Disney's Club Penguin--a virtual world for kids where they can play and interact together and that's very Web-safety-aware--invaded one of the busiest stretches of asphalt in the world on Friday to celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the popular site's launch--as well as the launch of many, many Club Penguin-branded Web-interactive toys, in the Toys "R"' Us across the street.
A giant igloo (tent) filled with Club Penguin, uh, stuff, was erected at Broadway and 44th Street; a bit north from that was a stage, an amazing CP-themed cake, and a light-up dance floor. Everything was well guarded by a phalanx of gigantic suit-wearing men, who were there primarily to keep kids from dashing into traffic. Said kids lined up for hours beforehand to get a chance to win prizes, spot a celebrity or two, and learn the "Club Penguin dance." (And in case you're wondering, there will be no YouTube footage of yours truly!)
Pics of the event and the toys, after the jump.
UPDATE: Want to see the Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force game trailer? Go to AppScout!
Club Penguin's chilly oasis amid Times Square traffic.
Cofounder Lane Merrifield was there to speak a little about how Club Penguin's background and mission. "Club Penguin is all about the kids..."
While the event was happening, kids who couldn't be there in person could watch online as they played in Club Penguin.
Lane gets a hug from a grateful Club Penguin aficionado.
One of the Club Penguin plush figures--there are many other characters, each with an online code redeemable for an ingame outfit like the character's. They retail for $9.99.
Each figure set comes with two characters--which have interchangeable body parts!--and an accessory, as well as an online redeemable code. $5.99.
The Puffle Pals, $5.99 a piece.
Jake T. Austin, from "Wizards of Waverly Place."
Juliette's been a Club Penguin member about a year and loves the games.
Erica and her mom came in from Jersey City for the event; she likes to buy new clothes for her game avatar, and says her whole class plays games at Club Penguin.
At the Times Square Toys "R" Us, kids went online to play around at Club Penguin.
A Nintendo DS game, Club Penguin: Elite Penguin Force, is also launching soon ($29.99).
Cutest and most elaborate cake I've seen in a while.
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October 27, 2008 3:25 PM
I like the yellow puffle.
October 27, 2008 3:29 PM
Hey, thats so cool! Check out my site!
Agent Lc
October 27, 2008 3:35 PM
Cool! These are awesome picks!
October 27, 2008 3:48 PM
THE PARTY WAS SOOOOOOOOO COOL!!!!!!! So many ppl were there! If you want to meet me on Club Penguin, I'll be on Deep Freeze! Love ya'll down there New Hampshire!
October 27, 2008 3:50 PM
Thats very cool!
October 27, 2008 4:03 PM
i realylike the yellow puffle
October 27, 2008 4:04 PM
were you there or something, or did someone else take the pictures?
My penguin name is someoneblue and I go on the least populated servers that I can find, I am a non-memb.
minnesota RULES
minnisoooooooota!
ya, yooou betcha!
vikings twins and wild rule!!
and gophers!!
MN!!
may the force be with you!!
someoneblue
October 27, 2008 4:15 PM
Some of my friends went to New York on the Friday the party was going on and they said that they saw the party! That was cool.
October 27, 2008 4:31 PM
Lane Merrifield... that's Rsnail!
October 27, 2008 4:49 PM
check out my site!
http://clubclubpenguin-goofy73friend.blogspot.com/
you're friend goofy73
October 27, 2008 4:53 PM
I LOVE Club Penguin and I was online and had so much FUN! We played in CP and did the same games, the penguin dancers were AWESOME! Take a look at my blog for pics :)
October 27, 2008 5:03 PM
hi im giddy blue check out my igloo im on now deep freeze
October 27, 2008 5:12 PM
Sweet!
October 27, 2008 5:23 PM
@someoneblue: I was there, and it was one of the more fun assignments I've had in a while!
October 27, 2008 6:16 PM
AWSOME THAT LOOKAS SO COOL IN TIMES SQUARE
October 27, 2008 6:29 PM
wow i hope i con see a wizer
October 27, 2008 6:53 PM
that's so cool! i wanted to go so bad!!
October 27, 2008 7:09 PM
i was at the toys r us two weeks ago
October 27, 2008 7:15 PM
awesome i live right next to there lol
October 27, 2008 7:19 PM
PARTY ON GARTH! GO SKYLAKE
October 27, 2008 7:43 PM
Ive been playing cp for over a year. CP is the best website, ever....
October 27, 2008 7:43 PM
THIS IS SO COOL I WANT THE PUFFLE SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!
October 27, 2008 7:44 PM
Ive been playing cp for over a year. CP is the best website, ever....
October 27, 2008 8:31 PM
i wasn't there, but thanks for the pics! Now i know a bit about the Party at Times Square!
October 27, 2008 8:37 PM
Omg i cant belive that Jake T austin was thate
October 27, 2008 8:55 PM
The party looks awesome. I was at the Toys R Us in Times Square about 2 hours before the party and saw the staff getting set up and every thing. I didn't know it would be this big though. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
October 27, 2008 9:18 PM
I havbe been a member for 2 years my penguin is 654 days old
October 27, 2008 9:26 PM
I wish I was there
October 28, 2008 5:20 AM
I watched it live on club penguin's website and it was awesome! Wow you can play club penguin elite force for free in the toys R us!
-polo
October 28, 2008 5:22 AM
That must have been the party of the century. I wish I was there
October 28, 2008 5:42 AM
It looks Soo cool!! I wish I lived in NY!! Club Penguin ROX!!!
October 28, 2008 5:51 AM
i luv club penguin!!!! im not a paying member but it still passes the time. i wish i was american cuz i cood have gone. sadly im an english skool girl that luves america.
club penguin should get a few more games, and places to fill up the spare bits on the map like an ice cream pourlor.
club penguin is out of this world!!!!
October 28, 2008 7:05 AM
i think that is so cool that u really got to go to the clubepnguin 3rd anerversry. mimo, i have something to ask u. i have be going around clubpenguin( and i am a member ) and i have seen penguins with ipods and cp hats. is that wat u get if u by a toy and unlock u code. e-mail me at jacksonhaltom@yahoo.com
October 28, 2008 8:39 AM
Hey!
It was so cool!
Click on my name and check my blog!
~Belle
October 28, 2008 9:57 AM
I Was There And I Bought All Toys With Coins I Unlocked The Items all
October 28, 2008 11:41 AM
wow! ive known about cp for about 8 months! and i never knew it was going to get this great! a few other sites had helped me about cp when i was new! and they worked good! thnx cp and ur probably the best kid site known to the young and elder!! lol well i love cp and i always have fun on it! rock on cp!!! p.s. pizzaparty1 is my account name!
October 28, 2008 4:10 PM
Hey! Am I aloud to use this for my site?
October 28, 2008 5:05 PM
@Mumble8pie: Feel free to link over, but please don't reproduce the post. Thanks!
October 28, 2008 6:01 PM
Ok, i'll be less wild this time!
Quick question.
What state do you live in?
This question is open to all posters, not just the owners and mods of this site
October 28, 2008 10:14 PM
omg thats soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cool! I missed the party tho :((
October 29, 2008 7:25 AM
Clubpenguin is sooooo cool . i wasnt at the party but the picz make it luk as if the party was brill. i have known cp for about a year now and im reallly enjoying it. I wish members were free bcuz its sad if u have to pay.They shud have more exciting games to play!! Its fun for alll ages!! i LUV it !!best game ever
October 29, 2008 2:47 PM
I have been on clubpenguin for like 3 or 4 years now how come i wasn't on it ? WAIT! I live in wisconsin no wondet why, times square is in New York HAHAHAHA that solves my problem thanks me your welcome me!
October 29, 2008 4:52 PM
Nice photos. Thanks for posting. I was at the CP event as well. I've posted photos and some video as well of the event. You can check it out at:
http://www.360kid.com/blog/
If you can't find the blog post, enter "Club Penguin" in the search field.
-Scott
October 29, 2008 9:36 PM
cooool
October 30, 2008 5:49 PM
omg this is soo cool i wish i was there but i didn't know what the date was i would of been their i wish you had a lot of fun!
October 31, 2008 6:23 AM
I went for hoilday there but unfurtuntley left bethore the party i wish i could stay i bit longer there!!!
November 1, 2008 9:35 AM
Cool! I so wish i could have gone!
Did everyone get a slice of cake?
Check out my web page at Mimmo777cheats!
November 2, 2008 8:17 AM
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They have a Club Penguin DS game! I got to get it i bet its awesome!
February 27, 2009 11:16 AM
Hi i`m glad i got to see these pictures.
And to anyone who never knew i am rsnail.
Waddle On!!
March 30, 2009 6:12 PM
hello i like club penguin my penguin name is kaminskim1 i wold be your buddy if i wold find i wold be your buddy
July 13, 2009 4:07 AM
wow looked like fun i wanna live in ny so bad!! i live on the coastal side of California )=