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Saving Money on Your Disney Vacation…Using Gift Cards!

September 13, 2014

Hey all! Pretty soon, I will be heading to the most magical place in the world and as lifetime Disney lover, I can not wait! They only downside about a Disney vacation?? … The cost!!

As any Disney goer knows, anything Disney is not cheap! I am no gazillionaire so deciding to go on a Disney vacation is a big deal and requires a lot of thought and planning. Saving money on my Disney vacation is a big plus! Over the next few weeks I thought I would share any tips and tricks I have done or are aware of that can save you money on your Disney vacation.

The topic today… Disney Gift Cards!

Disney gift cards can be applied pretty much to anything Disney. You can use them to pay for your room, tickets, souvenirs, food in the park, etc.

Did you know you can save on purchasing Disney Gift Cards?

Some websites offer discounted gift cards like Raise.com and eBay. Lots of grocery stores sell Disney gift cards as well. These can often be combined with a gas promo from that grocery store. Now, even using all of these ways you are not going to save tons of money. We are only talking on average of about 5-10% savings.

But if you are spending the money regardless why not save a few bucks?! I have never personally bought gift cards from the places listed above however I always like to keep an eye out on eBay for a good deal.

Our topic today is Disney gift cards from Target! All the gift cards I bought from Target and used them towards the balance for my room and tickets totaled $600 worth of gift cards but I only paid $560 for them!

How did I do this? I used my Target debit card! For those who don’t know Target offers a in-store credit card but also offers a debit card as well! Both will save you 5% off every purchase.

I am not for store credit cards but love that they offer a debit card! It is linked to your checking account and takes out just as your debit card would. There are no fees or commitments like there usually are with in-store credit cards. Simply a debit card which works great for me because if I did not have the Target debit card I would just be using my debit card or cash at Target anyway, so I mind as well get 5% back!

This 5% discount also applies to the Disney gift cards sold at Target. Target views them as “entertainment” and not as gift cards. So just by using your Target Debit or Target Credit Card you will save 5%… one $50 gift card will cost you $47.50. Like I said not a huge savings but I am never one to pass up saving even a couple dollars!

Another great thing about Target is that they frequently run promotions that Disney gift cards are included in and result in saving you more money. A few weeks ago Target had a “Black Friday in September” special online. Basically if you spent $75 online you got a $10 gift card for free. This promotion included Disney gift cards! A lot of other people must of known about it because most of the day the cards were sold out. I however was able to buy 2 $50 gift cards (wahooo!).

To break it down: I ordered 2 $50 gift cards. I purchased them with my Target card, received a 5% discount ($5) and free shipping. I paid $95 out of pocket for $100 worth of gift cards, but when I received my cards in the mail a $10 Target gift card was also included which I then used in store towards my next Disney gift card purchase :)… So in effect with this deal it cost $85 for $100 worth of gift cards… which I would consider a nice savings!

This is the only other additional promotion I have so far been able to take advantage of but have seen many other similar deals in the past. Also with the holidays coming up I know there will most likely be more deals in the future.

For example, I know the past 2 years around the holidays Target has offered a printable coupon that gave you a $10 gift card with any $50 purchase in-store. At the times these were offered I had no Disney trip planned but I know for a fact they worked with Disney gift cards. So if this were to be offered again you could buy a $50 Disney gift card for $47.50 using your Target card, then you would receive a $10 gift card as well. Pretty much making it $37.50 for a $50 Disney gift card…pretty sweet!

I highly suggest keeping an eye peeled for Target deals! I have already paid my balance to Disney for my room and tickets, but I still plan on buying more gift cards from Target to bring with us on our trip. I am hoping there will be more promotions I can use but if not at least I will save 5%! Even if you can’t score other promotions 5% is still great. Lets say your Disney vacation cost $3000… even just 5% saves you $150 which in my case almost equals 1 of our round trip plane tickets!

Also I should mention that the Disney gift cards are very simple to use! If they were a hassle it could be argued that the 5% savings would not be worth it but in my opinion it definitely is! It is very simple to apply a gift card to your balance before your trip online and over the phone. Also while at Disney it is also a lot easier to use the gift cards then you would think.

As some of you may or may not know when staying at a Disney hotel you have the option to associate a credit card with your Disney account. During your stay your room key for example can be activated with charging privileges and act as your credit card in parks and everything you purchase on Disney property. All purchases will just be added to your account you set up at check in. Much like staying at a hotel and adding a card for incidentals. Disney will not charge your credit card on file until a day before your trip ends or your balance of charges reaches $500, which ever comes first. People like to do this, us included, because it means less stuff we have to carry around at the parks. No need for tons of cash or our personal debit or credit card, you only need our Key To the World or in our upcoming trips case, Magic Bands to make a purchase.

What some people don’t know is that you can use Disney gift cards to pay down your outstanding balance from purchases during your trip before it charges your credit card! So those that are staying at a Disney hotel, associate a credit card with your account and use Magic Bands for your purchases can just pay down your balance at guest services in your hotel with Disney gift cards. At some point during your trip go down to guest services in your hotel before the last day of your trip or your balance reaches $500 and hand over your gift cards and ask them to apply it to your outstanding balance. That easy! This makes it so there is no need to carry around a bunch of gift cards to the parks with you and worry about which ones have what balance. Just stop by guest services every now and then and they will apply them right there!

For those not staying on Disney property and therefore don’t have a “Disney account” to charge to or those who simply rather not charge to their Disney account and “pay as you go” in the parks, Disney gift cards are still a great option for you! Disney gift cards are accepted at almost every restaurant and store on Disney property. So using them as you go is a great option too!

As you can see, there are ways to purchase Disney gift cards for less then the actual value. Which can add up quickly to saving some money on your Disney Vacation! The gift cards are very easy to use to apply to your balance whether it is before your trip or during it. So far I have saved $40 off my vacation and I plan on purchasing more discounted cards towards my trip! Either way I need to spend the money to pay for the trip, mind as well do it in a way that saves us a few bucks 🙂

Happy Saving!
-Leigh from Life as Leigh

Apple Pay Coming to Disney

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 12, 2014

Paying with your credit card may be a thing of the past after a new partnership was recently forged between Disney, Apple and a number of other retailers. Apple has developed a new way to pay and it may just change the way we all shop. It’s known as Apple Pay and it is expected to be used in Disney Stores and Walt Disney World Resort.

Starting this October guests will be able to pay for purchases right from their iPhone 6. The new system uses near field communication (NFC) technology and now you basically have a virtual wallet with all of your credit card information that you need for purchasing right at your fingertips. You don’t even need an app and your phone’s display doesn’t even have to be on. All you have to do is wave your phone near the stores contactless reading device with your finger or thumb on the Touch ID and you’re done. Its that simple.

This partnership comes as no surprise because not only is Disney always on the forefront of modern technology advances, but also because Disney CEO Bob Iger is an Apple board member. Guests can already pay with their MagicBands in this way but now you have your entire wallet at your disposal. Gone are the days of losing your wallet on vacation. All you need to have on you in a park now is your MagicBand and your Cell Phone

Olaf’s Adventures app now available for iPhones & ipads

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 12, 2014

The all new “Olaf’s Adventures” app is now available for iPhones, iPads and iPods users. The new app has Olaf and other “Frozen” characters creating and enjoying hilarious adventures in scenes from winter, spring and of course, summer.

Full of great features including:

Three different environments to explore alongside Olaf
Collectible magical snowflakes leading to beautiful snowglobes as gifts for Anna and Elsa
Several mini-games throughout each season
Humorous animations and reactions from Olaf
The original voice of Josh Gad from the award-winning box office hit, Frozen

Winter and spring are currently available with download. The summer season will soon be available through in—app purchase later this fall.

Kids, young and old will enjoy traveling with Olaf on his fun adventures, playing on a sled or stopping to smell the flowers (dandelions) in the Arendelle Marketplace.

Other app features include:

• Exploring hilarious interactive tappables throughout the app
• Discovering the Avalanche Game & Snowball Fight in Winter with Marshmallow
• Unlocking the Fruit Fight and the Snowman Shuffle in Spring

Don’t forget to find all 10 collectibles in Winter and Spring to unlock exclusive snow globes for Elsa and Anna.

Don’t wait! Purchase Olaf’s Adventures today for just $3.99 on iTunes.

My name is Loretta Garcia and I am the Entertainment Writer for Chip and Co. Follow us to stay up to day on all the news, promotions and travel information.

It’s Official! Disney’s “Frozen” Attraction coming to Epcot

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 12, 2014

Yup! You read right folks. “Frozen” is coming to Epcot..

Disney execs just announced today that they are starting construction at Walt Disney World Resort on a brand new “Frozen” attraction at the Norway Pavilion in Epcot. The new attraction, which replaces Maelstrom, will take guests to Arendelle and immerse them in many of their favorite moments and music from the film. The pavilion will also include a royal greeting location where Anna and Elsa can meet guests for autographs and pictures.

“Frozen’s” popular characters will also have a bigger presence at Magic Kingdom Park this holiday season. In addition to the ongoing character appearances, Queen Elsa will use her powers to transform Cinderella Castle into an ice palace every night starting in early November. And Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party-goers can see Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf in “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”

They will also be extending some favorite elements of Frozen Summer Fun LIVE! so that guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can continue singing along to “Frozen” songs with Queen Elsa and Princess Anna. Wandering Oaken’s will set up shop closer to the show through the holiday season and will feature a larger play area with real snow, YES! Snow in Florida..

So, I’m sure some of you have mixed emotions about all the changes that will be taking place at Walt Disney World, let us know your thoughts? Are you all Frozen’ed out or do you want more?

5 Easy Tips to Help You Start Planning a Magical Walt Disney World Vacation

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 12, 2014

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If you’re anything like me, planning your Walt Disney World vacation is almost as fun as actually going on that vacation. My planning starts months (almost a full year!) in advance and involves countless hours of research, several excel spreadsheets and more than a few phone calls to the Disney Reservation Center – the hold music alone is enough to put me in a happy mood.

Now, I know that not everyone is like me. My husband wouldn’t be caught dead putting as much thought into one single vacation as I do. And since I know I’m probably the exception and NOT the rule when it comes to vacation planning, I though it is only right that I share the knowledge and tricks I’ve discovered with you – the faithful Chip & Co. readers!

1. Check out a crowd calendar BEFORE booking your trip. Does the hustle and bustle of crowds make you a little queasy? Or the thought of a wait time of over 45 minutes to ride your favorite attraction sound anything BUT appealing? The experts at Chip & Co. have put together a simple to read chart that details the times when crowds will be at their highest and their lowest. It’s always best to check it out before booking your trip.

2. And once you have your dates selected, figure out if there are any special events happening during your stay. Or maybe this should be your first step is there is a Disney event you’re dying to try. The Fall Food and Wine Festival or the Spring Flower and Garden Show are amazing events that run for at least a month and are filled with fun, music and food – and don’t require an extra ticket. There are also ticketed events, such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party that happen annually and are ways to experience a little extra Disney Magic during your trip.

3. Plan your meals. Now we’re not exactly what you’d call “foodies” in my family but the dining experiences at Walt Disney World are when some of our best memories have been made. On our upcoming trip we have decided to get the dining plan and since we’ll have our 2 year old with us we’re making sure all of our table service meals are either buffets or all-you-care-to-enjoy since our son can eat off of our plates for free. We also want a lot of character meals since we are going with our little one. Once our dates were set I started planning out meals we’d like to do and that sets the days we’ll be in each park. Remember you can make your reservation at 180 days out (or 180 +10 if you’re staying at a Disney Resort).

4. Don’t forget to schedule your FastPasses. If you’ve already made your dining reservations, you’ll have a pretty good idea which park you’ll be at on which day. Scheduling your FastPasses in advance may take a bit of work before your vacation but it can take away a bit of stress when you’re actually at the WDW resort. Again, if you’re staying at a WDW resort you can book your FP+ at midnight 60 days before your trip. Guests staying off site can book their FP+ at the 30 day mark. A few more things to keep in mind – you can only book in advance for one park a day. You can, however, book additional FP+ at another park once you’ve used your first three passes. And my final tip – if you have a large group and can’t get reservations for everyone at the same time just try and get them within the same window. If I have a reservation from 12:30 to 1:30 and someone else in my group has one from 1:00 to 2:00 we can both go at 1:00 and still experience the attraction together.

5. Make a list of the other “must-do” activities for your trip. For us those include Character Meet and Greets, Fantasyland attractions and the parades. For you they may include certain shows (Fatasmic is amazing!) or maybe one of the Disney tours (Keys to the Kingdom is a dream of mine!). Once you’ve narrowed down the things you don’t want to miss you’ll be free to spend the rest of your time just exploring the parks.

Hopefully these tips are enough to help you get started planning a magical vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort. Have you planned a trip to WDW recently? What tips would you share with those just starting the process?

This guest post was written by our newest writer Alissa. If you like her work post a comment below to let know…

“Star Wars: Commander” Plans Have Been Intercepted Detailing Who is Winning the Galactic Civil War

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 11, 2014

Disney’s Star Wars: Commander mobile game has been downloaded five million times since it launched on August 21, and to celebrate this milestone, they have created the infographic to give you a look at what percentage of gamers choose to play as the evil Empire versus the Rebel Alliance and how that varies country to country.

Some important stats to note:

Five million players have now joined the war (downloaded Star Wars: Commander since its launch on August 21st).

With more than 57% of its players representing the Empire, Russia is one of the strongest Empire strongholds. Other nations that have fallen to the Emperor include Austria, Germany, Finland and the Ukraine.

India stands out as a strong member of the Rebel Alliance, as are most countries across South America and Africa.

The United States is nearly unanimous in its following of the Dark Side, with the single exception of North Dakota. The force is strong in North Dakota.

Half a billion troops have been deployed across both factions.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

“ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY” SOUNDTRACK AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER.

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 11, 2014

“ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY” soundtrack will be available to fans beginning October 7, 2014. But wait, fans can pre-order their copy beginning today!.

The movie’s 6 song soundtrack promises to be one of the best and will include a original song written by British Pop Rock Band “The Vamps” called “Hurricane” and performed as the end-credit song. A sneak peak of the “Hurricane” music video that features a cameo by Bella Thorne, who stars as big brother Anthony’s uptight girlfriend Celia in the film, will debut on Disney Channel Sept. 12, 2014, followed by the full video premiere on VEVO

Dylan Minnette, who plays Anthony in the film, teamed up with Braeden Lemasters to write the song “Surf Surf Don’t Drown,” which is performed by Minnette’s band The Narwhals and appears in the film as the family rushes to get sister Emily to her play. While Kerris Dorsey who gained recognition in “Moneyball” for her performance of the acoustic song “The Show” in that film, portrays big sister Emily in “Alexander,”. Kerris wrote and performed the song “Best Worst Day Ever” along with her sister Justine Dorsey. The song can be heard during the credits.

Director Miguel Arteta shared “When you are having a bad day, you can feel singled out, as if fate has brought a huge hand down and pointed its finger at you at all day,” continues Arteta. “Wherever you look up, there it is, singling you out. We wanted the music in Alexander to have this incessant feeling to it—like this madcap pulse has gotten a hold of you and won’t let up until the family beats the odds and has the wonderful party for Alexander in the end!”

Fans can pre-order the soundtrack beginning today by following the links:

Wide Download Link:http://smarturl.it/athsa1, Amazon Music Smart Link: http://smarturl.it/athsama1, and Wide Streaming Partners Link: http://smarturl.it/athssta1.

The EP track list includes:

1. Hurricane written and performed by The Vamps

2. Best Worst Day Ever written and performed by Kerris Dorsey and Justine Dorsey

3. We Are The Ones (Own The World) performed by Charles William

4. Surf Surf Don’t Drown performed by The Narwhals

5. Perfect World performed by IDK & The Whatevs

6.Suite from “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Christophe Beck

Disney’s “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” follows the adventures of 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—a day that starts off with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one disaster after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy, as he soon discovers he is not alone. Mom (Jennifer Garner), dad (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

Directed by Independent Spirit Award-winner Miguel Arteta (“The Good Girl,” “Cedar Rapids,” “Youth in Revolt”) from a screenplay by Rob Lieber, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” is a 21 Laps Entertainment/Jim Henson Company production and comes to theaters nationwide Oct. 10, 2014.

Don’t miss this hilarious movie and incredible soundtrack.

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

Disney World Hidden Gem – Family Magic Tour

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 11, 2014

When it’s time to plan a Disney trip for my family, I’m always looking to get the biggest bang for my buck. Disney offers a lot of truly amazing tours and experiences, but sometimes, for my family, many of them are too expensive or are not age appropriate. Finding a happy balance for a 7 year old and a 14 year old is no easy feat, but Disney, of course, has an answer for almost everything.

Things to Know

The Family Magic Tour is a hidden gem among all of the different tours that Disney offers. There are no age limits, and it is the most affordable, in my opinion, at $34 per person. Kids 2 and under are free. It is best suited for families with children. Disney suggests ages 4 to 10, but my 14 year old loved every minute. The tour takes place at the Magic Kingdom and is offered daily at 10am, and lasts about 2 hours. Walk ups are welcome, but reservations are encouraged. If you cancel with 2 days of your scheduled tour, or are a no show, you will be charged the full amount of the tour. Admission to the Magic Kingdom is not included in the price of the tour. On the day of your tour, be sure to arrive at the Chamber of Commerce near City Hall about 15 minutes early to check in. You don’t want to be late for the fun!

The tour is great for young ones and older kids alike, and our tour guide did a great job engaging and speaking to all the age groups included. Disney limits the number of people for each tour, so the group is never too large. On our tour there were 3 other families for a total of about 12 people (including adults). There is a good deal of walking, but my kids were having so much fun they never noticed. Since there is quite a bit of walking, make sure everyone in your party is wearing comfy shoes. If you have a very little kid you may want to bring a stroller. Don’t forget your camera. You’ll want to capture all of those magical family moments.

So, what will a $34 ticket get you?

The tour begins at the Chamber of Commerce near City Hall where you are greeted by your cast member for the tour and his (or her) magical backpack. This cast member starts by telling a story about something gone awry in the Magic Kingdom and it’s up to you to set things right by following clues. When my family went, Chip and Dale had taken things that belonged to other characters and hid them around the Magic Kingdom. We had to help Mickey get them all back before anyone noticed. After you find out your mission, the cast member asks everyone to close their eyes, and when you open them everyone has a small handful of pixie dust to get the adventure started off right. The cast member then leads the entire group on an amazing scavenger hunt throughout the entire Magic Kingdom with clues leading to from one to another. You’ll visit Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Liberty Square looking for the clues to complete your quest. The clues are high and low, easy and hard, and are found in the strangest of places. One of ours involved putting together a puzzle and another was hidden above an old payphone…but I’m not telling where!

Solving riddles and finding clues are not the only things on your tour. There are some really terrific surprises along the way! On our tour, we went straight to the front of the line on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and we got some one-on-one time with Wendy Darling. There was even a built in break time where we could rest for a bit, get a snack, and take restroom break. Our tour came to a close with a visit to Talking Mickey at Town Square Theater. As a thank you for all of our hard work, Mickey asked our cast member to give every person in the group a Fastpass to ride any ride in the Magic Kingdom!

Your Mileage May Vary

The story, clues, or surprises included on your tour may differ from what was included with mine, but I have no doubt that you will not be disappointed. Our kids had a blast, and we had a blast watching them. I thought it was money well spent, and it is something we will most certainly do again. Has your family done this tour? What were your surprises?

Want in on the magic? Call 407-WDW-TOUR to experience some family magic at its finest!

This guest post was written by our newest writer Micheal. Watch for more of her articles in the near future!

R5 and Ring Pop Giveaway!

Chip

September 11, 2014

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R5 and Ring Pop have an awesome giveaway for our Chip & Co readers!

Giveaway packs of Ring Pop featuring the new Cherry Limeade flavor (Mixed in with other flavors)
Autographed photo of the band to go into the pack

R5 and their fans have chosen the next big Ring Pop flavor – The national “Choose the Next Big Flavor” competition presented fans with three mouthwatering Ring Pop flavors to choose from, handpicked by R5 themselves — Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Banana, and Grape.

R5 helped rally fans to visit and vote on the Ring Pop Facebook page for the flavor of their choice. Votes have been tallied and the crowds have spoken, with the winning limited-edition flavor, Cherry Limeade, hitting store shelves this fall.

This is another exciting phase of the #RockThatRock campaign which gave R5 and Ring Pop fans to be featured in R5’s music video…

Check out the bands new EP on Itunes and stay tuned for more on R5!

Halloween at Big Thunder Ranch at Disneyland Resort – DON’T MISS IT!

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 10, 2014

September 12 – October 31 marks Halloween time at Disneyland Resort! Halloween and Christmas are my favorite times to visit the parks because of decorations, cooler weather, new sights, sounds and smells and, of course seasonal FOOD! I think one of the most unknown and BEST parts of Halloween time at Disneyland is the incredible magic at Big Thunder Ranch. This area of Disneyland park is hidden in the back behind Frontierland and Fantasyland. I have found that many people just don’t get around to discovering it’s hidden treasures. I can’t tell you how many times I have had people say “Disneyland has a petting zoo?” when I talk about Big Thunder Ranch. Big Thunder Ranch has an amazing barbeque restaurant, petting zoo and huge entertainment area. There are picnic tables, a trading pin cart, food carts, games for the kids and more – and it’s a great place to sit in the shade and rest when you need a rest from walking.

Halloween time brings even better amenities to Big Thunder Ranch. There is a huge tent where groups of guests are let in to “conjure a villain!” As you stand around, a cast member talks about how Halloween time brings villains to the parks. The cast member chooses a child to wave a magic wand over a smouldering cauldron while the crowd chants and claps. Suddenly, a villain appears out of a large magic box on a stage! The remaining time in the tent allows a line to form and each guest to take a picture with the villain. It is so much fun and the villains rotate throughout the day, so you never know who may be conjured next!

Another exciting part of Halloween at Big Thunder Ranch is the ability to take pictures with many costumed characters who roam the area. These characters take pictures and even sit and color with the kids! It’s really so much fun and a great way to spend a few hours during the day. There is always musical entertainment on the stage and Mickey and Minnie do dance parties with the kids throughout the day. There are carnival style games set up for the kids to play and the cast members all seem to really enjoy their shifts and making that special Disney Magic everyday during Halloween time!

Costumed characters:

Mickey – wizard
Minnie – witch
Donald – pumpkin
Chip and Dale – police officers
And MORE!

I hope that if you visit Disneyland during Halloween, you will take a few hours and visit Big Thunder Ranch. It’s definitely a MUST DO during the holidays! I would love to hear your experiences.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with a Special Diet

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 10, 2014

When attending a ticketed event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you might wonder what options you might have as a special diets guest. Thankfully, you’ll be able to find some treats, not tricks, to go along with the holiday festivities. Here are some tips to help make your special diets visit to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party spooktacular!

Grab a Meal: Guests attending Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party can enter the Magic Kingdom beginning at 4 p.m. Using that time to make an early ADR can help keep you on track for the rest of the party and ensure you get a delicious meal.

For something seasonal, head to Liberty Tree Tavern, where they can prepare a festive fall feast complete with gluten free gravy and other food allergy friendly options. Looking for lighter fare? Head to the Plaza Restaurant for sandwiches and non-dairy ice cream. Ready to indulge in a royal feast? Head to Cinderella’s Royal Table for a decadent meal. Quick Service more your speed? Columbia Harbour House serves up terrific food allergy friendly chicken tenders along with a custom special diets menu for some of the top common allergens.

Trick or Treat: Trick or treating is part of the fun at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but when you have a special diet, you may wonder if you can actually eat any of the candy. Disney hands out name brand candy, so if you know of specific brands that cover your allergens, you may have options. In addition, guests with special dietary needs can check in at City Hall (advance notice through Disney’s Special Diets Department is recommended) for safe options too. City Hall also passes out non-food treats that are great for those who can’t consume the candy served throughout the party.

Grab a Snack: When in doubt, bring in your own snacks. Disney policy does allow guests with special dietary needs to bring in pre-packaged food. This is especially helpful when you have little ones who might be craving a treat while at the party. In the park, you can find various options such as pre-packaged special diets snacks (your best bet is Liberty Square Market which has a dedicated section). Guests who are gluten free and dairy free can enjoy treats like fresh popcorn, Dole Whips, or candied nuts. If you are interested in purchasing treats from a kiosk or restaurant, always check with a cast member to ensure the ingredients are still currently safe for your dietary need.

Photo Credit: Disney

Get into the holiday spirit!: There’s so much to see and do at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party that isn’t food related. From the Villians Mix and Mingle, the Boo to You Halloween Parade (not to be missed), to Hallow-Wishes, there is something for everyone. And don’t forget to dress up! It’s a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party must-do!

Have you been to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party with a special diet? What are your trips for making the visit to this event more magical?

Food Allergy & Celiac Convention Comes to Disney World on November 22, 2014

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

September 10, 2014

Do you have special dietary needs and love Disney World? The Food Allergy & Celiac Convention held on November 22, 2014 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is the event for you!

Hosted by Sarah Norris from Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW and Laurie Sadowski of the Allergy-Free Cook Cookbook series, this event is a one-stop shop for all things special diets, set in the most magical place on earth!

The event will feature an expo area that includes some of your favorite special diets brands such as Disney favorites: Enjoy Life Foods (as the title sponsor), Udi’s, and Babycakes NYC. Get the chance to sample products, learn about new items on the market and chat with reps from your favorite companies. All items at the expo are gluten free and many cover the top common allergens.

To add to the fun, guests will be treated to speakers and culinary demonstrations that include the Disney culinary team. Want to learn all about how Disney Special Diets runs? You’ll hear all about it from keynote speaker Gary Jones, Disney’s Culinary Dietary Specialist. Disney chefs will be on hand to even show culinary demonstrations on sweet and savory dishes. Speakers from all areas of the special diets industry will talk about topics that include holiday baking with food allergies to a fun kid inspired culinary demo.

Disney will also be displaying their culinary talents by creating a Welcome Breakfast including the world famous allergy Mickey waffles and a royal feast of a dinner fit for any prince or princess. Each of these meals will be gluten free and food allergy friendly.

Tickets for the expo and speaking sessions are on pre-sale now at $10 for adults and $5 for children. Guests can find out more about this event at celebrateawareness.com.

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