Stick ‘n Carve is the first truly new Halloween innovation

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October 13, 2013

Stick ‘n Carve is the first, truly-new innovation for carvers at all skill levels because it completely eliminates one, age-old, bothersome, time-consuming, un-fun part of the Pumpkin Carving process.

No one actually likes to tape a flat pattern onto a round surface, and then try to transfer that pattern onto the round surface before beginning to carve. Now, you no longer have to!!

Simply Print or Copy any design onto an 8-1/2” x 11” sheet of Stick ‘n Carve, Peel off the release sheet, Stick it on a pumpkin, and Carve.

It stays on securely through the whole carving process, then wipes off easily with a wet cloth when you are done.It is absolutely the quickest, easiest, and most fun way for the whole family to carve.

Stick ‘n Carve, Art # 457-30, is available now for only $3.99 for 3 sheets.

You will continue to enjoy Stick ‘n Carve long after Halloween is over because it is also perfect for Fruit Carving, Vegetable Carving, Wood Carving, and other Carving Crafts.

Monsters University Sweepstakes

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 12, 2013

Enter now for a chance to win a Monstrous Media Room from Disney Movie Rewards!

Grand prize is a monstrous media room, which includes a Sectional Sofa, Credenza with built in surround sound, coffee table and end table with lamps, and last but certainly not lease a 46 inch T.V. and Blu-ray Player.

First Prize is a Disney Infinity Starter Pack and Play Set Pack.

Click here to enter the contest!

Don’t forget Monsters University comes out on Blu-ray/DVD on October 29th

Good Luck!

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Save on Your Next Disney Vacation with Target!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 12, 2013

Love Disney but want to make sure you are saving the most? Let me tell you how my family and my clients save up to an extra 10% any deal you book! If you shop at Target you are already well on your way to being able to save on your next Disney vacation.

Next time you are shopping make sure to talk with a Target associate about signing up for either one of their cards. I personally prefer the Target RedCard Debit as there are no credit checks and it come directly out of my checking just like if I were to write a check. (just bring a check with you to signup) Whether you go with the credit card or the debit card you will then save 5% on your purchases when using one of their cards.

With this you can use your card and purchase Disney gift cards thus saving 5%! If you want to add even more savings sign-up for the Target Pharmacy Rewards card and when you fill 5 qualifying prescriptions they will send you a certificate for an additional 5% that can be combined with your normal discount!

At first glance you may be thinking 5% isn’t that much…but it adds up quick! My family fills prescriptions at Target so we use the 10% discount on our trips. We bought gift cards last trip for resort room, dining, tickets and spending and we saved over $500 in addition to Disney’s published prices! That is huge for any family!

Bottom line if you want to save more on your next vacation whether it is a Disney Cruise, Disney World or Disneyland Target is definitely the place to go! Got your gift cards? Contact Kari to book your next vacation at [email protected] or 214-598-7756. Make sure to mention Chip sent you!

Terror-ific Halloween Crafts and Recipes from Disney’s Spoonful

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 12, 2013

halloween butterfly pumpkin craft photo 420x420 alocurto 001

Disney’s Spoonful has made it easy to create some Terror-ific fun this Halloween! Recipes, crafts, pumpkin decorating ideas, and more can be found at Spoonful! It’s almost time for trick-or-treating and Disney’s Spoonful.com is brewing up some horror-fyingly creative crafts and mouth-watering dishes to help you celebrate Halloween!

Spoonful’s affordable and easy-to make ideas will enchant your family and feed their appetites. Plus, don’t miss out on Spoonful’s all-new recipe customization feature, “My Take.” Spoonful’s latest feature will allow you to share your own version, or “take,” of almost any recipe on the site. To introduce My Take, some of our Spoonful bloggers partnered with Pillsbury® to create their own wickedly wonderful takes around some classic Pillsbury Halloween treats.

Here’s a look at some of Spoonful’s ideas to help you have some frightfully good fun this Halloween!

Edible Eyeballs

20 Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Bat O Lanterns

Jack Skellington Halloween String Garland

It looks like you and your family can have some magical Halloween fun with these great ideas from Disney’s Spoonful!

Jennie Garth joins Tori Spelling in Mystery Girls pilot!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 12, 2013

logo abc family

ABC Family has cast Jennie Garth to join former “Beverly Hills 90210” co-star Tori Spelling in the network’s comedy pilot, “Mystery Girls.” Both Spelling and Garth will also serve as executive producers. The casting marks a reunion of the two from their days on the hit series.

“Mystery Girls,” starring Tori Spelling and Jennie Garth, follows a former starlet who is roped into solving crimes with her former mystery TV show co-star when a witness to a crime will only speak to the infamous ‘Mystery Girls,’ which was the highest rated program of the 90’s. Spelling will play Holly, who is desperate to regain her former fame and plans to resurrect her life by using her acting skills and crime “experience” to open a detective agency. Now she just has to get Charlie (played by Jennie Garth), her former co-star-turned suburban housewife and mother, on board with the plan. Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth and Maggie Malina (“Single Ladies”) will serve as executive producers. The story is by Tori Spelling and Shepard Boucher (“Men at Work”). The pilot was written by Shepard Boucher. “Mystery Girls” is scheduled to shoot in November.

How exciting it’s sort of a mini 90210 reunion isn’t it? I hope this series gets picked up!

Stay tuned for more ABC Family!

First Look at Avatar Coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 12, 2013

From the moment AVATAR was released, people were captivated by the mythical world of Pandora. When Disney announced that they would be working with James Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment to bring this world to life in the parks, they felt certain that the partnership of talent and imagination would produce an experience unlike any other ever created.

The combined team has taken huge steps forward in “imagineering” Pandora as a real place for guests to see, hear and touch. At the first-ever D23 Expo in Japan, they shared an early glimpse of the plans for AVATAR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park and they wanted to share some of these breathtaking images and a short preview of what’s to come with all of you.

As these concept renderings show in epic scale, in the world of AVATAR guests will encounter awe-inspiring floating mountains and wander through a nighttime jungle of bioluminescent plants that are alive with light and sound. Guests will also discover what it feels like to soar into the sky riding a Banshee.

And the new AVATAR-inspired land won’t be the only change coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

As part of the largest expansion in the history of the park, we’ll be adding all-new entertainment experiences, including a new nighttime spectacular where live music, floating lanterns, water screens and swirling animal imagery all combine to bring a show to Discovery River that will delight our guests and truly cap off their day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The park will introduce more nighttime entertainment as well, including live performers on Discovery Island and a new nighttime version of the Kilimanjaro Safaris.

As the world of AVATAR becomes real at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the energy and passion shared by Imagineers and the Lightstorm team for this monumental task continues to be remarkable.

For more info check out the Disney Parks Blog.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

ESPN Wide World of Sports Gets a New VP

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 12, 2013

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Logo

Robyn Remick is a nine-year veteran of ESPN’s affiliate marketing and ESPN Audio affiliate relations teams, has been appointed to a newly created position, vice president, business and content development at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

Remick will pursue and lead new business initiatives and events at ESPN Wide World of Sports, which is visited by nearly two million amateur athletes, coaches and spectators each year. She will report to Traug Keller, ESPN senior vice president, production, business divisions, who oversees ESPN Audio among other units.

“Robyn’s diverse background and track record of success in media, affiliate relations, marketing and fan engagement make her the perfect person to lead our efforts to maximize the potential of the great sports facilities we have at Walt Disney World,” said John Wildhack, ESPN executive vice president, production, to whom Keller reports. “Her strategic acumen will lead to opportunities to create events for fans and athletes as well as content that can be utilized across ESPN and The Walt Disney Company assets in the U.S. and overseas.”

Remick, who has spent her entire career in cable television and radio affiliate marketing, has served since 2009 as vice president, events and marketing for ESPN Audio. In that role, she and her team focus on audience growth through more than 400 ESPN Radio affiliated stations and digital distribution, fan engagement, collaboration with sports teams and leagues and experiential marketing. She guides the development of authentic promotional activation around live sporting events and tie-ins both domestically and internationally.

Remick has worked in media, sales and marketing for over 30 years, including leadership positions with MTV Networks, Discovery Communications, AT&T and Disney. She joined The Walt Disney Company in 2002 as executive director of affiliate sales, Eastern Region, for the ABC Cable Networks Group. In 2004, she was promoted to vice president, affiliate marketing, for Disney ESPN Media Networks (the two groups merged), overseeing the development and execution of strategic campaigns for video and broadband service providers.

She is a graduate of University of Maryland, where she received a bachelor of science degree in 1983.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

10 Photography Tips for Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 11, 2013

Pictures are the best souvenir of any Disney vacation, at least in my opinion. I often find myself saying, “Please smile nicely. Pictures are mommy’s souvenir.” When we get home, I look forward to developing them, putting them in Disney frames, and even using some as photo gifts. This past vacation, I took over 600 pictures! But, before I can do those things, I need to be able to photograph well, right? Hopefully these Photography Tips for Your Next Walt Disney World Vacation will help you make the most of your memories!

1. Learn to use your camera. This may seem obvious, but many people buy a new DSLR camera for a Disney vacation, and don’t know how to use the settings they’ll need before they arrive. Before you go, practice taking pictures with it, and look at them to see what you can do to improve them. During the Main Street Electrical Parade is not the time to start figuring out if you should be in automatic or manual mode, and which ISO settings are best.

2. Charge your battery nightly, or while you are at the resort taking a midday break. Every night, while we are sleeping, I charge my DSLR and my point and shoot batteries. Since the DSLR is used a lot for pictures AND videos, I want to make sure it’s charged well.

3. Take a quick survey of the background before you shoot your pictures. If you are at a character meal, clear some of the table area so you don’t have a bunch of dirty dishes and food in the foreground. Or, if you are trying to get that classic shot in front of Cinderella’s Castle, get as close to the castle as possible. If you walk up Main Street USA, right about to where the hub breaks off into the different lands, it’s not always so densely crowded. Or, stand outside Crystal Palace, with the castle in the background for a great shot!

4. Disney Photopass Photographers will take your picture with YOUR camera. All you have to do is ask them! I hesitated on this for a long time, but then realized that if anyone can work a camera, it’s them!

5. Make the most of your time at character meet and greets. When it is your turn, make sure you get the photos you want. You waited in line for that moment, and you want to capture it on your camera. As your child walks up to the character, catch their face on the first interaction. This is a great time to use the action or sport mode on your camera. This mode allows your camera to shoot multiple shots very quickly.

6. Take more than one picture with a character. Have the Photopass photographer take a group shot of your family with the character. Also, be sure to take several of the character and your child interacting. One of my favorite pictures is of my daughter, who was 2 at the time, giving Sorcerer Mickey a kiss on the nose. If I would’ve taken the standard, pose with the character shot, I wouldn’t have gotten the super cute one of them interacting.

7. Take very close up pictures of Spaceship Earth, the Tree of Life, etc. These make great wallpaper for your computer, backgrounds for stationery, and even scrapbook pages.

8. Don’t depend on your iPhone for great pics. I know a lot of people LOVE using their cameras on their phones. But, when you’re using the iPhone for managing wait times, uploading to Facebook, or even texting family who is in other areas of the park, your battery life is gone before you know it. You’ll be glad you brought along your small point and shoot, or even your DSLR camera. In my experience, the photos I take on my iPhone don’t develop as well as those with my other cameras.

9. Save your DSLR camera for special experiences. I only take mine to the parks for one day, to get the shots of our family in front of the park icons and with characters. I also make sure to take it to our character meals. Otherwise, I’m using my point and shoot digital camera, and occasionally my phone if I want to upload something to FB or send a cute pic to the grandparents.

10. Set the date. Make sure you set the date, and time if you have it, stamp on your camera. When you return home, and you’re trying to go through the memories, you’ll need that date!

Do you take a ton of pictures on your Disney vacations? We’d love to hear how YOU capture the magic! Contact me to see how I can help make your next Disney vacation full of magic and memories! Email me at [email protected]!

Atlanta Braves Spring Training Returns to Disney World in 2014

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 11, 2013

Play Ball! Atlanta Braves Spring Training will return to Walt Disney World in February and March with a slew of games showcasing Major League Baseball’s top teams at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The schedule for the 2014 season has yet to be released, but the list of Grapefruit League Clubs that typically visit Champion Stadium include St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, and the Detroit Tigers.

In addition to watching the games guests will be treated to game day entertainment and experiences in a magical way that only Disney could do. Guests are sure to feel the magic as they experience character appearances, exclusive on-field spectator experiences, and kids running the bases after the games. While you are there be sure to pick up some Brave’s memorabilia.

For more information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets, and mini-packs is available by calling 407-939-GAME (4263) and online at espnwwos.com/atlantabraves. Individual game tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 800-745-3000 or online at ticketmaster.com as well as at the sports complex box office.

Ready to book your magical vacation and catch the Braves in spring training? Contact Kari at [email protected] or at 214-598-7756. Make sure to mention that Chip sent you!

Early 2014 Disney World Discounts Now Available

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 11, 2013

The wait is finally over… The first 2014 Disney World discounts have been released and are available to everyone!

The Stay, Play, and Dine discount is a great offer because it discounts every part of your package- your resort, tickets, and dining plan! This offer is valid for most stays between January 5, 2014 and March 5, 2014. This offer does exclude the Art of Animation Resort (family suites as well as Little Mermaid Standard Rooms), the Villas at Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

If you don’t need to add dining, already have theme park tickets, or would like to stay at a deluxe resort, a room only discount may be a better option for you! You can take advantage of up to 35% off resort stays. This offer is valid for most stays January 5 – April 12, 2014. This offer excludes 3-bedroom villas, campsites, villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid standard rooms.

Here is the discounts available at each resort:

Deluxe Villas 35%

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Disney’s Old Key West Resort
Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
Disney’s Beach Club Villas

Deluxe Villas 25%

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House and Kidani Village
The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Deluxe Resorts 35%

Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort
Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Standard View/Pool View
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Standard View/Woods View

Deluxe 25 %

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Savannah View/Club Level
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Courtyard View/Club Level

Moderate Resorts 25%

Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins

Value Resorts 20%

Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Save 15% on Family Suites

Both offers must be booked by December 31, 2013. However, both offers are subject to availability so don’t wait too long. All you need is a $200 deposit to reserve your package! Contact Siera for a free, no obligation quote and mention Chip and Co for a special gift!

Are you going to Disney World in 2014? When are you going?

When Siera isn’t helping plan Disney vacations or sharing the latest Disney news, you can find her spreading magic on Facebook and Twitter. Are you thinking about a Disney World vacation? Siera, a Disney travel specialist, would love to help you. Contact her at [email protected] or 734-771-1290! Be sure you mention Chip & Co for a special gift, too!

ABC News Anchor Bob Woodruff to Speak at Disney’s Veterans Institute This Fall

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 11, 2013

You may remember last year Disney announced a company-wide Heroes Work Here initiative to hire, train and support returning veterans. Last month they announced the next effort in this initiative, the first ever “Veterans Institute” workshop at Walt Disney World Resort designed for companies of all sizes to learn how to support and recruit military veterans.

Today they announced that ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff will be visiting Disney World Resort next month and deliver a keynote address at the workshop.

On January 29, 2006, while reporting on U.S. and Iraqi security forces, Bob was seriously injured by a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq. In February 2007, just 13 months after being wounded, he returned to ABC News with his first on-air report, “To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports.”

Bob and his wife, Lee, co-wrote a bestselling memoir, In An Instant, chronicling his injuries in Iraq and how their family persevered through a time of intense trauma and uncertainty. The Woodruff family established the Bob Woodruff foundation to raise money to assist injured service members, veterans and their families.

“Returning veterans need tools and opportunities in order to move onto the next chapter in their lives. I’m pleased to participate in an event that enables companies to reach out to these heroes so that they can thrive after they return home,” Bob said.

For more info check out Disney Parks Blog

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Check Out The Teaser For The ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Feature on Marvel’s Jarvis App

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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October 10, 2013

Last month, the blu-ray release of ‘Iron Man 3‘ introduced fans a new way to experience the film, as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new app, called Jarvis: A Second Screen Marvel App, gives fans a new interactive experience with their films, letting fans delve into new depths of the Marvel Universe in new ways, much in the way that the Disney Second screen apps have been doing the last few years. The app features exclusive content, interviews, and so much more. In celebration of the new app, Marvel Studios has released a teaser trailer for ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron, from this past summer’s San Diego Comic Con, which is one of the many new features on the app.

Check out the video below, which is a preview of a longer video now available on the app.

ABOUT JARVIS: A MARVEL SECOND SCREEN EXPERIENCE

About JARVIS: In Mavel’s “Iron Man” series, JARVIS is Tony Stark’s artificially intelligent computer system and serves a multitude of functions. JARVIS is programmed to speak with a male British accent and is voiced in Marvel’s “Iron Man” and “The Avengers” series by actor Paul Bettany (“A Beautiful Mind,” “The Da Vinci Code”).

App Overview: Ever wonder what it’s like to be Tony Stark? Download the one-of-a-kind, interactive experience app hosted by JARVIS to your iPad, iPhone or iPod and find out. Just like the real JARVIS, you will be able to interact with him using your own voice. Create customized alarms to wake you in the morning, download ringtones, check theweather, post to Facebook and more! Sync the app to your Blu-ray™ player to unlock hidden files and suits embedded throughout the disc, and experience the first-ever voice controlled Blu-ray!

App Features: Activate JARVIS through a simple setup process and get ready for an entirely new Second Screen Experience. JARVIS will literally be a part of your daily routine. Browse through all 42 of Tony Stark’s Armors in the interactive Armor gallery. Gain access to exclusive content as well as be able to control the Blu-ray menus with either a digital remote or simply by using your voice. “Marvel’s Iron Man 3” will be available on September 24, 2013. The full list of Iron Man 3 Jarvis: A Marvel Second Screen Experience functions are as follows.

Like Tony Stark, users can engage JARVIS through voice-activated commands

Receive messages from JARVIS, download ringtones, post to Facebook and more

Check time, local weather as well as set alarms through the integrated Clock mode

Initiate media delivered in messages, including video, audio, image, ringtone or website

Install unique ringtones

Unlock 42 unique Iron Man suits (plus additional “Ghost” file)

When connected to the same network as the Blu-ray player, JARVIS will function as the Blu-ray remote control, or the user can simply “say what you see” and the app will do the rest.

Devices: iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

Formats: iOS

Access: Visit [www.marvel.com/ironman3/secondscreen.com]
Install the free app to your iOS™ device from the Apple iTunes Store

Verify that your iOS device and Blu-ray player are connected to the same Wifi Network.

Insert Marvel’s Iron Man 3 Blu-ray and Launch the App.

Currently only available in US, English-speaking Canada and Japan

Check out the new Iron Man 3 – Jarvis App (chipandco.com)
‘Iron Man 3′ Blu-ray Review (chipandco.com)
Get a First Look at Some ‘Iron Man 3′ Bonus Features (chipandco.com)
Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man’ Moves Up From November to July 2015. (chipandco.com)

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