Final Trailer for Monsters University Released

Disney-Pixar has released the final trailer for Monsters University. Monsters University opens on June 21 and will be shown in both 2D and 3D.

See the official studio boilerplate for more information on Monsters University:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). Check out disney.com/MonstersU, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on twitter.com/disneypixar. Rated G by the MPAA, the film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters.

Disclaimer: I was provided the above information by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. I have not been compensated for sharing information in this post.

Universal Orlando: Universal Express℠ Passes

This spring break, my family visited Universal Orlando. While we have been to Disney many times as a family it was my daughter's first visit to Universal and the first trip since 2000 for my husband and I.

The last time my husband and I had been to Universal Orlando was when they were testing the idea of how to expedite the lines. At the time of our visit, they were giving out handwritten paper passes similar to Disney's Fast Passes to return at a specified time to ride the ride. Basically the passes were distributed from a folding table across from the line entrance and they were logging them in a paper notebook.  I remember we were able to sign-up for a pass for Jurassic Park and use the expedited line 15 minutes after getting our pass despite the 40 minute line at the time.

Since that time, Universal Orlando has adopted the Universal Express℠ system which provides "front of the line" access for most rides (only Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ and Jurassic Park Pteranodon Flyers® are currently excluded). They have two varieties of Universal Express - Standard which is valid for once per ride and can be purchased for either park or both parks and Universal Express - Unlimited which is valid for unlimited times per ride across both parks. Currently unlimited Universal Express℠ is free to Universal Orlando Resort guests*.

Universal Express℠ is an additional cost if you do not stay on site. The cost varies based on projected crowd levels that day. So if you are visiting at a crowded time of year when the pass will be more. We were there the Thursday/Friday before Easter and a one time use pass would have been $89.99/person each day. Since we were visiting at a busy time of year, we felt that Universal Express℠ was going to be a requirement and decided to stay on site since it was less expensive than staying off-site and buying a one-day front of the line pass for three people. We stayed two nights at the Loews Royal Pacific hotel. Hotel guests also receive one hour early admission to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This was key for us as we arrived 30 minutes prior to regular opening and waited 45 minutes to ride. When we exited the ride the line was 90 minutes long and quickly rose to over 2 hours where it stayed most of the day. We did get in line at 11p with another 45 minute wait to ride it again (we rested mid-day).

Look for this
Symbol

With Universal Express℠, you use a separate ride entrance that has a shorter queue. On some rides the Express entrance has its own loading area, on others it merges with the regular line near the loading area. We are very glad that we stayed onsite. While we still waited 15-30 minutes for many rides with the Express pass, some had upwards of 2 hour waits without the pass. We probably saved an average of one hour per ride. It definitely helped us finish both parks in 1.5 days.

Disclaimer: I am an iTunes affiliate and am compensated for sales through iTunes links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links. Please verify app prices as they can change frequently.

A good way to judge predicted crowd levels is to look at the daily pricing of Universal Express℠. While we were at Universal Orlando, we used Universal Orlando Maps Free by VersaEdge Software, LLC for our iPhones to find ride wait times. We found it to be reasonably accurate in wait times (The wait times are user submitted, so I would submit wait times as well.). The paid version ($1.99 currently), Universal Orlando Maps, is the same app but without ads which leads to more visible space on the map. They also offer the Universal Orlando Magic Guide (currently $3.99) which adds food and dining information to the paid program. You do not need to be in the parks to see wait times, so you could download the program before your trip to see what typical wait times are like and decide if you want Universal Express℠.



*Currently Universal Orlando has three resorts - Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock Hotel®, and Loews Royal Pacific which are all deluxe resorts. In 2014, they are opening a moderate resort, Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Universal Express℠ will only be provided free to the deluxe resort guests. Guests at all resort levels will receive one hour early admission to Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Universal Orlando: Lockers

Universal Orlando Lockers - by ffg on Flickr -
Used under Creative Commons Attribution License

Many rides at the Universal Orlando parks do not allow you to bring any loose objects on board (purses, water bottles, backpacks,hats, sunglasses, souvenir bags, etc). Fortunately, Universal provides complimentary lockers at these rides so you do not have to try to spend a day in the parks without any of these items.

Lockers are located near the start of the line queue and provide a limited time for FREE. Since we stayed on site and had the Universal Express front of the line pass, the complimentary time was sufficient. Lockers are locked and unlocked by fingerprint at touch screen kiosks located in the locker bays. Be sure to remember your locker number for when you return.

We visited at one of the busiest times of year (the Thursday/Friday before Easter). There were sufficient lockers at each ride, although once or twice we had to find which section of lockers still had them available. With the crowds, there was often a line of 2-3 people at the kiosk to rent or open your locker

Now for the two downsides of the locker rental:

Be the Mean Mom/Dad
If your child is anything like mine, they will think the locker fingerprint is cool and beg to be the one to do the locker. I'm warning you now, don't give in like I did. Stay strong, be the Mean Mom (or dad) and don't let them. Why do you have to be the mean parent? Because it won't work with a kids fingerprint. It will let you think it has worked by processing the fingerprint and unlocking your locker. But, when you return it will not open. You will have to search out an attendant and have them unlock your locker through their touch screen. We had this problem with my daughter and when we found the attendant another family had the same problem. My original thought was that maybe the kids fingerprints were too small so the reader was confused. But, upon more thought I am wondering if it is a children's privacy issue and they don't save fingerprints under a certain size.

Paid Lockers when you want them
Interestingly the lockers were free when you were not allowed to bring items on rides such as for The Mummy, Men in Black, Spiderman, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, etc. However on the water rides such as Jurassic Park where you want to protect your items, you had to pay for the lockers. (And don't let your locker close as it will lock itself as opposed to the free lockers that waited for you to push the button. Yes, I had to pay for a locker twice.

Walt Disney World: Jedi Training Academy

If your child is a Star Wars lover and you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World, you should plan to check out the Jedi Training Academy. Your child (ages 4-12) will receive Jedi training and have a chance to fight a Sith Lord on stage, typically Darth Vader. Best of all, participation is FREE with your admission to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Darth Vader & Darth Maul arrive

Jedi Training Academy is held on the stage to the left of the Star Tours entrance. There are several sessions through the day. The event is popular, and signup close to park opening is typically required for even the evening shows. Children return 30 minutes before their scheduled show time. They are entertained with Star Wars trivia questions and are given their robes. My daughter answered the second or third question and then stopped raising her hand. At one point there was a question that no one had answered correctly, but that I was pretty sure my daughter knew the answer to. I asked why she wasn't raising her hand and she said she wanted to give the other kids a chance to answer. I finally convinced her that she could raiser her hand if no one else was, or people had the answer wrong.

When it is time for the show, the children are then escorted by staff members to the training stage. I recommend one adult waiting with the child(ren) and the rest of the party obtaining a good viewing/photographing location.

Jedi Trainees are Guided into Position

If your child wishes to participate, I recommend arriving at Disney's Hollywood Studios at park opening and heading straight to the signup location outside the ABC Sound Stage. One parent and the participating children need to be at the signup slot, but do not need to have their park ticket so another adult can take the tickets and secure Toy Story Midway Mania Fast Passes. I was a little worried about being able to secure a slot for my daughter since we were there Easter week which is one of the parks busiest times. Fortunately Disney had responded with an increased frequency of shows (they were almost continuous at mid-day) and increased capacity with both Darth Vader and Darth Maul fighting so they had almost double the number of slots. They filled the Jedi Training Academy shows mostly in order, however they were willing to work with those who had lunch reservations and could not make a certain show time.

The show starts with Jedi teaching the children some basic light saber moves and then they each have a chance to fight. My daughter was originally lined up to fight Darth Maul in front of the stage, but during training they moved her up to the main stage to fight Darth Vader. Below is the video I took of my daughter fighting Darth Vader using my iPhone.

I loved her enthusiasm in attacking Vader and how the Jedi responds:


In case you are wondering, no they don't get to keep their robes or their lightsabers. Lightsabers are available for purchase in the nearby Tattoine Traders store, with the option to create a customized lightsaber. Each child does receive a certificate at the end. Disney PhotoPass photographers also make sure to capture each child, and will provide you with a special card for the photos from that show.

Newly Trained Jedi Celebrate

Even if your child does not want to participate, I recommend watching at least part of the show. This was the first trip that my daughter (age 7) wanted to participate. However, in the past she has has always wanted to watch the show. She is already asking to do Jedi Training Academy again on our next trip.

Monsters University New Trailer and Film Clip

With EPIC having been released this week, the next big kids/family movie release of the summer is Monsters University releasing on Friday, June 21. We loved Monsters, Inc. and are eagerly awaiting the release of Monsters University.

Walt Disney Animation Studios has released a new promotional video - "It All Began Here":


They have also released the "first morning" video clip seen here:


I love the first morning clip and the reference to another movie. Did you catch the reference? If so, leave your comment in the comments here or on Facebook.

See the official studio boilerplate for more information on Monsters University:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). Check out disney.com/MonstersU, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on twitter.com/disneypixar. Rated G by the MPAA, the film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters.

Disclaimer: I was provided the above information by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. I have not been compensated for sharing information in this post.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monsters University Build & Grow Projects at Lowe's.

Lowe's offers Build & Grow workshops for kids. The events are typically held twice a month on Saturdays from 10a-noon. This June they will be having two weekends of Monsters University themed projects with sessions on both Saturday and Sunday. Don't forget to check out the Monsters University Trailer.

Monsters University Scarers
from lowesbuildandgrow.com

On Saturday, June 8 at 10a and Sunday, June 9 at 2p, kids can create Monsters University Scarers to get ready for the June 21 release of Monsters University. Advance registration for this event is now available on the Lowe's Build and Grow website. (And as normal, the store nearest me is the only one in my region which is booked).

The weekend the movie is released, kids can build a Monsters University Chest on Saturday, June 22 at 10a and Sunday, June 23 at 2p. Registration begins on Wednesday, June 5.

I took my daughter to a Lowe's Build and Grow workshop last spring and she had a really great time. We would have attended again except the location near our house books up quickly so I often don't know our schedule before it fills up.

Custom Photo Cards for Just $0.99 and FREE Shipping

Disclaimer: I am a CardStore Affiliate and am compensated for sales through CardStore links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

Custom Photo Cards are a great way to celebrate whatever occasions you have coming up. Between Father's Day, anniversaries, and birthdays I need 6 cards in June just for family.

Custom cards also make great invites for your upcoming events. Whether you are planning a birthday party, a graduation party, a Fourth of July party, or just a fun summer barbecue, Custom Cards are a great way to get the word out.

To celebrate Memorial Day, Cardstore is offering all of their custom cards for just 99¢ and is offering FREE Shipping. The last two years I have purchased my Christmas cards from CardStore and invitations for my sister's bridal shower.

TODAY ONLY! Celebrate Memorial Day with 99¢ Cards + Free Shipping at Cardstore! Use Code: CWG3599, Valid 5/27/13 Only. Shop Now!

So what type of card are you going to make?

FREE Father's Day Card

Disclaimer: I am a Treat affiliate and am compensated for sales through Treat links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.



Attention somewhat early Father's Day Shopper...



Treat is offering all new customers a FREE Father's Day card on May 27 and 28.




If you're not familiar with Treat, think regular greeting cards, but with added awesome. You get to choose your own message, add photos, and even change fonts. In short, you get to make the card uniquely...YOU! Treat is part of the family of companies that include Tiny Prints, Wedding Paper Divas, and Shutterfly. While I have not yet ordered from Treat, I have ordered from Shutterfly many times.



To get the card totally free, have it shipped to you. That also allows you to sign it and write anything you want to add in your own writing. Or, for the cost of a stamp, you can have Treat mail it directly to the recipient. And since it's so early, they even let you choose the delivery date. Sweet!



So check out their selection of nearly 500 Father's Day designs and choose your favorite card. Upload some pictures, play around with what you want to say and use promo code TREATDAD when you checkout.



That's all there is to it.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Pleygo offers LEGO Rentals

Does your child love the challenge of a a new LEGO set, yet you are already over run with LEGOs from the sets that they have completed?
As the mom and wife of LEGO lovers, sometimes it feels like the LEGOs are taking over our house:

Does your house look like this?

Ok, that isn't our house, it was taken at the LEGO KidsFest in October. These are the real pictures of how LEGOS have taken over my house today:

Our Dining Room Table is Building Central

LEGO Display

LEGO Table & Bins

My daughter likes building sets, but they then get placed aside in favor of the next new set. Lately we have been buying sets that will go on display when we are done with them...Harry Potter in our reading room, Star Wars in the basement television area, and special sets in our family room. However, many of our other sets are simply piled on my daughter's LEGO table (or left on the Dining Room table for weeks until they finally migrate to the table.
Today my husband found an article about Pleygo, a new company that offers LEGO rentals in a Netflix format. He told me about them and said I should write about them on my blog. After a quick search of the web, I found the company.

Pleygo offers LEGO rentals using a Netflix format. You pay a monthly subscription fee and can borrow one set a time.  When you are done with your set, you mail it back and they send you the next available set on your wishlist.

Building the LEGO Friends Camper (Available on Pleygo)

There are three price plans based on the sizes of the sets you wish to rent. The $15/month Fan plan allows you to select from small and medium LEGO sets. The Super Fan plan is $25/month and you can select from small, medium, and large sets (or pay $21/month when you pay for the year upfront). The Mega Fan Plan is the ultimate plan allowing you to select from the any LEGO set including the huge sets that typically run several hundred dollars. Shipping is included in your monthly subscription.

I have browsed their catalog for availability. Overall I found 45 sets at the fan level, 6 additional sets at the super fan level, and 11 additional sets at the Mega Fan level. Based on set numbers, I would recommend either the Fan or Mega Fan Plan. With only 6 sets to choose from, I am not sure the Super Fan plan is worth the price. They have a fairly decent selection of Star Wars sets, particularly if you do the Mega Fan Plan. They also have several Duplo sets for younger children. However, I did not find any Harry Potter or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sets. I only found 1 Ninjago, 2 Chima, 1 Marvel set, and 1 Batman set. I hope to see their selection grow as they grow in popularity.

I think this is a great concept and wish Pleygo well. What do you think? Are you ready to give Pleygo a try? With summer break coming in the next few weeks, this is the perfect time to try Pleygo.

Update: Note: Please see the comment below about a bad experience with Pleygo and proceed with caution.

Gymnastics Equipment for American Girl Dolls

My daughter loves American Girl. Last year, she received McKenna, the 2012 Girl of the Year for Christmas. McKenna is a gymnast. One of her accessories was a balance beam and bars set. The set sold out early and was on back order for awhile (it was also fairly pricey).

My daughter wanted gym equipment for her doll. I found it very easy to create a balance beam and a floor exercise mat.

The Floor Exercise Mat was a simple repurposing of a foam alphabet mat that I had bought for our basement. Instead of using all 26 squares that it came with, I used 9 of them to make a 3x3 mat. My daughter loves flipping McKenna around to do her gymnastics routines.

Floor Exercise Mat

The balance beam took a little more work, but still was very easy. I had purchased a set of 4 corkboard bars with the intention of allowing my daughter to display her artwork, but I had never hung them for her. I started with a cardboard base and covered it with two sheets of card stock to act as the mat around the beam. My cardboard strips were not quite tall enough for a beam, so I glued pairs of them together and then glued each set next to each other to make a longer beam. The craft took about 5 minutes (plus drying time). McKenna now had a beam to practice her routines on.

Home Made Balance Beam

My daughter did receive the beam and bars set for her birthday (well, two months later when the back order finally came in). (I think bars would also be fairly easy to build with a few wooden dowels).

Michaels Kids Club - Hero Doll & National Drawing Day

Michaels offers Kids Club events in their stores on Saturday mornings from 10a-noon with half hour sessions starting every 30 minutes from 10a until 11:30a. Classes cost $2.

Upcoming sessions include:

• Saturday, May 25 Craft Your Hero Doll

• Saturday, June 1 National Drawing Day

Parents do not need to attend the session with their children, but they do need to remain in the store.

Save 40% on Shutterfly Books, 101 Free Prints, & a FREE Card

Disclaimer: I am a Shutterfly Affiliate and am compensated for sales through Shutterfly links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

With Father's Day, Graduations, Weddings, and the end of school it is definitely a picture time of year. Not only are lots of pictures taken, but photo gifts are a great sentimental gift for dads, grads, and everyone else. I know we have a very busy week in my family with Father's Day, two birthdays, and an anniversary.


Now is the time to order, or at least start planning your orders with great deals from Shutterfly.

The main Shutterfly promotions are:

• 40% off Photo Books 5/23 - 5/29
• 101 Free Prints from 5/27 to5/28
• Receive one free greeting or stationery card with promo code CARD4U

Taxes, and shipping and handling charges will still apply as will any upgrade fees.

I have ordered from Shutterfly many times and have always been happy with their services.

LEGO Star Wars X-Wing in Times Square

My daughter loves both Star Wars and LEGO, so I know she will love the pictures of the Life Size LEGO X-Wing that was revealed in Times Square today.

The Pre-Reveal Box looks like a LEGO Box
from LEGO Facebook Page

The LEGO X-Wing is the largest LEGO model ever built and has over 5 million bricks and took 32 designers 17,000 hours to put it together.

The X-Wing and Crowds in Times Square
from LEGO Facebook Page

The reveal is part of the promotion for the new Yoda Chronicles television series which premiers on Cartoon Network on Wednesday, May 29 at 8p/7c.

I love that they have a female X-Wing Pilot
from LEGO Facebook Page

LEGO has an album of 41 pictures on their Facebook page.

Gizmodo has a great article about the X-Wing including up-close shots that were taken before the reveal. It also reveals that the model will be in New York for 3 days before it is disassembled and transported to LEGOLAND California for the remainder of the year.

Can't make it to see the life-sized X-Wing? You can own your own smaller version. While you are waiting for the Yoda Chronicles series, check out the LEGO Star Wars movies - my daughter loves them.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

EPIC Opens Tomorrow

Blue Sky, the makers of Ice Age and Rio, are releasing their new movie EPIC tomorrow, May 24.

My daughter saw a preview of EPIC when she saw The Croods at a birthday party. She is excited for the movie's release.

Check out the trailer below:



About EPIC:

EPIC is a 3D CG adventure comedy that reveals a fantastical world unlike any other. From the creators of Ice Age and Rio, EPIC tells the story of an ongoing battle between the forces of good, who keep the natural world alive, and the forces of evil, known as the Boggans, who wish to destroy it. When a teenage girl finds herself magically transported into this secret universe, she teams up with an elite band of warriors known as the Leafmen, and a crew of comical, larger-than-life figures, to save their world – and ours.

Disclaimer: The trailer is publicly available on YouTube. The blurb and one-sheet poster are distributed by Blue Sky for promotional purposes. I have not been compensated for sharing this information.

$8 Costume Sale

Does your child love playing dress up? Or do they already know what they want to be for Halloween?


Disclaimer: I am a Costume Express affiliate and am compensated for sales through CostumeExpress links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

It is never too early for a costume with this great deal from Costume Express. They have a number of costumes and accessories on sale for $8 or less...some as low as $1.

Costumes include:
Boys: Iron Man 2, Transformers Bumblebee, Star Wars Obi Wan
Girls: Alice in Wonderland, Spider Girl, Minnie Mouse

Kids Accessories include a Pirates of the Caribbean hat & beard, Angry Birds Mask

Marvel's Avengers Assemble Premiers This Weekend

My husband and daughter loved watching the cartoon Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes on the Disney XD Channel and have been missing the show since it ended in November. We have all 6 volumes on DVD and they re-watch the episodes frequently.

My daughter is looking forward to the new Marvel cartoon series that are coming to Disney XD this summer. She loves the Hulk, so she is really looking forward to Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. which will air beginning in August. Tonight she was excited when I showed her a sneak peek at Marvel's Avengers Assemble which will begin airing regularly on July 7 at 11a. The first two episodes will be airing this weekend, on Sunday, May 26 at 11a. I have already set my DVR to record the episodes for my daughter.

from Disney XD's Website

Check out this promotional clip from Disney XD:


You can also find a longer sneak peek on tvline.com and also find out more details.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and am compensated for sales through Amazon links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

New Clip from Disney's Planes

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures has released a new clip for the August release of their animated film Planes:



The official studio boilerplate on Planes:

From above the world of “Cars” comes “Disney’s Planes,” an action-packed 3D animated comedy adventure featuring Dusty (voice of Dane Cook), a plane with dreams of competing as a high-flying air racer. But Dusty’s not exactly built for racing—and he happens to be afraid of heights. So he turns to a seasoned naval aviator who helps Dusty qualify to take on the defending champ of the race circuit. Dusty’s courage is put to the ultimate test as he aims to reach heights he never dreamed possible, giving a spellbound world the inspiration to soar. “Disney’s Planes” takes off in theaters on Aug. 9, 2013. For more information, check out Disney.com/Planes, like us on Facebook: facebook.com/DisneyPlanes and follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DisneyPictures.

Disclaimer: The information in this post was provided to me by Walt Disney Studios to share with my readers.

Disney Junior Live on Tour: Pirate & Princess Adventure

Does your preschooler love Disney Junior?

If so, you will want to check out the Disney Junior Live on Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure Tour. The Show will feature Sofia the First and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Join Sofia and her family as they prepare for a royal celebration that includes a visit from Cinderella then set sail with Jake and friends as they battle Captain Hook to find treasure hidden in a volcano.

Make sure to arrive to your show in time for the Doc McStuffins pre-show which starts 10 minutes before showtime. In the pre-show, you will help Doc care for one of her toys.

When my daughter was younger, she loved Disney Junior. She watched the first few episodes of Jake and the Neverland Pirates, but was outgrowing the preschool shows at the time. My nieces love Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First. We never saw a Disney Junior (or Playhouse Disney as it was called at the time). However, my daughter really enjoyed the Disney on Ice and Imagination Movers shows that we saw when she was younger.

The Tour starts on July 26 in Savannah, GA and continues through March 16 in Rosemont, IL.

• Friday, July 26 - Savannah, GA - Johnny Mercer Theatre at Savannah Civic Center
• Sunday, July 28 - Fayetteville, NC - Crown Theatre
• Friday, August 2 - Florence, SC - Florence Civic Center
• Saturday, August 3 - Greensboro, NC - War Memorial Auditorium
• Sunday, August 4 - Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall
• Friday, August 9 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Coliseum
• Saturday, August 10 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
• Sunday, August 11 - Salisbury, MD - Wicomico Youth and Civic Center
• Friday, August 16 - Durham, NC - Durham Performing Arts Center
• Saturday, August 17 - Charleston, WV - Municipal Auditorium
• Sunday, August 18 - Wheeling, WV - WesBanco Arena
• Friday, August 23 - Erie, PA - Warner Theatre
• Sunday, August 25-26 Binghamton, NY - Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
• Thursday, September 5 - Yakima, WA - Yakima Valley SunDome
• Saturday, September 7 - Salt Lake City, UT - EnergySolutions Arena
• Sunday, September 8 - Boise, ID - Taco Bell Arena
• Friday, September 13 - San Diego, CA - Valley View Casino Center
• Saturday, September 14 - Fresno, CA - William Saroyan Theatre at Fresno Convention Center
• Sunday, September 15 - Stockton, CA - Stockton Arena
• Saturday, September 21-Sunday, September 22 - Long Beach, CA - Terrace Theater
• Friday, October 4-Sunday, October 6 - Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Arena
• Wednesday, October 9 - Rio Rancho, NM - Santa Ana Star Center
• Friday, October 11-Saturday, October 12 - Phoenix, AZ - US Airways Center
• Friday, October 18 - Moline, IL - i wireless Center
• Saturday, October 19 - Cedar Rapids, IA - U.S. Cellular Center
• Sunday, October 20 - St. Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center
• Monday, October 21 - Grand Forks, ND - Ralph Engelstad Arena
• Friday, October 25 - Fort Wayne, IN - Expo Center at the Memorial Coliseum
• Saturday, October 26 - Youngstown, OH - Cavelli Centre
• Sunday, October 27 - Columbus, OH - Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center
• Friday, November 1 - Auburn Hills, MI - Palace of Auburn Hills
• Saturday, November 2- Saginaw, MI - The Theater at the Dow Event Center
• Sunday, November 3 - Indianapolis, IN  Bankers Life Fieldhouse
• Friday, November 8 - Reading, PA - Sovereign Center
• Saturday, November 9 - Hershey, PA - Hershey Theatre
• Sunday, November 10 - Wilkes Barre, PA - Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza
• Friday, November 15 - Worcester, MA - The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts
• Saturday, November 16 - Lowell, MA - Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell
• Sunday, November 17 - Syracuse, NY - The Oncenter War Memorial Arena
• Saturday, November 23-Sunday, November 24 - Providence, RI - Veterans Memorial Auditorium
• Friday, November 29-Saturday, November 30 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre
• Sunday, December 1 - Trenton, NJ - Sun National Bank Center
• Friday, December 6-Saturday, December 7 - Baltimore, MD - Lyric Opera House
• Sunday, December 8 - Norfolk, VA - Constant Convocation Center
• Wednesday, December 11 - Baton Rouge, LA - Theatre for the Performing Arts
• Thursday, December 12-Friday, December 13 - New Orleans, LA - Lakefront Arena
• Sunday, December 15 - Atlanta, GA - Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
• Thursday, December 19 - Lafayette, LA - The Cajundome
• Friday, December 20 - Houma, LA - Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center
• Sunday, December 22 - Austin, TX - Frank Erwin Center
• Monday, December 23 - Laredo, TX - Laredo Energy Center
• Thursday, December 26 - Hidalgo, TX - Reliant Arena
• Friday, December 27-Saturday, December 28 - Houston, TX - Reliant Arena
• Monday, December 30 - Allen, TX - Allen Event Center
• Friday, January 3, 2014-Saturday, January 4, 2014 - San Jose, CA - San Jose Civic Auditorium
• Sunday, January 5 - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theatre
• Saturday, February 8 - St Louis, MO - Caifetz Arena
• Sunday, February 9 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
• Friday, March 14-Sunday, March 16 - Rosemont, IL - Rosemont Theatre

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LEGO Batman The Movie: DC Super Heroes Unite

LEGO Batman The Movie: DC Super Heroes Unite is being released on BluRay and DVD on May 21.

Shared by LEGO on their Facebook Page

My daughter loves LEGO movies. She would be thrilled if this was a LEGO Marvel Super Heroes movie as she is more familiar with those characters and has several Marvel LEGO sets. She got hooked with LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan Menace and then we found LEGO Star Wars: Empire Strikes Out on Cartoon Network this fall. She was thrilled when it finally came out on DVD in March since it never re-aired on Cartoon Network. The Padawan Menace Blu-Ray includes bonus features that we recently discovered. These are well worth watching - especially the Star Wars in 2 Minutes Part 1 (Original Trilogy Ep 4-6)  & Part 2 (New Trilogy Ep 1-3). Unfortunately Empire Strikes Out did not include any of the bonus footage. She could browse through YouTube for LEGO videos for hours.

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and an iTunes affiliate and am compensated for sales through Amazon and iTunes links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

LEGO Batman The Movie: DC Super Heroes Unite is already available to purchase in digital format from iTunes and Amazon Instant Video. The BluRay Combo Back will include the BluRay, a DVD, an Ultra-Violet digital copy (allows streaming) and an exclusive Clark Kent/Superman mini-figure. The DVD Package includes the DVD disc and the same Clark Kent/Superman exclusive mini-figure. When I first saw the BluRay included a Digital Copy, I was going to recommend that. However, since it is not a real digital copy that can be downloaded to a mobile device. I lean towards buying the DVD. I would select the DVD over a digital copy in order to have the exclusive mini-figure.

Also, check out the iOS LEGO Batman: DC Super Heroes Unite app.

Scary Milk Mustaches with Monsters U

Mike & Sully from Monsters University are the latest to be sporting a Milk Mustache

At MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, it takes a lot to fuel a day of scaring and nothing scares up successful days more than a breakfast with milk. A glass of milk – with 8 grams of high-quality protein in each 8 oz serving – can help power your monster days!

Connect with the MilkMustache campaign for recipes, tips, activities, and more to encourage your kids to drink milk:

Facebook: /MilkMustacheTwitter: @MilkMustacheInstagram: @MilkMustachePinterest: /MyMilkMustacheWebsite: TheBreakfastProject.com

Monsters University is in theaters June 21, 2013. 

Disclaimer: The images and links were provided to me by Walt Disney Studios 

Monsters University Activity Sheets

We have been looking forward to Monsters University ever since it was announced (personally, the Pixar sequel I am waiting for is Incredibles 2 - although I haven't seen any announcements).

Walt Disney Animation Studios has released two Monsters University Activity Sheets:

• Archie on the Loose - While Blindfolded try to attach a Monsters University Badge to Archie the Scare Pig from Fear Tech
• Design a Monsters University ID Card - Draw your own Monster who attends Monsters University on an ID card

These activities would be great for a Monsters themed movie birthday party.

More information on Monsters University:

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer. The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). For more information, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on twitter.com/disneypixar. The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out disney.com/MonstersU.

Some trivia on the movie:

• “Monsters, Inc.,” originally released on November 2, 2001, was nominated for four Oscars®: Best Animated Feature Film, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing and Best Original Song—“If I Didn’t Have You,” for which it won. 
• “Monsters University” will hit U.S. theaters nearly 12 years after the original “Monsters, Inc.” theatrical debut.
• Billy Crystal is known worldwide for his film roles in “When Harry Met Sally…,” “City Slickers,” “The Princess Bride” and “Analyze This”; his 2005 Tony®-winning Broadway show, “700 Sundays”; as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live”; and as the nine-time host of the Academy Awards® ceremonies.
• John Goodman’s current film projects include Ben Affleck’s drama “Argo,” which premiered at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival; the Robert Zemeckis thriller “Flight,” which premiered as the closing-night film at the New York Film Festival; and Clint Eastwood’s sports drama “Trouble with the Curve.”
• Helen Mirren won international recognition for her work on stage, screen and television. For her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in 2006’s “The Queen,” she received an Academy Award®, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® and BAFTA Award for best actress. She was also named best actress by a multitude of critic’s organizations from Los Angeles to London.
• Oscar®- Grammy®- and Emmy®-winning composer/songwriter Randy Newman contributes his unique musical talents to his seventh Disney•Pixar film. The 20-time Oscar nominee’s wins include “If I Didn’t Have You” for “Monsters, Inc.” and “We Belong Together” for “Toy Story 3.” He will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2013.

Disclaimer: I was provided with the attached activity sheets and movie information by Walt Disney Studios. I have not been compensated for sharing this information.

First Look at the Marvel Inspired Animated "Big Hero 6" Movie

In November 2014, Walt Disney Animation Studios will be releasing "Big Hero 6":

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Big Hero 6,” an action comedy adventure about brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who finds himself in the grips of a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the fast-paced, high-tech city of San Fransokyo. With the help of his closest companion—a robot named Baymax—Hiro joins forces with a reluctant team of first-time crime fighters on a mission to save their city. Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action and all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, the CG-animated “Big Hero 6” hits theaters in 3D on November 7, 2014.

This is the first that I have heard of Big Hero 6 either as a comic or a movie. However, I am sure that my family will be lining up to see it.

Here is a first look video:


Disclaimer: I was provided with this information by Walt Disney Animation Studios to share with my readers. I have not been compensated for sharing this information.

Summer Camp Alternative - Friend Camp

Summer is fast approaching and it is time to make summer plans. If you need child care for the summer, you probably have a summer camp schedule lined up. However, if you do not need child care, you may not have a full schedule.

Since I am able to blog around my daughter's schedule, I don't need her to be in camp every week. We let her pick three weeks of camp. However, since she is an only child and two of her closest neighbor friends are in summer camp for most of the summer, she gets bored at home with just me. Last summer we met some of her school friends at the park or took turns hosting, but it often turned into an all-day affair for both of us.

This year, I am teaming up with 4 other moms to have our own "camp". We're referring to it as friend camp. When we took everyone's schedules into account, we were able to find two non-sequential weeks that everyone was free, so we will each hold 2 days of friend camp. Two families wanted their days to be consecutive in the same week, while the others preferred to split their days across the two weeks.

We have a total of 7 kids, mostly girls, in our camp ranging from entering K to entering 3rd grade attending friend camp. The only downside to 7 kids is that I can't transport them so we are limited to places that we can walk to.

In our area, most camps run daily Monday-Friday with only a few places offering camp by the day. A friend camp can be a great choice for parents who work only a few days a week since they can take their turn on the days they are not working (assuming there is someone available for each of the days).

When you are setting up a friend camp, there are a few issues to work out:

• Which week it will be held
• Who will cover which days
• What hours will it run
• Who provides food - lunch, snacks, plus any allergy issues
• Who pays for any activities

I still have not settled on a theme for the days that we are having. Other parents are planning: tie-dye, water, and outdoor exploration day.  I would consider an American Girl day if all the participants were girls with dolls. I did an American Girl Day for 4 of my daughter's friends last summer and they loved it. I am thinking of possibly having a LEGO or superhero theme. Most of the participants (5/7) are Brownie Girl Scouts, so we have talked about selecting activities that would allow them to earn a badge.

When planning your day if it involves a lot of outdoor time, I suggest having an alternate plan for weather - either rain or extreme heat.

Have you ever run a friend camp? Do you have any suggestions for us?

Happy Mother's Day from Monsters University

Monsters University has released a new video clip to celebrate Moms.



Official studio boilerplate for Monsters University

Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (voice of Billy Crystal) was a little monster, he has dreamed of becoming a Scarer—and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU, Mike’s plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan, “Sulley” (voice of John Goodman), a natural-born Scarer.  The pair’s out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University’s elite Scare Program. To make matters worse, they realize they will have to work together, along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters, if they ever hope to make things right. Screaming with laughter and oozing with heart, Disney•Pixar’s “Monsters University” is directed by Dan Scanlon (“Cars,” “Mater and the Ghostlight,” “Tracy”), produced by Kori Rae (“Up,” “The Incredibles,” “Monsters, Inc.”) and features music from future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and award-winning composer Randy Newman (“Monsters, Inc.,” “Toy Story 3”). For more information, like us at facebook.com/PixarMonstersUniversity, and follow us on twitter.com/disneypixar. The film opens in U.S. theaters on June 21, 2013, and will be shown in 3D in select theaters. For more information, check out disney.com/MonstersU.

Disclaimer: The video link and boilerplate was provided by Walt Disney Studios. I have not been compensated for sharing this information.

The Historical Girls are Still a Big Part of American Girl - My Thoughts

Disclaimer: I am an Amazon Associate and iTunes Affiliate  and am compensated for sales through Amazon and iTunes links. I appreciate your support of my blog by shopping through my links.

Recently I have had a few Facebook friends and other bloggers share articles from the Washington Post¹ and the Atlantic² about changes at American Girl and the emphasis of recent catalogs shifting away from the historical characters.

I am the mother of an American Girl loving 7 year old. My first exposure to American Girl was through her as I was 12 when the first dolls were released. Honestly, I did not even realize that originally the Historical Dolls were the only dolls until we got more interested in American Girl. My daughter received her first doll for Christmas 2011 and saved to buy her second in 2012. (more on this later). I have issues with both articles, particularly the Washington Post article. The Washington Post article implies that the historical girl line is gone:

Forget Samantha the Victorian girl, Molly the plucky World War II doll with the Victory Garden, or original Colonial girl Felicity. Felicity’s been retired to the Upstate Doll Farm. So’s Samantha. Kirsten the pioneer? Gone.²

Many comments that I have read both from Facebook shares and the article's comments from people who grew up with American Girl are not currently familiar with American Girl took this statement to mean that the historical line is gone.

This is simply not true. Yes, American Girl has branched out from the historical girl roots and are not prominently featured in every catalog. Yes, several of the original or early characters have had their dolls and accessories retired. The books, mini-dolls and movies (Felicity & Samantha) for the retired dolls are still available and they are still featured on the website.  So, no they have not abandoned the historical dolls. As a matter of fact last fall, they introduced Caroline who lived in upstate New York during the War of 1812 and this spring Molly and Emily received new items in their line - pajamas and a redesigned bed.

American Girl Historical Doll Release & Retirement years with total dolls from the collection with other key company developments³:

• 1986 - 3 - Molly (1944 Illinois - WWII), Samantha (1904 New York - Edwardian), Kirsten (1856 Minnesota - Pioneer) released
• 1991 - 4 - Felicity (1774 Williamsburg, VA - Pre-Revolutionary War) released
• 1993 - 5 - Addy (1864 Philadelphia - a former Slave) released
• 1995 - American Girl of Today (now My American Girl) released
• 1997 - 6 - Josefina (1824 New Mexico under Mexican rule) released
• 1998 - American Girl Place opens in Chicago & Mattel purchases the company
• 2000 - 7 - Kit (1934 Ohio - Depression)
• 2001 - First Girl of the Year released
• 2002 - 8 - Kaya (1764 Pacific Northwest - Native American) released
• 2004 - 8+1 - Nellie (Samantha's Friend) released
• 2005 - 8+2 - Elizabeth (Felicity's Friend) released
• 2006 - 8+3 - Emily (Molly's Friend) released
• 2007 - 9+4 - Julie & Ivy (1970s) released
• 2008 - 9+5 - Ruthie (Kit's Friend) released
• 2009 - 9+4 - Samantha & Nellie retired, Rebecca released (1914 Immigrants)
• 2010 - 8+4 - Kirsten retired
• 2011 - 9+3 - Felicity & Elizabeth retired, Marie-Grace and Cécile released
• 2012 - 10+3 - Caroline released (1812)

A few things jump out at me, blame is largely placed on Mattel and the corporate, profit drive. the My American Girl dolls which are much disparaged in both articles were released in 1995, 3 years BEFORE Mattel purchased the company. Likewise, the first store was opened about the same time as the sale.

At the current time, there are 13 Historical Dolls Available (10 main dolls and 3 friends). (Marie-Grace and Cécile are both considered co-main characters and share a 6 book series, 3 books with each as the main character.) While there have been 3 main dolls retired, new ones have been added. 10 is the most main characters that they have ever had. They also offer the Girl of the Year doll and a selection of My American Girl dolls so girls can find one that looks like them. The books, movies, and mini-dolls are still available for the original dolls.

One of main contentions from The Atlantic article is that the catalogs and website no longer features the historical dolls in as much detail or with prominence. I disagree on the prominence. There have been at least two catalogs that featured Caroline prominently since her September 2012 release. Similarly, there were several catalogs featuring Marie-Grace and Cécile (New Orleans 1854) when they were released in fall 2011. These catalogs typically feature other historical dolls in the front section.

It seems most of the authors are comparing the catalog of their youth from the late 80's or early 90's when there were 3-5 dolls to today when there are 10 main historical characters plus assorted other characters. It is simply not practical to cover 10 characters in the same detail that was provided when there were only 3-5 characters. Plus, the website is now available for more more information on the characters.

Now, to discuss the website. The Atlantic article discusses the website and the historical dolls:

They are almost an afterthought on the website, where the homepage features matching doll and girl outfits, plus the product line and online game for Saige, the latest Girl of the Year.¹

I just went to the American Girl website. I would argue that the home page is little more than a landing page. The main content now is largely generic. While the Shop link highlights Saige (2013 Girl of the Year), the Play tab highlights Kaya's new game.

I selected Play first. Here the Historical Girls are not hidden. As a matter of fact, the historical dolls link is above Girl of the Year or My American Girl. You can select any of the main characters (including the retired Felicity, Samantha, and Kirsten) for more information and to play games related to them. Personally, I'd rather send my daughter to the website to learn about the dolls instead of a catalog. The Play section of the website is separate from the Shop section so they can learn about the history without the "Buy This" message so obviously in their face.

In iOS Apps, there is an app for each doll released since 2011:

• Caroline's Port to Port and  Marie-Grace & Cécile's Secret Wardrobe for the new Historical dolls
• Saige's Paint Ponies, McKenna's Gymnastics, and Kanani's Shave Ice for the Girls of the Year
• Runaway Pup and Cheer On for Innerstar University (My American Girl)

Since the apps are available for all dolls released after 2011, I don't have a problem with their being more Girl of the Year apps than Historical doll apps. All of the apps are free except for Runaway Pup  which costs $2.99. My daughter has all of the apps and uses them all.

For the record when my daughter first asked for an American Girl doll, I knew none of the company's history. Until that point, my daughter had expressed no interest in dolls. I was planning to buy her a My American Girl doll, but she was fascinated by the stories that came with the dolls and as a bookworm loved that they came with a book. The two dolls that she wanted were Kanani (2011 Girl of the Year) and Molly (1944, an original which we did not know at the time). She was fascinated with the idea of Kanani being from Hawaii. Plus, she fell in love with the Monk Seal, since Kanani was only available that year, we bought her Kanani and the Monk Seal for Christmas. I'm not sure why she identified with Molly - maybe because of a slight resemblance or because Dad is always watching shows about World War II on the History Channel. She saved the money to buy Molly herself. She now has Molly's friend Emily and McKenna - the 2012 Girl of the Year.

My daughter has 7 complete sets of the Historical Girl books. Before Christmas in 2011, Costco had sets of the books with a mini-doll. At the time, I bought her the Felicity set and my parents bought her Kit. When she loved those, I was upset that I had not bought additional sets. This year when they had the sets, I bought every set that was available where she did not have the books already. Before having the sets, she was routinely checking the books out of the school library.

Last fall as Halloween approached, she decided to be Molly for Halloween. Not just Molly, but Halloween Molly. Of course there is no Molly costume for girls, so we got to make it. Fortunately she already had a red sweater like Molly and we were able to make her own skirt.


I don't see the stores mentioned in the article, but would like to add a few thoughts. First, I live 4 hours from the nearest American Girl store (Chicago) so we have only been once, when my daughter bought Molly. Before we went, I looked at the calendar and saw that an upcoming day had Molly themed activities so we decided to wait for "Molly Day". In looking at the events calendar, they currently have Kit's Imagination Celebration, Kit's Tree House Craft, American Girl Historical Character Scavenger Hunt, Marie-Grace & Cecile's Dance Slipper Craft, Julie's Bracelet Craft, Julie's Seventies Party, Julie's Disco Dance Steps Demo, and Molly's Victory Garden Craft. We did Molly's Victory Garden Craft and the American Girl Historical Character Scavenger Hunt as well as a Molly themed dining event.

The Chicago store is an anchor store of Water Tower Place on two floors. The first floor is street level. When you walk in from the main Michigan Avenue entrance, you encounter the books (with the historic dolls series prominently featured), a small display with the Girl of the Year and proceeding forward is the Historical Girl area. The My American Girl dolls are upstairs (as is the doll salon and cafe) as is the larger display of Girls of the Year.

I also disagree with the disparaging of the issues faced in the Girl of the Year books. In Saige's book, she deals with cuts to the arts program and ways to help. From the Washington Post article:

OH GOD! NOT THE ARTS BUDGET! THAT’S LIKE WORLD WAR II AND SLAVERY ALL ROLLED INTO ONE!²

Yes, it is not on the same scale, but it is a real issue that is being faced in many communities across the country. I guess the author has no problem with slashing arts budgets since it is unimportant on the grand scale. Plus, how can you blame American Girl for tackling a mild issue. A few years ago the Girl of the Year Chrissa was given a friend Gwen who was formerly homeless following her dad leaving, her mom's job loss, and a foreclosure. At the time, American Girl received criticism for this both for both portraying men as unreliable and the cost of a doll depicting the homeless.

The Washington Post article goes on to disparage the Innerstar University books such as Bound for Snow. These books are written in the first person and allow you to make choices guiding the course of the story...much like the Choose Your Own Adventure Books that I read growing up. I loved them because I could read them multiple times and they would be a different story each time. We don't have Bound for Snow, but have Innerstar University 4 Book Sports Set. As a parent, I love that I can buy one book which will encourage my daughter to read it over and over. 

So why stop with American Girl? Maybe we should disparage all literature that is not historical fiction or doesn't tackle a huge social issue. The My American Girl dolls may lack the spark of history, but since they are devoid of a backstory, they are much more available for imaginative play. Honestly, my daughter has never been greatly into imaginative play which is why I think she never liked dolls before the American Girl dolls. She wanted the dolls who had their characters and stories established.

Another reason that I personally see an increase in interest in the non-historical characters is the demographics of the customer. In the initial years, American Girl dolls were targeted at tween girls (ages 8-12). Now, American Girl is starting to attract the second generation. Moms who had their own doll, or always wanted one, are eager to share their experience with their daughter and are buying them their dolls at younger ages. My daughter is 7 and most of her friends have an American Girl doll. Younger girls are less likely to be interested in the historical characters since the books are targeted towards a more advanced reader. The subject matter in the books and movies is also geared towards an older audience. Many 5-6 year olds would be disturbed by themes in the books.

Personally, I think they achieve a nice balance with t Historical Girls, Girls of the Year, and My American Girl.

What do you think? Are you disturbed by American Girl diversifying from the historical roots?


References:
¹Schiller, Amy. "American Girls Aren't Radical Anymore". The Atlantic. April 23, 2013. Web. May 8, 2013
²Petri, Alexandra. "Even more terrible things are happening to the American Girl doll brand than you thought". The Washington Post. May 1, 2013. Web. May 8, 2013.
³ History_of_American_Girl. American Girl Wiki. Web. May 8, 2013