shopDisney is a bi-weekly blog that will focus on Disney merchandise and products sold in the parks, in Disney stores, and in other retail markets.  We will explore product reviews, affordability, and to whom the products are marketed.  Like any other good product review, we will conclude with a rating scale for several different key components: price, age group, and whether the product is a “must have.”

Spring is here, or might be, depending on where you live.  This time last year in Indiana we were consistent temperatures in the 60s and 70s, but this year it will be 70 today and 40 tomorrow.  I don’t know about you, but I really need some sunshine and warmth in my life!

However, just because the weather isn’t cooperating, doesn’t mean that retailers have not been pushing their outdoor products and, of course, there are many that involve some of our favorite characters!

While I was out shopping for groceries, I began wandering through the garden section of my local Meijer, where I spotted a familiar face.  I thought he might be lost, but upon further inspection I found that Mickey (and several of his friends) were right where they should be, and were being displayed on several different garden figures.

The characters that were being used for these items, as you can see, are: Mickey, Minnie, Winnie the Pooh, Tinkerbell, Grumpy, and Eeyore.

Disney Character Statues and Flowerpots:

The first two products I noticed they offered were pot-holders that you could place a flower into for display and yard figures.  The company did an good job at making each character look believable, but I was not impressed by the material of the product.  They were made from a light-weight plastic that would easily be blown over by wind and, in my opinion, might not last outdoors in the elements.  Four characters were offered in both variations: Mickey, Minnie, Tinkerbell, and Winnie the Pooh.  The yard statues did have a part that would be lit during the evening and were solar-powered.  For example, Mickey was holding a lantern that would light up and, obviously, Tinkerbell’s wings lit up.

Review:

Price:  $24.99 for the pot-holders, $29.99 for the solar-lit statues

Age Group: Adults

Must Have: I couldn’t believe that these products were priced as high as they were.  I don’t think it is a must-have, unless you are an avid gardener.

Solar Lights and Flowerpot Stakes:

The next two products looked like an item I would buy for my home and garden.  The first was a little decorative stake that you could put into a flowerpot to give it some “character.”  They aren’t very big, so maybe an indoor plant might be the best place to use these.  The second one, and my favorite of all, was the solar-lit garden globe stake.  It was like a snow globe, but without the water and snow.  Think of the solar lights that line people’s sidewalk and add Mickey to the inside!  They were cute, but again, looked like they might not last long.

Review:

Price:  $5.99 for the flowerpot stakes, and (yikes) $14.99 for ONE solar Mickey light

Age Group: Adults

Must Have: Again, priced a little high for me, so not really a must-have.

Character Garden Stones:

This last group was perfect for making a statement in your garden.  Small little stand-up stones with a Disney character on them and a cute little statement.  Minnie and Tinkerbell were very up-beat and sparkly, while Grumpy wanted to know “how long are you staying?”  They would make any Disney fan smile.  They were not made of real rock but a little heavier than the statues were.

Review:

Price:  $12.99 ($2.00 less than one solar light)

Age Group: Adults

Must Have: If you are missing something in your garden, sure, go buy one of these faux stones

I did do a quick internet search for Disney garden products and found that they are offered by places like: Lowe’s, Kmart, Target, Disney.com and ebay.  And among some of the same products some offered a few more things like: flags, stepping stones, and wind chimes.  So, get out there and enjoy the sun this spring and summer and maybe add some “Character” to your outdoor space!

If you know of any other items that you would like to see a review of, please let me know.  Or, if you have one of these products and have an opinion of them, please leave a comment below!

Alyssa Wiseman (also known as ajwiseman09 in the box) and her husband Brandon reside in central Indiana (too far from Disney) with their 4 year old puppy London.  Alyssa and Brandon enjoy traveling to Disney several times a year to see what is new and enjoy classic Disney.  While traveling, and at home, Alyssa is frequently shopping for Disney products and making a list of items to buy while in the parks.  Please follow Alyssa on twitter @ajwiseman09.

The post shopDisney: “Character” in your Garden appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Jens Dahlmann, executive chef for Epcot, said in the blog,  “For some dishes, we found fun and interesting ways to present them, like the ‘Frushi’ [fruit sushi] for example, while other dishes such as the Watermelon Salad combine a familiar fruit paired with the unusual tastes of arugula and feta cheese, making it a whole new experience.”

As a parent of three notoriously picky eaters (and yes, I admit, I am a picky eater as well.  I was the one who ordered chicken nuggets while dining with Lou and Tony in Morocco!)  I am really excited about the idea of there being small-portion dishes that give my children the opportunity to “try it” without the risk of buying an entree that after one bite receives a twisted look and a decree of “gross.”  I am thinking we can purchase single item and allow all 3 children to try a bite.  I’m also planning to review the items in advance with them and have them make predictions about their favorite items and then rate them after trying each bite.  It will be our own version of Top Chef–”Top Chef: Disney Kid Edition!”  (Though I’m telling you now–I hold out very little hope for the beet lollipop!)

Below is a list of the items that will be offered as part of the TRYit program.  Which do you think your children will like most?  I’ll have my children start with the top vote getters first, and we will report back!

And let’s hear from our younger Disney fans!  Which do YOU want to try?  Ask mom or dad and with their help, post your thoughts in the comments below!

The post ‘TRYit’ Tastes for Kids at EPCOT Flower & Garden: Which Will YOUR Kids Try?? appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Don Myers

As we ring in the New Year and bid 2012 a fond farewell, it’s time to take a look ahead at some exciting events on tap at the Florida Project for 2013. There’s plenty of tidbits to report out of all four parks, so let’s get to it…. It’s time for the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…….

Let’s kickoff 2013 inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where the dates for this year’s Star Wars Weekends have just been announced! Galactic Empire and Rebel Alliance forces will begin the invasion of the Studios on Friday May 17th, with events scheduled to conclude on Sunday June 9th. As in years past, there will be four weekends of exciting adventures on tap. Here’s a look at the dates:

. Fri May 17th-Sun May 19th

. Fri May 24th-Sun May 26th

. Fri May 31st-Sun June 2nd

. Fri June 7th-Sun June 9th

Over the course of the four weekends, aspiring Jedi and Sith alike can experience Q&A sessions with the actors, actresses, and writers of the movies and cartoon series, and there will also be opportunities to collect limited edition merchandise,  celebrity autographs, and much more. Star Wars Weekends has been quite a successful endeavor in years past, and 2013 will certainly be no exception.

For more news out of Hollywood Studios, let’s make our way down Sunset Blvd and stop by Beauty and the Beast- Live on Stage. The show will take a short hiatus later this month, as there will be no performances taking place from Monday January 7th through Saturday January 12th.

Time to park-hop over to Epcot now, where there’s some news to report on another special event later this year. I’m referring to the 2013 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. The dates for this year’s extravaganza were announced a few weeks ago, and it looks like festivities will be getting underway on Wednesday March 6th. The conclusion date is set for Sunday May 19th, which will give this year’s festival a run of just under eleven weeks. 2013 will be a milestone year for Flower and Garden, as this will mark the 20th Anniversary for the popular event.

Let’s board the Monorail and make our way over to Magic Kingdom now, where there’s some news to report on an upcoming attraction closure. There will be no un-birthday’s to celebrate over in Fantasyland for a few weeks this winter, as the Mad Tea Party will be closing for refurbishment on Monday January 7th. The tea cups are expected to be back in commission on Tuesday February 19th, which would put the total estimated downtime at just about six weeks.

There’s one more stop to make on today’s adventure, and for this one we venture over to Animal Kingdom. Asia will be without one of its star attractions later this month, as Kali River Rapids will be shutting down for its annual refurb on Sunday January 6th. Similar to the annual closure that takes place over at Splash Mountain, Kali will have its water chute drained and then refilled with a fresh batch of H2O. Other minor repairs will also be made at this time, and the attraction will be back in action on Friday February 15th, putting the total closure time at just under six weeks.

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But before we call it a wrap, let’s take a look at the results of our last poll. The question was:

What is your favorite World Showcase pavilion?

. Mexico

. Norway

. China

. Germany

. Italy

. The American Adventure

. Japan

. Morocco

. France

. United Kingdom

. Canada

And the winner is…..

Mexico with 23% of the total vote! This was a real close one, as the pavilion narrowly edged out Norway, which finished second with 20% of the votes. Germany rounded out the Top 3 with 13% of the total vote, and Morocco and Canada split fourth place honors with 10% each. The fifth spot was also a tie between the United Kingdom and Japan, as they both brought in 7% of the votes. Once again, a big thank you to everyone that took the time to vote, and now on to this week’s question:

The post WDW Radio Newswire: Dates Announced For 2013 Star Wars Weekends And Disneyland Attractions POLL appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.