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Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special Debuts at Hollywood Studios

By
Chip
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Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special Debuts at Hollywood Studios

What says “holidays” better than laughter? At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, laughter will ring out thanks to a special family comedy show scheduled for a limited run at the ABC Sound Studio in the heart of the park. From Dec. 25 through Dec. 31, “The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special” will present the best of improvisational comedy as performers – including alumni from the Comedy Warehouse on Pleasure Island – take suggestions from guests and add their own brand of humor, right on the spot.

The performers hilariously reinvent holiday classics based on suggestions they solicit from the audience, including holiday songs, stories, poems and movie scenarios.  Showtimes (subject to change) are  11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. daily.  “The Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special” is included in park admission.

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Comedy Warehouse Holiday Special Debuts at Hollywood Studios

Adults Only: 5 Activities for Adults on DCL

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Adults Only: 5 Activities for Adults on DCL

You finally make it aboard your Disney cruise, you explore the ship, grab your lunch, investigate your stateroom and finally dinner time comes. That sweet hour is far more significant than just a meal…it’s the beginning of one of the best inventions on the seas…the kids clubs.

6:00 pm signals the official opening of the kids clubs that first night of your cruise. The long awaited freedom has come, you enjoy your meal, send the kids off to their own version of paradise and you have peace and quiet, at last! Now what?

“Be careful what you wish for” doesn’t count here. Your children are safe, they are having more fun in the kids clubs than they would ever have with you (I’m sorry, but it’s true and the sooner you realize that and accept it the better your cruise will be-for you and your kids!) so where does that leave you? The possibilities are really endless but here are a few of my favorite “grown up” activities on Disney Cruise Line.

  1. The Quiet Cove Pool: Yes, it truly is as wonderful as it sounds. The pool chairs are covered with lush mattress style covers, with detachable and relocatable pillows. You won’t see a single diaper bag, hear a single cry or watch one afternoon meltdown. There are drink specials everyday and you don’t even have to leave your comfy chair to get one…there are cast members who will bring your beverages right to you at your chair.
  2. Various Tastings: Your personal navigator will list various tastings that are available aboard the ship during your cruise. Everything from margaritas to cognac, at all different times of the day. For a nominal fee you can learn about the alcohol you are tasting from the experts (the last cruise I was on had the vineyard owner onboard talking about the wine) and meet new friends.
  3. Adult Cabaret Shows: Each night there are shows in the adult clubs (18 and over only) with the featured entertainment and live music each night. “Adults only” gives a certain connotation but fear not, this is a Disney ship after-all. You won’t find any raunchy entertainment on these vessels, just a lot of hilarious games, live entertainment and good times. Don’t miss the “Match Your Mate” game and the scavenger hunt…both will leave you doubled over in laughter, gasping for air.
  4. Music Under the Stars: This is probably more suited for folks not traveling with kids because it happens on Pirate Night. While the expansive buffet, Pirate deck party and a whole bunch of noise are happening at the main pool stage, the quiet pool strikes again with its lovely solitude. On the Disney Wonder you’ll find “The Dreamers” an acoustic duet who will sing to you under the stars while you lounge on pool chairs layered with extremely comfortable overstuffed pillows. This is one of my favorite spots on the ship on Pirate night and it’s never overcrowded because not many people know about it (I suppose the cats out of the bag now!)
  5. Palo-I make no effort to hide my complete obsession with Palo. On the Disney Wonder I know all the staff by name, they are like extended family. I always over eat and never feel guilty about it and I almost had an emotional breakdown at my local grocery store after my last cruise because I couldn’t find parmaesan that was aged 10 years (talk about addiction and withdrawal!). Aside from the amazing quality of the food the atmosphere is perfect for a romantic dinner, a quiet time away and a truly all encompassing culinary experience. All guilt about leaving the kids behind to enjoy this meal will be out the door by the time the antipasto platter arrives, I guarantee it.

If you were thinking Disney Cruise Line was only for kids I hope this changes your mind! This is only a sampling of some of the things for “grown ups” on board. While it’s perfect for families, if you are traveling without kids; don’t worry…you won’t be over run by other people’s children. The separate areas of the ship for adults, kids and families are perfectly placed so you truly feel isolated.

Spend as much, or as little time as you like with your loved ones and rest assured everyone will be having a good time.

For more information on Disney Cruise Line or for your free quote contact your authorized Disney travel planner, me! [email protected]

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Adults Only: 5 Activities for Adults on DCL

Disney Diva Tips: Disney World Printable Checklist of Age-Appropriate Rides

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Disney Diva Tips: Disney World Printable Checklist of Age-Appropriate Rides

Because many of us traveling with children to Walt Disney World need to do some serious planning ahead of time, my husband and I have put together a printable spreadsheet of attractions including rides, shows, and character meals  in Animal Kingdom and the ages that each gender  might enjoy them the best.

There are two spread-sheets here on each link, divided by gender. On the bottom left you will see a tab saying something like ” Epcot boy” or “Epcot girl” to click on based on the gender of your child. I had to rely on commonly accepted gender-stereotypes so please don’t get offended. I fully realize that EVERYTHING here is actually an individual decision based on YOUR child. and this spreadsheet is simply a tool to give you some ideas as you plan

The spreadsheet is broken into three categories:

1) MD = Must Do – These are the things that, based on age, you should seriously consider putting into your “touring plan” for the day.  I tried to take height requirements into consideration. Your child’s height may or may not coordinate with the ages indicated on the spreadsheet.

2) ID = Individual Decision – One of reasons there are so few spreadsheets like this is that most of attraction selection is based on YOUR CHILD and nobody knows your child as well as you do. You may have a thrill seeker at 6years old, you may have a teenager that absolutely MUST meet Snow White or their trip is not complete. It’s really up to you! Some of the attractions are marked ID based on how dark the ride is, if there are things that might startle them (ranging from how big the costume characters are, to witches popping out, to fireworks exploding), speed of ride is also considered, and height requirements (indicated next to rides that have them). This is where you should probably ask your child directly if they’re up for it and you should NEVER MAKE a child go on anything they have indicated they are afraid of.

3) S = Skippable – This is the area that people who have been to WDW a million times are most likely to get grumpy about, because as I mentioned before, really all of this is an individual decision based on your child. However, as people are taking shorter and shorter trips to WDW they need to know what is imperative to be scheduled in and what can be saved until a second, or third trip. So if your favorite ride is marked skippable, sorry, the whole thing has been done based on personal opinion.

You will also see that some attractions are marked “Cool Down/ Dry Off”. This means that if you are sweating through your Mickey Ears, or its been pouring rain for hours, they make a nice temporary retreat. If marked “Skippable” and Cool Down/ Dry Off then that indicates you really only to need visit the attraction if you require a break from the elements, or are tired and need to sit for a little bit.

Ok, well without further ado I present to you the link to the Tips from the Disney Diva Attraction Checklists. Please do not take this and try to pass it off as your own, its just bad manners.

Click on the link to be taken to the Google Doc. You can then export it and format it according to the age of your family and print. Enjoy! (Original post date 12/10/2011)

Magic Kingdom you can see it by clicking HERE.

Epcot by clicking HERE.

Hollywood Studios by clicking HERE

Animal Kingdom by clicking HERE

 

Want more PRINTABLE help with planning? Check out:

http://www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com/search/label/Printable%20Planning%20Sheets

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Disney Diva Tips: Disney World Printable Checklist of Age-Appropriate Rides

Disney Diva’s Tips: In case of emergency

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Disney Diva's Tips: In case of emergency

Unfortunately I saw an emergency  first hand with my own daughter as blood gushed from my 20 month old’s head. Let me explain….

On the first day we came in we decided to go over to Ft. Wilderness (our first time over to it) and eat at Trails End Buffet then later join Chip and Dale for the Campfire Sing-along. I’ll have to tell the truth and say that I wasn’t that impressed with Trails End. The food (what I got to taste of it) was good, but none of the waitresses (until the emergency) bothered to talk to us and its A LOT of money to not get an “experience” too. There are no characters there and the staff don’t really interact. So for my $5.00 more a plate I’d rather go over to Whispering Canyon Cafe and enjoy myself there, basically same food.

My daughter managed to eat the few oz. of pizza and mac and cheese that didn’t get smeared on her face and she was bored pretty fast. She was squirming all over the place and so I decided to just take her into the Arcade (which is attached to the restaurant) to let her pretend to play some games and give my husband and family some peace to eat.

There are four “driving” games lined up in a row in the arcade and my daughter was enjoying playing with the steering wheel. I sat in game #4 and she was sitting in #3. There was another kid about 8 driving in the #1 game. Well, my toddler daughter decided she was going to move over to game #2 and since she’s not even 2 and can’t gauge the distance she didn’t quite make it. And I heard her head land with a thud. At first I thought it was just a typical toddler bump until she started screaming and lifted her head and blood was POURING from a gash in her forehead where she hit THIS little baby.

Disney Diva's Tips: In case of emergency
A big, nasty, pokin’ out BOLT.

So I grabbed her and moved back into the dining area to try to get some napkins to compress on her head as quickly as possible. She is SCREAMING and, well, everybody can see the blood all over my hands and her face and I’m thinking…. “this is an eating establishment. Pretty sure they don’t want to see a lot of blood at the buffet” so I take her outside to try to compress in order to slow down the bleeding.

Suddenly the MASSES descend upon us. I look up and, I kid you not, there is:
~ my mother
~ 2 waitresses (neither of which are the cruddy waitress for our table)
~ 2 completely RANDOM kids of about 8 or 9 who are asking her name and staring at the blood pouring out of the gash.
~ 1 restaurant manager on a phone. I hear her saying into the phone “yes, be advised we have a 2 year old with a major head trauma here. Yes, she is bleeding. Yes, she is breathing… for now.”

All this time I am not panicking as I’m in first aid safety zone trying to slow down the bleeding and keep these people out of my babies face who is squalling b/c there are random strangers calling her name LOUDLY over her cries and trying to put wash rags full of ice on her head?!

Within about 3 minutes the:
~ Security Officer comes out and begins taking detailed notes of what happened.
~ What appears to be the coordinator for all of Ft. Wilderness doing some head nodding and getting some reports from the restaurant manager.

The restaurant manager is still on the phone with the paramedics giving strange sounding updates about my child who, as far as I can tell, has mostly stopped bleeding.

Within about 10 minutes 2 paramedics walk up.

So as they check my daughter out I look around and realize I have, like, 12 people all hovering around my daughter to make sure she’s ok. Of course more nosey buffet-eaters leave out of our door (which normally they WOULDN’T) b/c they wanna find out whats going on.

The paramedics were AMAZING and decided that giving her stitches would just further traumatize my little one so they give her the only band-aid they can find. a HUGE blue crayon. 😉
Disney Diva's Tips: In case of emergency

Nothin’ says “I got an owie” quite like a massive band aid. She was grumpy for a while after that. Within an hour she was happily chomping on a s’more acting like nothing had even happened.

Disney Diva's Tips: In case of emergency

We also saw a man fall and bust his head wide open while waiting for park opening at Hollywood Studios one morning. I was AMAZED to watch those Disney Park goers (not staff, just people on vacation) launch into their trauma training while waiting for the paramedics arrive. It was good to watch people care.

I tell you all this to tell you that Disney has got some good help ON PROPERTY that can get to places (even those as “remote” as the back of Ft. Wilderness) in a pretty quick amount of time. Make sure if you have an emergency that you look around and check the time and try your best to remember all the surrounding circumstances b/c you WILL be asked to repeat it multiple times to multiple people. 🙂

So if there is ever an emergency rest assured that the Disney Paramedics are on the case.

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Disney Diva's Tips: In case of emergency

Take a Peek Inside Disney Story Rooms at Walt Disney World Resort

By
Chip
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Take a Peek Inside Disney Story Rooms at Walt Disney World Resort

Lets have a look inside the Disney Story Rooms offered here at Walt Disney World Resort.

As you can see in this video, the existing Pirate Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort are a great place for tired scalawags to rest their heads. Royal Guest Rooms, which are scheduled to open in February at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, include nods to some of Disney’s most beloved princesses. These rooms start at $189 per night and are already available for booking.

The next phase in Disney Story Rooms will debut at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which is set to debut in phases beginning with the “Finding Nemo” courtyard in May 2012. But more on this later…

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Disney Diva’s Top 5 Tips: What happens if I get sick at Walt Disney World?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Disney Diva's Top 5 Tips: What happens if I get sick at Walt Disney World?

I have been sick as a DOG at Disney World two times. I’m not going to lie, it was beyond miserable. I never go to Disney World without any medicines, which is why I wrote my article “Trust me, you need drugs” that lists all the medicines I recommend you have.

We were discussing on the Tips from the Disney Diva Facebook Page about times when we, or our family members were sick at WDW and what advice we would give to people when this happens.

I think we basically settled on “plan ahead and plan for the worst”. What does that consist of?

1) Take preventative measures – Remember, people have spent thousands of dollars on this trip, they are NOT going to cancel it even if they or their their kids have strept throat, or just general colds and viruses. They’re going to go on the vacation and they’re going to go into the park, and how does this effect you? Well, they touch things. They hit the same elevator buttons, open the same bathroom doors, hold on to same queue poles, pull down the same restraining bars, hold on to the same guns for Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. It’s just a fact. I’m not a germ-a-phobe, I’m really not, but I’ve been miserably sick at WDW and I don’t want you to be. So what can you do?

a) Bring Clorox wipes/ lysol and spray down/ wipe down your room. Yes, I know that Disney does a good job of cleaning, but I’m not leaving anything to chance when it comes to my health on vacation.

b) Take vitamin C & Zinc based supplements to beef up your immune system. A comprehensive analysis of clinical-trial data on zinc and colds has concluded that zinc really does appear to be beneficial.

c) Be a fanatic about washing hands and using anti-bacterial gel. Don’t worry about everybody else thinking you’re being obsessive about it. You do NOT want to get sick here. Seriously.

d) Bring a Neti Pot – Many people get crazy allergies and have a hard time adjusting to the climate change in Florida. Sinus issues are the majority of the issues at WDW if I had to guess. Neti Pot’s are AMAZING at cleaning out just the general gunk that gets in your sinuses and can really help with the pressure and stuff like that. Taking something like a Claritin D every day, regardless of you think you need it or not, would help also.

e) Talk to your Family about touching things. Make sure they understand how many people are there and how many of those people could be sick. You want them to have fun, so you’re going to bug them to keep their hands off of things, wash their hands,

f) GET SOME REST! You’re walking all day in an over-stimulating environment. You need to rest! You ALWAYS need to have that mid-day rest, but beyond that, pay attention to your family. If they’re getting all run down you need to schedule an “evening off”. We always do this on our Animal Kingdom day. We stay at Animal Kingdom until just after the parade and then go home and rest the rest of the evening. When you’re going all the time your immune system will run down. Making it easier to get sick.

2) Bring Medicines with you – You NEED to bring medicines with you even when you think you don’t need them. I NEVER go to WDW without Children’s Motrin (for fevers or pain), Tussin (for coughs), prescription ear drops in case of an ear infection, and prescription eye drops for PINK EYE, and Pepto/ GasX ! I also take saline nose drops & Claritin D to help with sinuses. You can find my entire list of medicines HERE. Yes, it does add weight if you’re flying, but these things cost a FORTUNE at the gift shops on property. So plan ahead and bring them!

3) In case of an Emergency find a Cast Member!. We have seen, and been a part of, a medical emergency on Disney Property (you can read about Diva Daughters experience HERE) . Every time cast members rush to help and they do all the radioing for help, but if you can’t find anyone immediately you can call 911 and they will contact the paramedics on Disney Property asap. Cast Members have been trained like CRAZY on how to handle medical emergencies, and the paramedics are quick, kind, and efficient.

4) If you need a doctor: One of the times I was so sick I remember sitting in my resort room crying because my throat was hurting so badly and there was no doctor at the resort. I remember reading the little welcome packet from Pop Century and seeing that a bus would take me to a clinic during certain hours and just sobbing because it was the middle of the night.

5) What do I do if I’m ON property? Since then I have learned that you can contact the front desk and they will help you make arrangements to get to a “doc in a box” (aka emergency clinic”). I still don’t think they will do anything in the middle of the night. There are some companies though that will provide a “house call” to WDW resorts, surrounding hotels, and area. For example CentraCare Physician Room Service who you can call for a free pick-up or can come to your room. It says “scheduled at your convenience”,but that doesn’t mean they would come at night. They accept “most insurances”, but that also doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be expensive. However, as miserable I was that I would have paid anything since I didn’t have a car.

Another “house call” company to consider that IS available 24 hours a day is DOCS (Doctors on Call Service). You can call around and check to see what insurances they accept, etc.

Either way, I’d have a few numbers in your suitcase you can call if someone needs a prescription and you need a doctor.

What do I do if I’m OFF property? Buena Vista Medical Care Service is on World Center Drive which is very close to Disney property. They’re open M-F 8am-7pm and Sat/ Sun from 8am-3pm. If you’re near S. Apopka Vineland Road (where there are many MANY resorts) there is a Walgreens that has a “Take Care Clinic” that could be of some help to you as well. CentraCare has a walk-in clinic as well and is close to Downtown Disney

You could also go to the emergency room (if it late at night) to Florida Hospital Celebration.

I hope you don’t get sick, I REALLY REALLY hope you don’t but if you do you should have a plan!

Stay Well!

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Disney Diva's Top 5 Tips: What happens if I get sick at Walt Disney World?

New Disney Princess “Sophia the First” Coming to the Disney Channel

By
Chip
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New Disney Princess "Sophia the First" Coming to the Disney Channel

Disney will introduce a little girl princess to its celebrated legacy of princess fairytales in an animated television movie and series, “Sofia the First,” premiering in fall 2012 and spring 2013 respectively, on Disney Channel and Disney Junior channels around the world. While Disney princess fairytales have been enchanting audiences for more than 70 years, this is the first time a series has centered on a princess as a little girl. The stories are designed to communicate positive messages and life lessons that are applicable to preschool-aged children. The series and movie are productions of Disney Television Animation.

“Sofia the First” stories are set in the storybook world of young Sofia who starts out life as a regular girl. But when her mom marries the king, she is whisked off to a glamorous, but sometimes confusing, castle world of royalty, pomp and new step-siblings, Amber and James. “Sofia the First” will include appearances by Fauna, Flora and Merryweather (fairies seen in Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty”) as the headmistresses of Royal Prep, the academy that Sofia, along with other princes and princesses, attends. Special event appearances will be made by classic characters including Cinderella and other Disney Princesses.

In announcing the series, Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide, said, “In Sofia, we have a ‘peer to peer princess,’ a relatable girl experiencing the same social issues as our young viewers – learning how to fit in, making new friends, conquering new skills and building sibling relationships.” She continued, “Although Sofia will have plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes, our stories will show Sofia, and our viewers, that what makes a real princess is what’s inside, not what’s outside. That the inner character of kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty and grace make you special, not the dress you wear.”

Providing the voice of Sofia is Ariel Winter (ABC’s “Modern Family“). Also highlighting the voice cast is Sara Ramirez (ABC’s “Grey‘s Anatomy“) as Queen Miranda; Wayne Brady (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?) as Clover, a wise-talking Rabbit; and Tim Gunn (ABC’s “The Revolution,” “Project Runway“) as Baileywick, the family’s Royal Steward. The actors providing the voices of King Roland, Amber and James will be announced soon.

The series was developed by Craig Gerber (“Pixie Hollow Games”) who also wrote the movie. Jamie Mitchell (“Special Agent Oso”) serves as both Executive Producer and Director on the series. Gerber is Co-Executive Producer and serves as the Story Editor.

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5 Reasons You Should Choose to Cruise with Disney

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

5 Reasons You Should Choose to Cruise with Disney

For many of us the snow has started falling and we’re already tired of shivering and shoveling. Not to mention the hustle and bustle of the holidays has us all at wits end.

While you’re busy preparing for yet another family function your thoughts are probably drifting to February….sweet, sweet February….that short month that brings Valentines Day and Spring Break.

So why shouldn’t you indulge in your spring fantasies and plan your spring break trip now? There’s no reason you shouldn’t, it’s actually probably best if you did!

Although I love Walt Disney World and Disneyland I used to always return feeling like I needed a vacation from my vacation. After the holiday hustle I’m in the mood for a much more relaxed vacation and I’m sure you are too; that’s why you should choose to cruise!

  1. It’s a true vacation: The last thing you need after the holidays is to be plotting your course for another park-commando operation. Cruising is a true vacation and a Disney cruise is a trip with something for the whole family. Separate places with activities for each age group and places to come together as a family (If you want. Good luck getting your kids to leave the kids clubs!)
  2. There is virtually no planning: Basically, all you have to do is drag your weary bones onboard and Disney will take care of the rest.  A good Disney Authorized Travel Planner will have you climbing aboard your Disney dream vessel before you can say “pixie dust”. You don’t have to schedule dining, your entertainment is taken care of and the kids have their own things to do all day long. A list is put under your door each night telling you what you can do the next day, if you feel so inclined.
  3. It’s all included: Your package price has it all included, you can even pre-pay your gratuities. Entertainment, dining, and onboard activities are all included in your cruise price so you won’t have any surprises once you get onboard.
  4. Do as much or as little as you want: There is always something happening on the Disney ships. The Daily Navigator is packed full of activities for everyone, you can do it all; or nothing at all. No one will judge you if you want to lay by the pool all day-they’ll even bring you drinks so you don’t have to be troubled to stand up.
  5. Be treated like royalty: “Mouse-keeping” is always nice but on a Disney cruise more than just your bed is tended to. Your stateroom attendant will take care of your room and everywhere you go you’ll find service you can’t even fathom. In the evenings an attendant hands you a paper-towel in the restroom, your server rotates with you; so they already know what you want to drink and what your dining preferences are after the first night. The staff is on hand for anything and everything you may need and your request will always be granted with a smile.

It’s time to experience a true vacation! When you choose to cruise all you have to choose is your cruise. Disney offers itineraries from 3 to 8-Nights to the Bahamas, and 7-Nights to the Mexican Riviera or Caribbean (both Western and Eastern) so you have plenty of choices!

Ask about GTY categories and revel in the savings; these categories book fast when available so don’t delay!

[email protected] for your free quotes and pixie perks.

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5 Reasons You Should Choose to Cruise with Disney

Disney Confidential – Coming Soon Brand New Vacation Club Property

By
Anonymouse
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Disney Confidential - Coming Soon Brand New Vacation Club Property

Here there guys and gals Anonymouse here. Miss me?

Before I start my Gossip Column today I wanted to ask all of you to stop by and LIKE my Facebook page. I notice all the other writers here on Chip and Co have like 1000 fans. Don’t ask me how Chip has almost 8000? But if you like my news stories and want to hear  more gossip be sure to add me as a friend. Click here to check it out.

Now onto today’s Gossip! No today’s article is not about Grand Floridian Expansion which I called earlier this summer. Today’s Gossip is about an all new vacation club property at Walt Disney World. A twitter fan of Chip’s (must be his only one) mentioned how the CM’s at Disney World are talking about a new property being discussed by the Big Wigs at the Disney World Resort.

After doing some research of my own I spotted the perfect spot for this new resort, on the other side of Bay Lake from the Contemporary Resort.

Disney Confidential - Coming Soon Brand New Vacation Club Property

Look at all that lakefront space available right next to Ft Wilderness Campground. That would make a perfect location near the Magic Kingdom for an all new Resort.. What do you think?

There is not much chatter on the net about it yet but give all the other Disney sites time to catch up to me. As I get more details I will pass the word on to Chimp Chip and he will keep you guys informed!

Anywho that is all the Disney Gossip I have right now. Let me know what you think in the comment box below. For my past Gossip articles be sure to check them out here.

Got any good rumors?  Please email me at [email protected] or on my Facebook Page

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Disney World Planning 101: Getting Ready For The Magic

By
Catie
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Disney World Planning 101: Getting Ready For The Magic

If you’re a Walt Disney World lover like me, then it probably doesn’t take much to get you pumped about a trip to WDW. To get myself even more excited, there are some things I like to do to prepare me for my reunion with Mickey and all his friends:

Research – The trick with this one is not overdoing it! Once you book your trip, there are some definite musts for research. Click the Planning button at the top of the page to learn more.

Weather-check and see what that time of year is typically like in Orlando and plan to pack accordingly (noting of course that the weather can be different than the average, but at least it gives you a place to start!)

Dining options – if you’re a foodie like me you will love this one, and if you don’t know where to start check out Walt Disney World’s official dining website for information The great thing is, most of this can be done online. For restaurant info check out Guide to Walt Disney World Section.

Things to do – There is so much to do at Walt Disney World that you’ll want to at least get a grasp on the basics before your trip, for this one I actually prefer books to the internet, books tend to be more factual and straightforward – I like Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World because it’s easy to understand and updated yearly

Transportation: Once your trip is booked, you still need to figure out how you will get there! For me that involves buying plane tickets and checking airline baggage limitations and making reservations for Disney’s Magical Express shuttle. If you need to rent a car, you’ll want to get that booked early, and if you are driving, you’ll want to make sure you vehicle is up to date on maintenance, oil changes, windshield wiper fluid etc before your trip

ADR’s: Walt Disney World allows you to make Advance Dining Reservations, or ADR’s 180 days before your trip. People laugh when I tell them I just made dinner reservations for my trip that’s 6 months away, but ADR’s are serious business – the popular places (like character meals and signature dining) book up fast, so take advantage of this system and plan some special meals for your trip

Itinerary – Once I book my ADR’s and have my meals all squared away, I get down to the serious business of planning out our days with an itenerary. Some things to keep in mind with this – you’ll want to be realistic, and not try to do too much in a day. You’ll want to take into account that Disney Transportation can take time, and your travel times could be greatly impacted by it. And most importantly, don’t get TOO involved with planning out your days – when you find yourself scheduling in ‘relaxation time’ its probably time to step back and look at the bigger picture – just knowing what park you want to visit on which day is probably enough, the rest will take care of itself!

Lists – I am a HUGE fan of making lists, and I always make a list of what I need to packa few weeks before any trip. This gives me a chance to see what I might need to buy (mini toiletries, snacks, a new book, etc) so I am not scrambling at the last minute to get it all together. Plus when it comes time to pack, it makes it a whole lot easier if you can just check things off a list

Pre-Packing – I do this about a week or so before my trip, I get out the luggage and make sure it’s all in good shape, and I pack some of the things I know I won’t need before the trip. Another part of this would be charging my various electronic devices – camera batteries, Nintendo game system, etc and making sure they are in working order before the trip

Packing – I like to do most of it about 5-7 days prior to the trip, and since I made a list, this is super easy and not stressful at all! One thing that’s important is to leave room for the souvenirs you will buy at Disney!

A few last minute things that you won’t want to forget:

  • Cash for tipping the airport shuttle guy who helps load your luggage, trip snacks/drinks, etc
  • Cell phone charger – Personally, I don’t like to talk on the phone much when I am on vacation, but I do like to use my Disney apps and phone camera, so this is an important one!
  • Trip paperwork- including confirmation numbers, Dining reservation information, etc
  • Identification – your wallet with license or your passport if needed
  • House keys – this may seem like a silly one, but they are easy to forget, especially if you are getting a ride to the airport, and you don’t want to be locked out when you get back from vacation!

Check out my article on what else to pack for you Disney Trip and above all, it’s ok to be excited and have fun, even as an adult going to Walt Disney World, it’s you vacation and you are going to the Happiest Place on Earth, so live it up!

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Diva Tips: Top 5 tips for surviving the busiest week of the year

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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In late September I received a phone call from Dave, who is a DEAR friend of Disney Dad’s and mine. Dave was calling with a Disney question. “We are thinking of taking the girls on a surprise trip to WDW from Santa. What do you think?”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”, I screamed into the phone as if he was giving me news that they were moving away.

Let me be clear when I say that you’ve gotta be 34 flavors of CRAZY to go to Walt Disney World the week between Christmas and New Years or the fourth of July weekend. I mean, nuttier than the fruitcake you’re getting from Aunt Edna. Think of Walt Disney World during that week as a sequel to the most insane Black Friday experience you have ever had and multiply it by a thousand. If the picture above (notice the wreath on the lamp-post) doesn’t make it clear to you nothing I can say will.

And although our dear friend is normally a completely rational human being he’s decided to buck the Diva’s advice and make a go of it. I figure he will at least be able to do some reporting back to me about how bad the waits were and what times exactly they closed the gates to new people, so I’ve not kicked him out of my Disney lovin’ cult of friends, but I’m worried about the Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome effects when he returns.

I have tried to minimize the stress to his family by, once again, planning his trip. However, its hard because its basically going to be insanely crazy no matter what. You can see their planning spreadsheet by clicking HERE. But know that I was expressly told to keep it a bit loose as the other family going with them doesn’t have the desire to be driven like cattle from ride to ride the way I normally design my plans.

But I thought if you’ve decided to make a go of it I’d give you a few important tips.

1. ALWAYS BE THERE AT PARK OPENING. Fact: Once a park reaches its “capacity” for the day they “close” the park to any guests coming later. Yeah, so this means that parks are REACHING capacity and often mid-morning/early afternoon. Nobody knows what “capacity” actually is because Disney does not release it, but its rumored to be around 69,000 for Magic Kingdom. They’re opening parks at 8:00am Dec 26- Jan 1 this year (2011) and MK is open until 1am almost every night that week, so they’re obviously TRYING to accommodate the psycho amount of people, but… well… think sardines. The earlier you’re there the shorter the lines will be (although they’ll still be longer than what you’re use to).

2. ALWAYS HAVE A FAST PASS IN YOUR POSSESSION. As soon as you have a fast pass expire you need to go and get another one. You’ve got to be super smart about how you use your fast passes during this time because they are like GOLD. Again, don’t be a dummy and get a fast pass for one ride and go stand in an hour long line for another one. (example: Fast pass for Space Mountain then stand in line for Splash). Basically what this tip means is that as soon as that fast pass reads “you can get another one at x time” you make sure you’ve gone to get another one. This is especially important for Soarin’ and Toy Story Mania which get the most insane lines you can imagine.

3. GO TO THE RIDES YOU WANT TO DO MOST IN THE MORNING! Normally I don’t have you crossing parks EVER because it wastes valuable energy. However, when you’re doing WDW during THIS week you want to do the rides you want to do MOST FIRST THING and try to get them out of the way, because the lines and the fast pass returns will only lengthen. Have a plan, but realize that your plan may get killed depending on how many people are coming in the park that day.

4. TAKE A DEEP BREATH! Ready for the straight talk portion of this post? You are not entitled to act like a jerk to anybody else in the park just because you paid a lot of money to be there, even if it’s a “once in a lifetime trip”. It is not acceptable for you to yell at total strangers, jump over strollers or stop short with people on scooters and then have the nerve to yell at them. Shut it! Everybody’s semi-miserable. Just take a deep breath, realize you chose to come during this time and make do with what you’ve got.

5. LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS You need to seriously lower your expectations of how many attractions you will be able to get done from Dec 26-Jan 1. As in SERIOUSLY LOWER THEM!!! Most of you will have never dealt with crowds quite like this before, so you need to just realize that its not like any other trip you’ve done before (even if you’ve done WDW at other times of the year) and that you just need to have as much fun as you can during that time. Don’t miss out on the great stuff happening still OUTSIDE the parks, like the great gingerbread decorations at the Beach and Yacht Club. Take the evenings off if you need to, the parks are going to be nutso anyway. So just go with the flow and do your best to soak up the atmosphere and don’t be concerned with crossing things off to-do lists.

Ok, well there’s are my top five tips for surviving that week. I understand that because of vacation time for some of you this really is the “best” week you can go, but as you can see from the picture above, its also THOUSANDS of other people’s best time to go. So just do the best you can and remember that a BAD day at Disney is still better than a good day anywhere else.

Good luck!

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Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior Ratings for 2011

By
Chip
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Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior Ratings for 2011

During 2011, Disney Channel delivered its first-ever #1 yearly ranking in Kids 6-11, unseating 16 year incumbent, Nickelodeon, and ranked as the #1 TV network for the 3rd consecutive year in Tweens 9-14. Disney Channel’s historic success was driven by the most expansive line up of original programming for kids and families across all television, including the #1 series in kids with A.N.T. Farm and in Tweens with Shake It Up, the #1 animated series with Phineas and Ferb, the Top 2 TV/Cable movies with Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension and Good Luck Charlie: It’s Christmas, and newcomers Jessie and Austin & Ally.

In its first year, Disney Junior, the daily programming block for kids age 2-7 on Disney Channel, posted the network’s biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys 2-5, Girls 2-5 and Women 18-49, increasing by double-digit percent margins among preschooler demographics over year-ago levels.  Its launch series Jake and the Never Land Pirates sailed to hit status, ranking as cable TV’s #1 series of the year among Boys 2-5, while viewer favorite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse delivered the year’s #1 preschool cable telecast among Kids 2-5 and Boys 2-5.

In 2011, Disney XD surged to its biggest year in the platform’s history (including its 10 years as Toon Disney) with strong performances by a roster of original series — most notably its top two series, Kickin’ It and Pair of Kings — along with the channel debut of the movie Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension.

The yearly ratings records were set in Total Day and Prime in Total Viewers and all target kid and boy demographics, 2-11, 6-14, 6-11 and 9-14.  Disney XD’s 2011 ratings surpassed year-ago results by double-digit percentages across core kid demographics, making it the growth leader among all channels serving kids.

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Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney Junior Ratings for 2011
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