Magicbands will Soon be a Reality for Annual Passholders at Disney World

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March 4, 2014

It has been reported by WDWMagic.com that as soon as the middle of this month annual passholders will get to customize and order their Magicbands. FINALLY!

Recently Disney has been testing Magicbands with a few select Annual Passholders, well I guess that testing went well because Magicbands will soon be a reality for AP’s.

It is said they will start being sent out in late March. Annual Passholders will be able to make Fastpass+ reservations in advance, just like resort guests. Hopefully that means you can use the My Disney Experience App and not the Fast Pass+ Kiosks. Have you seen the lines for the Kiosk Stations? They are ridiculous!

I have heard even if you already have a Magicband from a resort stay, if you are Annual Passholder you will still get a new band when the full roll-out happens.

I hope we get the Passholder 2014 slider, am I the only one?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

“Frozen” Wins for Best Animated Feature

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 4, 2014

In case you have not heard “Frozen” won an Oscar Sunday night for Best Animated Feature. I knew it would! See below for a special live performance by Idina Menzel of “Let it Go” on the Tonight Show!

“Frozen” had some stiff competition, the most amazing movie of the year was up against, The Croods, Despicable Me 2, “Ernest & Celestine”; and “The Wind Rises. I love Despicable Me, but it is no “Frozen”.

“Frozen” tells us the story of an ice princess and her sister. The movie also features the amazing voice of Idina Menzel, along with Josh Gad and Kristen Bell. It’s kind of based on the 19th century classic Hans Christian Andersen fairytale, “The Snow Queen,”

Speaking Of Idina, her amazing voice helped “Frozen” win Best Song also last night. Didn’t you love Kristen’s excitement when they won the award?

You can go here to check out her performance of “Let it Go” from The Oscars last night. Or you can watch her sing on the Tonight Show!

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sushine

More Winter Storms – More Spring Discounts for Disney, Universal and More

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 4, 2014

Another round of winter storms are hitting parts of the country and that means we are going to look at another round of spring discounts. Escape the cold with a last minute trip or plan a future vacation and dream of escaping to Walt Disney World, Orlando and the surrounding areas.

Disney Discounts

Disneyland® Resort

Ending Soon! Save Up to 25% on Rooms at a Disneyland® Resort Hotel: Save up to 25% on rooms at a Disneyland Hotel most Sunday through Thursday nights through April 10, 2014. Book by March 6, 2014.

Walt Disney World^® Resort

New! Free Day to Play at the Disney Theme Parks: Buy 6 or more tickets for your family or friends with the 4-Day, 5-Day, 6-Day, 7-Day, 8-Day, or 9-Day tickets and you will get an extra day free. Imagine another day to ride Splash Mountain or another day to get pictures with Mickey Mouse! If you are visiting together, order your tickets together to save money! Must book by June 14.
Free Memory Maker to Cherish Your Disney World Moments: Imagine capturing your favorite pictures from your Disney World vacation! You can do that with Disney’s Memory Maker. Book a package from August 15-September 30 for at least 3 nights with 2-Day tickets and get the new Memory Maker free. Prices start from just $899 plus tax for a family of 3 at a Disney Value Resort.
Save up to 30% on Rooms at Select Walt Disney World® Resort Hotels: Savings apply for stays most nights March 14, 2014 – April 12, 2014 and April 20, 2014 – June 15, 2014. Upgrade to a room and ticket package with a minimum 4-day Magic Your Way Ticket and get one more ticket day FREE! Visit Destinations in Florida for more details.
Florida Resident Rates: Florida Residents can take advantage of great rates on rooms at select Disney Resorts hotels for stays through May 29, 2014. Plan a winter getaway to Disney or a Spring Break trip to the Disney Water Parks. Book today with this incredible deal, just for Florida Residents.
Military Discount: Active duty and retired members of the US military can get specially discounted rooms at Disney Resort most nights through September 27^th, 2014. Thank you for serving our country.

Aulani Hawaii

Get up to a $500 Room Credit to Spend During Your Visit: Book a 1 or 2-Bedroom Villa from April 23-June 16, 2014 and receive up to a $500 resort credit for a 4-Night vacation. Book a Deluxe Studio or regular room for 4 nights and receive a $400 resort credit.

Disney Cruise Line®

Special Rates for Florida Residents and US Military: Take advantage of special deals from $135 per person per night plus tax/port charges for Florida Residents and active/retired United States Military. Special cruises are available for select dates in February.
Last Minute Restricted Deals: If you are flexible about the location of your stateroom and willing to book last minute you may be able to save BIG! Disney offers Restricted Guarantee rooms 15-60 days before departure dates, sometimes just a few days before departure. These are very restricted and with many rules, but if you are not picky you can save up 40%.
Canadian Resident Deal: If you are a Canadian Resident, you can enjoy 20% off select rates on the May 24, 2014 Alaska sailing departing from Vancouver, Canada. Take advantage of this special deal, just for you!

Universal Orlando Resort Discounts

4th Night and 3rd Day Free: Book a Universal Partner hotel for 3 nights with a 2 Day Base ticket and receive your 4th night and 3rd day at the parks for FREE!
Save up to $500 on your Universal Package: Stay at one of the Universal Hotels including Cabana Bay Hotel, Royal Pacific Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Portofino Bay Hotel with tickets and save up to $500 on your package. Now is the time to visit the movies at the Universal Orlando Resort.
Universal 1-Day or 2-Day Pass with Shuttle Transportation for 2014: Take a day away from the Disney World Parks to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Book a 1-Day or 2-Day Pass to Universal Studios with shuttle transportation included in the ticket. This special ticket is only available with select companies including Destinations in Florida.
“Take 2” Transfer: If you do not want to rent a car during your Orlando vacation, take advantage of the new “Take 2” Transfer ticket for only $39 per person. This transfer includes transportation from a Disney Resort hotel to Universal Orlando Resort for a Universal Studios vacation. After your Universal vacation, the transportation takes you back to the Orlando International Airport.

Sea World Discounts

Expedition Antarctica at SeaWorld®: Experience the Freeze! Package includes free Quick Queue (front-of-the-line) at SeaWorld’s Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin™, dining at the Expedition Café, a free photo and a third hotel night FREE!

Orlando Attraction Ticket Discounts

Kids Eat Free Card: Save money on over 100 different restaurants in Orlando from the quick serve restaurants like McDonald’s to sit down restaurants like Nascar Cafe at Universal CityWalk. Purchase the Kids Eat Free Card and receive a free child’s meal with any adult meal at select restaurants. Click here for more details and to purchase this special card.
Kennedy Space Center Tickets: Pre-order your tickets to Kennedy Space Center and save money with special prices. Experience the Space Shuttle Atlantis, US Astronaut Hall of Fame, and more; just an hour from Orlando. Click here to more details and to purchase tickets.

Book your family memories today with Destinations in Florida!

Don’t plan on traveling yourself, but know someone that will, don’t forget about our referral program. At DIF we offer personalized travel planning, lots of extras and fun just for you! Call me at 832-233-4468,check out my page, here, or email me at [email protected] and we can get started on making me your personal travel assistant for free!

OPI Nail Lacquer Releases Muppets Most Wanted Collection

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2014

It’s time to get your manamana-manicure on! That’s right! OPI Nail Lacquer and Disney are teaming up to provide a new collection of Muppet inspired polishes (you might remember the 2011 Muppet Holiday collection). This collection features 8 new shades (featuring sparkling, shimmering, and glittery textures and even some gel based polishes!). You guys know me and my beauty addictions. Let’s talk about these awesome colors!

Here’s the official press release:

With an all-star cast including Kermit the Frog, Constantine, Ricky Gervais, Miss Piggy, Ty Burrell, Tina Fey and the whole Muppet gang, this family comedy is directed by James Bobin and written by Bobin and Nicholas Stoller. Muppets Most Wanted opens in theaters on March 21, 2014.

“The Muppets are a fun-loving, colorful cast of characters. These eight new nail lacquers were inspired by their latest adventures in Disney’s Muppets Most Wanted, which include a glamorous international stage tour – and lots of surprises,” explains Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, OPI Co-Founder & Executive VP. “Fashionable Miss Piggy is represented through soft pink, peach and pearlescent hues, as well as a frosty sapphire blue – Miss Piggy’s Big Number – to match her fabulous tour gown. The remaining four shades highlight the film’s unexpected elements and include a color-shifting mauve and three sparkle-packed lacquers – including my personal favorite Gaining Mole-mentum, a gold and rose chunky shredded glitter.”

Here are the color descriptions:

Muppets World Tour: White quartz in clear coat with colorful sparkles.

Miss Piggy’s Big Number: An electric sapphire blue.

Kermit me to Speak: An awesome mauvey, browny, greeny, duochrome!

Gaining Mole-Mentum: Shredded gold and chunky pink glitter in a clear coat.

Chillin’ Like a Villain: A sheer nude with orange undertones. Color builds to opaque with a few coats

I Love Applause: A sheer soft pink. Color builds to opaque with a few coats

Let’s do Anything we Want: A Rose gold glitter with white confetti in a clear coat.

Int’l Crime Caper: An opalescent pearl polish that isn’t quite sheer.

Each of these polishes features OPI’s Prowide Brush for awesome application! Polishes can be purchased individually as well as in a set of mini polishes and 4 of these colors will be available in the gel format. I can’t wait to get my hands on thesm! I can’t wait to see what possibilities I can come up with as I pair up the clear coats over the more opaque shades! As for me and this collection…I’m gonna scoop themuppet! Waka waka! (Sorry, couldn’t resist a pun). Polishes are available to own March 2014!

Thanks for reading and commenting!

See ya real soon,

Ashley

Columbus Crew Claim 2014 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic Title

By

Chip

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March 3, 2014

The Columbus Crew’s high-powered offense proved too much for Sporting KC, the defending MLS Cup champions. The Crew jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first period, and never relinquished their advantage after halftime, putting up three more goals before Sporting KC scored its first and only goal of the night to avoid being shutout.

The Crew arrived at the championship match after defeating Toronto FC and Philadelphia Union during the first two days of pool play, before tying with Orlando City SC 4-4 on the final day of pool play.

In 2013, the Crew faced the Montreal Impact in the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic title game, but came up short in a 1-0 loss.

The day featured a full lineup of action, beginning with a matchup between the Fluminense FC U23 team and Toronto FC. Fluminense FC scored 4 goals after being blanked throughout the previous three days of competition to beat Toronto FC with a final score of 4-2.

Philadelphia Union and the 2013 Disney Pro Soccer classic champions, Montreal Impact played next in a highly-contested match, ending the 90 minutes of regulation with a 1-1 tie before going into penalty kicks. Philadelphia Union edged out Montreal Impact 4-1 in kicks to win the match 2-1 (4-1 PK).

The third match featured hometown favorite Orlando City SC squaring off against the New York Red Bulls, the 2014 MLS regular season champions. The match featured thrilling offense in the second period, with six total goals scored during the 45 minutes, eventually resulting in a 4-4 tie. Orlando City SC will return to the ESPN Wide World of Sports on March 29 to open its 2014 home season schedule.

2014 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic Tournament Records:

Columbus Crew 3-0-1
Sporting KC 3-1-0
New York Red Bulls 2-1-1
Orlando City SC 0-0-4
Philadelphia Union 1-1-2
Montreal Impact 1-3-0
Fluminense FC 1-3-0
Toronto FC 0-2-2

Dates announced for 5th annual Food and Wine Classic at Swan and Dolphin Resort

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2014

What do you get when you put amazing food, wine from around the world, entertainment, and all you want for one low price? Well today the Swan and Dolphin Resort announced the dates for the 5th annual Food and Wine Classic. This year culinary artistry, fine wines, and celebrity chef meet and greets will be the highlight of this festival, which will be held on Friday, October 31, and Saturday Nov. 1, 2o14!

The outdoor festival will include food and beverage seminars, food and wine tastings and live music. Seminars will be led by the hotel’s chefs and certified beverage experts, while the hotel’s award-winning restaurants will showcase signature culinary selections to pair with tastings from more than 30 wineries.

Celebrity Chef Todd English will be in attendance to meet and greet with guests. English is a renowned restaurateur who has gained national acclaim through his line of restaurants and cookbooks, and other food-related enterprises. Todd English’s bluezoo is located in the hotel and features fresh seafood in a vibrant atmosphere.

With 17 restaurants and lounges, and a distinguished culinary and beverage team, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel continually earns national recognition for its food and beverage program. The hotel features more than 70 certified wine sommeliers and 1,400 wine selections.

Tickets to the Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic are currently available as part of a hotel package or individually. For more information or to book, please visit www.SwanDolphinFoodandWineClassic.com or call 1-800-227-1500.

Enter Disney Side of Summer Sweepstakes

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2014

Disney is giving away an amazing trip to Disney World AND Disneyland. Share with them how you will be showing your “Disney Side” and you could win a 7 day trip for 4 worth over $11,500.

Details:

This contest is currently open to residents of US and Canada.

It ends March 31, 2014.

You can enter once a day.

The Grand Prize:

A 7 day trip for 4 to Disney World and then immediately after to Disneyland from May 20, 2014 to May 26, 2014.

The grand prize includes:

Hotel
Airfare
4-Day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper and Water Park option.
The services of a Disney VIP Tour Guide for eight hours on May 23, 2014
Airfare to Disneyland
Ground Transportation
4-Day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper tickets, the services of a Disney VIP Tour Guide for eight hours on one day at Disneyland Resort
And a whopping $800 Disney gift card

Check out the rues here and enter here!

To enter you have to follow either @WaltDisneyWorld or @Disneyland on Twitter.

Good Luck!

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust,

Sunshine

2014 Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend Details

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 3, 2014

The dates for the 5th Anniversary of Disney’s Wine and Dine Half Marathon weekend has been announced. You can join in the celebration November 8th -11th with something special for all ages. For the Half Marathon, Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K, or the runDisney Kids Races there is something for all ages, including plenty of on course Disney entertainment. For the perfect nightcap to the amazing night time run, top off the evening at the exclusive Finish Line Party at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. From runDisney….

Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon

Saturday, November 8, 2014

10:00 p.m.

Start: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Finish: Epcot®

Run under the stars through three spectacular Disney Parks!

Celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the perfect runner’s night out! Here’s your chance to run a nighttime half marathon in the most magical place on earth, the Walt Disney World® Resort. Your half marathon will take you through three breathtakingly beautiful, night-lit Disney theme parks with Disney entertainment on hand to delight and entertain you on your star-lit run. Then top your evening run off at our exclusive Finish Line Party at the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival where you’ll enjoy mouthwatering food and fabulous wines.

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Highlights:

13.1-mile course through Walt Disney World® Theme Parks
Disney Characters and Entertainment on-course
Event Weekend Transportation for Walt Disney World® Guests staying at Event Host Resorts
Family Reunion Area with entertainment and characters
Exclusive after hours Finish Line Party at the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival for participants

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon participants will receive:

Champion® Long-Sleeved Tech Shirt in Women’s or Men’s Cut*
Commemorative Finisher medal*
Official Digital Event Guide*
iGiftBag
Personalized bib* (Must register by August 1, 2014 for name to appear on bib)
$10 Disney Gift Card
On-course and Post-Race refreshments
ChronoTrack B-tag timed race with live runner tracking signup for friends and family
Personalized results website
Access to the exclusive after hours Finish Line Party at the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival

Dates, times and prices subject to change. All races are subject to capacity limits and may close at any time before the percentage can be updated.

* Participants must attend Packet Pick-up at Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo to receive their race packet, bib, and tech shirt. Finisher medals will be distributed to finishers during the race. None of these items will be mailed to registrants.

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K

Saturday, November 8, 2014

7:00 a.m.

Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

Join a family run on the “wild side” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park!

Come on out for Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K and run on the wild side in Disney’s breathtaking Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. It’s the perfect family adventure and a great warm up to the Half Marathon! You’ll run past amazing sites, scenery, and some exotic animals as you follow the course that winds its way through the park. And there’ll be plenty of extra fun along the way with special Disney entertainment. Beginners, intermediates, and even experienced runners are all invited to join the fun.

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K Highlights:

5K course through Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Disney Characters and entertainment on-course
Event Weekend Transportation from the Event Host Resorts

Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon participants will receive:

5K Unisex T-shirt*
5K Finisher medallion
Official Digital Event Guide*
iGift bag
Personalized bib (Must register by August 1, 2014 for name to appear on bib)
On-course and post-race refreshments

* Participants must attend Packet Pick-up at Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo to receive their race packet, bib, and T-shirt. Finisher medallions will be distributed to finishers at the completion of the race. None of these items will be mailed to registrants.

Dates, times and prices subject to change. All races are subject to capacity limits and may close at any any time before the percentage can be updated.

runDisney Kid’s Races

Saturday, November 8, 2014
Dashes – 10:00 a.m.
1-Mile Run – 10:45 a.m.

Location: New Balance Track & Field Complex

Every runner goes home a winner in the runDisney Kids Races!

Children 13 and under are invited to participate in the runDisney Kids Races taking place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Track & Field Complex on Saturday, November 8, during the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. Each runner who participates will go home with their very own Finisher Medallion! Encourage your youngster to join the fun and sign up for any of the Kids Dashes or the One Mile Run. There’s even a Diaper Dash for crawlers! Space is limited.

Parents are allowed to run with their children. The event will follow a rolling start beginning with the 100m dash followed by the 200m, 400m and Diaper Dash. The One Mile will have a separate start location and time. All distances will utilize the same finish location.

runDisney Kids Dashes Age Groups

12 months and under – Diaper Dash for crawlers
1-3 years old – 100m dash
4-6 years old – 200m dash
7-8 years old – 400m dash
One Mile Run – Open to all children 13 years old & under

runDisney Kids Dashes participants will receive:

runDisney Kids Races T-shirt*
Finisher Medallion*
iGiftBag
Personalized bib (Must register by August 1, 2014 for name to appear on bib)*
Post-race refreshments

One Mile Run participants will receive:

runDisney Kids Races T-shirt*
Finisher Medallion*
iGiftBag
Personalized bib (Must register by August 1, 2014 for name to appear on bib)*
Post-race refreshments
Mile Run Finisher Certificate
ChronoTrack B-tag timed race

Dates, times and prices subject to change. Some Kids Races’ event categories may fill up before others. Races are subject to capacity limits and can close at any time before the percentage can be updated.

* Participants must attend Packet Pick-up at Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo to receive their race packet, bib, and t-shirt. Finisher medallions will be distributed to finishers after the race. None of these items will be mailed to registrants.

Disney Health and Fitness Expo

10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2014
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8, 2014

Location: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

Your one-stop destination for everything race-related!

Headquarters for everything you need to prepare for race weekend is at Disney Health & Fitness Expo at Disney Wide World of Sports Complex. ALL RUNNERS must attend the Expo for race number and packet pick-up. You’ll also be able to check out the newest Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Merchandise, and get a sneak peek at the latest in apparel and fitness equipment. The Expo features a Speaker Series that includes appearances by celebrity runners and seminars on training, racing, and nutrition.

Disney Wine and Dine Pre-Race Taste

Friday, November 7, 2014 Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Location: Lights, Motors, Action!® Extreme Stunt Show® inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

Start off your 2014 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend by joining us for the Pre-Race Taste at the Lights, Motors, Action!® Extreme Stunt Show®. This event is a great way to relax and be entertained before your big race. Space is limited, so make sure you purchase your tickets early.

Disney Wine & Dine Pre-Race Taste*

$79 (ages 3 and up)
Children under 3 do not need a ticket

Disney Wine & Dine Pre-Race Taste will feature:

Early entry into Disney’s Hollywood Studios® at 6:00 p.m.
Private party at Lights, Motors, Action!® Extreme Stunt Show®
Four tastes from the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival
One “signature sip” drink coupon
Cash bar
Disney character meet & greets

*Tickets are non-refundable. Menu options subject to change without notice. Disney Wine & Dine Pre-Race Taste Party is subject to availability. Children under 3 do not need to purchase a Pasta in the Park Party Ticket.

To make a special dietary request, please contact us at [email protected].

Finish Line Party

10:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 8 – 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 9, 2014

After-hours Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival

Location: Epcot®

Celebrate a race well run at an exclusive Finish Line Party with great food and fabulous wines!

You’ve run the Half Marathon! Now it’s time to celebrate with your exclusive entry to the Finish Line Party at the Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival. Your race registration includes access to this extraordinary celebration which includes entry to over 25 Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival kiosks, access to favorite Epcot® attractions, Character Meet & Greets, musical performances, entertainment and a live DJ!

Friends, family and spectators are invited to purchase Finish Line Party tickets to attend the Finish Line Party and celebrate with their favorite runner. Tickets for friends and family can be purchased on the Registration Tab!

Disney Wine & Dine After Hours Finish Line Party Ticket Includes:

Early entry into Epcot® at 7:00 p.m.
Access to over 25 Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival kiosks
Select Epcot® attractions
Character Meet & Greets
Musical performances, entertainment and a live DJ
Live viewing of the race start and finish

Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival:

The Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival is an autumn special event that transforms Epcot® into a food and wine lover’s paradise with specialty food items, culinary events, wine seminars and live musical entertainment. More than 25 international marketplace kiosks are serving up tapas-sized portions of regional specialties. Explore countries on 6 continents through their most mouthwatering foods and beverages!

Guests can purchase specially priced tickets in advance through the runDisney online ticket store or by calling (407)-939-iRUN.

Offer and Disney Wine & Dine Finish Line Party elements, including but not limited to participating locations, entertainment, and attractions, are subject to availability, change, and additional restrictions, and may change or be canceled without notice. Limited country pavilions, entertainment and attractions will be available due to Epcot® closing at 9:00 p.m. for day guests. Tickets may sell out before percentages and website are updated.

We have discounted rooms available for the weekend and don’t forget to check out our new Chip and Co Run Disney Addicts page, for more information on this race and others. At DIF we offer personalized travel planning, lots of extras and fun just for you! Call me at 832-233-4468,check out my page, here, or email me at [email protected] and we can get started on making me your personal travel assistant for free!

Sneak Peek of ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ in New ABC Special

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 2, 2014

ABC is getting ready to air a new Marvel special, ‘Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe’, which will premiere on the Alphabet Network on March 18, 2014, at 8:00pm/9:00pm central.

The hour long special is said to give us an inside look at Marvel’s film studio, while giving us a new footage from ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’, ABC’s ‘Agents of SHILED’, and our first look at ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2012 blockbuster, ‘The Avengers’.

This is great news for fans new and old of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so I’m excited to see how this special comes together. I’m definitely interested in the ‘Age of Ultron’ tease they’re talking about. The movie is just beginning to shoot, so it’ll be very interesting to see what they bring us.

Top 10 Walt Disney World Must Do’s

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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March 2, 2014

Have you ever tried to narrow a trip to Disney World down to your Top Ten Must Do items? Wow, it’s harder than you would think! I have no idea how Staci does it on her Walt Disney World in Room TV show. Here is my attempt at narrowing down my list to just 10 items. See if you agree with me…

1. Dumbo the Flying Elephant – I mean, you have to. It’s iconic and symbolizes all things Disney. There is even a Dumbo car at the Smithsonian in Washington DC. Have you seen it? I am so glad Dumbo now has 2 sides and a fun play area.

2. Disney World Mountain Coasters – Ok, I am going to cheat a little here – the “Mountains” at Magic Kingdom – Splash, Thunder, and Space. They are the trifecta of rides. You must do them all. Which one if your favorite Mountain Coaster?

3. The Festival of the Lion King – this show gives me chills everytime. They always have some amazing singers that can really belt out that first… Nants ingonyama bagithi baba from the Circle of Life song. Yep, I had to look it up. Don’t forget Festival of the Lion King will be reopening at their new location later this year.

4. Expedition Everest – I can only do this ride once a day, but I love it. The line is just as fantastic as the ride. I feel like I am at Base Camp getting ready for a trip. The Yeti, going backwards, screaming…I love it.

5. Soarin’ – If you haven’t been on this ride, you need to run there first on your next trip. So many people skip Epcot because they say it’s “boring”. I would go for just this ride.

6. Talk Time with Crush – I haven’t seen an experience like this anywhere. My daughter still remembers when Crush told her how cool she was because her favorite food is ribs. It’s different every time and Crush talks from the screen to his audience. It is so unique and unlike anything else even at Disney. I still can’t figure out how they do it.

7. Tower of Terror – the themeing of this ride is unparalleled. You are in the Bates Motel. It’s creepy, the cast members are always unnerving, and the adrenline pumps the second you get in line because you know what is coming. I hate drop rides, but I scare myself silly on this one because it’s worth it!

8. Star Tours – Disney has made this ride one that you can do a dozen times in a day because it’s different every time. This is a must for all Star Wars fans. It’s a simulator ride, so if those make you sick…beware.

9. Ok, cheating a little bit again – World Showcase at Epcot. There are lots of fun ways that you can tour the Showcase countries. You can visit the Kidcot station in each country and learn something new in each place like how to spell your name in Chinese… OR, you can try a dessert in each country (totally fun). OR you could drink your way through the World Showcase. Let me know if you live to tell about that – there are some pretty potent drinks at Epcot. Ever been to the Food and Wine Festival??

10. Main Street Electrical Parade – This is my absolute FAVORITE thing in all of Disney. For some reason, the warm night air, sparkling lights, and festive feeling of the parks in the dark gets me every time. It’s a feeling…the reason that I love it so much. A feeling that touches me right in the ticker. It makes me misty every time and a trip to Disney isn’t complete until I sit criss cross applesauce under the rope on Main Street. It is spectacular.

What are your favorites? Which one is left off that makes you say “How Could You?!” Let me know!

Cameron is a Disney Specialist with Destinations to Explore, an Authorized Disney vacation planner. Book your trip with Cameron – here services are 100% free and you will receive cool emails weekly about what not to miss on your trip! [email protected]

2014 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Will be Extended

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 2, 2014

You will be able to enjoy an extra week of amazing food, paired beverages from around the world when the 19th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival starts earlier than ever before. It will start Sept. 19 at the Walt Disney World Resort. This year the festival runs for 53 days, an extra 7 days from previous years. The event will run until Nov. 10.

Disney chefs, and few celebrity ones, will conduct culinary demonstrations, and beverage experts will host daily wine tastings and mixology seminars for a fee.

Don’t forget the Eat to the Beat concerts, we will have the schedule of performers soon.

You can make plans to reserve dinners and special culinary programs along with tasting events that will feature a lineup of winemakers and guest chefs. These event dates will be announced this summer.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Celebrate Your Love for “Frozen” with Frozen’s Storybook Deluxe App and Products

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 2, 2014

Celebrate the music and story of the Academy Award-nominated film Frozen with Disney Publishing Worldwide’s award-winning Frozen Storybook Deluxe app, best-selling books, as well as Musical Magic Elsa and Anna dolls!

Nominated for “Best Animated Feature” and “Best Original Song,” Disney’s Frozen is a stunning, big-screen comedy-adventure that has dominated the global box office since its theatrical release last November. Disney Publishing has created print and digital books for children and families to enjoy long after the credits roll including:

Frozen: Storybook Deluxe: Now available in Apple’s App Store, this digital storybook introduces early readers to Disney’s Frozen through all-new interactive features. Children and families can relive the epic adventure by flipping the device upside-down to hear the story from sisters Anna and Elsa’s points of view, using “ice craft” tools that let kids create and build their own frozen scenes and crystal palaces, and watching video clips from the film itself.

Frozen: A Sister More Like Me: Explore a wintery world of magic in Walt Disney Animation Studio’s latest film, Frozen. This jacketed picture book features an original story about Anna and Elsa, the film’s two sisters, as well as illustrations by one of the artists who worked on the film.

Frozen Read-Along Storybook and CD: This USA Today best-selling novel tells the story of fearless optimist Anna who sets off on an epic journey—to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls, and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom.

Frozen: The Junior Novelization: This New York Times and USA Today best-selling novel retells the whole exciting story and features eight pages of full-color scenes from the movie!

Frozen: A Tale of Two Sisters: This USA Today best-selling novel retells the story of sisters Anna and Elsa in this 32 page Step Into Reading Level Two reader which brings the adventurous tale of Frozen to early readers ages 4-6.

You can also celebrate the storytelling of Frozen and Anna and Elsa’s special bond with the Musical Magic Elsa and Anna dolls from Mattel ($29.99 each). When you hold the dolls hands (or when they hold each other’s hands) the dolls will magically light up and play enchanting music inspired by the film.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine