DisneyWorld Quick Tips – Autographs

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August 14, 2010

For kids some of the greatest experiences at Disney World is when they can meet their favorite Disney Characters. To be able to go up and hug Mickey, get tickled by Donald, or chew on his Pluto’s nose makes for lifelong memories. To add to the excitement many people get autographs to save and relive the moment when they are needing some Disney Magic at home.

Today’s Quick Tip is a sorta hybrid tip/rule to make the Disney Character Autograph experience enjoyable for everyone. It will speed things along for your child to spend a few more moments with the Disney Character and prevent people behind you from becoming irritated while waiting on you.

Sharpies work the best!

I have found that one of the best things for the characters to write with are the new Sharpie Markers with the click top on them. Mickey and the Gang had no problem hanging onto the Sharpie and clicking the top when they were finished on our last vacation. Don’t make the character fumble around to try to sign they autograph because in the end your child is the one that suffers from a bad autograph.

Have the page ready!

It makes things so much easier for everyone if you have the page and autograph book ready when walking up. It would drive me crazy when I see parents just hand the characters the autograph book and a pen and watch the train wreck that would follow.

It is hard work for Pluto to thumb through and even see your autograph book, anyone who has received his autograph knows how he has to sign it..on his nose. Do him, myself, and everyone else a favor and while you are waiting in line have all that ready for them. As stated earlier the faster they can sign the autograph the more time for pictures and for spending time with you and your little ones.

I hope these tips help make the autograph session an enjoyable and painless experience. If you have any other suggestions for autographs let us know in the comment section below.

Coming to Blu-Ray Cars Toon: Mater’s Tall Tales

By

Chip

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August 14, 2010

Finally Mater Tall Tales is making it’s way to Blu-ray and DVD in November!!! My little one has been waiting for this FOREVER! We have watched them countless times on the Disney Website here.

You can preorder the blu-ray/dvd now and receive it when it releases on November 2nd, 2010 through Amazon. There is no listing of what Pixar Cars Toons will be on the Blu-ray/DVD but I would image we will see all the Mater Tall Tales including:

“Rescue Squad Mater“
“Mater The Greater“
“El Materdor“
“Unidentified Flying Mater“
“Tokyo Mater“
“Monster Truck Mater“
“Heavy Metal Mater“

By the way if you didn’t know there are 2 upcoming Mater Tall Tales scheduled for next year.

“Baseball Mater“
“Super Mater“

Stay tuned to Chip and Company as I will be giving away a copy in the coming months!

“Toy Story 3” Top-Grossing Animated Film of All Time

By

Chip

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August 14, 2010

Woody and his pals have elbowed aside the green ogre, with Disney/Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” climbing above Paramount/DreamWorks’ “Shrek 2” to become the top-grossing animated film worldwide.

Walt Disney Studios announced Friday that “Toy” has taken in $920 million at the global box office, topping “Shrek’s” $919.8 million. Globally, it’s Disney’s fourth-highest-grossing film, trailing two of the installments in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise and Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.”

The 3D toon also has crossed the $400 million mark domestically, the second Disney film to hit that level, after 2006’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” which took in $423 million domestically.

In 1995, Pixar launched the “Toy Story” franchise, with its central characters of Woody, Buzz Lightyear and their fellow toys.

Released June 18, “Toy Story 3,” directed by Lee Unkrich, recorded Pixar’s highest-grossing opening weekend, taking in $109 million in North America, and was the 11th Disney/Pixar title to debut in the No. 1 position on its opening weekend of wide release. The movie will be released on Blu-ray and DVD November 2.

Star Tours II Travel Packages Available starting 2011

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 14, 2010

Travel Packages for Star Tours II will be available around May 2011

Coming Soon to Disney BluRay in Sept & Oct

By

Chip

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August 13, 2010

I was looking over the list of Disney Bluray’s coming out in September & October and I am going to be one broke person over the next few months. Take this list and add in a possible Toy Story 3 & Finding Nemo in November and there is some really good movies coming out!

Here is what I found that is releasing in the upcoming months, I will include Pre-order information from BluRay.com:

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time – Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy – Sep 14, 2010
Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue – Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy – Sept 21st, 2010
Iron man 2 – Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy – Sept 28th, 2010
Beauty & The Beast (Diamond Edition) – Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy – Oct 5th, 2010
Disneynature Oceans – Blu-ray + DVD – Oct 19th, 2010
Toy Story 3 – Blu-ray + DVD = Digital Copy – Nov 2nd, 2010

Not confirmed as of yet:

Finding Nemo (Rumored) – Nov 9, 2010

Stay tuned in September & October as well will be giving away many of these Bluray/DVD titles in the Chip and Company Disney Bluray Giveaway!

Disney & Teri Hatcher Sued by Former Business Associate

By

Chip

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August 13, 2010

The lawsuits are piling up on Wisteria Lane.

Months after former “Desperate Housewives” co-star Nicollette Sheridan sued ABC Studios and creator Marc Cherry for assault and discrimination, now co-star Teri Hatcher, ABC and the Walt Disney Co. have been targeted by a woman who helped run Hatcher’s production company and claims that she was pushed aside and denied a promised 50% cut of revenue from the venture.

Jennifer Glassman, an industry marketing vet who has worked for the Paradigm talent agency, New Line Cinema and her own branding/PR shingle, alleges in the lawsuit that she went into business with Hatcher in 2006 to run her shingle, ISBE Prods., in exchange for 50% of the profits generated. But after pouring her heart into the venture, Hatcher and ABC have worked to “intentionally exclude and eliminate (her) from the picture in terms of revenue sharing just prior to the successful launch of a prominent website supported by Disney,” according to the lawsuit.

The nine-count complaint for unspecified damages was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Glassman says she played a big role at Hatcher’s ABC-based company, selling projects like “Burned Toast” to Lifetime and two scripts, “Fried” and “Mercury Rising,” to ABC. Disney also recently launched a Hatcher-branded site called gethatched.com through its family.com website. During the run-up to the launch of the site, Glassman says Hatcher abruptly soured on her and sent a mass email in February alerting business contacts that Glassman was no longer working with her. Disney-owned Touchstone TV then allegedly followed up and terminated her.

Glassman “never knew or had reason to know that (Hatcher and Disney) were concealing the fact that they intended to try and treat (Glassman’s) business and employment relationship with them as an ‘at will employee’ relationship, and ultimately ‘terminate’ her without cause while trying to eliminate (Glassman) from the picture, business-wise,” the complaint states.

Click here to keep reading.

Disney Cruise Line Presents ‘Toy Story — The Musical’

By

Chip

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August 13, 2010

Disney Cruise Line takes you into the world of Disney*Pixar’s blockbuster film in “Toy Story — The Musical,” an original musical spectacular now playing aboard the Disney Wonder.

Enhance your trip to Disney World with Pin trading

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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August 13, 2010

Pin trading is a fun activity the whole family can participate in. For our family it has added a new dimension of fun to our Disney World vacation both at the parks and beyond! Never done it? Here are some tips from my personal experience to help you get started.

You’ll need a lanyard to get you started. Lanyards can be bought ahead of time online at the Disney Store or they can be bought at most stores gift shops and stores on Walt Disney World Property. If you are looking for a unique or a hard to find lanyard buying on Ebay can be an option too. Starter lanyards can be purchased with pins already attached and this is an easy way to get started.

Now that you have some pins and a lanyard to wear them on where can you trade for pins? Any cast member wearing pins are happy to trade with you. This includes the parks as well as resorts, restaurants and Downtown Disney. Kids have a few extra opportunities to trade as cast members wearing green lanyards at Walt Disney World and those wearing teal lanyards at Disneyland only trade with the littlest guests between ages 3-12. Remember not to interrupt a cast member when they are doing their job to trade pins, wait your turn and they are always happy to let you look at their pins.

Pin etiquette is something you should be aware of before trading but most of this is common sense, if you forget what to do just ask the cast member.
1. Always ask the cast member to see their pins, never reach for or grab their pin pouch or lanyard.
2. You can’t trade a cast member for a pin they already have.
3. You can’t trade more than 2 pins with one cast member.
4. You can’t buy a pin from a cast member you can only trade for the pin you want.

Now that you’ve got all these pins what do you do with them when you get home? My family purchased a pin binder when we first got into pin trading. This book is a great way to keep all your pins together and in a book where you can easily store it and share it with friends and family. If you have some really special pins you can display them in a shadow box and hang it on the wall. Another neat idea is displaying your pins on a framed cork board. Just hang the board up and stick your pins on it. You can get as creative as you want with this and it’s all personal preference. We love pin trading at Disney and although it can become an expensive habit the thrill of finding the pin you’re looking for can be magical!

Angela is a Disney Vacation Specialist with Pixie Vacations
Contact: [email protected] or 865-247-5462
Follow: Facebook “Angela’s Pixie Vacations”

Toy Story 3 Coming to Blu-ray November 2nd

By

Chip

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August 13, 2010

The creative minds behind Disney•Pixar’s groundbreaking animated blockbusters invites you back inside the Toys’ delightful world for a heartwarming and hilarious Hi-Definition movie experience you’ll never forget. All the original voice talent returns (including Tom Hanks and Tim Allen) plus new talent including Michael Keaton as Ken and Warren Beatty as Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear. It’s “the biggest, best, most exciting Toy Story of them all,” raves Access Hollywood.

As Andy gets ready to leave for college, Woody, Buzz, Jessie and the rest of the gang wonder if this is the end of the line. But, when a mix up lands them in the Sunnyside Day Care Center where they meet 14 new toys, they soon discover that a wild new adventure is just beginning! Take an amazing journey with some of the most beloved characters in movie history and discover what being a friend is truly all about.

“It’s everything a movie should be: hilarious, touching, exciting and clever,” says USA Today. Buzzing with hours of exclusive bonus features, including an interactive trivia game and the Pixar short film Day and Night, Toy Story 3 goes to infinity and beyond on Blu-ray Hi-Def!

The Movie will be available on DVD & Bluray on November 2nd 2010. You can pre-order your copy now through Amazon.

Disney Invites Fans on a Magical Adventure in Wizards of Waverly Place: Spellbound for Nintendo DS

By

Chip

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August 13, 2010

Disney Interactive Studios announced today the upcoming release of Wizards of Waverly Place: Spellbound for Nintendo DS™. Inspired by the hit Disney Channel TV series, “Wizards of Waverly Place,” the video game will take players through five exciting episodes in a brand new mystery as they play as some of their favorite characters from the show.

In Wizards of Waverly Place: Spellbound, players will take their Wizard skills to the next level to find out what happened to a dress designed by Alex Russo that goes missing just before her big fashion show. Fans can play as their favorite wizards-in-training – Alex, Justin and Max Russo – while interacting with familiar characters and exploring locations from the show, including the Waverly Sub Station, Tribeca Prep and others.

In this fun-filled adventure game, players will complete various puzzles and overcome obstacles by casting spells on objects and characters. Fans will be able to move and freeze objects, turn themselves into a hamster, travel at turbo speed and more. In addition, players can dress Alex in 25 collectible outfits and compete in bonus wizard challenges.

Wizards of Waverly Place: Spellbound will be available this fall for Nintendo DS.

About Disney Interactive Studios

Disney Interactive Studios, part of Disney Interactive Media Group, is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS). Disney Interactive Studios self publishes and distributes a broad portfolio of multi-platform video games and interactive entertainment worldwide. The company also licenses properties and works directly with other interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market. Disney Interactive Studios is based in Glendale, California, and has internal development studios around the world. For more information, log on to http://www.disneyinteractivestudios.com.

First day at Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando Florida

By

Chip

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August 13, 2010

c5 orl logo

A look at day one of Star Wars Celebration V in Orlando, Florida. Reporter Jimmy Strater interviews many of the fans in costume at the official Star Wars convention. You’ll meet Slave Leia and her family, Lady Fett, Aussie Vader and Dash Rendar,

For a full photo gallery and more visit http://attractionsmagazine.com

Video shot by Matt Roseboom and Jimmy Strater. Edited by Jimmy Strater.

Image credit smileforcamera.com

Disney says Fantasyland expansion plans are changing

By

Chip

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August 13, 2010

Interesting news from Jason Garcia at the Daily Disney.

Disney is redrawing the sweeping Fantasyland expansion plans it laid out last year, even as bulldozers clear land for the project inside the Magic Kingdom.

With the revisions, begun under new Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs, designers are attempting to rebalance the plans, which initially tilted heavily towards young girls by emphasizing attractions and experiences built around Disney’s stable of animated-movie princesses.

“We took a hard look at it amongst a number of us and said, ‘Can we make the appeal broader? Can we make it even better?’ “ Staggs said during an interview this week with the Orlando Sentinel.

The Fantasyland expansion is a critically important project for Disney. The Magic Kingdom, the busiest theme park in the world, now draws more than 17 million visitors a year and needs added capacity to ease pressure on crowds inside the park. The project, billed as the largest expansion in Magic Kingdom history, also comes as Disney World faces heightened competition from Universal Orlando, where the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter has drawn rave reviews — and enormous crowds — since opening in June.

Click here to keep reading.