Attention Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders!! Disneyland has released its Fall Annual Passholder exclusive refillable popcorn bucket. The popcorn bucket features many of your favorite Disney villains, perfect for the upcoming Halloween holiday. If you’re an Annual Passholder, you may purchase one of these wickedly evil popcorn buckets for $15.00 now through September 30th, 2017, and receive unlimited $1.00 refills until October 31st.
Passholder exclusive buckets are only available for purchase in Disneyland Park, however you may refill the bucket in both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. Don’t forget your annual pass and photo ID, you will be required to show both at the time of purchase. Please note that flavored popcorn is not included for the $1 refills.
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It may be early, but a new Tsum Tsum advent calendar is here! This new Tsum advent calendar is available at Target online and in stores now! It may seem too early to grab one, but last year these were selling out like crazy!
Enjoy counting down the 24 days until Christmas with the Disney Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar. Open a new door each day to reveal a surprise Tsum Tsum figure or accessory to create a holiday themed scene. There are 18 Tsum Tsum figures in total: 6 large with 6 holiday themed accessories, 6 medium, and 6 small. Each holiday accessory is stackable and can be used to stack a large, medium & small Tsum Tsum figure on its own or used to build out an even taller stack with other accessories! This set is only available at Target, although I’m sure we’ll see other versions available elsewhere later.
Will you be grabbing this Tsum Tsum Advent Calendar from Target before it’s gone?
As Hurricane Irma gets closer, many are taking precautions just in case the path of the storm gets too close for comfort. Disney Cruise Line is also making necessary changes to keep their passengers safe. The Disney Cruise Line Blog is reporting that letters are being handed out to guests boarding the September 4th Disney Dream letting them know that their itinerary has been modified.
The Disney Dream will be changing the order in which the Dream visits Castaway Cay, Nassau, and their At Sea Day in order for guests to have the best chance to visit Disney’s private island. Tuesday September 5th will now be Castaway Cay and Wednesday September 6th the Dream will be visiting Nassau. Thursday will be the ship’s At Sea Day.
All pre-reserved Port Adventures have been adjusted automatically to fit the new schedule. You can view a copy of the letter below:
Disney Dream September 4th Itinerary Altered to Avoid Hurricane Irma https://t.co/HGQiieiMaU
This is another example of how Disney Cruise Line does things right, putting their passengers first.
Are you ready to start planning your amazing Disney Cruise Line vacation? Our friends at MickeyTravels (designated with Platinum Earmarked status by Disney) can help! Click Here for your FREE No Obligation Quotefrom one of their Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.
Ready to experience Disney for yourself? There are still fantastic 2017 Summer and Fall packages to be had. Click here or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
Want more help planning your next Disney vacation? As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, my goal is to help you plan the Magic your way. I create customized itineraries, book advanced dining and FastPass+ reservations, monitor for discounts for your vacation, and much much more! And did I mention that my services are FREE? Get in touch toll-free at 1-800-454-4501, via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook.
Per the 2 pm advisory, Irma has slightly weakened to 175 mph winds. Even with a slight weakening in the winds, the storm is a very potent Category 5. Irma has now taken a WNW path at 16 mph. The eye of the storm is located 65 miles NNE of the Dominican Republic.
The southern part of the state of Florida should start experiencing the effects of the storm by tomorrow evening. Landfall will most likely occur in Florida around Sunday morning as a Category 4 Hurricane. It appears that Orlando will experience effects of the storm including hurricane force winds and heavy rain. However, the path of the storm can still change this far out.
To keep up-to-date with all of the closures and cancellations at Disney World from the storm, please CLICK HERE.
Updated September 5, 2017 at 1:55 pm EST
We have just confirmed that Disney will be waving penalties in association with cancelling your Walt Disney World vacation since the state of Florida is under a state of emergency.
As of the 2 pm advisory, Irma is now packing sustained winds of 185 miles per hour. It is still heading west at 14 mph.
If you have a reservation to Disney World planned for the next week or so, I recommend calling Disney or your Travel Agent if you are interested in cancelling your reservation or rescheduling it for a later date.
Keep following along for updates. We will be updating this article at least once a day with the latest Hurricane Irma news. If you have a Disney Cruise planned around this time, please follow along HERE with the latest updates from Disney Cruise Line.
Updated September 5, 2017 at 11:30 am EST
The latest advisory on Hurricane Irma has been issued and I wish I had better news to share. However, the storm has intensified to a Category 5 Hurricane with 180 mph sustained winds making it the most powerful storm ever reordered in the Atlantic Ocean. The storm is currently positioned east of the Leeward Islands and moving west at 14 mph. It is anticipated to start making more of a WNW jog within the next few days. Hurricane/Tropical Storm watches have been issued for several islands in the Caribbean including Puerto Rico. There have been no watches or warnings issued for the United States at this time.
Governor Scott has issued a state of emergency for the state of Florida. A state of emergency is typically issued as a storm approaches as this make it easier for state government officials to request aide from the federal government once the storm is underway.
While it’s still too early to tell exactly where the tropical system will make landfall, it does look at this point Orlando will feel at least some of the effects of the storm starting this weekend. Whether that will be hurricane force winds, tropical storm winds, or just some wind and rain… only time will tell.
Disney World has not issued an official statement on the storm but it is important to read over their Hurricane Policy if you have plans to visit in the next week or so. Usually, only a full refund is given if a warning is issued. As a Travel Agent, I would also advise to keep checking with your airline if you have plans to fly to Orlando. To my knowledge, no flights have been cancelled at this time due to the impending storm but that can change at any time.
Keep following along for updates. We will be updating this article at least once a day with the latest Hurricane Irma. If you have a Disney Cruise planned around this time, please follow along HERE with the latest updates from Disney Cruise Line.
The internet is all abuzz with talks of Hurricane Irma especially for guests that have a Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Vacation planned within the next few weeks. And, rightfully so. As a Travel Agent, I have also received plenty of phone calls from clients worried about the impending storm. The impact of hurricanes is very fresh on all of our minds. Millions of people are continuing to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey that hit parts of Texas and Louisiana the last few weeks.
The main question everyone has right now is, “Where is Hurricane Irma going to make landfall?” Unfortunately, I wish I was here to give you that answer but it’s just too early to tell. However, I can relay to you the current information about the storm and it’s current projected path. I also have information on what to do if you currently have a Walt Disney World vacation booked for the next few weeks. It’s very important to keep in mind that projected paths change all the time this early into the stage of tracking a tropical system.
Per the 11 am EST hurricane advisory, Hurricane Irma’a current top wind speed is 120 mph making it a Category 3 hurricane on a scale from 1 to 5. The eye of the storm is currently positioned 560 miles east of the Leeward Islands. It is anticipated to intensify to a Category 4 hurricane later in the day as it approaches the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. From there, it is projected to make a pass over Puerto Rico and the island of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti) during the later part of this week.
Models have the storm getting close to the United States and Florida as we get closer to next weekend. As of right now, some models bring the eye of the storm through the Florida Keys while others have the storm taking a sharp turn to the north as the eye gets closer to the Florida region. As I mentioned, so much can happen between now and net weekend, it’s still too early to tell if or when the eye will make landfall in Florida or even the United States.
So what if you do have a visit to Disney World planned for next weekend or the week after? First thing I recommend is not to panic at this time and just keep up-to-date on the weather. Secondly, keep in mind Disney World does have an official hurricane policy in place. Straight from the Disney website:
If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Magic Your Way vacation package and most room only reservations (booked directly with Disney) without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney. If you have products and services provided by third-party suppliers included in your vacation—such as airlines, hotels, car rental agencies or vacation insurance companies—you will continue to be responsible for any non-refundable payments, as well as cancellation or change fees assessed by those suppliers. The policy does not apply to certain special events or dining experiences. To read Disney’s complete Hurricane Policy, please CLICK HERE.
After reading the statement above, it is important to know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning as they are two different things. A hurricane watch is issued when hurricane conditions are expected within 48 hours and a hurricane warning is issued with hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. Also to keep in mind about the above statement, this does not apply to Advanced Dining Reservations and special events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.
While it is rare for a hurricane to make a direct hit on the Orlando area, hurricanes have definitely made their impact in the area in the past. Disney has several measures in place to ensure the safety of all guests on property any time severe weather is anticipated. Last year, the parks did close as a precaution when Hurricane Matthew was threatening to hit the area. Guests at some resorts were also advised to stay in their rooms and extra food was brought to common areas at resorts for guests to “stock up.” Some resorts even offered movies and character interactions when the parks were closed. While tracking hurricanes comes with much uncertainty, you can be certain that Disney will be prepared!
I am obviously not a professional meteorologist but I was born and raised in South Florida and rode out countless storms in my lifetime. With several clients traveling to Orlando the next few weeks, I am going to continue to track this storm and keep all of our Chip & Co readers up-to-date. The best advice I can give is to keep following the weather updates and make the best decision for you and your family to make any changes to travel as needed. As anyone who has experience a hurricane before, “Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best!” I have personally advised my clients not to make any changes to their plans as of yet but to maybe start looking at alternative dates in the future if they are extremely concerned. We should have a better understanding as to where the storm is headed as the week progresses.
Let’s start planning your visit to Disney World! CLICK HERE , fill out the form below, or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. I offer rate monitoring to ensure you are receiving the best available rate offered by Disney and my services are 100% FREE!
As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get dining and FastPass reservations. I work with all Disney Destinations. Best of all, my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.954.401.9577, via email at [email protected], or follow along on Facebook.
If you’ve ever stayed at one of Disney’s amazing Value Resorts than you know that one of the biggest hassles can be waiting in the long at the pizza window which later in the evening can have lines that rival those found at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. However, it looks like Disney has finally found a way around this and is trialing a new Pre-order Window at the Intermission Food Court at Disney’s All Star Music Resort.
Guests visiting the window where you’d usually order your pizza will now see that the counters have been closed.
Instead, visitors will find signs explaining the pre-order concept and what steps need to be taken to order your food.
Guests are advised to grab their beverages and head directly to the cashier. The order is placed at the window and then guests are given a pager that will start to flash once an order is ready.
When your pager goes off, guests head to a specially designated pick-up window where your items will be waiting for you.
It’s a brilliant solution, means no more waiting in lines and also makes for a speedier service. We stayed there in late August and never waited longer than 5-minutes for our food. Its also worth noting for you early risers, the the pre-order window also offers breakfast burgers, flatbreads and Mickey Waffles in the am.
What do you think of All Star Musics new Pre-Order option? Is this something you’d like to see at the other value resorts? Leave us a comment below.
Thinking about a visit to Disney World? There are still great 2017 packages to be had and 2018 packages are now on sale! Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote!
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get Fastpass and dining reservations and sharing tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your time at the parks. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook
Just minutes from Walt Disney World, in the town of Celebration, is a new Italian restaurant. Buca di Beppo serves up some awesome food in a family-style environment. Here is our review of the setting, the food and the team of Buca di Beppo Celebration.
The outside of the restaurant may appear unassuming, but when you walk inside there is so much to see. The walls are painted in a deep burgundy color and covered with photos, holiday lights, and artwork. The photograph of Big Joe is displayed prominently at the entrance. Big Joe is the founder of Buca di Beppo. His first restaurant was in a basement and many of the Buca de Beppo restaurants do not have windows so as to replicate that same effect.
Each area of Buca di Beppo is sectioned off into a themed room. From the wine room and the Pope room, to the Celebrity/Mafia room, the Trellis room and the Bar room you will want to take some time to walk through and admire the wall displays. Big Joe believed that he must be ready for anyone to visit, including the Pope himself.
The menus encompass everything from wines and specialty cocktails, to appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts. There are also some great choices for the little ones in your group via the Children’s Menu. If you are just looking for a cocktail and a quick bite, stop by from 3:00pm-6:00pm for Happy Hour. You can order small plates and the like from the Bar.
The food is simply amazing. Each dish can be ordered as a small (serving 2-3) or a large (serving 3-5). All items are served family style with the main serving plate being placed in the middle of the table allowing for each family member to serve a portion onto their individual plates. For appetizers we had the Mozzarella Caprese with basil-infused olive oil and the new Antipasto Platter. Both were very good and we would order them again. The Sparkling Sangria was our cocktail of choice and the sparkling wine gave this beverage a boost of flavor. Our entrees included Meatballs, Lasagna and the new Chicken Saltimbocca. There were three of us and we each chose a different entree as our personal favorite. For our side we chose the new Brussels Sprouts & Prosciutto. Even the little one in our group enjoyed this dish and when you can get a child to eat Brussels Sprouts, you know you have a winner! We also tried the Macaroni & Cheese from the children’s menu. This lovely dish is made with velvet cheese and we all enjoyed the flavor and texture of this dish. No meal is complet without dessert and Buca di Beppo did not disappoint. We decided to go with the Dolce Platter as our dessert option. The Double Dark Chocolate Cake was the favorite of the little one in our party. There was also Homemade Crustless Cheesecake, Italian Creme Cake and Tiramusu. All four of these options were delicious and the two adults in our party could not pick a favorite as they were all just that good.
Christoph and his Team are very professional with a smile at the ready for guests. Britt was our Server and she was very informative and knowledgable about the menu and the history of Buca di Beppo. Britt showed us around each of the rooms and explained a little bit about each one. We trusted her with menu suggestions as this was a first visit for us and she was absolutely spot-on with her recommendations. The Buca di Beppo Team made us feel right rat home from the minute we walked in until the moment we were leaving.
If you are looking for awesome Italian food, with excellent customer service, in an interesting environment then you must check out Buca di Beppo Celebration. You can find them at 6282 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy. Celebration, FL 34747.
Will you be planning a visit to Buca di Beppo Celebration? Please leave your comments in the box below.
The 2017 EPCOT International Food and Fine Festival is in full swing and Chip and Company has been there throughout opening weekend gathering all the details for you. One of the cool displays this year is inside the Festival Center at “The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar” Marketplace. The Festival Center is located in Future World in between Mission: SPACE and the late great Universe of Energy.
Hosted by Ghiradelli, this small area is easy to miss so we wanted to make sure everyone knew about it because it is seriously impressive. Disney pastry chefs have been hard at work creating extremely detailed Disney movie and park scenes made entirely out of chocolate!
Let’s take a look at some of these sculptures on display. First up is Disney’s Beauty and the Beast!
Next Moana, Maui and Te Fiti show off their chocolatey goodness.
You can’t forget Hei Hei and Pua!
Released earlier this year, Disney’s Born in China, gets a display of their adorable pandas.
Finally, check out the Wreck it Ralph sculpture, complete with Vanellope von Schweetz’s race car!
Pretty amazing right? What do you think, too good to eat?
Are you ready to start planning your amazing Disney vacation? Our friends at MickeyTravels (designated with Platinum Earmarked status by Disney) can help! Click Here for your FREE No Obligation Quotefrom one of their Authorized Disney Vacation Planners.
Ready to experience Disney for yourself? There are still fantastic 2017 Summer and Fall packages to be had. Click here or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
Want more help planning your next Disney vacation? As an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, my goal is to help you plan the Magic your way. I create customized itineraries, book advanced dining and FastPass+ reservations, monitor for discounts for your vacation, and much much more! And did I mention that my services are FREE? Get in touch toll-free at 1-800-454-4501, via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook.
Visitors to Walt Disney World in September hoping to check out Cirque du Soleil’s production La Nouba at Disney Springs will want to take note of the following schedule changes.
During the month of September, La Nouba will only have one performance, the 6pm showing, on the following dates: Sept 7th and Sept 14th. However, the box office will remain open from 11 am – 9pm.
La Nouba will also go on a brief hiatus from Septembe 17 – September 25th. There will be no performances at this time but the box office will remain open from 11am – 7pm.
As we reported earlier in the year, La Nouba will be closing at the end of 2017 with its last performance taking place on December 31st. The show has been running since 1998. Though no official announcement has been made regarding a replacement for La Nouba it has been hinted that a new Cirque du Soleil production may be in the works to take its place.
Readers are encouraged to follow along with Chip and Co. for the latest in Cirque du Soleil news and updates.
Thinking about a visit to Disney World? There are still great 2017 packages to be had and 2018 packages are now on sale! Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote!
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get Fastpass and dining reservations and sharing tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your time at the parks. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook
Gary Sinise may no longer play a role in the opening narration of Epcot’s Mission: SPACE attraction but he is definitely missed. As a matter of fact, we have recently uncovered a special tribute left by Imagineers on the bottoms of the new children’s X-2 booster seats.
Let’s take a closer look:
As many of you may know, one of the roles that Gary Sinise is famous for is that of Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. If you examine the serial number at the bottom of the seats you can see a little tribute to him.
Also if you look at the Part No. you can make out the words “We Miss”. Put that together with the serial number and you’ve got “We Miss, Lieutenant Dan.” A sign that Gary’s role is gone but not forgotten!
We hope you love this little tribute as much as we do.
Mission: SPACE was closed for a lengthy refurbishment earlier this year and re-opened last month. In addition to a new opening narration, updates were made to both the Orange and Green missions. Orange, the more intense ride experience, now takes visitors through an asteroid field, slingshots you around the moon and attempts to land on the surface of Mars. Mission Green, is a more family friendly low-intensity ride experience where guests can gaze down at Earth from space before landing at Kennedy Space Center.
In an attempt to make the ride more family friendly, younger astronauts are now able to ride the Green mission with the new X-2 booster seats that were shown above. This allows kids with heights between 40-44″ to enjoy the space adventure.
Thinking about a visit to Disney World? There are still great 2017 packages to be had and 2018 packages are now on sale! Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote!
Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get Fastpass and dining reservations and sharing tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your time at the parks. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at [email protected] or follow along on Facebook
Football is on the TV, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back, and a few Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Parties have already come and gone. Even though the calendar doesn’t indicate it, Fall is here! That also means one of my other favorite Fall traditions is about to begin: Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine in Hollywood Studios is back starting Monday, September 4!
During this dining celebration, Minnie gathers all of her friends dressed in their most festive Halloween attire. The Halloween-inspired buffet features spiced pumpkin patch soup, Kraken squid ink pasta and vampire-repelling garlic mashed potatoes. Your clients can also enjoy spider-web coconut macaroons, worms and dirt Oreo cups and pumpkin cheese cake for dessert.
Beginning September 4, Minnie Mouse will gather all of her friends to celebrate Halloween and Christmas with Minnie’s Seasonal Dine at Hollywood & Vine for both lunch and dinner. Breakfast at Hollywood and Vine will continue to feature Disney Junior Play ‘n’ Dine, including fun interactive moments with favorite Disney Junior pals Jake, Sofia, Doc McStuffins and Handy Manny.
It’s not too late to make your reservations for Minnie’s Seasonal Dine! There are still great rooms and rates available for the rest of this year. CLICK HERE , fill out the form below, or send an email for a FREE, no obligation quote with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. I offer rate monitoring to ensure you are receiving the best available rate offered by Disney and my services are 100% FREE!
As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to help you with everything from finding your perfect package to nabbing those hard-to-get dining and FastPass reservations. I work with all Disney Destinations. Best of all, my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.954.401.9577, via email at [email protected], or follow along on Facebook.
It’s almost time for me to shuffle my summery decorations in, and my autumn decorations out. I love a stunning wreath to adorn my front door with each season. This Disney Halloween Wreath by TisTheSeasonDesign is definetly stunning!
A Skeleton Mickey Mouse sits upon this spooktacular Halloween wreath. The wreath is created on a 20 inch black pine base with haunted orange and purple sunflowers, shatterproof ornaments and deco mesh. The Mickey plush holds a custom made WELCOME sign. The designer ships each wreath in a custom box, which you can store your wreath in when not in use. I think this is frightfully delightful for a touch of Disney and Halloween sparkle mixed together.
On Force Friday II, many new Star Wars items and merchandise was revealed as part of the lead up to “Star Wars: The Last Jedi”. Campbell’s Soup is also celebrating the new film with a series of cans featuring characters from the films. The new Star Wars Campbell’s Soup Cans feature both familiar and new designs.
The new can of condensed soup will feature cover art with Rey, Finn, BB-8, Captain Phasma and the Praetorian Guard. Of course the theme doesn’t stop there, fun shaped pasta noodles will accompany the chicken in a chicken broth. Each can is only $1.39 and will be on shelves this month.
I find it intriguing that the elite Praetorian Guard is being seen on quite a bit of merchandise, and now even the soup can!
