Disney Junior

Shaw Go: Three NEW Disney Apps! #Giveaway

May 7, 2014 By Lena

NOTE: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Are you a Shaw Cable or Shaw Direct subscriber? Do you have a Disney fanatic (or two, or three) in your home? Then listen up – because this one’s for you!

Shaw Communications Inc. recently announced the release of three additional Shaw Go kids apps exclusively available to Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct subscribers. Designed with kids in mind, these new apps will provide kids and parents alike with access to popular children’s shows including, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Austin & Ally and Mighty Med. Shaw Go Family, Shaw Go Disney XD and Shaw Go Disney Junior are available for download now on iOS and Android devices.

We all experience those times when a “patented kid distraction” is called for. Sometimes, it comes in the form of a snack, or a colouring book, and more often than not – with our little technical geniuses – it means we have to whip out a tablet or phone and cue up some on-demand entertainment. My boys are the perfect candidates for Shaw Go Disney Junior, which allows kids to watch their favourite shows from the Disney Junior network. It utilizes a character-driven carousel and easy-to-navigate display perfect for children ages 2-7. (Then again, my boys can figure out practically any electronic gadget, so the navigation is actually child’s play.)

To keep things moving along and the kiddos happily entertained, the Shaw Go Disney Junior app uses adaptive streaming, an innovative technique that ensures the quality of video is commensurate with the strength of your Internet signal. This way, even those using devices with weak signals are able to enjoy the content. Meltdown averted! …

The Magic of Play: Disney Junior and LEGO DUPLO

March 15, 2014 By Lena

Could there be a better combination for tiny tots? The magic of Disney Junior plus the fun of LEGO DUPLO? Oh my, it’s a match made in playtime heaven!

Introducing the Magic of Play tour! Disney Junior and LEGO DUPLO are hitting the road together with fun filled, FREE indoor events in 5 cities across Canada. Children can build and discover the many ways to play with LEGO DUPLO bricks while they watch and enjoy their favourite Disney Junior shows! Plus, all kiddos who stop by will take home a special Magic of Play activity booklet, which is chock full of learning fun. The best part: it’s all totally free!

My little guys had a chance to check out the tour when it hit Fairview Mall in Toronto, ON. In addition to the bright and colourful stations featuring popular LEGO DUPLO play sets, there were several play agents on hand to help them create, build and be inspired. We arrived just before the mall opened to the public as part of the media preview, so there were a *few* cameras on hand, recording the boys as they played. Lucky for Ryder, he loves to give interviews!…

Henry Hugglemonster: Meet the Hugglemonsters

January 7, 2014 By Lena

If you just looked at the title of this post and thought, WHAT. THE. HECK…. Congratulations, you don’t have young children. And even though I’m a mom to two, until just a few short months ago, I too was blissfully unaware of Henry and his Hugglemonster family. In fact, my introduction to the insanely popular Disney Junior show went something like this:

Reid: I want to watch Henry Hugglemonster.
Me: WHAT the heck is that?

Turns out, darling son had discovered the television series via Disney Junior and was hooked like a Hugglemonster.

“Welcome to the newest, happiest, most monster-rific spot on the map – the wondrous land of Roarsville – where five-year old Henry Hugglemonster lives, plays and learns something “roarsome” every day!

Together with his loving parents and grandparents, big brother Cobby, sister Summer, baby bro Ivor, and a town full of cuddly monsters, Henry embraces all the joys and challenges of growing up. Whether he’s helping his sister put on a show, setting up a hugglejuice stand or entering his monsterdog Beckett in a pet pageant, he’s always discovering new ways to be the best brother, friend and monster he can be!”

So here’s the scoop. Henry Hugglemonster: Meet the Hugglemonsters is available on DVD January 14th. I was lucky to get my hands on an advanced copy, and since its arrival, I’ve seen less and less of Reid.

He is obsessed with watching the DVD. I find myself laughing along with all the silly jokes. My husband is singing the theme song in the shower. We are turning into a family of Hugglemonster addicts, which may or may not require a 12 step program. The show is that good.

The DVD run time is approximately 144 minutes, is available in 1.78:1 Widescreen, and includes the following episodes:

1 – “The Huggleflower/“Monster Lullaby”
2 – “Astrobrix”/“The Sore Roar”
3 – “Promises Promises”/“Fireworks Night”
4- “The Hugglejuice Stand”/ “The Huggledance Party”
5- “Carried Away”/“Monster in Charge”
6 – “Monsterpet Pageant”/“Ivor’s First Stomp”

PLUS a Bonus Episode: “Horseshoe Peck/Callie’s Gold Nugget”

Henry Hugglemonster: Meet the Hugglemonsters is available for pre-order on Amazon.ca for $19.44, and will be released on January 14th, 2014. Folks, if you have pre-school or school-aged children in your life, THIS is the DVD that will take you through the long, cold winter. With temperatures hovering around -40°C today in Toronto, you can bet we’ll be having a Henry Hugglemonster-thon… Hey hey hey! Have a Henry Hugglemonster Day!

A Royal Cameo: Belle Visits Sofia the First!

November 9, 2013 By Lena

Last December, while at Walt Disney World for the New Fantasyland media trip, we were treated to a very special sneak peek: the first episode of Sofia the First – a whole month before its official debut!

Okay, so the truth is, we weren’t invited to a fancy screening that was hush-hush or otherwise “exclusive”. The first episode was part of the in-room entertainment rotation, and let me tell you… it rotated. Like, 8 times per day. So by the end of the 5-day trip, I had a pretty decent understanding of Sofia the First.

And, I had a pretty good idea that the show would be a HIT.

Think about it. Here’s a lovably humble, kind and courteous little girl who becomes a princess after her mother marries King Roland II of the kingdom of Enchancia. She has the incredibly powerful magical Amulet of Avalor that grants her the ability to talk to and understand animals (huzzah!), but the amulet is coveted by the evil sorcerer Cedric who wants its great magical power so he can use it to take over the kingdom (boo!).

However, Sofia the First is about so much more than just entertainment for wee ones; the entire series focuses on character qualities such as kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty and grace. And even though I have two little boys, the lessons taught by Princess Sofia are not lost on them; when I asked Ryder why he loves the show, he said – and I quote – “Sofia is nice. Sometimes, when a person does something wrong, she doesn’t make them feel bad about it. And she always helps if she can. I wish she was in my class. Can I go to her school?”

On Sunday, November 10th, Disney Junior will feature a very special new episode of Sofia the First with a guest appearance by Belle (from Beauty and the Beast)! This episode,called “The Amulet and the Anthem” will premiere at 11:30am ET on Sunday morning.

“Sofia’s magical amulet bestows a curse upon her after she becomes a bit too boastful about being chosen to sing the Enchancian Anthem at the Harvest Festival. Sofia gets a special visit from Princess Belle who offers her some advice.”

BONUS: If you’re looking for extra entries for Disney Junior’s Princesses & Heroes contest, you can snag 25 entries by catching the Bonus Code, which will appear during the special episode!

(Enter it right after the premiere by clicking here. In Disney Junior’s Princesses & Heroes contest, you and your family could travel to Toronto to experience Disney On Ice! The grand prize includes round trip flights for a family of up to 4, a two-night hotel stay for a family of up to 4, rinkside seats to Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes, the opportunity to meet a star from the show, plus a special $1,000 shopping spree experience from The Disney Store!)

We’ll be tuning in on Sunday morning – I hope you will too!

I’m part of the Disney Junior Mom program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group.
The opinions on this blog are my own.