Disney is waiving its magic wand and expanding the reach of its popular Disney Junior television programs by partnering with a major shopping center developer into the realm of family-friendly play dates. Depending on where you live, the world of Disney Junior may be as close as a car-ride to the mall.
As Halloween sets the stage for the beginning of the holidays, Disney and Simon shopping centers are kicking off a special program at select malls across the country. Disney Junior is collaborating with Simon properties, the leader in premier shopping, dining and entertainment destinations, for an exciting new form of family programming called Disney Junior Play Dates.
Many of Simon's best-known shopping centers around the country are participating in the venture including The Westchester in New York, Opry Mills in Nashville, The Florida Mall in Orlando and the King of Prussia Mall in suburban Philadelphia. A total of 80 Simon retail locations across America will participate in the Play Date program.
The Disney Junior Play Date experience gets underway with special Halloween-themed events centering around Disney Junior's most popular TV series including Vampirina, Puppy Dog Pals, and Mickey and the Roadster Racers. Disney says despite the Halloween-style attractions there will be play date happenings throughout the year that will include special on-mall activities around the Christmas holidays, Easter and other seasonal events.
The collaboration between Disney Junior and Simon malls is just the beginning of a relationship geared toward family-friendly programming. Starting in 2018, Disney Junior play areas will debut at select Simon locations with the first to debut at La Plaza Mall in McAllen, Texas. The proposed tactile play environments will allow kids to experience their favorite Disney Junior shows in a fun, open floor plan with themed activities.
Simon Chief Marketing Officer Mikael Thygesen said teaming up with Disney Junior is the latest chapter in fulfilling the company's pledge to “a commitment to delivering family-friendly programming at our properties.” Thygesen said Simon “couldn't be more excited to join forces with the world's leading entertainment company on these exciting family events and themed play areas.”
Disney Junior’s series blend Disney’s unparalleled storytelling and characters kids love deeply with learning, including early math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles and social skills. In the U.S. Disney Junior is a daily programming block on Disney Channel and a 24-hour channel reaching over 71 million homes across the country.