Thanks to Mobile Technology, Parents Enjoy an 'Appy' Hour Before the Dreaded 'Are we Nearly There yet?'

LONDON, April 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

New research from Disney reveals games and apps will reduce travel stress for families  

Brand new Disney Junior Play app enables preschoolers to interact with their favourite Disney Junior characters  

• More than half of parents (57%) will get at least an hour of respite if their children are occupied with games and apps when travelling
• In comparison, only a fifth (21%) of parents travelling without games and apps will get at least an hour of peace before children get bored
• More than 8 out of 10 (83%) of UK parents agree that tablets and smartphones can help to relieve car boredom
• Just 14% of parents consider traditional travel games such as 'I Spy' an essential travel companion
• Over two thirds (69%) of children now ask for games and apps instead of sweets

New research released by Disney UK suggests that the much dreaded question 'are we nearly there yet?' could soon be a thing of the past. A nationwide UK study reveals that more than half of parents are able to enjoy a respite of least an hour before their children get bored, and start to complain during journeys, thanks to games and apps played on smartphones and tablets proving to be a welcome distraction. In comparison, only a fifth of parents travelling without games and apps will enjoy the same amount of respite.

The report, conducted by Disney UK to celebrate the launch of its new iOS app Disney Junior Play, polled 5,000 British parents with children under the age of 10, to reveal the techniques typically employed to keep the family happy during journeys. The research demonstrated just how much mobile technology is increasingly relied upon, with more than four out of five (83%) parents agreeing that tablets and smartphones can help to relieve car boredom. Only 14% consider traditional travel games such as 'I Spy' essential to their journey.

Targeted at children aged 2 - 7, the new Disney Junior Play app, which is free to download, aims to keep children busy not just on journeys but at home with games featuring characters from some of the most popular shows of the UK's number one pay TV preschool channel, such as Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  The UK created app strives to encourage creativity, benefit logical thinking skills, and help with hand-eye coordination.

Furthermore, the research reveals that games and apps are also helping parents win the battle against the 'sugar-rush' as mobile technology is proving more tempting than sweet treats - over two thirds (69%) of children now ask to play on smartphones and tablets whilst travelling, compared to the 50% who request sweets and snacks to stave off the boredom.

Parenting expert and broadcaster, Liz Fraser said of the research: "We often take our three children on long car journeys, so this news is something I can really relate to. There's nothing quite like that sinking feeling when you first hear 'are we nearly there?' - often when you've only been on the road for ten minutes! Tablets and smartphones are fantastic tools to make the journey more bearable for everyone - and we can all talk about the games together, and interact while they're playing and learning. I wish they'd been around years ago!"

Following 2013's launch of Disney Junior Appisodes app, which was the #1 highest grossing app in the UK  'Kids' category on iPad in iTunes (22/11/2013), the Disney Junior Play app comes with the "Disney Junior Favourites" pack, which includes four multi-level games and a digital sticker book. Purchases within Disney Junior Play are both safe and secure with payments facilitated only after parents have correctly passed through the child-protection screen.  

Boel Ferguson, VP & GM Disney Interactive EMEA & UK, said: "Increasingly children's' first experience with Disney is now a digital one so we have made mobile an important canvas for our storytelling. The highly engaging Disney Junior Play app brings Disney magic and some of Disney Junior's most beloved characters to mobile devices that will entertain kids and parents alike."

Disney's wide range of apps feature much loved characters including Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse and the cast of MonstersUniversity, as well as introducing brand new Disney characters such as Swampy from Where's My Water.   With fun, immersive games including Where's My Mickey, Marvel Run Jump and Smash and Disney Infinity: Action!, preschool and kids apps such as Disney Junior Appisodes and Princess Palace Pets, book apps such as the recently released Disney Animated, Frozen Storybook Deluxe and  Disney Storytime there's something to keep the whole family 'appy. 

The speed and extent to which apps have become part everyday life for millions is staggering.  In 2013 the number of smartphone users in the UK reached 72%, growing by 14%* from the previous year and in October 2013 the 60 billionth app was downloaded from Apple's App Store. There are currently over one million apps on the App Store.

A supporting video, featuring parenting expert and broadcaster Liz Fraser can be viewed by following this link: https://ftp.lexisagency.com/_Ajby1H2zgw-hTR

For further information, please contact:

Hayley Elvin

Helvin@lexisagency.com / +44(0)207-908-6439