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Category Archives: Attractions
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom opens to Walt Disney World Guests in February
This immersive, role-playing game features unprecedented interaction with Disney characters who come to life in previously hidden areas throughout Magic Kingdom park.
Families, friends and individuals can take on the animated Disney Villains by casting spell cards featuring Rafiki, Rapunzel, Woozles and more than 60 other characters. Individually created by Disney artists and trading card game experts, these beautiful, collectible cards will come in packages of five free to Guests ready to take on the villains.
“Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom gives our Guests a new way to become the hero of the Disney story, taking Disney innovation to a new level,” said Jonathan Ackley, Producer & Creative Director, Walt Disney Imagineering. “It’s a great game of discovery and excitement that plays off our wonderful theme park and incredible family of Disney animated characters.”
Imagineers spent more than four years creating and perfecting this unique experience, which can be played in 15 to 20 minute segments throughout the Guests’ visit to the Magic Kingdom, or continuously for up to three to four hours. More than 95 minutes of original animation was created for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom – equal to a full-length animated film.
While trading card games are popular with about 60 million people in the US, this is the first time players can experience the challenge in such a complex environment. Guests of all ages will love the storytelling, the engagement with Disney characters and the discovery of hidden details of the Magic Kingdom.
Related articles
- Sneak Peek at Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom (chipandco.com)
- Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom Is Play-Tested at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
Visiting Disneyland – What to expect from a Disney World point of view
Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland
Cinderella's Castle in Disney World
So you’ve been to Walt Disney World, and now you’ve decided you want to make a trip to the place where the magic began. Disneyland is as special and magical as can be, and it is also VERY different from Walt Disney World.
Here are some things to expect when you head to Disneyland:
Booking your trip: Things are different in Disneyland, the Dining Plan is actually meal vouchers (purchased at a discount rate then redeemed at participating restaurants), and their Advance Dining Reservations can only be booked via phone up to 60 days in advance (versus 180 days with WDW). They do have vacation packages, where you can book hotel/tickets/meal plan all together, which is similar to how Walt Disney World package vacations work.
Hotel Choices: There are only 3 “on property” hotels at Disneyland – The Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and they aren’t grouped into “value/moderate/deluxe” classifications like at Disney World. However, Disney Land does give more lodging options with their “Good Neighbor Hotels”, which are hotels Disney recommends and are close to the resort, and these are listed by types (economy/moderate/superior/suites) to help you pick which one works best for you and your travel companions
Park Size: This was the first thing I noticed upon arriving at Disneyland – its so much smaller than Disney World! The Walt Disney World Resort sits on roughly 25,000 acres while Disneyland’s parks and resorts occupy just 430 acres. Instead of a huge parking lot like at WDW, you park in a tall parking garage at Disneyland, and instead of huge intricate indoor line queues, your wait times for rides at Disneyland takes place mostly outdoors (which might be in part due to the fact that California weather tends to be a lot less rainy/icky than Florida weather, but i’m sure its partly a size issue too!). It doesn’t really feel cramped or small, but there definitely was a limit on the amount of space Walt had to work with when building Disneyland – which was why he purchased so much land for the building of WDW – to make sure any and all ideas would have space to flourish in the future!
Theme Parks: There are 2 theme parks at Disneyland, the Disneyland Park (which is similar in layout and theming as it’s Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Counterpart), and Disney’s California Advanture, which opened in 2001 and is divided into 6 districts, each of which represents various aspects of Californian culture and landmarks
Authenticity: Disneyland was where it all started, it was Walt’s ideas that created it, and he was there to see them executed and was there for the opening day of the park, to see all his hard work come to life in amazing ways. Sadly, he passed away before Walt Disney World opened, so while many of his ideas were brought to life in Florida as well, Disneyland is truly ‘the real deal’ when it comes to the man behind the mouse – Walt Disney.
Oh yeah, and one more difference – the castles! At Disney World, you stand at the base of Main Street USA and see Cinderella’s Castle tall and looming in the distance (and soon you will see the Beast’s Castle too, once they complete the Fantasyland expansion!), and in Disneyland, your view down Main Street is of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
There may be a lot of differences between the two Resorts, and it is these differences that give each park a unique guest experience. But at the end of the day, both places were created by Walt Disney, a man who knew how to create a truly special place for those of all ages to go to enjoy themselves and feel like kids again. The magic is abundant in both places, and no matter whether you decide the World or the Land is more your speed, you will have a great time!
Related articles
- DisneyWORLD vs. DisneyLAND – what’s the difference? (livinginagrownupworld.wordpress.com)
- Getting a Postcard from the Main Mouse (chipandco.com)
2012 Flower Power Concert Series at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
For me it seems the lineup is a little dated and I think their should be a mix of 60′s – 90′s at the 19th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival’s Flower Power concert series. Beginning March 9 and continuing each weekend, the Flower Power lineup features two new-to-the-festival acts: Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (“Joy to the World”) and The Orchestra starring former members of ELO (“Don’t Bring Me Down”).
Jose Feliciano, whose star shines on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and whose musical achievements have spanned five decades, revs up the Flower Power stage during the first festival performance March 9. Among the biggest hit-makers in the lineup: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats (22 hits on Billboard’s Top 40 chart); Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (18 Top 40 hits); The Spinners (18 Top 40s); and The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie (9 Top 40s).
Flower Power performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Here’s the lineup (subject to change without notice):
Flower Power performances are included with Epcot admission. For additional information about the festival, visit www.disneyworld.com/flower
.
Related articles
- Epcot’s 2012 Flower Power Concert Series Schedule (chipandco.com)
- HGTV Stars to Highlight This Year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (chipandco.com)
Sneak Peek at Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
Opening this February at Walt Disney World is the all new game Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom.
In this role-playing game, guests become Merlin’s apprentice sorcerers and embark on a quest to stop more than 20 Disney villains – including Hades and Cruella De Vil – from stealing one of the four shattered pieces of Merlin’s crystal ball. Armed with spells in the form of special cards, guests search for the magic symbols that lead them to villains’ hiding places in Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, and Main Street, U.S.A. Once there, apprentices use magic keys to reveal a villain’s hideout and use spell cards to stop them in their tracks.
According to the game’s developers, the cards really are the secret weapons of the game. There will be 70 different spell cards available and guests will receive five complimentary cards when they play. Each card features a different Disney character that offers a spell unique to him or her. Guests can use more than one card simultaneously, casting multiple spells at a villain at one time.
Some of the cards you may encounter include:
- Lumière’s Candle Blast – This card shows Belle’s favorite candlestick spurred on by his loyal ally, Cogsworth.
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride – This card shows Mr. Toad’s car careening through the underbrush.
- Prince Naveen’s Army of Frogs – This card shows Tiana’s prince enchanting his amphibian army to action.
- Rafiki’s Wisdom Stick – This card shows Simba’s counselor ready to imbue some knowledge on the enemy’s forehead.
- The Woozles’ Woozle Nightmare – This card shows a Woozle dreaming of his most delightful vision: A gang of other Woozles ready to bang some noggins.
We do have some additional details for guests who want to collect or trade these cards. The 70 cards are divided into nine different spell classes, such as Princess cards, Hero cards or Warrior cards. In addition, all cards are marked with one of three designations – a star symbol, which indicates a rare card; a moon symbol, which signifies an uncommon card; and a planet symbol, which indicates a common card.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom will debut in late February and is included in the cost of theme park admission.
Related articles
- Sorcerers To Begin Invading Magic Kingdom (chipandco.com)
- Sorcerers Invade the Magic Kingdom in Early 2012 (chipandco.com)
Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan Catches Some Motor Action
Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show at Hollywood Studios
Every Photo has a story.
Chip & Company fan Tiffany Gentry captured this amazing ariel shot at the “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show at Hollywood Studios. Tiffany’s dad works at Disney, so they go to Disney World quite frequently. “The picture from Lights, Motors, Action! was from one of our weekend trips in which we spent some family time together. Disney has always been a huge part of our family, and in many ways, I practically grew up in Disney World.”
Picture this… Tiffany said, “This is one of my favorite shows, because let’s face it, fast cars flying in front of you doing stunts you only dream you could do is just awesome and exciting. During the second chase scene the hero jumps over trucks set up, and I managed to get a pretty cool picture of the hero’s car, literally, in mid air.”
Thanks, Tiffany, for sending in your photo and your story, and thank you Chip & Company fans for coming along for a photographical ride!
Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Remember, Chip & Company is looking for great Disney vacation photos without family members, preferably of Disney characters, landscapes, architecture, or funny photos for our “Caption This Contest.” Please send in pictures (one at a time please) with a brief description of your photo. Be sure to tell us what is in the picture and any important details. Just use the 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, Why and When, because that way we have enough information to share the Disney Magic. Every photo has a story, so be sure to include yours.
Drop by and share your photos on Facebook at Mouze Kateerz. Take a virtual Disney vacation each day in photographs. Visit my photo blog at mouzekateerz.com, check out my photos on Pinterest at Pin Mouze Kateerz, or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.
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- Capturing Disney in Pictures: A Fan Experiences the Hoop – Dee-Doo Review (chipandco.com)
