Video: Dumbo’s Storybook Circus Testing

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January 4, 2012

Dumbo Storybook Circus was ride testing today! This is part of the new Fantasyland expansion at Walt Disney World. Four Elephants were on the spinner, along with arms waiting for more. There will soon be double Dumbos in this area.

Visit http://www.JeffLangeDVD.com or http://www.MouseSteps.com for more information.

Magic Kingdom Update: New Fantasyland Construction Including Dumbo The Flying Elephant Ride Testing, Storybook Circus – Photos and Video (jefflangedvd.com)
Changes coming to Magic Kingdom in Spring of 2012 (chipandco.com)

Undercover Tourist Disney World Wait Times Facebook Apps goes Live

By

Chip

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January 4, 2012

Join the community of other theme-park loving people and check the wait times for your favorite rides at Walt Disney World Resort. It’s FREE, it’s FUN, and it’s a good way to check how busy the parks are before your upcoming vacation. You’ll find the park hours and ‘Traffic Light’ recommendations, too!

To access the Disney World Wait Times Facebook App:
1. Click here.

2. Click here to join the Disney World Wait Times Community. It’s a great forum to communicate with other Disney folks…or The Frog Family! (And ‘Like’ the page, of course. You’ll find ‘Go to App’ button at the top right of the community page.)

3. Be sure to ‘Like’ the Disney World Wait Times Facebook App page to have it show up on your individual Facebook page. It’ll be a handy-dandy way to check just how long people are willing to wait for a chance to score points on Toy Story Mania!

P.S. Accurate wait time data for our Facebook apps is fed from our top-selling iPhone, Android and Blackberry mobile apps. Download them now to use while you’re ON vacation!

“Walt Disney World Pro” iPhone App Updated with Newest Information, Photos and More (chipandco.com)

Undercover Tourist Disney World Wait Times Facebook Apps goes Live

Disney’s Wild for 4 Pass – 4 Day 4 Park Ticket

By

Chip

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January 4, 2012

Florida Residents can purchase the Wild for 4 Pass–a 4-day ticket to Walt Disney World Resort parks–from January 4, 2012 through May 21, 2012. Each Wild for 4 Pass allows you to visit one theme Park per day for just $129, plus tax. For additional flexibility, Florida Residents can upgrade their Pass with the Park Hopper option and the Water Park Fun & More option.

When you order Florida Resident tickets, you will receive an exchange certificate in the mail. Redeem the exchange certificate at any Walt Disney World Theme Park ticket window by presenting the exchange certificate and valid photo ID.

There are 2 blockout periods for usage: February 18, 2012 through February 20, 2012 and April 1, 2012 through April 13, 2012. The ticket expires by May 24, 2012.

Tickets are non-transferable, are only valid during regularly scheduled operating hours and exclude activities/events priced separately. No additional discounts apply. Proof of Florida residency for each adult required for purchase and use.

Official Announcement: Leap Year 2012 Calls for ‘One More Disney Day’ (chipandco.com)
Florida Residents Enjoy Monday to Friday Fun and Savings with Weekday Select Pass (chipandco.com)

Disney's Wild for 4 Pass - 4 Day 4 Park Ticket

Carnation Café Closes for Renovations at Disneyland

By

Chip

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January 4, 2012

A Disneyland park favorite will close its doors this week – but only until summer, when Carnation Café will re-open with more seating (adding the indoor seating that disappeared in the 1990s) and a spruced-up menu.

When Carnation Café re-opens, look for breakfast, lunch and dinner favorites, along with new dishes and some Walt Disney favorites.

Should reopen Summer of 2012.

Disney Food Year in Review: 2011 (disneyfoodblog.com)
Virtual Food and Wine Festival! (disneybabiesblog.com)

Carnation Café Closes for Renovations at Disneyland

Celebrities and Wounded Veterans Join Record Disney Marathon Weekend

By

Chip

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January 4, 2012

19^th annual runDisney event to include new marathon relay option and commemorative 15^th anniversary half marathon medal; weekend field to top 56,000

Reality TV stars and wounded military soldiers are expected to be part of the more than 56,000 runners participating in the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend presented by Cigna this weekend.

Ethan Zohn (Survivor / Amazing Race), Jenna Morasca (Survivor / Amazing Race) and Trista and Ryan Sutter (The Bachelor) are among the celebrities entered in the weekend of events at Walt Disney World Resort. All are running in the half marathon on Saturday along with four wounded veterans who are part of the Achilles Freedom Team, which supports disabled runners. Workout guru Tony Horton, founder of the P90X workout, will be on hand to prepare runners for their race.

The marathon weekend also features a new relay option that gives runners the opportunity to pair up and split the 26.2 mile journey through all four Disney theme parks – Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios – and receive a special Chip and Dale medal. And to commemorate the 15^th anniversary of the half marathon, all finishers will be awarded a one-of-a-kind Donald Duck half marathon medal.

The 56,000 total runners – a new Disney marathon record – includes more than 26,500 registered runners for the half marathon, 16,500 for the marathon and 8,000 for the Family Fiesta 5K featuring the Three Caballeros – 3,000 more runners than last year. Approximately 6,500 runners will compete in Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge which involves running the half marathon on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday – 39.3 miles. And about 3,000 young runners will join in the fun and participate in the Mickey Mile and Marathon Kids Fest events on Friday and Saturday.

There’s also a Health and Fitness Expo at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Thursday – Saturday. Vendors will showcase the latest running merchandise and equipment, plus there will be seminars by leading healthy and fitness authorities, including marathon training expert Jeff Galloway, the official training consultant for runDisney.

For more information on the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend or future runDisney events, visit www.rundisney.com. For coverage throughout the event follow us on Twitter @DisneySports, on the runDisney Facebook page and at www.disneysportsnews.com.

For coverage information and credentials, please contact Bob Hitchcock at 407-922-3422 or at [email protected] , by Friday, January 6.

Source Article from http://disneysportsnews.com/2012/01/03/celebrities-and-wounded-veterans-join-record-disney-marathon-weekend/

Runners Set Their Sights New Features for Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (chipandco.com)
Disney’s Princess Half Marathon Weekend Celebrates Women’s Health, Active Lifestyle in February 2012 (chipandco.com)

Rotational Dining on the Disney Cruise Line

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 3, 2012

Rotational Dining on the Disney Cruise Line — Photo by Pixie Brenda

Disney Cruise Line offers a unique dining experience which allows each guest the opportunity to try each themed dining environment onboard “while traveling with their own Disney servers.” Every evening, you dine with the same tablemates and you have the same servers. The three main restaurants on the Dream are Animator’s Palate, Enchanted Garden, and Royal Palace.

Upon arriving at your stateroom, you will find a dining ticket for each member of your party that looks like this:

The ticket lists the guest’s name, stateroom number, dining schedule (which is your dinner time) and table number. The time and table number is the same for every evening in each restaurant. The only thing that changes is the restaurant location.

We sat at table 59 each night and we were greeted and served by our excellent serving team, Brenton and Romain. We all became fast friends and loved their personalities, senses of humor, and exceptional service. Our head server, Simone, was also there to make sure everything was perfect. Dining with the staff of Disney Cruise Line reminds me of the spirit you can only find at Disney. No matter what the question, your answer is Yes! What can we do to serve you?

Our dining rotation was: Animator’s Palate (night 1); Enchanted Garden (night 2); and Royal Palace (nights 3 and 4). All these restaurants were fantastic! Our favorite was Animator’s Palate and you can read more about that at my site, Ideally Disney. I was introduced to one of the best dishes I have ever had in my life at Animator’s Palate: Sesame-Flavored Shrimp and Caramelized Onion Cheesecake with Asian Barbecue Sauce. My review of this appetizer, as well as the recipe, will be posted this Friday on Disney Food Report.

Everyone I have ever spoken to about cruising always talks about the food. Now, I know why! Bon Appetit!

Disney Cruise Line Cancels Mexican Riviera Cruises (chipandco.com)
Disney Cruise Line Awards and Accolades (chipandco.com)

ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge #6.

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 3, 2012

The Jane By Design Style Challenge is almost over, but that doesn’t mean the challenges are getting easier. In fact, it is just the opposite, style challenge number 6 had to do with pretzels… that’s right pretzels! What do pretzels and fashion have to do with each other… inspiration. In the end it all comes down to inspiration. Here was the challenge:

“2012 is almost upon us. What does the future hold for the world of fashion? That will depend on people like you. It’s time to take a long hard look at yourself and the world around you. What do you see & how does it make you feel? The ability to be inspired by everyday life is an essential skill. The ability to translate your inspiration into something fresh and unexpected that takes the fashion world by storm is a rare gift. Rumor has it that one of the most coveted designer bags of all time was inspired by a roll of tape.

Find the bag of pretzels in your trunk. Get inspired and create something that will amaze me. Post a photo to your blog and write an entry explaining your design. Ask your readers to share ways in which they were inspired to make fashion out of unexpected items here and mention the name of your blog.”

I spent a long time just looking at the pretzels, and my little one kept nibbling at them trying to decide what to create. But just like anything inspiration can take some time. The pretzels sent to us in the Jane By Design Challenge were different we had sticks, and mini pretzels and the square ones. The were covered in salt and that reminded me of glitter and I went from there!

Mini Pretzels look like bows
Square Pretzels have a nice pattern almost like polka dots
Stick Pretzels give us a nice line and base shape

We are headed to Walt Disney World on Wednesday this week and I always create something for my 4 year old daughter to wear. In my experience the more a child can stand out from the crowd the more attention they get from the characters. So I decided to combine the two challenges and here is what I created out of an idea inspired from pretzels!

I created some Minnie Mouse inspired tennis shoes for little girls! These are so adorable and will look so cute on my little girl! They have a pattern, lines, bows and glitter just like the pretzels from the style challenge!! 2012 could be a great year to have your kids rock some funky shoes in their everyday life and at Walt Disney World!

Have you ever been inspired to make something for yourself of your kids for a Walt Disney World vacation? Do you wear matching t-shirts or maybe make your daughter an outfit based on a Disney Princess or a Halloween costume to look like a dole whip?! I would love to hear where you find inspiration for fashion at Walt Disney World on the Jane By Design Facebook Page HERE and make sure to mention Chip. and Co. sent you!

ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge 3 (chipandco.com)
ABC Family’s Jane By Design Style Challenge (chipandco.com)

ABC Family's Jane By Design Style Challenge #6.

“Star Wars: The Book of Sith – Secrets from the Dark Side” Preview

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 2, 2012

On February 10th you will be able to get your hands on a book that was thought to be lost. The “Star Wars: The Book of Sith – Secrets from the Dark Side” reveals some of the deepest secrets of the dark side of the Force. It comes with everything you see here. (Pasty completion, evil eyes, red Lightsaber and breathing apparatus sold separately).

Pre-order “Star Wars: The Book of Sith – Secrets from the Dark Side” today!

Check out the video preview!

Star Wars: The Old Republic – Release Day Flash Mob (video) (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)
“Star Wars: The Old Republic” Sith Inquisitor Progression (video) (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)

"Star Wars: The Book of Sith - Secrets from the Dark Side" Preview

Finding Serenity on Castaway Cay

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 2, 2012

Finding Serenity on Castaway Cay — Photo by Pixie Brenda

The holidays are wonderful but we all must admit that they can also be quite stressful. Once the festivities are over, all we long for is some serenity. Here is a visual exercise that can help all of us to achieve that calm, peaceful and tranquil state.

Close your eyes and imagine a beautiful, clear blue sky. Imagine lying on a hammock that is sitting on a beach with white, sugary sands and turquoise water so clear you can see all the way to the bottom. See how the sunlight sparkles on the water and glistens as though it is dancing to the sound of nature? The feeling you are having is sweet serenity. Where can you find it? It’s on Serenity Bay on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay.

Here are some photos I took during our visit. Enjoy!

Finding Serenity on Castaway Cay

If you’re interested in visiting this beautiful, serene location in The Bahamas, email me at [email protected]. As an Authorized Disney Travel Planner I am more than happy to help you plan your magical retreat. Best of all, my services are free!

Winter Holidays with Disney Cruise Line (chipandco.com)
Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons on Disney Cruise Line (chipandco.com)

Get “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” Season on Sale on iTunes

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 2, 2012

While StarWars.com readers can currently enjoy a recap of Season 4 episodes of The Clone Wars (this week features the 4th, 5th, and 6th episodes of Season 4), fans who’d like to relive the first three seasons of Clone Wars adventures can head over to iTunes for discounted full seasons!

Even if you’ve already got these on Blu-ray or DVD at home, the downloadable versions will make a wonderful holiday gift for your favorite Star Wars fan!

The Clone Wars promotion runs today through January 17, 2012 in the U.S. and Canada. This offer excludes Season 4 and the Nightsisters Trilogy Theatrical Cut:

Season 1: USD $24.99 SD / 34.99 HD
Season 2: USD $24.99 SD / 34.99 HD
Season 3: USD $27.99 SD / 37.99 HD

Head on over to iTunes and be sure and check out The Clone Wars!
*Source StarWars.com

Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan’s Character Encounter

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 2, 2012

Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan's Character Encounter

Maleah Moskoff’s character encounter at Epcot

Every photo has a story.

This scary image was captured by Chip & Company fan Maleah Moskoff, Disney enthusiast and owner of www.chachatea.net

September of 2011 was Maleah’s first trip to WDW with just her husband and son. Maleah, a resident of Madison, WI, related the story. “We usually had gone to Disney with Grandma. We had an amazing deal at The Beach Club and EPCOT is my 7 year old’s favorite park. Being able to walk to The World Showcase Pavilion every day was a treat. On our way back to the room we were stopped by a glaring queen.”

When asked what the queen had to say, “Maleah said, “No words were exchanged; just chills received!”

Thanks, Maleah, for sending in your photo and your story, and thank you 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, or architecture. Please send in pictures one at a time 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. 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 twice a day in photographs. Visit my photo blog at mouzekateerz.com, or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at [email protected].

Top 15 Super Cheap Disney World Souvenirs. (chipandco.com)
Share your Disney pictures with us. (chipandco.com)

Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan's Character Encounter

Chip & Company Week in Review, January 2, 2012

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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January 2, 2012

Welcome back once again to this week’s edition of the Chip & Company Week in Review. From all of us here at Chip & Company, Happy New Year! I hope that you had a safe celebration and that all of your wishes for the coming year come true. Here are the stories that caught our eye last week:

Have you played the game “Star Wars: The Old Republic” yet? It’s not really my gig, but Aljon told us about the number of people that have been playing the game. It’s some staggering numbers!

PixieMichele reported to us on Thursday that the Disney Cruise Line has cancelled the Mexican Riviera cruises. No word has been given as to why, so all we have is speculation.
Do you participate in the Tables In Wonderland special events? If so, you’ll want to take a look at what is in store for January, 2012!
Did you see that Peter Pan is going to be returning to Neverland in Jake and the Neverland Pirates? He’s scheduled to appear on February 13^th, so make sure you or your children are watching!
In the Jane By Design Style Challenge, they are up to Round 5 now. Check out what Jackie did for Round 5!
Did you see that Lady and the Tramp: Diamond Edition will be released for Blu-Ray and DVD on February 7^th? Will you be going out to get it?
I have heard people say that Disney Cruise Line, at least in the beginning, wasn’t a true cruise line. Looking at this list of all the awards and accolades they have received over the years tells me that this is not the case!
Did you miss the 2011 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade? If so, you can check it out online! Just click the link for more information.
The Wisconsin Badgers and Oregon Ducks – this years participants in the Rose Bowl, continued a tradition began in 1959 by heading out for some fun at Disneyland!
Lastly, there is finally a schedule for the Art of Animation Resort opening dates! Thanks Chris for posting that for us.

That’s our look at some of the news stories from last week, now let’s take a look at some of the incredible original articles that our writers produce each and every day! Enjoy!

Mel continues her series on Wheelchair friendly attractions by taking us on a Journey Into Imagination.
In the Disney World Planning 101 series, Melissa tells us not to forget one important thing: Tipping.
Lastly, Lee has written a special post this week, one that appeals more to his Canadian side: Disney Vacationing for Canadians.
Over at My Dreams of Disney, I posted two Dining Reviews, one for Cinderella’s Royal Table, and one for Play ‘n Dine at the Hollywood and Vine.

That’s all we have for you this week. I hope you have a terrific week, and remember to check out Chip & Company often for the latest in Disney News, Views, Giveaways, and more! To keep up with the latest Disney news and views on the fly, check out the Chip & Company Facebook Page or follow Chip & Company via Twitter! Also, head on over to the Disney for Seniors page and tell Ken you help he’s feeling better! Ken, get well soon my friend!

Chip & Company Week in Review, December 26, 2011 (chipandco.com)
Chip & Company Week in Review, December 19, 2011 (chipandco.com)

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