Ultimate Spider-Man Trailer

By

-

March 16, 2012

Can’t wait until April 1st to catch your favorite Super Hero in action? Check out Marvel’s new Ultimate Spider-Man trailer debuting on Marvel.com! Watch as Nick Fury offers Spider-Man the biggest opportunity of his life: to join S.H.I.E.L.D., take on evil villains, and learn what it takes to become the ULTIMATE Spider-Man. Get a fresh look at Spidey’s action-packed adventures, new Spidey Tech, and special guest stars to excite fans and bring everyone’s favorite Wallcrawler to the small screen like never before! The series premieres April 1 at 11am/10c inside Marvel Universe on Disney XD!

And if you’re at WonderCon in Anaheim this weekend, you can be among the first to go inside Marvel Universe when Head of Marvel TV, Jeph Loeb presents the series premiere of Ultimate Spider-Man, and the Season 2 premiere of The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, as well as a look at future Marvel Universe series! Join us for “Marvel Television Presents from 12:00 – 1:00p in Room 213ABCD.

Marvel Universe Block Arrives April 1 on Disney XD (chipandco.com)
Disney XD to Begin Hosting New Marvel Universe Animated Block (chipandco.com)

Disney World Quick Tips – Preserving Space for Large Families

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 16, 2012

Disney World Quick Tips - Preserving Space for Large Families

I am one of those people who will do whatever it takes to stay on property when we visit Disney. I love the Disney resorts as they are a big part of the magic for me. But as much as I enjoy the theming, the ambience, and the convenience of being close to everything, there is one thing I have an issue with at the Disney resorts – the bathrooms.

I have stayed at value, moderate and deluxe resorts. The size of the bathroom is usually adequate and last year, at the Contemporary Resort, we even had a private toilet area with a door that closed to the rest of the bathroom. What’s my problem then? Well, as you might deduct from this picture, there is not enough counter space.

Disney World Quick Tips - Preserving Space for Large Families — Pixie Brenda - 2011

Plus, I have a family of five including: my husband, myself, a 26-year-old son, a 21-year-old daughter and an 18-year old son. We all have necessities when it comes time to being fresh and clean, not to mention our primping needs. We have many products for brushing, flossing, moussing and deodorizing. We need a place to put it all!

Luckily, I have a way to overcome this deficiency while creating more space and greater efficiency for our time and needs. It is the shoe organizer.

We each have our own row (that is 4 large slots each). We traditionally assign rows according to height so my youngest son gets the top row because he is tallest, and my daughter gets the bottom row because she is vertically-challenged. Everyone organizes their things the way they want and it makes getting ready in the morning much smoother.

I have used this trick for several years and it has worked out really well. The only issue I have run across is that the bathroom doors at a couple of the moderate resorts were quite thick, so I bought extra large hangers to use when faced with that problem. My organizer was especially easy to hang last year because the Contemporary has a metal ladder-type rack for hanging towels, which served me perfectly when hanging my shoe organizer.

If you have a large family, including teens with lots of special products, this should really help you. Everyone knows how hard it is to get everyone up and ready for a day at the parks. Hassle-free mornings and getting to the park earlier is what my vacation is all about!

Disney Free Dining for 2012! (ideallydisney.com)
Disney’s Story Rooms Invite Disney World Resort Guests to Magical Worlds of Film and Fantasy (chipandco.com)

Top 10 Ways to Raise a Disney Addict

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 16, 2012

mickey mouse nursery — Mickey Mouse Nursery

Disney Addiction doesn’t have to wait until adulthood or even childhood. I’ve enjoyed my son’s first two years of life turning him into a Disney addict, starting the addiction even before he was born. Here are my top 10 ways to create my little Disney addict. And, every time he sees something that looks like a Mickey Mouse or asks to watch a Disney movie, I smile and I’m also oddly proud. Hope you can have fun raising Disney addicts, too!

Start before your child is born, if possible. Decorate the nursery, play room, or other living areas in Disney themes
Having a baby shower? Give that one a Disney theme as well! Mine? Mickey Mouse. Just like the nursery (pictured above)
Sing/Play Disney music to your child. I’m a pianist, and found two piano books filled with theme park music that I play on a regular basis. Not into singing? There are dozens of Disney radio stations free online! One of the first songs to ever be calming to my son? The theme song to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Now our favorite – I’ve turned “This Little Piggy Went to the Market” into “This Little Piggy went to Disney World.” My son helps by choosing which character the 3rd little piggy meets, and sometimes where the first little piggy goes (sometimes Epcot, sometimes the Monorail)
Visit Walt Disney World as regularly as possible. At 2 years of age, we’ve taken 4 trips to Walt Disney World.
Plan for said trips by introducing characters early and regularly. With many different “plushes” (they’re not stuffed – that would imply they’re dead!) of different Disney characters, he sleeps with, travels with, and plays with Nemo, Mater, and more Mickey’s than I care to admit.
Can’t get to the parks regularly enough? Youtube brings the park to you! We prepare for attractions and shows – our favorite being the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show (rope drop).
Teach them to look for Hidden Mickeys. Hide actual Mickey heads in dark places – stickers/wall decals, or even better – have them notice those special groups of 3. In one week, my little one found them in the sesame seeds on a hamburger bun and later on with fruit. He even noticed a “hidden mickey” on a non-Disney related toy! So proud.
Teach the answer to “where are we/you/airplane/car going” to “Disney.” Without a trip planned for 9 months, it’s a little less exciting, but leading up to a trip? A great way to build excitement!
Have their wardrobe as Disney-inspired as possible. Shoes, socks, shirts, hats, skirts, dresses, pajamas – all of it. I’ve found a lot of great Disney apparel at discount stores such as TJ Maxx and Marshalls. Target also regularly carries adorable Disney clothing for boys and girls!
When they’re old enough, have them help in the planning. Which resort looks best – pools are a great way to decide. Dining is another option that young Disney addicts can help in the planning. Which characters do they want to eat with? Fab 5? That narrows down your options. Have Disney Junior fans? There is a great character meal with them, too!

10 Signs You May Have a Disney Addiction. (chipandco.com)
10 Tips on how to Spread the Disney Addiction (chipandco.com)

Coming to DVD Jake and The Neverland Pirates: Peter Pan Returns

By

Chip

-

March 16, 2012

Yo, Ho, Mateys! Get ready as JAKE AND THE NEVER LAND PIRATES: PETER PAN RETURNS comes sailing home on DVD and Digital Download April 3rd! Peter Pan joins Jake and the crew on an all new pirate adventure! Peter Pan must return to Never Land to find his shadow with the help of his pal Jake. And get ready to set sail with Izzy and Cubby for a new Bonus Feature Game “Yo Ho, You Ready to Find Jake’s Shadow?”

Kids can set sail with Jake on Disney DVD April 3. Packed with more value than ever before, “Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns” comes with over two hours of content on DVD, Jake’s first digital copy and a FREE in-pack Never Land Sword.

Talent:

Colin Ford as Jake (“We Bought A Zoo,” TV’s “Supernatural”)

Madison Pettis (“Santa Paws,” “The Game Plan”) as Izzy

Jonathan Morgan Heit (“Bedtime Stories”) as Cubby

David Arquette (“Scream 4”) as Skully

Corey Burton (TV’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars”) as Captain Hook

Jeff Bennet (“Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue”) as Mr. Smee

Adam Wylie (TV’s “Picket Fences”) as Peter Pan

Director:

Howy Parkins

Producer:

Mark Seidenberg

Executive Producer:

Rob LaDuca

Episodes:

1 – Jake and the Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns

2 – The Elephant Surprise!/Jake’s Jungle Groove

3 – The Pirate Pup!/Pirate Rock!

4 – The Sword and the Stone/Jake’s Home Run

5 – The Pirate Princess/The Rainbow Wand

6 – Mama Hook Knows Best/Pixie Dust Away (Never-Before-Seen Episode)

Bonus Materials:

“Yo Ho, You Ready to Find Jake’s Shadow?” – Taking a cue from Peter’s shadow, now Jake’s shadow has run off and disappeared. Help Izzy and Cubby find Jake’s shadow by discovering clues to where the shadow is hiding. Use Jake’s sword (on pack) to help in your adventure. Learn about pirate lore along the way (just where did the name “doubloon” come from anyway?).

Street Date: April 3, 2012

Release Format: 2-Discs (DVD + Digital Copy) + FREE in-pack Never Land Sword

Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 (U.S.)/$24.99 (Canada)

Run Time: Approx. 130 minutes

Rated: TV-Y

Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen (Enhanced for 16×9 televisions)

Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound

Languages & Subtitles: English, Spanish & French

Jake And The Never Land Pirates: Peter Pan Returns On DVD & Digital Download April 3rd (chipandco.com)
Peter Pan Returns to Neverland in All New ‘Jake and the Neverland Pirates’ Premiere (chipandco.com)

Coming to DVD Jake and The Neverland Pirates: Peter Pan Returns

Disney Cruise Line Contributes $250,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida

By

Chip

-

March 16, 2012

Disney Cruise Line presented a $250,000 donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida in honor of the newest and fourth ship in its fleet, the Disney Fantasy. The donation is earmarked for a new Boys & Girls Club location in Cocoa near Port Canaveral, the homeport for the Disney Fantasy. Last year, Disney hosted a benefit cruise on the sister ship of the Disney Fantasy, the Disney Dream, raising $750,000 for Boys & Girls Clubs. Karl Holz, president of Disney Cruise Line and Captain Tom Forberg were joined by Gary Cain, president of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, and several Club families who will have the opportunity to sail on the Disney Fantasy later this month.

“Disney Cruise Line has been a long-time supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida,” said Holz. “As our fleet has expanded and our business has grown, it has been our pleasure to help the Clubs grow as well, so they can continue to inspire and empower young people. We are excited that this donation will assist in the development of a new facility close to our homeport, which will allow our crew members to continue supporting the Clubs through Disney VoluntEAR efforts.”

The contribution will help fund programs at Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida that teach children character and leadership, develop life and health skills and expand their creativity and cultural awareness through the arts. Both Disney and Boys & Girls Clubs share the same values in championing the happiness and well-being of children, as well as motivating them to make a lasting, positive change in the world. The relationship between Boys & Girls Clubs and The Walt Disney Company started more than 50 years ago when Walt Disney was made an honorary member of the organization’s national board of directors.

“We are proud to serve children at Clubs in Brevard County where there is a need for comprehensive, dedicated youth development services and where all young people can come to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens,” said Cain. “We are very grateful for this generous contribution from Disney Cruise Line, which will have an immediate impact on our community and encourage the next generation of local leaders. The opportunity to sail on the Disney Fantasy will create magical memories for these children and their families.”

Plaque and Key Exchange
In keeping with maritime tradition, Disney Cruise Line also hosted a plaque and key exchange with members of the port and community leaders commemorating the inaugural call of the Disney Fantasy on Port Canaveral.

Port Canaveral and the Central Florida region are experiencing sizeable economic benefits with the addition of the Disney Fantasy. The ship’s arrival is expected to generate more than 500 jobs in the region in 2012, according to a study by Martin Associates released earlier this month.

Disney Fantasy
After 18 months of construction in Germany, followed by a trans-Atlantic journey to New York for a Christening celebration, the Captain and crew of the Disney Fantasy are busily preparing to sail alternating seven-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean, with a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney’s own private island in The Bahamas, beginning March 31.

The Disney Fantasy is the second of two new and significantly larger ships that have joined the Disney fleet, with a tonnage of 130,000, a length of 1,115 feet and a passenger capacity of 4,000 guests. Innovative entertainment, activities and dining abound, including two new Broadway-style stage spectaculars, an adults-only entertainment district inspired by the nightspots of Europe, an interactive adventure quest with The Muppets, and an opportunity for guests to become Disney animators for a night in Animator’s Palate restaurant. Guest favorites like the AquaDuck, the first water coaster at sea, can be found onboard the Disney Fantasy as well.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida
Since 1944, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida has provided children from the local community between the ages of 6-18 with a safe place to learn and grow. Its membership totals more than 10,000 youth at 15 Clubs and 14 middle school sites in Brevard, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. For more information or to find out how you can support the Boys & Girls Clubs movement, call 407-841-6855 or visit www.bgccf.org.

Disney Fantasy Arrives Home at Port Canaveral (chipandco.com)

Disney Cruise Line Contributes $250,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida

Loaded Disney Tote Bag Giveaway

By

Chip

-

March 16, 2012

How would you like to win this Monogrammed Disney Tote Bag Loaded with Goodies? Perfect for heading to the Pool, Parks, or around town! We have partnered together with Pixie Vacations to hook you guys up this awesome giveaway!

Here is what will be inside:

Adult Little Mermaid watch
2012 WDW Calendar
Disneyland Little Mermaid pin
Blu-ray/DVD 2-Disc copy of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Cooking with the Disney Chefs Cookbook
10 inch Mickey Mouse Plush
Minnie Mouse I <3 nerds lunch bag
$25 Disney Gift Card
Disney Picture Frame
12″ Sorcerer Mickey Plush
Muppets Bluray/DVD Combo Pack
and a Monogrammed Disney Tote Bag

All you have to do to enter is follow on Facebook some of the great Pixie Vacations Agents. Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

Contest Ends Saturday March 17th at 12:01 am. On contest ends I will pick one winner and notify them via email that they won. They have 24 hrs to respond with their address or I will pick another winner. So be sure a valid way for me to contact you!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Avoid Adult Meltdowns By Toting These 5 Items To The Parks! (chipandco.com)
Touring Plans: Lines, Crowd Calendar, Touring Plans and more! (chipandco.com)

Disney Publishing Worldwide Releases “Learn Chinese: Toy Story 3” for iPad

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 15, 2012

LEARN CHINESE: TOY STORY 3 TEACHES KEY VOCABULARY IN ENGLISH AND MANDARIN THROUGH
DISNEY STORYBOOKS

Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW), the world’s largest publisher of children’s books and magazines, will increase its presence in the digital learning space with its first language learning product. Learn Chinese: Toy Story 3 will expand DPW’s existing base of educational products with an innovative approach based on the company’s long history of teaching English. The app will be available in the U.S., China, Australia and 25 additional countries throughout Europe and Asia.

“As digital media continues to impact the way children learn, it is up to us to create products that enhance that learning experience,” said Russell Hampton, President, Disney Publishing Worldwide. “Disney is all about bringing the most creative content to children and families around the world through innovative technology. Our Language Learning app delivers on that goal while allowing children to read and learn wherever, whenever, and however they want on their mobile devices.”

This app is the first in a series of leveled Disney storybooks that combine Disney magic with proven language learning methods where children learn key English and Mandarin vocabulary and grammar. This first app story contains multiple versions of the beloved Disney-Pixar title Toy Story 3, which gradually transforms from English to Chinese, mixing the new with the known by playing with 5 levels of the story:

Level 1 – English only
Level 2 – Beginning Chinese (25%)
Level 3 – Intermediate (50% Chinese)
Level 4 – Advanced (75%)
Level 5 – 100% Chinese

Learn Chinese: Toy Story 3, which is based on the proven pedagogical approach to language learning called Diglot Weave, includes professional bilingual narration across all levels, including music and sound effects; pronunciation of individual words available at a tap; audio and visual translations of individual words available with an easy-to-use translator; and voice recording to practice and compare pronunciation with the narrator.

Disney English is Disney Publishing’s global brand that encompasses licensed language learning products sold at retail around the world, 31 language learning centers in China, direct-to-consumer language learning products in Japan, and with the launch of Learn Chinese: Toy Story 3, digital learning in the U.S., China, and more than 25 other countries. The Disney English curriculum has been endorsed and recognized by a team of world-class language/education experts.

“This innovative Read-Along app is a real industry first. A ‘Diglot Weave’ story is told partially in the native language of the learner and partially in the language being taught. As the learner’s understanding progresses, an increasing proportion of the story is told in the foreign language until the reader is experiencing the story entirely in that foreign language. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of the diglot weave method,” says Dr. Yuhua Ji, Professor and Chair, Department of English Language and Literature (DELL) Xiamen University and pioneer of this method of Language Learning in China who advised on this project.

In addition to its 700 hours of language learning curriculum, Disney Publishing creates a variety of learning products under its School Skills, Wonderful World of Reading, and Adventures in Reading programs. Disney Educational Productions, also part of DPW, has been producing and distributing award-winning educational DVD’s and supplemental content to schools for more than 60 years.

Meredith to Acquire FamilyFun Magazine From Disney Publishing Worldwide (chipandco.com)
Disney Announces First Printing of Rick Riordan’s ‘The Serpent’s Shadow’ (chipandco.com)

Disney Publishing Worldwide Releases "Learn Chinese: Toy Story 3" for iPad

Disney World Quick Tips – Use Giftcards to save on gas

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 15, 2012

If, like me, gas prices have you down and worried about it being a budget buster for your upcoming Disney trip; here are some ideas to help cut down the cost of gas for your vacation fund.

If you have a Kroger store nearby then I recommend buying Disney gift cards and stocking up. Right now in Kroger stores through April 7th you can buy Disney gift cards and receive 4x’s the fuel points. What this means is if you buy $200 dollars worth of Disney gift cards (that you will easily spend on your trip for spending money) then it will be 80 cents off per gallon- this adds up quickly and can really save you money. They do max you out at 1.00 off per fill up, but with most people driving quite a distance for their Disney vacation you will be filling up your tank more than once for sure!

Disney gift cards can be used anywhere on Disney property, to pay off the balance of your Disney World, Disney land or Disney Cruise line vacation, etc. We recently purchased some gift cards and pre paid our tips for a Disney cruise. The gift cards are available in amounts up to $1,000, so what are you waiting for! ? Get out there and buy up those gift cards and save on gas!

What Disney gift card offerings have you found recently to help you put more aside for your Disney vacation?We’re all in this together, so let’s share tips to save each other some money!!

“Want to same some money on your upcoming Disney vacation? Contact Lesley ( [email protected]) from Pixie Vacations, she offers Disney gift cards and generous on board credits for DCL !” Check out her website at Destination Magic or Like her on Facebook.

Disney Cruise Tips for First Timers (chipandco.com)
Disney World Quick Tips – Saving Money at Quick Service Eateries for Adults (chipandco.com)

Disney World Quick Tips - Use Giftcards to save on gas

Disney World Planning – Budgeting and using Gift Cards

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 15, 2012

Hey Everyone! My countdown to Disney is currently at 197 days. That may seem like a long time, but it is not. In terms of planning I have 17 days until I can make my advanced dining reservations. Making ADR’s is a key element in having a well organized trip. At this point in my planning I am doing a few important things. If you missed last weeks edition here it is.

Budgeting.
Recording Park Hours
Making a rough dining reservation draft

Today I am going to take you through how I budget my trips. This is one of the most important elements of a stress free vacation. Here are a few tips to help you with this.

Take advantage of deals that are available and keep checking back to see if new ones are being offered. Even if you booked your trip with no discount if an offer comes out you will be able to apply it to your current reservation. By booking with a travel agent as I do, you can rest assured they are checking offers for you daily and will inform you if there is an opportunity to save money.

It is a good idea to be a little flexible with your dates in case an offer comes out that would save you a significant amount of money by slightly adjusting your dates. I booked on a bounce back offer that saved me 35% on my room only stay at The Boardwalk Inn.

I have found that for our family, room only discounts are usually the best deal. Once I have paid my deposit which was equal to one nights room rate, I divide the rest of what is due by the amount of weeks I have until I’ll need to be paid in full. By doing this I know how much money to set aside each week to ensure I am paid in full upon arrival. For a room only reservation you can pay your balance when you arrive, but I like the security of knowing I have paid my tab beforehand. I have this money automatically moved from my checking to my savings accounts each week. Very easy!

Since we do not partake in the dining plan I also budget our food expenses. I do this by buying a gift card every week when I grocery shop. Disney gift cards can be purchased in any amount starting at $15.00. Make sure when you buy them you write the amount of the card on its packaging. This will save you a lot of headaches at the park.

As I begin to plan our dining reservations my husband and I look over the menus to decide what we would most likely order. It seems crazy to not only plan where but what you will eat six months before you travel but by doing this I can put gift cards in an envelope marked for that particular restaurant. For example: We know we want to try lunch at Le Cellier in Epcot during our next trip.

Tip: By eating lunch at a Signature Restaurant you will get to try a great menu for less money!

For Lunch we will most likely Order a Bowl of Cheddar Cheese Soup to share for about $7.00, a Side of Mac and Cheese for about $6.00 and we will split the salmon for about 21.00. Our meal total would be in the ball park of $35-40 plus tax and tip. I will put this amount in the Le Cellier Envelope and know that meal is essentially paid for.

Tip: For those not on the dining plan, splitting meals may be a great money saver. We split meals all the time and always leave full and have saved a good bit of money!

I also save all of my change in a jar. This becomes my souvenir money. My last trip I had nearly $85.00 in change! I was able to buy a T-Shirt for $31.00 and a Pin for $13 and still had money left over! My husband is too manly (so he believes) to be caught with any Disney paraphernalia, so that’s a huge savings right there. You can roll your change or just bring it to your nearest coin star location. Coin Star does take a percentage of your money for the service, but I find it to be so easy and you get cash right on the spot.

The final thing I do is begin making envelopes for everything. My Gift Cards go in their assigned dining envelopes as I explained above, but I also make envelopes for mousekeeping tips, pool side drinks (which is what my husband should save his change for), Bell service tips, and of course extra spending money. As I have extra dollar bills I put them into these envelopes. You may think it is crazy to plan how much you will be tipping your bell hop before you leave, but it is so great to know that these little expenses are taken care of when you arrive!

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for part 3 of this series: Park Hours and Choosing Restaurants!

Disney World Quick Tips – Advanced Dining Reservation Tips (chipandco.com)
Disney World Planning 101 – Don’t Forget the Tips (chipandco.com)

Disney World Planning - Budgeting and using Gift Cards

Disney World 4th of July Must Do’s

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 15, 2012

Disney World 4th of July Must Do's

Many people are starting to plan their trips to Disney World for the 4th of July since it’s only 113 days away! Keep in mind the parks will be pretty crowded on this holiday so you will want to plan accordingly. So, what are the “Must Do’s” if you are traveling to Walt Disney World for July 4th?

Check them out below!

Have a plan! All of the parks will be extremely busy. In the past the parks have reached capacity and guests were turned away- even those with dining reservations inside the closed park. You need to decide which park you want to visit for the 4th, arrive early and plan to stay the whole day. Don’t park hop and don’t return to your resort for a break, a swim or a nap. If you do, you may not get back in the park! If you are a Disney Resort guest, you are guaranteed entry into a park, but it may not be your park of choice! Again, arrive early and stay all day.
Choose your park wisely! Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios will have special events and firework shows planned for July 4 (see below). That will be the only difference from a regular, busy day at the parks. If you aren’t interested in the Patriotic spin on the nighttime shows, choose the park that has your favorite attractions.
Familiarize yourself with the park you choose. Crowds will be at a peak. Lines will be long. Fastpasses may run out early in the day for the most popular attractions. Decide which attractions are top on your families list and do those first- grabbing a Fastpass when possible. Know where the different shops are and secure those “must have” souvenirs early in the day. Know where your dining reservations are located so you don’t waste time wandering the park looking for the restaurant. You can download free customized park maps from Disney to help prepare.
Know when and where the shows, parades and fireworks will happen. Know that the park is going to be crowded. That means the shows, parades and fireworks will also be crowded. Pick out your “spot” for viewing these early in the day. No later than 30 (maybe even 45) minutes prior to the event, secure your “spot.”

Here is a recap of events that happened in 2011 for the 4th of July. These may change for 2012, but this will help give you an idea of what to expect and which park would best fit your families needs and wants.

Magic Kingdom– At the Magic Kingdom, you can view a special “Disney’s Celebrate America! – A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky” fireworks show followed by the nighttime parade. If you choose the Magic Kingdom, don’t forget to celebrate the 4th by visiting the Hall of Presidents, eating at Liberty Tree Tavern and celebrating our past by strolling through Liberty Square!
Epcot– At Epcot, you need to spend time at the America Pavilion! Here you will be able to see characters dressed in their American Attire along with Betsy Ross and Ben Franklin. You can also see the Voices of Liberty perform on the American Gardens Theatre stage along with the Spirit of America Fife and Drum Corps. Illuminations, Epcot’s nighttime laser and fireworks show, will feature a patriotic finale.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios– At DHS, you can see the group Mulch, Sweat, and Shears perform a Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration! They will showcase music from across America highlighting what each region has contributed to Rock and Roll including fireworks, lighting and special effects. You can also make plans to see Disney’s Fantasmic! later that night.
Animal Kingdom- Traditionally, there have been no special 4th of July activities planned for this park.
Downtown Disney– While this is not a “park” there have been special fireworks and concerts at Pleasure Island in past years.

If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World for July 4th, I hope you have a fantastically patriotic time!

Soft Opening of Storybook Circus and New Buses Coming to Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
Oops, I Did It Again! Unexpected trip to Disney World (chipandco.com)

Could The Muppets Return to Television?

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 15, 2012

Could The Muppets Return to Television?

I am hoping that is some gossip that may come true. According to geektyrant Disney is considering bringing The Muppets back to the small screen. Tricia Wilber, marketing and channels manager for Disney in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is quoted as saying they “would look at a variety of different models. What we’d do is ask what’s the right opportunity for the franchise. If you went down the television route it could play on the Disney channel but it could also play in primetime on a free-to-air network”.

Personally I would love to see The Muppets back on television. I have some great memories of watching the shows with my family as a kid and I would love for my nieces and nephews to have that experience. There are also reports of a sequel to the critically acclaimed The Muppets that starred Jason Segel. I am hoping for that too but there is something about seeing Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the gang back on tv that has me really excited.

So what do you think? Would you like to see the Muppets back on TV?

The Muppets Honored With Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame (chipandco.com)
The Muppets coming to Bluray and DVD March 20th 2012 (chipandco.com)
Jason Segel Will Not Return For ‘The Muppets’ Sequel (chipandco.com)

iPhone App Review: Spy Queue

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

March 14, 2012

iPhone App Review: Spy Queue

I’ve got to say, Brett Rounsaville’s Spy Queue app is a lot of fun. It’s one part “I, spy…”, one part trivia book, and just a lot of fun to do. The app is based around Disneyland, and focuses on making your waits in line a lot easier, and a lot more fun, while also teaching you things you may not know, and being a map for park visitors who need one.

Continue

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles

Related articles