Use these Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Apps and Sites

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October 8, 2014

Planning a Walt Disney World vacation can seem like an overwhelming task. But many people find the planning to be the most fun. How can this be, you say? Well, the planning enthusiasts often know the tools to use – “in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” Lets look at some of the apps and sites that can help you approach the planning of your next vacation with a twinkle instead of a scowl.

WaltDisneyWorld.com – Yes, it really can be that simple. This website gives you the opportunity to check out the parks and resorts. You can purchase your park tickets, reserve a room (or rooms, depending upon the size of your party) at your favorite resort, and make your dining reservations. On this site, you can also access and set up a profile in MyDisneyExperience (also an app you can add to your iPhone or android phone). MyDisneyExperience puts all the information and planning for your vacation at your fingertips. You can even schedule your FastPass+ here.
Disney Vacation Planning DVD – This free DVD is updated annually and includes tips to help you make your vacation a dream come true. Some Disney fans order a new one each year, but if you want to conserve space in your DVD collection, you can watch it online.
WDW Customized Maps – On the WaltDisneyWorld.com website, you have to option to create free theme park maps highlighting your family’s favorite attractions and shows. When complete, you can print your maps at home, or have them printed and mailed to you. These can become treasured reminders of trips you’ve made to Walt Disney World.
Touring Plans – We have partnered with Touring Plans to offer one of Chip’s favorite planning and park tools. The Crowd Calendar & Lines App is near and dear to us here on Chip and Co and something we use pretty regular.

Using these tools will help to make vacation dreaming and planning a pleasure! Tell me about your favorite planning apps and sites in the comment box below.

I’m Jeri – I’m a wife, a mom, a nana, and a lover of all things Disney! I love writing from Chip and Co, and I’m very excited to be an Independent Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel. Contact me at [email protected], I’d love to help add a little magic to your next vacation!

Danny Elfman Reads from ‘Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas’ at Haunted Mansion Holiday in Disneyland Park

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 7, 2014

2014 10 07 08 32 23 Danny Elfman Visits Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland Park YouTube

Musician and composer Danny Elfman stopped by Disneyland recently to record a special reading from “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

Danny Elfman created the film’s music and also provided the singing voice for Jack Skellington and has been a collaborator with Tim Burton for a long time.

Mr. Elfman has 4 Oscar nominations and will be performing a live concert which will include music from several Tim Burton movies in the Los Angeles area in the next few weeks.

Enjoy the video and have a magical hHalloween

My name is Loretta Garcia and I am the Entertainment Writer for Chip and Co. Follow us on Facebook and our website for all the news, tips and promotions for your favorite Disney Parks.

New Haunted Mansion “Disney Side” Contest!

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Danielle

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October 7, 2014

Exciting news, Disney Parks announced a new contest today! This frightfully fun contest is all about how you show your Disney Side at home, with some haunted inspiration!

Starting today and running until November 4th, Disney invites you to upload your Disney Parks-themed Halloween photos on Instagram and Twitter for a chance to win a private “Midnight at the Haunted Mansion” party for you and three guests with a coveted one night stay in Cinderella’s Castle.

There are 4 categories that you can choose from: Home décor, food and beverage, pumpkin carving and costumes. You can enter and find all the details here.

A truly exciting treat from Disney Parks Blog, will be a video every Monday giving us some spooktacular tips and tricks for our Disney Parks-themed photos! The first one can be found below!

With so many great categories to choose from there will be lots of amazing entries! I can’t wait to get crafting on some wonderful new decorations for my house! So don’t forget to enter to show off your Disney Side!

NO PURCH NEC. Ends 11/4/14 at 11:59:59 PM ET. 50 US/DC/Canada (excl. QC), 18/age of majority +. Void where prohibited. Subject to Official Rules.

Disney Brings the Magic to Steam With More Than 20 Titles for PC – On sale now with 10% off till Oct 12th

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Chip

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October 7, 2014

Disney Interactive launched more than 20 titles on Steam. Available for PC, the expansive collection will feature games from Disney’s top franchises, including Disney●Pixar Cars, Disney Tangled, Disney●Pixar Toy Story and more. To celebrate, Steam players can download all the new Disney titles for 10% off through Sunday, October 12.

Disney Interactive is excited to bring family-friendly play experiences to the platform and will continue to launch titles on Steam throughout the year.

Check out the full list of titles below and visit Steam to download and start playing today!

Do you have any PC gamers at home? Which one do you think they would be interested in playing? Let us know in the comment box below.

Star Wars Rebels New Series on Disney XD

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 7, 2014

“Star Wars Rebels”, the new Disney Series Premiere starts this Monday, October 13, 2014 on Disney XD. (check local channel for time) . The series is set between the events that happened in Star Wars Episodes III and IV.

The Evil Galactic Empire’s grip on the Galaxy is getting tighter. Imperial forces have occupied the planet and a crew of the Starship “Ghost” are some of the few brave enough to stand up and fight the Empire.

The crew includes:

Cowboy Jedi Kanan Jarrus (Freddie Prince Jr.) who has a secret Jedi past. He no longer carries a light saber and instead chooses a blaster as his choice of weapons.
Ace Pilot Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall) is strong-willed and keeps the team together,
Street-smart teen Ezra Bridger (Taylor Gray) is a 14 year old con artist but not a bad kid,
Zeb the “Muscle” Orrelios (Steve Blum) is the team tough guy who is a well trained honor guard and highly educated.
Warrior Sabine Wren (Tiya Sircar) is a key member of the team and loves to blow things up. She is also an artist which is reflected in her wardrobe and hair.
Chopper, the old and cantankerous droid.

The villians include:

The Inquisitor (Jason Isaacs) is the main villain who is sent out by Darth Vader to hunt down the remaining Jedi Knights.
Agent Kallus (David Oyelowo) is an Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) Agent. His job is make sure everyone stays loyal or is taken out.

Star Wars Rebels is produced by Dave Filoni and Simon Kinberg and Greg Weisman.

Don’t miss this exciting series on Disney XD

This is Loretta Garcia, Entertainment Writer for Chip and Co. Follow us on Facebook and our website for all the latest and greatest news, updates and promotions.

Common Sense Media Announces the Common Sense Seal and Inaugural Recipient, Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

By

Chip

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October 7, 2014

Common Sense Media, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids thrive in a world of media and technology, today announced the Common Sense Seal, the first honor of its kind to recognize and champion films that delight families with enriching stories and to encourage studios to make more excellent family content that appeals across generations. Since 2003, Common Sense Media has been helping families discover great media through its library of independent, age-based ratings and reviews, and the Common Sense Seal will honor the best of the best in family movies as they make their theatrical debuts. The movies that receive this recognition will meet Common Sense Media’s highest standard based on overall quality in addition to worthwhile themes, positive messages, and role models.

Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, scheduled for wide release on October 10, 2014, is receiving the inaugural Common Sense Seal. Based on Judith Viorst’s classic book by the same name, Alexander is a standout, engaging movie that kids and parents will enjoy together, with important messages about learning to appreciate the good days along with the bad and staying positive and sticking together in the face of adversity. The film offers plenty of funny jokes that are likely to go over kids’ heads — so parents won’t be bored — as well as enough action and laughs to keep everyone entertained.

“We don’t see enough great movies with positive role models and messages that make parents feel like a trip to the movies is time well spent together — and we think families deserve better,” said Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense. “The Common Sense Seal will recognize the best in family movies with a goal of inspiring studios to create more films that kids and parents can enjoy together. It’s fitting that a Disney movie should be our first recipient, given the studio’s commitment to making quality family films like Alexander.”

“At Disney we believe in making quality entertainment that families can enjoy together, and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is not only a great film for families, but it highlights what it means to be a family,” said Alan Horn, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios. “We’re honored that it has been chosen by Common Sense Media for this inaugural seal celebrating its positive message for audiences.”

The Common Sense Seal will consider all wide-release theatrical movies targeted at children, tweens, teens, and families. The seal selections are determined by Common Sense Media’s in-house team of seasoned movie reviewers, editors, and child-development experts based on the proven rubric deployed across more than 6,000 movie titles since Common Sense Media’s founding in 2003. The seal will be given to a select number of theatrical releases each year and will be announced in advance of each movie’s premiere.

For more information, go to www.commonsense.org

Is Toy Story Midway Mania FastPass+ Only?

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 7, 2014

Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios guests are reeling at the news that Disney is testing FastPass+ and Toy Story Midway Mania has no Standby line for the week of October 6-9, 2014. Monday through Thursday only guests who have scheduled a FastPass+ using MyDisneyExperience *in advance of arrival at the attraction* will be able to ride the popular shooting gallery arcade style attraction. Disney representatives say that a select number of FastPasses will be available for those who did not register their selections in advance, but there is no projection as to how many will be available. It is only said that Cast Members will allot FastPass tickets based upon demand.

Rumor has it that this FastPass+ test may be related to the also rumored expansion of Toy Story Midway Mania, in that the anticipated third track for the ride may become FastPass only. What are your thoughts on this FastPass+ test?

I’m Jeri. I’m a wife, a mom, a nana, and a lover of all things Disney. I love writing about Walt Disney World Resort planning for Chip and Co, and I’m also an Independent Travel Agent with Chip and Co’s preferred travel agency, World of Magic Travel. Dreaming of a Disney vacation, adventure, or cruise? Contact me at [email protected]. I’d love to help make your trip more magical!

Is Disney Park Hopper Really Worth It?

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 7, 2014

I absolutely love planning Walt Disney World Vacations. I so often have people asking me if I think the park hopper is worth the extra money. The answer is, Yes! To me a Disney Park Hopper is part of what a Disney vacation is all about. I love knowing that from the moment that I check in at my resort I can go to any park that I want at any time that I want (well not any time, but you catch my drift). For about $60.00 per pass added to any muti-day ticket that freedom can be yours!

Why wouldn’t I want to start my day with my hair blowing in the breeze on the carousel at Magic Kingdom, head over to the Biergarten in Epcot for lunch, and then to Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic to round out the night? Having a Park Hopper lets you make dining reservations at hard to get restaurants like Le Cellier, Cinderella’s Royal Table, & Be Our Guest and not have to worry about structuring your entire day around just one meal.

Extra Magic Hours become more of a perk with the pass, Letting you go to one park in the morning and spend the entire evening (sometimes until the early morning) at another. This option is especially appealing for those who don’t want to have a very structured day. So go ahead make the most of your vacation. Just say yes to the Park Hopper option. You won’t regret it!

My name is Megan and I am the Disney World Tips & Tricks writer for Chip & Company. I am also a Travel Agent with World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency used by Chip and the Disney Addicts. Email me today at [email protected] to book your next adventure to your favorite destination.

Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD Copy of “Million Dollar Arm” Available Now!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 6, 2014

Based on the true of JB Bernstein , played by Jon Hamm, finds that things are not going well for his career as a sports agent. In an effort to save his livelihood he comes up a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a major league baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “The Million Dollar Arm.”

With the help of retired baseball scout, Ray Poitevint (Alan Arkin) who’s ability to recognize the speed of a pitch by sound, even half asleep, and Amit (Pitobash) a die-hard baseball fan who becomes JB’s right hand man and translator, the group travels throughout India. He discovers Dinesh (Madhur Mittal) and Rinku (Suraj Sharma), two 18 year old young men who have no idea about playing baseball, but have a great ability for throwing a fastball. Hoping to sign them to major league contracts and make a quick buck, JB brings the boys home to America. The boys, who have never left their rural villages in India, go through some hard times adjusting and learning about life in America. As they boys learn the finer points of baseball — JB, with the help of his charming friend Brenda (Lake Bell) also learns very valuable lessons about teamwork, commitment and what it means to be a family.

After many unsuccessful try outs with most of the major league recruiters, JB is able to set up one last tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The events that lead up to the movie’s ending is a wonderful story of how hard work , dedication and “family” can work together through adversity.

Although Million Dollar Arm may seem like a movie about baseball on the surface, inside it is a lot more about hard work, patience and family. This movie is for the sports fan because of the history in the story and also for everyone else that believes that anything is possible when someone believes in you.

“Million Dollar Arm” is a must have for your Disney movie collection!

Available today on Disney Blu-ray™, Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, DVD & On-Demand. The bonus features included are an alternate ending, deleted scenes, hilarious outtakes and some stories told by JB, Dinesh and Rinku themselves.

“Million Dollar Arm” stars Jon Hamm, Suraj Sharma (“Life of Pi”), Madhur Mittal (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Bill Paxton (“Big Love,” “Apollo 13”), Lake Bell (“Boston Legal,” “No Strings Attached”) and Alan Arkin (“Argo,” “Little Miss Sunshine”). It was directed by Craig Gillespie(“Fright Night,” “Lars and the Real Girl”), written by Thomas McCarthy (“Up,” “Win Win”) and produced by Mark Ciardi & Gordon Gray (“The Rookie,” “Invincible,” “Secretariat”) and Joe Roth (“Alice in Wonderland,” “Maleficent”).

One Week Left to Enter Disney – XPRIZE Big Hero 6 Challenge

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 6, 2014

Just one week left to to enter Disney’s BIG HERO 6 – XPRIZE Challenge. If you are between the ages of 8 to 17 and have new and innovative ideas on how to take on the world’s biggest challenges using science, technology, art, math and engineering, then check out the information below!

To enter, you will need to send in a video submission that will be judged on creativity, innovation and presentation. Twenty finalists will be selected based on the highest scores received from their video submissions. From there, six winners will be chosen based on the judges’ scores and public voting, held Oct 15th to 19th.

Prizes include a trip to Los Angeles to walk the red carpet at the film’s Hollywood premiere in early November, visits behind the scenes to meet the creative minds at both Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, joining a special “Visioneering™” experience at XPRIZE headquarters, plus other incredible prizes, including one (1) Contestant registration for FIRST® LEGO® League for the competition season 2014-2015 in the US or Canada, and a Special littleBits® NASA Space Kit and cloudBit™ Starter Kit.

Video submissions will compete in two divisions: Junior Division (8-12 years of age), and Senior Division (13–17 years of age). All entrants must have prior consent from their parent or legal guardian in order to participate in the challenge. Registration details are available at xprizechallenge.org/bighero6.

The video submissions may involve a short story, sculpture, drawing, model, robot or whatever method best communicates the idea in the most creative way (please see Official Rules for further details, restrictions and limitations). They will be scored on how well they explain the problem, show their solution, and explain what they learned and the impact their idea would have on themselves and the world. The more creative and engaging their presentation is, the better their chance of winning.

Don’t miss the deadline and a chance to be a part of this one of a kind contest.

My name is Loretta Garcia and I am the Entertainment Writer for Chip and Company. Follow us on our website and on Facebook for all the news and promotions.

Disney Quick Tips – Should You Pack a Snack?

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 6, 2014

Of course food is plentiful in the parks, but if you are trying to watch your budget or your calories, both can add up quickly. That’s why I always pack snacks to take with me into the park. Here is why you should too!

Everyone in your party may not have the same eating schedule. You may be getting hangry (hunger anger), and your travel companions may be racing toward Tower of Terror, laughing, and skipping along. Also, if you are not a part of the dining plan with snacks already budgeted into your food allowance, purchasing items throughout the day can really start to add up. Pack snacks that are light, full of protein, and don’t require refrigeration. I like to pack protein bars such as Cliff Bars or a LARABAR. Trail mix with nuts and dried fruit is a great option as well. Avoid fruit that will bruise in your bag throughout the day or protein bars dipped in chocolate, as these will melt.

By packing your own snacks you will save time (you won’t have to stop in wait in line for that Mickey shaped soft pretzel), money (I know you’ve been eyeing that Dooney and Bourke bag – you packed some granola, so you deserve it!), and calories (an extra pant size is an unwelcome souvenir to leave the park with). Do you pack snacks to take, or do you stop along the day and enjoy all the Disney treats? Let us know in the comment box below.

Monica is an Alumni 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.

Magic Kingdom’s Memento Mori Shop Now Open outside of the Haunted Mansion

By

Chip

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October 6, 2014

Great news Disney World Addicts! Now officially open in Disney’s Magic Kingdom is the long awaited Memento Mori, the Haunted Mansion-themed merchandise shop. We shared news of the opening a few months ago and have been patiently waiting for this spooky shop to open!

If you are planning a visit, here are a few important things to know:

There will be a purchase limit of six items per style, per guest, per day for products carried in the shop.
The new Haunted Mansion open edition pins will be carried in both Memento Mori in Liberty Square and Frontier Trading Post in Frontierland.
The Haunted Mansion-themed Dooney & Bourke bags will be released in Uptown Jewelers on Main Street, U.S.A. starting on October 6. They will not be found at Memento Mori or at Cherry Tree Lane at the Marketplace Co-Op in Downtown Disney Marketplace. For guests in California, the Dooney & Bourke bags will also be released on Monday, October 6 at Vault 28 in Downtown Disney District. There will be a purchase limit of two items, per style, per guest, per day.

Finally, the Disney Parks online store will also be carrying select items from the Haunted Mansion Authentic program beginning on October 6. I invite you to visit http://www.DisneyStore.com/HauntedMansion.