A taxi driver down on his luck was arrested last week after police discovered that he was taking Walt Disney World guests for the wrong type of ride. Orange County Sheriff’s office arrested Nankishore Ramkisoon after it was found out that he was posing as a Mears taxi driver, charging guests for a round trip ride when he picked him up and then leaving them stranded with only a false phone number to call.
Undercover cops busted Ramkisoon by posing as Disney guests who had called Mearsfor a round trip fare to Sea World. He told the cops that he knew what he was doing was wrong but he needed the money. The police had gotten wind of the con when guests started complaining about the scheme in November.
Disney lovers are a special breed of people. We speak a different language and we understand one another. We know the thrill of planning a trip, the anticipation of waiting for it, and the sheer joy of being home again. The Disney community is a tightly knit group. We have respect, regard and a genuine concern for each other. Our group at Chip & Company is one example of such a group of Disney lovers who truly enjoy sharing all we know with everyone out there in order to try to make your Disney experience better, share our memories with your memories, and reach out whenever help is needed.
If you have been a fan of Chip & Company for a while, you know that we lost a treasured friend and a great writer this year. Today is his birthday so I hope you will indulge us an opportunity to share Ken Brown with all of you – especially those of you who never had an opportunity to know him.
Ken was with Chip right from the beginning. He was one of the original writers and Chip has said that when no one else even knew about C&C, Ken was his #1 fan. He was not only a contributor here, though, he was also a very supportive friend and confidant. Ken wrote a special series called Disney for Seniors, but he liked to call it “Oldies but Goodies” for fun. I hope you will take a little time to read his posts as he was an awesome writer with a fabulous sense of humor and he posted very valuable, well-presented information about Disney.
Halloween Time starts this Friday at Disneyland and it debuting a new carnival for all to enjoy. Beginning this Friday, the Disneyland Resort will get a Halloween makeover complete with orange and black decorations, special entertainment and even some rides will be suited up for the spooky season.
The Festival Arena, which currently has been the home of the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree, will become Halloween central for Disneyland with crafts, music, games and pumpkin carvers to complete the transformation.
But don’t think Disney has forgotten the Villains! The villains will be a part of the Magic Cauldron Sideshow, where the characters will magically appear with help from a magician. Also new, Villains will also be greeting park guests in Frontierland this year, instead of at “It’s a Small World” as in years past.
Here are some of the other Halloween Time features at Disneyland:
Pirates League: Pirates Makeover (for a fee) are available in New Orleans Square.
Frankenweenie: “The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition” will be at Disneyland’s California Adventure
Rides: Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain will be converted into Halloween themes.
Mickey’s Halloween Party: On any of the 11 special event nights, kids and adults alike can trick or treat to their heart’s content at Disneyland and watch a special Halloween Fireworks show. The party is a special purchase ticket and then the park is closed to the general public during the party.
Related articles
Enter the ‘Frankenweenie Monstrous Sweepstakes’ for the Chance to Win a Disneyland Resort Vacation (chipandco.com)
‘The Art of Frankenweenie Exhibition’ Coming to Disneyland California Adventure Park September 14 (chipandco.com)
Disney Interactive is excited to announce that the Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue Special Edition video game is now available for the Nintendo DSand Nintendo 3DS.
Inspired by the beloved original Disney•Pixar animated film “Finding Nemo” returning to the big screen for the first time ever in thrilling Disney Digital 3D™, the Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue Special Edition video game puts the journey of a lifetime in your hands as you help Nemo and his friends find their way home. Enjoy more than 30 engaging action-oriented mini-games, with your favorite “Finding Nemo” characters and exciting new “Finding Nemo 3D” film clips available on the Nintendo 3DS!
Today we’re thrilled to share the very first photos from inside the Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid attraction, which will open at Magic Kingdom Park this December.
Housed in the grottos below Prince Eric’s Castle, this New Fantasyland attraction invites guests to follow Ariel on her remarkable journey as she meets Prince Eric, falls in love, and makes a deal with Ursula, the evil Sea Witch.
These photos, supplied by Walt Disney Imagineering, are featured in the “All in the Details” series on the Disney Parks Blog.
And check out some of Sebastian’s friends above – sure looks like they’re having fun “Under the Sea.
Related articles
Concept art for Ariel’s Grotto Meet-And-Greet in New Fantasyland (pics.chipandco.com)
Fantasyland Set to Open December 6th! (chipandco.com)
Many times Walt Disney World is a vacation destination for families and can tend to revolve around the children, so you often don’t think of it as being a ‘romantic getaway’. One way you can infuse a little romance into your vacation is to hire a babysitter for the kids, and take a night to enjoy a romantic dinner for two!
There are SO MANY amazing romantic restaurants at WDW that I couldn’t possibly talk about them all at once, so here are the top romantic restaurants you’ll find at the WDW Theme Parks:
Epcot – There are LOTS of amazing places around Epcot where you can enjoy a relaxing intimate meal, personally I think the atmosphere of the Coral Reef with its huge aquarium and delicious seafood menu is a great dinner spot. There are lots of other options in the World Showcase area of Epcot as well – from the French charm of Bistro De Paris, to the dark interior and delicious steaks at Le Cellier, to the traditional Italian menu and extensive wine list at Tutto Italia – there really are a lot of great “date” spots in Epcot.
Magic Kingdom – to me, this is the hardest place to find a romantic dining spot, as it tends to be a very family friendly park, which means a lot of eateries cater more to families with children than to adults looking for an intimate meal for 2. That being said, I would choose Tony’s Town Square for my romantic Magic Kingdom meal, the delicious Italian dishes and gelato are always a winner in my book – and the atmosphere and décor is inspired by the Italian restaurant where Lady and the Tramp share spaghetti and a kiss, so really, what could be more romantic than that?
Hollywood Studios – There is something quaint and romantic about the old-time Hollywood feel of Hollywood Studios, and that feeling is carried through in restaurants like the Hollywood Brown Derby – where you can dine on cobb salad and grapefruit cake while you check out the caricatures of Hollywood stars that cover the walls. Or head over to Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano for some sangria and chicken parmesan in an old time-y Italian setting. No matter where you grab dinner while at Hollywood Studios, the best part is always taking a stroll down the streets of Hollywood at dusk – it’s a truly magical way to spend an evening!
Animal Kingdom – I recently discovered my love for Animal Kingdom, and love all the great attractions they have to offer. When it comes to romantic dinner spots though, they don’t exactly have a lot of options to choose from. My top pick would have to be Yak and Yeti an Asian restaurant serving up flavors from Nepal, China, and India. The décor is definitely different, very exotic and keeping with the Asia area of Animal Kingdom – this is a great place to try something new and take in some new and unusual scenery
My biggest tip – Don’t forget to plan ahead and make those Advance Dining Reservations 180 days before your trip so you can ensure that you will be able to dine at your favorite romantic spot!
Not sure any of these fit your idea of a romantic evening? Well then stay tuned next week here on chip and co for the top romantic restaurant picks at the WDW Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney!
Related articles
100 Disney Foods to Eat Before you Die Challenge (chipandco.com)
Free Wi-Fi Internet access now available at Epcot (chipandco.com)
Jayden Barber has been fighting leukemia for over 2 years, which is half of his 4-year-old life. When “Batman” star Christian Balefound out, he did the right thing. He flew Barber and his family out to Disneyland for a private lunch with him and his own family. Barber and Bale and families had lunch at the famed Disneyland’s Club 33 last week and it was a day Jayden will remember forever.
“Finally can share!!! Christian sent us to LA and we had lunch at Disney club 33 on wed,” Barber’s mother wrote with a picture of the two on her Lighting the Batsignal for Jayden Facebook page. “He and his family were so awesome and down to earth!!!”
Chip & Company and My Dreams of Disney are teaming up to give away a prize pack of two great Disney gifts: a $25 Disney Gift Card and the Disney Fantasy Inaugural Sailings Photo Album!
This is a celebration contest for My Dreams of Disney as we just turned 2 years old this past Saturday! In addition to the blog anniversary and the contest, this past weekend was the time when we decided to migrate My Dreams of Disney from the Blogger platform of blogging to a self-hosted WordPress site, so there is a lot going on at the site!
To enter, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. The contest ends Saturday September 15th at 11:59pm. On Sunday I will pick one lucky winner and notify them Monday Morning via email/facebook that they won. Be sure to use a valid way for me to contact you.
Panel searching for Team Mom with experience organizing team travel to sporting events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Have a passion for planning unforgettable Disney vacations? Know how to organize the ultimate team sports events at Walt Disney World Resort? Disney Parks today announced the 2013 Walt Disney World Moms Panel call for entries, featuring the search for its first-ever Sports Team Moms. The best draft picks for this position will have experience organizing team travel to sporting events at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex while incorporating the magic of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Disney is also seeking bilingual panelists and international travelers to provide valuable expertise for its visitors. Visit disneymomspanelsearch2013.com through September 14 to apply.
Kicking off its sixth year, the online trip planning forum’s park-savvy super Disney fans assist guests in creating memorable Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Aulani/Adventures by Disney, Disney Vacation Club and runDisney vacations. Since 2008, millions of visitors have accessed the immense library of questions and answers that have helped our guests plan the perfect Disney vacation. Guests can also access personal tips from both panelists and celebrities alike through the dozens of videos live on the site that cover a wide-range of topics including fun and “insider” tips.
“We are excited to continue the expansion of the Moms Panel this year, adding a new Sports Team Mom specialty and bilingual panelists to our team of Disney vacation planners,” said Leanne Jakubowski, Director, Social Media; Walt Disney World Resort. “This diverse panel of Disney fans has helped countless guests turn their vacation dreams into a reality. Some families return from their trip and respond to the panelists, thanking them for the magical vacation they had a hand in creating. Many of our panelists feel it is an honor to assist travelers from all over the globe in making memories that will last a lifetime.”
“For the past two years I have been blessed with the opportunity to share my love and appreciation for the most ‘Magical Place on Earth’ as a member of the Moms Panel,” said Marisol Lopez, bilingual panelist and Disney Cruise Line specialist. “Disney has provided my family with countless pixie-dusted moments we will never forget. I literally become emotional as I write my answers because I feel as if I am planning a trip for my family for each guest. Fun does not even describe it. It has truly been a life-changing experience for me. I encourage anyone who wants to share their Disney passion to apply. I still have ‘pinch me’ moments and cannot believe I have been given this amazing opportunity.”
How to Apply
Disney Parks will accept applications for the 2013 Walt Disney World Moms Panel from 9 a.m. EDT on September 10, 2012 through September 14, 11:59 p.m. EDT., or when 14,000 applications have been received. Those interested should visit disneymomspanelsearch2013.com to enter. The application process includes a series of written questions and submissions, with the final round in the form of a brief phone interview. Once the search is complete, the top candidates will be officially announced as members of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel in January 2013. Panelists must be available to attend a training session at Walt Disney World Resort in December 2012.
Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic return once more as Richard Castle and Kate Beckett, and they’re better than ever, in ‘Castle: The Complete Fourth Season’. Very few shows are as fun and exciting as ‘Castle’, and I’m definitely happy to see that the show, going into its fourth season, is the strongest yet. For those unfamiliar with the show, ‘Castle’ follows crime novelist Richard Castle who shadows New York Detective Kate Beckett, who is the muse for Castle’s crime novel heroine Nikki Heat. Together, they are the ultimate crime solving duo, and they solve some of the most intensive cases the NYPD land. It’s the perfect mix of crime, comedy, and fun that many TV fans have fallen in love with, making it one of the staples of ABC’s prime time schedule. So of course, Disney wants to treat one of its best shows well on DVD, and they’ve delivered an excellent set here with “Castle: The Complete Fourth Season”.
As a travel professional I try to remain diplomatic and unbiased in my opinions because it’s my job to plan YOUR perfect trip; not my own. Regardless of that momentary professionalism I can’t hold it in anymore so you are now going to be privy to my Disney Cruise Line obsession and why I think you should be obsessed with it too.
Let’s look at some common myths and misconceptions about Disney Cruise Line:
It’s too expensive: This can (and will be) a separate article all it’s own but for the purpose of this article I’ll keep it short, sweet and to the point. Disney is one of the most all inclusive lines available, there is a 24/7 complimentary beverage station (which no other ship has), free kids programs, (nursery care available for a nominal fee), the staterooms are 20% larger than other cruise lines so even the smallest rooms are bigger than those on other cruise lines.
If you would have ask me a few years ago if I would drive to Disney from Western PA I would have given you a big old NO…but times change and airfare kept climbing!
With that we had a trip scheduled in September 2010 and I had looked at airfare endlessly becoming more and more frustrated and I got that little voice in my head, you know the “what if” voice…what if we drive? Well I put off the idea for a while, but the neighbor that was traveling with us said “did you ever think about driving, I really hate to fly” well that’s where it began I became relentless in finding out about driving from Pittsburgh PA to Florida! How long would it take, how much would gas cost, what was the best route, should we stay half way, where was halfway and of course was it cheaper than flying!
It looked like anywhere from 16 to 20 hours depending on who you asked or what website you went on~
I found a great site to calculate gas prices on AAA as well as a great site to find the cheapest gas prices on the route!
Speaking of that what was the best route? I asked on many web-sites the route most take and we went from there. Plus I mapped it out seen what was half way, but we chose to keep on going!
Well the biggest answer to all of those was yes it was cheaper than flying!
Here is a quick breakdown of that:
We rented a Van $450
Gas down & back -$320
Rented a Room on the way down $60
That was a total of $830 and for when we were going for 6 people I couldn’t get airfare cheaper than $1200 and that was with layovers, switching planes and leaving early in the morning on departure day, we like to stay as long as we can on our last day in Disney!
We took snacks & drinks with us and ordered a pizza when we stopped for the night. On the way back we drove straight through. With the pizza and stopping for breakfast on the way back we spent about another $60 or so bucks.
If renting a van wasn’t necessary we could have saved a lot more, but with six of us it was a must. We also looked at it as not putting the wear and tear on our car, but if you do drive your own vehicle look into getting AAA or some other type of roadside service.
We actually made it to Florida before stopping to stay over and found a coupon book at roadside rest just before the Florida state line and found a great hotel deal in there for 6 people for $60 just minutes from Disney! So check out those rest stop booklets many offer hotel, restaurant , shopping and fun things to do deals! We also seen many BOGO deals plus ads for places to visit or see!
We loved entering each state, just knowing you were somewhere other than home was exciting! The kids had their DS and Games plus we have portable DVD player so they even watched a movie or two.
Just as planning our Disney Vacation, I planned our drive down and back and looked for deals where I could get them, with gas (gasbuddy.com) our hotel (Roadside rest coupon booklets) and even a pizza coupon we got at the hotel (all those coupon & books beside the check in desk) I was on the look out for deals to cut cost. Plus I checked out Chip & Co for tips and hints about Driving to Disney 😉
Some may say “but Dana you only saved $300 by not flying” while that maybe true we could take and bring back as much luggage as we wanted, could leave when we wanted, seen thing we wouldn’t have if we flew plus believe it or not we really liked driving~
We will be driving back to WDW in just a few days and all my plans are in motion for another great road trip!
Dana is a Disney Planner at Heart, she and her peeps will hitting the road to Disney from Pittsburgh PA with her Terrible Towel in Hand! Go Steelers!!
Related articles
Disney World Quick Tips – Planning your Disney World Budget (chipandco.com)
