Toys ‘R’ Us plans midnight debut for new Star Wars merchandise

Want to be one of the first to get your hands on merchandise from “Star Wars: A Force Awakens”? You won’t have to wait more than a minute past midnight on Friday, Sept. 4.

Toys “R” Us will open stores around the world at 12:01 a.m. on “Force Friday,” the day the new products will be released. The company’s flagship store in New York’s Times Square will lead up to the midnight opening with a daylong Star Wars toy exhibition and celebration Sept. 3.

It has been reported that Disney Stores also will open at midnight on Force Friday, but we don’t have confirmation on that. (This might be a little tricker, since most Disney Stores are located in indoor malls, while most Toys “R” Us stores are freestanding or in strip malls.)

Hundreds of new products will be released on Force Friday, including toys and collectibles, books and comics, apparel and accessories. Very few details are available on what merchandise we’ll be waiting in line to see — it’s been very closely held.

Midnight openings 

Toys “R” Us stores in the U.S. and around the world — Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the U.K. — will open at 12:01 a.m. local time Sept. 4. The only exception in the U.S.? Stores in Paramus, N.J., which have varying store open times due to local ordinances.

The first customers to line up for the midnight opening will receive Star Wars giveaways, including a limited edition LEGO Star Wars Commemorative Brick and an exclusive poster.

Party in Times Square 

At the Toys “R” Us flagship store in Times Square, a special exhibition will include prototypes, originals and early editions of some of the best-known Star Wars toys in the world, which will be display Aug. 26-Sept. 7.

On Sept. 3, the store will host a variety of activities, including:

• An art class and meet and greet with fan-favorite Star Wars and science fiction artist, Jeff Carlisle.
• A LEGO Star Wars make and take for rebels looking to build their toy empire brick by brick.
• A Light Saber Academy with members of New York Jedi, a community of cosplayers, martial artists and teachers who share practical stage combat techniques oriented toward Light Sabers.
• Photo opportunities with costumed characters, including Furbacca, a character versioned after the Hasbro toy that makes wookiee sounds like Chewbacca.
• Star Wars trivia, a costume contest and a galaxy of excitement and prizes, while supplies last, for those fanatics waiting in line.