Disney Store Rolls out Halloween Extravaganza: Debuts Rapunzel Costume, Launches YouTube Sweepstakes and Hosts in-Store Dress-up Parties

Disney Store is rolling out a host of fun surprises for the whole family this Halloween season. First by letting down its hair and celebrating the arrival of its new Rapunzel costume, inspired by the Disney film Tangled opening November 24. Rapunzel is just one of many Disney Halloween costumes making Disney Store’s Halloween fashion collection its biggest ever. According to the National Retail Federation’s 2010 Top Costumes survey, conducted by BIGresearch, Alice In Wonderland costumes will be a top choice for adults for the first time ever, and more than half a million kids are expected to go to "infinity and beyond” this Halloween dressed as Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear; princesses continue to be the most popular children’s costume while Disney Princess specifically ranks in the NRF’s Top 10 Children’s Costume list for the sixth consecutive year.

Disney Store's new Rapunzel costume inspired by Disney's upcoming film "Tangled," features a violet gown that transforms little girls into maidens with super-long golden hair - just by adding on the accompanying 3-foot-long wig and crown. (Photo: Business Wire)

In addition to having the most popular costumes in store and online, Disney Store will offer more family fun with its new "Disney Store 30 Costumes in 30 Seconds” YouTube Halloween Video Sweepstakes, on DisneyLiving, showcasing 30 costumes from this year’s spectacular collection. Families can dress up and join a costume parade at the Halloween Dress Rehearsal Party at Disney Store locations nationwide October 22 and 23, and receive free prizes (while supplies last).

Making the search for Halloween costumes fast, easy and fun for busy families, the "Disney Store 30 Costumes in 30 Seconds” YouTube Halloween Video features this year’s hottest Disney Store costumes for toddlers, kids and adults. For the first time ever, five lucky winners will score a free Disney Store costume by identifying all the outfits. The video sweepstakes starts Thursday, Sept. 30, and runs through Friday, Oct. 8. (view complete set of rules).

"Disney Store costumes feature rich details, elaborate embellishments and high-quality materials, plus the most authentic designs to transform little girls and boys and even their parents into the princess, pirate or fairy they’ve been dreaming about,” said Molly Adams, vice president and general manager of Disney Store North America. "It’s no surprise that Disney Princess and Buzz Lightyear costumes are among the favorites for kids this year because they extend the story and play-value well for Halloween and beyond. And now, with our costume sweepstakes and our in-store party we are offering more than we ever have before to celebrate the fun of Halloween.”

Girls’ Costumes

Based on the upcoming Disney film Tangled, Disney Store’s new Rapunzel costume features a violet gown that transforms little girls into maidens with super-long golden hair – just by adding on the accompanying 3-foot-long wig and crown (sold separately). The storybook costume features a laced satin bodice with delicate glitter details around the bottom of the organza skirt.

Disney Store designers created only 2,000 Limited Edition Belle costumes, featuring a gold bodice, metallic gold bows and full glitter skirt with floral accents to celebrate the Oct. 5 release of Beauty and the Beast Diamond Edition on Blu-ray and DVD. The classic Belle costume and adorable toddler version will be more widely available. According to NRF, more than 4.3 million children will celebrate Halloween dressed as a princess, and Disney Store is the Halloween destination for all the favorite princess costumes including Ariel, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Tiana.

Boys’ Costumes

For boys, Buzz Lightyear and Woody costumes, inspired by this year’s hit film Disney•Pixar’s Toy Story 3, are already top sellers at Disney Store. The new toddler plush Rex costume, featuring a squeaky nose, is based on the lovable dinosaur in Toy Story. Boys will look like real-life racecar drivers in the Disney•Pixar CARS costume, with checkered stripes and racing patches.

Adult Costumes

As a treat for adults, the new Alice in Wonderland costumes, based on Disney’s 2010 movie, will transport adults into another world. Authentic adult Alice, Red Queen and Mad Hatter costumes are available online at DisneyStore.com. In addition to the Alice in Wonderland costumes, DisneyStore.com offers a great selection of other Disney costumes, allowing parents to coordinate with their kids for a complete family look.

Chilling Décor

To transform your home into a "boo-tiful” and friendly haunted domain, DisneyStore.com offers exclusive decor for both inside and outside, including Nightmare Before Christmas items and Mickey Mouse inspired items. Disney Store reusable trick-or-treat bags in Mickey Mouse or Jack Skellington designs are available to stash all your goodies.

In-Store Event: Halloween Dress Rehearsal Party!

To usher families into the magical Halloween spirit, Disney Store locations nationwide will host a "Halloween Dress Rehearsal” party on Oct. 22 at 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and Oct. 23 at 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Kids and adults will be invited to join in a costume parade and play games, and children three and up will receive a free gift (while supplies last) for wearing a costume.

For more information on Disney Store events go to www.DisneyStore.com/updates, become a fan at www.facebook.com/DisneyStore or call 1-866-902-2798. For quick and easy online shopping, visit www.DisneyStore.com.

About Disney Store North America

The Disney Store retail chain is owned and operated in the United States by Disney Store USA, LLC, and in Canada by Disney Store Canada Inc. Disney Store is an affiliate of Disney Consumer Products, the business segment that extends the Disney brand to merchandise. Disney Store carries high-quality products, including exclusive product lines that support and promote Disney’s key entertainment initiatives and characters. In 1987, Disney Store opened its first store in Glendale, California and, in doing so, originated the themed retail business model. There are currently more than 200 Disney Store locations in North America, each offering a magical shopping experience that can only be delivered by Disney, one of the world’s largest and most successful entertainment companies.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6450740&lang=en