Force Friday is coming!  Tonight actually for all of us Star Wars fans crazy enough to take part at midnight!  For those of you unaware, Force Friday is the merchandise release date for many Star Wars: The Force Awakens products.  When Star Wars: The Phantom Menace came out, the action figures, games, and playsets for that movie were flying off the shelves as fans, starved for new Star Wars product stormed their local Toys R Us stores opening at midnight.  It had been 16 years since a new film had been released and people were so excited!  Not just because there were cool toys coming out for collectors and kids alike, but because the merchandise offered us a first look at a new and until now hidden world.

The same is true for this event – but on an even bigger scale.  Product reveals have literally been happening all over the world, all night long on a Star Wars’ dedicated You Tube broadcast featuring “unboxing” from places like Paris, Tokyo, and of course the USA.  Events will be launching at midnight tonight in more stores than ever before, each one offering different incentives for coming to their store.  Disney Stores are offering a commemorative pin for the first 100 people who make a purchase.  Walmart is giving away exclusive packs to the new Star Wars trading disc game – Topps’ Galactic Connexions.  And Toys R Us is giving away a poster and LEGO Star Wars commemorative brick!  Maybe they should call this “Black Force Friday.”

Personally, I’ll be heading to the World of Disney for their launch party which was just made FREE to all attendees.  Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World are hosting Force Friday events which will include not only products available at local stores, but exclusive theme park only merchandise including pins and Vinylmation!  I’m very excited.  Those who had originally purchased tickets to the event will still retain priority in line without having to wait and will still receive the free messenger bag that was being offered.  They are also being given a full refund for their ticket purchase.  Non-ticketed guests will line up in specified locations prior to the opening and escorted in as space allows.  For more details on where to line up and park for non-ticketed guests, see the Disney Parks Blog. The opportunity to get both Star Wars: The Force Awakens product AND exclusive park merchandise is just too tempting for a theme park fan like me!  Hope to see you there!