Jodi, Author at Chip and Co - Page 4 of 20 | Chip and Co

Author Archives:

Disney’s FRANKENWEENIE Bluray Review

Thursday, January 10, 2013 Jodi 2 Comments

The latest feature film from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton Animation, Frankenweenie, was released to
4 Disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Digital and On Demand yesterday, January 8, 2013.

The stop-motion Frankenweenie was an immediate success when it hit theaters last fall as a “plussed” revival of Tim Burton’s 1984 live-action short by the same title. Burton’s original effort featured a young boy named Victor Frankenstein who uses the power of science to bring his beloved, deceased dog Sparky back to life. (You can view a clip here; also included in the Combo Pack.)

I viewed the movie with my kids over the weekend, and I had to agree with the critics: This is one of Burton’s best works. The allusions to classic fright fests are brilliantly done! I’m not a big fan of modern horror flicks, but I get a kick out of the silliness of old scary movies, and I thought Mr. Burton did a wonderful job working in so many references in Frankenweenie. I could clearly see the Hunchback of Notre Dame in the Edward character, Dracula in the cat/bat, Godzilla in Shelley the turtle, Gremlins in the sea monkeys, and of course, traditional Frankenstein in Victor and Sparky and throughout the film.

My teenager was entertained and appreciated all the classic film references too, but my younger two weren’t as impressed. My daughter, who’s nine, did not like the movie at all. She thought the characters looked creepy and it was just too sad that Sparky died twice. My youngest (age seven), however, got a kick out of the whole thing. He didn’t know the old film cues, but he liked it all, even without that frame of reference. He thought it was sad that Sparky died (and laughed that I cried about it!), but it didn’t bother him, because he knew Victor would bring him back to life. All in all, a great film for the whole family!

The Combo Pack includes some cool extras, like the video of Burton’s 1984 clip, an all-new original short, a behind-the-scenes featurette with Tim Burton of how the film was made, a showcase of the film’s touring exhibit, and a “Pet Semetary” music video performed by the Plain White T’s.

Add the Frankenweenie 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack to your video library today. Suggested retail prices are 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack $49.99 US/$56.99 Canada; 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada; and 1-Disc DVD $29.99 US/$35.99 Canada. Rated PG in the United States and Canada. Feature run time is 87 minutes.

SOCIAL MEDIA:
For more information about Frankenweenie, visit the following:
“Like” us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Frankenweenie
Visit the website at www.Disney.com/Frankenweenie

Jodi Whisenhunt is the author of MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE: Learn While You Play at Walt Disney World Resort, and operates a blog by the same title. Her book is available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and CreateSpace. (Kindle and Nook versions also available.) Come, think outside the textbook and stretch the walls of your home classroom with Walt Disney entertainment!

FRANKENWEENIE Coming to Blu-ray Combo Pack in January (chipandco.com)
Round Up Of Deals On Frankenweenie (couponingtodisney.com)

Disney DIY: Disney Trip Savings Jar

Thursday, January 3, 2013 Jodi 3 Comments

Our family just confirmed our Walt Disney World travel dates for 2013, and we are so excited! The trip is several months away, though, so to help the time pass till we get back “home,” we have Disney crafts planned. The one I’m featuring today is both fun and functional, utilizes found items around the house, and creates a little cushion for the wallet when the trip finally arrives. Our Disney Trip Savings Jar!

Create a Disney Trip Savings Jar
Get the kids involved in this one! Look at the supplies list below. Write each item on a strip of paper and send the kids off on a scavenger hunt to collect them. Have lots of kids? Split them into teams. Have an only? Let him race the clock.

You will need:

A container – You probably want something transparent, so you can see the money adding up. Maybe recycle a spaghetti sauce jar & cut a slot in the lid, or use an old vase with a narrow neck (don’t want grabby fingers pulling coins back out). We chose a candy/miscellaneous jar we had with a snugly-sealing lid and a chalkboard strip on one side.
A hot glue gun with refills – If you don’t have one, grab some Scotch tape.
Decorations – Whatever sparks your creativity! Gather up some ribbon, jingle bells, Disney stickers, buttons, pompoms, chenille sticks, paint, glitter, sculpting clay, dried pasta, pebbles, duct tape, etc.

Try at Disney Tour – Wild Africa Trek

Sunday, December 30, 2012 Jodi 4 Comments

Looking for new adventures in 2013? Disney has you covered, of course! Disney Animal Kingdom’s Wild Africa Trek takes Guests up close, into, and over animal habitats like no other attraction in the Park.

Guests experience close encounters with exotic wildlife deep in the Pangani Forest on this privately guided expedition. A modified zip line dangles 10 feet above massive hippos. Rope bridges sway over the crocodile-filled Safi River. VIP safaris cross open savanna teeming with creatures native to the African plains. An exclusive safari camp provides incredible views of everything from giraffes to rhinos. It’s an exciting African excursion in the safe confines of Walt Disney World Resort!

This 3-hour journey requires not only paid Park admission but also an extra $189.00-$249.00 per person. There are a few things you should know before you go.

Per Disney Parks:

WARNING: For your safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure; heart, back or neck problems; motion sickness or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not participate.
Guests under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a participating adult (18 years of age or older).
Participants must be 8 years of age or older and at least 48 inches (122 cm) tall.

Sometimes You Just Want a Night In Away from the Walt Disney World Parks

Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Jodi 1 Comment

A trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth, aka Walt Disney World Resort, awesome as it is, can wear even the most seasoned traveler to the bone. Walking miles a day, waiting in crowded lines, eating delicious meals (ok, that’s not really a problem), basically pushing yourself physically, trying to “do it all,” can really fry the nerves and put a damper on an out-of-this-World vacation.

My family has found that if we don’t spend at least one evening in during our trip, we will have one totally Grumpy day where noone’s happy and everyone’s one edge. It actually took us two or three trips to figure the pattern out. We were always trying too hard to take it all in, to do as much Disney stuff as we possibly could without missing a thing that we just kept on going and going and going…and we’d end up regretting that choice.

But now we are older and wiser and more experienced at “Doing Disney.” Once we accepted the fact that we will never be able to see or do all there is to do at Walt Disney World, we were able to relax and enjoy whatever we could get to. And whatever we missed would wait till our return—and we will return.

Spending the evening in at your resort doesn’t have to be boring. You don’t have to go to bed at 7:00 (unless you really want to!). There are plenty of activities to slow the pace that will not only help everyone in your party to relax but will also rejuvenate their Disney spirit.

So, check your game plan, double-check the Park guides, and make sure there’s no place you need to be, and then…

Take advantage of the fine eateries onsite. Too often we bypass the fabulous food that’s right around the corner in favor of Park fare, but don’t forget about your resort restaurants. They’re on the Disney Dining Plan!
Take a dip in the resort pools. Most resorts have small, “quiet” pools in addition to the large main pools for a more relaxing time away from crowds. All are kept at 80º F yearround.

FRANKENWEENIE Coming to Blu-ray Combo Pack in January

Saturday, December 1, 2012 Jodi 2 Comments

The latest feature film from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton Animation, Frankenweenie, will be released to 4-Disc Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Digital and On Demand on January 8, 2013.

The stop-motion Frankenweenie was an immediate success when it hit theaters last month as a “plussed” revival of Tim Burton’s 1984 live-action short by the same title. Burton’s original effort featured a young boy named Victor Frankenstein who uses the power of science to bring his beloved, deceased dog Sparky back to life. (You can view a clip here; also included in the Combo Pack.) With an all-star cast that includes Catherine O’Hara and Martin Short, the 2012 version takes that story line a little farther with its plot twists and quirks, paying homage to classic fright fests like Dracula, Frankenstein, and Gremlins. Critics have called Frankenweenie one of Burton’s best works and recommend it for anyone who is a fan of these films, or is a fan of Tim Burton’s work in general.

The 4-Disc Combo Pack includes an all-new original short, a behind-the-scenes featurette with Tim Burton, a showcase of the film’s touring exhibit, Tim Burton’s live-action short of the same name, and more electrifying content (see below).

Add the Frankenweenie 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack to your video library January 8. Suggested retail prices are 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack $49.99 US/$56.99 Canada; 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack $39.99 US/$46.99 Canada; and 1-Disc DVD $29.99 US/$35.99 Canada. Rated PG in the United States and Canada. Feature run time is 87 minutes.