Experience the new Animal Kingdom Lodge Starlight Safari

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February 27, 2016

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Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge has given their guests the opportunity to experience the safari at night through the resorts savanna on a ride called the Night Safari for many years now. This ride gives the resorts guests a look into how the animals act a night, they even have night vision goggles which give the guests a special view of the animals and resort.

As reported by the Orlando Theme Park News, due to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park’s new night hours for the Kilimanjaro Safari’s ride Disney has decided to change the ride at the resort’s name to Starlight Safari, this will take place Tuesday March 1^st.

Disney was afraid the two rides would be confused and felt the name change would help guest be able to tell them apart.

The Starlight Safari will now also be available for all Walt Disney World resort guest, not only those at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. This can be reserved through Walt Disney World reservations.

There are two other experiences offered to guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. The Wanyama Safari; a more in-depth safari in the late afternoon followed by dinner at Jiko—The Cooking Place and the opportunity to “Dine with an Animal Specialist” at Sanaa for a conversational lunch with members of the Animal Care team.

H/T Orlando Theme Park News

New stores coming to Town Center district of Disney Springs

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 27, 2016

We are excited to announce the addition of 4 new stores to the already amazing list of retailers who have already found a home in the Town Center district of Disney Springs. Mac Cosmetics, Anthroplogie, Superdry and Free people will also call Town Center home.

In case you have missed it the other retailers already located there are:

Blaze Pizza
Coca Cola
Lilly Pullitzer
L’Occitane en Provence
Edward Beiner • Frontera Fresco
Homecoming – Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine
NBA Experience (maybe)
PANDORA
Sephora
Shore
Sprinkles
STK Orlando
The Edison
Tommy Bahama
UGG
UNIQLO
Vera Bradley
Zara

I can’t wait to start shopping once this area is complete! Did you also hear about the new Cupcake ATM? That is my personal favorite!

NEW “Finding Dory” TV Spot, and Trailer Debut

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 26, 2016

It’s been 13 years since we saw “Finding Nemo” for the first time in theatres, and I couldn’t be more excited for “Finding Dory” coming out on June 17th this year! Growing up near the coast in Southern California, the ocean has always been a big part of my life. Whether it was fond family memories of going to the beach, trips to the many wonderful aquariums in California, or exploring local tidepools first hand, the oceans along the U.S.’s west coast are dazzling, and it is hard to capture this beauty without seeing it firsthand. Yet Pixar Animation Studios was able to wonderfully depict all the colors, lights, and liveliness of ocean life in “Finding Nemo,” in ways I never before thought possible.

With all the new animation technologies Disney & Pixar have developed and strengthened over the years, I eagerly await to see this same beauty portrayed in “Finding Dory”. In this new movie, starring original cast members Ellen DeGeneres and Albert Brooks, along with new cast members Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Ty Burrell, Eugene Levy, and Diane Keaton, the focus will now be on the adventures of Dory searching for her family and information about her past with the help of Marlin, Nemo, and some other friends along the way. This coming week, on March 2nd, a new trailer for the film will debut on The Ellen DeGeneres show.

Since Disney knows we are all too excited for the new trailer, they released a new TV Spot today featuring Dory for the upcoming sneak peek:

Photo credit: Disney/Pixar

Upcoming Star Wars Trading Pins Preview at Disneyland

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 26, 2016

Being a Disneyland passholder who wanders the parks a few times a week, I am always eagerly on the lookout for anything new and upcoming–and even though I go to the parks quite often, Disney always delivers and seems to almost always have something new to see! While enjoying the Tomorrowland themed week of AP Days at California Adventure yesterday, I got to enjoy some complimentary popcorn, water, and a meet and greet with Baymax and Hiro. I then stumbled upon a display case of upcoming pins to be released in Spring of 2016: Star Wars Easter Egg pins, and Star Wars/Disneyland attraction mash-up pins:

I just love the creativity of the new attraction mash-up pins, mixing my two biggest fandoms of Disney and Star Wars. “Return of the Jedi” is my personal favorite Star Wars movie, so I especially love The Haunted Mansion inspired pin. I’ve also always liked the look of the planet Tatooine, which the Autopia-inspired pin features, complete with Luke and C-3PO in a land speeder. Which pins are your favorites, and what do you think some other fun Star Wars/ride attraction poster mash-ups may be? I personally think it would be fun to see a Matterhorn/Hoth combination or Pirates of the Caribbean/Naboo!

These pins are the newest additions to the amazing selection of Star Wars merchandise that has become available during Star Wars Awakens at the U.S. Disney parks, and I’m sure just a taste of what is yet to come with Star Wars Land currently being built.

Diamond Horseshoe serving lunch and dinner buffett

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 26, 2016

Looking for a new dining option in the Magic Kingdom, well The Diamond Horseshoe is now offering table service lunch and dinner!

This amazing sounding all- you -can-eat feast will be starting the 13^th of March, and reservation are now being taken for dates from March 13 to May 30 and can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Your meal with start with Frontier Salad, a tasty mix of greens, tomatoes, roasted corn, cornbread croutons and a house-made chipotle-ranch dressing, your main meal will be a choice, you can choose from BBQ pulled turkey served over cornbread, spit-roasted ham served with country beans or stewed beef served with mashed potatoes. There will be corn bread of plenty and seasonal vegetables on the side.

For dessert you will be treated to your choice of an apple tart or the Campfire Brownie—rich chocolate brownie on a graham cracker crust, topped with toasted marshmallow.

The meals includes soft drinks, tea, coffee and milk and the cost is $33 plus tax for adults, $19 for children ages 3-9.

This is one meal I am looking forward to!

Cupcake ATM coming to Disney Springs!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 26, 2016

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How cool is this?

Coming this May to Disney Springs; an ATM machine that dispenses cupcakes! In case you do not understand what you just read, please keep reading!

A Beverly Hills based bakery called Sprinkles is planning to open two separate bakeries in Florida, one being in Disney Springs. This bakery will have a vending type machine (ATM) which will be open 24 hours a day.

They will refill the machine before they leave the store at closing time as well as many times during the day. The ATM’s will have some of Sprinkles most famous cupcakes, the salted oatmeal cornflake but will also have vegan, gluten free, sugar free and even a doggie cupcakes!

The machines hold 400 cupcakes which come in boxes to make sure the frosting stays in place, a mechanical arm will bring the cupcake from its resting spot to the dispenser. The cupcakes will cost approximately 4.25, only credit and debit cards will be accepted for payment.

Sprinkles will be located in the Town Center segment of Disney Springs which is under construction currently.

Photo credit Sprinkles Facebook page

Time to Rock with Disney Inspired Vinyl Record Clocks

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Danielle

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February 26, 2016

Tell time like a Disney rock star, with amazingly detailed Disney clocks made from vinyl records! Etsy designer cheerlyshop creates beautiful scenes from beloved movies and shows as timeless pieces featuring favorite characters.

These spectacular Disney vinyl clocks use a QUARTEX US quality clock movement so they operate very quietly, and you can choose from an array of dials and clock hands to make it truly unique. These are perfect for any room in a Disney Addict’s home or office, and are sure to make great conversation pieces! Check out many of the rockin’ Disney selections below.

Which rockin’ Disney vinyl record clock is your favorite?

10 Reasons to Book your Stay at The Yacht Club Resort

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 26, 2016

Disney’s Yacht Club resort seems to be the ‘forgotten sister’ to Disney’s Beach Club Resort. I always hear people saying they want to stay at the Beach Club Resort, but I hardly ever hear anyone requesting the Yacht Club side. I just completed an 11 day stay at the beautiful Yacht Club Resort and I am going to give you some great reasons to book your stay here!

Stormalong Bay: The amazing pool area that is shared by both the Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts has been voted the best pool on Disney property many times, and for good reason! There is so much to do at this sand bottom pool! A lazy river, multiple hot tubs, hidden coves, in-pool volleyball, and of course the huge Shipwreck slide that takes you up high and over the walkway below! So fun! There are tons of activities to keep the kids busy while you sit in your tube and float along the lazy river!

Walk to EPCOT: One of the best reasons for booking a stay here is the short walk to get in to EPCOT. The pathway leads you right to the International Gateway, the ‘back’ entrance to the World Showcase. This entrance is always less crowded than the main entrance as well! Another bonus!

Boat to HS: The boat dock is located just outside the Yacht Club Lobby, and is an easy way to get to Hollywood Studios. The Friendship Boats arrive every 15 minutes (sometimes less) and whisk you over to the Hollywood Studios dock. It is a nice peaceful ride, so sit back and relax! You can actually walk to Hollywood Studios from the Yacht Club if you follow the path through the Boardwalk Resort. It is a nice walk, if you have the energy!

Hurricane Hannah’s: There is nothing better than relaxing with a refreshing Pina Colada after a long hot day in the Florida sun! Hurricane Hannah’s has you covered! Grab a Captain’s Mai Tai or just a quick service cheeseburger while taking in views of Crescent Lake. Signature cocktails and draft beer are available, as well as quick service food options for you and the kids!

Beaches and Cream Ice Cream: While officially listed as being a part of the Beach Club Resort, this popular ice cream stop is located centrally on the resort property just next to the pool area! Grab a ‘to-go’ cone or make a reservation to indulge in the famous ‘Kitchen-Sink’. This adorable( but small) ice cream parlor also serves burgers and milk shakes and gets very busy from open to close. I highly suggest getting a reservation if you want to have a table. Otherwise, walk in and get a cone to go and eat while sitting on a lounge chair on the beach!

Yachtsman Steakhouse: This signature restaurant is located right inside the resort with views of Stormalong Bay and Crescent Lake. We enjoyed an amazing steak dinner here while the kids were at the Sandcastle Club for the evening! Offering signature steaks, fresh seafood and a great assortment of appetizers and side dishes, this New England style steakhouse does not disappoint!

Captains Grill: Located just inside the lobby, this is one of my favorite new restaurants! We ate here multiple times during our stay because it was easy to get a reservation and the food was fantastic! For breakfast, you have the option of an incredible breakfast buffet or ordering a la carte off of the menu. Great kids meals, and all you can eat Mickey waffles! We were able to get breakfast reservations the day of, simply by calling downstairs prior to hitting the elevators! We are a party of 5 so this was a great bonus! Great sandwiches and steaks for lunch and dinner along with specialty drinks and signature coffees.

Discounts vs. Beach Club: There are many times that the room pricing at the Yacht Club is better than the Beach Club. I cannot totally understand why, however, I will take it! I had a great deal when we stayed, it was significantly less than the Beach Club side. Considering that the 2 resorts really do share just about everything, it seems like an easy decision to stay where the best offer is! Make sure you ask your travel agent to compare the pricing at both resorts! You may be surprised at the difference!

Recreation: There is a great selection of recreational activities on property at the Yacht Club. The Ship Shape Health Club gives you the opportunity to get on a treadmill or lift some weights before heading to the parks. Lafferty Place Arcade, guided fishing trips, jogging trails, beach volleyball and tennis courts are all there to enjoy! There is also the ‘quiet’ Admiral Pool area located near the Tennis Courts! Movies on the Beach are shown every night weather permitting.

Beautiful Spacious Rooms: All of the standard rooms at the Yacht Club are spacious, bright and comfortable. The rooms offer balconies or patios compared to the Beach Club where many of the balconies are actually only small ‘Juliette’ balconies without chairs. The décor is nautical themed, and offers 2 queen beds and a day bed. There are many club level rooms available as well.

Overall, this is a great place to stay so make sure to keep it in mind when you are thinking about your next trip! The location, atmosphere and beauty of this entire resort area is unmatched!

If you would like more details or information on the Yacht Club Resort or any other Walt Disney World resort, contact me at [email protected]. I can help you choose the best place to stay for your magical trip to the World!

Just released: Zootopia Parody Posters and “Year in Film” Video

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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February 26, 2016

All of us here at Chip & Co can not wait for Zootopia to be released on March 4th. I am really looking forward to checking out this film, I live the dynamic between the characters and it looks to be a very funny film. To help tide all of us over till the movie’s release date, in keeping with the contemporary comedic theme of “Zootopia” Disney has released some parody poster of Oscar nominated films, as well as a “Year in Film” video clip!

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These posters are all pretty great–which one is your favorite? Check out the “Year in Film” video below:

“Zootopia” is Disney Animation Studio’s 55th feature film, starring Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, and is directed by Bryon Howard and Rich Moore. The city of Zootopia is a lively urban city inhabitated solely by animals, and comprised of neighborhoods to reflect many habitats, bringing animals from all walks of life together…whether its the glamorous animals from Sahara Square to those used to the colder climate of Tundratown, or even a sneaky fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) having to go on a journey with a rabbit by the name of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin). Be sure to check it out in theatres on March 4, 2016!

Fabulously Fun Leggings For Disney Fans

By

Danielle

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February 26, 2016

I love leggings, they’re comfortable, warm, stylish and come in so many varieties! I’m also obsessed with Disney leggings! Finding the perfect pair of leggings is hard when there’s so many choices though, so here’s a few of my favorite FUN Disney inspired leggings.

Disney Minnie Mouse Leggings Red

These red Minnie Mouse leggings are cute and classic. The traditional red and black of Minnie, with her signature bow dappled about with her iconic polka-dots.

Disney Frozen Olaf Snowflakes Leggings

There’s no denying Frozen Fever, and Olaf is just plain adorable! These sublimation printed leggings feature line drawings of Olaf, and lots of frosty snowflakes.

Disney 101 Dalmatians Leggings

There’s 101 reasons to love these leggings, the cute puppies are ready for the runway or to runaway from Cruela De Vil with this stylish print.

Ariel Underwater Leggings

Ariel can be part of your fashion world, with one of my favorite pairs of The Little Mermaid leggings. I love that even with a skirt or dress you can still see all of Ariel, and the “sparkly” look of her fin just completes it for me.

Which of these fabulously fun Disney leggings are your favorite?

New Vera Bradley Plums Up Collection Coming to Disney Parks for Spring

By

Danielle

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February 26, 2016

A new season approaching usually means fantastic new items will be around the corner at the Disney Parks. Disney Parks has just announced stylish new details about several new Vera Bradley items coming soon for the Disney Parks Collection. Here’s a little tast of the newest bags and accessories arriving February 29, 2016.

The new collections coming out are “Plums Up Mickey” and “Mickey Showers”. I love the fun twist on the collection name, “Plums Up Mickey”, a great word play combining Plum and Thumbs Up, which will consist of beautiful purple hues and even some beachy straw. “Mickey Showers” is a dream of aqua and blue, with a water resistant flare.

The “Plums Up Mickey” color will have 10 items in the collection, including popular styles like the Hispter Crossbody (which is a personal favorite of mine), a large duffle bag, wristlet, ID case and more.

The plum color design will also included a straw tote bag and a straw wristlet, perfect for setting up poolside or hitting the beach.

The “Mickey Showers” color is an enticing collection for spring with three lightweight silhouettes that are made of a durable and water resistant polyester. The large tote, lunch bag and small back pack are perfect for vacationing, or even to stand up for lots of outdoor on the go errands.

Lastly in all of the exciting Vera Bradley news, is a few more additions to the Microfiber collection that was released last spring. Four new styles will be joining the elegantly simple collection.

Look for all of these great Vera Bradley finds at select merchandise locations at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. You may also find select items on the Disney Parks online store, or have items shipped directly to your home using the free Shop Disney Parks mobile app.

Photography Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Why Booking Your Disney World Vacation far in advance is important

By

Catie

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February 26, 2016

I am a planner – I like making lists, and I like having a lot of time to get ready and organized for things. I realize that not everyone is like me, but when it comes to certain things, like planning your Disney vacation – I HIGHLY recommend you plan as far in advance as possible, and here’s why:

More Time To Pay It Off/Save Up: This one is first on the list for a reason – vacations are expensive, and a trip to Walt Disney World is no exception. Travel, hotel, park tickets, transportation, food, souvenirs, incidentals – the costs all add up – FAST! I like to book my Disney trip as early as possible so that I have some time to save up money for paying off the trip, and also for costs incurred while I am actually there on vacation. It might seem easy to throw it all on a credit card – both for the trip booking and then the on-site costs, but I personally don’t recommend that – and if you book the trip 10 months in advance for example, that gives you time to save up actual money for the trip – instead of racking up debt. Not sure how to start saving for Disney? Check out some tips here.

Research Time: There is SO MUCH information out there about Walt Disney World – and that’s because the place is HUGE and FULL of things to do/see/eat/experience. So if you’re headed to Disney for the first time, this tip is especially important for you – you gotta do your research. Figure out where your family might like to eat, what rides they might like or dislike or not be able to do (due to height/health restrictions, etc), where you might want to stay, and in doing all this, you will get an idea of how much there is at Disney (this will help you to not get overwhelmed upon your arrival!). Even if you’re a WDW veteran, you’ll want to check out the newest versions of the Disney guidebooks, and the newest updates on Chip And Co so that you know what changes to expect this time around.

Planning – Research’s Best Friend: Planning out your trip goes hand in hand with doing research – once you have done some reading and have an idea of what’s out there, you can start making an itinerary for your trip. It doesn’t have to be fancy or down to the minute – including what parks you want to visit on which days and what rides are on your “must do” list is enough to keep you on track. You’ll want to make Advance Dining Reservations 180 days before your trip, and you’ll want to make your fastpass+ selections in advance as well. You can get the kids involved in the planning too – let them help pick where to eat, and let them each pick a favorite ride to reserve a fastpass for.

Packing: I have a theory on why people hate packing so much – and it’s because they wait until the last minute to do it, inevitably forgetting something important, and cursing the whole packing system as they are stuck on vacation without their phone charger/pills/camera battery. One way to avoid all that headache is to plan ahead with your packing too – make a list a month or more ahead of time so that you can add to it as you remember those little things you need to pack, and start the actual packing process at least 2 weeks before your trip. Obviously there are some things that can’t be packed until last minute, but at least you’ll have your list handy before you leave to make sure you don’t forget anything! Check out more packing tips here.

It’s FUN: Ok, like I said, I know not everyone is as freakishly organized or into planning like I am – so you may be seriously doubting my claim that planning ahead is fun – but remember, you aren’t planning ahead for something boring – you’re getting ready for a trip to the happiest place on earth! All of these things – saving money, researching and planning, packing, making lists, making your ADR’s 180 days in advance, customizing your magic bands – it’s all part of the Disney vacation experience, and they are all things that will get you excited and pumped for your trip!