We’re less than two weeks away now from the D23 Expo, and announcements of what each sector of the Walt Disney Company will be bringing to the event are still coming out. While we already learned what Disney Consumer Products has in store, Disney Store has most recently announced their special offerings at the Expo. Disney Store will be celebrating its 25th Anniversary at the Expo, and fans will be able to look forward to special and exclusive merchandise, special events, artist signings, and more.
Expo attendees will be able to shop for Disney Store items in a 1,500 square foot pop-up shop, which will be set up within Disney Consumer Product’s Disney Living Pavilion. The shop will feature special D23 Expo merchandise, limited edition 25th Anniversary items, Vinylmation, and the Kidada for Disney Store Collection. Each day, a special opening ceremony will take place at the shop, where one guest will be chosen to “unlock imagination.” The opening ceremony will take place at 9:00 AM each morning, and will only be open to D23 members.
On Friday, August 19 at 9 AM, the opening ceremony will kick off its 25th Anniversary celebration with remarks from Disney Store president Jim Fielding prior to the opening of the store. In addition, the first 25 guests in line will receive a limited edition 25th Anniversary pin, and Disney Store artist Jim Salvati will sign exclusive 25th Anniversary commemorative art.
Another special offering by Disney Store at the Expo will be the worldwide debut of the Disney Princess Designer Doll Collection. The dolls will be dressed in runway-inspired gowns and come in their own special collectors case. D23 Expo guests will be the very first to see these beautiful dolls, and a limited number of complete doll sets will be available for pre-order at the Expo, along with a limited edition 25th Anniversary Cinderella doll. A collection of products inspired by the dolls will also be available at the Expo, including stationary, mugs, t-shirts, cosmetics, and accessories. As part of the dolls’ worldwide debut, the dolls will be given out to the honorees at the Disney Legends ceremony, where the actresses whose voice talent brought these princesses to life will be honored, including Jodi Benson (Ariel from The Little Mermaid), Paige O’Hara (Belle from Beauty and the Beast), Lea Salonga (singing voices of Jasmine from Aladdin and Mulan from Mulan), Linda Larkin (speaking voice of Jasmine from Aladdin), and Anika Noni Rose (Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog).
Guests not attending the D23 Expo will be able to purchase the Designer Dolls in Disney Stores beginning Monday, August 22. One doll will be released each week at the stores, and the doll’s identity will not be revealed until the Monday of each week, when the doll will go on sale.
On Saturday, August 20 at 1:00 PM, Disney Store will host a Halloween Costume Parade on the Disney Living Pavilion Center Stage. The show will unveil some of Disney Store’s new costumes for 2011, including a limited edition Rapunzel costume, of which only 2000 will be available this fall. Five lucky guests at the event will win the opportunity to receive a complimentary costume from Disney Store.
Are you a Vinylmation collector? Be sure to stop by the Disney Store shop on Sunday, August 21 at 10:00 AM. Vinylmation artists will be signing the new Vinylmation series based on the classic animated film The Lion King.
Later on Sunday, at 1:00 PM at the Disney Living Pavilion Center Stage, celebrity jewelry designer Kidada Jones will make a special appearance to introduce her exclusive line of jewelry and accessories. Kidada’s “Wish-A-Little” line puts a twist on classic Disney characters, with each Disney character figure opening up to reveal a jewelry charm. New Wish-A-Littles to debut this fall will include Alice, Ariel, Jasmine, and Tinker Bell. D23 Expo guests will also be able to get a picture with Kidada following the event.
Disney Store fans will also be able to interact with Disney Store digitally throughout the Expo through Disney Store’s official Twitter account, where they can interact with Disney Store president Jim Fielding and some surprise guests. Fans can also follow Disney Store’s blog, The Buzz, for a behind-the-scenes look at the Expo.
The D23 Expo will take place August 19-21, 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center. To purchase tickets, visit the event’s official website.
