The Fall Free Dining Watch Has Begun.

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July 9, 2011

The Fall Free Dining Watch Has Begun.

If you follow Disney discount trends, you know that last year free dining for the October through December period was announced on July 5th. This year, the 5th fell on a Tuesday, which from observation seems to be a popular day for Disney to make big announcements. Those of us who watch discounts carefully were waiting all day yesterday hoping to hear some good news. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Now truthfully, I’m not surprised. It seems like Disney has been difficult to predict in the last year or so and this summer seems to be bearing that out. Some estimate that free dining will come out this Friday because a number of pin codes expire that day. Others think it will be this upcoming Monday. Remember, this is all opinion; no one really knows but Disney. I say, if you’re watching for free dining for this period, be especially careful in the next two weeks. I suspect if it comes out, it will be out by then. Check all your usual sources in the morning; people usually start reporting discounts hours before Disney has it up on their site. I think this is especially critical given that we’re being told that new promotions will be much more limited in the furture. Whether it’s true or just a marketing ploy (they know we’re going to pass this information onto our clients!), no one knows. However, as a general rule, while free dining doesn’t sell out for every date, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and get your reservation booked first thing. That means before noon the day it comes out, if possible.

When we, as travel agents, call Disney these days we hear a lot of rumors. Most cast members are telling us that we shouldn’t expect free dining this fall. I’m not so sure I believe that, given that the United Kingdom was already offered free dining several months ago for this period and into most of 2012. If Disney does what they do most years, they’ll offer US and Canadian residents a similar, but not identical, promotion. What we’re hoping for is a free dining announcement soon, following by a bigger announcement in August of discounts for next year, much like they did last year on August 14.

No matter what happens, we’ll keep you posted.

Ask a Disney Questions: Any Rumored Deals for October and Beyond? (chipandco.com)
Disney Confidential – Free Dining for all! (chipandco.com)

Ask a Disney Question: Where to rent a wheelchair?

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 9, 2011

We recently got an email from Kristin with the following Disney question:

We need to rent either a wheel chair or a scooter for our next trip for our handicap nephew. He doesn’t currently use anything in his day to day life, but I don’t think he can make 10 miles a day at Disney World. Any suggestions?

Hello Kristin, and thank you for your question! We always love to answer questions from our readers, so I hope that my response will help you in your planning!

My family just got back from Disney World about a week and a half ago, and since we had extended family with us, and one of our party was a Grandmother, she and her daughter decided that they should rent a scooter to help her get around the parks. There are several places to rent scooters or wheelchairs from, everywhere from the parks themselves, to several companies that will deliver them to your hotel and pick them up afterwards. For my sister-in-law, she went with ScootOrlando.com, and they were really happy with the scooter they got. There are a ton of different varieties of scooters and wheelchairs to get, and a lot of the sites have videos you can watch to see how the scooters operate. Whether you go with a scooter or a wheelchair (and which style you pick, for that matter) depends on a few factors:

Is the recipient of the device able to wheel themselves, or would they have to be pushed everywhere?
If you want a powered vehicle, do you have the ability to place it somewhere for charging? We found that we could put Sherry’s scooter in the hallway at our resort for charging.
Do you have a lot of bags and things to carry? The scooter will have at least one basket that can be used for placing things, which worked out well for our party.
Since your nephew doesn’t normally need the help in his day to day life, he won’t be used to using a scooter or wheelchair, correct? If that is the case, make sure that he has plenty of time to practice how to use the device you go with.

Now that you have a few ideas on what to look for in a rental unit, here are some places to consider for renting a wheelchair or scooter.

You can rent wheelchairs and ECVs (Electric Convenience Vehicle) at Walt Disney World, although there are limited quantities available. The units are not transferable from park to park. If you hop to another park, you will need to hang onto your receipt so that you can get a new unit, if that park has any available. Wheelchair rentals are $12 per day, and ECV rentals are $50 per day, with a $20 refundable deposit. ECV rentals are only done on a day-by-day basis.
You can also rent wheelchairs and ECVs at ScootOrlando.com. As I said, this is where my sister-in-law rented the scooter for her Mom. Sherry got several great comments about her scooter, and the price of the rentals ranges from $25 – $40 per day. I think the scooter that Sherry had was called the Dream.
Another scooter rental company is Walker Mobility. I haven’t used them before, but I did see a lot of their scooters throughout the parks. They rent scooters from $30 – $46 per day, and also rent wheelchairs and even strollers.

Lastly, here are a few more tips for you to think about when you get your scooter or wheelchair:

Safety First. For scooters, keep in mind that the accelerator is on the handlebar, in the same place that the brakes for a bike would be. When you squeeze the trigger, it will go unless you have the unit turned off, so be careful.
When you get off of the unit, turn off the unit and take the key out to hang onto it. If you rent a wheelchair, make sure that you lock the wheels before you get out of the seat.
For scooters, you should know that some of them will have two different speed levels, so be careful that you put it on the slower speed when you are around big groups of people.
Also for scooters, the brakes for the scooter engage automatically when you release the trigger on the handlebar. The scooter will take a little bit of time to come to a rolling stop, so plan accordingly so you don’t come too close to hitting a wall, the elevator, or other obstacle.

Kristin, I really hope that this helps you out. If you have any further questions, please feel free to comment or shoot us another email! Thanks for reading Chip & Company!

Disney Parade Viewing Spots from a Wheelchair (chipandco.com)
Accessible Ride Vehicles at the Magic Kingdom (chipandco.com)

Ask a Disney Question: Where to rent a wheelchair?

Special Rates for 8-Night Holiday Sailing Aboard the Disney Wonder!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 9, 2011

Special Rates for 8-Night Holiday Sailing Aboard the Disney Wonder!
Celebrate your holiday’s aboard the Disney Wonder on an 8-night cruise from Los Angeles!

Category GTY staterooms are available for the December 18, 2011 sailing. Not sure what GTY means? Click here and read all about it.

Rates based on double occupancy:
VGT-Verandah Guarantee $1,799
OGT-Oceanview Guarantee $1,399
IGT-Inside Guarantee $999

Room quantities are limited, and rates are subject to availability.

Restrictions:
*This category guarantees a stateroom within the selected stateroom type (inside, oceanview or verandah). Disney Cruise Line will assign the stateroom at a later time, based on availability.
*Full payment is required at the time of booking for all guests and is non-refundable
*Sail date and stateroom category changes are not permitted
*Full legal names of all guests are required at time of booking as no name changes are allowed
*Government taxes and fees not included
*Other restrictions may apply

Email [email protected] for your free quote or for more information. Mention this Chip and Co article and you’ll receive a $25 onboard credit!

If you’d rather visit “the world” than cruise for your holiday, check out these exclusive rates from Pixie Vacations!

Review: Disney Have a Laugh Vol 3 & 4 on DVD

By

Chip

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July 9, 2011

My daughter and I had the pleasure of checking out these fully restored and re-mastered Have a Laugh series on DVD this weekend. Having grown up with these Disney shorts a long time ago it was nice to be able to share them with my 5 year old daughter too.

Here are the official synopsis of both DVD’s.

Volume 3 DVD

Set sail for the high seas of hilarity when Mickey, Goofy and Donald go a-whaling and wind up going overboard – literally! Bark with laughter as Pluto is dogged by a pesky gopher who’s making mincemeat of Minnie’s garden. Then, have a ball with Goofy as he hits the links and – BLAM! – his “relaxing” game of golf goes outrageously awry.

Fully restored and remastered, these amazing cartoons also feature a new “Re- MICKS” – a mash-up music video of crazy cartoon clips remixed to the hit song, “I Gotta Feeling” from the Black Eyed Peas. It’s a novel approach to uproarious classic comedy that’ll make you laugh out loud. Bursting at the seams with surprises, Have a Laugh – Volume 3 will tickle your funny bone till it hurts!

Volume 4 DVD

Have an outrageously g’day with Mickey and Pluto when their adventure Down Under goes way over the top, thanks to a wayward boomerang and a humongous ostrich. Kick up your heels with Donald as his fireside hula dance “heats up” hilariously. Then, ride a tide of laughs with Goofy as he tries to catch a wave and – BLAM! – gets clobbered by his surfboard.

Fully restored and re-mastered, these incredible cartoons also feature a new “Re- MICKS” – a mash-up music video of crazy cartoon clips remixed to the hit song “Play My Music” from Camp Rock. It’s a bold, new approach to classic comedy that’ll make your spirits soar. Overflowing with fun and surprises, Have a Laugh – Volume 4 will paste a permanent smile on your face!

My daughter and I recognized several of the Disney shorts from Disney Junior. She LOVED the Re-Micks mash ups the best! I would love to see a whole dvd of those sometime in the future.

Overall both DVD’s were great and we have really enjoyed watching them. They have since moved to our minivan where my little one watches them to and from school/daycare. She has probably watched the dvds atleast 5 times each and will be interesting to see if our littlest one will take to them like her older sister did.

Have a Laugh Volume 3 & 4 are available now everywhere so run out and grab your copies today!

Disney’s Have a Laugh Vol. 3 & 4 Now Available (chipandco.com)

Review: Disney Have a Laugh Vol 3 & 4 on DVD

Top 10 Attractions with the Shortest Lines

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 9, 2011

It’s officially summer! Kids are on summer vacation, the temperatures are rising, people are filling up their pools, and families are going on vacation. Therefore, Disney World is a crowded place to be! If you’re visiting Disney World during the summer, you’re probably wondering how can I experience attractions without waiting and waiting? Is there anything that has a short line? Yes, there is! Disney World actually has many attractions that offer short waits almost all of the time so I have compiled a Top 10 list of attractions with the shortest lines.

1. TTA/WedWay People Mover-This attraction rarely ever has a wait; and even if it does, it’s usually very short. On really slow days, some Cast Members will even let you stay on the ride if you don’t want to get off, which is great if it’s raining or you have tired feet or tired kids. This attraction also gives riders a sneak peak of Space Mountain and is about 10 minutes long, which is pretty lengthy in comparison to other rides and shows. Regardless of what time of year you visit Disney World, you are almost always guaranteed a ride on the TTA with a minimum wait.

2. Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream-This Hollywood Studios attraction is a walk-through museum where you can learn about Walt’s life, the history of the Disney company, and the Disney parks. There are also models and artifacts and other things to see. I’ve noticed that both kids and adults enjoy this attraction; and since it’s kind of a walk-through musuem, guests can explore it at their own pace and I’ve never seen a line for it yet.

3. American Adventure-This show can be found at the American Adventure pavilion in Epcot. It’s an audio-animatronic show featuring major American characters in major moments of American history, along with beautiful sets and music. It’s a very moving show and usually the only waiting you will do is waiting for the next showtime. If you do arrive a bit before the show starts, you will be treated to a singing group, the Voices of Liberty, who sing just in the show’s foyer. This group is very talented and they dress in period costumes!

4. Spaceship Earth-Spaceship Earth is a very unique attraction in that is located inside of Epcot’s icon and share’s the same name. Spaceship Earth is a slow moving attraction that takes guests back in time to see advances mankind has made throughout history. This attraction can have a lengthy line at certain points during the day, especially early in the morning, but the line moves very quickly and the ride itself is longer than most.

5. Hall of Presidents-This attraction is a patriotic, historical show at the Magic Kingdom featuring audio-animatronics of all of our country’s presidents. This show is housed in a beautiful theater and narrated by Morgan Freeman. It’s an amazing show to experience and because the theater can see large numbers of guests, there’s usually no wait except for waiting for the show to begin.

6. Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse-This classic, walk-through attraction can be found in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom. This treehouse is based off of the classic book and classic Disney film; and at the Magic Kingdom, you get to walk through the Robinson’s treehouse yourself and see how they used their surroundings to make a comfortable home. Since you can walk through this attraction, it is very rare to find a wait! But be sure not to rush through the treehouse as there are lots of details to see!

7. Backlot Tour-This attraction, located at Hollywood Studios, is really unique in that it offers several experiences in one. You will witness how action scenes are shot, see tons of props from popular movies, and even see how filmmakers use special effects at Catastrophe Canyon. This attraction can handle large volumes of guests so the line is hardly ever long!

8. Walt Disney World Railroad-The Walt Disney World Railroad is both transportation and an attraction. The train station, and possibly the train, are the first things you see when you arrive at the Magic Kingdom. You can hop aboard a train here near the entrance and ride a mile and a half around the park, or you can hop aboard at the Frontierland station later on. It’s up to you! The railroad gives you a different view of the park and is enjoyable and relaxing for all ages. Also, the only waiting you will have to do is waiting for a train to pull into the station.

9. Country Bear Jamboree-This classic Disney attraction has been entertaining guests since Disney World opened in 1971. This show has been criticized as cheesey; but it’s also charming andyou can’t help but smile. This show plays throughout the day at the Magic Kingdom and hardly ever has a long wait. It’s a great place to sit down, cool off, laugh a little, and young kids will enjoy it as well.

10. It’s Tough to be a Bug-Whether this show is good or not is often a topic up for debate since it seems to be geared towards kids and is funny, but yet a little too scary and the creepy-crawlers make guests want to run for the door. Despite what you think, this 3-D show almost always has a short wait.

Honorable Mentions: Living with the Land, Mickey’s Philharmagic, The Magic of Disney Animation

Now let me know what you think? Do you ever retreat to these attractions when the lines get too long?

Related Articles:

Whew My Dogs are Tired…Disney World Walking Tips
Let the Kids Run Around – Magic Kingdom

What To Do FIRST at WDW (chipandco.com)
Top 5 Underrated Disney World Attractions (chipandco.com)

Top 10 Attractions with the Shortest Lines

Avoid the Disney World Diva Meltdowns

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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July 9, 2011

Melt-down – (official definition) “Severe overheating of a nuclear reactor core, resulting in melting of the core and escape of radiation.”

Disney World Melt-Down (Diva definition) “The actions that result from being tired, hot, hungry, having aching feet, being over-stimulated, saying no to your greedy kids for the 1,000th time, dealing with a nagging spouse, and knowing that you spent a lot of money to be at WDW.

WDW Melt-Downs usually manifest themselves in the park as:

Yelling/Snapping at anyone in your party regardless of what they asked you or who else is around.
Talking ANGRILY through your teeth (usually involves some eyes bugging out and a furrowed brow and temples pulsing), <Beware the Diva’s Teeth Talking, it’s pretty fierce>”
Snatching” things up (things can include: children, items, toys, drinks, or anything else its possible to grab in an angry way).
Bench-planting. Where the person simply refuses to go further and plants themselves on a bench or table. Only slightly less irritating when its an adult than when it is a child.
The HASTY retreat. Usually occurs when one or both parents have simply “HAD ENOUGH” and they half-drag their children while stomping their feet out to the car/bus.
The sob-fest/ screaming uncontrollably. Slightly MORE irritating in this case when it is an adult instead of a child, however 100% possible to see/ experience as an adult.
Prime Time for Melt Downs– 3:00pm. “The WDW Witching Hour”. WDW Melt-Downs happen. They are unavoidable should you be there with or without children. It doesn’t matter how good of a planner you are, how well behaved you or your children “normally” are.

This. Is. DISNEY WORLD. It doesn’t make you a bad parent if your kids (or you) completely “lose it” in a park.

So, what to do WHEN one of these melt-downs rears its ugly head?

In case of EMERGENCY: BREAK G.L.A.S.S.

GIVE permission for melt-downs/cool downs to occur. Limit the amounts of melt-downs each person is entitled to have. Give people a time limit that they can be mad. Also, realize your kids are over-stimulated. So give them small breaks and just go and sit together under a tree and watch the birds fight over the popcorn kernels in front of Casey’s Corner, if your kids are old enough, give them small breaks and meet back up.
LISTEN to your body. Are you sweating through your clothes? When was the last time you ate anything? Is your family’s non-verbal communication changing (crossing arms, rolling eyes, huffing, pushing in the stroller), do your children have a vacant look in their eyes? Time to head off that melt-down. First step is to find someplace to SIT that is COOL (as in air-conditioned). Standing in a line does NOT work here, try one of these Quiet Places in Magic Kingdom to take a break.
ASK how everybody is doing. COMMUNICATE and ask your family frequently for a “check up” on how they are doing. Disney World is Huge, you’re not going to get it all in on one trip. Just do what you can and concentrate on QUALITY of time OVER QUANITY of rides (read this post if you are silently disagreeing with me). Ask how they feel on a scale of one to 10 frequently and honestly. If at any point anybody drops to a 5 or below slow down and re-evaluate.
STEP outside yourself. Step-outside of yourself and really THINK about what is happening. Ask yourself, “is this something any normal, rational, and normally-enjoyable to be around, person would do?” If the answer is no then think… why?? What happened in the time leading UP to the melt-down occurred? Did you tell your teenager you would go ride a ride later then never come back to it? Did you tell your aging parents to hurry up? Did you tell your wife to stop spending money, then buy a giant turkey leg for yourself? Before you react, THINK. What role do YOU have in the meltdown? What role do THEY have? Are you turning them into the villain? I mean, do you think your 5 year old is sitting around plotting HOW to ruin your day? Think before you react, apologize if warranted. Sincere apologies turn most every situation around.
STOP before you all act STUPID. Stop doing the mental math you lil’ engineers, accountants and extreme type-A personalities about how much each minute you are not in the park is costing you and remember WHY YOU ARE AT WDW IN THE FIRST PLACE. You are on a VACATION!

Let me assure you that your “hissy fit” is going to be remembered by your family members FAR longer and more vividly than how many rides they rode that day, much less the actual contents of each ride/meal/ or character greeting. All that most of you will remember is the photographs and if you all look miserable in those just GUESS how the trip will be remembered. You talk about wasting money. You can read more about this on my post Quantity of Rides VS Quality of Life.

Get out of the parks during the heat of the day and come back refreshed and ready to tackle the park. Switch parks after your mid-day cool down if you have park-hopper tickets (which I recommend in my post HERE on ticket options) so you can to keep things exciting and new. Remember WHY you are spending the money, not HOW MUCH money you are spending. If everybody is miserable it’s not much of a trip. And I’d say it’s the #1 reason why most people don’t return to WDW.

WDW is intended to be a dream world where your heroes are real and your family is even MORE so. So remember when that next melt-down starts trying to creep up on you. Just break the G.L.A.S.S. and do what is RIGHT by your family.

Kristin The Disney Diva

Kristin T. Scroggin is a Communications Professor and avid Disney blogger. Her blog, Tips from the Disney Diva, provides readers with easily applied tips on planning, packing, and more.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney World Vacationing (chipandco.com)
Top 5 Underrated Disney World Attractions (chipandco.com)

Candlelight Processional Dinner Packages-Available July 26th

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

July 9, 2011

Candlelight Processional dinner packages will be available for booking on July 26th.

Candlelight Processional packages include:

Guaranteed seating at the Candlelight Processional Show
Pre-Arranged fireworks viewing

Dinner packages include:

Appetizer
Entree
Dessert
Non-Alcoholic Beverage
OR one full buffet (where applicable)

*Package prices do not include taxes and gratuity

Participating restaurants and pricing are as follows:

Biergarten Restaurant
Lunch: $32.99 adult, $17.99 child
Dinner: $50.99 adult, $25.99 child

Coral Reef
Lunch: $51.99 adult, $13.99 child
Dinner: $64.99 adult, $17.99 child

Garden Grill
Dinner: $52,99 adult, $26.99 child

Hacienda De San Angel
Dinner: $64.99 adult, $17.99 child

Le Cellier Steakhouse
Lunch $ 53.99 adult, $14.99 child

Les Chefs de France
Lunch $51.99 adult, $13.99 child
Dinner $64.99 adult, $17.99 child

Marrakesh
Lunch $38.99 adult, $12.99 child
Dinner $49.99 adult, $15.99 child

Nine Dragons
Lunch $38.99 adult, $12.99 child
Dinner $49.99 adult, $15.99 child

Rose & Crown Pub & Dining Room
Lunch $38.99 adult, $12.99 child
Dinner $49.99 adult, $15.99 child

San Angel Inn
Lunch $38.99 adult, $12.99 child
Dinner $49.99 adult, $15.99 child

Teppan Edo
Lunch $51.99 adult, $13.99 child
Dinner $64.99 adult, $17.99 child

Tokyo Dining
Lunch $51.99 adult, $13.99 child
Dinner $64.99 adult, $17.99 child

Tutto Italia
Lunch $51.99 adult, $13.99 child
Dinner $64.99 adult, $17.99 child

Via Napoli
Lunch $38.99 adult, $12.99 child
Dinner $49.99 adult, $15.99 child

If you would like to experience the Candlelight Processional and other holiday festivities at Walt Disney World, contact Pixie Vacations to take advantage of an exclusive promotion. Valid for stays 12/15 through 12/21 a family of four can eat, sleep and play at a Walt Disney World Resort for as little as $87 per person, per day. Contact Pixie Vacations for your free quote!

Disney World 2011 Candlelight Processional Narrators Announced (chipandco.com)
Disney Dining Options Ever-Changing at Walt Disney World Resort (chipandco.com)

Candlelight Processional Dinner Packages-Available July 26th

Some of My Favorite Disneyworld Parades, Movies and Stage Performances

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

July 9, 2011

Some of My Favorite Disneyworld Parades, Movies and Stage Performances

Our family traditionally takes our vacations to Disney World during the summer months. Before we started school, we did take a trip in October, but generally speaking, it is during the summer months that we go to Disney. As you all know who have been during that time, there can be some extreme weather conditions during the summer. Whether it is high temperatures, or high humidity (or both), or rain, one of the things you should understand is that there is a lot to do when the weather isn’t cooperating. One of the best things is to take in a show when the weather intrudes, so today I am going to look at my favorite Disney shows.

To clarify, a show can be a stage performance with Cast Members acting out the parts, a movie that you watch on the screen, or even the parades you can watch. Since there are so many choices in each category, I’ve broken them down into the categories shown below.

Disney World Movies

One of our favorite movies is Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Located in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, this one has it all:

An incredible 4D experience involving 3D movie effects coupled with wonderful smells and water effects.
Incredible music including all the great headliner songs of the classic Disney movies such as The Lion King, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Beauty and the Beast.
A unique ending involving Donald Duck crashing out of the screen into the back of the auditorium. I’ll never forget one time when that happened my daughter turned around and yelled, “Are you ok Donald?” The audience laughed when they heard her say that.

Another awesome movie that we really enjoy is the Circle-Vision 360 presentation of “O Canada!”, featuring the voice talents of Martin Short. This movie, with it’s unique 360 degree aerial view, is quite a stunning show. Located at Epcot at the Canada Pavilion (go figure!), this movie is one that I see once a year – primarily for the aerial views, but also for Martin Short’s narration!

Also at Epcot, this time in the China Pavilion is “Reflections of China”. This show is also a Circle-Vision 360 presentation, but unlike “O Canada!”, this show hasn’t been updated in quite a long time, if ever. However, that doesn’t bother me. The beauty of this show is again in the stunning photography, and also in the timeless history of China’s past, and that is something that should be on display always. I don’t see “Reflections of China” every time we come to Disney, but I try to see it every other visit.

Growing up, I was a HUGE fan of “The Muppet Show”. As a result, one of my favorite shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is “Muppet*Vision 3-D”. This show, which plays towards a certain audience, isn’t as good as the ones I’ve mentioned previously, but it is a nice show, full of the corny jokes and gags that “The Muppets” are known for! I think Statler and Waldorf may be my favorite part of the whole show! If you haven’t seen it before, check it out at least once.

One movie that I haven’t seen but plan on seeing the next time we visit is “Impressions de France”. Somehow I have forgotten that it is there until my friend Ken re-introduced it to me in his post “Best Things I Love about Disney – Impressions de France”.

Disney World Stage Shows

Disney has some of the best stage productions I have ever seen. One of our favorites is “Finding Nemo – The Musical”. This show located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is one of the great shows in all of Disney. The casting is phenomenal, and the ability of the cast members to produce a show that includes all of the grace of elegance that fish exhibit in the water is really astounding. The cast and crew of “Finding Nemo – The Musical” have a lot to be proud of – this show is truly one of a kind.

Another Animal Kingdom show that we try and see every time we are there – but aren’t as successful in achieving that goal – is “Festival of the Lion King”. I think between Nemo and Lion King we actually like Lion King better – the music is incredible, the performance is top notch, and being able to cheer on our own character from the movie just brings the audience into the show that much better! The only drawback I have with “Festival of the Lion King” is that it is hard for us to get seats at times – another testimony of how popular this show really is.

By far, though, my favorite stage production at Walt Disney World is “Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage“. This production, which opened on the same day that the movie was released in theaters – that is a first for a Disney show, by the way – is a classic rendition of the wonderful movie and story. With music, dancing, and romance, Beauty and the Beast is a treasure, and one that you won’t want to miss any time that you are visiting at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Disney World Parades

We have seen so many parades during our times coming to Disney World that it is sometimes hard to keep the different parades separate in my mind. However, I have vivid memories of two parades that we have seen that I will never forget. The first one is the return of Disney’s Electrical Parade (although I remember it before as the “Main Street Electrical Parade”). The return of the parade last summer was one of the many highlights of our trip to Disney World last summer with my niece Stephanie. The floats are incredible, the incorporation of the brighter LED lights is awesome, lending to many more pictures than before, and I am really happy that they have extended the Parade to an open-ended closing. Hopefully Disney’s Electrical Parade will be around for years to come!

The other parade that I have very fond memories of is Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, located over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We saw this parade several years ago, when Sophie was still riding around in a stroller. We didn’t really plan on seeing the parade, but I’ll never forget the expression on Sophie’s face as we watched it, especially with the tall stiltwalkers! That was one of the memories of that trip.

I hope you all have enjoyed my rendition of my favorites shows to catch at Disney World. Next time you are there, take time to enjoy some of these! Happy viewing!

Animal Kingdom – Top 5 Attractions For Seniors (chipandco.com)
Events and Attractions coming to Disney World – July & August 2011 (chipandco.com)

Some of My Favorite Disneyworld Parades, Movies and Stage Performances

When One Size Doesn’t Fit All-Tips for Plus Sized Travelers

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

July 9, 2011

When One Size Doesn't Fit All-Tips for Plus Sized Travelers
What to do when one size doesn’t fit all?

With millions of visitors from around the world, it would be impossible to fabricate accommodations that would be ideal for everyone in Disney parks. If the “one size fits all” philosophy doesn’t apply to you, don’t worry, you aren’t out of luck.

There are three main areas where the majority of size worries may arise: rooms, restaurants and rides. In true Disney style…there really is something and somewhere for everyone; let’s look at what Disney is doing to make their parks fit for everyone.

#1 Rooms: If you would prefer a king sized bed, be sure to request one at the time of your reservation.. Rooms with king beds are becoming increasingly limited so if this is important to you, be sure to note it up front. While the Disney resorts have all of that Disney magic you’ve come to love, they may not have the square footage you have become accustomed to. Value resorts generally have the same square footage (approximately 260 sq ft) the moderates vary in size. To view the room layouts and footage and take a virtual tour click here. Caribbean Beach offers the most space (340 square feet) and the other moderates have 314 square feet.

#2 Restaurants: When you make your dining reservations, request a table or booth, whatever is more comfortable for you and when you check in at your restaurant, make your request again with the host or hostess. There are chairs without arms available at most restaurants. If you have any additional concerns about your dining experience, ask a cast member; they should either assist you, or find someone who can.

#3 Rides: If there is ever any doubt that one size doesn’t fit all, take a visit to Fantasyland. These rides are built for little one’s and you’ll find the accommodations are suited for pint sized prince’s and petite princesses. Look around the attraction before you get in line and see if you think the space is adequate for you, some attractions have ride cars outside so you can physically “test drive” them. Disney is always focused on safety first, ask a cast member for a seatbelt extender if you aren’t comfortable with the standard lap belt. Here’s a fast fact-Rock’n Roller Coaster and Test Track have more leg room in the front cars, Space Mountain has more leg room in the back car.

Of course there are far more needs than fit into these categories, so here are a few extra tips:

-The restrooms will all have a limited amount of handicapped accessible stalls which will give you more space.

-The turn styles at the park gates aren’t the only way in, ask to go through the stroller gates if you’re worried about fitting through the turn style.

-Know your options-Different rides and attractions offer different types of seating (lap bar, overhead bar, theatre seating, etc) know what doesn’t work for you and ask a cast member if alternatives are available.

-Check weight and activity restrictions on tours and special experiences, for example horseback riding and the Segway tour have a limit of 250lbs.

-If you have a specific worry that isn’t listed, ask a cast member, or your Disney travel agent or do some research online. Our friends over at Passporter have an entire forum dedicated to “Pooh sized” travelers and they have unlimited tips, tricks and resources!

Delightful Dining vs. Dining Disaster: Food Allergies In WDW

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

July 9, 2011

Food allergies are increasingly widespread and just because you are on vacation, doesn’t mean that your food allergies are. Leaving the fate of your dinner in someone else’s hands can be fatal to those with severe food allergies. This doesn’t mean you’re out of luck in the dining department, after all it’s Disney we’re talking about!

The first day of college Speech 101 my professor came into the classroom, sat on the desk and said “what do you need to know about giving a speech?” It turned out she wasn’t interested in our ideas of essential elements of speech and instead broke it down to three simple things that I have never forgotten:

#1: “Tell Em’ what you’re gonna tell em’ ”
#2: “Tell Em’ what you want to tell em’”
#3: “Tell Em’ again”

These three tips have come in handy for more than giving speeches and I’ve found it’s a really easy way to remember how to approach Disney dining if you have food allergies.

#1: “Tell Em’ what your’e gonna tell em’ “– If you are worried about getting caught up in the ADR hustle, tell the cast member about your allergies first, so you don’t forget. “Hi, i’d like to make dining reservations and I need to make a note of food allergies on my reservations as well…” If you are booking dining online, there is a section of the screen that will ask about food allergies before you confirm your reservation, so be sure to scroll all the way down and read carefully. If you have a severe or very specific allergy, it’s better to call. Restaurants request a 72 hour advance notice to best prepare for your specific needs, so if you have last minute dining changes, give the restaurant as much notice as possible.

#2: “Tell Em’ what you want to tell em’ “-Just because you made a note on your original ADR’s doesn’t mean your work is done. Don’t forget if you change a reservation to put your allergy notes on the new reservation. Do some research on the menus before you make your dining reservations, this will eliminate unnecessary frustration, cancellations and changes if you find a particular restaurant isn’t suited for your specific food needs. I’m going to add to this and say, “ask em’ what you want to ask em’ “. If you have a severe allergy and aren’t comfortable with your dining options, ask the cast member for a dietary request form or where you can find more information about your food choices.

#3: “Tell Em’ Again”-Tell your server about your food allergies when you arrive at the restaurant. If you are hesitant about ordering a particular dish, generally the chef will come out and speak with you about your specific needs and advise you accordingly. Yes, you’ve already told everyone twice already, but now you are in the home stretch and these are the people who are going to be handling and preparing your food, so don’t rely on a computer system to do it for you, better safe than sorry!

Taking these simple precautions can help guarantee that your Disney dining experience is delightful and delicious and not disastrous or dangerous.

If you are using a Disney Travel Agent, be sure to inform them about your special needs or food allergies as soon as possible. Knowledge is power!

Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, & Walt Disney World Trip Planning

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

July 9, 2011

Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, & Walt Disney World Trip Planning
As parents, we will all be faced with the potentially gut-wrenching decision of whether to take our kids out of school for our Walt Disney World vacations or go during school breaks. Kelly (aka Disney Guru) recently tackled the subject and looked at different considerations that factor into this decision. One was the educational benefits of a Walt Disney World trip. This got me thinking – there are educational benefits to a Walt Disney World trip before you even leave home.

My five-year old son is a Disney World fan (no surprise there) and can spend hours virtually planning Disney World trips for us and family members. Here are some skills he’s learned or has mastered all through Walt Disney World trip planning.

Phone Conversational Skills. My son frequently calls Grandma and plays travel agent. He will ask her where she would like to stay, dine, etc. and will make suggestions at her request. He will reply to her with availability options and pricing after visiting the Walt Disney World website.
Computer Skills. He can navigate the Walt Disney World website, MapQuest, and the National Weather Service websites like a pro and visits all three when putting together his vacation packages. He has learned how to use menus, hyperlinks, and the search box.
Spelling. Successful keyword searches on the Disney World website require spelling skills. He has improved his spelling skills by for different attractions, resorts, restaurants, and transportation options.
Address Recognition. After typing addresses of Disney World resorts into MapQuest and Google maps, my little guy recognizes that addresses have a street, a “house” number, a city, a state, and a zip code. I have to say I was a little scared impressed when I was asking my husband what the Orlando zip code was and he piped in with the correct answer. The weather website has taught him that city/state pairs have a zip code and that the same city name may be in different states.
Map Reading Skills. Give my five-year old a Walt Disney World theme park map and he can use the map legend to identify symbols used on the map. On MapQuest, he can identify construction areas based on symbology.
Numerical Equivalent of the Months. Grandma often asks him to make ADRs (don’t worry, he doesn’t actually make them) and he recognizes that July is the 7th month.
Appreciation of Cost. He doesn’t actually understand how much $5,000 but he does understand the magnitude. When Grandma asks how much to stay at the Grand Floridian during Christmas week, he knows it’s a lot.

So, when people say there’s nothing educational about Walt Disney World, I beg to differ.

Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers and the co-creator of WDW Fan Zone. When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You can follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.

All New Walt Disney World Pro App for iPhone & iPod Touch (chipandco.com)
Top 5 Underrated Disney World Attractions (chipandco.com)

Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, & Walt Disney World Trip Planning

Mickey’s Halloween Party Tickets and Details!

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

July 9, 2011

Time to get the costumes ready – advanced tickets for Mickey’s Halloween Party are now on sale at Disneyland.com and at Resort box offices! Mickey’s Halloween Party is your chance to dress up and trick-or-treat with Mickey and friends at Disneyland park. Each event features exclusive viewing of the Halloween Screams fireworks spectacular and access to nearly all attractions, including Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Also be on the look-out for appearances by some Disney Villains, special treat stations, Mickey’s Costume Party Cavalcade and special activities for the whole family.

Mickey’s Halloween Party Dates and Times

Select Mondays/Tuesdays, Fridays & Halloween night: September 30, October 3, 7, 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 31

Fridays: Guests may enter Disneyland park as early as 4 p.m. Event runs from 7 p.m.–12 a.m.

Mondays/Tuesdays and Halloween night: Guests may enter Disneyland park as early as 3 p.m. Event runs from 6-11 p.m.

Mickey’s Halloween Party Pricing

For Sept. 30, Oct. 3, 11, 18, and 25:
Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Visa Cardholders Advance Purchase Price: $44 per person
General Advance Purchase (prior to date of event): $49 per person
Day of Event: $59 per person

For October 7, 14, and 21:
Everyone: $59 per person

For October 28 and 31:
Everyone: $64 per person

Mickey’s Halloween Party is part of Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort – a time when the Disney characters dress up in their spooky best and some of your favorite attractions undergo ghostly transformations. Will you be visiting us during Halloween Time?

Advanced purchase prices available until one day prior to applicable event date. Advance purchase savings available on 9/30/11, 10/3/11, 10/11/11, 10/18/11 and 10/25/11 and may not be combined with other discounts or promotions. Tickets are subject to availability and are valid only for specific event dates and hours. Online purchases unavailable on day of event. Limit eight (8) tickets per person, per event date. Tickets are nonrefundable and may not be resold. Costumes subject to Disney guidelines and should not be obstructive or offensive. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

Source Disney Parks Blog

Tickets for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Available Now (chipandco.com)
Disney Halloween and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2011 dates (pixievacations.com)

Mickey’s Halloween Party Tickets and Details!

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