So you just stuffed yourself on a scrumptious meal at your favorite Walt Disney World eatery. If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan, you likely enjoyed a four-square meal and beverage of choice, right? What you need is a nap, but what your family wants is a ride!

Do NOT “walk this way” when you are stuffed to the gills:

1)      Rock ‘n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith—A tour of G-Force Record Studio is cut short when the band Aerosmith takes off for a show. They take Guests with them, though, in a super stretch limo. Each “car” pumps 32,000 watts of onboard audio through a 125 speaker, 24 sub-woofer sound system and accelerates from a zero to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds with the force of a supersonic F-14. Three inversions offer a unique view of Los Angeles: upside-down! [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]

2)      Mission: SPACE—Designed in consultation with 25 NASA experts and five astronauts, Mission Space is a flight training simulator that allows passengers to experience space travel without ever leaving Earth. Green offers a milder ride but still rough on a full tummy. Orange is full throttle, utilizing a multiple-arm centrifuge that spins and tilts to simulate speed and 2.4G gravitational forces—more than twice the force of the Earth’s gravitational pull. [Epcot]

3)      Mad Tea Party—Climb into one of 18 tea cups set up for The Mad Hatter and the March Hare’s “Unbirthday” party and take a wild, dizzying adventure. Each ride vehicle has a wheel in the center that lets you control the speed of spin. The faster you turn the wheel, the faster you spin. The faster you spin, the faster you may learn what a “protein spill” is. [Magic Kingdom]

4)      Twilight Zone Tower of Terror—According to legend, the once glamorous Hollywood Hotel hosted stars of the silver screen during Hollywood’s Golden Age until Halloween night 1939, when a violent storm struck the building, whisking 5 unfortunate souls “beyond the fifth dimension.” Guests board the “fright elevator,” which goes up, then down, then maybe up again…or down. Random drops depart the 13th floor and are determined by the Tower itself. [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]

5)      Star Tours—This recently reimagined attraction features 54 ride sequences, offering motion-simulated 3D journeys aboard a Starspeeder 1000. Each ride is a different experience. You might flash through space at warp speed, zip past trees on the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk, weave through wrong-way traffic on the city-planet Coruscant, slide down treacherous slopes on the snowy planet Hoth, or just hang on for several other thrills before landing and safely delivering the spy to rebel headquarters. [Disney’s Hollywood Studios]

6)      Space Mountain—This classic Magic Kingdom coaster is an all-time fan favorite. Climb the 180-foot mountain then blast off into deep, dark space through twists and turns and past shooting stars and black holes. Two separate tracks, the Alpha and the Omega, mirror each other as they hurl rocket ships through the cosmos at 28 miles per hour. [Magic Kingdom]

7)      Cyber Space Mountain—This virtual roller coaster, custom built by you at Downtown Disney’s Disney Quest, can be as tame or as wild as you wish. Bill Nye the Science Guy directs the computer design. When you’re done, jump in a simulator and ride your creation in full 360° motion—rocking, tilting, rumbling along the “track” you created. [Disney Quest at Downtown Disney]

8)      Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain—The 199-foot “snow”-covered mountain adds a second “wienie” to Animal Kingdom Park. Board a runaway tea train and plunge into dark hairpin turns, careening forward and backward around and through this breathtaking Himalayan Mountain peak in effort to escape the mountain’s guardian Yeti, a phenomenal Audio-animatronic beast standing more than 18 feet tall that, when working, has an arm thrust equivalent to the force of a 747 jumbo jet. [Disney’s Animal Kingdom]

9)      Big Thunder Mountain Railroad—The “wildest ride in the wilderness” reaches speeds of 25-30 mph, matching that of the monorail, as it rumbles past gold mining tools on two-and-a-half acres of desert canyons and caverns. Those rough-and-tumble twists and turns can make a full stomach churn. [Magic Kingdom]

10)  Dinosaur —Dinosaur! is housed inside the Dino Institute toward the rear of DinoLand, USA. Once you eek past Dino Sue, a 40-foot long, 20-foot high exact replica of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed, proceed through the ride queue, strap into your Time Rover and hang on for a turbulent tour of the Cretaceous era  to fetch a dinosaur before it and you become extinct. [Disney’s Animal Kingdom]

You look a little green. Feeling OK? Don’t worry, you’ll have fun, but you might want to take in a show first.

A new interactive exhibit, Habit Heroes presented by Florida Blue and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, debuted at Innoventions at Epcot today.

This new experience encourages children of all ages to learn healthy lifestyle habits and become more active. Guests can join forces with Habit Heroes Will Power and Callie Stenics to fight off villains like Sweet Tooth and The Snacker.

Two Habit Heroes even made a special in-person appearance today for the kick-off of the exhibit.

Can’t make it to Epcot? Kids can visit www.HabitHeroes.com to create their own avatar and learn how to fight bad habits.

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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.

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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!

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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 19^th 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
.

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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.

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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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Anyone who has ever been to Walt Disney World during February, March, or April would use the same words to describe it – rainy, and CROWDED! This is definitely one of the ‘peak’ times to visit, which means prices are higher, lines are longer, and tempers are shorter.

Having visited WDW every year during this time growing up, I have compiled some ‘helpful hints’ that can make your trip less stressful:

Eat at “off” times: If you want to get Advance Dining Reservations to popular WDW restaurants like Cinderella’s Royal Table where you can dine with the Princesses, or Chef Mickey’s where you can meet and greet the Mouse himself, you may have to willing to take those weird reservation times, like a 10:45 am breakfast, or a 4:55 pm dinner. Everyone else wants to eat at these places too, so if they are that important to you, be willing to take whatever reservation they can give you

Explore New Places: The 4 theme parks of WDW are amazing places, and obviously the main reason why people travel there, and that means they are also going to be packed to capacity during these peak times (we’re talking 90+ minute waits for popular rides, crowded counter service restaurants, and hordes of strollers all waiting to bang you in the ankles). This would be a great time to explore what Disney World has to offer beyond the parks like watersports (including water skiing and boat/jetski rentals), spa treatments, and plenty of shopping/dining options at Downtown Disney. The best part of all these is they don’t require a park admission, and just might give you a chance to relax and unwind (after all, isn’t that what vacations are really for?)

Extra Magic Hours: This is one of the best perks of staying at one of the WDW Resort Hotels – each day, one theme park stays open an hour later or opens an hour early for WDW Resort guests ONLY. It’s called Extra Magic Hours, and its a great chance to get in some early mroning or late night rides with shorter lines and fewer crowds. You can pick up an Extra Magic Hours Schedule at your WDW resort upon your arrival

Have A Plan…and be willing to change it: When visiting a place like Disney World where there is SO much to do, it is always helpful to have a rough idea of how you will spend your days. During busy season, the key to this is definitely having a ‘rough’ plan – and realizing that things could change and you should have a backup, if at all possible. So plan, but don’t overplan (you’ll just end up disappointed if you plan out every minute, because it never works out exactly as you plan!)

Know your “must do’s”: Whether this is your first trip to WDW or your 100th, you should do some research ahead of time and pick 3-5 rides/attractions/shows you really want to do at each park – and make those your goal. Check the wait times when you arrive at the park, utilize Fastpasses, and be willing to wait. Patience is key, and if you really love the ride, it will be well worth the time spent in line!

DON’T STRESS: The bottom line is, you are still going to the most magical place on earth, so you will have a great time no matter what! Just try and be flexible, and don’t get too upset if you don’t see it all…there’s always next time!

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Frequent Disney World travelers often here, “You’re going to Disney World AGAIN? Don’t you know there are other places in the world?!” You can happily reply, “yes, I have visited 11 countries: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, Morocco, France, United Kingdom, and Canada”. Only Walt Disney World can make you feel like an international traveler!

The eleven countries of EPCOT’s World Showcase make up 1.2 miles of international delights where you will find cast members from, and representative of, each country.
The themed wardrobe, environment and language make you feel like you are in a different country.

If you haven’t experienced the World Showcase, lace up your sneakers and get ready to walk! We are going on a tour of the World Showcase! For those who don’t want to talk around the world, read along and you can figure out which stop you’d like to shop and plan accordingly. There are boats available at Friendship Landing (to the right of the entry at World Showcase) which will take you across to different locations in the showcase. The lagoon that serves the boats are also used for EPCOT’s nightly fireworks show, “illuminations, reflections of earth”. So if you are planning on taking a shortcut on the boat be mindful of the time; the lagoon will close for the preparation of the show.

Disney resort guests can really put their perks into practice when shopping in the World Showcase, if you are more than two days from your departure date, you can have your packages sent to your resort, at NO COST! Pay for your purchases, fill out the slip and wave goodbye! You will receive a phone call in your room when your packages are available and you can pick them up in the gift shop at your own resort!

Each country is, of course, different but each also offers a unique international experience and in true Disney style, there is something for everyone. Kids can get in line to meet characters while Mom’s look in the shops with those little fragile delicacy’s , there are also KidCot fun stops around the world showcase where they can make a craft while you shop.

While I appreciate the authentic cultural experience that the World Showcase provides, I especially enjoy the shopping! Entering the World Showcase and working clockwise you’ll find what the following countries have to offer.

The Mexico Pavilion is burrowed inside of Aztec pyramid and is a treasure trove of Mexican souvenirs. Clay sculptures, ponchos, morocca’s, sombrero’s, silver jewelry and mexican spices. You can often find a Mexican artisan at different times during the day, some that make custom leather purses and others that hand paint piggy banks. The Mexico pavilion is a great place to cool off in the steamy summer days, you can even stay a little while and take a boat ride through Mexico with the Three Cabeleros.

When you see a Viking Ship and roofs with moss and flowers you know you’ve reached the Norway Pavilion. Norway is full of collectibles ranging from children’s toys to grown up luxury’s. Let the little viking in your family enjoy the section of Scandinavian necessities like shields, swords and viking helmets. Dress them up in a handmade wool sweater and read them a fairy tale from Hans Christian Andersen. For a more grown up shopping experience, sample the scents of Norway: Geir-the power of Norway, and Laila-the essence of Norway. Norway also offers silver jewelry and you can grab something sweet from the bakery on your way to the next country!

The beautiful blue circular pavilion you see on the left when entering the world showcase is home to China Pavilion – one of the largest venues for shopping and the largest variety. You can find silk clothing (pajamas, robes and slippers in many different colors and varieties), mother of pearl trinkets, tea pots, carvings, incense, candles and paper fans. There is a lot to see both inside and out! Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there is an open air market style shops with more to see!

Germany Pavilion is a cluster of small shops with architecture from different areas, each featuring different items such as cuckoo clocks, dolls and porcelain goods. You will also find Swarovski crystal and a miniature train!

St. Mark’s Campanile (bell tower) can be seen from all around the world showcase and marks the spot in Italy. This pavilion includes high end silk scarves, jewelry and fragrances. Italy is also one of the most popular venues for dining featuring Via Napoli and Tutto Italia. Musicians clowns and acting troupes also appear throughout the day.

The American Pavilion is mainly a food court (the Liberty Inn), large outdoor theatre that features seasonal performances and a small gift shop selling American goods.

Like China, Japan Pavilion is another huge venue for shopping. Clothing at all different price ranges, cosmetics, toys, purses, incense, bonsai trees, kimonos and Geta (Japanese wooden sandals). The store also features different candy from Japan and oysters where you can “pick your own pearl”.

Morocco Pavilion has both indoor and outdoor (in bazaar style) shopping. There are many ceramics, carpets, belly dancing gear and instructions, vases and ceramic tiles. You can also find jewelry, clothing and shoes.

Are you exhausted yet? That’s a lot of shopping but we aren’t done yet! There are still three more countries: France Pavilion, the United Kingdom and Canada Pavilion.

Walk into France stop at a popular place in the World Showcase…the bakery. Grab a snack and refuel so you can finish walking around the world! The little shop in France has a variety of items featuring French artists, knick-knacks (including the Eiffel Tower in a variety of sizes!) and French cookbooks. There is a wide price range for items which are both practical and lavish.

The United Kingdom has all the things you would expect: Beatles memorabilia, a selection of teas and tea pots (and mugs of course!), clothing, etc. You will also find Wimbledon items often featured here.

Canada is home to one of Epcot’s signature dining experiences: LeCellier Steakhouse. Wander through the lush gardens before you enter the castle to have a fantastic dinner! You won’t find extensive shopping here, just a few kiosks outside with Canadian merchandise: key chains, shot glasses t-shirts, etc. Check the times guide or the sign in front of the pavilion to find show times for that day’s entertainment.

If you survive shopping the World Showcase, stay around the lagoon at 9:00pm for “Illuminations, Reflections of Earth”; a beautiful fireworks and laser light display with some pretty amazing surprises!

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The Monoski family experience the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review

Every Photo has a story…

Loyal Chip & Company fan Brittany Monoski, her husband and three children took a trip to Walt Disney World in 2011 all the way from Pensylvania.  From their room at the Boardwalk Villas, they headed over for a show at the Hoop-Dee-Doo Review, one of the longest running shows at Disney World.  Britany said,  “We knew that we would love the Hoop-Dee-Doo.  I don’t quite remember why, but we were running extremely late that day.  We were so afraid that once the doors closed, we would not be able to get in.  Luckily, that was not the case at all.  A cast member saw us rushing up to the doors, and she escorted us directly to our table.  That’s when our fun night began. The show and food were  just fabulous!” Brittany’s favorite part of the meal? “The Sangria, definitely!”

Picture this… After the Hoop-de-Doo, the Monoski’s headed over to the Campfire Sing-Along with Chip ‘n Dale.

Brittany said of  of the sing-along, “We had been to this event the year before,  so we knew how much we loved it.  The kids roasted marshmallows and we sang along to many of the songs.  The best part of the night was when Chip ‘n Dale started dancing and invited everyone to dance with them.  It was a blast!  Chip ‘n Dale are my favorite Disney characters! ”

Thanks, Britany, for sending in your photos and stories, 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 twice a 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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One of my favorite attractions at Walt Disney World is Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I was really excited to ride it in September because it would be our first flight aboard the Starspeeder 1000 since the attraction’s enhancements. While you do have to transfer from your wheelchair to experience Star Tours, it is one of the easiest attractions to transfer to.

One thing I was a little disappointed about was the fact that wheelchairs don’t go through the regular queue. Yes I realize I am technically skipping some of the line but this queue is awesome and I wanted to experience it. When you enter the building, Cast Members will direct you up a ramp to the left of the standard queue. Luckily, there is a landing at the top where you can check out most of the new queue. Since it isn’t crowded you can spend as much or as little time as you want there. I like hanging out and watching what is happening below.

Once you’ve checked out the queue you follow a hallway to the wheelchair entrance. You’ll come to a rope where you wait for a Cast Member to assist you.  Wait time will vary depending on how busy the ride is. They will ask you how many are in your party and if you need to use the transfer seat. If they don’t ask for some reason make sure you let them know.

The transfer seat is the first seat on the front row so you will board the attraction last. The seat has an arm rest that moves out from the seat making it easier to transfer. I tried it both ways, with the transfer seat and in a regular one where the arm rest doesn’t move. It is definitely easier to use the transfer seat.

One tip I have is to make sure the Cast Member takes your wheelchair back out the entrance and not the side that is the exit. All of the Disney Cast Members at Star Tours were super helpful but some have dealt with wheelchair guests more than others. Taking the wheelchair back out the entrance gets it back to you quicker and also keeps excited guests entering the attraction behind both the wheelchair and the Cast Member.

We loved the new Star Tours and can’t wait to ride it again. The ease of transfer makes it one of the better attractions as far as accessibility goes. Plus its awesome.

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Fantasmic

Chip & Company would like to extend a Pooh-sized welcome to all Guests! Come one, come all Cast Members and VoluntEARS to the Show. We hope you’ll find us to be a Fantasmic Innovention and refer to us often as an E-Ticket Attraction. Consider us your Automagic Fastpass to the Utilidors of Disney knowledge!

The world of Walt Disney entertainment is so unique it requires its own language. Some words originated directly from Walt and his Imagineers. Others, it seems, have grown into their own Disneyness and have acquired new meanings along the way.

Attraction = a theme park ride or show
Audio animatronics = realistic robotics that bring 3-D effect to an Attraction
Automagic = play on automatic; the Disney way of making things magically happen
Backstage = a park area not accessible to guests
Cast Member = a Disney theme park or resort employee
Casting center = theme park or resort employment office
Costume = the uniform worn by a Cast Member
Crew Member = Disney Cruise Line employee
Disney point = to point with index and middle finger together; in some cultures it is rude to point with only one finger
Earffel Tower = water tower at DHS; example of wienie
Epcot = from EPCOT, Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
E-Ticket = the newest, best, most popular attraction; stems from former system of ride coupons ranking rides A-E (A were least popular, E most popular)
Fantasmic = lights, lasers, fireworks, and waterworks show at DHS
FastPass = ticket generated to assign Guest a time to return to a busy Attraction without waiting in long line
Guest = visitor to Disney theme park or resort
Hallowishes = special Magic Kingdom fireworks during MNSSHP Halloween celebrations
IllumiNations = fireworks at Epcot
Imagineer = employee of Walt Disney Imagineering (formerly Walter Elias Disney, WED Enterprises); combination of imagine+engineer; scientists and artists who design the Attractions
Innovention = innovation+invention
Mousekeeping = resort housekeeping/maid service
Mouseketeer = play on musketeer; cast members of the TV show The Mickey Mouse Club
On stage = any area where a Cast Member might be seen by Guests
Philharmagic = philharmonic+magic 3-D film at MK
PhotoPass = barcoded card/web access to photos taken by Cast Member photographers
Plussing = constantly striving to improve a project even when it is considered complete
Pooh-sized = big, like Pooh Bear
Protein spill = term used by Cast Members to indicate someone has vomited
Show = everything that encompasses an Attraction or park feature; all the effects & mood setters that combine to make it feel like you’re walking into that world
Utilidors = utility+corridors The underground tunnels at Magic Kingdom that provide access for maintenance, Cast Members, readying, etc.
VoluntEARS = The Disney VoluntEARS program provides opportunities for Cast Members to contribute their time and expertise to charitable causes.
Wienie = a visual Attraction or landmark that can be seen by Guests from far away; it is used to guide visitors through park, i.e. Cinderella Castle
Wishes = Magic Kingdom fireworks

Then, there’s a slew of abbreviations representing different Resorts, restaurants, shows, etc.
Parks:
DLR = Disneyland Resort
DLP = Disneyland Park
DCA = Disney California Adventure
DTD = Downtown Disney (both DLR & WDW)
WDW = Walt Disney World Resort
AK or DAK = Disney’s Animal Kingdom
DHS = Disney’s Hollywood Studios
EC = Epcot
MK = Magic Kingdom
BB = Blizzard Beach
TL = Typhoon Lagoon
DLRP or DLP = Disneyland Resort Paris
DCL = Disney Cruise Line
TDL = Tokyo Disneyland
TDS = Tokyo Disney Sea
HKDL = Hong Kong Disneyland

Resorts:
AKL = Animal Kingdom Lodge
AS = All Star Sports
ASM = All Star Movies
ASMu = All Star Music
BLT = Bay Lake Tower
Cont = Contemporary
CS = Coronado Springs
DLH = Disneyland Hotel
FW = Fort Wilderness Campground
FtW = Fort Wilderness
GC = Disney’s Grand Californian
GF = Grand Floridian
PFQ = Port Orleans French Quarter
Poly = Polynesian
POP = Pop Century
POR = Port Orleans Riverside
SS = Saratoga Springs
WL = Wilderness Lodge
Y&B = Yacht & Beach Club

Attractions:
BTM = Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
CoP = Carousel of Progress
EE = Expedition Everest
GMR = Great Movie Ride
HM = Haunted Mansion
MNSSHP = Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
MVMCP = Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
PotC = Pirates of the Caribbean
RnRC = Rock–n–Roller Coaster
SM = Space Mountain
SSE = Spaceship Earth
SM = Splash Mountain
ST = Star Tours
ToT = Tower of Terror
TSM = Toy Story Mania
TTA = Tomorrowland Transit Authority

Other:
AA = Audio Animatronics
ADR = Advanced Dining Reservations
AP = Annual Pass
CM = Cast Member
DDP = Disney Dining Plan
DVC = Disney Vacation Club
ECV = Electric Convenience Vehicle (motorized scooter)
EMH = Extra Magic Hours
FW = Future World
HM = Hidden Mickey
ME = Magical Express
TIW = Tables in Wonderland
TTC = Transportation and Ticket Center
WS = World Showcase

Next time you want to impress your friends, drop some Disneyspeak. It’ll confirm what they’ve suspected all along: Yep, you’re a Disney addict!

These lists are hardly exhaustive. Help us add to them in the comments below.

Related articles

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Brittany Monoski's Photo Encounter With Darth Vader

Every photo has a story…

In July of 2011, Chip & Company fan Brittany Monoski took her husband and three children on a trip from from Pennsylvania to Walt Disney World.  It was their second trip to Disney as a family.  Brittany said, ”Our first trip, in 2010, did not go well because my oldest child was extremely sick with a 102 fever for much of the trip.  We decided to try again in 2011, and while we originally had a trip planned for June, my husband found out that he needed emergency back surgery the day before our trip  We were devastated!  Just imagine having to cancel the day before you were supposed to leave!” Brittany said her husband’s health was most important, of course, and because his surgery went well, they were able to stay at the Boardwalk Villas about 6 weeks later in July.
Picture this…  No stranger to illness on a Disney vacation, Brittany’s oldest son, Parker,  started feeling sick when they arrived at Hollywood Studios.  Brittany relates how she took the photo, “My husband took Parker back to the hotel room.  In the meanwhile, my daughter, youngest son, and I were on our own.  We stopped to see the Jedi Training because we wanted to get a picture of Darth Vader for Parker, since one of his favorite things is Star Wars.  He just loved it!  And, the pixie dust must have been with us that day, because after a couple of hours, he felt better.  So he and my husband came back to Hollywood Studios to meet us for dinner.”

Thanks, Brittany, 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, or architecture.  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. 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 twice a day in photographs. Visit my photo blog at mouzekateerz.com, or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com.

Disney and General Motors have renewed their long-term business relationship with a new multi-year corporate alliance.As part of the new alliance, GM will be actively involved with Walt Disney Imagineering in the development of a re-imagined, design-centric Test Track experience. The refurbished Test Track will be presented by one of GM’s most famous brands, Chevrolet. As Chevrolet marks its 100^th anniversary, the new alliance agreement enables General Motors to tell its story in new and exciting ways to millions of Guests from around the world and continue as the official vehicle sponsor of Walt Disney World Resort.

“We are excited to renew our long-term alliance with General Motors,” said George Aguel, Senior Vice President, Corporate Alliances for the Walt Disney Company. “This unique agreement extends collaboration between two of the most recognized brands in the world, a relationship that spans over 30 years. The re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will continue our shared goal of providing unique and innovative experiences that engage Disney guests in exciting and interactive ways.” ”

“As a global brand, Chevrolet is looking forward to welcoming Guests from around the world to the re-imagined Test Track,” said Joel Ewanick, Global Chief Marketing Officer for General Motors. “The best of Disney and the best of Chevrolet will come together to bring Guests an immersive experience in the design process of the vehicles they see on the road today and will see in the future.”

Plans call for closing the current GM Test Track in April 2012, with an anticipated opening of Test Track Presented by Chevrolet scheduled for fall 2012.

As part of the re-imagining, the Future World attraction will feature a sleek new “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” immersing Guests in the fascinating world of automotive design. Amid upbeat music, engaging media, dramatic lighting and a collection of Chevrolet concept cars and model vehicles, guests themselves will become automotive designers – and peer into the future of personal transportation in the process.

At interactive design and styling workstations, Guests will be able to create their own custom concept vehicles. The adventure will then shift into high gear as Guests buckle into their 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle and put their design through its paces on the exhilarating hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit.

Their performance testing complete, Guests will move into a post-show area filled with special effects and be scored on how well their custom concept vehicle did. And of course, Guests will be able see the very latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new state-of-the-art showroom.

Related articles

• Disney Confirms New Test Track For Fall 2012 (everythingwdisneyworld.com)
• Test Track Closes for New Name Change and Design Center (chipandco.com)

PlanItDisney map-based planning

PlanItDisney.com, a revolutionary free Disney trip planning website, went live to the public today.  PlanItDisney allows users to build an online travel itinerary and budget from over 3000 Points of Interest in and around Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Planning a vacation with PlanItDisney is a four step process:

The Map – An interactive map containing photos, details, descriptions, and reviews for every single attraction, show, hotel, service, food, and transportation location at the Disney resorts is the starting point to building your perfect trip. Browse the map, find things to do and add them to your itinerary queue.
The Planner – Select any point of interest and drag-and-drop it anywhere in your itinerary.  Shuffle events around until your trip is just right.  Color coding of events gives you a quick overview of what kind of activity is up next.  You can add custom itinerary items or attach a note (like ADR information) to any event.
The Budget – Once you’ve got your itinerary looking the way you’d like, with one click PlanItDisney will help create a budget based on your exact trip.  Common (but commonly overlooked) budget items like internet charges, parking, and other costs are noted for you.
Book It – Once your plan and budget are in place, PlanItDisney makes it easier than ever to book your Disney vacation online.  You can choose to share your itinerary and budget with one of a select group of Authorized Disney Travel Agents who can help finalize all the little details of your trip and make all the hotel, ticket, food, and theme park reservations at absolutely no cost to you.  Or you are free to make your own travel arrangements.

Interactive itinerary tool

PlanItDisney is the quickest and easiest way to learn about everything to do at Disney, remove the confusion and hassle of planning and budgeting a trip, and get on with enjoying the most magical vacation of your life!

"Smart" budgeting helps estimate the trip

Related articles

• Ask Us a Disney Question – Can I pay for my vacation with gift cards? (chipandco.com)
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Disney and General Motors announced today that have renewed their sponsorship agreement for the popular Epcot Attraction “Test Track.” Financial terms were not discussed but if you remember back when Test Track was built GM paid a whopping $100 Million Dollars for the previous 10 year contract!

The attraction is set to close sometime in April of 2012 to be upfitted with new Chevrolet cars and all new Chevrolet Design Center where you can go in and make your own concept cars.

Click here to see a first look at the Chevy Test Track Vehicles.

Here is information from a press release:

“We are excited to renew our long-term alliance with General Motors,” George Aguel, senior vice president of corporate alliances for the Walt Disney Co., “This unique agreement extends collaboration between two of the most recognized brands in the world, a relationship that spans over 30 years. The re-imagined Test Track Presented by Chevrolet will continue our shared goal of providing unique and innovative experiences that engage Disney guests in exciting and interactive ways.” ”

As part of the re-imagining, the Future World attraction will feature a sleek new “Chevrolet Design Center at Epcot” immersing Guests in the fascinating world of automotive design. Amid upbeat music, engaging media, dramatic lighting and a collection of Chevrolet concept cars and model vehicles, guests themselves will become automotive designers – and peer into the future of personal transportation in the process.

At interactive design and styling workstations, Guests will be able to create their own custom concept vehicles. The adventure will then shift into high gear as Guests buckle into their 6-person “SimCar” ride vehicle and put their design through its paces on the exhilarating hills, switchbacks and straight-aways of the Test Track circuit.

Their performance testing complete, Guests will move into a post-show area filled with special effects and be scored on how well their custom concept vehicle did. And of course, Guests will be able see the very latest Chevrolet vehicles in an all-new state-of-the-art showroom.

Stay tuned to our Disney World Refurbishment schedule where we will have refurb and closure information for you on the 15th of every month.

Related articles

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  Ok, I may be a little biased, but one of my FAVORITE Disney trip-planning websites is Tips from the Disney Diva www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com

The site, which really began taking off in December of 2009, was originally designed to help families in the planning process for their trip to Walt Disney World, but is expanding this year with the addition of multiple “Diva & Devo” writers who specialize in tips on:

- Disneyland trip planning – RunDisney Events – WDW & Dland dining, attractions, and resort reviews – Packing tips – Disney trips with Toddlers in your party – Disney on a budget – Disney trips with TEENS in your party (from a teen’s perspective) – Disney trips WITHOUT kids in your party – Traveling with people who have dietary or physical special needs  in your party – Traveling to Disneyland Paris – Disney Cruises – Traveling to Disneyland Hong Kong – Traveling to WDW and Disneyland from outside of the country – Disney Weddings and Honeymoons – Disney Vacation Club – Thrill ride lovers – Specialty Tours – Photography at Disney Parks and more!

Tips from the Disney Diva is EXCLUSIVELY a trip planning site. It does not discuss Disney news, Disney movies or television, ABC Family,  or any of the other great stuff that is covered here at Chip and Company, so we’re QUITE compatible with one another. Tips from the Disney Diva’s goal is for you to have the BEST POSSIBLE Disney vacation you could have , so information is sincere, fun to read, easy to understand for people who are planning their FIRST TRIP, and straight talk that will help you plan a trip even a DIVA would love!

If you’re looking for some great HELPFUL tips for planning your next Disney come meet me over at Tips from the Disney Diva (www.tipsfromthedisneydiva.com) and look around. You can get just a taste of the site by looking at some of the most frequently read posts and join us on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/tipsfromthedisneydiva and/or TWITTER @WDWDisneyDiva. Bring your friends and make sure you sign up get emails sent to you daily with fresh tips for planning the best Disney vacation EVER!

• Packing the PERFECT Walt Disney World Backpack
• Packing Checklists
• Counter Service Lunch AT Magic Kingdom
• Only got TWO days to do Disney…. check it out
• Breakfast in the Magic Kingdom
• Ride or Walk? Strollers at Walt Disney World
• The 7 Deadly Sins of Disney World Vacationing
• In Case of a WDW Melt-Down: Break G.L.A.S.S.
• Fast Pass Pouches
• “Hoofing it”. Walking around Walt Disney World

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Here there guys and gals Anonymouse here. I hope everyone had a great holidays!

Today’s Disney Gossip is something we have talked about before here on Chip and Co. While I am not a fan because going to Walt Disney World is something we have to save up for and can only manage to get to our home away from home once a year, those with deep pockets are going to like the news.

It seems Disney is getting ready to roll out XPass in 2012. What is XPass you might ask?

For a hefty ransom Disney will offer WDW Guests the opportunity to pre-book an entire vacation’s worth of rides on the Resort’s most popular attractions as well as guaranteeing these high-end customers a primo reserved viewing spot for theme park parades and/or nighttime extravaganzas like “Illuminations” and  “Fantasmic!”

So depending on how deep your pockets are and how much of a Chip Planning Nerd you are, you could plan out your whole vacation from behind your computer screen before you even step foot in the parks. If I only knew someone who did that now….

If you want to read more about this head over to Jim Hill Media. Now I am not 100% certain this is a real article as JHM likes to pull peoples legs. Although we have been known to share information about upcoming things at Walt Disney World. For example the Fast Pass for Fast Pass.

While I am not to crazy about this option I want to hear what you think. Let me know in the comment box below.

Anywho that is all the Disney Gossip I have right now. For my past Gossip articles be sure to check them out here.

Got any good rumors?  Please email me at AnonyMouse@chipandco.com or on my Facebook Page

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The skies over Disneyland have been unusually silent as the Christmas “Believe in Holiday Magic” fireworks show has been canceled several times because of “technical issues.”

Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Betsy Sanchez said a decision is being made day-to-day on whether to go forward with the fireworks show. Sanchez said the safety of guests and employees is always paramount.

The display was initially canceled on Dec. 22 because of winds and a technical issue. Sanchez said a Disney employee was taken to a hospital and released for a noise-related injury from the fireworks operation.

The technical issues have continued on several days since that night. The seasonal display is due to run through Jan. 8.

Source

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Another wheelchair friendly attraction at Walt Disney World is Journey Into Imagination at the Imagination! Pavilion in Epcot’s Future World.

This attraction has a special ride vehicle that allows you to stay in your wheelchair. When you are in the queue just let the Cast Members know you would like to stay in your wheelchair. Once the adaptive vehicle arrives, the Cast Member will fold down the ramp and help you into the ride vehicle. Once you are in, lock your brakes, and the Cast Member will spin you around and you are all set to go. The ride is really smooth so you don’t have to worry about your wheelchair moving around.

Below is a video of the adaptive vehicle and the process for boarding. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me at mel(at)chipandco.com.

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