Press Release and Review: Disney Movies Anywhere Debuts “Disney Drive-On with The Muppets" Free

I reviewed the latest Marvel Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United film through Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA). It was my first experience with DMA and I have to admit that I was fairly impressed with it. Besides needing to use a laptop or iOS device, it was pretty seamless and I was surprised at the number of films we had in our account based on the digital copies from the Blu-rays we had.

I had to search for Disney Drive in order to pull it up on DMA on my iPhone. Currently, there are two episodes, with each one about seven minutes long. (As I was setting this article to post, Disney had released two additional episodes!)

They were hysterical!

Each one followed the classic Muppet Show format, with a guest star and some completely random (and awesome) Muppetness. It is well worth the time and effort to load the DMA app (iPhone or iPad) or just visit the website and watch it on your laptop. For the most part, the shorts were appropriate for any age; it's good to be a fan of the Muppets, regardless of your age!

It's really great to see the Disney Company finally making good use of the Muppets. I can't wait for more.

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Disney Movies Anywhere Debuts an All-New Original Shorts Series “Disney Drive-On with The Muppets"

Exclusively Available on Disney Movies Anywhere for a Limited Time Beginning Today, August 1, 2014

In celebration of the home entertainment release for Muppets Most Wanted, Disney Movie Anywhere (DMA) is debuting a six-part original series called “Disney Drive-On with The Muppets” for a limited time beginning August 1, 2014. With two new episodes releasing each Friday, "Disney Drive-On with The Muppets" brings you everything you've come to love and expect from The Muppets, including special celebrity cameos! Be sure to visit the Discover Section within DMA each week to view new episodes of the series at www.DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com. 

After being left in charge of the Muppets’ office by Kermit, Pepe the King Prawn takes on the responsibility of “mentoring” Walter on the business of Hollywood. Still considered the “new guy” with the Muppets, Walter is given low-level jobs working alongside his fellow Muppets at their office in the famed Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. He quickly learns there is a lot more to making movies than he thought! Developing projects may not always be so glamorous, but Walter is still excited to tackle new challenges, and discovers life on the Disney Lot is certainly a fun and funny adventure.

Check out these two clips to whet your appetite!

ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA): 

Disney Movies Anywhere is a cloud-based digital movie service that allows you to browse and watch your collection of Disney, Pixar, and Marvel movies along with bonus material and exclusive videos! You can easily manage your digital movie collection and instantly stream and download your favorite Disney movies across your devices. There are over 400 films available from Disney’s rich history and, for the first time ever, you can earn points towards great rewards with your digital purchases and enjoy special clips and features from your favorite movies. It's fun for the whole family! Access Disney Movies Anywhere on your computer through DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com or download the free Disney Movies Anywhere app for your iPhone or iPad, and iPod Touch (iOS 7 required) from the App Store. It's free and easy to sign up!

Review: Decal Girl iPhone 5S and 5C Cases

I've been receiving product press releases from Decal Girl for a long time, but never really looked into them . I assumed they were just selling skins for smart phones and tablets. I finally took a look at their site and was surprised to see different types of smart phone cases, as well!

I emailed the contact about getting review cases and all we had to do was pick out the type of case and the design.

My eleven year-old son has an iPhone 5C and I have the iPhone 5S. With an expensive smart phone, you want to have some protection and I almost always buy an Otterbox. I always go with a case that has a rubber shell and a hard plastic case combined. I've had too many friends that just bought the hard case and they end up with a cracked screen.

I knew we needed to have the maximum protection available and the Bumper Case sounded perfect.

A perfect blend of exceptional protection and style - their dual layer design provides double the protection.

• Superior impact and abrasion protection
• Rich, glossy clear-coat finish
• Innovative two piece construction
• TPU base layer with a high-impact shell
• Infused with Chroma Plus™ ultra vibrant inks

They offer quite a few Disney-related and licensed designs, so picking out the cover was harder than it looked! The current lineup, includes: Villains, Frozen; Mickey & Friends; Disney Princesses; Wreck-It-Ralph, Tron: Legacy; Pirates of the Caribbean; Planes; Cars; Muppets; Bambi; Winnie the Pooh; Monsters University; Lion King; and Phineas and Ferb!

I went with a simple Mickey while my son chose the light cycle from Tron: Legacy.

Once we'd ordered the cases arrived in less than five days. The packaging was pretty simple and included easy-to-follow directions. I had both of our phones in their new cases within a few minutes.

You can see the two pieces that make up the bumper case: a rubbery inside case and a hard-shell plastic case (the inside of this case was white). It only took a few moments to have the case installed on the iPhone, compared to the several moments for the Otterbox.

The cases fit together perfectly and I dry-fit them first with no issues. The protection seemed rather solid once I put the cases on both of our iPhones. The biggest question is whether the cases would hold up after a few weeks and if they would protect our iPhones.

I have to admit that I was pretty surprised by how much protection it felt like I had for the phone. I'm used to Otterboxes which come with a grippier outer case while the Decal Girl cases were hard plastic. It took a few days to get used to how the case felt in my hands, but it never felt awkward. The volume and power buttons were easy to access and never felt hindered by the case. The cutout for the camera and flash never interfered with any shots or the flash. 

Even after a few weeks, the cases held up extremely well and there's been no discernible damage to either my iPhone 5S or my son's iPhone 5C. Both phones were protected after several drops on different surfaces.

I'm very happy with the case wouldn't hesitate to purchase another design or get a custom design made.

I posted the photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and was surprised at how many of my friends thought the Tron: Legacy case was pretty spectacular. My son's friends liked the case design and the case protected his iPhone when multiple kids were wanting to play games and handing it off to each other.

Be sure to visit Decal Girl and get yourself a new case, today!

Spoiler Free Guardians of the Galaxy Review

We saw a regular showing of Guardians of the Galaxy Saturday afternoon. I've stayed away from most reviews and websites in order not to learn anything that could ruin the film. So, no spoilers here!

The short review: we loved it and left the theater really excited.

The theater was at least 80% full, which was a great sign. I'd always heard that films released in August and February were expected to not do well, so I wondered why this film was being released so late in the summer. Talking to some friends, we agreed that there hadn't been any releases this summer that we were excited about until this film. From the trailers, it looked like it was going to be a light and funny romp with a side-crew, so to speak, of the Marvel/Avengers universe. Chris Pratt's character on Parks and Recreation is a charming bumbler and I assumed his portrayal in Guardians would be similar.

A co-worker and I have been talking about this movie for a while and we both assumed it would be a comedy in the midst of the darker Thor and Captain America films. Sort of like a palate cleanser. I was extremely surprised by the depth of the stories and the development of the characters.

Groot was an amazing character. Probably Vin Diesel's best role since portraying the Iron Giant.

As in the other Marvel films, the special effects were top notch. There wasn't a single moment in this film that wasn't photo-realistic and completely believable. The movie never slowed it's pace and offered great one-liners and dialog between the characters. Although parts could be seen as a little formulaic, it was still an incredible ride that had the audience laughing in all of the right places and glued to their seats for most of the film.

If I have one complaint about the movie, it's that it was simply too dark and most of the space scenes were very dark and seemed almost monotone. A major fight scene was so dark that I had problems keeping up with the action.

Guardians of the Galaxy is as violent as the other Marvel films of late. It's not a bad thing, but it felt like it was marketed more as a comedy and anyone not prepared might be thrown off a bit. 

One thing that surprised my wife and myself has been the high caliber of talent that has shown up in the most recent films. Glenn Close and Robert Redford brought a certain decorum to the films. John Reilly brought a wonderfully comedic role to the screen that could have been a simple throw away part. Of course, I was wondering how Amy Pond, er, Karen Gillan would show up in the movie. A far cry from her role in Doctor Who, Karen showed that she can be a bit more forceful and action-oriented. And a lot more blue.

I'm blue da ba dee da ba die...

We left the theater pretty excited and talking about the next film and how the story line might proceed. The eleven year-old thought it was spectacular. I have to agree. It's definitely worth seeing on the big screen.

But, there's no real need to stay till the end of the credits. Usually, you get a teasing glance at the next film, but this seemed more like a straight comedy bit. Although, there's really no telling!

Review: Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United on Disney Movies Anyhwere

I've never used the Disney Movies Anywhere program that was released earlier this year. We don't own an iPad or Apple TV, so it seemed like it would be more of a hassle hooking up my laptop to the main television when we usually had the Blu-ray release of most films. When I was offered a review code for the new Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United on Disney Movies Anywhere, I decided to give it a try.

Redeeming the code was simple at DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com. Once I logged in, I was asked if I wanted to connect my iTunes account and get a free digital copy of The Incredibles (my favorite Pixar film). I did and I realized that being able to stream from an iOS device might be the easiest way to go, since Disney Movies Anywhere isn't available on the Xbox 360 or the Roku.

The most interesting aspect of the Disney Movies Anywhere was that every movie we received over the past two years had a Disney Rewards card. Most of the recent releases also had a free digital copy that was now stored at Disney Movies Anywhere! We had access to over 30 movies.

Ok, on with the review of Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United!

In Marvel’s “Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United,” Iron Man and Captain America battle to keep the Red Skull and his triggerman, Taskmaster, from unleashing an army of Hydra Brutes on the world! With Iron Man's intellect and Cap's combat training, the two born leaders must learn to work together and appreciate each other's skills in order to save the world from the evil throes of Hydra. All the fun of the Iron Man-Hulk dynamic from the first “Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United,” is matched here with the rapport between Captain America and Iron Man. With surprising twists and a surprise appearance by one of your favorite Marvel Super Heroes, this action packed feature highlights two of the mightiest Avengers as they take down the vicious Red Skull and deadly Taskmaster!

I wasn't a big fan of the first release in the series, Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United, but my eleven year-old was very excited about this, so I moved the laptop to the big TV and hooked it up. It was easy to login and get the movie streaming. 

After viewing the film (it clocks in at over an hour), I was surprised to discover that it was a fairly sophisticated story with good voice acting. The animation was a little choppy when there were close-ups on the characters' faces but the action scenes were very smooth. The film takes place in modern times and could be confusing to those who've only followed the latest cinematic releases. Yes, the Red Skull is in this episode so you have to remind yourself that it's part of it's own universe, so to speak. My wife did have a few questions about continuity until I reminded her that this was a different timeline, so to speak.

But who cares what I thought about the film, really. It's all about my eleven year-old. Put it this way: he's watched it three times this week and would love to see more of them! His two favorite characters are Iron Man and Captain America, so this film is perfect for him. He thought the characters were great and the it was fun to watch the Taskmaster in action. As he put it, "The movie was awesome!"

He thought the very last battle with Captain America in a very special suit was spectacular.

Obviously, if you're a fan of Marvel, especially the Avengers, then this is a great title to add to your collection, except it is only in digital format. If you don't use Disney Movies Anywhere, you can rent it or purchase it from Amazon.

But if you happen to have a super hero freak living in your house with his/her own iPad, iPod or iPhone, then they can enjoy Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United anytime!

New Disney Book: Once Upon a Dream by Charles Solomon

Over the past few years, we've seen some great books come from D23, the Walt Disney Family Museum and Disney Publishing Worldwide. I just received a review copy of Once Upon a Dream: From Perrault's Sleeping Beauty to Disney's Maleficent by Charles Solomon.

Solomon is a biggie in Disney history circles and has written quite a few titles on animation history and Disney animated films.

I'm only about half-way through the book and it's already quite spectacular. The book is large and Solomon takes advantage of the larger format to present art across both pages for some breathtaking shots.

A full review will be coming to Mice Chat and Communicore Weekly, soon!

Private Practice Review

If you ever wonder why the Imaginerd wanted to review the Private Practice DVD…wonder no more. His “Imagiwife” forces him to watch the show and get the DVD’s for me to watch completely before the premiere.

I enjoy the DVD set for many reasons. I get to refresh my memory on everything that transpired over the last season. Pete’s decision, Violet’s inconsistent emotion, Amelia’s new burden, Sheldon’s continued unrequited affections, Cooper and Charlotte’s new lives as parents, the emotional trio (Addison, Sam and the new guy, Jake).

I have to add that KaDee Strickland has quickly become one of the most impressive actresses that I have ever watched. She is dynamic, adaptable and becomes her character.

The bonus of the set is last season’s deleted scenes and the thoughts of the actors/actresses. It is always interesting to see the pieces that were removed for time constraints and being able to go “Hmmm that adds this perspective” or “I can see why that was cut”. The thoughts and comments about the addition of infants, toddlers and children to the set are entertaining.

If you are a fan, it is worth owning the set. Accessing the episodes online just doesn’t provide the entire experience.

Bonus Features:
The Practice of Parenthood – The pitter-patter of little feet found its way onto the set this past season in a number of ways. In this exclusive feature, fans can listen in as the cast of the hit series discusses filming with the young actors during the fifth season.
Deleted Scenes – Through these deleted scenes, fans will learn even more about their favorite characters from the hit series.
Bloopers – Fans will laugh out loud at a hilarious blooper reel of the season’s most funny on-set moments.

The Muppets Blu-ray Review

• The Muppets (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy + Soundtrack Download Card)

This is the movie that most Muppet fans have been waiting for and this is the Blu-ray title that my family has been waiting for since November 2011.

Growing up in the 1970s, I won't bore you with my love of the Muppet Show, the films or how Waldorf and Statler completely focused my adult sense of humor. But I will tell you how much I loved this movie. A lot!

The presentation and sound on Blu-ray was fantastic. The special features were well done and appropriate for a Muppet movie.

Here are the details on the extras:

• The Longest Blooper Reel Ever Made (In Muppet History––We Think) - A laugh out loud look at the actors’ funny gaffs and gags from behind the scenes of making Disney’s “The Muppets.”
• Disney Intermission - Groundbreaking Blu-ray feature. Pausing a movie will never be this much fun, as the Muppets take over the screen every time you stop the disc!
• Scratching The Surface: A Hasty Examination of the Making of Disney’s “The Muppets.” Hosted by unit production manager monster J.G., the cast and crew take a behind the scenes look at making Muppet and movie history.
• Explaining Evil: The Full Tex Richman Song. Rapping his way through the story of his miserable life, Tex tells audiences why he turned out to be such a rotten guy.
• A Little Screen Test on the way to the Read Through. This hilarious footage follows the Muppet gang as they go to their first table reading of the script.
• Eight Deleted Scenes
• Audio Commentary with Jason Segel, James Bobin and Nicholas Stoller 3
• The Combo Pack also comes with the popular theatrical spoof trailers
• The Complete Soundtrack

By far, the best part of the Blu-ray beside the film is the Disney Intermission. Press pause at any point in the film and watch the Muppets take over the television with their antics and glimpses of the special features. The first time we paused the film, I was amazed. Probably one of the best ideas ever put forth for a home theater experience. Especially if someone in the family is gone for a few minutes.

It was great to see the Muppets on the big screen and to be able to spend some great family time with them on Blu-ray. Don't forget, if you buy the Wokka, Wokka, Wokka pack you get the soundtrack as a digital download. Then you can sing "Man or a Muppet" all of the time!

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Sherman Brothers Book Walt's Time, a Review

Walt's Time - From Before to Beyond by Robert B. Sherman & Richard M. Sherman. 1998, 252 pages.

I originally posted this review in 2008. With the passing of Robert Sherman on Monday, March 5, 2012, I felt like it was appropriate to revisit this phenomenal title. It is out of print and, as can be expected, I assume that the price is going to increase over the next several days. It truly is a fantastic title.

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The Sherman Brothers need little introduction to Disney fans. Prolific composers of music for films and theme park attractions, they have written some of the most memorable songs in Disney history, not to mention film history and theme park history in general..

This book, which looks at their long career, finally saw the light of day after the Sherman Brothers met Bruce Gordon and Dave Mumford. Just like The Nickel Tour, publishers felt that there was no commercial appeal in this book. Bruce and David had self-published The Nickel Tour and thought that they could do the same with Walt's Time. The Sherman Brothers, after shopping the book around since 1981, had worked with Jeff Kurtti to write the majority of the text. Bruce and Dave met with Jeff and they agreed to self-publish. The Sherman Brothers were thrilled to work with Bruce, David and Jeff.

The book was created to resemble a scrapbook of their career. It starts with their first day on the Disney lot where they land the title song for the Parent Trap while auditioning a song for the Horsemasters. It then launches through the highlights of a majority of their works written and published at the Disney Studios. The middle section is dedicated to their father, Al and looks at everything that he published and his successes. During the section on their father, they look at their family history and how Al Sherman influenced his children. It is obvious from Walt's Time that the Sherman Brothers were profoundly influenced by their father and Walt Disney. When the brothers speak of either man, the text is filled with love, gratitude and wonder.

The third section details more of their work with the Disney Company, before and after Walt's passing. It also looks at the body of work they have done since leaving the company. Stage productions, theatrical work and animated films make up the bulk of their work in the '70's, 80's and 90's.

The Brothers spend a lot of time discussing their interactions with Walt Disney and how Walt was an amazing and optimistic person. The song There's a Great, Big Beautiful Tomorrow was inspired by Walt Disney. Their proudest moments include It's a Small World and Mary Poppins. They wrote the songs for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang after receiving Walt's blessings to work on the outside project. Albert Broccoli (producer of the James Bond movies) also owned the rights to Fleming's children's novel about the car. Broccoli brought the idea to Walt, who declined saying he had too much on his plate and wanted more creative control. After the success of Mary Poppins, Broccoli gathered most of the creative team that had worked on Mary Poppins. The Brothers were also involved with two of the biggest animated films of the 60's as well: The Jungle Book and Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree.

Obviously, the Sherman Brothers' influence has been felt greatly in the theme parks. The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room, Magic Highways, Magic Journeys, Makin' Memories, Astuter Computer Review, the Best Time of Your Life and Miracles From Molecules are songs that have resonated with fans for years and will continue to inspire us and make us sing.

I had the opportunity to see Richard Sherman perform at the D23 Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th Anniversary Celebration. It was an absolutely enchanting and heartwarming moment.

Disney Legend and Academy Award® winner Richard M. Sherman charms audiences with a lively performance of some of the film and attraction song hits from the Sherman Brothers’ Disney songbook. © Disney

There's not much one can say about seeing Richard Sherman perform the songs that he wrote with his brother. He played more than 15 songs and each one brought back a specific memory from a film, theme park or time of my life (Now is the time, now is the best time!). Tim O'Day did a marvelous job acting as the emcee and he helped Richard tell the stories behind the songs. Probably the biggest surprise of the evening was when the original Dreamfinder, Ron Schneider, joined Richard Sherman to sing One Little Spark. The whole crowd rose to their feet and sang along.

Looking at everything the Sherman Brothers have done is a tad bit overwhelming!

Bottom Line: I enjoyed this book and was completely astounded by how prolific the Sherman Brothers actually are. The book is designed beautifully and features awards, personal recollections and photos from every period of their career (just like a scrapbook!). This is book is clearly for music fans, fans of the Sherman Brothers and fans of Disney films from the 1960's.

Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom, a Book Review

• The Imagineering Field Guide to Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World--Updated! by Alex Wright. 2009. 128 pp.

How many times have you visited the Magic Kingdom and wished that you could have an Imagineer share all of the insider information, hidden details and tributes?

The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom is a book that needs to be in every theme park junkie's collection. It was first published in 2005 with a revised update in 2009. Imagineer Alex Wright penned all five books in the Imagineering Field Guide series and it is obvious that he knows Disney history and design. He was responsible for the redesign of Space Mountain, parts of the Haunted Mansion refurbishment and he worked on Disney's Animal Kingdom. Alex's love for the Magic Kingdom is evident; the Field guide is a loving tribute to the Imagineers who created the park.

The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom is the perfect companion while at the Magic Kingdom park. The Magic Kingdom guide takes you land-by-land to explain how the park was designed and created. We meet the Imagineers and artists that built the park we experience today. Each land is color-coded to make it easy to find the section you want. Alex shares a lot of concept art and the stories behind the attractions. (Windows, posts and crates. Oh, my!) He also relates a lot of the hidden and not-so-hidden details. Honestly, who is better to tell you about the Magic Kingdom than one of its artists?

The book is small, measuring 4” x 9”, which makes the art small, but it is a perfect size to take to the Magic Kingdom with you. Because of the relatively small size, it is easy to slip this book into a backpack to share while in a queue or while eating. This is a book that is perfect for the person just starting to get into their geekery and for those of us that have been studying the parks for years. Ideally, you would re-read this book on the plane trip to Orlando and surprise all of your friends with all of your insider knowledge.

Alex tackles a difficult task with this book. He needed to create a work that would satisfy a newcomer and interest a hardcore enthusiast. I have to admit that I learned a few things after reading the book the first time. No matter how many times you have visited the Magic Kingdom, you will learn something from reading the Field Guide.

We start with The Haunted Mansion, representing New Yorkʼs Hudson River Valley in the early 1700s. The Columbia Harbour House and surrounding area reflect Boston in the mid-1700s. The Hall of Presidents is, of course, based on Philadelphia of the late 1700s at the time of the Revolution. Then itʼs on to Goofyʼs Country Dancinʼ Jamboree in early-1800s St. Louis, Gateway to the West. Supporting this idea is the little stream that feeds into the Rivers of America at this point—fittingly referred to as the Little Mississippi. Our next stop is the Colorado Rockies and the Country Bear Jamboreeʼs Grizzly Hall in the mid-1800s. As a later addition, Splash Mountain is something of an exception in our travels. Its 1870s-era setting is appropriate, but geographically it forces a detour toward the southern United States, necessitated by the perfect fit of its story into Frontierland. The remainder of Frontierlandʼs shops and restaurants lean toward the pioneer-days styling of the desert Southwest, with a bit of a Spanish flavor. Big Thunder Mountain represents Monument Valley and the end of your journey west (p, 75).

I have hopes that Disney will release another updated version after the Fantasyland expansion. I can only imagine the details that Alex will be able to share about the stories that went into the design and refurbishment of an entire land. In this instance, Alex has left an official record of what the park looked like before the Fantasyland redesign; it isn't often that we see an approved dissection of what the Imagineers have done.

Some of my favorite sections of the Field Guide are when Alex relates the history of the attractions. Many times, he will trace the lineage of the attraction to Disneyland or share stories of the Imagineers that worked on them. In most cases, this is a great introduction to some of the more famous Imagineers. Alex also highlights a lot of artwork from current Imagineers, too.

I recommend The Imagineering Field Guide series to most anyone with an interest in the parks. They are quick reads and will get you started thinking about the design and layout of the parks. The books also make great gifts for anyone who is getting ready to go to Walt Disney World.

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Lady and the Tramp Blu-ray Review

• Lady and the Tramp (Diamond Edition Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo in Blu-ray Packaging)

Fifty-seven years after its initial release, Lady and the Tramp makes it to Blu-ray as part of the Diamond Edition series. Most people have seen this classic Disney film during its previous theatrical, VHS and DVD releases, so you might wonder if the Blu-ray edition is worth it.

Extras on the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray

Surprisingly (or not based on recent releases), there have not been a lot of stunning extras on the Blu-ray releases. With this version of Lady and the Tramp, there are just a few new extras:

• Disney Second Screen: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings
• Audio Commentary: Inside Walt’s Story Meetings
• Diane Disney Miller: Remembering Dad
• Three Never-Before-Seen Deleted Scenes
• Never Recorded Song: “I’m Free as the Breeze”

Sadly, if you don't own an iPad, then you can't take advantage of one of the biggest extras on the Blu-ray: Disney Second Screen. The Second Screen is an app that you run on your iPad that syncs with the film and offers behind-the-scenes information, concept art and sketches. Diane Disney Miller's segment about her father is charming. The never-before-seen segments were written so far before the film was actually in production that they are interesting historical pieces but don't add as much as I would like.

DVD Extras on the Diamond Blu-ray Edition
As with previous Blu-ray releases, Disney has included the segments from the prior DVD release in 2007 (which went into moratorium in 2007).

• Lady’s Pedigree: The Making of Lady and the Tramp 
• Finding Lady: The Art of the Storyboard 
• Original 1943 Storyboard Version of the Film 
• PuppyPedia: Going to the Dogs 
• “The Siamese Cat Song,” Finding a Voice for the Cats 
• “Bella Notte” Music Video 
• Trailers 
• Excerpts from “Disneyland” TV Shows

As with the other blu-ray releases of Disney animated films, the transfer to blu-ray is spectacular and worth the price. The sound is great and the animation is lush and vivid. Even if you own the DVD release from 2006, this is a great chance to own a hi-definition version of the film.

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Lots To Do In Line: Disneyland, a Book Review

A Book Review of Lots to Do in Line: Disneyland by Meredith Lyn Pierce

• Lots To Do In Line: Disneyland by Meredith Lyn Pierce. 2012. 268 pp.

Since the beginning of time (July 17, 1955), the biggest issue that Disney and guests have struggled with is what to do while in the queue for an attraction. In most cases, the wait to board an attraction can be 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the season. The Imagineers have always done a great job of themeing the queues to make it a more enjoyable wait, but sometimes it is hard to just stand by and wait.

Meredith Lyn Pierce has written a fantastic and handy book to take with you to Disneyland that will help alleviate the anticipation and restlessness that can accompany waiting in queues. Lots to Do In Line measures 4" X 9" and will fit easily into a backpack or bag. It is a great size for holding while in line; it won't interfere with other guests' enjoyment of the area and it is easy to access

The book is divided into two major sections that cover Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park. The focus of the book is presenting trivia questions about the queue of each attraction at both parks. Every attraction (at the time of printing) is presented with anywhere from three questions to over fifty, depending on the length and details ascribed to the queue. In order to dissuade thoughts of cheating, the answers to the questions are at the end of the chapter on each land.

In order to provide more variety (and for things to do while walking or waiting outside of queues), Meredith has created a scavenger hunt for each park. The scavenger hunt will have your party looking for random elements throughout out the park, but not in the queues. Some are well-hidden and some are more well-known. It is a great way to have the kids looking around and finding details they many not have seen before.

Meredith also suggest that you collect things while in the park. Not that she is recommending that you take things, but that you note when you see things that can be grouped together, like character t-shirts or a specific type of shoe. It is a way to engage all the different people in your group, especially the younger children. They can look for something easier to spot and keep track of it throughout the visit.

The book is a nice addition to your touring plan of Disneyland. It is easy to carry around and will offer hours of enjoyment and fun while waiting in lines at Disneyland. Meredith also asks for your help in updating the book at her site http://www.lotstodoinline.com/.

Intrepid Traveler provided a review copy of the book.

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