Disney Interactive Grows Its Learning Roster With ``Disney's Phonics Quest''; CD-ROM Introduces Kids to Phonics-Based Reading Activities With Mickey Mouse Magic.

Business/Entertainment Editors & High-Tech/Education Writers

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 2001

The word is out: Disney Interactive has expanded its award-winning Mickey Mouse Learning series with "Disney's Phonics Quest."

The new CD-ROM introduces kids to early reading and writing skills in a magical interactive setting created by pairing Mickey Mouse and other favorite Disney characters with phonics-based teaching principles.

Featuring Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's apprentice, "Disney's Phonics Quest" emphasizes exploration and discovery in a replayable environment that makes learning interesting and fun. Children ages five to eight are provided with a unique experience each time they accompany Mickey to six locations in search of the Sorcerer's belongings.

Various activities aim to teach letter and sound recognition, vocabulary, spelling, word building, long and short vowels, and consonant blends. Voice recognition technology is integrated into the product as well, allowing some questions to be answered through speech.

"Disney's Phonics Quest" lets children learn reading principles through the activities in which they feel most comfortable. They can then use what they've learned to solve problems in the activities they may have initially found more difficult. Additionally, parents can easily track improvements in each activity with a skill progression chart, which displays up-to-date diagrams mapping each child's development.

The adventure begins when Mickey, overcome with curiosity, delves into the book of magic and begins to read spells. As a result, some of the Sorcerer's possessions are swept out of the castle. Mickey then sets out on a quest to find the missing items that are scattered in various places. Players help Mickey retrieve these items, which are hidden in various locations within each activity, by completing specific tasks. Activities are:

-- The Genie's Riddles: Mickey has spotted one of the missing items in a
volcanic area that is sealed behind a series of closed doors. Players unlock
the doors by answering a set of riddles presented by the Genie. After solving
the correct number of riddles, the final door will open, allowing Mickey to
retrieve the item.

-- Skills taught: reading, comprehension, consonant blends and rhymes

-- Pete's Quarry: In the quarry, where there's another missing item, Pete is
hard at work building artistic signs made of boulders. Mickey must help Pete
spell challenging words out of rocks to obtain the object. Players utilize
various tools to help find the stone that goes with the corresponding image,
label or word that must be spelled. Eventually, the wall of rocks collapses
onto Pete, allowing Mickey to reclaim the item.

-- Skills taught: word building, spelling, consonant blends and letter phonemes


-- Mickey's Dragon Daycare: The dragons have mixed up their babies and Mickey
must match each child to the correct parent in order to recover the missing
items. Players listen to clues given by the mothers and sort the kids according
to the sounds they make. Match all pairs successfully and win the item back.

-- Skills taught: categorizing, context and reading comprehension

-- Goofy's Metalworks: Goofy, the town blacksmith, has a missing item stuck in
his stovepipe. Mickey helps Goofy fulfill a big order by helping him sort the
different word, sound and syllable parts and place them on the appropriate
numbered peg. When the job is finished, the item will fall out of the
stovepipe.

-- Skills taught: word structures and patterns, letter neighborhoods, rhymes
and deduction

-- Minnie's Magical Music: Mickey discovers another object in the clutches of a
buzzard flying overhead. As he chases the bird, he runs into Minnie, who needs
help arranging her songs. Players sort words and images, according to various
rhyming and phonetic instructions, to create a tune. Once the song is complete,
Minnie sings it aloud, causing the buzzard to drop the item.

-- Skills taught: rhyming, letter sounds and phonemes, and word building

-- Duckbill Printin' Press: Mickey must participate in reading lessons with
Donald. Players arrange words and letters, presented on stamps from the
printing press, by certain criteria given by Daisy. When the lesson is over,
Daisy helps Mickey pry the item from the printing press.

-- Skills taught: sight reading, pronunciation, irregular phonics rules and
homophones

"Disney's Phonics Quest" is a Windows(R) 95/98/Me and Macintosh hybrid title with a suggested retail price of $19.99. It is available at retail stores nationwide.

About Disney Interactive

Disney Interactive, part of the Disney Consumer Products division of The Walt Disney Company, develops, markets and globally distributes a wide variety of interactive entertainment, educational and sports CD-ROMs and video games. For more information on Disney Interactive's products, visit www.disneyinteractive.com.