Fathers Day Gift Guide

Fathers Day Gift Guide

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Disclosure - We were gifted all the below products for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. This post contains affiliate links.

Sunday 16th June 2019 is Father's Day. A special day to celebrate a special person in our lives. Whether it's a gift for Dad, Step Dad, Grandad or Great Grandad I have lots of ideas for you to help choose the perfect present.

Whether you would prefer a traditional card or a humour card, Danilo offer a wide range for Dads and Grandads. The Ladybird retro cards are both nostalgic and humorous and Mrs Brown's Boys cards are perfect for fans of the show. All cards are available online with free UK delivery.

 The NextBase Dash Cam is perfect for any Dad's who like their gadgets. Recording at a high quality of 1080p and with built in wi-fi you can have perfect recordings of your travel sent direct to your phone or tablet.

Another gizmo for Tech Savvy Dad's out there. Blue Snowball iCE is an easy plug in and play microphone giving you a better quality of sound on Skype, Windows Live, Google Talk and Yahoo Messenger and it looks great too.

Willow & Stone Red is a great value wine full of sweet blackberries and blackcurrant flavours. Delicious on its own, great with sticky spare ribs or barbecues.

More people are choosing low or non alcoholic beverages now and STRYYK is a zero-proof non alcoholic brand. NOT RUM is a unique mix of clove, oakwood, and grapefruit that creates a spirit that looks like rum and tastes like rum.

Father's Day wouldn't be the same without giving socks as a present. Mainline Menswear have Ted Baker Pole 3 Pack Socks Gift Set In Navy. Three pairs of soft cotton blend socks with ribbed ankle cuffs packaged in a metallic gift box.

Sweet gifts are always a popular choice and the Liquorice Tree from Giftpup will definitely be a highlight this Father's Day. Standing 25cm tall and edible right down to the core it looks too pretty to eat, but i'm sure it will go down a treat. Personalisation is also available on the glass. 

Jelly Belly have teamed up with DC Comics to launch a Superhero Collection. The Batman Super Hero Mix is full of shimmering Jelly Beans, perfect for your Super Hero. 

My dad's favourite chocolate bar is Toblerone so it was the perfect Father's Day gift by GettingPersonal. I chose to personalise it with Best Dad however you can personalise it however you wish.

Michelle

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Walt Disney World Hints and Tips

Walt Disney World Hints and Tips

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Disclosure - this is a collaborative post

We have been going to Walt Disney Theme Parks for over a decade now and over the years you do pick up some hints and tips that can make your stay more enjoyable. If you are planning a visit to Walt Disney World soon then hopefully some of these may come in handy.

If it’s your first time visiting Walt Disney World or you are celebrating your birthday or anniversary, make sure you grab a badge. Badges can be found dotted around the parks and also at your Disney resort hotel. Cast members have the authority to choose visitors wearing the badges to give them a freebie. I received a huge ice cream which was a lovely treat.

While entering, you should also make sure that everyone in your group has the right entry ticket and pass. There are many different kinds depending on a whole range of situations, so this is something that you will just need to make sure that you get right. And sometimes it is going to help someone to make the most of it or make the day easier for them, such as getting them a Disney disability pass where necessary.

Take a water bottle in to the parks with you. There are water fountains scattered about which you can use to refill however most quick service dining restaurants have refill stations and you can fill your water bottle up at them and with cold water and ice. In the parks, Sunshine Seasons and Electric Umbrella at Epcot, Be Our Guest Restaurant in the Magic Kingdom, Backlot Express in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Restaurantosaurus & Satu’li Canteen in Disney’s Animal Kingdom all have drink refill stations.

Now matter how sunny you think Florida is, always pack a light rain mac or poncho. You never know when rain will hit and trust me without a waterproof you will be soaked in seconds.

Purchase an autograph book and pen and always have it to hand. Some characters may just walk about and will be happy to stop for an autograph and photo.

Utilise your fast passes. If you are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel with a ticket package you can book up to 60 days in advance. Make sure you book as early as you can, you can always change your choices using the app should your plans change.  Once you have completed your three free fast passes you can then go on to book more, one at a time until the end of the day.

The Walt Disney World app keeps you up to date with current queue times, character locations, dining, temporary closures and entertainment. Free Wi-Fi internet is available in the theme parks and resort hotels at Walt Disney World.

Get a free drink at Epcot’s Club Cool, where there are eight flavours of Coke products from around the world. Make sure to have a cup of the Beverly. It’s an unusual flavour that you absolutely must try.

Plan your day carefully. The parks are huge and you don’t want to have rides planned that are scattered between lands meaning you have to walk back and forth all day. Choose a land to start in and make the most of that land before you move on. We find everyone tends to move clockwise so anticlockwise is usually less busy.

Resting throughout the day is so important. The days are long in the Disney parks with some parks open till midnight at times. Plan some rest times during the day, maybe see a show or stop for a coffee and cake.

Take the kids swimwear and a towel to the Magic Kingdom with you. In Fantasyland there is a small area that sprays out water when it's hot outside. The kids love it and it's a great way to cool down quickly.

Adults can always order from the kid’s menu, which is a great way to save money while still getting a meal that will satisfy smaller/moderate appetites.

Don’t get drawn into the Disney Vacation Club by the exciting  promotions while at Walt Disney World. Wait until you get home, research the Pros and Cons of Disney Vacation Club, and buy via the resale market if you’re going to buy at all.

Look out for the professional photographers. They are there to help create memories for you by snapping pictures of you and your family with iconic backdrops. I would recommend purchasing the memory maker which saves all your photos on.

If you’re staying at a Disney-owned hotel, you can have merchandise you purchase in the park sent to your hotel so you don’t have to carry it around all day.

Evenings are ideal for those who don’t want to wait in line during the day in the Florida heat. Queue times decrease dramatically around 7pm so it’s a great time to jump on the usually busy rides or meet your favourite characters.

If you are staying in the Walt Disney resort make sure you make use of your hotel amenities. It’s so easy to jump up out of bed each day and quickly head to the parks but it’s also nice to enjoy what your hotel has to offer. Take a dip in the pool, let the kids burn off some energy in the playground or have some family fun in the arcade.

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Have you visited Walt Disney World? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit 

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Michelle

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Days Out | The Very Hungry Caterpillar Live

Days Out | The Very Hungry Caterpillar Live

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Disclosure - We were gifted tickets to the show for the purpose of this post. Thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own.  

A few weeks ago we took little J to the theatre for the first time to see The Twirlywoos live. He loved it so much so last weekend we headed back to The Theatre Royale to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show. 

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Giveaway | PJ Masks Super Moon Adventure Bundle

Giveaway | PJ Masks Super Moon Adventure Bundle

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Disclosure -  I have been compensated for my time creating this post

PJ Masks heroes Catboy, Gekko and Owlette will return to our screens every day on Tiny Pop at 7:30am and 5:30pm from May 24th. The high energy super hero show aimed at pre-schoolers follows the trio as they head into the night to save the day.

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Giveaway | Get Out And Grow Goodie Bag

Giveaway | Get Out And Grow Goodie Bag

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Disclosure - I did not receive anything in return for this giveaway.

Little J loves being outdoors and would rather spend time exploring the woods or looking for bugs than playing with toys inside. We are always going on outdoor adventures no matter what the weather. It's proven that a childhood spent outdoors helps children grow up healthier and happier, however this is proving harder in recent times due to children choosing screen time over playing outside.

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Play Expo Manchester

Play Expo Manchester

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Play Expo returned to Manchester last week to a new location at the Central Exhibition Centre. This was Little J's first visit to the gaming exhibition and he loved it more than I expected!

We arrived at the event early to make the most of the day. Programmes of events where handed out as we entered through the now familiar bag check process. This also included a map of the venue with each of the sections clearly marked.

We headed first to the Antstream setup. Antstream advertises itself as a Netflix for retro gaming, with the ability to play on Xbox One, Pc, Android devices and support to come for PS4 and iOS in future. Its currently in kickstarter but they had live stations set up with a selection of games to play.  The speed of games loading was really impressive and I loved having a go of Speedball 2 having not played it for about 20 years.  Little J loved the fact that they had bowls of sweets to pick from too!

Playstation VR was available for try outs just next to this section and both Little J and I had a go on Driveclub VR.  I really thought the experience was amazing, and have been considering buying the VR set, however I did find that it made me feel a bit ill, so it was good to have the chance to try it to make the decision for me!

Next it was over to the Fortnite section. This was already busy, but we didnt have to wait long to sit at a station and Little J played a few games next to around 40 other gamers. He was really enjoying the experience even though he could have played at home.

We headed over to the arcade section next, with a large selection of original arcade machines, all set as free to play. We spent to time on Pac Man and Ms. Pac Man,  Operation Wolf and waited for a turn on the original sit in cabinet for Out Run. I also played some of the original star wars games and had a few goes of Galaga.  It's always great fun to play the originals all over again, and even more so to see Little J playing and enjoying them too.

Next to the Arcade section was the Pinball section.  We all had a go on 'The Adams Family' which is my favourite machine. I was surprised at how out of practice I had become!

Next it was time for some Fifa. We could only find two machines running Fifa so had to wait a little for a chance to play.  We played three matches at different times throughout the day and this was Little J's favourite part of the day. When I asked him why, when he could play it at home, he just said 'Its better playing it here'

Then it was onto the tombola, where we won sweets and a teddy bear, and then to the market stalls. Usually I find something catches my eye in amongst the gaming merchandise but nothing did this year.

We didn't have time to go to visit any of the presentations on the main stage, or other areas, and we didn't try out Knightmare Live or the Breakout Rooms, however we still really enjoyed the day playing games, and will definitely be returning next year!

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If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit 

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John

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Review | JBL JR Pop Bluetooth Speaker

Review | JBL JR Pop Bluetooth Speaker

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Disclosure - We were gifted the JBL JR Pop Speaker for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

We all love our music here, and we have tried and tested so many different speakers and systems over the years. You would think that bluetooth speakers would be much of a muchness but we can tell you that some are much, much better than others and it really does make a difference which brand you use.

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Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom - Ride Guide and Spoilers

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom - Ride Guide and Spoilers

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Magic Kingdom is my favourite place to visit when we are staying at Walt Disney World. There is so much to see and do. On our recent trip we found little J went on almost everything which I hadn't expected as I thought he still may be too small for some of the rides but he wasn't, he was tall (and brave) enough. I thought I would share a ride and spoiler guide to the attractions at Magic kingdom so you will know what to expect on your next visit.

Tomorrowland

Buzz Lightyear's Space Range Spin

Type of Ride - Slow moving ride which seats 2. Both riders get a gun with a laser which you aim at Z's throughout the ride. Shoot the Z's to score points.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Gun is stuck in place and hard to use. Little ones may find it difficult to press the trigger as its on the back of the gun so you need to use your thumb! Make sure you spin your ship round to face the targets to make it easier to hit the further away, higher value targets. If you manage to get maximum points you will be given a special sticker to mark your achievement!

Min Height - No

Fast Pass + - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

Astro Obiter

Type of Ride - Flying rocket ride. Sit inside your rocket with your legs either side. Younger ones can sit in-between your legs

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Once it is your turn to ride you get an elevator up to the rockets which are situated on an upper platform. Once the ride starts your rockets will go even higher in to the air.  You can control your height with a lever which is fun for the younger riders. Lovely views of Tomorrowland and the Castle,  especially if riding at night.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - No

Ride Photo - No

Space Mountain

Type of Ride - High Speed Rollercoaster in the dark. You sit in a rocket with your legs either side. Each rocket seats 6 people however you are in your own capsule.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - You are fastened in with a lap bar so that always means no loop the loops. Safe for younger riders who aren't afraid of the dark. Space simulation noises throughout so does feel realistic! If you are tall avoid the front row as there is very little space for long legs. Seems to break down quite a lot so check the app for closures.

Min Height - 44"/112cm

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover

Type of Ride - Slow moving train ride which takes you on a tour of Tomorrowland, and through some of the attractions. Comfortably seats 4.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Can be dark at times. Queue seems to always be busy however it does move quickly.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - No

Ride Photo - No

Tomorrowland Speedway

Type of Ride - Drive your own car around the large track.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Steering can be done by younger riders, although they might not be able to reach the control pedals. Luckily pedals are available on both sides of the car. Cars are petrol so can be quite smelly at times as there are a lot on the track. Queue tends to move quickly. Currently closed at the moment and has been for quite a while. Couldn't see any refurbishment underway on the actual ride however there is a Tron ride being built close by. 

Min Height - 32"/81cm and 54"/137cm to ride alone.

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Fantasyland

Mad Tea Party

Type of Ride - Classic cup and saucers ride. Comfortably seats two adults and two children.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Spin the wheel in the centre of the cup to make you saucer spin you round faster. If you have a larger party make sure you ask for two cups as you move to the front of the queue as you will be squeezed into one otherwise.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Dumbo The Flying Elephant

Type of Ride - Fly around on Dumbo The Flying Elephant. Use the lever to make Dumbo go higher or lower.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - There are two Dumbo rides which helps reduce queue waiting times. There is an indoor play area midway through the queue. It's huge inside with an area for 2-3 year olds and 4-8 year olds. You don't have to go on the ride to go in the Dumbo play area you can just leave via the exit after the kids have finished.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

The Barnstormer

Type of Ride - A junior rollercoaster. Seats 2 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - The queue for this ride can reach up to 90 minutes at time. The actual ride lasts less than 40 seconds. On the plus side you can usually access a Fast Pass throughout the day. The perfect 'entry level' roller coaster for children is what makes this such a popular choice. Make sure you hold onto your cap if you have one as you speed round the track!

Min Height - 35"/89cm

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

It's A Small World 

Type of Ride - A large boat ride through different countries around the world.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Each boat can seat approx 20 people, the queue is constantly moving. Once you have been on the ride I can guarantee you will have the 'It's a Small World' song playing in your head for the rest of the day. If you have any loose change the children can throw them into the water, there is a large coin collection which has been there for some time.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Peter Pan's Flight

Type of Ride - Fly high over the rooftops of London in your very own pirate ship to Neverland. Seats two comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Extremely popular. There is always a large queue time. Sometimes 2 hours plus. Fast pass is available but is usually booked up. Can be dark in places with UV and good use of LED lighting to give the ride some special effects.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Under The Sea - Journey Of The Little Mermaid

Type of Ride - Slow moving ride. Hop on board your own shell for a journey under the sea. Each shell sits two comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - make sure you join the right queue as you can meet Ariel right next door. Lots of music and characters will have you singing along. The ride tells the story from beginning to end. Don't forget to look up as you start to move down under the sea.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh

Type of Ride - Slow moving ride through the Hundred Acre Wood. Each honey pot sits 4 comfortably. Two in the front, two in the back.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Visit lots of characters along the way while your honey pot bounces like tigger and sways side to side as it gets caught on a blustery day.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Seven Dwarves Mine Train

Type of Ride - Child friendly rollercoaster. Seats two comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Can be fast and steep in places however slows quickly as you enter the mines where you see the dwarves at work. Queue times are crazy, can reach over 200 minutes at times. Fast passes for this ride are booked months in advance. Remember to smile as if you scan your magic band you get a nice video and stills from your ride. This was Little J's favourite ride in the entire park so be prepared to ride more than once!

Min Height - 38"/97cm

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes and a video too.

Prince Charming Regal Carousel 

Type of Ride - An old fashioned carousel ride with views of the castle and fantasyland.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - The carousel can accommodate a lot of riders so queue will move quickly.  You can ride on the same horse as your little one, just put them on first, fasten the seatbelt around them and climb on behind as the bigger horses have room for two.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - No

Ride Photo - No

Liberty Square

Haunted Mansion

Type of Ride - A spine tingling tour of the dark, haunted estate. 

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Can be large queues at times but keep checking for a fast pass as one will usually become available later on in the evening.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Frontierland

Splash Mountain

Type of Ride - Long Flume ride based on The Song Of The South. Each flume seats upto 8 people comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - You can queue separately for the front row however this will increase your queuing time by a little.  The ride is quite long with lots of ups and downs both inside and out. The main drop is quite steep and the force of the splash when you reach the bottom may be too much for little ones. If you are not riding there is a small sheltered play area just by the exit. If you are riding expect to get wet, lots of fun especially on a hot day.

Min Height - 40"/102cm

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - Yes

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Type of Ride - Runaway mine train type rollercoaster. Each cart seats two comfortably. 

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Queue times vary dramatically depending on the time of day. Towards park closure the queue time can be as little as 5 minutes and riding in the dark has the added bonus of seeing the fireworks if you time it right. You can sit three in a cart if you have a little one who is wanting to sit between two adults to feel safe.

Min Height - 40'/102cm

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Adventureland

Jungle Cruise

Type of Ride - Journey though the exotic rivers on board a boat with your own tour guide.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - The Magic Kingdoms most iconic ride which means it can be extremely busy at times. Don't expect the same experience as you get in Animal Kingdom though as the animals on this cruise aren't real!

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

Pirates Of The Caribbean 

Type of Ride - Embark on a voyage to a time when Pirates ruled the seas. Each boat seats approx 20 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - Your boat takes you through a pirate adventure taking place at night. Can be dark and loud at times. Queue not usually very long. There is shop at the end of the ride that sells all your pirate merchandise which can't be found in many of the larger stores.

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

The Magic Carpets Of Aladdin 

Type of Ride - Hop aboard your own flying carpet for views from above Adventureland. Each carpet seats 4 comfortably.

Hints, Tips or Spoilers - The two people in the front can control the carpet to go higher or lower and the two in the back can tip the carpet frontwards and backwards. Watch out for the camel.. he spits!

Min Height - No

FastPass+ - Yes

Ride Photo - No

If you found this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

Have you visited Magic Kingdom? Leave us a comment below and let us know about your visit 

For more ride guides, hints and tips and spoilers visit our other Walt Disney World posts.

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Share This Post With Friends Who May Also Find It Useful. 

Michelle

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Review | Untamed Dragons

Review | Untamed Dragons

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Disclosure - We were gifted an untamed dragon for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

Fingerlings have been so popular over the last few years but if I am honest little J hasn't been interested in them previously. He has seen them in the shops, on TV and even a few of his friends have them but he has never asked for one so I didn't buy. That all changed a few weeks ago when he saw the Untamed Dragons range of Fingerlings.

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Review | Robozuna Figures

Review | Robozuna Figures

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Disclosure - We were gifted the products for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

We have been watching the adventures of Ariston and Mangle over on Netflix recently and little J is hooked. Robozuna is all about a teenage boy and his homemade robot. They face lots of challenges and battles throughout the series and the range of toys means we can create our own battles at home. 

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Days Out | Twirlywoos Live at St Helens Theatre Royal

Days Out | Twirlywoos Live at St Helens Theatre Royal

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Disclosure - We were gifted tickets for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

It's been a few years now since we first became fans of the TV show Twirlywoos. In that time we have watched all the episodes, collected the Twirlywoo teddies and played with The Big Red Boat and last weekend we got to see the Twirlywoos Live at St Helens Theatre Royal.

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Our Favourites | April Bedtime Stories

Our Favourites | April Bedtime Stories

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Disclosure - We were gifted the products however we were not asked to feature these on our blog. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

We were away for most of April however just before we left we were sent some lovely books by Little Tiger. As you will know if you read our blog we love reading a story at bedtime and it's a huge part of little J's routine. Here are our favourite bedtime stories this month.

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Gift Guide | Star Wars - May The 4th Be With You [Gifted]

Gift Guide | Star Wars - May The 4th Be With You [Gifted]

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Disclosure - We were gifted products for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

If you are like us and you are a huge Star Wars fans then you will know that May the 4th has been named as Star Wars Day. I've gathered some gift ideas to surprise the Star Wars fan in your life.

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