and Orlando originating from the Tampa area.”
Brightline’s proposal for rail service between Orlando and Tampa is to follow the company’s completion of an extension to Orlando’s airport, now under construction and more than half finished, from existing service between Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.
We certainly expect it to be wonderful as state transportation for going to Disney World! For more information about everything coming to the Walt Disney World Resort for ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration,’ click HERE!
Are you excited for ‘The World’s Most Magical Celebration?’ Let us know in the comments!
Check back here on Chip & Co. for the latest theme park and entertainment news updates!
Walt Disney World theme park hours are now available through May 22, 2021. Park hours continue to be adjusted and extended so keep in mind these hours could change. Here are the park hours for the week of May 16-22.
Paul Bettany confirms WandaVision Episode 9’s Big Cameo is… SPOILER ALERT! This post discusses major spoilers for the series finale of the Marvel Studios and Disney+ Original Series WandaVision. If you do not wish to have major aspects of the episode ruined for you we recommend you stop reading past this point.
The cast of WandaVision has been teasing a huge cameo appearance in the final episodes of the series, and it turns out, we met them in Episode 8!
That’s right, the big cameo was… Paul Bettany himself! Only this time, he was “White Vision” also known in the comics as Anti-Vision. During a conversation with Good Morning America Bettany shared:
“Yeah, you know when you think something is gonna’ be funny and then you panic? Which is what I actually did because fans started guessing who it might be. They were guessing people like [Benedict Cumberbatch] or [Patrick Stewart] and I was thinking, “God, that’s a good idea, and they’re going to be so disappointed when they find out it’s me.”“
Needless to say, there are fans who are very dissapointed because of the fan-created cameos that seemed highly probable, such as the introduction of Reed Richards rumored to be played by John Krasinski, Patrick Stewart returning as Professor Xavier to help Wanda, or Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange and kicking off the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Despite not having a huge cameo appearance at the end of the series, WandaVision has pioneered a path for Phase 4 of the MCU and we can’t wait to see what’s next for The Scarlet Witch!
To prevent the spread of spoilers, we are asking that you refrain from sharing details in the comments, but we would love to hear your reaction to the finale and your thoughts on the series as a whole. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for all things Marvel and Disney+!
Spoiler-Free Review of Disney’s ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’. Wether you chose to see the film in select theaters or via Disney+ Premier Access you are in for an epic adventure! Before diving into our review, here is the film’s synopsis:
“Raya and the Last Dragon” takes us on an exciting, epic journey to the fantasy world of Kumandra, where humans and dragons lived together long ago in harmony. But when an evil force threatened the land, the dragons sacrificed themselves to save humanity. Now, 500 years later, that same evil has returned and it’s up to a lone warrior, Raya, to track down the legendary last dragon to restore the fractured land and its divided people. However, along her journey, she’ll learn that it’ll take more than a dragon to save the world—it’s going to take trust and teamwork as well.
Raya and the Last Dragon focuses on central themes such as found family, taking responsibility for ones action, delicious food, and trust. Raya is clever and cunning, but a bit apprehensive in the trust department. Her journey isn’t easy, but her newfound friends help her to face her greatest enemy and the looming doom of the world around her.
We love the relatable themes throughout the film, and honestly, Raya and the Last Dragon is the PERFECT movie to be coming out during the pandemic. Here me out. Without spoiling anything, the film discusses heavy and hard topics that are extremely relatable in our current real world events. From loss to division and trust versus truth, there are few family movie titles that can compare, even within the Disney Vault.
One of the best aspects of the film is the representation of South Asian characters played by actors who share the same ancestral heritage.
Kelly Marie Tran shines as Raya and shows off her vocal talent with a wide range of emotions that makes you want to cheer during her victorious, yet brings tears to your eyes when she shows her vulnerable side. It’s true Awkwafina has a distinct voice, but she really brings Sisu to life as an iconic legendary figure, akin to characters such as Robin Williams’ Genie in Aladdin and Eddie Murphy’s Mushu in Mulan.
Special mention must go to Gemma Chan as Namaari, who equally matches Raya in skill and intelligence, but brings a welcome depth to a Disney antagonist that is rarely seen. Their co-stars Daniel Dae Kim (Benja), Sandra Oh (Virana), Benedict Wong (Tong), Izaac Wang (Boun), Thalia Tran (Little Noi), and Alan Tudyk (Tuk Tuk) are all wonderful in their roles and bring levity to the seriousness of the world around them and help Raya learn valuable lessons even in her darkest moments.
We thoroughly loved the film and think you and your family and friends will love it just as much as we do! If you are considering getting Disney+ Premier Access to watch the film we think it is worth every penny. Feel free to pop some popcorn, grab your go-to snacks, cuddle up on the couch and enjoy!
The highly anticipated animated feature film, Raya and the Last Dragon is now available in select theaters and on Disney+ Premier Access for $29.99. Be sure to check back here at Chip and Co. for all things Disney!
A year ago, the thought of Disneyland Resort closing for 12 months seemed unimaginable. Yet here we are — although instead of marking a grim milestone, we are encouraged by today’s news from the state as we await specific guidelines. Due to our perseverance and collaboration with state leaders, we now believe we have a path to reopen this spring. As you know, it will take some time for us to ramp back up, but I am certain that we will come back stronger than ever! We look forward to sharing an opening date soon. Last May I took on the dream role as president of the Disneyland Resort. I was beyond thrilled to join the talented team in Anaheim, and eager to become involved in the local community. Like many, I envisioned reopening the resort in short order, and getting our cast members back to work. But as COVID-19 cases spiked, this was not to be. We hunkered down and hoped that the numbers would fall. But days turned into weeks, weeks into months.
While we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, I want to acknowledge how difficult the last year has been. This pandemic has taken a devastating human toll…both in terms of lives and livelihoods, and I empathize with the personal pain so many have experienced. Shortly after closure, we furloughed nearly all of our cast members. A few months later our decision-making went from difficult to heartbreaking when, due to a lack of clarity about when we could reopen, we were forced to lay off thousands of our cast. We recognize that the year-long closure of the Disneyland Resort also means many local businesses are shuttered and their employees currently are out of work. Tens of thousands depend on us for employment…and the significance of this is not lost on me or any Disney leader. And we are heartened that our reopening will be the beginning of recovery for so many.
As we move forward, our mission as an organization has shifted. First, nothing is more important than getting people back to work in an environment that promotes health and safety. And we couldn’t be more excited to begin to bring many of our cast back.
Second, we have long touted the fact the Disneyland Resort is the unprecedented economic engine within the region, driving tourism and tax revenue for vital services. This is a responsibility we take seriously and embrace heartily. We will continue to find ways to work effectively with local residents, city and county leaders, resort Area businesses and nonprofit organizations. I am proud of how cast members have rallied around the community throughout our closure and heartened that we have been able to donate millions of dollars in surplus toys, 200 tons of product to food banks to feed those in need, and much-needed protective equipment including N-95 masks to first responders…and there are many other support efforts by both the company and our cast beyond those listed.
Finally, when we will fully reopen we will do so in a responsible way and showcases our multifaceted capabilities, just as we have at our other parks around the world. We’ve already begun to do this with a stair-stepped approach. In July, we reopened the Downtown Disney District and followed with additional shopping and dining on Buena Vista Street. Later this month, we will debut “A Touch of Disney,” a ticketed experience at Disney California Adventure park, and based on the enthusiastic response from our guests when tickets went on sale, we know they are eager to get a dose of Disney magic. What’s more, this experience enables us to bring back more than 1,000 cast members. As we responsibly reopen Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks and our hotels once again, we look forward to welcoming back thousands more.
Walt Disney once said, “The more you are in a state of gratitude, the more you will attract things to be grateful for.” A cynic might say that lately there has been little to be grateful for. But I’m an eternal optimist and the past months have helped me be even more laser focused on what I am most grateful for… our community, our guests and our cast.
To our community: For 65 years Anaheim has been our home, and together we will rebound. Never has a strong community been more critical and we will continue to find ways to invest in the city, bring back tourism and strengthen our valued relationships. Thank you.
To our guests: You are the reason we exist and we miss you. You motivate us to continue to innovate and provide a cherished place to make memories with your loved ones, and we are humbled to play such an important role in your lives. Thank you.
And especially to our cast: You have always been, and most definitely still are, the soul of the Disneyland Resort. I could not be prouder of the countless ways you’ve supported each other throughout this crisis. For those who have been working to maintain the magic and preserve the place that Walt Disney himself built, I know how seriously you take that responsibility and I appreciate your resilience, optimism and continued passion. And to those who have been patiently awaiting news of our reopening, I am grateful for your continued dedication, grace and never-ending support. I have every confidence that our comeback will be legendary — and I can’t wait to celebrate together. To all of you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
A very merry unbirthday to all of us! After a brief refurbishment, the Mad Tea Party in the Magic Kingdom has reopened! The classic Disney ride closed on February 22nd and has thankfully been a quick touch-up job.
The Mad Tea Party is inspired by Walt Disney’s 1955 classic, Alice in Wonderland. The original attraction is still in Disneyland Park and this version is an exact copy. The ride features giant pastel cups, reminiscent of those the Mad Hatter uses at his party in the film. The cups spin guests around until everyone is dizzy.
No changes have taken place to the exterior of the ride during its closure. Being that it’s a Walt Disney World staple, we can all be glad it hasn’t changed over the years! Plenty of rides have been receiving maintenance lately. It could be because of being shut down for several months last year, but most likely it’s due to the 50th-anniversary celebration that will begin later this year.
At any rate, a good number of people weren’t sorry to see this ride closed for a time. The Mad Tea Party is controversial. Not because of the source of inspiration, but because some guests get sick when riding. No one can blame them for hating it. However, we are still excited to see it open again!
Are you a fan of The Mad Tea Party? If so, happy spinning!
