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Guests Celebrating One More Disney Day at Disneyland Could Receive Limited Edition Ear Hats

Saturday, February 18, 2012 Chip 2 Comments

Big news for those planning to spend One More Disney Day at Disneyland park on February 29! Guests entering the park when it opens at 6 a.m. will receive a limited-edition ear hat commemorating the event, while supplies last. Ear hats are limited to a supply of 2,000 for guests who enter through the designated turnstiles when Disneyland park opens at 6 a.m. on February 29.

Here are some things you should know if you are planning on attending One more Disney Day at Disneyland when it opens at 6 a.m. on February 29:

Guests may begin lining up no earlier than 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28.
Guests planning to line up before Disneyland park opens must park in the Pumbaa Parking Lot on Disney Way between 10 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28 and 6 a.m. on February 29. Please note that the Pumbaa Lot will not begin to offer shuttle service to the East Esplanade until 6 a.m. on February 29. Click here for a map of Disneyland Resort parking areas.
Restrooms will be available for guests who line up before Disneyland park opens.
A special ticket booth will be available prior to Disneyland park opening for guests needing to purchase park admission for February 29. Valid park admission is required in order to enter Disneyland park and to receive the commemorative ear hat.
Commemorative ear hats will be distributed, while supplies last, to guests who enter through the designated turnstiles beginning at 6 a.m. on February 29, when Disneyland park officially opens. Limit one ear hat per person, and you must be present at the time of distribution.
Please remember that being in line and entering the park does not guarantee that you will receive a commemorative ear hat. Ear hats are limited to a supply of 2,000 for guests who enter through the designated turnstiles when Disneyland park opens at 6 a.m. on February 29.
Be sure to check the list of items that are not permitted inside Disneyland park as you plan what you will bring with you that day. Admission to the park is subject to capacity restrictions.

Top 5 Apps for your Disneyland Vacation (chipandco.com)
Visiting Disneyland – What to expect from a Disney World point of view (chipandco.com)

Guests Celebrating One More Disney Day at Disneyland Could Receive Limited Edition Ear Hats

Unplanned Surprises Add Extra Magic to Your Disney Trip

Thursday, February 16, 2012 Brenda 1 Comment

I love planning for my Disney vacations. The planning is, as we all know, a big part of the excitement we all feel when waiting for our magical Disney trip to begin. Don’t you just love it when, in the middle of planning your daily activities, you find out that there is going to be a special celebration you will be able to participate in that you didn’t even know was going to happen during your trip? Well, that is how I felt when I found out that my daughter, our friends and I will be able to attend New Orleans Bayou Bash at Disneyland next week.

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in February and March (as well as Feb. 20 & 21), New Orleans Square comes alive for a one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras party. I am so excited that we will be able to attend on February 24. According to Disney, New Orleans Square and parts of the Rivers of America will be “filled with vibrant excitement, jazzy music, street performers and the sensational food of New Orleans — all presented with warm Southern hospitality.” That is right up my alley.

The party will include Princess Tiana, Louis, Naveen, Mickey and Minnie, and lots of other Disney Characters donning their most festive Mardi Gras attire. There will be lots of music, dancing, partying and special Cajun food – Yum! The best news for me is that there will be special Mardi Gras Cupcakes (my favorite) as well as specialty beignets.

I am from Galveston, Texas and Mardi Gras began on Galveston Island way back in 1867. In 1985, the tradition was revived and very year my hubby and I attend the first weekend of Mardi Gras festivities, which took place this past weekend. This is usually a great time to party and celebrate life, and to see old friends from high school that we usually only see once a year. Unfortunately, I was sick in bed so we were unable to attend last weekend. Celebrating Mardi Gras in Disneyland is sure to be an awesome time. I hope to take lots of pictures and celebrate big! I just wish my hubby would be able to attend with me! I’ll be sure to have a cupcake mint julep in his honor!

Come party at Disneyland During New Orleans Bayou Bash! (chipandco.com)
Disneyland Training: New Orleans Square (couponingtodisney.com)

Unplanned Surprises Add Extra Magic to Your Disney Trip

Top 5 Apps for your Disneyland Vacation

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Chip 3 Comments

Every family traveling to the magical world of Disneyland eventually comes to the same question: How am I going to fit it everything I want to do/see in just three days? Smartphones have made it remarkably easier to accomplish this task, acting as pocket tour guides with tips, reviews, and behind-the-scenes info. Browse this list of 5 apps and select the one that’s the best fit for you. You’ll love actually enjoying all the park has to offer rather than spending your day staring at maps, schedules, and brochures.

Mousewait- FREE

This free app is packed with all the features most will need. You can access wait times for all the rides in Disneyland as well as California Adventure, browse a food directory that has menus, maps and reviews, and get detailed weather reports. You can also create your own Disneyland to-do list including all the attractions, restaurants, and events you’d like to attend. You can even chat with others in the park to keep in the know of what’s going on around you. The app will send you push notifications to remind you when to pick up your fast passes or when you have a dinner reservation scheduled.

Wishing Stars – $4.99

This actually isn’t a planning app, but it’s such a fun opportunity it’s worth mentioning. Wishing Stars is basically a series of treasure hunts within the Disneyland park. You can choose from varying levels of difficulty to accommodate children, adults, or even Disney fanatics. The app will give you a clue, and then use your GPS location to determine if you’ve found the correct answer.

Disneyland iGuide – $2.99

This guide comes in handy starting from the second you park your car. There’s a spot for you to record where your car is parked, so you won’t have to wander around late at night on the verge of a breakdown. It also features a customizable panoramic map that allows you to zoom to three times magnification. The GPS walker follows you at all times so you can quickly spot where you are. The times your Fastpasses must be picked up or returned will be displayed on your map as well for your convenience. There’s a feature to find all dining options that are under the $10 pricepoint, or even switch your map to a restaurant-only view. It also has the capability for you to plan your own itineraries and checklists.

Disneyland Planner – $2.99

Similar to previous apps, this one shares a lot of the same features. There’s a spot to record you parking location, maps of the park, customizable itineraries, and wait times for all the attractions. Unique features are a trip countdown that can be used in the days leading up to your vacation, a gift-list creator, and user ratings for all attractions, dining spots, and shopping locations. It’s also the only app that provides photos and details for events in the park.

Hidden Mickeys – $7.99

Disney Imagineers having been cleverly sticking silhouettes of Mickey Mouse’s head throughout the park for decades. They’re in top secret locations that only true Disney fans can spot! Occasionally the hidden Mickey comes in other forms- for example a picture of Mickey Mouse can be spotted on Splash Mountain, and a stuffed Mickey is stashed in a secret location on Star Tours. This app provides detailed clues to help you find the hidden Mickey’s all over the park. Discovering their secret locations adds another element to your vacation, and kids and adults alike will enjoy scanning for hidden images while in lines and on rides. Keep your eyes peeled, you never know where one could pop up!

About the author: Jaime is an avid hiker and skier who loves to write in her spare time for CenturyLinkQuote.com– home of CenturyLink Internet.

Are you a Hidden Mickey hunter? (chipandco.com)
Discover the Sights and Sounds of Disneyland Resort with ‘Disneyland Explorer’ for your iPad (chipandco.com)

Disney World Quick Tips – Traveling to Disney with Friends

Monday, February 13, 2012 Chip 2 Comments

Our past couple of trips to Disney World have really been a lot of fun! My writer Melissa and her husband from Disney on Wheels have managed to vacation at the same time as us, even stayed in the room next door on our trip last September. They are our Disney buddies!

I know many people don’t like to travel to the parks with friends or family as things can get really stressful. Not to mention trying to book meals, coordinate parks, and dealing with little ones can really drive a wedge between you and your traveling companions.

While no two groups of people are alike I want to offer up some tips that help us when planning our trips with friends.

Plan your meals before you go – Sit down and write up where you want to eat and compare the 2 lists. Mel & I usually use Google Docs and share the spreadsheets. I can see where they want to go and vise versa. While we don’t plan every meal together, (I am sure our kids probably get on their nerves) we like to do about 75% of the meals together. Not to mention I am a Meatarian and Melissa is a Vegetarian.

Tip – If you are not a morning person (like me) limit the number of breakfasts and maybe go all Table Service Dinners together. I will say Kona Cafe has some great coffee to help perk you up if you have to do breakfast!

Pick parks you will visit alone – Don’t plan on being at the same park every day together. Unless you are besties and you don’t mind hanging out 24/7 it is probably better to have some alone time with your partner or family.

Don’t be afraid to say ‘Well see you later’ – Disney World can be stressful! Our trip this past September was insane their were wall to wall people and it was really hot too! There were many times we told our friends “You guys go on without us, were going to the baby care center and will catch up with you at dinner.” Afternoon naps/breaks are perfect for this.

Melissa and I did this before we met for the first time. I told her if they wanted to breakaway or if I was getting on their nerves just say you are gonna go on ahead for a while. I would rather someone do that then for them to get mad or upset over something at the parks.

Be patient – Unless you are hardcore Disney Vacationer you are gonna have to stop for restrooms, drinks, diaper changes, etc. When you have other people traveling with you there are gonna be bumps in the road. I know I take about 2,000 pictures every trip so if your traveling with me I’ll probably get on your nerves. But just try to be patient and know that the rides aren’t going anywhere. R-e-l-a-x.

Take extra care when traveling with people with special needs – As you probably guessed Melissa is in a wheel chair. That is where she gets the name Disney On Wheels. There were times when we ran into rides she couldn’t get on or took a little longer to get on them. It was nice to be able to help her get on Pirates for the first time in 11 years! You might be traveling with someone in a wheel chair, who is blind, deaf, etc. Be aware of their needs and do your research on Touring the Parks with people with special needs. If you use the search in the top right side of the page you can pretty much find thousands of Disney World traveling tips!

Melissa is working on a list of all the rides and attractions at Disney World that are accessible for people with a wheelchair. So keep an eye out for that. Also she will be offering up tips and tricks for each rides to make your visit much easier!

I hope these tips will help things go smoothly for you on your next trip to Disney World or Disneyland with Friends or Family. If I missed anything let me know in the comment box below.

P.S. – As I write this article we are planning our Feb 2013 with Andrew & Melissa!

Is Disney World becoming too crowded? (chipandco.com)
Disney World Quick Tips – Try something new (chipandco.com)

Disney World Quick Tips Traveling to Disney with Friends

Annual Passholder Preview at the Disneyland Resort

Friday, February 10, 2012 Chip 2 Comments

Disneyland Resort Annual Passholders: from March 27–29, take advantage of a special sneak peek of the amazing merchandise, food, entertainment, new costumes and guided tours the Disneyland Resort will bring to life this summer.

As part of this preview in Stage 17 at Disney California Adventure park, I’m excited to share that some of the merchandise being created for the park and the opening of Cars Land will be available to purchase, including items from collections such as the Disney California Adventure park logo program, Attraction Posters, Low & Slow Car Club, Champions Custom Speed Shop and Radiator Springs Racers, to name a few, before they hit store shelves at locations such as Ramone’s House of Body Art, Sarge’s Surplus Hut and more.

There’s no need to sign up! The showcase will be open from 10-8 p.m. daily, March 27–29. Look for a glimpse at some of the merchandise in early March on www.ArtofDisneyParks.com.

Event subject to space, time and availability. Entrance to the showcase is not guaranteed. Please note, this is an Annual Passholder only event. A valid Disneyland Resort Annual Passholder ID must be presented by each guest entering the venue and must be presented at time of purchase. Limits and restrictions apply. Merchandise available while supplies last. Information subject to change or cancellation without notice, including but not limited to event dates, artwork, edition sizes and retails. Separate theme park admission may be required.