5 comments about Sing Along Songs - Disneyland Fun.

1. The other reviewers have good points, but I don't think anyone has mentioned what I think is the most fun feature on this DVD! But more on that in a moment.
   
   First, the people giving negative reviews have two good points - this thing IS a little dated, and the song "Grim Grinning Ghosts" can be scary for young kids. (I can't remember any other major criticisms...) Having said that, I really like the return to 1989: Big hair! Guys wearing pink (non-ironically)! The PeopleMover! Party Gras! It's a little like watching one of those World of Disney shows from the Sixties. My kids didn't like the song "GGG" at first, but I watch it with them, and we discuss the relevant issues - that it's just pretend, that there are people in those costumes, and that sometimes it's fun to be scared. I think they'll be ready for the Mansion next time we go to Anaheim...
   
   But there's so much more to love on this video! The songs are fun, and it's great to learn some of these lyrics to sing along at the park. I can no longer walk down Main Street without humming the catchy second song on the disc, and the up-tempo "Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah" is cool, complete with the requisite horrible rap break in the middle (so common in the Eighties). And since it was 1989, they were also trying to cram Roger Rabbit down our throats at every opportunity (sorry, Roger - great attraction, but you're not a "classic")!
   
   The most fun, though, is sort of an easter egg, and I haven't heard anyone else mention it. On the "set up" menu for the DVD, it gives you the option to switch the language to French. Haven't tried it? I don't blame you, I don't speak French either. But when you choose that option, instead of just a translation, you get an entirely different video - shot at Disneyland Paris! It's a beautiful park, and the video shows some things I've heard of, but never seen, like Alice's Curious Labyrinth and the dragon lying in wait beneath the castle. Plus, the Phantom Manor song features the mysterious Phantom himself, and a real treat for Haunted Mansion geeks: a beating-heart Bride face character!
   
   To sum up:
   * Yes, the video is dated and a bit dorky, but there are those of us that embrace that sort of thing.
   * The Haunted Mansion is creepy, so don't leave your kids there alone.
   * Roger Rabbit was never as successful a franchise as Disney had hoped.
   * Disneyland looks pretty much the same today as it did twenty years ago (except Tomorrowland, which does not look as modern now as it did then).
   * And even if you don't speak French, Disneyland Paris is a great place to spend part of your day.



2. Wow! What a great video to prepare your children for the Big trip to Disney! This video highlights songs and characters and Disney attractions. My 4 and 2 year old boys love to watch this DVD and in my opinion has well prepared them for our trip. Just wish it was a bit more up to date. The video features Roger Rabbit...and early 90's attire and hairstyles. (At least the styles give my wife and I a good laugh!)



3. OK, this video is for my 4 and 2 year olds but I find it charming and strangely reflective. It was shot in the early 90's right about the time I was graduating from high school so the scenery and fashions really bring back some memories. It also provides a time-capsule look at rides gone past like the People Mover, Skyway, the OLD Tom Sawyer's Island, Tomorrowland before the makeover and more. The kids love it too and seem to really enjoy the "Main Street USA" and "Step-N-Time" sequences. Good production values and fun for the kids.



4. My 4 year old daughter loves all things Disney and enjoys other Disney sing along DVDs. I bought this one because other reviews said it helped get their children excited for a trip to Disney, being filmed in the park. I turned it on for my daughter, watched for a few minutes, and then went to cook dinner in the kitchen. About 20 minutes later she came running in with tears streaming down her face, terrified of the "bad guys." When I watched the DVD later, I realized there is a song from the Haunted Mansion that features the Disney villians including the always scary witch from Snow White, as well as a variety of ghosts, haunted trees, and even the floating witch head you see in a crystal ball while on the Haunted Mansion ride. Yes, too scary for a little kid.
   I think including this segment was totally unecessary and showed VERY poor judgement on the part of the Disney producers. Now my daughter refuses to watch the DVD (not that I'd let her), and is adament that she does NOT want to go to Disneyworld where the "bad guys live." Not exactly the outcome I was hoping for!
   Do yourself a favor and spare your child the nightmare imagery. Buy a different DVD.



5. All of my children have been mesmerized by this DVD. We go to Disney World often so they love watching it over and over again.

2 comments about Miley Cyrus Karaoke.

1. The music on this CD is exactly like the original songs! Must get for any Miley Cyrus fan!



2. 
   Disney Karaoke Series Exclusive: Contains the ORIGINAL instrumental background tracks and includes a lyric book. Sing all your favorite Miley Cyrus songs with the original tracks from her album. Karaoke CDG player is required to be able to view the on-screen lyrics, but the disc plays just like a music CD when using a CD player, DVD player, video game system or computer. This disc does not contain guide vocal tracks.
   
   ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTAL TRACKS:
   
   1. See You Again
   2. Start All Over
   3. G.N.O. (Girl's Night Out)
   4. Let's Dance
   5. East Northumberland High
   6. Right Here
   7. As I Am
   8. I Miss You

5 comments about Disney's Lullaby Album.

1. This is great CD filled with calming, tranquil music that has all the great Disney tunes. My older son is now 5 years old, and I've passed it on my 1 year old baby--it's soothing, and he calls it his "baby music"...we're definitely going to purchase Vol.2!!



2. The Disney Lullaby album is one of the most soothing that I have heard. Every song is soft and beautiful and will take anyone, big or small, right to a peaceful sleep.



3. The lullabies are so pretty and soothing. My daughter falls fast asleep and it is a big part of her bedtime routine. I enjoy the songs as well. We used a Baby Einstein when she was first born and that one bored me terribly. I have even bought this for a couple of friends for their baby showers and they enjoy it as well.



4. This is my 5-month old's favorite lullaby CD. The music is soft and soothing and doesn't have annoying singers' voices (unlike the other lullaby CD I bought). The transitions between the songs are smooth and there are no loud or jarring notes in the songs that will wake the baby. Gotta love it!



5. I bought this cd over a year ago when my son was 7 months old. We still both love listening to it! It has wonderful relaxing tunes that I even listen to at night to "wind" down a little. I would recommend this to anyone!

5 comments about Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

1. I bought this for my 3 year old daughter. She absolutely LOVES it. I don't mind listening to it often--the songs aren't annoying. We played this CD during her birthday party and all the kids loved it.



2. I bought the CD as my one year old had fallen in love with the "Hot Dog" song at the conclusion of each Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode. Needless to say our one year old is delighted with our purchase!



3. well as a parent i don't like it obviously... there is nothing wrong with it.. just boring.. but my daughter gets a kick out of the cd and she's only 2..



4. I bought this as a gift for my little grandson and he enjoys it very much.



5. I have a 2 yr old and 4 yr old who really enjoy the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse tv show. They especially love the music, before buying this I was concerned that some of the songs might not sound the same as on the show. We opened it and it has all of the same songs. My 2 yr old especially likes it, it's great for car rides, etc.

5 comments about Disney's Greatest, Vol. 1.

1. I'm a music lover, I bought this CD's mainly for the childrens, weekend's the childrens will visit me. And I want them to enjoy good music especially the Disney movie music and songs. I'm a great fans of Walt Disney's and of course he's talented and gifted. Well, last but not least this CD's is good and I have no regret bought it.



2. I LOVE classic Disney films and movies, and when I bought this CD with some birthday money, I was not making a mistake. If you want an affordable CD with a good amount of songs that you are probably familiar with (if you watch Disney films), this is a good buy. Soon after I bought this one, I added the 2nd volume to my collection, and finally the 3rd. Obviously they don't have all the Disney songs, but these CD's put together have just about every song to make every person in the family happy. There are songs that even my dad and mom like to listen to in the car on trips. This is worth your money!



3. This cd is great! It has a great variety of classic Disney music! Highly reccomended.



4. Disney's Greatest, Volume 1 is the first installment in a fine CD series of classic Disney music and show tunes. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very nicely done as well.
   
   Phil Collins starts off the track set with a great tune from Tarzan entitled "Strangers Like Me." "Strangers Like Me" is a very good number and Phil Collins does this very well. The musical arrangement is also very lush--what a fine opening number! Susan Egan and Cheryl Freeman do a duet on "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)" from the Disney movie Hercules; they sing this to perfection and they harmonize very well on the chorus. The keyboard works well for the arrangement and "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)" is a major highlight of this album.
   
   Randy Newman sings one of my very favorite tunes on this album, "You've Got A Friend In Me" from the Disney/Pixar film called Toy Story; Randy sings wonderfully and his excellent sense of timing makes his performance stronger still. In addition, "The Circle Of Life" from the soundtrack of The Lion King is brilliantly performed by Carmen Twillie; this is another of my very favorite Disney tunes from recent years and I could never tire of hearing this fantastic hit! Listen also for the great Angela Lansbury to perform "Beauty And The Beast" with panache; Angela sings very well and her voice is as clear as a bell. Great!
   
   There's also another favorite of mine, "I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)" from The Jungle Book Disney film; this is performed by Louis Prima with Phil Harris and Bruce Reitherman. This song swings brightly and I always liked "I Wan'na Be Like You." The woodwind instruments make the music very good and the percussion marks the beat as well. "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo (The Magic Song)" from Cinderella features a fine performance by Verna Felton; Verna sings this beautifully and it's a timeless Disney classic. James Baskett also makes good on a wonderful rendition of "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah;" this is yet another one of my very favorite Disney tunes.
   
   The CD ends strong with Cliff Edwards performing "When You Wish Upon A Star" from Pinocchio. Cliff sings this with great sensitivity and this is very impressive. I love it!
   
   Overall, this is a very strong CD installment in this CD series of Disney classic tunes. Diehard fans will want the other CDs in this set and they may also want to consider the box set of these CDs as well.



5. I absolutely love this cd. I bought it for my 9 month old daughter to listen to while we are driving in the car. It helps keep her from getting upset about being in her car seat, plus she will know all the songs before she even sees the movies. Would definitely recommend this. I can't wait to get the other volumes.

5 comments about Walt Disney Records : Children's Favorite Songs, Vol. 4.

1. I have 6 of these kiddie CD's in the car and my 19 month old son "sings" along and dances in his seat. He loves them!



2. This is a great collection just for the songs themselves. Even better, the whole song is included, not just a verse or maybe two. And the lyrics are clear, important for aging memories. I look forward to sharing the whole set with my grandchildren.



3. My daughter (11) and nephews (8, 1) all love this CD. The older kids have fun singing & dancing with the baby, and the baby loves to listen to the CD by himself as well.



4. My kids love these volumes of Children's Favorite Songs, as do I. The arrangements and voicings are child friendly without being dull.



5. Great songs on this CD. Nice variety, wonderful singers. My grandchildren want it on in the car every time we go out. Lots of old favorites that I like too.

5 comments about Baby Einstein - Baby Monet - Discovering the Seasons.

1. Your child would love watching this video, but she'd also love eating cotton candy and drinking grape soda. Many pediatric and psychological studies (e.g., by Children's Hospital in Boston) have shown that young children know FEWER words for every hour they spend watching videos like this one. Why? Because they aren't spending time with YOU, practicing their language and social skills. There's also evidence that young children who watch TV have a greater risk of developing ADHD. Last, toddlers who grow up in homes with the TV always on in the background literally seem to have more trouble hearing themselves think. This hurts their developing linguistic abilities and consequently their abilities to engage silent reasoning.
   
   Please protect your child -- don't let her watch any TV during her early, crucial, developmental years. We only watch TV when our little girl is asleep.
   
   Ask your pediatrician if you have any doubts about this.
   
   Cornell University researchers are reporting what appears to be a statistically significant relationship between autism rates and television watching by children under the age of 3. Read more at: http://www.slate.com/id/2151538/



2. I have the entire Baby Einstein collection and this is by FAR the best of the bunch. The other videos for this age group are sooooo boring, even my daughter doesn't want to watch them! However, she loves the beautiful music and nature scenes in Baby Monet. She laughs at the zebra puppets and smiles at the children. If you've even been freaked out by the Baby Bach video (let's face it....creepy!) this is a video you really should try! So much better than the rest!!!



3. The name "Baby Einstein" wants to make parents think it's okay for babies to watch this program, but check out these facts:
   
   - In a study among babies ages 8-16 months, every hour spent watching programs daily such as 'BABY EINSTEIN' or 'BRAINY BABY' translated into 6-8 fewer words in their vocabularies as compared with other children their age
   
   - for every hour of television a baby watches daily, their chances of acquiring an attention deficit disorder increases by 10%
   
   - the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television at all to children under two years of age.
   
   - brain wave activity is slower when watching television than when sleeping in babies.
   
   In summary, three hours every day of watching programs like this day can result in 30% greater chance of ADD and 18-24 fewer vocabulary words!!



4. I don't think it's as bad as some reviewers claim. It's certainly not as bad as Baby Newton. The zebras are not terribly annoying as I read in another review. My son (20 mos.) smiles at them and likes the part near the end when they dance. The dance music is upbeat and fun. If anything bad can be said, it's kind of slow moving; but I guess what can one expect from nature scenes?



5. Baby Einstein is a wonderful line of videos to help aid in your child's development. Get them off to a very good start with these videos, and this special one, Baby Einstein - Baby Monet - Discovering the Seasons. Get them well on the way to a successful future now! Don't wait!

5 comments about Baby Einstein - Discovering Shapes.

1. My older child grew up with Baby Newton and enjoyed it, but my younger child loves Discovering Shapes. At 20 months, he loved and started recognizing the shapes as they came on the screen. At 22 months, he now likes to point out circles and ovals to me wherever we go. This is by far one of our family favorites.



2. The whole Einstein series has been a wonderful addition to our household. This one has good puppets and music, and my toddler likes to point out the different shapes. Another excellent movie!



3. The name "Baby Einstein" can lull you into thinking it's okay or even good for babies to watch t.v., but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television at all to children under 2 because so many studies have proven its harmful effects on children. Studies have shown that:
   
   - for every hour of television a baby watches a day, their chances of acquiring an attention deficit disorder increases by 10%.
   - among babies ages 8 months to 16 months, every hour spent daily watching programs such as 'Brainy Baby' or 'Baby Einstein' translated into six to eight fewer words in their vocabularies as compared with other children their age."
   - brain wave activity in babies is slower when watching television than when sleeping.
   
   I believe television should be used SPARINGLY and with caution, and without any delusions of it increasing baby's intelligence. As for making them more intelligent, Dr. William Sears says, "relationships, not things, make babies smarter." The easiest way to make babies smarter and calmer is to carry them a lot. Slings, pouches and carriers help make this more manageable. Studies have shown that:
   
   - carrying babies an extra 3 hours a day resulted in 40% less crying.
   
   Babies who are frequently carried are proven to pick up verbal skills faster, and develop better core muscle strength and balance. My Listmania list "Natural Parenting for Baby's First Year" has more information on babywearing, or you can google "babywearing" or "television and baby studies" for your own research.
   
   Crown Crafts The Original NoJo BabySling by Dr. Sears - Black Chambray is a great starter sling.
   
   Finally, I'd suggest "SIGNING TIME" videos - not to be confused with "Baby Signing Time" - as a last resort instead of other baby videos because at least baby can learn sign language. Sign language is proven to:
   
   - reduce frustration and tantrums
   - accelerate language development
   - promote parent-child bonding
   
   I found the entire series at my local library. I especially liked Signing Time! Volume 4: Family, Feelings & Fun DVD and 'naming' feelings also increases emotional intelligence in babies.



4. I have to admit I was skeptical that Baby Einstein had come out with a new shapes DVD but this is a much better shapes DVD than Baby Newton. My 1 year old had no interest in Baby Newton but loves Discovering Shapes. My 4 year old loves it too! Especially since he is the one who picked it out for his brother's first birthday present. I think the editing has definitely gotten better with time.



5. This was Baby Newton minus the clown. I felt cheated, the format was so similar even my son picked up on it. No new material. He got bored after just a few minutes. I love the movies, my cildren learn a lot from them, but I think the producers got lazy on this one. (I have a two year old and six month old) We love doing the discovery cards together and learning new words, as well as watching the extra puppet shows- again nothing new for him to learn- and there were only three extra puppet shows...
   
   I haven't been inpressed with the comapny since Baby on the Go, and for the record- I have seen, and own EVERY einstein dvd!

5 comments about Mary Poppins (2005 Original London Cast).

1. If you did not see that musical yet...do it as soon as possible...we saw it 5 months ago and we are still singing.



2. I never grow tired of hearing this music. It is always so uplifting. I find my self singing the tunes all day.



3. In an era of so many Disney feature film crossovers to the stage, we all knew "Mary Poppins" would have to make its way to Broadway eventually. There is a story that the Sherman brothers wrote an ending song for the film that Walt Disney did not like. He said that it was a fine way to end a Broadway show but not his movie. Little did Walt know what was to come!
   
   The original (and beloved) score by the Sherman brothers remains substantially intact among several new songs by the British song-writing team of George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Their contributions are very much in the style of the originals but never, to my ears, blend seamlessly. Each original song has been re-arranged and re-orchestrated for this show, making them a little more "theatrical" in nature and more connected to the expanded plot of the show. (I enjoy the way "Jolly Holiday" is made into a partner song, for example.) But where are strings? In typical modern West End fashion, the pit is almost totally devoid of stringed instruments, much to the detriment of the production, I feel. Still, the cast is enthusiastic and the score has most of the innocence and charm you would want from a remake of the classic film. There are some very nice moments on this recording that cause me to keep this CD close by, though not at the top of the pile.
   
   This is a much more legitimate and satisfying effort than was the staging of the Sherman brothers "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang." I recommend this CD to people who loved the theatrical version and to Broadway collectors in general. If you simply love the film, this CD, while good, may not be for you.



4. I'm a fan of the original movie. Not the obsessive fan that buys all that's Poppins, but a fan nonetheless.
   
   It's surprising that when Disney started producing for Broadway, they didn't see this among the first obvious choices. Of course, considering that Disney didn't have the stage rights to Mary Poppins, it's understandable why it may have taken so long. Fortunately, they were able to do a partnership to finally bring this to the stage.
   
   Unfortunately, I have yet to see this on the stage. I can't wait until the day that I do, though.
   
   The new songs were done in the Sherman Brothers style enough that the old songs flow very nicely, as if they had always been there. "Brimstone and Treacle" is quite possibly the highlight of all the new songs -- a rather cruel song, but you just won't be able to get it out of your head!
   
   I have heard complaints that the musical is a bit too dark due to its reliance on the books a bit more than the movie -- but the original movie wasn't all that bright and cheerful through the entire movie. "Chim Chim Cheree" got downright creepy at points in the song -- some lines still give me some chills running down my spine!
   
   I've yet to read the books... that's next on my list to do before I see it on stage.



5. I recently saw Mary Poppins on Broadway and was blow away by the show. The songs are still in my head weeks later, which is a good thing. I bought this recording of the musical, but also have XM radio, which has access to a recording of the Broadway cast. I have to say that the Broadway cast is better. While the company is great in both, the stars shine better in the Broadway recording. Ashley Brown interpreted the songs better than her London counterpart. I can only hope that Disney will decide to release the Broadway recording.

5 comments about Bear in the Big Blue House - Potty Time with Bear.

1. Honestly, we bought this hoping it was the magic key that would unlock our household from a life of servitude to night pants.
   
   Well, that didn't work.
   
   The DVD is cute. Bear is kind. But nothing magical resulted from repeat viewings. In fact, our kids quickly grew tired of the DVD after the fifth or sixth viewing, so now it gathers dust and is soon to be a candidate for a garage sale table.



2. i just got this dvd for my daughter she is interested in using the potty and knows when she needs to go i used a video for my oldest and it helped but i no longer have the video so i thought this would be good she like bear. how ever its just like the show and doesn't really get to the potty point. its cute but doesn't really get the point across to her its just another dvd to watch.



3. This video was recommended to me by a couple of girlfriends and potty training for my first two children was a breeze. I've now started using it for my third child and so far so good. I really think it helps.



4. Potty training in our household has been iffy. While I would not expect a video to teach my child to go potty - this video has definitly helped a lot as it teaches things the other potty training videos do not!



5. This DVD is excellent for potty training and also teaches hand washing.
   It really helped my Granddaughter