Disney World Refurbishment Schedule October 2012

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September 22, 2012

Here is the Refurb and Closure Schedule for Walt Disney World for June 2012 and beyond. Refurbishment/closure information is subject to change without notice and should be confirmed just prior to visiting. Updated information is available at the Disney World Website.

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Surfboard Bay Pool (All-Star Sports Resort) closed through 9/28/12. The Grand Slam Pool will remain open.
Hurricane Hanna’s (Yacht & Beach Club) closed through 9/29/12 for refurbishment.
Country Bear Jamboree (Magic Kingdom) closed through 10/16/12 for refurbishment.
Ship Shape Health Club and Periwig Beauty & Barber Shop (Yacht & Beach Club) closed through 11/16/12. Guests may use the temporary health club in the Solarium at the Beach Club or the BoardWalk health club.
Test Track (Epcot) closed through 11/30/12 for transformation to the Chevrolet Design Center.

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How to Headache Proof Your Disney World Vacation

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 22, 2012

How to Headache Proof Your Disney World Vacation

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article targeted at my fellow migraine sufferers visiting Disney World. Today I am going with the headache theme again, but this time, I am coming at it from a different view-point. The view-point of a figurative headache (or, come to think of it, it could actually prove to be literal). Today, we are taking a look at the little things you can do to make your trip to Disney World the most magical it can be. I am giving you some MEDS to help you prevent those pesky “headaches” at Disney!

M: Make time for break

Making time for breaks will save you a headache down the road, especially if you are traveling with little ones! I don’t think that a break has to mean taking an actual nap. A break for your family/group may mean sitting down for a snack, hitting a Disney water park, splitting up to venture out on your own, or a million other things. Sometimes the best “breaks” are quick escapes to let you renew and refresh. Taking a break from the hustle and bustle is a good idea because it gives you a chance to start fresh. Whatever a break looks like for you and yours, be sure to take a few the next time you are at Disney. I am sure you’ll notice the difference from those days where you shot through the parks on auto pilot!

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Disney Channel Celebrates “MONSTOBER” With Haunting Halloween-Themed Episodes

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 22, 2012

Disney Channel Celebrates "MONSTOBER" With Haunting Halloween-Themed Episodes

It’s the spookiest time of the year and Disney Channel is celebrating with “Monstober” – a bone-chilling month dedicated to Halloween-themed episodes, movies, games and new series premieres, beginning FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5. Haunting highlights include Halloween-themed season two premieres of “Jessie” and “Austin & Ally,” the premiere of the Disney Channel Original Movie “Girl Vs. Monster,” the return of mutants in “A.N.T. Farm,” a fiendish trick-or-treating monster invading on “Gravity Falls,” baby Toby’s first Halloween in “Good Luck Charlie,” a creepy doll in “Fish Hooks,” a marathon of “My Babysitter’s a Vampire” and fan-favorite movies, including “Hocus Pocus,” “Twitches,” “Monsters, Inc” and more.

Beginning SEPTEMBER 28, fans can visit DisneyChannel.com/Halloween to go through the ultimate “monster-morphosis” by uploading a picture and using monster-themed assets to transform into a monster. A few lucky monster creations will be shown on Disney Channel. Additionally, with “Monster Mania Maze” at DisneyChannel.com/Halloween, fans can create a haunted house-themed maze and upload it to a monster gallery. “Each maze is themed to popular Disney Channel shows, including “Austin & Ally,” “Gravity Falls,” “Jessie” and “Phineas and Ferb.”

“Monstober” also brings two special games based on the Disney Channel Original Movie “Girl Vs. Monster.” In “Skylar’s Chilling Challenge,” players control Skylar as she uses a laser to capture monsters, while in “Skylar vs. Deimata,” fans assume the role of Skylar as she battles hordes of monsters. The site will also feature Halloween-themed episodes of hit series: “Gravity Falls,” “A.N.T Farm,” “Good Luck Charlie,” “Austin & Ally,” “Fish Hooks,” “Jessie” and “My Babysitter’s a Vampire.”

Veterans Reunite, Attend Flag Retreat Ceremony at Magic Kingdom Park

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Chip

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September 22, 2012

About 60 veterans of the United States Navy destroyer USS John R. Pierce recently joined us at the Walt Disney World Resort for a special reunion. The group not only visited the park but also attended and participated in a flag retreat ceremony at Magic Kingdom Park. One of the veterans, Dick Brennan, helped lower the flag and then carried it down Main Street U.S.A., with other crew members.

Among the other veterans of the USS John R. Pierce attending the reunion was John T. Pierce, son of John R. Pierce, who served on the ship named for his father from 1955 to 1957. The veterans at the ceremony served between 1944-1967. Many stayed to watch that evening’s fireworks.

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Veterans Reunite, Attend Flag Retreat Ceremony at Magic Kingdom Park

FRANKENWEENIE – Fantastic Fest World Premiere

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Chip

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September 21, 2012

Fantastic Fest hosts the world premiere screening of ‘Frankenweenie 3D’ on the festival’s opening night at the Alamo Drafthouse Lamar theater, Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012 in Austin, Texas. Director Tim Burton, and actors Winona Ryder, Martin Landau, Charlie Tahan, and producer Allison Abbate walked the red carpet before the movie started. (Photos by Jack Plunkett)

“Like” Frankenweenie on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Frankenweenie

Frankenweenie is in Theaters October 5, 2012!!

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FRANKENWEENIE - Fantastic Fest World Premiere

DVD Review: Private Practice The Complete Fifth Season

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 21, 2012

If you love the always sexy, steamy, and suspenseful medical drama “Private Practice” as much as I do then you are in luck! The complete fifth season of Private Practice is now available! Kate Walsh, Taye Diggs, Tim Daly, Benjamin Bratt, Paul Adelstein, Brian Benben, Amy Brenneman, and my favorite KaDee Strickland are back in action for this intense and suspenseful fifth season!

The practice is faced with many new changes and challenges as new and unexpected people enter and complicate the lives of these doctors. We start our journey when Cooper finds Pete after suffering a massive heart attack and brain bleed. It is a rush to save his life. Pete has a hard time dealing with his near death experience and it really causes a rift in his relationship with Violet. This health crisis could seal the deal on their crumbling marriage. They together face many hard decisions that will put their faith in their relationship, family, and love to the test.

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Two New FINDING NEMO Apps

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 21, 2012

On the heels of the 3D re-release of Finding Nemo in theaters this past Friday and in anticipation of the upcoming Finding Nemo Blu-Ray DVD release, Disney Publishing Worldwide announced today *two* exciting NEW apps — Finding Nemo: Storybook Deluxe and Finding Nemo Interactive Comic.

Kids can join Marlin and his forgetful friend, Dory, as they encounter hungry sharks, groovy turtles and other sea creatures in their quest across the ocean in search of Marlin’s lost son, Nemo. Through engaging narration, authentic underwater sound effects, and original graphics from the Academy Award winning movie, families can explore the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney Harbor, and the world of reading together.

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Disney Cast Members Walk to Raise Money and Awareness

By

Chip

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September 21, 2012

More than 800 Disney VoluntEARS recently participated in the 2012 Greater Orlando Heart Walk, raising almost $33,000 in support of the American Heart Association.

While taking a stand against heart disease and stroke—the number one and four leading causes of death in the United States—Disney Cast Members also made strides toward a healthy lifestyle.

“If it hadn’t been for the research and key learnings that doctors and surgeons have made as technology continues to advance, my dad wouldn’t have made it through heart surgery so successfully,” said Cast Member Paige Stevenson who walked in honor of his father. “He is and continues to be a survivor of heart disease.”

Whether honoring a loved one who has been affected by heart disease or stroke, celebrating a personal triumph over these diseases, or simply walking in support of a worthy cause, each Cast Member who participated made a difference.

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Top 5 Ways to Have a Carefree Disney Vacation

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 21, 2012

Top 5 Ways to Have a Carefree Disney Vacation

While a vacation should be relaxing, it can also be stressful! Disney World is meant to take you back to the days of carefree childhood where magic and adventure is real and possible; but when trying to make flights, keep schedules, count cash, and haul strollers, a vacation can be anything but relaxing.

So today I have some suggestions for how you can have a carefree Disney vacation. Enjoy!

5. Take Breaks-While some guests many not have the time and flexibility to take a break during their days at the park, we highly suggest that those who can definitely should! The Florida heat can be intense, especially after walking most of the day. Being hot and tired, especially with kids in tow, is a recipe for disaster; so don’t set yourself up for stress, take a break during the heat of the day!

4. Get Up Early-Many Disney guests argue that since they’re on vacation, they should sleep in and relax; but what they fail to realize is that waking late and hitting the parks several hours after opening is anything but relaxing, especially during peak season. So hit the parks early and take a nap later for a more carefree Disney experience.

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‘Wreck-It Ralph’ Characters Are Coming to Disney Parks This November

By

Chip

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September 21, 2012

‘Wreck-It Ralph’ Characters Are Coming to Disney Parks This November

Great News! Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope Von Schweetz, two of the main characters from Disney’s newest animated adventure comedy “Wreck-It Ralph,” will soon be making their debut at Disney Parks.

“Wreck-It Ralph” is going to be great, and meeting Ralph and Vanellope in the parks will be just as fun. At The Magic of Disney Animation attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll step through Game Central Station, catching glimpses of the various game worlds from the film on your way to “Sugar Rush,” where Vanellope and Ralph are waiting to meet you at the finish line.

At Disneyland park, the arcade world of “Wreck-It Ralph” comes to life within the Tomorrowland Starcade. When Ralph and Vanellope are there, you’ll have an opportunity to meet them at the portal to “Sugar Rush” and can even play a round on the classic arcade game “Fix-It Felix, Jr.”

Look for each of these experiences to open this November, and be sure to catch “Wreck-It Ralph” in theaters November 2 in 3D!

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Disney’s Youngest Princess Makes Her Primetime Debut in “Sofia The First”

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 21, 2012

Coming in November is a much-anticipated Disney Channel animated movie, “Sofia The First: Once Upon a Princess”. Disney’s newest and youngest princess, Sofia, comes in close contact with the favorite princess, Cinderella. Throughout the movie, Sofia is helped out with much-needed advice from those with more experience, including Cinderella and Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, the good fairies from “Sleeping Beauty“.

“By setting our story in the classic Disney world we’re able to involve some longtime fan favorites,” notes Sofia creator Craig Gerber. “The fairy godmothers are the headmistresses at Royal Prep Academy, where they will teach Sofia and the children of other royals from all around the world.” Expect more iconic Disney princesses to show up when Sofia returns in 2013 as a Disney Channel series.

Both the movie and the series, aimed at kids 2-7 and their families, will offer positive messages and life lessons “about honesty, courage and compassion,” says Gerber. “Sofia is excited about her new home, new school and new blended family, but she is also in shock. She has a lot of adjusting to do and young viewers will really relate. It’s our hope they will take away Sofia’s life lessons and apply them to their own lives.”

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Beach Ball’s Are Gone from Luigi’s Flying Tires in Disneyland

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 20, 2012

One of the new attractions at Carsland is already being modified to mixed reviews. Disneyland’s Luigi’s Flying Tires ride previously had gigantic beach balls that made the ride unique and has been part of the experience since it’s opening in June. This slow moving ride needed shorter wait times and so the beach balls got cut from the attraction.

In an e-mailed statement, Disneyland spokesperson Erin Glover simply wrote, “We regularly make modifications to attractions to provide guests with the best possible experience.” In other words, Disney has decided the beach balls did not offer riders a good overall experience. And while many have enjoyed leaning and spinning on the floating tires while tossing the oversized red, white, and green balls at each other, anyone who has ever gotten hit in the head with one likely has a different opinion.

The ride has park guests sitting on giant tires that float on air with dozens of beach balls bouncing around. With Disney’s removal of the beach balls Disneyland spokeswoman, Suzi Brown, said that other creative elements may be added in the future but did not elaborate.

Luigi’s Flying Tires is similar to the Flying Saucers which was a Disneyland ride from the 1960s. Park guests were on personal spacecraft that floated on a cushion of air (but without the beach balls). The Flying Saucers only lasted a scant five years because of mechanical problems.

Photo Credit: latimes.com

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Beach Ball's Are Gone from Luigi's Flying Tires in Disneyland

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