Tips and Tricks for an Enjoyable Disney World Vacation

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

The Magic Kingdom

Try to come towards the middle or end of the week, because most families hit the Magic Kingdom early in their Disney visit or on the weekends.
Take the Ferry for a more enjoyable experience ride to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom, it also makes for some spectacular photos.
Ride the prime attractions first thing in the AM or while a parade is going on (if you are willing to miss it) lines will ease considerably.
At Town Square, near the entrance, pick up a Guide Map and the Times Guide, which lists show times, character greeting times, and any special hours for attractions and restaurants. Also many of the stores near the cash registers have park maps and show times in case you forgot when you entered the park.
Book character meals early to get some great pictures before it fills up with people.
- The Crystal Palace Buffet has breakfast with Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet Between 8 – 10:30 AM. So see if you can get a 7 or 7:30 am reservation.

Epcot

Epcot is so vast and varied that you really need two days to explore everything. If you have just one day, be highly selective. Be sure to bring good walking shoes as the park is very spread out.
Stop off by the Club Cool, presented by Coca-Cola, is a small treasure among the other gems of Epcot. Well, at the very least, it is a great way to cool down on a hot day. (We always look forward to the free samples of pop from around the world. Did I mention it’s free?)
Its best to go early in the week, when others are at Magic Kingdom.
Visit Soarin when the park first opens as it is usually busy the rest of the day.
If your family loves festivals, go to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (late March early June) or the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (late September mid-November).
Book character meals early to get some great pictures before the park fills up with people.
- Akershus Royal Banquet Hall has a great Princess Breakfast and is far enough from the entrance to get many pictures of Space Ship Earth, World Show Case, and a few countries before you enter Norway to eat.

Hollywood Studios

Visit early in the week, while most people are rushing through Magic and Animal kingdoms.
Hit up Toy Story Mania when the park first opens as it usually is packed the rest of the day.
“Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure is great to let little ones stretch their legs and blow off some energy.
Check the tip board periodically for attractions with short wait times that you can visit between Fastpass appointments, or using Touring Plan’s “Lines” software on your cell phone for wait times.
Be at the Fantasmic! amphitheater at least an hour before show time if you didnt book the Fantasmic! dinner package.
Sit in the back of the room for the best views at Playhouse Disney – Live on Stage.
Need a burst of energy? Snag a freshly baked chocolate-chip cookie or a pastry at Starring Rolls Cafe, at the corner of Hollywood and Sunset. Alternatively, Hollywood Scoops Ice Cream on Sunset might be just the thing on a hot day.
If you plan to have a fast-food lunch, eat before 11 am or after 2:30 pm.
There are food stands along Sunset. You can get a burger (meat or veggie) or chicken strips at Rosies All-American Cafe, a slice of pizza from Catalina Eddies, or a chili dog at Toluca Legs Turkey Company.

Animal Kingdom

Try to visit during the weekend as most people will be at Magic Kingdom
Arrive a half hour before the park opens as much to see the wild animals at their friskiest (morning is a good time to do the safari ride) as to get a jump on the crowds.
For updates on line lengths, check the Tip Board, just after crossing the bridge into Discovery Island.
As you are on your way to Harambe Village keep your eye out for the last path to the right after the Tree of Life and before the bridge to Harambe Village. This is a SECRET PATH. The front of path is filled with a lot of vegetation so you might have to look hard. Yes it is open to the public. Follow the path for a close look at the Tree of Life and for some great photo spots. Not many people know about this path so you will have a lot of time to yourself and will not be interruptions when you are taking photos.

The Water Parks

In summer, come late in the afternoon when park hours run later or when the weather clears up after a thundershower (and being from FL it will rain almost everyday in the summer around 3 or 4pm). Afternoons are also good in cooler weather as the water is a bit warmer. If you plan to make a whole day of it, avoid weekends, when locals as well as visitors fill the parks.
Women and girls should wear one-piece swimsuits unless they want to find their tops somewhere around their ears at the bottom of the waterslide.
Invest in Bullfrog sunscreen (Being a surfer I know by experience you only have to apply this once for all day protection) and water shoes for the little ones. An inexpensive pair of water shoes will do wonders to save your kids tender footsies from hot sand and walkways and from grimy rest-room floors.
Arrive 30 minutes before opening so you can park, buy tickets, rent towels, and snag inner tubes before the crowds descend, and, trust me, it gets very crowded.

Miscellaneous

Ride the boats or monorail to relax a fussy child, or stressed out parent. You can get some great pictures of the various resorts, possibly stop by for a snack or just take some time to look around.
Drink plenty of water! Use Reusable Water containers to refill with water. If you don’t like the taste of water add crystal light or Kool-Aid packets. It doesn’t matter where you get it…drink water while you are in the parks if you are hydrated you are less likely to be tired and irritable.
No matter where you go bring good walking shoes.. I can’t tell you how many people I see walking around the various parks with Flip-Flops on. While I LOVE Flip Flops, I know they are not good for your back or provide you the proper support when walking long distances. A good pair of walking or running shoes will make you feel less tired at the end of the day..If you don’t believe me try it.
Take advantage of any EMH (Extra Magic Hours) ask cast members at your resort or check online for the various hours. I know the last time we went the Magic Kingdom was scheduled Extra Evening Magic Hours till Midnight but upon walking in the park a few cast members told us they bumped it till 3am!! The park was almost dead and there was no wait on every ride that was open!
Take advantage of the Character meals at the various restaurants and resorts. We always visit the character meals so our little one can meet, hug, kiss and take pictures with the various characters she has grown to love. All characters make rounds in the restaurants and we have never missed a one. It saves so much time when visiting, you don’t have to take time out of your busy day to wait and line to get your picture taken. Mind you not all characters are present you will still have to stop off and see some of the newer ones. But this cuts it down by 75% and you get a good meal too!
Get a Photopass! The Photopass cast members are in all the prime spots, are very creative with how to take the pictures, and can get your whole family in one shot. It cost you nothing to get a photopass, and when you get home you can go online and relive your memories and possibly order a few mementos.
Pintrading is an excellent way to get souvenirs without breaking the bank. My wife and I usually buy 1 or 2 Pins when we visit. It gives us something to do while shopping and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Maybe someday they will be worth something but for us it reminds us of our past trips and makes for some fun conversations while waiting in the lines.

What are some of your Tips & Tricks when visiting Walt Disney World. Let us know in the comment section below.

Disney names new studio marketing chief

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) on Wednesday named MT Carney as president of marketing for the Walt Disney Studios, the latest appointment in a months-long revamp of the company’s film studio.

Carney, co-founder of communications planning company Naked NY, fills a post left vacant by Jim Gallagher, who left last year as part of the studio overhaul.

Carney will oversee all aspects of worldwide marketing and distribution for films released under the Walt Disney Pictures and Touchstone Pictures banners, the company said.

“Just as we have looked at ways to restructure how we create and distribute our movies, we also needed to hire someone like MT, who can lead our incredibly creative global marketing teams and ensure that our films reach audiences around the world,” Rich Ross, chairman of the Walt Disney Studios, said in a statement.

Prior to launching Naked, Carney was Worldwide Planning Director at Ogilvy & Mather

New Toy Story Disney Digital Book iPad App

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

Disney Publishing Worldwide recently announced two original “Toy Story” read-along apps for the iPad both combining Disney stories and unique activities with cutting edge technology. Each “Toy Story” read-along is an immersive multimedia experience – the books feature video from the feature films, karaoke and voice record features, the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen, songs from the movies, original games, and even an interactive coloring feature that lets kids finger-paint with up to 10 fingers on the screen.

The “Toy Story” app is free and the “Toy Story 2” app is $8.99 and comes with a one month free subscription to disneydigitalbooks.com. In addition, new “Disney Princess,” “Phineas & Ferb,” “Winnie the Pooh” and “Toy Story 3” apps will go live on the iPad later this spring.

Robert Downey Jr. as the Wizard in Disney’s Wizard of Oz

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

Several weeks ago we reported newly anointed Disney production president Sean Bailey had a meeting on a “Wizard of Oz” prequel about the wizard before he came to Oz.

Now we’re hearing that those meetings went well, so well that the project is on a fast track of sorts. According to word in the development community, Robert Downey Jr. is talking to producers about starring as the wizard.

Meanwhile, two directors are said to be considered top candidates to get behind the camera: “American Beauty” director Sam Mendes and “Hairspray” and “Bedtime Stories” director Adam Shankman, who most recently pulled the strings from behind the curtain at the Oscars.

The two directors being considered, meanwhile, would seem to mark two directions for the picture, given the more subdued and even bleaker tones that have infused Mendes’ work and the lighter, more whimsical one that has marked Shankman’s.

Disney is said to like the premise enough (and with Roth’s “Alice in Wonderland” doing so fantastically well, why not?) that if it all comes together, they could shoot the movie as early as next spring, when Downey has a spot in his production schedule. From down-and-out to playing Tony Stark and, possibly, the Wizard of Oz — it’s like he’s on his own yellow brick road.

Click here for the complete article from the LA Times.

Photo Marvel Entertainment

Disneyworld Earth Day Events & Giveaways

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

Here is a list of Earth Day items taking place at Walt Disney World.

Downtown Disney: will host Earth Day activities from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pin Traders station. Including a butterfly releases every half-hour.

Magic Kingdom: Jiminy Cricket will be available for “meet-and-greet” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Rose Garden.

Animal Kingdom: Will have several events going out throughout the park including.

Jiminy Cricket meet-and-greets at the entrance from 9 am to 1 pm and Rafiki’s Planet Watch from 2 to 5 pm
PIPA the Talking Recycling Bin will be at RPW 11:20 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 1 p.m., 1:50 p.m. and 2:40 p.m.

Shopping: Walt Disney World now features a line of environmentally friendly products and souvenirs, including tees, accessories, bags, plush, stationery and more.

Every Tree Has Character Reusable Bag made of post-consumer recycled materials ($2.95, plus tax), these bags cut down on consumption of paper and plastic.
Recycled Bottle T–Shirts created from plastic bottles that have been collected from curbside pick-ups or collection centers. The bottles are sorted by color and type of plastic and then pre-washed, shredded, ground into flakes, then washed and dried again. Once dry, the clean flakes are melted down and re-extruded into filament yarn, which is woven to produce the fabric for the T–shirts. Also available are a line of soft cotton T-shirts (made from traditionally processed cotton) to benefit the World Wildlife Fund. Every WWF tee sold results in $1 being donated to the World Wildlife Fund.
Notebooks and journals made from post-consumer recycled paper printed with environmentally friendly soy ink. There are also pens or pencils made from everything from recycled plastic to old automobile tires and even recycled U.S. currency.
Eco–Mochilla Bag — Made in Colombia, these bags are hand-woven from recycled plastic bags. Each one removes up to 150 plastic bags from cluttering the environment and helps Colombian communities generate income to support their families.
Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund plush — a portion of the sale will support the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund and go to non-profit organizations around the globe to help wildlife, wild places, and their survival.

If you cant make it out to the Parks check out the Disney Store’s Earth Day Products

There is still time to enter the Disney Store Earth Day Giveaway – Autographed by Demi Lovato & Joe Jonas.

Disney Digital Books offering a seven-day free trial including four Earth Day-themed books, in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The Earth Day-themed books, which contain relevant content to help kids learn about the environment, include all new illustrations and an audio component, providing early readers an engaging storytelling experience with entertaining voices and sound effects, and the ability for children to follow along as the story is read aloud.

To register for a free trial, parents can visit www.disneydigitalbooks.com.

Disney Vacation Connection Desktop Widget

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

Today, we’re sharing a sneak peek at the new Disney Vacation Connection desktop widget –- that’s it…right there with Pluto. When you open the red suitcase on your computer screen you’ll find valuable news, calendars and information about Disney theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney and Disney Vacation Club. It’ll be easy to try. Just download the widget to your desktop (free of charge) and you can customize planning for your next vacation, find special events and ticket prices and create a personalized Disney vacation countdown. Here’s a quick walk through showing how it’ll work.

Click here for more information from the Disney Park Blog.

Disney off the Beaten Path: Getting Married at Walt Disney World.

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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April 21, 2010

Disney off the Beaten Path: Getting Married at Walt Disney World.

Did you know that Disney World is a top destination for weddings? Hundreds of couples tie the knot in Disney World every year in weddings that range from simple, intimate affairs to elaborate celebrations. If you’ve ever taken the monorail or ferry to the Magic Kingdom, you’ve gone past the Grand Floridian and probably seen the Wedding Pavilion, a beautiful white building on the far end of the resort property. Maybe you’ve seen a happy couple riding in Cinderella’s glass coach or walked by an outdoor wedding at Sea Breeze point, a charming outdoor location on Disney’s Boardwalk. Catching a glimpse of a newly married couple walking around Disney World in their wedding day finery is a treat; their happiness and optimism is contagious. I had the opportunity to talk with Carly from The Disney Wedding Blog about misconceptions, benefits, and joys of having a Disney wedding.

For Carly, who met her husband while participating in the Walt Disney College Program in 2002, having a Disney wedding meant they could incorporate something that played a big part in their lives into one of the biggest days of their lives. It also meant they could share that connection with others. To them, there was no better place to celebrate their marriage than at Disney World.

Disney off the Beaten Path: Getting Married at Walt Disney World.

Still, planning a wedding long-distance had its disadvantages. Notes Carly, most brides will travel to Disney for one, possibly two planning sessions that involve visiting multiple locations and making major decisions. Oh, and cake testings. She only had a few hours to meet face to face with her wedding coordinator, so this meant relying a lot on emails and phone contacts. It also helped to be a very organized bride. Rather than just sending out “save the date” cards, Carly sent out newsletters and information packets detailing everything her guests would need to do. “If we had been closer, it would have been much easier to take care of a lot of the little things and I think our event would have been better for it. I’m just glad that Disney’s FairyTale Weddings has such a wonderful staff, because I never could have done it without them!”

Think Disney weddings are all Mickey and Minnie? This couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact, some weddings have no Disney references at all. Says Carly, the biggest misconception of Disney weddings is that people think they are

“all juvenile, cookie-cutter events that look a lot like children’s birthday parties. I think people have an image of what a day int he park is like and they just stick a bride and groom into all of that chaos. In reality, most Disney weddings are increidbly elegant and stylish and many don’t have any Disney elements at all, other than the location. The weddings that do incorporate the characters or other Disney touches, do so in a way that fits the feel of the wedding, so guest never feel that the couple isn’t taking the event seriously or that the couple is focusing more on Disney than they are on their own wedding. Disney weddings are handled in such a professional way, it really is a picture-perfect wedding celebration every time.”

Disney off the Beaten Path: Getting Married at Walt Disney World.

Disney Fairy Tale Weddings supplies much of the vendors a couple will use, athoughsome outside vendors are allowed. For example, a bride can use her own photographers in most Disney locations, although you must use Disney photographers in the parks. You need not worry about variety available from Disney vendors; they generally can make anything you want happen. Call it Disney magic, if you will, but the creative minds behind DFTW can turn out lovely weddings, even on a budget. Couples can choose from various ceremony locations, from white sand beaches to the more formal Wedding Pavilion at the Grand Floridian. Nearly all Disney restaurants are available for receptions, depending on the size of the party, but couples can also choose certain locations in the parks as well as formal resort ballrooms. Many couples choose to hold extra events on property, like a rehearsal dinner or a dessert party at Epcot during Illuminations. All of these events count towards a couple’s minimum costs.

Disney off the Beaten Path: Getting Married at Walt Disney World.

Disney weddings and vow renewals start at around $5000 for an Escape wedding, a smaller event (under 20 people) that takes place at several outdoor sites around Disney World. Wishes weddings start at around $15,000 and offer brides more elaborate venues, food, floral and photo choices. Prices vary depending on the day of the week and time of the year. Disney couture weddings are “the sky’s the limit” type of affairs designed by famed wedding designer David Tutera. While $15,000 may seem like a great deal of money to spend on a wedding, it’s actually on the lower end of what the average U.S. couple spends and for that you get an elegant, unforgettable setting in what many of us think is the happiest place on earth. Whatever wedding a couple chooses, they’ll have the opportunity, as noted by Carly, to “share the excitement of getting married at Disney with each other” and “with all of (your) guests as well!”

Planning a Disney wedding? Check out the The Disney Wedding Blog for gorgeous photographs and tips. You might also like the wedding boards at Disboards where you’ll find advice and planning journals from Disney brides. Passporter also has a forum for Disney weddings as well as an E-Book on planning a Disney wedding. For a surprising reception location, check out this post on The Disney Food Blog about a vow renewal that took place in The Great Movie Ride. For a very funny take on Disney weddings, visit Sambycat’s (of Those Darn Cats podcast fame) blog, My Life on the WDW D-List. She also discusses her wedding planning adventures on the podcast, which you can listen to on iTunes.

Thanks to the always gracious Carly for sharing her wedding photos.

‘Toy Story 3’ producer Pixar opens Vancouver studio

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

Buzz Lightyear, Nemo and The Incredibles are coming to Canada as the Disney-owned Pixar Animation announced Tuesday the launch of a Vancouver studio.

While no financial details were released, Pixar Canada initial plan is to produce 20 to 25 minutes of short films annually to be distributed worldwide on the Disney Channel, the Internet and theme parks, among other outlets.

Pixar Canada general manager Amir Nasrabadi said the company’s goal was to employ 75 people by 2012. The studio is currently operating out of a 5,000-square-foot office in downtown Vancouver and is in negotiations to move up to a 20,000 to 25,000 square foot space in future.

Nasrabadi said he wasn’t sure if the studio would eventually produce full-length animated feature films.

Pixar, which was purchased in 2006 by the Walt Disney Company for a reported 7.4 billion dollars (US), has won 24 Academy Awards over the years for such blockbusters as Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Cars, among others.

It will release Toy Story 3 in July and Cars 2 in the summer of 2011.

Pixar Canada plans to begin production of its first animation offering beginning in August.

Florida legislature passes waiver liability bill

By

Chip

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April 21, 2010

As part of an effort by tourism outfits including Walt Disney World, a bill meant to reinstate parental waivers of liability against theme parks and other businesses offering potentially hazardous recreation unanimously passed the house on Tuesday morning. The bill (SB 2440) was also passed by the senate in late March.

The bill was designed to overturn a Florida Supreme Court ruling from two years ago that invalidated parental liability waivers, although the waivers had long been used to protect businesses that accommodate minors.

The legislation, however, offers little protection for businesses. In instances where negligence is claimed, the waiver would not act as a protection. The bill will only act as a defense in claims when injury is a result of inherent risk.

The passage of this bill is just a small part of a larger picture painted by Republican leaders that looks to offer more rigid protection from lawsuits that are a result of these inherent risks.

Source

Walmart to offer Free Alice in Wonderland Art when you Pre-order

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Found this cool Disney Freebie on the Walmart’s website.

Get Exclusive Collectible 3D Art When You Preorder Alice in Wonderland on Blu-ray or DVD.

Offer only valid on preorders, while supplies last.

Click here for more information

Stay tuned as I will be giving away a free Blu-Ray DVD Combo Pack of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland starting in May.

Check the Related Post Section below for more Chip and Co Giveaways!

Officially Licensed Marvel Comic ‘Iron Man’ LCD & LED HDTVs

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

RTC23 Inc. has just created the “Ultimate Comic Fan’s Television.”

Roundtable Concepts Inc. is launching RTC23, their officially licensed Marvel Comic LCD and LED HDTVs. The cast of characters consists of Iron Man, Captain America, The Hulk, Wolverine, Thor and others. Your favorite Marvel Super Hero is embellished on the bottom two corners of the frame and is offered in 22″, 32″, 42″ and 55″ HD LCD screen sizes as well as 40″ and 46″ LED HDTVs. Now here’s the cool part, not only do the characters appear on the casing but when you power on the TV, the name and the character appear on the screen for approximately 8 seconds. This makes it the “Ultimate Comic Fan’s TV” which RTC23 titles it’s i23s system technology that simply makes TVs more fun. Order online at www.RTC23.com or call 321-363-3794 for more info. To learn more about Marvel Comics, visit the Marvel website at www.MARVEL.com.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, BUY ONE IRON MAN HDTV AND GET A SECOND ONE OF THE SAME SIZE FREE!

‘World of Color’ Water Spectacular Debuts June 11 at Disney’s California Adventure Park

By

Chip

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April 20, 2010

Lights, water, fire, music and animation will come together like never before on June 11 when “World of Color” makes its dazzling debut at Disney’s California Adventure park. You will get to experience some of your favorite Disney stories – from the charming to the adventurous – in a magical, new way.

Many of you, as readers of the Disney Parks Blog, have been following our documentation of the development of this playful, nighttime water spectacular. I’ve loved reading your comments and sharing in the enthusiasm for this highly anticipated show, and we want you to be among the first to see some up-close footage we recently captured during a rehearsal.

Enjoy the video and a special introduction from the man behind the magic, Steve Davison from Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment.

As you saw in the video, the show is brilliantly choreographed as it combines nearly 1,200 powerful fountains, popular Disney music, larger-than-life projections, lasers, fire, fog, surround sound and stunning images. On top of that, the magnificent, moving fountains are capable of reaching enormous heights — from 30 to 200 feet -– while maintaining their dazzling colors.

Click here to keep reading more of this awesome news from the Disney Park Blog!