Disney Online's Pixie Hollow Takes Flight at Toy Fair; New Fairies Virtual World Offi

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Disney Online's Pixie Hollow Takes Flight at Toy Fair; New Fairies Virtual World Officially Unveiled
BUSINESS WIRE
Posted: 2008-02-19 09:18:26
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)----At the 2008 American International Toy Fair, Disney Online officially unveiled the next exciting addition to the company's line-up of virtual worlds - Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow, based on the wildly popular Disney Fairies franchise. Visitors to the new online world will be able to explore the homes and meadows that make up Pixie Hollow. Fans will play and chat with Fairy friends, go on quests for Tinker Bell, play games, earn badges, craft jewelry and clothes and personalize their Fairy world.

The first phase of Pixie Hollow is scheduled to launch later this year, followed by a continuous roll out of in-game enhancements and product features.

"Disney Fairies has proven to be one of the company's most successful franchises and we are excited to give fans the chance to live and play in the magical world of Tinker Bell by bringing Pixie Hollow online," said Steve Parkis, senior vice president, Disney Online. "Fans have already created millions of Fairy avatars on DisneyFairies.com, making it evident that there is a strong desire for additional content around these beloved stories and characters."

In 2007, the Disney Fairies franchise generated more than $800 million in global retail sales with a wide range of Disney Fairies products that have captured the imagination of girls worldwide. Also unveiled at the Toy Fair event was an innovative new line of Disney Fairies Internet-connected toys featuring Clickables technology. The products will be the first to link online play within the Pixie Hollow virtual world to play in the real world. The new Disney Fairies line featuring Clickables technology will give girls new ways to extend their online experience by sharing Fairies, creating friendships, earning in-game items and unlocking exclusive content through traditional toys.

In anticipation of the game's launch, fans can now visit www.DisneyFairies.com to create their very own personalized Fairy avatar, complete with the ability to select clothing styles and colors, accessories, hair style and more. After creating and naming their Fairy, online guests can share their Fairy with friends and family via e-mail, choose from a selection of approved messages to leave others who have made and published Fairies on the site, and decorate a room in which their Fairy will live. To date, nearly 5 million Fairies have been created at the popular Web site.

Disney Fairies is the latest endeavor in the creation of immersive and engaging virtual online worlds for kids and families that Disney pioneered in 2003 with the creation of Disney's Toontown Online, and followed up with the addition of Club Penguin and the recent launch of Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Leading virtual world industry analyst eMarketer predicts by 2011, an estimated 53% of U.S. children and teen Internet users will visit virtual worlds--up from 24% in 2007. (Source: eMarketer, September 2007)

About Disney Online

Disney Online (www.disney.com), a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group, produces the number one kids' entertainment and family community destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1996, Disney.com is the online gateway to all of the company's Disney-branded entertainment initiatives, providing comprehensive access to, and information about Disney movies, travel, television, games, mobile, music, shopping and live events. Disney.com also features Disney XD, a highly interactive broadband experience, that lets Disney.com guests create their own customized online channel with games, videos, music, and chat - all of which can be enjoyed simultaneously in an immersive environment.

In addition, Disney Online develops and publishes a range of online products and services including Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Disney's Toontown Online, Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online, Disney Game Downloads, Disney Game Kingdom Online, Disney Connection and Hot Shot Business.

The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) is a unit of The Walt Disney Company (NYSEIS ).

Walt Disney Internet GroupKatie Gerber, 310-623-2262Katie.Gerber@disney.comor360 Public RelationsStacey Clement, 617-585-5774sclement@360publicrelations.com


© Business Wire 2008
02/19/2008 09:05 ET

 

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Disney and Techno Source Take Internet Connectivity to the Next Level with Disney Fairies(TM) Toys Powered by Clickables(TM) Technology
BUSINESS WIRE
Posted: 2008-02-19 08:18:23
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)----The Disney Fairies franchise will fly to new heights in 2008 as Disney introduces a breakthrough concept in next-generation Internet-connectivity with Disney Fairies(TM) toys featuring Clickables(TM) technology. Developed as an exclusive collaboration between Disney and Techno Source, a leader in electronic toys and games, the Clickables technology enables girls to extend their virtual playtime in Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow, Disney's latest online virtual world, with friends offline, into the real world, with patent-pending technology so simple and seamless that it seems magical.

"The future of toys is about connecting online and offline play," said Chris Heatherly, vice president of technology and innovation, Disney Consumer Products. "Kids and tweens are quickly embracing virtual worlds and, while there are several Internet-related toys in the market today, the play ends when the computer gets shut down. With our new line of Disney Fairies toys featuring Clickables technology, we're bringing the fun of social networking, collecting, and trading into the real world so that girls can extend the fun of the enchanting online world of Pixie Hollow to school, the park, or wherever they may be."

Girls have already demonstrated their love for interacting online within the Disney Fairies world, having created more than 4.5 million unique fairy avatars to date at www.DisneyFairies.com. With such a proven track record, a larger population of kids is expected to be engaged online as they embark on an even more immersive experience when Disney Fairies Pixie Hollow launches this year and serves as the gateway for the new Clickables-powered product line.

"Disney and Techno Source are turning the Internet-toy business model on its ear," said Eric Levin, executive vice president of Techno Source. "For starters, while many toy companies are creating online worlds to support their latest offline products, we are starting with the most successful, immersive virtual worlds for which children already have a strong emotional connection. With the Clickables technology, we take it one step further by allowing their virtual play to continue into the real world with products that naturally align with their existing play patterns and extend their engagement with the Disney Fairies experience in the enchanting online world of Pixie Hollow."

Techno Source is an award-winning toy company with a solid reputation for delivering innovative electronic toys and games that feature top-tier licensed brands at aggressive price points.

The new Disney Fairies collection featuring Clickables technology was previewed at a private event held Monday at the 2008 American International Toy Fair in New York City. The collections will be available at retail this fall in conjunction with the highly anticipated animated release of Tinker Bell on Disney DVD.

The Disney Fairies line featuring Clickables technology includes the following products, which range in price from $4.99 to $29.99:

Pixie Dust eJewelry Collection includes a magical jewelry box, a charm necklace and three exclusive Disney Fairies charms powered by Clickables(TM) technology. When a girl touches a charm to the Clickables center of her jewelry box, Pixie Dust sparkles and music plays as the jewelry box comes alive. Each charm unlocks a unique fairy gift at www.PixieHollow.com, including exclusive clothing, and decor. Girls can store their Disney Fairies jewelry sprinkled with magical Clickables technology in this enchanting box where it will be protected by the magic of fairies.

Tink Friendship eBracelets bring girls and Disney Fairies characters together with the mere touch of a band powered by Clickables(TM) technology. The magic begins with the creation of a Fairy Friendship Kit online at www.PixieHollow.com where a girl can select her fairy avatar, a special message and a gift, then save it onto her Tink Friendship eBracelet to be shared offline with friends. When a girl touches her band to her friend's and presses a button, her band will glow to confirm that a Fairy Friendship has been made - no cords, no computer, just a touch of Pixie Dust! Just like the girls, their online fairies are friends too and can easily find each other in Pixie Hollow.

Tink's eCharm Bracelet features a customizable charm bracelet and three themed charms for girls to create their own fairy style. Powered by Clickables technology, each charm unlocks a unique, exclusive fairy gift at www.PixieHollow.com. Girls can share these gifts with each other by simply touching a charm to a friend's Pixie Dust eJewelry box or Tink Friendship eBracelet so they can all have the charm's gift in Pixie Hollow. Girls can collect and trade the actual charms too.

Fairy eCharms accessory packs are sold separately. Each pack contains three themed Disney Fairies eCharms powered with Clickables technology and offering unique, exclusive fairy gifts at www.PixieHollow.com.

Tink and Friends Fly with Me eLCD is a handheld electronic LCD game with five games. Girls can play as their favorite Disney Fairies characters Tinker Bell, Fawn, Iridessa, Silvermist or Rosetta any time, anywhere. Points earned during the games are turned into exclusive Tink Points at www.PixieHollow.com. Like currency, Tink Points are used online to craft clothes or home decor, or they may be needed for a special online quest.

About Disney Fairies

Disney Fairies is rooted in Disney's rich heritage of children's storytelling. The franchise builds upon the enormous popularity of Tinker Bell and introduces girls to her secret, magical world and a new circle of enchanting fairy friends - each with an incredibly diverse talent, personality and look. Launched less than three years ago, the franchise generated $800 Million in global retail sales in 2007 and boasts a thriving publishing and lifestyle merchandising program. To date, over 385 Disney Fairies books have published worldwide in 51 countries selling nearly 9.5 million copies; Disney Fairies magazines have sold 6 million copies in 40 countries and an array of products from apparel and toys to electronics, home decor and stationery has extended storylines into many girls' homes across the globe. In the virtual world, thousands upon thousands of girls have created over 4.5 million customized fairies at www.DisneyFairies.com where more than 1 Million unique visitors are welcomed every month. A series of animated films is planned for release on Disney DVD beginning with the first one this fall, Tinker Bell.

About Disney Consumer Products

Disney Consumer Products and affiliates (DCP) is the business segment of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS ) that extends the Disney brand to merchandise ranging from apparel, toys, home decor and books and magazines to interactive games, foods and beverages, stationery, electronics and fine art. This is accomplished through DCP's various lines of business which include: Disney Toys, Disney Apparel, Accessories & Footwear, Disney Food, Health & Beauty, Disney Home and Disney Stationery. Other businesses involved in Disney's consumer products sales are Disney Publishing Worldwide, the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines, Disney Interactive Studios, a leading developer and publisher of video games and interactive entertainment, and disneyshopping.com, the company's official shopping portal. The Disney stores retail chain, which debuted in 1987, is owned and operated by unaffiliated third parties in North America and Japan under a license agreement with The Walt Disney Company. Disney owns and operates the Disney Store chain in Europe. For more information, please visit www.disneyconsumerproducts.com.

About Techno Source

One of the fastest growing companies in the toy business, Techno Source is a privately held toy company headquartered in Hong Kong and with offices in New York. The company is committed to delivering high-quality electronic toys and games featuring top-tier licensed brands at aggressive price points. Its award-winning branded product portfolio includes, Rubik's(R), NASCAR, Bee(R) & Bicycle(R) (U.S. Playing Card Company), Intellivision(TM), Activision (R), Sesame Workshop(R), Crayola(TM), Phase 10(R) (Fundex), Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?(TM) (Mark Burnett Productions), Guess What I Am!(TM), X vs. Y, and Electronic Touch-Screen Sudoku(TM). For more information, please visit www.technosourceusa.com.

About Disney Online

Disney Online (www.disney.com), a division of the Walt Disney Internet Group, produces the number one kids' entertainment and family community destination on the World Wide Web. Launched in 1996, Disney.com is the online gateway to all of the company's Disney-branded entertainment initiatives, providing comprehensive access to, and information about Disney movies, travel, television, games, mobile, music, shopping and live events. Disney.com also features Disney XD, a highly interactive broadband experience, that lets Disney.com guests create their own customized online channel with games, videos, music, and chat - all of which can be enjoyed simultaneously in an immersive environment. In addition, Disney Online develops and publishes a range of online products and services including Pirates of the Caribbean Online, Disney's Toontown Online, Playhouse Disney Preschool Time Online, Disney Game Downloads, Disney Game Kingdom Online, Disney Connection and Hot Shot Business.

Disney Consumer ProductsNidia Caceros Tatalovich, 818-544-0399nidia.tatalovich@disney.comorG.S. Schwartz & Co. for Techno SourceLinda Krebs, 212-725-4500646-824-5186 (cell)lkrebs@schwartz.comorDisney OnlineBrandy Phillips, 818-623-3764brandy.phillips@dig.com


© Business Wire 2008
02/19/2008 08:00 ET