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Category Archives: Reviews
$25 Disney Giftcard Giveaway
Chip and Co & Episodes & Reels is giving away some Free Money this week! With Valentines Day coming next week we thought it might be nice to giveaway some Disney Cash to use on your next Disney Vacation or Shopping Spree.
So our good friends at Episodes & Reels just shared with us The Top 10 Animated Disney Movies a few days ago! Where did your favorite Disney Movie place on their list? I was sad Wall-e didn’t make it as that was my favorite animated Disney Movie! What’s yours?
To enter just use the Rafflecopter form below. Try to do everything on the checklist. You can tweet and share this post on your Facebook wall as many times as you like! The more you share the more entries you receive!
Contest ends on 12:01am on Saturday February 11th. I will pick a winner that morning and notify them via Rafflecopter that they won. The winner has 24 hours to respond or I will pick another.
Related articles
- Join the Chip and Co Rewards Program and Win Free Giftcards! (chipandco.com)
- Passporter’s 2012 Walt Disney World Guidebook Giveaway (chipandco.com)
iPad Review: Disney Princesses A Royal Christmas
In the last of my iPad reviews, today I’m taking a look at Disney Princesses: A Royal Christmas, which is available at the iTunes store at a cost of $4.99, and is available for both iPhone and iPad devices.
A Royal Christmas is a really good app to have in your library. Like the other apps from Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications, this one is designed to help younger readers develop their reading skills in a fun, interactive way. The nice thing about this app is that it contains three separate stories, one each involving Cinderella, Ariel, and Tiana!
Each of the stories, of course, is about the holidays, but they are uniquely different, and quite enjoyable in their own ways. Sophie looked at it with me, and the first one that she wanted to look at was Princess Tiana — it was really well done, and this is one of the few apps I’ve seen that has featured Tiana and the Princess and the Frog characters, so I was excited to see it.
As you can see, there are several layers to this app. You can follow along, you can read and explore, and you can play games. All of the options are neat, and ones that your child will really enjoy. Here are some of the beautiful shots that I captured from the Tiana story.
Out on the bayou
Tiana and Charlotte -- is that Papa Noel in the back there?
I love the dimension in this picture.
These shots are just some of the really incredible details that the folks at Disney Worldwide Publishing Applications have put into their work. It is truly an incredible app for your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch, and well worth the $4.99 cost.
Related articles
- New iPad App: Disney Princess – A Royal Christmas (chipandco.com)
DVD Review: MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: I ♥ Minnie
A new home video from Walt Disney Studios releases this Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Featuring five fun-filled episodes and one special bonus feature that underline the themes of friendship, teamwork, sharing and problem solving, MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE was a sure hit with my little girl and is bound to become a favorite in your home too.
- Mickey Mouse and his Clubhouse friends are planning a surprise party for Minnie’s Birthday. My daughter was truly worried they wouldn’t be able to keep Minnie occupied while they got ready. She worried along with Minnie too, who thought her friends had forgotten her special day, but a happy ending brought a smile back to her face.
- When Daisy discovers her shoe is broken, the Clubhouse friends get creative. My daughter felt like she was really helping with her suggestions on how to fix it, and she had a great time learning the steps to Daisy’s Dance.
- The Pet Parade is almost here, and everyone has a pet to pamper except Daisy. My daughter, who recently got her very own puppy, absolutely loved this episode, because Daisy ends up keeping not just one but three adorable critters for Daisy’s Pet Project.
- Minnie and her friends follow the colorful rainbow that has appeared over the clubhouse and encounter a mischievous leprechaun along the way. At first, my daughter was irritated by the leprechaun, because he kept thwarting their plans, but in the end she and the Clubhouse gang were pleasantly surprised by the special treasure waiting at the end of Minnie’s Rainbow.
- The flower festival is fast approaching, but Minnie’s and Daisy’s flowers won’t bloom. My daughter wanted to run to the store and buy them a bouquet! But in this all new, never-before-seen episode, the two friends are able to coax the clouds to rain on Minnie & Daisy’s Flower Shower.
The bonus episode makes it personal. You’re Invited to Minnie’s Birthday Party lets your children join the celebration. My daughter really enjoyed using Toodles’ Mouseketools to RSVP to the invitation, choose the perfect gift for Minnie and decorate a party hat. She made a pink hat with lots of colorful polka dots and oodles of sparkly glitter. She thought Minnie would approve and wished Minnie could see her through the television. The episode ties in to Minnie’s Birthday, wishing the Guest of Honor special birthday wishes.
We were excited to see the bonus sneak peeks at the upcoming Disney Studios All Access offers, Lady and the Tramp and Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure DVD/Blu-ray releases, Lion King 1-1/2 and Lion King 2 combo pack DVD release, and Cinderella DVD/Blu-ray diamond edition, as well as a look at some brand new features that are in the works: Brave (coming to theaters Summer 2012 from Disney-Pixar), Planes (coming to theaters Spring 2013 from Disney-Pixar), and Tinker Bell Secret of the Wings (coming soon to DVD). A Digital Copy is also included for computer download, so we can watch our favorite episodes on the go, but my daughter was most excited about the two complimentary Best Friend necklaces that are packaged with MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, providing a keepsake memento to share with her BFF.
Don’t let the party start without you!
For more information on MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE: I ♥ MINNIE, see press release.
2012 Passporter’s Walt Disney World Guidebook Is Here!
Sometimes the sound of the mail slot makes me cringe…it’s normally bills or junk mail. But when I hear a package go into the door it’s sheer excitement, especially when I know it’s my 2012 Walt Disney World PassPorter Guidebook!
The folks over at PasspPorter press have done it again with the must have guidebook for all of your Walt Disney World needs. Yes, there are other guidebooks and “official guides” for Disney World but I assure you, I’ve read all of them and none are nearly as good, or as user-friendly as PassPorter.
This spiral bound guide is printed in color and boasts “350+ pages of advice, maps, photos of resorts, restaurants and theme parks plus our famous organizer pockets”.
If you are looking for a hoity-toity, fancy-schmancy guidebook that looks impressive on a bookshelf but is of absolutely no use at all, get one of those “other” guide books. If you want the most complete, up to date, user-friendly trip planning and reference guide, then you want the PassPorter. That was a mouthful, but it’s not nearly enough adjectives to describe the magic of PassPorter.
If you’ve never experienced a PassPorter guidebook here is what you’re missing.
Honest opinions: the missing “official guidebook” stamp means that these are people just like us; they are Disney travelers. They can give an honest opinion about what they see and experience instead of giving you the “real estate” review : “quaint accommodations in a charming atmosphere”,when it should really read “rooms so small you can’t express an emotion and don’t look outside”.
- Travel equals: These folks travel just like you and I. They don’t squeak in on VIP treatment, free passes etc. They stay in the rooms we stay in and hunt for the same deals that will benefit you and I. They gather information from their own experiences and from fellow travelers in the PassPorter Community.
- Beyond a guidebook: This is more than a guidebook, this is a planning guide. The planning doesn’t start when you want to book your vacation, it starts far before. It starts at the conception of your vacation thought and encourages you to immerse yourself in the Disney experience prior to your vacation. Participating in forums, learning from other travelers, ordering vacation planning video’s. etc. are all a part of the planning process and PassPorter will show you how to do it all. The book is designed to be personalized with spots to make notes, interactive planning pages you can access online, and “Passpockets”-the one page folder that holds all of your day-to-day details (confirmation numbers, notes, tips, etc.) and also serves as a folder to store your receipts.
- Worksheets: There are budget worksheets, planning worksheets, transportation worksheets, lodging worksheets, packing lists and more. These folks know what you need to plan, even if you don’t!
- All inclusive information: The PassPorter breaks down into eight main categories: planning, getting there, staying in style, touring, feasting, making magic, index, notes and more. You’ll find everything you need to know within these categories. For example, the “staying in style” section outlines each resort and includes the following: ambiance, resort layout and rooms, eating and drinking, playing and relaxing, getting about, tips, notes and ratings. Then there’s the mini resort maps (in color of course!), best locations, rates and info. Whew. I’m exhausted and that’s just one category!
Passporter is your one stop shop for any question you may ever have about Disney World and is great to keep on hand for reference; even for us veterans! I know what you’re thinking, “why should I invest in this guidebook when things are constantly changing?” Well, the folks at PassPorter have already thought about that! Their books are being updated in real-time with PassPorter articles on their website, questions and answers in their forums and the free book updates you can get online.
You can find me on Passporter Boards, if you book your vacation with me and mention Passporter I’ll give you a $25 Disney gift card to spend on your trip!
Michele@PixieVacations.com for your free quote! Don’t forget that all of my services as your Authorized Disney Travel Planner are FREE!
Related articles
- Passporter’s 2012 Walt Disney World Guidebook Giveaway (chipandco.com)
- Visiting Disneyland – What to expect from a Disney World point of view (chipandco.com)
iPad Review: Toy Story Showtime app!
In the next series of iPad apps that I’m reviewing, today I’m going to share with you my impressions of Disney Publishing Worldwide Applications app “Toy Story Showtime“, which is available for $4.99 at the iTunes Store. Similar to Pooh’s Birthday Surprise, which I recently reviewed, the Toy Story app is an interactive storybook app, designed to help early readers develop some good reading skills while having fun at the same time! The plot behind the story revolves around all of your favorite Toy Story characters, who are excited because Dolly declares that they should put on a Talent Show! This excites everyone — except Buzz — who tries to think of all sorts of ways that he can impress Jessie.
What will Buzz do for the talent show?
In the scene above, a spotlight shines, and your child (or you, if you prefer) can move the spotlight around to the other characters, and when it lands on them, you’ll see what they are practicing for the show!
Look at Woody and Bullseye go!
As Buzz checks out what all the others are doing, and comes up with ideas similar to what they are doing (but with him in the scene instead of them), the talent show time gets closer and closer. Finally, the time has arrived! However, as soon as the music is turned on, a funny thing starts to happen to Buzz. He starts to dance!
Fortunately for Buzz, Jessie is there to encourage him, and he relaxes and starts dancing to the music!
Buzz takes a bow!
Being interactive, there are several scenes where you can do things with the characters in the book. Anytime you see golden circles by a character, as illustrated in the image below, you can tap on one of the characters, and they will do a special move.
Touch the circles to see a special action take place.
At the end of the story, you are given a chance to play some special games. In one of the games, you are told what move Buzz needs to make, and you tap the appropriate move on the screen, as you can see below in this screen shot.
Can you match up the correct dance move for Buzz?
In this next game, you are able to pick moves that you want to see Buzz perform, and then at the end, you press the play button to make Buzz perform your dance steps!
What Dance is Buzz going to perform for Jessie -- you pick the moves!
As with Pooh’s Birthday Surprise, this interactive storybook is for a younger reader, but it should provide plenty of interactive fun for them!
Related articles
- It’s Toy Story Showtime! New Disney Storybook App (chipandco.com)
