New Star Wars App Puts the Star Wars Universe in Your Pocket

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July 9, 2015

Lucasfilm and Disney Interactive have launched the official Star Wars app, a new free app featuring the Star Wars universe that immerses fans into the vast universe right on their mobile devices.

Star Wars fans can experience the world of Star Wars on their mobile devices with the new interactive app that provides breaking news, social updates, special events, and even a countdown to Star Wars: The Force Awakens. by bringing together the Star Wars universe in a familiar mobile experience, Lucasfilms and Disney interactive are giving fans a portal to access Star Wars anytime, anywhere. Not only will the app feature exclusive content, it will also share news and posts from Star Wars’ vast network of digital channels including StarWars.com, along with the official channels on social media. No Star Wars app would be complete with out customization! Choose your theme, will you choose the Light Side, Dark Side, or just hang out with the Droids? Depending on the theme you choose, there will be different designs, sounds and animations, how cool is that?

The app will update daily and in real-time.

Features include:

News: Get instant notifications on big announcements from across the franchise, including trailer releases, movie updates and game news. The news feed is fully customizable, so users can filter which platforms their updates are coming from, and which aspects of the Star Wars franchise they’re hearing about.
Augmented Reality: Bring the Star Wars universe to life by unlocking 3D characters from Star Wars: The Force Awakens using an exclusive augmented reality camera feature.
Videos: Watch official Star Wars videos, including movie trailers, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and more.
Force Trainer: Wield a lightsaber and hone your skills by playing with the Force Trainer, an interactive activity where users can duel a training remote, as seen in Star Wars: A New Hope.
Star Wars “Selfie”: Take and share a Star Wars “selfie” in various iconic costumes and settings, including Jedi, Princess Leia, Han Solo’s carbon-freeze, and more.
GIFs: Share animated GIFs with friends and family of memorable scenes and characters from the Star Wars movies and TV shows, including Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars Rebels.
Soundboard: Play classic sound clips and sound effects from your favorite Star Wars characters, creatures, weapons, vehicles, and scenes.
Star Wars History: Discover behind-the-scenes fun facts with This Day In Star Wars History.
Weather: Get Star Wars-themed weather and five-day forecasts, featuring original art and parallax effects of in-universe planets and locales.

For those heading to San Diego Comic-con, a special augmented reality experience through the Star Wars app will be available. Head to the Lucasfilm booth (#2913-A) and find the poster featured below, and trigger a life sized correspondence with a Storm Trooper or BB-8. Attendees will also receive a limited edition version of the poster, so they can take the action home! If you can’t make it to SDCC don’t fret! You can also try a smaller version of the interaction from digital versions of the poster. Fans can record or take photos of their experience to share with family and friends! The augmented reality feature will transition over time, bringing new characters, objects and even new triggers!

Disney Finds – Dole Whip Ceramic Treasure Keeper

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Chip

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July 9, 2015

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Who doesn’t love a Dole Whip? The blend of Ice Cream and Pineapple is delicious. I love Dole Whips so much I made a shirt – Please Stand Clear of my Dole Whip. I am not the only one, our friend Courtney at Mouse to your House loves them too. While shopping at Walt Disney World she picked up this Dole Whip Ceramic Treasure Keeper to share with our fans.

As you can see it would be perfect for those late night bowls of Ice Cream, Storage, or you can just leave it out with all your other Disney Knick Knacks. Cost is $29.

To learn more and to order yours today click here.

Disney Cruise Line Tops the Charts…AGAIN!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 9, 2015

Travel + Leisure readers have once again voted the Disney Cruise Line as the #1 Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise for Families in their 2015 World’s Best Awards. This is the SEVENTH time the cruise line has come out on top! They have also ranked the Disney Cruise Line as the Top Mega-Ship Ocean Cruise Line overall for the second year in a row.

Participants in the poll rated cruise ships on the quality of cabins, food, itineraries, excursions and most importantly, value.

There’s no doubt that the Disney Cruise Line prides itself on top-notch service, accommodations, amenities and overall experience. Have you been on a Disney Cruise? Now is a great time to immerse yourself in the Disney Magic at sea! With special holiday sailings just around the corner for Halloween and Christmas, to Star Wars Days at Sea in 2016 along with departures from New York City in Fall 2016, there’s so much to be excited about!

Email me today at [email protected] to begin chatting about your family’s nautical adventure. And be sure to follow me on Facebook to keep up with all the latest Disney news, promotions and updates. Happy Sailing and a big congratulations to the Disney Cruise Line for consistently being the best of the best!

Han Solo ‘Star Wars’ Spinoff Gets a Pair of Directors

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 8, 2015

Disney has been looking for someone strong enough to pull the ears of a Gundark to head their new Han Solo origin film set as part of the Star Wars anthology series and it looks like they have found not one, but two directors for the movie.

Disney announced Tuesday that Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, the duo behind “The Lego Movie,” will direct a feature about Han Solo’s life before “Star Wars,” slated to hit theaters in 2018. The movie’s story will explore how young Han Solo became the smuggler and thief whom Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi first encountered in the cantina at Mos Eisley.

Written by Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jon, the film will detail the events that led to Solo becoming the smuggler we first meet in the Mos Eisley cantina on Tattooine. Kasdan has written for Star Wars before, having penned the scripts of The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and the upcoming The Force Awakens.

Disney, which bought LucasFilm in 2012 for $4 billion, confirmed the movie, in a statement with comments from the directors:

“We pledge ourselves to be faithful stewards of these characters who mean so much to us.”

The Han Solo movie will be part of a standalone anthology series, the first of which, Rogue One, comes out in 2016. Separately, the first film in the new trilogy, Episode VII: The Force Awakens, comes out in December of this year.

Disney World Removes the Confederate Flag From Epcot

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 8, 2015

There has been a lot of buzz lately about the Confederate Flag and it’s removal and meaning etc. Disney is following other businesses and government offices in removing the controversial flag from The American Adventure at Epcot. According to the Orlando Sentinel they have removed the Confederate banner that was on display in The American Adventure.

In case you have not been to The American Adventure, it is an animatronic show that takes you through American history as if you were watching it happen live and in front of you.

This is all happening because of the shooting last month of 9 innocent people at a church in Charleston, S.C. But this is not the first time the flag has come under scrutiny. It has been controversial for quite sometime now. The Confederate Flag is looked at as a symbol of racism by a many people, while others argue that it is just a representation of their southern history and pride.

The Confederate Banner is the second controversial thing to be removed from Disney lately. The first being a statue of Bill Cosby at Hollywood Studios.

Jack Sparrow Makes a Visit to Brisbane Children’s Hospital

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 8, 2015

Actor Johnny Depp took a break from filming the latest Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, film, not for personal time off but to visit the oncology and neurology wards of Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital in Brisbane, Australia.

Dressed as his famous character Captain Jack Sparrow and along with fellow Pirate, Stephen Graham, the duo spent over two hours in the hospital taking pictures, handing out gold coins and entertaining and providing joy to the hospital’s young patients.

Juiced TV – a weekly half hour program made by the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital patients filmed the visit. Check out the twitter links below.

Captain Jack Sparrow hits the Juiced set at The Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital! Legend!! pic.twitter.com/BfqGb2Tw4D — Juiced (@Juiced_TV) July 7, 2015

JUST IN: Johnny Depp, in Jack Sparrow garb, has visited kids at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital. @Juiced_TV #9News pic.twitter.com/RH1vRMNJ82 — Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) July 7, 2015

Depp or rather, Capt. Jack Sparrow, is no stranger to impromptu hospital and school visits. A few years back, he even donated £1million to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to show his appreciation for the care, his daughter, Lily Rose received while hospitalized.

Don’t miss the return of Capt. Jack Sparrow to the big screen in POTC: Dead Men Tell No Tales coming to theatres, July 2017. I will be keeping my eyes and ears open for more news of Depp’s appearances. Who knows he might show up at a location near you one of these days.

Construction on Avatar Land at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Is Moving Full Speed Ahead

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 8, 2015

Avatarland groundbreaking

Behind the construction walls in the former Camp Minnie/Mickey area between Oasis and Africa sections of Disney’s Animal Kingdom lies the skeletal shape of one of the buildings of the future Avatar Land. Originally the site for a land of mythical and legendary creatures that was never built, Avatar Land will instead be home to dragons, unicorns and blue skinned Na’vi people along with bioluminescent trees straight from the 2009 movie.

Taking over the area where the Festival of the Lion King show and Disney character meet and great area, the biggest attraction will be a banshee flight simulator. The simulator which is being compared to the Soarin over Epcot and California attractions at WDW and Disneyland Parks, has Disney Imagineer, Joe Rohde in charge of the project.

Music, a water show on Discovery River by Cirque du Soleil and WET team the design firm for the Las Vegas Bellagio Fountain show (think World of Color at Disney California Adventure), performers, rides and attractions including a river trip through an illuminated Pandora forest, much like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, along with a make over to the Tree of Life is a guarantee that Avatar Land will have fans lined up for miles ready to visit on opening day and for years to come.

Avatar Land which is scheduled to open in Walt Disney World, Florida in 2017, will give visitors a chance to immerse themselves into the world of Pandora.

Fans, which continue to grow in numbers will not only have Avatar Land to look forward to but also a trio of sequels that will continue the story line. James Cameron who wrote, directed and produced what is known as the highest-grossing film of all times was quoted in the Los Angeles times article as saying Avatar Land will allow visitors to “live, eat, breath and smell Pandora.” This would be in keeping with Disney Addicts tradition to “live, eat, breath and dream about Disney, 24/7.”

Avatar

Avatar land

Avatar banshee

Playmation Marvel’s Avengers Now Available for Pre-Order

By

Chip

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July 8, 2015

Disney Store invites families to gear up with exclusive in-store Playmation Marvel’s Avengers training.

Today, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI), along with Hasbro, Inc., announced the pre-sale of Playmation Marvel’s Avengers – the groundbreaking new system of toys and wearables that uses smart technology to inspire kids to run around and use their imaginations, as they become the hero or heroine of stories from Marvel’s Avengers. The Playmation Marvel’s Avengers Starter Pack, Smart Figures and Prowler Bot are available to pre-order online at Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, GameStop.com, Target.com, ToysRUs.com and Walmart.com, as well as DisneyStore.com and at select Disney Store locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Kids and parents can experience Playmation Marvel’s Avengers for the first time only at participating Disney Store locations beginning July 7, where two- and five-minute training sessions will be available daily. For those who want to take part in an expanded experience, 30-minute Avengers Gear Orientations will be available on Saturdays and Sundays by reservation only. During the 30-minute Avenger Gear Orientation, kids and parents will learn more about the Avenger Gear, follow instructions from JARVIS and interact with other participants to complete missions and adventures. In-store training experiences will be available through October; parents can visit www.disneystore.com/playmation for a list of participating Disney Stores and to reserve a spot for the Avenger Gear Orientation.

“Playmation Marvel’s Avengers puts kids at the center of stories from the Marvel Universe, taking them on active adventures right alongside Earth’s Mightiest Heroes,” said Paul Gainer, executive vice president, Disney Retail. “Kids can team up with the Avengers by trying on Repulsor Gear and going on a mission with the help of JARVIS as they take part in exclusive demonstrations at Disney Store.”

The Playmation Marvel’s Avengers Starter Pack includes five connected toys: one piece of Avenger Gear (Repulsor), two Power Activators and two Smart Figures – a Super Hero (Captain America) and a Super Villain (Iron Skull). Additional Smart Figures – such as Iron Man, Black Widow, M.O.D.O.K., Hulkbuster and more – help players unlock new characters and content when placed on the Power Activator and synced with Avenger Gear. The Prowler Bot – a robotic villain – can find and hunt your Avenger Gear with 360 degree movement, while taking on dozens of enemy personas and abilities making game play more challenging.

Playmation Marvel’s Avengers, developed in collaboration with Hasbro, uses familiar technologies including wearables, wireless technology, motion sensors and more, but applies them in ways that are completely new to create a play experience that’s never been possible before. The Repulsor Gear connects with the Power Activators and Smart Figures to take you on a variety of adventures through locations around the Marvel Universe, from the Avengers Lab in New York to the jungles of Wakanda. Playmation is purposely not tethered to an Internet connection so players can run around and explore each adventure from anywhere they want – a bedroom, living room or yard. With multiplayer modes, players can sync their Avenger Gear to tackle missions and combat arenas together, or face-off in competitive play.

Playmation marks a new chapter in the long-term relationship between Disney Consumer Products and Hasbro, and their record of innovation and consumer insights make them the perfect partner to ensure that Playmation is a truly ground-breaking play experience.

Those who pre-order can expect to receive their purchase when Playmation Marvel’s Avengers becomes available at Disney Stores, disneystore.com and mass retailers in the U.S. and Canada beginning October 4. The suggested retail price of the Start Pack is $119.99, Smart Figures are $14.99, and the Prowler Bot is $39.99. The Disney Store and other retailers will be offering special pre-sale promotions beginning July 7; visit retailer websites for more details. ThePlaymation Marvel’s Avengers Starter Pack, additional Smart Figures, and Prowler Bot are each sold separately. Batteries are not included.

For more information on Playmation Marvel’s Avengers, visit www.playmation.com/avengers.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Will be at San Diego Comic Con

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 8, 2015

Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition is on it’s way to San Diego Comic-Con this week, giving fans the first hands-on opportunity to experience the latest installment of the best-selling “hybrid toy / video game” of 2014, which brings together Disney, Disney•Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars™ characters like never before. Marvel’s Hulkbuster and Ultron characters will be playable for the first time in the game’s fully enhanced Toy Box mode, joining Marvel’s Spider-Man, Yoda, Darth Vader, Elsa, Jack Sparrow and many more characters from across The Walt Disney Company inside Disney Infinity.

The game will be playable at the Disney Infinity Pop-Up Shop, where fans will be able to participate in game tournaments, scavenger hunts, and a mediated reality experience, and explore a unique Disney Infinity art exhibit. In addition, the Pop-Up Shop will host a special “Toy Box TV Live Edition” segment featuring the game creators. More details about the week’s activities are below.

Disney Infinity Pop-Up Shop

The Disney Infinity Pop-Up Shop, located at 815 J St. (near 8th St.), will be the official headquarters of Disney Infinity at Comic-Con. Open to the public July 8-11, fans will have their first hands-on experience with the game where they can play in both the Play Set mode, as well as the fully enhanced Toy Box mode. Fans will be treated to special guest appearances, giveaways and other surprises.

Pop-Up Shop Public Hours:

Wednesday, July 8: 3PM-10PM
Thursday, July 9: 3PM-7PM
Friday, July 10: 3PM-10PM
Saturday, July 11: 3PM-10PM

· Toy Box TV Live: SDCC 2015: Taking place on Thursday, July 9, the show will be held in front of a live audience and livestreamed from 6:00PM – 7:00PM, and will feature Disney Infinity team members including VP of Production John Vignocchi, Community Manager Allison Petrek and other surprise guests. A VIP cocktail party will take place following the livestream event. Viewers at home can tune in live at twitch.tv/Disney.

· Game Tournament: This bracket-style competition will be hosted daily at the Pop-Up Shop. Players will be able to compete against family and friends in the Disney Infinity Toy Box mode and winners will be determined daily. A leaderboard will showcase high scores throughout the duration of the tournament.

· “Only in the Toy Box” Mediated Reality Experience: This one-of-a-kind experience allows fans to virtually enter a scene from the Disney Infinity Toy Box mode. Using mediated reality, fans can choose to interact with one of 15 Disney Infinity characters and engage with them in various activities, such as, wielding a lightsaber alongside Darth Vader or Yoda, dancing with Stitch or throwing a snowball with Elsa.

· Art Exhibit: Disney Interactive will also be showcasing an exhibition of concept art featuring environments and characters from all three editions of Disney Infinity, along with community submitted creations.

· Scavenger Hunt: One scavenger hunt per day will be hosted by the Disney Infinity community team. Details will be posted on the Disney Infinity social media channels and prizes will be rewarded to winners.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

Disney Infinity 3.0 Release Date Announced!

By

Chip

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July 8, 2015

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Today, Disney Interactive announced that the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack, featuring the Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set, will be available in North America on August 30, 2015. The following will also be available on launch day:

Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set (Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano figures included) for players who choose to digitally download the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Software; additional standalone figures (Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Power Disc Pack
Star Wars Rebels™ figures (Kanan Jarrus, Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, and Zeb Orrelios)
Star Wars™ Saga Starter Pack
Disney•Pixar’s Inside Out Play Set (Joy and Anger figures included) and additional standalone figures (Sadness, Disgust and Fear)
Disney figures (Mickey, Minnie, Mulan, Olaf, Sam Flynn and Quorra)
Tomorrowland Power Disc Pack

Fans who pre-order a Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack at participating retail stores will receive an early copy of the Toy Box Expansion Game, Toy Box Takeover, an action-adventure valued at $19.99, featuring multiplayer gameplay allowing players to use all of their favorite Disney Infinity characters across Star Wars™, Marvel, Disney and Disney•Pixar. Below you will find brand new Toy Box Expansion Game screenshots:

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Toy Box Expansion Game Overviews:

Toy Box Takeover

When Syndrome gets his hands on Merlin’s magic wand, it’s up to the player to stop him. Using their favorite characters in Disney Infinity, they must battle across multiple worlds, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Marvel’s Upper Manhattan, The Old West, or The Incredibles Volcano Lair to defeat the bad guys before they ruin the Toy Box forever. Players can complete missions with family and friends via two-player local co-op or four-player online.

Toy Box Speedway

Players can join their favorite Disney, Disney•Pixar, Marvel’s and Star Wars characters and vehicles in an action-packed kart-racer. With nine franchise-themed tracks to choose from – Sugar Rush, Frozen, Tatooine, a classic Star Wars location, San Fransokyo, Agrabah, Monsters Inc., Halloween Town, Gravity Falls or Marvel’s Knowhere – they can choose from three different game modes including Time Trial mode, Race mode and Combat mode. Players put their driving skills to the test as they attack opponents with gadgets and weapons and earn trophies across three challenge cups.

Rated E10+ by the ESRB, the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack available in North America on August 30, 2015 for $64.99, includes the Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set, the Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Base, Ahsoka Tano and Anakin Skywalker character figures, and a web code card that unlocks content for PC and mobile devices.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Video Game and Base are required to play the Toy Box Expansion Games. Toy Box Takeover and Toy Box Speedway will be sold separately at the suggested retail price of $19.99 each later this fall.

All figures and Power Discs from the 1.0 and 2.0 editions of Disney Infinity will be compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition in the enhanced Toy Box 3.0.

Tee Public Site Wide $14 Sale for July

By

Chip

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July 8, 2015

Now through Sunday July 12th our friends at Tee Public are having a $14 Tee Shirt Sale! All Tee Shirts on the Chip and Co Store are included in this sale (like some of the designs featured above) or you can check out some of the hot designs from other Disney Designers.

Here are the details:

Start – Wednesday July 8th
End – Sunday, July 12th

Sale Details:

T-Shirts – $14
Tanks – $18
Kids Tees – $14
Hoodies – $35
Crew necks – $30

Just click here to check out all of the fun Disney or non Disney designs, or click here to check out some of our Disney Addict inspired designs.

Walt Disney Studios Releases Trailer for Heroic Thriller “The Finest Hours”

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 8, 2015

The debut of the upcoming Walt Disney Studios movie “The Finest Hours” trailer this Wednesday, July 8th at 9:00 am PST on http://www.facebook.com/thefinesthoursmovie and again during its broadcast debut at 10 pm EST on the Discovery Channel brings together a star-studded cast and an edge of your seat, nail biting story.

Starring Chris Pine, Casey Affleck, Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger, John Ortiz and Eric Bana. Director, Craig Gillespie and Producers, Jim Whitaker and Dorothy Aufiero, bring us the story of one of the most dramatic true story rescues in the history of the coast guard.

Presented in Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D, “The Finest Hours” will take the audience up close and into the adventures. The small boat rescue is based on the history making efforts of 4 members of the coast guard who set off in a wooden lifeboat on February 18, 1952, to rescue 30 sailors who were trapped inside the stern of the rapidly sinking, SS Pendleton. The T-2 Tanker was on its way to Boston when it was ripped in half during a massive nor’easter storm off the coast of New England. Facing death, freezing temperatures, 60-ft waves and hurricane-force winds, the men must all work together to get through one of the worst storms to hit the East Coast.

“The Finest Hours” hits U.S. theaters on January 29, 2016 in Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D. This one is going to move to the top of my must see list. Will it make your list?