Proof that kids grow in the blink of an eye

Here's our proof that kids can grow quickly in a few short weeks.

Disney's Oz the Great and Powerful hitting movies in March

Oz the Great and Powerful is Disney's attempt to re-imagine the origins of the major characters in the classic children's novel. (Is it just me, or is there just more and more origins and reboots recently? The last two X-Men movies… The Hobbit… Amazing Spider-Man… Three Stooges… Dredd… Oh well…)

Anyway, after decades worth of adaptations, this is the first one in recent memory -- or perhaps ever --  that focuses on, well, the Wizard of Oz himself. This I find really odd. With "Wizard" in the title of the novels, films, and shows, you'd think that the wizard will be the star of the story. But no, that's not the case. Despite the namesake, he is playing second banana to Dorothy and, as in the case of the musical Wicked, to the witches.

Well, this movie changes that I guess. Oscar Diggs, small-time circus magician and future Wizard of Oz, is right there, front and center. It's a fresh take on a classic, and a good one at that. With the star-studded cast, and veteran storytellers at the helm, this one promises to be a great film to watch.

Letting go: Life-changing Finding Nemo quote

Just being nostalgic, after watching Finding Nemo last night with the family. :) At the right place at the right time, a quote from a kid's film can change your life...

Travel Wishlist: New parks in #HongKongDisneyland !!!

For Disneyland lovers out there, or those planning to go to HK Disneyland anytime soon, you might want to check out this ad/poster I ran across...

Grizzly Gulch and Toy Story Land - HongKong Disneyland

Running through Disneyland Adventures on the XBox!

The Breakdown: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Disneyland Adventures is one of our IT Show 2012 loot that we have played quite extensively for the past few weeks now. In the It's a freebie we got from the IT Show -- thank you DBS/POSB!

In addition to the game, you also get a redemption code for 160 Microsoft Points (MSP). Not sure if that's standard issue for all Disneyland Adventures game, or if it's just an IT Show promo, or if it's a regional thing only. At any rate, free game + free MSP was enough reason for us to say "nice deal!"


The Flaws: Sensor Unsensing

Now the game. It's a Kinect game, so it pretty much has the same benefits and/or issues with any other Kinect game. However, this game has particularly annoying sensor issues. Even compared with the other Kinect games -- e.g. Kinect Adventures or Fruit Ninja -- the game has a hard time interpreting my moves. It can hardly distinguish me raising my hand for high fives with the characters (more on this later). Apparently, this has been seen by other players as well -- some have complained about this a lot in some of the forums I've checked.

In addition, there is some noticeable lag on specific games/areas. For example in the last leg of the Pirates of the Carribbean attraction where you have to swat away the bombs/grenades thrown at you, my avatar swats the bomb about a second too late so I often get, uhm, bombed away. This lag takes a little bit of getting used to.

One workaround I found to help was to re-calibrate the Kinect sensor after you have loaded the disc.

---

Reviewing Pororo The Little Penguin

Not many people know this, but I really don't like Pororo the Little Penguin shown in Disney Junior (formerly Playhouse Disney). However, I do like the musicals, which I guess is the big draw here. (Great; now I'm using wrestling slang for a show/parenting-related post.)

I have some hesitations about posting this online and I'm going back and forth as to whether I should proceed or not -- Pororo's a very popular character, and I haven't met anyone yet who doesn't like the character. But, I guess I have to say my piece sooner than later, so I just finally went ahead and posted it.

The Bad: The "Moral" Story Episodes

I've watched several episodes and to be honest I find them quite disturbing.

Case in point: the "Let's Play Together" episode (Season 1 Episode 11). This is the very first episode I've seen and it has caused me to worry about this show since. Here's the summary (from the tvdb.com):

Pororo was playing on the swing. When Eddy came and asked him for one ride, Pororo ignored him and didn’t let him ride it. Eddy trying to persuade Pororo to come off the swing and Pororo resisting, they both hear their friends having a good time. Looking over, they find Loopy, Crong, and Poby having a wonderful time on the swing taking turns…

You can review the video in Youtube here.

Our Favorite Disney Junior Songs

If for months, you've been stuck at home with your kid and watched nothing else but Dinsey Junior, you'd understand. :)

Top 5: Jake and the Never Land Pirates Theme

Just off the shores of Neverland
A hideaway at sea
Yo Ho! Yo Ho!
Let's Go! Let's Go!
A pirate band outwits the plans
Of Captain Hook and Smee
Yo Ho! Yo Ho!
Let's Go! Let's Go!

The merry crew of Neverland Pirates
Through & Through - they're jolly buccaneers
Join with Jake and the Neverland Pirates
Come Along - We need some volunteers.

Jake - Ahoy!
Izzy - Ahoy!
Cubby - Ahoy!
Skully - Ahoy!

Yooooooo..... Yo-Ho!

Jake and the Never Land Pirates
Climb aboard, Me Hearties, and be a pirate true.
Let's go! With Jake and the Neverland Pirates
We'll set the course together - Come on and join the crew

Yo Ho! Let's Go!

Pretty edgy for a pre-schooler's show. :) You'd expect nothing less from the "flagship" show of Disney Junior.

YouTube Ad for the Disney Junior Asia

July 11, 2011 will be the debut of Disney Junior Asia. Below is the link to the YouTube video for the ongoing commercials for it.

Where the Magic Begins - Disney Junior Asia

Disney Junior preview Loot!

Finally, the most important part of the Disney Junior preview is here: the freebies! :)

 

So we got from the preview:

• Disney Junior paperbag
• Mickey Mouse stuffed toy
• Disney Junior notebook
• Disney Junior USB drive
• Disney Junior folder with fact sheets (not really a loot, but hey, it's free!)

 

HATCHED: Food for the Disney Junior Preview lunch

Hatched was the venue for the Disney Junior preview last May 31st. It's at the Evans Lodge along Evans Road -- a little bit difficult getting there without your own car, as the nearest bus stop is a quite a way off.

It's a pretty small place which could accomodate around 30 people at a time. They're going for the old, rustic, farmhouse look and feel and they certainly achieved that. The yellow light bulbs remind us of the old yellow light bulbs you find around chicken houses used to warm newly hatched chicks. And all the furnishings -- the wooden tables, wooden stools, and the brick accent walls complete the farmhouse feel. Even the bar and display shelves have that simple, functional, farmhouse feel as well. Ah, the joys of farm living. :)

Disney Junior Asia Preview at Hatched

Hi to everyone at the Disney Junior Asia preview at Hatched earlier! :)

The special preview of Disney Junior was presented by Nancy Kanter, SVP and MG of Disney Junior Worldwide. They have invited several bloggers who got a sneakpeek of what to expect in Disney Junior this July. She came prepared as we were all provided with some fact sheets about the channel and it's featured shows.

Riley's Special Agent Oso prize

C/o Instagram, taken a few days ago.

view full image

Early Disney Junior Asia Special Presentation

I was recently invited to attend a special presentation of Disney Junior next week. This is the first time I was invited for anything like this and I'm really looking forward to it.

If you're watching Playhouse Disney in Southeast Asia, you should have noticed the ad they're playing all day long about the channel being changed to Disney Junior with the slogan "Where the Magic Begins" this coming July 11, 2011.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Songs

Well, since I'm on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse topic anyway, I might as well help you fellow-MMC watchers with the songs that you need to know! :) There's two that I have the lyrics to: the opening theme and the Hotdog Dance:

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Theme

Miska Muska, Mickey Mouse
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E (That's me)
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

It's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Come inside, it's fun inside
It's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Roll call
Donald, present
Daisy, here
Goofy, hyuck, here
Pluto, ruff ruff
Minnie, oh, here
Mickey, right here

It's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Come inside, it's fun inside
M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

Reviewing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

My son really likes Mickey Mouse -- his very first favorite character. And this is a quality Disney series that should be watched.


Mickey Mouse Clubhouse logo

Every 9:00 AM at Playhouse Disney (here in Singapore, it's still Playhouse Disney, not yet Disney Junior), he will smile as soon as he sees Mickey Mouse walking down the lane and says "Hey everybody!", he lights up! His round eyes also smiling and you can tell that he really, really, really likes him.

That's all well and good I guess. I've been watching the other shows in Disney Playhouse -- yep I got that much time in my hands -- and all I can say is that this is by far one of the "safest" shows for any toddler to watch. Not that my son is a toddler, but.. well, I guess you get my point.

So let's see. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I guess I'll just get down to it and list down the pros and cons (yeah, not all shows are perfect, even this one has its downsides).