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Mako SeaWorld’s Newest Roller Coaster Coming Soon

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20160106 MakoTopOut 064

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Construction is well underway way at SeaWorld Orlando as MAKO – an all-new hypercoaster opening this summer – begins to take shape along the Orlando skyline. The coaster was “topped off” yesterday as cranes put into place the tallest point of the structure – the tracks of its signature 200-foot tall hill. When it opens, Mako will be Orlando’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster – reaching speeds of 73 mph along 4,760 feet of track. The thrilling ride will be the centerpiece of a two-acre, shark-themed realm in the park.

Guests visiting SeaWorld Orlando can continue to witness the rise of the massive steel track over the next few months as construction continues to build one of the world’s few true hypercoasters – a type of coaster known for high speeds and steep drops, and hills that create a feeling of weightlessness or “air time.”

Check it out:

Continue to stay up to date on all construction details and announcements on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation using #NothingFaster.

Are you looking forward to riding it?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Gorgeous Disney Bows With Lots of Character

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Bow 1

Bow 1

While preparing for my upcoming Disney trip, I decided I needed to play around with some new Disneybounds. One of my favorite accessories when Disneybounding is a hat, headband, or bow! You can bet I was delighted when I stumbled upon these great character bows from FangirlCreation. Her bows are well constructed and incorporate a unique character inspiration with fun accents.

Fangirl Creation makes handmade, high quailty movie, tv, comic, and book inspired casual cosplay hair bows and she will even add on ribbon tails by request! To see more of her fantastic creations check them out below:

I don’t know which one to get first, I love them all! Which bow is your favorite?

Top 5 Reasons why you don’t want to miss the 2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival

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One of my favorite times of the year to go to Disney World is the spring, not just because the weather is amazing and the crowds are lower at that time of year but because this is the time of year for THE EPCOT FLOWER AND GARDEN FESTIVAL! If you are unsure of what this festival is or have never been there before you are definitely missing out! Here are my top 5 reasons for loving the Flower and Garden Festival:

5. Education – in true Epcot tradition there is some learning involved in the entertainment. There are educational designer presentations and themed flower and garden displays where you can learn new techniques and tips for your home gardens.

4. Children play areas – you can find areas for your children to play and learn about gardening here. You can fill bottles with sand, play in dirt and children can learn why keeping the earth green is important!

3. Butterflies – there is a butterfly green house! Being from the big city there are times I go years without seeing a single butterfly so this area is special to me. I love seeing all types of beautiful butterfly flying around, this makes me happy.

2.  Live Performances – The Garden Rock concert series has live performances by rock stars from 4 different decades, the list for this year has not yet be put out but check back with Chip and Co to find out who will be performing this year!

1. Disney Topiary Displays – Unless you see this it is hard to explain how amazing these displays are.  All of the Disney characters are represented and they are beautifully done. Some of them in just green bushes, some are colorful, all are amazing to look at or take pictures with.

Besides all of the reason I have mentioned above there is also outdoor kitchens and refreshing drinks throughout Epcot for you to try out some new foods. The festival will be running March 2, 2016 – May 30th 2016, 90 days this year as opposed to the 75 it normally runs!

Have you been to the Flower & Garden Festival? Have I missed something you loved?

Would you like to attend this year?  Contact me, my name is Karen Asaro I’m a travel agent with World of Magic Travel and a writer for Chip and Co and Disney Addicts. I visit Disney World as often as possible to keep up to date with the latest going on throughout the world, if I’m not there I am planning my next trip! Let me help you plan your next trip you can email me or visit me on facebook for all the latest info! 

Top 10 Quick Service Restaurants at the Disneyland Resort

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QS DLR

QS DLR

There are so many Quick Service restaurant options at the Disneyland Resort that it can be hard to know where to eat. I like to eat at places that I know are good rather than picking the first spot I come to when I’m hungry. In my 10+ visits to the resort I’ve tried a lot of the Quick Service restaurants. This is my list top 10 best Quick Service Restaurants at the Disneyland Resort.

flos

10. Flo’s V8 Café

Located in Cars Land in Disney California Adventure, Flo’s features rotisserie-style dinners, house-made pies, and delicious milkshakes. You can also stop in for breakfast. A favorite from Flo’s is the brioche French toast with salted caramel sauce and bananas. The food is only part of the fun at this restaurant! You can watch Radiator Springs Racers cars zoom by while you enjoy your meal.

9. Earl of Sandwich

Home of “The World’s Greatest Hot Sandwich”, Earl of Sandwich is located in the Downtown Disney District. Here you can get signature sandwiches, wraps, salads and soups throughout the day. A favorite of mine is The Earl’s Club-turkey, bacon and swiss with lettuce, Roma tomato and sandwich sauce. Yum!

8. Jolly Holiday Bakery Café

I really love the Mary Poppins-theme of this restaurant! Jolly Holiday Bakery Café is located on Main Street U.S.A. Aside from the scrumptious desserts available, you can also get café-style lunch items. One of my husband’s favorite desserts is crème brulee and we finally found it at Jolly Holiday Bakery Café and it was delicious! He also enjoyed the Jolly Holiday Combo-a toasted cheese sandwich with tomato basil soup. This is another restaurant where you can get soup, salads, and sandwiches.

plaza inn

7. Plaza Inn

The Plaza Inn, located at the end of Main Street U.S.A., was one of Walt Disney’s favorite places to dine. Many of the furnishings were handpicked by Walt’s wife, Lillian Disney, including the Victorian stained-glass ceiling. In the last couple of years it’s become one of my family’s favorite places as well. I love the chicken pesto-Alfredo penne and my husband enjoys the fried chicken with mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. You can also get beef pot roast, salads or smaller portions of chicken or penne. This restaurant also provides a great spot for parade-watching.

6. Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante

I am a big fan of Mexican food and this restaurant in Frontierland offers some delicious Mexican cuisine. Carne asada and red chile enchiladas, fire-grilled citrus-marinated half chicken and pork chile verde braised in tomatillo sauce, baked fish tacos and burritos are all served here. You can also get chicken tortilla soup or a tasty tostada salad. You can eat inside under the gentle glow of star-shaped Mexican glass lanterns or outside on a shaded patio.

5. Smokejumpers Grill

This restaurant, located in Grizzly Peak in Disney California Adventure, is a great place to get a signature burger. My favorite is the Angus bacon cheddar burger with French fries. Also featured is the grilled chicken & jack sandwich or a grilled chicken & feta salad. There is a toppings bar where you can choose unique add-ons for your burgers and sandwiches. The Smokejumpers Grill is inspired by the heroic men and women who fight wildfires in California’s lush forests.

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4. Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port

You’ll find out-of-this-world Italian fare at this Tomorrowland restaurant. There are 3 food stations: pizza, pasta, and salads. Choose from Mars-inara spaghetti with Meteoric Meatballs, Countdown Chicken Fusilli with sun-dried tomatoes and garlic Parmesan cream sauce, and self-contained slices of Mega Pepperoni, Lunar Cheese, Orion Hawaiian and Venus Vegetarian pizza. The pizza slices are a decent size too! You can also have one of these salads: Planetary Pizza Salad, Celestial Chicken Caesar or the Starfield of Greens with bleu cheese, walnuts and dried cranberries.

3. Pacific Wharf Café

I love having soup in a bread bowl at this restaurant! Located at Pacific Wharf in Disney California Adventure, this café offers hearty soups served in Boudin sourdough bowls, sandwiches made with fresh-baked breads and salads inspired by the northern regions of the Golden State. Broccoli and cheese soup in a sourdough bowl is my favorite. Clam chowder is another favorite of many guests. If soup isn’t what you’re craving, then try turkey pesto club sandwich or Chinese chicken or walnut, apple and chicken salads.

2. The Hungry Bear Restaurant

When you’ve got a rumbly in your tumbly, head to the restaurant next to the Winnie the Pooh ride in Critter Country. Some of the fare offered here is: cheeseburgers, crispy chicken sandwiches, turkey Caesar wraps or a picnic salad of seasoned turkey breast, strawberries, Feta cheese, cranberries, roasted almonds, jicama and mixed greens with strawberry vinaigrette. My recommendations for The Hungry Bear Restaurant are the delicious pulled pork hot dog or the signature chili cheeseburger. This restaurant provides a great waterfront view of the Rivers of America.

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1. The Golden Horseshoe

This is my absolute favorite restaurant! It’s been a tradition in my family since I was a kid to have lunch here at least once on every trip. Besides offering delicious foods, The Golden Horseshoe also offers entertainment. Food options are: fish and chips (my favorite!), chicken breast nuggets with a choice of dipping sauce, a mixed green salad topped with crispy chicken, chili cheese fries or chili in a bread bowl. Different entertainers have performed here over the years. The current entertainment is an interactive performance by Laughing Stock Co. Fun fact: Walt and Lillian Disney celebrated their 30th anniversary here.

What’s your favorite Quick Service restaurant at the Disneyland Resort?

For more information about dining at the Disneyland Resort or to book your next Disneyland vacation, email me at [email protected].

How to Use a Planning Spreadsheet for Your Next Disney Vacation!

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planning 1

planning

Disney has taken us – some happily and some kicking and screaming – into the new age with Fast Pass+ and My Disney Experience.  Never before have we been able to plan so much of our trip in advance, not only where we will stay but also where we will eat and what rides we will ride at specific times of the day.  For some obsessive-compulsive planners out there (ahem, me!) it’s a wonderful thing.  For others, it can be a little bit more complicated.

Here’s where our handy dandy Disney planning spreadsheet comes in.  Right after I book a vacation for my family or for a client, I begin entering information into this planner.  It has helped me maintain my sanity, especially during FP+ and ADR-planning times.  Click on the link below to see what it looks like:

>> Disney Planning Spreadsheet

To fill out the spreadsheet, here are some quick tips:

  • First, figure out which parks you want to be in on a particular day.  If you want extra time at Magic Kingdom and they have Extra Magic Hours in the morning on a Thursday, then you may want to pencil in Cinderella’s castle as your destination for the day.
  • Once you have your parks, you can figure out which dining venues fit within your list. If it’s Epcot day, for example, it might be a great day to book a dinner at Garden Grill or Le Cellier.  Or, if you’re going to be at Magic Kindom, it’s a quick monorail stop to ‘Ohana or 1900 Park Fare.  If you are looking to score reservations at some hard-to-book restaurants, check out some helpful advice here.  Don’t forget, if you are staying at a Disney resort, you can begin booking 180 days before the start of your trip and plan for the next ten days of your vacation.
  • Once you have your dining reservations completed, you can start filling in the spreadsheet with times, dates, and confirmation numbers.  If you want to get fancy, you can even add approximate costs for each reservation to see if it might make sense to add a dining plan to your booking.
  • Then, the wait begins…until the 60 day mark prior to the start of your reservation, when you can begin to plan fast passes.  Because you already have your dining times and locations in the spreadsheet, it’s much easier to figure out where in the park you might be at a given time and which rides are in close proximity.  Let’s say you have a lunch reservation at Crystal Palace.  If you happen to be an adventurer-at-heart with a desire to see the backside of water, then a Fast Pass+ to Jungle Cruise at nearby Adventureland might be next on your itinerary.
  • Once you have all your fast passes planned, you can enter all the times and put everything together in chronological order.  At that point, once you see everything laid out in a list, you may decide to tweak a few things here and there – either with ADR times or with fast passes.  Bonus: you can print the spreadsheet and carry it with you – you know, go old school just in case your phone runs out of battery.

And with that, you have planned your Disney vacation and now all that’s left is to count down the days until you see Mickey!  Well, that and pack.

Now let me turn it over to you.  How do you do your Disney planning?  Do you also have a handy dandy notebook spreadsheet?  Sound off in the comments below!

Hi there, I’m Myra and I’m a huge Disney nerd and addict!  I’m also an Independent Travel Agent at World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency of Chip and Co. and Disney Addicts.  I’m happy to help you plan your next vacation, including planning your dining reservations, fast passes, and creating wonderful spreadsheets personalized just for your trip!  And best of all – my services are completely free to you!  Please visit my page or send me an email at [email protected] to get started!

Marcelo Avelar wins 3 races in a row at Walt Disney World Half Marathon

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DSC 7634 640x420

WDW

After winning the 5K on Thursday and the 10K on Friday, Marcelo Avelar, 31, won his third race in a row Saturday, Jan. 9 when he crossed the finish line first at the Walt Disney World Half Marathon presented by Cigna. Avelar, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, finished the race in 1:10:17, tying his personal fastest half-marathon time. This was Avelar’s first-ever trip to Walt Disney World Resort, a moment he said he has dreamed of since childhood. To win three races on his first visit made the moment even more special, he said.

With a running “hat trick” complete, Avelar looks ahead to competing in the Walt Disney World Marathon Sunday, the final race of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend.

For the women, Megan Curham, 20, from Warren, NJ, was the women’s top finisher. Her time of 1:14:29 qualifiers her for the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon, which take place in February.

Four-time British Olympian and women’s marathon world-record holder Paula Radcliffe also ran in the half marathon. Earlier in the weekend, Radcliffe, running on behalf of the Disneyland Paris Half Marathon, competed in the 5K and 10K races. The Disneyland Paris Half Marathon in September is the first international runDisney race.

Coming to ABC – Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary Special

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ABC has decided to air a special ” The Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60” celebrating Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary on February 21 at 8:00pm (EST). According to Variety the show will be a

“star-studded Diamond Anniversary event, both in the heart of Hollywood at the Dolby Theater and throughout some of the most iconic locations at Disneyland Park, including Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street USA, as well as Cars Land, a themed area of California Adventure Park”

Also featured during the special will be “Paint the Night” parade and the “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” show which is preformed at Disneyland daily. Special guests star will be announced shortly!

The celebration of Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary has been going on all year in Anaheim, California, in celebrating Disneyland’s 60th you will find shimmer banners and glittering decor down Main Street and Buena Vista Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland Park and Carthay Circle Theater at Disneyland California Adventure Park magically transform in the Diamond Celebration! The celebrating will continue until September 5, 2016 so you still have time to be part of the celebration!

Will you be watching? 

 

 

 

Absolutely Adorable It’s a Small World Mouse Ears and More!

Small World Mouse Ears

It’s a world of laughter a world of a world of tears It’s a world of hopes… and It’s a Small World Mouse Ears! It’s a Small World is one of the most classic Disney attractions there is, and these adorable Small World Mouse Ears by AllEarsBoutiqueCo on Etsy are a fantastic inspiration.

Board the happiest cruise that ever sailed in these beautiful It’s a Small World inspired Disney Ears. This design is inspired by Mary Blair’s amazing entrance to Disney’s most beloved attraction. The left ear captures the clock face and the right is a collage of clock gears. The design is tied together with a colorful geometric bow which capture the colors found throughout the voyage around the world. These ears are so fabulously detailed! All of their ear designs featuring park attractions and characters are so vibrant and detailed, I love them! There are even new Moana Ears!

moana-ears

Be sure to check out some of their other great designs below too:

What do you think of these beautifully detailed Small World Mouse Ears and other designs?

Top 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day

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Star Wars Vday1

Star Wars Vday1

In spirit of Valentine’s Day fast approaching we brought you our top 5 Disney Valentine picks for his and hers. Today we blast off to a different galaxy and bring you our favorite top 5 Star Wars Valentines items for his and hers.

5. Yoda OneTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day and Obi WanTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day Mugs

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Say your the only one, the Star Wars way! With matching Yoda and Obi Wan play on words mugs.

4. Darth Vader Hoodie for AdultsTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day and Darth Vader Hooded Tunic for Women by Her Universe

Darth Vader Costume Hoodie for AdultsTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines DayDarth Vader Costume Hooded Tunic for Women by Her Universe - Star WarsTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day

Embrace the Dark Side together in matching Darth Vader hoodies. Great for staying warm on chilly nights on the Death Star.

3.) Star Wars Han and Leia Bathroom Hand TowelsTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day

Star Wars Towels

How totally towelriffic! Matching towels with my favorite couple in the universe!

 

2.) Princess LeiaTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day and Han SoloTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day Matching Shirts

Star Wars Shirt 1 Star Wars Shirt 2

 

I love you. I know. The infamous Princess Leia Quote I Love You and Han Solo’s reply I know on these shirts celebrates the epic interaction between Han Solo and Princess Leia that comes moments before Solo is frozen in carbonite.

1.) Official Star Wars I Love YOU and I Know Couple Ring Set – BoxedTop 5 His & Her Star Wars items for Valentines Day

Star Wars Vday1

Han and Leia – perhaps the ultimate love/hate relationship that ultimately became true love. Celebrate your own intergalactic romance by exchanging these Stainless Steel reminders that love isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth the effort.

I hope you enjoyed this His and Hers collection, and remember… I know 😉

New Cruise Ships Ready to Set Sail in 2016

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new ships

2016

If you are an avid cruiser, then you may have heard of some major changes coming to many cruise lines fleet of ships.  Bigger and better ships are expected to hit the seas this year, which make 2016 a great time to go on a cruise, especially if it’s your first time too!  Here’s a rundown of what’s going to be coming from the top cruise lines in 2016:

Holland America– April

  • Konigsdam will feature solo traveler and family cabins, in addition to a farm-to-table dinner in its Culinary Arts Center.  This ship will be sailing from Fort Lauderdale to the Caribbean!

Royal Caribbean International– April

  • Ovation of the Seas, part of the Quantum class ship, has been designed with the Asian market in mind and will feature bumper cars, skydiving and 270 degree views- all at sea!  Set sail from England, China, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Singapore or Australia on this spectacular ship to exotic destinations!

Viking Ocean Cruises– April

  • The river cruising household name will be launching its second ship named the Viking Sea.  It will feature a hands-on cooking experience called the Kitchen Table and FREE shore excursions!  Explore the Mediterranean, Europe and Scandinavia on this majestic ship!

Carnival Cruise Line– May

  • The Carnival Vista will be taking her maiden voyage!  This ship is the largest in Carnival’s fleet and the first in the new Vista class of ships.  Onboard you will find the first IMAX theater at sea and an on-board brewery.  I’m super excited about this ship.  It looks AWESOME!  And it’s headed to the Mediterranean and Caribbean this spring!  New York and Miami will be the US homeports with sailings to the Caribbean, while Greece, Spain and Italy are the homeports overseas.

Royal Caribbean International– June

  • The second major ship launch from the cruise line is Harmony of the Seas, the largest ship in the fleet!  5,479 passengers will be able to enjoy an aqua park for kids- featuring a 10-story water slide!  The Bionic Bar feature robotic cocktail making.  This is definitely something you don’t want to miss!  This ship will be featuring short cruises and week long cruises, leaving from ports in Fort Lauderdale, Italy, England and Spain.

Regent Seven Seas– July

  • The Seven Seas Explorer will be the largest ship in the fleet.  All cabins on-board will be suites and feature balconies.  A Culinary Arts Kitchen can also be found on-board.  This ship will be home docked in Miami, FL and feature itineraries for the most discerning cruiser!

Seabourn– December

  • The Seabourn Encore also debuts as the largest ship in its fleet and will also feature all-suite cabins with a restaurant by French Laundry’s Thomas Keller.  Aboard this ship, you can visit destinations throughout Arabia, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Mediterranean.

And, we can’t forget about our beloved Disney Dream, part of the Disney Cruise Line fleet of ships, that came out of its dry-dock in October more enhanced and better than ever!

If all of this strikes up your curiosity and you are eager to learn more about any of these itineraries, then email me at [email protected]. I would love to help you find the perfect itinerary aboard one of these amazing ships in 2016!

Our Favorite Disney Things – Mulan Collection

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Mulan Collection 1

Mulan Collection 1

Continuing with Our Favorite Disney Things collections, today we bring you Mulan. While Mulan isn’t technically a princess, she is recognized as a Disney Princess for embodying the traits and characteristics of one. Our collection today shows both sides of our heroic favorite; Mulan.

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When we first meet Mulan she is preparing to go to the Matchmaker, which undoubtedly does not go as planned. Her outfit however has become iconic with the different hues of pinks and blues. This Mulan Bow from FangirlCreation honestly looks like her dress itself was tied up to make this bow.

Mulan Collection 3

Aside from her matchmaker dress, the hair comb bestowed upon her before going is one of the most recognizable symbols of Mulan. If Disneybounding or Cosplaying this Lotus Blossom hair clip replica from ShakespearesWorkShop is the perfect touch.

 

Mulan Collection 4

Personally I love Mulan’s every day dress the most. This Mulan Skater dress by MinZPrint is handmade with heat sublimation printing, and is perfect! It’s a great dress that allows an every day casual Disneybound. Best of all is the wide range of sizes from XS to 3X!

Mulan Collection 5

To save her father Mulan becomes “Ping” and joins the war. Becoming Ping means learning to be a man though, and she had some lessons to learn from Shang. The Make a Man out of You Pillow from studiomarshallgifts gives us the checklist from the memorable song.

Mulan Collection 6

MiyamotoProductions has created the Savior of China Shoulder Bag, that is a harmony of Mulan and Ping combined. The gentle lotus blossom comb adorns a rustic bag with the earthy tones and feel of her warrior side.

Mulan Collection 7a

This work of Digital Water color art by MarcoFriend represents the Mulan as herself, not as a dressed up version to impress the matchmaker or a warrior to save China, but a brave girl longing to know who she is. I love the splashes of her dress’s signature colors swirling together in the print.

Mulan Collection 8

By now I’m sure we know how much I love costume aprons! MrsShultz has designed a Mulan Apron that is not just beautiful but practical. This apron has ruffles and colors, but is form fitting to keep you clean while you fight the battle of dinner!

Mulan Collection 1

Finally we have the Mulan Designer Doll necklace from TilTheLastPetalFalls. The copper chain and accents are strong like warrior Mulan, but the portrait inside is stylish like a princess. I love the contrasting accents, and really feel it gives off the essence of Mulan.

Which princess would you like to see next?

Disney is changing the look of their free buttons

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Buttons 1

Buttons

We received word that Disney is changing the look of their free buttons they hand out at the parks. Twitter user  posted some of the new looks. Check them out below.

The new buttons are expected to be in the parks in the next few days.

So what do you think of new designs?

Photo credit Matthew Gottula from twitter