Disney Raises the Bar on Playroom Fun & Enrichment with New Playhouse Disney-Themed Preschool Toys

(September 22, 2008) Disney Consumer Products today announced an exciting fall line-up of preschool toys and electronics geared toward enriching playtime. Inspired by hit Playhouse Disney preschool shows on Disney Channel including Handy Manny, Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Disney�s preschool toys and electronics spark creativity and imagination while creating a fun experience full of discovery any time, anywhere. They also make great holiday gifts for preschoolers.

�The Disney preschool toy line features favorite Disney Channel Playhouse Disney characters that little ones know and love,� said Robert Marick, vice president, toys, Disney Consumer Products. �Parents and caregivers can engage with youngsters and help them recreate some of the key developmental elements of the shows. Our goal with this new toy line is to make the experience so much fun that they won�t realize how much they�re actually absorbing.�

Disney celebrated the launch with an event just for preschoolers with special readings from the assortment of Playhouse Disney-themed books read by Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty) and Kelly Rutherford (Gossip Girl), and guest appearances by Elisabeth Hasselbeck (The View), Kim Raver (Lipstick Jungle) and Matt Settle (Gossip Girl) at Toys�R�Us Times Square on Saturday, September 20, 2008. Product demos, a reading station, sing-alongs, face painting and more provided fun for all while preschoolers took pictures with Handy Manny, Tigger and Darby.

Among regularly scheduled series on broadcast and basic cable with kids 2-5 in summer �08, Playhouse Disney held four of the top 12 series with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (tied at #4), Handy Manny (#7), Disney�s Little Einsteins (#11) and My Friends Tigger & Pooh (#12). These series all rank #1 or #2 in their weekend and weekday time periods this summer. Core attributes of each Disney Channel Playhouse Disney show are as follows:

• Handy Manny: Conflict resolution, problem-solving, imagination, bilingual education.
• Little Einsteins: Music, art, curiosity about the world, creativity, interactivity, teamwork.
• Mickey Mouse Clubhouse: problem solving and early math skills including sequencing, counting, classifying, sorting, complex patterns, spatial relations, size and distance comparisons, addition, subtraction, weights and balances.
• My Friends Tigger And Pooh: Social and emotional development, discovery, friendship and learning about nature.

Disney Channel�s Playhouse Disney programs invite and encourage co-viewing with parents, grandparents and caregivers to bring fun, curriculum-based entertainment to preschoolers and their parents. Key toys for holiday include, among others, the following: (product photos available for download at www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/press/us)

Handy Manny

Fix-It-Right Transforming Tool Truck

Manny�s truck transforms into his tool bench and is equipped with four tools from the show and tons of playthings to fix. When kids pick the right tool for the job, the �Fix It Right� song from the show plays as the child fixes the problem. Bilingual phrases and sound effects and fix-it jobs included. SRP $49.99, DisneyShopping.com, Disney Store, Wal-Mart, Toys�R�Us, Kmart, ages 3+.

Disney V-tech Create-A-Story

Create-A-Story comes with My Friends Tigger And Pooh software and cartridge, with additional titles available (Cars, Disney Princess, Finding Nemo and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse). Its interactive platform helps children discover the love of reading through the magic of Disney stories. Youngsters can choose �Read A Story� or �Create A Story� software books for each title. �Read A Story� mode lets kids hear a story and engage in fun reading activities. �Create A Story� lets kids take characters on a fun-filled adventure by choosing the elements of the story, selecting characters, backgrounds, objects and actions. Preschoolers can then watch their story come to life on the TV/cable included. SRP $99.99, mass retailers, ages 3+.

Little Einsteins

Transform & Go Rocket

As youngsters transform Rocket into three different vehicles, they�ll hear great rocket sounds and character phrases relating to each vehicle. Transform & Go Rocket is equipped with pre-programmed motorized action for each vehicle and can also be custom-programmed with up to 15 different commands. Comes with the Turbo Booster gadget from the show that lights up and spins. SRP $39.99, Wal-Mart, Toys�R�Us, Target, Kmart, ages 3+.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Mickey Motors Speedway

Charge up the cars at the two Rev �n Go stations alongside of the track and send them speeding for action-packed, head-to-head racing with Mickey and Pete. A Mickey hand elevator lets kids send the cars to the upper tracks for high-speed fun. Includes two racecars, silly sound effects and fun Mickey phrases. Requires 3 AAA batteries/not included. SRP $49.99, Wal-Mart, Toys�R�Us, Kmart, ages 3+.

Disney Preschool Electronics:

Disney Pix Jr. Digital Camera

Styles: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger And Pooh, Disney Princess

This drop-tested, rugged 1.3 mega pixel camera is kid-friendly and extremely durable. The Disney Pix Jr. features a large 1.5-inch display screen for easy viewing, and a powerful on-board processor allows kids to snap pictures rapidly. It has approximately 15 hours of battery life and holds up to 150 photos. Youngsters can use Disney Photofriends character overlays to put their favorite Disney friends into their images. SRP $59.99, DisneyShopping.com Target, Toys�R�Us, ages 3+.

-- Posted September 22, 2008