12 Hot Holiday Gifts to Start Saving For Now

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.

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.

There are a number of intricate new Lego Star Wars sets out there, but none are quite as detailed as the LEGO Star Wars Tie Fighter Building Kit ($200). With more than 1,600 pieces, this may be more of a display piece than one you'll want the kids to get their hands on. Either way, it's one you'll come back to time and time again.

We've been fans of littleBits for a while now, but their latest set is one that you'll want to add to your little ones' holiday lists asap. The littleBits Electronics Gizmos & Gadgets Kit ($200) is an exciting way to encourage little kids' interest in electronics. The new Lego-like kits come with 15 electronic blocks and extra parts like wheels, stickers, and more —everything kids need to make 12 projects from bubble machines and a spy box to remote control cars. And we mean everything, including the 9-volt battery! Along the way, the little inventors learn a thing of two about electronics without ever feeling like they're playing with an educational toy (not that there's anything wrong with those!). If your child has ever expressed interest in building and creating, this is a toy worth saving for!

The Wii U is redefining the way kids play games with its innovative controller gamepad and overall gaming experience. This deluxe set ($300) features the console, plus Nintendo's newest game release, Super Mario Maker ($56 for game only), which allows kiddos to dream up and create an infinite number of classic to modern Super Mario levels. This game totally gives kids free reign with their creativity and ensures that the time they spend in front of it is high quality screen time that enriches their imaginations.

Most air hockey tables are great in theory, but in reality they're big eyesores that no parent wants sitting out at home. Franklin Sports has developed a solution that is sure to please parents and kids this year! The Franklin Sports Quikset Air Hockey Table ($200) is a full-size air hockey table that folds virtually flat for storage in mere seconds — meaning it can easily be stored when not in use! Told you it would be crowd-pleaser!

If you thought basketball was just about a ball and a hoop, we're here to give you a little education. The Wilson X Connected Basketball ($200) is the world's first smart-basketball. Without using any wires, the ball tracks baskets, misses, field goal percentages, and shot ranges when used in conjunction with the Wilson X app. When not paired with the app, the ball works just like your average game ball — but once you can figure out exactly where you should be standing to sink your shot, you'll never want to go back to an average ball!

Who's going to lead the kid parade around the block? Your kid, for sure, with the sweet Peg Perego Gaucho Rock'in Ride-On ($550). Part dune buggy, part kiddo ride-on toy, the Gaucho tops out at 5 mph on grass and dirt (parents can lock it to only go 5 mph on the road too, if they like) and has an FM Radio with an MP3 jack so your little one can crank out her favorite tunes while riding along with friends.

The hottest film of the year hasn't even hit theaters yet, but it's already causing ripples in the toy world. The Star Wars The Black Series Kylo Ren Force FX Deluxe Lightsaber ($210) is already sold out at most retailers despite its price! The lightsaber is the most movie-like one sold to date, featuring classic light and sound effects!

Don't forget the babies this holiday season. If you know anyone who's just given birth or will in early 2016, the Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Smart Connect Cradle 'N Swing ($268) is the ultimate gift for new parents. Think of it as a rocker and a swing you can control via your phone. If the swing stops while you're in the bathroom, you can start it up again without running out to the swing. If you're on the go, it can be removed from the swing to serve as a seat. This swing has really has everything covered!

If your child has ever dreamed of owning a true robot, the Meccano MeccaNoid G15 KS ($400) is it. The included Meccabrain guides kids through building the 1,000 pieces to create the four-foot-tall robot. It uses Learned Intelligence Movement (LIM) technology to learn new movements and responses based on how kids move its arms and head and has over 1,000 preprogrammed phrases. The future is really here and Meccano MeccaNoid is it!

Marty McFly may have predicted that we'd all be riding on hoverboards in 2015 in Back to the Future and he might be right. There are a number of brands out there, but it's the Skywalker X Board ($850) that has everyone talking. Popular in skate parks, middle school playgrounds, and even on the streets of NYC, these smart, two-wheeled electronic scooters can easily transport you from here to there — that is if you can get your hands on them! They're sold out almost everywhere!