Disney Announces Replacement For ‘Stitch’ Attraction In Magic Kingdom

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World Resort is just a matter of weeks away from opening a massive new attraction in Tomorrowland.

Located in Magic Kingdom Park, Tomorrowland is already home to Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, the Tomorrowland Speedway, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, and the Astro Orbiter. If that weren’t enough, TRON Ligthcycle / Run is already giving previews and the attraction will officially open on April 4, 2023 by virtual queue or Individual Lightning Lane purchase only.

As Disney continues to hype up the opening of the brand-new attraction, many Disney World Guests have wondered if anything might be going into the building that used to house Stitch’s Great Escape!

The Tomorrowland attraction officially closed in 2020, but had been “temporarily closed” long before that. On occasion, Disney World would reopen the attraction for a limited time, but it became apparent that the attraction was never going to be a permanent fixture again. Since its closure, many Disney Park fans have speculated on what could come to the building, but nothing has been announced yet.

Character meet and greets have been held in the building in the past, but recently, the building has been closed. Now, it seems we have an answer on what’s coming to the building next.

As TRON Lightcycle / Run opens, Disney will have a Pop-Up Stand of merchandise that the company shares is located “across from Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.”

Though the main merchandise section will be located in the Tomorrowland Launch Depot– the exit to both Space Mountain and TRON Lightcycle / Run– this pop-up shop will help maintain crowd control, and housing it in the building where Stitch’s Great Escape! once was located makes a lot of sense.

“There are generations of Guests now visiting Walt Disney World who grew up playing the TRON video games and imagining their bicycles were Lightcycles,” explained Taryn Johnson, Senior Manager for Brand Merchandising with Global Product Creation. “These collections have a dash of 1980s nostalgia mixed with incredibly fun items that continue the thrills of this new Tomorrowland attraction at home.”

It’s unclear how long this pop-up merchandise shop will be up, but it does give Disney fans an answer to a question they’ve wanted to know for quite some time. At least in the immediate future, there will not be a new attraction in Tomorrowland, other than TRON Lightcycle / Run.

Disney also has plans for plenty of other exclusive merchandise related to TRON, including personalized action figures.

TRON Lightcycle / Run Merchandise Coming

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Disney is gearing up for the opening of the new attraction, TRON Lightcycle / Run, coming to Magic Kingdom.  Disney has released a look at some of the merchandise items that will be available.

From a Disney Cast Member

Greetings, Programs! As someone who discussed merchandise on Disney Parks Blog for nearly a decade, imagine my delight when I was asked to write about new products created for TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise. This thrilling new attraction officially opens at Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort on April 4, 2023. I’ve collected TRON products for many “cycles” (or “years” in the world of TRON), and following my overview with the Global Product Development team, I quickly realized I’m going to need a bigger house.

Users who venture into the Grid will find three merchandise collections, related to the attraction experience, the film “TRON: Legacy” or the nostalgia around this digital world first introduced in 1982 with the release of the original “TRON.”

“There are generations of guests now visiting Walt Disney World who grew up playing the TRON video games and imagining their bicycles were Lightcycles,” explained Taryn Johnson, Senior Manager for Brand Merchandising with Global Product Creation. “These collections have a dash of 1980s nostalgia mixed with incredibly fun items that continue the thrills of this new Tomorrowland attraction at home.”

One of my favorite collections is “Back to the Arcade,” which captures a slice of the early 1980s arcade scene complete with nods to Flynn’s Arcade from the original film. Elements from video game cabinets were turned into backpacks and illuminated wall signs. The tumbler even includes vintage Lightcycles that race around a domed top.

Lightcycles are fast two-wheeled vehicles on the Grid, akin to motorcycles in the “real” world. This was the jumping-off point for the “Thrill of the Race” collection which contains racing-inspired apparel for adults and kids.

The team even created a light-up replica of Sam Flynn’s helmet as seen in “TRON: Legacy” using the original costume piece as reference. This helmet is the perfect finishing touch to my own “TRON: Legacy” costume. A separate decorative helmet bag is an excellent carrying case for this or any other racing helmet.

For those that want to continue racing Lightcycles after visiting the Grid, check out the TRON Lightcycle Handlebars. This interactive toy contains lights and sound effects from TRON and can turn into an interactive game for up to four players.

Life on the Grid is replicated with a third merchandise collection inspired by the clean design language of this digital world. Adults will find light-up jackets and other accessories like a backpack that holds a new interactive Identity Disc that doubles as an audio speaker (now I can listen to the incredible “TRON: Legacy” soundtrack everywhere I go!).

One of the most impressive parts of this collection is the TRON Identity Program, an all-new retail experience. It offers guests a customizable “Program” action figure and identity chip that can be used to “re-program” other merchandise such as the interactive Identity Discs and Remote Control Lightcycles.

Reservations for this interactive experience can be made beginning March 21 by visiting disneyworld.disney.go.com/shops/magic-kingdom/tron-identity-program/.

When TRON Lightcycle / Run opens on April 4, guests will find these products and more in a specially designed pop-up shop area directly across from the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor entrance in Tomorrowland.

For those with a reservation for the TRON Identity Program, please visit Tomorrowland Launch Depot for the experience. It’s the merchandise shop located between the entrances to TRON Lightcycle / Run and Space Mountain.

Guests will also be able to use Merchandise Mobile Checkout via the My Disney Experience app when purchasing items at select locations. I love this feature as it’s easy to use and saves time as you scan items as you shop and pay from your phone.

I can’t wait to get photos in TRON Plaza under the beautiful canopy at Magic Kingdom Park sporting many of these items. It’s like a dream come true for a lifelong TRON fan like me. I hope you will join me on the Grid starting April 4!

Disney Makes Mistake with New Merchandise

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

Via InsideTheMagic.net

Everyone knows that a trip to Disney World or Disneyland would not be complete without buying a few souvenirs to take back home. Of course, you can do a lot of your shopping online as well through the shopDisney website.

From shirts, headbands, cups, and silverware to pins, costumes, swords, and toys, Guests can find just about anything when visiting the shopDisney website or any of the numerous attraction gift shops.

And speaking of attractions, a Disney Parks collection wouldn’t be complete without an item representing one of Walt Disney World’s most legendary rides.

Space Mountain is a truly iconic piece of Disney history. While popular enough to be found at multiple Disney Resorts across the world, the original in Orlando still stands above the rest. To commemorate this special attraction, Disney recently released a model kit of the actual ride.

“Imagine building your favorite Tomorrowland attraction with this Space Mountain Model Kit. Imaginations soar thanks to the detailed 27-piece kit that celebrates the place where so many galactic dreams come true”, states Disney when describing the kit, “The packaging is inspired by classic blueprints and behind-the-scenes Disney Imagineering notes. It’s all Mickey Mouse-approved too. Now it can be yours to build and put on display for light-years to come.”

However, when looking at the photo of the kit online, we noticed it was seemingly built wrong.

disney-model-kit

As you can see, the middle section of the kit protrudes way farther than it is supposed to. There is also a hole in the center of the kit, which is not supposed to be seen when the model is completed. Curiously, the kit is correctly shown on the actual packaging.

disney-model-kit

We aren’t sure exactly why or how this error occurred but looking at the immense catalog of products on the website, we aren’t that surprised something as minor as this slipped past Disney.

For those worried, it may be too challenging, no need to worry! The model kit is only 27 pieces, meaning anyone can build and enjoy this product.

You can buy the model kit by visiting the official shopDisney website.

Guest Slammed For Hoarding EPCOT 40th Merchandise

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

For just over one year, Walt Disney World Resort has been celebrating its 50th anniversary. There have been a ton of new food offerings, new nighttime shows, and a lot of great new merchandise. However, Magic Kingdom is not the only theme park that has an anniversary. On October 1, 2022, EPCOT also celebrated 40 years of making magic.

While not as big as the 50th, Disney did release limited-time food offerings and new merchandise to celebrate the EPCOT 40th anniversary — a perfect destination for Disney foodies.

When it comes to new merchandise, there has been an increasing problem — resellers. Resellers descend upon the Parks when new merchandise is released, buy as much of it as they can (even enlisting the help of friends and family), and then sell it online with a massive price increase.

Resellers are becoming the bane of people’s Disney merchandise existence, as they can’t find the one shirt they want the day it is released because resellers have hoarded all the products for themselves.

One Twitter user — MagicalNewsLIVE — is calling out one of those resellers, and people are irate. EPCOT 40th anniversary merchandise was released on October 1 and much of it quickly sold out. And it likely sold out faster because of people like the woman in the tweet, which you can see below.

Twitter users were quick to call out the Guest for her behavior, with some — including Amy Knight —  feeling that the woman should be banned for life from the Parks for reselling the merchandise.

In the tweet, the woman’s face was blocked out. Some users, like Kiwi Hobbits, said that the woman shouldn’t be hidden and should be called out for her “soulless greed”.

Now, some Disney merchandise does have purchasing limits. However, when it comes to things like shirts, the rules typically state that you can buy 2 of each size. So resellers will grab two of each size. Another big problem is that the resellers typically don’t come alone. The purchase restrictions aren’t limited to a party, they are per Guest. So a family of four could end up with dozens of a product because they each purchased the maximum allowed.

Disneyland Paris resellers

While Disney does have rules in place when it comes to reselling merchandise purchased with an Annual Pass discount, the rules are not as strict when it comes to people who have regular tickets.

Disney Parks do appear to be cracking down on personal shoppers, but most people like the fact that there is someone who can purchase merchandise for them if they can’t make it to the Parks. Resellers, on the other hand, seem to be universally despised.

New EPCOT 40th Anniversary Merchandise – Coming Soon!

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Epcot

On October 1, 2022, EPCOT will celebrate its 40th Anniversary! A new merchandise collection is coming to celebrate with all sorts of items that we love.

From a Disney Cast Member;

For almost 40 years, EPCOT has been a place where your imagination can take flight into the magical world of possibilities. Guests from around the world have gathered at EPCOT to explore, wonder, and collect keepsakes that are endearing mementos of their time at Walt Disney World Resort.

Whether you’re lounging while wearing your favorite EPCOT hoodie, mixing cake batter in your Food & Wine Festival apron or finding the perfect place to display your next Figment pin, these souvenirs help transport you back to your favorite in-park memories.

Today, we’re giving you a first look at some of the new merchandise inspired by the historic milestone EPCOT will celebrate on Oct. 1. In honor of the 40th anniversary, we’re launching the EPCOT 40th Anniversary Collection at Creations Shop, with select items available at shopDisney.com. The collection will debut on Oct. 1 with additional items arriving throughout the month.

This must-have collection features limited-edition products, including apparel, accessories and trading pins that are perfect for you to share your love of EPCOT with the world.

From a sequined Minnie Mouse headband and an impressive CORKCICLE canteen to a cozy long-sleeved shirt, the new collection is infused with retro and nostalgic designs that offer a wide variety of celebratory merchandise for the entire family.

Credit: Disney
Credit: Disney

Ahead of the holiday season, the EPCOT 40th Anniversary Collection commemorative Spirit Jersey and woven shirt are the perfect gifts for your loved ones.

Eye-catching, energetic, and with a touch of magic, the assortment of apparel is perfect for the whole family. Get ready to dress your little ones in the Figment youth tee and have a groovy photo op in front of Spaceship Earth.

Credit: Disney
Credit: Disney

My favorite items include the multi-colored Loungefly mini-backpack, sleek Citizen watch and stylish fleece hoodie. As you can see, this collection is perfect for EPCOT fans of all ages. Brought to life by a spectrum of color, the retro designs are inspired by the 1980s when the park initially opened, as well as the creative and innovative atmosphere that EPCOT continues to carry into the future.

Paying homage to four decades of celebrating diverse cultures and transformational innovation, the EPCOT 40thAnniversary Collection also includes a Spaceship Earth-themed figurine, Figment crossbody bag by Harveys, a variety of trading pins and a commemorative Alex and Ani charm bracelet, not pictured here. There will also be a limited-edition EPCOT 40th Anniversary Day Of Collection available on Oct. 1, while supplies last.

Happy Anniversary, EPCOT! Stay tuned for more exciting news as we look ahead to the 40th anniversary of EPCOT!