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Disney D23 Expo 2011 – Star Wars, Tron, Pirates and Marvel Days Info

Disney D23 Expo 2011 - Star Wars, Tron, Pirates and Marvel Days Info

Celebrities will sign autographs and take pictures (for a fee) and share event-exclusive photos from the Disney Archives. In attendance will be stars from TRON, Tron Legacy, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Star Wars, and more.

Celebrity Schedule:
Disney D23 Expo 2011 - Star Wars, Tron, Pirates and Marvel Days Info

Billy Dee Williams
Friday, Aug. 19 – “Star Wars” and “MARVEL” Day
In celebration of the re-opening of Star Tours 3D, Star Wars actor Billy Dee Williams – aka Lando Calrissian – will make an appearance. He’ll be signing from 2-4 pm only.
Disney D23 Expo 2011 - Star Wars, Tron, Pirates and Marvel Days Info
Doug Jones
Friday at the D23 Expo will also be “MARVEL” Day featuring Doug Jones (The Silver Surfer, Billy from Hocus Pocus) & Matthew Wolf (voice of THOR in the cartoon series). Both will be signing from 10 – 4pm.
Disney D23 Expo 2011 - Star Wars, Tron, Pirates and Marvel Days Info
Cindy Morgan, Bruce Boxleitner
Saturday, Aug. 20 – “TRON” Day
Saturday will feature cast members from both “Tron” films. From the original TRON, Bruce Boxleitner (TRON himself) will be signing from 11 – 1pm only. Also appearing will be Cindy Morgan (Yori) and Jackson Bostwick (Lead Sentry Guard) will be signing from 10 – 4pm. From the new Tron: Legacy Anis Cheurfa (Rinzler) and Rob Daly (Lead Sentry Guard) will be appearing and signing from 10-4pm as well.
Disney D23 Expo 2011 - Star Wars, Tron, Pirates and Marvel Days Info
Isaac Singleton Jr.
Sunday, Aug. 21 – “Pirates of the Caribbean” Day
Sunday will feature cast members from from “Curse of the Black Pearl” and “At World’s End” signing from 10-4pm. The “Pirates” celebrities in attendance will be Isaac Singleton Jr. (Bo’sun from “Black Pearl”), Treva Etienne (Koehler from “Black Pearl”), Vince Lozano (Jacoby from “Black Pearl”) and Tyler Tuione (Boiler Room Attendant from “World’s End”).

Celebrities will appear at Coolwaters Productions‘ booth at the Disney D23 Expo, where the company will also be selling D23 Club Member Exclusives available only at the event and limited in edition size.

More info at www.jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com

Sorcerer Radio’s “WDW Tiki Room” radio show with hosts Kristen Hotezel and Aljon Go will also be broadcasting live from the event as well. For the latest on Disney D23 Expo 2011 coverage please visit www.SRSounds.com.

Disney D23 Expo 2011 - Star Wars, Tron, Pirates and Marvel Days Info

Disney World Quick Tips – Childcare Choices at Disney World.

Disney World Quick Tips - Childcare Choices at Disney World.

For parents, a Disney World vacation with the kids is one of those quintessential American (or Canadian!) experiences.  What mom or dad hasn’t dreamed of taking their little one to the Magic Kingdom and taking that picture:  You know the one, where everyone is smiling and happy in front of the castle.  But sometimes in the middle of that dream, it’s nice for the parents to get away and have a little evening out. It can really recharge you. Here are some childcare options that I use:

Disney World Child Activity Centers: These drop-in childcare centers, which provide dinner and fun activities, are located in the Polynesian, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club and Beach Club, Grand Floridian, and the Swan and the Dolphin Resorts.   They’re open from 4:30 until midnight and are available for kids 3 to 12.   Depending on the time of day, your child will be given a menu and allowed to choose his dinner, something little kids love.  Personally, I think children on the younger and older range are a harder fit at these clubs, but it all depends on the child.  While you can keep your child at the center the entire time it’s open, I would probably not use it for more than five hours.  My oldest son, who is 8-years old, loves going here. It’s usually the second question he asks when I tell him we’re visiting the World, right after “where are we staying?”

You’ll want to reserve ahead of time. You do not need to be a guest staying at a Disney World resort.  You’ll be charged a two-hour minimum. Dinner is included in the $11.50 per hour charge.   Call 407-WDW-DINE.  You’ll need a credit card to reserve, but your card will not be charged at that time.

Kids Nite Out: Without question, my favorite childcare service for in-room babysitting for children 6 weeks and up.   Sitters, all of whom receive extensive background checks, will come to your room and stay as long as you need. In my experience, the sitters know the resort very well.   This service is a great fit for parents who need different hours than the child activity center offers or for parents with more than two children, as the rates for in-room sitting are actually cheaper.  Rates are based on the number of children as follows:

  • 1 child – $16.00 per hour
  • 2 children – $18.50 per hour
  • 3 children – $21.00 per hour
  • 4 children – 23.50 per hour

The great thing about using an in-room sitter is not having to move your sleepy children back to the room. If you’re lucky, when you come back they’ll be snoozing away.   For more information, call 800-696-8105.

Disney World Quick Tips - Childcare Choices at Disney World.

25 Things you must do at Disney before you Die

Disney World Bucket List

10 things you must do at Disney World before you die
25 things you should do at Walt Disney World before you Die!
The Disney World Bucket List. Wow we are getting deep this week on MouseChat.net.:)

Listen Here to this weeks show.

There is a great deal of Disney News this week also. New Dining Plans, New Ticket Prices, New Resort Rooms are now booking at the Art of Animation Resort and the Princess Rooms.

Please continue to send in any Disney questions. We have a Disney listener question show coming up soon.
You can email questions and comments to the show at: [email protected]

If you like our show, please let your friends know.

Please join us by listening to our show at MouseChat.net or by downloading and subscribing to Mouse Chat on
iTunes.

25 Things you must do at Disney before you Die

Ask a Disney Question – Rope Drop for Extra Magic Hours

magic kingdom, rope drop

This question comes from Barry who asks:

Anyone know? The Rope Drop ceremony, does it happen if the Extra Magic Hours are in the morning, or does it happen when the Park opens for the general public? I don’t want to miss a thing! 🙂

Barry,

Thanks for your question!  You’ll be happy to know that the Magic Kingdom performs their full Rope Drop Ceremony for the Extra Magic Hour opening!  Just last week, I watched the Mayor introduce himself and the family of the day, the cast members sing, dance, and the train come through the station carrying Mickey and friends.

Unfortunately, our morning at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, they no longer offered their morning opening rope drop.  Last summer during the extra magic hours, we watched Let Your Adventure Begin with Mickey and friends, and this summer walked directly into the park.

The Rope Drop Ceremonies start 10-15 minutes prior to the scheduled park opening and the parks are often open before the printed time, so make sure to get there early!  We usually aim for 30-45 minutes of time before the actual park opening so we don’t miss the show.

Good luck!  Enjoy your trip to the Magic Kingdom and know that us writers here at Chip and Co. are always available to answer your questions to the best of our ability!

Ask a Disney Question - Rope Drop for Extra Magic Hours

Disney World Quick Tips – Snack Credits.

Disney World Quick Tips - Snack Credits.

The number one rule you should follow with snack credits is this:  Don’t buy drinks with it. It’s an easy mistake to make. You’re tired and hot and probably don’t think twice about handing the cast member your room key card, but that drink only costs around $2.59.  If you purchased the dining plan, you probably did so to save money, and this move just put you in the red, at least as far as snacks go.  You can use your snack credits to buy more expensive treats or even put together a small meal if you’re careful.

Make sure you don’t use your snack credits for anything that costs less than $3.  Instead, pay out of pocket for those items.  To maximize your value on the dining plan, your goal should be to purchase snacks at around the $4 range or slightly lower.  You can buy a side of chilli at Casey’s in the Magic Kingdom or a delicious cupcake (that is so huge, you can split it) at Starring Rolls in Hollywood Studios for just one snack credit.   Healthy snacks like fruit, yogurt, and small milks are great choices for keeping your energy levels up, but they generally cost less than $2.  Consider buying those items at a grocery store off-site or order from a grocery delivery service (see a list of stores and delivery services here).  Even if you don’t have a refrigerator, individual cartons of shelf stable milk can be a huge savings if your kids are like mine and drink a ton of milk.

The dining plan just got more expensive for 2012, but you can still beat the cost and make it work in your favor. You’ll just need to think it out a little bit beforehand. Stay tuned for more tips on how to make the dining plan work.

Cupcake photo property of Babycakes, NYC, Downtown Disney.

Disney World Quick Tips - Snack Credits.

Top 10 Disney Songs

Top 10 Disney Songs

Who doesn’t love Disney music? Not only does Disney produce some of the best animated films of all time, but they also produce some fantastic tunes that have often rivaled top songs on the music charts and taken home Oscars! However, there are so many Disney songs that it’s difficult to pick a favorite or even remember them all. Well, today’s list is attempting to tackle the enormous catalogue of Disney music to bring you the Top 10. Not an easy task, I assure you, but a fun one! Let’s begin!

1. When You Wish Upon a Star-This classic Disney song was performed by Cliff Edwards, who was the voice of Jiminy Cricket, in the 1940 film Pinocchio. This song actually won an Academy Award for best original song that year. Then, in the years that followed, this song became somewhat of a theme for Disney; and today, it’s iconic and instantly calls the Disney magic to mind. This is why this song earns the top slot in our top 10 list.

2. Circle of Life-Written by Tim Rice and composed by Elton John, this song was showcased in the opening scene of The Lion King in 1994. Everybody knows this song; and probably everyone has tried to sing it! All teasing aside, the Circle of Life is an incredibly powerful song; and probably no other Disney film has had such a dramatic opening since. Without question, the Circle of Life is the second best Disney song.

3. Under the Sea-This Calypso style song was one of the highlights in Disney’s The Little Mermaid in 1989. The Little Mermaid marked the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, the rebirth of blockbuster, classic Disney films. Written by Howard Ashman, and composed by Alan Menken, Under the Sea served a role similiar to that you would find in a Broadway play as it help to tell the story. It was also just a lot of fun and one of the most memorable scenes in the whole film!

4. You Got a Friend in Me-Written and performed by Randy Newman, this song served as the theme for 1995’s Toy Story. No one had ever seen anything like Toy Story when it was first released; and coupled with a terrific story and characters, it quicklybecame one of the most popular and successful Disney films ever! Randy Newman’s song effectively communicates the emotion and theme of Toy Story and has been present in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 as well.  When you hear You Got a Friend in Me, the magic of Toy Story is instantly brought to mind. This is why it earns a spot in my list for top Disney songs!

5. Be Our Guest-This is another great song that everyone knows and associates with Disney’s 1992 Beauty and the Beast! Written by the Howard Ashman and Alan Menken team, this Broadway style song definitely put on a show! It was actually nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Without a doubt, Be Our Guest deserves a place in our list for best Disney songs.

6. Hakuna Matata-In 1994, this song was very popular, especially with kids! Another hit from The Lion King, this song is pure fun and definitely Disney. Hakuna Matata means “no worries” in Swahili; and it was written by Elton John and Tim Rice. The lyrics are catchy and hilarious; and this number definitely provided some comedic relief after the intense scene where Mufasa dies and Simba tries to escape the hyenas.

7. A Whole New World-This song was incredibly popular following the release of 1992’s Aladdin. Written by Tim Rice and composed by Alan Menken, this song won an Oscar for Best Song! This awesome ballad was both adventurous and romantic; and coupled with one of the coolest parts of the film, a magic carpet ride, it bcame a highlight of the film. Therefore, it definitely belongs in the Top 10 list of Best Disney songs.

8. Colors of the Wind-The song was the theme of 1995’s Pocahontas and it ruled the charts that year. It also raked in some awards, such as an Oscar for Best Original Song, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe! Colors of the Wind was written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz and this powerful song really communicated a major theme in the film.

9. Feed the Birds-This may sound like an odd choice, but this song has some serious Disney history behind it. Written by the legendary Sherman Brothers, this song appears in the 1964 classic Mary Poppins. The song appears in more serious moments of the film and it was supposedly one of Walt Disney’s favorites. When talking with the Sherman brothers, he would often say “play it” and they would know exactly what he meant. They would sit down at a piano and play Feed the Birds. This gentle but serious song carries weight and cuts to what is truly important and significant. Therefore, Feed the Birds belongs in our Top 10 list of Disney songs.

10. Heigh-Ho-Finally, our last Disney song is Heigh-Ho from the classic Disney film, Snow White. Written by Frank Churchill and Larry Morey, Heigh-Ho is the best known song from the first full-length, animated film which changed cinema history. Despite the fact that this film debuted in 1937, young and old still know and remember Heigh-Ho. It’s a song that is a part of American pop culture and is the part of the film that comes to mind when you think of Snow White. Heigh-Ho is definitely one of the best Disney songs.

So now it’s your turn to share your favorite Disney song? Did it make the list? Be sure to let us know!

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Top 10 Disney Songs

Disney World Food & Beverage Lovers, Unite!

Disney World Food & Beverage Lovers, Unite!

Whether you are seeking to delve into the details of wine blending or just looking for a few good eats, you are sure to find a culinary experience you will enjoy here in the heart of Walt Disney World®. Appropriately taking place at the home of extraordinary culinary talent, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin is proud to showcase our passion for food and beverage by inviting you to partake in the Second Annual Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, which will take place Friday, October 7 and Saturday, October 8, 2011.

Stroll the causeway on Crescent Lake to immerse in a culinary festival with live music and tastings from the resort’s award-winning restaurants and lounges.This event will take place from 5:30pm – 9:00pm both evenings.

ALL INCLUSIVE PACKAGES

Call 888-828-8850 to make your reservation, or choose from the options below to book online.

Package 1:
Includes room accommodations for 2 adults and 2 causeway event passes at check in to enjoy all the food and wine tasting and entertainment offered on the causeway. 

Rates starting at $255*

Book the Swan

Book the Dolphin

Package 2:
Includes room accommodations for 2 adults and 2 causeway event passes at check in to enjoy all the food and wine tasting and entertainment offered on the causeway as well as 2 passes to one of the educational seminars. 

Rates starting at $329*

To book this package, please call 888-828-8850.

* Rates are per room, per night based on double occupancy. Package is good for two adults only. Package not available for individual guests.

Click here for more details.

Disney World Food & Beverage Lovers, Unite!

Walt Disney World Resort Rocks Independence Day with Special Fireworks Shows at Three Parks

Walt Disney World Resort Rocks Independence Day with Special Fireworks Shows at Three Parks

Walt Disney World Resort will pixie dust the night skies July 4 with special pyrotechnic shows, including a patriotic display at Magic Kingdom, a rock’n’roll spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a classic sky show at Epcot infused with an Independence Day finale. Here’s what’s in store:

Magic Kingdom will present “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.” This patriotic fireworks spectacular, paying homage to the hopes and dreams of America’s forefathers, will light the skies at 9 p.m. July 4 – and for guests who would like to begin the Independence Day celebration early, the show also will be presented July 3 at 9 p.m.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, traditional Fourth of July fireworks take on a different spin when Mulch, Sweat, and Shears perform for the all-new “Rockin’ 4th of July Celebration”! These resident landscapers – with serious rock and roll ambitions – take Disney guests on a musical road trip across America that will highlight each region’s contribution to rock and roll. Fireworks, lighting and special effects – backed by the driving live rock and roll of Mulch, Sweat, and Shears – combine to bring a new twist to celebrating Independence Day. Showtime July 4 is 9:45 p.m. Before or after the show, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can thrill to Disney’s Fantasmic!, performing July 4 at 9 and 10:30 p.m.

At Epcot, sky-watchers can check out “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” bursting high above World Showcase Lagoon. IllumiNations is a 14-minute spectacular during which pyrotechnics, lasers, water and music are all used to tell a story about the past, present and future of our planet. On the Fourth of July, the show will be enhanced with “The Heartbeat of Freedom,” an overture of traditional Americana themes displayed in a pyrotechnic and laser light event. The show is at 10 p.m.

In addition, Epcot guests may lend their ears to “Voices of Liberty 4th of July Concert” and participate in meet-and-greets with Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross and Disney characters adorned in patriotic dress at American Adventure.

Theme park hours on July 4 (subject to change without notice): Magic Kingdom, 9 a.m.-11 p.m.; Epcot, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; Disney’s Hollywood Studios, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.

Additional information about Walt Disney World Resort is available at www.disneyworld.com.

Walt Disney World Resort Rocks Independence Day with Special Fireworks Shows at Three Parks

What I am listening to: Bloom the Disney Remix

What I am listening to: Bloom the Disney Remix

I have stumbled across another very cool Disney Remix by Pogo on Youtube. This remix is titled Bloom.

‘Bloom’, is a patchwork of vocals and musical chords from various Disney films. The harp sample came from ‘Sleeping Beauty’, and a series of chords from ‘A.I: Artificial Intelligence’ to form the base of the chorus. The vocals are sampled from Disney films, each of which are illustrated in this video.

If you liked this video check out the remixes of  ‘Alice In Wonderland’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘Up’ and many other films on his YouTube channel. You can download his tracks in high quality MP3 format at http://www.pogomix.net/, and you can follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/pogomix/

What I am listening to: Bloom the Disney Remix

Victoria & Albert’s Once Again Receives AAA Five-Diamond Award

Victoria & Albert’s Once Again Receives AAA Five-Diamond Award

For the 12th consecutive year, Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’ Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has been awarded the coveted AAA Five-Diamond Award. Victoria & Albert’s is the only restaurant in Orlando and one of only three in Florida to be honored with the highest accolade a restaurant can achieve.

Victoria & Albert’s Chef Scott Hunnel has drawn national and international applause for his preparation and delivery of American regional cuisine with classical influences at the elegant, 50-seat restaurant.

“Earning the AAA Five-Diamond Award is like winning an Oscar,” said Victoria & Albert’s Chef Scott Hunnel. “To be one of 55 restaurants in all of North America to receive this prestigious award is such an honor. It confirms our philosophy that it takes passion and a synchronized team to deliver consistent, top-quality cuisine night after night!”

All Five Diamond lodgings and restaurants are subject to unannounced annual evaluations based on extensive published guidelines while potential additions to the exclusive list undergo additional review.

A Disney cast member for more than 20 years, Chef Hunnel understands that the fundamentals of cooking don’t change, rather with time, palette’s change. He believes it’s the continuous evolution that goes into each dish that makes the cooking and the menu at Victoria & Albert’s different from other restaurants. To keep pace with the ever-changing food & beverage industry, Chef Hunnel takes gastronomic journeys to visit world-class restaurants, hotels, farms and markets for healthy and savory inspirations.

“Working for Disney has been very gratifying because the company understands that to be the best, we must never stop exploring and growing in constant pursuit of excellence.”

Take for example one of his signature dishes —  the prosciutto-wrapped lamb served with cipollini onions and sherry vinaigrette – which tastefully demonstrates classical European influences combined with the culinary expertise behind the Victoria & Albert’s team of award-winning chefs.

“What makes Victoria & Albert’s exceptional is not only the incredible cuisine, but the entire dining experience,” said Kevin Myers, vice president of Walt Disney World Resort Operations. “From reservations, the very personal table-side service, sommeliers, chefs and pastry chefs…..the whole team is dedicated to delivering a memorable evening for each of our guests. We couldn’t be prouder of the entire team.”

Those memorable experiences have led to other accolades including the Orlando Sentinel’s 2011 Culinary Hall of Fame, the Forbes Four Diamond Award, Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence and Florida Trend’s Golden Spoon Award. Chef Hunnel was also a 2011 semi-finalist in the annual list of top chefs in the country by the James Beard Foundation. He has also been recognized annually since 2007 by the Foundation for his refreshingly contemporary approach in the kitchen and straightforward cooking philosophy.

Victoria & Albert’s Once Again Receives AAA Five-Diamond Award

LEGO Store Reopens at Downtown Disney with Record-Breaking Sales

LEGO Store Reopens at Downtown Disney with Record-Breaking Sales

Just in time for summer, the LEGO® Imagination Center has reopened at Downtown Disney Marketplace after undergoing extensive renovations that began earlier this year. With nearly 3,500 additional square-feet, the flagship store now has a larger sales floor, stockroom and play area.

“This LEGO location is one of our highest grossing stores. Still, we were pleasantly surprised when only days after reopening at Downtown Disney, we had set a new sales record,” said Skip Kodak, senior vice president at LEGO Group. “LEGO Group and Walt Disney World Resort have enjoyed a long history together and this expansion reinforces our shared interest in inspiring and developing children to think creatively.”

Already a favorite among Disney guests is the addition of new exterior LEGO models featuring Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Disney-Pixar characters, Buzz Lightyear and Woody greeting guests near each entrance. Guests can still also find the classic LEGO dragon and Disney guest family in the mix.

The renovation of the LEGO Imagination Center not only extended the space for guests to play, discover and build, but for the first quarter of the year, it created dozens of jobs in architecture, engineering, design, electrical, plumbing and construction in Central Florida. To meet the increased traffic in the store, the LEGO Group also hired an additional 30 to 40 sales people and clerks.

As the world’s fourth-largest manufacturer of toys, the LEGO Group maintains a long-time presence at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.  Vice President of Downtown Disney Keith Bradford recognizes its brand strength among Disney guests.

“The expansion of the LEGO Imagination Center at Downtown Disney reflects our commitment to continuously raise the bar on the experiences we provide our guests and exceed an increasing demand for interactive shopping experiences,” added Bradford.

Along with a separate playroom inside the store and additional touches such as modern lighting give the store an open feel and the 3,000-square-foot outside play area filled with LEGO bricks remains a favorite spot to stop and play.

LEGO Store Reopens at Downtown Disney with Record-Breaking Sales

Subscriptions to Disney FamilyFun Magazine Now Available on iPad

Subscriptions to Disney FamilyFun Magazine Now Available on iPad

Beginning with the June/July issue, readers can now experience the great content and features of Disney FamilyFun magazine on iPad by purchasing an annual subscription through In-App Purchase on the App Store. Using the new subscription service, a 12-month subscription of FamilyFun costs just $7.99. Single issues will continue to be available for $2.99 through In-App Purchase, and current print subscribers will have access to the iPad edition for free.

“We wanted to make our Disney FamilyFun content available to our readers in the most convenient ways,” said Aparna Pande, vice president and general manager, Disney FamilyFun. “With the Disney FamilyFun App, we are able to offer a high quality experience to moms who want to make one of our crafts or create a FamilyFun meal whenever they want and wherever they are.”

The Disney FamilyFun App brings content to life on iPad through interactive features, including videos showing projects in action, slide shows offering an in-depth look at how crafts and recipes come together, and features allowing the user to search for, save, and share pages with friends through Facebook and Twitter.  Several brands, including launch sponsor Nissan, have signed on to support FamilyFun through digital sponsorships.

“We conducted research among users who downloaded the Disney FamilyFun App and engaged with it during the launch issue. The initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Pande. “Nearly all of those surveyed said they’d recommend the app to a friend, and more than two-thirds planned to use the app more than once a week. Most importantly, over half said they would be interested in subscribing to the Disney FamilyFun iPad app, and now we are able to bring this option to our readers.”

The Disney FamilyFun App is available for free from the App Store on iPad or at www.itunes.com/appstore.  A 12-month subscription is available for $7.99, and single issues are available for $2.99 each, through In-App Purchase.

To learn more about FamilyFun, visit FamilyFun.com and Facebook.com/DisneyFamilyFun, or follow @FamilyFun on Twitter.

Subscriptions to Disney FamilyFun Magazine Now Available on iPad