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Tag Archives: California
Two Years of Dreams at Chip & Company!
It is absolutely crazy to believe, but November 26, 2012 marks the second anniversary of my time here as a writer for Chip & Company! I wanted to take a moment and look back at some of the incredible times that I’ve had with Chip and all the other great writers here on staff. I am not the longest running member of Chip & Company, but I am proud to say that I am one of the older ones, and all those young whippersnappers – especially Sierra — better remember to respect their elder! 
My first post was about one of my favorite Disney treasures — my 1928 Mickey Mouse jacket! The jacket wasn’t made in 1928, but it was celebrating the creation of the King of the Mouse himself, Mickey, and when I got it for Christmas in 2000, it instantly became my favorite Disney treasure — one that I proudly wear to this day!
Some of my early posts included my top 5 Character Dining Restaurants, planning a Multi-Generational Family Vacation, and lastly, one of the great Disney Hidden Treasures: Customized Maps!
Try this Free Interactive Thriller Series on Amazon Called The Deadliest Cast Member
Kelly Johns developed MouseWait, which is one of the most popular Disneyland iPhone and Android apps in history. Now, he is taking MouseWait’s 100,000 plus community on an adventure with Jack Duncan, former SEAL Team Six member, billionaire tech-mogul, and Disney Legend. Part One of The Deadliest Cast Member was made available over the weekend for free on Amazon’s Kindle platform.
“My goal is to make this series an interactive adventure we can all go on together” said Kelly Johns.
Johns integrated a simple feedback form inside the novel that allows readers to submit their ideas and requests in regards to what they would like to see happen in the book series.
“It’s the same thing I did with MouseWait” said Johns, “I built MouseWait mostly on user feedback since we started in 2009 and people love it when you listen to them”
MouseWait for iPhone and Android is a free app that gives you accurate wait times and information on all attractions — even restaurants. It also gives people a live view of what’s happening at Disneyland through thousands of user-generated pictures and videos that stream through the mobile app and the web version of MouseWait. A massive community has developed around MouseWait. Many of these “MouseWaiters” as they call themselves have developed significant friendships as a result of the community, which is a phenomenon Johns says he couldn’t have predicted.You can see the MouseWait Story here.
Disneyland refurbishment schedule December 2012
If your heading to Disneyland soon be sure to check out the Refurb/Closure list below. Refurbishment information is subject to change without notice and should be confirmed just prior to visiting. Updated information is available on the Disneyland website.
Current
- Jumpin’ Jellyfish (DCA) has one tower closed through 11/22/12 for refurbishment.
- Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland) closed through 12/7/12 for refurbishment.
- Troubadour Tavern (Disneyland) closed through 5/22/13 for refurbishment.
Former Mouseketeer Bonita Lynn Fields Elder Dies
Former Mouseketeer Bonita Lynn Fields Elder, died in Indiana this past Saturday after losing a two-year battle with throat cancer, she was 68.
Elders was a wonderful dancer who was able to showcase her dancing talents on “The Mickey Mouse Club” in the 1950’s. Elders was 12 in 1957 when she won a part on the third season of “The Mickey Mouse Club”. Elder had always gone by her middle name Lynn, but the show’s producers suggested she adopted the stage name “Bonnie” — a nickname of her real first name because there was a boy cast member with the first name Lynn, reported her cousin Robbin Myers.
Elder continued on as a cast member and performing at California’s Disneyland after the original “Mickey Mouse Club” ended. Myers said that she and her sister Diana would often visit Elder at Disneyland. They were chatting with her after one show when they heard someone behind them calling out “Bonnie!”
“We turned around, and it was Walt Disney, so we got to meet Mr. Disney!” she said.
Elder appeared in 1980 on a televised program marking the 25th anniversary of “The Mickey Mouse Club.” From 1981 to 1985, she took part in live Mouseketeer reunion shows at Disneyland.
Elder continued on in the entertainment industry and was able to land small parts in several 1960s movies, including “Kissin’ Cousins” with Elvis Presley and “Bye Bye Birdie” with Ann-Margret. She later appeared as a dancer on television shows and on Broadway before opening a dance studio in Santa Monica, Calif.
Related articles
- Bonnie Lynn Fields dies at 68; former Mouseketeer (orlandosentinel.com)
- Former Mouseketeer Bonita Lynn Fields Elder dies (goerie.com)
Man Faking Cancer Got a Free Trip to Disneyland
Jeffrey Averett, 46-year old South Jordanian, decided to fake cancer in order to get a free trip for him and his family to Disneyland. Court documents show that Averett was charged with felony communications fraud last week.
A Mormon ward threw a fundraiser for Averett last September in an effort to send him and his family on a final vacation. Police tracked down transactions in Southern California and Disneyland between September 21-26 and they identified $1,700 in donated money in bank accounts for Averett and his wife.
Detectives checked Averett’s medical records and found that Averett did not have cancer and was not terminally ill.
Many wonderful organizations raise money to give kids and adults trips to Disney, amongst other things, in this case it unfortunately backed fire…most of the time the recipients are well-deserving. What do you think? Can you imagine a crime that is more sad? Let me know…
Related articles
- Another Child With Cancer Hoping to Raise Money to go to Disneyland (chipandco.com)
- Disneyland refurbishment schedule December 2012 (chipandco.com)
