Our Top 5 Merlin Attractions From Buyagift

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Disclosure - We were gifted a Buyagift experience, however the idea for this post, photos and any opinions are our own. This post contains affiliate links. 

We have been Merlin Pass Holders for as long as I can remember. Being a Merlin Pass Holder allows us to visit Merlin attractions up and down the country and it’s a great way to spend a day, a weekend or even a week. Other than the a few Sealife centres and Shreks Adventure we have visited all the Merlin Attractions and they are by far our favourite day out. Recently I came across a collaboration between Buyagift and Merlin where you can now purchase Merlin experiences through Buyagift.

I love this collaboration because we are really big fans of Buyagift and we’ve used them many  times in the past and it’s nice to know now that we can buy Merlin experiences for our friends and family.

So what attractions can you purchase? Buyagift offer over 20 different experiences that you can choose from and I’ve listed just a few of our favourites. 

So if you follow our blog and socials you will know that Alton Towers is probably our favourite place to go for a day out. As a family of four we all absolutely love rollercoasters and Alton Towers is definitely the place for thrill seekers offering a huge range of thrill rides. If you have little ones it is also suitable as Alton Towers is home to CBeebies land and David Walliams World. Through Buyagift you can now purchase an experience that offers day entry to Alton Towers for two.

Madame Tussaud’s in Blackpool is a fun day out. John and I went just recently and we had a really good time. We went during the week when the children are in school, it was so quiet. We pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. This allowed us to take our time, look at all the different waxworks, and see the Marvel section which was fantastic. 

Whilst in Blackpool you can also now buy the Blackpool Tower Eye entry tickets for two. The Blackpool Tower is an iconic landmark in the North and is a must see for any visitor to the city. The Blackpool Tower Eye is more than just a tower inside you can enjoy the 4D cinema, check out the tower ballroom, circus and mini golf. Travel 380 feet above the ground to the top of the Blackpool Tower and will you be brave enough to walk across the SkyWalk?

From an iconic landmark in the North to an iconic landmark in the South. The London Eye is a 'must see and do' experience if you are in London. We’ve been on it many times and now Buyagift offer an experience where you can purchase London Eye tickets and a river cruise. The river cruise for two allows you a full day out in London with unlimited sightseeing trips on the hop on hop off with 10 stops in 24 hours. Check out the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and the Tate Modern. The experience also includes a ride for two on the London Eye.

It’s been a few years since our last visit to Warwick Castle and we are definitely overdue. The last experience that I would recommend from Buyagift is entry to Warwick castle for two. The castle boosts almost 1000 years of British history, Birds of Prey shows and lots more. The popular Julia Donaldson book Zog now features throughout the castle and grounds with a new Zog Playland, Zog Live show and a Zog quest for a golden star. 

You can check out more Merlin attractions by visiting Buyagift

Have you bought an experience from Buyagift before? How was it? Leave us a comment below and let us know.  Also if you are looking for more posts about Merlin attractions visit our Merlin page. 

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you, you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle

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Thor Love and Thunder Review

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As a huge Marvel fan I was really looking forward to the release of Thor Love and thunder. When it comes to the Thor movies I’ve never really understood where they fit in with the Marvel Universe. Obviously Thor is such an important character in The Avengers and Marvel movies in general however I always thought that they were a little stupid, the characters were silly and whether the script was actually supposed to be tongue and cheek, especially when you compare them To the Captain America and Iron Man movies. when they are I am serious movies especially Captain America. However I was looking forward to Thor Love and Thunder and it’s nice to have a new Marvel movie to get excited about. 

I’m not one for spoilers however Thor Love and Thunder did not disappoint I found it so funny, probably more funnier than it should’ve been. It was extremely cheesy and stupid in places, but it was great to see Chris Hemsworth play the character Thor again well and I absolutely loved the fact that the Guardians of the Galaxy featured in the beginning of the movie.

So a little bit of the film without giving too much away. Thor Love and Thunder begins with a recap of Thors life, snippets from his childhood and previous movies. Thor has been finding himself and is generally unhappy although still fighting and saving worlds. He reflects back on his time with Jane Foster. The one time in his life where he loved someone, was loved back and truly happy. His reflection doesn't last long as Thor and The Guardians of The Galaxy start to receive thousands of distress calls including one from Asgardian Lady Sif. Thor and The Guardians go their separate ways as Thor heads to save Sif and The Guardians go to try protect the galaxy.  Sith tells Thor about a 'God Butcher' who has been cursed and is travelling around the worlds slaughtering gods. Thor is next. Thor must stop the God Butcher and with the help Valkyrie, Korg and Jane Foster they set off to finish their mission. 

Michelle

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Keeping Busy This Summer With Books2Door

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Disclosure - This is a collaborative post. Books2Door referral scheme gives us both £5 off our orders by buying through this link

Summer is almost here and like most we will be filling our Summer holiday days with day trips, short breaks, PJ days but most of all trying to keep our children entertained for the six weeks. Little J is now at the age where he doesn't play with toys anymore. He would much rather play games, football, do quizzes and word searches or read a book. He's getting older which means I have had to prepare for Summer Holidays a little differently this year. Luckily I found Books2Door last year as they have a large range of books for all ages and also lots of activity books that I know will keep him entertained. 

We are going to be travelling so I wanted to order books that could travel with us and keep him occupied whilst on the move. Usually he will ask me to make up quizzes, crosswords and word searches however I sometimes run out of ideas so activity books where definitely top of my list. 

There are lots of activity books to choose from however I opted for the Clever Kids Brain Games book Collection Set aimed at 6-12 year olds. Brain Games For Clever Kids, Word Searches for Clever Kids, Maths Games for Clever Kids, 10-Minute Brain Games for Clever Kids, Travel Puzzles for Clever Kids

and Logic Games for Clever Kids. The books are so handy and are roughly the size of an A5 piece of paper however they are packed with lot of different activities to keep the brain ticking over this Summer.

Brain Games For Clever Kids

Brain Games for Clever Kids proves that learning can be fun. The book is full of puzzles and also includes battleships and spot the differences. 

Word Searches for Clever Kids

Over 150 different themes of Word Searches to complete and four sections which all increase with difficulty.

Maths Games for Clever Kids

Anything maths related is popular in our house and this book has everything from times tables to mental arithmetic 

10-Minute Brain Games for Clever Kids

No doubt we will all enjoy these as we travel around. The books contains 90 ten-minute puzzles, to help train your brain. 

Travel Puzzles for Clever Kids

Airport mazes and round-the-world logic games to capital city conundrums and safari-themed sudoku, there's plenty of exciting puzzles to solve over the school holidays.

Logic Games for Clever Kids

This will really get the little ones thinking as they have to solve Logic puzzles and games. 

Each book has illustrations to make the books more appealing to children and I love the 'time' at the top of the book. This is for little ones who want to time themselves for each puzzle. 

So that's the kids sorted but if you want some 'me time' whilst the kids are busy, Books2Door also have a range of young adult and adult fiction. As many of you know I joined a book club last year and it has really helped me enjoy reading again and I love taking myself away from the screen. Instead of flicking through pointless social media posts before bed I now read and it has really helped me sleep better. 

Why Choose Books2Door?

- A huge range of books from best selling authors and offering bestselling titles 

- Deals and discounts all year round with up to 80% off.

- A loyalty scheme earning book points every time you shop

- 18,000 customers giving a 5* rating

- A new delivery service 

Books2Door PLUS+

Books2Door PLUS+ is a unique delivery service offering you free delivery for 12 months, on every order.

With two options, Silver or Gold, customers can pay an annual fee, starting from only £6.95. It’s easy to get started, simply add the ‘PLUS+ Silver’ or ‘PLUS+ Gold’ delivery to your cart and your membership will be activated.

PLUS+ SILVER = Pay a £6.95 one-off fee and get all orders delivered for the next 12 months (standard shipping, 3-5 working days)

PLUS+ GOLD = Pay a £9.95 one-off fee and get all orders delivered for the next 12 months (express shipping, 1-2 working days)

Have you shopped at Books2Door before?  Leave us a comment below and let us know.

 You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle

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Julia Donaldson Superworm Trail at Delamere Forest

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New for 2022 at Delamere Forest is the Julia Donaldson Superworm trail. The Superworm trail is based on the popular Julia Donaldson children’s picture book Superworm. These trails are really popular and are a lovely way to take you on an adventure through the forest.

What To Expect At The Superworm Trail, Delamere Forest, CW8 2HZ

The Superworm trail takes you on a path through the forest on the lookout for six Superworm activity boards. Each activity board represents an animal from the Superworm story. You will find out the animals super power, a variety of different facts and an activity for you to complete. 

There is a trail pack to purchase from the visitor centre for £3.50. You do not need to purchase the pack to enjoy the trail however it does contain a mask, fact cards for the animals along the trail, an activity booklet and crayon. The activity booklet has an exclusive activity you can complete along the trail. 

There are lots of 'Gruffalo' statues still in place along the trail such as the mouse, owl and fox.

Along the trail there are many opportunities for you to go off the beaten track and explore the woods. There are lots of open spaces with logs to walk across, bugs to find and dens to be made. 

There are benches along the way to enjoy a picnic or just a rest. 

The trail takes approximately 40 to 60 minutes however this will depend on how fast or slow you take it. If you head into the woods, enjoy a picnic and do the activities it could easily fill 2-3 hours. 

Whilst there is no cost for the Superworm Trail, Delamere Forest is part of Forestry England and therefore there are car parking charges applicable. There are a few car parks around the forest however the purpose built car park next to the visitor centre and cafe is huge and I would recommend it.

The new visitor centre and cafe was built during 2020 and is a huge improvement on the old centre. There is a huge toilet block, cafe with indoor and outdoor seating and visitor centre. There is a wide range of hot and cold meals, snacks, cakes and ice cream. 

You can also access a range of walking trails close to the visitor centre. If you fancy heading up in to the trees you can also visit the Go Ape Tree top Challenge. 

We have visited Delamere Forest many times over the years and it was once home to the Gruffalo Trail and The Gruffalo Orienteering Trail. However the Gruffalo statue is now in need of repair and restoration due to weather damage and wear and tear. The Gruffalo statue has now been removed but it has made way for the Superworm trail which I know will be popular amongst fans of the book and short film.

You can join in with the Superworm trail at the following

Alice Holt

Bedgebury Pinetum

Beechenhurst

Cannock Chase

Cardinham Woods

Dalby Forest

Delamere Forest

Fineshade Wood

Gisburn Forest

Grizedale Forest

Guisborough Forest

Haldon Forest Park

Hamsterley Forest

Haughmond Hill

Hicks Lodge

High Lodge

Jeskyns

Kielder Forest

Moors Valley Country Park

Salcey Forest

Sherwood Pines

Thames Chase

Wendover Woods

Westonbirt Arboretum

Whinlatter Forset

Wyre

Have you visited any of the Julia Donaldson trails? Leave us a comment below and let us know.

 You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle

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5 Essentials To Pack For A Disney Holiday

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Disclosure - This is a collaborative post. All thoughts for this post, photos and opinions are my own. 

When it comes to packing for a Disney holiday your essentials may be suitable footwear, clothes, suncream, passports and money however my packing essential list is completely different. When I pack for Disney there are five essential items I must take on a Disney holiday.

Loungefly Bag

Whenever you go into a Disney park you are most certainly going to spot a Loungefly. If you don't know what a Loungefly is then it is a brand of backpacks, cross body bags, wallets and wristlets. Loungefly have collaborated with brands including Disney, Harry Potter and other TV and Film favourites.

Over the years I have collected lots of Disney Loungefly bags so it actually makes it harder for me to choose just a few to take on each Disney holiday. I will usually try and choose few bags each trip and select clothes to match the bag.

Loungefly bags are a must have for any Disney fans and if you don’t have any with you’ll be sure to pick up one or two whilst at the parks.

Disney Ears

Disney Ears are also an essential for me. Whenever we go to Disney I’m sure to be wearing a pair of ears throughout our trip. There are so many ears to choose from either from Shop Disney or you can visit Etsy or Instagram sellers who can make you custom-made ears which are usually at a cheaper price than those in the parks or shops. 

Wearing ears in Disney really makes you feel part of the magic and they’re not just for grown-ups, you can also get them for little ones.

Disney Clothing

I personally don’t need to be in a Disney park to wear Disney clothing, most of my wardrobe is Disney branded however it is nice to wear T-shirts or Disney branded clothes when you're in a Disney park. There are so many shops that offer Disney branded clothes that are easily accessible including your local supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsburys and Tesco. Whenever I’m doing my weekly shop I will always head to the clothing section to check out what Disney clothes they have in store that week.

If it's your first trip to a Disney park or a big family holiday you may have seen families wearing personalised T-shirts and personalised hoodies to mark this occasion.

I have also Disney bounded in the past and if you are unfamiliar with Disney bounding it is choosing and wearing an outfit in the colours of one of your favourite characters. For example if Snow White is your favourite character you will want to wear blue, yellow and red outfit. Disney bounding is great for those who want to dress up, as the Disney parks do not allow adults to dress up in Disney dress up costumes so Disney bounding is the next best thing.

Disney Pins

Disney pin trading has been very popular even since big J was little. Collecting Disney pins can be a big part of your Disney holiday experience. There are many ways to collect pins. You can go to the stores and buy them, take pins that you already have or you can approach cast members wearing pin lanyards to trade.

Pin trading is such a fun thing to do and it’s nice to find out the history of some of the pins, as when you trade the cast members will always tell you when and where they got the pin.

Autograph book

Having an autograph book when you’re in Disney is a must have essential. Over the years we have waited until we’ve got into the parks to buy an autograph book but what we have found is that we usually end up rushing to a store to buy one because we have spotted a character close by. To save this stress and chaos it’s so much easier to purchase an autograph book before you go. You can actually buy official autograph books on Shop Disney however there are other places that you can get Disney branded autograph books too. I would also recommend taking a pen with you as it’s been known for Disney pens to run out quite quickly and you don’t want to get stuck without a pen whilst a character is trying to sign your autograph book.

What are your packing essentials for a Disney holiday? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you are looking forward to. Also if you are looking for more posts about Disney holidays you can check them out visiting our All Things Disney page. 

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you, you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle

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PAJ All Round Finder 4G Tracker

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Disclosure - We were sent the products below for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. We were also compensated for our time.

The PAJ All Round Finder 4G tracker is a modern tracking device that you can use for many reasons.  Think ‘find my iPhone’ without the expense of an iPhone to track. PAJ offer a number of GPS tracker products, and the one I wanted to try out was the ‘All Round’ tracker that can be used for tracking people, cars, deliveries, luggage, anything really. 

The All Round Tracker comes with 4G enabled and works in most countries so you really can use it anywhere. The 4G network is more reliable and gives better tracking than less powerful 2G or 3G networks. It has a SIM built in which does need a subscription to be used. Subscriptions come from as little as £4 per month. 

When you set up the tracker you install the PAJ app onto your device which shows the location of the device and allows you to select your preferred settings. Here is where you can really personalise your device to be used how you wish. 

You can set alerts to be sent to your device if the tracker goes out of a certain radius or moves at a speed higher than you select. Great for tracking young drivers who don’t have a black box fitted. There is also an SOS button on the side of the tracker that will send an alarm to your device when pressed. An alarm can also be sent if the tracker is moved or shaken. 

We have been using the PAJ in the car however we are really looking forward to using it over the Summer when we are travelling. It will be ideal for our luggage and also as a people finder when our eldest is out exploring.

With a battery life of 40 days and a short charge time, you don’t have to worry about the tracker running out of power. The tracker will send an alert to your device when the battery is low. 

The tracker is about the size of a first or second generation iPhone, and a little heavier than the phones of today, so it wouldn’t be ideal for little ones to have in pockets for example, however PAJ do make a smaller tracker designed for people. 

All in all if you are thinking about a tracker, the PAJ All Round Tracker is a good choice, with a decent price and low subscription fees. 

Have you considered using a tracker before? Leave us a comment below. 

You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle

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Marvel Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris

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Disneyland Paris have finally announced the opening date for the new Marvel Avengers Campus. Guests visiting Disneyland Paris can enjoy all the new attractions at the Campus from 20th July 2022. If you are familiar with Disneyland Paris then you will know that the backlot in Walt Disney Studios has been closed and has been under refurbishment. When entering Walt Disney Studios the back lot was in the far left hand corner and was home to Aerosmith Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and Armageddon. The area also featured a meet and greet with Spiderman. The refurbishment is now complete and the backlot will be transformed in to the new Avengers Campus. 

So What Can We Expect?

Marvel Avengers Campus first appeared in Disneyland, California and I think Disneyland Paris' version will be very similar with the back lot having a Marvel makeover. 

Avengers Assemble: Flight Force

Team up with Iron Man and Captain Marvel to help them save the world from an intergalactic threat. Earth is counting on you.

Minimum height: 1.20 m

Although this has not been confirmed I think this may be a rebrand of the Aerosmith Rock 'n' Rollercoaster. 

Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure

Unleash your inner hero in an action-packed mission alongside Spidey himself, and use your innovative new tech to sling your own web and catch all the Spider-Bots before they wreak total techno-havoc across the Campus.

No minimum height

From images provided by Disneyland Paris this looks very similar to the LEGO Ninjago ride at Legoland Windsor

Meet The Avengers

Anything can happen at Marvel Avengers Campus so make sure you are on the look out as you may just find Black Panther, Thor and their fellow Avengers roaming the campus looking for new recruits. 

Stark Factory

Stark Factory is a quick service diner offering pizza, pasta and salads.

PYM Kitchen

Using Ant Man and The Wasps PYM shrinking and growing technology, chefs have created an all you can eat buffet with a variety of unusually sized mains and desserts to enjoy. 

At the end of a Marvel filled day the fun doesn't have to stop as you can head to Disney Hotel New York  - The Art of Marvel. 

Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel 

The hotel is the first of its kind at Disneyland Paris offering guests a unique experience. The hotel is the only hotel were you can meet Marvel Super Heroes and admire over 300 pieces of Marvel artwork by more than 50 international artists.

There are a wide selection of rooms available at The Disney Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel ranging from Superior rooms to Empire State Club Rooms and Suites. Choosing a room will depend on how many guests you are travelling with, your budget and also whether you wish to have breakfast at the hotel included. If you are staying room only, breakfast is only available to those staying in the Empire State Club Rooms and Suites.

As a huge Disney and Marvel fan I think the additional of Marvel Avengers Campus is fantastic for fans of the movies and superheroes. It will fit right in with the theming of Walt Disney Studios and I cannot wait to visit. We are already booked in to visit the campus and I cannot wait to share our experience with you all. 

Have you been looking forward to Marvel Avengers Campus? Leave us a comment below and let us know what you are looking forward to. Also if you are looking for more posts about Disneyland Paris you can check them out visiting our All Things Disney page. You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

Michelle

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Disney Pixar Lightyear Movie Review

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Being huge Disney fans we were so excited when Disney announced they were making a new movie 'Lightyear'. Over the past few months we have seen small trailers for the movie and at the weekend we finally got to watch Disney Pixar’s Lightyear.  I usually don't look at reviews before we go to see a movie however some of the reviews were hard to miss as they hit social media last week. Unfortunately the reviews haven’t all been positive however I like to make my own mind up when it comes to movies and I am so glad we decided to go because we all loved it. 

If you are unsure where ‘Lightyear’ fits in to the Toy Story timeline then let me try and explain. In Toy Story Andy receives a Buzz Lightyear action figure for his birthday. What we never knew was where did Buzz come from? Was he just a random figure or was he based on something? Well when watching Lightyear we found out that Lightyear is the movie that Andy went to see way back in 1995. Buzz Lightyear merchandise was created because of the movie and that is why Andy wanted the action figure for his birthday. So Lightyear isn't a prequel to Toy Story however there are subtle nods back to the original movies. 

Lightyear begins with Buzz being partnered with Alisha Hawthorne, his best friend on a special mission for space rangers. They have a really special friendship which see's them joke together and share memories of past missions. Alisha mocks Buzz constantly for recording captains logs in to the device on his arm, something we see in Toy Story when Buzz believes he's a real space ranger. Before each adventure Alisha and Buzz touch fingers and say 'To Infinity and Beyond'.

Buzz Lightyear, the movie character, is exactly the same as the Buzz figure in Toy Story. He's stubborn and believe he knows best. He constantly goes against the advice of his team and his ship’s autopilot navigator I.V.A.N. Because of his stubbornness the ship he’s flying crashes, marooning everyone on a hostile planet filled with killer vines and bugs. Buzz cannot live with his guilt so now makes it his mission to discover an energy source that will help them achieve hyperspace and get off the planet.

Can Buzz Lightyear achieve Hyperspace and if he does, at what cost? With the help of Sox a robot cat (who for me is the star of the movie) and 3 unlikely companions we see Buzz Lightyear on a space adventure which will see him come face to face with his arch enemy, Zurg and the race to finish his mission. 

I would definitely recommend heading to the cinema to see Lightyear. It has a running time of 107 mins, fun for the family and ideal for fans of the character Buzz Lightyear.

Are you going to see Lightyear?  Leave us a comment below and let us know or if you have seen the movie, your thoughts. Also if you are looking for more posts about Disney you can check them out visiting our All Things Disney page. You can always keep up to date with us on our socials, give us a like on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or if this post has helped you you can Buy Us A Virtual Coffee to say thanks.

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