The hot new water slides this year are all from Banzai! We describe some of the popular ones below, find the complete list of Banzai Water Slides and Water Parks.

Banzai Hydro Blast Water Park – This is one of the largest Banzai water slides and has 3 slides for double lane racing and curved sliding. The common lagoon for all slides has a basketball activity and water cannons. This is a water slide that you can put a few kids on! Fun for parties.  The retail price was $898 but as of this writing has been lowered to $749.

The Banzai Typhoon Twist Water Slide has a giant curved water slide with large pool, basketball activity and water cannon. It’s a little lower in price at $439.  This new water slide resembles the Banzai Sidewinder Falls which was the top selling water slide for the previous 2 years.

The Banzai Drop Zone Water Slide is a two slide option with a large curved slide or drop zone straight slide.  It also has a split level climbing wall, basketball activity and water blasting cannon.  This Banzai water slide is mid-priced at $598.

All of the Banzai water slides show several kids in the pictures. You do need to check the size and weight limits.  Most of them will only hold a few kids at a time. If you’re planning a birthday party, we suggest picking up some slip n slides too or a bouncer for kids who might not want to get wet.  This may help to alleviate fussing about too many kids on the water slide.

Find these Banzai Water Slides and several more with information on where to purchase.

Find Iron Man Toys and Action Figures on sale and free shipping.

The Iron Man 2 movie arrives on May 7 and early reviews indicate it might not be as hot as the first one. However, Iron Man toys are still popular with the kids and many are a good value as all that we looked at were under $35.

The most popular Iron Man 2 toy at amazon right now is the Iron Man Electronic Repulsor blaster. It’s just $15.99 and qualifies for free super saver shipping.  It’s a toy that the boys wear on their arms with missile launcher and sound effects.  You might want to pick up 2, the kids like to wear one on each arm.

The next most popular IronMan toys is the Iron Man Helmet. Another toy to wear! It shows that boys do like dress up toys too, they’re just different from girl’s dress up play. The Iron Man Deluxe Helmet says cool phrases and has lights and sound effects. It’s just $34.86.

The Iron Man action figure, Iron Man Rocket Boost, is only $21.27 and comes with battle sounds and battle cannon.  It’s recommended for ages 3 and up.

There is also a very realistic looking Iron Man 2 Action Figure based on the designs for the Iron Man 2 movie. This action figure looks more like a collectible than toy but is priced at just $24.27. From the manufacturer: this upgraded Iron Man features top-quality sculpted detail, multiple points of articulation and a bonus deluxe Armor Assembly Station base.

In addtion to the toys, we think the Iron Man Costumes will be a hit with the boys this year.  You might not want to wait until Halloween, costumes can provide great role play fun all year.

Check out the Iron Man Toys and Costumes now!

Looking for a metal swing set for the kids?  Flexible Flyer has some great products at great prices. The Flexible Flyer Big Adventure Metal Swing Set is at a rollback price of just $229 at Walmart. It features a wave slide, two swings, glider swing, see-saw, rocket rider and trapeze bar.  The overall dimensions are 17′9″ wide by 10′10″ deep by 6′ high.  You’ll want to allow another 6′ around the swing set for safety.

If you’re looking for a smaller basic swing set, the Flexible Flyer First Fun Metal Swing Set is just 103″ long by 92″ wide by 72″ high. It features a wave slide, 2 swings and glider slide. This metal swing set is exculsive to Walmart and is just $129. A great starter swing set and you won’t feel bad if you decide to upgrade by replacing it with a larger swing set in a few years.

The Flexible Flyer Triple Fun Metal Swing Set is also a great price at just $186. It features 3 swings, a see saw and slide. The Tri Copter is one of the largest Flexible Flyer swing sets with a slide, glider, 2 swings and unique tricopter ride. It’s just $268.

If you are wondering what the advantages of a metal swing set over a wooden swing set are, here’s a summary:

• Metal swing sets are generally less expensive than wooden swing sets.
• Set up time is greatly reduced. A metal swing set may take 2 – 4 hours, a wooden swing set may take 8 – 12 hours to set up.
• No splinters.
• Possibly more safe, less climbing and high fall worries.

What are the disadvantages of metal swing sets over wooden swing sets?

• They usually do not include a clubhouse. If you are looking for a clubhouse, we recommend picking up something like a Step2 playhouse for the kids.
• No picnic table, sandbox. If you want those other activities, you will need to purchase them separately.

Your swing set purchase decision will ultimately come down to a combination of what you are looking for, how much space you have in your backyard, and your budget.

Take a look at the complete line of Wooden, Plastic, and Metal Swing Sets, available from major online retailers.  Be sure to check tax and shipping charges to determine your overall cost.

We specialize in finding the best deals on outdoor products for kids! All are available from major online retailers and many have no sales tax and free shipping. Check out our comprehensive list of inflatable water slides!

The most popular water slides for the backyard are the Banzai water slides. However, you might also want to look at the Little Tikes water slide, known for durability and waterslides from Blast Zone and Kidwise which have some great prices. We have counted 8 new Banzai waterslides for 2010. Along with these new slides, there are also 8 Banzai water slides from previous years available.  To see them all, visit our page with the complete list: Banzai Water Slide. Some of the new slides for 2010 include:

Banzai Aqua Blast Lagoon Water Slide – This is a large curved single water slide with climbing wal and lagoon pool. It also comes with a basketball activity center.  The picture shows about 5 kids on the slide or in the pool but the manufacturers suggested weight limit is 150 pounds.  So use your judgement. If you’re having a party, you might want to pick up some inexpensive Slip n Slides to help keep the kids entertained and not all on the waterslide at once! You can have some great racing games with prizes with the water slides.

The Banzai Double Cannon Blast Waterslide and Banzai Double Drop Falls are popular slides for parties. The cannon activity is fun and the double racer allows pairs to slide down at once. Both have been around for a couple of years, have great customer reviews, and are also less expensive than the newer slides.

The Banzai Hydro Blast Water Park is the top of the line Banzai water slide with 3 slides – a double lane for racing and a third curved water slide. They all end in a large lagoon and there are water cannons on the edge of the lagoon for added fun.  The picture shows many large kids around the slide and the manufacturers recommendation is up to 400 pounds so you can entertain a fair amount of kids at once.

The Banzai Typhoon Twist Water Slide or Banzai Big Curve Plunge Water Slide are the newest versions of the popular Banzai Sidewinder Falls (which is also still available for purchase). They feature a large curved water slide with spray on the top and cannons below.  The combined weight limit for this water slide is 200 pounds so again, you’ll have to be mindful of how many kids can play at once.

Banzai is not the only water slide in town. Little Tikes has 2 water slides, the Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race and the Little Tikes Slam N Curve Water Slide.  The Rocky Mountain River Race has two curved water slides with climbing wall in between and pool at the bottom. The Little Tikes water slides have always been highly rated by parents and kids.

Find where to get the best deals on these water slides and many more at our Inflatable Water Slide sale! We have links to every waterslide on the market!

Muppet Whatnots from FAO Schwarz are on sale today through April 10.  What fun, pick color, eyes, nose, hair and outfit for your own unique Muppet toy.   The Muppet Whatnot Workshop opened in the New York store in 2008 and is exclusive to FAO. Today, the custom Muppet creator is online! You could probably spend all afternoon with your child creating and re-creating custom muppets online until you get the one they want.  Lots of fun and laughs.

Check out the Custom Muppet and other great custom toys now!

We’ve been reviewing the Adventure Play Sets Swing Sets at Walmart. The Adventure Play Sets Columbia Wooden Swing Set is new for 2010 and available for $499. Shipping is free if you select site to store shipping.

The Columbia swing set has a covered play deck above a clubhouse.  Your child can climb the ladder to the platform and slide down the slide over and over again.  It also comes with 2 swings, a 2 person glider, picnic or activity table, rock climbing wall, and sand box.  The assembled swing set is 18′ 3.5″ L x 8′ 8″ W x 10′ 6″ H. You’ll want to leave about 12 feet around it for safety.

It takes 2 people to assemble the Walmart wooden swing sets. Assembly time is estimated at 8 to 12 hours. Several tools are required, a list can be found on the Walmart site.  Parents say that it is best to organize the wood and read the directions thoroughly before starting construction.

Find the complete set of Adventure Play Sets Swing Sets and where to obtain the best deals! We also have information on the Blue Ridge Play Sets, Flexible Flyer metal swing sets,  and Little Tikes plastic swing sets.

One of the new for 2010 Adventure Play Sets Wooden Swing Sets, the Atlantis model is offered online for $599. It is constructed of eco friendly cedar wood which you must assemble  yourself.  The assembly time is estimated at 10 – 14 hours and you should have 2 or more persons working on it. The lumber is pre-drilled, cut and stained. You’ll want to separate and mark the pieces before you start.

The Atlantis Swing Set has a covered play deck above a clubhouse, a sun deck, slide, swings, and rock climbing wall. It also has a couple of unique features. The 2 person glider has a ships wheel for the kids to hold onto.  An “imagination station” is built into the lower level. It’s a counter that can be used as a lunch counter, lemonade stand or puppet theater.

The Atlantis Swing Set is 18′ 1″ L x 7′ 9.5″ W x 9′ H. You need to allow another 12 feet around it for safe play. Manufacturers recommended age is 3 to 10 years.

Parents who have reviewed their new swingset all agree that it is quality construction and the kids love it!

Take a look at all of the Adventure Play Sets Wooden Swing Sets and where to find the best deals.

At just $449, the Adventure Play Sets Pathfinder Wooden Swing Set is one of the lowest priced full size wooden swing sets available. It features an upper play deck with canopy roof and a lower platform also covered by the roof.  There is an 8 foot slide, ladder, rock wall, 2 swings, glider, sandbox, lemonade stand and picnic table.  The swing set’s dimensions are 18′ 5″ L x 9′ 6″ W x 9′9″ H.  The wood is sustainable cedar and is pre-cut, pre-drilled, and pre-milled. The Pathfinder swing set was stocked in Walmart stores last year but this year is online only. You can avoid shipping costs by having it shipped site to store.   Walmart has over 1000 product reviews, so you can tell that is a hugely popular swingset!  The majority of the reviews are 4 and 5 star and typically parents review the set up time as they have just been through the 1 – 2 day set up.  A typical comment, “It seems to be made of good quality materials and for the price you could not beat it. Putting it together just required some time and patience.”  Kids do love the swing set and use it a lot, here’s another comment “This set is ideal for 3-6year old kids… mine loved it and enjoy it every day! best buy I’ve made for them so far.”  The manufacturer’s suggested ages is 3 to 11. With spring vacation and summer on the way, this swing set can be a great investment in outdoor fun for the kids!

Find where to pick up the Adventure Play Sets Pathfinder Wooden Swing Set at a great price!

Find the best deals on the Adventure Play Sets Meridian Wooden Swing Set!

Adventure Play Sets designs wooden swing sets for home backyard use. The Meridian swing set is just $549 and constructed from sustainable wood.  This combination of eco friendly and a great price is hard to beat.  The playset includes a covered play deck with slide, two swings, glider, monkey bars, clubhouse with windows and activity bench. It measures 18′ 4″ L x 12′8″ W x 10′ H.  You’ll want an overall play area of at least 30′ x 24′.  You will need to assemble yourself and it does requires 2 – 4 persons and is definitely an all day project. It’s worth it for the value of this set.

The Adventure Play Sets Meridian Swing Set has been available at Walmart for all of 2009-2010, and receives high marks from parents with average 4 to 5 stars in reviews.  Most reviews discuss the importance of labeling the wood and following the instructions for assembly.

This wooden swing set is recommended for ages 3 to 11. It will make a great activity center for spring break and summer fun and should provide years of enjoyment for your child. 

Find where to purchase the Meridian and other quality Wooden Swing Sets!

The Toy Industry announced the winners of the 2010 Toy of the Year awards. These are generally toys that were popular during the 2009 holiday season.  Zhu Zhu pets was the big winner as the overall Toy of the Year as well as Girl Toy of the Year, and Innovative Toy of the Year. For boys, the winner was the popular Bakugan 7 in 1 Maxus Dragonoid. Bakugan also won Property of the Year.

Educational Toy of the Year went to LEGO’s Mindstorms NXT 2.0. Activity Toy of the Year was presented to Crayon Town by Wild Planet Entertainment. The Electronic Entertainment Toy of the Year went  to Rubik’s TouchCube  by Techno Source. Sort It Out! by University Games is the 2010 Game of the Year.

Infant Toy of the Year was won by Crayola Beginnings Color Me A Song. One of our favorite categories is Outdoor Toy of the Year won by Radio Flyer’s My 1st Scooter. Finally, Specialty Toy of the Year was presented to Captain Owen’s Dolphin Explorer Boat by Sprig Toys

Find how to purchase the Award Winning 2010 Toys of the Year now!