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Category Archives: Souvenirs & Collectibles
These are the Droids You’re Looking For! Video Walk Through of the Droid Factory at Disney Hollywood Studios
Disney Hollywood Studios recently opened up the new Droid Factory a few days before Star Wars Weekends 2012.
This build-a-droid experience is located inside Tattoine Traders, the Star Tours gift shop. As neat as this was to customize your own R2 unit I found the area to be really small and it was due to it’s size and location that my wife and I opted to build them the day before Star Wars Weekends started. I’m sure the lines will be LONG!
If you’re not able to attend this year’s Star Wars Weekends have no fear! I’m told that this kiosk will be a permanent fixture at the shop. No word on weather this factory will make it out to the west coast but should it be a smash success I can see Disneyland getting their own factory sooner than later.
Related articles
- Star Wars Droid Factory Now Open at Disney Hollywood Studios (chipandco.com)
- Collector’s Corner: Build Your Own R2 Unit at Disney’s Droid Factory at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (slideshow) (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)
‘Her Universe’ Star Wars Spring/Summer Apparel Line to Debut at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends
It’s a good time to be a fangirl of the Star Wars saga as Her Universe™, the female sci-fi genre line of fashionable apparel and accessories, revealed today its new Spring/Summer line to debut at Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida on May 18th (running each weekend till June 10th) and online at http://www.Heruniverse.com on May 21st.
Created by actress Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the current seasonal offering from Her Universe Includes a racer back tank top and fashion tops featuring such beloved characters as Princess Leia, R2-D2 and Darth Vader as well as a unique Princess Leia zip-hoodie and a fun Ahsoka Tano youth tunic created to help young girls feel just like Anakin’s Padawan learner on The Clone Wars. To accentuate the new Star Wars apparel, Eckstein and Her Universe are offering two new charms – a Boba Fett design and a Japor Snippet replica, the good luck charm given as a gift to Padme from a young Anakin Skywalker. All of this Star Wars treasure can be carried in the new cotton canvas Star Wars tote bag featuring the Star Wars symbols. Several new apparel pieces are also being introduced for the younger “Jedi-in-training” including several Star Wars youth designs and, for the first time, a Jedi onesie for the tiniest followers of the Force featuring the adorable art of popular Star Wars illustrator Katie Cook.
“I was very excited when Ashley approached me to do kids’ designs for Her Universe,” said Cook. “She’s doing a wonderful thing for the female fan community already… and she’s doing those of us with little girls an even bigger favor by giving the littlest fangirls nerdy gear of their own!”
In addition to the new product line being available at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends, Eckstein will also, for the fourth year in a row, be co-hosting the Behind The Force live stage show and signing autographs each weekend of the event.
“Disney’s Star Wars Weekends is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Ashley Eckstein. “I truly enjoy meeting Star Wars fans of all ages and that’s why I am so excited to be offering merchandise for women, girls and now babies! As the voice of Ahsoka Tano, I cannot wait to see baby girls in an Ahsoka ‘Jedi in Training’ onesie or little girls running around in Ahsoka’s new costume top!”
Her Universe was launched in 2009 by Eckstein, and her partner, The Araca Group, known as one of the most innovative theatrical production and merchandise companies in the world. Her Universe was created to directly address the expanding market of female fans by entering into its first agreement with Lucas Licensing to develop and produce a line of female-centered Star Wars apparel and accessories. The success of that line was followed up with a collection for the Syfy network including such shows as Battlestar Galactica. Visit http://www.Heruniverse.com to purchase the new Star Wars collection or visit a Hot Topic store near you to find select Her Universe items. You can also learn more about Her Universe by following Eckstein on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HerUniverse and visiting the Her Universe Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HerUniverse.
Related articles
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)
- Her Universe Tweet-leaks New Products for Star Wars Celebration and Star Wars Weekends (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)
Star Wars Droid Factory Now Open at Disney Hollywood Studios
The “Droid Factory” experience, a new attraction where you can build and name your own R-series astromech droid action figures, is now open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
“We began discussing the Droid Factory in 2009,” says product developer Cody Hampton. “We know that personalization is an important aspect of the popular build-your-own lightsaber experience. We felt the same thing could be done with action figures but on a much larger scale.”
Located at the park’s Tatooine Traders location, the Droid Factory has 71 different pieces to create the 3 3/4-inch scale astromech figures. To get started, guests choose a dome, a body and legs offered in a variety of colors and styles (availability of various parts and colors may change). There are optional third legs and novelty hats that can be added as well.
“We wanted lots of options for [the Droid Factory],” continues Cody. “There are literally thousands of combinations making each droid unique. Guests can also name their droids with sticker sheets provided at checkout.”
Three domes — R6, R8 and R9 — were created exclusively for this experience at Disney Parks. The multi-colored ear hats, which are inspired by Jedi Mickey’s astromech droid, R2-MK, will be joined by four additional hats later this summer including a Goofy hat, a pirate hat, a fedora (very Agent P) and a Yoda cap.
Droids will be sold either in single or dual packs (the latter has a value price). They can also be used with playsets like the Starspeeder 1000.
I’m looking forward to building a few astromech’s myself as I head down to DHS for this year’s Star Wars Weekends. Be sure to follow me on Twitter and listen to my reports for the Sorcerer Radio Network and the WDW After Dark vidcast LIVE this Friday May 18, 2012!
SRSounds.com – Sorcerer Radio, All Disney Music, All Day Long
WDWAfterDark.com – The Live and Uncensored Vidcast for Adult Disney Fans
Related articles
- Behind the Scenes for an R2-D2 Photo Shoot for Disney’s Star Wars Weekends (video) (jedimouseketeer.blogspot.com)
Disney World Souvenirs – How Do I Decide?
You don’t want to leave Walt Disney World without souvenirs. You’ll always have your magical memories and for me, the best souvenirs is the hundreds of photos I bring home on my memory card. But how do you decide, amongst a myriad of souvenir choices, what to bring home with you? This decision is particularly difficult when you have children along. Of course, they want everything, right?
Every time we make a trip to The World, we come home with something. However, we try to base our decisions on a souvenir that will last, more of a memento from that trip. Some of my favorites include:
1. Etched glasses from Arribas. You can find Arribas Brothers at Downtown Disney. It’s a shop full of glass, so keep that in mind if you have littles shopping with you! Each member of our family has his or her own etched glass mug from this shop. Our name is on the front, and a favorite character on the other side. They also do glass blowing and glass cutting demonstrations during the day. They have many collectibles of crystal and glass that can be personalized.
2. Christmas ornaments from Disney’s Days of Christmas. Two trips ago, we purchased Christmas ornaments at Downtown Disney. Each of our children chose an ornament with either a Mickey or a Minnie on it, and my husband and I got one as well. If you’re a return traveler, perhaps you can add to your Christmas decor with an ornament or other collectible from Disney’s Days of Christmas.
3. Picture frames. I take a TON of pictures at the parks. I make sure that at each park , we get our family picture in front of the icon of the park. You know, Cinderella’s Castle, Spaceship Earth, The Tree of Life, and the Sorcerer’s Hat. When we return home, I have a 5×7 of my favorite picture made and it goes in my Disney frame. On our upcoming trip, another frame (or two) is on my “souvenir list”.
4. Disney jewelry. At the World of Disney, you can find beads for Pandora charm bracelets. I have a Cinderella coach and this year I’m hoping for a Minnie/Mickey head.
5. Mickey ears and autograph books or pin lanyards. Of course, the kids want something fun. So, monogrammed Mickey ears and autograph books have become some of our kids’ favorite mementos. Also, older kinds may enjoy pin trading. I know our nine year olds are already talking about the pins they’re willing to trade and ones they hope to get this summer. Why not add a new medal to their lanyard? Pin trading can be a fun, ongoing souvenir.
Of course, clothing, stuffed Disney friends, and a Pirates of the Caribbean sword are super fun. You’ll come home with a few “frivolous” souvenirs that eventually don’t last. I want to look back at our souvenirs, knowing that they were chosen for the fun memories they’ll conjure up in the future.
What is your favorite souvenir at Disney? Do you have any long lasting souvenirs from trips?
Magically Yours,
Carrie
A Pearl of a Wisdom: Don’t Miss This Souvenir From Epcot’s Japan Pavilion
With gift shops around just about every corner, Disney World has a lot to offer in the line of souvenirs. There are the typical character clad gifts like t-shirts, picture frames, and stuffed animals; today we are talking something in a bit of a different direction! Epcot’s World Showcase provides you a trip around the world in just over a mile! This isn’t just a site seeing tour my friends! This is a tour for the senses as there are sights to behold, sounds to enjoy, smells to tempt you, items to be touched (and bought), and of course your taste buds will be delighted! With so much to see and do, it is good to have an idea of what you might find as you make your way through World Showcase. Today I am highlighting the Japan Pavilion’s unique souvenir, Pick a Pearl.
Who is Pick a Pearl for?
Pick a Pearl is for ANYONE! There are tons of setting choices and the possibilities for a unique creation are endless! More importantly, there are tons of oysters waiting to be chosen. While this is targeted toward women, that doesn’t mean that a sweet boyfriend, husband, or son couldn’t choose a pearl for the lady in their life (hint, hint, hint).
What is Pick a Pearl Anyway?
Here’s how it works, walk to the back of the Mitsukoshi Department Store (in the Japan Pavilion). Listen for the sound of the drum and the beating of sticks as happy new pearl owners celebrate their find. As you make your way over you’ll see large tanks containing oysters waiting to be picked for the big reveal. A cast member will help get the ceremony started as you select just the right oyster. As your hopes for a magnificent pearl mount, the cast member will open your oyster. I’ve seen traditional white pearls, colorful pearls, pearls that are big, small, and in between. Pearls are measured and the celebration begins. (Tip here: if you don’t want to be at the center of drum banging attention…you might want to skip this spot). Your pearl info is written on your baggy and you can go to the jewelery counter to choose a setting. There are many settings availible. The cost of the pearl is about $15. The cost of each setting varies, but you could leave with a one of a kind souvenir for relatively cheap.
When can you Pick a Pearl?
You can Pick a Pearl anytime within the operating hours of World Showcase (11am -9pm).
Where do you go to find Pick a Pearl?
Mitsukoshi Department store in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase.
Why would you want to Pick a Pearl?
I like to take home something from my trip. When I go to Disney World I always choose something that will take me back to that moment and that time. I am on the hunt for new, original, and different! Picking a pearl seems like the perfect one of a kind gift! No two pearls are exactly alike, settings can totally transform your find into something beautiful, and let’s not forget the experience of it all! It’s not every day that a drum is beat for the world to hear as you make a purchase!
Are you a repeat pearl picker? Maybe you aren’t. I hope you will stop by the Japan Pavilion next time you are in Epcot to pick a pearl of your own or maybe just celebrate another guest’s find! I know you’ll enjoy this unique experience!
Related articles
- Coming this June to Epcot: Agent P’s World Showcase Adventure (chipandco.com)
- New Pics! Tutto Italia and Gusto Wine Cellar Exteriors in Epcot (disneyfoodblog.com)
- Drink Around the World Showcase – Japan Pavilion (chipandco.com)
- Top 5 Epcot Traditions (chipandco.com)
