disney Archives - SoCal with Kids

Oz the Great and Powerful ~ Movie Review + Oz Inspired Activities!

March 7, 2013 By socalwithkids

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, arrived a Wizard, or so thought the people living in the land of Oz! The new Disney movie, Oz the Great and Powerful, is thrilling, and at times, literally had me jumping out of my seat.

“Disney’s fantastical adventure “Oz The Great and Powerful,” directed by Sam Raimi, imagines the origins of L. Frank Baum’s beloved wizard character. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking—that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity—and even a bit of wizardry—Oscar transforms himself not only into the great wizard but into a better man as well.”

Trailer

Review
I attended a media advance screening of the film, which was viewed in 3D. This movie has a yellow brick road, but is unlike other versions of Oz. It had an amazing set, incredible cinematography, wonderful costumes, and superb music, by Danny Elfmann. The movie, as a whole, was great, but in many ways, very different than your typical Disney film. It had me laughing, surprised and enlightened some of the twists and turns that I did not foresee, and at times, truly startled.

My favorite character from the film was Finley, a charming, talking, flying, monkey. He has lovable eyes, and a good heart. I wish I could take him home!

This was probably the first Disney movie that I’ve seen on the big-screen that did not have me in tears because of heart-felt pull-strings. This is not a bad thing, just different. Although this film is rated PG, in my opinion, it’s definitely not for the younger kids. It’s much more sinister than other Disney films. It’s not for the faint at heart. As stated above, certain scenes literally had me jumping out of my seat.

In my opinion, the suggested minimum age for viewing this film in the theatre, in 3D, would be age 10-12. If you choose to take a child younger than that, just beware that there are some very dark scenes, and intense moments, which are accentuated by the 3D. With that being said, as well as the length of the film (127 minutes), I think tweens on up are a good fit for viewing film.

World of Oz Featurette

Oz Inspired Party Ideas
I know many people have been super excited about the release of this film. For those of you planning a party to view the film with friends, this write up, by BRIT + CO., has some cute ideas that you could easily do when planning an OZ party: 15 DIY Ideas for the Ultimate Oz Party. I could see these ideas used as fun tween girl activities for an Oz inspired sleep over.

Oz Inspired Activities for the Littles
For those of you with younger kids that want get into the spirit of Oz, there are some links below to PDF’s with fun activities. You’ll need a PDF viewer to download the sheets. Here’s a LINK to one, in case you need it. (Oz the Great and Powerful activities provided by Disney.)
• Oz the Great and Powerful Finley Mask
• Oz the Great and Powerful Maze
• Oz the Great and Powerful Memory Cards
• Oz the Great and Powerful Spot the Differences Game

P.S. Oz the Great and Powerful opens in theaters on March 8, 2013.

We were invited by the Disney® Studios to attend an advanced screening of OZ the Great and Powerful. Many thanks to Walt Disney Studios Publicity for the opportunity to view the film. Our opinions are our own.

Filed Under: Oz the Great and Powerful Tagged With: disney, land of oz, movie, oz the great and powerful, wizard of oz

Holiday Season Safety Tips From Radio Disney and UL

December 1, 2012 By socalwithkids

Radio Disney and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have teamed up to promote safety during this holiday season and together they’ve come up with many great ideas for families to incorporate into this special time of year. Below are some great tips they’ve shared with us, which we’d like to pass on to you for a SAFE and happy holiday season!

• Water your Christmas tree daily.
• Blow out unattended candles.
• Always make sure your holiday lights and decorations bear the UL Mark of Safety.
• Only plug in one plug per outlet.
• When online shopping, be aware of what personal information you are providing.
• Always log off a website before you close your browser.
• Stay at least 3 feet away from portable heaters.
• Keep stairways and pathways free of clutter.
• Remind your kids to dial 9-1-1 in emergencies.
• Make sure your home has a UL listed Carbon Monoxide alarm, UL listed Fire Extinguishers and a home escape plan.

About Radio Disney
Radio Disney is the #1, 24-hour radio network devoted to kids, tweens and families. Kids help pick the music that is played and are encouraged to interact via a toll-free phone line to the Radio Disney studio. The network’s current playlist, driven by listener requests and representing major record labels, includes recording artists Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, One Direction, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Cody Simpson, Mindless Behavior and Adele. The network is available on 31 owned terrestrial radio stations and is also available via RadioDisney.com, Sirius XM satellite radio on channel 79, iTunes Radio Tuner, mobile phones, the Radio Disney iPhone and Android Apps, and the Radio Disney Facebook page.

About Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
UL is a premier global safety science company with more than 100 years of proven history. Employing nearly 10,000 professionals in 46 countries, UL is evolving the future of safety with five distinct business units – Product Safety, Environment, Life & Health, Verification and Knowledge Services – to meet the expanding needs of customers and the global public. For more information on UL’s family of companies and network of 95 laboratory, testing, and certification facilities, go to UL.com.

Filed Under: Holiday Safety Tagged With: christmas, disney, family, holidays, kids, safety, tips

Ideas To Make Your Trip To The Disneyland Resort Even More Special!

October 19, 2012 By socalwithkids

We’re huge Disney fans, and are often asked for ideas of how to make a visit to the Parks even more special. There are quite a few ways to make your Disney experience more unique and memorable. Here are some ideas we came up with to share:

Free Pins
Pick up your free pins such as “I’m Celebrating”, “Birthday”, “1st Visit”, “Anniversary”, etc… from City Hall, when you enter Disneyland. You may also pick them up at the Guest Relations office at the entrance to California Adventure. You’d be surprised how attentive the Cast Members are to guests wearing the pins, with greetings throughout the visit.

Character Dining
Get lots of face-time with characters, including many photo opps by eating at one of the Character meals at the Disneyland Hotel, Grand Californian, Disneyland, or California Adventure.

Search For Hidden Mickeys
Buy a Hidden Mickey book at one of the gift shops at the entrance to Disneyland and search for Hidden Mickey’s throughout the Parks. This is a lot of fun, and a great thing to do with the entire family. Once you start, you’re hooked!

Signature, Please!
Buy an Autograph Book, or bring your own, and have characters sign it during your visit.

Visit Downtown Disney
Be sure to take a walk around Downtown Disney. Visit the shops and restaurants, listen to music by one of the live performers (from our experience they mostly perform at night), sit, relax and take in the moment.

Pin Trading
Trade pins that you’ve purchased with pins belonging to Cast Members or visitors wishing to trade. Pins are available for purchase throughout the Resort. These are different pins than the ones that are free from Town Hall. Many times we see people trading near the bakery inside Disneyland, but if you see a Cast Member with a pin you’d like, stop them anywhere and ask to trade.

Pressed Coins
Collect pressed coins from around the Parks. You can pick up a free map showing where you can find the coin pressing machines from Town Hall, inside Disneyland.

Eat One Special Meal
Eat one special meal within the Parks, such as at the Blue Bayou. Here you can watch the boats of Pirates of the Caribbean float by the restaurant as you dine.

Get A Photo Pass
Have Park photographers take photos of your family, which they’ll put on a free Disney Photo Pass. Each time you have a Park photographer snap your shot, hand them the Photo Pass to add the photos on for you. You can view them for up to 30 days from the time they were taken, purchase the ones you’re interested in, or buy nothing at all. Sometimes it’s hard to get all of the family in the same shots on your own, but it’s easy to have a Disney photographer do so, and add to a Photo Pass.

Special Tours
Take a special tour, such as Walk in Walt’s Footsteps. This is one thing that we have yet to do, but have heard great things about. Sounds super fun!

Jump On Board the Main Street Vehicles
Take a ride on the double decker bus, horse drawn carriage, and old car at Disneyland. You can hop on one of these modes of transportation from either Main Street, or in front of the Disneyland Castle for a one-way trip. We’ve often taken one after the other for a fun and memorable experience just as we enter the Park. You can now also take a ride on the trolley inside California Adventure. The trolley is also a one-way trip, so ask the attendant the details prior to boarding. Super fun!

Get A FASTPASS®
Whenever possible, get a free FASTPASS® for each member of your party, for each ride you’d like to go on. The FASTPASS® kiosks are located near the rides and will give you a return time for you to get on the ride. You could potentially save yourself a lot of time by using the FASTPASS® option.

Take It All In
Find a comfortable spot, buy a treat, sit, and take in the atmosphere. Part of what makes Disney so special are the little things, like the music, the smell of freshly popped popcorn, and beautiful decor. Be sure to take some time to simply sit and enjoy your surroundings.

These are some of the things that we thought of that can make your trip to Disney even more special. What ideas do you have to enhance a trip to The Happiest Place On Earth? Perhaps we’ll see you there!

Not a sponsored post. We are big Disney fans, and visit the Parks often. Our opinions are our own.

Filed Under: Making Disney Even More Special Tagged With: california adventure, celebrate, disney, disneyland, family, kids

The Odd Life of Timothy Green Movie Review & Summer Fun Kit!

August 11, 2012 By socalwithkids

Image courtesy of Disney.

I knew from the moment my 7 year old daughter and I watched the trailer of the new Disney movie, The Odd Life of Timothy Green that it was a true pull-at-your-heartstrings kind of film. As we sat at my computer watching the trailer I started crying. My 7 year old hugged me and told me “It’s okay mommy”. I hugged her back, and told her “I know. Mommy’s just emotional.” Although I never had problems with infertility myself, I could very much relate to the premise of the film, and desire to have a family of my own.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green is about a couple (roles played by Jennifer Garner & Joel Edgerton) that truly desire a child of their own, but are unable to conceive. After getting home from being told they’ve tried everything, in a very positive manner, they jot down ideas of characteristics and life events of their ideal would-be child. They put the ideas in a wooden box, and bury it in their yard. After a stormy night the husband and wife find a 10 year old boy at their home, calling himself Timothy, claiming to be from their garden (role played by Cameron “CJ” Adams).

Review
I took our 7 year old to an advance screening of the movie, and we both loved it. We liked everything from the story line, to the beautiful location chosen for the film, to the funny moments that made us laugh out loud. Just as I thought, I cried plenty, starting before the end of the opening credits. I thought the acting was superb, and loved the characters in the film. There were some interesting twists in the story line that surprised me. It made me appreciate that which I have all that much more.

Although I took our eldest child with me to the screening, I think younger kids would enjoy the movie as well. I’m not sure that our almost 5 year old would have understood the premise of the film, but I do think he’d enjoy it. There were many kids his age and younger at the screening, all of whom seemed to enjoy it. The film would also be a fun date night movie for parents. It had lots of applause at the end, and I’d be happy to see it over and over.

Summer Fun Kit Inspired by the Film
We have a neat Summer Fun Kit to share with you, inspired by the movie, filled with activities to do at home with your kids. The kit includes crafts, recipes, and more! The document is a PDF file, and can be downloaded at this LINK. Don’t have a PDF Reader on your computer? Click HERE to download one. (Fun Kit courtesy of Disney.)

Online Q & A with Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner, the beautiful, leading female actress in the film, is participating in an interactive online chat about the film via webcam, on Tuesday, August 14th, 2012, at 2:45pm EST. This is a free online Q & A that includes a virtual sneak peek of the movie that YOU can participate in as well. You do not have to be a blogger to join the chat. Jennifer will answer select question from participants. RSVP HERE. Perhaps we’ll virtually “see” you there!

P.S. The Odd Life of Timothy Green opens in theaters on Wednesday, August 15th, 2012.

: Image courtesy of Disney.

: Image courtesy of Disney.

: Image courtesy of Disney.

: Image courtesy of Disney.

: Image courtesy of Disney.

: Image courtesy of Disney.

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Disclosure: We were invited by the Disney® Studios to attend an advanced screening of The Odd Life of Timothy Green. We were not compensated by any means other than entry to the screening, and our opinions are our own. Many thanks to Walt Disney Studios Publicity for the opportunity to view the film!

Filed Under: The Odd Life of Timothy Green Tagged With: disney, family, film, movie, the odd life of timothy green

BRAVE Review ~ A Great Disney•Pixar Summer Film!

June 21, 2012 By socalwithkids

Image courtesy of Disney.

Last night I had the opportunity to take our daughter to a special advance screening of the new Disney•Pixar movie “BRAVE”. Of course, our daughter was incredibly excited to see the film, and especially excited to see the fiery red headed lead character, Merida, on the big screen!

Just as you’d expect with any Disney•Pixar movie, there’s great action, incredible graphics and animation, as well as a great story line. It made me laugh, cry, and had some great lessons. What you don’t expect is what makes this movie fabulous.

I don’t want to blow the film prior to you seeing it, but here’s the gist of the flick. “BRAVE” is about a princess (Merida), but she’s no ordinary princess. In fact, Merida is anything like an ordinary princess. She’s a strong willed, defiant teenager with untamed, crazy (but beautiful), red hair and a love of archery. She climbs rocks, is rebellious, and has no desire to have a love interest. Very refreshing! Aside from Merida, there were a bunch of other memorable characters including Angus, Merida’s horse, a handful of Scottish brutes, and Merida’s three young, mischievous triplet brothers.

The root of story is that of a struggle between Merida and her mother regarding age-old customs. In an attempt to change her fate, Merida seeks the help of a witch, who grants her an ill-fated wish which causes chaos amongst the land. Merida must use all her resources, and her own bravery to undo the curse, and save her mother.

There were a few short, scary scenes in the film. Our daughter didn’t seem to be affected by them at all, but our almost 5 year old son may have been a bit frightened for a few moments. The scary parts were minimal, and comparable to many in previously released Disney® films.

All in all, we loved “BRAVE”. The film has some great lessons, and is by no means a film just for girls or children for that matter. The screening we attended was mainly filled with adults, all of whom seemed to have been equally immersed in the movie.

“BRAVE” opens on June 22, 2012, in Disney Digital 3D™ in select theaters. I’m sure we’ll take our son to see it in the theater as well, as he’s been equally excited for its release. Perhaps we’ll see you there!

: Image courtesy of Disney®.

: Image courtesy of Disney®.

: Image courtesy of Disney®.

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Disclosure: We were invited by the Disney® Studios to attend an advanced screening of “BRAVE”. We were not compensated by any other means, and our opinions are our own. Many thanks to Walt Disney Studios Publicity for the opportunity to view the film!

Filed Under: BRAVE Tagged With: brave, disney, film, merida, movie, pixar, review, summer

Disneyland

May 14, 2011 By socalwithkids

Disneyland, located in the Anaheim area of Orange County, is likely the most popular theme park in Southern California, and for good reason! There is so much to see and do! You could easily spend several days at the park. It’s one of our family’s favorite SoCal destinations!

Website: Disneyland
Twitter: @Disneyland

Get a FREE full-color guidebook with the purchase of a Go City Card or Explorer Pass