2 Special Holiday VIP Experiences at Legoland Florida

By

-

September 27, 2015

We all know that everything is awesome at LEGOLAND Florida, but things get even more Bricktastic during the holidays! LEGOLAND knows how to make your holidays extra special with exciting themes and decorations. Even on a normal operating day, LEGOLAND Florida is a great family destination but check out these amazing holiday extras you can be a part of!

Starting next weekend, October 3rd, Brick or Treat comes to LEGOLAND! Miniland U.S.A. is taken over by ghouls and goblins and the biggest Lego Jack-o-Lantern in the world! Kids will be able to trick-or-treat, take part in a costume contest and even receive a free collector brick!

If you would like to take your Halloween adventure to the next level, take a look at the Brick Or Treat VIP Experience Upgrade!

The Brick or Treat VIP Experience is the ultimate upgrade to the LEGOLAND Florida Brick or Treat Event for Guests!

Enjoy a delicious All you care to Eat Pizza Pasta Buffet with special character appearances
VIP fireworks seating
Special LEGO trick or treat bag for each child
A spooky exclusive after hours flashlight tour of Miniland led by our Master Model Builder
A mini Master Model Builder session with a take home LEGO Model
VIP Brick or Treat games and activities and an exclusive character dance party
Face painting for each guest

This memorable VIP experience starts at $75 plus tax per person (park admission not included but required) and is available on the following nights:

Oct 3rd – 4th
10th – 11th
17th – 18th
23rd – 25th
30th – 31st

Price $75 per person, *$85 per person for final weekend. Children 2 and under are free! Experience available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October only and limited to 50 guests per night. VIP Experience starts at 6pm each night and will finish at approximately 9:30 p.m.

Not ready to for the fun to end? Don’t worry! LEGOLAND dresses up for Christmas too! The Christmas Bricktacular Event comes to the Florida park weekends in December and includes a 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas tree made of 270,000 LEGO bricks, life-size LEGO Santa, reindeer and sleigh, festive decorations, LEGO build activity, a LEGO Santa Scavenger Hunt and holiday entertainment.

Just like Halloween, LEGOLAND offers an amazing VIP upgrade experience called

Lego Santa’s Christmas Workshop. This experienceis the perfect festive upgrade to any LEGO fan’s Christmas build up.

Includes the following:

Enjoy a fun interaction with LEGO Santa and Toy Soldier
Each family will get one printed photo of their character interaction
Create an exclusive christmas decoration with a Master Model Builder to take home with you
Delicious winter treat station including hot chocolate and a decorate your own cookie bar throughout the experience

Available dates:

Saturday 12th December – 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Sunday 13th December – 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Saturday 19th December – 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Sunday 20th December – 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
Monday 21st December – 11:00 a.m. only
Tuesday 22nd December – 11:00 a.m. only
Wednesday 23th December – 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.

Price $30 per person
Price $24 per person for Annual Pass Members (Must show proof of Annual Pass Membership)
*Park admission and parking are not included and must be purchased separately.

These VIP experiences are sure to make your visit to LEGOLAND Florida one you and your family will never forget!

Have you ever experienced a VIP Upgrade while visiting LEGOLAND? Tell us about it in the comments below! I love hearing about all of the incredible things there are to see at LEGOLAND!

For more information on a visit to LEGOLAND including a stay at the LEGOLAND Resort Hotel, contact me at [email protected].

Disney Channel Acquires Teen Tale ‘Upside-Down Magic’

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 27, 2015

disney channel logo a l

Disney Channel has optioned “Upside-Down Magic,” a book series from Scholastic, for development of an original TV show. The first book of the series, by bestselling authors Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins, will be released on September 29, 2015. “Upside-Down Magic” follows the misadventures of Nory, the youngest in a family of elite magicians, who finds herself relegated to a class for misfits after one magical mishap too many. There Nory meets a group of kids with equally wonky powers. Surrounded by people who believe in her, she starts to question if her so-called “upside-down magic” might actually be right side up after all.

About the Authors:
SARAH MLYNOWSKI is the author of many books for tweens, teens and adults, including the New York Times bestselling Whatever After series, the Magic in Manhattan series and “Gimme a Call.” She would like to be a flicker so she could make the mess in her room invisible. Visit her online at www.sarahm.com.

LAUREN MYRACLE is the New York Times bestselling author of many books for young readers, including The Winnie Years (which begins with “Ten”), the Flower Power series (which begins with “Love Ya Bunches”) and the Life of Ty series. She would like to be a fuzzy so she could talk to unicorns and feed them berries. You can find Lauren online at www.laurenmyracle.com.

EMILY JENKINS is the author of many chapter books, including the Toys Trilogy (which begins with “Toys Go Out”) and the Invisible Inkling series. Her picture books include “Lemonade in Winter,” “Toys Meet Snow” and “The Fun Book of Scary Stuff.” She would like to be a flare and work as a pastry chef. Visit Emily at www.emilyjenkins.com.

Stay tuned for more!

Disney Finds – Disney Ears & Bows

By

Chip

-

September 27, 2015

Who doesn’t like a little bling when going to the Disney Parks? Designer BlingBeautyBowtique custom and creative Mouse Ears, Flower Crowns and Bows. Here are some of their fun Disney Ear designs first:

Next up are some of their stylish Disney Bow designs:

and many more! BlingBeautyBowtique has over 4 pages of fun designs you want to check out!

Let me know which design you like the best in the comment box below!

Happy Shopping!

Disney Experiences Not Found in the US

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 27, 2015

Hello Disney travelers! Now, I consider myself a Walt Disney World Pro. I’m about to hit my 4^th visit as a guests and I lived and worked there during my 5 month Disney College Program in 2011. But I have a confession. A dirty little secret.

I’ve never been to Disneyland. Or any of the other parks. Gasp! I know, it’s shameful. I have my reasons though!

I LOVE WALT DISNEY WORLD and vacationing somewhere else just seems, well, wrong
Budget people! Sadly, I do not have the finances to jet off to Paris for a magical getaway. If I did, I might never come back because they have croissants.

This got me thinking though. What Disney experiences are there outside of the US that I (and probably many of you) are missing out on? I did some research – let’s take a look and dream a little together.

Disneyland Paris – this one already gets points because it’s located in Paris (well, 20 miles outside of the center of Paris – but close enough!). Originally called Euro Disney Resort, this is the most visited theme park in all of Europe and France. They have very similar attractiosn to Walt Disney World including Phantom Manor (a Euro take on The Haunted Mansion), Thunder Mountain Railroad, Star Tours, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Tokyo Disney – Tokyo Disney is made up of two parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Tokyo Disneyland is an extremely comparable to other Magic Kingdom parks, including a replica of Cinderella Castle with several themed lands surrounding it. Tokyo DisneySea is an ocean-themed park that is unique to Japan. The “ports of call” at DisneySea include Mediterranean Harbor, American Waterfront, Port Discovery, Lost River Delta, Arabian Coast, Mermaid Lagoon, and the Mysterious Island. From the pictures I’ve seen, DisneySea looks like a mix between Epcot’s World Showcase and Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

Hong Kong Disneyland – Another Magic Kingdom style park, Hong Kong Disneyland offers many of the same experiences as Disneyland in California. This park can be quite empty during weekdays and in the morning (the park doesn’t open until 10am most days), so if you are thinking of jetting over to China to check it out, plan accordingly. Also keep in mind that there will be culture differences when it comes to waiting in lines, and what food options are available.

Shanghai Disneyland – This highly anticipated Disney destination is set to up in Spring 2016. The park will feature six themed lands including Adventure Isle, Gardens of Imagination, Mickey Avenue, Tomorrowland, and Fantasyland Treasure Cove, with the Enchanted Storybook Castle. Two hotels on property, Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and Toy Story Hotel, are sure to be themed incredibly. Another area called Disneytown, sounds like it will be pretty close to Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs) in Florida. It’s never too early to start planning a trip!

Adventures by Disney – If you are growing a little tired of the parks (take a nap and get over it!), but you still want to experience all that Disney has to offer, consider a trip with Adventures by Disney. With Adventures by Disney, all the hassle and worry of planning a trip abroad is taken care of for you. From lodging, to dining, to excursions, your Adventure Guide will take care of everything. Currently you can book an adventure to locations including Asia, Africa, Australia, Central and South American, as well as Europe. There is really a destination for everyone and you can bet a Disney Adventure is on my bucket list!

Disney Cruise – Alright, we’ve explored the world through Disney Parks and we’ve experience new cultures with Adventures by Disney. Now it’s time to relax and take board a Disney Cruise. You can still see the world while enjoying all of the accommodations and ease that cruise travel has to offer with Disney cruises. Sail to the Caribbean (like a true pirate), the Bahamas, Europe, Mexico, or even to the Mediterranean!

Isn’t it great that you can explore the world and still have the magic of Disney with you? I think so! Now if you need me, I’ll be planning my next Disney vacation.

If you had to choose, which Disney experiences outside of the US would you pick to visit first? Let me know in the comments!

Monica is an Alumna of the Disney College Program. When she is not walking down the middle of Main Street USA you can find her wandering the World Showcase, or enjoying a Dole Whip while racing to her favorite attractions. When she is forced to endure life outside of Walt Disney World, you can find her in Ann Arbor, Michigan where she lives and works. You can visit her Disney lifestyle blog here.

P.S. – Be sure to check out these 2 fun articles why Disney World is better than Disneyland and why Disneyland is better than Disney World. Nothing like a little friendly competition right?

Star Wars Trilogy Re-Released in Original UnCut Versions

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 26, 2015

The announcement by film director/producer John Landis, during the Q&A at The 25th annual Halloween Horror Nights kickoff came out of the blue. Adding the news came straight from his old friend, George Lucas, the news of the Re-release of the theatrical cuts of the original Star Wars Trilogy comes as a surprise and unexpected news.

With the upcoming release of the latest Star Wars: The Force Awakes movie coming out December 18, 2015, Disney is providing movie goers with Star Wars Access world wide. A recent rumor the films were headed for NetFlix and now the release, whether theatrical or on Blu-ray, is huge in the world of Star Wars.

The question, on this Entertainment Writer’s mind is, do fans want the release to be via Blu-ray or in theatres?

Disney’s “Night of Joy” is Moving to ESPN Wide World of Sports

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 26, 2015

Disney has recently announced that the “Night of Joy” concerts will be moved to the ESPN Wide World of Sports. If you will be attending the event you will have access to the Magic Kingdom as well. They say the reason behind the move is because the Wide World of Sports will allow additional guests to enjoy the event and there is no worry about rain..

Dedicated transportation will be provided so that guests can easily move from Magic Kingdom Park to the Sports Complex.

“Night of Joy” is a christian music festival that has been around since the early 80’s. The event usually takes place at the Magic Kingdom but in 2008 and 2009 it was moved to Hollywood Studios.

What do you think?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

First Look at the Full Menu for all new Morimoto Asia Restaurant in Disney Springs

By

Chip

-

September 26, 2015

Now what you have been waiting for we have a first look at the all new menu at the highly anticipated Morimoto Asia Restaurant in Disney Springs.

“I’m very excited to bring this new concept to Disney, something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Chef Morimoto. “It’s a wonderful chance to share some of my favorite foods from across the Asian continent.”

Are you looking forward to eating here? I know I am! let us know in the comment box below.

ABC Family To Air Fan-Girl October 3rd!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 26, 2015

logo abc family

A music-obsessed teenager sets out to make a high school film project about her favorite band, All Time Low, in the world premiere of “Fan Girl,” airing on Saturday, October 3rd, 2015 at 9:00PM on ABC Family.

Telulah Farrow (Kiernan Shipka) is fifteen, sarcastic and obsessed with only two things in life: the pop rock band All Time Low and becoming a filmmaker. Her biggest problems of the moment are coming up with a killer final-film project for school and dealing with her mom Mary’s (Meg Ryan) newfound love of social media. A source of contention between the two, Telulah doesn’t understand that Mary has immersed herself wholeheartedly in that world simply in the hopes of being included in her daughter’s life.

But as it turns out, Mary’s newfound social media savvy has its unexpected perks when she reconnects with an old acquaintance with a big connection to All Time Low. Telulah’s whole life changes in one night when she gets a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see her music idols in concert; this is the perfect chance to combine both her passions, make a movie about All Time Low and have a real shot at winning the film competition. Along with sassy sidekick Jamie and underachieving, highly energetic film-class-partner Darvan, Telulah goes after what she wants and learns a little about life, family and herself along the way.

“Fan Girl” stars Screen Actors Guild Award Winner Kiernan Shipka (“Mad Men,” “Flowers In The Attic”), Golden Globe Nominee Meg Ryan (“When Harry Met Sally,” “Sleepless in Seattle”), Kara Hayward (“Moonrise Kingdom”), Scott Adsit (“30 Rock,” ‘Big Hero 6”), Bill Sage (“We Are What We Are”) and newcomer Joshua Boone. Pop punk band “All Time Low” appears in the film and provides much of the soundtrack. “Fan Girl” is produced by Literally Films in association with Rosetta Films and Filament Productions. The movie is directed by Paul Jarrett and written by Gina O’Brien.

Stay tuned for more!

Disney Finds – Handcrafted Disney jewelry

By

Chip

-

September 26, 2015

I love these unique hand crafted jewelry from Etsy designer TheCreativeBee. Most of their designs are upcycled Walt Disney World park maps. They really have to be seen so my descriptions below will not do them justice at all.

Here are some of the designs they offer:

and many more creative designs. Be sure to drop by the TheCreativeBee store to see all the very stylish designs.

Happy Shopping!

“Pirates of the Caribbean” at Disney World has Reopened

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 26, 2015

The long awaited reopening of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” will be here very soon! As soon as today! That is right, the very popular attraction has reopened and is very much improved.

It has been closed since early May for a lengthy refurbishment. There were some changes to the Pirates. The boats have been improved, they are supposed to be taking in less water and I believe handlebars have been added as well. Some other minor changes here and there too.

Check it out:

Have you been on it since the improvements? What do you think?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Everything You Need to Know About Disney World Refillable Mugs

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 26, 2015

Walt Disney World’s Refillable Mugs are convenient, colorful, and sometimes confusing. What are the most important things to know about these mugs? Let’s dive into that!

Walt Disney World Resorts offer refillable mugs to guests. These are available for purchase, or as one of the perks of any Disney Dining Plan. These mugs are designed for use and reuse at WDW resorts throughout the stay in which they are purchased. The 16 oz, plastic, insulated mugs can be purchased $16.99, and is available for refills for 2 weeks from purchase date. Mugs are not resort-specific, but can be used at any WDW resort, and do not have designs specific to any one resort. They come with handles and lids in red, yellow, blue, and purple, and you may choose your own color.

Mugs can be refilled at the resorts using the “Rapid Fill” system, introduced in 2013. With Rapid Fill, WDW mugs have an RFID chip embedded in the bottom of the mug which tells drink dispensing machines whether or not you are entitled to a refill. This chip is activated when you purchase the number of days of use, and automatically deactivates at the end of that purchased time. You can fill and refill your mug with coffee, hot or iced tea, hot chocolate, and a variety of Coca-Cola products. Most beverage areas at the resorts also have an option for Powerade (usually red or blue), lemonade, or fruit punch. Unfortunately there are some drinks that are not available through Rapid Fill, and those include milk, apple juice, and orange juice. Water is available to everyone, mug or no mug. Mugs can be refilled at pool bars for the beverages previously mentioned, but may not be used for alcoholic beverages.

To utilize the Rapid Fill system, you must sit your mug on the tray below the dispenser. This allows the machine to “read” the chip, and fill your mug. Screens on the dispensers will direct you. These screens will also tell you when your next refill will be available. Generally speaking, you can refill a particular mug in 2 minutes. This is presumably to prevent using a Rapid Fill mug to fill a larger container. While this may disappoint you, if you’re the person waiting behind someone else who does this, you may be grateful!

Refillable mugs may be saved and used at home, but you cannot bring them back to the resort on another trip for re-use. WDW waterparks sell their own version of refillable mugs for use there, and there are always rumors of testing of refillable mugs at the parks, but that is not yet available.

So, what are your thoughts on Refillable Mugs? I like them, though they take up a lot of room in my kitchen cabinets! I can see that they’d be most useful if you were close to beverage stations, and like to have access to drinks at any time. If it was a long walk through your resort to reach the beverage stations, I’m not sure they’d be as helpful. I have one son who would love to be able to refill the mugs at the parks, though he does fill one up to start the day, and then you can always get ice water free at Quick Service locations and keep it cold in your insulated mug.

I’m Jeri, and I’m a Disney Addict! I’m also an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel Services, the preferred travel agency of Chip and Co. and Disney Addicts. I am always happy to offer my free services to you to help make your next vacation a little more magical! And I would love nothing more than to help you book at any Disney destination. Contact me for a free quote at [email protected].

Season of the Force Coming to Disneyland November 16th

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 25, 2015

I’m happy to announce we’ve received more information about Season of the Force coming to Disneyland! Beginning November 16th, you’ll be transported to a galaxy far, far away with some special experiences:

Star Wars Launch Bay

In this area you’ll be able to visit some of your favorite Star Wars characters, see special exhibits, and get peeks at upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Two of the characters you’ll be able to meet are Darth Vader (one of the most iconic villains from Star Wars) and the most famous co-pilot in the galaxy, Chewbacca. You’ll be able to explore the dark and light sides in themed galleries as well as play the latest games from the Star Wars galaxy.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

This popular and exciting attraction will feature a new scene inspired by the upcoming film, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple

This fun interactive experience for kids will feature new characters coming in December. There will even be a new villain from the popular Disney XD series, Star Wars Rebels.

Limited-Time Experiences

Hyperspace Mountain-Space Mountain becomes the reimagined Hyperspace Mountain where you’ll join an X-wing starfighter battle.
Revisit favorite scenes from the Star Wars films in the Tomorrowland Theater
Special themed food & beverages, merchandise, and entertainment

Are you looking forward to Season of the Force at Disneyland park? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Season of the Force will be an event not to miss, especially for the Star Wars fan in your life! I’d love to help you book a visit to the Disneyland Resort so you can experience all this event has to offer. Email me today to start planning your next galactic adventure to Disneyland!