To Infinity (or rather 5-feet) and Beyond!
Written: Aug 04 '04 (Updated Oct 19 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It's a kid-sized puzzle. It's a growth chart. It's a wall decoration.
Cons: I wish it was a bit thicker.
The Bottom Line: Good, challenging puzzle. Very cute. My kid loves it.
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| mizgnomer's Full Review: Hasbro Kid Sized 30-Piece Puzzle: Toy Story Buzz L... |
My son has recently gone Toy Story crazy! He requested that his third birthday party have a Toy Story theme, but it's been 5 years since Toy Story 2 was released, so finding themed decorations was not as easy as what I had grown accustomed to with his prior birthday parties.
I was able to kill 3 birds with one stone when I chanced upon the Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Kid Sized Puzzle at the local Toys R Us. Not only is a cool 30-piece puzzle, it is also a growth chart and a cute wall decoration!
Product Description:
The Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Kid Sized Puzzle is just what the name describes -- a puzzle that stands 36 inches (3 feet) tall! Buzz himself is a bit shorter than 36 inches, however he stands next to growth-chart markings that are on the puzzle's orange background. The growth chart itself has markings that measure from 2 1/4 feet (69 centimeters) to 5 feet (1.52 meters). This does mean that to use the puzzle as a growth chart it must be hung with its bottom edge exactly 2 feet above the ground.
The puzzle itself is made up of 30 quite large pieces. The pieces are fairly conventional, with the knobs and notches that allow the pieces to fit together - however the knobs themselves are a bit uniquely shaped. Rather than your normal rounded-knob, some pieces have square-edged knobs, others are shaped more like diamonds, rectangles, ovals, and circles. This helps to ensure that the right pieces are being fitted together, and helps my little guy more easily make the right decisions when picking a piece to try.
The puzzle is cardboard backed but is not excessively thick, so the pieces could be destroyed without too much trouble if your little one was in that kind of mood. There is a punched-out hole at the top and bottom of the puzzle for ease of hanging.
There is also a "My Size" Woody puzzle available from the same manufacturer.
The manufacturer recommends the Buzz Lightyear Kid Sized Puzzle for kids aged 3 and up.
Our Experiences:
The Buzz puzzle has been a big hit with my little guy. When I used it as a party decoration, I had it standing at floor-level with Buzz's feet on the ground so my little guy could see it. He loved being able to walk up and poke at a nearly-kid-sized Buzz.
After the party was over I thought we might give the growth chart aspect of the puzzle a try, but I've gotta admit that my little guy (who is currently 40 inches tall) doesn't like Buzz hanging that high on the wall. With Buzz 2 feet up the wall my son can't appreciate him as much as when he was standing on the ground. Maybe when my boy gets older he'll understand the reasons behind why Mommy wants to hang Buzz higher on the wall.
I put it together myself the first time (when it was used as a decoration at my son's 3rd birthday party), and at that time I had quite a hard time getting it from the floor to the wall. Every time I tried to lift one end carefully the pieces would start falling off -- if the cardboard were just a bit thicker I wouldn't have had that problem. Ultimately I held it against the wall as I put the bottom-most pieces back into place again. The puzzle's instructions recommend setting the puzzle with a puzzle-conserving glue before hanging.
We've had a lot of fun putting the puzzle together. I love watching my son inspect a piece in an attempt to figure out where it goes. "This looks like fingers" or "Here are his buttons!" are some of the observations he's made. The puzzle is rather difficult for him, but he manages pretty well and I think he enjoys the challenge. We tend to build the puzzle on carpet, which again makes me wish the pieces were a little bit thicker, but overall I've been quite pleased with the "puzzle" aspects of this toy.
Quickie Summary:
Pros:
+) It's Buzz Lightyear!
+) Very large puzzle
+) It's a growth chart too - measures from 2 to 5 feet
+) Uniquely shaped knobs and notches aid in matching up the right pieces
Cons:
-) Growth chart starts at 2-foot mark, so puzzle must be hung high on the wall if you plan to use it as a growth chart
-) The cardboard could stand to be a bit thicker, considering the size of the puzzle
Final Thoughts:
As a puzzle, my son really enjoys it and I like the challenge it presents him. It isn't easy, but isn't too hard for him either. As a growth chart, I wish it didn't need to be hung 2 feet up the wall, as my son prefers having Buzz down at his level. As a party decoration it was just about perfect, as my son loved walking by and having a nearly-kid-sized Buzz to talk to.
Related Toy Story Reviews:
Buzz Lightyear's Intergalactic Spaceship
Buzz Lightyear's Intergalactic Headquarters
Woody's Wacky Fire Truck
Toy Story - Intergalactic Emergency
6-inch Disney Exclusive Woody
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 7.99
Type of Toy: Puzzle
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Epinions.com ID:
mizgnomer
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Location: Tennessee
Reviews written: 306
Trusted by: 202 members
About Me:
Don't meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you're crunchy and taste good with ketchup
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