Two weeks ago, Cars 2 opened in theaters and my son still talks about the film. Fortunately, he has a few movie-inspired toys to keep the movie fresh in his mind. If you’ve been out shopping lately, you may have noticed entire sections devoted to all-things Cars 2. Along with cars from the film, you’ll find clothing, bedding, playsets, and even learning laptops! Here is a round-up of toys and gear that have my son revving with excitement!
Topping the list of my son’s favorite toys is his Lightning McQueen Die Cast Vehicle. We bought the car for him long before Cars 2 came out and he carries it with him in his pocket most of the time. You might even find it next to him on his pillow at night. Right now, you can find a set of two die-cast vehicles on sale at the Disney Store for just $12. Be sure to check out the new Lights & Sounds die-cast vehicles by Mattel which feature headlights that turn on for nighttime racing, engines that rev and characters that say their favorite phrases from the film. And, you can collect all 20 of the Cars Toon Die Cast vehicles which feature all the versions of Mater and Lightning McQueen from the film including I-Screamer Tow Mater which lights up and makes sounds.
Speaking of cars, the new Cars 2 Spy Shifters transform right before your child’s eyes for the next secret mission. Press the button on the back of the vehicle and missiles will pop out, tires will flip up and more (press again to go undercover). Available in Mater, Finn McMissile, and Rod Torque Redline.
What child (particularly if that child is a boy) doesn’t enjoy crashing vehicles? The new Cars 2 plush Crash ‘Ems say eight words and phrases when smacked, slammed, tossed or crashed. The best part is they won’t break and they can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Collect the entire set which includes Tow Mater, Lightning McQueen, Finn McMissile, and Francesco Bernoulli (I just love saying his name). : )
Because education is a top priority when I purchase toys, I would say that my favorite Cars 2 toy is the Lightning McQueen Learning Laptop by VTech. The laptop is actually shaped like Lightning McQueen, features a full QWERTY keyboard, and a tire-shaped mouse (cute!). Children can select from 15 activities that teach them letters, words, math, and logic. The laptop is “turned on” with a knob that resembles an ignition and children can select their activity with one of 3 Cars 2 character buttons.
For some reason, both of my children love microphones. And apparently, we can’t have too many because despite the fact that we already have 2, my kids have been having a difficult time sharing the new Cars 2 Grand Prix Microphone from First Act. We’re fans of the Boston-based company that creates musical products for children. Along with amplifying your child’s voice, the microphone features cool sound effects and character dialog from the film.
My son is a LEGO fanatic! We can’t walk through Downtown Disney without making a stop at The LEGO Imagination Center to see the latest in Disney-inspired LEGO sets. At present, there are a TON of sets inspired by the film. Over the weekend, I purchased Luigi’s Italian Place which is one of their Duplo sets. With two little ones, we have yet to venture down the LEGO path and have always opted for the Duplo sets because of their larger, chunkier, and easy-to-put together pieces. My son still feels like he is getting an authentic LEGO experience and I don’t have to worry that my daughter will choke on any of the pieces. Multiple sets can be purchased and then combined for an even more imaginative experience.
One day, I decided to give my daughter a crayon to see what she would do with it. At 18 months, she finally has enough dexterity to scribble and she is loving it. Crayola recently launched their new Color Wonder Deluxe Coloring Kits and now offer a Cars 2 version. If your children enjoy coloring with markers, but you don’t enjoy the mess that accompanies them, I highly recommend these sets. The inks and paints are clear and color will only appear on their special Color Wonder paper. Both of my children enjoy the excitement of color appearing on the pages of their coloring books.
It’s almost too early to talk about Halloween but my son already has a costume. This year, he’s going to be Lightning McQueen. This adorable (and official) Disney/Pixar costume includes a muscle jumpsuit and a red baseball hat. It’s a bit thin so your child will likely need to wear some clothing underneath.
If your children are fans of Disney/Pixar Cars, what are their favorite toys?
No compensation was received for this post. Product samples (minus the LEGO Duplo set which I purchased) were provided which helped facilitate this review.
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