Marvel and Lucasfilm Teaming For ‘Star Wars’ Comics

By

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January 7, 2014

When Disney and Luasfilm merged in 2012, it was only a matter of time before we got an announcement that Marvel film, also under Disney’s banner, would begin publishing ‘Star Wars’ comics. Not only does it make great business sense, but it would bring the history of ‘Star Wars’ in comics full circle, as the series’ first foray into comics was at Marvel Comics in the 1970s and 1980s. The comics are currently published under Dark Horse Comics, as they have ever since the 1990s, but starting in 2015 that will no longer be the case. Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm have announced that the Galaxy far, far, away is heading to the Marvel banner the same year as ‘Star Wars Episode VII’ is heading to theaters.

This is great news for fans of the series that were worried about the future of the comic series, because Marvel will certainly keep the series alive and well in comic form for years to come. Check out the full press release below.

DISNEY’S LUCASFILM AND MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT JOIN FORCES TO PUBLISH STAR WARS™ COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS

Jedi, Sith, and the rest of the Star Wars Universe Come to Marvel Comics in 2015

The Walt Disney Company’s Lucasfilm Ltd. and Marvel Entertainment are joining forces to bring new Star Wars adventures to readers across the galaxy, with Marvel granted exclusive rights to create and publish Star Wars comics and graphic novels beginning in 2015.

The agreement marks a homecoming for the Star Wars comic books. Marvel Comics published the first Star Wars comic book, Star Wars #1, in March 1977, which went on to sell more than 1 million copies. Marvel Comics published its Star Wars series for nine years. In 1991, Dark Horse Comics took over the license, publishing fan-favorite titles like Dark Empireand Star Wars: Legacy. Last year, Dark Horse released The Star Wars #1, an adaptation of George Lucas’ original rough-draft screenplay for the film, garnering rave reviews and national media attention and ranking among the top-selling Star Warscomics of all time.

“Dark Horse Comics published exceptional Star Wars comics for over 20 years, and we will always be grateful for their enormous contributions to the mythos, and the terrific partnership that we had,” said Carol Roeder, director of Lucasfilm franchise publishing, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “In 2015, the cosmic adventures of Luke, Han, Leia and Chewbacca will make the lightspeed jump back to Marvel, to begin a new age of adventures within the Star Wars universe.”

“We here at Marvel could not be more excited to continue the publication of Star Wars comic books and graphic novels,” said Marvel Worldwide Publisher and President, Dan Buckley. “The perennial brand of Star Wars is one of the most iconic in entertainment history and we are honored to have the opportunity to bring our creative talent pool to continue, and expand Star Wars into galaxies far, far away.”

“We’re incredibly excited by this next chapter in the Star Wars saga,” said Andrew B. Sugerman, executive vice president of Disney Publishing Worldwide. “Bringing together the iconic Lucasfilm and Marvel brands to tell new stories will allow us to continue to thrill lovers of the original Star Wars comic books and entertain generations to come.”

Marvel has continued to push comic book publishing forward with innovations and experiments like motion comics and digital-only releases, in addition to its deep, ongoing catalog of monthly series and graphic novels created by some of the industry’s most gifted artists and writers.

‘Thor: The Dark World’ Comes to Blu-ray February 25, 2014

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 6, 2014

One of my favorite films of last year was the eight film from Marvel Studios, ‘Thor: The Dark World‘. The film was a follow up of 2012’s film, ‘The Avengers’, as well as a follow up to the 2011 film, ‘Thor’. The film sees Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, and many more reprise their roles from the previously mentioned films, picking up after the events in New York City in ‘The Avengers’. This time, the film is directed by Alan Taylor (‘Game of Thrones’), who brings a much edgier, darker, but fun adventure to the screen.

I’ve been waiting for the movie to finally come to blu-ray, and now Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures have announced that ‘Thor: The Dark World’ is coming to blu-ray on February 25, 2014, in 2D and 3D discs. The disc is set to have deleted scenes, a gag reel, a first look at ‘The Captain America: The Winter Soldier’, and a brand new short film, ‘Marvel One Shot: All Hail the King’, which is rumored to follow up the events of ‘Iron Man 3’. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the movie and go through all the features. The new Marvel short film is the item that’s got my interest more than anything.

Are you excited to add ‘Thor: The Dark World’ into your movie collection? Let me know in the comments below, only here on Chip and Company! And check out the full press release below.

From The Studio That Brought You Marvel’s The Avengers

MARVEL’S THOR: THE DARK WORLD

Bring Home The Ultimate Battle for The Cosmos with Exclusive Bonus Features!

Available on Digital 3D and Digital HD February 4^th, 2014

And on 3D Combo Pack (3D Blu-ray™, 2D Blu-ray, Digital Copy),
Single-Disc Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand February 25^th, 2014

Synopsis: Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Cast: Chris Hemsworth (Marvel’s Thor, Marvel’s The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman) as Thor, Natalie Portman (Marvel’s Thor, Black Swan, Star Wars Episodes I-III) as Jane Foster, Tom Hiddleston (Marvel’s Thor, Marvel’s The Avengers, War Horse) as Loki and Anthony Hopkins (Thor, Silence of the Lambs, Nixon) as Odin.

Director: Alan Taylor (TV’s Game of Thrones, TV’s The Sopranos, TV’s Mad Men)

Screenplay: Christopher L. Yost (Revolutionary Road, Snitch)

Christopher Markus (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise)

Stephen McFeely (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise)

Story by: Don Payne

Robert Rodat

Producer: Kevin Feige, p.g.a. (Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Iron Man Franchise)

Executive Producers: Louis D’Esposito (Basic Instinct, Marvel’s Iron Man, Marvel’s The Avengers)

Victoria Alonso (Marvel’s Iron Man, Marvel’s The Avengers, Big Fish)

Craig Kyle (X-Men: Evolution, Ultimate Avengers, Iron Man: Armored Adventures)

Alan Fine (Marvel’s The Avengers, Marvel’s Iron Man, Marvel’s Thor)

Nigel Gostelow (Batman Begins, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Da Vinci Code)

Stan Lee (Marvel’s Iron Man, Spider-Man, Marvel’s Thor)

Release Date: February 4, 2014 for Digital 3D (Select Retailers) and Digital HD

February 25, 2014 (Direct Pre-book: TBC; Distributor Pre-book: TBC)

Bonus Features:

(3D Combo Pack, BD, DVD & Select Digital Retailers)

· Never-Before-Seen Extended and Deleted Scenes

· Gag Reel

· Exclusive Look – Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier

o Get an exclusive first look at the latest installment in the Captain America franchise and its incredible cast of characters, including Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow, Samuel L. Jackson as Director Nick Fury, Chris Evans, our hero Steve Roger’s, his new ally Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon played by Anthony Mackie, and a mysterious enemy from the past…the Winter Soldier played by Sebastian Stan.

· A Brothers’ Journey: Thor & Loki

o In this 30 min feturette go behind the scenes with filmmakers and cast as we explore two of the most iconic characters in the Marvel Universe with stars Chris Hemsworth (Thor) & Tom Hiddleston (Loki), and journey through the key moments that have defined and endeared these characters to audiences around the world.

· Scoring Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World with Brian Tyler

o Go behind the scenes with the filmmakers and acclaimed composer Brian Tyler for a look at the creation of the movie’s stunning original score.

· Audio Commentary with Director Alan Taylor, Producer Kevin Feige, Actor Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau

· And More…

Ratings: PG-13

Feature Run Time: 1 hrs. 51 min. 53 seconds

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Audio: Dolby Digital Surround Sound

Languages: English, French & Spanish

Subtitles: English, French & Spanish

Keep Warm This Winter With These Disney World Inspired Recipes

By

Catie

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January 6, 2014

Brr – I don’t know about you, but I am freezing my bottom off here in Upstate New York! It’s these cold wintry times when I long for Walt Disney World the most – the sun, the warm weather, the Resort pools – sign me up! Unfortunately, I can’t afford to spend my winters in Florida – so in the meantime, I think I will whip up some Disney Dining cold weather meals – with recipes straight from WDW!

There’s nothing better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold, snowy day – so whip up this easy Tomato Bisque and serve it with crackers, or maybe a grilled cheese sandwich (yum!)

This soup is served up at the dinner buffet over at the Cape May Café in Disney’s Beach Club Resort

Tomato Bisque (Recipe Courtesy of Magical Recipes

Ingredients

1. 4 cans Plum Tomatoes-16 ounces

2. 8 ounces Diced Celery

3. 8 ounces. Diced Onions

4. 8 ounces Diced Carrots

5. 1 quart Heated Heavy Cream

6. 2 ounces Chopped Fresh Basil

7. To taste Salt and White Pepper

8. 6 ounces Tomato Paste

Directions

1. Drain liquid from tomatoes and set aside

2. Place Plum Tomatoes on a sheet pan and roast in the oven for 20-30 minutes on 350°F

3. Sauté onions, celery and carrots in stockpot and cook until translucent.

4. Add roasted tomatoes, juice and tomato paste.

5. Cook for 30-40 minutes.

6. Puree mixture.

7. Add warm cream.

8. Finish with salt and pepper to taste.

9. Add fresh chopped basil at the end.

Or maybe you’re more of a seafood fan? Try your hand at making this Creamy Lobster Soup from the menu at the Coral Reef in Epcot

This Five Cheese baked Macaroni is served up daily at Mama Melrose’s over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – and I know for my family, Macaroni and Cheese is a go to winter comfort food – plus who can say no to FIVE different cheeses??

Ingredients – Cheese Sauce

1. 1 qt half & half

2. 1 qt heavy cream

3. 1/4 cup parmesan cheese – finely grated

4. 1/2 tsp Kosher salt

5. 1/4 tsp white pepper

6. 1 oz Asiago cheese shredded

7. 1 1/2 tbsp Reggianto cheese Argentine brand Zerto – shredded

8. 1 oz garlic, minced

9. 1 tsp olive oil

10. 2 oz Fontina cheese

Ingredients – Roux

1. 1/2 stick butter

2. 1/4 cup flour

Ingredients – Macaroni and Cheese

1. 1 pound Cooked Penna Pasta

2. 1/4 pound Pancetta, Diced & cooked

3. 2 cups Cheese Sauce

4. 1 oz Shredded Mozzarella

5. 2 Tbls. Seasoned Bread Crumbs

Directions – Cheese Sauce

1. In a 4-quart saucepot add olive oil and heat, add garlic, then add milk and bring milk to a simmer.

2. Stir in Roux (no lumps).

3. Add heavy cream and cheese, cook slow, simmer and season.

Directions – Roux

1. Melt butter, stir in flour.

2. Cook over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stir often.

Directions – Macaroni and Cheese

1. Combine the first four ingredients together, making sure all are cold.

2. Pour into greased 1/2 inch pan

3. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 8 minutes

4. Remove foil and sprinkle bread crumbs over pasta mixture.

5. Bake uncovered for 5 minutes

Whether it’s soup, Macaroni and Cheese, or another Disney Recipe – it’s really fun to re-create your favorite Disney dishes at home, it’s a great way to remember a trip, and it’s something the whole family can get involved in!

Stay tuned here on Chip and Co for more Disney DIY!

Take a Pirate Adventure Cruise at Walt Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 6, 2014

We all know that Walt Disney World has a lot of things to do for the little princess (or fairy) in all of us. There are very few things for the boys to get really behind (other than Pirates League), but here is one thing that will make the little boys (and yes, girls too) eager to say ARRRRR !

Want to find some hidden treasure? Think you have it takes to follow the clues and set sail on your own pirate adventure?

Avast, Ye Mateys!

Donning pirate bandanas, young buccaneers board their seasoned vessel for a spirited pursuit of treasure. Sailing to exotic “ports of call” (Resort marinas), they’ll hear legends of pirates past and discover clues that may just lead to a bountiful treasure chest.

At the final port of call, kids split up the pirate booty, as they enjoy a snack (such as goldfish crackers or pretzels) and a drink (such as water or a juice box).

All Scallywags must be 4 to 12 years old and potty trained to join this adventure.

4 Swashbuckling Adventures

Choose from 4 pirate adventures that traverse the waterways of Walt Disney World Resort. Each excursion is kids-only and takes place every day (weather permitting) from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM.

Disney’s Pirate Adventure
Crossing Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, this pirate cruise treats kids to a reading of “The Legend of Gasparilla”—a real Florida pirate. Departs from the Marina at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.

Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise
Buccaneers sail the Ports of the Caribbean waters, as they hear the story of Old Port Royale and its pirate-laden past. Departs from Barefoot Bay Marina at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

Albatross Treasure Cruise
Kids hear “The Legend of the Albatross” and search for pirate booty across Crescent Lake and Epcot park’s World Showcase Lagoon. Departs from Bayside Marina at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort.

Bayou Pirate Adventure
Sailing down the Sassagoula River, young scallywags listen to the legends surrounding Captain Jean Lafitte—one of the most infamous pirates ever to haunt the waters of New Orleans. Departs from the Fishin’ Hole on Ol’ Man Island at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

Don’t forget you can even stay in a Pirate theme room at Disney’s Caribbean Resort.

Call 1-407-WDW-Play or contact your travel agent to book one of these Swashbuckling Adventures.

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!

‘Frozen’ Soundtrack is Sliding into #1 on Billboard

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 6, 2014

Billboard is reporting that the soundtrack to “Frozen” could very well be number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart by Sunday. Last week the soundtrack jumped from number 8 to number 4. It debuted at number 18 and it just keeps climbing.

If it does skate into the number 1 spot, it will be the first soundtrack to an animated movie to hit number 1 since Curious George in 2006.

The album is the 10th soundtrack from an animated movie to make into the top 10, and it’s the first since Cars in 2006. Disney has had six of its animated movie soundtracks in the top 10, including Aladdin (No. 1), ( The Lion King (No. 1), Pocahontas (No. 1), Tarzan (No. 5) and, as mentioned above, Cars No. 6).

Credit: Broadwayworld.com

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

New Spring 2014 Promotion for Walt Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 6, 2014

Are you ready to plan a Spring Break get away or an end of school vacation? Does the artic cold front have you dreaming of some place that isn’t so frozen? Disney has released to the public a new spring/early summer discount ! It is a room discount with an added bonus if you add 4 Days of Park Tickets. Here’s the need to know..

Travel Dates: Feb 24-June 15 2014
Blackout Dates: March 6-13 & April 13-19 2014

Bonus! Upgrade to a room and ticket package—with a minimum 4-day Magic Your Way® Ticket—and get one more ticket day FREE! (Minimum 4-day Magic Your Way® Ticket required.)

Resort Category	Hotel	Savings
Deluxe Villas	Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Boardwalk Villas	Save 30%
Deluxe Villas	The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge—Jambo House and Kidani Village Disney’s Beach Club Villas	Save 20%
Deluxe Resorts	Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge—Standard View/Pool View Disney’s Wilderness Lodge—Standard View/Woods View Disney’s Polynesian Resort	Save 30%
Deluxe Resorts	Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge—Savanna View/Club View Disney’s Wilderness Lodge—Courtyard View/Club View	Save 20%
Moderate Resorts	Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Disney’s Port Orleans Resort—Riverside Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins	Save 25%
Value Resorts	Disney’s All Star Sports Resort Disney’s All Star Music Resort Disney’s Pop Century Resort	Save 20%
Value Resorts	Disney’s Art of Animation Resort—Family Suites

Who’s ready to plan their escape from the cold ? Contact me today for a free quote. Rooms at this discounted price are limited, so you hurry and request your’s today. A $200 deposit on the package will hold it and you have until 45 days before travel to pay it off.

At DIF we offer personalized travel planning, lots of extras and kids get the first Mickey Mouse Ice Cream on me. Call me at 832-233-4468 or check out my page, here and we can get started on making me your personal travel assistant for free !

Disney Princess Lingerie is Now Available

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 5, 2014

Yes, that is right I said Disney Princess Lingerie. If you ever wondered what the Princesses wear under their beautiful gowns, well now we know.

Bellemaison is a Japanese online retailer who is currently selling the sexy Princess undergarments. So far the only princesses available now are Belle, Rapunzel, Aurora, and of course Cinderella. If you look closely you can see the details that are unique to each princess. I can’t believe no one thought of this sooner.

Now you can always feel like a Disney Princess, undercover of course. I think they are pretty, but my favorite would have to be Rapunzel.

Do you see your favorite Princess?

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

MagicBands coming to all remaining Walt Disney World Resort hotels by end of January

By

Anonymouse

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January 5, 2014

Howdy y’all! I’m back….The Disney Gossip just keeps rolling in. This time my sources tell me that the MagicBands will be coming to all Walt Disney World Resorts by the end of January! Whoot! Whoot!

As a Walt Disney World Resort guest, you’ll receive a Magic Band instead of the Key to the World. Your Magic Band will act as your room key, park admission, touch to pay, Disney Dining Plan, and Fastpass +. How cool is that! It’s now all in one.

Testing will begin on the following dates:

Monday, Jan. 6 – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
Tuesday, Jan. 7 – Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and Port Orleans French Quarter
Wednesday, Jan. 8 – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Thursday, Jan. 9 – Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Spring Resort & Spa
Friday, Jan. 10 – Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
Monday, Jan. 13 – Disney’s Yacht Club Resort & Villas and Beach Club Resort & Villas Resorts
Tuesday, Jan. 14 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Wednesday, Jan. 15 – Disney’s BoardWalk Inn & Villas
Thursday, Jan. 16 – Disney’s Contemporary Resort & Bay Lake Tower
Friday, Jan. 17 – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Monday, Jan. 20 – Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground

What do you think about the new MagicBands? Let me know in the comment section below.

Anywho, that’s all the Disney Gossip I have for now. While Chippy has been away, the Disneygossip been pouring in. Got any good gossip/rumors please email me at [email protected] or on my facebook page. For my past gossip articles be sure to check them out here.

Frozen’s Anna & Else Meet and Greet Extended at Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 5, 2014

If you are a fan of “Frozen” and have had not had a chance to take your little Disney Addict to meet Anna and Elsa, then you are in luck. The Frozen Meet and Greets have been extended.The meet and greet was supposed to end on January 4, but it has been extended until until January 31. There are rumors that it may be extended even past that date but nothing has been confirmed. Speaking of rumors did you hear a Frozen Ride might be replacing the Maelstrom?

This meet and greet has been one of the most popular in all of the parks. I hear there is always a long line.

If you want to meet the popular “Frozen” duo here are the meet and greet times: 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:50 p.m., 5:50 p.m., and 6:50 p.m. Always double check a times guide or the MDE app when you are in the park.

You can meet the sisters in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

January 2014 Walt Disney World Refurbishments

By

Chip

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January 5, 2014

Disney World Refurbishment information is subject to change without notice and should be confirmed just prior to visiting. Updated information is available at the Disney World Website.

Magic Kingdom Park

Splash Mountain- closed- 1/6/2014-3/21/2014
Casey’s Corner- closed- 1/6/2014- 2/15/2014
Agrabah Bazaar- closed- 1/6/2014- 2/2/2014
Tomorrowland Speedway- closed- 1/6/2014- 1/12/2014
Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade- closed. New parade arrives Spring 2014.
The Plaza Restaurant- closed 2/17/2014- 3/15/2014
Pinocchio Village Haus- closed 2/17/2014- 3/30/2014
Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover closed- 2/10/2014- 3/27/2014
Barnstormer closed- 2/3/2014- 2/5/2014
Liberty Square Riverboat closed- 1/21/2014-1/30/2014
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin closed- 1/13/2014-1/16/2014
Heritage House Store (Liberty Square) closing 1/4/2014
Seven Dwarfs Mine Shop (Fantasyland) closing early 1/2014

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Monsters Inc. Meet & Greet closed 1/15/2014- 1/19/2014

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Festival of the Lion King closing 1/5/2014 to move to new location.
Camp Minnie Mickey closing 1/5/2014

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park will be closed 1/16/2014 – 3/17/2014 for annual refurbishment.

Downtown Disney

Now- To Be Determined: Parking Lots H, I, J and K are currently closed.
Now-To Be Determined: Fuego is closed for refurbishment.
Now-To Be Determined: Wetzels Pretzels is closed for refurbishment.
Now-To Be Determined: Cap’n Jack’s Marina is closed for refurbishment.

Disney’s Osprey Ridge Golf Course

Effective Now – Disney’s Osprey Ridge Golf Course is permanently closed for play. It will reopen 8/15 as part of the Four Seasons resort.

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

1/6/2014 – 1/24/2014 All-Star Sports Surf’s Up Pool will be closed for refurbishment.

Disney’s Grand Floridian

Victoria & Alberts closed 1/19/2014- 1/29/2014

Disney’s Polynesian Resort

Never Land Club closed 1/28/2014- 12/31/2014.
Wyland Galleries is now closed.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter

1/13/2014 – 2/28/2014: Doubloon Lagoon Pool will be closed for refurbishment.
During that time, transportation will be provided to Guests to swim at Ol’ Man Island Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside.

Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

1/20/2014 – 1/21/2014: Magnolia Bend Building 80-85 Pool Deck will be closed for refurbishment.

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

1/22/2014 – 1/23/2014: Congress Park Poll will be closed for refurbishment.

Top Ten Cupcakes at Walt Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

January 5, 2014

One of our favorite snacks at Walt Disney World is a cupcake – they’re HUGE and so yummy. We love them so much that we even eat them for breakfast, but that’s okay, because you can have dessert for breakfast when you’re on vacation, right? While I’ve yet to attempt to eat every cupcake that’s available at WDW, I’ve definitely had a lot of them over the years and have my regular favorites that I’ll share with my husband each trip. Here are my Top 10 Cupcakes at Walt Disney World.

Peppermint Cupcake (Boardwalk Bakery) – Boardwalk Bakery is also our favorite place to get cupcakes, as they’re ones you can’t find anywhere else and they’re always so moist and fluffy. This cupcake is our new favorite after discovering it this year. It’s a chocolate cupcake with a peppermint filling topped with a whipped peppermint/vanilla frosting. They top it with peppermint bark and white chocolate flakes. It’s a seasonal cupcake, so you’ll only find it during the Christmas holidays, but it’s definitely not one that you want to miss! If you’re unable to make it to the Boardwalk for this yummy treat, you can also find a similar cupcake at the Contempo Café – the Cool Mint Cupcake, but it’s a bit too minty for us.

The King (Elvis) Cupcake (POP Century) – I’m not a big peanut butter fan, but this cupcake is pretty awesome. This yumminess is made of chocolate cake filled with a banana flavored custard and topped with a whipped peanut butter frosting, candied bacon, drizzled with chocolate and includes the stamped POP Century chocolate candy. My husband, who is not a big sweet snack eater absolutely loves this cupcake, so you know it’s good!

Triple Chocolate Cupcake (Be Our Guest Restaurant) – I’ve yet to meet a cupcake at Be Our Guest that is not pure decadence and something to savor. Seriously, even if you just go to eat a cupcake, it’s worth the wait. They’re small and pretty cheap, but the flavor in that small wrapper is something to behold. Can you tell that I love their cupcakes? My personal favorite is the Triple Chocolate Cupcake. It was the first one I ever had there and I continue to get it every trip. The cake in their cupcakes is the moistest cake you’ll find in any WDW dessert. This chocolate sponge cake is filled with a chocolate mousse and topped with chocolate ganache and the signature BOG chocolate candy. If you don’t like a lot of chocolate, then this probably isn’t for you.

The Master’s Cupcake (Be Our Guest Restaurant) – When we first visited BOG, they didn’t have this cupcake and the ‘grey stuff’ was only available during dinner, usually given on a plate to those with Birthday’s or Anniversaries. So I was really excited to finally try what everyone was raving about. This cupcake is a chocolate sponge cake filled with an Oreo cream filling (the ‘grey stuff’) and topped with more ‘grey stuff’ and the signature BOG piece of chocolate. The grey stuff was not overly sweet, was a nice whipped alternative to a heavy buttercream and was delicious. I don’t think it was better than the chocolate cupcake at BOG, but it was nevertheless still very good and my 2^nd favorite at BOG.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake (Be Our Guest Restaurant) – I’m not a big fan of fruit-flavored desserts or cream cheese icing, so I only tasted a small bit of this. This is however my husband’s favorite cupcake at BOG and he promises it is divine, so I take his word since he’s picky about sweet snacks. This scrumptious cupcake consists of a vanilla sponge cake, strawberry mouse filling and cream cheese icing topped with what appears to be a raspberry (I didn’t eat it).

Peanut Butter Cupcake (Starring Rolls – Hollywood Studios) – As noted earlier, I’m not a big fan of peanut butter, but I really like this cupcake. The only problem I’ve found lately is that Starring Rolls tends to put their desserts in the fridge before they bring them out and that means that you have a filling or icing that is thick and not as creamy as it’s intended to be. So, if you happen to get a cupcake that is at the right temperature, then you’ll find that this chocolate cupcake is filled with a creamy chocolate peanut butter filling and topped with the same frosting. It also features a huge mound of chocolate shavings on top – I should mention that the cupcakes at Starring Rolls are ginormous and should be shared!

Oreo Bon Bon (Boardwalk Bakery) – This use to be my go-to cupcake and was a traditional treat for us every day that we were scheduled to spend the morning at Hollywood Studios. We’d catch the boat over to Boardwalk Bakery for a 10AM cupcake. This cupcake features a vanilla cake filled with a cookies and cream whipped center then topped with buttercream icing – but the icing isn’t overbearing like the Butterfinger cupcake below. The bakers then sprinkle Oreo crumbs on the icing and place two Oreos on top to make Mickey ears.

Butterfinger Cupcake (Starring Rolls – Hollywood Studios) – I kept hearing so much about this cupcake that I just had to try it recently. As noted earlier though, we’re starting to find that Starring Rolls is putting all their cupcakes in the fridge for a while and that means you won’t get the creaminess that I’m sure the bakers intend for us to experience in the frosting and filling. It also made it nearly impossible for us to get our fork into the cupcake, so we had to bring out a plastic knife to try and tackle this recently. This is a chocolate cake topped filled with a fudge cream, topped with a very rich vanilla buttercream, coated with a chocolate and dusted with Butterfinger crumbs. The buttercream is really too sweet in my opinion – and I have a high tolerance for sweet icing, but it was even too much for me. My husband ate two bites before deciding he had enough sugar for the day and we only ended up eating half our cupcake…

Cotton-top Tamarin Cupcake (Kusafiri Bakery – Animal Kingdom) – This is another very sweet cupcake, almost too much for two people to eat, but it is super cute. The chocolate cake isn’t filled with anything, unlike most Disney cupcakes, but it’s topped with a mound of swee buttercream frosting. This work of art is topped with a white and dark chocolate Cotton-top Tamarin face on a stick, so it’s easy to pull off and save for after you finish the cupcake. You’ll find a couple other desserts at this little shop that also feature chocolate molds of animals.

Lemon Meringue Cupcake (Be Our Guest Restaurant) – I took one bite of this since it’s was my husband’s choice for dessert one of the two times we ate at BOG for our recent vacation and neither of us felt that it lived up to the high standards set by the other three cupcakes at BOG. I’m usually not a big fan of meringue, but it was pretty good. We felt as though the sponge cake should have been a lemon flavor, as the lemon flavor really didn’t kick in until you made it to the center. This cupcake is made of vanilla sponge cake with a lemon custard filling and a meringue icing.

I’m sure this list will still leave off some cupcakes that a lot of you like, but that may just mean that I haven’t tried them yet. Leave me your comments below telling me what your favorite cupcakes are and where to find them – I’d love to try some of your favorites on my next trip!

Disney’s Be Our Guest Restaurant Gourmet Cupcakes

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America’s Top Prep Soccer Players Conquered Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by AS Roma

By

Chip

-

January 4, 2014

America’s best young soccer talent took part in Disney’s Soccer Showcase presented by A.S. Roma, which wrapped up Friday (Jan. 3) at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Rated as the country’s top prep soccer tournament by Soccer America magazine, this year’s Disney Soccer Showcase featured 336 boys teams and 328 girls teams, some from as far away as Canada, Brazil, Japan, and Guatemala. There were champions in five boys age groups (U15, U16, U17, U18/19, & Men’s Open) and four girls age groups (U15, U16, U17, U18/19). Each age group included three divisions – Showcase, Premier, and Championship. The boys showcase also featured three open divisions for academy teams.

The eight-day event drew nearly 30,000 athletes, college coaches and fans to the complex, making it the leading college recruiting event in the country. About 800 college coaches, including Notre Dame head coach Bobby Clark, whose Irish are the reigning NCAA Men’s Soccer National Champions, were in attendance to scout. Other top schools that attended include Maryland, Duke, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, Penn State, and UCF, among others.

Some of the country’s best youth soccer talent has competed in Disney’s Soccer Showcase including Jozy Altidore (Sunderland, England), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC, England) and Oguchi Onyewu (Queens Park Rangers, England).

Below are champions from this year’s Showcase divisions.

Top Boys Champions

Boca United 96/97 (FL, U17) went 3-0-1, outscored opponents 12-4.
Cincinnati United Cup Gold 95/96 (OH, U18/19) went 3-0-1, outscored opponents 9-1.
Sunrise Elite 97/98 (FL, U16) went 4-0, outscored opponents 12-2.
Pateadores San Diego (CA, U15) went 4-0, outscored opponents 10-1.

Top Girls Champions

Eclipse Select Elite ECNL (IL, U18) went 4-0, outscored opponents 19-1.
JFA Academy Fukushima (Japan, U17) went 2-0-2 outscored opponents 12-6.
NJ Stallions Dynamite (NJ, U16) went 4-0, outscored opponents 8-1.
Jacksonville FC JFC 98/99 Girls Elite (FL, U15) went 4-0, outscored opponents 12-4.