Front-Row Seat for the Kitchen at New Chef’s Table at Flying Fish Cafe

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April 17, 2010

Award-winning Chef Tim Keating at Flying Fish Cafe on Disney’s BoardWalk has a loyal following, and guests often ask him to create a special dinner –- something that’s not on the menu. And most of the regulars love a seat at the wide granite bar facing the on-stage kitchen.

Now the first six seats at the coveted “Chef’s Counter” are reserved for the new Chef’s Tasting Wine Dinner, a nightly affair that offers five courses paired with wine for a special evening –- “a new spin on menu items,” said Keating. And there’s plenty of interaction with the well-orchestrated team of chefs.

Click here to keep reading this article from the Disney Park Blog along with some Yummy Food Photos!

Ask a Disney Question: What do you do while waiting in line?

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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April 17, 2010

This question is from Jeffery, who asks “Are there things to do while you are waiting in line? Do they have tv or sumptin?”

Jeffery, thanks for your question and for reading the blog. Ahh, the age-old question. As someone who likes to move around a lot, I feel your pain. Some lines have interesting queues with artifacts and games. Others tell the story behind the ride and raise your anticipation of the fun to come. This is particularly true of newer attractions. A good example of this is Toy Story Midway Mania. Here, the queue is set up to resemble Andy’s room. The toys are over-sized, so what you get is a toy’s eye view of the room. You’ll then meet Mr. Potatohead and interact with him. There’s also an area in front of Mr. Potatohead where you can stop and take pictures. Disney is always experimenting with ways to make waiting in lines easier. The newest trend seems to be queue-less waiting area with games and activities, which is the focal point of the refurbishment of the Dumbo attraction.

Unfortunately, most queues can be rather boring, but there are ways to make them more tolerable and even to eliminate time waiting in line. First, go early in the day or visit the parks during a slower time of year. Even better, get a touring plan. Touring plans are basically itineraries that guide you around the park in a way that reduces time spent waiting in line. It may seem like a lot of trouble, but most people who try a touring plan can’t believe how much time they save. I’ve used TouringPlans.com (from the folks behind the Unofficial Guide), which is based on years and years of scientific data. They’re very user-friendly and economical. You can also try Tour Guide Mike. Both plans have their followers and their advantages.

Second, go high-tech while you’re in line. Bring a hand-held game or play with a Disney phone application while you’re in line. There are now a dozen or so phone applications you can use while waiting in line that show you everything from wait times, dining reviews, and park trivia. It can be a fun way to entertain yourself. I like using Linesfrom Touring Plans (your subscription also gives you access to touring plans). It has a pretty active chat area where you can get questions answered by fellow users or by the Touring Plans staff, shows you park hours and attraction wait times, and most important at all from the standpoint of keeping you entertained, allows you to input attraction wait times yourself. Put in enough wait times and you’ll earn badges and compete with fellow users. Another popular application (although it only works on iPhones) is E-Ticket from the DisUnplugged. It doesn’t have wait times but it has tons of fun information that can help your trip. Finally, if you have Verizon, you can get the official Disney phone application which also has wait times.

Finally, you can just go old school and do what we’ve all done for years while waiting in line. Bring a notebook and take notes about your trip, read a book, talk to a stranger, or just people watch. I’ve actually met some very interesting people while waiting in line.

Wishing you short lines and a happy trip!

Our own Chip has a Touring Plans and Lines review here. I also did one on my blog here and an update on recent changes here.

Got a Disney question? We’ve got answers! Write us here.

Photo courtesy Newsweek/Mr. Kathika.

Guy Fieri Dishes on Disneyland & the California Food & Wine Festival

By

Chip

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April 17, 2010

Food. Energy. Entertainment.

These powerful words can both be descriptive of a good Disney vacation, as well as of the life of one of the busiest men in television today. From his roots as a Northern California restaurateur to exploding on the scene as the host of four currently-airing network television shows, Guy Fieri has taken his creativity and energy with food to a whole new level, which he will be sharing with visitors at Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival this weekend. During a production break in the studio, Guy was gracious enough to take time out to talk with me a little bit about his involvement with Disney. I’ve included some of the audio from our conversation at the end of this blog, so you can hear him discuss the festival, Disney experiences, as well as his special edition of Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives called Guy’s Disney Holiday.

Guy’s connection to Disney started at a young age. He remembers his first visit to Disneyland was in the rain and how wonderful it was to just go from ride to ride with no waits in line. He also remembers using the E Tickets, when every ride required you to have a book of tickets – the E tickets being for the very best rides. He compared it to the Disneyland he knows today and is amazed by how long the lines are now! One of the things he appreciates is the fact that Disney is so unique no matter what time of year you go, that the family can experience so many special things, especially during the holidays.

Click here to keep reading this article from the DIS Unplugged Blog.

Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Star cited over alleged fight

By

Chip

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April 17, 2010

Wizards of Waverly Place star David Henrie was reportedly recently detained by police in Los Angeles after allegedly attempting to start a fight at a shopping center.

The 20-year-old, who stars on the Disney show alongside Selena Gomez, was enjoying a night out at Universal CityWalk with his 16-year-old brother Lorenzo, when the pair reportedly became embroiled in a dispute with an unnamed person.

Cops intervened and the actor and his sibling were both taken into custody and cited for a misdemeanor offense of challenging a person to a fight. The pair was handed over to their father the following morning, according to TMZ.com.

Source

Photo credit fanpop.com

Disney World bus accidents – Are the GPS units distracting?

By

Chip

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April 17, 2010

Three years ago, Walt Disney World set out to revolutionize its bus system.

In a project dubbed “Magic in Motion,” Disney installed GPS-equipped computers in each of its nearly 300 buses, ensuring the vehicles could be tracked as they crisscross the vast resort. The goal was to create a sophisticated system in which buses are rerouted in real time to handle the heaviest crowds, replacing a conventional model in which bus schedules were set in advance.

But critics of Magic in Motion, or MIMs as it is referred to internally, say the initiative has so far been more hindrance than help. What’s more, some Disney bus drivers contend that MIMs has proven a distraction for drivers because it forces them to work with a computer while they operate their vehicles.

“It takes away from the concentration of driving a bus safely,” said one bus driver who has worked for Disney for more than 20 years. The driver spoke only on the condition that he not be identified for fear of losing his job.

Disney says Magic in Motion has led to more-efficient bus scheduling and lower wait times for guests. But the resort also says the project — which includes extra features such as prerecorded passenger announcements broadcast automatically rather than by the drivers — has made it easier for drivers to concentrate on the road in front of them.

“We really believe it reduces the distractions for the drivers,” said Mark Natter, Disney World’s director of bus-transportation services.

Click here to keep reading this article from the Orlando Sentinel

Photo Credit JACOB LANGSTON, ORLANDO SENTINEL FILE

Mad as a Hatter? Well Your Nails Can Be!

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Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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April 17, 2010

OPI came out with four fantastic nail colors in celebration of Disney’s Alice In Wonderland! The tag line says it all, “Color so fantastic, you’ll think you’re dreaming.” The colors have fun, fanciful names taken from parts of the movie. I saw an article on this earlier and have had many people mention them to me, so I decided I definitely had to try them out. This explains why I am now typing to you with multi-colored fingernails!

As I said there are four great colors: Mad As A Hatter, Off With Her Red!, Absolutely Alice, and Thanks So Muchness! Being OPI, the quality is outstanding and the colors are rich and provide great coverage.

Mad as a Hatter? Well Your Nails Can Be! — Salon Display - Colors left to right: Off With Her Red!, Absolutely Alice, Mad As A Hatter, Thanks So Muchness!

Mad As A Hatter and Absolutely Alice are both glitter polishes. Mad As A Hatter actually has a lot of purple, orange, green, and a few flecks of gold. It does take about four or so coats to get full coverage and a really great representation of the colors. This is a really fun color that goes great with anything. Absolutely Alice is a BEAUTIFUL blue with flecks of gold throughout. It will take at least three coats to get maximum coverage and full color. This a fantastic color anytime, but particularly great for the flip-flop season!

Off With Her Red! is your classic, tomato red color. It is very reminiscent of an older, almost 1940’s look. It has great coverage and you can achieve full color with only two coats. This is a very pretty color, but dulls a little in comparison with the others.

Thanks So Muchness! is a gorgeous shiny red. It really pops and is one of my new favorite colors. Coverage and full color can be achieved with only two coats. My friends will definitely be seeing this one this Summer!

Overall, I was really excited by all the colors. I think they are all beautiful and really provide a great tie-in for any fans of the movie. My only complaint would be that they did two reds. While I like both colors, I would have either liked the option of more colors, or maybe only one red. I was also disappointed that the Cheshire Cat and the White Queen were not represented in this collection. Maybe this means there are more colors to hope for in the future!

If you are interested in purchasing these, I found that they were a little difficult to get a hold of due to popularity. They are not, and never were, sold at Sephora. I was able to find them at Ulta and Trade Secrets; however, Mad As A Hatter was apparently the most popular as I could not locate it at either store. Ulta was not certain they would get any more stock in. I actually ended up finding this color at a local nail salon that also sold polish (which many of them do). When I went to the salon, they still had all the colors available. So that is my suggestion, check your local nail salons first. You can buy them on Amazon, but the prices are getting exorbitant.

If you love the movie, love nail polish or just love to color, I would definitely check these out!

Alice In Wonderland Gear is at Claire’s

By

Chip and Co Past Writers and Friends

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April 17, 2010

Mad Hatter shirt and hats on display at Claire’s!

Hey all you Alice fans! I know it can be difficult to find a large selection of Alice gear out there. I have seen a little at the Disney Store and some at Hot Topic, but the other day I stumbled upon a nice selection at Claire’s in the mall. They had a great selection of t-shirts, hats, bags, jewelry, and hair accessories. They even had little hats you can attach to your hair via two hidden clips underneath. Very cute and decently priced! I have added some additional pictures of the displays and items for sale below. If you are in the market for Alice merchandise, definitely go check it out!

: Full picture of display including shirt and hats from above

Alice In Wonderland Gear is at Claire's — Another Display

: Bags, skirt, and some of those little hats with the hair clips

: Journals, keychains and other accessories

: More shirts, hats, necklaces, and bags

: Close up of shirt in picture above

: Close-up on shirts and hats. This is one of the coolest Cheshire Cat hats I have seen!!!

: I love this Cheshire Cat shirt! It has really cool graphic and is more fashionable than a lot of the standard tees I have seen.

Toy Story Magical Marathon for D23 Members

By

Chip

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April 17, 2010

D23 Members have the chance to see Toy Story and Toy Story 2 and be the first to see Toy Story 3 in one out-of-this-world event — chock-full of surprises!

D23 Members will be among the first to see the Woody, Buzz and the gang in the new Disney·Pixar film Toy Story 3 as part of a Toy Story marathon — all in dazzling Disney Digital 3D™ — at the historic El Capitan Theatre on June 17, 2010.

Grab your complimentary (commemorative) popcorn bucket and drink and head to your seats! The curtain rises on the original Toy Story at 3 p.m., and from then on, it’s a day of delights and surprises. Special guests will make appearances throughout the event. During breaks, guests will be offered a meal as well as an ice cream treat to keep thing sweet!

Following the screening of Toy Story 3 guests will head back to the Toy Story 3 Fun Zone behind the El Capitan to enjoy the complete Toy Story experience. Woody, Buzz and Jessie will be there to meet guests, and will be starring in the “Dancing with the Toys” show. Take a seat on the Ferris wheel, maybe challenge some friends in an obstacle course, play the latest video games in Andy’s Game Room or bounce in Buzz’s bounce house! There will be something for everyone to enjoy. And every guest will receive a commemorative, limited-edition surprise gift for joining the fun!

Included with the price of admission:

Screenings of Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 in Disney Digital 3D
Assigned seat
Special popcorn bucket and a beverage
One boxed meal and a beverage
An ice cream treat and a beverage
Admission to the Toy Story 3 Fun Zone following the screenings of Toy Story 3
Surprise guest appearances
Commemorative, limited-edition surprise gift

NOTE: Available only to D23 Members in good standing. D23 Members may purchase a ticket for themselves and up to three (3) guests. There are a limited number of tickets available. D23 Members have the chance to purchase these tickets first; tickets will be released to the general public beginning April 26, 2010. There will be breaks between each screening. The first screening will begin at 3 p.m., but screening times for the second two films will not be announced prior to the event. D23 Members will be required to give their membership number when purchasing tickets. Tickets will be mailed in advance, all guests will need to bring their tickets to check in at Will Call to receive the credential for the event and the food vouchers. Will Call will open ONE HOUR before the performance with a valid photo ID AND D23 MEMBERSHIP CARD at the El Capitan Theatre. D23 Members who do not bring their membership card may not be admitted to theater. All D23 Special Events are subject to change without notice.

Click here for more information

D Street Now Open at Downtown Disney Video

By

Chip

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April 16, 2010

D Street Now Open at Downtown Disney Video

A PERFECT BLEND OF RETRO AND URBAN AT D STREET: Downtown Disney West Side…

A new store has joined the unique collection of shopping and dining experiences in the Downtown Disney area with the opening of D Street, where urban-inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge.

D Street is located in Downtown Disney West Side and showcases a mix of products for both men and women. Items include cutting-edge apparel, pop culture novelties and Vinylmation™ collectibles. The store offers an unfinished “industrial look” with fun, oversized props adorning the venue.

Product lines feature vintage looks from Disney and urban influences. Vintage apparel includes artwork from classic Disney attractions and characters. D Street also provides a great venue to showcase Disney art created by local artists.

This new urban-style location is the flagship store for Vinylmation serving as the place for launching the latest releases and trading of this new Disney collectible. Designed by artists from Disney Design Group, Vinylmation gives a whole new meaning to creative expression. Disney artists use a blank three-dimensional canvas bringing to life classic characters, attractions or icons inspired by Disney Parks & Resorts from around the world. They also showcase their own artistic styles with edgy and graphic-focused looks. These collectible figures come in a variety of sizes including 1.5- or 3-inch limited-release mystery or open edition boxes, to 9-inch limited-edition figures.

Major League Gaming Makes a Stop at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex

By

Chip

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April 16, 2010

Being an avid gamer I love this article from Disney Park Blog:

If you think you’re a video game whiz, wait til you see the pros play. The Major League Gaming Pro Circuit season kicks off this weekend at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort and features the top video game players in the country.

Spectators can roam around the Jostens Center at the sports complex and watch the fast-fingered pros and top amateurs go head-to-head in a variety of popular video games such as Halo 3, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Tekken 6. There are even opportunities to actually try your skills against a pro gamer.

There’s a main stage where the marquee players battle it out throughout the day. There’s cheering. There’s a little trash talking. And there’s a lot of activity with more than 2,000 gamers and roughly another 8,000 spectators.

There is a lot riding on these competitions, too. Not only is there more than $700,000 in season-long prize money up for grabs, but perhaps more important, there’s the title of MLG Champion on the line.

In addition to the competition, the event is a virtual mecca for video game lovers with autograph sessions, product demonstrations and contests for video game enthusiasts of all levels. But nothing would be sweeter for a fan than to actually whip the pants off one of the pros.

If you’re up to the challenge or if you just want to watch, get your weekend long spectator pass for $25 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex box office and follow @DisneySports for the event schedule.

Source & Photo disneyparkblog.com

Dooney & Bourke Co-Branded Product Sets Sail on Disney Cruise Line

By

Chip

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April 16, 2010

Ahoy Disney Cruise Line fans, we have something new just for you!

Launching on Disney Wonder and Disney Magic is the new Dooney & Bourke collection created especially for Disney Cruise Line. This colorful collection features a few of your favorite Disney Cruise Line inspired characters on some of Dooney & Bourke’s most popular silhouettes.

This new collection can only be found on the Disney Cruise Line, so keep an eye out for them on your next Disney Cruise.

Source & Photo disneyparkblog.com

Experience More of Wonderland on BluRay & DVD June 1st

By

Chip

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April 16, 2010

Disney’s ALICE IN WONDERLAND ON DISNEY BLU-RAY & DVD — JUNE 1, 2010

With Worldwide Theatrical Box Office Earnings Approaching the $800 Million Mark, Tim Burton’s Take on the Classic Tales Wins Fans Everywhere

Following a record-breaking theatrical performance, Tim Burton’s epic fantasy adventure ALICE IN WONDERLAND, Disney’s 4th biggest film of all time, takes its booming box-office success into the home with a Disney 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy), 1-Disc Blu-ray and 1-Disc DVD on June 1, 2010, from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE).

The ALICE IN WONDERLAND Blu-ray Disc™ Combo Pack provides audiences with the chance to experience a magical and imaginative twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time in pristine 1080p picture and Dolby Digital 5.1 HD surround sound quality and has been especially packaged with family and fans in mind – with lots of exciting bonus features and an extra DVD and Digital Copy of the movie.

The Blu-ray Disc versions of the film include nine bonus features that take viewers deeper into the famous “Rabbit Hole” – exploring more of the world of Wonderland, its iconic characters and the making of the film. Features include the making of the Futterwacken Dance, a look inside the world of the Mad Hatter and Johnny Depp’s transformation, Tim Burton’s vision for the movie and its characters, the visual effects of growing and shrinking of Alice, costume designs, music, stunts and more.

The suggested retail prices for ALICE IN WONDERLAND are as follows: The 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) is $44.99 (US)/$51.99 (Canada); the 1-Disc Blu-ray is $39.99 (US) /$44.99 (Canada); and the Single Disc DVD is $29.99 (US)/$35.99 (Canada).

Film Synopsis:

Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an imaginative new twist on some of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you’ve seen before. The extraordinary characters you’ve loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There’s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience – ALICE IN WONDERLAND is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.

The film’s opening weekend made ALICE IN WONDERLAND the highest-grossing non-sequel opening weekend in history, the biggest March opening of all time, the biggest 3D opening of all time and the biggest IMAX opening of all time.

Bonus Features:

DVD:

Finding Alice – It’s all things Alice. This featurette includes Tim Burton’s vision for the characters, differences from the book and Disney’s version of Alice and how she evolves as both a character and actor as she takes an adventure through Wonderland.
The Mad Hatter – Audiences are provided with a deeper look into the world of the Mad Hatter. Check out Johnny Depp’s early sketches, make-up, costumes and how they digitally enhanced his eyes.
Effecting Wonderland – A behind-the-scenes piece on the different technologies used to create some of the most beloved characters in the film – Stayne, Tweedledee, Tweedledum, Bandersnatch and the Red Queen.

BLU-RAY:

Everything on the DVD plus:

The Futterwacken Dance – Futterwhat? Check out the making of the timeless dance called the Futterwacken.
The Red Queen – The creation of the Red Queen from start to finish, including early Tim Burton sketches showcasing costume designs, make-up and digital effects.
Time-Lapse: Sculpting the Red Queen – A short time-lapse piece showing Helena Bonham Carter as she gets her make-up done. A three-hour process can be watched in just a few short minutes.
The White Queen – An interview with Anne Hathaway, who plays Wonderland’s good queen, about her character’s journey throughout the process of the film.
Scoring Wonderland – Composer Danny Elfman and Tim Burton discuss the music for the movie.
Stunts of Wonderland – A featurette highlighting some of the biggest stunts in the film.
Making the Proper Size – An inside look at the visual effects process of growing and shrinking Alice. See how filmmakers used different techniques to stay true to the storyline.
Cakes of Wonderland – Take a trip to “Cake Divas” where the creators of the EAT ME cakes provide viewers with details about how they made the smallest crumb to the largest cake in scale.
Tea Party Props – Tea cups, saucers, cakes and more. Prop master Doug Harlocker gives an overview of all the props used to bring the famous tea party scene together visually.

Disc Details:


	BLU-RAY	DVD
Street Date	June 1, 1010	June 1, 2010
Direct Prebook	April 6, 2010	April 6, 2010
Distributor Prebook	April 20, 2010	April 20, 2010
Suggested Retail Price	3-Disc Combo Pack – $44.99 US/$51.99 Canada 1-Disc BD – $39.99 US/$44.99 Canada	1-Disc DVD $29.99/$35.99 Canada



Feature Run Time	109 minutes	109 minutes
Rated	U.S.: PG, Bonus Materials Not Rated Canada: PG (CF: G)	U.S.: PG, Bonus Materials Not Rated Canada: PG (CF: G)
	U.S.: PG, Bonus Materials Not Rated Canada: PG (CF: G)	U.S.: PG, Bonus Materials Not Rated Canada: PG (CF: G)
Aspect Ratio	1080p High Definition Widescreen (1:78:1)	Widescreen (1:78:1); Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions
Sound	Digital Dolby 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio 48kHz/24-hit	Digital Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound
Languages	Primary Language: English Tracks: French and Spanish	Primary Language: English Tracks: French and Spanish
Subtitles	Spanish, French	Spanish, French

About Disney Combo Packs:

To provide consumers with unprecedented quality, value and portability of their favorite Disney classics, in 2008 WDSHE pioneered the Combo Pack – a Blu-ray Disc plus a DVD and in some cases a Digital Copy of the movie in a single package. Current 2010 Disney titles available as Combo Packs include Ponyo, Toy Story, Toy Story 2 and Princess and the Frog.

About Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment:

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product, which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc™ and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.