Being a long-time Star Wars fan, I was thrilled to read Gary Buchanan’s article about the special “May The Fourth Be With You” event taking place this weekend as part of “Limited Time Magic.” This one-day celebration at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is separate from our month-long Star Wars Weekends special event, which begins on May 17. Gary mentioned there will be special entertainment, a dance party, fireworks and commemorative merchandise. I’m happy to share with you a first look at the new shirts and pins that will be released on Saturday at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts.

Disney Design Group artist Quynh Kimball told me the character artwork found on the shirts was created by artist Tommy Lee Edwards. The artwork for the limited edition pins was created by Disney Design Group artist Mike Sullivan. The pins will each have an edition size of 1,500.

If you are in Florida, these items will be released at the Superstar Shop located next to The American Idol Experience attraction in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

For those fans in California, the shirts and pins will be released at Disney’s Pin Traders in the Downtown Disney District and Little Green Men Store Command in Disneyland park. Please note that wristbands will be distributed to those guests purchasing pins at the Disneyland Resort.

I can’t wait for this weekend. I hope you will join us!

Tagged: DHS, DL, DLR, Downtown Disney, Limited Time Magic, Pins, Star Wars, WDW

Filed: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney District, Walt Disney World Resort

My fellow Disney Parks Blog author Erin Catalano and I spent Friday morning in the Convention Center at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Representing Disney Theme Park Merchandise, we joined a special product showcase event that highlighted exciting things at Disney Parks.

We filled our 16-foot by 16-foot square booth with new merchandise debuting this summer to Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. We gave an expanded look at Star Wars Weekends 2013 merchandise, along with a first look at new Disney Parks logo merchandise arriving this June. Rounding out our assortment, we displayed new Disney-inspired sunglasses by Ray-Ban, handbags by Dooney & Bourke, beautifully ornate shoe ornaments inspired by Disney characters, D-Tech electronic accessories and much more.

As you can imagine, I had a difficult time selecting only 10 images for this article. I’d love to hear which item is your favorite, so please share in the comments below.

I hope to see you at Disney Parks for our first-ever, three-park, all-night party on May 24. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional details about merchandise created for this event.

Tagged: DLR, Gallery, WDW

Filed: Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort

I’ve often dreamt of being in a rock band, performing shows in sold out arenas around the world. I once had a great name for my band, but it’s sadly no longer available. The closest I get to being a rock star these days is singing karaoke on the weekends or visiting Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I love this attraction, especially the thrill of taking a super-stretch limousine through the darkened freeways of Los Angeles (if only driving in Los Angeles was really like that!). I recently visited Rock Around the Shop, the merchandise location at the attraction’s exit, to see what “rock’n” gear they offer for my imagined world tour.

According to Matt Hahn, location planning manager for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this shop contains unique merchandise not found anywhere else at Walt Disney World Resort.

“[Rock Around the Shop] has a good mixture of merchandise inspired by the attraction,” explained Matt. “Guests will find apparel, accessories, headwear, plush and more. We recently added some signage to the location to inform guests that many of these items are only found in this shop.”

The attraction’s logo is found on a few items, including shirts and a popular Mickey Mouse rock star plush. I liked the miniature guitar photo holder that was inspired by the giant guitar found outside the attraction.

I also found a variety of shirts inspired by Aerosmith’s classic songs or their iconic logo. I particularly liked the “If It’s Too Loud” shirt (the only way to listen to rock!). Matt told me that one of the more popular items recently introduced was the guitar shaped bag (hello, air guitar solo!).

Finally, I couldn’t resist recreating a photo that many guests take when exiting the shop. Thank you to my fellow author Erin Catalano for taking this image. I guess it makes up for the recent Cozy Cone hat photo I took of her.

Rock on!


Read on for more from Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• ‘May The Fourth Be With You’ Celebrated at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for ‘Limited Time Magic’
• Ready, Set, Go! at X Games for Driver in ‘Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• ‘Star Wars’ Droid Factory Expands to New Locations at Disney Parks

Tagged: DHS, WDW

Filed: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World Resort

With Mother’s Day only a few weeks away, I’ve been thinking about what to get my mother (sorry Mom – this is when you should stop reading). One thing she likes is interchangeable jewelry by Chamilia. Disney Parks have carried a variety of their interchangeable beads and bracelets for a few years now. We even offer some Disney Parks-exclusive beads inspired by Disney Princesses like Cinderella, Snow White and Ariel. I spoke with Denise Edelmaier, merchandiser for jewelry at Disney Theme Park Merchandise, about the appeal of Chamilia jewelry at Disney Parks.

“I think guests enjoy Chamilia jewelry because they can mix and match bracelets and Disney-inspired beads to match their moods,” said Denise. “We offer a lot of beads, so the combinations are many. It’s also easy to add beads, which become a great way to celebrate a special occasion or remember a Disney vacation.”

If you are unfamiliar with Chamilia, we are holding a trunk show at Tren-D in the Downtown Disney Marketplace at the Walt Disney World Resort on May 3-4, 2013. Representatives from Chamilia will be at this show each day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

One cool thing that the jewelry team is introducing at the show is a unique Disney Parks starter bracelet. The bracelet will contain a few beads, which can jump start a bead collection.

I’m excited to see they are introducing a red Minnie Mouse-inspired bow along with a cupcake bead that has a Minnie Mouse-inspired bow (she is my mother’s favorite character, and, with that, Mother’s Day shopping is done!).

Finally, Denise shared that she is working on a few additional Disney Parks-exclusive beads for later this year (fans of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” will be happy).

If you can’t attend this event, you can find a small selection of Chamilia jewelry on our Disney Parks online store.

Tagged: Downtown Disney, WDW

Filed: Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

I’m looking forward to the 15th anniversary celebration for Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Earth Day this year. I recall visiting the park on April 22, 1998, for the grand opening celebration. (I still have the opening day T-shirt from it tucked away in my Disney collection.) As part of Limited Time Magic next week, we are releasing a few commemorative items at the Creature Comforts location in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, starting April 22, 2013. Some of these items will have the specially designed 15th anniversary logo that was created by Disney Design Group artists Michael Posluszny and Maria Clapsis.

There will be a new safari hat along with three new T-shirts featuring the 15th anniversary logo. If you are unable to visit the park, we are releasing the orange-sleeved shirt on the Disney Parks online store starting April 22 for a limited time – http://www.DisneyStore.com/ParkEvents.

The 15th anniversary logo will also be included on one of three new D-Tech on Demand cases for the iPhone 4/4s and the iPhone 5. (Note: the iPhone 5 cases are pictured above.)

For Disney pin collectors, we will have two limited edition pins celebrating the 15th anniversary. They join a limited release mystery pin set that was designed by Disney Design Group Artist Mike Sullivan. I like how the set incorporates various characters and experiences from the park (like the Wildlife Express Train!). I also included this year’s limited edition Earth Day pin, which will also be released that day at Walt Disney World Resort (it was released on April 11 at the Disneyland Resort).

We asked a few artists to create one-of-a-kind, 9-inch Vinylmation figures. I was blown away by the level of detail on figures from artists like Brian Blackmore (his figure is shown above). I also loved Javier Soto’s extremely detailed yeti. Other Vinylmation artists include Maria Clapsis, who made the adorable zebra and baby dinosaur; John Henselmeier, who designed the classic safari Mickey Mouse figure; and Adrianne Draude, who created a colorful figure showing Mickey Mouse in the jungle.

You can also find updates on our latest extra sprinkle of pixie dust on Twitter using hashtag #LimitedTimeMagic and on our LimitedTimeMagic.com web page.

I hope to see you at the park on April 22.

Tagged: DAK, Gallery, Limited Time Magic, Pins, Vinylmation, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort

In May 2012, we opened the first Star Wars Droid Factory experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I’m delighted to announce that we’ve expanded the build-your-own droid experience to new locations at Disneyland park in California and Downtown Disney Marketplace in Florida. I spoke with toy merchandiser Cody Hampton at Disney Theme Park Merchandise about what’s in store for fans.

“The Droid Factory has been an incredibly popular experience with our fans,” explained Cody. “After the initial launch, we heard our fans loud and clear that they also wanted this interactive experience in California. I’m beyond happy that guests are able to exit Star Tours – The Adventures Continue at Disneyland park and be able to build their own droids.”

A Droid Factory build station opened at Once Upon a Toy in the Downtown Disney Marketplace earlier this month. For California, the new build station can be found in The Star Trader in Tomorrowland at Disneyland park starting April 13.

Guests are able to build “astromech” droids from the Star Wars galaxy. (Here’s a closer look at this series of droids from the official Star Wars website)

The new experiences will feature more build stations for guests to make their own droid action figures. They were designed as a square, which can accommodate up to four guests at one time (that’s two more build stations than the current version at Tatooine Traders in Disney’s Hollywood Studios).

May the Force be with you … and your droids!

Tagged: DHS, DL, DLR, Downtown Disney, Star Wars, WDW

Filed: Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney, Walt Disney World Resort

One of my favorite things to do on weekends is take a road trip in search of vintage roadside signs and attractions. I’ve photographed many of them in states like Florida, Ohio and California. My love for these roadside wonders is one reason I like Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures in Dinoland, U.S.A., at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In her book “The Making of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park,” Melody Malmberg described this location as “the ultimate affectionate tribute to roadside Americana.” I recently spent nearly 45 minutes taking photos in this location in anticipation of the park’s 15th anniversary (I was there so long that a retail manager almost scheduled me for work).

Located off US 498 in Diggs County, the shop is only a short distance from the Dino Institute, home to DINOSAUR, which my fellow author Nate Rasmussen recently featured on the Disney Parks Blog.

According to Malmberg, the shop was founded by Chester and Hester, dinosaur aficionados who turned a gas station into the ultimate dinosaur destination. The Dino Institute wants to “buy and raze the place, but Chester and Hester’s unidentified heirs have as good a sense of humor as the originators.” The heirs refuse to sell, and have kept the shop filled with countless dinosaur toys, figures, images and more.

I love the little vignettes found throughout the shop like “Hester’s Dino Rocks,” which feature a dinosaur band, or the western town overrun with dinosaurs. The outside of the shop is just as much fun as the inside with huge playful signs. You can even see a painted over gas sign on the back roof of the shop.

This location contains a good mixture of merchandise items including apparel, toys, hats, coffee mugs and even D-Tech electronic accessories. There are also a few DINOSAUR attraction themed items like Carnotaurus latex figures or radio controlled Time Rover ride vehicles.

I invite you to stop by Chester and Hester’s Dinosaur Treasures next time you are in Dinoland, U.S.A. Here are a few additional photos from my expedition.

If you are on Twitter, join the conversation about the park’s anniversary by using the hash tag #DAK15.

Tagged: DAK, Gallery, WDW

Filed: Disney's Animal Kingdom, Walt Disney World Resort