Scandal: The Complete Second Season comes to DVD September 3, 2013

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July 17, 2013

As a fan of Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice, I instantly became hooked on Scandal which was also created by Shonda Rhimes. The first season proved to be exciting as we were introduced to Olivia Pope the title character played by Kerry Washington. Now that season 2 is coming to DVD, I am looking forward to seeing Olivia Pope and her team of “gladiators in suits” continue their work to keep the secrets and protect the public images of the country’s most powerful and elite. This television series is a political thriller at its best. My favorite part of the show is the interaction between the team at Pope & Associates, and the second season promises lots of shocking reveals: from Quinn’s identity to Huck’s dark past. It’s easy to see that there is tons of intrigue and mystery just on the team itself! The relationship between President Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III (played brilliantly by Tony Goldwyn) and Olivia is to me the core of all the drama. Season 2 definitely raises the stakes where their relationship is concerned.

Scandal: The Complete Second Season is officially released on September 3, 2013 and will contain all 22 episodes of the 2nd season. It’s a whopper of a set containing 5 discs and tons of bonus features including deleted scenes which are always my favorite bonus feature. I’m really looking forward to the 2nd season of Scandal and can’t wait to share all of the jaw-dropping moments with all of you.

Stay tuned for the review here on Chip & Company. Are you excited to see this on DVD?

When Sarah isn’t sharing planning tips about the Walt Disney World Resort, you can find her at the Gluten Free & Dairy Free at WDW where she writes dining reviews and shares tips and tricks about dining at Disney with a special diet.

Head to the Islands – Aulani Special Offer

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 16, 2013

If you have been considering a truly magical vacation to the island of Oahu in Hawaii with dreams of staying at Aulani Resort and Spa, then pay attention for a great offer from Disney. Hey, even if you haven’t considered it yet, perhaps reading this amazing offer will be enough to peak an interest and a further look at a visit for you.

Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa is offering Fifth (5th) Night Free on stays of Four (4) or more consecutive nights, plus receive a $100 Resort Credit. This offer is available for stays most nights August 26th, 2014 through November 23, 2013 and again December 1st, 2013 through December 15th, 2013.

What can you do with an extra day at Aulani? How bout taking a wade into the StingRay pool and feeding them by hand? It’s an amazing experience, even if it is a little creepy the first time. That feeling of the squid being sucked from your fingers is really something to experience. If you have brought children along, they can experience the StinkRay pool as well (age restrictions apply as well as their is a cost for this opportunity)

If StingRays aren’t your speed or perhaps the thought is just too much for you, head down to the white sand beach and enjoy some time swimming in the beautiful warm Pacific Ocean.

With so many amazing activities available at Aulani, you will certainly need at least that 5th day, if not more. Aulani Resort and Spa on the west side of Oahu is a must visit for Disney Addicts, and anyone who wants a fantastic Hawaiian vacation.

The amount of rooms available for this offer are limited and must be booked by September 3rd, 2013. Contact DisneyDaniel, or any of the amazing Agents with ChipandCo’s exclusive Travel Agency, Destinations In Florida. Don’t let the Florida in our name fool you, we are full-service agency specializing in Disney and much, much more.

When Daniel isn’t sharing Planning Tips about Disneyland, Aulani, and other Destinations, he can be found either wishing he was at Disneyland or planning his and other’s Disney Vacations. Contact him or Request a Quote on the right side of the ChipandCo Page.

Booking for Candlelight Processional Packages at Epcot Now Available

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 16, 2013

It seems early to be thinking about Christmas, but if you are planning to spend Christmas at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, it’s not too early to start planning your celebrations.

Candlelight Processional Packages at Epcot are now available to book and guarantee your reserved seating.

The Candlelight Processional is part of Holidays Around the World at Epcot. It’s a joyous retelling of the Christmas story by a celebrity narrator, who is accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a glorious mass choir. Dinner packages, which are available on select nights, include a delicious meal at an Epcot restaurant, a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances, and pre-arranged fireworks viewing.

Disney has also announced the list of confirmed celebrity narrators:

11/29-12/1-TBD
12/2-12/3: TBD
12/4-12/5: Ashley Judd
12/6-12/7: Whoopi Goldberg
12/8-12/10: Sigourney Weaver
12/11-12/13: Dennis Haysbert
12/14-12/16: James Denton
12/17-12/19: Edward James Olmos
12/20-12/22: Trace Adkins
12/23-12/25: TBD
12/26-12/28: Blair Underwood
12/29-12/30: Amy Grant

The Candlelight Processional is performed three times each night throughout the holiday season, November 29–December 30, 2013.

Remember, when you book with Chip’s friends at Destinations in Florida, you can sit back and let them do the work for you. They’ll make your dining reservations and more! Request your free quote today!

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 vacation? Siera is an agent with Destinations in Florida, an authorized Disney vacation planner, and can help you. Plus, can receive up to a $50 in-room credit! Contact her at [email protected] or 734-771-1290!

Epcot World Showcase Best Kept Secrets – China

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 16, 2013

Did you enjoy some authentic German beer or Bratwurst on last months Best Kept Secrets from Germany? See the little boy and girl come out of the cuckoo clock in Germany? As we continue down the World showcase our next stop is China.

As you enter into China, you walk through a Paifang gate, which is a traditional Chinese architecture gating style as an arch.

The Temple of Heaven is a 1/2 size re-creation of the Beijing original landmark and houses the 360 degree movie Reflections of China.

The original movie Wonders of China was replaced in May of 2003 with Reflections of China, which included updated pictures of many of the landmarks in the original and every bit of footage of Shangai had been replaced.

Filming the Wonders of China proved to be quite challenging for the crew. For one sequence on Huangshan Mountain, the crew and 40 laborers had to carry the three-hundred pound camera and other equipment to the top, over a mile in height.

Many of the architectural details, both outside and in, have important significance to the Chinese people. Inside the hall, there are 12 outer columns supporting the roof. They represent the 12 year cycle of the Chinese calendar and the 12 months of the year. Close to the center of the room, you will see 4 columns representing the 4 seasons. All these columns support a beam, which is supposed to represent Earth, which is topped by a round beam that signifies Heaven.

We have sat and watched this movie many times, not only is very interesting, it is a great place to just sit and cool for a few minutes.

The temple is acoustically perfect. You can stand exactly in the middle of the room, and your voice will echo back to you.

Your voice sounds different to other people than it does when you hear it in your head, so this is a chance to hear what your “real” voice sounds like.

The Dragon Legends acrobats will perform throughout the day and always tend to draw a pretty big crowd.

There is a replica of the Terracotta Army, which was discovered in 1974 by some local farmers near Xi’an Shaanxi province. The original figures date back to approximately 210 BC.

The Chinese pavilion features a very loosely structured landscaping. There is no feeling of being outside or inside the garden. They are designed to be still and passive, just like the meditation pool. Plants are used sparingly, concentrating on using accent plants with unusual color. The Zoysia grass is left alone to grow as it would look in China. Several fruit trees (orange, plum and pomegranate are included in the landscaping).

The Weeping Mulberry, is supposed to represent a tree you might find in China, it is actually over 100 years old and was found in New Jersey.

In order to replicate the intricate tile work patterns on the original Temple of Heaven, the Imaginears screen printed hundreds of exact replications of it’s detailed patterns onto each and every tile.

You can meet Mulan and Mushu here throughout the day.

The pavilion served as the backdrop for the music video of the song “Reflection“, performed by a then-unknown Christina Aguilera, from the 1998 Disney film Mulan.

Have you seen Mulan or Mushu here? Did you get to hear your “real” voice? What do you think of China and the gardens?

In case you missed them here are the past Best Kept Series Articles

Join us next time we head over to Norway and see what kind of trolls we can find.

runDISNEY D2.3 Fun Run to Kick off D23 Expo

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Chip

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July 16, 2013

runDisney is excited to be at the start line of Disney’s D23 Expo and lead the way with the runDisney D2.3 Fun Run on Friday, August 9.

A limited number of D23 Members will get the opportunity to experience the magic of a runDisney event and take part in a 2.3-mile fun run. The experience will include signature runDisney elements like Disney characters and the opportunity to run through a theme park, Disney California Adventure. In addition, runners will receive a shirt for participating and enjoy a little extra pixie dust along the way.

“runDisney is committed to helping people live a healthy and active lifestyle by providing races of various distances so the entire family can participate,” said Faron Kelley, director of Marketing for Disney Sports. “It’s exciting to be part of the D23 Expo and to provide a memorable runDisney experience for some of the most passionate Disney fans in the world.”

This experience will only be available to D23 Members and a Membership number will be required at the time of registration. Fans can join D23 atwww.D23.comand at <www.DisneyStore.com/D23Details on how to register to be selected for the runDisney D2.3 Fun Run will be available the week of July 22 on the Disney Parks Blog, Facebook (runDisney), @runDisney, and @DisneyD23.

Come Out and Play at the D23 Expo

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 16, 2013

d23 expo logo

Disney Interactive is inviting fans to experience the latest digital offerings from Disney at the D23 Expo, August 9–11, giving fans hands-on experiences, first-look presentations, and exclusive D23 Expo giveaways. With a great lineup of upcoming games and products.

Arena Presentation: On Sunday, August 11, fans won’t want to miss “To Infinity and Beyond: Disney Interactive Takes the Stage,” Disney Interactive’s first ever D23 Expo Arena Presentation. Kicking off at noon, Disney Interactive Co-Presidents, Jimmy Pitaro and John Pleasants, host an inside look at the division’s upcoming slate of games, apps, and online shows including:

· The world premiere of Blank: A Vinylmation Love Story, the highly anticipated upcoming web series based on the Vinylmation franchise.

· An Expo-exclusive demo of the just-announced video game Fantasia: Music Evolved, complete with a live performance from the Disney Chamber Ensemble.

· Disney Infinity will pull out all the stops with several surprises fans won’t want to miss, including un-announced character reveals, brand new game features and an exclusive giveaway of a never-before-seen Disney Infinity figure for every fan in the audience!

Pavilion Experience: The Disney Interactive pavilion lets Guests step into the world of interactive storytelling through hands-on experiences with the latest games and products from Disney Interactive. Gamers, will have the opportunity to discover Disney Interactive’s upcoming digital innovations bringing them closer to the characters and stories they love on the platforms and devices they use every day.

· Just days before Disney Infinity arrives in stores, attendees will be among the first to experience the new gaming platform that lets fans play in the worlds of their favorite Disney and Disney Pixar films.

· Fans can assume the role of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice in the upcoming game Fantasia: Music Evolved and transform classic and contemporary music through motion-controlled movement like never before.

· Guests can join the “D23 Expo Story Scavenger Hunt” by using Disney’s new personal storytelling app, Story, to share their favorite memories and moments from this year’s expo to win great prizes throughout the weekend.

· Attendees will have the chance to demo an un-announced premium tablet experience which gives Guests unprecedented access to Disney’s rich heritage.

· Catch exclusive trailers and sneak peeks from the latest online shows like Blank: A Vinylmation Love Story, apps, and games at the Disney Interactive Main Stage.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

5 Tips for Quick Service Meals at Disney World

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 16, 2013

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Disney planning nerd. I absolutely LOVE planning the details of Disney vacations, and I am not ashamed to admit that spreadsheets filled with things like ADR confirmation numbers fill my heart with a particular kind of joy. While preparing for a recent trip “home” to Disney however, I kept Walt Disney’s famous quote’ “We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” in my mind because we had decided to plan our meals differently for this trip.

First, I am a definite fan of the Disney Dining Plan. I have used it for every Disney vacation that we have taken since it began. We love trying all of the different restaurants at Disney as well as revisiting our favorites ( I think I could eat at ‘Ohana every day). To put it simply, we LOVE to eat at Disney! However, our recent trip was a quick weekend trip to Magic Kingdom and Epcot and we decided to skip the Dining Plan and table-service meals and instead focus on counter-service options and snacks this time. On our previous trips, using the Dining Plan, we had usually used our counter-service meal for an easy breakfast at our resort before hitting the parks for the day and then had a table-service meal at the end of the day; so I was curious to see what we had been missing.

Here are the Top 5 things that I learned along the way:

Snacks!! Since we have always had a large table-service meal during our day, we haven’t tried many of the snacks at Disney. I know, it’s embarrassing. We’ve always had our favorites; I mean it’s not a trip to Disney without a Mickey Bar on Main Street right? But since we weren’t saving room for a big dinner we were able to try so many snacks on this trip! It was one of our favorite parts of the trip. The Viking Mousse in Norway was a particularly big hit- it was delicious! Also be sure to try the Cinnamon Roll at Gastons Tavern!
Relaxed schedule: Without an ADR to plan our time around, we found that we were able to have a more relaxed day in the parks. We took our time and really enjoyed our time together- often while eating a snack!
You can get full on counter-service meals: One of my only concerns with skipping table-service meals this trip was my son. Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s not really him; it’s more his hollow leg that never seems to get filled. He’s 17, well over 6 feet tall and let’s just say that he eats a lot. I am glad to say that that we were able to fill him with counter-service meals on our trip. For heartier appetites like his, there are many filling counter-service meals available. In Magic Kingdom he had great meals at Be Our Guest and Cosmic Rays. When we visited Epcot, he really loved the tacos and churros at La Hacienda de San Angel.
There really is something for everyone: Most of my family is pretty adventurous when it comes to eating and tire of hamburgers and fries pretty quickly. We were able to find many choices beyond typical theme park food. We had the most fun with this at Epcot in the World Showcase, of course. We discovered that Moroccan coffee really is stronger than what we are used to at home and that seaweed candy from Japan must be an acquired taste that we are lacking. The more careful eater in my family was also able to find lots of great choices and gave rave reviews to the walnut baklava in Morocco!
Sharing: Since not all of us can eat as much as my son, on several occasions two of us were able to share a meal and still have plenty to eat. It also left us more room to enjoy the snacks!

We really loved trying more of the counter-service options at Disney during our trip. Now I just have to wait until I can get those delicious noodles at ‘Ohana again…the sooner the better!

The Lone Ranger Coming to DVD and Bluray

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 16, 2013

Take a quick trip over to Amazon and pre-order your copy of The Lone Ranger, which has a scheduled release date of October 15, 2013.

From the same filmmakers as “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Follow the adventure of a Native American warrior Tonto, a thrilling adventure filled with action and humor, in which the masked hero is brought to life through new eyes. Tonto (Johnny Depp) recounts the untold tales that transformed a man of the law, into a legend of justice.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

‘Takeoff Tuesday” with Planes

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 16, 2013

Disney.com is celebrating “Takeoff Tuesdays” featuring exclusive digital shorts inspired by Disney’s upcoming animated film, Planes.

Before Disney’s Planes soars into theaters in 3D on August 9, head to Disney.com for weekly racer profiles featuring the stars of the film including Dusty, El Chupacabra and more. Get to know the charming caped Casanova himself, El Chupacabra. As a racing legend in Mexico, El Chu is known for his passion for racing and his dramatic flair. Visit Disney.com every Tuesday for more video profiles featuring all-new characters.

“Disney’s Planes” is an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing because he happens to be afraid of heights.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine

Disneyland Refurbishment update for July 2013 and Beyond

By

Chip

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July 15, 2013

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

Current

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Disneyland) closed through 10/30/13 for a major refurbishment.
Market House (Disneyland) closed for transformation into Starbucks location. No reopening date announced yet.

Upcoming

Mad Tea Party (Disneyland) closed 8/19/13-8/29/13 for refurbishment.
Haunted Mansion (Disneyland) closed 8/26/13-9/12/13 for refurbishment and installation of Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island (Disneyland) closed 9/3/13-9/4/13 for refurbishment.
Big Thunder Ranch (Disneyland) closed 9/3/13-9/12/13 for refurbishment and transition to Halloween overlay.
Mickey’s House (Disneyland) closed 9/3/13-9/26/13 for refurbishment.
King Arthur’s Carrousel (Disneyland) closed 9/3/13-10/10/13 for refurbishment.
Mark Twain Riverboat (Disneyland) closed 9/9/13-9/12/13 for refurbishment.
Space Mountain (Disneyland) closed 9/9/13-9/12/13 for refurbishment and transition to Ghost Galaxy Halloween overlay.
Toy Story Midway Mania! (DCA) closed 9/16/13-9/19/13 for refurbishment.
Sailing Ship Columbia (Disneyland) closed 9/17/13-9/19/13 for refurbishment.

Disneyland Savings for Disney Visa Card Holders

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 15, 2013

Disneyland Resort and Disney Visa from Chase have teamed up to bring you a new Disneyland Savings Offer! Stay at one of the three (3) Disneyland Hotels, including Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, Disneyland Hotel and Paradise Pier Hotel.

Book a Disneyland Vacation from August 25th to September 27th, 2013 and receive 20% savings off your room rate Sunday through Thursday, and 15% off Friday and Saturdays. While the add-ons aren’t discounted, you may still add park tickets, dining or other area attractions to your package and make a full package with your offer. Know that you can make a complete vacation with the help of your Disney Specialist Travel Agent (that’s me by the way).

As a guest of any of the Disneyland On-Site Hotels, you are also eligible for Magic Mornings and easy park access. You are also so close to your hotel that an easy afternoon stop for some pool time or down time is a short walk or monorail ride away. With so many advantages to staying at a Disneyland On-Site Hotel why would you chose anything different? Visit www.Disneyland.com/early-admission for more information on early admission and more bonuses of staying on-site.

When planning your Disneyland visit, ensure you take into account all the great classic and new Disneyland and California Adventure rides and attractions. Including the newest one, Cars Land. Covering 12 Acres of California Adventure it’s a must do for everyone.

There are limited rooms with this offer, so contact us today to ensure you receive this special offer before it’s all gone. Booking must be complete by September 5th with travel during the dates listed above. (August 25th to September 27th). Hurry, these rooms will go fast! Don’t forget that you can also use your Disney Dream Dollars to book your vacation.

Contact me or use the quote form on the right to book your room offer or package today with ChipandCo’s favorite Travel Agency, Destinations In Florida. Don’t let the name fool you though, we specialize in many types of vacations around the world!

When Daniel isn’t sharing Planning Tips about Disneyland he can be found either wishing he was at Disneyland or planning his and other’s Disney Vacations. Contact him or Request a Quote on the right side of the ChipandCo Page.

Disney World Mobile Guide Updated for Summer

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 15, 2013

Disney World Mobile Guide Home Screen 172 x 258

Disney World Mobile Guide 1.7 app for the iPhone and iPad is updated to reflect recent changes within the theme parks, including the new Fantasyland. The app provides users with wait times, interactive maps, restaurant listings, menus, park hours, parade and event times, ride descriptions, Disney hotel information, phone numbers, over 300 pages of valuable information and more.

“The exciting Disney World Mobile Guide app is a powerful trip-planning and in-park resource for park guests.” said Mike Westby of TimeStream Software. “And now, with all the updated information for the summer, this app is even more valuable. The Disney World Mobile Guide app is a powerful tool to make sure guests’ vacations are even more productive, magical and fun.”

The new Disney World Mobile Guide Version 1.7 includes updated information for Disney’s new Fantasyland expansion at The Magic Kingdom, including:

– New Interactive Map for Fantasyland
– New Fantasyland Ride Descriptions
– New Fantasyland Wait Times
– New Fantasyland Restaurants and Menus
– New Fantasyland Photos
– And More

The Disney World Mobile Guide app is one of the most comprehensive mobile vacation planners and in-park guides available for Walt Disney World Resort today, covering nearly every aspect of the entire resort and all four theme parks. Check out our review here.

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine