Reviews

Day 5 of the Disney Gift Guide – A GIVEAWAY (or TWO!)

10 December 2010 by Suzannah Otis 25 Comments

Day 5 has a arrived and I thought, what better way to end this week-long guide to Disney-giving than a giveaway for you? Well how about TWO giveaways??

Thanks to generous and friend on twitter who wishes to remain anonymous, I have a great stocking stuffer to give away. Phineas & Ferb: Ride Again for Nintendo DS! My family loved playing this game and now you have a chance to win a brand new copy for your family.

In addition, the wonderful folks over at Rayovac (the official battery of Walt Disney World!) have sent me some fabulous products to share with you all. Included in this gift-pack will be a Rayovac pre-charged regargable battery charger including 4 batteries, a separate pack of 4 re-chargeable AAA batteries, a medium sized LED flashlight with batteries, a small LED flashlight (in pink!) with batteries, a 4-pack of AA batteries in a “Go Pack” (perfect for taking with you to Disney parks!) and a 2-pack of D batteries. I think this should help out anyone unwrapping toys and remembering “batteries not included” on Christmas day! Many thanks to Rayovac for these items!

So how do you enter to win these two giveaways? Simple – just comment below to enter. Extra entries may be used by “liking” ZannaLand on facebook, or if you already do – tell your friends! Just comment again to let me know if you are adding another entry. Giveaway ends December 13, 2010 at midnight EST. I’ll use random.org to choose two winners on December 14, so I’ll have enough time to get these shipped out to you before Christmas.

WINNERS have been picked! Check the comments below.

Thanks to everyone who entered!! Happy Holidays!

Be sure to check out the other 4 days of Disney Gift Guides for some wonderful holiday ideas for Disney lovers – Disney Gift Guide Day 1, Disney Gift Guide Day 2, Disney Gift Guide Day 3, and Disney Gift Guide Day 4 too!

Day 4 of the 5 Days of HoliDaze Disney Gift Guide

8 December 2010 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Ok, so after 3 other days of Disney Gift ideas, I bet you’re thinking, “she couldn’t *possibly* have more great stuff to share!” Well, you’re right. No, I’m kidding. Never fear, there are still some fabulous ideas for the Disney lover in your family!

Disney DVD/Blu-rays

Friend and fellow Disney blogger Ryan Wilson of the Main Street Gazette brought you this wonderful review of The Crimson Wing and what better gift for a Disney and nature lover? Also check out DisneyNature’s other films Earth and Oceans. Right now at amazon you can save $10 when purchasing two selected DisneyNature titles. It will also prepare you for the upcoming African Cats, set to be released this coming April.

Day 3 of the 5 Days of Holidaze Disney Gift Guide!

8 December 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Let’s jump right into Day 4 of the ZannaLand Disney Gift Guide! Today we have some great gifts for the Disneyphile that has it all!

Disney DVD/Blu-rays

A couple of months ago, I shared an amazing deal on purchasing all three of these DVDs below – Waking Sleeping Beauty, The Boys, and Walt & El Grupo for only $49.99 WITH a free lithograph. This deal has actually been extended till the end of January, which makes it a perfect Christmas present, not to mention a fabulous savings! For the Disneyfile that has it all, these DVDs are Must-Haves! Click the pictures below to see more details!

Video Games

Just released yesterday is the much anticipated TRON: Evolution video game, just in time to get in the Grid before TRON: Legacy opens in theaters December 17, 2010. TRON: Evolution takes place between the original TRON film from 1982 and the 3D film TRON: Legacy.

TRON: Evolution has a story set around a series of seismic events within the Grid of TRON. Players control a security program, Anon, who must protect the digital world from Abraxas, a dangerous computer virus. Players will witness unique moments that are referenced or shown as the backstory of the thrilling “TRON: Legacy” story. The game features the iconic TRON vehicles – light cycles, light tanks and recognizers – and has high mobility combat using light discs. The multiplayer modes enable up to 10 players to take on each other online in a variety of maps with on-foot combat, light cycles and light tanks.

TRON: Evolution is available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Games For Windows – LIVE, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and the Nintendo DS™ family of hand-held systems. TRON: Evolution – Battle Grids is exclusive to the Wii™ console. Check them out below:

Books

Continuing in the Disney fan that has it all vein…how about some books that go in-depth to the life of Walt Disney and the stories behind Walt Disney World’s history and theming? Check out these two wonderful books below, written by certified Disney experts and fans alike:

And for a fun and interesting interview of author and Disney legend Jim Korkis, head over to Disney Dispatch to learn more.

Other Disney ideas

For the Disney collector or Vinylmation fan, check out this Limited Edition Vinylmation Billiards set!

Vinylmation Billiards Limited Edition Set - 3'' -- 16-Pc.

Or these adorable Vinylmation Condiment sets – sure to be a conversation starter! I’m totally telling Santa about these!

Stay tuned for Day 4 tomorrow! Check out the Disney Gift Guide Day 1 and Disney Gift Guide Day 2 too!

Day 2 of the 5 Days of Holidaze Disney Gift Guide!

7 December 2010 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Yesterday we started Day 1 of ZannaLand’s 5 Days of HoliDaze Disney Gift Guide, in hopes of making your shopping a little easier this season! Let’s check out some more great gift ideas –

Disney DVD/Blu-rays

Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 – this has just been digitally restored and re-released as a DVD/Blu-ray combo pack, filled of special and bonus features. You can even get $10 off the Fantasia/Fantasia 2000 DVD/Blu-ray combo pack – but hurry, it expires today!

5 Days of HoliDaze Gift Guide for the Disney Family!

6 December 2010 by Suzannah Otis 7 Comments

Over the past few months here at ZannaLand, I’ve been lucky enough to come across quite a few amazing books, games, dvds and more which would all make wonderful gifts for the Disney fan in your life (or for yourself!). I found so many favorites to share, I decided to make this into a 5-part series of gift ideas, each day featuring different gift ideas and categories. Let’s jump right into Day 1!

VIDEO: Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party-Once Upon a Christmastime Parade

30 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

It is difficult to surpass the wonder that is the Boo to You Parade during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – but if anything can, it’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. I was saying just the other day that I think I’m related to Buddy the Elf, because of my intense love for all things Christmas-related. Disney knows better than anyone how to amp up the holiday magic for the season.

Just walking into the Magic Kingdom or any of the parks with holiday decorations up and you’ll be in the spirit. However to really create some magical memories, you simply must head over to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. This separate ticketed event runs on select nights in November and December and believe me, it is worth the price of admission.

NEWS: Disney’s Mars Needs Moms Trailer

29 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Take out the trash, eat your broccoli—who needs moms, anyway? Nine-year-old Milo (Seth Green) finds out just how much he needs his mom (Joan Cusack) when she’s nabbed by Martians who plan to steal her mom-ness for their own young. Produced by the team behind “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” “Mars Needs Moms” showcases Milo’s quest to save his mom—a wild adventure in Disney Digital 3D™ and IMAX® 3D that involves stowing away on a spaceship, navigating an elaborate, multi-level planet and taking on the alien nation and their leader (Mindy Sterling). With the help of a tech-savvy, underground earthman named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a rebel Martian girl called Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), Milo just might find his way back to his mom—in more ways than one.

· Berkeley Breathed, a Pulitzer-Prize winner for his comic strip “Bloom County,” is the author and illustrator of the book “Mars Needs Moms.” The story was inspired by a particular moment of disagreement that took place between his son Milo and his wife.

· Producer Robert Zemeckis, who wrote, directed and produced “Disney’s A Christmas Carol” and “The Polar Express,” is a pioneer in performance-capture filmmaking. The process digitally captures the performances of the actors with computerized cameras in a full 360 degrees, allowing actors like Jim Carrey and Tom Hanks to play several roles of varying ages in one film, and for 36-year-old Seth Green to portray a 9-year-old.

The Search for Santa Paws Tween Review

29 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

“Someone once told me that the spirit of Christmas is embodied in the hearts of children, untouched as of yet by the doubts, fears and disappointments of the adult world.”

–Santa Claus in “The Search for Santa Paws”

Whether you’re nine or ninety-nine, Santa Claus likely still holds a special place in your heart. Maybe you remember sitting on his knee at your local mall as a child or writing—and re-writing—him a letter asking for a dollhouse or red wagon. Many of us remember staying up past midnight in hopes of catching a glimpse of him as he came down your chimney.

This is part of the magic The Search for Santa Paws tries to convey. My daughter, now 10½, has been a fan of the “Buddies” series of pooch-ified films since they first began. Santa Buddies was one of her favorites so she was excited to see how Santa Paws came to be Santa’s dog and the rest of the story in The Search for Santa Paws.

According to her, it is a cool movie; parts of it are sad, but not too sad to watch. Her least favorite part is when Santa himself almost dies and her favorite part is when Quinn meets Santa Paws for the first time. She recommends it to anyone who is a fan of the first Santa Buddies film. And that’s all I could pull out of her. 😉 You’ll just have to check out the movie yourself to see if you agree.

The Search for Santa Paws Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack is available now!

Rapunzel Giveaway Winner & Cyber Monday Disney Store Deals!

29 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

First, I wanted to thank everyone for participating in the Tangled soundtrack & Silly Bands giveaway – it was great to read your comments and excitement about the film! Random.org picked #5 which was “RiceballMommy” so congratulations to her! RiceballMommy, please contact me at [email protected] with your mailing info!

I’ll be having other giveaways throughout December, so keep checking back! I hope all of you have gotten to see Tangled by now, if not, run out and see it soon (or again!). It’s a truly wonderful film.

While you’re here, I’d like to let you know about some great discounts at Disney Store.com for Cyber Monday – Take an extra 25% off $125+, 20% off $100+, 15% off $75+, 10% off $50+ plus Free Shipping on all orders at Disney Store with Code: CYBER. And, you can also still save up to 65% on your favorite Disney Items!

I’m sure there’s someone in your life (even you!) that has a Dooney & Bourke handbag on their wish list, right? Dooney and Bourke Exclusively for Disney Parks available at DisneyStore.com! Shop Now!

Happy Shopping!!

Toy Story 3 – Start a New Family Tradition

25 November 2010 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

I’m sure by now any Disney fan reading this has already purchased Toy Story 3 on Blu-ray + DVD…however on the off chance you have not, or perhaps you are new to the wonders of Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures, I am here to persuade you to run out and pick it up right now. I’ll be honest, when I was given Toy Story 3 to review, I avoided it – not because I didn’t want to talk about it – but the opposite, I knew I’d want to talk too much about it. I’ve already discussed some of the cool bonus features and fun facts about the animated short Day & Night on the DVD and Blu-Ray. Now I’ll share why this film should be in your collection.

When I first saw Toy Story 3 in theatres, I was prepared for an emotional roller coaster. Truth is, I was a wreck at the closing scene. Yes, the first installment of the Toy Story trilogy came out before I was even married, much less had children, yet I still associate the movies with my two oldest children and watching them grow up. This mixes with memories of moving to Orlando with my family and becoming cast members. At the time, the Toy Story parade was the one that filled Hollywood Boulevard each day at the then Disney-MGM Studios (now of course Disney’s Hollywood Studios). As a result, each time I hear Randy Newman’s “Strange Things” I’m reminded of that fun and exciting time in our life. It wasn’t just Andy that grew up, it was me too. I married my high school sweetheart, we had 2 beautiful children and my mom went from being my mom to being my children’s grandmother too, my dad passed away, my husband and I had another beautiful child. So there was a lot of emotion wrapped up in this little film from Pixar, which had absolutely nothing to do with me, yet so very much to do with me.