Discount for Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 On Ice!

People keep asking me if I'm ready for some football and you know what? No. I'll only ever be ready for football to end. Zzzzzz... but this holiday season, Aubrey, Lee and I are continuing an annual tradition of attending a Disney On Ice show which is something we all enjoy. It really is fun, even as an adult, and nothing is better than watching a preschooler's face light up with pure joy and wonder at the spectacle of gigantic costumed people doing flips and triple axels. Honestly, I think they should make character costumed figure skating an Olympic event because I have no idea how those people skate AND do tricks in those get ups. No idea. I couldn't even walk in those costumes. Anyhoo...

I promised you a discount code a few weeks ago and code I shall give you!


Use code word MOM when you buy tickets online, over the phone or even at the box office and receive $4 off per ticket on the $16, $21, $26 priced tickets. You can also buy a family four pack for only $48! That's a pretty good deal. :)


Once again, for the dates, times and locations, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/
and here are your venue and date options here in SoCal:


Los Angeles Staples Center: Dec 14-18 
Honda Center of Anaheim Dec: 20-25
Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario Dec: 28-Jan 1
Long Beach Arena: Jan 4-8

Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3 On Ice!

Tis the season to put things on ice and I've seen lots of stuff on ice... Smurfs, Christmas, Vanilla.... but nothing is better than Disney characters on ice. Last year we took Aubrey to Disney On Ice "Let's Celebrate" and she went so ape sh*t for it, she STILL wants to read the program as a bed time book, a year later. So when I told her there was a new Disney On Ice show, well, monkey poo flew. She's a little excited. Just a little.

This year we will be treated to our favorite Toy Story characters, Woody, Jesse, the Potato Heads, Buzz Lightyear, Ken and Barbie as they tell the story of installment #3. Aubrey loves these characters and I know I can't wait to see a horse, a t-rex and a pig on skates. Really, how do they do that?

Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 On Ice will be touring all over the US this winter starting this week through April 2012. If you live in WA, CO, NV, AZ, UT, FL, KY SC or the best state in the country... CALIFORNIA, you are lucky people. The show is coming to you!


Here in SoCal, you have four options: 
Los Angeles Staples Center: Dec 14-18 
Honda Center of Anaheim Dec: 20-25
Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario Dec: 28-Jan 1
Long Beach Arena: Jan 4-8


Check back here on my blog to find out how to get discount ticket pricing with a code that can be used for orders online, by phone or at the door!


In the meantime, happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!


For ticket, dates, locations, please visit: http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/

Disney Interactive Media Halloween Bash!

My mini-MJ busting some sweet moves

Last week, Aubrey and I went to the Disney Interactive Media Group's Halloween Bash at the Disney Studios in Burbank. This group puts on the BEST parties and this one was no exception!


Guests were treated to samplings of the newest Disney console and online video games and web site offerings on DisneyFamily.com and FamilyFun.com and there was even an artist on hand giving lessons on how to sketch the penguins from Club Penguin! 


Of course there were amazing treats and activities too! Aubrey loved decorating her own Tinkerbell cookie so much, she made two.

Mmmm...Tinkerbell cookies!

If you're into family video games, there are some really fun ones that just came out including Disney Universe, Cars 2 and LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean but Aubrey's favorite was the Phineas and Ferb: Across The Second Dimension. 

Aubrey and her bestie, Isabella, playing Phineas and Ferb

Her other favorite of the night was Club Penguin. I'd heard about the Club Penguin craze and now it has become a reality for us. I may need to put a lock and chain on my laptop. What am I talking about? Aubrey has a job. She can buy her own compter! Geez.

Aubrey held this poor woman prisoner for a large part of the evening

Little ones can also check out Pixie Hollow online and the new mobile apps: Where's My Water and Puffle Launch for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android devices.

A well-deserved Jack Skellington cupcake!

We had an AWESOME time that night and the perfect end to the evening was that Aubrey won the kids' costume contest with her Michael Jackson get up. She even busted a couple moves to Thriller when they queued up the music to call out her name. She was, literally, thrilled! 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Have a safe and super fun holiday!

xo Amy & Aubrey

Mars Needs Moms! Opens TODAY!

I'm sure you've seen the trailers and ads by now, but the new Disney movie, Mars Needs Moms, opens today and Aubrey and I were included in a lucky group of families who got to pre-screen it earlier this week.

The movie is based on the children's book of the same name, by Berkeley Breathed and it is the story of a young boy, named Milo (played by Seth Green). Milo's wonderful mom is swept up by Martians who need moms who know how to make their children behave. Mars has been ruled by a crabby old lady Martian for generations (played brilliantly by the ever hilarious Mindy Sterling) who has orchestrated an army of "nannybots" to raise the baby Martian hatchlings. In order to program the nannybots, they need real moms - thus the abduction. Milo ends up on an intense, but entertaining quest to rescue his mom from Mars with displaced Earthling "Gribble" (played by Dan Fogler) and a rebellious Martian girl, "Ki" (played by Elisabeth Harnois).

Here's a quick, helpful MOM review in-case you were wondering whether or not to bring your kiddo.

1) We really liked it! Dare I say, better than Toy Story 3? Yes. I liked it, believe it or not, a lot more. The storyline was great, the animation was cool and the acting was impressive. The film's animation is getting a little bit of a thrashing in other reviews I've read and while I'm not animation expert, I'll let you know it's that computer generated motion-capture style - the same technology they used in Polar Express. I guess this creeps some people out, but I kind of like it.

2) The movie is rated PG, so it may be a bit too intense for younger ones. My daughter is 3-1/2 and wasn't scared at all, but she was scared during Toy Story 3 several months ago. Go figure. Most of the scenes in the movie are dark and there is a lot of intense action, including falling, laser gun shooting, chasing, etc. You will have to judge if your kids are good at handling intense action, even though it is a kid/family movie.

3) Stay and watch the credits if you can, as they show clips of how the motion-capture style animation is shot with the live actors. I think this was actually my favorite part! So fascinating and cool to see!

4) Wah-Alert: Lots of moms told me they wah-wah cried during Toy Story 3. Well, watch out then. There are a couple mom-centric scenes in this one that will get you!

5) The main thing that I found to be a little disappointing about this film - and this is mainly from an actor's perspective - is why Seth Green to play a little boy? They manipulated his voice to make him sound age appropriate and I admit, he did a really nice job with the part, but why? Aren't there a zillion boy actors out there who would have done a great job? Whatev.

This wasn't the perfect kid/family movie, but it was a really good one and we are glad we saw it. Aubrey loved the girl Martian character, "Ki" so much, she has a temporary tattoo of her on her forearm now. I don't think it's going to be a giant Disney classic, but the entertainment value was there and I'd totally recommend it. Just remember, it is PG. The little ones might think it's a little s-c-a-r-y.

Mars Needs Moms opens TODAY in theaters across the US. For more information visit:
www.Disney.com/MarsNeedsMoms and www.Facebook.com/MarsNeedsMomsMovie

Minnie's Masquerade And The Mickey Mote!

About three months ago, I wrote a review of the new Disney Mickey Mote, interactive kid's remote for use with special Disney DVDs. While we weren't thrilled with the Mickey Mote at that time, I knew it was just a little too soon for Aubrey to grasp the concept and have the patience to listen to the video's instructions before pushing the buttons. My prediction was that in a few months, she would get the hang of it and love it... and I was RIGHT! She LOVES the Mickey Mote now and just in time for a new interactive DVD. Am I clairvoyant or what?

Lucky for us, we got to preview the new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse : Minnie's Masquerade DVD with the Mickey Mote and she is hooked. She loves anything Disney, of course, but especially Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. They are her current faves.

In Minnie's Masquerade - Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Daisy - take families on a new adventure as they dress up in costumes for Minnie's Masquerade Ball. This DVD features four episodes previously seen on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse TV show, a never before seen episode and a fun masquerade paper mask that kids can personalize.

Ignore the basket of laundry behind my child - I'm such a professional photographer.

Aubrey is having a great time with this new Minnie DVD and she even insisted in teaching her 64 year old nanny how to use the Mickey Mote with it!

The DVD can be watched just like a regular DVD or used with the interactive Mickey Mote. I love the Mickey Mote feature too because Aubrey is actually engaged and thinking while watching rather than sitting like a couch potato (the way I like to watch tv - shhh) and it even works with our 3 year old, $39, total piece of crap DVD player. (Yes, I'm that cheap. Or broke. Or both.)

Look for this awesome new DVD in stores February 8th and you can pre-order on many websites now:
Single Disc DVD + Mickey Mote = $29.99
Single Disc DVD = $19.99

Not Smurfs - Disney. On Ice.

Hi Everyone! I hope you're all recovered from the first round of holiday gorging. I just got back from a quick run and making some fitness goals for myself so I can be ready to eat more for Christmas and New Year's! 

Only two more weeks until my boyfriend, our nanny and my VERY excited 3 yr old daughter go to the new Disney On Ice show, "Let's Celebrate!" I'm really excited for this show. I like almost any entertainment with the Disney brand, but it also has been about 30 years since I've seen any kind of "fillin the blank" on Ice show. In 3rd grade, I saw Smurfs on Ice!! No joke. But I've never seen any of the Disney on Ice shows and I know it will be great. I'm always amazed at how those people skate in those giant, bulky costumes. That alone is worth the price of admission.

Anyway, if you live in SoCal, I have a great family deal for you on tickets! Details are at the end of this post.

This new skating show features over fifty beloved Disney characters and will be at four different venues in SoCal this December and January:

Staples Center - Los Angeles

Dec 15-19

Honda Center - Anaheim

Dec 21-26

Citizens Business Bank Arena - Ontario

Dec 29-Jan 2

Long Beach Arena

Jan 5-9

Here's the special ticket deal - get a special $48 Family Four-Pack offer or $4 savings on ticket prices ($12-$16-$21) for select performances! Regular ticket prices are $16-$21-$25.

Use the code "MOM" at TicketMaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000, to redeem your savings! Savings to not apply to front row or VIP seats. No double discounts. Service charges and handling fees may apply.

We'll be at Staples center! Hope you and your little ones can make one of the performances too! Happy holidays!

Aubrey's Mickey Mote Review

Aubrey is ready to get started!

Today Aubrey and I received a new Disney Mickey Mote to try out and Aubrey's review is in!

The Mickey Mote is a preschooler remote control device that allows the viewer to interact with special Disney DVDs in a "Discovery" mode. The lucky preschooler's parent or caretaker gets to program the Micky Mote with the DVD remote and then you are pretty much ready to get started. Also, you are able to play the interactive Discovery mode games with your regular DVD remote arrow buttons.

The Mickey Mote seems fairly simple, and not to brag, but my kid's no dummy, so I thought she'd pick it up quickly. Aubrey is just under 3-1/2 years old and this product is being marketed to children between 2-5 years of age.

She really wanted to "do the star"

Aubrey's first reactions: 

She loved the packaging and couldn't wait to get it out of the box!

She loved the buttons and wanted to "do the star" immediately

There were a couple issues getting started: The Mickey Mote requires 2 AAA batteries which aren't included and I didn't have on hand. I had to charge up our rechargeable batteries and this made Aubrey really antsy having to wait. I popped in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Numbers Roundup DVD but apparently I programmed the buttons in the wrong sequence because I feel the directions weren't written in the best sequence. When we tried to answer the first questions on the DVD, it wasn't reading correctly, so this caused a little more lag time. (see the video)

I had to reprogram it and then we had it right. By this time Aubrey had lost a little bit of interest in answering the questions and simply wanted to watch. She also wasn't very interested in answering the questions correctly, but just wanted to click the characters or pictures she liked the best. Aubrey is a girl with strong opinions, much like her mother.

Aubrey tries it on her own

Now, before I go any further, I should mention that I have the world's CHEAPEST DVD player. It was the cheapest one you can get at Best Buy about 2 years ago, so maybe it's a little slower than others, but Aubrey seemed to be a little impatient waiting for the questions to load and then go back to the cartoon action. It was like a pause, then the question, then a pause before returning to the actual cartoon. I also felt there was a bit too much cartoon in between each question and the questions weren't worded really well for a preschooler. I had to really help Aubrey understand what they were asking. 

One other negative is that even though the remote is easy for little hands to hold, my 3 yr old didn't quite understand the concept of pointing it right at the DVD player to get it to work. Once again, my total piece of doo-doo DVD player might not respond quite as well as others' DVD players, so you might not have a problem with this, but it seemed like it didn't work very well unless it was pointed pretty directly to the player.

Now, for the good part... it's Disney and my kid loves anything Disney. As a test, I started out working with her, helping her answer the questions and prompting her to push the correct buttons and then I let her go and sat back to observe. Once she was doing it on her own, she wasn't getting the answer correct most of the time, but she still enjoyed playing with it and pretending she was doing even more than just answering the actual questions. 

Who doesn't want to see this face on their TV?

She loves Mickey's Clubhouse and really enjoyed watching the DVD, even if the Mickey Mote wasn't quite up her alley. She dances and sings along to the songs and bottom line, I think this will be a lot more fun and appropriate for her several months from now. This is the first kind of "video game" she has been introduced to at home, so I think she'll catch on with a little practice. I'm thinking four and five year olds will really get this right away and for two and three year olds, it's something you and your child will probably have to play with together and learn as you go. Nothing wrong with that.

Just in time for holiday shopping, the new Mickey Mote will be available beginning Nov 16, 2010, packaged in a DVD Play Set with either Mickey Mouse: Clubhouse Numbers Roundup or Handy Manny: Big Construction Job. It retails for around $29.99 and the other Discovery Mode enhanced DVDs are already on the market and ready to use with your new Mickey Mote, including Handy Manny's Motocycle Adventure, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally, Little Einstein's Fire Truck Rocket's Blast Off and six additional titles.

I hope you found this review helpful and happy Mickey Moting everyone! Woohoo!

I was not compensated for this review and I did receive the product to facilitate my review. All opinions expressed on this blog are completely my own. So there.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Giveaway!

MGM just released the 1968 family classic, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, on blu-ray DVD and to celebrate, Aubrey and I attended a special screening of the movie at The Grove in Los Angeles. Where we were treated to popcorn, drinks, a Scrumptious Sweet Co. candy bar and even got to see Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes (Truly Scrumptious) in person. To say it was a bit of a childhood dream come true would be an understatement.

Aubrey was thrilled beyond words (um, did you see these lollipop bushes mommy?) and is absolutely hooked on the tittle song. Even if she does pronounce it "Kitty Kitty Bang Bang" it's music to my ears hearing her sing a song from my childhood. 

We did end up leaving shortly after intermission (yes... there's an intermission) because the movie is 144 minutes long - you do the math. My kid is three. But she really did love what she saw and now we own the new blu-ray DVD so we can watch the parts she likes the best, right at home. The DVD also has some great extras like a sing-along, interactive games, Sherman Brothers' demos (the brilliant composers who wrote the music for this movie and other classics like Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and The Aristocrats), Remembering Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke and more.

It had been a loooong time since I had seen this movie and I think I like it even more now. So much fun and Dick Van Dyke really is a true icon. However, if you remember the scene when all the dogs run into the Scrumptious Sweet Company factory during the Toot Sweets number, I'm about 100% sure I saw a dog fall from the upper walkway in the background. I'm not kidding. I couldn't stop thinking about it for the rest of the movie. Oy! OK... anyway... Now you need to get the DVD so you can see it, and...

Now you can! The good folks at MGM have given two copies of the new hi-def transfered blu-ray Chitty Chitty Bang Bang DVD for me to giveaway to my blog readers. Here's how to enter the drawing - each one counts as an entry, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each action. It's easier for me to count them this way:

1) Follow my blog on GFC

2) Leave a comment about a memory of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang OR tell me if you haven't seen it yet!

3) Tweet this giveaway - here's something you can copy and paste:

"Enter to win a blu-ray DVD of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on @TheAmyAnderson 's blog: http://tinyurl.com/29da6m7 HURRY Ends 11/7! Plz RT!"

Here's the fine print, but I'll actually leave it normal size so you can read it. If you remember this movie, then you're OLD like me... This giveaway will end at midnight PST on Sunday, November 7, 2010. Two recipients will be chosen from the entries, using Random.org. A shipping address must be received from the recipient within 24 hours of notification or a new recipient will be chosen.

I was not compensated to write this review. I did receive copies of the DVD as a gift and giveaway items and attended a screening of the DVD to facilitate my review. So there. 

Disney Interactive Game Night Was A HIT!

Last week, Aubrey and I had the opportunity to attend the Disney Interactive Game Night at Hollywood and Highland. Disney always throws a classy, family friendly shindig, and this party was no exception.

Aubrey is going to be three in two weeks and I went alone with her, so I spent a lot of the time wrangling her rather than playing games, but what we did experience, we really loved! Also, Aubrey is just below the target age for many of these family games, so we haven't gotten into gaming at home yet (I'm still bragging about "flipping" our home version of Atari Asteroids when I was in third grade), but it's good to know Disney is making some quality family games.

Since Aubrey doesn't really know what video games are yet, I told her we were going to a "special party" by Disney. She kept asking if Mickey Mouse was going to be there so I was worried she might be a little disappointed to find out it wasn't a Mouse party, but I was wrong. She had a blast!

The first game we checked out was the oh-so popular Club Penguin. Every parent and kid on the planet seems to know more about Club Penguin than I do so I thought I should see what all the excitement it all about. It was really cute and I can see how kids get hooked on it. We had fun just picking out outfits for our penguin!

Next we tried Toy Story Mania. OK, let me amend that... AUBREY tried Toy Story Mania. I think I mentioned that the last video games I played were the Atari classics - Tank, Pitfall, Pong. I am really bad at modern video games - mainly because they make me a little dizzy and motion sick and I can't figure out the controls. It's a good thing that my almost 3 year old picked up the controller for Toy Story Mania and figured out how to make Jessie the Cowgirl jump on and off her horse and ride all over the screen! Even the guy demoing the game for us was a little surprised. Kids!

Aubrey is currently horse obsessed after visiting relatives with horses last month, so this game was a real hit for her! I can't wait to take her to Toy Story 3 later in June!

The third and final game we played was definitely our favorite - Sing It: Family Hits. All of my favorite Disney family movie songs (Supercalifragilis, Winnie The Pooh, Kiss The Girl...) in karaoke mode! For a woman who makes her living on stage with a microphone and her kid who is a bigger ham than her, this game was a blast. I couldn't get Aubrey away so I can imagine a game like this may easily be in our future.

Just before we left, we caught a glimpse of an iPad demo of some of the cool Disney Interactive apps. The games looked really cool, but I have to admit I was just excited to touch an iPad.... oooooohhhhh!

I should mention that there were MANY more games that we didn't get to. Titles like Phineas and Ferb, Split Second, Toon Town, Cars, Guilty Party, Pixie Hollow and more were all there and everyone seemed to be having fun.

Of course, it wouldn't be a complete Disney party without awesome, family friendly food. Disney is great at putting together buffets that are gourmet versions of things kids love to eat, so the adults are in food heaven too. The buffet included cheeseburger and shrimp po' boy sliders, onion rings, French fries, fruit kabobs, hummus, wraps, quesadillas and more but the best part was the desserts which included home made ho hos, ding dongs and twinkies that were out of this world. The banana pudding and apple pastries were great too and the kids were all over the Club Penguin snow cones.

Overall, it was a great night and it was such a treat to be able to share it with my daughter. She really had fun and is still talking about the "special party". Thank you Disney Interactive for a special night together!

My Daughter's New Squeeze: Mickey Mouse

Ignore the look of fear! She was REALLY excited!

Last month my daughter - 2 year old Aubrey - and I had the privilege of being invited to a really fun Disney event: Mickey's Virtual Train Tour. This special event was the final stop in Mickey's virtual train tour from Kansas City to Los Angeles. It was held at the Griffith Park Travel Town Museum and I have to say, anything I have ever attended that was put on by Disney has been such a blast!

THE Mouse, himself, was there to greet the toddlers and their parents. We were treated to a private screening of the new primetime special Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Choo Choo Express which aired on the Disney Channel on Oct 25 and will be released on DVD on Amazon on December 1, 2009. The kids got also got to play with the new Fisher Price Mickey's Magic Choo Choo train toy. I was pleasantly surprised that this train toy was a big hit with my daughter as she has never expressed much interest in playing with trains. She'd rather ride them... and we got to do that too!

The Travel Town Museum has a really cool kiddie sized train that loops around the museum and it's big enough for adults to ride along. It's a nice long ride and my daughter loved every minute. Little ones were also treated to a a Hot Dog Dance lesson, coloring pages station, photos and hugs with Mickey Mouse, balloons and hunky Marines handing out take home surprises (a kiddie train conductor's hat, a book, some temporary tatoos)! This was mommy's favorite part.

I'll be honest here - I wasn't sure if my daughter even knew who Mickey Mouse was. We mostly watch Nick Jr in our house and she had only been to Disneyland once when she was 18 months old. But when I told her we were going to meet Mickey Mouse she got VERY excited. Something about the sound of his name, I guess. For about a year, she use to confuse him with Chuck E Cheese (sorry Disney) but after this event, there is no mistaking the #1 mouse in her life. She was totally smitten and we had a great time. Thank you Disney for some fantastic, happy memories from a special day together!

Here is a little video of Aubrey, waiting patiently, for her turn with a personal hang with Mickey Mouse. They played a little pat-a-cake: