Don’t miss Disney’s Club Penguin Hollywood Party and new EP

If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you probably know that my 10-year-old son loves Disney’s Club Penguin web-based video game. He can’t wait to log in to the virtual world each day and see what is new, and he’s far from alone. Club Penguin is the most popular online game for children. This month, my son and his friends have gotten two happy surprises: Club Penguin has launched its Hollywood Party and the site’s first EP has debuted.

If you or your child haven’t visited yet, today is the last day for the Hollywood Party, which is modeled after the Academy Awards show. Leading up to the party, penguins could act in three movies — “Penguin High 3,” “High Speed Getaway” and “Return of the Space Squid” — and work toward becoming directors. Paid members also could try to attain Superstar status and live in a Hollywood-like version of the Club Penguin Island or even work as stunt penguins.

During the party, players can walk a red carpet and attend a star-studded award show, where penguins who were voted the best in various categories receive their statuettes. For a limited time, the Cool Emoticon, the Cheese Emoticon and a Clapboard slate Emoticon will appear at the party, as well as Aunt Arctic. Be sure to check out the new Hollywood Party catalog, which has award-winning outfits, such as a diamond gown, a space astro suit and a rugged jacket.

For kids who are interested in the glitz and glam of Hollywood award season, this is a way for them to take part in an age-appropriate way.

Club Penguin is exploring another aspect of the entertainment industry with its first EP, “The Party Starts Now.” The album from Walt Disney Records includes all of Club Penguin’s hit singles from 2012, plus a new song and a bonus track. The songs are “Anchor’s Aweigh,” “The Party Starts Now,” “Ghosts Just Wanna Dance,” “Cool in the Cold,” “Puffle Party (Gotta Have a Wingman)” and “Dubstep Puffle.”

Players who purchase the “The Party Starts Now” EP receive an exclusive virtual item, the ‘Bling-Bling Necklace,’ to wear in the virtual world.

When released in fall of 2012, “The Party Starts Now” single held the No. 1 spot on the iTunes Children’s music chart for multiple weeks in a row and the corresponding music video has more than 2 million views on YouTube.

The EP is now available wherever music is sold, as well as through digital retail outlets, including iTunes, Google Play and Amazon.

To read more about Club Penguin, please see my previous blog posts about Internet safety and Club Penguin’s charitable donations.