Find the Force Augmented Reality Experience

We found some Porgs!  These new creatures being introduced in THE LAST JEDI can be viewed through an augmented reality feature on the official Star Wars app as part of Disney's upcoming Find the Force promotion.  Beginning on Force Friday (the day when the first new toys tied to THE LAST JEDI are being released) and running through that weekend (September 1 - 3, 2017), Star Wars fans can participate in an augmented reality treasure hunt.  Look for special graphics on participating retailer's websites and physical store locations to unlock unique augmented reality experiences.

Scanning the Finding the Force graphics using the Star Wars app will reveal a character who through augmented reality will come to life on the screen of your mobile device.  You can then take photos and record videos of you interacting with the character.

Find out more about how this promotion works at www.starwars.com/findtheforce.  While there you can try an advance preview and scan a graphic on the website for the chance to meet some Porgs through augmented reality.  Note you need to keep the graphic within the picture frame to maintain the augmented reality image.  If the graphic disappears so does the Star Wars character image.  We printed the graphic out on paper though and took it outside to have some fun with the augmented reality features beyond being limited to the activation image displayed on the Star Wars website.



Return to websites and stores each day as the characters they reveal will be rotated each day throughout the weekend.  You'll be able to find a total of 15 characters throughout the 3 days.  Plus the more characters that are found, additional special features will be unlocked on the app as well.

Even if you aren't planning on purchasing any toys during Force Friday, this promotion provides a fun way to enjoy the product launch weekend.  I always have a blast playing with augmented reality apps and am looking forward to checking out the Find the Force promotion.  It looks like it is going to be a lot of fun!



You can join in this pop-up augmented reality scavenger hunt at over 20,000 retail locations across 30 countries between September 1 - 3, 2017.  Within the United States, in-store displays with the special Find the Force graphics will be at Disney Store, Walmart, FYE, Toys R Us, Target, Staples, Rooms to Go, Petco, Meijer, Kohl's, JC Penny, Hot Topic, Hallmark Stores, Gamestop, Fred Meyer, Build A Bear, Brookstone, Books A Million, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, and 2nd and Charles.

Don't feel like leaving the house?  You can also search for graphics on participating partners' websites.  Online you can find the graphics at Walmart, ThinkGeek, The Northwest, Tee Turtle, Staples, SelkBag, Roomates Decor, Regal Robot, Pottery Barn Kids/Teen, Petco, My Cool Car Stuff, Marvel Comics, Mattel Hot Wheels, JC Penney, IDW Publishing, Hot Topic, Her Universe, Hasbro, Hallmark, Gamestop, FYE, Fred Meyer, Fifth Sun, Fathead, Fantasy Flight Games, Fanatics, Entertainment Earth, Build A Bear, Best Buy, Brookstone and Bed Bath & Beyond.

May the Force be with you in your augmented reality experience hunt! STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI opens in U.S. theaters on December 15, 2017.

Our FORCE FRIDAY Experience

Disney officially kicked off the countdown to the highly anticipated December theatrical release of the Star Wars movie sequel, The Force Awakens, by having the apparel, books, novelties, toys and other merchandise tied to the film released to the public at the stroke of midnight on Friday, September 4, 2015 as part of a marketing promotion dubbed FORCE FRIDAY.   This was an opportunity for kids and kids-at-heart to have some fun celebrating their enjoyment of all things Star Wars as fans young and old are all eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Star Wars saga.  My kids are so excited that we'll be able to go together in December to see a brand new Star Wars movie for the first time together at a theater.  Since enjoying Star Wars stories and toys together have provided so many memorable bonding opportunities, I decided to make sure my children and I had some fun together on FORCE FRIDAY.

So at 11pm on Thursday evening my daughter and I headed over to a nearby Toys-R-Us to be there for the store's special FORCE FRIDAY midnight opening.  I tried to get my son to join us but even the "force" wouldn't have awakened him from his slumber that night.  Unfortunately, I knew the moment we got out of the car in the Toys-R-Us parking lot that we probably wouldn't be seeing many of the new toys that night.  You see the first twenty or so people waiting in the line that was forming outside the store were single adult men that appeared to range from the mid-thirties to fifties in age.  We got in line behind them and were quickly joined by several other groups of parents who had also brought kids along which made our wait for the store doors to open fly by as everyone in our cluster of families shared stories about their favorite Star Wars moments.  My daughter had everyone chuckling as she described scenes from the Star Wars: Rebels animated television show while doing an impersonation of Yoda's voice.  "Powerful in the force you have become Ezra but foresee Vader cut off your head I do."  Hmmm....maybe she's seen that show's Season 2 Teaser Trailer a few too many times.

So at the tick of Midnight, FORCE FRIDAY had arrived and the line began moving into the building.  From outside looking in through the store's windows, we witnessed the men at the front of the line grabbing shopping carts and running as fast as they could out of our field of view.  As our group of parents and children made our way back to the designated toy aisle we were passed by these grown men who had filled their carts to the brink of overflowing and were heading to the cashiers.  They had swiped up almost everything and left a bunch of empty shelves for everyone else.  Looking at the despair in some of the kids eyes around me in not being able to grab action figures and other toys they had looked forward to staying up late to get  I was really embarrassed to be standing there as a forty year old Star Wars fan.  With this story in mind, if you see Star Wars toys for sale on eBay please don't buy them because it only fuels this kind of sad behavior.

While these "collectors" behavior put a damper on the start of FORCE FRIDAY, our time at Toys-R-Us wasn't entirely ruined.  We had great conversations with some wonderful families in line, met Geoffrey the Giraffe, and picked up some free Star Wars posters and LEGO bricks for my son and daughter.  Best of all my daughter told me on the way home that she wasn't bummed about not getting any new toys because she had a fun and exciting late night adventure with her daddy.  That my friends is what FORCE FRIDAY is all about!

After getting some sleep, I took my son and daughter on some back-to-school errands later in the morning.  As we were out and about, we stopped by the Disney Store to check out what they had going on for FORCE FRIDAY.  Amazingly, we had the store all to ourselves.  There was an interactive activity set up and the whole store staff joined my kids in acting out a Star Wars adventure.

It started off with Imperial stormtroopers approaching and saying my children were "the kids they were looking for."  Using a Jedi Mind Trick though my son and daughter were able to get the troopers to say "These aren't the kids we are looking for" and let them move on.

Next they had to use the Force to raise Luke Skywalker's X-wing fighter out of the swamp of Dagobah.  No sweat they got that done with a wave of their hands.

The adventure wrapped up with having to pretend you were an X-wing fighter with the mission of blowing up the Death Star.  Upon completing the mission, my children were awarded a cardboard cutout medal of honor like the ones Luke Skywalker and Han Solo received after blowing up the Death Star in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.  Plus they were given some inflatable light sabers, Topps trading cards, and stickers to take home with them.  I have to say the giggles I heard while they were going on their Star Wars adventure at the Disney Store and the smiles on their faces as we left with a bunch of free swag really made my day and wiped that nonsense that occurred at Toys R Us from my mind.

We stopped by the LEGO Store which is next door to the Disney Store to check out the new Star Wars themed LEGO sets which had just been released.  Wow! the new Millennium Falcon LEGO set is impressive, most impressive!  While we were window shopping, the staff came up to my children and provided them with some cardboard X-wing fighter pilot helmets and stickers to decorate them with.  Plus my son was given a Darth Vader LEGO mini-figure key chain and my daughter got a Princess Leia version.  We also left the store with some posters promoting the animated mini-series on the Disney XD cable channel called LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales.  As my kids raced out of the store wearing their X-wing fighter helmets and battling each other with light  sabers, I knew the Force was with us that morning.

You could look at FORCE FRIDAY as a marketing gimmick or an opportunity to buy some stuff, but I used it as a chance to have a memorable moment spending some time with my kids.  There are only so many times you can run around a mall waving a light saber around care free in life.  FORCE FRIDAY was one of those times.

Our FORCE FRIDAY experience didn't completely wrap up just yet though.  While on our Saturday morning grocery trip we stopped by Target and my kids had a chance to try out some of the new Star Wars toys that were put out on display.  We had a chance to get a photo op with Chewbacca which totally caught my son off guard when the cutout figure roared at him. You have to check that out if you stop by the store!  On the way out, the kids got one last freebie as they were handed free Star Wars #ShareTheForce lunchboxes from some nice Target staff members.

That was our FORCE FRIDAY experience.  Did you participate in any of the FORCE FRIDAY events or promotions?  So who is ready now for The Force Awakens?!  You know my family is going to be counting down the days until December 18th!

The Force Awakens on Friday September Fourth

You knew from the moment that Disney announced it was releasing a brand new Star Wars movie that in addition to an incredible amount of fan hype concerning the film there also would be a flood of tie-in retail products including clothing, books, toys, grocery items, and novelties swamping store shelves.  Well the Force Awakens on Friday, September 4, 2015 at 12:01 am when all manner of brand new Star Wars items will be flooding the marketplace as that is the date and time that Disney has authorized its licensees to begin selling products connected to the new movie which will be opening on December 18, 2015 at theaters across North America.   "Force Friday", as September 4 has been dubbed, is meant to be the initial spark that ignites a huge blast of consumer and media attention for the film in the final months before Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens arrives in theaters.

For fans that don't mind staying up very late on Thursday night and want to be the very first to get their hands on Star Wars: The Force Awakens apparel and merchandise, several stores will be having special Force Friday events at select locations when the clock strikes midnight.  There will also be a variety of retail promotions taking place throughout Force Friday and the following weekend at various retailers. Here's a round up of some of the Force Friday goings on taking place around the USA:

TOYS R US

When the clock strikes 12:01am on September 4, ALL Toys“R”Us stores in the U.S. will open their doors, giving customers the opportunity to be among the first to purchase hundreds of new Star Wars playthings^.  As an added bonus, little Jedi Knights and their families attending midnight opening events will have the chance to receive special giveaway of an exclusive Star Wars poster, while supplies last.  I've been told the first 75 people in line at each store will receive the giveaway items.  Don't feel like going out late at night?  At midnight on Force Friday, shoppers will also be able to browse and purchase the new products online at Toysrus.com/StarWars.

MEIJER

Meijer stores throughout the Midwest are preparing to bring customers closer to a galaxy far, far away by offering a variety of grocery and merchandise items in honor of the epic Star Wars saga and this year’s theatrical release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  Starting on Force Friday at 12:01 a.m., Sept. 4, the retailer that is known for being open twenty-four hours per day will have a huge variety of the newest Star Wars themed products at all 222 stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. The Grand-Rapids, Mich.-based retailer is also hosting larger regional midnight events at 12 Meijer stores where customers can participate in the Force Friday global celebration for Star Wars.  From Noon to 5pm on Force Friday, all Meijer stores will also feature Taste of the Galaxy food stations with samplings and Star Wars-themed recipe options to feed the fandom as they re-watch their favorite episodes to gear up for The Force Awakens.

TARGET

200 Target stores across the United States will open at 12:01 am on September 4th so fans can get their hands on more than 300 brand new Star Wars items.  CLICK HERE to find one near you. Target's main focus though will be on Saturday from 11 am - 2pm when every store will feature a special "Star Wars shop" area that will have photo ops, demos of the newest Star Wars toys, family friendly activities, and while supplies last a Star Wars lunchbox giveaway for kids.  Target will have some unique displays, including an X-Wing fighter cockpit photo op in the seasonal department, which the retailer wants to encourage people to take take pictures with and share on social media with the hashtag #ShareTheForce.

WALMART

2,900 Walmart locations across the United States will be hosting Force Friday midnight events.  Check their website for participating locations, because while 2,900 seems like a lot the two locations closest to our house aren't doing anything special at midnight.  From toys to and grocery to apparel, Walmart will have more than 500 new Star Wars products in stores and thousands more on Walmart.com.

Walmart will be the only place to find the Star Wars Galactic Connexxions trading disc game by Topps, a collectible trading disc game featuring the Star Wars characters generations know and love. At Force Friday midnight events, Walmart will hand out a free limited edition two pack of the discs, including a rare star field disc that is only available in packs given away on Force Friday. If customers find one of four special redemption discs inside Galactic Connexxions game sold in stores, on Walmart.com or during the events, they can be redeemed for an ultra-rare 14 karat gold disc and a Star Wars room makeover.  Walmart will also be hosting Family events in every stores on Saturday, Sept. 5th, beginning at 10 am. If you couldn't make it to the Force Friday midnight event stores will also be handing out the collector disc two-pack as well as giving away collectable Star Wars posters and activity sheets.

DISNEY STORES

Disney Store locations in New York City in Times Square, Chicago on Michigan Avenue, and San Francisco on Stockton Street will participate in midnight madness. Doors will open at 12:01 a.m. local time on Sept. 4, giving fans the first opportunity to see and purchase toys, collectibles, books, apparel and more from the upcoming film. In addition, the first 1,000 guests will receive a free Star Wars: The Force Awakens D23 commemorative fan poster.

In ALL Disney Store locations throughout North America, doors will open for business on Force Friday with Star Wars -themed opening ceremonies, offering a galactic twist on the traditional "Unlocking Imagination" ritual. Other activities taking place at Disney Store locations (excluding Disney Store Outlets) on Force Friday include:

• A free commemorative Star Wars: The Force Awakens pin for the first 100 guests who make a purchase on Force Friday
• Numerous Star Wars events taking place, including:
• R2-D2 craft activity
• Ways of the Force
• Star Wars Story Time
• Art of Drawing: R2-D2
• Free Topps vintage trading card giveaway upon completion of an in-store event and while supplies last
• Epic Star Wars theming that pays homage to both the Dark Side and the Light

For those who prefer to shop online, DisneyStore.com , will have a special Limited Edition product available only for purchase through the web site, as well as free shipping on all Star Wars items from Sept. 4 – Sept. 6.

Additionally, on Thursday, Sept. 3, the Disney Store on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago will play host to one of 14 live toy unboxing events happening around the world. Starting at 8:30 a.m. CDT, HobbyKidsTV, a YouTube channel part of the Maker Studios network, will be broadcasting live from inside the Store, unveiling new products from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, available exclusively at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com.   Through this promotion, fans across the world will get a sneak peak of new product inspired by Star Wars: The Force Awakens and available at retailers worldwide via the world's first-ever global live toy unboxing event on the Star Wars YouTube channel. Unfolding over 18 hours in 15 cities and 12 countries, the event will see highlights from the range of epic merchandise revealed in a rolling New Year's Eve style celebration. The live stream kicks off with the first unboxing in Sydney, Australia at 7:45 a.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 3 (5:45 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, Sept. 2), and concludes with a grand finale at Lucasfilm in San Francisco at 8 a.m. PDT (11 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, Sept. 3.  Fans can tune in to watch live unboxings at home or on mobile devices, and also enjoy the latest trailers on the upcoming movie, commentary from special guests, fun product videos and demos, and footage from recent Star Wars events. The full schedule is available at. www.StarWars.com

 QVC

Even  the home shopping television network QVC is getting into the action hosting hour long time slots focused on selling Star Wars products on Friday at 2am and 5pm.

So are you going to head out at midnight for Force Friday?  May the Force be with You! Whether you do or don't it appears that the next 3 months will be full of excitement for Star Wars fans as they eagerly await next installment of the Star Wars saga.