Disney Animator Tyrus Wong passes away at the age of 106

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December 30, 2016

Disney Animator Tyrus Wong has passed away on December 30th, 2016 at the age of 106. His artwork helped influence the look of the Disney Classic Bambi…

After migrating to America from China he studied at the Otis Art Institute and began working on animated shorts at Disney in 1938 before moving onto feature films.

You might remember his work on the Disney Classic Bambi where his artistic style heavily influenced the overall look of the movie.

As legendary animators Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston point out in their book about the making of the motion picture, “He set the color schemes along with the appearance of the forest in painting after painting. Paintings that captured the poetic feeling that had eluded us [artists] for so long. Ty Wong not only inspired the other visual artists, but he created a standard that was met by musicians and special effects too.”

After leaving Disney, he worked as a concept and story artist for Warner Brothers for 26 years before retiring in 1968.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Add a Little Star Wars Love to your Home with Han & Leia Pillows

By

Danielle

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December 30, 2016

Han Solo and Leia Organa have always been one of my favorite couples, and what better way to show my love for them than with these cute Han & Leia Pillows from AndersAttic on Etsy.

This pillow set is perfect for any Star Wars fan! These two quotes are some of the most famous ones to Star Wars fans, especially those who loved the pairing of Han and Leia. These are quality covers with a zipper on the bottom, and inserts are made of a fluffy poly/cotton blend that hold their shape. The images are made from vinyl. If the Han and Leia romance isn’t your cup of tea, there are many other fun Star Wars pillows to choose from!

Would you add “The Force” to your living room with these Han & Leia Pillows?

After-Hours Tickets Available at Disneyland for Main Street Electrical Parade Premiere on Jan. 19

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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December 30, 2016

To celebrate the West Coast return of the Main Street Electrical Parade, Disneyland will be hosting a special After-Hours event due to take place on January 19th starting at 7:30pm and running until midnight. The cost of attending the Main Street Electrical Parade Premiere is $95 per person for anyone over the age of three and comes with the following perks:

Admission to the park from 7:30pm.
Advanced viewing of the Main Street Electrical Parade.
Collectible event credentials.
Red Carpet Welcome.
Late-night ride time for some of your favorite attractions.
70’s themed dance party at Tommorowland Terrace.
Special PhotoPass locations (including some with the parade floats) and complimentary photo downloads.
Free parking at the Mickey & Friends parking structure from 6pm.

All this and you’ll be among the first guests to see the welcome return of the Main Street Electrical Parade before it makes its official park debut on January 20th. For more information and to purchase tickets visit disneyland.com,

Thinking about a trip to Disney in 2017? 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 with everything from finding your perfect package to 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 Facebook.

Emma Watson Shares A Musical Snippet From “Beauty And The Beast”

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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December 30, 2016

Bonjour! In a lovely start to your morning, we have a musical snippet of Emma Watson singing “Something There” from Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast“.

It’s a quick clip from Instagram, but a clip nonetheless. Jack Morrissey, a producer on the film, reposted video from a fan’s account of a Hasbro Beauty and the Beast toy touting Watson’s glistening pipes. “Well there it is, straight from the shelves at Toys R’ Us,” he wrote.

This is one of the songs from the original soundtrack that’ll be making the leap to live action when the film debuts on March 17. Plus, Alan Menken walked EW through several new songs for the film, like “For Evermore,” “Our Song Lives On,” and “Days in the Sun.”
Get a taste of the music below.

? Well there it is, straight from the shelves at Toys R’ Us…? ・・・ @The_West_Wing_ : Get ready for this one guys… FIRST LISTEN AT EMMA SINGING “SOMETHING THERE”!!!! I am officially floored, if she wasn’t perfect enough this has absolutely nailed her as #Belle! I cannot wait for this movie!!! ?? Recording taken from the singing Belle Hasbro doll! Not sure who to credit though, sorry! . #BeautyandtheBeast #Disney #EmmaWatson #Belle #BillCondon #BeOurGuest #taleasoldastime

A video posted by Jack Morrissey (@therealjackmorrissey) on Dec 29, 2016 at 7:00am PST

Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) directs Beauty and the Beast, which also stars Dan Stevens, Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, Emma Thompson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Kevin Kline.

New 2017 Tax rate for Disney’s All Star Resorts

By

Chip

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December 30, 2016

Beginning Jan. 1st, 2017, the new Osceola County combined state and local sales and use tax rate will be 7.5%. As Disney’s All-Star Resorts are in Osceola County, the tax rate increase will affect room only bookings.

Disney theme park and water park tickets sold at Disney’s All-Star Resorts and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will not be affected by the Osceola County tax rate and will continue to include the Orange County tax rate of 6.5%.

Please note all offers were updated to reflect the new tax rate on Nov. 23, 2016. Therefore, reservations for Disney’s All-Star Resorts that were booked or modified after that date have been calculated with the new tax rate.

If you were booked prior to Nov. 23rd, 2016 and your reservations have not been modified, they will be provided with your new total at check-in and will be responsible for paying the additional tax at that time.

NFL Pro Bowl Players Announced

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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December 30, 2016

The pro bowl is about a month away, and we have finally gotten word from the NFL and Disney about the players we can expect to see around the parks this year.

Among the Pro Bowl players recently announced are New England quarterback Tom Brady, Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and Dallas rookie sensations Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott. They will be among the approximately 88 players who will comprise the AFC and NFC team rosters.

Pro Bowl Week starts Wednesday Jan. 25 and the first stop for these marquee players will be ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney, which will host most of the Pro Bowl Week activities, including the team practices, youth football events, a Pro Bowl Skills Showdown and a dodgeball game pitting the AFC stars against the NFC’s best players. There are also activities planned for Disney Springs as well as Epcot, which will be the site of the Pro Bowl 5K run.

Also on Friday, Jan. 27 at Magic Kingdom Park , Pro Bowl players, NFL cheerleaders and various community groups will take part in a celebratory parade down Main Street, U.S.A.

If you’re visiting Walt Disney World Resort January 25-28, Pro Bowl Week is an experience you will not want to miss! Tickets for the game are still available at www.nfl.com/probowl where you will also the star-studded rosters of the AFC and NFC teams. For more information on Pro Bowl Week, visit espnwwos.com.

If you would like to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but are unsure of where to begin, contact me today to take advantage of my FREE vacation planning services! I specialize in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii, as well as Adventures by Disney. Email me today at [email protected] for a free quote, or you can follow along on Facebook here.

photo: Disney Parks Blog

Churros have returned to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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December 30, 2016

If you were sad when Disney removed Churros from Animal Kingdom back in April 2016, then you’ll be happy to hear that they have returned!

The cinnamon-sugar friend dough treat is now available at Dino Bites Snacks in Dinoland, USA, and is served with chocolate sauce for $4.29.

I don’t know about you, but I’m heading straight to Dino Bites Snacks on my next trip!

If you would like to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but are unsure of where to begin, contact me today to take advantage of my FREE vacation planning services! I specialize in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii, as well as Adventures by Disney. Email me today at [email protected] for a free quote, or you can follow along on Facebook here.

photo: Disney

Characters in Flight to Close for Refurbishment and an Updated New Look

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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December 30, 2016

Characters in Flight at Disney Springs will soon receive an updated look complete with a new color scheme. The attraction will be closed for refurbishment from January 9 – 13, 2017 as a new balloon is installed.

The Disney Spring’s attraction is operated by Aerophile and is the world’s largest tethered helium balloon. The balloon’s 19 foot diameter basket holds up to 29 people plus a certified pilot.

Guests on board are treated to 8 to 10 minutes of breathtaking, 360 degree views of Disney Springs and other iconic areas of Walt Disney World Resort. Tickets to Characters in Flight are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cost $18 per adult and $12 per child. The attraction is planned to re-open on January 14, 2017.

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

Photo Credit: Disney

Disney Celebrates 10 Entertainment Milestones at Disney Parks in 2016

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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December 30, 2016

It’s been another massive year for Disney theme parks and if there’s one area where the parks went from strength to strength it was all of the delightful ways that Disney kept us entertained throughout the course of the year. As we prepare to say good-bye to 2016 and ring in an equally promising year ahead, here are several of Disney’s 2016 entertainment milestones worth celebrating.

Star Wars – It’s definitely been the season for Star Wars across the Disney properties this year. Disneyland welcomed Season of the Force, there was a Star Wars Tomorrowland Takeover at Hong Kong Disneyland as well as the launch of “Star Wars: A Galaxy Far, Far Away and “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” which kept guests entertained over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Shanghai Disney Resort – Who can forget the Grand Opening of Disney’s most accomplished theme park Shanghai Disneyland in June. The opening ceremony was the largest entertainment program ever for the opening of a Disney destination. Since then, the park has been wowing visitors with attractions like “Eye of the Storm – Captain Jack’s Stunt Spectacular” , “Tarzan: Call of the Jungle” and a breathtaking Mandarin language production of “The Lion King.”

Tokyo DisneySea 15th Anniversary Celebration – It was also the “Year of Wishes” over at Tokyo Disney Resort as Tokyo DisneySea celebrated its 15th birthday. Included in the festivities were new entertainment offerings like “Crystal Wishes Journey” and “Out of Shadowland” which wowed the crowds.

Cinderella Castle – Over at Disney World, the Magic Kingdom also welcomed a new entertainment line-up including “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” where Mickey and friends join much-loved Disney characters from movies like the “Princess and the Frog” and “Tangled” in this celebration of friendship. The Castle Forecourt stage also played host to “Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration” which was jam-packed with Christmas charm and the breathtaking new evening projection show “One Upon a Time. ”

“Frozen – Live at the Hyperion” – This all singing, all dancing Broadway-style musical version of Frozen opened its doors to West Coast Disney visitors this year. The show boasts an impressive cast and uses state-of-the-art technology to transform this California Adventure Park theater to a winter wonderland.

“Mickey and the Magician” – The much lauded Disneyland Paris production was awarded by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions with its Brass Ring Award for Best Theatrical Production. This new show at Walt Disney Studios Park, takes Mickey Mouse on a magical, musical journey of self-discovery and enlists the help of a few Disney friends as well as some truly impressive special effects.

Disney Cruise Line- received an Arendelle makeover with the introduction of its newest Broadway-caliber stage show “Frozen: A Musical Spectacular” and gave little sailors an opportunity to brush up on their superhero skills with Disney Wonder’s Marvel Super Hero Academy.

Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa – also played to its strengths with the introduction of “KA WA’A a fantastic new luau experience and welcomed Disney’s newest Disney friend Moana who took time away from her travels to visit with guests at the resort.

Festival of Holidays – Rounding out the year, Disney California Adventure park debuted this new seasonal event paying homage to holiday celebrations and traditions from a range of different cultures. While World of Color Season of Light offered the same delightful nighttime water pageantry but this time with a Christmas twist.

“Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM!” – This Hollywood Studios nighttime offering proved a worthy addition to Disney World’s already robust holiday line-up. Set to Christmas music and using lasers to create glittering ribbons in the night sky, it quickly became a fan favorite.

“Starbright Celebration – An Intel Collaboration” – This Disney Springs holiday offering provided visitors with a glimpse of what future entertainment at the parks may look like in the years ahead. Using drones illuminating the night sky to tell a Christmas story, its prove that Disney remains on the cutting edge when it comes to providing new magical and innovative ways to inspire guests.

Its hard to believe that all of these amazing activities happened just in the last 12 months. Now just image what 2017 will hold.

Planning a trip to Disney in 2017? 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 sharing tips and trips designed 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.

Some images copyright Disney.

New Year’s Eve Events for Guests at Walt Disney World Resort

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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December 30, 2016

If you’re ringing in the new year at Walt Disney World, you won’t want to miss the many fun opportunities available to you to celebrate the big event!

The Magic Kingdom will be offering special schedules for both December 30th and 31st:

Park hours – 8am to 1am. (Evening EMH Dec 30 from 1am to 3am, and Morning EMH 7am to 8am Dec 30, 31)

Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season with New Year’s Countdown at 7:30pm.
Fantasy in the Sky fireworks with New Year’s Countdown at 11:50pm.

Epcot will have special operating hours on December 31st opening at 8am and closing at 1am:

Reflections of Earth with Peace on Earth finale at 6pm.
Reflections of Earth with New Year’s countdown at 11:40pm.

In addition to the special Refections of Earth offerings, there will also be plenty of DJ’s around the World Showcase for you to get your groove on!

Future World Fountain Stage: DJ Scooter – 7pm, 12:05am

America Gardens Theatre : DJ Steve Dunlap – 2:00pm

DJ Carlos Carrion – 7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:30pm, 10:45pm, 12:40am

Caliente A Latin Band – 7:20pm, 8:50pm, 10:05pm, 12:05am

Japan: Silent Groove – DJ Jason Gable 7:00pm, 12:05am

China: DJ Dominick Morrison – 7:00pm, 12:05am

Italy: DJ mark Sanchez – 7pm, 12:05am.

United Kingdom: DJ Elliot Hanson – 7:30pm, 8:30pm, 10:00pm, 11:00pm, 12:05am

Hollywood Studios will be open from 8am-midnight on the 31st.

Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! at 9pm.
Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at midnight.
Fantasmic! at 8pm and 9:30pm.

Animal Kingdom will be open from 8am-8:30pm on the 31st, with no special shows or fireworks displays.

Disney Springs will host Starbright Holidays at 7pm and 8:30pm on December 31st.

Disney offered this glimpse of what to expect as well:

If you would like to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but are unsure of where to begin, contact me today to take advantage of my FREE vacation planning services! I specialize in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani resort in Hawaii, as well as Adventures by Disney. Email me today at [email protected] for a free quote, or you can follow along on Facebook here.

Photo: Disney

LEGO Batman and KIDZ BOP Lead Unparalleled Lineup of Special Events at LEGOLAND Florida Resort in 2017

By

Chip

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December 30, 2016

Gotham City’s Caped Crusader kicks off an awesome lineup of special events at LEGOLAND^® Florida Resort in 2017, promising plenty of fun, fireworks and festivities at the popular vacation destination, including twoall-new events.

Whether it’s fan-focused celebrations of blockbuster properties like “The LEGO^®Batman™ Movie” and LEGO Star Wars™, an exclusive KIDZ BOP concert series or a unique spin on special occasions like Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, LEGOLAND Florida Resort offers an incredible calendar of kid-centric events that bring to life the limitless creativity of the LEGO brand.

Here’s what’s happening in 2017, our awesomest year ever:

The LEGO Batman™ Movie Days – March 4-5 & 11-12; new this year!

Super hero. Crime-fighter. Master Builder. LEGO Batman™ is all of those and so much more. Come meet Gotham City’s Caped Crusader during this celebration of the Warner Bros. feature film, which will include photo ops with the scene-stealing star, a themed scavenger hunt and LEGO Batman™-inspired LEGO build activities.

KIDZ BOP Weekend – April 28-30; new this year!

The No. 1 music brand for kids will deliver three days of high-energy fun during this inaugural event exclusive to LEGOLAND Florida Resort. Come see The KIDZ Bop Kids live in concert at The KIDZ Bop Theater as part of their 2017 tour, including songs from the forthcoming “KIDZ BOP 34” album and their version of the LEGO NINJAGO^® theme song, “The Weekend Whip.”

LEGO Star Wars™ Days – May 6-7 & 13-14; two weekends this year!

Visit a galaxy far, far away during this Lucasfilm-authorized event, which features some of the most famous scenes from theStar Wars™ saga made out of 1.5 million LEGO bricks in our LEGO Star Wars™ MINILAND Model Display. Activities will include appearances by costumed Star Wars™ fans, LEGO building activities inspired by Star Wars™ characters, settings and stories, and a Star Wars™-themed costume parade for kids. It’s the only LEGO Star Wars™ theme park event in Florida!

LEGOLAND Knight Lights – Select dates in July, including Tuesday, July 4

When the sun goes down, the fun goes up during our signature summertime event, exclusive to LEGOLAND Florida Resort! The Good Knight offers extended park hours, uniquely LEGO light displays, opportunities to build alongside our Master Model Builders and meet-and-greet opportunities with one of the heroes of LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS™! Plus, enjoy a spectacular themed fireworks show over Lake Eloise to end the night, with a special patriotic show planned for the Fourth of July.

Firefighter Fridays – October 6, 13, 20 and 27

The National Fire Protection Association returns for our annual kickoff of NFPA’s Fire Prevention Week and a month-long celebration of real-life heroes. The event includes fun, educational activities that teach kids the importance of fire safety, plus opportunities to meet firefighters who keep our community safe.

Brick or Treat – Select dates in October

Our annual, all-day Halloween event promises lots of spooky, kooky fun throughout the theme park, including larger-than-life LEGO models, a costume parade, multiple LEGO build activities, trick-or-treating (with lots of candy!), exclusive LEGO character meet-and-greets, a Halloween-themed fireworks show, and much more!

Christmas Bricktacular – Select dates in December

Join us for lots of festive fun throughout the theme park as we celebrate the season with a giant Christmas tree made of thousands of LEGO and DUPLO^® bricks, holiday-themed scavenger hunts and LEGO building activities, meet-and-greets with LEGO Santa and LEGO Toy Soldier, sparkling lights, beautiful decorations and even the occasional snow flurry! Plus, each date ends with a not-so-silent-night fireworks spectacular choreographed to classic holiday music.

Kids’ New Year’s Eve – Sunday, December 31 only

Ring in the New Year with our one-night-only party built for kids, featuring an exclusive dance party, park-wide LEGO building activities and special entertainment, and an awesome fireworks show that kicks off with the countdown to our giant LEGO “brick drop” – all before midnight!

All events are full-day experiences included with all forms of park admission and offer incredible entertainment and great value. No extra ticket required!

The best way to enjoy this incredible lineup of events is with our Awesome Annual Pass, which offers unlimited admission for a whole year to both LEGOLAND Florida theme park and LEGOLAND Water Park, along with many other great benefits. It’s a terrific value at just $99 plus tax for Florida residents.

Meanwhile, more than 50 rides, shows and attractions inspired by the LEGO and DUPLO brands can be found at the place where #AwesomeAwaits, including experiences based on “The LEGO Movie™,” LEGO NINJAGO, LEGO NEXO KNIGHTS, LEGO City, LEGO Technic and LEGO Friends.

For more information about visiting LEGOLAND Florida Resort, including savings on advance purchase of admission tickets, multi-tier annual passes, educational programs, services for guests with disabilities, VIP Experiences, Premium Upgrades, military discounts, on-site accommodations and much more, visit www.LEGOLAND.com/florida, or call (877) 350-5346.

Get Imperial Style with Loungefly Death Trooper Accessories

By

Danielle

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December 29, 2016

Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies, and purses! I have to say I was very impressed with the Death Troopers in Rogue One, first they weren’t as bumbling as our hapless Stormtroopers tend to be, and second, they looked pretty wicked cool in all black! What better way to show off some awesome Imperial style than with Loungefly Death Trooper Accessories from ThinkGeek!

Death Trooper Mini Dome Vegan Leather Bag

Let this Death Trooper Mini Dome Vegan Leather Bag from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story reveal the black of your soul. Well, and the fluorescent green bits, too. It’ll hold your ID cards, your credits, and your phone so you can call up your buddy when you can’t understand the comm and be like, “What’d he say? Oh yeah, and are we on for poker Saturday? Ring me back after this firefight.”

Death Trooper Vegan Leather Wallet

The Death Trooper Vegan Leather Wallet features an outline of the elite Death Trooper in a black with yellow trim wallet. Plenty of pockets for all your trooper needs. Show your allegiance to The Empire every time you need to pull out some credits to pay for things.

Would you strut your Imperial style with Death Trooper Accessories from Loungefly?