Calling All Penguin Lovers to Wild Days at SeaWorld Orlando

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January 22, 2016

SeaWorld Orlando kicks off the new year with Wild Days, presented by Coca-Cola, the annual event that connects guests in even more ways with animals and the natural, wild world. The event is included with park admission and takes place two more weekends in January (Jan. 23-24 and Jan. 30-31). Each weekend is hosted by different animal experts, and features new educational shows – from orcas to wildlife rescue – and even more up-close animal experiences, meet-and-greet opportunities and interactive education stations.

Wild Days Weekend Themes:

January 23-24: Penguin Lovers’ Weekend

Nationally recognized SeaWorld Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina hosts a cool weekend of wildlife surprises with a special focus on penguins. Guests can get up-close to these amazing feathered friends and hear from Julie about her lifelong love of animals and the parks’ commitment to wildlife conservation.

January 30-31: “Sea Rescue” Weekend

SeaWorld has rescued more than 27,000 animals over 50 years, and these amazing animal stories are featured weekly on the popular Saturday-morning ABC TV series “Sea Rescue.” Hear first-hand accounts of marine animal rescues, rehabilitations and returns by SeaWorld’s Animal Rescue Team, heroes and partners featured on the show.

Every Wild Days Weekend Includes:

New “Ocean Discovery” killer whale presentation – Guests can learn more about killer whales, also called orcas, and other species of whales during a special educational show. This interactive, 30-minute presentation teaches guests about the animals’ adaptations, habitats and behavior. (Note: This special presentation is in addition to the popular “One Ocean” shows scheduled throughout the day.)

New “Inspiring Stories” pre-shows – The SeaWorld Animal Training Team has some of the most fascinating jobs in the world. Guests can learn what it takes to care for animals that call SeaWorld home and how caring for them has helped with the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals that need help. “Inspiring Stories” will take place at the beginning of three of the park’s popular shows: Blue Horizons, Pets Ahoy and Clyde & Seamore’s Sea Lion High. Check park maps for times.

Meet our Animals – Throughout the park, even more trainers, educators and animal care staff are stationed to share information and stories about the animals in our care and provide up-close meet and greets, scheduled feedings and fun surprises. Check park maps for times and locations.

Explore Zones – More than 14 fun and interactive education stations can be discovered throughout the park, featuring games and hands-on experiences that teach guests about animals and what they can do to protect the wild world in their own lives. Check event guide for exclusive in-park experiences.

Wild Days takes place every Saturday and Sunday through January 31, and is included with park admission. All feature shows take place at Nautilus Theater at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The best way to experience this year’s Wild Days is with an Annual Pass. For a limited time, park guests can receive a refillable souvenir cup with the purchase of a SeaWorld Annual Pass. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest details on Wild Days 2016. Join the conversation with #SeaWorld and #WildDays.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Walt Disney Studios Announces New Release Dates for Pirates and Star Wars

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 22, 2016

The big announcement from The Walt Disney Studios today was the new release dates from two major films coming our way.

The first film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales was set for July 7, 2017 and has been moved up to May 26, 2017. The film starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow returns to the screen with fellow cast members, Geoffrey Rush (Barbossa) and Orlando Bloom (Will Turner). Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, this is one that fans have been waiting for a long time.

The second film, Star Wars: Episode VIII under the production of Kathleen Kennedy and Ram Bergman with executive producers, J.J. Abrams, Tom Karnowski and Jason McGatlin has been moved to a later release date of December 15, 2017.

Originally set to come out May 26, 2017, the move to December may be related to the fact that Star Wars: The Force Awakens has broken record sales with a December release. While the move to May for Pirates’ Dead Men Tell No Tales would follow the Stranger Tides May debut.

Perhaps the studio heads are starting a new tradition of release dates to correspond with the success related to previous releases? What do you think, Disney Addicts? Will the dates matter or do you prefer the soon the better?

Disney Find – This Home Runs on Disney Signs

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Danielle

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January 22, 2016

Today’s Disney Find brings us a little reminder of “Home”. As Disney Addicts we try to fill our homes with laughter, love and of course Disney magic. These beautiful signs from Pennygirlcreations on Etsy express exactly that.

The “This Home Runs on Disney” signs are downloadable files for you to print at your local store, and then either hang or frame as you like. There’s an option of two different background types, a rustic burlap or a chic chalkboard. She now has a couple of other sign choices to choose from, check them out below!

Which one would you choose? I think I like the chalkboard one the most!

‘Zootopia’ Exhibit Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 22, 2016

Later this month guests at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be able to explore a new exhibit that delves into some of the behind-the-scenes research that went into the production of Disney’s upcoming comedic adventure “Zootopia.”

The ‘Zootopia’ exhibit will be located inside Conservation Station at Rifiki’s Planet Watch and opens January 29th. Beginning this week, you can catch a special sneak preview of scenes from “Zootopia” at some of the Disney parks. The sneak peak opens today as part of the One Man’s Dream attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and opens tomorrow at the Bug’s Life Theater in Disney California Adventure.

The process to making every film released from Walt Disney Animation Studios begins with research. The “Zootopia” filmmakers spent 18 months studying animals and their habitats in order to create the rich and engaging modern mammal metropolis of the movie. They didn’t need to go far to study animals. Their first stop was to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where they worked closely with the park’s team of animal care professionals.

“Research is such an important part of every animated film we make at Disney, and for ‘Zootopia’ our research began at Disney’s Animal Kingdom to meet with some of the best animal experts in the world,” said Clark Spencer, the producer of “Zootopia.” “Everything that we learned about animal behaviors, personalities and movement our artists incorporated into the world of ‘Zootopia,’ and to now be able to share those discoveries and influences with the guests at the park is truly a full circle moment.”

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4 in 3D.

Who else is excited to see “Zootopia”? Will you be visiting the exhibit before you see the movie?

For more information about the Walt Disney World Resort, or for help with booking your next magical vacation, email me at [email protected]. My services are FREE and I will help you find the best promotion for your trip!

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

My Disney Experience Offers a New Feature for Dining Reservations!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 22, 2016

2016 01 21 22 09 11 Walt Disney World Resort

There is nothing more exciting for an avid Disney planner than that 180 day mark for Advanced Dining Reservations! The thrill of grabbing those ‘must-do’ meals gets everyone’s blood pumping! The planning has officially begun! Somehow the trip seems more real, you can see yourself having breakfast in Cinderella Castle, sharing a dessert with Goofy at Chef Mickey’s. We all know the feeling of satisfaction when we successfully book Be Our Guest for dinner. Everything is set and then……..Aunt Sally and Uncle Joe decide 2 months before your trip that they want to join you and Beast for dinner in his castle. UGH.

Now it is easier than ever to adjust a party size or a time on your existing reservations! My Disney Experience just launched a new feature where you can search for a new time or make changes to your party size with a few clicks of the mouse ( not Mickey!).

When you log in to your ‘My Disney Experience‘ account online and go under ‘My reservations and tickets’, you will see a list of your current dining reservations. There will now be 2 options highlighted in blue to either ‘Cancel Reservation’ or ‘Change Reservation’.

When you click on ‘Change Reservation’ a menu will appear with the option to change the date, time and/or party size of your reservation without having to cancel the original! This is a great way to see what else is available without losing your original plans!

You will still have the option of calling and speaking with a Disney Dining representative at 407-939-3463 ( 407-WDW-DINE), but this will allow you to search for different options at your own convenience. I have personally already used this feature to add people to an existing reservation and it worked great! They gave me a slightly different time (15 minutes later) but they accommodated all of my guests! There is no guarantee that what you are looking for will be available and you may need to shift your time slightly, but as with all Disney planning, flexibility is the key!

Have any of you tried this great new feature? Tell us what you think!

For more information on planning your Walt Disney World vacation and how to make those 180 Advanced Dining reservations, contact me at [email protected]

Do’s and Don’ts when Visiting the Disneyland Resort

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 21, 2016

Planning a visit to the Disneyland Resort can be a bit overwhelming, especially if it’s your first visit. I’ve been quite a few times and had good days and not so good days. Through trial and error I’ve come up with some do’s and don’ts that will hopefully help you when planning your next Disneyland vacation.

Do: Purchase the park hopper option. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are right next to each other which makes park hopping super easy!

Don’t: wear uncomfortable shoes. The Disneyland Resort is big and you’ll be doing a LOT of walking (especially if you decide to park hop). Wear shoes that are already broken in and comfortable.

Do: take snacks and water into the park with you. This will save you a good amount of money as you won’t be purchasing all of your food and drinks in the parks.

Don’t: forget sunscreen! California is bright and sunny most of the year and you’ll be out in that weather for a majority of your Disneyland vacation. Being sunburned on vacation is no fun!

Do: take advantage of FastPass and Rider Swap. Disneyland still uses paper FastPasses so you’ll have to go to the kiosk at each ride to get one. If you have small children who can’t ride an attraction, one parent can ride and get a Rider Swap pass for the other parent which allows the second parent to get onto the ride quicker.

Don’t: expect to do everything in one trip. The Disneyland Resort has so much to do and see and the imagineers are always creating new experiences for guests. One of the reasons I love going back is so I can see what’s new!

Do: make advanced dining reservations. There aren’t as many dining options as at Walt Disney World but there are some really great restaurants and they fill up fast! If you want to eat at a specific restaurant or having a character dining experience, make reservations early. You can make them as early as 60 days in advance.

Don’t: rent a stroller at the parks. If you need a stroller, bring it from home or rent from an outside company. The strollers at the parks are not very comfortable and you have to return them when you leave. My kids are usually passed out at the end of the day and it’s so much easier leaving them in the stroller on our way back to the hotel rather than carrying them.

Do: arrive to the parks early. They usually let you in through the turnstiles 30 minutes before park opening. Try to arrive at least 30 minutes before that. This will give you the most time to spend in the parks and experience all they have to offer.

Don’t: stress! Keep in mind you’re at the Happiest Place on Earth! You may run into some grumpy guests or have a cranky child at some point. Take a breath and start over. Don’t let it ruin your day!

Do: slow down and take time to look for the small details. We live in a fast-paced world as it is. Disneyland is a one-of-a-kind experience and there is so much detail put in to every corner of it. Be sure to slow down at some point on your trip to take in the beauty of those little details.

What are some of your Do’s and Don’ts when visiting the Disneyland Resort? Let me know in the comments!

I love visiting the Disneyland Resort and I’d love to help you plan a visit as well! I’m a travel agent with World of Magic Travel and my services are free! Email me at [email protected] to start planning your next magical adventure.

Disney Parks and Resorts Recalls Infant Bodysuits

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Disney News

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January 21, 2016

The Disney Parks and Resorts Disneyland 60 the Anniversary and the Darth Vader infant bodysuits pictured above, are being recalled for a possible chocking hazard. The snaps on the bodysuits can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The Darth Vader Infant Bodysuits were sold in five sizes: 3M, 6M, 12M, 18M and 24M. The garment has a gray body with black sleeves and trim. The artwork on the front of the bodysuit shows an infant Darth Vader holding a light saber with the text: “If you only knew the power of THE DARK SIDE.”

The Disneyland 60th Infant Bodysuits have a light blue body with royal blue sleeves and trim. The artwork on the front of the bodysuit includes Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Pluto in front of the Disneyland Castle. The Disneyland 60th bodysuits were sold in four sizes: 6M, 12M, 18M and 24 M. The text on the front of the garment reads “60th Disneyland Resort, Diamond Celebration.”

They were sold at: Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim, California, the Treasure Ketch Shop on the Disney Wonder® and Mickey’s Mainsail located on the Disney Magic®, Disney Dream® and Disney Fantasy® cruise ships from February 2015 through November 2015 for about $20.
Importer(s)

If you have any of these bodysuits please stop using them immediately and contact Walt Disney Parks and Resorts toll-free at 844-722-1444 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.disneyparks.com and click on “Recall Notice” for more information.

No injuries or incidents have been reported yet.

Photo Credit: cpsc.com

Star Wars Rebel Meet and Greet Coming to Walt Disney World

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 21, 2016

More Star Wars activity is headed to Walt Disney World! Recently it was announced that Kylo Ren would be coming to Star Wars Launch Bay and now Walt Disney World is casting for Ezra and Sabine from the popular Disney Channel show, Star Wars Rebels.

The report says, “These performers will be used for upcoming special events held at the Walt Disney World Resort,” and that they will “have the opportunity to bring to life the world-famous Disney Characters in meet and greets across our Parks and Resorts.”

Ezra and Sabine have been a part of past Star Wars Weekends, providing meet and greets for guests. Some are speculating that the two might rotate with Chewbacca at the Star Wars Launch Bay location. While we can’t say for sure where or how the characters will be used, we can say that auditions are being held on January 27, 2016 at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom Rehearsal Facility. Visit the Disney Auditions site for more details.

Anyone want to audition to be the next Ezra or Sabine?

Are you a big Star Wars fan and interested in finding out more information about planning a trip to Walt Disney World to participate in all the new Star Wars fun? Contact me at [email protected] or on Facebook to take advantage of my FREE vacation planning services!

Zootopia preview opens today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

By

Chip

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January 21, 2016

Today at Disney’s Hollywood Studios inside ‘One Man’s Dream‘ you will be able to get a sneak peek at a preview for the upcoming Walt Disney Animation Studios movie Zootopia.

They will be showing clips from the movie following One Man’s Dream attraction daily.

Zootopia opens in theaters on March 4th, 2016.

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Walt Disney Animation Presents Zootopia

By

Chip

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January 21, 2016

The animation department at Walt Disney Studios shared some of the exciting process involved in the making of Zootopia at a recent Press Event.

Zootopia is Walt Disney Pictures upcoming film about Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) whose first day as the first bunny on the police force takes her into a less than ideal experience, until she is teamed up with con-artist, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman) and together they join forces to solve a mystery and clear Nick’s name. To tell the story, Director, Bryon Howard and his crew spent “18 months of solid research into animals.” This gave the animators a true perspective to be able to combine animals with the magic of Disney storytelling. Learning how animals interacted provided the base for Zootopia’s various neighborhoods, as well as how they might all live and work alongside each other.

To bring the characters to life, Character Design Supervisor Cory Loftis and Character CG Supervisor Dave Komorowski showed us the challenges creating over 1,000 unique animals brought them. Using a line up of all the animals in the film, they had to take into account the huge different in shapes and sizes of each from the tallest (giraffe) to the smallest (mouse). Each needed to be framed in a way that would work with their size and the background as well as other characters in the scene. From the star of the film, Officer Hopps to my favorite, Flash, the sloth, the distinct characteristics including the various shapes, sizes and patterns of the animals were a huge process. Taking a combination of animal and human anatomy, the team added emotions allowing them to move, talk and interact as humans but still maintain their animal qualities. Along with designing each animal was also the need to add specifics like clothing. What did one dress a giraffe in? Did the chief of police need a full uniform? What did mice wear? All these details and more were part of the careful planning.

Next up were neighborhoods. The metropolis of Zootopia is comprised of habitat neighborhoods – from the Sahara Square to the frigid Tundratown where animals from every environment live together including background sights and sounds. For example adding weather, scenery and attitude to each neighborhood involved everything from how the fur blew in the wind to how a drop of rain fell.

The Art Director of Environments, Matthias Lechner along with Environment Look Supervisor, Lance Summersv shared the work that went into creating the different neighborhoods. Each one consisted of the need to create the look and feel of the natural habitats of the animals living in that area but still have it be seen as a typical neighborhood. From the smallest details of the rain forest to the icy grounds of the Frigid Tundra, each concept was given not only the look and feel but also the attention to details depending on the inhabitants of the neighborhood. Larger streets and areas were needed for the bigger animals. One important question was – How would each area be separated? Each neighborhood had to blend into the next yet maintain the division. The materials used to build the neighborhoods, each building, street lamp and ground covering was mapped out and incorporated to give the film the feel of a natural habitat while still maintaining the fun and carefree theme of the film. A central hub area where everyone meets called the downtown area and neighborhoods which connect but each one also connects side by side was created.. So the downtown area can have heat on one side from the Sahara and icy cold on the other side from the Tundra.

Originally the studios started out just making an animal movie but quickly moved into a direction where stereotype casting of the main characters developed. Officer Hopps for example is the only female and small animal on the force. Therefore she is given the duties of meter maid. Nick Wilde is a fox and portrayed as a slick con artist. (sly as a fox). The use of sloths (the slowest creatures) as “employees” at the DMV brings to light the frustrations and delays we have all experienced, yet at the same time, the characters were also given a human quality to them that will make viewers instantly attach to them and learn to that in Zootopia, nothing is what it seems.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore and opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.

Disney Infinity’s Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set Pre-Order Today

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 21, 2016

Hey Disney Infinity fans! Big news was released today from Disney Interactive. The Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set is now available for pre-order and hitting your favorite game store shelves on March 15th. Much anticipated, this Play Set allows for up to four players to battle each other locally on your device. With 12 levels in 8 new arenas, you can also play with your Disney Infinity 2.0 Edition Marvel heroes and villains such as Thor, Hawkeye and Hulk. With more allowable characters, this Play Set is the most versatile Play Set yet.

Marvel Battlegrounds Play Set comes with the Play Set piece and an all-new Captain America – The First Avenger character. Stay tuned for more characters to be added. I can’t wait to play Marvel Battlegrounds.

French Canadian Musical Tradition Comes to Epcot

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 21, 2016

For a limited time you can experience traditional French Canadian music at the Canada Pavilion in World Showcase at Epcot. TradNation will be performing on the Mill Stage, five days a week.

According to Quebecois tradition, music is often a community experience that brings people together to play at every opportunity. TradNation features a broad repertoire, including traditional songs as well as original family compositions passed down through generations.

Immerse yourself in this interactive, musical celebration and witness the rich, cultural heritage of French Quebec come to life!

Epcot‘s World Showcase offers many culturally diverse experiences. Let me help you book your next Walt Disney World vacation so you can experience them for yourself! Email me at [email protected] so we can start planning!

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog