Home Blog Page 4420

Jiko, The Cooking Place presents May Wine Dinner

May 11, 2014

Jiko, The Cooking Place presents, A Pinotage Tasting is Thursday May 15, 2014

Here are the details:

6:00PM Reception Sunset Lounge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

6:30PM Dinner Dress Code – Business Casual Evening Attire

$160 inclusive of tax and gratuity.

Reception

Moroccan Rock Shrimp Tagine

Grilled Seitan, Delta Asparagus Jus, and Kenyan Style Mashed potatoes

Smoked Pork Belly and Green Mango Atjar

Boekenhoutskloof Semillon, Franschoek

First Course

Butter Poached Lobster, Delta Asparagus, Chipolini Onions and Heirloom Potatoes

Southern Right, Pinotage, Hamel-en-Aarde

Second Course

Fiddlehead Fern Salad, Rocket, Duck Crackling, and Dark Cherry Vinaigrette

M*A*N Family Wines Pinotage, Coastal Region

Third Course

Egyptian Stuffed Squab, Liver Pate, Prunes, and Dates

Spice Route Pinotage, Swartland

Fourth Course

Burundi-style Coffee Crusted Veal with Roasted Spring Baby Vegetables, and Ramp Emulsion

Side by Side tasting of Fairview Pinotage, Paarl

Dessert

Tasting of Seasonal Peaches Local and Beyond with a White Peach Sphere

Fairview La Beryl Blanc Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, Coastal

This event is limited to 40 guests. This event is a credit card guarantee, and there is a 3 day cancellation policy.

Wishing you Faith, Trust,and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Disney Addicts Tshirts, Decals & More

Chip

May 11, 2014

We’re pleased to announce that we have partnered with Disney Addicts T-shirts, Decals & More! Becky will be creating designs for the Chip & Co Store.

Becky enables the Disney Addict in us all! Who can resist just one more decal or one more t-shirt? We’ve included a few of her designs below. Don’t see the design you want, simply message Becky directly from her Facebook page or email [email protected]. She’s adding new designs every day.

Comment below to Welcome Disney Addicts T-shirts, Decals & More to the Chip & Co family. I can’t wait to place my order!

Do you have an idea for a new design? Please let us know.

Coming Soon: Sleeping Beauty on Blu-Ray and Digital HD

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 10, 2014

Sleeping Beauty is Awake and Coming Out of the Vault for the First Time on Diamond Edition Blu-ray™, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on October 7, 2014! Don’t Miss this Special Opportunity to Own a Disney Masterpiece! This Edition Includes 3 Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes and more!

Finally, Sleeping Beauty awakens from her slumber in the Disney Vault! One of Disney’s timeless princess stories, Sleeping Beauty will be available for the first time ever on Diamond Edition Blu-ray, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on October 7, 2014. Bring home all of the royal beauty and romance of this animated Disney Classic on Blu-ray. Sleeping Beauty now features for the first time on Digital HD with incredible high definition picture, crystal clear, sharp sound, and all-new Diamond Edition special features. Don’t miss your chance to add Sleeping Beauty to your Disney Classic collection!

Creating the ultimate at-home viewing experience, Disney’s 2-Disc Diamond Edition Blu-ray Superset (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) contains digitally restored picture and sound, a digital copy of the film, and a variety of magical new bonus features, including “Once Upon A Parade,” in which “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland tells us the tale of Walt Disney World’s new Festival Of Fantasy Parade, “Art of Evil: Generations Of Disney Villains,” a legacy piece spotlighting Disney’s favorite villain animator and Maleficent creator Marc Davis, and “@DisneyAnimation: Artists in Motion,” in which Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee goes through the process of creating a three dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper.

Additional all-new bonus features include never-before-seen deleted scenes “The Fair” (with Deleted Character The Vulture,) “The Curse is Fulfilled” and “Arrival Of Maleficent,” plus the Beauty-Oke sing-along to “Once Upon A Dream.” The Blu-ray Superset also includes classic DVD bonus features and more.

“Sleeping Beauty” tells the wondrous tale of a princess cursed by an evil fairy, protected by three loving fairies and, ultimately, saved by “true love’s kiss.” Featuring the voice talents of renowned opera singer Mary Costa as Sleeping Beauty and Disney stalwart Eleanor Audley as the evil fairy, Maleficent, the film’s vibrant visuals were created by a team that included Milt Kahl and Ollie Johnston, two of Disney’s legendary Nine Old Men and an Academy Award®-nominated score, 1959, adapted from the incandescent music of Peter Tchaikovsky. “Sleeping Beauty” is the sixteenth animated feature in the Disney animated features canon and was the last animated feature produced by Walt Disney to be based upon a fairy tale. It is the tenth film released as part of Disney’s prestigious Blu-ray Diamond Collection.

“Sleeping Beauty” awakens to spectacular new life in the following home entertainment formats, with new and classic bonus features included below:

Bonus Materials Overview for These Products:

2-Disc Blu-ray Superset with Digital Copy (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) and select Digital Retailers

Includes:

‘Once Upon A Parade’ (Starring Sarah Hyland) – Behind every attraction, event and parade at the Magic Kingdom is a unique story. Join Sarah Hyland from ABC’s “Modern Family” as she tells us the tale of Walt Disney World’s new Festival Of Fantasy Parade. This magical “in world” short film goes behind the scenes of the new parade and shows how the residents and characters of Fantasyland created this parade to tell their stories.
Art of Evil: Generations Of Disney Villains – This legacy piece spotlights Disney’s favorite villain animator, Marc Davis and his infamous creations of characters such as Maleficent and Cruella. Throughout the piece, we will talk to modern day animators like Andreas Deja and also the new generation of Animators (Lino DiSalvo Animation Director of FROZEN) on how Marc’s designs and characters influenced what they do today.
@DisneyAnimation: ARTISTS IN MOTION (Extended Edition) – Join Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee as she goes through the process of creating a three dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper. In this extended edition, go deeper into Britney’s process

Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes:

The Fair (With Deleted Character – The Vulture) – In this version of the story, the fairies do not take the Princess to live with them in the forest. Convinced that King Stefan’s order to burn all the spinning wheels in the kingdom will not prevent Maleficent’s curse, the good fairies put a magic circle around the castle and cast a spell: “No evil thing that walks or flies or creeps or crawls can ever pass these castle walls.”
The Curse is Fulfilled – The three good fairies have just returned Aurora to the castle and give her a crown. They leave the room to give Aurora some time alone…but Maleficent pays her a visit.
Arrival Of Maleficent (Alternate Scene) – Maleficent arrives uninvited to the christening of the Princess Aurora.
BEAUTY-OKE “Once Upon A Dream” – Sing along to this kinetic text video of Aurora’s signature song.

Classic DVD Bonus Features Include:

The Sound Of Beauty: Restoring A Classic – This featurette covers the creation of the 7.1 mix of the score of Sleeping Beauty that was done for Blu-ray, using the source tapes from the original recording sessions resulting in an audio experience of superior quality with greater detail and fidelity that you have ever heard before.
Picture Perfect: The Making Of Sleeping Beauty – Discover the behind-the-scenes magic that transformed a beloved fairy tale into a cinematic work of art. Legendary Animators, actors and film historians reveal the secrets behind Disney’s masterpiece.
Eyvind Earle: A Man And His Art – Early in his career, renowned American Artist Eyvind Earle worked as a background painter at the Walt Disney Studio. Walt Disney liked his work so much that he entrusted him with the assignment to be the Art Director for Sleeping Beauty. This was the first time that one artist was given the responsibility for the entire look on one of Disney’s animated features. This piece follows Earle’s development as an artist and his years at the Studio.
Audio Commentary by John Lasseter, Andreas Deja and Leonard Maltin

Bonus Materials Overview for These Products:

DVD Includes:

Never Before Seen Deleted Scenes:
The Fair (With Deleted Character – The Vulture) – In this version of the story, the fairies do not take the Princess to live with them in the forest. Convinced that King Stefan’s order to burn all the spinning wheels in the kingdom will not prevent Maleficent’s curse, the good fairies put a magic circle around the castle and cast a spell: “No evil thing that walks or flies or creeps or crawls can ever pass these castle walls.”
The Curse is Fulfilled – The three good fairies have just returned Aurora to the castle and give her a crown. They leave the room to give Aurora some time alone…but Maleficent pays her a visit.
Arrival Of Maleficent (Alternate Scene) – Maleficent arrives uninvited to the christening of the Princess Aurora.

Bonus Materials Overview for These Products:

Disney Movies Anywhere Includes:

Artists In Motion – Join Walt Disney Animation Visual Development artist Brittney Lee as she goes through the process of creating a three dimensional sculpture of Maleficent, completely out of paper.

Classic DVD Bonus Features –

Alternate Opening, Live Action Reference, and 4 Deleted Songs.

Disc Specifications:

Suggested Retail Pricing: 2-Disc Blu-ray Superset with Digital Copy (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) = $36.99 US / $40.99 CAN

DVD = $29.99 US / $32.99 CAN

Digital HD & SD = please check with your television provider or favorite digital retailer for pricing

Feature Run Time: Approximately 75 minutes

Rated:G in U.S. & Canada (Bonus materials are not rated)

Aspect Ratio: 2.55:1 formatted for 16×9 TV screens

Sound: Blu-ray: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio (English); 5.1 Disney Enhanced Home Theater Mix, Dolby® Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Languages: English, French and Spanish

Subtitles:English SDH, French and Spanish

To learn more visit:Our Facebook page @ www.Facebook.com/DisneySleepingBeauty

View videos at http://www.youtube.com/DisneyMovies

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 10, 2014

Disney’s upcoming movie, ALEXANDER and the Terrible, Horrible, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY is based on the book by one of my favorite children’s authors, Judith Viorst. The story is about a young boy of 11 named Alexander (played by Ed Oxenbould) who has one of those days. For Alexander, the day which goes from no good to very bad to terrible and ends in horrible, has him thinking he is the only one in the world who this is happening to. But, apparently it runs in the family because every one is having one of those days. Starting his bad day with a piece of gum stuck in his hair, Alexander moves from one disaster to another with no sympathy or understanding from his family. The family is too busy trying to deal with and take care of all the terrible, horrible things going on in each of their days.

The movie comes out October 10, 2014 and stars Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Dylan Minnette , Kerris Dorsey, Megan Mullally, Jennifer Coolidge, and Bella Thorne . Directed by Miguel Arteta and Produced by Shawn Levy, Lisa Henson and Dan Levine, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is destined to be another great movie for the Walt Disney Company. Don’t miss it in theatres this Fall.

Here’s a sneak peak video of some of the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad events of the day for Alexander’s family.

My name is Loretta Garcia and I am the entertainment writer for Chip and Company. I am also a Travel Agent with Destinations in Florida and happy to help you plan your next Amazing Magical Adventures to your favorite destinations. Email me today for more information or to reserve your trip. [email protected]

Walt Disney World fun facts

Chip

May 10, 2014

Here are some fun facts and information for the Walt Disney World Resort.

STATISTICS
Walt Disney World Resort is a contiguous, nearly 40-square-mile, world-class entertainment and recreation center featuring four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom); two water adventure parks (Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon); 36 resort hotels (26 owned and operated by Walt Disney World, includes eight Disney Vacation Club resort properties); 63 holes of golf on four courses; two full-service spas; Disney’s Wedding Pavilion; ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex; and Downtown Disney, an entertainment-shopping-dining complex. Walt Disney World Resort is also included in vacation packages of Disney Cruise Line.

Located at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., 20 miles southwest of Orlando, Walt Disney World Resort opened Oct. 1, 1971. Open daily, year-round.

EMPLOYMENT
There are nearly 70,000 Cast Members in Central Florida.

MAGIC KINGDOM
Opened Oct. 1, 1971, the first theme park at Walt Disney World Resort sits on 142 acres with the 189-feet-tall Cinderella Castle at its center. Similar to Disneyland in California, Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed lands — Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; New Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland. Popular attractions include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, “Mickey’s PhilharMagic”, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, The Hall of Presidents, Mad Tea Party, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Country Bear Jamboree, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid and Princess Fairytale Hall.

EPCOT
An ever-changing international and discovery showplace covering 305 acres.
Opened Oct. l, 1982.
Future World — Theme areas focusing on discovery and scientific achievements: Innoventions, Spaceship Earth (Siemens), Universe of Energy, Imagination!, The Land, The Seas with Nemo & Friends, Test Track Presented by Chevrolet, Mission: SPACE (HP).
World Showcase — Eleven nations surrounding World Showcase Lagoon: Canada, United Kingdom, France, Japan, The American Adventure, Italy, Germany, China, Mexico, Morocco, Norway.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
A working film, TV and radio studio as well as a theme park on 135 acres.Production facilities opened summer 1988. Entertainment facilities opened May 1989. Attractions include: “The American Idol Experience,” Toy Story Midway Mania!, “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show” (Brawny), Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, The Great Movie Ride, “Muppet*Vision 3-D”, “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!”, The Magic of Disney Animation, Studio Backlot Tour, “Beauty and the Beast-Live on Stage,” “Voyage of the Little Mermaid,” The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror, “Fantasmic!”, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (Hanesbrands Inc.), “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!,” Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream.

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
High adventures with real exotic animals, close encounters with prehistoric giants and warm, fuzzy moments with beloved Disney characters create unsurpassed fun. The Oasis entry garden welcomes guests into Disney’s fourth major theme park, which sprawls across 403 acres. Jungles, forests and a vast savanna are divided into four themed lands: Africa, DinoLand U.S.A., Discovery Island and Asia. Major attractions include: Expedition Everest, DINOSAUR, Kali River Rapids, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Primeval Whirl, “Festival of the Lion King,” “Finding Nemo-The Musical,” “It’s Tough to be a Bug!” and The Tree of Life. Opened April 22, 1998.

DOWNTOWN DISNEY:
Pleasure Island–Adjacent to Downtown Disney Marketplace, featuring signature dining options including Portobello, Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant and Fulton’s Crab House.
Marketplace–Disney’s waterside shopping village with more than two dozen shops including the World of Disney store, the largest Disney character merchandise showplace in the world, plus dining options such as Rainforest Café and T-Rex: A Prehistoric Family Adventure.
West Side–A lively dining and entertainment district including Cirque du Soleil La Nouba, DisneyQuest, the 24-screen AMC Downtown Disney 24 movie theater featuring Fork & Screen, House of Blues, Bongos Cuban Cafe, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, Planet Hollywood restaurant and Splitsville Luxury Lanes.

ESPN WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS COMPLEX
A 230-acre complex designed to accommodate professional-caliber training and competition, festival and tournament events and vacation-fitness activities in more than 30 individual and team sports. The complex includes a 7,500-seat baseball stadium and 5,500-seat fieldhouse. Annual events include Atlanta Braves spring training. First event: March 28, 1997.

THEMED RESORTS
36 resorts (including eight Disney Vacation Club properties) in a variety of price points featuring more than 30,000 hotel rooms; 3,293 DVC units; 799 campsites.
Disney’s Wilderness Cabins (from $270/night)
Disney’s Campsites (from $44/night)
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground (409 cabins/799 campsites).
Disney’s Value Resorts
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (864 rooms (from $94/night) /1,120 family suites (from $248/night), Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort (1,920 rooms), Disney’s All-Star Music Resort (1,704 rooms/215 family suites), Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort (1,920 rooms), Disney’s Pop Century Resort (2,880 rooms) (from $82/night).
Disney’s Moderate Resorts (from $149/night)
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-Riverside (2,048 rooms), Disney’s Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter (1,008 rooms), Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort (2,112 rooms), Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort (1,917 rooms).
Disney’s Deluxe Resorts (from $240/night)
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (972 rooms), Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (727 rooms), Disney’s Contemporary Resort (655 rooms), Disney’s Polynesian Resort (847 rooms), Disney’s Yacht Club Resort (621 rooms), Disney’s Beach Club Resort (576 rooms), Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (867 rooms) and Disney’s BoardWalk Inn (372 rooms).
Disney’s Deluxe Villa Resorts (from $275/night)
Disney’s Old Key West Resort (558 units), Disney’s BoardWalk Villas (282 units), The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (114 units), Disney’s Beach Club Villas (177 units), Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa (924 units), The Villas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (449 units), The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (106 units), Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort (295 units).
Official Hotels of Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Swan (756 rooms), Walt Disney World Dolphin (1,509 rooms), Buena Vista Palace (1,013 rooms), Regal Sun Resort (626 rooms), Doubletree Guest Suites Resort (229 rooms), The Hilton (814 rooms), Holiday Inn (323 rooms), Hotel Royal Plaza (394 rooms) and Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort Hotel (325 rooms). Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort (586 rooms) is a U.S. Armed Forces Recreation Center for vacationing servicemen and women from all branches of the armed forces.

CONVENTION FACILITIES
More than 600,000 square feet of modern meeting space located throughout the areas. Major function space is available at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Disney’s BoardWalk, Walt Disney World Dolphin, Walt Disney World Swan, Buena Vista Palace, The Hilton, Hotel Royal Plaza and Regal Sun Resort.

RECREATION
Three 18-hole championship golf courses and a nine-hole family-play course; Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water parks; Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland mini-golf courses; tennis courts; basketball courts; pools; lakes for swimming, boating, parasailing, water skiing and fishing; jogging paths; horseback riding; biking.

TRANSPORTATION
Monorail trains, ferryboats, launches and motorcoach shuttle service between all areas.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS:
For rooms in all hotels and villas within Walt Disney World Resort, call 407/W-DISNEY between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern time, or a local travel agent.

GUEST INFORMATION:
Walt Disney World Guest Information, P.O. Box 10,040, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040. Phone: 407/824-4321 or visit our home page at www.disneyworld.com.

Disney Reports More Record Profits

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 10, 2014

MyMagic+ is finally turning a big profit for Disney. Even though they say the cost of the program has still not totally been recouped.

According to Disney about three-quarters of their guests stay in a Disney Resort, and only one quarter of the guests have only just started using Fastpass+ last month.

“We are pleased with some of the changes in guest behavior and park dynamics we are already seeing,” Walt Disney Co. Chief Financial Officer Jay Rasulo told analysts during a conference call to discuss Disney’s fiscal second-quarter results.

Disney said they made a $1.9 billion profit for the period ending March 29. Total sales jumped 10 percent to $11.6 billion.

Oh but that is not all, at Disney’s parks-and-resorts division, operating profit jumped 19 percent to $457 million on sales that climbed 8 percent to $3.6 billion. Disney said the profits would have been higher if Easter had not arrived late this year.

Disney credits the big profit growth to higher ticket prices and more food and souvenir sales at Disney World. Also higher attendance at Disneyland.

“Because FastPass+, the ability to basically plan your day as it relates to top attractions in the park in advance, has had huge pickup by our guests, it allows a better distribution of guests around the park,” Rasulo said. “And quite often the amount of capacity we can let into the park is highly driven by pinch points and particular areas of the park that we don’t want to get too overcrowded. So when guests are better distributed around the park, we can let more in.”

Ensuring that visitors can visit the park they want on the day they want — even on the peak days of the year, also has a “huge enhancement” on the guest experience, Rasulo said.

Disney is also “looking at a variety of other things to add in Orlando,” Iger added. “So there’ll be plenty more that we put into the marketplace that will take advantage of any growth the marketplace has.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Eat to the Beat Concert Lineup for the 2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 10, 2014

The very popular, Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will be back September 19 – November 10. We just got word of this years Eat to the Beat Concert Lineup.

Check out the lineup:

Sept 19-21 – Jo Dee Messina

Sept. 22-23 – The Pointer Sisters

Sept. 24-25 – Rick Springfield

Sept. 26-27 – Christopher Cross

Sept. 28-29 – Hanson

Sept. 30-Oct. 2 – Air Supply

Oct. 3-5 – STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas

Oct. 6-8 – Sugar Ray

Oct. 9-10 – Fuel

Oct. 11-12 – Sister Hazel

Oct. 13-14 – TBD

Oct. 15-16 – Billy Ocean

Oct. 17-19 – Night Ranger

Oct. 20-22 – Smash Mouth

Oct. 23-24 – Jim Brickman

Oct. 25-26 – Los Lonely Boys

Oct. 27-28 – Wilson Phillips

Oct. 29-31 – Dennis DeYoung, original member of STYX

Nov. 1-2 – 38 Special

Nov. 3-5 – Boyz II Men

Nov. 6-7 – David Cook

Nov. 8-10 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

There are a few new acts coming this year, like Jo Dee Messina, Fuel and Los Lonely Boys. They are a welcome addition to the returning favorites.

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Walt Disney World Quick Tips – How to get Free Parking

Chip

May 10, 2014

Today’s quick tip is something many people overlook or forget about when planning their Walt Disney World vacation. The last time we drove down to Disneyworld I totally forgot this Quick Tip even though I have used it countless times in the past.

Here is today’s Quick Tip:

Besides the benefit of Extra Magic Hours or Free Disney Transportation for staying on Disney Property, if you stay at a Walt Disney World resort you also get Free Parking at any of the Parks.

Upon checking-in to your resort you will get a parking pass that grants you complimentary parking anywhere on Disney property, also your resort reservation will be linked to your MagicBand so that if you need to go to another resort it will also grant you entry and Free parking at all the resorts on Disney property. The guard will sometimes ask to scan your MagicBand for identification purposes. The parking pass comes in handy if you need to head back to your room for naps or want to travel off site to another park or restaurant. Also, if you are an Annual Pass or Premium Annual Passholder you also get complimentary parking at all DisneyParks and Resorts.

Pretty cool huh?

Oldies But Goodies – Seniors And The Walt Disney World Attractions

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 9, 2014

Magic Kingdom at night walt disney world 1753477 1119 1024 400x366

An attempt to label a number of attractions at Walt Disney World as “Best Of” for any group would be difficult but for Seniors, the task would be nearly impossible. Seniors tend to have many more variables than most groups because of the complications that may be brought on as we advance in maturity. Some of those complications/limitations were addressed in my first “Oldies But Goodies” article but when you involve the stresses and jarring of many of the attractions that our younger counterparts take for granted many of these limitations are amplified. For that reason I will not attempt to label anything as “Best Of” because what may be wonderful for some of us may put others of us into a life threatening situation.

Attractions at Walt Disney World vary in intensity from the Liberty Belle Riverboat (very benign) to the Orange Edition of Mission Space (ultra intense). The Liberty Belle would most likely not impact a Senior negatively while the Orange Mission Space version could possibly put many of us in the hospital. Personally, I have been lucky and consider nothing off limits including parasailing. It must be in my genes though because one of my fondest Walt Disney World memories is sharing my first ride on Space Mountain with my Father (his first also) when I was forty four and he was seventy eight!! I think he actually fared better than I did.

On any attraction that may pose a risk of any type, Disney posts cautions to consider before taking part. There is no sign that says “OLDIES BEWARE” but signs cautioning folks about heart conditions, back or neck issues, motion sensitivity (me), mobility, etc. abound. Based on the process of maturing, many of these issues are more prevalent among us than among younger folks. If you get nothing else from this article I would encourage both Seniors (us) and those who travel with us PLEASE pay attention to these warnings – they are there for a reason!! If one was to take a cynical view, one might think the warnings are there to help keep Disney from being sued and that certainly plays a part. I prefer to think that the Walt Disney Company truly cares for the health and well being of their guests and does not want to see any of them injured.

There is a book I would like to recommend that addresses the needs of travelers with what the book calls “extra challenges”. Even though the age specific portion of the book is fairly short, it addresses every attraction and the specific cautions for each including those for Seniors that are not directly related to health conditions but may occur as part of the maturing process. It is very well done and even though it was published in 2007 it is still very appropriate. It was written by Deb Wills and Debra Martin Koma, both familiar names to those of us who are psycho Disney fans. The book is called Passporter’s Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line. It has been in my library since it first became available. It is published by PassPorter Travel Press and is available from their website, Amazon, etc.

I have mentioned this before, but as Seniors, it is primarily our responsibility to make sure that we do not expose ourselves to potential illness or injury while visiting Walt Disney World. These things can happen if one tries to do too much in short periods of time (commando touring), does not pay attention to the effects of heat and/or dehydration (a real biggie), or unnecessarily expose ourselves to potential problems by ignoring the cautions posted by Disney. Remember, if you are in your sixties, seventies, or eighties please don’t try to emulate your twenty and thirty year old traveling companions while visiting. A very wise person once told me something and I will remember it for as long as I live – “Age and Experience will out do youth and enthusiasm every time”. If you are traveling with one of us who may have some cognitive issues, a significant portion of that responsibility can shift to you. Accept it gladly and use it to enhance your visit.

To finish up I’ll just name my three favorite attractions in each park. I will not include things like fireworks and Fantasmic! because most of us love those.

Magic Kingdom – Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and The Jungle Cruise

Epcot – Future World – Mission Space (Green version), Test Track, and the Epcot Character Spot

Epcot – World Showcase – Reflections of China, The American Adventure Show, Impressions de France, and O! Canada (sorry – had to slip a fourth in there)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Festival of the Lion King, Finding Nemo – The Musical, and Dinosaur

Disney’s Hollywood Studios – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n Roller Coaster with Aerosmith, and Toy Story Midway Mania (love it, love it, love it)

Extra Special Favorite – Para-sailing over Bay Lake at Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre

As you can see, my personal favorites run from the “ridiculous to the sublime” and I plan on enjoying everything I love as long as I am able. You can rest assured though, if issues develop for me that are addressed by the caution warnings, I will heed them and find some new, more age appropriate favorites.

Why Doesn’t Epcot Have Any Parades?

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 9, 2014

As you probably know, there are currently no parades at Epcot. There hasn’t been a parade at the park in years. In fact, since Epcot opened in 1982 there has only been a handful of parades at the park.

When EPCOT Center first opened on October 1st, 1982, guests were treated to the very short-lived World Showcase Parade. This parade featured hundreds of dancers, costumed characters, and musicians. The cast made their way around World Showcase while the parade’s theme song “There’s No Place Like World Showcase” played. Unfortunately, this parade was only performed a few times.

In the 1980s, the Disney imagineers were in the process of planning a new parade for Epcot. The parade would have been called Festival of Nations and would have taken place around World Showcase Lagoon; however, the Festival of Nations parade never came into being.

In June of 1984, EPCOT Center hosted WorldFest. This year long celebration included the sharing of traditions, celebrations, and entertainment from the countries around World Showcase.

As part of the millennium celebration, Epcot debuted a new parade in October 1999. This new parade, called Tapestry of Nations, featured large elaborate puppets designed by Michael Curry, who also designed the puppets for the Broadway version of The Lion King. The puppets created for this parade included a Bird Man, Aztec Man, my personal favorite the Disc Man, and many more. The Tapestry of Nations parade featured three separate parade sections. They ran from Mexico to Germany, Germany to Morocco, and Morocco to the United Kingdom. Each of these three parade sections took place at the same time.

Tapestry of Nations was originally scheduled to end on December 31st, 2000; however, due to the popularity of the parade, it continued until September 9th, 2001. The parade returned on September 24th, 2001 as the Tapestry of Dreams parade. All of the references to the millennium had been removed. This new version of the parade was just as spectacular as the original. It ran until March 1st, 2003.

There have not been any new parades at Epcot since Tapestry of Dreams ended in 2003. Perhaps it’s the mile long parade route around World Showcase that has kept the imagineers from designing a new Epcot parade. Or perhaps it’s the fact that many of the World Showcase countries have special activities such as the Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corp. and the Mariachi Cobre which take place outdoors at the various pavilions. While the true reason for the lack of parades at Epcot is unclear, we can only hope that at some point in the near future the imagineers might design another stunning parade celebrating the nations of the world.

Do you remember any of the past Epcot parades? Let us know your favorite in the comments below!

Walt Disney Records Announces The Legacy Collection

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 9, 2014

Walt Disney Records has a newly created line of collectible CD’s, Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection. It will celebrate the anniversaries of Disney’s most cherished and classic properties that have been enchanting audiences for generations. Through 2015, Walt Disney Records will celebrate 12 anniversaries including “Pinocchio” (75th), “Fantasia” (75th), “Cinderella” (65th), “Lady and the Tramp” (60th), “Sleeping Beauty” (55th), “Mary Poppins” (50th), “The Lion King” (20th) and “Toy Story” (20th), among others.

To honor these musical landmarks, Walt Disney Records The Legacy Collection will feature the beloved original soundtracks, plus valuable documentary content that tells the story behind the music. Each album will feature newly created artwork from Lorelay Bove, a visual development artist at Walt Disney Animation Studios (“Tangled,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “Wreck-It Ralph”). The illustrations, inspired by the original properties, will celebrate Disney’s rich heritage and create a unified look for the entire collection.

The first release in the series is The Lion King, a two-disc set featuring the original motion picture soundtrack, 30 minutes of previously unreleased score, plus liner notes by Don Hahn (producer) and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. Track list follows:

Disc One

1. “Circle of Life/ Nants’ Ingonyama” Performed by Carmen Twillie, African Vocals Performed by Lebo M 2. “Didn’t Your Mother Tell You Not to Play With Your Food” Score 3. “We Are All Connected” Score 4. “Hyenas in the Pride Land” Score 5. “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” Performed by Jason Weaver with Rowan Atkinson and Laura Williams 6. “Elephant Graveyard” Score 7. “I Was Just Trying to Be Brave” Score 8. “Be Prepared” Performed by Jeremy Irons with Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin and Jim Cummings 9. “Simba, It’s to Die For” Score 10. “Stampede” Score 11. “Mufasa Dies” Score 12. “If You Ever Come Back We’ll Kill You” Score 13. “Bowling for Buzzards” Score 14. “Hakuna Matata” Performed by Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella with Jason Weaver and Joseph Williams 15. “We Gotta Bone to Pick With You” Score 16. ” Kings of the Past” Score 17. “Nala, Is It Really You?” Score 18. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” Performed by Joseph Williams and Sally Dworsky with Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella and Kristle Edwards 19. ” Remember Who You Are” Score 20. ” This Is My Home” Score 21. ” The Rightful King” Score

Disc Two

1. “The Morning Report” Performed by James Earl Jones, Jeff Bennett and Evan Saucedo 2. “Warthog Rhapsody” Performed by Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella 3. “We Are All Connected” Score Demo 4. “I Was Just Trying to Be Brave” Score Demo 5. “Stampede” Score Demo 6. “Mufasa Dies” Score Demo 7. “This Is My Home” Score Demo 8. “The Rightful King” Score Demo 9. “Circle of Life” InstrumentalDemo 10. “Circle of Life” Performed by Elton John 11. “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” Performed by Elton John 12. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (End Title) Performed by Elton John

Members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will get a chance to hear some of the music before it’s released during the D23 Disney Fanniversary Celebration roadshow, which will tour the country later this year, and D23 Members have the opportunity to purchase the complete collection with a special set of exclusive lithographs at a special price.

The release schedule for Walt Disney The Legacy Collection follows:

The Legacy Collection 2014:

The Lion King 20th 6/24/14

Mary Poppins 50th 8/26/14

Sleeping Beauty 55th 10/7/14

The Little Mermaid 25th 11/17/14

The Legacy Collection 2015:

Fantasia 75th 1/3/15

Pinocchio 75th 2/3/15

Toy Story 20th 3/17/15

Disneyland 60th 4/7/15

Lady and the Tramp 60th 5/12/15

Pocahontas 20th 6/23/15

Aristocats 45th 8/14/15*

Cinderella 65th 8/14/15*

*First to Market at D23

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Million Dollar Arm Movie Preview

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

May 9, 2014

The Million Dollar Arm movie media preview was hosted by Walt Disney Studios in Beverly Hills this weekend.

The previews and limited information I had led me to believe the movie would be about the game of baseball and how sports agent JB Bernstein finds hidden talent in India. The movie is about all that but so much more. It is the story of how 2 young men with no knowledge of baseball, are signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates 10 months after touching a baseball for the first time. It is about the special relationship between JB and the boys and how “families” and strong bonds can develop and grow in unexpected circumstances. But most of all it is about the fact that the old fashioned traditions of hard work, commitment and support of your “family” will always be important in the quest for success.

Million Dollar Arm begins with JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) and his partner, Aash (Aasif Mandvi) rehearsing for a meeting with a top football player, they hope to sign. The deal falls through and short on money and with his career going downhill fast, JB comes up with the idea of a reality show competition called Million Dollar Arm. A competition where youngsters can come and try out with the hopes of willing a million dollar prize for the best pitcher. JB travels to India where the game of Cricket is the popular sport and few have ever played or even heard of Baseball. JB believes the next great pitching ace will be found in this untapped location. Along with 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. After a rocky start, JB finds two potential rookies. Dinesh (played by Madhur Mittal – Slumdog Millionaire) and Rinku (played by Suraj Sharma – Life of PI), two 18 yr olds, who not only don’t know how to play baseball but have never ventured far from their village and family in India. They can however, throw an amazing pitch. During the competition finals, Rinku wins and along with Dinesh, is recruited by JB to come to the United States and try out for the pros.

After arriving in America and moving in with JB, the boys go through some hard times adjusting and learning about life in the US. As part of JB’s plans to make the boys into ball players, he recruits Tom House (Bill Paxton) a former big league pitcher turned coach. House uses his unique and somewhat strange coaching lessons to help the boys learn the sport. However, the lack of experience and techniques make teaching a challenge.

JB’s tenant, Brenda (Lake Bell) also plays a key role in helping the boys, develop the life skills necessary to survive the drastic changes they have experienced and helps JB realize the boys are not just an investment but have become family who must work together to succeed.

The original goal JB had was to take rookies with little or no baseball knowledge and prepare them for try outs with a profession team within one year. After disastrous try outs with most of the major league recruiters present, JB is able to set up one last chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The subsequent events that lead up to the movie’s successful ending is a true testament to the incredible skills, hard work and dedication not only by the 2 young men, but by all the supporting “family” members that become a part of their lives.

Don’t miss this incredible heartwarming movie, coming to theatres near you on May 16, 2014. Starring Jon Hamm, Assif Mandvi, Bill Paxton, Suraj Sharma, Madhur Mittal, Lake Bell and Alan Arkin. Produced by Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray and Joe Roth.

1...4,4194,4204,421...5,491 Page 4,420 of 5,491