Playhouse Disney Becomes Disney Junior on Feb. 14 ’11

Starting tomorrow, Feb. 14th ’11, Playhouse Disney is changing to Disney Junior! Disney Junior is a new multiplatform brand devoted to children ages 2-7 and their families that includes TV, radio, and online programming. Disney Junior will invite parents and grandparents to join their children in the Disney experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters, both classic and new, while incorporating specific learning and developmental themes.

Among the new series are “Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” an animated adventure combining new and classic Disney characters Captain Hook and Smee (“Peter Pan”); a series of Disney Poetry Shorts which showcases poems for children set against classic Disney animation; two short form series, “Mickey Mousekersize” and “Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps,” to encourage healthy lifestyles for preschoolers and families; “Babar and the Adventures of Badou,” an updated version of the classic “Babar,” that introduces King Babar’s energetic eight-year-old grandson, Badou, and friends as they explore the world of Celesteville; and “Tinga Tinga Tales,” a vibrant animated adventure inspired by traditional African animal folktales and the art of Tanzania. Playhouse Disney hits “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Handy Manny,” “Special Agent Oso” and “Imagination Movers,” among others, will be part of Disney Junior.

As part of Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living initiative, which encourages healthier lifestyles for kids and families, Disney Junior will premiere two new short-form series, “Mickey Mousekersize” and “Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps.” Hosted by Mickey Mouse, “Mickey Mousekersize” focuses on the fun of exercising and encourages children at home to get up and move along with Mickey and pals. “Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps” features Oso and friends as they watch a live-action kid demonstrate three healthy steps to exercising and eating right.

To learn more about the new shows and watch an episode of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, visit www.DisneyJunior.com!  If you’re a Disney Junior fan, you can Like the Disney Junior Facebook page  too!

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: Mickey’s Big Splash and Imagination Movers: Warehouse Mouse Edition

mickeys-big-splashJoin all your friends from the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the hottest day of the year in Mickey’s Big Splash, out on DVD today. Mickey and his pals are cooling off at Star Lake and Pete is hosting a Hawaiian luau, and they need you to pick the right mousketools to make it the best beach party ever!  Reel in a big fish with Mickey, float above the clouds with Pluto in a giant soap bubble and help Donald rescue a flock of lost ducks. Mickey’s Big Splash has lots of music and fun!

imagination-movers-warehouse-mouseImagination Movers: Warehouse Mouse Edition has four episodes featuring Dave, Scott, Rich and Smitty along with Nina, their neighbor Knit Knots and the Warehouse Mouse.  What each situation needs is some imagination! This high-energy show gets kids moving, dancing, and singing along while learning about how teamwork and creativity can help solve “idea emergencies”.

I received both of these DVDs from Click for review.  At $12.99 each (Amazon.com price), both DVDs are affordable and a fun addition to your DVD collection. Look for them in stores today.

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It’s a Disney Music Block Party!

Summer isn’t over yet, and Disney Records is celebrating with tours of some of their best music groups like They Might Be Giants, Dan Zanes, Imagination Movers, and Choo Choo Soul! Thanks to Disney and MomCentral, we received five CDs to get us up and moving and let me tell you, these CDs are FUN! We weren’t able to get through every song on every CD because there are certain children in this house who insist on monopolizing the entertainment center with their oh-so-important video games, ahem, but we did discover some favorites in the bunch.

The CDs we received are:

  • Ralph’s World, The Rhyming Circus
  • Disney Music Block Party
  • Imagination Movers, Juice Box Heroes
  • They Might Be Giants, Here Come The 123s
  • Choo Choo Soul
  • My personal favorite is Choo Choo Soul, because on the Disney channel, they play this video called “Steam Train”, it goes “All aboard the choo choo train, all aboard the choo choo train. All aboard the choo choo train, all aboard, all aboard”. Every time I hear it, I end up singing it all day! The singer, Genevieve, has a wonderful voice and a great sense of rhythm and style, I listen to that CD in the van even when the kids aren’t with me :)

    Please visit the Disney Music Block Party website for more information about the CDs, about summer tour dates for Disney Artists (They Might Be Giants will be in Long Island, New York from Friday, August 22nd – Sunday, August 24th, 2008!), tips for throwing a block party, even a podcast for preschoolers! Fun!