Family Time on Disney Cruise Line

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January 29, 2015

Many times we ask ourselves, What can we do as family on Disney Cruise Line? Today we will explore those options and more! Disney Cruise Line has been making memories that last a lifetime for years! Not only have they mastered family time, they have created the unique ambiance of doing so!

A brief look into what families can do aboard a Disney Ship, will show you this cruise line does have that “certain something” you are looking for!

Deck Parties!

Let the cruise festivities begin! On Embarkation Day, start your vacation with a splash at the Sail-Away Celebration—a high-energy dance party where you can mingle with family, friends, crew members and some favorite Disney Characters. These Deck Parties are the highlight of any Disney Cruise Line Vacation! They really get the energy sailing! 🙂

Live Shows!

Disney has live shows on their cruises. These are not just any show! They are Broadway caliber in style and offer something for the whole family! These shows are only found on Disney Cruise Line!

Pirate Night!

Available on select Disney cruises, Pirate Night invites landlubbers to embrace the pirate life with a thrilling celebration at sea! The excitement begins with a pirate-themed dinner and continues with a buccaneer bash—starring some favorite Disney characters—and a spectacular fireworks display. It also gives families a chance to dress up and create an evening of memories!

Family Lounge & Entertainment Centers!

D Lounge, a family lounge and nightclub located on Deck 4, Midship on the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy, is a fun entertainment area where parents and children are invited to dance, sing, play games and enjoy live entertainment together.

Studio Sea, a family entertainment center located on Deck 4, Midship on the Disney Wonder, is a television studio-themed hotspot where parents and children are invited to sing, dance, play games and enjoy live entertainment together.

Disney Pools!

Disney Cruise Line offers magically themed, freshwater pools for kids, families and adults on their entire fleet of ships. Each ship offers an array for every age group as well as families. Be sure to check out all the additional options at Disney Cruise Line Pools!

Movies!

Disney Cruise Line offers Buena Vista Theater. It is a digitally sound, 3D movie theater. Here families can catch some of the latest movies! Movies under the stars is also another way to embrace family time! Families can enjoy movies on deck!

Goofy’s Sports Deck!

On select ships, Goofy’s Sports Deck is an all ages, open-air activity center located on Deck 13, Aft. Featuring a miniature golf course, virtual sports simulators and a basketball court, it’s the perfect place for kids, teens and adults to partake in active recreational fun while onboard—and to enjoy the spectacular seaside views from high atop the ship.

There are endless family activities aboard a Disney Cruise Line. To top it all off Disney Cruise Line has a tropical oasis waiting for families! Although this is last on our list today, it is one of the best places to spend family time. It is an unimaginable family playground!

Castaway Cay!

No! It is not on your ship, but it is designed just for your family! Disney’s exclusive private island, Castaway Cay, is reserved exclusively for Guests on Disney Cruise Line Bahamian and Caribbean cruise vacations, Castaway Cay is Disney’s private port-of-call paradise. On this island, enjoy tropical leisure activities, such as snorkeling, boating, swimming and sunbathing.

Castaway Cay visitors find an island completely outfitted for premium family leisure. Ample amenities include open-air BBQ dining locations, 2 shops featuring Castaway Cay gifts and souvenirs, and convenient tram transportation (now with additional paths) around the island. Also enjoy:

Swimming, kayaking, water sports and more at the various teens-only, adults-only and all-ages areas
Open-air massages with an ocean view, a yoga class and a bar at the secluded, adults-only beach, Serenity Bay
Port Adventures for everyone in the family, including stingray interactions, glass-bottom boat tours, parasailing and fishing
Free childcare at Scuttle’s Cove, an expansive child’s area supervised by Disney counselors
Disney Character Greetings, including a Dance Party with Lilo and Stitch

These many activities help to make your Disney Cruise Line vacation memorable. There are so many things to do and see and Disney offers every way to do these with your family! Every option is available at your fingertips! You can also look into a variety of ways to spend time with your family at Disney World Theme Parks before embarking on your Disney Cruise Line Journey. The possibilities are endless!

My name is Jen and I am a writer for Chip and Company. I am also an Independent Consultant with World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency of Chip and the Disney Addicts. Email me at [email protected] to book your next “MAGICAL” vacation!

Disneyland celebrates Its Diamond Celebration, Beginning May 22nd 2015

By

Chip

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January 29, 2015

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Three sensational new nighttime spectaculars will dazzle guests at the Disneyland Resort when the Diamond Celebration begins Friday, May 22, 2015. Nighttime will glitter as never before when the latest technology and immersive special effects lift the “Paint the Night” parade and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular beyond anything seen in the past at Disneyland Park. In Disney California Adventure Park, a new “World of Color” show featuring Mickey Mouse will tell the story of Walt Disney and the Happiest Place on Earth through fountains, film, animation, a stirring musical score and amazing visual surprises.

The electrifying new shows will take guests into the worlds of Disney stories like never before, celebrating 60 years of magic with a nighttime parade that shines with more than 1.5 million individually controlled lights – the first all-LED parade at the resort; a reinvention of the classic fireworks that adds projections to transform the park experience; and a moving, new version of “World of Color” that celebrates Walt Disney’s dream for Disneyland.

In addition, the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland and Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney California Adventure will glisten and gleam for the celebration, each with its own diamond medallion. The Disneyland Resort and surrounding streets will sparkle with Diamond Celebration décor and festive banners in shades of Disneyland blue. Also bearing the diamond anniversary theme, creative merchandise and food items will be designed to complement the celebration.

“Sixty years ago, Walt Disney welcomed the first guests to Disneyland. Nearly 3 billion guest visits later, it’s amazing to contemplate all that Disney Parks and Resorts represents to so many people around the world,” said Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We’ve conceived the Disneyland Diamond Anniversary as a celebration of this special place that started it all. Disneyland was envisioned as a place that encourages all of us to be ‘forever young,’ in part by being forever young itself … so we’re celebrating not just the last 60 years, but all that is yet to come.”

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Innovation Inspires Exciting Future

When Walt Disney opened Disneyland on July 17, 1955, he inaugurated a tradition of innovative, immersive storytelling that inspired classic theme park attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Star Tours, Soarin’ Over California, Toy Story Midway Mania and Radiator Springs Racers. The Diamond Celebration will continue this tradition with three fantastic new shows that expand the boundaries of after-dark entertainment – Disney’s signature “kiss goodnight.”

“Paint the Night” parade – New technology and unleashed imagination permeate this after-dark parade, flooding Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland with vibrant color and more than 1.5 million, brilliant LED lights that flash and glow as they bring Disney stories to life. The luminescent parade introduces a new era of magical entertainment, as Mickey Mouse uses his imagination to harness the power of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust and “Paint the Night” in dazzling Disney dreams. Those dreams include special appearances by Mickey’s pals and beloved characters from tales such as “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Toy Story” and “Frozen.” The parade features special effects, unforgettable music, energetic performances, fun surprises and spectacular floats, with Mickey leading the grand finale.

“Disneyland Forever” fireworks spectacular – The Disneyland Resort tradition of creating big, dazzling fireworks shows will soar to new levels as “Disneyland Forever” immerses guests in stories from the tips of their toes to the sky high above. Thanks to the largest installation of projection mapping technology in a Disney park and surprising special effects, guests will find themselves transported into the worlds of beloved Disney and Disney●Pixar films, including a dance with King Louie from the “The Jungle Book” and a flight over London with characters from “Peter Pan.” Showing just how magical the Magic Kingdom can be, the fireworks “stage” will extend to Main Street, U.S.A., “it’s a small world,” Rivers of America and the Matterhorn as projections transform familiar park icons into stunning story scenes. Two original songs also will be featured, the theme “Live the Magic,” and the inspiring closing song “Kiss Goodnight,” written by Disney Legend Richard Sherman. “Disneyland Forever” will be visible from Main Street, U.S.A., and several Disneyland locations.

“World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” – Mickey Mouse will entertain guests as mischievous host of this fun-filled new presentation of the popular, nighttime “World of Color” spectacular in Disney California Adventure. Illuminating the night in a contemporary and moving celebration of Walt Disney and his dream of Disneyland, Mickey Mouse will take guests on an inspirational journey through the unparalleled imagination of Walt Disney, exploring his decades-long legacy of memorable animated moments and the dream of Disneyland Park. Both epic and intimate in scope, “World of Color – Celebrate!” brings to life the remarkable story of Walt and The Happiest Place on Earth with animated imagery, live-action film, fountains, lasers, special effects and a stirring musical score, all on the magical water canvas of “World of Color.”

A Source of Joy and Inspiration to the World

The popularity of Disneyland through nearly 60 years celebrates Walt Disney’s dream of a place where family members of all ages can have fun together in an atmosphere that emphasizes imagination, fantastic storytelling and extraordinary guest service. Since 1955, dignitaries, heads of state, celebrities and more than 700 million guests have passed through the gates of a place that Walt imagined as “a source of joy and inspiration to the world.”

Disneyland transformed the amusement industry with an entirely new concept in family entertainment: a “theme park” where rides, shows, characters, merchandise and cast members in costume become part of a total storytelling environment. In the nearly six decades since it opened, the Disneyland Resort has continued to use creativity, technology and innovation to bring stories to life, while fulfilling Walt’s promise that “Disneyland will never be completed … as long as there is imagination left in the world.”

The success of Disneyland Resort also has resulted in immense growth for the city of Anaheim, Calif. The resort’s workforce of 27,000 cast members makes it the largest single-site employer in Orange County. From the original Disneyland Park, the entertainment concept has expanded worldwide and is enjoyed by guests at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla, Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, Disneyland Paris in France, Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Vacation Club, Adventures by Disney and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii. Shanghai Disney Resort is now under construction in China.

Additional information about the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration will be shared in the coming months.

Some Reduction on Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Discounts

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 28, 2015

There will be some pretty big reductions on the Annual Passholder discounts.

There are as follows:

The discount on mini-golf was 50% forever, well that discount has been reduced to only 15%. That is for Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens.
The marina boat rental discount went from 30% to 15%.

Thoughts?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

I am an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel Services. Wouldn’t you love to visit the parks again? Are you missing some Disney magic in your life? I can help you fix that. I would love to help you plan a magical Diseny getaway. Contact me at [email protected] for your FREE no obligation quote.

Avoid These Top Disney Dining Mistakes

By

Catie

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January 28, 2015

There’s a lot of delicious Walt Disney World Restaurants to choose from – and since there are so many, you could easily get overwhelmed trying to figure out where to eat or which places to make Advance Dining Reservations for – but don’t worry if the experience has you anxious – because I have some helpful hints to help get you ready for one of the best parts of a WDW vacation – the EATING!

Here are the top Disney Dining mistakes that you will want to AVOID AT ALL COSTS:

“Oh, we don’t need dining reservations – there are tons of places to eat – we’ll just wing it!” – It’s true that you won’t ever go hungry at WDW – but don’t expect to waltz into Chef Mickey’s at 6pm and get a table (not gonna happen). It’s not necessary to plan every single meal out in advance, but it is smart to make reservations as soon as possible at the table service restaurants you know you will want to eat at. The vast majority of WDW restaurants just don’t do “walk ups” anymore – the Parks are too crowded and most people utilize the online dining reservation system, so best bet on making sure you get that character meal or buffet in is to make your Advance Dining Reservation as soon as you can. Which brings me to my next point…

“We don’t need to make ADR’s right at the 180 mark! We’ll have plenty of time!” – Ok – seriously untrue. Now I realize that it may seem nuts that Disney opens up the ability to make a reservation for a meal a whole 6 months in advance of your trip – but they do, and people take advantage of it – and so should you! Popular meals book up fast – like really fast, within minutes of the website/phones opening up for reservations, so not only should you be making your ADR’s at the 180 day mark, but you should be prepared to get up early, with a list of first picks and backups, and be willing to eat at weird times in case your normal meal time isn’t available. Speaking of times…

Don’t try and eat a “quick lunch” right at 12 noon – Just don’t. It will only result in tantrums, breakdowns, and overall mayhem. The lines start to get long at most Park Counter Service restaurants around 11, and usually the feeding frenzy doesn’t let up until 1pm or so. If you can manage to skip lunch during these times you will be much better off – grab a later breakfast or a snack to tide you over, and then plan to have lunch later in the day

Don’t waste your Dining Plan Snack Credits – This is an easy offense to commit, especially when it’s hot out and you forgot your water bottle and go to buy one and think “oh I can just use a snack credit!”. You’re better off paying cash for the water – or banana, or apple, or chips, or muffin – basically anything under $3 is not worth wasting a snack credit on – try and stick to the items that are in the higher $4 to $5 range – you’ll get your money’s worth that way! Read more about how to optimize your snack credits here

Don’t Play It Safe – Try Something New! – Sure, you can spend your whole vacation eating typical “theme park food” – burgers, chicken fingers, fries, soda, and other deep-fried delicacies – but why not take this chance to try something different? African, Chinese, German, fresh seafood, sushi and so much more is all prepared fresh daily throughout the Parks – so go ahead and be adventurous! Oh, and don’t worry – if you have picky eaters in your family who don’t like the menu or don’t end up liking what they order – you can usually talk to the cast member waiting on you and have something else brought out for them (this IS Disney, after all!)

Follow these Dining tips and you won’t just get fed, but you’ll get to enjoy all that the world of Disney Food has to offer (which is a LOT – trust me!)

Disney pulls Epcot mug featuring purple monorail

By

Chip

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January 28, 2015

You might have seen these Starbucks Mugs for sale on Disney Fashionista yesterday. News broke just a few minutes ago that Disney is pulling the Epcot Mugs with the Purple Monorail from the shelves. The purple monorail was retired after a fatal accident many years ago involving Monorail Pilot Austin Wuennenberg.

The Starbucks Mugs are part of an all new “You are here”collection between Disney and Starbucks and can be found at all Disney/Starbucks locations.

The discontinued Epcot mug was only for sale at Epcot’s Fountain View location. According to Disney a new version of the mug that does not include the purple monorail train will be available soon.

Disney Finds – Limited Edition Magic Bands

By

Chip

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January 28, 2015

In today’s Disney Find we take a look at some of the limited edition Magic Bands from Walt Disney World. Show off your Disney Style with these great designs. Pictured above is from Mouse to your House Tier A Collection. Courtney has everything from Stitch to the Cinderella Castle. They run $26.56 and are available now.

Next up from Mouse to your House is the Tier B Collection or the more harder to find or limited release Magic Bands. These will set you back $39.87. I for one love the Haunted Mansion Magic Band!

Are you a Magic Band Collector? Which one do you like the best?

Disney XD orders new series with Jessie’s Cameron Boyce!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 28, 2015

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Disney XD has ordered “Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything,” a new live-action comedy series starring the popular Disney Channel star Cameron Boyce of the hit series “Jessie” and the upcoming movie event Disney’s “Descendants.” The series, which centers on a teenage professional video game player who circumvents life’s challenges using his gaming acumen, will begin production in Los Angeles this spring for a summer 2015 premiere on Disney XD. The announcement was made today by Adam Bonnett, Executive Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide.

Bonnett said, “With the popularity of video games and electronic sports, we’re thrilled to give our audience a new series that spotlights one of their biggest passions and features fan-favorite star Cameron Boyce.” He added, “We are bringing the video game universe to life and giving our popular multi-camera series a fresh, new twist by integrating gaming visual effects into each episode.”

Conor (Cameron Boyce), a 15-year-old video game phenom, is forced to attend high school for the first time after a thumb injury sidelines him from the glamorous pro gaming circuit. As a coping mechanism, he begins to visualize life as a video game. He is reunited with his three former gamer friends who he left behind for life on the pro circuit World Tour, and he quickly realizes that restoring his friendships is vital in his quest to “level up” to his former glory.

Starring alongside Boyce as Connor’s friends are Murray Rundus (“Dear Eleanor”) as Wendell, Felix Avitia (“I Didn’t Do It”) as Franklin and newcomer Sophie Reynolds as Ashley.

Changes Coming to Walt Disney Travel Company Insurance

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 28, 2015

Effective Jan. 28, 2015, the price for travel insurance on all new reservations made through the Walt Disney Travel Company will be $77.50 per adult for Walt Disney World Packages, $70.50 per adult for Disneyland Packages and $88.50 per adult for Aulani Resort Packages. There is no additional charge for children age 17 and under when all adults in the party purchase insurance.

The previous price of $75.95 for Walt Disney World Resort, $68.95 for Disneyland Resort and $86.95 for Aulani Resort will be honored for all bookings with travel insurance that were made prior to Jan. 28, 2015. Modified reservations on or after Jan. 28, 2015 will not be impacted unless the Guest intends to file a claim on the initial travel dates, in which case a new policy at the increased price will be applied.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Maria

I am an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel Services. Stop waiting to plan a Disney vacation and book now before the rates go up! Contact me at [email protected] for your FREE no obligation quote.

IDW and Disney to Release Comics Based on Classic Characters

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 28, 2015

Comics and Disney have been pairing quite well lately, but surprisingly it’s not with Marvel this time around. Our favorite classic characters including Donald and beloved Mickey Mouse will be making appearances in comics published by San Diego-based IDW Publishing.

This April, you can expect to see Uncle Scrooge No. 1 at your local comic book shop, followed by a new Donald Duck series in May. Be on the lookout for Mickey Mouse comics in June, and Walt Disney Comics in July. Each of these upcoming series will feature reprints of comics originally created for foreign-language Disney comics. The covers will have art based on areas of the Walt Disney resorts. April will feature Adventureland, May will feature Tomorrowland, and July will feature Fantasyland.

Now that Disney is working alongside IDW, this means that the comic licensing is divided even further between three different publishers: IDW (classic Disney characters), Marvel (Figment, Seekers of the Weird, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad) and Canadian publisher Joe’s Books (Frozen and Big Hero 6).

Which of these comic series are you most looking forward to? Tell us!

Emma Watson will play Belle in new live action Beauty and the Beast remake

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 27, 2015

Walt Disney Pictures has a brand new Belle for their upcoming live action movie “Beauty and the Beast.” Emma Watson has been cast in the lead which begins production later this year.

Emma shared her excitement on her Facebook page – “I’m finally able to tell you… that I will be playing Belle in Disney’s new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I’ll get to dance to ‘Be Our Guest’ and sing ‘Something There’. My six year old self is on the ceiling – heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can’t wait for you to see it. Emma xx”

Directed by Bill Condon and produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Beauty and the Beast is the next fairy tale classic to hit theatres as a live action film.

Loretta Garcia, Entertainment Writer invites you to stay tuned for more news on www.chipandco.com.

The NEW Legoland Florida Resort sets to open on May 15th!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 27, 2015

The NEW Legoland Florida Resort is located right at the main entrance of Legland Florida theme park. This Lego themed resort is sure to make any Lego fan young and old ready to create, build, and be a kid. I’ve been a fan of Lego’s since I was young, and I personally can not wait to pay a visit to this new resort where all 152 guest rooms are themed in one of the 3 popular Lego lines-Pirates, Kingdom, or Adventure. These rooms are perfect for a family with two separate sleeping areas, with a king sized bed for the grown up Lego fans, and an area for the younger Lego fans complete with a bunk bed, and pull out trundle bed. They even have their own TV,so no early morning cartoons for you.

A really great perk for staying a Legoland Resort is the exclusive early admission to Legoland theme park as well as the kid’s entertainment every night.

Amenities:

Free Wi-Fi
Heated Pool
Bar
Concierge Desk
Copy Service
Fax
On property Gift Shop
Handicap Facilities
Restaurant
Laundry Service
Valet Parking
Lounge
Meeting Facilities

For more information about the upcoming events at Legoland Florida or to book your family trip to Legoland please feel free to contact me today, I would love to help you plan a Bricktacular good time for your family.

My name is Leigh Saleh. I am a Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, and Disney Specialist for Chip andCompany. I am also a Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency used byChip and the Disney Addicts. 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.

Tsum Tsum Tuesdays, A New Collection Each Month!

By

Danielle

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January 27, 2015

Tsum Tsum have taken over by storm, and now every first Tuesday of the month Disney Store will be bringing us brand new collections!

For the first Tsum Tsum Tuesday in January, Disney gave us 101 Dalmatians! These adorable little pups rolled in with the devilishly cute villainess herself Cruella De Vil! Rolly, Lucky, and Patch were the adorable puppy Tsum Tsums, and Patch even had a “winking eye” expression. February will bring us a Princess and her dashing prince with the Cinderella collection! We’ll be able to have all our wishes come true with the Fairy Godmother, and of course Cinderella can’t make it to the ball with our her mice companions! The cat Lucifer will also make his appearance to cause some trouble, but I’m sure with Bruno the dog as part of the gang, he’ll keep things under control.

The Cinderella Tsum Tsum will be launching the first Tuesday of the month February 3, 2015. They will be available on the Disney Store website for purchase here. I’m so thrilled at the prospect of a new Tsum Tsum collection each month! My bet for March is Easter or Spring themed Tsum Tsum! I’ve got my fingers crossed some some cute expressions and bunny ears! What do you hope the March collection holds for us?