Finding Dory has got to be one of the hottest movies to
hit theatres this summer, and many a kid has been eagerly awaiting Finding
Dory toys. I know mine have!
Zuru Toys, makers of the self-tying Bunch O Balloons, has brought
a few Finding Dory toys to the market. I sampled the Finding
Dory Coffee Pot Playset, as well as, The Finding
Dory Marine Life Institute Playset.
The Finding
Dory Marine Life Institute Playset is essentially
interconnected open tubes of water that is placed on top of a Marine Life
Institute decorated plastic mat. This playset comes with a battery-powered
and water activated Robo Fish Nemo, as well, a little scoop. The intent of
the toy is to put Nemo inside the water-filled tubes, and let him swim
around to the different sections of the Marine Life Institute. If you have the
other water-activated fish, such as Dory or Marlin, you can put them all
inside the tube track to swim together. There is also a water-activated
beluga whale Bailey, but, like a real whale, is way too big to
fit into the tubes. Like Dory, Nemo requires 2 LR44 button cell batteries.
There are also extra batteries included with this toy. Nemo will also go dormant
within a few minutes, so just be sure to knock the side of the tube where he's
at and he will "wake up" like Dory does. The Marine Life Institute
Playset is geared for children 4+, and retails for approximately $30US/$40CAN.
While I did not notice any of these toys marked for
indoor or outdoor play, I would highly suggest you use them outside, or inside
a bathtub. Because little hands would likely be using them, you run the risk of
getting water all over the place. We never used them inside at all, instead
took advantage of the season and brought them straight to the backyard to set
up. They are both fun toys, and my children have enjoyed them. Both are
very easy to assemble and take no time to set up. If you are going to use them
outside, just remember to bring them inside or to a shady area when you're
done. I'm not sure if the extreme heat and humidity of summer would eventually
warp or otherwise damage any of the items if left out for prolonged
periods. I would also personally take the fish out and bring them inside as I
would be concerned about any batteries being left out in the hot sun for
extended periods of time.
The Dory and Nemo Robo Fish are really neat.
Their swimming patterns do look so life-like. They speed up and then slow
down and then putter around and then go up and down. If you take them out of
the water, they go to sleep. But if you put them back in the water, they
activate immediately. I love the fact that it has the power-save mode, which
allows you to preserve battery life. This is every parent's dream!
I do find the price point of the Marine Life Institute
Playset itself to be a little on the high side for what it actually does. With
that being said though, I suspect that you are paying more for the technology
of the Robo Fish. They are pretty ingenious! The plastic rock decor that comes
with the playset doesn't seem to attach firmly to the play set, and my older
son said he would have liked the tube track to be able to be re-configured
to switch up the shape. Truth be told, we haven't had a chance to put much
thought into trying to re-configure the tubes, so it may actually be possible
if you are blessed with designed skills. At some point, we will attempt this.
Be sure to keep the playset on a flat and even surface, as the fish seem to swim
a bit quicker when it is filled to the brim with water. Overall, they move
rather slow in the tubes. They move much quicker in the Coffee Pot or in the pool. The fish will putter along and then speed up a
bit and then appear to look around. Don't be alarmed. It will eventually make
it around. To empty, you will either have to dismantle a portion of
the tube track, or just flip it over to dump.
As a consumer, you can help to justify the price a bit as
you can also use Dory & Nemo, as well as, Robo Fish Marlin &
Bailey in a bathtub, regular sized pool, or in a kiddie pool. We pulled
out the kiddie pool and put the fish inside. The kids loved watching them swim
around and also enjoyed sitting in the pool while they swam around them. These
little fish do seem sturdy but I would recommend you remind your children to be
gentle when using them. The little fin that powers them I'm sure
is delicate and you'd hate to have it break when they are the real stars
of the show. I also personally take the fish out to dry when we're
done playing with them.
These fish do swim all over the place, so if you are
going to use them in a pool or other body of water, you must be vigilant
with regards to drowning. Never leave your children unattended or
unsupervised. This has nothing to do with the product, and everything to do
with basic parenting. So, just as you would watch your kids in a pool in
general, be particularly vigilant when playing with toys that could get them
closer to the deep end, or farther than their swimming skills can handle.
While on the topic of safety, also remember to always keep batteries away from
children. Button cell batteries in particular are a choking hazard, so be sure
to keep them out of harm's way.
Overall, my kids think these toys are pretty awesome.
They will be a summer favorite for outdoor play, both backyard and poolside. If
you can get the Marine Life Institute on sale, then you'll definitely be even
happier with the bang for your buck.
In true Dory style, "Just keep swimming,
just keep swimming"!
***** These views are mine, and mine alone. As with
anything, you are responsible for assessing whether this item and/or activity
is safe and suitable for your specific needs. InfoMommy does not make any
warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, and assumes no responsibility
and/or liability for any actions taken as a result of this blog post. *****
