Hot Holiday Toys 2015
See the Hottest Toys of the 2015 Holiday Season Before They're Sold Out
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The countdown is on to holiday 2015, and while most of us are still planning Thanksgiving, some thoughtful parents have already started their holiday shopping. They're the ones who actually have the hottest toys of the year purchased and wrapped before the rest of us have even made our shopping lists.
Consider this your year to shine. We're sharing our predictions for what are sure to be the hottest toys of the season. We've done our research, tested them ourselves, and now present you with the 17 toys you'll want to get your hands on before they're gone. These toys are going to disappear — fast!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Oven
Any TMNT fan knows that pizza and turtles are a perfect pair. Now your little fan can create the turtles' favorite snack on their own, with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pizza Oven ($70). A real, edible pizza can be created in just 15 minutes using the same cooking elements as other popular kiddie ovens.
Lego Dimensions
If your little one spends hours bringing Lego minifigures to life, the company's latest collaboration with Warner Bros. Interactive is bound to be a hit! Lego Dimensions joins Skylanders and Disney Infinity in the toys-to-life category, using a video game console, the Lego Toy Pad, that works with specially designed minifigures, bricks, and sets to create in-game content.
Lego Dimensions uses many of the brick company's familiar properties like DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, and The Lego Movie for characters. Up to seven different characters or vehicles can be placed on the Toy Pad at a time, allowing players to mix up the properties for a truly unique playing experience. Starter packs ($100) will come with the Toy Pad, a copy of the game, and three minifigures. But today the company announced that unlike several of its competitors, current Dimensions Fun Packs will work with those released in the future, so there won't be a need to upgrade and replace characters.
Disney Playmation
At first glance, Disney's new Playmation toys don't look like much. The box doesn't really say a lot, and the YouTube videos and commercials overrunning the Disney Channel look more like the next Avengers movie than a toy for kids. But open the box and strap on the "Repulsor Gear," and you will quickly learn Playmation is unlike any toy you've ever played with before.
A cross between laser tag and video console game, Playmation Marvel's Avengers Starter Pack ($120) transforms players into their favorite characters using motion sensors and wearable technology without a wire or WiFi device to be seen. Confused yet? We thought so. Think of it this way. "Toys-to-life" is a buzzword in the toy and video game industry, where toys like Disney Infinity, Skylanders, and Lego Dimensions are supposed to come to life as kids play with them. But with Playmation, the toy actually does come to life, as kids put on the gear, become the character, and then jump and dive their way through enemy-fighting missions.
Lego Minecraft Crafting Box
Bring the magic of Minecraft off the screen with Lego's new Minecraft Crafting Box ($50). Using familiar bricks and figures (Steve!), kids can build their own creations, or follow the eight suggestions in the box — including one for a diamond pickaxe.
Lego Friends Popstar Tourbus
From turntables to a bright paint job, the Lego Friends Popstar Tourbus ($66) — which includes three mini doll figures — has every amenity the Friends could want.
Disney Frozen Sing Along Elsa Doll
Get ready to sing "Let It Go" with Elsa with the Disney Frozen Sing Along Elsa Doll ($40). The doll will sing the hit song by herself, but if your little one joins in and starts singing in the microphone, the doll stops singing so your child can take center stage. A star in the making!
Star Wars BB-8 Droid R/C
Perhaps the most exciting Star Wars toys of the season, Hasbro's app-enabled BB-8 Droid that is exclusive to Target ($150). The R/C interacts with its owner and responds to voice commands to roll in any direction. It also makes droid sounds similar to what you'll hear in the upcoming film.
Girl Scout Cookie Oven
Believe it or not, this is a real life Girl Scout Cookie Oven ($50). Even when it's not Girl Scout Cookie season, you will still be able to re-create the classic tastes, thanks to this workable oven. With heating elements on the top and bottom, it can prepare foods faster than other ovens, meaning you won't have to wait long for the incredible tastes!
Paw Patrol Paw Patroller
One of the hottest shows for preschoolers this year, Paw Patrol is a bonafide hit for tots. The Paw Patrol Paw Patroller ($60) has a working elevator and a fully functional Command Center inside. It can transport three Paw Patrol vehicles or display up to six, making it the ultimate toy for your Ryder and Skye fans.
Clever Keet
This may be one of the silliest, yet most popular toys of the year. The Little Live Pets Clever Keet ($60) is all of the fun of having a real pet, without the cleanup. The bird talks, sings, and dances, interacting with kids along the way. The more your child speaks to Clever Keet, the larger the bird's vocabulary becomes. But don't worry, there's a reset button in case the bird learns a few bad words from his owner!
Hot Wheels Ultimate Auto Garage
Think of this as the Barbie Dreamhouse for cars. The Hot Wheels Ultimate Auto Garage ($100) not only stores 36 cars, it has spirals, tracks, and a gas station for play too — not to mention a helicopter that comes with the set!
Anki Overdrive Starter Kit
Race cars hit the 21st century with the new Anki Overdrive Starter Kit ($150). Perhaps the coolest race track to hit the floor, the cars use artificial intelligence and robotics to make their way around the track. And speaking of the track, kids can design the tracks to look however they like — want it to go over the sofa? You can do that! Want it to twist around the tree? You can do that too (expansion packs can be bought for $10-$30 each). The slot cars literally read the track so they'll never fall off the course. Using an iOS or Android app, players control their cars and can actually launch tricks and attacks by engaging weapons and power-ups against their opponents in an effort to win the race.
Fisher-Price Imaginext Ultra T-Rex
This is the year of the dinosaur, in case you didn't notice the influx of dino flicks at the theater. And the Fisher-Price Imaginext Ultra T-Rex ($100) may be the coolest dinosaur of all. Measuring two and a half feet tall, the Ultra T-Rex walks, opens his mouth, roars, lights up his eyes, and fires projectiles. We can't think of anything else kids would want from a dinosaur other than having a real live one at home!
Viewmaster
Remember the View-Master you played with as a kid that transported you to a far away locale? Now imagine if you could actually feel like you were in the middle of it, rather than on the outside looking in. Mattel and Google have collaborated to create a new View-Master ($30) experience that blends Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality to make users actually feel like they are in space, visiting the Outback, or touring the Statue of Liberty or Chichen Itza. Instead of a three-dimensional view, kids will get 360-degree photospheres for a truly immersive digital experience. Trust us on this one — you have to experience this to believe it!
Barbie Saddle ‘N Ride Horse & Doll
There are several new Barbies on the market this year, but the Barbie Saddle ‘N Ride Horse & Doll ($45) is one of the coolest things we've seen. Barbie actually hops on her horse herself and rides off into the sunset. Seriously. Watch the video and be as amazed as we are!
VTech Kidizoom Action Cam
By far the most exciting outdoor toy on the market this Summer, VTech's new Kidizoom Action Cam ($59) is essentially a GoPro for kids. The camera comes with everything you need to attach it to their scooter, bike, or helmet so they can record their epic rides as photos, videos, or stop-motion films as they ride around town and play them back later. The 1.4-inch color LCD screen comes with a waterproof case so images can be taken up to six feet under water, and it's surrounded by a durable case that can survive tumbles and bike crashes (it really does — we tested it). Great for budding filmmakers and adventurous kids alike, this is going to be the hot toy of the season!
Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo
Meet BeatBo, a singing, dancing, and educational friend for your tot. Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance & Move BeatBo ($40) has a number of cool features, but the most impressive, by far, is the fact that mom can record a message or phrase and BeatBo mixes it into a tune. It's like autotune for parents!
