Fairytale Elegance, French-Inspired Cuisine Celebrated At Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland

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September 18, 2012

Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland magically drops Magic Kingdom diners into the splendor, elegance and fairytale charm of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” with a setting right out of the hit animated feature film: the magnificent castle of The Beast, where guests dine in three richly appointed rooms that bring to the story to life.

“This is a whole new level of theming for a Disney restaurant,” said Maribeth Bisienere, vice president of Food & Beverage and Merchandise for The Walt Disney Company. “More than ever, we’re using storytelling and creativity as we develop our menus.”

Be Our Guest Restaurant is the next step in the evolution of creating delightful dining experiences for Disney theme park guests, she added.

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Sites We Love: A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 18, 2012

“A Disney Mom’s Thoughts” is a Disney blog written by Beth Green, a mom of three boys living in North Alabama. With almost 20 trips to Walt Disney World and 1 trip to Disneyland under her belt, she has been blogging about Disney on her personal blog since March of 2010 and has been contributing to Chip and Co since January of 2012. At “A Disney Mom’s Thoughts,” you can find information about planning trips to Walt Disney World, tips to make your trip easier, restaurant, resort and attraction reviews, trip reports and more! Beth often writes from a mom’s perspective focusing on what makes her boys happy while at Walt Disney World or Disneyland.

When Beth is not blogging about Disney, playing with her boys or planning her next adventure at Walt Disney World, she is spending time with a load of students as the full-time youth minister at her church. In fact, she even took 28 high school students to WDW this summer after a mission trip!

You can find Beth at her blog, “A Disney Mom’s Thoughts”, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube. Check out her past articles on Chip and Co too!

Last Minute Tips before you leave for Walt Disney World! (chipandco.com)
You might be a Disney Addict if (chipandco.com)

Disney Classic Peter Pan on Sale in the App Store

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 18, 2012

Disney Publishing is celebrating their newest addition, Dumbo: Disney Classics app, with a Disney Classics app sale! What TIME Magazine named as one of “The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films” is now masterfully retold in the Dumbo: Disney Classics interactive storybook app. If you’re planning to drive to Walt Disney World soon, you’ll want to have these on hand to entertain the kiddos in the car. In fact, with them being $1.99, you can get two for the price of one!

With the launch of Dumbo: Disney Classics, all Disney Classics apps will be $1.99 in the App Store (orig. $3.99) today through September 26th. The apps, all available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch and are geared for children ages 3-7.

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Romantic Dinner Spots Outside The Disney World Theme Parks

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Catie

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September 18, 2012

Last week I talked about romantic dinner spots at the WDW Theme Parks, and there really are some great places to grab an intimate dinner for 2 at the Parks. If you’re willing to venture outside of the 4 Theme Parks, there are MANY more delicious dinner choices available to you for a Disney date night. So, hire a babysitter for the kids, and try out one of these amazing restaurants:

Head over to the Grand Floridian Resort where you will find some delicious options, including Citricos which features an upscale take on American classics like steak and pastas, and Narcoossee’s – with it’s amazing views of the Magic Kingdom and mouth-watering seafood specialties, it’s the perfect place for a date night! If you’re really looking to celebrate, you can head over to the luxurious Victoria and Albert’s, where you are treated like royalty to a delicious 6 course meal (with optional wine pairings available!)

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5 Year Old Battling Cancer Has His Wish Come True and Visits Disney World

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 18, 2012

Tripp Stratton, a five-year-old that lives in Wichita, Kansas, got his wish granted with a trip to Disney World. What makes this wish more special than other children everywhere that wish the same thing? Tripp Stratton was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, he has neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer that develops in nerve tissue.

Make-A-Wish Foundation, Kansas Chapter, has been granting wishes for children in Kansas with life threatening medical conditions for the past 27 years.

“About 70% of the wishes that we grant out of Kansas involve travel and most of those wishes are to Disney World.” Says Lisa Capps, Director of Development for Make-A-Wish Kansas. Make-A-Wish Kansas has granted more than 1000 wishes to kids since they began in 1985. “This is what we do,” says Capps, “and it’s a wonderful feeling to be able to make someone else feel happy.”

Tripp gets to spend one week at Disney World and even the trip to the airport was made to be exciting for Tripp. The whole family got to ride in a limo to the airport where there was a party waiting for them, and it even included a Disney Princess. The good news is currently there is no evidence of the disease in his body.

“It’s hard to predict,” Ashley says. “He could relapse at any moment but of course we pray that doesn’t happen.”

But for now, Trip is enjoying his wish of normal kid type fun at Disney World.

Make-A-Wish Sends Another Deserving Kid to Disney World…All the Way from Australia (chipandco.com)
Four-year-old cancer survivor McKenna May has made it to Disney World (chipandco.com)

5 Year Old Battling Cancer Has His Wish Come True and Visits Disney World

Things to do to pass the time while driving to Disney World

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 18, 2012

Do you fly or drive to Walt Disney World? Our family drives. It’s only 9 hours and so much cheaper for a family of 5 to drive. The only downside to driving is the fact that 5 people are stuck in the same car for 9+ hours together!

What can you do to help pass the time and keep everyone happy? Here are a few suggestions my family and I like to do on our long trek home:

Books– Buy new books for your kids to read in the car. If your child can’t read, try the Leapfrog “Tag Reader” System. It’s great for younger kids who can’t read on their own yet!
Music– We always make a Disney playlist for the ride to Orlando. We add our favorite songs from movies, TV shows and park attractions. It helps get us even MORE excited about our destination!
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In Support of National Preparedness Month Disney Donates $1 Million to Red Cross

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 18, 2012

As part of National Preparedness Month this September, the American Red Cross today announced a $1 million grant from Disney to help kids and families prepare for disasters and other emergencies. Disney’s investment will support the Red Cross Pillowcase Preparedness Program as well as other youth services. Disney also developed an interstitial that will air throughout the month of September on Disney Channel, which highlights simple actions kids can take to prepare for emergencies.

“We are so thankful to Disney for their support of the American Red Cross,” said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the Red Cross. “Their generosity and collaboration is showing the public, especially our youth, how easy it is to prepare for the unexpected. Disney is helping us to prepare communities across the U.S., and they’re by our side as we respond to disasters.”

Earlier this year, Disney donated more than 100,000 Mickey Mouse plush to the Red Cross to give to children affected by disaster, who have lost everything. “The Mickey Mouse plush bring comfort to those impacted by disaster, which brings a sense of normalcy back into children’s lives,” said McGovern.

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The Jungle Book: Disney Classics Arrives for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 17, 2012

In celebration of the newly released app Dumbo: Disney Classics app, Disney Publishing has opened up their entire Disney Classics library for a special sale! From now until September 26th, all of the Disney Publishing “Disney Classics” apps for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch are on sale for the low price of $1.99! These apps normally sell for $3.99, so you are getting a great app for 1/2 off!

In The Jungle Book: Disney Classics app, based on the 1967 animated film, you and your child can relive the story of Mowgli and his friends. You can stare down the tiger Shere Khan and learn about the “unknown” world of humans! With reading modes for all ages, coloring pages, interactive puzzles, memory games, and “The Bare Necessities” sing-along, this app has a lot going for it! Click here to check out this video trailer of the app!

Look for a review in the upcoming week!

Disney Publishing Worldwide presents Minnie Bow Maker app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch! (chipandco.com)
Bambi: Disney Classics Storybook app for iPad, iPod, and iPhone. (chipandco.com)

The Jungle Book: Disney Classics Arrives for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch!

Coming Soon…New Pixar Vinylmations

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 17, 2012

Vinylmations are one of the most popular Disney collectibles today. These figures had their debut in 2008 and were 3-inch tall molds in the form of Mickey Mouse. Recently, the line has added many other shapes and sizes and the collection has grown to incorporate all aspects of the Disney empire. The figures highlight all the different arms of Disney including films, rides and characters. One of these “arms” of the Disney family, Pixar, has not had many figures in its image as of recently. But, all that is about to change.

Disney has announced a new Vinylmation series that will celebrate exclusively the Pixar studio. Last week, at Mickey’s Circus Vinylmation Showcase that was hosted at Epcot, all the upcoming Vinylmations were showcased.

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A Plunge Into the Water on The Jungle Cruise Causes Attraction Change

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 17, 2012

A Plunge Into the Water on The Jungle Cruise Causes Attraction Change

The Disneyland Jungle Cruise attraction has had to make some minor changes to its loading and unloading process after a 5-year-old girl had fallen into the water.

Disney added bumpers to the Jungle Cruise boats as well as reduced the gaps that exists between the boats and the dock – thus making it easier for guests to load and unload. The attraction closed for a week to make the necessary adaptations and reopened in early August.

This has not been the first time that someone has fallen into the waters of the Jungle Cruise. Over a five-year period two other people have fallen into the water and fifteen guests have had “part or other parts of their body” slip into the gaps, which before could reach 9″ wide. Disney has now has reduced the gaps to 3″ with its new fixes and the boats are tied and untied as they are loaded/unloaded.

After the Nov 5th incident where the girl fell the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health received a complaint and the state ordered Disney to reduce the gap. While the girl was not injured the state was concerned enough to investigate. But Disney was proactive and made the modifications to both the state and their satisfaction.

There is also a pending lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court from a couple who claim their were thrown from their seat when their boat hit an island.

Related articles

Top 5 Boat Rides at Walt Disney World Resort (chipandco.com)
Fall into Disney river prompts ride changes (ocregister.com)

A Plunge Into the Water on The Jungle Cruise Causes Attraction Change

Poohs’ Birthday Surprise App Review

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 17, 2012

Pooh’s Birthday Surprise is an adorable, educational, and entertaining addition to your iPad or iPhone device.

I was very pleased with the graphics, sound, and opportunity for my three-year old to interact and learn. As you bring up the app, it begins to read a story about Pooh’s birthday and how each of his friends joins in the fun. Some of my favorite features are:

As the narrator reads, the words are highlighted so your child can “read along.”
You can choose different story frames to accomplish fun activities. For example, if you child shakes the device while Pooh is dusting his house for friends to come over, after the dust poofs go away, Pooh’s shelves are clean. In the last frame, you can shake the device so Tigger bounces. When he bounces, he shakes things off the party table. Then, the narrator encourages your child to “Put the red hat back on the table.” A simple swipe of their little finger, and the party hat is back where it should be.
Concepts such as colors, size, order can be reinforced by choosing a different story frame and completing the prompted task.
The music is pleasant to listen to in the background, but there is an option to turn it off.
Young Reader mode shows arrows at the bottom of the screen for your child to tap when he/she is ready to turn the page. No swiping necessary!

Disney has given me another way to entertain my daughter while she is learning! I think that downloading the Pooh’s Birthday Surprise App to your iPad or iPhone is a great idea!

Magically Yours,

Carrie

Carrie writes here on Chip and Co and also on My Favorite Finds. There you can find the best organization,recipes, Disney travel tips, and crafts. Stop by and check out all of her great ways to find the joy in the everyday!

Pooh’s Birthday Surprise on Sale in the App Store (chipandco.com)
The Tigger Movie Bounce-A-Riffic Special Edition Review (chipandco.com)

How to NOT Commit a Pet Peeve at Walt Disney World

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 17, 2012

How to NOT Commit a Pet Peeve at Walt Disney World

Vacationing at Walt Disney World can be a magical, wonderful experience. However, when others commit one of the Top Ten Pet Peeves at Walt Disney World, it suddenly loses its luster, even if for just a moment. Today, I’d like to share with you some alternatives to keep you from committing a Top Ten Pet Peeves.

10. Choose a parade spot at least an hour before it starts. If you want a spot right up at the route ropes, or along the curb at Main Street USA, you’ll need to stake it out asap. Not able to do so? Then find a different viewing spot, or try to have an alternative day to view the parade.

9. When stopping to check your map, move over to the right of the sidewalk, or into a shop. This will help you concentrate, a cast member will be readily available to help, and a traffic jam won’t happen on Main Street USA :).

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