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.

Related articles

• Disneyland Paris to unveil new water show, revamped parade (orlandosentinel.com)
• Discover the Sights and Sounds of Disneyland Resort with ‘Disneyland Explorer’ for your iPad (chipandco.com)

For me it seems the lineup is a little dated and I think their should be a mix of 60′s – 90′s at the 19^th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival’s Flower Power concert series.  Beginning March 9 and continuing each weekend, the Flower Power lineup features two new-to-the-festival acts:  Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (“Joy to the World”) and The Orchestra starring former members of ELO (“Don’t Bring Me Down”).

Jose Feliciano, whose star shines on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and whose musical achievements have spanned five decades, revs up the Flower Power stage during the first festival performance March 9.  Among the biggest hit-makers in the lineup: Chubby Checker & The Wildcats (22 hits on Billboard’s Top 40 chart); Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone (18 Top 40 hits); The Spinners (18 Top 40s); and The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie (9 Top 40s).

Flower Power performances are at America Gardens Theatre at 5:15, 6:30 and 7:45 p.m. each Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Here’s the lineup (subject to change without notice):

Flower Power performances are included with Epcot admission. For additional information about the festival, visit www.disneyworld.com/flower
.

Related articles

• Epcot’s 2012 Flower Power Concert Series Schedule (chipandco.com)
• HGTV Stars to Highlight This Year’s Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival (chipandco.com)

Beginning February 17, guests at Disney California Adventure park can take flight with Minnie Mouse in a tune-filled “travelogue” of song, dance and interactive moments in Condor Flats, beneath the control tower across from Soarin’ Over California.

“Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airline” features the charter airline owner herself and her four-member crew singing and swinging to songs from the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in the show and meet Minnie Mouse. So take wing with “Minnie’s Fly Girls Charter Airline,” beginning February 17!

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Mountain Range

Only eleven countries have the privilege of being represented in EPCOT at Walt Disney World. And as you probably already know, they are:

• American Adventure
• Canada
• China
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Japan
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Norway
• United Kingdom

Of course, it’s the Canada Pavilion that this article will focus on.

To begin with, I was surprised to find a Canada Pavilion at EPCOT. It’s all-too common for most of the world to see my country as nothing more than an additional State of the U.S.A. and not as the truly unique and beautiful place that it is. So I was doubly pleased to see that Canada was one of the first countries encountered as you walk around The World Showcase, Mexico being the other, if you go in a clockwise direction.

Canada isn’t one of the biggest Pavilions, but it does have a lot of content packed into its compact footprint. For example, you will find:

• A Mountain
• A river ending in a waterfall
• A reproduction of the Butchart Gardens from Victoria, BC
• A model of the Victorian-style Chateau Laurier hotel found in Ottawa

Gardens

And these are just the physical features of the Canada Pavilion. In these things, this Canadian proclaims that the Imagineers have done a nice job of representing his country. Anyone who visits Canada leaves declaring the beauty and scope of our land, and this is well displayed in EPCOT.

But what of the other features of the Canada Pavilion? They are:

• A totem pole and Indian canoe
• An old Trading Post
• A large French influence
• Mounties
• And Off-Kilter

Here we have the same problem that the other ten Pavilions exhibit: Outdated representation.

The totem pole, Indian canoe, and the Trading Post have long vanished from the common landscape of Canada. Any French influences are mostly restricted, at least overtly, to Ottawa and Quebec. Mounties are rarely, if ever seen, in the red uniforms associated with them. And I have never seen a man in a kilt in my entire life in Canada!

Trading Post

Off-Kilter

I remember sitting in the Norway Pavilion one day just across from the old Viking Ship, before it was removed. A mother walked by with her two children, and upon seeing the stereotypical ship, said to them: “Oh look, kids: A Viking Ship! We all have one of those in our back yards, don’t we?” The sarcasm told me she was Norwegian and didn’t care for such a representation of her country.

That being so, I can say in Disney’s defense, that without such stereotypical representations of a country’s heritage, how would one stand out from another? Today, we all have skyscrapers, cars, and modernization. EPCOT could thusly consist of just one Pavilion called Everycountry! How boring would that be?

The Canada Pavilion has a wonderful shopping area filled with traditionally Canadian wares. But for the most part, only expensive items are stocked, which the average Canadian wouldn’t buy everyday. Le Cellier Steakhouse does serve an authentic Canadian cuisine. I recommend the beer. And that brings us to the 360 degree Circle-Vision film ‘O Canada’. Recently redone, with Martin Short as emcee, this too gives a nice overview of both old and new, or modern, Canada.

So, as a Canadian, do I approve of how my country is represented by Disney at EPCOT?

I’d have to say ‘Yes!’

But I wonder if this is the case with you, the readers from the other countries represented in The World Showcase? Does Germany, United Kingdom, or even The American Adventure live up to how you would like to be represented?

Why not join the discussion in our comments section and let us, and Disney, know!

Related articles

• Complete at Last: Adventure at Epcot Center (disneyatdisleelandiablog.blogspot.com)
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PlanItDisney map-based planning

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

Planning a vacation with PlanItDisney is a four step process:

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

Interactive itinerary tool

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

"Smart" budgeting helps estimate the trip

Related articles

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• Disney Free Dining 2011 and 2012 (pixievacations.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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Disney and Christmas are two of my favorite things and when you combine the two, well let’s just say I get a little misty eyed. My husband Drew and I attended Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for the first time on November 13th. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was. Here are a some highlights from our experience and a few tips.

Cinderella’s Holiday Wish
While this is not part of the party you can enter the Magic Kingdom in time to view they show. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald help the Fairy Godmother with Cinderella’s wish to have the castle sparkle like her glass slippers. It sets the mood for the party and you get to see the Castle Dream Lights sparkle for the first time that night. The show is nightly at 6:15 pm.

Characters!
There are lots of great character meet and greets during the Christmas party. Several are only available during special events or are rarely out together, and most are wearing special Holiday outfits. The Seven Dwarfs are once again in Frontierland and if you want to meet them make sure you get in line early or you will be waiting a while. The party we attended wasn’t very crowded so we didn’t have much of a wait for any of the characters we saw. We were also able to meet Santa Claus at the beginning of Main Street.

Holiday Treats
At several locations throughout the park you can get cookies and hot chocolate. They are included in the price of your ticket so they are “free”. We picked ours up in Tomorrowland at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. The cookies were snickerdoodles. I was afraid with the amount of cookies they would be handing out that they wouldn’t be very good but they were soft, fresh, and yummy. You also receive a candy cane after you visit Santa Claus and when you are exiting make sure you stop to get a piece of peppermint Ghirardelli chocolate.

“A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas” Show
We watched this as we were devouring our Holiday treats. Its a small stage show at the Rockettower Plaza stage. Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski, and Stitch make an appearance. I thought it was a really cute show and it was a nice way to take a break.

“The Magic, the Memories, and You” Holiday Edition
Most of the show is the same but they have added a special holiday sequence. I love the show but I wish the entire show had been holiday themed. The castle looked beautiful as a present, candy cane, and a gingerbread house. The view is great from any where on Main Street but I prefer to watch it in the hub. The closer you are the more detail you will see.

Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season
Jiminy Cricket is the host of this holiday edition of Wishes and Tinker Bell takes her usual flight from the castle. The fireworks were specular as usual and there are some special perimeter firework sequences for the party.

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
This is my new favorite parade. How can you go wrong with gingerbread men, toy soldiers, and Santa Claus. The second parade was not as crowded as the first if you can skip the first one. I also recommend viewing this particular parade on Main Street. As we waited it started to snow and the Dapper Dans came out to sing Christmas carols. It also makes the parade more magical with Cinderella’s Castle all lit up in the background.

There are also dance parties with characters and the Celebrate the Season show in front of the castle. We didn’t have time to attend either of these but the kids really seemed to be enjoying the dance parties as we passed by.

Sitting on Main Street while it was snowing was one of the most magical things I have ever experienced. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was well worth the extra money for the ticket and is now something I want to attend every year.

Related articles

• Top 5 Things You Should Know about Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (couponingtodisney.com)
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Walt Disney World has so much to offer, including some of the finest cuisine in the country. So how does WDW make the best food even better? Easy, just add entertainment!

Dinner shows have been a WDW staple since the first Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review opened in 1974. Read on to learn more and you can make the decision if the combo of live entertainment and great eats is right for you!

The Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue: Performed 3 times a night (5pm, 7:15pm, and 9:30 pm) at Pioneer Hall in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, this Wild West themed show is full of laughs and good times. The actors dance and whoop it up with the best of them, and even get the audience involved and bring them up on stage to join in on the antics. There is nothing classy about this show, so if you’re looking for a quiet, civilized dinner, you better go elsewhere! The food is served family style (meaning they will bring you as much as you want!) and consists of bread and salad, followed by ribs, friend chicken, mashed potatoes and baked beans, and finished off with strawberry shortcake for dessert. Simple and delicious food (the fried chicken is especially mouth-watering!), and the entertainment truly is funny and engaging. Prices range from $59-$68 a person for adults ($30-35 for children), and the more you pay the better your seats are and the closer you are to the stage and all the action! If you’re using the Disney Dining Plan (which I strongly recommend!), the Hoop Dee Doo costs 2 Table Service credits (and in my opinion is totally worth it!). Oh, and one more VERY important thing, they serve unlimited “adult” beverages too (Draft Bud Light, Chardonnay, Rose, Sangria, and Merlot), which is definitely a plus!

The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show: This tropical luau themed show is performed at 5:15pm and 8pm nightly, and features hula dancers and a fire-knife performer! The outdoor setting is beautiful and magical, and the performers tell the story of a young native girl and her traditions and people. The food is delicious polynesian themed dishes like pork ribs, roast chicken, rice, and vegetables, with a special volcano dessert! As with the Hoop Dee Doo, the admission price includes soft drinks as well as unlimited beer and wine. Prices are $59-$68 apiece for adults, with child admission ranging from $30-$35, and the higher price will get you seats closer to the stage and all the action! For those on the Disney Dining Plan, this show also costs 2 Table Service credits per person. I personally prefer the earlier seating for this show, because once the show is done, I like to walk around the Polynesian along the paths and pretend I really am in someplace tropical and exotic! This show has always been a favorite of mine, and I remember as a kid learning to do the luau with the dancers, and it is a memorable experience for this of all ages!

Mickey’s Backyard BBQ Dinner Show: This one is relatively new to WDW, and is a dance party with live entertainment and…characters! So basically, a character meal with dancing, and delicious food! The buffet style meal includes chicken, ribs, hot dogs, corn on the cob, cornbread, baked beans, watermelon, cake, and all you care to drink beer/wine/soft drinks. Like the other 2 shows, the cost of the BBQ on the Disney Dining Plan is 2 Table Service credits, out of pocket you will pay $55 for an adult and $32 for a child. Unlike the other 2 shows, there is no better/preferred seating, there is 1 price for all seats. The characters (Mickey, Minnie and friends) come out to dance and interact with everyone, but one big difference here versus other character meals is that the characters do NOT visit every table, if you want an autograph or photo you have to approach the characters, which might work better for some people than others. Overall, it’s a good time, with great food, and who wouldn’t love to square dance with Mickey as their partner?

One thing I want to note is that reservations are HIGHLY recommended should you decide to partake in any of the dinner shows, so plan ahead and book one of these shows and you’ll be set for a night of great food, great entertainment, and great fun!

Related articles

• How to get onstage at the Hoop Dee Doo Musical (meetthemagic.com)
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Disney's Animal Kingdom

Famously “NotAZoo,” at its 1998 opening, Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort broke the theme park mold. Imagineers considered many factors when designing this property. They focused first and foremost on the comfort and well-being of the animals and the safety of Guests. However, their primary goal, as with other Disney Parks, was to place the Guests in the action. In this case, that meant providing opportunities for Guests not only to observe but also to interact with creatures in their natural habitats.

Spend a day at Animal Kingdom and you’ll realize an interesting aspect of Disney Parks is that no piece stands alone. A ride is not merely a ride. A restaurant is not simply an eatery. Everything has a story! The stories of Animal Kingdom are based on the relationship of mankind to the world in which we live, with the intention of demonstrating harmony between human, animal and natural elements. Buildings and manmade structures are necessary, of course, but Park architecture is not allowed to overwhelm nature. Nowhere in the Park do feeding troughs, landscape barriers or fences detract from the Show.

The focal point, or wienie, of Animal Kingdom is its Tree of Life. The canopy of the Tree of Life rises 145 feet in the air and spreads 160 feet across. This natural-looking masterpiece is one of the World’s most exquisite architectural and artistic features. The story it tells expresses the mythologies of many cultures, where the tree is both “a source of life and an emblem of symbiosis.” The 325 extinct, contemporary and imaginary creatures, metaphorically, were not etched into its surface but grew out from it. According to legend, the Tree was the first thing on Discovery Island. The village came to the Tree whose water supports life for the Islanders and all of Animal Kingdom.

Tree of Life closeup

When Guests tunnel under the Tree’s roots, they virtually shrink to the size of an ant to enter a 430-seat theater for the 3-D Audio-Animatronic show, It’s Tough to be a Bug, hosted by A Bug’s Life’s Flick and Hopper. Parts of the show might startle toddlers, but bigger kids get a kick out of the special effects. While Guests are bug-size, Hopper is larger than life. Standing eight feet tall, Hopper is one of the most complex Audio-Animatronics ever made.

Expedition Everest Yeti

The newest of Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom attractions is Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Adding a second wienie to the Park, this breathtaking piece of Himalayan Mountain Range combines the real world with the mythical. To the people of the mountainous regions of southwestern China, India, Nepal and Tibet, the Yeti is more than folklore. Although the creature is both mythical and real to them, the Yeti is not to be feared. He is the revered protector of the forest. Disney’s Yeti stands 18 feet tall and is the largest Audio-Animatronics figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.

One of the most fascinating attractions at Animal Kingdom is the Kilimanjaro Safari, which takes Guests on a trek across the World’s own Serengeti, the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. Guests, ever vigilant for potential poachers, board open-sided safari vehicles for an exciting expedition across rickety bridges and rocky outcroppings, and often experience up-close encounters with a few of the featured wildlife, including the giraffes, black rhinos, elephants and lions that freely roam the 100-acre savannah.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Wild Africa Trek

The “ultimate animal adventure” began back in January with the opening of the Wild Africa Trek. For Park admission plus $129.00 per person, Guests ages 8 and up get up close, into and over animal habitats deep in the Pangani Forest on this privately guided 3-hour expedition. A modified zip line dangles 10 feet above massive hippos. Rope bridges sway over the crocodile-filled Safi River. VIP safaris cross open savanna teeming with creatures native to the African plains. It’s an African excursion within the safe confines of Walt Disney World Resort.

Adapting film to stage, “Festival of the Lion King” is a perennial favorite live performance at Animal Kingdom’s Camp Minnie-Mickey. In keeping with the summer camp theme of this Park area, Guests gather in an assembly hall to sing songs and share stories. The four rolling stages on which fifty costumed performers combine dance, acrobatics, and elaborate staging are actually floats once used in a Disneyland parade.

Dinosaurs are anything but extinct at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom. In DinoLand, USA, evidence of the massive reptilians covers every square inch of space from the dinosaur skeleton greeting Guests at the Land’s entrance to the knick-knacks filling Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama gift shop. A 40-foot long, 20-foot high Tyrannosaurus rex named Dino Sue, an exact replica of the largest, most complete Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever unearthed, stands charge by the entrance of Dinosaur! Once you eek past Dino Sue, proceed through the queue and travel back in time. Strap into your Time Rover and hang on!

Write your own story when you spend a day in the life of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

*NOTE: We recommend arriving at Park opening and heading straight to Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safaris to pick up a Fastpass (or go ahead and ride before lines get long).

Related articles

• Celebrating Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
• Wild Africa Trek Experience (chipandco.com)

The spectacular castle lighting show, “Cinderella’s Holiday Wish“, is set to begin this year on November 4th.  The show will run nightly at the Magic Kingdom through to the end of 2011.

Here is the schedule and show times for 2011.

• November 4th – December 30, 2011 – 6:15pm
• Nov 4th and 5th – 7:15pm

Sign language interpreted performances on Mondays and Thursdays.

Related articles

• 2011 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Details (chipandco.com)

Magical Mouse Schoolhouse, where Disney IS school!

MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE is a unique blog that plusses the homeschool experience and prompts home educators to think outside the textbook. Our bi-weekly posts expose teachable moments in Walt Disney entertainment, from the history of Walter Elias Disney to Audio-animatronics, from theme park attractions to Disney conservation efforts. Each article leaves readers creative ways to learn while they play when Disney IS school.

Here’s a sampling of what you might find:

• Watch Dumbo and learn about aviation. Build a paper airplane with an elephant’s proportions. Discuss fuselage size and shape. Ask students if large wings (or ears) help or hinder flight.
• Ride Disneyland’s Mad Tea Party. Stop the math frustration spinning in your child’s head and have a Mad Math Fractions Tea Party!
• Observe Tinker Bell’s flight from a castle turret during Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in person or by Youtube video. Following instructions at the Science Buddies website, measure the intensity and duration of light produced by glow sticks.

Non-homeschoolers are welcome too! Supplement children’s schoolwork to keep kids from stagnating during summer break or holidays. Classroom teachers, enhance lesson plans or offer additional course work.

Stretch the boundaries of your home classroom!

Tiggerific Tuesday! Blog Hop...or Bounce!

MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE hosts the weekly blog hop, Tiggerific Tuesday, a linky social to network with fellow bloggers. We also run GIVEAWAYS on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of the month, and we hop aboard the Magical Blogorail Yellow Line every 1^st Friday.

For an additional learning experience and educational incentives, sign up for the monthly Earn Your E.A.R.S. (Enriching Academic Reward Series). Registration opens October 1, 2011. Click the link to learn more.

A lot of adults write off Walt Disney World as “kid’s stuff”…personally I think that is nuts! While I believe adults can find a lot of ‘grown up’ activities to keep them happy and busy, I also think that everyone should take the time to experience all of these at least once (if not over and over!):

Spinning on the teacups as fast as you can (please note: adults AND kids should probably NOT eat right before attempting this!)

Getting your picture taken with characters – adults may think it’s silly to wait in line for Minnie’s autograph (I know I do – even I draw the line here – did enough of that when I was a kid!) but if you’re enjoying a character meal, and Minnie comes over to say hi, don’t avoid it, embrace the chance to let her hug you and have your picture taken with her (Minnie is quite the little flirt with the gentleman – so keep an eye on your husbands ladies!). On a separate but related note, I also think no one is too old for character meals, where you will find a fun, casual atmosphere and some of the best food WDW has to offer!

Water Slides – Disney offers two water parks full of all kinds of slides and pools, it’s the perfect way to cool off on a hot day

Roller coasters – even though many of the rides at WDW may be geared towards the younger crowd, there are many that adults can enjoy – from Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom to Expedition Everest in Animal Kingdom, every park has at least one ‘thrill’ ride that will get your adrenaline pumping!

Towel Animals – When you stay on property at one of WDW’s many hotels, the cast members who clean the rooms will leave your towels/washcloths in cute shapes, sometimes animals or setup as a vase for pipe cleaner ‘flowers’, it may seem silly, but it always makes me smile (and usually take a picture…could probably make a whole album full of towel animal pictures!Silly but its just another one of those Magical Disney touches that I love!)

Fireworks/light shows/nighttime parades – Each park has its own nighttime display/fireworks show, and they are all breathtaking! Special Effects and lights galore, they are enjoyable for all ages

Mickey Ice Cream Bars – I know I can’t say no to this delicious treat, chocolate coated ice cream on a stick in the shape of the Mouse (I am drooling just thinking about how good it tastes!)

Goofy’s Candy Co. in Downtown Disney offers guest the chance to sample all kinds of sweet treats and even design your own sweet creations, which the cast members create right in front of you (try not to drool on the divider glass!)

A Real Safari Ride – Board a Jeep on a trek across an African savannah at Animal Kingdom on the Kilimanjaro Safari Ride. See animals so up close, it will take your breath away.

Dinner Shows are fun for everyone no matter what age – the Hoop Dee Doo Review whoops it up western style over at Fort Wilderness, while over at the Polynesian the Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show, a show featuring hula dancers and fire jugglers amazes all who attend

There are so many things at Walt Disney World to enjoy, the above are just a very few of the things I think are a treat for those tall and small, young and old, and for everyone who is young at heart.

Today we are the bearers of bad news. The word on the street is that Epcot will no longer be allowing early entrance into Innoventions plaza for the Epcot version of “rope drop“.

Instead, everyone will remain crammed like sardines at the front gates until the park formally opens. If you’re thinking of sneaking in from the waterway…that’s not going to work either.

The small show that featured a free roaming Test Track car has been discontinued. It remains to be seen if there is a new “rope drop opening” in the works or if this change is going to permanent.

What do you think about this? Let us know in the comment box below.

Related articles

• Disney Food Blog Mini-Guide to the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival e-Book (chipandco.com)
• Best Bathrooms in Walt Disney World – Epcot (chipandco.com)

It’s no secret that a lot of folks out there think that Walt Disney World is kid’s stuff. I am completely opposed to this way of thinking, and believe there truly is something there for everyone. One of my hardest audiences that I have encountered is my husband – he just doesn’t seem to love WDW like I do, and it took a LOT of convincing to get him to agree to go to WDW again. So the real question in his mind is “what’s in it for me?” Well, check out some of the ‘guy-friendly’ activities below that I am hoping will get him as entranced by the mouse as I am:

Going Fast: Hop onto GM’s Test Track at Epcot for a change to be a ‘test dummy’ as you ride through some ‘unpredictable’ conditions and reach speeds of 60 mph. Travel 0-57mph in just 2.8 sec on the Rock’N Roller Coaster, which as a bonus is Aerosmith themed. Or, if your guy is the more adrenaline junkie/adventurous type, give him the chance to drive (or ride shotgun) in a real NASCAR race car at the Walt Disney World Speedway with the Richard Petty Driving Experience. At speeds up to 140 miles per hour, this is the real deal for NASCAR fans and for those of you who really want to feel the wind in your hair!

Flying High: Go para sailing at Walt Disney World and get a rare view of the resort from 450 ft in the air. Parasailing is just one of the water sports they offer, Waterskiing, Wakeboarding, Kneeboarding, Jet Skiing, and Tubing are also available.

Thrill Rides: Take your man on Space Mountain as it races through space (in the dark!), or on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad as a runaway train takes you on a wild ride, or on the Tower of Terror for a creepy, suspenseful 13 floor drop

Hotel Living: I don’t know many people who truly enjoy cleaning their houses (I especially don’t know many men who can say that!), so treating you and your better half to a stay at one of WDW’s Deluxe resorts can really help you both relax. With big rooms, beautiful theming, immaculate housekeeping, and gourmet restaurants, choosing a Disney Deluxe Resort really can make for a better vacation (it might cost more, but its something that both of you can appreciate!)

Food (specifically giant hunks of meat): I don’t know a guy who can’t appreciate a good piece of meat, and luckily WDW delivers on this front, with plenty of places to get a great steak (LeCellier and Yachtsman’s Steakhouse are a few, there are many more!). There is a food to please every hungry man’s palate at WDW, and if you are looking to get the most for your money, try one of their many buffets (including a delicious nightly seafood buffet at Cape May Café, or a mouth watering African feast at Boma)

Beer: Most places in WDW, from resort bars to Downtown Disney venues, have a decent selection of beer, spirits, and specialty drinks. Epcot’s World Showcase is especially unique for beer lovers, as each country has beers and liquors native to its own country (for example, Mexico does margaritas and tequila flights). If you like to pair drinks with sports (what guy doesn’t!), grab a beer and catch the game at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Bar at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort. Or, grab the delicious beer sampler flight (see picture above!) at Big River Grille and Brewery at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort, bonus – the food there is amazing too!

Pyrotechnic Displays: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios all put on nightly firework displays so dazzling that they will leave you and your guy breathless, even if he’s not into fireworks, the technical aspect of how they can produce such a grand show will astound and perplex him (and come on, who doesn’t love fireworks?!)

Sandy Beaches:  There are a few places within WDW where you can get a beach experience, but I must admit – for this one, I am going off site. That’s right, I am renting a car and driving my man down to Daytona Beach. It may be far, but its worth it, a famous beach full of beautiful people and sand, sun, and fun, what could be better?

Astronaut stuff: The other thing we are going to do with that rented car is head to the Kennedy Space Center for some interesting and enriching NASA history. (Normally I would never want to leave Disney property, but I realize the reality is that not everyone can spend 7 days in a row at WDW and have the best time of their lives like I can, and offering to leave WDW and go sample some of Florida’s other offerings might make a Disney vacation more appealing for your man).

I hope that you all can use some of this advice to help convince your significant others that Disney really is the Happiest Place on Earth!

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• Top 10 Activities for Adults at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
• Money Matters for adults too! 8 Tips to Save Money! (chipandco.com)

When it comes to planning a Walt Disney World vacation, the resort options are so endless that it can be headache-inducing (it was for me at first!)

Should you choose to stay on property (which I highly recommend), one of your options is Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, which is a moderate level resort (ie-middle of the road prices) with amenities and rustic charm galore

Lodging Options – Fort Wilderness offers different types of campsites from traditional tent sites (with electric), full hook up sites (with electric and sewage hookups), preferred and premium full hook up sites (size and location are what makes these ones more desirable). Not in the mood to ‘rough it?’ Then consider the Cabins at Fort Wilderness, which provide all the comforts of home nestled into the serene woods of the campground. The cabins sleep 6, have their own bathroom and kitchenette, and are a great option for families who desire a little bit more space to roam than your average hotel room.

Dining – In keeping with the frontier theme prevalent throughout the Resort, the dining options available are: Trail’s End Restaurant (serves American down-home classics on a breakfast and dinner buffet and has an ala carte lunch menu), Crockett’s Tavern (a full-service bar that features a small menu of items such as nachos and pizzas), Mickey’s Backyard BBQ (a seasonal character meal served family style with Mickey and his friends), and last but not least, the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Review, the Resort’s nightly old west themed dinner show that serves up delicious classics (friend chicken, ribs, and all-you-can-drink-beer) alongside a highly entertaining variety show.

Entertainment – There is so much to do at Fort Wilderness, including water sports (water skiing, boat rentals, and bass fishing tours can all be done here), extensive jogging/walking/biking trails (and yes you can rent bikes here too), 2 beautiful pools, horse back riding, a petting zoo, nightly movies with Chip and Dale, and so much more…needless to say, there is never a dull moment at Fort Wilderness.

Transportation – The Campground is BIG and spacious, which can mean a lot of walking, which is why they have an internal bus system that services different stops around the campground. You can also rent a bike to get around, or my personal favorite – golf carts rentals. The best transportation option in my mind though is the boat service to the Magic Kingdom – it is much better than a bus, and it isn’t always the fastest, but the view is certainly better (you pass the other deluxe resorts before coming upon the Magic Kingdom)

Value – When I was younger I used to wonder why we stayed at Fort Wilderness in our camper instead of in one of the hotels – and now that I am older, I have learned the secret – a Walt Disney World vacation does NOT come cheaply, and if you want to play with the Mouse, you have to pay…a LOT. If you’re a fan of camping, you can save yourself a ton of money with a  campsite at Fort Wilderness (typically around half the price of a hotel room at one of Disney’s Value Resorts), and with camping equipment and the ability to make your own food, you can save even more money.

I stayed at Fort Wilderness many times during my youth, and the car ride from Upstate NY to Orlando was a 2 day trip, hauling not only regular luggage but a pop-up camper, food, and every camping supply imaginable. No matter how long that trip and how tired we were, our moods magically lifted every time we entered into the Campground. It is beautiful, spacious, and I can’t say enough good things about it.

So if you are looking for a cheaper but still on-Disney-Property option, look no further than Fort Wilderness, it will make your Walt Disney World stay even more magical (and you didn’t think that was possible….)

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• Top 5 Best Things About Disney’s Wilderness Lodge (chipandco.com)
• Stranded at Walt Disney World and Loving It (chipandco.com)

We chose to brave the rain and are glad we did!

Rain can really ruin a day, or even a whole vacation. Luckily, when you’re vacationing in Walt Disney World, there are plenty of things to keep you occupied when the Florida weather doesn’t want to cooperate.

Here are some great things to do on a rainy (or any!) day at WDW:

Catch a movie (and a meal!): at AMC Downtown Disney 24, you can catch that movie you forgot to go see (probably because you were so excited and busy getting ready for your WDW trip!). Not only that, but the theater’s new “Dine-In Theater” option allows you to order and enjoy appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks from the comfort of your movie seat!

Take in the Hoop De Doo Review dinner show: put on twice nightly, this wild west themed show serves up all you can eat ribs and fried chicken….and all you can drink beer and wine! A perfect place to unwind, have some laughs and some good food, and escape the bad weather!

Disney Quest: a one-of-a-kind indoor interactive Theme Park bursting with five floors of games that give “state-of-the-art” new meaning….aka the place to get the perfect “indoor” Disney experience.

Go for the royal (spa) treatment: Get a massage/manicure/pedicure at one of Walt Disney World’s award winning spas (because hey, doesn’t everyone deserve a little me time on vacation?)

Monorail Tour: The monorail travels between the Magic Kingdom and the Polynesian, Grand Floridian, and Contemporary resorts – all beautiful and fun places to explore, shop, and grab a meal or a snack (we plan on doing this one our next trip, the hotels are gorgeous and we can pretend we are staying there if only for a short time ha!)

Everyone’s Gotta Eat: Try a new restaurant or two, if you’re willing to brave a few minutes of rain, the park restaurants are a good choice as they will be less crowded on a rainy day.

Shop til you drop: Again, you have to be slightly willing to dodge a few raindrops for this one, but there are tons of stores (including the HUGE “World of Disney”) in Downtown Disney, and I can think of no better way to while away a rainy afternoon than picking up some souvenirs for me and my loved ones (ok, mostly me!)

Take a nap: Ok, this one may seem lame, but after days of walking around at WDW, it never hurts to catch up on sleep!

Brave the rain: of course if none of the above appeal to you and you’re feeling adventurous, throw on a poncho and head to the parks. It will be much quieter and you will see shorter lines, plus there are plenty of amazing indoor attractions…Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain, Rock n roller coaster … Just to name a few!!

Above all, be realistic….it’s probably going to rain at some point during your trip, so be prepared!

Related articles

• Top 10 Activities for Adults at Walt Disney World (chipandco.com)
• Best Bathrooms in Walt Disney World – Epcot (chipandco.com)

Where to find it:   Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue – Pioneer Hall, Fort Wilderness

What is it?  Ice Cold Pitcher of Bud Light

Why you want it:  Because it is cold, delicious and nothing goes better with Ma’s Fried Chicken and Smoked Barbecued Pork Ribs than ice cold Bud Light. The Hoop Dee Doo is all you care to eat and drink and I come to have a great time! The super bonus is that no one has to drive!

Related articles

• Disney Confidential – New Hoop Dee Doo Revue Show Times (chipandco.com)
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Review Dining Time Changes and Details (chipandco.com)

I just posted our trip schedule on U Stream. Check it out here. We will be at Disney World Sept 17th – 24th 2011.

Note – If you goto my U Stream Channel you can mark if you will be attending a specific broadcast and get an email reminder before the event!

I will be recording a few times a day from the different Parks, Resorts, and Attractions at Walt Disney World. Also I will try to record some video from our Chip and Co Meet Up.

While I am down at Disney World I will be recording from Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, Fantasyland Construction, Fireworks, you name it. So if you can’t catch it live its ok.. just pop in and check out the prerecorded footage.

I have video footage on there now from our last vacation you can check out. This year we have much nicer phones so the video should be 100 times better than last time.

If there is something you want to see let me know in the comment section below and I will drop by and record it for you.

If you follow us on Twitter or Facebook you should be notified when we are recording then you can visit our U Stream Page and interact with us!

>>Chip

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Camp Minnie-Mickey

It’s always summer vacation at Animal Kingdom’s Camp Minnie-Mickey. When Guests hike down the trail, camp counselor Mickey and his pals immerse them in the forested, lake-strewn Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York, where the fish are always biting and everyone has a story to share around the campfire.

Camp Minnie-Mickey mimics the northeastern style with distinctive architectural elements and deliberate ornamentation. Stone and carved wood supply naturalistic foundations and rustic components so that the setting seems to have grown into its form without human assistance. It’s yet another beautiful example of Walt Disney Imagineering’s fine design, as the site retained only a few dozen original trees when the Park was built. Nearly all plant material at Camp Minnie-Mickey was brought in and installed on location, making the effort one of the largest landscape designs every undertaken.

Festival of the Lion King

The main draw of Camp Minnie-Mickey is the Broadway caliper live stage show, “Festival of the Lion King,” which is held in the camp’s assembly hall. Familiar characters from Disney’s feature animation The Lion King spring to life with pageantry and celebration, sharing their music, dance and other skills with all the campers in an air-conditioned theater-in-the-round with stadium seating. Gymnasts, puppeteers and even acrobatic monkeys encourage Guests to be part of the action and interact with life-sized Disney Characters.

For those who walk on past the Lion King entrance, a wonderful rendezvous awaits. Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy meet and greet visitors throughout the day at the Character Greeting Trails. Each of the four pavilions is shaded and tucked into a fan-cooled and misted wood, while back by the main walk, a slew of their other wildlife friends pause for photos and fun. Periodically, a Cast Member camp counselor leads sing-a-longs and teaches campers new songs too, like the one he sang about my kids’ laceless tennis shoes!

Be sure to check the Park schedule for show times and Character appearances. My family has experienced the least wait time at the meet and greet when arriving at the greeting trails just before the Lion King lets out.

Camp Minnie-Mickey