Beauty and the Beast Lost in a Book Campaign

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March 3, 2017

Lost in a Book is one of several new Beauty and the Beast releases from Disney Press. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: LOST IN A BOOK is written by Jennifer Donnelly, the New York Times bestselling author of the Waterfire Saga series! In honor of these amazing new books and the Lost in a Book Campaign, Disney Press has partnered with Chip and Co to give one lucky reader the chance to create their own library!

A big Thanks to Disney Press for sending us a copy of Belle’s Library, and for providing a prize pack! One lucky winner will receive a spectacular collection of 20 Disney page-turners! To start your own library worthy of Belle!

Giveaway open to US addresses only.
Prizing and samples provided by Disney Press.

The full list includes:

Lost in a Book
Belle’s Library
Art of Coloring: Beauty and the Beast
Tale as Old as Time
A Twisted Tale: As Old As Time
The Beast Within
The Isle of the Lost and Return to the Isle of the Lost
Kingdom Keepers: The Return (3-book series)
Star Wars trilogy (3-book series)
Percy Jackson & The Olympians (5-book series)
Tales from the Haunted Mansion: Volume 1

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book

Smart, bookish Belle, a captive in the Beast’s castle, has become accustomed to her new home and has befriended its inhabitants. When she comes upon Nevermore, an enchanted book unlike anything else she has seen in the castle, Belle finds herself pulled into its pages and transported to a world of glamour and intrigue. The adventures Belle has always imagined, the dreams she was forced to give up when she became a prisoner, seem within reach again.

The charming and mysterious characters Belle meets within the pages of Nevermore offer her glamorous conversation, a life of dazzling Parisian luxury, and even a reunion she never thought possible. Here Belle can have everything she ever wished for. But what about her friends in the Beast’s castle? Can Belle trust her new companions inside the pages of Nevermore? Is Nevermore’s world even real? Belle must uncover the truth about the book, before she loses herself in it forever.

Leave a comment below to be entered to win this amazing Lost in a Book Campaign prize pack!

First Look: Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins from “Mary Poppins Returns”

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2017

First Look: Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins from “Mary Poppins Returns” — Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) returns to the Banks home after many years and uses her magical skills to help the now grown up Michael and Jane rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives in MARY POPPINS RETURNS, directed by Rob Marshall.

Disney just released the first ever still pic of Emily Blunt as the iconic character Mary Poppins. Of course it is a little coquette-ish, with the picture taken not from the front, only revealing the side of her face. It does give more to look forward to!!

Directed and produced by Rob Marshall, “Mary Poppins Returns” also stars Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer and Julie Walters with Colin Firth and Meryl Streep. The film, which introduces three new Banks children, played by Pixie Davies, Nathanael Saleh and newcomer Joel Dawson, also features Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury. The film is set in 1930s depression-era London (the time period of the original novels) and is drawn from the wealth of material in PL Travers’ additional seven books. In the story, Michael (Whishaw) and Jane (Mortimer) are now grown up, with Michael, his three children and their housekeeper, Ellen (Walters), living on Cherry Tree Lane. After Michael suffers a personal loss, the enigmatic nanny Mary Poppins (Blunt) re-enters the lives of the Banks family, and, along with the optimistic street lamplighter Jack (Miranda), uses her unique magical skills to help the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives. Mary Poppins also introduces the children to a new assortment of colorful and whimsical characters, including her eccentric cousin, Topsy (Streep). The film is produced by Marshall, John DeLuca and Marc Platt. The screenplay is by David Magee based on The Mary Poppins Stories by PL Travers with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman writing all new songs and Shaiman composing an original score.

“Mary Poppins Returns” is scheduled to be released December 25th 2018

Final Performance of La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil Will Take Place on December 31, 2017

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2017

Disney announced this afternoon that the final performance of La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil will take place at Disney Springs on December 31, 2017. The show has been a staple at Walt Disney World Resort for nearly twenty years with over 8,500 performances to date. La Nouba premiered on December 23, 1998 and was the first Cirque du Soleil show to take permanent residence in a city outside of Las Vegas.

The show has welcomed many new acts over the years; the most recent additions include a duo of comedic clowns followed by a troupe of world-famous break dancers and a real-life couple skilled in the rarely-seen art of aerial bamboo. La Nouba has been seen by over 10 million guests and will continue to dazzle audiences with its breathtaking blend of daring acrobatics and dazzling choreography through 2017.

“We are incredibly proud of the success that La Nouba has had for nearly two decades,” said Jerry Nadal, Senior Vice President of the Resident Shows Division for Cirque du Soleil. “We want to thank Walt Disney World Resort for a wonderful relationship over the years. We look forward to announcing what’s next for Cirque du Soleil.”

Wondering what’s next? Given Disney’s strong relationship with Cirque du Soleil over the years, Disney may soon have news to share about exciting new entertainment coming to Disney Springs. Stay tuned for more details!

There is still plenty of time to take in a performance of La Nouba by Cirque du Soleil over the next ten months. Click here or call 407-939-7600 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Contact [email protected] or visit my Facebook page here to start planning your next magical Disney adventure. All of my planning services are 100% FREE and can help save you both time and money!

Mickey Mouse Aromatherapy Essential Oils Car Air Freshener Clip

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Danielle

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March 3, 2017

I think Disney themed car accessories, are one of the funnest things ever. I love having a way to add simple touches of Disney all around me. A Crystal Mickey Mouse Car Air Freshener Aromatherapy Clip is an elegantly chic accent piece for the car, that also serves a practical function.

This Mickey Car Air Freshener clips into your AC vent, to be both decorative and offer aromatherapy. Using the essential oil car air freshener is easy. Just grab a bottle of your favorite essential oil add a few drops to one of the included oil pads and place it in the locket style clip. The clip has a strong magnetic closure and a solid back to ensure you never have to worry about getting oil on your car. These pads are washable and reusable for you to change the essential oil as you wish. The front of the clip is made with stainless steel and decorated with a ring of crystals, so not only does it shine gorgeously, it’s also easy to keep clean.

They also have a new Mini Mickey Mouse Essential Oils Diffuser Pendant available too!

I love this, and I love even more that I can CHOOSE the scents, I want, and swap them out as I please. You can save 10% on the Crystal Mickey Mouse Car Air Freshener Aromatherapy Clip with coupon code Mouse010!

Animal Kingdom Expanding Bus Loop to Make Way for Pandora

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2017

A lot of changes are happening over at Animal Kingdom to make way Pandora: The World of Avatar opening later this May. Walt Disney World is expecting a greater influx of guests to the parks in the weeks ahead and one of the steps they are taking in order to accommodate these new traffic patterns is to expand the transportation links with a third bus loop that will be added shortly.

Here’s a birds eye view of how construction is looking on this Friday morning.

The newest loop will provide the closest access to the parks and will sit just north of the two terminals that are already in place. The addition of this loop means more bus stops for Disney transportation. It would also appear that structures are currently being put in place to preserve the magic and hid the backstage/lot areas from tourists.

This is just one of many changes we expect to see taking place at Animal Kingdom during the exciting weeks ahead as Disney prepares for the the hotly-anticipated opening of Pandora.

Readers are encouraged to watch this space for the latest World of Avatar information.

Planning a trip to Disney? Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote.

Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider booking 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 dining and Fastpass reservations. 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.

Images copyright Disney.

Preparations Begin for ‘The View’ Taping at Animal Kingdom

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2017

The View is being taped at Animal Kingdom the week of March 6th, and it appears the preparations have already begun at Animal Kingdom. The stage is being set up in front of the Tree of Life, where the show will host plenty of ABC and Disney-family associated guests while they are in Animal Kingdom!

Scheduled guests for the week of March 6 – March 10 are as follows (subject to change):

Monday, March 6– John Stamos; a performance by Andy Grammer.
Tuesday, March 7– Ariel Winter (ABC’s “Modern Family”; Disney’s “Sofia the First”); Sherri Shepherd.
Wednesday, March 8–Eric Stonestreet (ABC’s “Modern Family); Audra McDonald (Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”).
Thursday, March 9– Mandy Moore (Disney Channel’s “Tangled: Before Ever After”; “This is Us”); James Cameron and Whoopi explore Pandora – The World of Avatar.
Friday, March 10– Tom Bergeron (ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars”); a performance by Train; and Celebrity Chefs Masaharu Morimoto and Art Smith.

Tune in all week to “The View” on ABC (11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EST) for all the fun!

Will you be attending any of the show’s tapings?

2017 ‘Star Wars Day at Sea’ is Back, Bigger and Better Than Ever

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2017

Last year Disney Cruise Line thrilled Star Wars fans with the first ever Star Wars Day at Sea. This Galactic day-long celebration of the legendary saga returned to the high seas in January and continues with select sailings through April.

From an enhanced deck party to “Star Wars Rebels” joining the alliance, the Force is stronger than ever onboard the Disney Fantasy in 2017 with the newest additions to the epic day at sea. The spectacular deck show, “Summon the Force,” celebrates the 40 years of Star Wars featuring new iconic characters: Kylo Ren, Ezra and Sabine. The deck show is bursting with John Williams’ epic score, now including music from “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” and “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

Meet “Star Wars Rebels” Sabine and Ezra along with Ahsoka Tano have taken a break from forming their alliance to visit you in an all-new base location. You can find out what the rebellion is up to with showings of “Star Wars Rebels” season three on the upper deck’s Funnel Vision. Then the duel continues with the deadly Jedi hunter, the Seventh Sister joining the Dark Lord himself in “Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.”

With a special lineup of guest speakers sharing what it’s like to bring the galaxy to the big screen screen get a behind-the-scenes look at the Star Wars saga. This year’s speakers include: Hannah Gills, producer for Industrial Light & Magic; Pablo Hidalgo, creative executive for Lucasfilm Story Group and Jason McGatlin, executive producer for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” among others, on select sailings.

Exclusive to Star Wars Day at Sea 2017 sailings is an assortment of intergalactic merchandise including drink ware, pins, apparel and more. You can also enjoy the latest installment in the Star Wars universe: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” while at sea.

Are you excited about all of the new out of this world additions to the 2017 Star Wars Day at Sea? Did you know Disney announced these special Star Wars themed cruises will also be sailing in 2018?

Are you ready for a Disney Cruise? As an agent with MickeyTravels, LLC, I can help you save time and money planning your next Disney vacation. My services are always FREE! Contact me today at [email protected] or (770) 800-6500. Follow me on Facebook for the latest Disney updates and tips.

Orange-Scented Disney Gift Card Available at Flower & Garden Festival

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2017

The smell of money just became a little sweeter with the release of a limited-edition, orange-scented Disney Gift Card at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. These citrus shaped cards not only smell delicious; they also have all the functionality of a regular Disney Gift Card, with the added convenience of wearing it around your wrist.

You can enjoy the sights and scents of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival while purchasing foods that highlight the taste of spring at the Outdoor Kitchens.

Activate your Disney Gift Card with as little as $15 and conveniently pay for food and more. Your Disney Gift Card can also be reloaded at Disney merchandise locations and many of the outdoor kitchens. When the festival is over, you can continue using your card for practically all things Disney – theme park tickets, hotel stays, entertainment, merchandise, dining, and more at Walt Disney World Resort and beyond!

The festival-themed orange-scented Disney Gift Card is currently available throughout Epcot as well as at surrounding Walt Disney World Resort hotels including Disney’s BoardWalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels while supplies last.

Do you plan to pick up a orange-scented Gift Card? Let me know in the comment box below.

Interested in a magical Disney vacation? As an agent with MickeyTravels, LLC, I can help save you time and money planning your next Disney vacation. The best part is my services are always FREE! Contact me today at [email protected] or (229) 977-3373. Join me on Facebook for the latest Disney updates and tips.

New Payment Devices Brought Into Disney World Resorts and Retailers

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2017

It would appear that the cute little mouse head touch points that guests used at Walt Disney World front desks and retailers to charge items to their MagicBands may be a thing of the past.

Guests started reporting this week that these have been swapped out in favor of a more industry standard model (see pictured). The new devices still work with MagicBands when touched to the flat area that you see above and take other RFID cashless payment options as well. The new kiosk also offers a chip reader for credit cards.

As reported by WDW news, the company that manufactured the original mouse head touchpoints has gone out of business making maintenance of the previous versions problematic.

New news yet as to whether this is just a prototype or if Disney will be customizing future versions to be more in keeping with the original MagicBand theme.

What do you think of the introduction of the new payment kiosks? Leave your feedback in the comments section below.

Planning a trip to Disney? Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote.

Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider booking 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 dining and Fastpass reservations. 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.

Images copyright Disney.

Disney Reveals Merchandise for 2017 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 2, 2017

Now that we find ourselves in March, for Disneyland fans that can only mean one thing. The fantastic Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is only four short weeks away. What better way to get excited about this amazing month of food and drink then to take sneak peek at some of the fantastic merchandise that will be on offer during the Fest.

One of the themes this year is going to be Chef Mickey. According to Linda Votaw who works in special event merchandising for Disneyland, “Mickey Mouse is pictured as a chef to give a nod to the many culinary delights guests will find during the event,”

Here’s a first look at some of the ways this image will be used to promote the Fest:

As a special treat for Annual Passholders, Disney will also release several Passholder exclusive items including an event t-shirt and an oversized, limited-edition pin (edition size of 2,000). Here’s a glimpse of these fantastic items:

No Food and Wine merchandising line would be complete without some fantastic glassware. We hope you’re as excited as we are about these amazing designs:

Visitors to Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival can find the amazing items above and more at retailers within Disney California Adventure Park including the Studio Store and Stage 17/Festival Gifts, and merchandise carts located next to Wine Country Trattoria and Seaside Souvenirs.

For more information on the 2017 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival check out this article.

Planning a trip to Disney? Fill out our form below to receive your FREE quote.

Find articles like this helpful? Then why not consider booking 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 dining and Fastpass reservations. 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.

Images copyright Disney.

No More Saving Seats for the Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 2, 2017

It seems the days of saving seats hours in advance for your favorite parade are over at Disneyland. We have all done it, you know, one lucky person from your group sits an hour or more in advance to save the perfect parade viewing seats for the entire group.

Due to the popularity of the recently returned Main Street Electrical Parade increased crowds have made claiming your seats early more problematic by causing crowded walkways on Main Street.

Starting February 27th, Disneyland guests will be asked to wait until after Cast Members have set up the parade viewing areas with rope on the parade route before selecting their spot. In addition, guests will be asked not to save seats for others who are not present. It is unclear if this new policy is temporary or permanent.

Do you have a favorite Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade viewing spot? How far in advance do you wait to get your parade viewing spot?

Interested in a Disneyland Vacation? As an agent with MickeyTravels, LLC, I can help you save time and money planning your next Disney vacation. My services are always FREE! Contact me today at [email protected] or (770) 800-6500. Follow me on Facebook for the latest Disney updates and tips.

New Scene Of “Beauty And The Beast” Available In Time For El Capitan Premiere

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 2, 2017

Tomorrow night’s world premiere of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood will be a spectacular event with guests including Celine Dion, John Legend, Chrissy Teigen, Matt Damon, Javier Bardem, Ava DuVernay, Jean Smart, Brenton Thwaites, Aubrey Plaza, Paige O’Hara, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson and many others. They will be joining cast and filmmakers Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, director Bill Condon, screenwriters Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos, producers David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman and composer Alan Menken.

The story and characters of Beauty and the Beast audiences know and love come to spectacular life in Disney’s live-action adaptation “Beauty and the Beast,” the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart of the true Prince within. The film stars: Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw with Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson. Directed by Bill Condon based on the 1991 animated film, “Beauty and the Beast,” the screenplay is written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos and produced by Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman, p.g.a. and Todd Lieberman, p.g.a. with Jeffrey Silver, Thomas Schumacher and Don Hahn serving as executive producers. Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards® (Best Original Score and Best Song) for the animated film, provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Howard Ashman, as well as three new songs written by Menken and Tim Rice.

Beauty and the Beast hits theaters nationwide on March 17, 2017, but you can watch this new scene to hold you over.