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Win a Free Disney Vacation from About.com

By
Chip
-

Win a Free Disney Vacation from About.com

To enter head on over to the Disney Trip Planner site at About.com, in the upper right side of the page you’ll see a promotion for a chance to score a Disney vacation from About.com.

Enter to win one of four trips–Disney Character Dining Experience, Princess/Pirate Makeover, Magical Relaxation Retreat, or Sights and Surprises Sensation–and you could be on your way to either Disneyland or Walt Disney World for a 5-day spring getaway.

Click the picture above to enter.

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Win a Free Disney Vacation from About.com

Season Three of Disney’s “Phineas And Ferb” Premieres March 4

By
Chip
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Season Three of Disney's "Phineas And Ferb" Premieres March 4

Mark Your Calendar! Platypus Day is Saturday, March 5 on Disney XD

The smart, sophisticated and good-natured comedy of Disney‘s “Phineas and Ferb” continues to attract famous fans who’ve recorded guest roles for the Emmy-winning animated series’ third season, premiering FRIDAY, MARCH 4 (9:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. The series is also seen on Disney XD.

The remarkable lineup of stars who’ve recorded upcoming episodes includes iconic actor and producer Michael Douglas, who guest stars along with his 10-year-old son, Dylan Michael Douglas, when Danville’s scariest haunted house opens for the neighborhood kids; Jane Lynch guest stars as Jeremy’s mother, Mrs. Johnson; Tina Fey plays an eager buyer who seeks to purchase the building which headquarters Doofenshmirtz Evil, Incorporated; Michael J. Fox pays tribute to the cult hit “Teen Wolf” with the Werewolf Michael role; Anna Paquin (“True Blood”) again plays a star-crossed lover in a vampire/werewolf storyline; Joan Cusack guest stars as a train conductor whose can-do attitude just might convince Candace to give up trying to bust her brothers; and renowned chef Jamie Oliver (ABC’s “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution”) judges Danville’s meatloaf competition.

As the animated gem continues to increase in popularity, Disney XD will commemorate Platypus Day, an official day honoring Danville’s favorite pet and secret agent Perry the Platypus (aka Agent P), with a marathon programming event, SATURDAY, MARCH 5 (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET/PT). Disney Channel will also present a marathon of Perry the Platypus (Agent P) episodes (5:00-8:00 p.m., ET/PT). Currently online, both DisneyChannel.com and DisneyXD.com feature an array of Platypus-themed games and activities that challenge users to earn Platy-points to unlock additional bonus features. In the online Platypus Photo Booth, fans can create their own photo with Perry the Platypus and send a top secret Platypus Day greeting card with Perry chatter only friends can decode.

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Season Three of Disney's "Phineas And Ferb" Premieres March 4

Princess Half Marathon – Are You Ready?

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

princess half marathon

Only a few more days until the 2011 Princess Half Marathon.  Although Disney’s Princess half marathon (13.1 miles) has recently reached capacity, there is still a limited amount of space available for the Beauty and the Beast Royal Family 5k (3.1 miles) and the Disney Royal Family Kids’ Races.

The 2 day celebration begins at the ESPN Wide World of Sports with the expo opening Friday, February 25th, at 10 a.m.  This particular race weekend is celebrating women and focuses on health and fitness for women of all ages, though men are welcome to run as well.

If you’re participating in the big race, make sure to get your specially priced theme park tickets for race participants and enjoy your weekend at Walt Disney World!

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D23’s “50 and Fabulous” Screening Series: The Absent-Minded Professor

By
Chip
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D23's "50 and Fabulous" Screening Series: The Absent-Minded Professor

D23 is proud to present the second film in our 2011 “50 and Fabulous” screening series on the historic Walt Disney Studio Lot. The hilarious The Absent-Minded Professor will be screened inside the state-of-the-art, 400-seat Studio Theatre.

While missing his (third) trip to the altar with his beloved Betsy Carlisle, Medfield College Professor Ned Brainard invents the magical Flubber. The rubbery creation comes complete with an antigravity agent that helps a basketball team win a game, makes a Model T fly and even outsmarts a crook!

Originally released March 16, 1961, the film stars Fred MacMurray — the first Disney Legend! — in the title role, alongside such Disney favorites as Ed Wynn (Mary Poppins, Babes in Toyland), Tommy Kirk (Swiss Family Robinson, The Shaggy Dog) and Nancy Olson (Pollyanna, Son of Flubber). The film also features the “Medfield Fight Song,” the first song ever penned by Richard and Robert Sherman for a Disney movie.

The event will also feature a limited selection of D23 merchandise and a special gift just for each D23 Member who attends, as well as the opportunity to mix and mingle with your fellow D23 Members on the Studio Lot!

Event Information
DATE
Saturday, March 12, 2011

LOCATION
The Studio Theatre, The Walt Disney Studios
Burbank, California

TICKETS
Available Thursday, February 17, 10 a.m. PST.

Please check this page for the ticket link.

COST
FREE (There will be a $5 ticket processing fee.)

TIME
Check in begins at 1 p.m.; Screening begins at 2 p.m.
(please do not arrive at the Studio Lot before 1 p.m.)

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Festival Center Abuzz with Garden and Design Know-How During Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV

By
Chip
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Festival Center Abuzz with Garden and Design Know-How During Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV

The Festival Center at the 18th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival presented by HGTV will be alive with expert-led seminars, demonstrations, discussions and Q&A sessions daily throughout the 75-day event that begins March 2 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Located next to Mission: Space in Future World at Epcot, the Festival Center showcases HGTV and HGTV.com celebrities on weekends and other experts — including “Master Gardeners” from University of Florida, Walt Disney World Horticulturists and a mix of national and regional TV/radio personalities, authors and educators — seven days a week. Here’s what’s happening:

  • The HGTV Designers’ Stage in the Festival Center features presentations daily at noon and 3 p.m. on a broad range of garden and design topics — beginning with “Butterflies & Beyond” by entomologist Jaret Daniels on the opening two days of the festival. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 15, popular experts from HGTV will take over, beginning with Genevieve Gorder (HGTV Design Star and Dear Genevieve) March 4-6 on the topic “The Art of Sculpting Space.”
  • Meanwhile, at the Festival Center’s Greenhouse Stage daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Disney Horticulturists, authors and educators will share tips and secrets guests can plant in their own garden. These limited-space sessions include interactive hands-on discoveries during which guests make something to take home.
  • Experts from University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) present Planting Pointers — gardening ideas for everyone — daily at 1 and 4 p.m. Guests also can Ask an Expert — a UF/IFAS “Master Gardener” — their gardening questions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Here are topics and speakers scheduled for HGTV Designers’ Stage and Greenhouse Stage:

HGTV Designers’ Stage
Presentations daily at noon and 3 p.m.
(HGTV/HGTV.com celebrity distinctions are noted in parentheses)

March 2-3: “Butterflies & Beyond” — Jaret C. Daniels
March 4-6: “The Art of Sculpting Space” — Genevieve Gorder (HGTV Design Star and Dear Genevieve)
March 7-10: “Passalong Plants” — Felder Rushing
March 11-13: “Design It Yourself: Easy-to-follow Tips for Designing Your Favorite Rooms” — Lisa LaPorta (Designed to Sell)
March 14-17: “Grow Great Grub” — Gayla Trail
March 18-20: “The 5 DIY Secrets That Can Transform Any Space” — Kim Myles (Myles of Style)
March 21-24: “10 Heirloom Plants You Should Be Growing” / “New & Exciting Plants for Every Garden” — Danielle Sherry
March 25-27: “Mobile Gardens” — Brian Patrick Flynn (Design Happens, HGTV.com)
March 28-31: “Secrets of the Garden Revealed & More Plants For Free” — Ken Druse
April 1-3: “Adding Value to Your Home without Breaking the Bank” — Taniya Nayak (Designed to Sell and Destination Design)
April 4-7: “Four Season Garden & Proven Combinations” — Erica Glasener
April 8-10: “Life, Love and Landscaping” — Ahmed Hassan (Yard Crashers)
April 11-14: “Container Gardening: From Dirt to Design & The Secret to Combining Plants” — Steve Aitken
April 15-17: “Gardening with Kids: Fun Seed Starting Projects” — Patti Moreno (Garden Girl, HGTV.com)
April 18-21: “Year-round Garden-tainment” — Melinda Myers
April 22-24: “Creative, Back-to-Basics Style for All Things Natural and Decorative” — Michele Beschen (B. Original)
April 25-28: “Herbal Blends from Around the World” — Susan Belsinger & Tina Marie Wilcox
April 29-May 1: “The Design Process: Curb Appeal Projects from Concept to Construction” — John Gidding (Curb Appeal: The Block)
May 2-5: “The Small-Budget Gardener” — Maureen Gilmer
May 6-8: “Beautiful on a Budget: High Style, Low Cost Secrets to Bringing Indoor Styling Outside” — Frank Fontana (Design on a Dime)
May 9-12: “Slow Gardening” — Felder Rushing
May 13-15: “Top Design Trends Made Affordable and Accessible” — Vern Yip (HGTV Design Star)

Greenhouse Stage
Presentations daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
(Visit the Festival Center for topics on days not noted)

March 4-6: “Groceries from the Garden” — Robert Bowden
March 10-13: “Gardening for all Generations” — Brenda Sandberg & Scott Hulett
March 17-20: “Gardening in Miniature” — Joseph Rainey
March 24-27: “Helpful Mower & Small Equipment Tips” — Scott Franklin
March 31-April 3: “Tropical Edibles” — Jarrod Stewart
April 7-10: “Fun Holiday Projects” — Doug Benedict
April 15-17: “Gardening Challenges” — Tom MacCubbin
April 21-24: “Seed, Sow & Grow” — Ed Buhler
April 28-May 1: “Inspiring Patio Designs” — Allison Brooks
May 6-8: “Mastery & Mind in Living Flowers” — Ricardo Bansho Carrasco
May 12-15: “A to Z on Herbs” — Tracy Fischer

The presentations are included with Epcot admission, but seating is limited and on a first-come basis. Speakers, presentations and guests are subject to change without notice. For more Epcot International Flower & Garden information, visit disneyworld.com/flower.

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Festival Center Abuzz with Garden and Design Know-How During Epcot Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV

Walt Disney Studios’ Exclusive Bambi Screening and Platinum Edition Release Celebration in Chicago

By
Chip
-

Walt Disney Studios' Exclusive Bambi Screening and Platinum Edition Release Celebration in Chicago

Our friends at Walt Disney Studios are offering D23 Members the opportunity to experience a special screening event of Disney‘s beloved classic Bambi to celebrate the film’s Diamond Edition release.

Based on Felix Salten‘s book, the Academy Award®-nominated Bambi was released in theaters in August of 1942. The animation process on the film was meticulous, as Walt would encourage his talented animators to truly capture the movements and characteristics of the woodland creatures portrayed in the movie. And Walt was thrilled with the result. “Fellas, this stuff is pure gold,” Walt told his team. And audiences for nearly 70 years have agreed.

After the screening, D23’s Disney Geek Jeffrey Epstein will host a panel discussion and audience Q&A with legendary Disney animator Andreas Deja (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King) and Donnie Dunagan, the original voice of young Bambi! Following the presentation, Andreas and Donnie will be available for meet and greets, and each guest will receive a special Bambi keepsake for signing!

To reserve a spot, please email us at [email protected]. The subject line should be “Bambi Screening,” and the email should include the Member’s full name, membership number and number of guests attending (including the member, up to two guests total). Space is limited so please sign up in advance if you plan to attend.

Bambi Diamond Edition Combo Pack is available in stores March 1, 2011. The film is rated G.

Event Information
DATE
Monday, February 21, 2011

LOCATION
MCA Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois

TICKETS
Tickets available now!
Follow instructions below.

COST
Free

TIME
Check In begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Museum Education Center Lobby. Presentation begins at
7 p.m.

Related articles
  • Learn How To Draw Bambi & Thumper! (chipandco.com)
  • BAMBI Diamond Edition Comes to Bluray March 1st (2lonelydeeks.com)
Walt Disney Studios' Exclusive Bambi Screening and Platinum Edition Release Celebration in Chicago

ANNOUNCEMENT: DisneyToon Studios Announces Planes!

By
Chip
-

ANNOUNCEMENT: DisneyToon Studios Announces Planes!

The sky’s the limit as DisneyToon Studios proudly announces PLANES – a spectacular, full-length CG animated comedy action adventure movie for everyone set high above the world of CARS. PLANES will introduce an entirely original and hilarious crew of daredevils from every corner of the globe and draws inspiration from the immensely popular Disney•Pixar’s CARS world. PLANES will arrive on Blu-ray™ and DVD in Spring 2013.

“We had such a great time exploring the world of ‘Cars’ over the course of two films, so it seemed only natural for us to see where our imaginations would take us in a film where planes were the main characters. By expanding the Cars world, ‘Planes’ gave us a whole new set of fun-filled situations and a great opportunity to introduce some fantastic new characters,” commented John Lasseter, Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios.

“The team at DisneyToon Studios has done such an amazing job creating a heartfelt story filled with great comedy, adventure, and emotion. I know audiences are going to love taking off into the wild blue yonder with these daredevil characters, as they experience a whole new kind of animated adventure.”

PLANES takes off with an international cast of the fastest air racers around, in a comedy packed with action and adventure starring Dusty, a small town dreamer who longs to enter the most epic around-the-world air race … despite his fear of heights. With the help and support of a fleet of new and hilarious characters, Dusty wings his way into the biggest challenge of his life.

Fasten your seatbelt as more information on PLANES will be arriving shortly.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: DisneyToon Studios Announces Planes!

Popular ESPN Personalities Headline ESPN The Weekend at Disney March 4-6

By
Chip
-
Popular ESPN Personalities Headline ESPN The Weekend at Disney March 4-6

Marquee stars from the NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA, plus well-known ESPN on-air personalities, are headed back to Walt Disney World Resort for the eighth annual Dick’s Sporting Goods presents ESPN The Weekend — a sports-themed weekend March 4-6 where fans have a one-of-a-kind opportunity see and hear many of their favorite athletes and ESPN personalities.

This year’s lineup at Disney’s Hollywood Studios features more than 35 athletes and ESPN stars, including former University of Florida football coach and current ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, N.Y. Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson, Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, NBA Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving and MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., plus former NFL star Derrick Brooks, ex-NBA great Alonzo Mourning and current Orlando Magic players.

Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, hosts of the popular “Mike & Mike in the Morning” show, return as co-hosts of the event, and will broadcast live March 3-4 from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney. They will be joined by several fellow ESPN personalities such as “The Herd” host Colin Cowherd, “Monday Night Football’s” Ron Jaworski and MLB analyst Nomar Garciaparra.

Additional ESPN personalities include, Tedy Bruschi, Linda Cohn, Herm Edwards, John Kruk, Karl Ravech, Bobby Valentine and Trey Wingo.

Other athletes expected to participate are Donald Driver and Greg Jennings (Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers), Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens), Brandon Jacobs (NY Giants), Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers), Darrelle Revis (NY Jets), Bart Scott (NY Jets), Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons), DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) and Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys); Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain (NY Yankees); Frank Thomas and Bernie Williams (MLB legends); Mia Hamm (U.S. Women’s soccer legend); Karl Malone and Gary Payton (NBA legends); and Tony Dorsett and Mike Singletary (NFL Hall of Famers).

The complete list of ESPN personalities and sports celebrities expected to attend is detailed at www.espntheweekend.com (Click on Who’s Coming).

For the first time in the event’s history, several popular sports team mascots will participate in the event, including the Phillie Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies), Albert E. Gator (University of Florida), the Penn State Nittany Lion, the Oregon Duck, Homer The Brave (Atlanta Braves), Captain Fear the Buccaneer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Sebastian the Ibis (University of Miami).

In addition to athlete appearances, ESPN The Weekend will feature on-site telecasts of popular ESPN programs (beginning Thursday, March 3) at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney, including “Baseball Tonight,” “First Take,” “Mike & Mike in the Morning,” “NFL Live” and “Friday Night Fights;” motorcades and Q&A sessions with athletes and ESPN personalities; Inside ESPN sports shows with commentators and athletes; and the ESPN Sports Zone interactive area where fans can interact with their favorite sports stars. There will also be Atlanta Braves spring training games taking place at ESPN Wide World of Sports, including a March 3 game against the Tigers that airs on ESPN with new “Sunday Night Baseball” crew Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser and Valentine.

To find the latest updates on Twitter for ESPN The Weekend, go to @DisneySports and search #ESPNWKND.

LIVE ON-SITE BROADCASTS AND STAGE SHOWS

ESPN will present live telecasts — including “Baseball Tonight,” “First Take” and “NFL Live” from a set in front of Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat on Hollywood Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Park guests will have a chance to appear on-air via crowd shots while watching the programming on video screens. Popular ESPN Radio shows “Mike & Mike in the Morning” and “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd will be broadcast live from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex March 3-4.

As Major League Baseball Spring Training games get underway in Florida, ESPN’s on-site program lineup will feature a special two-hour “Baseball Tonight” with host Ravech and analysts Garciaparra, Kruk and Valentine from the theme park March 6 at 4 p.m. ET as ESPN’s popular baseball news, information and highlights show kicks off its 21st season.

ESPN Deportes’ “Beisbol Esta Noche” with Carolina Guillen and Candy Maldonado will broadcast from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, while “Jorge Ramos y Su Banda,” with Jorge Ramos, Hernan Pereyra and Jose del Valle, will go live from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Radio Disney’s on-air personality Ernie D will be broadcasting live from ESPN The Weekend on Saturday, March 5 and Sunday, March 6 at 2 p.m. ET, featuring interviews with athletes.

Additionally, live stage shows will bring fans and guests behind-the-scenes of some of the network’s most popular programs, including “Baseball Tonight,” “First Take,” “NFL Live” and “Stump the Schwab.” The shows will provide an inside look at favorite athletes, teams and ESPN programs. Fans can get into the action themselves by asking questions directly to ESPN personalities and athletes.

ESPN SPORTS ZONE INTERACTIVE AREA

The ESPN Sports Zone will give guests of all ages the opportunity to test their skills at a wide variety of sports. MLB-, NBA-, NFL- and BASS-themed interactive areas within the Zone will have fans swinging for the fences, shooting baskets and throwing passes, as well as Dick’s Sporting Goods’ Sports Caravan, a multi-sport interactive area.

ESPN RADIO’S MIKE & MIKE HOST “ULTIMATE GUY’S WEEKEND”

ESPN Radio’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning” will broadcast live from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Thursday and Friday, March 3-4 (6-10 a.m. ET). Co-hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic will also host the “Ultimate Guy’s Weekend” during ESPN The Weekend, including activities such a round of golf, Friday Night Fights, a clambake and much more. ESPN Radio’s popular morning-drive show launched in January 2000 and today is heard (and seen on ESPN2) by more than 12 million listeners each week on more than 350 stations nationwide.

YANKEE LEGEND TO PERFORM NIGHTLY

Four-time MLB world champion turned classical guitarist Bernie Williams, who closed out last year’s event with a live performance on “Baseball Tonight,” returns and will perform all three nights at the Sorcerer Hat Stage to close out the day’s activities. The former New York Yankee outfielder, who plays and composes his own music, has released two albums, The Journey Within and Moving Forward.

FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will host its first-ever “Friday Night Fights” on March 4, with six professional bouts planned for the Jostens Center. The marquee event features two undefeated fighters, NABF Light Heavyweight Champion Ismayl Sillakh (14-0-0) and challenger Yordanis Despaigne (8-0-0), headlining a series of bouts scheduled to air on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET.

5K ROAD RACE AND FUN RUN

The Champion 5K at Dick’s Sporting Goods Presents ESPN The Weekend returns for its third year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Saturday, March 5, at 7 a.m., challenging runners along the course with ESPN and sports trivia and will feature athletes and ESPN personalities, including Jay Crawford, Dana Jacobson and Trey Wingo. The 5K will benefit The V Foundation for Cancer Research, and all participants will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. There will also be a Fun Run for kids at 8 a.m. To register, visit runDisney.com.

TICKETING AND ADMISSION

Event activities are included in regular admission to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The Walt Disney World innovative ticket pricing system, Magic Your Way, provides guests with the opportunity to customize their vacations and Florida residents can save on tickets all year long. Separate tickets must be purchased for events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

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Popular ESPN Personalities Headline ESPN The Weekend at Disney March 4-6

D23’s 2nd Anniversary Member Mixer at Disneyland

By
Chip
-

D23's 2nd Anniversary Member Mixer at Disneyland

The D23 Team wants to celebrate our second anniversary with a few of our fantastic members, and what better way than with food, games, drinks and a wonderful World of Color?

Once guests check in at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney they will be given their FASTPASS for World of Color as well as a complimentary $10 game card for the Arena where the festivities will begin. There, guests will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with some of the D23 Team and other D23 Members, while enjoying drink specials and some of the ESPN Zone’s signature dishes, which will be available for purchase.

At 7 p.m. we will begin our walk over to Disney California Adventure where we’ll enjoy the 8:15 p.m. performance of the nighttime spectacular World of Color. It’s the perfect way to celebrate our second, Technicolor year — and look forward to many more wonderful years of D23 magic together.

Event Information
DATE
Thursday, March 10, 2011

LOCATION
Disneyland Resort
Anaheim CA

TIME
5:30 p.m. — 9 p.m.

CHECK-IN
Begins at 5:30 p.m. at the ESPN Zone, Downtown Disney, Anaheim

COST
FREE

RESERVATIONS
Available Wednesday, February 23, 2011, at 10 a.m. PST/1:00 p.m. EST.

Check back here for ticket link.

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D23's 2nd Anniversary Member Mixer at Disneyland

Pixar’s Place in the Parks: To Saturation… and Beyond!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Pixar’s Place in the Parks: To Saturation… and Beyond!

Do you remember what the very first Pixar-themed ride or attraction was to open in a Disney Park? It’s surprising to think of how many Pixar characters have appeared in some way in the Parks.

Here is a list of the Pixar-themed rides and attractions so far:

This doesn’t account for the Meet-and-Greets and temporary Shows that have come and gone over the years. Nor for the ones I’ve missed! But from my research, the Winner, and the first Pixar Film to have it’s own themed attraction, was A Bug’s Life. Other Pixar films featured in attractions are Toy Story (2), Finding Nemo (4), Monsters Inc. (2), and Cars (?).

So what Pixar films are waiting to be turned into a ride or attraction? Here are the remaining candidates:

  • The Incredibles
  • Ratatouille
  • Wall-E
  • UP

I think it’s obvious that the last three wouldn’t yield a particularly interesting attraction. Possibly Dark Rides at best. Of course, Ratatouille has been tapped for theming at several restaurants. And while UP characters have been seen at Meet-and-Greets and in Parades, poor Wall-E just hasn’t found his place in the Parks yet!

But how about The Incredibles?

I vote for a Dueling Roller coaster! A dueling coaster features two (or more) roller coasters, usually with a similar layout, built close to each other. Such a coaster would be designed to produce near-misses between the coaster trains. I recommend one themed in red for the Incredibles, and the other in black for Syndrome. A third track (in blue) could be added to feature Frozone. Too cool!

A great example of this type of coaster is in Islands of Adventure, Orlando, FL. The Dragon Challenge coasters reach a top speed of 55 MPH and pass within 12 inches of each other at some points. Oh yeah! That’s just, well… Incredible!

Disney is the undisputed leader in themed roller coasters, but Parks like Universal tend to win when it comes to coasters offering sheer thrills! An Incredibles dueling roller coaster could change that forever. And it should be in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to help bolster that Park, and to best fit in with the increasing Pixar presence already there.

Well, that’s just my vote for what the next Pixar-themed attraction at the Disney Theme Parks should be. What’s yours?

Lee A. Beatens is a Writer/Artist. His writing side is showcased at the Blog called Disleelandia, and his love for all-things artistic is showcased at the Blog called The CANADIAN Kingdom. His improbable third side is showcased here. You can follow him on both FB and Twitter.

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Pixar’s Place in the Parks: To Saturation… and Beyond!

Surprise! You’ve Been Upgraded!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
-

Surprise! You’ve Been Upgraded!

My trip September 2010 was full of magic. It was the first trip ever for my best friend and my first trip in nearly a decade. Since we figured this was the last time we would get to go to Disney for a very long time we decided to go BIG.  We wanted to stay in a deluxe resort.

At first we had our hearts set on the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the concierge level. But the best laid plans of mice and Dragyns always go awry.  When I called the cast member he set me up in the Bay Lake Tower with a Magic View Studio… Awesome!

This would have been good enough for me but I started reading online that in Disney myth and legend there was such a thing as a surprise upgrade. Yes you read correctly “surprise upgrade”!  These little bits of extra magic seemed like the Loch Ness monster or big foot. You know everyone talks about them but only a few have seen.

I asked around and combed the internet to see if there was something anything you could do to become one of the surprise upgraded few. Everyone had their theories; if you ask the cast member when there is no line, or if you checked in extra early, or if the planets aligned just so.  But there really was no set way to guarantee an upgrade.

So I gave up and decided that a studio room in a deluxe villa was more than I could have hoped for and that I should just be happy.

Fast forward to my actual check-in. I go to online check-in line. – Wait did I forget to mention I did online check-in?! Oh well my experience wasn’t that great and it wouldn’t let me put in a room request! Which would have bothered me except…

“You’ve been upgraded to a one bedroom suite.”  (Insert squeal of complete and utter happiness!)

Surprise! You’ve Been Upgraded!
Bedroom Bay Lake Tower
Surprise! You’ve Been Upgraded!
Living Room Bay Lake Tower

Now I tell you all this story for a couple reasons. The first is to let you know that an upgrade like mine is not a myth. It is real and can happen to you! The second is to list a few reasons why I think I was upgraded and see if the magic can spread.

The Reasons I think I got a surprise upgrade:

1.       Both my best friend and I were celebrating our birthdays. In other words Disney likes to make people who are celebrating stuff happy!

2.       We were celebrating my best friend’s first ever Disney trip. Disney realizes that the first trip is the most memorable and if the first trip rocks you will most likely come back.

3.       It was an off time of year. We went in early September. There weren’t a lot of special events going on. The crowds were very low. Disney had room to spare and we were there to pick up the key!

4.       We spent a LOT of money on this trip. Yeah… I won’t go into details there.

Keep this in mind and may your next Disney stay be magical! (Upgrade or not.)

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Surprise! You’ve Been Upgraded!

Walt Disney World: Planning the Perfect Day!

By
Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends
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Walt Disney World: Planning the Perfect Day!
Cinderella's Castle

When it comes to the Walt Disney World resort, there are so many things that you can do that almost any day can be considered the perfect day!  But for the purposes of this exercise, I’m going to take you through one possible scenario of what the perfect day for me is at Walt Disney World.

Disclaimer: The perfect day is totally open for re-interpretation, and can be changed to another perfect day at any time that I (or more specifically, my wife) deems necessary without warning.

The possibilities are endless, to be honest.  For some of us, the perfect day would involve getting right on every ride at all of the parks.  For others, maybe having the best dining Advanced Dining Reservations all day.  For me, though, it does depend on what I want to do on a particular day, but the first thing that must happen is that my perfect day has to include my wife and daughter as part of it.

I have been to Disney World by myself once, but in all honesty, one of the biggest reasons I go to Disney is to enjoy a great vacation with my family.  That single fact makes any day the perfect day.

Now that I have decided that my perfect day will include at least my wife and daughter, it is now time to get down to the nitty-gritty on the details.  Right now, I’m in a mellow mood, and my perfect day doesn’t really have to include hitting all of the top attractions, although I do think we will certainly hit some of them.

For me, the perfect day has perfect weather.  How’s this sound: a light southerly breeze, warm sunlight, temperature about 75.  Not a cloud in the sky, either!

In addition to perfect weather, the parks are also perfect from the standpoint that the crowds are light.  For all of the rides I want to ride, such as Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Peter Pan’s Flight, the wait times are all 10 minutes or less.

When we arrived at the Magic Kingdom, we saw a huge sign that indicated that Mickey and Minnie’s houses had been relocated to Liberty Square!  Better yet, they had been redecorated to reflect the theming and time period of Liberty Square.  That would be cool.

After taking in all of the sights and sounds of Magic Kingdom, the next stop in my perfect day would be a trip to Epcot via monorail.  To our surprise, we were asked if we want to ride up front of the monorail, so of course we say yes!  Riding in the front of the monorail has been prohibited since the tragic monorail accident in 2009.

As we get to Epcot, the first thing we did was Spaceship Earth a couple of times in a row.  As you remember, Spaceship Earth was my MUST ride at Epcot.  After that, we made a leisurely stroll up to Mexico Pavilion for a ride on the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros.  Then, after that, we head up to Akershus for a great meal with all of our favorite Princesses!  After we eat, we do ride our rides at Epcot again, but since it is getting later in the afternoon, and Magic Kingdom has extra magic hours, we decide to head back there to enjoy some more rides!

To cap off our perfect day, who do you think was waiting for us when we got off the monorail at the Magic Kingdom?  None other than Mickey & Minnie themselves!  They were there to spend the rest of the evening with us, and specifically Sophie, riding all of the rides with her!  It was a great evening, and a great day – in fact, the perfect day!

Walt Disney World: Planning the Perfect Day!
Mickey and Minnie riding Dumbo

Mike is one of the writers for Chip & Company, and a Disney Fanatic!  When he isn’t writing for C&C, you can also find him on his own site, My Dreams of Disney.  You can follow along on Facebook, where you can also “Like” the fan page to enter in a contest (through February 20th), and also follow him on Twitter.

Walt Disney World: Planning the Perfect Day!
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