Less than six months until Christmas; have you started shopping yet? Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending two holiday previews–Disney and LeapFrog–and boy, did I get some ideas for what toys might find their way onto wish lists this December. Over at the Disney showroom, there were plenty of stars competing for attention. We couldn’t help but fall hopelessly in love with the Monsters University products (if you haven’t seen the movie yet, run–don’t walk to the theater; in our humble opinion, it beats the original!). From crib bedding that’s already selling out, to Roll a Scare figures that make great stocking stuffers, Sulley, Mike Wazowski and the whole gang were front and center. Our favorite was the Monsters University Sulley Monster Mask, with a jaw that moves when you talk–now just practice your John Goodman voice!…If you have a preschooler in your house, the names Jake and Sofia are instantly recognizable. We’re talking, of course, about Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Sofia the First, two particularly popular TV characters that have spawned entire product lines from dolls and playsets, to dress-up clothes and recordable action figures that can talk to each other. We had our eye on the DUPLO Jake’s Bucky Pirate Ship from LEGO, teeming with accessories for a swashbuckling good time. Mattel’s Sofia the First Magical Talking Doll also got our attention. The newest Disney princess-in-training dons a special amulet that glows and that enables her to talk to her little animal friends…For Cars fans eagerly awaiting the release of this summer’s Planes movie comes a toy like no other we’ve seen before. Disney Planes Pilot Pals Dusty Crophopper isn’t your average R/C plane. When kids strap on the two wing-shaped controllers, they can move around and have their action mimicked by the plan itself. It’ll be available in August…Is there a doctor in the house? Pint-sized physicians can set up shop with the Doc McStuffins Get Better Check-up Center, complete with all the necessary tools to keep their patients in tip top shape. And there’s plenty more where these toys came from!
In a Nutshell: Santa will need to make plenty of room in his sleigh for all of this year’s must-have toys. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post on the LeapFrog Holiday Showcase…
