Our Meet Up With Disney’s Descendants 2- Disney Channel *Video at bottomSince the very first time my daughter and I first watched Disney’s Descendants together we were both hooked. I thought it was the perfect tween movie for her. As for me, who could resist learning more about the villains sons and daughters. It was something I had to know every detail about. In the original movie, Descendants (2015), we meet the son of King Adam and Queen Belle- Ben! As he gets ready to accept his royal place of taking over the throne he grants the children of the villains a chance to attend Auradon Prep! They make their way over from the Isle of the Lost and try to tame their  villain like ways. You will have to watch the original Descendants to see what happens with the Disney villains’ kids meet up with the Disney heroes’ kids. On that note I will not give any spoilers just in case you are binge watching both Descendants and Descendants 2.

Sometimes blogging does have its perks. Disney Channel was kind enough to send our family the screener of Descendants 2 so we could grab a sneak peek of the movie. You are definitely not going to want to miss out on this one. We have big plans for premiere night when we will host a bunch of our own Disney heroes and villains to feast on wicked apple treats and magic potion purple fizzy drinks! I bet you wish you lived closer, don’t you!? Now, as for the movie, if you liked Descendants, you are going to love Descendants 2. There are so many twists and turns that you will be questioning everything that is happening. Our family especially LOVED the ending! I wish I could talk about it now, but there will be no spoilers here. Descendants 2 starts off with the musical number, “Ways To Be Wicked”, which by now I am sure you know every single word to!This time the kids are left to own devices, without any parental supervision. Maleficent’s daughter-Mal played by Dove Cameron is completely  stressed out trying to get prepared for the upcoming  Royal Cotillion where she will be joined by Beast and Belle’s son, King Ben (Mitchell Hope). Mal finds the pressure overwhelming and immediately heads back to the the Isle of the Lost. Of course she does not make the journey alone and is soon joined by Evie (Sofia Carson), daughter of the Evil Queen, Carlos (Cameron Boyce), son of Cruella De and Jay (Booboo Stewart) son of Jafar. Without much time passing they come across Uma (China Anne Mc Clain) who just happens to be Ursula’s daughter. If you have been following the previews and snippets you most likely also already know the song, “What’s my name?”. If you don’t, you will know it by the end of the movie. The songs throughout the movie are ones that just get stuck in your head and you cannot help but sing. Mal consistently fights with herself throughout the movie wondering who she really is and where she really belongs.

Descendants 2 is a feel good movie that I am positive your family will watch over and over again. Did I mention there will be magic spells and sword battles? So grab your friends and your family and get ready for some magical fun that only producer Kenny Ortega could deliver.

Squeeeeee!! Our family had the immense pleasure of meeting the cast of Descendants 2 at the Disney Store Times Square recently during a private event! Yes, it takes a lot for me to get excited by meeting a celebrity. I have met my share throughout the years, but there was something very magical about meeting the cast of Descendants 2. They were adorable, sweet and completely charming! We also had the chance to chat with Kenny Ortega about Descendants and Descendants 2. Emm was more than happy to share her thoughts on the movie, the music and the dance moves! They both agreed that one of their favorite songs was “Chillin’ Like a Villain”.

In case you were wondering where Emm was outfitted- The Disney Store or DisneyStore.com has a full line of Descendants outfits, pjs, clothes, accessories and more. They even have the Spells book! Have an amazing time watching Disney Channel’s Descendants 2! Friday July 21 is the BIG premiere date. This programming event will simultaneously premiere the movie on FIVE television networks! You can catch it on Disney Channel, ABC, Disney XD, Freeform, and Lifetime! Bonus- There is a thirty minute After Party on following the movie so DO NOT shut off the tv! You won’t to miss all of the Descendants fun at Disneyland during the After Party! Check out all things Descendants here: disney.com/descendants

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Disney Channel partner blog. All opinions are that of Diane and do not reflect those of the parent company represented. A media invite and screener were provided. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net or across all social media platforms as @3decades3kids for collabs.

 

Nintendo Switch Splatoon 2 Review and Nintendo Switch Online App Now Available

I recently got the chance to review and play Splatoon 2. The original Splatoon was so much fun, and Splatoon 2 adds even more fun to the game! You can play the single-player mode, go shopping at the stores, play a turf-war or ranked battle with your friends, or even eat at the food truck! In a Turf War you try to cover as much ground as you can with your team’s color of ink to try to win!Even if you get splatted a lot, you can still win a Turf War. In a Ranked Battle there are three modes, Tower Control, Splat Zones, and Rainmaker. Your team will have to work together to win these modes. If you win a Ranked Battle your rank will go up, but if you lose, it will go down.

In Tower Control, you try to take the tower to the other team’s home base. It may stop at certain locations though, so try to stay in control and splat as many squids (people) as you can! In the mode Splat Zones, you try to take control of and ink certain spots. You have to try not to get splatted while splatting other squids (people) here. And last, but certainly not least of the Ranked Battle modes, the Rainmaker! In the Rainmaker, you have to take the Rainmaker to the other team’s home base.

The Rainmaker is not too easy to get, and it’s also not easy to keep. You and your three teammates must work together to get and bring the Rainmaker to the other team’s home base. The Rainmaker is very powerful, but it’s slow and heavy. In the single player mode you’ll become a secret agent and battle against the octarians to get the great  zapfish back! For the first time ever, you  can take any of these modes in the car, on a plane, on a boat, or anywhere you are going! There is also an arcade game that you’ll find in the square, and it’s a music game! You can listen to your favorite Splatoon songs, or play to a new one!

There are three ways to do it: Normal, Hard, or just listen to a song! You can also unlock more songs the more you play Splatoon 2! It has been two years since the original game Splatoon came out, so there are new stores, a new newscasters, new weapons, new modes, and plenty more new things!! There is a new mode called Salmon Run. In a Salmon Run you try to splat all of the salmonids that you can, while collecting all of the golden eggs that you can! There are three waves of salmonids! http://www.nintendo.com/

But if you get splatted, you won’t just regenerate like you usually do, but a teammate has to revive you by inking your lifesaver tube! A team will be 2-4 inklings that work together to collect power eggs and golden eggs! The more you collect, the better your reward is! But if all of your team gets splatted, or time runs out before you’ve collected enough eggs, it’s game over! You can go to a Salmon Run on one of the scheduled times, or host one with your friends!   Even if you didn’t play the first one, Splatoon 2 is a great game for all ages to play!

Tip: Try to level up right at the beginning and choose the weapon you like, then you are sure to win every battle or Salmon Run!In addition the Nintendo Switch Online app is now available to download in the App Store for iPhone users and the Google Play Store for Android owners. The first game to use this app is Splatoon 2.

Downloading Nintendo Switch Online also gives you access to SplatNet 2. This Splatoon 2-specific service helps you stay in touch with Inkopolis even when you’re away from your Nintendo Switch. SplatNet 2 displays information like stage schedules, gear and stats, and even lets you view your lifetime inkage, a feature that shows how much turf a player has inked compared to real-world places. With Nintendo Switch Online, you can invite other players to join Private Battles, League Battles, Salmon Run and Splatfest Battles in Splatoon 2, as well as communicate with those players using voice chat.

Nintendo Switch Online is free until the paid service launches in 2018. You’ll need a Nintendo Account to access online services, including the smart device app.

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Nintendo Partner. Emily and Adam Sullivan are Nintendo Kid Reviewers. No compensation was given for this post. Sample products are sent throughout the year for the purpose of review…and fun!  Follow our gaming series for all of the latest on everything Nintendo. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net and @3decades3kids everywhere else across the social media platform. 3decades3kids.net Snap us at : ThreeDecades

 

Nintendo Switch Splatoon 2 -One Player Mode- Octo Canyon

Being a Nintendo Kid Reviewer really has it’s perks. Recently I had the chance to check out the entire game of  Splatoon 2. At this point I’m only allowed to talk about the Octo Canyon although I did spend days playing and have already finished it! My full review will be coming soon.

The original Splatoon was so much fun. I loved playing both alone and online with others. Splatfests definitely ruled my life! Once the dates were announced I could not wait to choose a team and play. Splatoon 2 adds even more fun to the game! As a bonus, there are definitely Splatfests already scheduled!

The single player mode of Splatoon 2 is pretty exciting. You can go shopping at the stores, play a turf-war or ranked battle with your friends, or even eat at the food truck! Anyone for a Crusty Seanwich?

The game starts off at a new location, Inkopolis Square! It’s a place where you can go to the Lobby to battle, go to the Shoal to play with friends, go to Grizzco to play a Salmon Run, go to Octo Canyon to play in the single-player mode, or go to the Galleria which has the best stores in Inkopolis! Did I mention that in this game you can customize not only your normal gear, but your hairstyle and legwear too? This is a pretty exciting news for all Spltoon fans!

This is a more fleshed out single-player experience, Octo Canyon gives players the chance to dive into Splatoon’s offline half. With a variety of worlds to explore and many bosses to face, hardcore fans and newcomers to the series will both find lots to do in. The first 3 worlds offer a lot to players, as they are varied & showcase how single-player feels less like a side-activity this time around. Players will find themselves also upgrading their weapons as the game progresses, which helps in enhancing and deepening the experience in this epic paint-covered sequel.

So, grab your splattershots and start inking! See you in Inkopolis!

 

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Nintendo Partner. Emily and Adam Sullivan are Nintendo Kid Reviewers. No compensation was given for this post. Sample products are sent throughout the year for the purpose of review…and fun!  Follow our gaming series for all of the latest on everything Nintendo. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net and @3decades3kids everywhere else across the social media platform. 3decades3kids.net Snap us at : ThreeDecades

 

Field Station Dinosaurs-A Perfect Day With the Dinosaurs In  New Jersey

Our family loves summer and we love finding outdoor places to go that include a bit of learning. Since dinosaurs are our thing we really enjoy visiting Field Station Dinosaurs in Leonia, New Jersey. This fabulous park is located at Overpeck County Park, Bergen County, NJ.This amusement park is great for children, families and dinosaur fans of all ages. The park is filled with an array of dinosaurs that range from pint sized all the way to the massive T-Rex! Everything is super easy to find and it’s not too tiring on little legs in the hot sun. You can dig for pre-set dinosaur bones in the dinosaur dig site- set up beneath tents as if you are on an actual dig site. There is also a dinosaur fossil station that is available for an extra fee. You child can uncover a fossil and take it home. It’s a great activity. There are fun shows that also teach kids (and parents_ important facts about dinosaurs, and they take you out of the sun for a little bit. Please remember that this is an outdoor park so you may want to remember sunscreen and an umbrella to shade the family. If you do want a break there is a great snack station where you can dine out of the sun on burgers, hot dogs, pretzels and more. There are also a lot of ice cold choices frozen treats!

Field Station: Dinosaurs’ Commander’s tent and their assemblage of dinosaurs are open all summer with extended hours into the Fall throughout Halloween with special Dinosaurs After Dark nights available on weekends this fall.

Our day always begins with my daughter receiving a passport upon arrival. The park has several stations where Junior paleontologists can get a stamp in their passport with each task accomplished or visited. At the end of the visit there is a little surprise for completing the passport. It’s also a great way to make sure you see all there is to do during the day. This year there is a new 3D movie show for all dinosaur fans to enjoy. There is a $5 fee for the movie. We enjoyed it, but it may be better for children six and up- only my opinion.

 

So grab your family and get outside. This is definitely a trip where your kids will never even know they are learning and just think they are having tons of fun. My daughter’s first stop is always the dig site. It’s a fun place where you can grab some shovels and brushes and uncover some dino bones! Field Station: Dinosaurs is a world-class family attraction that combines cutting-edge science with the creative minds of great artists and teachers to create a one-of-kind experience that’s thrilling, educational and fun. Over thirty life-sized, realistic dinosaurs  come to life thanks to the brilliant engineering of the world’s leading roboticists and the imagination of our artists. Scientists from the New Jersey State Museum have worked to ensure that the exhibition encompasses the latest theories and discoveries in the fields of paleontology, geology, and environmental studies but at the center of it all is the fun, the joy and the wonder of dinosaurs.

Tickets are available online at www.FieldStationDinosaurs.com and by phone at 855-999-9010.  The park is open daily now through September 4 from 10 am- 6 pm. The park is also open on Labor Day.  Season passes and add-ons for access to all of the park’s programming and activities are also available. Click here for a calendar of events including July 15-Super Stars Of Science- Dissecting Owl Pellets,  July 22- Famous Fossils of the Garden State, July 29- Dino Don, Jurassic Park Official Dinosaur Adviser. There are more events in August, September and October, so please check out the calendar of events for yourself.

Disclosure: Diane Sullivan/3decades3kids is a Field Station Dinosaurs partner blog. All opinions are that of Diane Sullivan and do not reflect the opinions of the parent company being represented. This is an unsponsored post. Complimentary passes were provided in order to facilitate this review. Contact me at Diane@3decades3kids.net and @3decades3kids across social media platforms. Snapchat: ThreeDecades