Home Blog Page 4749

Making the Most of Counter Service Dining – Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Camp Minnie-Mickey

Wow!  Are you full yet? I feel like my stomach is going to burst from all these dining posts I’ve been writing.  Can you tell what I look forward to during our Disney vacations?  That’s right…eating!  Since our family chooses the Quick Service Dining plan, I try to research and recall the restaurants that fall into that category.  That way, I can make sure that we are trying new foods, getting some variety, and using our dining credits wisely.  Today’s write up is Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Pizzafari – Pizza (of course), breadsticks, and salad are some of the yummies you’ll find here.  My kids, actually all of us, love pizza.  So, this is a “must stop” while at Animal Kingdom.  Their Antipasto Salad is also really good.  This is located in the Discovery Island area of Animal Kingdom.  One fun thing about this counter service location is the themed rooms.  The Upside Down Room, Camouflage Room, and Bug Room are super fun!

$100 Disney Gift Card Giveaway

$100 Disney Gift Card Giveaway

I know school is almost out and most people (myself included) are getting ready to embark on their summer vacations. How would you like a little extra spending money?

This week we are partnering up with a great website called Sunshine Rewards to offer you a $100 Disney Gift Card!!!

Jane By Design’s Matt Atkinson Tells All

Jane By Design's Matt Atkinson Tells All

Jane By Design is a hot show that is starting into its second season tonight on ABC Family at 9/8c.  I had the chance to talk with Matt Atkinson, one of Tuesday night TV’s hottest guys and pick his mind about him, the show, and whether or not we would be seeing him with his shirt off this coming season!

You left us off with quite a bang at the end off last season – You kissed LuLu!  How have your fans treated you out in public because of it and what advice would you give to Nick Fadden, your character if you had the chance?  

My fans have been really receptive.  People make mistakes and they realize it, they are like you know what you screwed up but we are still routing for you and Jane to be together! And if I had a piece of advice for Nick in that episode it would be Don’t Kiss Lulu!

How happy are you with how your characters story line progresses this upcoming season? 

Disney Classics – The Aristocats App for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch

Disney Classics - The Aristocats App for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch

Disney Publishing is excited to release the newest storybook in its Disney Classics series – The Aristocats!

Parents can relive the classic story of the 1970 “homeward bound” adventure and introduce it to a new generation with this interactive app featuring rich illustrations, professional narration, and music from the original film.

The Aristocats app, available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, tells the story of Duchess and her three kittens as they try to find their way home to their beloved Madame Bonfamille with the help of resourceful alley cat Thomas O’Malley.  Will the “aristocrats” make it home, or will Edgar, Madame’s conniving butler, prevent them from ever seeing home again? App features include: story personalization, reading modes for all ages, coloring pages and interactive puzzles, piano activity, “old-fashioned camera” photo feature and beautiful illustrations, narration and sound effects.

The app is geared towards kids ages 3-7 and available for $3.99 on the App Store.

 

Read more from Tips from the Disney Diva at www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com

  • Disney Classic Peter Pan Re-imagined on iPad and iPhone (chipandco.com)
  • The Jungle Book app for iPad and iPod Touch (chipandco.com)
Disney Classics - The Aristocats App for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch

ESPN Wide World of Sports Home to Olympic Hopefuls

ESPN Wide World of Sports Home to Olympic Hopefuls

Leading up to London 2012, a number of the world’s top athletes are calling ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex their training home.

Brooks Johnson, the 2010 USATF Coach of the Year, leads a team of five Olympic hopefuls, including 2008 Olympic medalists David Oliver and David Payne, and top US women athletes Tiffany Ross Williams, Connie Moore and April Holmes.

Disney Sports Public Relations will host a media availability with the athletes on Monday, June 11.

What:   U.S. Olympic track stars, including 2008 Olympic medalists David Oliver and David Payne, training with former U.S. Olympic track coach Brooks Johnson in preparation for the Olympic Trials and the Summer Games in London.

Pixar’s Brave: Adventures in Scotland Sweepstakes

Pixar's Brave: Adventures in Scotland Sweepstakes

Change your fate. Win an Adventure!

Grand prize includes a 9-day/8-night guided vacation through Scotland for four.

Other prizes you could win include a $100 Disneystore.com Gift Card, a Brave Soundtrack, the Brave The Video Game for the Wii, a film Lithograph from Pixar or an Art of Brave book! Enter Online Now or Text “ANGUS” to DISNEY (347639)*

Click the picture above to enter.

  • Adventures by Disney Brings Pixar’s Epic Action Adventure “Brave” to Life with New Scotland Itinerary (pics.chipandco.com)
  • $100 Disney Gift Card Giveaway (chipandco.com)
Pixar's Brave: Adventures in Scotland Sweepstakes

Move Through the Parks Like a Pro: Shortcuts and Cut Throughs You Ought to Know

Move Through the Parks Like a Pro: Shortcuts and Cut Throughs You Ought to Know

Let’s face it, when you go to Disney World you pretty much open yourself up for being surrounded by people, caught up in crowds, and pushing and shoving your way through tight spots.  Now, there are times where you can find the parks virtually crowd free, but friends, those times are few and far between!  When it comes to packed parks, it is good to know a few shortcuts and cut-throughs to get you around like a pro!  Today I am sharing my top travel tips!

 Work the Walk:  Walking Path Between Hollywood Studios and Epcot

Okay, so before you write this one off because it is more walking, give me a few lines.  I love this self paced choice of a shortcut.  You’ll find this path along Crescent Lake.  It takes you along  the Boardwalk (great eating and shopping…just saying)  and alongside hotels like the Swan and Dolphin and the Boardwalk Villas.  This is a beautiful and peaceful walk.  It takes between 10 and 20 minutes (give or take) to make it from one side to the next.  I would say on a crowded day, this beats a crowded boat or a long bus wait (in the sun by the way).  We found this path a few years ago after waiting to ride the Friendship boat to the International Gateway at Epcot…after 2 boats loaded and pulled away with us still in line, we heard about the path and gave it a shot.  I figure with all the walking you are already doing, why not skip a bus or boat ride (where you might even be standing) and trade it out for a beautiful walk!

Top 10 Disney World Desserts you have to try!

Top 10 Disney World Desserts you have to try!

With all the talk yesterday about snack items possibly being removed from the parks I thought it might be fitting to talk about some of the delicious Snacks and Treats at Walt Disney World!

One of my favorite treats to myself while visiting Walt Disney World is cupcakes! They are all so delicious and I can honestly say I have not had a bad one at Walt Disney World. With such variety and flavors this Top 10 list has to be one of the hardest things I ever had to do. Not to mention being on a diet is not helping..

Just about every restaurant has their own signature dessert..sometime 2 or more! With all these options and a armed with a fork and a Disney Dining plan I will tackle this tough topic in the name of science and for the love of Disney!

D23’s Epcot 30th Anniversary Celebration Details

D23's Epcot 30th Anniversary Celebration Details

Thirty years ago, the opening of EPCOT Center was a watershed moment for Walt Disney World, for Disney … and for Disney fans. On Sept. 30, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club will present the most comprehensive look at Epcot ever presented by Disney.

Hailed as the most groundbreaking theme park of its time, Epcot marks its 30th anniversary on Oct. 1, 2012, and D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is preparing a unique celebration of one of Disney’s crowning achievements.

D23's Epcot 30th Anniversary Celebration Details

On Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, D23’s Epcot 30th Anniversary Celebration will whisk D23 Members back to a time touted as when “the 21st century begins”—those early Epcot years when guests first marveled at “Astuter Computers,” “Smellitzers,” and the novelty of “riding on sunshine,” and were awed by a massive geodesic sphere called Spaceship Earth.

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Bringing Classic Hits to Epcot This Weekend Through July

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Bringing Classic Hits to Epcot This Weekend Through July

The good ole days return to Epcot as select summer nights heat up from June to July with the some of the world’s greatest tribute bands. Classic hits from the likes of U2, The Bee Gees, Bon Jovi and many more will rock during Sounds Like Summer concert series. The high-energy performances take place at the open-air American Gardens Theater in World Showcase.

The schedule (entertainment subject to change without notice):

  • June 10-17: Hotel California ~ A Salute to the Eagles
  • June 18 to 23: Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot ~ The Ultimate Billy Joel Show
  • June 24 to 30: Stayin’ Alive ~ A Tribute to the Bee Gees
  • July 1 to 7: Slippery When Wet ~ The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
  • July 8 to 14: The Police Experience ~ A Tribute to the Police
  • July 15 to 21: SouthBound and Company ~ A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
  • July 22 to 28: 2U ~ A Tribute to U2

Show times are 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. – except on July 4 when show times are 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. Sounds Like Summer concerts are included with Epcot admission. Additional information is available at disneyworld.com/soundslikesummer. For the latest information and updated show times, guests may pick up an Entertainment Guide when entering the park.

Sounds Like Summer Concert Series Bringing Classic Hits to Epcot This Weekend Through July

Disney Channel Orders Third Season of Shake It Up

Disney Channel Orders Third Season of Shake It Up

Disney Channel has ordered a third season of the dance-driven buddy comedy “Shake It Up,” it was announced today by Adam Bonnett, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, Disney Channels Worldwide. “Shake It Up” premiered in November 2010, ranked as the #1 series of 2011 among Tweens 9-14 and for second quarter 2012-to-date, is the #1 TV series among Kids 2-11 (2.0 million/4.9 rating) and Kids 6-11 (1.6 million/6.7 rating) [Source: NTI, U.S. ratings, most current, as dated]. Production on the third season will begin this summer.

The series inspired Disney Channel’s first-ever talent competition exclusively for kids and tweens, “Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off – Shake It Up Edition,” which reached 12 million total viewers and gave a dance troupe, winners among the nearly 30,000 video submissions, a chance to dance in an episode of “Shake It Up.” Digital extensions were presented at DisneyChannel.com (7.5 million visits) with instructional dance videos (over 68 million video starts).

Walt Disney Records released the Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance soundtrack, featuring songs from and inspired by the series. It debuted at #17 on the Billboard 200 in March 2012 and fan-favorites “TTYLXOX” by Bella Thorne and “Something to Dance For” by Zendaya climbed Radio Disney’s Top 30, with “TTYLXOX” hitting the #1 spot.  The music video for “Something to Dance For/TTYLXOX (Mash Up)” generated more than 6 million hits on VEVO.

“Shake It Up” has also inspired tween apparel including dancewear from Ivivva and a fast-selling D-Signed line at Target, footwear at Payless and Hallmark greeting cards which are popular among kids and tweens. Consumer electronics including headphones and stereos will debut in stores this summer.

In the series, best friends CeCe and Rocky are living their dreams as dancers on the hit show “Shake It Up, Chicago!” Season three will see new dances and songs, and expand on the friendship and aspirations of CeCe and Rocky both at home and in school.

In “Shake It Up: Made In Japan,” a 90-minute programming event premiering this summer, the gang will head to Tokyo after Rocky and CeCe win a chance to star in a dance video game. New songs and dances, wild new fashions, androids and performances by the world famous Blue Man Group highlight the episode. A sneak peek of “Shake It Up: Made In Japan” will air during the Disney Channel Original Movie, “Let It Shine” on June 15.

Executive produced by Rob Lotterstein (“The War at Home,” “Ellen”) and Eileen Conn (“Mad About You,” “Just Shoot Me!”), “Shake It Up” stars Zendaya and Bella Thorne as Rocky Blue and CeCe Jones, Davis Cleveland as Flynn Jones, Roshon Fegan as Ty Blue, Adam Irigoyen as Deuce Martinez and Caroline Sunshine as Tinka Hessenheffer. Recurring are R. Brandon Johnson as Gary Wilde and Anita Barone as Georgia Jones.

New episodes of “Shake It Up” air Sundays at 8:30 p.m., ET/PT on Disney Channel. The series is a production of It’s A Laugh Productions, Inc. It carries a TV-G parental guideline.

Disney Channel Orders Third Season of Shake It Up

Disney’s Wreck it Ralph Trailer

Disney's Wreck it Ralph Trailer

Here is a first look at Disney’s Wreck it Ralph Movie coming to theaters November 2nd, 2012!

  • $100 Disney Gift Card Giveaway (chipandco.com)
  • Disney Releases Wreck-It Ralph Poster (chipandco.com)
Disney's Wreck it Ralph Trailer