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Disney – The Champions Of ‘Underpromise’ And ‘Overdeliver’

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Disney - The Champions Of 'Underpromise' And 'Overdeliver'

First of all, these are my personal opinions and you may or may not agree. Regular visitors to any of the Disney venues already know what I’m talking about in the article’s title. Disney regularly tells you what they are going to do, they do exactly what they promise and then as Walt Disney himself insisted on for everything offered by his company, they ‘Plus It’. In other words, they do just a little bit extra to make the experience that much more memorable. I’m not going to lay out a bunch of particulars, instead I’ll offer some general observations and a few examples where appropriate.

Disney never does anything half way. Whatever they do is done the best way possible. Have you ever noticed how freshly painted everything looks even after 55 years at Disneyland and 40 years at the Magic Kingdom? That’s because they don’t just keep putting layers of paint one on top of the other, they completely strip every item before they repaint it.

The resort themes are not just facades, they are over the top. Wherever possible they use authentic items such as many of those in the Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge lobbies. They strive for accuracy so that your experience is as real as it can be. A lot of us get kind of hung up staying at the same resort all the time. We did that for a long time and are now trying a different resort each time to experience all that Disney has to offer. Try it, you’ll like it!!!

Landscaping plays a huge part in the overall Disney experience no matter which venue you choose. The landscaping is always groomed where appropriate and always free of trash and general litter. Think about what it takes to maintain your yard and expand that for example to the 43 square miles of the Walt Disney World resort. It’s a monumental task but the results speak for themselves.

Maintenance of the attractions, both for appearance and safety are of the utmost importance. As an example there is a whole crew of Cast Members whose job it is to polish all of the shiny metal surfaces (some of which are real gold) on the Prince Charming Regal Carousel every single night. That demonstrates how important detail is to the Disney company.

A lot of companies under promise and over deliver, unfortunately there are many more who over promise and under deliver. I believe that Disney is not only in the first group but is far and away the leader in the under promise and over deliver group. It’s not that they purposely downplay what they are offering, they just “Plus It” to exceed your expectations. A lot of folks think everything Disney offers is too highly priced but when you think about what it takes to do what they do every day of the year it’s worth every penny. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!

Ken

Photo By Disney

 

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Disney - The Champions Of 'Underpromise' And 'Overdeliver'

“Strong as a Rock,” Disney’s Baby Elephant Receives Swahili Name

By
Chip
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“Strong as a Rock,” Disney’s Baby Elephant Receives Swahili Name

With a birth weight of 311 pounds, the most recent elephant born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been fittingly named Jabali, or “strong as a rock” in Swahili. According to zoological managers, the masculine name is well-suited for a baby elephant that could grow to an adult weight of more than 10,000 pounds.

Jabali was welcomed into the African elephant group last week by his 25-year-old mother Vasha, 10 herd members and a team of animal care professionals assisting with the birth. He’s also received a lot of attention from his older sister Kianga, who has been showering him with affection.

The next critical milestone is for the calf to continue the bonding process with his mother and sister, who are both teaching him important lessons as he gradually acclimates to the rest of the savannah herd over the next several weeks.

Jabali’s birth raises Disney’s elephant herd to twelve, making it one of the largest African elephant herds in North America.

Since early August, animal care teams have provided round-the-clock monitoring, regular ultrasounds and daily hormone monitoring of Vasha to more accurately predict the beginning of labor. In the past few years, Disney’s animal care teams have been able to narrow the birth window to within four days, which enables them to better prepare for the delivery.

Disney has been at the forefront of efforts to better understand and care for endangered elephants. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is part of a breeding program coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) that is focused on sustaining the elephant population in North America. AZA’s Elephant Species Survival Plan has called for a five-fold increase in African elephant reproduction efforts – using both natural and artificial breeding methods – in order to create a self-sustaining elephant population among North American zoos and wildlife centers.

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“Strong as a Rock,” Disney’s Baby Elephant Receives Swahili Name

Central Florida’s Children “Shine On” with $1.2 Million from Walt Disney World Resort

By
Chip
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Central Florida’s Children “Shine On” with $1.2 Million from Walt Disney World Resort

In honor of its 40th anniversary, Walt Disney World Resort today kicked off a 40-day “Shine On” celebration across Central Florida to surprise, recognize and reward nonprofit groups, school districts and organizations that improve the lives of local children.

Between now and May 22, Disney will give more than $1.2 million in Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants throughout Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties. Additionally, prize patrols will recognize 15 students in the five-county area as Disney Dreamers and Doers Shining Stars for their outstanding character.

“Walt Disney World Resort supports programs that make a long-term positive impact on children in our community,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “We are excited to begin this 40-day season of giving, during which we will distribute $1.2 million to local organizations that share our commitment to Central Florida’s children.”

Disney launched the effort this morning by awarding gifts totaling $290,000 to school districts and early learning coalitions in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Polk counties during a community networking breakfast at the Orlando Museum of Art.

“From the earliest steps toward kindergarten to high school graduation, our schools and our teachers have a profound effect on the leaders of tomorrow,” said Crofton, as she addressed an audience of community leaders and recognized Central Florida educators. “Great schools provide children the spark they need to go on to do great things. Disney applauds our local public schools for all the work they do to prepare our community’s children for the future.”

Disney Helping Kids Shine grant recipients demonstrate alignment with Disney’s goal of improving children’s lives by focusing on one or more of the following areas: connecting with adults, character development, constructive use of free time and compassion.

New Community Report Details Ongoing Contributions to Central Florida

Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants is just one of many ways that Walt Disney World Resort shares its magic within and beyond its borders. The newly released 2010 Community Report showcases Disney’s ongoing and active involvement in Central Florida.

As the largest single private employment site in the United States, Walt Disney World Resort and its more than 62,000 cast members play a vital role in Central Florida. The 2010 Community Report outlines Disney’s approach to corporate citizenship with a focus on accomplishments related to the environment, workplace and community, with a special emphasis on the well-being of children.

In 2010, Walt Disney World Resort focused on improving the lives of children through $28 million in cash and in-kind support, 228,000 hours from Disney VoluntEARS and collaboration with community leaders.

Examples of Disney’s charitable giving in Central Florida include:

  • Investing in children’s basic needs, such as quality healthcare and food and shelter for families in need. Walt Disney World works closely with local children’s hospitals, Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank to provide necessities for a quality childhood. Disney cast members gave $3.35 million during the Heart of Florida United Way campaign to assist social service agencies in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.
  • Providing support for organizations that help children develop and strengthen character so they can make positive contributions to society.  The 2010 Disney Helping Kids Shine Grants improved the lives of more than 10,000 local children by awarding $1.2 million to fund programs through 57 charities. Top Disney grant recipients include Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida and A Gift For Music, of which Disney is proud to be a founding sponsor.
  • Building strong foundations from preschool through high school through support of education. Cast members donated more than 2 million school supplies through an annual back-to-school supply drive, ensuring thousands of local students were able to start the school year with the essentials. Additionally, more than 400 students were selected as Disney Dreamers and Doers, which recognizes exceptional youth who make a difference in Central Florida. Cast members donated more than 2 million school supplies through an annual back-to-school supply drive, ensuring thousands of local students were able to start the school year with the essentials. Additionally, more than 400 students were selected as Disney Dreamers and Doers, which recognizes exceptional youth who make a difference in Central Florida.
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Central Florida’s Children “Shine On” with $1.2 Million from Walt Disney World Resort

Disney Food Confession – Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Red Velvet Cheesecake Cupcake

Where to  find it: Starring Rolls Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

What is it? Red velvet cake topped with cream cheese icing, a dollop cheesecake, and surrounded by pieces of toffee.

Why you want it: Just look at the photo! It is two rich desserts in one and perfect for sharing. It’s great for a snack, or since you are on vacation, I suggest giving it a try for breakfast.

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The Process of Restoring Star Wars for Blu-ray

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

The Process of Restoring Star Wars for Blu-rayStarWars.com has got a great article about the process of restoring the Star Wars saga for Blu-ray. It’s interesting to see how the films have progressed from its initial theatrical release, Laserdisc, VHS, DVD and now Blu-ray.

“When they did the transfer from film for the previous DVD, they wanted to make sure they got rid of frame edges, artifacts, splices or what have you,” says Dorne Huebler, an Associate Visual Effects Supervisor at ILM involved in the Blu-ray restoration. “So they were pretty aggressive about the blow-up.”

A blow-up is a magnification of the film image done to avoid displaying the edges of the frame. The Episode I home video magnifies the image to such an extent that approximately 8 percent of the picture is missing. In certain shots in Episode I, there are characters from the edge of frame that are gone in the DVD release, and have now been restored for the Blu-ray.

Expanding the picture and revisiting it in high-definition also surfaced some longstanding visual effects and technical errors that had gone undetected in the past. Though not every shot has been revisited (there are 2,000 after all), some have been corrected for this release.

“Ironically when you see things in HD, it’s not forgiving in the way film can be,” explains Huebler. “Flicker, grain and projector weave naturally disguise certain nuances when viewing film. We’ve really gone over shots with a fine-toothed comb and discovered issues we could improve with a bit of TLC.”

“Some of the issues come from these movies being finished for film and projected for film, and that’s how people saw them. A lot of things that look a little different on HD or DVD are really the nature of how video treats color space,” explains Huebler. A dramatic example of this came up in the 2004 DVD release, with the dimming of the lightsaber cores throughout the trilogy, even to the point where Luke’s lightsaber aboard the Millennium Falcon shifted from blue to green in Episode IV.

Read more about this fascinating restoration project on StarWars.com: http://bit.ly/qd5l3x

Pre-order today!

Last Chance! Win Prom on Disney Bluray DVD Combo Pack!

By
Chip
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Last Chance! Win Prom on Disney Bluray DVD Combo Pack!

We are giving away 2 copies of Prom on Bluray/DVD Combo Pack! This is your chance to take home this hit Disney Movie.

Follow the delightfully-fun—and often hilarious—journey of a group of young teenagers as they navigate through the most memorable and also difficult times of their lives in the original film PROM, arriving on Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, Movie Download and On-Demand, August 30, 2011.  This enchanting coming-of-age story is the perfect family-friendly film that captures all the anticipation, excitement, drama, and humor that accompany every young person’s journey through high school.

Consumers will not want to miss the chance to own the ultimate 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack that is exclusively packaged with bonus features including a hilarious, laugh out loud short “Last Chance Lloyd,” deleted scenes, music videos and more. PROM will be available for purchase at retail as a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) or a High Definition Movie Download for the suggested price of $39.99 in the U.S. and $46.99 in Canada; as well as a 1-Disc DVD or a Standard Definition Movie Download for the suggested price of $29.99 in the U.S. and $35.99 in Canada.

For more information on this release, please visit www.Disney.com/Prom.

Now on to the Giveaway Details!

Last Chance! Win Prom on Disney Bluray DVD Combo Pack!

 

To enter all you have to do is goto the Chip and Co Facebook Page and then follow the directions below.

  1. On the left hand side of the Facebook page Click on the Suggest Chip and Co Button. (see above circled in yellow)
  2. First Become a fan if you haven’t already.
  3. Next suggest us to your friends.
  4. Each person you Suggest Chip and Co to counts as one entry.( I can track the # of people you suggest us to)
  5. Each Share on your Wall Counts as 2 Entries ( I can track these too)
  6. For a Bonus and entry Retweet, Like, Share, or Google +1 this post at the top and bottom of this page

That is it.. NO Strings attached! Basically the more people you Suggest Us to will determine how many entries you have in our contest. Of course you can sit there and spam us to your Wall too but I don’t think your friends would like that 🙂

Contest ends tomorrow night September 1st at 9pm EST.  I will pick 2 people from all the entries and notify you via Facebook that you won. As always you have 24 hrs to email me back where I can get your info and mail out your prizes to you.

Won’t you Help spread the word and share Chip and Co with everyone you know? The more people who like our page the more prizes I can get from advertisers and friends.

Good Luck and Thanks for being a fan of Chip and Co!

P.S. – Stay tuned this Friday where I will be giving away a HUGE Disney’s Tinker Bell Prize Pack. Look on our Facebook Page for pictures and details!

 

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Brad Garrett Finds Nemo at Disneyland Park

By
Chip
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Brad Garrett at Disneyland Park

Disney recently welcomed Brad Garrett and his family back to the Disneyland Resort. Aside from being an award-winning actor and one of the nicest guys around, Brad is also known for providing the voices for some Disney and Disney•Pixar characters on the big screen, most recently in Disney’s “Tangled” as Hook Hand and before that as Chef Gusteau in the Disney•Pixar film “Ratatouille.”

Brad told us he is currently working on another animation project, “Planes” for DisneyToon Studios, which draws inspiration from the world of Disney•Pixar’s “Cars.”

Can you name the character Brad voiced in the 2003 Disney•Pixar film “Finding Nemo” who also appears in Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland park?

Take a look back at more celebrity visits at Disney Parks in the posts below:

Source Disney Parks Blog

Brad Garrett Finds Nemo at Disneyland Park

Brad Garrett Finds Nemo at Disneyland Park

Disney Channel Orders Third Season Of Hit Comedy Series Good Luck Charlie

By
Chip
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Disney Channel Orders Third Season Of Hit Comedy Series Good Luck Charlie

Disney Channel has ordered a third season of its hit kid and family sitcom, “Good Luck Charlie.” Production is scheduled to resume in Los Angeles for a season premiere in early 2012. The series, created by Phil Baker and Drew Vaupen (“Suddenly Susan” and “What I Like About You”), is executive-produced by Baker, Vaupen and Dan Staley (“Cheers,” “Love & Money”) and stars Bridgit Mendler, Jason Dolley, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Bradley Steven Perry, Mia Talerico and Eric Allan Kramer.

“Good Luck Charlie” has also inspired a Disney Channel Original Movie, “Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!,” set to premiere in December, starring the cast along with guest stars Debra Monk (“Damages,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) and Michael Kagan (“Desperate Housewives”).

The series ranks a dominant No. 1 in its time period, and in July, delivered its second-highest rated telecast of all time in both the Kid 6-11 and Tween 9-14 demographics.  With 21% of its viewers Adults 18-49, it is among Disney Channel’s successful programming geared towards the whole family.

A fan favorite, “Good Luck Charlie” centers around the everyday adventures of the busy Duncan clan: working full-time parents Bob and Amy; their three teen kids PJ, Teddy and Gabe; and fast-growing toddler, Charlie.

“Good Luck Charlie, It’s Christmas!” follows the Duncans as they get separated en route to Palm Springs, and with just days left before the holiday, everyone scrambles to reunite the family. In true Duncan fashion, and not without facing some hiccups, hurdles and even a happy surprise, they discover a whole new meaning of family. The movie was written by Geoff Rodkey (“R.V.,” “Daddy Day Care“) and directed by Emmy-nominee Arlene Sanford (“Ally McBeal,” “Boston Legal”).

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Favorite Disney Stories Come to Life in All-New Disney Princess: Enchanting Storybooks Video Game

By
Chip
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Favorite Disney Stories Come to Life in All-New Disney Princess: Enchanting Storybooks Video GameThe beloved Disney Princess classics come alive this fall in Disney Princess: Enchanting Storybooks, an open-ended creative adventure through the timeless tales, scheduled for release Nov. 1 from THQ Inc.

Available on Nintendo DS(TM)/DSi(TM) and the uDraw GameTablet(R) for Wii(TM), Disney Princess: Enchanting Storybooks invites players to engage in an array of stylus-based activities, including number-painting stages, unique tilt-painting games, and even coloring-book pages that narrate the classic stories aloud.

Filled with numerous activities designed for girls on the uDraw GameTablet, Enchanting Storybooks introduces players to a brand-new character — Opal — the fairy tasked with coloring magical kingdoms every year. But this time, Opal’s spell has gone awry, and instead she has accidentally taken all the color away. It’s up to players to help her restore the brilliant luster to the fairytale realms using their uDraw(TM) and Nintendo DS stylus.

As they are guided through each storybook, players will also express themselves with games like the sticker-book activity mode and musical tune-up activities — all of which incorporate the classic tales of Ariel from The Little Mermaid; Belle from Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Jasmine from Aladdin, Tiana from The Princess and the Frog and, appearing as a Disney Princess for the first time in a video game, Rapunzel from Tangled.

“The Disney Princess characters are favorites of little girls everywhere, and our goal has been to make a game for them that takes advantage of the special capabilities of the uDraw GameTablet,” said Martin Good, executive vice president of PlayTHQ, the company’s division for kids, family and casual games. “Whether they venture under the sea or into the bayou, we’re excited that the uDraw will allow generations of fans to experience these classic Disney princesses.”

Disney Princess: Enchanting Storybooks also features six unlockable magical tools that add to players’ creativity through the game, including Belle’s Rose Petal Crayon and Rapunzel’s Watercolor Brush. Throughout the experience, players will be challenged by “tilt-a-maze” games along with additional musical features that include follow-the-rhythm, magic search and spot-the-difference games.

Bringing together 70 years of magical Disney Princess characters — including Snow White, who appears in unlockable coloring-book pages — Disney Princess: Enchanting Storybooks offers a journey into imagination created especially for young princesses-in-training.

Disney Princess: Enchanting Storybooks is scheduled to be released Nov. 1, both for the uDraw GameTablet (us msrp:$29.99) and Nintendo DS/DSi (us msrp:$19.99). For more information, visit www.WorldofuDraw.com .

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Disney BabyZone – Crazy Baby Hair Contest

By
Chip
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Disney BabyZone - Crazy Baby Hair Contest

Does your child have a case of crazy curls, frightening frizzies, or baby bed head? I know my little one sure does!

Submit photos of your baby’s crazy hair and you could win cash prizes of $2,500 or $500 in Disney BabyZone’s Crazy Baby Hair Contest.

Click here to submit your photo and to enter!

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Disney Food Confession – White Chocolate Elephant Cupcake

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Disney Food Confession - White Chocolate Elephant Cupcake

Where to find it:   Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park (Africa).

What is it?  Rich Chocolate Cake filled with Chocolate Cream and topped with a Light Buttercream and Toasted Coconut

Why you want it:  This is a beautiful, flavor rich and luscious cupcake. A perfect treat to share among 2 or 3 people while using only one snack credit. Don’t try to savor it all yourself!

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Disney Food Confession - White Chocolate Elephant Cupcake

Wednesday with Walt: A Man Ahead of His Time

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Wednesday with Walt: A Man Ahead of His Time

Walt Disney’s technological genius was way ahead of his time. When I think about all he could be accomplishing if he was alive today, with all of this technology at his fingertips, I know the results would be amazing. I would guess that if Walt was alive today he would be delirious with possibilities.

In The Fantastic Walt Disney, by Bill Davidson published in the Saturday Evening Post, Volume 237 (1964) there is a very fitting quote by one of the executives who had been with Walt for many years.  Charles Levy had a theory about Walt’s talent. He said, “Walt restlessly prowls the earth like a walking electronic computer storing up data. You never know when he is going to press a button, and some idea, maybe from as far back as 1910, will come tumbling out of his brain.”

Quite often Walt would come up with ideas for which technology had not yet caught up. In fact, Levy said that Walt came up with the idea and plan for an audio-animatronic Abraham Lincoln way back in 1945.

Wednesday with Walt: A Man Ahead of His Time
Exhibit inside "One Man's Dream" at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Using the available technology, Walt had Buddy Ebsen (who was known to be quite a dancer) doing dance moves while men in the studio were punching holes in “what seemed to be a mechanical piano roll.” Levy said, “then I saw Walt playing with little Buddy Ebsen dolls, which were attached by electric wires to a huge console-type machine. The men would feed the piano rolls into the console like a continuous I.B.M. card, and the little Buddy Ebsen dolls would repeat the dance steps I had seen Ebsen himself do.”

Unfortunately, Walt’s experiments didn’t work because, at the time, there was no such thing as transistors and the machinery was too burdensome. Walt’s quote, “if you can dream it, you can do it” sticks in my mind. It must have been so frustrating for him as he was creating ideas and designs to have to wait years to actually be able to see them through to fruition.

In this case, Walt would have to wait until the World’s Fair in 1964 before technology would allow him to put his idea into practice. He carried that idea around in his mind for 19 years waiting for technology to catch up to him.  But – wow! From my technologically-challenged perspective I am in awe of such an advanced mind. What he would be able to accomplish today would be staggering. I think our own techno genius, Chip, would even be impressed!

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