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Touring Plans: Lines, Crowd Calendar, Touring Plans and more!

By
Chip
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Touring Plans: Lines, Crowd Calendar, Touring Plans and more!

Recently we had the pleasure of teaming up with the guys from Touring Plans. We have been supporting their products for years and could not imagine a Disney vacation without them.

From the Crowd Calendar to Lines and even their new Touring Plans they make visiting Disney World and Disneyland a breeze. Head on over to their website and and check out all the goodies they have for you!

Touring Plans will save you time and money on your Disney Vacation.

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Touring Plans: Lines, Crowd Calendar, Touring Plans and more!

Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan’s Rainy Day View of Cinderella Castle

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan's Rainy Day View of Cinderella Castle
Rain drops keep fallin' on my Mickey hat.

Every Photo has a story…

Chip & Company fan Sandra Rudolph spent three days at the beginning of last October  at Walt Disney World. Sandra described her trip as “learning how to do Disney monsoon style. Even cast members were saying they had never experienced so much rain.”

Picture this…Sandra said that while their Disney trip wasn’t ruined by ponchos and sloshy tennis shoes, the bad weather did put a bit of a damper on the vacation. Sandra snapped this beautiful Cinderella Castle photo from Tomorowland early one morning after a fun breakfast at the Crystal Palace. “We stepped out to see the clouds lifting and the promise of a beautiful day.”

Thanks, Sandra, for sending in your photo and your story, and thank you Chip & Company fans for coming along for a photographical ride!

Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Remember, Chip & Company is looking for great Disney vacation photos without family members, preferably of Disney characters, landscapes, architecture, or funny photos for our “Caption This Contest.”  Please send in pictures  (one at a time please) with a brief description of your photo. Be sure to tell us what is in the picture and any important details.  Just use the 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, Why and When, because that way we have enough information to share the Disney Magic.  Every photo has a story, so be sure to include yours.

Drop by and share your photos on Facebook at Mouze Kateerz. Take a virtual Disney vacation each day in photographs. Visit my photo blog at mouzekateerz.com, check out my photos on Pinterest at Pin Mouze Kateerz,  or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at [email protected].

 

 

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Disney World Planning Tips – More Snacks, Less Money!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Disney World Planning Tips - More Snacks, Less Money!

My husband and I are DVC members so our family travels to Disney World at least once a year.  We try to save money whenever and wherever we can without cutting back on the full Disney experience.  Snacks and drinks in Disney World can be quite expensive and kids get hungry OFTEN so our solution is to pack a smaller suitcase loaded with snacks and drinks to bring with us on our trip.  We then throw a few snacks and drinks in our park backpack each day.

Some items we include are…

  • Bottled water- we like to have bottled water in our hotel room and we bring a bottle or two with us to the park each day.  Quick service counters will give you water for free so it is not necessary to load your suitcase down with too many bottles of water.  We usually bring a 12 pack of bottled water and that works well for us.
  • Juice boxes- we pack one juice box per child per day, as well as a refillable water bottle for each child.  The kids get milk at meals and this helps to cut down on the cost of milk in the hotel store and the hassle of buying it and taking it to the room.  Be sure to pack your juice boxes in a storage bag just in case one breaks on the plane.  You do not want juice leaking all over your stuff or anyone else’s stuff!
  • Energy bars or granola bars- this is a heartier snack that will help tide the kids over for a late breakfast.
  • Fruit leathers, fruit ropes, fruit snacks- My kids are HUGE fans of any processed fruit snack.  We bring Disney fruit snacks with us as a special treat.  We also stock up on fruit leathers and fruit ropes before we head to Disney.  These are snacks that I know my kids will eat so I always try to have them on hand.  You never know when you will need a favorite snack to help calm a fussy child!
  • Homemade trail mix including dried fruit, pretzels, Goldfish, Annie’s Cheddar Bunnies or Honey Grahams, nuts, Cheerios, etc.- We bring plastic baggies or reusable snack dispensers and each day we make a trail mix for the kids.  This is something they can enjoy while waiting in line for a ride or watching one of the awesome parades.  We are sure to include some of their favorites in the mix and maybe even something new!
  • Cheese sticks- we put a package of 12 in an insulated cooler bag with a small ice pack.  This is a healthier snack option for the kids and my husband and I even enjoy a cheese stick once in a while.  You also have the insulated cooler bag and ice pack now that you can take items to the park in each day.
  • Instant coffee/iced tea packets- I LOVE my Starbucks coffee and since you cannot get Starbucks at Disney, I prefer to bring Starbucks Via packets with me.  I bring an insulated travel mug with me and I make my coffee in the hotel room before we leave for the park each day.  This helps me keep my sanity which is good for my entire family!

This list works well for my family.  You may have a different list for your family as it should be snacks and drinks that your family enjoys.  I know some people bring their own Pepsi products to Disney since Disney serves Coke products.  I highly recommend bringing as much as you can without going overboard so you can cut down on food costs.  We still get the Disney Dining Plan(DDP) each trip but we save our DDP snacks for our favorite Disney treats.  We don’t want to waste a DDP snack on a bottle of water.  Chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick or a Mickey Mouse ice cream sounds way better than a bottle of water to me!  I suggest saving your money on the basics so you can fully enjoy all that Disney has to offer!!

Guest blogger Jennifer P.

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Disney World Quick Tip: Don’t Forget Clorox Wipes

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Disney World Quick Tip: Don't Forget Clorox Wipes

I personally think that MouseKeeping does an excellent job of keeping rooms at the Walt Disney Resorts very clean! We have never had an issue with cleanliness and I am a pretty perticular person! In fact, before anyone unpacks anything I do a general sweep of the room to make sure it is A-OK.  Here is my quick tip:

Pack a tube of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, they come in really handy inside room room! A few things I always run a wipe over are the TV remote, light switches and faucet knobs!  Those items probably receive the least amount of cleaning inside the room.  I also do a quick scrub of the bathroom tub before my daughter gets in for a bath.  She absolutely hates showers and I have a hard time putting her in a bathtub that I have not personally cleaned.

The disinfecting wipes also work great for in room spills! We normally have some cereal or a snack before we head out to the Parks.  Once in a while there might be a little spill and it is great to have these on hand to clean up small sticky messes!

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AMC Theaters Host Special Screenings of “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D”

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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AMC Theaters Host Special Screenings of "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 3D"

The first chapter of the Star Wars Saga arrives in theatres for the first time ever in 3D starting February 10, and AMC® theatres across the country are celebrating the occasion with plans to make opening weekend one for fans and families to remember!

To mark the return of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace to theatres, now in immersive 3D, kids, collectors and Star Wars fans of all ages will receive an all-new Hasbro Star Wars Fighter Pod with the purchase of each RealD® 3D ticket for Episode I, all weekend long, February 10-12 only at AMC theatres (limit one per ticket, while supplies last).

Additionally, 10 AMC theatres in the United States will host exclusive event screenings in RealD 3D to bring the fun of Star Wars in 3D to life for families and fans. Starting Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. local time, select theaters will offer activities, giveaways, and interactive experiences. Fans can expect (while supplies last):

  • Exclusive Anakin Skywalker Podracer 3D glasses with ticket purchase, to truly get into the speed and spectacle of 3D Star Wars on the big screen.
  • A Hasbro Star Wars FIGHTER PODS collectible toy with RealD 3D ticket purchase
  • A LEGO® feature area
  • Darth Maul face-painting; a chance to reveal your inner Sith Lord at long last!
  • Special character appearances for photo opportunities
  • Demonstrations of the upcoming Xbox Kinect™ Star Wars

The 10 participating Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace exclusive event screening theatres are:

  • Atlanta: AMC Southlake 24
  • Boston: AMC Loews Liberty Tree Mall 20
  • Chicago: AMC South Barrington 30
  • Denver: AMC Highlands Ranch 24
  • Los Angeles: AMC Tustin 14 at The District
  • AMC Ontario Mills 30
  • New York: AMC Empire 25
  • AMC Garden State 16
  • Phoenix: AMC Mesa Grand 24
  • San Francisco: AMC Emeryville Bay Street 16
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Jane By Design: Volume 1 on DVD March 20

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Jane By Design: Volume 1 on DVD March 20

Volume 1 of the Hot New ABC Family Show Available on DVD March 20
Relive all the Drama and Excitement Just Two Weeks After the Season Finale

Synopsis:

When mistaken for an adult, sixteen year-old Jane (Erica Dasher) finds herself working for a high-powered executive (Andie McDowell) at a hip fashion house.  From classes to couture, relive all the drama, romance and non-stop excitement as Jane juggles her life as a regular teenager and her job in the cutthroatworld of fashion…all while trying to keep her true identity a secret. Bring home ABC Family’s Jane By Design: Volume 1, available on DVD March 20th, just two weeks after the season finale!

Cast:

Erica Dasher (The Lake) asJane Quimby
Andie MacDowell (Groundhog Day, Shortcuts) as Gray Chandler Murray
Nicholas Roux (Lemonade Mouth) asBilly Nutter
Rowly Dennis (TV’s “Desperate Housewives”) as Jeremy Jones
India de Beaufort (TV’s “One Tree Hill”) as India Jourdain
Meagan Tandy (10 Things I Hate About You) as Lulu Pope
Matthew Atkinson (TV’s “CSI”) as Nick Fadden
David Rogers (TV’s “Cougar Town”) as Ben Quimby

Executive Producers:

Gavin Polone (TV’s “Gilmore Girls”), John Ziffren (Melissa & Joey) and April Blair (Lemonade Mouth)

 Street Date:  March 20, 2012 (Direct Prebook: 1/24/2012; Distributor Prebook: 2/7/2012)

Rating:  TV-14 DLSV in U.S.
Feature Run Time:  Approximately 430 minutes
Suggested Retail Price:  2-Disc DVD = $29.99 (U.S. only release)
Aspect Ratio:  1.78:1/Widescreen
Sound:  Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Languages:  English

Check out the First Look from Season 1: http://youtu.be/FscbGfJApqM 

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Pixie Hollow Launches New Fairy Experiences Available to All Players

By
Chip
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Pixie Hollow Launches New Fairy Experiences Available to All Players

Here is some great news for those Pixie Hollow players!

Pixie Hollow, Disney’s popular virtual world for girls, allows players to create their own fairy, explore an exciting world, make friends and play games.  For the first time, non-subscribers will have access to some of the most popular features within Pixie Hollow such as adopting an animal friend and gathering on-trend fashions and accessories with the launch of Pixie Diamonds.

Here’s how it works:

  • Starting today (January 26th), all players will have the opportunity to buy Pixie Diamonds directly from the Pixie Hollow website. Players who are already members will automatically receive a monthly allowance of Pixie Diamonds, making the perks of being a member even sweeter!
  • The Pixie Post Office is a brand new, in-world destination where all players can redeem their Pixie Diamonds for news accessories, animal friends and the latest furnishing for their fairy house. Players can even  and send gift sets and postcards to their Fairy friends.
  • All fashions, accessories and animal friends bought with Pixie Diamonds will stay with your fairy forever, as long as the account is in good standing.

Stay tuned to Chip and Co on Monday where we will be giving away some codes to try it out for yourself!

 

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I Survived the Holidays at Disney World

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

I Survived the Holidays at Disney World

Some of you cringe when you hear holidays and Disney in the same sentence, but I can’t imagine a more magical place to spend the Christmas season.  With the right mind set and a little (ok, a lot) of planning, you can make merry memories you want and not turn into a Scrooge.

First and foremost, keep a positive attitude.  You are going to be around A LOT of people!  Thousands of them all trying to see and do the same things as you.  Prepare yourself.  Use your manners, be polite, don’t lose your temper, and have a plan.  After all, this is still the Happiest Place on Earth, and everyone is there for the same reason: to have fun with their loved ones.

Attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  Yes, these tickets are extra, but it is totally worth the experience.  My husband tells everyone that this is the best part of Christmas time at Disney because he can ride Space Mountain and Splash Mountain multiple times in an evening.  There are special meet and greets with characters, and you can interact with them at dance parties throughout the Magic Kingdom.  There is plenty of free hot chocolate, cookies, and apple slices to nibble on during the evening, and a great holiday parade and Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season.  Limited tickets mean smaller crowds in the park that night; take advantage of it!

Take some time for just the adults in your party.  I highly recommend checking out a Children’s Activity Center at one of the resorts, or hire a sitter from Kid’s Night Out.  We have used both, and have been thrilled with how much our children enjoyed themselves.  This makes it a lot easier to plan a romantic dinner in Italy for just mom and dad. Head on over to Jelly Rolls on the Boardwalk to sing along with some amazing musicians or hit up ESPN Zone to watch the game.  There are plenty of golf courses to keep any golfer busy or melt your holiday cares away with a relaxing massage at one of the spas on the property.

Explore your resort.  This is something we have never done before, but will do on every trip from now on!  Afternoon naps and time at the pool helped everyone relax and made our time at Disney feel more like a vacation.  Had we not slowed down and done this, we would have never known about roasting marshmallows and watching movies on the beach at the Wilderness Lodge (all for free). We also ended up stumbling upon a meet and greet with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy decked out in their Christmas best in our hotel lobby with zero wait time.

Finally, remember the reason for the season.  Attend the Candle Light Processional.  This was a highlight of our trip because we were able to slow down, listen to beautiful music and a wonderful telling of the Christmas story. The kids in our group (all 9 of them) loved singing familiar Christmas carols, and it was a great way to remind them what Christmas is all about.  I do recommend purchasing the Candlelight Dinner Packages.  This guarantees you a seat in the theater, but allow plenty of time between your meal reservations and the start of the show.  We thought we were doing great on time, and when we got there, the reserved seating line was wrapped from the American Gardens Theater all the way to Morocco!

Knowing these things, and that you will not see or do everything is something to keep in mind during the holidays or any peak season at a Disney park.  Pick your favorites and be flexible.

This guest article comes to us from Katie Cooper

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Tables in Wonderland – Special Events for February 2012

By
Chip
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Tables in Wonderland - Special Events for February 2012

Tables in Wonderland Special Event

Design & Display Warehouse

Saturday February 25, 2012

6:30pm – 9:00pm

Price:  $95 per person, plus tax.  Gratuity is included.

The Park Event Operations Design and Display team dreams, designs, and creates themed atmosphere settings for Conventions, Special Events, and many other activities throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.  From concepts to renderings, through finished construction, the Design and Display team can bring any “theme” to life.   They use their talent, experience, and design skills to design and build custom pieces for events.  With hundreds of props, sets, and backgrounds in the warehouse, they create the perfect atmosphere and surroundings for events.  This is your opportunity to peek “backstage”, and see historical Disney pieces like the Nautilus and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!  Come meet the Design and Display team, learn about what they do, see all the props up close, and enjoy a Buffet Reception with fellow Tables in Wonderland members!

Alice in Wonderland

White Rabbit Rainbow Carrot Vichy with Fresh Dill served in “Drink Me” Vessel

Queen of Hearts Heirloom Tomatoes with Roasted Red Beets and Red Zinfandel Vinaigrette Reduction

Carved Caterpillar Hookah Smoked Turkey Breast with Mini Pita, Cranberry Pecan Conserve and Roasted Corn Aioli

 

Pixar

Monsters Inspired “Fungus” Melted Raclette of Cheese with Cornichons, Potatoes, Onions and Baguettes

Toy Story Inspired “Mr. Pricklepants” Quick Pickled Tuna Soft Tacos with Jicama Green Chile Slaw and Tequila Sour cream

Nemo Inspired Harvest of the Sea Martini with Wakame

 

Walt’s Legacy

Mickey Mac and Cheese with Crispy Pork Belly and Heirloom Tomato

Minnie’s Chicken and Phylo Pot Pie Bites

Petit Mixed Grill Meatloaf with Truffle Demi

 

Good vs. Evil

Chilled Poblano Smoked Pork Tenderloin with Red Apple Chutney and Charred Flatbread

Creamy Sweet Organic Polenta with Shrimp Fradiavlo

Freeze Fried Rotovap Bloody Mary Drops with Micro Celery

 

Steampunk Dessert

Guava Cheese Whip with Mango

Dark Chocolate with Raspberry Gelee

Crushed Oreo Cheesecake

Florida Key Lime Crunch

Strawberry Greek Yogurt Almond

 

For reservations, e-mail WDW.Tables.In.Wonderland@disney.com with the following information: your interest to book, your name, daytime phone number, home address, and the number of people in your party.  You will be notified on a “first-come, first-served” basis. Your credit card will be taken over the phone once your reservation is confirmed.  The event is limited to 100 Guests.  This event is exclusive to Tables in Wonderland members.

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Family Traditions at Walt Disney World

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Family Traditions at Walt Disney World

I love Walt Disney World, that is no secret.  I love the rides and food and characters, but that is not the best part of Walt Disney World for me.  I love the quality family time spent together and the traditions built each trip.  I am a Stay at Home Mom to our little girl and my husband works very hard to make that happen.  But unfortunatly sometimes that means him working late nights and sacrificing daily family time to give us the home life we strive for.  But when we are at Walt Disney World all the distractions fade away and we are totally submerged in family time and traditions.

One of my absolute favorite traditions we have at Walt Disney World is taking pictures in a few of the same spots each time we visit the parks!  In the picture above we are at the Muppet Fountain at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  We have taken pictures here since my daughter was a tiny girl and it is so fun to go back and see how our family has changed over the years.  Out of the pictures we have taken at the fountain this is by far my favorite, even though they  aren’t even paying attention.   Sometimes it is the memories behind the pictures that mean the most!

Other “traditions” we have at Walt Disney World include eating a Carrot Cake Cookie for breakfast, getting temporary tattoos of our favorite Disney characters, and letting each person in our family, no matter how big or small, choose 1 sit down restaurant to eat at!  Our traditions aren’t just at the parks either, when we are home from vacation every takes part in planning the next and we are always playing the Disney Planning Game!

Do you have family traditions at Walt Disney World? If so, I would love to hear about them in the comment section below.  I know a lot of you feel the exact same way about Disney that I do and I would love to know about your families special traditions! Disney is a huge part of our family and I am so thankful there is such a great place to share so many special memories at!

 

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The Top 10 Disney Movies – #6

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Episodes & Reels is delivering our monthly Top 10 List a little differently this time around.  We will post one entry in the countdown each night from Jan 23 – Feb 3 on Chip and Co until we finally reveal #1!  Now, here’s our #6 animated Disney film of all-time:

The Top 10 Disney Movies - #6
Aladdin, 1992

#6 – ALADDIN (1992)
Stars: Scott Weinger, Robin Williams
Directors: Ron Clements, John Musker
Rating: G

Take the most popular Arabic storybook of all-time (“1,001 Arabian Nights”) and mix it with – the wildly famous comedian and actor Robin Williams?  Yep, that’s right.  That is exactly what Disney did with their modern-day classic adventure, Aladdin.  I was in the 10th grade when this movie was released, and I had never laughed so hard in all my life.  Robin Williams as the blue wish-granting genie of the lamp who doubled as a stand-up comic and impressionist was priceless, and to this day remains one of Williams’ best, and most recognizable, performances (even though he’s only lending his voice on camera).  Aladdin has a romance between the title character and the born-rebel, Princess Jasmine (“A Whole New World” anyone?), but what makes this movie so different and great is the full-blown adventure.  There are chases, fights, danger and flying carpets around every corner.  Aside from the Genie, the movie features tremendous supporting characters such as Iago (Gilbert Gottfried), Jafar (Jonathan Freeman), Abu (Frank Welker) and the Sultan (Douglas Seale).  Aladdin is a movie that truly plays out just like reading a story to your kids at bedtime, except it is being “read” to you, and you can’t fall asleep because the feel-good adventure is just too exciting to pass up.  And if that weren’t enough, Robin Williams will keep splitting your sides as the incomparable Genie.

Watch the Trailer

Come back Monday night (1/30) for our #5 entry, and check us out on facebook.

Volkswagen Teams Up with Star Wars for New Game Day Commercial – The Bark Side

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Volkswagen Teams Up with Star Wars for New Game Day Commercial - The Bark Side

A canine chorus barks a familiar tune. Keep an eye out for a 2012 Game Day commercial—it will all make sense. Love Star Wars and Volkswagen? Create an Intergalactic Invite to your Big Game party here: http://vw.com/star-wars-invite

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