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Fun Facts for a Merry Disneyland Holiday Celebration

By
Chip
-

Fun Facts for a Merry Disneyland Holiday Celebration

  • The holiday season at Disneyland Resort gets underway Monday, Nov. 14, and will continue daily through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012.
  •  For the first time, the Holiday season at Disneyland Resort will be extended to celebrate Three Kings Day, known as Día de Reyes. From Jan. 6-8, 2012, look for special décor and entertainment in Frontierland that showcases western and Mexican heritage, along with food themed to this holiday and children’s activities.
  •  The first Disneyland holiday celebration was in 1955, when Walt Disney placed a Christmas tree in the Hub at the north end of Main Street, U.S.A., near Sleeping Beauty Castle.  For many years now, the tree has been located in Town Square near the Main Street Disneyland Railroad Station.
  •  Beginning Friday, Nov. 18, “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” show gets a new, Yuletide glow. The show features photos and video of guests creating memories at Disneyland park, with favorite holiday melodies underscoring images of guests enjoying their holidays at Disneyland.
  •  The lively street show “Phineas and Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” gets a merry twist at Disney California Adventure park, with holiday décor and songs. The show is performed several times a day in Paradise Pier.
  •  Lanny and Wayne, the techno-savvy elves from the “Prep & Landing” holiday TV specials, make guest appearances in a new holiday prelude sequence in the nighttime “World of Color” show in Disney California Adventure.
  •  Decorating experts at the Disneyland Resort have to get started early. They trim nearly 700 trees for the season, on display in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, the resort’s three hotels and the Downtown Disney District. The smallest tree is at Storybook Land and the largest is at Town Square – both in Disneyland.
  •  The Disneyland Christmas tree in Town Square has become a favorite spot for snapping holiday photos. The artificial tree stands 60 feet tall and has 280,000 pine-tip branches molded from actual tree branches. It is decorated with more than 2,000 ornaments, including the three-foot star on top, and nearly 4,800 energy-efficient LED lights. When the Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle show reaches its finale crescendo, more than 60,000 LED lights and 1,200 strobe lights are added to the effect.
  •  Mickey’s Toontown is decorated with its own distinctive “toon” trees this 2011 holiday season. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse each have personal Christmas trees in the front yards of their Toontown homes, and a cartoon-themed tree beckons guests for photos in front of Toontown City Hall.
  • Since the introduction of the artificial Christmas tree and LED lighting technology in 2008, the Disneyland park Christmas tree has used 50 percent less electricity than it did previously.
  • Carolers in traditional Victorian holiday garb make regular appearances throughout the season at each of the three Disneyland Resort hotels:  Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
  • The Dapper Dans, the popular Main Street, U.S.A., quartet, add holiday songs to their repertoire, with holiday chimes as accompaniment. Favorites range from the traditional “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to “Frosty the Snowman,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Christmas in Killarney.
  • The nighttime Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle light show is divided into three “acts” over the course of the evening. Each one begins at the Castle and travels the length of Main Street, U.S.A., finishing at the Town Square Christmas tree. Each act features a magical snowfall, and the final act concludes with “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks.
  •  The nighttime light show employs more than 200,000 points of light, 2,600 individual circuits and more than 85,000 individual wiring connections.
  •  If all the cables and conductors for the show were laid end to end, they would stretch 48 miles from Disneyland Resort – enough to pass the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.
  •  The entrance to Disney California Adventure and locations throughout the park are festooned with holiday decoration. New this year are the decorations around the newly renovated Paradise Pier area, with The Little Mermaid ~Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and the nearby dining locations.
  •  The largest ornaments used at Disneyland Resort may be found in the “bugs-eye-view” world of Flik’s Fun Fair at Disney California Adventure.
  •  The smallest ornaments used at the Resort may be found in the Storybook Land attraction at Disneyland.

“A Christmas Fantasy” parade

  •  Each performance of “A Christmas Fantasy” features 105 performers, 18 float drivers and 12 musicians costumed as toy soldiers from the Disney movie “Babes in Toyland.” With daily parade performances, it takes approximately 200 performers to stage the parade during the holiday season.
  •  The parade features six major “units,” each consisting of multiple floats. The units are:  ”A Christmas Fantasy Opening” featuring Mrs. Claus sorting letters in Santa’s Mailroom; “Winter Wonderland” with Mickey and Minnie enjoying a romantic skate atop the frozen pond; “The Candy Shop” with Goofy leading the bakers from the Gingerbread House; “Candlelight Christmas Ball” featuring everyone’s favorite Disney Royal Couples; “Toy Factory,” the perfect spot for Buzz and Woody; and the “Finale,” where Santa himself waves from his sleigh.

it’s a small world” Holiday

  •  Decorators use 50,000 Christmas lights on the façade of “it’s a small world” Holiday, and an additional 200,000 mini-lights in the trees, hedges and topiaries surrounding the attraction.
  •  Among the holiday special effects inside the attraction: pine tree and peppermint scents in the European scenes; 75 gallons of bubble juice to make bubbles throughout the season in the South Seas scene.
  •  Nearly 150 giant candles decorate the Christmas Tree in the European scene.

Haunted Mansion Holiday

  •  Jack Skellington has his own ideas about appropriate holiday decorations. The Haunted Mansion Holiday exterior is decorated with more than 100 jack-o’-lanterns and the eerie glow of more than 400 flickering candles.
  •  For the holidays, the graveyard in the Haunted Mansion finale is covered with 7,500 square feet of snow. Trees in the graveyard are decked out with 1,000 tiny orange lights.
  •  The gingerbread house in the Mansion’s Great Hall is made of real gingerbread and icing. Each year, the Disneyland Resort Foods and Entertainment divisions partner to create an original design for that year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house.
  •  This 2011 gingerbread house stands six feet tall, consisting of 500 pounds of gingerbread and miles of frosting. The house animates to become a gingerbread monster, revealing glowing eyes and sharp teeth. This year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house took months of planning and three weeks of creation in the Disneyland Resort Central Bakery.
  •  Guests may book guided Disneyland holiday tours which include visits to Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday attractions, reserved viewing of “A Christmas Fantasy” parade with a delicious holiday treat and warm beverage, plus a 2011 holiday pin and tour tag. (Information and reservations: 714-781-TOUR/714-781-8687.)
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Fun Facts for a Merry Disneyland Holiday Celebration

Fun facts about Christmas at Walt Disney World Resort

By
Chip
-

Fun facts about Christmas at Walt Disney World Resort

Miles of garland, ribbon, twinkling lights and glitter transform Walt Disney World Resort into a winter wonderland during the holiday season.  Here’s a sample of what guests will experience throughout the Vacation Kingdom:

  • 1,300 decorated trees throughout property
  • A wreath 25 feet in diameter adorning the Cirque du Soleil building at Downtown Disney West Side
  • 10 miles of twinkling rope lights in the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
  • 150 tractor-trailer truckloads of decorations for 24 resorts, 4 theme parks, Downtown Disney and other locations
  • 15 miles of garland strung and 1,314 wreaths hung throughout the Vacation Kingdom
  • 300,000 yards of ribbon and bows draping over Christmas trees across property
  • 8.5 million lights strung throughout Walt Disney World Resort
  • 100 percent of the lighting used for holiday décor is LED
  • 11 countries dressed for Holidays Around the World at Epcot World Showcase
  • More than 800 performers each night during Candlelight Processional at Epcot
  • More than 200 guest choirs during the entire run of Candlelight Processional
  • A Christmas tree in Magic Kingdom with a base 25 feet wide
  • One 70-foot-tall tree takes center stage in Disney’s Contemporary Resort entrance lobby featuring nearly 35,800 white LED lights
  • 6 life-sized creations cooked up by Walt Disney World pastry chefs, including:
    • One 16-foot-tall gingerbread house at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa baked with 1,050 pounds of honey and involving more than 160 hours of decorating
    • One life-size gingerbread carousel at Disney’s Beach Club Resort featuring ponies made of chocolate and fondant, giant candy cane poles, handcrafted poinsettias and hand-painted portraits of famous Disney characters
    • 100 percent chance of snow flurries during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, taking place on select holiday evenings in Magic Kingdom
    • 365 days of the year that guests can shop for holiday merchandise at the Disney’s Days of Christmas shop in Downtown Disney Marketplace
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Black Friday Deals at Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort

By
Chip
-

Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort

It’s Thanksgiving and while some people are eating their big turkey dinner, others are prepping for the big shopping day: Black Friday. At the Disneyland Resort, Disney has some great deals at the Downtown Disney District for you Black Friday warriors! Don’t miss these specials:

LEGO Imagination Center

  • Spend $99 and get an exclusive LEGO holiday set
  • Shop early on Black Friday to get surprise savings on your entire purchase

Quiksilver

  • 40% off Quiksilver, Quiksilver Men’s and Roxy fleece, jackets and sweaters
  • 2 for $30 tees

RIDEMAKERZ

  • Build one RIDE and build a second RIDE for FREE*

Also, don’t miss these other great specials throughout the holiday season:

  • Apricot Lane: Spend more than $100 and receive a free gift
  • LEGO Imagination Center: From 11/1 – 12/24, spend more than $75 and receive a Free Pick a Brick Box
  • Quiksilver: Shop in November and receive $10 to spend in a Quiksilver or Roxy store during the months of December and January (can’t combine cards or receive cash back)
  • RIDEMAKERZ:**
    • Spend $50, earn a $5 Gift Card
    • Spend $75, earn a $10 Gift Card
    • Spend $100, earn a $15 Gift Card

*Body of equal or lesser value. Free RIDE includes freewheel street chassis, stock wheelz, and treadz. Additional accessories not included. Offer not valid on line. Offer valid 11/25/2011 only. Offer may not be combined and cannot be bought, sold or exchanged for cash or coupons. Not valid on prior purchase, a RIDEMAKERZ BASH® or RIDEMONEY® gift cardz. Not valid with any other offer. Local and state taxes, as applicable, are payable by bearer. Valid in the U.S. only. Limit one per person, per visit. Nontransferable. Offer good while supplies last. Void where prohibited or restricted. Where required cash value 1/100 or 1 cent.

**Offer valid in-SHOP only from 11/26 – 12/24. Promotional gift cards are not valid for use until 12/25 and can be used in-SHOP or online. Offer may not be combined and cannot be bought, sold or exchanged for cash or coupons. Not valid on prior purchase, a RIDEMAKERZ BASH® or RIDEMONEY® gift cardz. Not valid with any other offer. Local and state taxes, as applicable, are payable by bearer. Valid in the U.S. only. Limit one per person, per visit. Nontransferable. Offer good while supplies last. Void where prohibited or restricted. Where required cash value 1/100 or 1 cent.

Source Disney Parks Blog

Black Friday Deals at Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort

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Disney Store Celebrates “Magical Friday” (Black Friday) With $10, $15, And $20 Deals On The Most Popular Disney Toys

By
Chip
-

Disney Store Celebrates “Magical Friday” (Black Friday) With $10, $15, And $20 Deals On The Most Popular Disney Toys

Shoppers are looking for Black Friday deals earlier than ever and Disney Store is meeting the demand by once again opening more than 150 stores at midnight on “Magical Friday” (Black Friday). Disney Store will launch Magical Friday deals on DisneyStore.com at midnight (PST) on Thursday, November 24 and open its premier Times Square store on Thanksgiving Day for the first time to serve international tourists and local guests ready to join in the holiday magic in the city of New York.  Disney Store will also give free Muppets stickers, and offer deals on Muppets plushtoys to celebrate the opening of Disney’s The Muppets on November 23. At Disney Store locations nationwide guests who arrive between midnight and 10 a.m. on Magical Friday can take advantage of a 20 percent discount store-wide, including already-discounted merchandise (some exclusions apply).

Disney Store makes finding the perfect gift for every budget easy with the season’s hottest Disney toys, lifestyle products and seasonal decor at $10, $15, and $20 price points. For guests who prefer mobile shopping, for the first time ever, a Disney Store App for iOS devices allows anytime, anywhere holiday shopping, making gift giving easier and more convenient than ever.

Giving back to the community, Disney Store will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each Mickey and Minnie Mouse holiday plush sold from October 31-December 11 at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com.

“On Magical Friday we expect more than 1.5 million guests to visit our more than 200 Disney Store locations nationwide to get the best deals on one-of-a-kind Disney holiday merchandise,” said Jim Fielding, president, Disney Stores Worldwide.  “This is the fourth year we’re opening stores at midnight to serve guests that are eager to find gifts early, and we’ve stocked our shelves with the greatest collection of gift options featuring a wide assortment of Disney characters fit for every budget. There is something for every kid and for the kid in all of us, and when guests visit Disney Store on Magical Friday they will find a fun and festive atmosphere.”

Disney Store and DisneyStore.com’s great options to complete any holiday shopping list, include:

$10 Deals:

  • Cars 2 Transforming Action Figures—These action figures each come with special equipment that they keep hidden until they are ready for action. Kids can select from Holly Shiftwell, Mater and Lightning McQueen styles.
  • Classic Dolls (11”)—Turn every play time into a fairy tale with an Ariel, Belle, Cinderella or The Beast classic doll.
  • Disney Figurine Sets—Now kids will be able to create their own adventures with these elaborate Disney Fairies, Disney Princess or Toy Story figurine sets.

 

$15 Deals:

  • Cars 2 Siddeley Spy Jet—Master spy Finn McMissile and his crime-fighting partner team up on this Cars 2 Siddeley Spy Jet Shoot Out Play Set. Finn stows away inside Siddeley until you press the button and launch him into the action for more espionage excitement.
  • Magic Mirror Beauty Case—Bedazzle your little maid with the bejeweled beauty case that’s filled with a bounty of glittering baubles.
  • Kids Sleep Sets—Kids will snuggle in after a day of winter fun in these soft pajamas that feature a selection of their favorite Disney characters.

 

$20 Deals:

  • Cars 2 Remote Control Cars with turbo speed—Take the Piston Cup champion for a spin with Disney Store’s exclusive edition Lightning McQueen remote control vehicle. Sporting his new Cars 2 look, Lightning has lots of great features including 15 phrases, lights and turbo speed function for greater high-speed thrills. Additional characters include Tow Mater and Finn McMissile.
  • Animators’ Collection Princess Toddler Dolls—Named “Toy of the Year” by Family Fun Magazine, these young renditions of your favorite Disney Princess characters (Ariel, Belle, Cinderella and Snow White) were re-imagined as toddlers and created under the guidance of the Walt Disney Animation Studios animators.
  • Toy Story Talking Action Figures—These action figures are full of well-known phrases that will take your kids’ imagination to infinity and beyond when they play with the talking Buzz, Jessie or Woody action figures.

 

For those needing the help of a Fairy Godmother for holiday shopping advice, Disney Store’s concierge service allows guests to ask questions and get assistance with finding the perfect gift in real time.  Chat live with Disney Store’s guest services team on Twitter with hashtag #FairyGodmother and tell us your holiday wish.

Guests can find Disney Store’s Top 10 holiday gifts and an expanded assortment of exclusive toys, apparel, holiday home décor and more at DisneyStore.com or download the free Disney Store mobile app for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/apps/disneystore for shopping anytime, anywhere from a mobile device.

To find a local Disney Store, guests can visit www.DisneyStore.com/storelocator or call (866) 902-2798. For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com.  Guests can also sign up for email alerts at www.DisneyStore.com/Updates, become a fan on Facebook www.facebook.com/DisneyStore or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/DisneyStore to stay connected to your favorite destination.

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Disney Store Celebrates “Magical Friday” (Black Friday) With $10, $15, And $20 Deals On The Most Popular Disney Toys

Capturing Disney in Pictures: Giving Thanks

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Capturing Disney in Pictures: Giving Thanks

Every photo has a story.

If you’ve ever been to Walt Disney World, you’re thankful for something.  It would be easy to give thanks for my upcoming WDW vacation that starts in a mere 30 days.  I’m so thankful for the chance to return to Orlando, I am nearly jumping up and down. Oh, the food!  I’m thankful for the Black Forest Cupcake I can practically taste right now.  I am thankful that my three kids will ride the monorail beside me late at night, and that my husband will roam the gift shops, uncomplaining, with me for hours.  If you’re there right now, you’re probably giving thanks.

I am thankful to Chip & Co. for my new opportunity to share my Walt Disney World photos, stories, and tid-bits.  Without that chance, I could never tell you that I am thankful today for my brother’s life.

My earliest memory of the People Mover was around 8-years-old.  While I jumped in first, my 3-year-old brother Brian sat in the middle, and 5-year-old brother Randy piled in last.  We loved the People Mover just as much as any of the roller coasters.  No Lines!  No waiting!  I remember putting my arm around Brian.  Only three, his feet didn’t touch the floor.  I wanted to make certain he didn’t slide off the seat.

My brother Brian was 13 when I moved away to college.  He soon left for his own university, joined the Army, got married, and had a son.  He re-joined the Army just two years ago as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal specialist.  He was going to dismantle bombs; how could I not worry about him?  Those memories with him on The Peoplemover and If You Had Wings are a central part of my happiest childhood memories.  He’ll always be a little kid to me, sitting beside me in the Tiki Room, falling asleep in the stroller I pushed to the Magic Kingdom tram.

When my mom called last week, just five days after Veteran’s Day, to say two Army trucks were attacked in Afghanistan, I thought she was calling to say he was dead.  I just knew he was dead.  But he wasn’t, just injured.  He lost his foot, but not his life.  I am thankful for the Army doctors and surgeons taking care of him.  I am thankful he will recover.  I am thankful Brian will one day walk down Main Street, on a new Bionic foot, with his own son and his wife.

Capturing Disney in Pictures: Giving Thanks

I am thankful for my childhood opportunities. I am thankful for my family, both then and now.

Today though, I am most thankful for my brother Brian’s life.

 

Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share?  Drop by and share your photos on facebook at Mouze Kateerz.  Take a virtual Disney vacation twice a day in photographs.

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Capturing Disney in Pictures: Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving To All of You from Brenda!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Happy Thanksgiving To All of You from Brenda!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE AT CHIP AND CO AND TO ALL OUR DISNEY FRIENDS!

I am thankful for so many things this year. Just sticking with the Disney theme alone much has happened, and will still be happening, throughout the remainder of this year.

First and foremost, I was blessed with a  fourth generation Disney fan. My first grandchild (grandprincess), Aleyah, was born on October 25 and she has already blessed my life in more ways than I can count. She has me thinking about trips we will all take together and I cannot wait to share all things Disney with her as she grows up.

I was also blessed with a great trip of many firsts with my friend, Susan, this past September/October. The firsts included my first ever girlfriend trip to Walt Disney World; my first time to see WDW decorated for Halloween; my first time to attend Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (which I LOVED by the way); and my first time to meet  special Disney friends from across the miles. Those special Disney friends, I am happy to say, include my co-writer, Mike (and his wonderful family); my Pixie Vacations bosses Steve and Lisa; and my fellow Pixie agents, Bob and Natalie; as well as my co-writer and fellow Pixie Vacations agent, Chris, for whom I have a special fondness.  What a wonderful blessing it was to meet all of you!

I was also blessed to attend Walt Disney World’s 40th Anniversary Celebration during that trip. It was a real dream of mine to be able to be in the Magic Kingdom that day and it was wonderful. I will cherish those memories forever.

I had a small scare with a bad mammogram this year and I am extremely thankful that further tests proved that it was benign. Being faced with the possibility of a disease such as that heightened the sense of all that is important to me and how blessed I am to have my wonderful family, true and steadfast friends, and being able to visit a magical, happy and beautiful place every year. My love for Disney is a big part of the legacy I will pass down to more generations of Disney lovers.

Coming in only three weeks, I will be leaving for a short holiday visit to Walt Disney World with my hubby, my son and his girlfriend. After, we will catch the Disney Dream for our first ever cruise to The Bahamas.

My life has been richly blessed. Through writing for Chip and Co I have met so many amazing people and I am so grateful. I would have never become a Pixie if it wasn’t for Chip’s association with Pixie Vacations, and I LOVE being a Pixie. Another gift from Chip is the friendships I have made with other Disney Addicts, who are certainly the best kind of people and, as I always say, ‘there is no friend like a Disney friend!’

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY DISNEY FRIENDS! I AM SO VERY THANKFUL FOR YOU!

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Happy Thanksgiving To All of You from Brenda!

What I am Thankful For – Disney Edition

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

What I am Thankful For - Disney Edition

Today at my blog I am posting about what I am thankful for this year. Here at Chip and Company I want to share what Disney makes me thankful for.

I am thankful –

But I am most thankful for my Disney loving husband. Thanks for understanding and sharing my Disney addiction Drew.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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What I am Thankful For - Disney Edition

What I’m Thankful For

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

What I'm Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Your writers at Chip & Company have banded together to give our thoughts on what we are each thankful for this holiday season.  For me, there are so many things I’m thankful for that I scarcely know where to start!  This has made this piece one of the more difficult ones to write! But as Peter Pan says, “Here we go!”

For me, I would not be the man that I am if I didn’t first give all my thanks to my Lord, Jesus, for all of the blessings that He has provided to me in my life.  I try my absolute best to be the type of person that He wants me to be, and while I do fail, I also get right back on my feet and try again!

I have been blessed to have an absolutely incredible wife, Cindy, and daughter, Sophie!  They are the lights of my life, and without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere near the man that I am now.  I love them both very much, and tell them so several times a day.

My family — and by extension, Cindy’s family — mean a great deal to me, and I am extremely thankful for them.  I am thankful for Cindy’s Aunt Carol, who is doing well with her cancer treatment; I am thankful for Cindy’s Uncle Bob, who gave us a scare but seems to be doing well now.  Our family is a blessing to us, and I am thankful to all of them for who they are.

I am also thankful for the time I had with my Grandpa over the years.  He passed away this past September 4th, which was his 98th birthday, and I am thankful that I had so much time to spend with Grandpa.  I still miss him, but I honor his memory as best I can, and I know that he is in Heaven with my Grandma and other loved ones.  Here is a picture of him that I think you might enjoy!

What I'm Thankful For
My Grandpa

I am thankful that both Cindy and I have jobs, and that those jobs afford us the freedom to be able to take time off.  By extension, I am thankful that we both (and Sophie also) love traveling to Walt Disney World, and for Walt himself to have the vision to come up with Disneyland to begin with, and then to expand it over here.  I’m also thankful to Walt’s brother Roy for taking his brother’s dream and making it a reality for so many people to enjoy.

I am also thankful that the Disney Vacation Club was created, because if it hadn’t been, then Cindy and I would not have bought our membership in June, 2010.  If that had not happened, then we would not have been able to take our great vacation with Otis, Nancy, Anna Jane, Sherry, and my niece Stephanie to Walt Disney World for Sophie’s birthday this past June!  We are blessed in many ways, and one of the great memories of Disney I have is of that trip we took as a family.  Take a look at this picture from our trip!

What I'm Thankful For
L-R, Mike, Axl, Stephanie, Anna Jane, Aurora, Sophie, Cindy, Sherry, Nancy, Otis

I am also extremely thankful for all of the friendships that I have made over the past 14 months since I started my blog, My Dreams of Disney.  When I started the blog, I never imagined that my life would evolve in so many ways, that I would now be writing for Chip and Company, and for the Magical Blogorail, and even writing some posts for a new blog called The Disney Moms!  There are so many friends I have made because of starting my blog, it is yet one more example of the incredible Disney Magic at work!

Lastly, I am thankful to all of you, the readers of our blogs, for giving us input, telling us what you are looking for, and for appreciating the content that we have developed.  Thank you.  I hope you keep reading all of our work on all of the pages we write for!  Happy Thanksgiving!

What I'm Thankful For

D23 Presents the Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup

By
Chip
-

D23 Presents the Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup

For the first time ever, Disney fans are being invited to the historic Smoke Tree Ranch to experience the splendor of the California desert and the charms of “The Ranch” just like Walt Disney did over 50 years ago.

Smoke Tree Ranch has been likened to Walt’s own “Laughing Place”—a peaceful retreat in beautiful Palm Springs that he and his family frequented and spent many weekends and holidays, which has been named one of the world’s 10 “exclusive hideaways” by the Robb Rebort. In 1954, Walt sold his vacation home at Smoke Tree Ranch to help finance Disneyland, later purchasing another home in the community in 1957.

Over the years, Walt helped his daughters learn how to ride horses, enjoyed recreational activities, and enjoyed a peaceful desert environment where he could retreat from his busy work life.

Walt’s love for the resort was symbolized by a stylized “STR” emblem emblazoned on his necktie, as seen today in the beloved “Partners” statue found in the Disney Parks. (Read more on Smoke Tree Ranch.)

Event Information

DATES
Monday, January 23 through Wednesday, January 25, 2012

LOCATION
Smoke Tree Ranch, 1850 Smoke Tree Lane, Palm Springs, California, 92264

Time
Check-in begins at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 23. The welcome reception will begin at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets
Click here to buy tickets.

Cost
$825 per person for a party of two, staying in a single cottage, with a cost of $450 for each additional guest in each cottage, up to four people, based on availability. (Single person occupancy, one person in one cottage, is $1,200)

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D23 Presents the Smoke Tree Ranch Roundup

Just in time for Thanksgiving – Turkey Leg Rice Krispies Treats

By
Chip
-

Rice Krispies Treat Shaped Like a Turkey Leg at Disney Parks

Arriving just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, the consumables team at Disney Theme Park Merchandise has introduced a Rice Krispies treat that is shaped like an iconic turkey leg found at Disney Parks.

The treat is currently being offered at locations like Candy Cauldron at Downtown Disney West Side, Goofy’s Candy Kitchen at Downtown Disney Marketplace or the Main Street Confectionery in Magic Kingdom Park.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Source Disney Parks Blog

Just in time for Thanksgiving - Turkey Leg Rice Krispies Treats

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In 1934 Mickey Debuts in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

By
Chip
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Mickey Mouse Makes His Debut at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, 1934 (Courtesy of Getty Images)

The ad read, “See gigantic balloons designed by none other than Walt Disney, creator of Mickey Mouse himself!”

It was New York City, 1934, and Mickey Mouse was about to make his grand debut in the Macy’s Santa Claus Parade (now Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade).

The first Mickey Mouse balloon was a collaborative effort between Walt Disney and Macy’s Tony Sarg, who years earlier applied the principles of marionette puppetry to invent the type of parade balloons we know today. This Mickey was easily one of the biggest that Disney had produced yet, hand-painted and measuring in at 40 feet tall (the star on his chest is a nod to the Macy’s logo).

Mickey was led in the parade by a team of 25 handlers who were festively dressed in Mickey/Minnie costumes. A smaller Pluto balloon, a 34-foot-tall Big Bad Wolf, a 31-foot-tall Little Pig, and a 12 ½-foot-tall Horace Horsecollar followed along in the 1934 procession.

In the years since, Mickey and other Disney characters have marked company milestones – many of them related to our theme parks – by appearing in the parade.

Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck Appear Together in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1972 (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Mickey and Donald Duck (who debuted in 1935) appeared together in 1972 to celebrate the first anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort. Mickey returned again in 1973 to mark 50 years of Disney cartoons.

Donald Duck Marks His 50th Birthday in Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1984 (Courtesy of Getty Images)

In 1984, Donald Duck marked his 50th birthday in the parade, following along right behind the procession’s classic Tom Turkey float.

Santa Goofy at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1992 (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Santa Goofy took the spotlight in 1992, appearing as the “new” balloon in the year’s parade. The procession also featured 6,000 amateur tap dancers donning Mickey Ears, tapping to set the Guinness World Record for Largest Assembly of Tap Dancers.

Bandleader Mickey Mouse Balloon in the 2000 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (Courtesy of Getty Images)

In 2000, a new Bandleader Mickey balloon had the honor of leading the first parade in the new millennium.

Sailor Mickey Debuts in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 2009 and 2010 (Courtesy of Getty Images)

Most recently, Sailor Mickey debuted in the parade in 2009 and 2010 to mark the announcement of Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships.

Be sure to look for Sailor Mickey again in this year’s parade, who will celebrate the upcoming debut of the Disney Fantasy ship!

Source Disney Parks Blog

In 1934 Mickey Debuts in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

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In 1934 Mickey Debuts in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Happy Thanksgiving from Chip and Company

By
Chip
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Happy Thanksgiving from Chip and Company

All the writers and I would like to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

We are truly blessed to have some of the best fans on the planet!

It is nice to be able to share the love of Disney we have with other people and to make new friends all over the country. We are most thankful for you all taking a few minutes out of your day to visit the Website and Facebook Page. In the past 2 years our site has grown by leaps and bounds and it is really coming together to form a wonderful Community that I think Walt himself would be proud of.

We hope you guys have a magical Thanksgiving and eat as much food as you like! Just like the Disney Parks all the food is calorie free today 🙂

>>Chip and Company

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