Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Disney's Little Einsteins: Melody, the Music Pet (Disney Early Readers)


Disney's Little Einsteins: Melody, the Music Pet (Disney Early Readers)
Choo-choo! All aboard the Pet Train! The Little Einsteins are in France watching animals board the special train that takes pets to their new homes. One pet, Melody the Music Pet, has lost her ticket and it's up to the team to help her get it back so she can board the train on time. Leo is sad to see Melody go, but when the Little Einsteins arrive back home the Pet Train arrives carrying a special surprise just for them. Pre-Schoolers will enjoy learing to read with this level 1 early reader adventure.

Building on the success of the Baby Einstein's 93% U.S. brand awareness, Little Einsteins maintains the unique educational philosophy of using classical music, art, and real-world imagery to engage and teach preschoolers about the natural world around them.
Customer Review: Please, look for another Little Einstein book!
We have a few little einstein books, and we are not overly fond of them. The DVDs are great, and the kids enjoyed the books on the first reading - but after they would ask for a different book. They lack a little substance. Melody the music pet is all over the place - we bought the book as it shared our daughters name, and even that novelty can't keep her interest. I would not recommoend this. I don't normally take the time to write reviews - but I was dissapointed enough with this book that it got me typing.
Customer Review: Weak story
Little Einsteins is a great brand but sometimes product quality/creativity lags. This did not wow us or our child as other Little Einstein products have.

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World For Kids 2009 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids By Kids)


Birnbaum's Walt Disney World For Kids 2009 (Birnbaum's Walt Disney World for Kids By Kids)
Children are perhaps Walt Disney World's biggest fans. On playgrounds and in classrooms, there's always excited talk about who went to Walt Disney World and what they did each day-or minute. It has become almost a rite of passage to visit America's most popular travel destination, and kids can be wonderful sources of information.

Every area and attraction of Walt Disney World is covered, with kids' honest reactions and impressions included. There is a whole chapter devoted to each of the theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. Another chapter describes the rest of Walt Disney World, including Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Fort Wilderness, Downtown Disney, and dining spots with kid appeal.

The book is updated annually, and the 2009 edition features lots of new tips and attraction reviews from young "Disney Experts" around the world. We'll tell kids how to catch "Wildcat fever" at the rollicking new show, "High School Musical 2-School's Out!" And we'll give young readers the inside scoop on the newest WDW attractions, including the thrilling Toy Story Mania!

Customer Review: Six to fourteen loved it
All four of my kids got something out of this one. It's a perfect companion to the adult one--and will keep them from taking it from you. If you get the grown-up one, you must get this.
Customer Review: Great Guide
Like most people, I took this guide and the The Healthy Guide to Walt Disney World 2009: How to Eat Right and Stay Fit in Disney - The NEW Diet, Dining, Food, Fitness and Complete Weight Loss Book on my recent Disney vacation and loved both of them. The Birnbaum guide has better theme park insights and tips for the kids. The Healthy Guide to Disney is more insightful on the menus picks meals and activities for kids. I recommend both.


Thumper Finds an Egg (Disney Bunnies)

One day, Thumper discovers a bright blue egg while he's hippity hop, hop, hopping through the forest. But he doesn't see a nest anywhere. His sister Daisy helps him make a basket for it to rest in, and together they try to find a home for the little lost egg. But when the egg begins to hatch, will Thumper and Daisy be in for a surprise?


Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2009: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Special-Interest Titles)


Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2009: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Special-Interest Titles)
Entering its 20th edition, Fodor’s Walt Disney World® with Kids delivers the definitive but always-easy-to-access advice of former Disney Magazine contributing editor Kim Wright Wiley, who has logged more than 50 visits to the parks both as a keen-eyed journalist and as a parent. Every family needs her tips and insider knowledge to make the most of a trip to Walt Disney World.
Wiley not only rates attractions and rides based on their age-related suitability and "scare" factor, but also incorporates feedback from hundreds of families who, like her, have not-so-tirelessly field tested it all. Inside you'll find:
Ø Everything a family needs to choose the right hotel, including driving times to the parks from each property
Ø Full ratings as well as quick-reference charts for the most kid-pleasing rides and restaurants
Ø Must-see attraction checklists geared toward young kids as well as preteens and teens
Ø Time-saving tips, such as how to avoid crowds and lines at the park
Ø Insider's secrets and the skinny on "Hidden Mickeys"
Ø Cautionary tales and success stories from parents about their park experiences
Ø Convenient maps of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios
"Must reading for everyone planning to bring their family."â€"Katie Couric, NBC's Today Show
Customer Review: An absolute MUST when planning your trip.
This book has all the information you need when planning your daily schedule to Disney World. It helped our family know so many things we would not have known if we hadn't read/had the book with us. I recommend it for anyone planning a Disney vacation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at [..]
Customer Review: Great guide for grandparents too
My wife and I recently used this book to take our four grandchilden (ages 4, 7,8, and 11) to Disneyworld. It helped us cut down the time we spent waiting in line and was full of helpful pieces of advice. My wife called it "the Bible" because I kept checking the guide before we could go to the parks every day. Just as the author and other Disney experts will tell you, Disneyworld can be a very overwhelming place and so any information you can have in advance will reap you plenty of rewards later.


Disney Princess #1: Once Upon a Princess
Featuring the absolutely delightful Disney princesses, these two beautifully illustrated collections present each princess in her very own book-length story, retold with new details that every little princess will love to read. Volume One stars Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Jasmine (Aladdin), and Esmeralda (The Hunchback of Notre Dame). Volume Two features Cinderella, Belle (Beauty and the Beast), and Pocahontas.
Customer Review: Not My Cup of Tea, but Many Young Girls Will Love It!
This book follows the movie versions very closely and are great reading practice for young fans. The 2nd - 4th grade girls will truely love it and will be very happy to have this book.


Great Hotels Season 1 - Episode 30: Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts - FL
Take a lively armchair visit to some of the exceptional resort hotels throughout the United States. Along the way, host Samantha Brown experiences first-hand what makes these hotel destinations popular, appealing, unique, and memorable. Each episode presents an entertaining "story" of up to two different hotel destinations, complete with encounters and eccentricities that creatively show and tell what makes each hotel a great experience. Episode 30: Nestled on a lake within eyeshot of EPCOT at Walt Disney World, lie a couple of fantasy-themed resorts that transport you back to the turn-of-the-century summer homes of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket - it's the Disney Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Samantha travels to this relaxed seaside setting for a little sunshine and a lot of fun. And where does she head off to first? Outdoors, of course, to the POOL! This isn't an ordinary pool - it's supersized! Next a stop by Beaches and Cream for a one-of-a-kind Kitchen Sink sundae. Then a little more exercise with an old-fashioned cycle ride around the boardwalk. Still hungry? How about a primo meat-and-potato dinner at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse. Samantha ends the evening with a fireworks spectacular at Disney's EPCOT. Enough fun for the whole family! This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

Disney's Family Christmas


Disney's Family Christmas
Out of print in the U.S.! Looking for a collection of Christmas tunes that will appeal to the whole family? Well, Disney seems to have hit the nail on the head with this little gem. Every song is a classic sing-along holiday tune sung by Disney characters, children's choirs and others. It's a giggle fest for the kids (Goofy is in top form on this release) and a soothing reminder of Christmas cheer for the adults. 20 tracks including 'Jingle Bells', 'Deck The Halls', 'Sleigh Ride', 'Here Comes Santa Claus', 'Frosty The Snowman' and more. EMI.


The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: A Classic Disney Treasury
For the first time ever, all of the classic Winnie the Pooh stories from the popular animated films have been collected together in this gorgeous and charming treasury.x
Customer Review: Great Book
I just received this book in the mail, (i ordered it off here for .50 cents for the book) it was brand new looking and i think my daughter will love it for Christmas. Great deal specially since they dont print these books anymore!
Customer Review: Great book for kids (and adults, as well)
My 2 1/2-year-old discovered Pooh on the Disney video. However, she wanted to hear about his adventures at bedtime, so I bought this book. Now she actually prefers it to the video, which makes everyone happy. Of all of her Pooh books, this is her favorite.


Cinderella 2 Disc Special Edition with 10 Favorite Disney Classics


Disney Princess Tea Party: Katherine


Disney Princess Tea Party: Katherine
Personalized for Katherine

Hear the Disney Princesses sing and speak to Katherine over 60 times throughout this one of a kind CD. It will be an instant hit with Katherine that she will listen to over and over. Watch her face light up as she hears her name sung and spoken by the original Disney Princess cast. Katherine will join each of the Disney Princesses as they prepare for a Princess Tea Party. Each princess will personally coach Katherine through getting dressed and using proper etiquette, and Katherine will receive a personal invitation to the castle to join all the Disney Princesses at their Princess Tea Party!


Disney Little Golden Book Library Box Set (Classic Collector's)
Now ten of our most popular Little Golden Books based on Disney films are available at one low price in a beautiful boxed set!
Featuring such favorites as Cars, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo in a sturdy slipcase, this library makes the perfect gift for
Disney fans and collectors alike.

Walt Disney's Tales of Uncle Remus


Walt Disney's Tales of Uncle Remus
From Walt Disney's "Song of the South" and other selections Adapted and Produced by Alan W. Livingston

Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009


Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009
Birnbaum's Walt Disney World, the most respected and well-known name in travel guides, takes readers to the world's most popular tourist attraction. Since ours is the only guidebook that's official, this book includes the most accurate information on prices, changes, and new attractions for 2008. Highlights include the scoop on "Magical Beginnings," Walt Disney World's specially tailored, money-saving vacation plan for families with pre-schoolers, and updates on Pleasure Island's new venues, eateries, and shopping opportunities.

This new edition includes the scoop on the surprises in store as Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly known at the Disney-MGM Studios) marks its 20th anniversary.  We'll also take an insider's look at the thrilling new interactive attraction, Toy Story Mania. Other updates include new tips and Birnbaum's Bests; all the insider info about stage shows, parades, and nighttime spectaculars; prices and ticket options; customized travel tips for teenagers, international travelers, guests with disabilities; and a comprehensive character meal chart to help guests pick their favorite dining spots.

Customer Review: Perfect Guidebook
This guidebook is phenomenal. It is well-organized, easy to read and so helpful for planning a trip to Disney. There are suggestions for just about everything from hotels to dining to rides to extra fun. Going to Disney requires planning and preparation to fully enjoy the experience. Get this book well before you go to help with all aspects of planning your trip. There are even coupons in the back that can be very helpful, too.
Customer Review: Birnbaum's Walt Disney World 2009
We vacationed at Disney World for five days in December, 2008. My grandsons are 5 and 2. We used the Birnbaum's book as our guide in each of the theme parks. It was very helpful. Our 5 year old loved the characters and used the autograph section for the numerous characters we saw. I highly recommend the book.


Disney Bunnies: Goodnight, Thumper!
Introducing Disney Bunnies!

Thumper and his sisters are at their most endearing as they learn to count and do their best to avoid going to sleep. Adorable illustrations coupled with the bunnies mischievous antics are sure to delight little ones. The perfect size for Easter baskets, these board books will be popular long after the holiday. . .
Customer Review: Everyone Needs Sleep, Even Energetic Little Bunnies
As with ALL of the Disney Bunnies books, this has gorgeously illustrated pages. Unlike many children's books (many which are overly stylized or simple to look at it) this is a lush, beautiful world that Thumper lives in and a joy to look at for parents. It's a simple story of a bunny who cannot sleep as he watches all of his friends and family fall into slumber, and finally succumbs to sleep himself. The book is of a very sturdy, thick quality and has a glossy sheen. Very nicely done and the simple and sweet story that encourages bedtime is a nice book to have on hand before bedtime. My 3 1/2 and 2 year old girls both love this one.
Customer Review: Short and Sweet
This is a short board book about a bunny who can't sleep even though all of his friends have already drifted off to dream land. My 3 year old loves for me to read it to her just before bedtime. I plan to purchase the other Thumper books.

Disney Fairy Tale Holiday - 2008 CD Collection Includes World Premier Song " Tinker Bell In Neverland "


Disney Fairy Tale Holiday - 2008 CD Collection Includes World Premier Song " Tinker Bell In Neverland "
12 Holiday Songs
Customer Review: The CD has gone GOLD!
The last I checked this CD was #4 on the kid's chart. Track #9 "God Rest Ye Merry Napping Kitty Cats" is from the Celebrate Catmas! CD and track #10 "Away In The Shelter" is from the Celebrate Dogmas! CD. I recommend those CDs (from Pet Laughs) so you can have all the fun!


Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Dining Guide 2009
Birnbaum's Walt Disney World Dining Guide is a complete diner's guide to what's where in the World. What do they serve? How good is it? How much will it cost? It's all here. Our personally rated taste-tested temptations include: who serves the best PB&J, where to sup with Snow White, and why turkey legs are the most popular snack food in the World.

Our updated 2009 edition includes details on WDW's newest eateries, including The Wave at the Contemporary Resort, and Epcot's new Japanese and Italian restaurants. This year's edition will also include expanded coverage of Disney's wildly popular Dining Plan; updated information on dining with Disney characters (and dinosaurs!); the scoop on Epcot's perennially popular and ever-expanding "Food and Wine Festival"; and where to find the best bargain buffets and spectacular splurges the Mouse has to offer. Discover our choices for fine fare for everyone in the family-from toddlers to grandparents. Fascinating food facts and secrets to the best spots for eating and enjoying the parades are included in this perfectly-sized gustatorial guide.

Customer Review: Don't leave home without it
The myriad of dining options at all four parks is mind-numbing. The Birnbaum guide helped us get the most of our visit--and avoid some of the less worthy places... My advice: go heavy on the walk-up dining. I fed five people lunch every day for under $40. This guide helped me make that happen.
Customer Review: Comparing Best Disney Dining Guides
Birnbaum's Dining Guide is a fun little book to have for your Disney World dining experiences in 2009. Like most in the Disney community, there are 2 main books to rely on for all of your Disney Dining, Food and Menu information: Birnbaum and The Healthy Guide to Walt Disney World 2009: How to Eat Right and Stay Fit in Disney - The NEW Diet, Dining, Food, Fitness and Complete Weight Loss Book. After buying and reading the 2009 edition of each book, here are some thoughts I have on how they compare: 1) Best Dietary Information: The Healthy Guide. With its great chapters on nutrition, organic foods, dietary tips, special need and menus suggestions, The Healthy Guide comes out on top. It seems no matter what diet you are on, this guide is invaluable to any Guest in WDW. 2) Best Food Information: The Healthy Guide The Healthy Guide has the best Dining Plan strategies and suggested Menu items at each Disney restaurant. It also has a number of fascinating Disney food tidbits. 3) Most organized: Birnbaum Guide. Each Disney eatery is easy to find and is given a brief summary. 4) Most fun to read: The Healthy Guide. With its witty writing, funny style and blunt restaurant reviews, you'll be laughing out loud as you read through it. 5) Best info on Kosher, gluten, special needs: The Healthy Guide. By a mile! It spends chapters talking about the best places to satisfay your ditary needs and nutritional requirements along with all kinds of helpful specs that other books ignore. 6) Most up to date: The Healthy Guide. Disney is so complex that it is always updating its restaurants and menu items all the time. To satisfy the Disney community's need to current info, the Healthy Guide updates its book several times throughout the year to give the reader the most current info on menus, prices and restaurants. So which one's best? The Healthy Guide is a joy to look at and read and is just amazing in its amount of useful information on Disney foods and eateries. Birnbaum's index is more complete and organzed. The Healthy Guide is more thorough in its coverage about everything healthy inside of Disney and offers so much "cynical" insight that it just can't be ignored, and it has the best Disney Dining tips and even fitness info. I recommend you buy both and start making your ADR's!!


Disney Monster's Inc. Read Along DVD Sampler


Tuesday, September 29, 2009

New Illustrated Treasury of Disney Songs


New Illustrated Treasury of Disney Songs
This magnificent coffee table collection is a Disney lover's dream come true! It is a guided tour through the many legendary years of Disney music, from "Minnie's Yoo Hoo" in 1930 up through the latest songs from today's Disney blockbusters. The book begins with an extensive musical history of Disney, followed by beautiful piano/vocal arrangements of 68 Disney classics. The songs are divided into the following chapters: The Early Years, A Coming of Age, Expanding the Dream, Songs from Tin Pan Alley, The Sherman Brothers March Through Disney, A Musical Renaissance, Disney's Live Action Musical Legacy, TV Tunes, and A Song in the Parks. Printed on deluxe stock with more than 100 stunning full-color illustrations accompanying the text and music, The Illustrated Treasury of Disney Songs is a keepsake to treasure for years to come!
Customer Review: Put yourself in a good mood
These are accurate transcriptions of many Disney favorites. A child playing diligently for a few years could tackle some of these songs. But don't think you are getting the 1998 publication. This one takes out some like "I wanna be like you", "Higitus Figitus", in order to put in more current songs from Brother Bear, Atlantis, and Treasure Planet. At last notice this book was priced at $29.95 - pretty steep in my opinion, but the publisher has cause for this list price; it's well bound and the pages are glossy and of good quality. So far my favorites to play are "Where the dream takes you" from Atlantis, "Go the Distance" from Hercules, and "Colors of the Wind" Pocahontas. But you can't beat the old classics from Snow White, Pinocchio, and Cinderella.
Customer Review: Disney Songbook
Beautiful songbook. Great color photographs from the Disney movies. Large collection from old to recent movies. Excellent accompaniments with singable arrangements. I highly recommend. Several songs from this book are listed in the Federation Contest List for Musical Theater vocal solos.


Disney's Beauty and the Beast: The Broadway Musical (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Way back in 1991, many of us saw the single-handed salvation and revival of the old-fashioned American-style Broadway musical comedy. True, it was in the form of a feature-length Disney cartoon, but Beauty and the Beast had it all: a wonderful, tuneful score (including a huge hit title-song), off-the-wall choreography, a great opposites-attract love story with an ultimately happy ending, comic subplots, colorful period costumes, a romantic location in small-town France, and an irresistible cast, including Angela Lansbury as the voice of a teapot. Alan Menken's songs, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, literally introduced the characters ("Belle" and "Gaston") and carried them gracefully through the old fairy tale with its new animated twists. Disney understandably decided to transpose this cinematic miracle to the Broadway stage in 1992. Beauty and the Beast at the fabled Palace Theatre has done as much as anything to revive New York's theatre district; it led to a similar animated film-to-stage transfer of The Lion King, which allowed for the magnificent restoration of the 1902 New Amsterdam Theatre, which was the cornerstone of the cleanup of 42nd Street, which in turn transformed Times Square and "Broadway" into the world's number-one tourist destination. And we're all terribly grateful. But, on stage, Beauty and the Beast was flat, and most of that lack of fizz is, alas, captured on compact disc. The good songs are all here, such as "Be Our Guest," but the performances of them are mostly perfunctory--the exception being the vocal renderings of Susan Egan as Belle, the Beauty. Further, the Disneyfication of the Broadway musical seems to extend to faceless and interchangeable (read: cheap to hire) players, a practice that extends to The Lion King. The only "names" in the original Beauty and the Beast cast were Beth Howland as the teapot and Tom Bosley, a mere shadow of his former Fiorello, as Belle's father. Even worse, unlike The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast was not reinvented for the stage. It's my theory that the kids who made up the live audience (and many of their parents) were filling in the blanks from repeated viewings of the cartoon on video. If you're willing to do the same when only listening, this CD might do. But why, when the movie soundtrack album is available? --Robert Windeler
Customer Review: Awsome, just like being there
Just like sitting at the show or being at Disney's Hollywood Studio watching the Beauty & The Beast live show.
Customer Review: Surprising!
I avoid Disney because they usually throw enough "sweetness" at a person to give them diabetes! Having heard two of the songs on AOL Radio, I was curious enough to order the CD. It was a TOTAL surprise! There is enough sugar in it, but there is FAR more passion than I would expect from Disney. It's a love story. (Aren't they ALL?) BUT there are enough other enjoyable moments in it to make it worthwhile. (Including what I perceive to be a suicide threat, "If I can't love her/Let the world be done with me."). Not what you'd expect!) While the whole musical can be summarized in three of the tracks, (Prologue, to tell the premise, Something There, to show development, and End Duet to resolve the situation) that doesn't say that the other tracks are fluff. They ALL contribute to the telling of the story. All in all, far better than I expected!


Disney Princess Tea Party: Nina (NEE-NUH)


1967 Walt Disney's Happiest Songs -Great Disney Art!


1967 Walt Disney's Happiest Songs -Great Disney Art!
Original 1967 LP: Heigh Ho, Bippity Boppity, Lady & Tramp song, Winnie the Pooh, You Can Fly, Supercali.., Bare Necessities, Bambi song, I Wonder, more. Songs sung by movie stars.

Disney Princess Party - Volume 1


Disney Princess Party - Volume 1
Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 09/07/2004 Run time: 60 minutes Rating: Nr
Customer Review: Bleahh.
Our little girl is totally into the whole Disney princess thing, so I figured, what the heck -- a couple of cartoons, a few games on the computer -- how bad could this be? Pretty bad, it turns out. The cartoons are poorly produced and dull, and the games (which were kind of the main attraction) aren't really computer games, but rather suggestions for how to stage "party games" in the real world. You know, fun stuff like staging a scavenger hunt or making tiaras out of construction paper. Wow. Get that Disney magic going -- the full weight of the whole studio behind you! Whoo-hoo. We previewed this and didn't even bother showing it to our kid -- she would have been really disappointed. (Joe Sixpack)
Customer Review: LOVED IT!!
I bought this to use for my daughter's 5th birthday party. It simplified my party planning a lot because practically all I had to do was turn on the TV. It was a hit!! All the little girls (age 4-8) loved playing the games! Their eyes got wide when they looked at the screen to see which princess they most resembled, and they loved dancing around to the songs. It was by far the easiest and best party I've ever thrown, all thanks to this DVD!! It was well worth the $15 I paid!

Disney Pricess: My Side of the Story #1: Cinderella/Lady Tremaine (My Side of the Story (Disney))


Disney Pricess: My Side of the Story #1: Cinderella/Lady Tremaine (My Side of the Story (Disney))
The rumor that Cinderella's stepfamily tore her lovely dress to shreds so she couldn't go to the ball? According to her stepmother, they were only trying to save Cinderella a lifetime of embarrassment at her fashion faux pas and gently suggesting that she stay at home. (Lady Tremaine says the gown actually looked like it had been sewn together by rodents!)


And the Winner Is...A Collection of Honored Disney Classic Songs
Customer Review: Some of the best from the Disney song collection
When the Academy Awards nominates/awards best song of the year, it is a measure of that song's merits. Here are the Disney songs that made that grade, at least thru Aladdin. I hope to one day by "And the Winner Is... 2"! Enjoy this CD

Designing Disney


Designing Disney

Designing Disney sets into history and puts into context the extraordinary contributions of the late John Hench, who, at the age of 94, still came into his office at Imagineering each day.  His principles of theme park design, character design, and use of color made him a legendary figure, not only for Disney fans but also for students and aficionados of architecture, engineering, and design.

            Designing Disney reveals the magic behind John's great discoveries and documents his groundbreaking in several key areas: "Design Philosophy" examines the values, attitudes, aesthetics, and logic that went into the original concepts for Disney theme parks. In "The Art of the Show" and "The Art of Color," Hench reveals the essence of what makes the parks work so well. And in "The Art of Character," he lets the reader in on the how and why of the Disney characters' inherent popularity-their timeless human traits, archetypal shape and gestures that suggest these qualities graphically, and their emotional resonance in our lives.

Customer Review: Designing Disney by John Hench
I took a few minutes to read all the reviews of this book first, and I must agree with the previous reviewers. They were all spot on about this book. My company is in the theme park design business so we naturally gravitate towards any Disney related books that we can learn from, and speaking from that "point of view"... anyone interested in "details" about how Disney thinks and works (How their designs happen) should certainly add this one to their library. As time goes on the 'greats' who created the Disney magic are leaving us one by one, and from what we (at Denny Magic Studios) observe in the theme park business...Other parks are really not paying enough attention to what these old timers did, and what they had to say... So in our humble opinion, we think that the existence of these written "words of wisdom" are really important jewels that should be studied and put to work well into the future. Right now in 2009 we are all in this "rough" economy, but things WILL improve soon and pundits have said that we are moving from an industrial society to a creative society, and creativity needs to be fed with a healthy dose of entertainment. Fellows like John Hench had the right ideas, and those ideas and techniques are even more important to preserve, and put to good use... today, more than ever before.
Customer Review: Of the Disney books out there, this is the best.
A bit lacking in the real nuts and bolts, but this is clearly a well done overview into the minds of some of the best Disney has to offer. Easy to read, and also a pleasure to read, left me wishing that disney appoints some one to really pick John's mind in case he leaves us some day, now that would be a tragedy, if we loose 1/2 of what this man has learned over a delightful lifetime of serving his customers and guests. Reading this brought me back to the B/W days of TV waiting for Walt, but Walt couldn't have ackomplished anything if it wasn't for the love of the work these people do, and have for the work they love to do.


Disney Princess Sing-Along Songs Vol 1: Once Upon a Dream Jewelry Gift Set


Disney High School Musical: Stories from East High #5: Broadway Dreams (High School Musical Stories from East High)


Disney High School Musical: Stories from East High #5: Broadway Dreams (High School Musical Stories from East High)
High School Musical: Stories from East High #5: Broadway Dreams
Troy, Gabriella, Chad, Taylor, Sharpay, and Ryan are headed to New York City on a class trip! Everyone is eager to bask in the lights of Times Square and to explore the bustling streets of Manhattan. But then some unexpected opportunities arise: Sharpay and Ryan put on their dancing shoes and try out for a real Broadway musical, and Gabriella and Taylor vie for scholarship money on a game show. But are any of them ready for the level of competition they'll face? And will their friendships survive the challenges ahead?
 
High School Musical: Stories from East High #6: Heart to Heart
For five years in a row, the East High Wildcats have lost out to their rivals at West High in raising money for the United Heart Association's annual Valentine's Day fundraiser, Heart to Heart. But this year, Sharpay is determined for East High to reign supreme! Each club gets to work to figure out what they can do to bring in the most cash. The Drama Club will sell flowers, and Taylor and Gabriella organize a cupcake sale with the Scholastic Decathlon team. With Gabriella baking nonstop, and Troy practicing for States, can they find a moment to celebrate Valentine's Day? And will Sharpay's dreams of victory be fulfilled?

 


Disney Fairies Collection #3: Rani & the Mermaid Lagoon; Fira and the Full Moon: Books 5 & 6 (Disney Fairies Collection)
Rani In the Mermaid Lagoon by Lisa Papademetriou, read by Quincy Tyler Bernstein
Rani doesn t fit in. Ever since she had to cut off her wings to save Mother Dove, she doesn t feel like she belongs with any fairies at all. Rani sets off on a perilous journey to find a home, a journey that leads her underwater, deep into the lagoon, where the mermaids live. Maybe there Rani will discover who her true friends are!
Fira and the Full Moon by Gail Herman, read by Deborah Wiseman
Fira is a take-charge, light-talent fairy, who never asks for help. So when all the fireflies come down with the firefly flu, who organizes light for Pixie Hollow? Fira. And when the mining-talent set off on their monthly expedition into the underground caves, who lights the way? Fira, of course. But she s exhausted, and the deeper the miners go, the more her glow flickers and fades. Fira s full moon may turn out to be her darkest hour!
Customer Review: Two Good Stories
RANI & THE MERMAID LAGOON: Fairy society is built upon being tiny and having wings. Rani's heroic sacrifice of her wings (in a previous adventure) has left her handicapped and without a clear place in Pixie Hollow. Rani goes questing in search of a new home. Very well written. The story stays focused, correctly, on Rani. Lisa Papademetriou does not make the mistake of giving Rani ALMIGHTY water super powers. This is not an "Aqua-girl" story. I was disappointed that the mermaids were not a bit more like Disney's "Little Mermaid" Ariel, but this is the universe of Peter Pan and besides Ariel is not your typical mermaid. The CD version is read by Quincy Tyler Bernstine. I could listen to her voice all day. FIRA & THE FULL MOON: Fira is outnumbered by her triplets and has to apologize to her townsfolk a lot. (Single mom + 3 bickering kids = go away now please.) But the day is saved when her kids disobey her instructions to stay home and follow her deep into a dangerous mine! Yay! Actually, the story was pretty good. A fun read. The CD version is read by the talented Debra Wiseman.
Customer Review: a bit long winded
This tape would benefit being accompanied by a book. The stories are very long and interesting, but don't keep the attention of a 4 year old. It may be better for older children.

Disney: The Mouse Betrayed


Disney: The Mouse Betrayed
The dark shadow of America's entertainment giant.
Customer Review: Scary. A MUST READ for Parents Considering a Disney Trip.
Forget the political propaganda some posters are trying to attach to this book. It isn't only for Conservatives or "right-wingers". Truth has no political ties. Everyone should know of the horrors Disney has been covering up for years. These facts aren't gained from one source, nor are they a product of the author's imagination. Schweizer dug deeply into Disney's hidden secrets, talking with a ton of employees, many who weren't afraid to be named. He includes dozens of documents that Disney tried to hide - documents that expose the child molesters Disney hired to entertain your children. Though Disney knows about unsafe conditions in their amusement park they do nothing to correct them. The pending lawsuits from deaths or serious injury are cheaper to deal with than the cost of repairing the dangers. It's all about profit and greed. If only half of this book is true it's a frightful read. You and your children may be at serious physical and emotional risk. If you go to Disney World and get hurt, don't sign anything. Don't let the older kids wander off by themselves, not even for a second. Read the book and judge for yourself the presented facts .
Customer Review: Poisonous
I bought this as an impulse buy, confusing it for Stewart's "Disney War." It took me about a page and a half to figure out it was actually right-wing propaganda written with the intent of furthering a Christian-based agenda to tear down the Disney empire for having had the audacity to get "too big." I worked at the Disney studios of the 90's as well as the theme park of the 80's. I was like many a mystified "Disnoid," having been raised to believe that if you wish upon a star you could get anything you wanted, and that you were always the star of the movie. Working at the parks deconstructed my concept of a world of "magic" and working for the studio instructed me on the ways and means of big corporations. Growth usually comes with pain but it's necessary. There's nothing less attractive than a grown adult stubbornly refusing to leave the world of childhood fantasy. I was bitter and cynical for a long time after my experiences and would have written a book similar in (initial) intent as the Schweizers, had I not grown up. Reading this book actually made me re-examine my bitterness and take the side of the Disney corporation. It is just a business after all. The Schweizers will try to convince you that Disney is "bad," using a bar for measuring badness that they assume their readers share. It's interesting to read about the things they criticize from a different perspective. An example--I had an accident while working at the park in the 80's and was amazed at the efficient way the company handled it. As a guest I would not have wanted to see someone stumbling around with a bloody head waiting for an ambulance, nor did I have any right to sue, as might have happened today. They whisked me away to a hospital and compensated me fairly, one time, for something that should not have happened but was, after all, an accident. Would the Schweizers be happier if everything stopped while stretchers were paraded through the park every time something happened? Of course much of the book is concerned with perversion, much of it centering on the "obvious" shared traits of pedophiles and the "gay mafia" that had a stronger presence in the Disney corporation than it currently holds. The ideas the Schweizers are trying to sell--something along the lines of if you go to Disneyland you're likely to be sodomized--would be disturbing if they weren't so ridiculous (quote: "some cross-dressers even tried to hold their OWN parade down Main Street, but it never got fully organized," ha ha). And the presentation--there's even a warning at the beginning of one of the chapters--is done in that "can you BELIEVE this?" style that makes Michael Moore's films so inflammatory. I found these chapters almost enjoyable on a salacious level--the Schweizers seem to take great glee in discussing the grittier, "naughty" topics, presenting just enough detail to entice the reader but withholding as much to make the reader curious, a good advertisement for the very thing they would condemn: "Just how bad ARE Larry Clark's movies/photos? I MUST know for MYSELF." Of course, in the Schweizer world the worst thing you can possibly do is be a man who loves other men. To quote the film "Victor/Victoria": "Kill him but mustn't kiss him." There's rampant misinformation as the Schweizers bend facts to further their agenda, making these authors the ultimate hypocrites since the point of their book is to point out that this is what the Disney Corporation is doing. I know at least two of the people quoted in the book and their comments were not solicited; they were taken from public resources and quoted completely out of context. Hardly surprising since the foundation of many a Christian's religious belief system is based on this process. I know very few Christians who have slogged through the bible, even less who have taken the time and energy to research the meaning behind the book. With that in mind I did my best to give "Disney: The Mouse Betrayed" a thorough, unbiased and fair reading. There are sections that are well researched and present indisputable truths; ten years on the world has become more than aware that there was a lot of money-grubbing, greed, and deceit involved in the "Eisner" years of Disney. No one is really surprised anymore that big corporations deal in this sort of excess, even if they are organizations founded on providing family entertainment. However, I find it interesting to note that Disney is still doing fairly well for all of that (and for better or worse) and that the Schweizers' book has faded into obscurity (it can be had for a buck twenty-five on this very page). Their would-be poisonous diatribe against The Mighty Goliath failed; the antidote, much like the cure for the obsessions of Christian fantaticism in general, was education and rationality.


Tokyo Disney Sea Dramatic


Monday, September 28, 2009

Disney: The Best of Silly Songs


Disney: The Best of Silly Songs
Silly Songs is a great set of goofball hits guaranteed to paste grins on 4-year-old faces. Never mind that the songs are not originals and that (outside of the few that include Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy), you've never heard of the singers crooning them. These loopy chestnuts--"Purple People Eater," "Bill Grogan's Goat," "On Top of Spaghetti"--have sunk themselves so deeply into grownup funnybones that anybody who refuses to reel with the feelin' on "Splish Splash" should be ready to be outed as a grump. Better still, this record seals the deal on wacky bonding experiences. Kids who have never played "The Name Game" or screamed for ice cream, get set: one spin of this, and parents will be shouting "Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay." --Tammy La Gorce
Customer Review: A Hit with Silly Songs
A great CD for any child. There are a few old familiar tunes (Baby Bumblebee, The Name Game,and Three Little Fishes) and a quite few new favorites (Pizza Pie Song, Way Down Here Beneath the Ocean, and I'm in Love with a Big Blue Frog). Our kids love to sing along.


Cinderella - An Original Walt Disney Records Sountrack
Customer Review: Dream Is A Wish The Heart Makes
Like the grateful emporer once said about Mulan, "You don't find a girl like that every dynasty." Same could be said for Disney's ever classic Cinderella, and the soundtrack should live up to the romantic magical tale. For those unfamiliar with the latest Disney soundtracks, they are composed of many background score tracks, along with the many recognizable songs known to millions around the world. If you wish to hear dialogue to string the songs together, then by all means, purchase the dvd movie.
Customer Review: A DREAM WORTH WAITING FOR
A dream is what your heart makes. And for years we've been dreaming and wishing that Cinderella would make a comeback. And thanks to the magic of Disney, our wish has been granted. (Please do not mix up this Cinderella with the punk-rock band of the same name. This is music; that is a mess.) We are happy to see (and hear) that extra tracks, including two demo recordings. And though we understand Disney's marketing techniques, we do wish that the added performances by Jim Brickman and Kimberely Locke would go away. Maybe if we close our eyes real tight and chant those three magic words. All together now: bibbidi-bobbidi-boo ...


Disney's Greatest, Vol. 1
From Tarzan to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, from Mulan to Lady and the Tramp, this CD and the two others in the series feature more than 60 years of Disney musical magic! Each volume contains 20 songs--all original recordings from Disney films, television, and theme parks--as well as complete song lyrics, beautiful artwork, and liner notes by film critic/historian Leonard Maltin.
Customer Review: Great Disc
Save money and just get the 5 set. Its all the best songs I remember from the movies. Brings back alot of memories.
Customer Review: Saweet!
I bought this for a friend and I just MUST get it for myself. Call me a kid but I love this stuff!

Readymade Digs Disney


Readymade Digs Disney
Walt Disney Tracks Produced by Yasuharu Konishi of Pizzicato 5.


Handy Manny: Sinko de Mayo (Disney Handy Manny)
Today is Cinco de Mayo, and Mrs. Portillo is planning a big fiesta in honor of the special day. But before the party she calls Manny in a panic--her sink is broken so she can't wash the fruit for her homemade empenadas. Join Manny and the tools as they work to fix the sink in time for the party. In this great introduction to Mexican culture, children will learn new Spanish vocabulary and celebrate in a mariachi dnace with Manny and the tools.

Handy Manny features the humorous adventures of Manny Garcia, the best darn handyman in his diverse community. Manny and his eclectic group of talking tools work together to fix objects, help neighbors, and show preschoolers how to conquer everyday problems.

Disney Princess Tea Party: Janelle


Disney Princess Tea Party: Janelle
Personalized for Janelle

Hear the Disney Princesses sing and speak to Janelle over 60 times throughout this one of a kind CD. It will be an instant hit with Janelle that she will listen to over and over. Watch her face light up as she hears her name sung and spoken by the original Disney Princess cast. Janelle will join each of the Disney Princesses as they prepare for a Princess Tea Party. Each princess will personally coach Janelle through getting dressed and using proper etiquette, and Janelle will receive a personal invitation to the castle to join all the Disney Princesses at their Princess Tea Party!


Disney on Classic: A Magical Night 2008


The Disney Collection, Vol. 2


The Disney Collection, Vol. 2
2006 Issued Second Anthology of Song Classics Featured in Walt Disney Films and Productions, Songs that Are a Key Part of Childhoods of People around the Globe. The Material Comes from Throughout the Many Generations that the Company Has Been Creating It's Silver Screen Magic from Great Artists Like Hayley Mills, Bruce Adler, Dick Van Dyke and Matthew Garber, Susan Egan and Vaneese Thomas, Bill Lee and Many More. The Productions They Come from Include Mary Poppins, 101 Dalmations, the Little Mermaid, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Aladdin, the Mickey Mouse Club, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast and Many More.


Disney Princess Tea Party: Jeanmarie
Personalized for Jeanmarie

Hear the Disney Princesses sing and speak to Jeanmarie over 60 times throughout this one of a kind CD. It will be an instant hit with Jeanmarie that she will listen to over and over. Watch her face light up as she hears her name sung and spoken by the original Disney Princess cast. Jeanmarie will join each of the Disney Princesses as they prepare for a Princess Tea Party. Each princess will personally coach Jeanmarie through getting dressed and using proper etiquette, and Jeanmarie will receive a personal invitation to the castle to join all the Disney Princesses at their Princess Tea Party!


Disney Babies At The Farm / Los Bebes Disney en la granja (Baby's First Disney Books (Bilingual-Spanish)) (Spanish Edition)
Big news: Baby’s First Disney Books are now bilingual! It’s easier, and more fun, than ever for the adorable Disney Babies characters to teach your baby about shapes, colors, letters and other important early-learning concepts.

Filled with fun Disney adventures, the bright, colorful board books are simply irresistible to baby. Each one features short, simple sentences that are repeated in both English and Spanish to help make learning easier. Plus, the sturdy pages with rounded corners help keep your little one safe!

Una gran noticia: ahora los libros de los bebes de Disney son bilingues! Es mas facil y mas divertido que nunca que tu bebe aprenda con los adorables bebes de Disney acerca de los colores, las formas, las letras y otros conceptos importantes. Repletos de aventuras divertidas de Disney, estos coloridos libros de carton son irresistibles. Cada uno tiene oraciones simples tanto en ingles como en espanol para que el aprendizaje sea muy facil. Ademas, las paginas de carton y las esquinas redondeadas aseguran que los chicos no se hagan dano!
Customer Review: Disney Fun!
If you have little ones who love disney - this is a must! This whole series is easy to read in English or Spanish and introduces kids to a variety or topics & vocabulary. I love the sturdy board book. Great fun with familiar characters. Reading spanish is FUN!

Disney Princess Tea Party: Ahsia (AH-zee-uh)


Disney Princess Tea Party: Ahsia (AH-zee-uh)
Personalized for Ahsia (AH-zee-uh)

Hear the Disney Princesses sing and speak to Ahsia over 60 times throughout this one of a kind CD. It will be an instant hit with Ahsia that she will listen to over and over. Watch her face light up as she hears her name sung and spoken by the original Disney Princess cast. Ahsia will join each of the Disney Princesses as they prepare for a Princess Tea Party. Each princess will personally coach Ahsia through getting dressed and using proper etiquette, and Ahsia will receive a personal invitation to the castle to join all the Disney Princesses at their Princess Tea Party!


Disney on Classic: A Magical Night 2007


Disney Princess Tea Party: Elisabeth


Disney Princess Tea Party: Elisabeth
Personalized for Elisabeth

Hear the Disney Princesses sing and speak to Elisabeth over 60 times throughout this one of a kind CD. It will be an instant hit with Elisabeth that she will listen to over and over. Watch her face light up as she hears her name sung and spoken by the original Disney Princess cast. Elisabeth will join each of the Disney Princesses as they prepare for a Princess Tea Party. Each princess will personally coach Elisabeth through getting dressed and using proper etiquette, and Elisabeth will receive a personal invitation to the castle to join all the Disney Princesses at their Princess Tea Party!


Vol. 1-Disney Super Hits-Em Portugues


Disney Princess Tea Party: Lindy


Disney Princess Tea Party: Lindy
Personalized for Lindy

Hear the Disney Princesses sing and speak to Lindy over 60 times throughout this one of a kind CD. It will be an instant hit with Lindy that she will listen to over and over. Watch her face light up as she hears her name sung and spoken by the original Disney Princess cast. Lindy will join each of the Disney Princesses as they prepare for a Princess Tea Party. Each princess will personally coach Lindy through getting dressed and using proper etiquette, and Lindy will receive a personal invitation to the castle to join all the Disney Princesses at their Princess Tea Party!

Disney Lion King Bath Book (Disney Bath Time Bubble: Lion King)


Disney Lion King Bath Book (Disney Bath Time Bubble: Lion King)
A soft, stain resistant book for infants and toddlers that is perfect for bath time, playtime or anytime. Features favorite Disney characters. Non-toxic.
Customer Review: Alright
This book is OK. I gave it 3 stars because it does get played with. My baby loves turning pages, so she really doesn't care what is on them. There are not many pages (I think 6 total), so she gets to the end pretty fast and tosses it aside. The graphics are lacking, too. The book is basically pictures of wooden alphabet blocks stacked on top of each other and one lion king character somewhere on the page. It would be better if each page had only 1-4 letters on it with a picture of something that started with that letter. I guess I got my money's worth because I bought the least expensive bath book. I should have gone with one that was more expensive. I guess this is just another example of Disney throwing something together just to make a buck without any concern for its quality.

Disney/Pixar Story Collection (Step into Reading)


Disney/Pixar Story Collection (Step into Reading)
FIVE DISNEY•PIXAR early readers come together in one book! Featuring stories based on the blockbuster movies Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Cars, Ratatouille, and Monsters, Inc., this paperback collection is an amazing value.


Cars (Disney)
Hotshot rookie race car Lightning McQueen is living life in the fast lane unitll he hits a detour on his way to the most important race of his life. Stranded in Radiator Springs, a forgotten town on the old Route 66, he meets Sally, mater, Doc Hudson and a variety of quirky characters who hilp him discover that there's more to life than trophies and fame!!
Customer Review: fantastic
fantastic story, animation, soundtrack, etc. should have definately won the oscar over the penquin movie - has many more layers - friendship, not giving up, what's really important in life (not winning or money... fyi) and - just a very fun film overall.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Disney's Brother Bear Sing Along Songs


Disney's Brother Bear Sing Along Songs
Customer Review: Jokes And Songs Galore
Hosted by the two moose from BROTHER BEAR, Disney's Sing Along Songs On My Way has jokes and songs galore- some of which I actually found quite funny. One reason people buy Sing Along Songs is to see and hear songs from the newest Disney animated feature that they can't yet buy. In this case, this DVD was released when BROTHER BEAR was in movie theaters, and it features the two best songs "On My Way" (very catchy!) and "Welcome." Other songs include "Try Again" (101 DALMATIONS II), "Following The Leader" (PETER PAN)- previously released on other Disney's Sing Along Songs DVDs and videos "Go The Distance" (HERCULES), I'm Still Here (TREASURE PLANET), "Digga Tunnah" (THE LION KING 1/2), "On The Open Road" (A GOOFY MOVIE) - previously released on other Disney's Sing Along Songs DVDs and videos, and Aloha E Komo Mai from STITCH! THE MOVIE. Bonuses include dance tracks, word games, karaoke tracks to really test your voices, and an opportunity to hear new jokes from the original voices of the BROTHER BEAR moose. This is actually one of my favorite Sing Along Songs despite the pacing being a little slow with the moose on some occasions. I suggest if you just wanna sing the songs, after hearing the moose once, skip them.
Customer Review: Good DVD
This DVD was good,but it suffers the same problem as "Home on the Range Sing-along"-the kids showing off for the camera in the so-called "Dance Along".Once again,I suggest you skip the dance-along part if you don't want to see kids hamming it up and grinning stupidly at the camera while just stepping from side to side over and over again. The only really fun parts of this DVD were the Sing-Alongs themselves and the karaoke.


Have Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas, Disney
2008 DVD, Full screen, 24 min Take home this all-time classic Disney fun for the holidays! Big-hearted Goofy pulls all stops for his son Max on Christmas. The problem is, he also shorts out the neighborhood electricity and usually blows up his house in the process! When neighbor Pete gets tired of the Goof's shortcomings, he takes his family to Asperin, Colorado, seeking a "silent night" of his own. Unfortunately, that leaves poor Max alone to make the most of his dad's hapless holiday mess-ups! This hilarious and heartwarming tale is a holiday favorite filled with love, family values, and laughter for all ages, Goofy style!


Walt Disney World Resort in Florida
Subtitled - Official Album. Japanese exclusive soundtrack featuring 21 tracks. Walt Disney. 2001.
Customer Review: Wowee!! I feel like Disneyworld is here!
One word: WOWEE!!!! This CD is amazing, it brings back SOO many memories of me past trips, and has all of the songs from me favorite rides like, The Tower of Terror, Test Track, Pirates, and more!! IT MAKES IT FEEL LIKE DISNEYWORLD IS AT MY HOUSE!!
Customer Review: A Must Have for Disney Fans
I bought this CD as a gift for my husband for Father's Day. We love it! It brings back memories from our visits to WDW, and helps add to the magic of our anticipation on returning.

The Disney Collection: Book/Instrument Pack (Recorder Fun!)


The Disney Collection: Book/Instrument Pack (Recorder Fun!)
Colors may vary
Customer Review: A fun "flute" for a 4 year old
This was the best Christmas purchase of the year for my 4-year-old little girl. The music she plays is dreadful, but she absolutely loves it and wants to take it everywhere. The songbook is difficult and I don't think young kids would be able to comprehend it, nor reach the recorder notes with their tiny hands, but the recorder itself has provided hours of (deafening) entertainment.
Customer Review: Good beginner's book for recorder
The Disney collection book and recorder set is a good beginning book. My sons have enjoyed learning the recorder and have also used the book for their other instruments (guitar and lapharp).


Teaching Little Fingers to Play: Disney Tunes
Your students will love playing these early elementary level supplements with fantastic optional teacher accompaniments arranged by Glenda Austin. They complement and enhance the original Teaching Little Fingers to Play method, offering important guides and reminders to reinforce musical concepts. Our Teaching Little Fingers series successfully encourages advancement and also provides delightful recital material! 10 songs, including: The Bare Necessities * Can You Feel the Love Tonight * Kiss the Girl * Mickey Mouse March * Winnie the Pooh * and more.
Customer Review: How Fun!
This isn't really for beginners, but it is a fun addition to our piana library.