Florida’s High Speed Rail Controversy

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September 3, 2010

I thought this was an interesting article talking about the High Speed Train that will be going from Tampa to Orlando and eventually all the way to Miami. This article comes to us from Fox 35 News in Orlando.

A High Speed Rail meeting was held in Orlando Thursday , and there were big concerns about one company bidding on it.. French Railway Company, also called SNCF., is under fire because during World War II the company transported Jews to concentration camps.

The Florida High Speed Rail will go from Orland to Tampa. Passenger stations will also be in Lakeland, Walt Disney World, International Drive and Orlando International Airport.

The train will then eventually extend its service to Miami. So, could it be built by a company with ties to the Holocaust? One woman thinks so. She drove all the way from Boca Raton to be at the Florida Department of Transportations public meeting in Orlando.

Her message was to raise awareness about one of the companies interested in building Central Florida’s proposed high speed rail project. It turns out they worked hand in hand with the Nazis.

SNCF operates the world’s fastest passenger trains. Rosette Goldstein says her father, a French Jew, was transported by one of the company’s trains to a concentration camp during World War II.

They were paid per head and per kilometer for every prisoner that they took to the camps.

“We appreciate Mrs. Goldstein came up from Boca Raton to share her story with us. She told me she’s here to speak on be half of all the millions of people that died between World War II.” said Dick Kane, FDOT, Director of Communications.

Click here to keep reading.

North Carolina women held in Disney Store embezzlement

By

Chip

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September 3, 2010

Just before you ask…. no it is not our Chris, even though she is from Cary 🙂

This article is from the News & Observer:

A 36-year-old Cary woman was arrested Wednesday after police said she embezzled from the Disney store at Crabtree Valley Mall.

Toinette Shonese Stout, of 114 Noel Ann Court, is accused of taking $1,090 in fraudulent cash returns on Wednesday, according to an arrest warrant filed with the Wake County Magistrate’s Office.

Stout was in custody in the Wake County jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Source

The Best Thing I Love About Disney Is … Osborne Family Spectacle Of Dancing Lights

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 3, 2010

Disney purchased the equipment and rights to the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights from Jennings Osborne, a Little Rock Arkansas businessman, in 1995. From then on it has been part of the Christmas Holidays at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

We had our first opportunity to see it in November of 2009. WOW!!! There are more than five million lights on the Streets of America and the display runs from November (starting November 7 in 2010) and runs until just after New Year’s Day.

It is shown every night at 6:00 PM and is generally very crowded. Have no fear though because the crowds ebb and flow so you will not always be shoulder to shoulder. The sheer quantity of lights when they are all turned on simultaneously is a shock to the senses (in a good way) and at intervals during the evening they are choreographed to Christmas music.

I have to admit, when they turned all of the lights on I could feel myself getting a little misty and I’m not a particularly emotional guy. The lights sequence on and off with the music and the effect is absolutely beautiful.

By the way, it snows here during the display!! If you have the opportunity to schedule a Walt Disney World visit while the display is running, please do it, you will not regret it!!

Ken

Disney World’s luxury pet resort – Best Friends Pet Care Video

By

Chip

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September 2, 2010

A look at Best Friends Pet Care at Walt Disney World. This new luxury pet resort replaces the former keenels at Disney World. Dog owners can choose from a variety of accommodations, ranging from a standard 32-square-foot all-indoor suite, to an expansive 226-square-foot VIP suite with television, raised bedding and private outdoor yard. Cats will spend their visit in the separate “Kitty City” pavilion in two- and four-room condos. There also is a special area for boarding pocket pets such as hamsters, fish and birds. All animals except venomous ones and primates are welcome.

For more information, visit http://attractionsmagazine.com

Video recorded and edited by Jimmy Strater.

The Three Disneyland Moms share Disneyland Tips

By

Chip

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September 2, 2010

Someone tweeted this website to me the other day..See I do look when you tweet something to me at http://twitter.com/chipandcompany. Most times I am to busy to respond but I do try to look at everything our fans tweet me. This is one of the times that it was something I really like…video.

I am a sucker for video. I watch a lot of youtube videos and sometimes miss being in the video industry. I have worked in television, helped out on a few movies and worked as a videographer for a long time, but I will save that for another time.

The other day someone send me a link to this website – Three Disneyland Moms. There are (you guessed it) Three Beautiful Disneyland Moms who share with you some great Disneyland tips. The moms are Marcy, Lisa, and Suz. All 3 moms have great camera presence and are very energetic. I have never been to Disneyland but it is really cool to see some great video of the Disneyland Resort.

I am going to post the 3 videos below so you can check them out but be sure to Subscribe to their You Tube Channel also bookmark their website.

Let us know what you think of the videos in the comment section below.

Disney Reviews by You: The Best – by Jann – Rating: 5

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 2, 2010

Reviewer: Jann

Topic Being Reviewed:Food

Rating: 5

Would you recommend to others: Yes

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Reading about character dining, I have to add…I/we think Chef Mickey is the best…great food and great location! Don’t need a tx to get in and at Contempory Resort which is a great resort…get to ride the monorail too inside the building. But this is important….reserve early…very hard to get in! Good Luck!

Dancing with the Stars Exclusive New Interviews!

By

Chip

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September 2, 2010

At the press conference for the hit ABC TV show, D23 caught up with two of the new stars — who both love Disney!

On Monday, August 30, 12 celebrities were announced for the new season of Dancing with the Stars. The talent (hopefully!) gliding across ABC starting September 20 includes Michael Bolton, Margaret Cho, Jennifer Grey, David Hasselhoff, Florence Henderson, Kyle Massey, Bristol Palin, Audrina Patridge, Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and Kurt Warner.

Also among the Stars is a Disney princess — Brandy, who played Cinderella in the acclaimed ABC TV movie. D23 spoke exclusively to Brandy and fellow contestant Rick Fox — who we had seen just days before at the premiere of Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue sporting a very fancy pair of blue fairy wings!

Click here to read the interview.

D23 Members Now Receive 15% Off Meals at House of Blues in Orlando!

By

Chip

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September 2, 2010

D23 Members visiting Walt Disney World will want to be sure to stop into House of Blues Orlando in Downtown Disney to enjoy some of their down-home, delta-inspired cuisine. From their crispy catfish fingers to their full rack BBQ Basted Baby Back Ribs, there’s something to tingle everyone’s taste buds at this lively restaurant. And now D23 Members can enjoy 15% off their meals just by showing their current D23 Membership card!

House of Blues was founded in 1992 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has grown to more than a dozen eateries across the United States. Along with their sumptuous cuisine, House of Blues has played host to some of the biggest names in the recording industry in their Music Hall venues, and their infamous Gospel Brunch has become an institution with inspiring music and a bountiful buffet.

Click here to learn more about House of Blue Orlando.

Source

Make Your Own Merchendise with ABC and Cafepress at New ABC Online Store

By

Chip

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September 2, 2010

ABC Entertainment Group and CafePress, a market-leading online destination for user-designed T-shirts and gifts, today announced a groundbreaking new merchandising agreement that builds upon the success of their existing relationship. CafePress will power a new, cutting-edge ABC Online Store (located at www.abctvstore.com or www.abc.com) where fans of ABC’s popular shows will be able to buy official merchandise alongside merchandise designed by fellow fans. The new online store will fully leverage CafePress’ proprietary Print-on-Demand technology and product customization tools that facilitate real-time retail planning and high-touch consumer engagement.

Starting today, the consumer will visit a redesigned ABC Online Store that truly puts the “fan” back into fan gear. CafePress’ technology will enable the fans themselves to express and share their passion for ABC shows by designing their own T-shirts, posters, SIGG water bottles and other custom products. These fan-designed products will live alongside official merchandise in the ABC Online Store, thereby providing a compelling one-stop-shop for fans of hit ABC shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Castle.”

On the back end, CafePress’ Print-on-Demand technology will power fast and seamless fulfillment of these customized orders. Additionally, CafePress will manage a variety of unique third party fulfillment items for the ABC Online Store, such as the ever-popular Lost bobbleheads. When consumers place orders online, CafePress will print, package and ship all purchases. Not only will CafePress’ technology eliminate ABC’s need to accrue or house surplus inventory, but it will also afford ABC the ability to more agilely update its branded merchandise for real-time control of its retail strategy and real-time engagement with its core fan community.

“In keeping with ABC’s ongoing commitment to technological innovation, we sought a merchandising solution that would fully leverage the power of the internet to significantly enhance and deepen our relationship with the ABC viewer. Embracing the voices and enthusiasm of our fans is very important to us. Of equal importance to us was the ability to incorporate the latest in supply chain optimization technologies to enable us to more nimbly execute our retail strategy,” said Mia Rondinella, VP of Business Planning & Development at ABCEG. “We selected CafePress based on its proven experience engaging and monetizing mass consumer audiences online, as well as for its cutting-edge, seamless technology solutions.”

This new arrangement expands upon a licensing agreement announced earlier this year which enabled fans of selected hit ABC television shows to design and sell authorized show merchandise on CafePress.com. Fans of ABC shows will continue to utilize the same online tools to design their own merchandise according to official guidelines, and fan designers will continue to receive a commission on the sale of each of their items. Unlike the previous arrangement, popular fan designs will enjoy increased exposure to the larger ABC fan community through inclusion in the official ABC Online Store.

“Our exceptional Print-on-Demand service means that ABC can have literally thousands of goods available at any given time, because the goods are only printed when an order is placed,” comments CafePress Vice President of Marketing Amy Maniatis. “Our relationship with ABC is the perfect way to facilitate real-time retail planning while engaging fans with custom merchandise.”

The Best Thing I Love About Disney Is … Restaurant Marrakesh

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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September 2, 2010

There is a restaurant in the Epcot World Showcase that has a very loyal following but has not yet reached the popularity level of Le Cellier and many of the others located there. We were there in November 2009 and at that point we became part of the loyal following.

Restaurant Marrakesh is a delight to both the palate and the senses. As many of you know, the King of Morocco sent his personal architect to Walt Disney World to make sure that everything was authentic in the pavilion. One more fact, the Morocco pavilion is the only one sponsored ay a country as opposed to commercial entities.

The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, the Cast Members are at or above the level of any other restaurant at Epcot, and the food is delicious. I have included a link to the menu here so you can see that the food is not really exotic and is not loaded with strange ingredients and spices.

There is also an authentic Moroccan musical ensemble with a G-rated Belly Dancer providing entertainment for dinner. Just a hint, if you have some youngsters who show an active interest in the dancer she just might (and again might not) ask them to join her. Do yourself a favor and make an ADR at Restaurant Marrakesh on your next visit, you will enjoy it!!

Ken

Disney Food Confession – Slowly Braised Angus Beef Short Ribs

By

Chip

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September 2, 2010

What is it? Angus Beef Short Rib braised with chipotle blackberry BBQ essensce with sweet Brentwood Farms Summer corn risotto

Where can you get it? Napa Rose, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Photo Credit: by Disney

If you have a Disney Food Confession email [email protected] or let us know on the Disney Food Confessions Facebook page.. He is accepting Food ideas or Photos if you have them!

Disney Mobile to Launch Popular Games on Zeebo System

By

Chip

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September 2, 2010

Zeebo, Inc. today announced that Disney Mobile will launch Disney All Star Cards, Alice in Wonderland, Jelly Car 2 and two additional titles on the Zeebo 3G-connected digital gaming, entertainment and education system. Disney All Star Cards is targeted to launch on September 21. The Zeebo system is currently selling in Brazil and Mexico, with future rollouts planned in other regions.

“Disney Interactive Studios brings Disney stories and characters to life in a truly fun and engaging experience like no other,” said Mike Yuen, senior vice president of global content and services, Zeebo, Inc. “We are proud to partner with Disney Interactive Studios to deliver its popular global brands directly into the living rooms of middle-class families in Mexico, Brazil and our future launch regions.”

The Zeebo platform fosters the development and monetization of local content by preventing piracy through fast and convenient shopping via secure 3G broadband wireless cellular connectivity and over-the-air delivery. Connectivity is provided pre-activated for the system, and the consumer does not have to sign up for any additional service plan or contract. Content delivery and user interface software updates occur over the wireless network and are completely transparent to the customer. Users simply plug the Zeebo into their television set and the system automatically connects to the ZeeboNet Wireless Network.

For more information on the Zeebo 3G digital gaming, entertainment and educational platform, please visit www.zeeboinc.com