Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival Menus

By

-

March 19, 2016

Taking a page from Walt Disney World’s book, this year Disneyland has announced that on 5 weekends from April 1st- May 1st, they will also be celebrating their own Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure. (Some Marketplaces may even be open Mon-Thurs as well). The “theme” of their festival is Springtime in California, and not only will there be 8 special Marketplaces set up for food and drink, but some of the main restaurants will also be offering special menu items for the Festival. There will also be Premium experiences that guests can resgister for, such as celebrity chef cooking classes, and beverage seminars.

Here is a look at the menus for the 8 Marketplaces:

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Marketplaces

LAstyle

Chilled Ahi Poke with avocado crème and Wakame salad, topped with sesame tuile
Pork Belly Bao Taco with pickled vegetables
Milk Chocolate Caramel Tart with almond brittle and sea salt

The Vineyard

Cabernet Flight
Chardonnay Flight
Pinot Noir Flight
Wine and Cuvée by the glass

Wine Country

Zinfandel-Braised Wagyu Beef with creamy polenta and spring pea puree
Roasted Yellow Beets and Purple Haze Goat cheese with baby greens, green ver jus, sultanas and cashews
Blackberry Tart with rosemary vanilla bean crème fraîche and a Cabernet wine glaze

¡Viva Fresca!

Fried Shrimp Soft Taco with pickled red onion-jalapeno, queso fresco and avocado-lime crèma
Anaheim Chile and Roasted Cauliflower Burrito with Jack cheese and avocado-lime crèma

Gold Rush

Triple Cheese Mac with Smoked Chicken featuring Fontina, Cheddar and Gouda cheeses
Artichoke Chips with Spicy Aioli
Apple Bacon Whoopie Pie with maple cream cheese icing and bacon brittle

The Brewhouse

Southern California Beer Flight
Northern California Beer Flight
Craft beers by the glass

The Farm

Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider with chimichurri sauce
Golden Thai Vegetable Curry with jasmine rice
Meyer Lemon Macaron with blackberry marmalade, Meyer lemon cream and dried blueberry dust

By The Bay

White Cheddar Ale and Bacon Soup, served in a Boudin sourdough mini-boule
Chilled Shrimp and Snow Crab Cocktail
Coconut Tapioca layered with fresh mango and lychee boba, topped with green tea micro sponge and mango-couli sesame tuile

Festival-Inspired Specialty Items at Disney California Adventure Restaurants

Carthay Circle Restaurant

Specialty menu item and wine pairing every week

Carthay Circle Lounge

Carthay Cobb Salad
Caribbean Club Sandwich

Pacific Wharf Café

Dungeness Crab Corn Chowder served in a Boudin sourdough boule

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

Shredded Pork Tostadas with grilled pineapple slaw and chipotle crèma

Lucky Fortune Cookery

Chicken and Vegetable Dumplings

Wine Country Trattoria

Fresh Strawberry and Pistachio Cream Tart, paired with a featured wine

Mendocino Terrace, Sonoma Terrace and Hollywood Backlot Studio Bars

Sausage and Cheese Plate
Fruit and Cheese Plate

Hollywood Backlot Studio Bars

Soft Twisted Pretzel with Cheese Sauce
Fruit and Cheese Plate
Sausage and Cheese Plate

I don’t know about you, but it all looks delicious! Which Marketplace would you like to try?

If you’re unsure of where to begin planning your Disney Parks vacation, 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. Contact me today at [email protected] or you can find me on my facebook page here.

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog

“Black Cauldron” Book Series in Development for a Disney Film!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 19, 2016

It seems like Disney has been announcing live action movies based on our favorite fairy tales quite a lot lately, and as a lifelong Disney fan, I couldn’t be more excited to see fresh, new takes on fairy tales that Disney has to offer! We received some more news on the latest fairy tale to be in the works to become a Disney film: the “Black Cauldron” book series!

The series of five books, called the “Chronicles of Prydain” were written in the 1960’s by author Lloyd Alexander. In 1985, Walt Disney Animation Studios made “The Black Cauldron,” based on two of the three books in the Chronicles. Disney recently acquired the rights to the five books, and they are in the very early stages of developing these books for screen.

Disney’s 1985 “The Black Cauldron,” while not one of the most classic of Disney’s animated films, has become somewhat of a cult classic, and even has a lesser known Disney princess–Princess Eilonwy. It will be especially exciting to see them work with these stories again with the new film and revisit Alexander’s story for inspiration. I’m also interested to find out if we might possibly see more than one film, since this is a five-book series they have the rights for now.

Adorable Lilo Inspired Shirt to Show Off Your Disney Side

By

Danielle

-

March 19, 2016

I love dressing up in cute, Disney inspired shirts all year round. I especially love when they are a nod to the character, vs just a graphic of the character on the front. This Lilo inspired shirt from KawaiianPizzaApparel is exactly what I love.

This is a sublimation printed shirt inspired by Lilo’s Hawaiian print dress from the Disney film Lilo and Stitch! Great for a disneybound, halloween costume or everyday wear! I love that it’s printed on BOTH sides too! This Lilo Print Shirt is also perfect for dressing up versatility, you can wear with shorts for a comfy day at the Parks, or pair with a cute green skirt for a fun and casual dinner, there really is so many possibilities!

You can get your’s here! If you’re looking for a matching partner there’s also a cute Stitch themed shirt as well!

Would you wear these cute shirt renditions of Lilo and Stitch?

Disney Find – Disney Character Boxed Pint Glasses

By

Danielle

-

March 19, 2016

Let me tell you a tale as old as time… about how much I love using Disney themed cups and glasses in my every day life. However, must of my finds are plastic kiddy cups, and sometimes I would love a nice heavy glass for my chocolate milk in the morning. That’s where these Silver Buffalo Disney boxed pint glasses come into play.

There’s a few different collections available, with of course the princesses being my favorites! Silver Buffalo makes exquisite licensed trend products that bring nostalgia to life.

Silver Buffalo Beauty and the Beast Boxed Pint Glass Set

These Beauty and the Beast Boxed Pint Glasses Set are the perfect way to enjoy a royal refreshment. Each glass 16-ounce glass features vibrant images from Beauty and the Beast so you can show off your love of Beauty and the Beast!

Silver Buffalo The Little Mermaid Boxed Pint Glass Set

Let Ariel become part of your world, and add a little extra SPLASH to your refreshments! Features two beautiful 16-ounce cobalt blue glasses with shimmering pictures of your favorite mermaid!

Silver Buffalo Sleeping Beauty Boxed Pint Glass Set

You won’t have to worry about a sleeping curse from boring every day glasses when you have Aurora and Prince Phillip to sip your favorite beverage with. This two piece set has bright pink glass, with eye catching graphics from Sleeping Beauty. I only wish one glass was blue so I could say Make it Pink! Make it Blue!

These stylish glass sets would make the perfect gift for any Disney Princess fan!

#ShareYourEars: Disney Doubles Make-A-Wish Donation to $2 Million

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 19, 2016

You may remember seeing Disney fans post photos of themselves on social media last month wearing Mickey Mouse ears with the hashtag #ShareYourEars. In honor of the 100,000th Disney wish, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts agreed to donate $5.00 to Make-A-Wish for every photo shared between January 29 and March 14, up to $1 million. Due to the overwhelming support of this campaign, Disney has decided to double their original pledge by donating $2 million to Make-A-Wish.

Take a look at some of the highlights from the big announcement.

Jon Stettner, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish International said: “We are grateful to Disney and the hundreds of thousands of fans around the world who shared their simple, artistic and sometimes even wacky ears. It’s because of you that wish kids and families experience the life-changing power of a wish-come-true.”

Pack your Mickey Mouse ears and head to the most magical place on Earth. Email [email protected] to start planning your next Disney vacation today!

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog

Kristen Bell Says She’s About to Head Back into the Recording Studio for Frozen 2

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 19, 2016

It’s hard to believe that “Frozen” came out less than three years ago, since it has become such a big cultural phenomenon. Not only did “Frozen” end up becoming the highest grossing animated film of all time, but because the characters and story of “Frozen” are beloved by so many it has not only inspired many pop-up attractions at Disney theme parks, but will also get its own Broadway show for 2018, stage show at California Adventure this summer, and a permanent attraction in Epcot at Walt Disney World in 2016. All of us who can’t get enough “Frozen” had been hoping for a sequel, and Disney CEO Bob Iger gave the official announcement at a shareholder meeting last year that we would be getting a “Frozen 2“!

We will be getting the same iconic songwriting team, Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who wrote the songs for “Frozen,” “Frozen Fever,” and are writing songs for Disney’s 2018 animated film “Gigantic.” It has been confirmed that actors Idina Menzel (Elsa), Kristen Bell (Anna), Johnathon Groff (Kristoff), and Josh Gad (Olaf) will be reprising their roles. Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, who were the directors and screenwriters for the original film will also be returning.

Aside from last year’s announcement, little has been revealed about “Frozen 2,” but Kristen Bell did give us a little update today, saying that Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee have finished the script for the film (which she has said is fantastic, of course!). With the script finished and just some fine tuning to it needing to be done, Bell seems confident that recording will start incredibly soon, possible within the next month!

In a recent interview where she gave us some insight on the progress of “Frozen 2,” she had this to say when she was asked if she had begun doing any work on the songs for the new film:

No, not yet. We record all the time for different parks or different parks that open overseas, we’ll do a mashup for the rides. So we actually get to go in — Josh [Gad] and Idina [Menzel], Jonathan [Groff] and I — all the time and record new bits of the music. When Epcot center opens we’ll record a bunch of new music. So we have little bits of Frozen in our life at all times, but I’m excited to get started on the new movie.

No release date has been set yet, but with Frozen being one of my favorite Disney movies of all time, I can’t wait to find out more news as production begins. In the meantime, I’ll be enjoying the new Frozen Musical at Disney California Adventure in May!

The Ultimate VIP Walt Disney World Experience

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 19, 2016

Experience the magic of Disney like never before with Adventures By Disney’s new Walt Disney World Resort and Central Florida vacation. Guests can enjoy the ultimate VIP experience during this 7-day/6-night itinerary that includes deluxe accommodations at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows along with 7-day Park Hopper Tickets.

Here’s a few things to expect from this brand new guided group itinerary:

Tour the Magic Kingdom with an Imagineer and enjoy VIP ride access to the park’s most popular attractions. Explore the famous underground Utilidor and learn all sorts of interesting facts about the park. Enjoy VIP seating during shows and parades and even embark on a private safari tour at Animal Kingdom. Head backstage for a behind the scenes look at the new “Rivers of Light” nighttime show.

Unique dining experiences include a private dinner at the Chef’s Kitchen at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Meet highly acclaimed chefs and watch as they create a culinary masterpiece to enjoy in a VIP setting. Enjoy a private breakfast at the all new Tiffins restaurant in Animal Kingdom along with a privately catered meal at Rafiki’s Planet Watch and the Living Seas VIP Lounge. View Epcot’s IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth while enjoying delectable desserts and wines during a private dessert party.

Explore Central Florida with a visit to Kennedy Space Center and have lunch with an astronaut. If you’re feeling more adventurous then perhaps you would enjoy kayaking Shingle Creek, air boating on Lake Tohopekaliga, along with zip lining or horseback riding at Forever Florida.

If you are looking for the ultimate VIP experience for your next Walt Disney World visit then consider an Adventures By Disney vacation. It is sure to be an adventure of a lifetime!

If you would like to experience this incredible itinerary during your next Disney vacation then contact [email protected] to start planning today.

Photo credit: Disney, Kennedy Space Center

3rd Day Free at Universal Studios Orlando!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 18, 2016

Running from now until April 12, 2016 when you purchase a 2 day park ticket for Universal Studios and Island of Adventures you will get a 3rd day free . That is one extra FREE day of all the fun and thrills Universal Studios has to offer. This offer is only valid for U.S and Canadian residence.

Here is what the offer includes:

Three days’ access to both Universal Orlando theme parks, with the purchase of a 2-Day, Park-to-Park or Base ticket.
Access to live entertainment at Universal CityWalk.

You can upgrade you ticket and get to see the Blue Man Group show at Universal’s City Walk. Or you can add Unlimited Express Pass to skip the lines at your favorite rides and attractions.

Better yet, why not turn this offer into an opportunity to add a few nights at one of Universals On-Site Resorts and make this a family vacation you will never forget.

If you are ready to book feel free to email me and we can begin planning right away!

Photo credit Universal Studios

Disney Cruise Line sued over amputated thumb

By

Disney News

-

March 18, 2016

Disney is facing a lawsuit claiming a passenger on one of their cruise ships thumb was cut off by a cabin door. The passenger, Marco Fidel Castro filed a lawsuit in Orlando Federal Court which says he suffered amputation on or about April 26^th.

The accident took place on a cruise which left from Miami where Castro and his family were passengers. Castro is a citizen and resident of Columbia, his age is unknown. It is alleged that as the family was preparing for dinner, which was the “Captain’s Dinner”, Castro was in the hallway with his thumb in the doorway as his wife held the door with her foot. She moved her foot away and the door slammed closed amputating the thumb. Castro then went to the infirmary on the ship with the thumb where the nurse bandaged his hand and put his thumb on ice. The next day he went to see a doctor at the port of call however an expert was not available. He was not able to see a doctor until the follow day in Puerto Rico where he was told there was nothing that could be done, it had been too long.

Castro has filed a lawsuit against Disney Cruise Line alleging negligence and breach of duty. ‘

The lawsuit claims:

Failure to maintain cruise cabin doors in a safe manner.
Failure to warn people of the dangers associated with cabin doors.
Failure to provide timely and adequate medical care.
Failure to provide safety devices on the hinges of the cabin doors.

Specific details of the suit have not been released and unspecified damages

The lawsuit seeks undisclosed damaged for medical and other care.

Disney Cruise Line’s office has not responded as of yet, this is an ongoing investigation.

Fun Shower Hooks for a Perfectly Disney Themed Bathroom

By

Danielle

-

March 18, 2016

With all the fun and awesome Disney shower curtains we’ve been finding, now we need to find something to hold them up! What ever could we use? Well, Disney themed shower hooks of course! Below is a few fab finds sure to accent your new shower curtain perfectly.

Mickey Mouse Shower Curtain Hooks

These Mickey Mouse shower curtain hooks are sure to compliment your Mickey Mouse shower curtain and bring the magic of Disney to life in your home bathroom!

Minnie Mouse Shower Curtain Hooks Set

These Minnie Mouse Shower Curtain Hooks provide the perfect accent to outfit a bright and colorful Disney bathroom.

Disney Princess Shower Curtain Hooks

Make your bathroom fit for a princess with these Disney Princess Resin Shower Hooks. Each hook features one of your favorite princess characters; Cinderella, Tatiana, Belle, and Aurora.

Which of these would be the perfect accent to your Disney themed bathroom?

New Attraction Coming to the Crayola Experience

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 18, 2016

Crayola Experience Orlando has announced it newest attraction today, Rockin’ Paper, an all-new attraction that brings personalized paper creations to life. The attraction will be unveiled this Summer and the experience will first let guests decorate paper creatures, then marvel as they turn, bop and rock in a show all of their own, set on a colorful stage, complete with lights and music. Each new set of paper stars will dance to a different song – so it’s a whole new experience every time.

The Crayola Experience opened at The Florida Mall almost a year ago in July and will now be featuring 26 hands-on attractions inspired by Crayola products and technologies including a host of signature creative activities, from naming and wrapping a custom Crayola crayon (Wrap It Up!) and bringing art to 4-D life (Color Magic) to starring in a coloring page (Be A Star) and painting with melted crayon wax (Meltdown). including At Rockin’ Paper, guests will first decorate paper creatures, then marvel as they turn, bop and rock in a show all of their own, set on a colorful stage, complete with lights and music. Each new set of paper stars will dance to a different song – so it’s a whole new experience every time.

“We are very excited to share this one-of-a-kind attraction with our thousands of Annual Passholders as well as our first-time guests,” General Manager David Norton said. “Rockin’ Paper speaks to what Crayola Experience does best: Creating an inspiring experience that will spark the imagination in a dynamic and unexpected way.”

While in Central Florida are you going to take a trip over to the Crayola Experience?

My name is Jamie and I am a a writer for Chip & Co. I live in Central Florida and get to join in on the adventure and tell you guys all about it!

Watch ‘IllumiNations’ Streamed Live on March 21st

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 18, 2016

A live stream of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will take place on Monday, March 21, 2016 beginning at 8:50pm EST on the Disney Parks Blog. Guests can enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the operation of this nighttime favorite until the show begins promptly at 9pm EST. The streaming of ‘IllumiNations’ is the next event in the series of #DisneyParksLIVE events. If you can’t be in Epcot to enjoy the show in person on March 21st then streaming it live is the next best thing!

“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” is Epcot’s nighttime spectacular that celebrates the spirit of humanity through fireworks, lighting effects, moving music and more. The centerpiece of the show is a 350,000-lb “Earth Globe” that serves as a spherical video display system, around which, all of the action takes place.

If you would like to experience “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” in person then contact [email protected] to start planning your next Walt Disney World vacation today.

Photo credit: Disney Parks Blog