Parents and older kids can join in on all the excitement with a Fun Card, which invites guests to pay for a day and play all year through Dec. 31, 2012, with no blackout dates.

“Must-see” preschool attractions at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Preschoolers will delight in Sesame Street Safari of Fun, a sunny, funny play land, filled with moments that your family can share for the first time — like a first coaster experience aboard Air Grover. And everyday smiles can be repeated again and again: clapping along to original shows, splashing in an expansive water play area and enjoying kid-size rides.

Also available in Sesame Street Safari of Fun, families can Dine with Elmo and Friends on select days and enjoy special event dining experiences with the characters to mark holidays, character birthdays and more. Beginning in March, opt for the Family Fun Buffet, offered on select days. It’s the perfect way to feed your hungry family during your busy day and not miss out on any of the fun! Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet along with the chance to meet beloved Sesame Street characters between 12 and 4 p.m. on select days in the Sesame Street Safari of Fun Dining Pavilion. Reservations are not required.

In February, children’s imaginations will go wild when Iceploration takes the ice. The all-new, 30-minute show combines ethereal ice skating, larger-than-life puppets, amazing costumes and even animal stars. Iceploration opens Feb. 2, 2012 with shows daily in the Moroccan Palace Theatre. Another family favorite at Busch Gardens is “Critter Castaways,” in which a cast of unlikely characters – including dogs, cats, parrots and exotic animals – come together to create a side-splitting show with surprise twists that will have the whole family laughing.

There are plenty of animal encounters and pint-sized rides for families with young children to enjoy as well. In Jungala, families can connect with the jungle through a three-story play land, enjoy a water play zone and come face to face with exotic and endangered animals. At Jambo Junction, guests can have up-close interactions with animals such as flamingos, lemurs and sloths. And in Timbuktu, a carousel and other junior rides will delight those not ready for the major coasters. And what preschooler doesn’t enjoy a train ride? You and your little one can journey across the Serengeti Plains to view zebra, rhino and giraffes aboard the Serengeti Express.

Some additional features that Busch Gardens offers families with young kids include stroller parking and reduced prices on kids’ meals in 2012. Parking spots are available within our preferred parking area designated strictly for guests with strollers, so they can bypass the tram. No additional fee is required, and spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis to guests who request them at the parking tollbooths. At the park’s restaurants, kids’ meals are now just $5.99, including a drink, making it even more affordable to not only entertain, but also feed your little ones at Busch Gardens.

SeaWorld loves kids, too

And don’t forget that this awesome new FREE Preschool Pass also includes admission to SeaWorld Orlando. Just a short hour’s drive away, SeaWorld’s littlest guests can enjoy the wildly popular 4-acre play area, Shamu’s Happy Harbor. It’s a kid’s dream come true, complete with kid-size rides, a 4-story net climb, and a great place for parents to relax in the shade. The park’s first family-oriented roller coaster, Shamu Express, can be found here, along with many other kiddie rides to explore.

And that’s in addition to all the wondrous animal encounters at SeaWorld. Your family can meet penguins, dolphins, fish, rays, sharks, and, of course, Shamu!

Sign up today!

The Free SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass is an online-only offer, available at BuschGardensTampaBay.com or SeaWorldOrlando.com. It is exclusively for Florida residents ages 5 and younger and is valid for unlimited admission – with no blackout dates – through Dec. 31, 2012 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and SeaWorld Orlando. The Preschool Pass does not include parking or Premium Passport discounts or benefits.
After registering through either park’s website, registrants can pick up the Preschool Pass for their child by bringing a printed confirmation and a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate to any ticket window at Busch Gardens’ or SeaWorld’s front gate.
For more information on the Free SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass, visit BuschGardensTampaBay.com or SeaWorldOrlando.com.

The post Busch Gardens & SeaWorld Announce a Free Preschool Pass appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Aardman Animations’ Timmy Time is scheduled to air in North America from September 13, 2010 on Disney Channel’s Playhouse Disney, following a special sneak preview on the evening of September 7th. Timmy Time is Aardman’s first animated television project for the preschool audience, and the stop-motion series has already enjoyed great success in its first season of broadcast overseas.

Timmy Time follows the adventures of Timmy, a little lamb with a lot to learn as he enters preschool. Fans of Aardman’s hit children’s series Shaun the Sheep will recognize Timmy as the baby lamb on the farm who is frequently drawn into all kinds of chaotic adventures by the mischievous older sheep. Used to having his way by being “the only lamb in the flock,” Timmy is now heading to preschool to graze on some important life lessons about playing nicely with others, namely his fellow classmates of the furry, feathered and spiky types.

Episodes portray all the aspects of a preschooler’s day that are familiar to parents—painting, puzzling, making music, building with blocks, napping, snacking and more—through strong but simple storylines that are told without human dialogue, instead using a unique combination of expressive character animation, gesture and reactions, comedy and slapstick, bleats, quacks, oinks and the like.

While being entertained by Timmy’s fun and fleecy antics, the young audience members will benefit by seeing important social skills in action, such as how to help someone in need, how to be good sports, and how to respect others. Creator/Producer/Supervising Director Jackie Cockle (BAFTA winner, producer on Bob the Builder, director on The Wind in The Willows, among other television credits) believes that “preschoolers can easily identify with Timmy as he learns universal lessons about himself, his friends and the world around him.“

Check local television listings for exact airtimes, and to find out more about Timmy, his classmates, and the show, visit www.timmytime.tv.

The post Timmy Time Premieres on Disney Channel appeared first on The Mom Maven.

from the press release:

What About Me!? follows a group of furry friends as they navigate a mysterious, faraway land in search of treasure. Along the way, they encounter secret worlds and new friends to be rescued. With the help of Meyer’s Miss Ruby, the lovable characters learn valuable lessons about working together…all while singing their way into the hearts and minds of children.

The story is engaging, the setting is beautiful, the puppetry is masterful and the message is clear. This 67minute DVD includes two full length episodes “What About Me?” and “Hide It In Your Heart”. This video is not rated but would be appropriate for toddlers through age 8 or 9. Pahappahooey Island: What About Me? won’t be in stores until August 25th but you can win your very own copy here at The Mom Maven!

Mandatory 1st EntryVisit Joyce Meyer’s website and check out the FREE downloadable Pahappahooey Island Activity Book. Then come back here and leave me a comment telling me about one of the activities available in the book.
Bonus Entries

• Subscribe to my site via e-mail or reader (just click on the orange heart in the sidebar). Leave me a comment letting me know you did this. If you already subscribe let me know that too.
• Tweet this: “I just entered to win the fun, educational DVD Pahappahooey Island from @MomMaven http://bit.ly/XgrB2 #giveaway” and leave the tweet URL in the comments-you can do this once a day.
• Share this giveaway on any other social media site-Facebook, Digg, Mixx, Propeller, Technorati etc. Just leave the URL from your posting in the comments. You can do this 1x for each website.

This giveaway is open to US/Canada residents only and will end on August 5, 2009 9:00pm EDT. Good`luck.

The post Pahappahooey Island Review and Giveaway appeared first on The Mom Maven.