Top 5 Disney Bags to bring with you to the parks

By

-

September 10, 2015

Working on another article here on Chip and Co I was looking at Disney bags online. The design below seems to be very popular when I have posted it in the past. I had no idea it came in a diaper bag design, this would have been nice when my girls were going to Walt Disney World when they were little.

Here are my Top 5 Disney Bags to take with you to the Disney Parks:

My first pick is the Mickey Polka Dot design. It comes in a Tote Messenger Bag or Disney Polka Dot Bottle Bag for $24

Next up is the 5 and 1 Disney Diaper Bags series. They come in Mickey, Minnie, Winnie The Pooh, and more. All of the bags above only run $22!

The Minnie Polka Dot design is similar to the Mickey Design above. You can get the Minnie Polka Dot Bottle Bag and Minnie Dot and Bow Tote for under $25 each.

Next up is the super popular Disney Mickey Mouse Drawstring Backpacks. You can get both for $13.95.

Finally the Disney Hobo bags. They come in Lilo & Stitch , The Little Mermaid Ariel Stained Glass, Alice In Wonderland Tattoo, The Little Mermaid Ariel Tattoo and many more designs. Great news these designs are only $19.50!

So did we miss any? Let us know in the comment box below.

The Halloween Spooktacular at Seaworld Orlando is Fun for the Whole Family

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 10, 2015

Halloween meets the sea during weekends in October at SeaWorld Orlando’s Halloween Spooktacular. This family-friendly event will immerse and surround guests in an underwater “fantasea” with trick-or-treating, whimsical pumpkin fish, sea-themed arts and crafts, and up-close animal encounters.

SeaWorld’s Halloween Spooktacular® takes place from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekends, October 3-31. Like all special events at SeaWorld, Halloween Spooktacular is included with park admission.

Spooktacular Highlights Include:

· Waves of Trick-or-Treat Fun – Costumed youngsters can trick-or-treat for ghoulish goodies. Each sea-themed, trick-or-treat station features an assortment of candy favorites including Tootsie Roll®, Jelly Beans®, Airheads®, just to name a few.

· Penelope’s Party Zone – This dynamic “underwater” environment comes to life each weekend with a live DJ, a variety of craft opportunities, bubbles floating overhead and colorful sea-themed characters. The zone is located on SeaWorld’s Bayside Pathway.

· Returning Fan Favorite: Sesame Street’s Countdown to Halloween – Celebrate a Spooktacular Halloween at SeaWorld with The Count, Elmo, Abby, and the rest of everyone’s Sesame Street friends! The Count is feeling lonely this Halloween, and it’s up to you and the loveable monsters from Sesame Street to get him into the Halloween spirit. Batty bats and spooky skeletons join the fun in a song filled stage show that invites you and your family to dance, play, and sing along.

· Spooktacular Dance Party – Children join Princess Penelope and her under-the-sea friends for a Spooktacular Dance Party where they can participate in line-dancing favorites as clouds of bubbles fill the evening air. The party will kick off at the Village Square in the front of the park every event night one hour before park closing.

Spectacular Spooky Add-Ons:

· Dine With Shamu® Halloween Spooktacular Brunch – Guests can celebrate with an immersive and memorable brunch experience at Dine With Shamu®. They will enjoy seasonal items and reserved tables that bring them up close to majestic killer whales. There also are some Halloween surprises including a family photo in a decorative frame and a free cookie decorating kit. Prices begin at $28 plus tax for adults and $16 plus tax for kids.

· Sweet Treat Decorating – Kids and parents alike can have a “splash” decorating their own sweet treats at the cookie decorating stations. The kits include a cookie, frosting and toppings and are available for $7.

For more information, park hours and to purchase tickets, visit www.SeaWorldOrlando.com.

I have been to this and we loved it. Have you been?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Hauntingly Cute Jack & Sally Tsum Tsum Decal

By

Danielle

-

September 10, 2015

Have you seen the Princesses and Villains decals we did last month? Well DenileArts has given us something adorable, and perfect for the upcoming Halloween season this time! Introducing the new Jack and Sally Tsum Tsum vinyl! Now on sale for only $5!

Being a lover of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Tsum Tsum, this sticker is a perfect combination! DenileArts is also offering this one in White or Black, so you can choose your preferred color. These not only look great on car windows, but laptops, tablets, folders and more!

To learn more and to order yours check out her store here or click any of the links above. There’s lots of other great to choose from Disney Vinyls to choose from too!

Happy Shopping!

You Can Now Follow Minnie Mouse on Instagram

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 10, 2015

Disney is bringing all things Minnie Mouse-inspired to Instagram with the launch of @MinnieStyle, a new account showcasing her style and ongoing influence on the world of fashion, beauty and pop culture. Minnie’s iconic style including polka dots, bows and instantly recognizable color palette will also be celebrated this month with events at both New York and London fashion weeks.

@MinnieStyle will showcase Minnie-inspired looks from the global fashion community, every day fashion inspiration, couture and ready-to-wear designer collaborations, celebrities, bloggers and more. The first portfolio on @MinnieStyle will feature a series of inspirational fashion images as well as a behind-the-scenes look at events during September’s international fashion weeks.

At New York Fashion Week, Disney is collaborating with Refinery29, the leading digital lifestyle media company for millennial-minded women, and CONFETTISYSTEM, to create a Minnie Mouse-inspired room, as part of 29Rooms, Refinery29’s interactive funhouse celebrating style and culture, which is open to the public in Brooklyn, NY on September 11 and 12. Then from September 18 to 20, during London Fashion Week, Disney and the British Fashion Council will host the Minnie: Style Icon exhibition. The exhibition, which has been curated with the help of model and photographer Georgia May Jagger, will bring together photographs from the 1930’s through present day including archive imagery and sketches, celebrity portraits and fashion spreads. Images from the event will also be shared on the @MinnieStyle Instagram.

Georgia May Jagger said: ‘I’ve always been a Minnie fan so I’m really excited to be working on this campaign, showing how pop culture can influence fashion in a way that encourages excitement and creativity.’

The character of Minnie Mouse was created by Walt Disney and she made her debut alongside Mickey Mouse in Disney’s Steamboat Willie animation in 1928. Patterned after the 1920’s flapper as portrayed by actress Colleen Moore, her trademark polka dot skirt was inspired by Coco Chanel and her “Easy Jersey” collection. From her early pillbox flower hat, which inspired ladies hat trends to her famous bow and ears, Minnie has been looked to for style inspiration since her inception and has celebrity fans all over the world including Victoria Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kourtney Kardashian and Lady Gaga to name a few.

Follow @MinnieStyle on Instagram and visit the Disney Style blog for more updates on all things fashion and Minnie-style inspired.

I love this!

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Disney Finds – Fun Festive Disney Tees

By

Chip

-

September 10, 2015

We wants the Redhead! Who doesn’t love that line from Pirates of the Caribbean? Our friends at makeitfestive has some fun Disney shirt designs that will make you want to fly your Disney Addict Flag high! Here are some of the other fun designs Mandy has in her store:

and many more. Her shirts are fun and festive that is why she calls them FestiviTees! To see more and to order yours just click any of the links above.

Happy Shopping

Halloween Has Started On the High Seas!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 10, 2015

The Disney Fantasy set sail on September 5th to kick off the 2015 season of Halloween on the High Seas. Our beloved Chip is currently taking in all the festivities aboard the Disney Dream. From what I hear, everyone is having a wickedly magical time! Part of the fun of these sailings is seeing guests in their best Halloween attire throughout the voyage- especially at costume parties!

The Fantasy’s first night provided guests with a fun-filled interactive movie experience in the Walt Disney Theatre. A Nightmare Before Christmas- Sing and Scream, is always a favorite amongst Guests and cruisers were able to watch the film in not only 3D, but 4D too! The night included a singalong and families had the chance to meet Jack Skellington and Sally after the movie!

Families were treated to Mickey’s Mouse-querade Party, on Day 3 of the Fantasy’s itinerary, in the afternoon for dancing and candy. Then that evening, there was a costume party just for adults. Both proved to be equally entertaining!!

Everyone is getting into the Halloween spirit on the Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream. Cruisers on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder will begin seeing the excitement in October. Be sure to keep an eye on Chip & Co, Twitter (@chipandco), Instagram (@chipandco), and the Chip & Co and YMBADA Facebook pages to see Chip’s photos from the trip! To learn more about holiday sailing on the Disney Cruise Line, email me at [email protected] for information and pricing, and, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter (@TriciaatWoMT) to keep up with the latest Disney news, updates and events!

What You Need to Know About The My Disney Experience App

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 10, 2015

As I’m writing this article, I am actually sitting in my hotel room at the beautiful, newly renovated Polynesian Village Resort. That’s right, instead of having a Lapu Lapu at the Tambu Lounge, I just had to share some news with you fellow Disney Addicts about the My Disney Experience App. Before I get into it, I should note that this is not our first time using the MDE App. We visited Disney last year and found the app to be really useful. But I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by the many updates Disney has made since then. Here are some things you need to know about the My Disney Experience App:

The layout is streamlined and user-friendly. All your plans are listed in chronological order for the entire duration of your vacation. Although it still doesn’t include reservations for some special experiences like Pirates League or Bibiddi Bobiddi Boutique, it is pretty comprehensive and gives you the ability to make changes on the fly. On the left hand side, you’ll see a menu of tools that allow you to see park hours, wait times, your fast pass selections, dining, photo pass, and specifics regarding your profile and reservations. I used to prefer going on My Disney Experience on my desktop to make dining and/or fast pass changes, but with these recent updates, it feels like the app responds more quickly than previous versions. There’s been several times when I’ve changed our fast pass selections while waiting in line without a problem whatsoever.

We probably all know 407-WDW-DINE by heart, but with the My Disney Experience App, we may not need to dial by phone as much. That ‘Ohana breakfast reservation you see below? Clicking on it will allow you to edit your dining party or cancel your reservation. And if you click on the knife and fork icon, you can see the restaurant menu, price range, operating hours, and more. You can also easily search restaurants near you and which restaurants have availability for same day or future bookings.

Planning fast passes is also much easier. See that Anna & Elsa Meet and Greet on the same picture above? You can easily update your FP+ to change the experience, time and/or guests attached to that FP+.

If a ride stops operating during your Fast Pass+ window, a new Fast Pass+ redemption will appear on your app. Take our Seven Dwarfs Mine Train FP+ above, which was originally scheduled from 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm. We got quite the Florida downpour during that time, so no outdoor rides were operational. We instead saw this new notice on our app, and found that when we clicked on it, it provided us with alternate rides we could select (in this case, we got our pick of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Splash Mountain, Barnstormer, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, or Haunted Mansion). It also listed everyone on my friends and family list that had the same FP+ and how many entitlements had been used.

If you have already used all three fast passes, you can select a fourth FP+ at one of the kiosks inside the park. You won’t be able to select the 4th FP+ on your app, however, once you make the selection at the kiosk, you can then make any further adjustments on your phone (i.e. if you later want to change the attraction or time).

The app knows where you are on property, so if you click on any of the icons on the top of the app (i.e. Attractions, Character, Dining) it will give you selections that are closest to you. I made a beeline for the shopping icon, and the app immediately showed me a variety of stores near me. Need to see where the store is on a map? Just click on the shopping bag icon next to the store and voila! And if it’s not shopping, chances are you’re going to need to locate where the restrooms, guest services, dining, or entertainment are in the parks – there are buttons for those as well right on the top of the app.

And best of all, Disney has now added PhotoPass to the app. You can view your photos, magic shots, ride videos, and more through the app. Here you can see 1 out of 10 shots we had taken in front of the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. Just swipe your finger to the left and you’ll be able to see the rest of the pictures in the set. If you click on the funnel icon, you’ll have the option to narrow down the pictures you are seeing by date or location, and it will give you the option to only see pictures that were added using your particular magic band, or to view all pictures attached to your friends and family. If you happen to go to Enchanted Tales with Belle, they will likely give you a PhotoPass card – no worries there, because you can easily link it by clicking on the “Link Photos” button at the top. And look, there’s a convenient “Find Photographers” button there to tell you where you can capture your next magic shot.

All in all, I will say that the MDE App has been a great tool that really helped us be more organized during our vacation and put a lot of information within easy reach. Just make sure you have a battery pack for back-up power, after all there is a trade off for using this handy dandy app!

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 fast passes, dining reservations and other special experiences that will eventually make its way to your My Disney Experience App! Visit my page or send me an email at [email protected] to get started!

Is Artemis Fowl Coming Out Of Hiding and onto the big screen?

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 9, 2015

Walt Disney Pictures has had the rights to “Artemis Fowl” for years but has kept it on the shelf. Recent rumors have Kenneth Branagh signed on the adapt the book into a Disney move. Along with Conor McPherson in charge of the script and Harvey Weinstein as co-producer, the story written by Eoin Colfer, follows 12 year old Artemis Fowl, millionaire and criminal mastermind who along with his sidekicks plots to steal the pot of gold from the fairies. Kidnapping one of the fairies, puts Captain Holly Short, in charge of the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Reconnaisance Unit) and Commander Root on their trail. Both will stop at nothing to get Artemis Fowl and rescue the kidnpapped fairy.

One of my favorite books, the series is full of adventures and perfect for Disney audiences. Follow chipandco.com for updates and more about Disney parks, studio and movie news from your favorite Entertainment Writer.

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort Returns!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 9, 2015

My very favorite time to visit the Disneyland Resort is during the holidays! Holidays at the Disneyland Resort returns from November 13 through January 6, 2016. This year the season with sparkle even brighter as the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration continues.

It’s never too soon to start making plans for the holidays! If you’d like help planning a magical Disney holiday vacation, email me today. The Disneyland Resort is absolutely beautiful during the holidays and should not be missed!

Stay tuned for more information about holiday treats, merchandise and entertainment coming to the Disneyland Resort this holiday season.

(Image from Disney Parks Blog)

Disney Sues Over Cake Frosting

By

Disney News

-

September 9, 2015

Recently Disney and Sanrio have teamed up to file a lawsuit. They are claiming copyright and trademark infringement lawsuit against a business owner, George Wilson, who they say is selling fake edible cake frosting sheets that have the likeness of Disney characters. In the list of demands, they are asking authorities to take”any molds, screens, patterns, plates, negatives, machinery or equipment used for making or manufacturing” the counterfeit cakes.

The suit was filed on Wednesday in California. It is being handled by J. Andrew Coombs, who has worked with Disney in the past. He has dealt with many of these cases. He has represented studios over unlicensed goods in the past. His most recent case was over Darth Vader cufflinks. This case was recently settled with a permanent injunction. Perhaps, you might remember his most famous case to date, it involves replicas on the Batmobile. That case is sill ongoing.

Disney is always watching!

Can you really get full on Quick Serve meals?

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 9, 2015

A common worry I encounter is whether or not the Quick Service dining options, both paid via Meal Plan or out-of-pocket, will be enough food. No one wants to take on a full day in a park and be stuck walking around hungry! With so many Quick Serve dining options in every park, resort and Downtown, Disney knows how to deliver a premium experience to its guests. You don’t have to do a full sit down meal to walk away with a full belly and content taste buds.

For larger groups, smaller children or people who have high expectations for the number of attractions they can hit, sometimes a sit down meal doesn’t fit into the plans. The good news is that you can still have an amazing dining experience at the many counter service locations. You have choices of cafeteria style and counter service for the most part. The service will be just as the name describes- QUICK! The other bonus to this is pricing. You can nab an average Quick Serve meal for as little as under $11 and maxing out at Be Our Guest lunch service at $15.99 for a Tuna Niçoise Salad.

Now the good stuff: The meals! At a typical Quick Serve location you will find a broad range of items to choose from. Soups, salad, appetizers, meals, desserts, fruits and beverages will be available at many of the locations. For those not on a meal plan, you can pick and choose what you’d like. If you’re famished you may spend a little more to get the main dish and a dessert and drink. However, the main dishes at all locations are generously sized. Whether you chose a sandwich, a pizza, tacos, pasta or even an ice cream sundae for your meal you are bound to walk away satisfied! If you are on a dining plan, Quick Serve or Disney Dining Plan, you have prepaid for a main dish, dessert and a beverage. The dessert item can be used for fruit, cookie, yogurt, pastry etc. Another plus to the Dining plans is bringing your Refillable Mug to your Resort’s dining area and filling it with coffee or tea and using your beverage for a water or drink item to take into the park with you.

In my experience the meals are not only delicious but very filling!

If you would like to discuss meal options along with your FREE quote I’d love to chat with you today! Contact me via email or follow me on Facebook!

Fire Reported at The Norway Pavilion in Epcot

By

Disney News

-

September 9, 2015

Firefighters were called to the Norway Pavilion at Epcot around 4:20 this afternoon. There are reportedly quite a few fire trucks in the employee parking lot behind Norway.

A Walt Disney World spokesperson said, a fire was reported in the construction area behind the Norway pavilion. Out of an abundance of caution, guests were evacuated from the attraction, the gift shop and the restaurant. They have since been allowed to return.

We don’t know how it started. There were no injuries reported and no damage, so far.

Photo Credit: wesh.com