JAMES CAMERON TO BRING AVATAR TO LIFE AT DISNEY PARKS

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September 25, 2011

Long-term agreement will bring AVATAR themed lands to Disney parks, with the first at Walt Disney World in Orlando

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”

“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” said James Cameron. ”I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life. Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality.”

The agreement announced today gives The Walt Disney Company exclusive global theme park rights to the AVATAR franchise and provides for additional AVATAR themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the AVATAR themed lands.

“This exciting new venture combines the world of AVATAR with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. “While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the AVATAR motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created.”

“AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” said Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of AVATAR in person.”

In addition to setting a global box office record, AVATAR has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced. With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.

This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.

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About Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts are where dreams come true. More than 50 years ago, Walt Disney created a new kind of entertainment families could experience together, immersed in detailed atmospheres and vibrant storytelling. His vision now includes a collection of five of the world’s leading family vacation destinations – Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Calif.; Walt Disney World Resort, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba, Japan; Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallée, France; and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, located on Lantau Island. A sixth resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, is currently under construction in Pudong New District, Shanghai. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts includes the world-class Disney Cruise Line; Disney Vacation Club; Adventures by Disney, a guided group vacation experience to some of the world’s most popular destinations; and Walt Disney Imagineering, which creates and designs all Disney parks, resorts and attractions.

About Fox Filmed Entertainment

One of the world’s largest producers and distributors of motion pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures throughout the world. These motion pictures are produced or acquired by the following units of FFE: Twentieth Century Fox, Fox 2000 Pictures, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky Studios and Fox International Productions.

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of our views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update these statements. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including governmental actions and changes in domestic and global economic conditions. Additional factors are set forth in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 2, 2010 and subsequent reports.

Disney to build ‘Avatar’ attraction in Animal Kingdom theme park (orlandosentinel.com)

Disney World Quick Tips – Enhance Your Disney Memories, Theme Your Photos

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 25, 2011

Disney World Quick Tips – Enhance Your Disney Memories, Theme Your Photos

Lots of folks shoot hundreds of pictures on each visit to Walt Disney World. I’m even worse because I rarely take less than 1500 – 2000 shots every time. Rather than just taking pictures for the sake of taking them try to have a theme for each trip and carry it through for the entire vacation. Don’t become obsessed with your theme though at the expense of some wonderful but unrelated shots. I’ll outline just a few themes for you to try:

Since most folks travel as a family pick just one spot to have a family picture taken and take the same picture at the same spot on each and every vacation. This will let you see just how the kids have grown and how you and they have changed over the years. Just ask a passerby or a Cast Member to take the picture for you, I’ve never heard of anyone saying no that request. Make sure you pick a spot that will be there over the years such as Cinderella Castle or Spaceship Earth
This may sound a bit bizarre, but, take pictures of signs! I’ve done that before and the results are always fun. You can break it down further by picking Attractions, Resorts, Restaurants, etc.
Take pictures of Cast Members. Those folks are generally a bunch of HAMS and love to play around in front of the camera.
Try to get as many photos of birds and animals as you can. Epcot is a very fertile location for this theme and Disney’s Animal Kingdom is absolutely the best.
Make sure you get plenty of shots of each park Icon from different viewpoints.
Try to get some interesting architectural shots like the one above. Walt Disney World is a treasure trove of incredible architecture.
Last but certainly not least – Characters. This can be a bit time consuming but if you take the pictures during the time between the groups at meet and greets you can get some really good candid type stuff.

These are just a few of the themes you can try. Make it a part of your pre trip planning to discuss it with your family and pick the theme as a group and don’t limit yourselves to the ones I mentioned – be creative. The most important photo is, of course, the family shot because it will reward you with great memories year after year. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Disney World Quick Tips – Enhance Your Disney Memories, Theme Your Photos

The Top 5 Dad Friendly Rides at WDW

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 25, 2011

I’m not sure if any of you moms out there have noticed, but sometimes the Dads walking around the Disney Parks aren’t that excited about going on It’s A Small World or Prince Charming’s Carousel. Of course they go on them because their kids love it, but the excitement factor just isn’t there. They may be longing to ride Space Mountain or Expedition Everest over and over again, but it may be hard to enjoy without the kiddos by your side. But never fear Disney Dads! There are some awesome, must-not-be-missed rides that you can enjoy with your little ones.

5. Mad Tea Party: There is just something about spinning your child around until the laughter overtakes them that appeals to most Dads. If your stomach can stand it, twirl it faster and faster until you can’t see the cute little door mouse anymore. If your stomach is a little weaker than your munchkin, spin it a little slower. They’ll never know it can really go faster. And if you want to add a little more excited to your child’s ride, head over to the tea cups first thing in the morning to take a spin with the Mad Hatter himself! If you are lucky, Alice will be riding with him too.

4. Toy Story Mania: What Dad could turn down a chance to play a life size video game? This 4D interactive attraction combines good ole’ fashion gaming with some addictive midway fun. Parents and kids alike will enjoy joining their favorite Toy Story characters on this fast pace, fun ride. Will you be able to beat your child’s score? Will you have the high score of the day?

3. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin: Much like Toy Story Mania, Buzz Lightyear’s fast paced ride will thrill Dads and kids alike. Jump aboard a space cruiser and help Buzz defeat the evil Zurg by zapping all the Z targets. Be warned, this is a very addictive game/ride. My husband rides it no less than 20 times per WDW visit. He has mastered the game and has repeatedly received the highest possible score (unlike me who barely registers as a Space Cadet).

from allears.net

2. Sorin’: There is nothing that can compare to the feeling you get the first time you go on Sorin’ except maybe the squeals of delight coming from your children sitting next to you. I don’t want to give too much away, but Sorin’ is so real with its panoramic views and multisensory effects, that you really feel like you are flying. Both my husband and my kids absolutely love it and must ride on it multiple times. All I can say it, thank goodness for Fast Passes.

1. Test Track: Test Track is one of Disney’s fastest attractions and is enjoyed by kids and dads (and moms) alike. Our youngest daughter was finally able to ride this at 40 inches last year and I’ve never seen her happier on a ride. She loved the bumps and curves and like her Daddy, the wind in her face. Test Track is a ride that will keep both dads and kids laughing and cheering for more.

While the coasters may be more your speed, they are not really a family affair. What rides are your favorite to go on repeatedly with your kids?

You might be a Disney Addict if (chipandco.com)
Top 10 Activities for Adults at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)

Should You Buy an Annual Pass?

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 25, 2011

If you go to Disney more than once a year, or if you go for very long trips, you might consider buying an annual pass (AP). There are really only two problems with buying an AP. One, they’re expensive. And two, it requires you to predict your travel plans a full year in advance, so you won’t know what you actually save until the year is up. When I buy a yearly pass to my local zoo, it’s pretty clear even for someone as math phobic as me that in just two trips, I’ll break even. It doesn’t take much effort to make it to the zoo twice in one year. But Disney? Well, that’s a bit more difficult. Factor in the savings offered to AP holders in the form of discounts and you have a fairly complicated problem.

There are two types of APs for non-Florida residents. The first sells for $499 plus tax and gives you admission to all four parks plus park hopping, free parking, and special AP discounts. The premium pass, which sells for $629 and gives you all of the above plus admission to the water parks, Disney Quest, and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course. Passes for kids, Disney Vacation Club owners, and Florida residents are slightly lower.

Consider these discounts when determining if an AP fits your needs:

Free parking, which saves non-resort guests $14 a day.
Discounted tickets to Night of Joy, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on select nights.
10% off lunch discounts at certain resort restaurants, such as The Wave and Grand Floridian Café as well as most sit-down restaurants in Epcot’s World Showcase (excluding Le Cellier). Valid Monday thru Friday only.
10 to 20% off lunch at most Downtown Disney sit-down restaurants.
Merchandise discounts in Downtown Disney between 10-15 %.
15% off most tours, such as the Epcot Segway tour.
Up 30% off sports and recreation, including golf.
AP holders may buy a Tables in Wonderland card for an additional $75, allowing them to receive 20% off at participating restaurants.
Invitations to passholder-only events and promotions. A few years ago, for example, passholders were invited to soft openings for Toy Story Midway Mania before the general public.

One thing that makes estimating the value of an AP difficult is the variability of the AP room discount. When factoring in the total cost of an AP, most passholders include these savings, as high as 45% off certain rooms. Lately however, these discounts have lost some of their exclusivity as discounts offered to the general public are nearly as good as those offered to passholders. This spring, for example, the difference between an AP rate on a Disney deluxe villa and the general public rate was only 5%. And the head start that passholders got on these rooms before discounted rates were released to the general public was only a matter of days. Worse still, this year’s summer discounts for the general public were actually released weeks before AP discounts for those same dates, causing a lot of grumbling among passholders.

It’s for the above reason that I wouldn’t buy an AP for the room discount. Sure, you may get a great deal, but that’s a pretty big gamble to take. If you’re borderline on the number of days you’ll need the pass versus buying a regular park admission, this could push you over the edge. But if you’re unsure about whether you’ll be able to at least get close to breaking even on park admission, it’s probably not worth the cost.

Conventional wisdom says you’ll break even on an Annual Pass if you’ll be in the parks for more than ten days in a given year. Disney allows you to buy up to a ten-day pass. After that you’ll need to start over again. This can be pretty costly since the cost of your pass is highest the first four days and those days start over again if you’ve used up your ten days. Of course, most people don’t spend more than ten days in the parks during their vacation. What usually happens is that people go for five or six days and then come back for a shorter trip. In this case, the savings are pretty clear.

Say you take a six day trip to WDW and then, later in the year you head back for a long weekend and need a three day pass. That first trip’s park admission without park hoppers would cost you $231; the second would cost $219. At $450, that’s slightly less than the cost of an AP, but add a park hopper option to even one of those tickets and you’ve paid $502. So even taking a short trip plus, a slightly longer trip, shows a slight savings. And that’s not adding in AP discounts, which you may or may not use. Some people swear by them.

If you aren’t the type of person who goes to Disney World more than once a year, you can still benefit from buying AP. Many passholders schedule two trips, one when they activate their pass and one just before it expires. Keep in mind too that you’ll save about $40 when you renew your annual pass.

Buying an annual pass requires you to predict how you’ll vacation in the upcoming year. It can be a huge savings. It can also, as a couple of passholder friends of mine pointed out, “burn a hole in your pocket,” making you want to go to Disney World more than usual or perhaps even more than you should. Personally, I could have saved around $180 by buying a pass last year, but I tend to plan one long trip with the family and take shorter trips on the spur of the moment. This year, I’m going to get a pass and hope for the best. Even if means it burns a hole in my pocket.

The 2011 Walt Disney World Passholder – Sports and Recreation Discounts (chipandco.com)
Annual Passholder Discounted Rates: October-December (chipandco.com)

Having Disney World to yourself

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 25, 2011

Sound impossible? OK, it is but here is a little known dreaming fact that many of us Disney goers share.
Once you have passed the kiosk of entry into the Walt Disney World Park and once you have passed
through the railroad bridge underpass, stop and look around. Relax, we know it’s crowded, but stop
and really focus on what is around you. Picture what Walt had envisioned for this area. Remember, he
never got to see it completed, so you have a big advantage right now. What details can you see that
went in to creating this magical world? What characters are always there to greet you each time you
come in to visit? Remember, this is your home now.

For many of us, Disney World is exactly that, a home away from home. If you feel as if you are visiting
the place, you haven’t let it into your heart yet. Just as Walt said, “To all those who come to this happy
place: Welcome, Disneyland is your land.” Keep that statement in your mind because Walt meant
exactly that. This is your park too.

Although Walt was speaking about Disneyland, you can imagine his thoughts on Disney World, his
newest creation. You can envision his thoughts unfolding now that you can see his vision realized and
created. If you can get past the initial shock of crowds, the running to the next ride for fear of missing
something and the overwhelming planning you and your family might have done to make this trip a
reality and simply stop and look around, you can see magic. You can finally appreciate the park for what
it was meant to be; a place of family happiness and celebration of us (people) and their own unique
family. Do you think Walt was looking forward to 90 minute waits on Space Mountain in the Florida
heat? He was focused on the bigger picture, that this is a place of wonder and imagination; a place that
brings you back to childlike fun again. If you can get past the “I’ve got to see everything” concept we all
have had at some point and really spend some time looking closer into details, you will see a whole new
world open up.

I have spent days walking around the park taking pictures and not riding a single ride. Yes, I have really
done this. The park becomes more magical, more focused and more enjoyable. Everyone is running
like mad to get on the rides that have such coveted spots with long wait times. It really can make a
parent have a miserable journey to Disney and that is not the Disney philosophy that Walt was trying to
create. Disney World is different from Disneyland in many ways. First and foremost it was created to
invite you into a magical world, so arriving your first day until your last, you can say you were in another
World. From the parks to the resorts to the restaurants, the visions in Walt’s head were quite clear;
Stay focused on a world that surrounds families in the childlike magic. Sit back and relax sometimes and

unwind. If you took only one day of your vacation to walk the parks the way that Walt would do in the
early morning, you would see just how special of a world was created for us all. Even with thousands of
people around you, you would feel special enough to think that Walt built this place just for you.

Affordable Disney Vacations: Buying Discounted Disney World Tickets

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 25, 2011

Affordable Disney Vacations: Buying Discounted Disney World Tickets If you are planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, buying discounted Disney World tickets is an excellent way to save money. And there are many vendors who are selling discount tickets to Walt Disney World. The problem is in determining who is reputable, and who is not. Here are several easy tips to help you decide which ticket brokers you can trust, and which ones you should steer clear of.

First of all, look for the Disney logo, and “authorized discount ticket agent” designation. If you don’t see these, the seller does not have the legal authority to sell those tickets. Authorized brokers purchase bulk tickets under contract, directly from the attractions. By purchasing in large volume, they receive discounts from Disney and the other attractions, which in turn are passed on to consumers. Those designations insure that buyers can trust the ticket broker.

Secondly, make sure the company is a member of organizations like the Better Business Bureau, and area Chambers of Commerce. Even better, see how long they have been in business: if they have been around a while, chances are good it is a reputable company.

Next, honestly look at the ticket prices, and if they seem too good to be true, well they probably are. There are many seemingly legitimate sites who offer unbelievably low prices, and most are usually scams. Some note prices that are so low there is no way that they could sell tickets at that price without losing money. Note also the URL on the website: many are currently operating from Romania, and you will see .ro at the end of the URL. These sites will often want you to pay by wire transfer, which means that you can’t get your money back.

Lastly, make certain that the broker is not requiring you to sit through a timeshare presentation in order to receive the tickets. Check the fine print at the bottom of the website and read it carefully: it will say if they are soliciting for timeshares.

Purchasing discounted Disney World tickets is a great way to plan an affordable Disney vacation. Just be certain to choose a reputable, authorized ticket broker for your purchase.

The Disney Dining Plan vs. Paying Out Of Pocket

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 25, 2011

The Disney Dining Plan vs. Paying Out Of Pocket

The answer to that question is quite simple – a resounding and uncompromising IT DEPENDS! Your choice depends on a lot of factors and varies from family to family:

Do you eat a lot of sit down meals?
Are you “fast food” (counter service) comfortable? – There are a lot of excellent counter service restaurants at Walt Disney World.
Do you like “fine dining”?
Are the kids (like most) burger and fries fans?
How flexible is your budget?
Do you like a cocktail or wine with your meals?

It seems like considering all of these questions would complicate things but it can actually help make the decision for you. There are many options you can choose from but there are also some things to be aware of. Disney considers anyone 10 years old or older to be an adult on the dining plans and everyone staying in your room, 3 years old and older, must be on the same dining plan. Here are options you can choose from along with links to Disney’s sites:

The Dining Plans are : Quick Service Dining Plan, the standard Disney Dining Plan, the Deluxe Dining Plan, the Premium Dining Plan, and the Platinum Dining Plan. For those of you who enjoy wine with your meals there is an add on option for the basic and deluxe plans called the Wine and Dine Plan. The prices start at $37.26/adult and $12.77/child per night of your stay for the Quick Service Plan and go up from there. Here is an overview of the Disney Dining Plans along with the associated policies. There may or not be one that works for you but at least now you have all of the information in one place.
Paying Out Of Pocket – Surprisingly, this can be more economical that the dining plans depending on your family’s dining patterns. Nobody is tied to anything and all of the choices are yours. This can be especially helpful if you have kids in the 3-4 year old range who don’t eat very much and often eat off of Mom or Dad’s plate (Disney is pretty flexible on this practice). At that age they must be on the same dining plan (if you choose that route) as Mom and Dad and often will not eat that much food.
Tables In Wonderland – This is the option we almost always choose. In order to be a Tables In Wonderland (TIW) member you have to purchase at least one Annual Passport (AP) which limits you to a “room only” reservation and separate purchase of park tickets. Fear not though, it generally doesn’t cost more for your tickets (except for the AP) than if you purchased a package and AP holders are generally able to get significant room price discounts subject to them being offered (almost always except for peak periods) and somewhat limited availability. Tables In Wonderland discounts combined with AP discounts can be huge. At most table service restaurants, the TIW card entitles you to a 20% discount on your check for up to ten people on the same ticket including alcohol purchases. If you are a sit down type family your savings can be enormous!! A TIW membership costs $75 with an Annual Passport (it is available to Florida residents without an AP for $100).

It will pay for you to do the research and figure out exactly which options are most suitable for your group. Take a little time and use the internet to get the best deal for yourselves. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

The Disney Dining Plan vs. Paying Out Of Pocket

Top 5 must-have Droid apps for your next Disney trip

By

Chip

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September 25, 2011

With the Disneyworld Droid market quickly growing I wanted to publish an update on this article I posted awhile ago. Here is a little list of Droid Apps that I put together for those people like myself who have a Droid Phone. All of these apps are free and helped me on my last Disney World Vacation.

Lines – Visit Touring Plans and create an account. Once you have an account just login and check out the wait times. Be sure to submit wait time to help keep the numbers up to date. Another excellent program is Crowd Calendar from Touring Plan too!
U Steam Broadcaster – Before you leave for your vacation create an account at U Stream (free of course) and then download the U Stream on your Droid Phone (search term – ustream) then sign in to your account. So while you are at Disney you can stream video from your phone to your account. You can share the streams with the rest of the interwebs or just friends and family. I have a U Stream Channel where I will be broadcasting our Disney World Trip all this week! Good thing about this is you don’t use your phones drive space so the length of the video is basically the length of your battery life. (bring your charger)
TimeStream Software “Walt Disney World Secrets Gold!” Revealing over 200 magical and surprising secrets of Walt Disney World® Resort, the new “Walt Disney World Secrets Gold!” Notescast App works like an innovative guidebook taking you on a tour of Walt Disney World Resort. With your Android in hand you can journey from one new secret to the next in the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.. I pretty excited to try this out in May when I go down for the D23 event!
Carrr Matey – Ever forget where you parked at Disney? This simple program allows you to drop anchor at your car and when you are ready to leave find your vessel again when it is time to embark. Our last trip in January of 2010 we used this program several times and each time it took us right to our car!
TiKL – Touch To Talk – My family and I are all on Verizon and probably will held captive for a really long time. One thing I have always liked about Sprint/Nextel Phones is the Walkie Talkie (sp) feature. Quick and easy communication without having to pick up the phone or send a text message. This handy app turns your Droid phone into a neat Walkie Talkie at a press of a button.

Honorable mentions
- Pandora – If the sounds of DisneyWorld become to much (can’t imagine that) and want to listen to some music check out Pandora where you create your own radio station. (Free)
- Radar Now – Gives you the local radar at the press of a button. Keep and eye on those pesky summer storms. (Free)
- Color Flashlight – Turn you phone into a flash light in case you drop something in a dark theater like “It’s a bugs life” (Free)
- FX Camera – Fun tool to mix up those boring old pictures. Why not take some old Poleroid shots? With this software you can. (Free)
- Shazam – When you hear a song and want to know the Song name and Artist just press Shazam and in a few seconds you have your answer. (Free)

Disney Droid Apps? I Don’t Need ‘Em! (chipandco.com)

Top 5 must-have Droid apps for your next Disney trip

Disney Parks on the ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ Premiere tonight

By

Chip

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September 25, 2011

Set your DVRs! Magic Kingdom Park will be featured on the season premiere of ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” this Sunday, Sept. 25, from 7-9 p.m.

The two-hour episode focuses on the Marshalls, a military family residing in Fayetteville, N.C., who are committed to helping homeless female veterans. Barbara Marshall, a 15-year Navy Veteran, established the Steps-N-Stages Jubilee House, where she provides life coaching and mentoring to individuals in need. But, the Marshalls can only do so much in the space that they have.

While the “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” team worked their magic in Fayetteville, the family vacationed at the Walt Disney World Resort, where they served as the guests of honor at a military-family themed parade, met the Green Army Men from “Toy Story” and participated in the park’s flag retreat ceremony.

Here’s a preview of their “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” experience.

AVATAR coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks (chipandco.com)

Disney Parks on the ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ Premiere tonight

Blue Sky Cellar Open Today with New Disney California Adventure Park Updates

By

Chip

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September 24, 2011

After a short closure, Blue Sky Cellar opened again today with new sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes looks at the continuing transformation of Disney California Adventure park. Guests will be able to view new videos, models and renderings to learn even more about the exciting changes coming to the park. Among the new artwork, you’ll also find three new attraction posters, including the one above featuring the new Red Car Trolley, coming to Buena Vista Street when it opens next year.

Also featured in Blue Sky Cellar are posters for current guest favorites – The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Soarin’ Over California.

Be sure to stop by Blue Sky Cellar and keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for updates on Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and more.

Source Disney Parks Blog

Buena Vista Street Ready to Take Shape at Disney California Adventure Park (chipandco.com)
Staggs Answers Questions About Avatar Coming to Disney Parks (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)

Blue Sky Cellar Open Today with New Disney California Adventure Park Updates

View of Fantasyland Construction from the Contemporary

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 24, 2011

View of Fantasyland Construction from the Contemporary

Our friends at wdwmagic have posted some “birds eye view” photos of the Fantasyland construction from the top of the Contemporary Resort.

Looks like things are coming along…look at all those rocks! Looks like Belle’s portion of the Fantasyland expansion is coming along nicely…but dear Imagineers and architects…PLEASE HURRY UP!

View of Fantasyland Construction from the Contemporary

What part of Fantasyland expansion are YOU most excited about?!

P.S. – Chip posted pictures of the construction as well from his recent trip to Disney World. You can check them out here.

A Tour Through New Fantasyland Expansion at the Magic Kingdom (chipandco.com)
Around the “Disney” World – Fantasyland (chipandco.com)

View of Fantasyland Construction from the Contemporary

Ask Us A Disney Question: Disneyland Christmas Party?

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

-

September 24, 2011

Ask Us A Disney Question: Disneyland Christmas Party?

This question comes from Denise is Utah.

“I am a Utahan so I live closer to Disneyland. However the past several times I have gone to Disney it has been at Disneyworld. I feel in love with the place the first time I was there. It is our anniversary in December and due to financial restraints we are planning a Disneyland trip. Does Disneyland have a Very Merry Christmas party like the world? I’ve looked and looked and can’t find any info on it.”

Well, you can’t find any info on it because it doesn’t exist. We do NOT have a Christmas party at Disneyland. I know, huge bummer — but it doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun at the parks during the holiday season.

Disneyland during the holiday season is absolutely beautiful. Sleeping Beauty’s castle is covered with icicle lights and patches of snow. New Orleans Square is decorated with garlands make of Mardis Gras beads, masks, and colorful ornaments. Main Street has wreaths, garlands and Christmas window displays. The park is such a wonderful sight to see.

We also have the holiday fireworks, holiday parade, it’s a small world holiday, and Haunted Mansion Holiday, where Jack Skellington has taken over the Haunted Mansion to bring you a spooktacular holiday. HMH isn’t done at Walt Disney World, so I highly recommend you get yourself some Fast Passes for this very popular attraction.

So, while we may not have a holiday party like Walt Disney World, we still have great offerings for you and your family to enjoy.

Long-term agreement will bring AVATAR themed lands to Disney parks, with the first at Walt Disney World in Orlando

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