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All The 2017 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Character Meet & Greets

Tessa Smith
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10
All The 2017 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Character Meet & Greets

MNSSHP Star Vs The Forces of Evil Costumes

One of the best things about Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World is the exclusive character meet and greets. During this party, there are many villains and characters that this is the only time you can see them. We went in 2015 and there were some pretty amazing characters there – so we have been dying to go back. When our August 2017 Disney World plans allowed us to attend MNSSHP, we were so excited. We couldn’t wait to find out who we would bump in to!

2017 Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Map

Full List of Meet and Greets

There are many meet and greets during the 2017 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. It is virtually impossible to do all of them, but here is the full list and where to find them:

Main Street, U.S.A.

  • Talking Mickey Mouse

Liberty Square

  • Jack Skellington and Sally

Fantasyland

  • Seven Dwarfs
  • Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger (in Halloween costumes)
  • Alice in Wonderland & the Mad Hatter
  • The Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, & Tweedle Dum
  • Cruella DeVil
  • Minnie Mouse (in Halloween Costume)
  • Mickey Mouse (in Halloween Costume)
  • Donald Duck (in Halloween Costume)
  • Daisy Duck (in Halloween Costume)
  • Goofy (in Halloween Costume)
  • Cinderella
  • Princess Elena
  • Princess Tiana
  • Rapunzel
  • Ariel (with legs) and Prince Eric
  • Belle (in blue dress) & Gaston

Adventureland

  • Moana
  • Tarzan, Jane, & Terk
  • Jasmine & Genie
  • Aladdin & Abu
  • Jafar

Tomorrowland

  • Lots-o’-Huggin Bear

As much as it pained us to do so, we opted to skip some of our favorite meet and greets this time around. We had already met Jack Skellington & Sally, the Seven Dwarfs, and Moana. Since their lines were each over 3 hours, we figured we would see some other characters that we had never seen before. These were our choices:

MNSSP Jafar

Jafar

We had previously met Jafar at the 2015 MNSSHP, but his line was short enough that we hoped in it at the start of the night.  He was a ton of fun – we joked that if he got out of hand, the girls had magic wands so they could put him in his place!

MNSSHP Goofy in Halloween Costume

Goofy (in Halloween Costume)

Goofy is one of our favorite Disney characters. He is always a really fun meet and greet. For Halloween, he was a pirate! We talked with him about our recent Disney Cruise – and how we can’t wait to sail with him again!

MNSSHP Daisy Duck in Halloween Costume

Daisy Duck (in Halloween Costume)

If you were lucky enough – you just might catch her alongside Donald Duck in his costume. Unfortunately, we were not some of the lucky ones but we did see Donald Duck dressed as a pumpkin when we were in our next character line.

MNSSHP Minnie Mouse in Halloween Costume

Minnie Mouse (in Halloween Costume)

Every so often, Mickey Mouse (in Halloween Costume) would come out to join Minnie Mouse. As far as I could tell, there was no rhyme or reason to when this would happen. Minnie was super sweet, as always, and we just loved seeing her dressed as a witch!

Cruella DeVil MNSSHP

Cruella DeVil

Cruella is a meet and greet we have been waiting forever to get to do. In 2015 she was a bit late coming out and her line was INSANE so we just could not make it work. This time we waited about 45 minutes and it was super worth it! My daughters talked with her about our puppies at home – and she offered to come by and bring them some treats. They were excited, but I don’t think it is something we should allow her to do!

MNSSHP Queen of Hearts Tweedle Dee and Dum

The Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, & Tweedle Dum

Our last meet and greet of the night was The Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, and Tweedle Dum. We were all so excited because immediately Tweedle Dee knew exactly who our girls were for Halloween. Star Vs. The Forces of Evil is a lesser known DisneyXD show, which made their costumes a bit obscure. Not many people knew who they were. So when Tweedle Dee started asking about the wands – we pulled them out of our stroller to show him. It seemed like he was VERY excited about it, which made the girls very happy. Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum even each grabbed a wand and had a little battle.

MNSSHP

Hopefuls

We had hoped to get Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, & Tigger in their Halloween costumes as well, but their line was very long as we were heading out for the night. Winnie the Pooh was a bee, Piglet was a butterfly, Eeyore was a clown, and Tigger was a Pirate. These are some of our favorite characters, but at least we had a yummy Crystal Palace breakfast with them the next morning.

We were also hoping to see Genie and Abu. In order to meet them, you stand in a line where they rotate between Aladdin & Abu and Jasmine & Genie. Every half hour they swap out, so you don’t know for sure who you will be meeting when you get in line. The next MNSSHP we make it to, these will be a must do for us! Hopefully we will be able to get in line twice, and meet both Genie and Abu!

Learn more about MNSSHP & get your tickets here!

Must Grab Walt Disney World Fastpasses For Your Next Magical Trip

Tessa Smith
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5
Must Grab Walt Disney World Fastpasses For Your Next Magical Trip

fastpass plus selection disney world

One of the best things about Walt Disney World is that you can book fastpasses in order to ensure you get on some of the best rides during your stay. Certain rides, especially the newer ones, can have up to a 4 or 5 hour wait! If you book your Disney World FastPasses right, you will be able to avoid these lines. I wanted to share some of the rides I always try to get fastpasses for.

Disney World fastpasses

Keep in mind, I have two young daughters, so some of the rides just don’t make sense for us to fastpass. For example, if you have all older (taller) kids be sure to grab one for Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster at Hollywood Studios. Neither of my girls are tall enough for that ride, so we skip it. But once they are tall enough, you better bet it will be a must do for us when we go.

Currently with the FastPass+ program, you can select 3 fastpasses per day before you arrive at the parks. You can do this 60 days out if you are staying at a WDW Resort, or 30 days out if you are not. I really like that while you are booking fastpasses for the day, Disney shows you each of the parks’ hours for that day. It really helps with planning!

disney world fastpasses calendar

TIP: Book your fastpasses for early in the day because once you use them all, you can start grabbing more (one at a time) using the My Disney Experience App or a Kiosk. Our last trip, we were actually lucky enough to use 12 fastpasses in one day (and two parks!). Below are my top picks for fastpasses, in order of importance. I hope this helps you plan the perfect trip at the most magical place on Earth!

Must Grab Walt Disney World Fastpasses For Your Next Magical Trip

Animal Kingdom

  • Pandora: Flights of Passage
  • Dinosaur
  • Na’vi River Journey
  • Expedition Everest
  • Kilimanjaro Safari
  • Kali River Rapids
  • It’s Tough To Be A Bug

Hollywood Studios

  • Slinky Dog Dash
  • Star Tours
  • Toy Story Mania
  • The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
  • Muppet Vision 3D
  • For the First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration

Epcot

  • Frozen Ever After
  • Spaceship Earth
  • Soarin’
  • The Seas with Nemo and Friends
  • Mission: SPACE
  • Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Magic Kingdom

  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  • The Haunted Mansion
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Splash Mountain
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
  • Meet Rapunzel & Tiana
  • Meet Ariel at her Grotto
  • Peter Pan’s Flight
  • Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater (he talks!!)
  • Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid

Watch The Lion King Under the Stars For An Epic Family Movie Night!

Tessa Smith
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0
Watch The Lion King Under the Stars For An Epic Family Movie Night!

This post contains affiliate links.

The Lion King Under the Stars Movie Night

The Lion King was one of my favorite movies when I was a little girl. Granted, it might have had a little bit to do with my crush on JTT, voice of young Simba, but it is still a fabulous movie. It is funny, heartwarming, and has a great lesson. It still makes me laugh, cry, and even get a little bit scared when we first see Scar. I now have two young daughters, and they love this movie just as much as I did when I was a young girl. I was thrilled to find out it is being released as part of The Signature Collection, and will be available on blu-ray August 29th!

To celebrate, Disney sent us the movie along with a super fun movie night kit. We decided to have another super fun Disney Movie Night Under the Stars like we did with Bambi, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and Beauty and the Beast! I thought it would be super fun to put some of my daughter’s blocks out to act as the famous fallen tree Timon, Pumbaa, & Simba walk across. We must have walked across it singing Hakuna Matata at least 20 times before the movie even started.

movie night kit

The Outdoor Movie Night Set Up

In case you missed it before, here is what you need in order to create your movie night under the stars set-up:

Simply connect your phone to the speaker and projector using the adapter and the HDMI cable. Be sure the projector is lined up with your projector screen, sheet, or side of the house evenly. This way the movie will be straight and easier to watch, instead of an an angle. Then use Disney Movies Anywhere to pull up the movie you want to watch, in this case The Lion King, and hit play! Then all that is left to do is relax and enjoy the movie with your family!

The Lion King Movie Night Snacks

Set the Scene with Snacks

One of my daughters favorite parts about The Lion King is when Simba first eats the bugs. They squeal and laugh – and it is adorable. I decided that a super easy (and cute) snack for The Lion King would be some bugs. No, not real bugs, but we went all out with the bug theme! The first thing we got was lots of gummy worms. They are a favorite snack of ours anyways, so this was an obvious choice for us.

I wanted a healthy and fun snack to add to the menu as well, so I made ladybugs on leaves. It was actually really easy, really delicious, and only has a handful of ingredients. I halved tomatoes, put them on a basil leaf, and then put those on bagel chips. My daughters LOVE them. They had so much fun pretending they were eating bugs and kept saying “slimy, yet, satisfying!”.

The Lion King Movie Night

Finishing Touches

No movie night is complete without some fun decor to set the ambiance! Of course we had to lay out our Lion King Jungle Tapestry for the girls to play on. I decided to keep warm by enjoying my coffee in my awesome Lion King mug while watching Simba and friends. My daughters cuddled their Simba and Nala plushes that we got at Disney our last trip, and I set out my Simba Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure to watch with us.

The Lion King Movie Night 2

We just loved having a themed The Lion King movie night to celebrate the release on The Signature Collection. It was super easy – and most of all – fun! If you have little ones who are fans, or fans yourself, I highly having your own!

The Lion King Signature Collection

Synopsis

This Disney animated feature follows the adventures of the young lion Simba (Zoe Leader), the heir of his father, Mufasa (Ernie Sabella). Simba’s wicked uncle, Scar (Rowan Atkinson), plots to usurp Mufasa’s throne by luring father and son into a stampede of wildebeests. But Simba escapes, and only Mufasa is killed. Simba returns as an adult (Jeremy Irons) to take back his homeland from Scar with the help of his friends Timon (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) and Pumbaa (Cheech Marin).

The Lion King Comes Home on Blu-Ray August 29th!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx3LT_G3cIA


4 Reasons to Join the Disney Vacation Club NOW

Tessa Smith
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13
4 Reasons to Join the Disney Vacation Club NOW

One of the best decisions in my life has been joining the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). We are HUGE Disney fans in my family. My husband and I honeymooned at Disney and have brought our girls there several times already. On our last Disney Cruise, we went ahead and bit the bullet – after 8 years of research, we joined the DVC. We are already over the moon with this decision – and we haven’t even had our first DVC visit.

copper creek dvc

New Vacation Club Resorts

A new DVC Resort, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, just opened – and Disney has already announced another one! Copper Creek looks amazing and I am really looking forward to booking there some day. But I am also excited about Riviera Resort, which Disney announced at the 2017 D23 Expo. It has an estimated opening date of fall 2019 and will be connected to the Disney Skyliner gondolas! This will be the 12th DVC Resort at Walt Disney World (but there are more around the country!). At this rate, there are sure to be more and more added, allowing you a different experience every time you visit!

Disney Halloween

Park Perks

I know I already briefly mentioned them to you, but if you love to visit the parks, the Disney Vacation Club will end up saving you lots of money in the long run. Even taking the hotel savings completely out of the equation, you will save a lot of money. DVC Members get a discount on Annual Passes, Park Tours, Dining (take advantage of Tables in Wonderland), and shops. You can even get discounted event tickets like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas.

animal-kingdom-villas-kidani-01

Start Booking Your Vacation Right Away

We joined the DVC in February 2017, and then booked our first stay for August 2017 only days later. It was so much fun to look through the different resorts and decide which one we wanted to try this time. If you are curious, we are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge with a Savanna View room. Before we even went on that trip, we planned a second DVC stay. In February 2018 we will be staying at our home resort, the Polynesian, for 12 days. Yup, you read that right, 12 days! Nearly 2 full weeks. I cannot wait for this dream vacation!

DVC Member Cruise

Members Only Events

The DVC has member only events. In fact, we just got an email about the 2018 Members Only Disney Cruise. Unfortunately, we just cannot swing it this time (what with our 12 day vacation just months before that and all). But it is good to know that they have fun members only events. They have Moonlight Magic events where members are the only ones left in park at night. Did I mention they are complimentary? Yup! You just need to register ahead of time (but they do fill up quickly). I cannot wait until we go to our first members only event!

Get Free Funko POPs In The Funko Insider Club

Tessa Smith
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51
Get Free Funko POPs In The Funko Insider Club

btm funko

You possibly know this already, but I have a huge Funko POP collection. I am a bit of an addict. Pretty much every time I go to the store, I have to get at least one. And don’t even get me started on GameStop and their exclusives. I already practically live at that store because of my gaming addiction (which is not a bad thing). When I leave that store, I usually have at least one video game and one Funko POP in hand – at least. Well, I just learned about the Funko Insider Club that GameStop announced – a way to get FREE Funko POPs & more! To say I am excited beyond words is an understatement. This is a club I am proud to be a part of!

Funko POP Collection Mama's Geeky

Funko Insider Club Perks

The Funko Insider Club is free – yes FREE – for GameStop’s PowerUp Rewards members, and I have been one for years. If you act fast, you can even snag a free Funko POP at your local GameStop! The Funko Insider Club brings members tons of amazing monthly exclusives. From casual Pop! collectors to full-on Funatics, the Funko Insiders Club has something for everyone. Once enrolled, you’ll receive monthly email updates packed with funtastic Funko news, info, offers and more. I honestly don’t see a reason to not join – do you?

Funko POP Mama's Geeky
Thank you GameStop and Funko for adding these to my collection!

I have to give GameStop a very special thank you for sending over this awesome variety of Funko POPs! I was so excited to add The Lone Wanderer from one of my favorite video games of all time – Fallout – to my collection. As you all know, I am a HUGE Guardians of the Galaxy fan (have you seen my sleeve tattoo that was featured on Nerdist?) and Rocket is one of the few POPs from the Volume 2 collection I did not have.  Lastly, Mr. Poopy Butthole – everyone’s favorite from Rick and Morty! He is one I might actually take out of the box so he can hang with me on my desk! I mean, no one has a bad memory of him right? True Rick and Morty fans will get that reference…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWY-GzAlQFs/?taken-by=mamasgeeky

Funko Giveaways

Funko giveaways? YES PLEASE! If you win, that means you could get free Funko POPs or other collectibles. And really, is there anything better than free? What a great way to work on building your collection. I mean, they had me at Funko giveaways – but then, it got even better.

Early Insider Information

There is nothing I like better than knowing information before others do. Especially when it comes to possible Funko POP releases and, well, anything Funko or gaming related! Imagine being the one to tell your friends and family about breaking news? They will be so jealous that you knew before they did! Boy, I am really looking forward to getting early insider information from Funko and GameStop!

Funko Special Offers

To be honest, I am never going to stop adding to my Funko collections – so getting any kind of discount or special deal on them will help me save a little bit of money. I am all about Funko special offers, and this has to be one of my favorite things about the Funko Insider Club! I am so excited to see what they come up with! My office is filled with desk buddies, toys, and all sorts of geeky things. I have created an environment that enjoy working in – and will be adding to it more and more thanks to this club!

GameStop Play Pack

Giveaway Alert

Let’s get started with a giveaway right now! Enter to win a $100 GameStop Play Pack using the Gleam form below. This pack includes:

DC Superhero Charm Bracelet
Funko Star Wars Ezra POP Vinyl
Funko Dorbz Justice League Cyborg Vinyl
Dragonball Super Spin Battlers Super Saiyan Goku
Funko Dorbz Spider-Man Vinyl
Nintendo Splatoon Splat Ball Bag
Wish Factory SnipBitz Poseable Figure

This package is pretty amazing – I mean, I want to win it! What a great variety of geeky items – sure to make any fan girl (or boy) happy! Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!

GameStop Play Pack


Kids Will Love All 4 New Titles from NCircle Entertainment

Tessa Smith
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16
Kids Will Love All 4 New Titles from NCircle Entertainment

This post contains affiliate links.

NCircle Entertainment August Releases

There is nothing my girls and I like better than cuddling up and putting on a good TV Show or movie. Some of our favorite titles come from NCircle Entertainment – and the August 2017 releases were no different. These four DVDs are packed full of fun – and I am excited to give one lucky reader a chance to win them all!

Lily's Driftwood Bay Season 1

 

Lily’s Driftwood Bay: Season 1

Lily is six years old and lives with her dad and her best friend, who is a seagull named Gull, in a little hut on the beach. Across the way is Driftwood Bay, a special island that exists in Lily’s imagination. Every day the sea washes up a new treasure which sparks Lily’s imagination about what might be happening on Driftwood Bay. Join Lily and her friends, Salty Dog, Bull, Nonna, Hatsie, Wee Rabbit and Lord Stag as they sail to Driftwood Bay where wonderful adventures await! Along with each adventure is a valuable lesson learned in each story from learning to tell the truth to saying sorry to asking for help. Embark on new adventures with Lily and friends as they travel to Driftwood Bay!

Purchase here.

The Little Prince

The Little Prince: The New Mission

When we last saw the Little Prince, he had defeated the Snake by trapping him in his sketchbook. All is calm in the galaxy once again. Life on B612 has resumed to normal. Rose, Fox, and the Little Prince are living peacefully, maybe too peacefully….Then one night, Rose hears the Snake telling her that she has a home planet with a family and it sounds like they are in danger. Can this be true? Can there be a Planet of the Roses?

Rose asks the Little Prince to find her planet and fast. The Little Prince promises Rose that he will go look for her Planet of the Roses. He asks Fox to keep an eye on Rose as he flies off on his plane. The Little Prince promises he will return soon to trim the baobabs on B612. During his quest to find the Planet of the Roses, the Little Prince encounters four new characters: the hunter, the geographer, the king, and the businessman. As he meets each one, they tell him that Rose’s planet is in another galaxy far beyond interstellar space and offer to help him find the planet.

Purchase here. 

The Day Henry Met Season 1

The Day Henry Met…? Season 1

Every day Henry meets something new! I wonder what Henry s going to meet today? Henry is a 4-year-old boy who always wants to learn and find out more. In each episode, Henry has a friendly chat with whatever he meets and discovers something new… Hello, Whale. How do you stay under water for so long? Hello, Car. What makes you go so fast? Hello, Moon. Why do you only come out at night?

No matter what Henry meets, they are always delighted to talk, laugh and share their amazing world with him. After finding out so many amazing things about his new friends, Henry lets his imagination run wild and imagines himself… As a knight rescuing the missing sword… As a singer performing in a band… As a deep sea diver swimming along sea creatures… As a fireman rescuing others… As an astronaut flying to the moon… And more!

Purchase here.

Molang

Molang: Season 1

Join Molang, a round, fluffy, and happy rabbit, and his friend, Piu Piu, a poised, timid, and reserved yellow chick, as they explore everyday life. Molang savors every moment of his life, imbuing it with joy and wonder. He pays attention to the smallest details, giving meaning to even the tiniest things. Molang puts his heart into his actions, and he has a huge heart. Even when he does absolutely nothing, he does it well! Piu Piu, on the other hand, doesn’t like calling attention to himself. He likes to do things carefully and well.

When unexpected situations arise (and Molang’s unpredictable behavior often causes such situations to occur!), Piu Piu can become quickly unsettled, even panicked. Despite their many differences, Molang and Piu Piu enjoy a unique friendship. They have amazing times together ranging from the mundane to the extraordinary. From finding themselves in a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean to riding camels in the desert, Molang and Piu Piu experience unexpected situations. Throughout it all though, every single moment with these two is filled with happiness. Embark on 52 unforgettable adventures with Molang and Piu Piu!

Purchase here.

Connect on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCircleEntertainment
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ncircle
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ncircleent/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ncircle

Giveaway Alert

Enter to win an NCircle Entertainment prize pack which includes copies of all 4 August releases on DVD PLUS a Molang: Chasing Butterfly book! Be sure to check out my other giveaways while you are here and GOOD LUCK!

NCircle August Releases


Glue-Sticks-Crayons-Giveaway-Hop-1024x683

 

Welcome to the Glue Sticks & Crayons Giveaway Hop brought to you by The Hopping Bloggers!

Hosted By: Mama’s Geeky & Women and Their Pretties

Co-Hosted By: Rockin’ Book Reviews & Teacups and Fairy Tales

Each giveaway has a value of a minimum of $15, however some are worth much more. Be sure to enter to win all of them because there is no limit to how many you can win. GOOD LUCK!

If you’re a blogger looking to connect with brands: Join The Hopping Bloggers database and get started today!
If you’re a brand looking to work with a network of professional bloggers: Check out the creative campaigns The Hopping Bloggers has to offer!

Kids Can Get Medieval with Imaginative Play

Tessa Smith
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0
Kids Can Get Medieval with Imaginative Play

Melissa and Doug Dragon Knight Fight

I have two daughters, ages 4 and 6, and they love to play together! They create many different storylines and it is adorable. Sometimes I will just sit and watch them play for hours and laugh to myself at the things they say and do. One of our favorite brands to help them with their imaginative play is Melissa and Doug. We have heaps of their play clothes and costumes, a play kitchen filled with their play food, and so much more. So naturally, we were thrilled when they sent us a ton of Medieval themed clothes, food, and toys to plan the ultimate Medieval Imaginative Play Day! Here is how you can do it too:

Melissa and Doug Knight Costumes

Look The Part

What better to help get kids in the mindset of the character they are portraying than to look like them. Melissa and Doug has many different kids costumes – and our current favorite is the knight costume. This comes with a shirt, “chain mail” helmet, sword, and shield. Of course, the sword and shield are extremely soft and would not be able to cause an injury to little ones – so don’t worry. My daughters have so much fun putting on these costumes so that they can battle a dragon, save a village, and, if I am being honest, settle arguments among themselves sometimes.

Melissa and Doug Knight Dragon Battle Play

As a mom, I really like Melissa and Doug costumes because they are extremely well made. We have a dress up bin that is constantly being dug through to throw away torn or broken items. But honestly, I have never thrown out one of our Melissa and Doug items – ever. They hold up during the hardest and roughest of play times – talk about a great investment! The only time any Melissa and Doug costumes have left our house is if they were outgrown. And in that case, they have been passed on to friends and family – against my daughters’ wishes.

Melissa and Doug Castle Play Sets

Set The Scene

When my daughters create a scenario for some imaginative play, they like to have toys that look like the world they are creating. I am sure they are not alone in this. Thanks to Melissa and Doug, we have several different castle play sets now – and all of them are pretty amazing. In fact, my girls have created huge lands with several kingdoms that go to war, have parties together, and even visit each other for play dates.

Melissa and Doug Castle Playset

Castle Play Sets 

I mentioned we have a few castle play sets, and there is no way that I could choose a favorite. It would be nearly impossible because they are all different and awesome in their own way. I have not even noticed that one stands out more to my daughters – they are all being played with every single day, equally. They are all very well made and I am sure they will last a long time in our home. Seems to be a common theme with Melissa and Doug items, doesn’t it?

Here are the few we have (and love!):

  • Medieval Castle 3-D Puzzle Play Set – This one was so much fun to build together as a family. It not only is fun to play with, but helped create some family bonding time!
  • Fold & Go Castle – We love this castle set because it is great to take on the go with us! It has been on picnics, to the beach, and even to friends and family’s houses!
  • Wooden Castle & Play Set – With this play set, my daughters have a blast mixing and matching the pieces to create new castles!

Melissa and Doug Castle Play Set

Finishing Touches

Looking the part and setting the scene are great ways to spark a child’s imagination. But it is easy enough to put the icing on the cake with some finishing touches! Pull out those play food sets so that knights can enjoy a nice turkey leg to get their energy back up after a battle! And don’t forget the giant dragon plush to keep them on their toes! Little knights can fight the dragon to protect their kingdom – or even work with it and ride it from castle to castle. If you have a rocking horse they can ride in on to save the day, even better!

Melissa and Doug Knight Dragon Battle

Spend a full day away from the screens and encourage imaginative play – you and your children will not regret it! 


Nintendo’s Miitopia is A DS Family Game All Kids Will Love

Tessa Smith
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4
Nintendo’s Miitopia is A DS Family Game All Kids Will Love

This post contains affiliate links.

Ivy Smith - Mama's Geeky Kid Blogger

I love playing with my Nintendo DS so I was really excited to test out the new game, Miitopia. I had watched the trailer video for this game many times and already had it on my wish list. When it arrived I asked my mom to open it up right away. I was excited because Nintendo even sent me some cool dress up things so I could dress like my favorite Miis! I played Miitopia non-stop for about two days. It was all I could think about! This game is so much fun and I know any kid will love it, just like I do!

Miitopia Review

First Impressions

The opening of this game really captured my attention and I knew it was going to be one of my favorites. In the beginning, someone called The Dark Lord steals the faces of the villager Miis! It was a little scary at first, but I thought it was pretty cool that I could design what The Dark Lord looked like using the Mii creator. I made him look silly and then named him after my little sister – so there was no way he could scare me again!

Miitopia Skill Selection Review

My Favorite Things About This Game

I think one of the coolest things about this game is that I can decide what my party members look like! I can create them and name them to be whoever I want. This is so much fun to do. There is even an option to get a kitty suit – and I decided to get one for all of my Mii friends once I could! They are just so cute as cats.

Nintendo Miitopia

I also really like the way that you fight in this game. There are lots of options to choose from when fighting the further you get in the game. They also change depending on what clothes you are wearing. When you create your Miis you can decide if they will be warriors, mages, or even healers! That part is pretty awesome. If you want to power up your Miis, you can feed them by buying food. I like to feed my Miis chicken and cotton candy.

Watch My Video Review

I made my first YouTube video to talk all about how much I love Nintendo’s Miitopia and why. Check it out, give me a thumbs up and a comment, and subscribe to my mom’s channel so you don’t miss out on more of my videos!

About Miitopia

Since the dawn of ever, warriors have banded together to fight evil. Now Mii characters based on your favorite people must unite to do turn-based battle and save Miitopia! Cast them in roles across the kingdom, manage friendships, and give them jobs with distinct stats, abilities, gear, and a custom look. Then behold as awesomeness unfolds! Guide your team of Mii characters on a quest to defeat the Dark Lord and restore the stolen faces of the citizens of Miitopia. As you watch with bated breath, Mii characters will mingle over food, camping, exercise, sleeping arrangements, and yes, combat! In these wild, yet traditional RPG battles, your party’s relationships affect the outcome. Enemies attack while you explore the world map, which is littered with hidden paths and treasures. Talk about a win-win!

Learn More About Miitopia Here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUrdwBB7XeE


Wizard Roll From RoosterFin Games Promotes Family Bonding

Tessa Smith
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Wizard Roll From RoosterFin Games Promotes Family Bonding

wizard roll roosterfin family game 3

We area  gaming family. At least three or four times a week we all sit down together and play a board game. Don’t get me wrong, we love playing our video games together, but sometimes a good board game can bring you close together. I remember playing games with my mom and sister all the time growing up, and they are some of my fondest memories. I hope to create that for my girls. One of our favorite gaming companies is RoosterFin. They have a long list of fun games, that also increase family bonding.

wizard roll roosterfin family game 2

Family Fun with Wizard Roll

Our newest favorite RoosterFin game is called Wizard Roll. Wizard Roll is a total blast to play with my oldest daughter. It quickly became one of her favorites – and is her top choice when it is her turn to pick a game. Wizard Roll is a dice-matching, pattern-building game of magical spells. What kid (or adult) doesn’t want to help a wizard create their magical spells. This game has the whole family laughing, giggling, and just having a ton of fun together! What more could you ask for?

What You Learn From Wizard Roll

RoosterFin games are a great way to teach your children important lessons. They also promote family bonding, which I am a huge fan of. Here are just some of the things playing Wizard Roll will do for your family:

  • Increase Family Time – A leisurely game of Wizard Roll increases emotional bonding
  • Improve Sibling Rivalry – By playing together kids learn boundaries, rules, and sharing
  • Build Self Confidence – Kids build confidence learning to communicate with their parents
  • Reduce Stress – Both kids and adults benefit from a break in their daily routine
  • Boost Child Development – Encourages children to become lifelong learners
  • Less Gadget Time – Parents and kids benefit from social interaction

wizard roll roosterfin family game 1

Purchase Wizard Roll here!

joe roosterfin

About the Owner

Joe, the owner of RoosterFin brings a unique skill to board games with his ability to create authentic game engines. His gift is in understanding how math applies to games. Joe’s background, coupled with his years teaching kids, enables him to create award-winning games that are continuously simple to learn and fun to play. Since Joe has left his life in the classroom behind, he has devoted his full attention to making great games.

PJ Masks: Time To Be A Hero – Now on DVD!

Tessa Smith
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2
PJ Masks: Time To Be A Hero – Now on DVD!

This post contains affiliate links.

PJ Masks Time to be a Hero DVD 1

One of the shows that my girls LOVE is PJ Masks. This show is super fun and airs on Disney Junior. Since the moment it came out, it has been a hit in our home. It focuses around three kids that become superheroes at night. There are some other kids that become villains. This is one of the shows that I can sit and watch with my girls and get totally in to. It is funny, entertaining, and even teaches kids some pretty great lessons. PJ Masks: Time to Be A Hero is out on DVD now – and we highly recommend it.

pj masks time to be a hero

About PJ Masks

By day, six-year-olds Connor, Amaya and Greg go to school like everyone else. But when they put on their pajamas and activate their animal amulets, they magically transform into their dynamic superhero alter egos and become the PJ Masks: Catboy, super-fast and agile; Gekko, super strong and able to scale walls; and Owlette, with the power to fly and see great distances. In each episode, the three heroes embark on exciting adventures and work together to solve mysteries and learn valuable lessons along the way.

PJ Masks: Time To Be A Hero

The latest PJ Masks DVD, PJ MASKS: TIME TO BE A HERO, features six exciting episodes from the top-rated TV series airing on Disney Junior. What a great selection of episodes! It is like they hand picked all of my daughters’ favorites. She was thrilled! Pick up your copy today. Specially marked packages will also include an exclusive PJ Masks sticker set!

PJ Masks Time to be a Hero DVD 2

Special Features

“Feeling Great” Music Video
This music video is a ton of fun! We literally watched it ten times in a row. My daughters were dancing around and singing their little hearts out! What a great bonus feature to include on this DVD.

Exclusive Activity Sheets
Since my girls love everything PJ Masks, they were thrilled to get some fun printable activity sheets with this DVD. They were also happy about the “Match the character to their vehicle” activity that was inside the DVD case.


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