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.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle in Disneyland

Cinderella's Castle in Disney World

So you’ve been to Walt Disney World, and now you’ve decided you want to make a trip to the place where the magic began. Disneyland is as special and magical as can be, and it is also VERY different from Walt Disney World.

Here are some things to expect when you head to Disneyland:

Booking your trip: Things are different in Disneyland, the Dining Plan is actually meal vouchers (purchased at a discount rate then redeemed at participating restaurants), and their Advance Dining Reservations can only be booked via phone up to 60 days in advance (versus 180 days with WDW). They do have vacation packages, where you can book hotel/tickets/meal plan all together, which is similar to how Walt Disney World package vacations work.

Hotel Choices: There are only 3 “on property” hotels at Disneyland – The Grand Californian, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, and they aren’t grouped into “value/moderate/deluxe” classifications like at Disney World. However, Disney Land does give more lodging options with their “Good Neighbor Hotels”, which are hotels Disney recommends and are close to the resort, and these are listed by types (economy/moderate/superior/suites) to help you pick which one works best for you and your travel companions

Park Size: This was the first thing I noticed upon arriving at Disneyland – its so much smaller than Disney World! The Walt Disney World Resort sits on roughly 25,000 acres while Disneyland’s parks and resorts occupy just 430 acres. Instead of a huge parking lot like at WDW, you park in a tall parking garage at Disneyland, and instead of huge intricate indoor line queues, your wait times for rides at Disneyland takes place mostly outdoors (which might be in part due to the fact that California weather tends to be a lot less rainy/icky than Florida weather, but i’m sure its partly a size issue too!). It doesn’t really feel cramped or small, but there definitely was a limit on the amount of space Walt had to work with when building Disneyland – which was why he purchased so much land for the building of WDW – to make sure any and all ideas would have space to flourish in the future!

Theme Parks: There are 2 theme parks at Disneyland, the Disneyland Park (which is similar in layout and theming as it’s Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Counterpart), and Disney’s California Advanture, which opened in 2001 and is divided into 6 districts, each of which represents various aspects of Californian culture and landmarks

Authenticity: Disneyland was where it all started, it was Walt’s ideas that created it, and he was there to see them executed and was there for the opening day of the park, to see all his hard work come to life in amazing ways. Sadly, he passed away before Walt Disney World opened, so while many of his ideas were brought to life in Florida as well, Disneyland is truly ‘the real deal’ when it comes to the man behind the mouse – Walt Disney.

Oh yeah, and one more difference – the castles! At Disney World, you stand at the base of Main Street USA and see Cinderella’s Castle tall and looming in the distance (and soon you will see the Beast’s Castle too, once they complete the Fantasyland expansion!), and in Disneyland, your view down Main Street is of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

There may be a lot of differences between the two Resorts, and it is these differences that give each park a unique guest experience. But at the end of the day, both places were created by Walt Disney, a man who knew how to create a truly special place for those of all ages to go to enjoy themselves and feel like kids again. The magic is abundant in both places, and no matter whether you decide the World or the Land is more your speed, you will have a great time!

Related articles

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• Getting a Postcard from the Main Mouse (chipandco.com)

As most Walt Disney World fans know, the popular Test Track attraction at Epcot is going to be down for refurbishment from April 2012 to sometime in the Fall of 2012.

So, what are you supposed to do with the Test Track junkie in your party with the attraction down for the busy and crowded summer season?

Most of the people I have spoken to agree that Test Track’s biggest fans are usually under the age of 12. Not that adults don’t enjoy it, but younger kids seem to relish the attraction. Obviously, you need to prepare your Test Track junkie that the attraction is going to be closed. After the initial wave of disappointment is over, you can start planning your trip.

Other Epcot attractions to try:

The Sum of All Thrills in Innoventions East. This is a state of the art motion-simulator ride where you can design your own track layout. It seats two people per ride. You are enclosed in a large hood and cannot touch your face or upper body during the ride. You must be 48 inches tall to ride and 54 inches tall to invert (an average 8 year old should be able to ride but not do inversions).

Soarin’ in the Land Pavilion. This is a gate buster and will typically have a large wait with Test Track open. This is the first attraction you should hit for a FastPass at rope drop.

Mission: Space. This attraction is often critiqued, but it still offers plenty of thrills, especially for the Green Team which offers less spinning. You have to be 44 inches tall to ride.

Maelstom. Located in the Norway Pavilion, this five minute boat ride has a few surprises and drops, but nothing that requires a height restriction.

Epcot does offer other amazing attractions, but nothing with the same intensity and speed as Test Track.

Looking for other experiences at Epcot? Try some of these.

Behind the Seeds Tour at the Land Pavilion. This 45 minute walking tour takes you behind the scenes to see the future of food production. There is a charge for the tour.

Reflections of China and O Canada Circle Vision films. Both of these films surround you and offer amazing shots and scenes. People bypass them because they are just films, but they are spectacular and can offer multiple viewings to see it all.

Captain EO. Take a trip back to the future and enjoy this retro presentation of this 3d film. It is Michael Jackson at his height and a great way to relive some of the 1980s at EPCOT Center.

Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure. Perfect for any age, you can work your way around World Showcase looking for clues with the special Kimmunicator.

Kidcot Fun Stops. Situated in each World Showcase Pavilion, kids are able to meet cast members from their respective countries and make a souvenir craft.

George writes at Imaginerding and The Disney Navigator. He is also a travel agent with Pixie Vacations. You can email him at george@pixievacations.com for vacation help and planning.

Related articles

• Test Track Closes for New Name Change and Design Center (chipandco.com)
• Disney and GM Renew Contract and Create Magic for Guests at a Re-Imagined Test Track Experience (chipandco.com)

Riders must be 54 inches tall to ride Tomorrowland Speedway solo. Riders over 32 inches can ride with an adult.

Nothing kills a great day at Disney faster than the disappointment when your child realizes he’s not quite tall enough for the one ride he’s been looking forward to. A little planning and some expectations management can prevent ride queue meltdowns. Before you leave home, measure your child. If he is between 38 and 54 inches, prepare him for the fact that he may be too short to ride some attractions, and offer him an equally interesting alternative. Many attractions at Walt Disney World offer a Rider Swap pass that allows one adult to wait with children too small to ride, then swap with another adult in the party without waiting in line twice.

The best way to find out height requirements for a specific ride is to check the Disney website, but here are a few of the most popular attractions and their height requirements:

Magic Kingdom and Disneyland:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – 40 inches (102 cm)

Space Mountain – 44 inches (112 cm)

Splash Mountain – 40 inches (102 cm)

Tomorrowland Speedway (Magic Kingdom) – 54 inches (137 cm) to ride alone, 32 inches (80 cm) to ride with an adult

EPCOT:

Mission: SPACE – 44 inches (112 cm)

Soarin – 40 inches (102 cm)

Test Track – 40 inches (102 cm)

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Tower of Terror – 40 inches (102 cm)

Star Tours – 40 inches (102 cm)

Rock n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – 48 inches (122 cm)

Animal Kingdom:

DINOSAUR – 40 inches (102 cm)

Expedition Everest – 44 inches (112 cm)

Kali River Rapids – 38 inches (97 cm)

Primeval Whirl – 48 inches (122 cm)

Related articles

• Please Refurbish This Ride – Tomorrowland Speedway! (chipandco.com)
• Disney World Planning 101 – Using Childcare Services (chipandco.com)

Here there guys and gals Anonymouse here.

Today’s Gossip comes to us from the Cast Members Mouth. Word is being spread that Peter Pan’s Flight in the Magic Kingdom is scheduled to get an Interactive Queue (Like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh). So while you are waiting in these really long lines for a mediocre ride you will have something to stare at instead of the wild child waiting in line in front of you.

Construction is expected to start January 16th and end by March 6th, 2012. Disney is not expecting any closures during the construction and I imagine getting around in Fantasyland is going to start getting worse as the closure of Dumbo the Flying Elephant has occurred and Disney gets ready to open the new area.

Personally I think this ride is in need of an overhaul. But I know many of you Disney World purists will probably defend it till your dying day. Don’t get me wrong I love Peter Pan and I am an even bigger fan of Jake & the Neverland Pirates, but I don’t understand waiting in line for hours for a quick 2 minute ride.

If you need me I will be across the street riding It’s a Small World over and over again!

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

Related articles

• Peter Pan Returns to Neverland in All New ‘Jake and the Neverland Pirates’ Premiere (chipandco.com)
• Top 10 Attractions at Walt Disney World (couponingtodisney.com)

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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• What’s It All Mean? Disney Acronyms. (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

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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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Dumbo Storybook Circus was ride testing today! This is part of the new Fantasyland expansion at Walt Disney World. Four Elephants were on the spinner, along with arms waiting for more. There will soon be double Dumbos in this area.

Visit http://www.JeffLangeDVD.com or http://www.MouseSteps.com for more information.

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• Changes coming to Magic Kingdom in Spring of 2012 (chipandco.com)

Join the community of other theme-park loving people and check the wait times for your favorite rides at Walt Disney World Resort. It’s FREE, it’s FUN, and it’s a good way to check how busy the parks are before your upcoming vacation. You’ll find the park hours and ‘Traffic Light’ recommendations, too!

To access the Disney World Wait Times Facebook App:
1. Click here.

2. Click here to join the Disney World Wait Times Community. It’s a great forum to communicate with other Disney folks…or The Frog Family! (And ‘Like’ the page, of course. You’ll find ‘Go to App’ button at the top right of the community page.)

3. Be sure to ‘Like’ the Disney World Wait Times Facebook App page to have it show up on your individual Facebook page. It’ll be a handy-dandy way to check just how long people are willing to wait for a chance to score points on Toy Story Mania!

P.S. Accurate wait time data for our Facebook apps is fed from our top-selling iPhone, Android and Blackberry mobile apps. Download them now to use while you’re ON vacation!

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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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With all the changes taking place at Cars Land at Disney California Adventure park, one of the developments that we all look forward to is ride testing. It’s really fun seeing Disney’s ride engineers fire up the mechanical systems for the first time – it’s such a huge milestone!

One of our attractions that is just now entering daily ride testing is Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree where baby tractors twirl and swing around, pulling trailers behind them (that’s where we get to sit). When completed, the tractors will appear to be dancing to songs that Mater is singing – they just can’t help themselves!

In addition to starting the ride testing, Disney has been making some other big changes to this area with the installation of their marquee and a huge new set piece – Mater’s Junkyard Jukebox. Take a look and see all the great work that’s being done in Mater’s junkyard. (Please note that the music you hear in the video is for the video only and will not be part of the fun songs you’ll hear Mater singing. More on these fun songs later!)

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Tokyo Disney Resort recently announced that a new attraction – Toy Story Mania! – will debut at Tokyo DisneySea on July 9, 2012.

The attraction will be located in Toyville Trolley Park, a new area themed after an old-fashioned amusement park. Toy Story Mania! will have a few differences from the attraction here at Walt Disney World Resort, including the fact that guests will initially enter through Woody’s mouth. From here, guests will find themselves in Andy’s room, which is strewn with larger-than-life board games, puzzles and other toys.

Guests later board a tram, put on 3-D glasses and roll under Andy’s bed where the toys have set up a carnival play set. Joining in the fun, guests play the carnival games with all their “Toy Story” friends.

The attraction also will be accompanied with Slinky Dog’s Gift Trolley merchandise shop.

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Holiday Sleigh Ride

Dashing through the…woods…in a one-horse open sleigh! Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground offers a wintry experience to put any Guest in a festive spirit.

Now through the end of December, fire-engine red sleighs adorned with garland and holiday lights will take Guests through scenic trails in the Resort’s 700-acre backwoods. Since snow falls only on Main Street, U.S.A., at Walt Disney World, the sleighs are equipped with tires instead of runners for a smooth ride that is sure to be remembered.

Four adults or two adults and up to three children should fit comfortably in each sleigh. The 25-minute rides depart from the Blacksmith’s Shop inside Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Routes may vary but often carry riders over the river and through the woods…OK, not over the river, but certainly past many wonderfully decorated campsites and through beautiful scenery for a relaxing time with loved ones. Some campers return annually and have made it a sort of competition to see who can create the most magical display. If your driver offers you a choice, this is a fun option to request.

Holiday Sleigh Rides cost $60 per group to ride. Children ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Rides depart every half hour nightly between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and between 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance and require credit card guarantee. If you need to cancel, do so 24 hours in advance to avoid paying the entire fee. Book the experience by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.

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Every photo has a story.

People enjoy being scared for fun, and what better place than a haunted house?  Studies show up to 40% of Americans believe in house-haunting. So nearly one in two people believe, more than they believe in any other paranormal actitity, that spirits haunt houses.  Your buddy standing next to you right now?  He probably believes.  He’s listening for rattling chains.

So of course Walt Disney incorporated a haunted house into plans for his new theme park. His initial concept for the Haunted Mansion was a retirement home for ghosts. Disneyland’s original 1969 Haunted Mansion was installed in an antebellum plantation house located in Frontierland. This building, built years prior to the ghost’s inhabitance, is detailed with a columned portico and ornate filigree railings. Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion appears to have lept straight out of “Song of the South.”

But for Disney’s second shot at spooky residential scares, Imagineering’s John Hench dreamed up a much darker-themed design for Walt Disney World’s Florida version of the Haunted Mansion. The end product, a gothic manse made of stone and brick located in Liberty Square, appears straight out of an old horror movie. Ghosts grim or grinning, I’d still move in this mansion, since there’s always room for one more. But I’d need some cleaning supplies.

Picture this… five pound bags of theatrical dust, called “Fuller’s Earth,” are used to decorate the 200 props at the Haunted Mansion. Pound for pound, that’s likely enough dust to have buried the Mansion completely by now.  With your Doom Buggie, officially known as a 160 OmniMover, plugging along a 1.4 mph, there seems little chance of a Doom Buggie draft disturbing the dust.  This OmniMover technology was first used by Disneyland in the 1967 attraction Adventure Thru Inner Space.

The Haunted Mansion offers fun entertainment for adults, and you’ll leave with one of the most memorable Disney songs of all time ringing in your ears.  But some young children can be frightened.  This attractions isn’t a Disney-cute ride like you would have expected to see in the now-deceased Toon Town. Hanging corpses, coffins, axes, spooky portraits, loud shreiks, and DARK rooms abound, and that’s once you make it past the tombstones by the side door. Not to mention those Cast Members perfectly in character… it’s time to take small children by the hand and enjoy a good Disney scare.

Either way, California’s antebellium plantation or Florida’s gothic mansion, “Beware of Hitchhiking ghosts!”

Thanks for stopping by for a photographical Disney ride!

Do you have any fabulous Disney vacation pictures you’d like to share? Drop by and share your photos on facebook at Mouze Kateerz. Take a virtual Disney vacation twice a day in photographs. Or shoot me an email of your favorite Disney location at mouzekateerz@chipandco.com

“Welcome, Foolish Mortals” are the words that you hear when you board one of Disney’s most popular rides, The Haunted Mansion.

The original ride opened in 1969 in Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom, and in 1971 at Walt Disney World. While the idea behind the ride was thought up by Walt himself, he was not alive to see the finished product. The Imagineers had to finish the ride’s design and construction on their own after Walt’s passing in 1966. The ride represents their ability to come together after such a tragedy and to produce something truly amazing on their own.

There are so many things going on in the attraction, from the gravestones with funny inscriptions outside, to the spooky ghouls and spirits inside, it is truly amazing, and I know I see something new every time I visit The Haunted Mansion!

Here are some of the ways Disney scares us with this attraction:

The Endless Hallway: This one is actually pretty simple, as you look down the hallway that appears to go on forever, there is actually a mirror at the end of it, which fools you into thinking you can see twice as far as you actually can, and since it’s dark, the mirror portion of the hallway just seems to continue on into darkness

The Crystal Ball: Madame Leota’s head is created through digital projection – the face is projected onto a head sculpture within the crystal ball. Fun fact – the other floating objects in this area are suspended by fishing wire

The Ballroom: A common thought is that the ghosts in the ballroom are holograms. This is actually not the case – how it really works is a row of columns in front of the mezzanine are supporting gigantic panes of glass, which are nearly invisible to the guests. The “ghosts” are merely the reflections in the glass of audio-animatronic figures, located in rooms above and below the mezzanine, where the walls are painted entirely black.

The Hitchhiking Ghosts: Ever wonder how they get the ghosts at the end of the ride to actually appear to be sitting next to you in your Doom Buggy? Well, its actually quite simple – the mirrors in which you are seeing the ghosts are actually two way mirrors, and the ghosts are audio-animatronics in a room behind the mirrors. They move along in sync with the Doom Buggies, and weak lights shining on them allow them to be seen through the mirrors.

A few random Haunted Mansion facts:

• When Cast Members are hired for The Haunted Mansion, they are given a book as a part of their training that explains the “official” backstory of the ride, as well as various safety rules/regulations, and detailed maps of the ride itself.
• Walt’s original vision was to have the attraction as something guests would walk through, but the Imagineers ultimately decided a sit down ride with the “doom buggies” made more sense

Remember….there are 999 Happy Haunts currently residing in the Haunted Mansion…who knows, maybe you could be their lucky 1000th resident!

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When visiting Walt Disney World’s Epcot, there are a few things that every guest “must-do” in order to have a true Epcot experience. So if you’re an Epcot rookie, or just a big fan, check out my list of Epcot “Must Dos!”

10. American Adventure-This spectacular audio-animatronic show, which serves as the American Adventure pavilion’s centerpiece, is hosted by Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin and features stirring moments of our nation’s history. The American Adventure features amazing sets and audio-animatronics and is just as good, if not better, than the Magic Kingdom’s Hall of Presidents! It’s definitely a “must do” for any Epcot guest!

9. Ride the Monorail-While guests can enjoy the monorail at the Magic Kingdom or it’s deluxe resorts, perhaps no where else on property does this futuristic form of transportation look more at home than at Epcot! The monorail loop also encircles the park’s icon, Spaceship Earth, for an aerial view of Future World!

8. Living with the Land-This leisurely boat ride floats through scenes that educate guests about the land and how we use it. The highlight of this attraction is a float through the greenhouses where Epcot shows new, innovative ways to produce food and even real Mickey shaped pumpkins and tomatoes!

7. Chat with a World Showcase Cast Member-The Cast Members at the World Showcase pavilions are actually from the countries in which they are working! Not only are they there to help you, but they can also answer any questions you might have about their country and culture. Chatting with a Cast Member and learning about their country is an amazing cultural experience and what Epcot’s World Showcase is all about!

6. Eat a Pastry at Boulangerie Patisserie or Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe-These two bakeries, located at the France and Norway pavilions respectively, are famous at WDW! At these bakeries, you can enjoy treats that are both familiar to our tastes and native to France and Norway. Norway’s School Bread is famous among Disney regulars! You can also snack on sandwiches and other items at these stops as well.

5. The Seas with Nemo and Friends-This pavilion begins with a calm, colorful ride under the sea with characters from Pixar’s Finding Nemo! Towards the end of the ride, you will se Finding Nemo characters swimming in an aquarium with real fish! It’s a really cool effect! Once you exit the ride, you are free to explore the massive aquarium and pavilions showcasing ocean life. It’s a lot of fun for both adults and kids!

4. World Showcase-This part of Epcot is extremely popular and for good reason! Located around the World Showcase Lagoon, World Showcase consists of different pavilions representing different countries from around the world, as well as their architecture, cuisine, products, and history. It’s like a mini trip around the world in the heart of Disney magic!

3. Test Track-This popular Epcot attraction lets guests experience what it’s like to be a crash test dummy! (But don’t be concerned, no one gets hurt!) On this ride, guests get to experience what tests cars go through before they are approved for sale. Your car will go through terrain and brake tests, as well as a high speed ride outdoors where you will reach 65 mph! Test Track is a blast and is definitely an Epcot “must do!”

2. Soarin’-This attraction is one of Disney’s best and is extremely popular! On Soarin’, you get to experience what it’s like to hanglide over California. You truly feel like you are flying and the scenery on the screen before you is beautiful! Exhilaring, yet great for everyone in the family, Soarin’ is sure to be a favorite! Also, at the very end, you even get to fly over Disneyland during the fireworks!

1. Spaceship Earth-This attraction educates guests through history to educate riders about communication. This slow moving ride featuring scenes and audio-animatronics which really capture the spirit of Epcot and is great way to get off your feet! Wondering why it’s at the top our list? This ride is located inside of Epcot’s giant icon!

The next time you visit Epcot, be sure to enjoy these “must do” activities and attractions; and be sure to share with us if any of these are on your own “must do” list too!

Countdown to Disney: How You Know You’re at the Magic Kingdom (aglassslippervacation.com)

Disney World Fun Facts – Epcot

Epcot’s Future World (West)

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Today’s article is quite the hodgepodge. It is a list of random things I either learned or was reminded of while on my last Disney trip. Enjoy!

1. Two Mouths are Better than One. My mom and I have similar taste in food and in the past we’ve tackled the Epcot Food & Wine Festival without an effective plan. We would stop at a booth and each order what we wanted. The end result? We picked the same thing and after eating only a few dishes, we were stuffed to the gills. This year, we used our noggin instead of just our taste buds and went in with a plan. We picked dishes we both would enjoy and split them, thus doubling the number of items we ate. Over the course of week, we had at least one dish from almost all the booths which was a marked improvement over our previous attempts.

2. Invest in a Stroller Rain Cover. This is one essential that I have been cavalier about packing in the past. It has rarely rained during our October trips so I never worried about having a rain cover for our stroller. Big mistake. I looked at the weather forecast a few days before our trip and saw dark rain clouds for more than half the days on our trip. Luckily, Kingdom Strollers, who provided our double stroller, includes rain covers upon request. We were able to keep the kids and the stroller very, very dry while spending our days in the parks instead of climbing the walls in our resort room.

3. Rain Can Be Your Friend. Now that you’re armed with a good rain cover for your stroller and ponchos for the adults, don’t be afraid to hit the parks in the rain. Attraction lines can be practically non-existent. The rain helped to make for a somewhat lazy morning mid-trip and we didn’t make it to Epcot for rope drop. Still, we were able to ride Soarin’ during the first hour the park was open with only a 15-minute wait thanks to the inclement weather.

4. Be Part of the Community. Rain is a common theme for this list so it’s appropriate that it plays a role here. I was looking for a way to keep my toddler entertained during a rainy afternoon and we decided to check out the Community Center; Disney Vacation Club properties have a Community Center. We’ve been DVC members for a few years but never visited before. I won’t be making that mistake again. I likened the Community Center to a large playroom when describing it to my husband. It is stocked with a variety of familiar toys, arts & crafts supplies, and games. It was a friendly place for my son to have some room to spread out for some free play time. The comfy couches for me weren’t half bad, either.

5. Snakes aren’t the Only Thing Indy is Afraid Of. It turns out that during periods of heavy rain, the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! show is abridged. The airport scene and rooftop stunt scenes were cut from our show for safety reasons.

Stay tuned for another edition of Disney Hodgepodge next week as I share five more random Disney lessons.

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