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.

With a pop of confetti and the drop of a banner from atop the CHOC Children’s construction site, Disneyland Resort today announced a $5 million donation to CHOC in support of the “Change CHOC, Change the World” comprehensive fund-raising campaign.

The gift includes sponsorship of the lobby in the seven-story tower, slated to open in spring 2013. The tower will house new pediatric services and will incorporate the most advanced design and safety principles of any children’s hospital in the country. Disney Imagineers are busy helping to create an inviting lobby space sprinkled with special Disney touches to complement the hospital’s serene healing environment for children and their families.

“Disney makes magical moments for millions of people every day, and it’s especially important for us to provide some Disney magic to support children during difficult times,” said George A. Kalogridis, Disneyland Resort president. “On behalf of our 22,000 cast members and their families, who live in this community, I am honored to show our support for CHOC as together we build a community where children have the best opportunity to be healthy and happy.”

“Thanks to this generous $5 million gift, our ‘Change CHOC, Change the World’ campaign has surpassed the $100 million milestone,” said Kim Cripe, president and CEO of CHOC Children’s. “We are extremely fortunate to enjoy such a strong partnership with the Disneyland Resort, who understands there’s no higher purpose to philanthropy than to change, to heal and to save the life of a child.”

During this morning’s celebration, Cripe and Kalogridis joined Mickey Mouse, Disney Ambassador Jolie Hales, and 14-year-old CHOC patient Tommy Conforti, CHOC’s Campaign Ambassador, to announce the gift.

Disneyland Resort and CHOC have been part of the fabric of Orange County since Walt Disney first formed a bond with the hospital in 1960, when he was appointed as one of the founding members of CHOC’s executive council. That support continues today with Disneyland Resort President George A. Kalogridis serving on CHOC’s board of directors. For the past 21 years, the Resort has played host to the hospital’s biggest annual fundraiser — the CHOC Walk in the Park — where 15,000 participants stroll through Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks to raise funds. In 2011, walkers raised more than $1.5 million, which included $240,000 from the Disney VoluntEARS walk team and other Resort-sponsored initiatives. Many Disney cast members have a tradition of volunteering their time and talent at CHOC and our beloved characters often can be found visiting the hospital’s young patients.

The Walt Disney Company also has a long history of supporting children’s hospitals. Through Disney’s wishes and hospital programs, the company helps bring happiness, hope and laughter to those who need it most. This month, Disney is expanding its annual care-package program and sharing Disney products and experiences with more than 450 hospitals in the U.S., 110 children’s hospitals and hospices in Europe and 25 children’s hospitals in Latin America.

About CHOC: Named one of the best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2011-2012) and a 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospital, CHOC Children’s is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC’s regional healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence – The CHOC Children’s Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.  CHOC earned the Gold Level CAPE Award from the California Council of Excellence, the only children’s hospital in California to ever earn this distinction, and was awarded Magnet designation, the highest honor bestowed to hospitals for nursing excellence. Recognized for extraordinary commitment to high-quality critical care standards, CHOC’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is the first in the United States to earn the Pediatric Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.

About Disneyland Resort: Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s three hotels are the 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the 969-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel. With 22,000 cast members, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County’s largest employer and generates $4.7 billion annually for the Southern California economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 600 million guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit Disneyland.com.

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Valentine’s Day is upon us – and it’s one of those holidays you either love or hate. But no matter how you may feel about V-Day, showing you love someone and being romantic is a great thing to do not just on February 14th, but on any and every day of the year! When you’re taking a Walt Disney World vacation, romance might not be the first thing on your itenerary – but it should be! Here are some ways you can incorporate romance into your WDW getaway and show your someone special just how special they are to you:

Wine and Dine Them: Thanks to the Advanced Dining Reservation, or ADR system that Disney has put into place, you can plan a surprise for your loved one by booking a romantic meal for 2. And the great thing about dining at Disney World is there are so many choices, so no matter what kind of cuisine they are into, you can make sure you pick the perfect place for your meal. Some top favorites for romantic dinners include: California Grill (which can also be a great place to view the nightly fireworks from the Magic Kingdom!), Victoria and Albert’s (an upscale, intimate dining experience), or Cinderella’s Royal Table (a character dining experience like none other that takes place in the perfect setting – Cinderella’s Castle)

Plan A Special Delivery: “If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt himself said this, and the Walt Disney World Experience strives to embody this quote every day, and special occasions are no exception! The Disney Dream Makers can help you express your love with all kinds of gifts – from flower arrangements, to custom cake deliveries, to room decor, to gift baskets of all shapes an sizes – they do it all and more (check out this romantic “A Wish Come True” gift experience, which is just one of the many examples of gifting options)! If you know you want to celebrate but aren’t sure how to make it happen, check out the Dream Makers link or call them at 407-WDW-GIFT

Share your Love: Are you celebrating your engagement/wedding/honeymoon/anniversary, or even just your love for each other on your vacation? Show it with a pin – these are available at the guest services areas of each Park or at your Disney Resort – pins that announce you’re “Just Married” or “I’m Celebrating!” or “It’s My Birthday!”, and you can wear them while at the Parks. They definitely add to the magic, as Cast Members make a fuss over them, as do other guests – its a cute way that you can remind yourselves and the world about the love you share with each other!

Moonlit Stroll: There is nothing quite like a romantic walk after a delicious dinner in a setting as beautiful as Walt Disney World. I think every place is a great place for a romantic stroll in WDW, but some of the more beautiful ones include: The Polynesian Resort (the tiki torches light the pathways and make for a beautiful setting), The Boardwalk Resort (at night it comes to life and lights up in magical ways), and The Grand Floridian Resort (there is a reason this is the most popular place to have a wedding at WDW, its Victorian theming is charming and truly a sight to see!). In the evenings, people tend to flock to the parks to get a good spot for parades/fireworks viewings, so the Resorts are a great place for some quiet time to catch up and reconnect with your loved one

Carriage ride: There are few things more romantic than a horse drawn carriage ride, and Walt Disney World gives you two places where you can have this experience: ride through nature trails at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, or take a ride through old New Orleans at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Check out more info on the carriage rides here

Ultimate Relaxation: Surprise your honey with a couples massage or other spa treatments at one of Disney’s top rated Spas. This is vacationing at it’s finest – getting pampered, getting massaged and relaxing, all with your favorite person in the Happiest Place on Earth – Disney World!

Can’t afford a WDW getaway? Then get them the next best thing, something from the Disney Store that shows how much you love them – check out My Blog post for more info

Use these tips to make your magical Walt Disney World vacation even more special, and remember that while its definitely important to show your loved ones how much you care while you’re on vacation or on Valentine’s Day, its even more important to show them your love every day (so they don’t forget ha!)

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GardenGrocer.com is Florida’s #1 professional grocery delivery service with over 5 year’s experience and well over 50,000 orders proudly delivered!

How have they done this?

• First and foremost: Outstanding Customer Service
• Second: Products of the Best Quality
• Finally: A Strong Delivery Structure.

Not only does Garden Grocer have the  everyday items that you and your family use back home they all carry specialty items like:

• Kosher
• Gluten Free
• Organic

So people with specialty dietary requests they got you covered!

If you have questions about their service check out their Q & A Page as they cover everything. From what is Garden Grocer to tipping and how your delivery is packaged.

I am proud to announce our partnership with Garden Grocer here on Chip and Co. GG is the only Grocery Delivery Service in the Orlando area that we support and use! Myself and many of my writers have used their service in the past and highly recommend them to anyone needing Groceries delivered to your Rental Home, Resort, and Vacation Club Property.

Just click on any of the images above to learn more.

Happy Shopping.

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Where can you find it?
Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

What is it?
Tin 1-Pita bread, prosciutto,dried beef, salmon roll with cream cheese on top of a jicama and cucumber salad. Topped off with a slice of fig almond bread.
Tin 2-Yogurt with granola,edible orchid, brie cheese and melon.

Why you want it-

This meal is included in your Wild Africa Trek package at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
You can find more information here about the rates and how to book your fun filled trip
through the African Savannah where the Kilimanjaro Safari drivers do not dare to travel.

Photo courtesy of Jennifer Sorrentino.
Thank you Jennifer for the wonderful photos!

If you have a Disney Food Confession email me at dulcie@chipandco.com. Let me know the What, Where, and Why you love it so much. We would love to feature your picture and link to your website or blog if you have one.

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After leading his team to a game-winning drive and the Super Bowl championship Sunday night, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning led another drive Monday: down Main Street, U.S.A. to cheering fans at Walt Disney World Resort.

“I’m going to Disney World!” proclaimed Manning Sunday shortly after his team scored a dramatic 21-17 win over the New England Patriots to capture Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis. In a gala parade Monday at Magic Kingdom, Manning made good on that promise, waving and smiling alongside Mickey Mouse from a red convertible in the shadow of Cinderella Castle.

Fans of the Giants and Manning, including those sporting team jerseys Monday, got to see their hero up-close in the place where memories are made. New York Giants balloons mixed in with red, white and blue balloons along the parade route, Mickey Mouse was joined by other Disney characters and confetti in the shape of the Lombardi Trophy (awarded to the NFL champion) rained down on the happy scene. Manning was joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth football players.

Manning – who was named the game’s MVP — is no stranger to storybook finishes. Sunday’s late, game-winning drive marked the seventh fourth-quarter comeback Manning led this season. His 15 fourth quarter touchdown passes set an NFL single-season record.

Manning’s “I’m going to Disney World!” — anchoring one of TV’s most enduring and iconic Super Bowl commercials — was captured seconds after the final whistle. Monday’s visit marked his second “What’s Next…?” appearance in the Disney commercial. In 2008, Manning was celebrated following the Giants’ 17-14 upset win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

This latest commercial is the 45th in a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI. The first “I’m going to Disney World” commercial, featuring New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks within hours of its conclusion. Manning again joined a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in “I’m going to Disney World” commercials.

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After his epic play in Super Bowl XLVI leading his team to a come-from-behind 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots, what is New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning going to do next? In the celebratory moments after his team captured the National Football League championship Sunday night in Indianapolis, Manning stood in front of a TV camera and shouted five words that have become ingrained in Super Bowl victory celebrations: “I’m going to Disney World!”

Manning’s pronouncement, part of the production for one of TV’s most enduring and iconic Super Bowl commercials, was captured seconds after the final whistle. Manning – named the game’s MVP — completed 30 of 40 passes and amassed 296 yards, including his trademark fourth-quarter heroics, leading the Giants to the winning score.

Manning’s stellar performance was crucial in Sunday’s game and earned him a second “I’m going to Disney World!” accolade.  In 2008, Manning was treated to a hero’s welcome at Disney after leading the Giants to an upset win over the Patriots, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII.

He becomes the first Giants quarterback to win two Super Bowls.

On Monday (Feb. 6), Manning is scheduled to go to the place where millions of vacationers make memories celebrating their own personal milestone moments – Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla. Manning will be joined in the Magic Kingdom by NFL Youth football players, who will participate with the Giants star in the Super Bowl celebration near Main Street, U.S.A.

This latest commercial is the 45th in a series that began in 1987 following Super Bowl XXI. The first “I’m going to Disney World” commercial, featuring Giants quarterback Phil Simms, was regarded as a groundbreaking concept – a produced national commercial involving a current event, airing on major networks within hours of its conclusion. Manning again joins a lineup of people from sports and beyond who have celebrated milestone accomplishments in “I’m Going to Disney World” commercials.

The largest number of front-entrance topiaries ever, 1,000 brilliantly hued butterflies, 240 floating mini-gardens and 30 million blooms paint a landscape masterpiece at the 19^th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 7-May 20 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Among this year’s fun festival facts:

•  30 million blooms blanket the park throughout the festival, which runs 75 colorful days.
•  The festival’s front-entrance Fantasia topiary scene comprises 28 topiaries - more than have been used in any front-entrance display.  The 28 include Sorcerer Mickey, three ostriches, two hippos, two alligators, two elephants, nine stars, a spiral and eight mushrooms.
• 22,615 plant plugs of 15 plant varieties make up the Fantasia front-entrance topiary.  They include reindeer moss for Sorcerer Mickey’s face and red begonias for his hat; creeping fig for Mickey, hippos and gators; Sweet Ayssum, and three shades of Lobelia  simulate water spilling over a large topiary rock made up of Black Scallop Ajuga upon which the Sorcerer stands.
• 4,000 Blushing Bride air plants from Guatemala color the two hippos’ tutus and 300 Cotton Candy air plants from Peru feather the wings and tails of the three ostrich topiaries.  Smaller air plants are used as ostrich slippers.
• 1,250 feet of quarter-inch irrigation tubing is woven into the Fantasia front-entrance topiaries.
• Dozens of additional Disney character topiaries represent the largest collection of Disney character topiary in the world and include classic film stars like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Donald Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Cinderella and Tinker Bell.
• At least 25 different plants, grasses and mosses of various colors, including pink and red begonias, dusty miller, palm fiber, palm seeds, ficus and lichen, are used to create and define features of additional festival topiaries.  More color has been added to the topiaries than in any previous topiary presentation.
• 1,000 native butterflies represent up to 10 species at the expansive Bambi’s Butterfly House. Among the garden’s two dozen nectar plants are Cape Royal plumbago, passion flower, coral honeysuckle, blazing star, butterfly bush, scarlet milkweed and canna lily.
• More than 500,000 plants, trees and shrubs are planted for the festival; 250,000 of those are annual blossoms installed for the festival.
• Festival plants include 60 different species of trees, 47 types of palms, and 48 varieties of bedding plants.
• 150 hands-on gardening demonstrations and seminars will be presented.
• Thirty “flower towers” of impatiens line Innoventions Plaza.
• 240 floating mini-gardens, each three feet in diameter, of multi-hued impatiens provide splashes of color on two ponds that border the walkway between Future World and World Showcase.
• 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables in clay pots, barrels and urns enhance the landscape throughout Epcot.
• 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists are needed to install the festival landscape, topiaries and many exhibits; 100 Epcot horticulturists maintain topiaries and other festival displays.
• It takes more than one full year and about 24,000 cast member hours to prepare for the annual festival.
• The festival’s weekend Flower Power concert series includes 11 artists and groups known for more than 100 Top 40 hits.  This year’s musical hit-makers from the 1960s and ’70s include Jose Feliciano, Starship starring Mickey Thomas, The Guess Who, The Spinners, Chubby Checker & The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (NEW!), The Orchestra starring former members of ELO (NEW!), Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone and Davy Jones.

Guest information for the 19thannual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available at www.disneyworld.com/flower or at 407/W-DISNEY.

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“Better-for-you” options at five mini shops serving breakfast, lunch and dinner is the theme of the Landscape of Flavors food court at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The new restaurant will be adjacent to the lobby.

“The idea is that you customize your choices,” says Chef Ed Wronski, Director, Food & Beverage Concept Development, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “From burgers to pasta, salads, ethnic flavors, omelets, even parfaits and gelatos, everything is made fresh as you order.”

There’s a big focus on beverages, too. Fresh fruit smoothies are made to order, as well as lemonade and pomegranate limeade. Organic teas, beer (including gluten free), wine, coffee and juices also will be stocked.  Half bottles of wine are paired with cuisine from the food shops.

Menu highlights:

• Create a salad at the Soup-Salad-Sandwich Shop, including a caprese sandwich with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes on focaccia, or a Buffalo-style turkey sandwich with arugula and a blue cheese-Buffalo sauce-mayo spread. Both served with house-made potato chips.
• The World Flavors Shop adds Indian-African flair to breakfast, with scrambled eggs, tandoor potatoes, Portuguese sausage, slab bacon and a mini-naan; or a veggie flatbread sandwich on naan with cauliflower, spinach and paneer. Lunch and dinner is a choice of tandoori chicken or shrimp, Mongolian beef with vegetables, mahi mahi, Portuguese sausage or roasted acorn squash served with sides and naan bread.
• The Pizza Shop features make-your-own pasta, cheese and pepperoni pizzas and meatballs on ciabatta bread. Room delivery is an option, too.
• The Burger Shop includes a breakfast burger with chicken breakfast sausage, cheese and scrambled eggs on a multi-grain bun, and a steak-and-eggs breakfast burger with a burger topped with fried eggs, cheese and bacon.  Besides the traditional burgers, lunch and dinner includes a surf and surf burger with crab cake and fried popcorn shrimp, and a pastrami cheeseburger topped with pepper jack cheese and a slice of fried green tomato.
• The “grab ‘n go” Market Shop offers drinks, yogurt, bagels, pastries, gourmet cupcakes, cookies and gelato.

The food court is part of the Disney Dining Plan.

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While we were at Disney World last week which according to many websites like Touring Plans and from Travel Agents like Pixie Vacations it was going to be a low attendance or value week. I remember when I was in High School and going to Disney World all the time and there were day’s it was completely empty even on a weekend.

So with that information in hand we headed to the park in hopes of a relaxing uncrowded visit. Boy were we wrong.

As you can tell there were people everywhere.Has the days of having the parks all to yourself fallen of the map? Personally I believe Disney Free Dining and to much information has killed any semblance of a slow season. What do I mean exactly? I will tell you…

Free Dining – About 5 years ago is when Free Dining and Special Room rates starting popping up. That period coincides with what I believe when Disney jacked up their rates big time! How else would they give you such a deep discount if they didn’t raise their prices? This a common thing businesses do, they say this item is 75% off but they inflate the Retail Price so basically you are not really saving anything. So now we have Free Dining so conveniently when there is a slow season Disney can keep the parks to capacity at all times.

To much Information – I know I am partly to blame for this along with many other websites out there. We share tips and tricks on when the best time to goto Disney World is and essentially shooting ourselves in the foot by packing the parks out on those slow seasons.

Finally one last thing to look at is:

The sheer numbers of people out of country visiting Walt Disney World. Remember 2 weeks ago President Obama came to Disney World and spoke on how we are open for business. When we were at Disney World last week it looked like a sea of Brazilian Tour Groups. You can spot them by their identical bright color shirts.

So while not any one factor is to blame I believe all of these have led to an overcrowding of Disney World. It might be time for Disney to look at possibly expanding to another theme park. I hear Texas is nice, or heck Disney World Brazil might be nice too.

Whatever shift is happening I am not to happy with it. I am not huge on crowds of people and it is becoming hard for people like me to enjoy the parks. Don’t get me started on the heat either..Oy Vey!

I want to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comment box below. Is Disney World or even Disneyland becoming too over populated?

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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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During February and early March, the streets of New Orleans Square will be filled with music, Disney characters, street performers and delicious food at New Orleans Bayou Bash!

Come join the party from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the following dates:

• February 10, 11, 12
• February 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
• February 24, 25, 26
• March 2, 3, 4
• March 9, 10, 11

Special entertainment will include performances by Princess Tiana, Louis and Naveen and meet & greet opportunities with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Chip ‘n’ Dale – all dressed up in their Mardi Gras finest!

Please keep in mind that entertainment offerings are subject to change, so be sure to check the park Entertainment Guide for character greeting times and availability.

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Recently, a Chip Panel Blogger wrote a great article about where to start planning a Disney Vacation as a military family.  This article is a great overview of some fantastic options.  I wanted to expand on this article from my perspective.

As a member of the U.S. Military for over 7 years now, I have taken full advantage of many of the perks Walt Disney World offers to the U.S. Military.  I am regularly asked questions by my coworkers what the best options are and I usually hear everyone say that they stay at the Shades of Green.  Why?  The assumption that the “military resort” offers the best deals for members of the military and their families.

The first time I looked into the Shades of Green, it was completely booked.  When that happens, they have an overflow rate at the Disney resorts, even if they have no official discount.  When I was looking, the discount offered from WDW was a better deal than the Shades of Green overflow rate.

As mentioned in the previous article, there is no transportation from the airport, so either a car rental or a cab ride is necessary.  If you do rent a car, the cost to park at the Shades of Green is $5 per day and this does not transfer to the parking lots for the theme parks.

Then comes the actual cost of staying at Shades of Green versus staying at a Disney resort.  1st – while I’ve never experienced the SoG first hand, the pictures don’t make me feel like it is as magical and filled with Disney magic – after all, it is not run and operated by Disney.  I have coworkers and friends who have stayed and enjoyed it, but when I look at cost, I still see it as Disney vs. Non-Disney.

Let me show you this comparison:

For E6 to-E9, O1 to O3, WO-1 to CW3, a Standard Room runs for $123 per night.  More for higher ranks, less for lower ranks.

With Walt Disney Worlds 35% of a moderate resort offer, a night at the Port Orleans Riverside Resort runs for $117 night.

Though the Shades of Green does consider itself a “deluxe” resort, I would choose Disney Magic an extra perk to staying at POR.  And, with the 40% discount on Deluxe Resorts, a night in a standard view at the Animal Kingdom Lodge would be $195 per night.  That includes parking, Disney’s Magical Express, and full time Disney Magic.

Which would you choose?

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Soon Walt Disney World Resort will open the doors to its newest resort hotel with Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, a value property consisting primarily of family suites that immerse guests into the magical worlds of classic Disney and Disney•Pixar films.

Opening in phases, each of the four wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by each beloved film depicted.  Three family suite wings will showcase Finding Nemo, Cars and The Lion King, with elaborate storytelling both inside and out. Standard guest rooms make up The Little Mermaid wing, the final phase to open.

The three-story resort will immediately put guests into the worlds of favorite Disney characters and animated films beginning at check-in as pixilated patterns and wavy ribbons of color decorate the resort’s exterior. Pencil drawings of Ariel, Lightning McQueen, Nemo and Simba adorn the entryway, and a cleverly created chandelier composed of animation storyboards enhance the lively and modern lobby.

“Our goal is to make guests feel like they have been immersed in the artistry and enchantment of Walt Disney and Disney•Pixar animated classics,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Frank Paris.

Giant sketchbooks filled with favorite characters seem to come to life as they pave the way to each storyline revealed. Scenic settings, icons—including a brightly-colored coral landscape, a 35-foot-tall model of King Triton, a towering Mufasa and more—immerse guests into the playful world of animation. At the Cars wing, a freshly paved road leads to the Cozy Cone Motel complete with a Cozy Cone pool and cone-shaped cabanas. It’s a journey through an African landscape in The Lion King complete with an elephant graveyard play area that invites youngsters to seek hakuna matata time. Treasures from the human world fill Ariel’s grotto in an under the sea kingdom in Little Mermaid courtyard.

From linens and carpeting to fixtures and furniture, all details of the guestroom tie to the storyline. In Finding Nemo, there’s coral-shaped chairs and bubble ceiling lights; Zazu takes center stage on the headboards in The Lion King, while Pumbaa and Timon decorate the shower curtain.

Kids of all ages can make a splash at the “Big Blue” pool, the largest resort swimming pool at Walt Disney World Resort measuring 11,859 square feet. Guests enter scenes from the animated world and can explore the colorful reef with a giant-sized Mr. Ray whose wings span 27 feet, pose for a picture with Crush or frolic with Squirt in the Righteous Reef, a children’s play area. An arcade and two additional pools round out the fun.

Dining options include a poolside snack bar and pizza delivery. The Landscape of Flavors food court will feature items such as fresh smoothies, hand-scooped gelato and Mongolian barbecue.  It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The whimsical property, situated adjacent to Disney’s Pop Century Resort, will open in phases beginning in late May 2012 with rates from $248 per night. The 1,120 family suites include two bathrooms, a kitchenette and three separate sleeping areas that can sleep up to six. Some 864 standard rooms sleep up to four. Rates as low as $94 include complimentary transportation, Extra Magic Hours and other benefits available to a Disney Resort guest.

For reservations, guests can call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or contact Pixie Vacations.

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Drawing wisdom from Mary Poppins, a dedicated team of Disney Cast Members is using a dose of Disney magic much like “a spoonful of sugar” to help the medicine go down.

Throughout the year, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team ventures into local hospitals to spread cheer at the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Accompanied by all sorts of exotic animals on these special visits, Disney animal keepers and education instructors bring the joy and wonder of wildlife to young patients who get a therapeutic benefit from being able to focus on the fun at hand.

Special visitors make the rounds as well; Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Pluto, Donald Duck and Chip ‘n’ Dale have all been known to appear toward the end of the program.

“When Mickey Mouse walks into the room, you don’t feel like you’re in a hospital anymore,” says Gabriel Burns, a Cast Member who travels along on many of these journeys. “It’s really incredible. Pluto, Chip ‘n Dale and other Disney characters have the unique ability to help the kids forget what’s ailing them.”

“I’ve seen Pluto lay on the floor next to a 4-year-old cancer patient during his chemotherapy because the young boy typically holds his Pluto plush doll on the floor during his treatments,” Burns says. “The child was smiling, and his mom was crying because her son was happy.”

Disney has a rich heritage of compassionate support of children that can be traced back to the early days of the company. Walt Disney frequently visited children in hospitals and guided company giving toward supporting children in need.

This tradition continues today through fulfilling wish trips and accommodating children who are affected by life-threatening medical conditions. While granting Disney-related wish requests remains a key initiative at Disney Parks, many Disney wishes are fulfilled in hospitals when illness prevents a child from leaving.

From sending a child’s favorite Disney character to visit at their bedside, to hand-delivering a Disney movie to enjoy with the family, opportunities that extend the magic of Disney to children in hospitals are as abundant as a child’s imagination.

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Photo courtesy of the LA Times and Disney

To help celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris, Disney has announced a new night time event that will take place in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle as well as a reimagined evening parade.

According to the LA Times, the new Disney Dreams show will basically combine parts of the Magic, Memories, and You and the World of Color at Disney California Adventure. The show will feature water screens, dancing fountains, projections onto the castle, pyrotechnic displays, and laser effects.

The Disney Dreams nighttime spectacular will be a show about courage and compassion that follows the adventures of Peter Pan’s shadow. The story will feature many Disney and Pixar films including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Wall-E, Tron, Tangled, and Toy Story.

The current parade at Disneyland Paris will also be transformed. The daytime Once Upon a Dream Parade will become a nighttime parade called Disney Magic on Parade. It will have a theme of light and color as a part of the anniversary celebration. The opening and closing floats will be redesigned. Two carriages with carousel type horses will feature Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty along with their Princes. The finale float will have Mickey and other Disney characters in Sorcerers Apprentice costumes. There will also be all new music, costumes, and choreography.

I am wishing now more than ever that I could make a trip to Disneyland Paris this year.

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If you’ve been to the Downtown Disney District lately, you’ve likely noticed the exciting changes underway. On January 3, La Brea Bakery Café began a significant refurbishment of its current location including expanding the restaurant’s footprint, creating a new exhibition bakery, adding a new kitchen in the express area, and placing an awning over the outdoor seating in the full-service dining section.

The remodel, as seen in this early concept artwork, also will allow La Brea Bakery Café to produce fresh baked items at the restaurant, which will include a selection of breads, pastries, sweets, flatbreads and foccacias.

The café will feature menu items inspired by La Brea Bakery’s founder, Nancy Silverton. From double-dipped French toast and fontina strata at breakfast to burgers, salads, panini and authentic Italian focaccias made fresh throughout the day, the focus will be on fresh, healthy and flavorful foods.

La Brea Bakery’s full-service restaurant remains open during the refurbishment through mid-March. The restaurant will reopen its doors with a fresh new look in April.

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How would you like to win a copy of Passporter’s 2012 Walt Disney World Guidebook? For me this Guidebook is a must have if you are planning a Disney World Vacation. Our good friends at Magical Mouse School House is hooking us up with a copy to Giveaway on the Chip and Company site!

To enter just use the Rafflecopter form below. Try to do everything on the checklist. You can tweet and share this post on your Facebook wall as many times as you like! The more you share the more entries you receive!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Contest ends on 12:01am on Saturday February 4th. I will pick a winner that morning and notify them via Rafflecopter that they won. The winner has 24 hours to respond or I will pick another.

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The largest-ever Disney front-entrance topiary and a stellar cast of HGTV design celebrities boost the flower power at the 19^th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 7-May 20 at Walt Disney World Resort.  Here’s a sneak peek of this year’s festival news:

• Disney’s gardening magic goes a long way when an eight-foot-tall floral Sorcerer Mickey topiary holds court in front of the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth.  Standing atop a 12-foot-tall floral mountain cliff, Sorcerer Mickey directs a riot of color in the manicured shapes of dancing broomsticks, buckets, mushrooms, hippos, alligators and elephants straight from the classic Disney film, “Fantasia.” The scene pops with pink geraniums, white poppies, violet petunias, blue delphiniums and pansies.
• Twice daily each Friday through Sunday of the festival, HGTV designers and hosts share their insights on landscapes and design with Festival Center audiences.  John Gidding of “Curb Appeal: The Block” kicks off the series March 9-11 with curb-appeal design tips for homeowners.
• Music fills each festival weekend when pop music hitmakers of the 1960s and ’70s rule the America Gardens Theatre stage with performances of their greatest songs.  Jose Feliciano ignites the Flower Power concert series March 9-11 with his treasure trove of tunes.  Two new festival acts are in store:  Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (April 27-29) and The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II (May 4-6).

The front-entrance floral spectacle will welcome guests to a festival packed with new gardens and displays, featured speakers and hands-on fun for all ages, including daily gardening workshops with take-home projects for all who participate.

Thirty million blooms, 240 floating mini-gardens on two ponds, 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables, dozens of Disney character topiaries, 30 “flower towers” of impatiens and sweeping beds of original floral designs create a new tapestry of brilliant color across the 260-acre Epcot landscape.  It takes more than one year and 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists to plan and prepare for the 75-day festival.

Halfway through the festival, Disney gardeners remove the cold-hardy blossoms that thrive in March and early April to plant a new crop of flowers that flourish in spring’s warmer temperatures.  And throughout the event, dozens of gardening experts meet guests daily with fresh landscape ideas for 2012.  Daily workshops at the Festival Center let guests dig into projects they can take home at the end of the day.

Don’t Miss!

• The Festival Center- Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend demonstrations and get ideas and tips from master gardeners.  In Future World between Universe of Energy and Mission:SPACE.
• Disney Gardening at Home presentations - Disney horticulturists and local experts like Robert Bowden of Harry P. Leu Gardens will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity. At the Festival Center.
• Special Festival Weekend Celebrations - An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists is scheduled March 23-25; a Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists weekend presents indigenous insects that are part of our world; a Florida Federation of Garden Clubs gathering will be April 27-29; and a Fresh from Florida Farmer’s Market salute is slated for May 4-6.
• Bambi’s Butterfly House, three times the size of the festival’s original, is a-flutter with multiple species of brilliant butterflies.  At Imagination Walkway by Innoventions West.
• Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden - Fabulous Disney fairy topiaries alight to greet young fans who enter this whimsical garden designed with play structures for children ages 2-5.  At the Test Track Walkway.
• The HGTV Designers Stage presents HGTV celebrities each Friday through Sunday and nationally recognized garden personalities Monday through Thursday.  At the Festival Center.
• Flower Power concert series welcomes back 20^th century pop favorites this year when Chubby Checker and The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Davy Jones and eight other bands rock the America Gardens Theatre with their timeless tunes.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers and appearance dates subject to change.

More information about the 19th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower.  The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

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The magical sights and sounds of Disneyland Resort can now be discovered with “Disneyland Explorer,” the official Disney Parks app available for iPad. The free app invites parents and kids to explore some of the many thrilling and whimsical experiences that can be found at Disneyland Resort, a premiere, multi-day, family vacation destination in Southern California.

With “Disneyland Explorer,” users can swipe their way from Pirates of the Caribbean to “World of Color” to themed suites at the Disneyland Hotel, discovering more than 100 exciting things to see and do across the resort. Users tap beautiful images, animation and interactive touch points that represent experiences inside Disneyland park, Disney California Adventure park, Downtown Disney District and all three hotels of the Disneyland Resort.

Touch points within the photo-realistic carousel reveal photos, videos and special activities inspired by classic attractions and entertainment.  As users explore the Resort, day changes to night with spectacular colors, lights, and fireworks.

Animations are triggered as users scroll through the parks, hotels and Downtown Disney District, revealing surprises such as Dumbo in flight above Sleeping Beauty Castle. Users  discover items that are both fun and historical, from the Mad Hatter popping out of a tea cup to vintage video of Walt Disney dedicating Disneyland.

Users will:

• Tour the galaxy with Star Tours – the Adventures Continue
• Learn to draw their favorite Disney characters at the Animation Academy
• Create their own musical water show in “World of Color”
• Steer a Soarin’ hang glider over California, while collecting and sharing personalized postcards
• Bring the iconic dolls of “it’s a small world” to life and hear the classic song in five different languages
• Snap photos of the elusive Yeti as he roams across Matterhorn Mountain
• Take part in a raging sea battle in Pirates of the Caribbean

“Disneyland Explorer” is a free app, available exclusively from App Store on iPad (www.itunes.com/appstore). More of the fun and excitement at the Disneyland Resort will become available on “Disneyland Explorer” throughout the year.

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