Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Arrive at Rope Drop

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August 14, 2012

magic kingdom, rope drop

Some of you may be asking yourself, “Rope drop? What’s that?” Well, Rope Drop is term used to refer to the official opening of a Disney park; and many Disney regulars strongly encourage Disney guests to be at the gate at this time of day for this event.

But why? Is it really worth getting up that early and battling the packed turnstiles? With Disney’s free FastPass system, is it really necessary?

I believe that the answer is yes! Here are my Top 5 reasons why!

5. Peak Season Crowds – Most guests can only visit WDW during the summertime or the holidays; and naturally, these periods are infamous for heavy crowds and long waits. However, from rope drop to about an hour or two after opening during peak season, the crowds are considerably light and it maybe one of the few times of day that you can enjoy some of the park’s most popular attractions for little to no wait! So if you are visiting during Peak Season, arriving at rope drop will really make your day at the parks much more enjoyable!

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Disney World Tips and Tricks: Dark Ride Etiquette

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 14, 2012

For first time visitors to Disney Parks, dark ride etiquette may seem confusing. Some rides allow photos with no external lighting, while others are somewhat vague. That’s just the tip of the iceberg concerning Dark Ride Etiquette.

Here is my Top 5 Dark Ride Don’ts.

Pirates of the Caribbean. This ride does quietly announce “No flash photos”, however hearing the announcement can be quite difficult. I used to love riding Pirates of the Caribbean. It was one of my favorite attractions. After riding a few times with numerous flashers, my retinas began to ache and now I avoid riding unless it’s very late or very early in the day reducing the likelihood of flashers being in our boat. While you may want to remember the ride, the rest of the passengers in your boat want to experience the ride. When multiple flashes suddenly illuminate your surroundings, it really puts a damper on the entire experience, ruins the illusion of the ride and can cause serious health problems for some people. So, please be considerate and if you must take photos, turn the flash off. Your pictures will likely turn out better that way anyhow.
Haunted Mansion. While flash photos aren’t as prevalent on this attraction, they are still a problem. However a much more pressing issue is trying to spook little kids by randomly shouting in Madame Leona’s room. For some kids, The Haunted Mansion is already spooky enough, while other children find the attraction silly and whimsical. For those few who are already spooked, let’s try to be considerate and not terrify them. Give them a chance to find the fun in a wonderfully, happily macabre attraction.

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Major Makeover Coming for the France Pavilion in Epcot

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Chip

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August 14, 2012

As reported on the Disney Parks Blog – exciting things are happening over at the France pavilion eateries! By early December Bistro de Paris at EPCOT will have a whole new look and name. Also in December a new bakery will be open! Les Chefs de France remains open as well as the current Boulangerie Patisserie shop.

According to Jerome Bocuse, president and owner of the company that runs all three of the France pavilion eateries talks about the biggest changes coming to the upstairs restaurant ” It’s all new – new name, new dining room, new costumes for the servers, new menu. We’re still aiming for haute cuisine, but with a less formal atmosphere. Guests are in the park with their families, so we want to create an elegant, nice ambience, but not stuffy. Our guests want to experience true French cuisine.”

Bocuse also says the servers will be in less formal attire and the room colors will be brightened with the theme of the restaurant being their family history (they have been in the culinary business for two centuries!).

The new bakery – currently under construction at the back of the pavilion by the theater exit – will feature a bread oven and will do all of the baking for all three restaurants. The current menu will be expanded to include both salads and sandwiches as well as seating inside for about 90 guests. The old pastry shop will be changed into their new Glacier ice cream parlor!

Bon Apetit!!!!!

Pack Like a Pro for a Disney Cruise

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 13, 2012

I distinctly remember my Mother packing for vacations when I was a child. I would sit in silence and awe as she completed the ritual of counting socks and “unmentionables” and it seemed no matter how overflowing the drawer was, leaving for vacation always required more undies and socks.

With a few cruises already under my belt it was my pleasure to torture my mother about packing for her first cruise. While she reverted to her systematic counting I was making a list of the things she’d soon learn she couldn’t live without.

So what’s on my list of random paraphernalia I can’t live without on cruises?

Highlighters: a color of multi-pack highlighters will save your life. Ok, maybe it’s not quite that dramatic but I have a serious obsession with office supplies. Each night a Personal Navigator will be put under your stateroom door outlining the next days events. A colored highlighter will help you pick your “not to miss” events that you can highlight. Assign a color to each member of the family so everyone can easily mark their “must do’s”

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Is Renting a Vacation Home at Disney World the Right Choice for You?

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 13, 2012

I got into an interesting discussion with a friend recently, who is planning a Disney World vacation with extended family. We were talking about the various options for where to stay: official Disney resort, off-property hotel, or vacation home or condo. It was kind of interesting, as they all have pros and cons, and when it comes to deciding the best option, especially if you are trying to have as affordable a Disney vacation as possible….as she was….then the picture isn’t always black and white. As she was leaning towards renting a home, I’m going to focus this post on the pros and cons of vacation home rental at Disney, and then would like to hear from you.

In the interest of full disclosure here, we have not stayed in a vacation home when visiting Disney World, but I know plenty of people who have, and every one has been very pleased with the experience. And I always find this interesting, as I would miss that “Disney emersion” that you get when staying at a Disney resort, but for these folks it was no problem. In fact, as one told me, “it’s kind of nice to get away from it for a bit.” ……OK. I do get that.

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Secrets of the Magic Kingdom

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 13, 2012

Secrets of the Magic Kingdom

Shhhh don’t tell anyone. It’s just between you and me. I have been a passholder for a few years and a Cast Member a few years ago. So in that time I have learned a few insider secrets that I thought you would appreciate.

The buildings on Main Street are designed in a very special way that is not visible just by looking at them. When you enter the Magic Kingdom as you approach Main Street the building on Main street are designed to make the Castle appear huge and far away. The opposite is true when you are leaving and walking down Main Street the design of the buildings makes the exit seem closer than it really is because Walt knew you would be tired by then end of the day and thought it would make you feel a little better if you thought the exit was closer. It is called “Forced Perspective”. Some people have said this not true but I was told this on my first day of training as a Cast Member.
The Magic Kingdom is actually not on ground level. They had to build it higher than ground level because the utilidors are underneath. In Florida they can only dig so far before they hit water, so the utilidors are actually on ground level and The Magic Kingdom is higher.

If you look at the second story windows of the shops on Main Street you will see some names. These are the names of the designers.

When you see an American Flag down Main Street they are also lightning rods. Since Florida is the lightning capital of the world this is a very comforting feature.

The Emporium is the best place to shop in the Magic Kingdom because they have the widest selection of merchandise.

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So You Think You Can Blog

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 13, 2012

I am proud to write for such a successful website as Chip & Company. This family of writers is truly a group of regular people who happen to be crazy about all things Disney. Some are a little more fanatical about it than others, but, you know, we love them anyway!

Several of us C&C writers run blogs and fan sites of our own, and we are often asked how to go about doing that. So I thought I’d share some tips of the trade, let you in on a few secrets, and maybe inspire you to pixie dust the internet with your own Disney passion.

Find your niche. We already know you’re an avid Disney fan—you’re reading Chip & Company! What do you have to say about The Happiest Place on Earth (Disneyland) or The Most Magical Place on Earth (Walt Disney World)? What makes your voice stand out? What can you offer that’s different from what’s already out there? An average, run-of-the-mill blog wouldn’t be very Disney-like. How can you plus the experience?

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Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Fun Facts

By

Chip

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August 13, 2012

Here are some interesting fun facts and information about the all new Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Total property size: 87 acres
The Nemo pool has 310,000 gallons and is the largest pool on Disney property, not counting water parks
If you combined all the swimming pools, you could park 125 cars inside the pools
For the first time ever at any Disney resort hotel, in-room décor pieces may be purchased at the gift shop. Ink & Paint Shop offers such items as the “Bruce” shower curtain or cozy cone lamps
The flooring in Landscape of Flavors is made from all recyclable materials. And Guests will dine with real silverware during mealtime, reusable dishware instead of paper and plastic
Guests can enjoy the convenience of a self-service business center, the first one to be offered at a value resort
The Pixel Play arcade is cashless; but instead uses a swipe card with recharging stations
Its 27 acres of landscaping and irrigation is the equivalent of twenty football fields
With 227,000 lineal feet of carpet could stretch from downtown Orlando to Kennedy Space Center
There are over 529,000 square feet of ceramic tiles on the project, enough to cover a standard two-lane road four miles long
If you stacked up all the doors at the resort, they would be as tall as the Empire State Building
There’s enough metal railing to wrap around the new Amway Center eight times
The project used 23,000 gallons of paint, which is enough to fill a typical backyard swimming pool
There are over 2,300 parking spaces within the project, which is approximately the number of players in the NFL
More than 800 construction jobs were created, and at full operation it will create 750 resort hotel jobs

Timon, Pumbaa and Simba take a stroll through the courtyard. The Lion King wing opens today at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. (pics.chipandco.com)
Wild Spaces & Friendly Faces. The Lion King wing opens today at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. (pics.chipandco.com)

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Fun Facts

Disney Family Movies “Play at the Next Level” Sweepstakes

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Chip

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August 12, 2012

To celebrate the Games of summer, Disney Family Movies’ “Play at the Next Level” is sending one lucky family on a dream vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort! Our winning family will fly to Orlando, Florida, and enjoy all the legendary parks the Resort offers— the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom— plus a “Play at the Next Level” experience at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Our MVP will even get a $1,000 Disney gift card. The “Play at the Next Level” Sweepstakes takes magic to the next level!

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Cotton-top Tamarins celebrated throughout the month of August

By

Chip

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August 12, 2012

While lions may be known as the king of the jungle, a tiny, one-pound monkey will have top billing at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Throughout the month of August, guests will be invited to join in activities centered around the cotton-top tamarin, a critically endangered primate from northern Colombia.

August 15^th, is the official Day of the Cotton-top Tamarin in Colombia so we’ve created a celebration for our guests to enjoy. Get ready to participate in a variety of activities from learning how scientists track tamarins in the forest, what cotton-tops like to eat, and how people in Colombia are helping to recycling plastic bags into amazing tote bags called eco-mochilas. But a cotton-top tamarin celebration wouldn’t be complete unless you learned the cotton-top tamarin dance and enjoyed a tasty cotton-top tamarin cupcake

Sometimes called the “punk rock primates” because of their wild manes of white hair that outline their black faces, their numbers are dwindling because of habitat loss and the pet trade. Because of efforts by Dr. Anne Savage, Conservation Director for Disney’s Animal Programs and other conservationists, the cotton-top tamarin has been added to the critically endangered species list, giving them international protection from the federal government to prohibit them from being hunted or captured.

“We created this celebration as a way to highlight the effects that humans have on natural habitats,” said Anne. “Conservation celebrations are important because it helps people of all ages understand and appreciate these amazing animals and learn what it takes to protect them for future generations.”

Guests can see cotton-tops in Discovery Island in a habitat in front of the Tree of Life and also at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Habitat Habit!, a fun and educational wildlife trail between the Wildlife Express Train and Conservation Station. Cotton-tops have been on exhibit at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since 1998 and serve as ambassadors for the species so that guests can better understand the importance of conservation efforts to help protect them.

Baby Okapi Welcomed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (chipandco.com)
Cool Treats at Walt Disney World – Disney’s Animal Kingdom (disneyonwheelsblog.com)

Cotton-top Tamarins celebrated throughout the month of August

5 Senses at Disney World: My Top Picks

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 12, 2012

5 Senses at Disney World: My Top Picks

Disney World is a treat for the entire body. Every sense is entertained, with purpose, by the Imagineers at Disney. Today I am breaking down my top picks for the pleasing of the senses as Disney World. I am forcing myself to write the first thing that comes to mind. By the time this is published and you are reading it, I probably would have different choices. But for now, this is what I am thinking of as I sit behind a computer, facing the start of a very busy school year, and missing the parks like nobody’s business. Here’s what I would like to experience with my five sense at Disney

Touch

I’ve always been a “toucher” I can remember getting fussed at as a child for putting my hands on every piece of clothing on the round displays. I like to feel the differences in texture, compare the materials, and explore possibilities. It should come at no surprise that I am a HUGE Disney “toucher”. Now, before you click off of this page, hear me out…

I am obsessed with interactive queues. Seriously. I go through them every single time I ride. I love writing on the honey wall at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride. I’ve been known to spend 20 minutes in an utterly empty queue as other park guests watched Wishes!. I do it for the honey wall. I love all the other interactive queue stuff too! If you haven’t checked out these queues you really should!

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Save money on your next Disney World Vacation with these 10 tips

By

Chip

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August 12, 2012

Want to take the kids to the Walt Disney World Resort, but don’t want to break the bank? With a little planning it can be done: here are ten ways to save on your next Disney World Vacation.

Stay at a Disney Value Resort – While on property you still get all the extra’s as someone staying at the larger resorts. Such as Disney Transportation, extra magic hours, Disney meal plans, and much more. The rooms might be a little smaller but your just there to sleep right?
Stay at a resort or vacation home off Disney property. On the other hand if you have to there are plenty of decent hotel rooms available all around Lake Buena Vista. If you have a larger family (more than four people), the savings are even greater. You can get a vacation home with a private pool for a week but remember you will need your own transportation.
Watch for Disney Promotions. Disney is running a Free Dining Program for October through December which is excellent for saving money! Who doesn’t love free food? Lately Disney is almost always running some sort of discount on their website. (Keep in mind Chip and Company constantly keep you up to date on current Disney promotions so check back with us often) Also Disney is known to send out special promotions via postcard and email. How do you get them to send you one? It’s a mystery, but signing up to receive one of their vacation planning videos and registering at www.disneyworld.com will help. Read my previous article on the elusive Pin Codes here.
Purchase a dining package. Disney offers dining packages to guests staying at their resorts. These packages have to be booked in advance and you can save 30% or more on your dining if you buy one of these plans. Essentially the dining plan is a meal plan that you pay for in advance. Sorta like a lay-away. Check out this article talking about to Meal Plan or Not To Meal Plan.
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