Disney Finds – Disney Parks Fun Pack

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August 1, 2015

I don’t know about you but I am missing Disney. Summer is too hot me for to visit the parks so I always get Post Disney Depression. Luckily our friend Courtney from Mouse to your house has come through! Shes designed us a Disney Parks Fun Pack that is perfect for chasing away the Disney Blues!

It comes with the following:

your choice of one Disney Parks Car Freshener
your choice of one Disney Parks Antenna Topper
your choice of one pack of Disney Parks Sticky Notes
one bag of Goofy’s Candy Co Sour Cherry Balls

You get all of that for low cost of $25! Just click here to learn more and to order yours today.

Book a Disney Trip and Get a $25 Disney Gift Card

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 1, 2015

Chip and Co Fans have we got an offer for you! Book your Magical Disney Vacation with Alissa – Independent Travel Magician with World of Magic Travel, and the Dole Whip, Mickey Bar or other treat of your choice is on us! Brought to you by World of Magic Travel Services the preferred agency of Chip and Co.

Alissa is one of the writers here at Chip and Co and she loves sharing her Planning tips, Top 10’s and all around Love of Disney with all of you. She has been planning Disney trips since she was a little girl! Let her put her years (and years!) of experience – and her love of all things Disney – to work for you. Her services are 100% FREE and include vacation quotes and booking, making Advanced Dining Reservations at your 180 day mark, making FastPasses choices for your group at the 60 day mark (if staying at a WDW resort), itinerary planning, booking cruise excursions and more!

And when you book, or transfer*, your upcoming Disney vacation, including Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani and Adventures by Disney, with Alissa between 8/1 and 8/31/2015 you’ll receive a $25 Disney Gift Card at time of travel from Chip and Co and Alissa**.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get your Disney vacation booked and you can start dreaming of that Dole Whip you’ll be enjoying! For more information contact Alissa at [email protected] or reach out to her on Facebook.

*To transfer a reservation, the original reservation needs to have been made directly with the Walt Disney Travel Company within the last 30 days and cannot be paid in full.

**Restrictions Apply. Packages (Room, Tickets and/or Dining) booked must be at least $2,500 in total value after promotions. Gift Card will be delivered at time of travel and if the reservation is cancelled the Gift Card will not be issued.

Do you want to take advantage of this amazing offer? Let me help you book your Magical Disney Vacation and you can! I am a Travel Magician with World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency of Chip and Co and the Disney Addicts! Email me today at [email protected] to start planning your “Magical” vacation! –Alissa

Walt Disney Studios Wants Tom Cruise For New Musical

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 31, 2015

tom cruise and jimmy fallon lip sync battle 1107836 TwoByOne

Disney is considering Tom Cruise as the lead for the musical “Bob the Musical”. In talks with Pulitzer Prize winner, Michael Chabon to write the script, Disney already has Bret McKenzie (part of comedy duo from Flight of the Conchords and writer of many of the Muppets songs) on board for the musical portion. Chabon has worked on several Disney projects including John Carter and remake of 20,000 Leagues under the Sea which is still in development.

“Bob the Musical” is the story of an average guy, who much to his dismay, is able to suddenly hear the inner music of everyone’s heart after a blow on the head. This as you an imagine turns his world upside down and into a constant musical.

Loretta Garcia, entertainment writer reminding you to follow me on Chipandco.com for updates on Bob the Musical and all your favorite Disney news.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Merchandise Preview

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 31, 2015

I am already way over budget for my upcoming Walt Disney World vacation in October. There are just so many things I want to do; behind the scenes tours, amazing restaurants, special fireworks and dining events, and of course, Food and Wine Festival.

On Wednesday, Disney Parks Blog released a preview of the merchandise that will be available for the 20^th anniversary of Food and Wine Festival. I am reaching for my credit card already!

Of course the first thing I noticed here is a new Dooney and Bourke design!! I love it so much! I really like how the background is a dark blue, rather than black, which compliments the light brown leather accents really nicely.

I am really like the color palette they chose for the clothing, the grays and white really make the purple and red pop. I am not the biggest fan of Figment (hey, you either love him or hate him), but the dark gray shirt just might make it home with me after the festival. I think the chef’s hat would be a cute souvenir for kids who are interested in helping their parents cook in the kitchen.

I’m a sucker for wine glasses and kitchen wares, and these festival wine glasses are great! They will definitely be an added addition to my wine rack later this year.

More purses!!! I may have a bit of an obsession. Moving on, the Swedish chefs Vinylmations are super cute and a great addition to any Vinylmation collection. I think the dinner ware is nicely designed, though I can’t see myself using them on a daily basis, and for the price tag that I’m sure they come with, they may be too pricey to only use once or twice a year.

These tea towels and cooler are my favorite from this group. I like the idea of bringing my lunch to work in a Food and Wine Festival lunch pack. I’m interested to find out how big it actually is and whether it would be good for every day lunches, or more for packing a cooler to take to the beach.

Overall, I’m excited about this merchandise preview. I’m loving the classic designs and color palette and I can’t wait to visit the parks and see move of what they have to offer.

Which products are you most excited about? Let me know if 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.

Disney’s “Descendants” hits one Million Views on the WATCH Disney Channel App Ahead of its Television Premiere

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Chip

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July 31, 2015

Leading into its television premiere FRIDAY, JULY 31 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT), Disney Channel’s Original Movie “Descendants” has posted more than 1 million views on the WATCH Disney Channel app in just five days, setting records for engagement and viewing for the app which allows consumers to watch programming anytime and anywhere via their desktop, smartphone, tablet and connected TV devices.

WATCH viewers who verify with a pay TV service can also watch a live 24-hour feed of the network and access exclusive content, including the premiere of “Descendants.”

A modern-day coming-of-age adventure, “Descendants” stars Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Booboo Stewart and Sofia Carson as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney’s most infamous villains. With a knowing wink at traditional fairy tales, the original live-action movie fuses castles with classrooms to create a contemporary, music-driven story about the challenges in living up to parental and peer expectations. As these sons and daughters of evil meet the children of goodness, their story incorporates empowering themes about self-confidence, finding the beauty within, freedom of choice, personal responsibility, teamwork, justice and empathy. The notable cast also includes Mitchell Hope, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Maz Jobrani, Kathy Najimy and the Tony Award-winning Kristin Chenoweth.

Disney’s “Descendants” will also usher in Disney Channel’s new comedy series”BUNK’D,” premiering immediately after the movie.

Brick-Or-Treat Coming to LEGOLAND Florida in October

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 31, 2015

Halloween is right around the corner and LEGOLAND Florida announced the return of ‘Brick-or-Treat‘ Spooktacular events. Every Saturday and Sunday in October, join Emmett, Wildstyle and all of the awesome Lego Friends on a fun, not very spooky, Halloween celebration.

Brick-or-Treat offers safe and family-friendly Halloween festivities in October. This spooky, kooky event features trick-or-treating along the Brick-or-Treat Trail, LEGO build activities, the largest LEGO jack-o-lantern in the world, a haunted scavenger hunt in Miniland U.S.A., Halloween-themed entertainment and an all-kids costume contest with “bricktastic” prizes!

Make sure you head over to LEGOLAND Florida to experience the Halloween festivities and the new Heartlake City attractions!

For more information on planning your visit to LEGOLAND Florida, or any of the Orlando attractions, contact me at [email protected]

Enjoy Incredible Water Sports at Walt Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 31, 2015

Summer is in full swing which means the heat is on! Many visitors like to take a break from the parks during the heat of summer days and cool off in the resort pool or head to one of Disney’s water parks. Well, there are a lot of other ways to beat the heat and get out on the water that you may not know about!

Let’s take a look at the different types of water sport experiences available to you at Walt Disney World.

If you are looking for relaxing way to enjoy the water, fishing may be the option for you! There are multiple places to drop in a line, but all fishing at Walt Disney World is catch and release!

Cane Pole Fishing: Kids of all ages will enjoy dropping in a line on the docks at the Finshin’ Hole on Old Man Island. Located at Port Orleans Riverside, this is a peaceful, quiet way to enjoy some time on the water.

Dockside Fishing: Fishing rod equipment can be rented from the Bike Barn at Fort Wilderness Campground. Traditional casting rods give you the opportunity to reel in some fun from the docks! Enjoy the breeze off the water and catch some excitement when you get a bite!

Guided Fishing Excursions Presented by Take Me Fishing: Looking for a more adventurous fishing experience? Then head out on the water for a 2-4 hour catch and release guided fishing excursion. Board a 21 foot pontoon boat and enjoy fishing at its finest. These tours leave from multiple locations around the ‘World’:

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort

The excursion includes all necessary fishing equipment, an experienced tour guide and non-alcoholic beverages.

Ready to rev your engines? Take a ride on one of the many motorized boats available to rent at the docks of select Disney resorts.

Sea Raycers by Sea Ray are available and fit up to 2 guests. Children must be 12 years of age and over 5 feet tall to drive the Sea Racers alone. Otherwise, children can sit with an adult driver and experience the wind in your hair as you cruise around Seven Seas Lagoon, Bay Lake! This is one of my favorite experiences at Walt Disney World! I have been going on the Sea Raycers since I was a child staying at the Polynesian and they are still as much fun now as they were 30 years ago! My kids love going out and exploring all of the small islands and crossing over the road to the Contemporary! There is so much to see ( and the racing part is fun too!).

Boston Whalers and Pontoon boats are also available to rent and fit up to 10 people. You must be 18 years of age to drive the boats. They can be rented at multiple locations including:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort And Spa
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge
Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground**

** Canoes and Kayaks can also be rented at Fort Wilderness Campground.

Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre

Ready to supercharge your experience on the water? Look no further then Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre! Parasailing, Wake Boarding, Water Skiing, Tubing and Wake Surfing are all available right on Bay Lake from the Contemporary Resort. These exciting adventures are sure to make family memories to last a lifetime!

Sammy Duvall is a 6 time World Champion Water Skier and her has brought his love of water sports to Walt Disney World! This is an incredible way to beat the heat and have some fun outside of the parks!

Parasailing: Soar high above Bay Lake and enjoy sweeping views of the Magic Kingdom! Single or tandem rides are available for guests 6 years of age and over. A standard ride takes you 450 feet up for 8-10 minutes of ‘flying’. A deluxe ride brings you 600 feet up for 12 minutes of pure exhilaration! What a unique way to see the lagoon and the resorts around Bay Lake! The boats fit up to 5 people at a time and there are weight limits for this experience. For pricing and more information click HERE or call 407-939-0754

Water Skiing, Wake Boarding, Tubing: For $165, you can head out on the water with your water sports guide and experience multiple water adventures! High speed tubing on a large inner tube that fits 2 people is a great way to cool off and have a blast! The one hour tour allows you to choose which experiences you would like to try! All of the options are included in the hour ride, including Water skiing, Wake Boarding, Wake Surfing and Tubing. All equipment is included in the cost of the excursion.

I can remember water skiing around Bay Lake as a teenager and it was an experience that I will never forget! Take the time to explore these incredible experiences that Disney World has to offer!

I would love to help you plan your experiences during your trip to Walt Disney World. If you are thinking about taking a trip, feel free to contact me! I love planning Disney and I can help you explore all that a Disney vacation has to offer! Contact me via email at [email protected] to get started planning your next magical vacation!

Universal Orlando Halloween Horror Nights 25 Sweepstakes

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 30, 2015

Universal Orlando has an amazing sweepstakes for the horror fan in your family! I know I’m going to enter! To celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of Universal Orlando theme park as well as the 25^th Anniversary of their most popular event, Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights, they are giving away 5 grand prize vacation packages. They also have some special commemorative Halloween Horror Night 25 merchandise for the 25 first place winners.

Five Grand Prize winners, plus a guest, will receive:

3 days of admission to both Universal Orlando Resort theme parks with Express entitlement
2 nights of admission to Halloween Horror Night with Express entitlement
Round-trip airfare to Orlando, FL
Ground transportation between airport and hotel in Orlando
On-site accommodations
Entry into the Social Media Meet-Up (if you select to be here on November 1)

Enter daily HERE until August 31 for additional chances to win.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sweepstakes starts at 12:01 pm EDT on 7/28/15 and ends 11:59 am EDT on 8/31/15. Open to legal residents of 50 U.S. & DC 18 or older. Subject to Official Rules. Void where prohibited.

For more information about this year’s event check out my other articles HERE and stay tuned for several more updates.

My name is Leigh Saleh. I’m a Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel. I’m a Universal Orlando Specialist, SeaWorld Parks Specialist, Legoland Florida Specialist and a Disney Destination Specialist as well as many more destinations including cruise lines. Email me today at [email protected] to book your next “Magical” family vacation to your favorite destination.

You can also visit my Facebook page, click here for more details, and updates on special offers to your favorite travel destinations. You will also find a ton of pictures from Walt Disney World,Disney Cruise Line, SeaWorld, Universal Orlando, and Legoland Florida.

** Official photographs provided by Universal Orlando**

Reedy Creek Fire & Rescue Services at Walt Disney World May Drop Special Operations Team

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Disney News

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July 30, 2015

Reedy Creek Fire and Rescue Services at Walt Disney World may drop special operation and response team if government agency proposal is approved. The 45 member team known as SOAR was created by Reedy Creek after the September 11th terrorist attacks. The special ops team who currently gets special training in detection of chemical agents and collapsed building rescues would lose no only their training but certification as well. However, the team has responded to hotel kitchen chemical spills, fuel spills and rescue from hotel under construction to name a few as well as standard fire-rescue duties. The removal of the special operations team would also affect wages and higher level continuing education credits.

Tim Stromsnes, president of the Reedy Creek Fire Fighters Association Local 2117 shared “I think it’s a disservice to the guest … for us not to have that team.” While District Administrator Bill Warren said there has been “minimal need for the program to respond, and so we’re taking a hard look at it.” The department shared saving hundreds of thousands of dollars with the discontinued services. Funds which would then go towards general emergency training. Although Warren went on to say ” The cost of the program is not the driving force here,” “It’s the delivery of the highest qualified team, and the county clearly has that” but it makes some wonder, just how much of a factor the savings has in the decision.

Reedy Creek’s team disbandment would result in the need for Orange County firefighters who have had a special operations team since 1989 to respond to unusual situations. But Stromsnes argues that because Disney World is so high-profile and attracts so many visitors, it warrants having its own specialized force that could quickly respond to a catastrophe.

Photo credit

Disney Adds Watermarks over PhotoPass Images

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 30, 2015

Earlier this week Disney added a copyright protection to the photos taken by PhotoPass photographers. Now, when you view the photos on the website, there is a watermark over the image. This is to discourage guests from taking a screen shot of their photos in order to save the image without purchasing it first.

The watermark will appear on photos that have not been purchased both on the index screen and during any editing process. If the photo is purchased, or is a part of the Memory Maker package, the watermark is removed.

Again, this watermark will not be on photos that are a part of the Memory Maker package.

What do you think of this change? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!

How To Get Away With Murder: The Complete First Season on DVD August 4th!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 30, 2015

Dangerous. Mesmerizing. That’s the final verdict on ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder,” the sexy ensemble drama where brilliant and seductive Annalise Keating (Viola Davis – Screen Actors Guild Awards® Winner for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in Drama Series for “How To Get Away With Murder”) dominates her classroom as powerfully as she dominates the courtroom.

Each year, she chooses several top law students to assist with her high-profile, albeit morally ambiguous, court cases. But the lines between defending and committing murder soon begin to blur when Annalise and her students become intimately involved in a sordid homicide that could destroy them all.

Ride this raw, intense rollercoaster with all 15 episodes; plus, experience exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features available only on DVD. “How To Get Away With Murder: The Complete First Season” – from its first frame to its last – this new national obsession exhibits “intent to thrill” in the first degree.

“How To Get Away With Murder” stars Viola Davis as Annalise Keating, Billy Brown as Nate Lahey, Alfred Enoch as Wes Gibbins, Jack Falahee as Connor Walsh, Katie Findlay as Rebecca Sutter, Aja Naomi King as Michaela Pratt, Matt McGorry as Asher Millstone, Karla Souza as Laurel Castillo, Charlie Weber as Frank Delfino and Liza Weil as Bonnie Winterbottom.

Also included in the DVD release of the first season are some awesome bonus features!

First Year Law – Welcome to Keating & Associates. Not your average law firm, or your average TV legal drama. In this piece we take a closer look at the show and its fast paced, time shifting style. We will meet the Keating 5 as well as Annalise and her associates to learn about how the cast is enjoying their success and getting used to a fast paced smart show.

“Bye Felicia” Music Video – It’s Asher’s last day of college, he’s been accepted to the ultra prestigious Middleton Law School and to make things even more dope, his dad has just sent him a big fat congratulation check. His investments are already on point, so this is just fun money. He’s about to send off his Frat brothers with the freshest party his Ivy League campus has ever seen. We’re going to follow him from the time he wakes up and counts his blessings, through pre-gaming, getting turnt up and throwing down until the break of dawn yo. At least that’s Asher’s plan. In reality we’ll see a guy flexing pretty hard to look a lot more baller than he actually is. Still he’ll almost pull it off. And that’s the joy of it.

Deleted Scenes – Unseen moments from Season 1.

Bloopers – Who says murder isn’t funny? Check out some of the lighter moments and goof-ups from HTGAWM.

I don’t know about you but I can’t wait for the first season of this awesome show to hit the DVD shelves on August 4th so I can watch it all over again! Will you be picking up a copy when it comes out? I know I will!

Disney Pixar’s LAVA Available for Limited Time on Disney Movies Anywhere

By

Chip

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July 30, 2015

Disney Pixar’s newest short LAVA, will be available to watch exclusively on digital on the Disney Movies Anywhere app for iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch, for a limited two week window starting July 30^th (7/30/15 – 8/12/15). Currently in theaters with “Inside Out,” Disney Movies Anywhere offers the only place where you can fall in “lava” with LAVA from the comfort of your own home!

LAVA is inspired by the isolated beauty of tropical islands and the explosive allure of ocean volcanoes, and is a musical love story that takes place over millions of years.