Disney Merchandise

Disney’s It’s A Small World LeSportsac Mary Blair Artwork Giveaways

17 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The popular partnership with LeSportsac and Disney and their adorable Mary Blair-inspired designs is now giving fans of the bags a chance to win a limited edition reproduction of the artwork that inspired the bag designs. The catch is these giveaways are only happening in the LeSportsac boutiques in New York and Las Vegas. I’ve never wanted to live in New York City or Vegas more than I do right now!

The three NYC area boutiques will be giving away different prints at each store – the Madison Avenue store will be giving away one of each of the three designs, the SoHo store will be giving away one “Castle Facade” artwork and Fashion Show in Vegas will be giving away one “Magic Facade” artwork. You can enter to win from November 19-24.

You can see the designs in this giveaway promo from LeSportsac:

If you notice the text on the bottom right, it looks like they’ll be doing a giveaway online soon too, so stay tuned!

NEW Disney Dooney & Bourke Cruise Line Nylon Backpack

13 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I was recently on the Disney Dream, (for the first time ever!) and of course, had to check out the Disney Dooney & Bourke options on board. The first night we were at sea and the stores were open, I got some photos of the Disney Dooney DCL bags but nothing jumped out at me as a ‘must-get’. Then, we were at Nassau and Castaway Cay for the next two days and the shops were closed tight. On our last day at sea, I sauntered back in and something caught my eye. The new nylon Disney Dooney backpacks which we’d seen a few months ago at the TrenD debut and meet-up, were in front of me – in the Disney Cruise Line Fantasy Inaugural design! This design was already my favorite, but it was hard for me to justify another bag when I rarely use something big in the parks, and the smaller sizes didn’t really show much of the beautiful design. This backpack called to me, however and I knew then, it had to be mine! 😉

DCL Disney Dooney — Disney Cruise Line Disney Dooney & Bourke nylon backpack

Isn’t it adorable? It’s got a gorgeous hot pink lining too, with ample pockets inside. I just love the color palette and how it incorporates all the Disney Cruise Line ships of the Magic, Wonder, Dream and Fantasy, as well as little touches of things you’ll find on the ships. This is the same design from the Fantasy Inaugural, without the Inaugural hang-tag addition. It’s the perfect size for the parks and the non-leather straps and nylon fabric make it lightweight and easy to care for. I’ve used it in the parks only one time and was stopped by about 10 people telling me how adorable it was and how that was exactly the purse they wanted. Definitely a fun accessory!

I’ll have more DCL Dooney updates from my cruise coming up, but I had to share this one first!

Disney’s Classic Cinderella Comes to Blu-ray

15 October 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

When I was first sent Cinderella on Blu-ray, I was instantly amazed at how flawless the animation looked. As a Disney fan, we sometimes take the classics for granted, especially when we so often see different incarnations of the films in the theme parks. When you see Cinderella as a character meet and greet, or hear “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” countless times, you sometimes forget just where the beautiful story, songs, and images come from. So it was a lovely reminder as to what a wonderful character Cinderella is herself, and the story that unfolds around her.

As with all Disney animated films, sometimes my children have not seen them, or remember seeing them, so it was a treat to introduce Cinderella to my 3 year-old son and re-introduce it to my 12 year-old daughter as well. Cinderella is a great example of a hard worker who still has dreams but doesn’t shirk her responsibilities, certainly something kids and adults need reminding of. Her hard work and dreams pay off in the form of her fairy godmother as she is transformed from the little cinder girl in rags to an elegant lady in a sparkling gown. I just love the movie and the little side stories with the mice, the step-sisters and Cinderella herself.

Special Bonus Features on the Cinderella Diamond Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo pack are:

• “Tangled Ever After Animated Short
• Behind the Magic: A New Disney Princess Fantasyland
• Diane Disney Miller Intro
• Personalized Digital Storybook: Bibbidi-Bobbidi-You (Disney Second Screen Experience)
• The Magic of the Glass Slipper: A Cinderella Story
• DisneyView
• Classic DVD Bonus

In addition to the Blu-ray combo pack, Cinderella Diamond Edition is now available in the following formats: a collector’s 6- Disc Jewelry Box Set (Cinderella Blu-ray + Cinderella 2: Dreams Come True Blu-ray/Cinderella 3: A Twist in Time on a single Blu-ray + Cinderella DVD + Cinderella 2 DVD + Cinderella 3 DVD + Cinderella Digital Copy Disc), a 3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy), a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD), and High-Definition Disney Digital.

Cinderella Diamond Edition is definitely a must-have for any fan of Disney, or just a fan of happily ever afters!

*Disclosure: I was provided this Blu-ray for the purposes of review but my opinions are my own. Links within this review are affiliate links which, if used to purchase something, will give a few cents back to keep zannaland running. Thanks!

Tiny Top Hats Take Over Disney Parks!

7 October 2012 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Nicole and Suzannah and tiny hats — My friend Nicole and I with our tiny hats!

During my first-ever visit to Disneyland in August of 2011, my friend and I kept seeing people wearing these adorable tiny top hats. We finally stopped someone and asked where they got theirs. The Mad Hatter, we were told. So we headed directly there and purchased matching Tinker Bell tiny hats. And wore them ALL.DAY. It was a wonderful memory and we thought we were being so cool by getting something that only existed in Disneyland. Well, come to find out, thanks to Twitter, Walt Disney World had the same hats. Wah wah. Oh well. We still had so much fun wearing them and all I have to do is look at that hat in my room and smile.

Since then, tiny hats have sort of exploded in Disney Parks. They now compete with Mouse Ear Hats and Mouse Ear Bands as the most popular headpiece to see around the parks. So far I’ve seen our Tinker Bell hat, a Cheshire Cat striped one, a Mad Hatter hat, and now a few more from the Mad T party in Disney California Adventure. Last night at Downtown Disney’s World of Disney here in Walt Disney World, I saw three new hats, all villain-themed. In addition, another kind of hat [I’m sure it has a name, but I am unsure of its official title – a fascinator? cocktail hat?] has appeared in the Parks. I saw the Ariel version, complete with tiny Dinglehopper in California Adventure in September, and again last night. A Mulan style hat was there too, with a tiny fan as its little accessory. Super cute.

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Here are photos from last night:

Cruelle DeVil tiny hat — Cruella DeVil tiny hat

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Villains tiny hats and bags – I love the bags too, sparkly and a good size!

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And also while I was in California in September, I saw these fun and fancy animal print Ear Hats – which I still haven’t seen in Walt Disney World yet. Also pictured is the Haunted Mansion bowler hat which has been around for a month or so and also super cute. (Please forgive my hamming it up, I was just being silly but didn’t get photos of the hats by themselves so there you go :P)

Animal print Mouse Ear Hats and Haunted Mansion bowler hat

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What do you think of these tiny top hats and ear hats? Would you wear them in the Parks (or at home?) 😉

VIDEO: Warren Spector and Peter Ong Discuss Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion for Nintendo 3DS

24 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Junction Point vice president and creative director Warren Spector, Peter Ong and the rest of the team from DreamRift behind the development of Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion for the Nintendo 3DS and some folks from Disney Interactive. We were shown an amazing Disney day and night, meeting with VIP lounges and Magic Kingdom tours and a lovely dinner at California Grill. In between all the wining and dining, we learned so much about the game, from the people that poured their hearts and souls into its creation. It’s rare, as a consumer, to meet the minds behind a video game, and discover all hard work and detail each person contributed.

Hearing from Warren Spector was, as a Disney fan, wonderful. Not only is he a long-time video game fan, but a long-time Disney fan as well. Seeing his passion in action was a treat as he described his involvement in Epic Mickey. I had wondered if Disney nerds experts like those of you reading this now, would find things within the game that would satisfy our particular level of…attention. Warren assured us that we would be in heaven with the specific park and Disney film details within Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion.

In addition, talking through the actual game developers throughout the day and learning how they watched the Disney films used in the game countless times, and various other ways they kept true to the Disney brand, the classic gaming experience they were honoring, and bringing in a whole new generation with the drawing aspect to the Nintendo 3DS.

This video below will shed some light on the thought process behind the game and how game play develops.

As far as the details go, yes, it is played on a 3D handheld system, however you can turn OFF 3D any time, if your eyes have had too much or you’d just like a traditional gaming experience. The game is rated G but for ages 7 and up because of the 3D aspect. Too much exposure to the 3D setting on young eyes can be damaging. Outside of that issue, there are no other concerns as far as violence or age range go.

Epic Mickey Power of Illusion — Screenshot from the Aladdin level

I was able to play through the first level of the game, and as a very casual gamer, I was able to figure things out, but there were some parts that were a little frustrating, so keep that in mind with younger players. Of course practice and patience is the key to any successful video game conquest!

Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion is a great game for anyone looking to recreate a classic 16 bit experience with a modern update, or any fan of Disney animated features or Parks. The game will be available on November 18, 2012.

Disclosure: Great thanks to the Disney Interactive team for our day in the parks as we learned about this game. I was provided special access at Walt Disney World, dinner and refreshments throughout the day. My opinions and thoughts are my own.

NEW 2012 Edition of Disney Couture Nightmare Before Christmas by Harvey’s Bags

23 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Last week a new edition of the wildly popular Nightmare Before Christmas designs of the Harvey’s Bags for Disney Couture launched at Vault 28 in the Downtown Disney District at the Disneyland Resort. Harvey’s bags, made from seatbelts and carry a lifetime guarantee. In addition to the Nightmare Before Christmas collection, you can find Minnie Mouse-inspired Harvey’s bags at Disney Parks or at the Disney Store online.

Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorites, and I love what Harvey’s has done with the designs from the film that we all know and love. I’ve had many readers ask about this new collection, so I thought I’d share what the new bags look like.

A couple of the bags are website exclusives and many have sold out already, so pick up your favorite today at Vault 28 or at Harvey’s site! Here’s a sneak peak at what you’ll see on the site – click to enlarge:

Harvey's Nightmare Before Christmas 2012 — The 2012 Nightmare Before Christmas Collection for Harvey’s Bags

^*Disney Store link is an affiliate link. If you purchase through it, I will get a few cents to keep zannaland running. Thanks!

Exclusive Disney Baby Store Glendale Grand Opening Photos and Review

17 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Those who follow on Twitter or Facebook, or fellow bloggers in attendance, may remember my surprising grand prize win at Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration back in April. I was thrilled to hear I had won a trip for four to California, to attend the grand opening ceremonies for the new Disney Baby exclusive store in Glendale, as well as some time in Disneyland. Having gone to Disneyland for the first time last year for the Disney D23 Expo in Anaheim, I was so excited to be able to bring my children out with me to see the park I fell in love with. As fate would have it, I ended up being in the Disneyland Resort a month before this special trip, for the D23 Destination D event, but that’s another story entirely.

Details were worked out and I ended up taking my three children and my mother on this most recent visit out west. They were just as excited as I was and none of them had ever been to Disneyland before, or Glendale for that matter. The trip was a lesson in travel, being the first plane ride for all my children, my first attempt at driving in Los Angeles, and my first time venturing outside of the bubble of Anaheim’s Disneyland area. As you can imagine, we all survived and had a wonderful time.

Due to difficulties with our flights on the return, we were kindly offered a Disneyland area hotel, which was heaven-sent since we decided to extend the visit by a few days, so I was sure the kids would see all of Disneyland. We were booked into the Grand Californian, which, if you’re going to see Disneyland for the first time, is a highly recommended way to go about it! We were also given a rental car (resulting in me freaking out about driving in L.A.!) and one-day Disneyland tickets. I was relieved to learn they were still sending a car service to get us to and from Glendale, for the Disney Baby opening. I think I would’ve been okay driving, but it was nice to sit back and enjoy the scenery vs. worrying about Freeway exits! I’ll be writing more about our family experiences at Disneyland Resort in the coming weeks.

My Disney Baby was excited for the day’s events!

Disney Baby in Glendale is the first of its kind and I’m sure more will follow across the country. This first store is located at The Americana at Brand, which is a lovely way of saying a super cool outdoor mall in Glendale! I loved this area and it was a beautiful setting for Disney to hold its grand opening ceremonies, which, in typical Disney style, gave back as well.

The opening doubled as a baby shower for 20 expecting military moms, who received special gift baskets, prizes and all sorts of pampering before heading in to check out the Disney Baby store. When the spokesperson explained the purpose of Operation Shower, it was hard not to get emotional at these moms, many of them already raising families, while their spouses were stationed overseas. It was truly wonderful to witness.

The event was also full of fun activities for the kids in attendance, ranging from arts and crafts to technology to product samples and clothing typical of what Disney Baby would offer, in store and online. The DisneyBaby.com site launched the same day so you don’t have to wait for a location to reach your neck of the woods to order some Disney magic for your little prince or princess.

Some of the interactive booths at the Disney Baby grand opening

We were treated to a visit from Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet who arrived by trolley car. They helped Alison Sweeney, (host of The Biggest Loser, star of Days of Our Lives, and author of the new book “The Mommy Diet^*“) and her family press the button to reveal the Disney Baby store in all its adorable glory. Also on hand were Blue Sky Riders (comprised of members Kenny Loggins, Georgia Middleman and Gary Burr), who serenaded us with classic and new hits. Other Disney Channel and ABC Family stars were in attendance to complete the celebration. Here are some photos from the event:

Kenny Loggins and Blue Sky Riders

Some familiar friends arrive by trolley!

Ali Sweeney and family (and some friends from the 100 Acre Wood) drop the curtain on Disney Baby!

Here’s a video of the big moment:

Outside the Disney Baby store

Inside the Disney Baby store

Disney Baby is adorable!

Of course there are dress-up clothes too!

Diaper Bags and more inside the Disney Baby store

All in all, my family had a wonderful time playing games, enjoying the entertainment and of course, experiencing the actual star of the show – the Disney Baby store! More than just a store full of baby-sized clothes, the new boutique offers small toys, supplies for new parents like diaper bags, car seats and strollers, and of course, adorable plush that you will want to fill your nursery or playroom with.

A bouncing, baby Tigger!

It was an honor to be in attendance with other local bloggers and media, and of course, the deserving military moms from Operation Shower. Huge thanks go to Disney Baby for having my family out, and the wonderful team behind Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration for making it happen. Look for the Disney Baby stores to pop up around the country, and of course, check out DisneyBaby.com for all your baby magic – follow @DisneyBaby on Twitter and Facebook.com/DisneyBaby for more updates!

Stay tuned for a Disney Baby GIVEAWAY in the coming days!

Disclosure: I was provided with airfare, hotel, transportation, 1-day Disneyland tickets for four, and a $200 Disney Baby gift card as my prize package but was not asked to write about the event, I am just doing that because I wanted to! 🙂

^*affiliate link – if you purchase using that link, I will get a few cents toward keeping zannaland running. 🙂

Disney Parks Halloween Merchandise for 2012 VIDEO

24 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Halloween is right around the corner, so I decided to head over to Downtown Disney Marketplace and check out the new 2012 Halloween merchandise at World of Disney. The Halloween merchandise should be in all the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Parks now, so check it out! Be sure to see the new Haunted Mansion tombstone collectible pieces as well as the new “Goth Goodies” line of candy, including a chocolate rose.

Here’s a video of the merchandise highlights with a little song to get you in the Halloween spirit:

On the way out, I also snagged some photos of the Halloween/Autumn soaps at Basin. I’m pretty sure those are there year round, but they are pretty!

Disney Classics Old and New Now On Blu-ray Combo Packs

24 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

One thing I love about Disney Pictures bringing out new movies on special edition or Blu-ray release is that I get to see movies I haven’t seen in decades, and usually hold some wonderful childhood memory for me or now, my family. Disney has now released a handful of new-to-Blu-ray films, and I was lucky enough to be sent them for review here. Released on August 21, 2012 are:

The Tigger Movie: Bounce-A-Rrrific Special Edition Combo Pack

Pocahontas and Pocahontas II: Journey To A New World – Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo

Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamps Adventure – Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition

The Rescuers: 35th Anniversary Edition with The Rescuers Down Under – Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo

The Aristocats – Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Special Edition

Now believe it or not, some of these movies I’d actually never seen. Pocahontas II, The Rescuers Down Under, and The Tigger Movie somehow all escaped my viewing eye. I was happy to be able to share them with my children, as well as see them for the first time myself. My almost-4 year-old is currently obsessed with Tigger, so he now watches the Tigger movie on rotation daily! It was also great to see what I’d missed with the other two sequels.

Most of all, I loved sharing The Rescuers with my daughter. I truly loved this movie when I was a little younger than her, and it also terrified me. It was interesting to see it from an adult perspective as well as having quite a few years pass since the movie was first released. It was great to finally see The Rescuers Down Under too.

I remember getting Lady and the Tramp II on VHS when my oldest son was little. He loved little Scamp and his adventures, so it brought back fun memories from when he was little. Pocahontas has such wonderful music and visuals, and having the sequel together was fun to see. The Aristocats has also always been a favorite, so it’s great to get all of these films in wonderfully restored digital quality on Blu-ray.

The best part is that each of my children can identify with the different movies in their own way, and choose their own favorites. So many of my Disney movie memories are tied to when they were first released in the case of the 70’s – present, or if they were shown in theatres again. Now kids can see all of the old classics and newer ones as well, whenever they please.

Here are the bonus features you’ll find on these releases:

The Aristocats –

The Lost Open: legendary songwriter Richard Sherman introduces an early story board iteration of an opening scene complete a deleted character named “the Maid” and demos for the deleted songs “How Much You Mean to Me” and “Court Me Slowly.”

“Oui Oui Marie” Music Video

Deleted Song – “She Never Felt Alone”: This deleted song, complete with animation, will tug at the heartstrings of any animal lover, as Duchess explains to Thomas O’ Malley why she must return to her beloved owner Madame Bonfamille. Richard Sherman discusses the song he co-wrote with his brother Robert, which captures the special relationship between a pet owner and their animal. It’s a moving sequence that will stir everyone’s fondest memories of their favorite pets.

The Sherman Brothers: The Aristocats of Disney Songs: A tribute to the legendary Disney songwriting team of Robert and Richard Sherman, with particular emphasis on “The Aristocats.”

The Great Cat Family (Excerpt): This animated excerpt tells the history of cats from ancient Egyptians to the present.

The Classic Disney short “Bath Day”: Figaro has been freshly bathed and perfumed by Minnie when he meets up with Lucifer and his gang who chase him. In the ensuing fight, the gang is fooled into beating up Lucifer and making Figaro the winner. But the victor is soon putback in the tub by Minnie.

Disney Song Selection:

“The Aristocats”
“Scales and Arpeggios”
“Thomas O’Malley Cat”
“Ev’rybody Wants To Be A Cat”

The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under –

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack: “Peoplitis” deleted song; The Making of “Rescuers Down Under;” “Three Blind Mouseketeers” animated short; Water-Birds, A Walt Disney True Life Adventure documentary; “Someone’s Waiting For You” Sing-Along

2-Disc DVD: The Making of “Rescuers Down Under;” “Three Blind Mouseketeers” animated short; Water-Birds, A Walt Disney True Life Adventure documentary; “Someone’s Waiting For You” Sing-Along

Lady and the Tramp II –

Blu-Ray Combo Pack: The Making of Lady and Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure; Sing-Along Songs; Pluto Animated Shorts; Puppy Trivia Tracks; Audio Commentary

Pocahontas II –

3-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack:

Drawing Inspiration: The Lost Story of Hiawatha
Deleted Song: “If I Never Knew You” The Music of Pocahontas
“Little Hiawatha” Cartoon Short
Deleted Scenes
“Pocahontas” Audio Commentary
Virtual Vault

The Tigger Movie –

2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack:

Disney Intermission – While the film is paused, young viewers are entertained with fun and engaging Hundred Acre Wood themed games and activities.

· “A Tigger Tale” – This featurette includes interviews with director Jun Falkenstein, producer Cheryl Abood, art director Toby Bluth, animator Jeff Johnson and composer Richard Sherman who discuss how Tigger’s literary and film history influenced “The Tigger Movie.”

· 10 Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh shorts – The journey continues with these 10 animated shorts featuring all of the Hundred Acre Wood characters.

· “Round My Family Tree” Sing-Along Song – In this feature, fans can sing along with Tigger as the lyrics are highlighted on screen.

· Kenny Loggins Music Video “Your Heart Will Lead You Home” – Singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins reunites with the Hundred Acre Wood characters in this heartwarming music video.

Enjoy these films with your family, or by yourself and create even more Disney memories for years to come.

^*Disclosure: I was provided these movies for the purposes of review but my opinions are my own. Links above are affiliate links, which, if used to purchase these discs, will give me back a few cents to keep zannaland running. Thank you!

More Marvel Tokidoki Shirts Bring on the Super+Cute!

6 August 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

It was just about a year ago that I first strolled into Downtown Disney’s West Side shop, D-Street and saw these adorable Marvel Tokidoki crossover t-shirts. Last night I was browsing again and found even more adorable new Marvel Tokidoki shirts. This time, Thor and unicorns are involved. I couldn’t ask for anything better. See the new designs below:

Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman hat — Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman baseball cap

Marvel Tokidoki Storm — Storm gets a Tokidoki makeover too!

Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman vs. Hulk — Hulk vs. Spiderman

Marvel Tokidoki Spiderman hoodie — Back of the Spiderman date hoodie

Marvel Tokidoki Hulk hoodie — Hulk is smashing through your hoodie!

Marvel Tokidoki — Iron Man and the X-Men

Marvel Tokidoki Captain America — Cap is lookin’ serious!

Marvel Tokidoki Iron Man Captain America and Thor — Iron Man, Cap and Thor are in a rockin’ band!

Marvel Tokidoki Thor — Thor, riding a Tokidoki unicorn. Must have.

As mentioned above, I found these at D-Street, but I’m sure they are available in other shops on Disney property as well. I just love this crossover!