Monthly Archives: July 2019

CHOC Walk in the Park 2019 and Giveaway!

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CHOC Walk in the Park 2019 and Giveaway!

By Monica Young

Just last week I attended the CHOC Walk media mixer event celebrating Disneyland’s birthday at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. During this mixer we were able to network and enjoy CHOCTails, delicious food (like shrimp and grits, tomato soup with mickey ears made out of grilled cheese sandwiches and even some Kahlua-filled beignets.

Since 1964, the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) has provided loving care to children. In 1990, CHOC partnered with Disneyland and created the “Walk in the Park,” a 5k fundraising walk. Since the beginning of the partnership, Disneyland and CHOC have raised over $32,000,000 for CHOC programs and services.

The 2018 CHOC Walk raised $2.9 million dollars to help kids in Southern California. These funds go towards covering medical treatments so families don’t have to worry about bills. Money also went towards the Mental Health Inpatient Center, the ASPIRE Intensive Outpatient Program and broke ground on the Thompson Autism Center.

The CHOC Walk is happening August 11th at Disneyland Resort. Anyone can register to participate in the walk, which will go through Disneyland Resort. The registration fees and donations for the walk go to Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)

Event Details

  • When: Sunday, August 11, 2019 (entrance cutoff time is 7:15)
  • Where: Disneyland Resort (Opening Ceremony at Main Street U.S.A. at 6:00 am)
  • Cost: $85 (early bird prior to 7/29/19) per CHOC Walk participant/team member (ages 3 and older). The price increases to $95 after 7/29/2019. 
  • Walkers ages 2 and under FREE
  • 5K walk through Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park. (route TBD)
  • Parking:  Free parking is available at the Disneyland Resort for all CHOC Walk participants (parking lot opens at 4:00 am) 
  • By participating in CHOC Walk, you can receive discounts at Downtown Disney the day of the walk, as well as reduced admission prices at both parks ($67 – 1-Day, 1-Park ticket (valid at either Disneyland® Park OR Disney California Adventure® Park) and $93 – Disneyland® Resort 1-Day Park Hopper® ticket for BOTH Parks. (To receive discounted ticket prices, you will need to show your CHOC Walk wristband at the ticket booth. The ticket can be used August 11, 2019 through September 10, 2019 with the following blackout dates: 8/31/19 – 9/03/19)
  • As you walk you get to meet special Disney characters and also get the opportunity to take some photos with CHOC bear!
  • Registration: CHOCWalk.org

During our media mixer, we learned about the CHOC Walk happening August 11, 2019. We got the rundown on this years “Walk in the Park” events and fundraisers, including the special pin and medallion available and prizes for Annual Pass holders (AP) that are walking under the AP team. Here is a recap of what we learned

  • This is the 29th annual CHOC Walk in the Park, Presented by Disneyland.
  • CHOC Walk is a 5K walk through Disneyland, Disney California Adventure and Downtown Disney to help raise funds for research and services at CHOC Children’s
  • Disneyland AP can join the AP team and win prizes such as: Star Wars 2019 collector’s pin, a Star Wars drawstring backpack, and AP Star Wars insulated water bottle. (insert photo of AP prizes)
  • There are also incentives for those walking in other teams. The 2019 pin for those that fundraise $225 and the 2019 Medallion for those that raise $350 (insert photo of pin and medallion)
  • Now there is an option to Fundraise via Facebook. So much easier to get those donations going.

 The countdown to the 2019 CHOC Walk in the Park is on, with less than a month to go, who is going to join me in my efforts to fundraise money for a good cause?

GIVEAWAY FOR 2 CHOC WALK WRISTBANDS!!

We even have two (2) wristbands to giveaway!! The two wristbands will allow you to attend the CHOC Walk as walkers without fundraising. You will, however, have to sign up to walk, but your $85 early bird registration minimum will be waived and you will need to pick up your wristbands during CHOC Walk check-in on Friday, August 9th and Saturday, August 10th at the CHOC Walk offices in Orange. Hours and location info on CHOC Walk check-in here: https://www.chocwalk.org/Static/Event-Check-In. Winners must be a US resident, 18 years of age or older. One winner per household. Void where prohibited by law and no purchase necessary to win. Ends 7/25/19 at 12AM PST Good-luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disney’s The Lion King Roars into Theaters

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Disney’s The Lion King Roars into Theaters

By Ella Barone

The Lion King is to this day, one of my favorite Disney films. From the beautiful soundtrack to the lovable characters, everything about the film is just excellent. When I found out that they were creating a live-action for the movie I just about freaked. The beautiful animals were going to be seen on screen like never before, and the fantastic songs were going to be sung once again.

I was lucky enough to see the film a few days before the general public and develop my opinions, which we’re all amazing. The first thing I noticed about the film was the beautiful scenery. The whole movie was done using CGI and animation technology, and if you didn’t know that, you could have never guessed. Everything looked as if you could reach out and feel the textures off of the screen.

Also, the talent in the film was phenomenal. Not only were there singer/songwriters, but also amazing actors and actresses. Some of them included Beyonce Knowles-Carter, Donald Glover, Seth Rogan, and so many more. To make the film even better, there is a brand new song that is sung by Beyonce. I won’t spoil anything for you, but I can tell you that you will absolutely love it.

The songs were sung once again, and I felt my heart swell when I heard them. These songs were a part of my childhood and hearing them resung by the amazing talent that is a massive part of modern music made me feel like I could relate to the film in a more modern aspect.

The story of the Lion King is the classic original tale, but with the interpretation comes new and old. We get the same characters and the same story, but the emotions and the way it looks on the screen are entirely different.

The funniest thing in the film was the Pumbaa and Timon duo. They kept the pair of jokesters and had me laughing throughout the entire movie. There were multiple points where I couldn’t hear the dialogue because of all the laughter in the audience. The characters couldn’t have been better.

The all-new Lion King is out in theaters now. You and your family will absolutely love this new film and all it has to offer. 

Like THE LION KING on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyTheLionKing/

Follow THE LION KING on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyLionKing

Follow THE LION KING on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/LionKing/

THE LION KING is in theaters everywhere NOW!

Acres of Fun at the OC Fair!

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Acres of Fun at the OC Fair!

By Bobby Navarro

The OC Fair is back! From July 12th to August 11th, The OC Fair and Event Center is hosting “Acres of Fun” running Wednesday to Sunday in Costa Mesa. Every year the fair brings nearly 1 million visitors with entertainment, rides and food that have now become an annual meeting grounds for local families and tourists alike. We were invited by Melissa’s Produce to get a first look at the sights and sounds of the start of fair season, and wanted to share some of our finds.

THINGS TO EAT – There are some people I look at for fair food trends, that I know are constantly innovating. Chicken Charlies is a long standing fair food aficionado, breaking barriers and making waves year after year on the fair scene in Southern California. The favorites this year are not as fried as in years past, but they will still make a real foodie question themselves. Chicken Charlies has two locations, one in Midway accessible from the main Blue Gate Entrance, and the second is across from the Kids Land entrance closest to green gate. In addition to the common favorites on his menu, like the skewered chicken, many fair fiends find themselves gravitating to the things on the menu that make you squish your face. Think Triple Decker Cheeseburger with a Krispy Kreme bun!

His newest creations include an ice cream sandwich with donut buns, stuffed with fried chicken. The flavors were salty and sweet and surprisingly more delicious then you might originally think.

We also tried the new Buffalo Chicken Chimichanga, which was stuffed with Buffalo Chicken Mac n Cheese wrapped in a green tortilla and then topped with hot cheetos. Even though I am a sucker for interesting burritos, I knew too many bites of this hot headed buffalo chicken style was going to have me wanting to take a nap. There are many more interesting foods to find at the fair, and there are a few vendors that always have something new, so make sure to take a menu peak at vendors like Biggies, Bacon-A-Fair, and Get Fried.

THINGS TO DO – The OC Promenade is located off the main Midway between the two art exhibit hangers. The OC Promenade has always been known for its culinary programming and its visual displays. Here you can see the entries for some of the local competitions like cake making, spices and table settings. In addition to all the photo opportunities, the OC Promenade has invited some exciting people to make the space a full culinary experience. Northgate Market has some guacamole and avocado toast offerings, find yourself transported to a Parisian Patissiere complete with macaroons and chocolates, and finish with learning the art of fermentation at the kombucha counter. If that wasn’t enough, every day is filled with different kinds of culinary programming including cooking demos, culinary education panels and cooking competitions. This is a great way to kick off your fair experience, or stop by when you need to break up your day with some shade and seating.

TIPS AND TRICKS – There are tons of promotions that the fair provides to make the fair accessible to everyone. We have listed a few to make sure you are totally prepared for your fair excursion.

—OC FAIR EXPRESS: Don’t let parking take up all your fair time! Take the local OCTA for $2 ($4 round trip) to the OC Fair and get a coupon for a $4 fair ticket (valid on day of service only)

—WE CARE WEDNESDAY: Every Wednesday the OC Fair partners with local charitable organizations to provide a free entrance and single ride ticket in trade for a donation. This is a great way to teach your children about the power of helping others in need. Each Wednesday is a different donation supporting a different cause, so make sure to read the website for the most up to date information, but here is what we know.

July 24th – Noon – 3pm – Second Harvest Food Bank – Donate five canned food items.

July 31st – Noon – 3pm – Think Together – Donate 3 new or gently used children’s books.

August 7th – Noon – 3pm – Goodwill of Orange County – Donate 5 new or gently used clothing items.

—KID’S DAY: Children under 5 are always welcome free at the fair, but on Thursdays, children under 12 are all welcome for free. A great way for families of all sizes to join in the fair fun.

The fair offers many promotions to support all ages, visit the OC Fair website to plan the best time to go in the most affordable way that is best for your group. Summer isn’t the same without some deep fried food, heart pumping rides, and some good ol’ entertainment so stop on by the OC Fair!

Be sure to check out this amazing video below for more food and fun highlights from this years OC Fair!

 

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