(October 24, 2008) Club Penguin(TM), one of the largest and fastest-growing virtual worlds for children, will mark its third anniversary and celebrate the launch of a much-anticipated line of new consumer products by throwing a party tomorrow in Toronto.

The new products bring to life the characters and environments found in Club Penguin, the popular, snow-covered virtual world where children can explore, play games and interact with friends in the guise of colorful, animated penguin avatars. The new toy line includes collectible plush, mini-figures and play sets that come with a code for kids to redeem virtual items on clubpenguin.com. A limited assortment of home furnishings, books and apparel is also available, and a Nintendo DS(TM) game is planned for release this holiday season.

The Club Penguin virtual world is visited by millions of children around the globe and is valued by parents for its proven commitment to safety. The company recently opened international offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Brazil to provide additional support and moderation to fans there. As the virtual world's popularity has grown, so has demand for products.

"Club Penguin is all about the kids, and they've been asking us to come up with new ways they can experience the fun and creativity of the Club Penguin world since we launched the site in 2005," pointed out co-founder and general manager Lane Merrifield, who also heads up development of virtual worlds for the Disney Interactive Media Group. "Every item we're launching comes from the requests our audience has sent in. We're really excited about these new products, and it's great that we can celebrate our third anniversary by delivering more of what our fans want."

To help launch the new products the Toys"R"Us store in Vaughan Mills is hosting a party from 1-4 pm on Saturday, October 25. The event will offer the first look at the new Club Penguin toys, as well as a sneak peek at Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force, the soon-to-be-released Nintendo DS(TM) game and the chance to bust a move on a dance floor just like the one on clubpenguin.com. The Ontario party follows a massive online/offline party on Friday that will include special activities happening simultaneously at clubpenguin.com and at the Toys"R"Us in Times Square, New York City.

The all new Club Penguin toys are available at Toys"R"Us stores nationwide as well as the Club Penguin shop online, Disneyshopping.com, Disney Stores nationwide and Disney Theme Parks. Mirroring the collectible play pattern from the site, the line will introduce a new plush figure every eight weeks, including one based on the elusive and much sought-after Captain Rockhopper character. Each item in the limited-edition toy line includes a coin imprinted with a code kids can use to redeem virtual items on clubpenguin.com. The code gives kids the opportunity to access unique items not otherwise currently available to Club Penguin players. Both members and non-members can redeem the coins.

"Internet toys are the hottest trend in the toy industry. Kids want to play with their toys online as well as in the real world. The Club Penguin toy line gives kids the best of both worlds," said Chris Heatherly, vice president of technology and innovation, Disney Consumer Products. "The same humor, surprises, and sense of personalization that made Club Penguin an online success are engrained in these toys. Kids who love Club Penguin are going to love these toys just as much."

The fall 2008 Club Penguin toy line manufactured by Jakks Pacific includes:

The Club Penguin 6.5" Plush assortment brings Club Penguin characters to life with high quality, detailed costumes. Each Club Penguin 6.5" Plush includes a coin with a code to unlock items on clubpenguin.com. Suggested retail price: $9.99.

In the Club Penguin world, Puffles are the penguins' loveable pets. Now kids can have their very own with the Club Penguin Puffle Plush. Available in multiple colors, each Club Penguin Puffle Plush includes a coin with a code to unlock items online. Suggested retail price: $5.99.

Kids can collect all their favorite penguin characters with the Club Penguin 2" Mix 'n Match Figures. Each set includes two 2" Mix 'n Match figures and a mini accessory. Mix 'n match the penguin parts to interchange the costumes and create unique figure variations. Each Club Penguin 2" Mix 'n Match Figure includes a coin with a code to unlock items on clubpenguin.com. Suggested retail price: $5.99.

The Club Penguin Igloo Playset provides a home for the 2" Mix 'n Match Club Penguin Figures! This playset features a moving dance floor and music just like on clubpenguin.com, as well as a shooting cannon with a basketball hoop to aim at! The Club Penguin Igloo Playset stores up to 15 figures and includes a coin with a code to unlock items online. Suggested retail price: $29.99.