Kingdom Hearts in the parks

[DisneyDude_82]

I mentioned this in another thread, but the thread kind of quickly died and no one noticed it but it got me thinking and wanted to see if there was ANYONE else out there like me who thought the same or has some insight.

Kingdom Hearts, the hugely popular video game, produced by Square and Disney, which has one sequel and two, sort of three spin offs. (Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories, Re:Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days, with Birth by Sleep, on the way). It's kind of a big series, but here's my question...

Why the lack of Kingdom Hearts in the parks? There's no characters of Sora, Riku or Kairi, not even Donald, Goofy or King Mickey in ummm I guess final fantasy garb. There's no merchandise what so ever, the one time after Kingdom Hearts came out and two was about to come out, I asked some CM but they looked at me like I had two heads, like what is this Kingdom Hearts you talk about. Is there anyone out there like me who feels there could be or should be some kind of KH presence in the parks?

 

[TheBeckyZone]

It is my understanding that the Kingdom Hearts is an outside project that Disney doesn't necessarily own. I believe Disney just lets whatever company makes the game use its characters and gets some royalties for it. So, because Disney doesn't own the rights to the game, they couldn't sell merchandise related to it.

This is just what I have heard, maybe someone could confirm/debunk this?

 

[Pearl_Mirror]

As the poster above said, Disney doesn't own the rights to the game per-say. Its also under the Japanese Disney I believe, since everything in the game Final Fantasy Characters etc are Japanese in origin.

They do have a Halloween party with the Org. XIII at Tokyo Disney, at least that is what I have heard.

Also they aren't spin off's of the game they are actual canon (part of the story line(sorry I have to explain sometimes cause not everyone is used to the anime/manga terms that are used)) to the game/series, all 6 games.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Very briefly, there were Kingdom Hearts characters at Disney World. Sora, Goofy and Donald made appearances in Tomorrowland during the Halloween parties back in (I think) 2004. Very cool! But I don't think they ever been seen since at Disney World. I totally forgot about them until I read this thread!

 

[Jasperann]

That would be something to see. I would really need a picture of myself with all of them in FF clothes. Too bad they don't have them. I really enjoyed Kingdom of Hearts when it first came out. I haven't played any of the other ones yet though... I'll have to look into it.

 

[carps09]

I have been hunting for a Kingdom Hearts pin for a while and haven't found any. Like a PP said, Sora used to appear at the halloween party, but doesn't anymore. When at the parks in December, I had on a Kingdom Hearts shirt and got feedback about it all day, so I know that people would love to see the characters!

 

[FigNewton]

Just because Disney doesn't own Kingdom Hearts lock stock and barrel doesn't mean they couldn't put some merch in the parks. How much Star Wars merchandise do you find? They don't own ANY of Star Wars but licensing agreements make everything possible. I don't know exactly how
much of KH they own, but it's a shame if they can't work something out to make official park merchandise for what is arguably one of the most important Disney related projects this generation.

Also, Pearl-Mirror, …these are not specialized anime and manga terms. Spin-off doesn't mean it's non-canon.

 

[dfmalone]

Im a fan of the game, love it. I think it would be great if WDW would atleast have merchandise in the park

 

[bradk]

Square Enix sells a lot of KH merch as does Hot Topic

 

[TheDISneyFamily]

I have been hunting for a Kingdom Hearts pin for a while and haven't found any. Like a PP said, Sora used to appear at the halloween party, but doesn't anymore. When at the parks in December, I had on a Kingdom Hearts shirt and got feedback about it all day, so I know that people would love to see the characters!

We just saw Kingdom Hearts pins at Hot Topic a few days ago. I would like to see the KH characters in the parks, too... maybe even just a parade float...

 

[DisneyDude_82]

Also they aren't spin off's of the game they are actual canon (part of the story line(sorry I have to explain sometimes cause not everyone is used to the anime/manga terms that are used)) to the game/series, all 6 games.

Yeah I didn't know exactly how to explain them lol, but really they are just seperate stories of the series really. KH CoM and 358/2 are between one and two. Birth By Sleep will take place years before KH 1.

Just because Disney doesn't own Kingdom Hearts lock stock and barrel doesn't mean they couldn't put some merch in the parks. How much Star Wars merchandise do you find? They don't own ANY of Star Wars but licensing agreements make everything possible. I don't know exactly how much of KH they own, but it's a shame if they can't work something out to make official park merchandise for what is arguably one of the most important Disney related projects this generation.

Square Enix sells a lot of KH merch as does Hot Topic

Oh yeah the merchandise is starting to be everywhere, I have both soundtracks, though imported and got them through a comic shop. Clothing, Manga, figures/statues, I have a Organization King Mickey with this cloak on my desk, and do I even dear to mention I saw at FYE once a KHII snuggie. So there's no doubt merchandise is everywhere.

BUT I'm really glad to see there are other people out there that feel the same way. The lack of Kingdom hearts is just weird...I thought I remember reading Disney at least owned the rights to Sora, Riku and Kairi. The Final Fantasy characters they don't and I'll have to see if I can find it or dig it out, I did read an interested interview where there was a lot of back and forth between Disney and Square about who was the main character and so on.

 

[Magical Kingdoms]

BUT I'm really glad to see there are other people out there that feel the same way. The lack of Kingdom hearts is just weird...I thought I remember reading Disney at least owned the rights to Sora, Riku and Kairi. The Final Fantasy characters they don't and I'll have to see if I can find it or dig it out, I did read an interested interview where there was a lot of back and forth between Disney and Square about who was the main character and so on.

I too read that they owned Sora, Riku, and Kairi, or I read in a description somewhere that they were considered new Disney characters when the game came out.

They should bring out more KH. I'd love to see Sora, Riku, and Kairi doing a M&G. Merch would also be really nice.

The characters are big, and so Disney should have them out..... I wonder what the issue is.

 

[Miss Marie]

Bring Sora back, but update that costume so that he's now a face character (The mascot style costume for him gives me the creeps. A face character would work so much better!). And put Riku and Kairi out there with him (Make them face characters also please ) .

And please bring out some merchandise at the parks!

 

[bdoyledimou]

My son would LOVE this.. he just bought and played the ps2 and PSP games, and is saving for a nintendo 3ds to play the new 3d version.

Maybe put the characters in Epcot at the Japan Pavilion?

 

[Lizzybean]

We just got back yesterday and my DS13 was DYING for KH merch! We are big fans of the game and my son kept insisting there was merchandise in DTD but we never made it over there so I don't know (he was there during the summer 4 years ago and saw it and wouldn't accept that it MAY not be there this year )

 

[KingdomHeartsFan]

As you can see from my username, I love the Kingdom Hearts series! Sadly, I have never seen any KH merch in any of the parks. I always hoped that they would at least have a few KH item at the Japan pavilion in Epcot, but nope. As others have mentioned, I often find a small selection of items at Hot Topic and occasionally at Spencers.

 

[rabbitroger]

As good as KH is (i'm a fan myself), i think it's fair to say it's got a Niche audience (it's now a fairly old game) and it doesn't really cross-over the the type of person to go to WDW that much. Hence i think the amount of KH stuff will be very limited. If they do bring out another main KH title then perhaps they will have some KH meet & greet characters but otherwise don't hold your breath.

I see Oswald as being far more likely to become a meet & greet character

 

[aznshents]

As good as KH is (i'm a fan myself), i think it's fair to say it's got a Niche audience (it's now a fairly old game) and it doesn't really cross-over the the type of person to go to WDW that much. Hence i think the amount of KH stuff will be very limited. If they do bring out another main KH title then perhaps they will have some KH meet & greet characters but otherwise don't hold your breath.

I see Oswald as being far more likely to become a meet & greet character

This, unfortunately. Don't get me wrong- LOVED Kingdom Hearts, played the heck out of it. But you would have so many people not knowing at all about who he is (not to say that people don't do this with existing entertainment- cough, Pete&Elliot) would make it not worthwhile for Disney. He's not considered a Disney classic, which is why you see so many characters no younger folks know.

Unfortunate.

But two MNSSHPs ago my friend full-on cosplayed Sora- all the characters were hailing him. The costume was SICK.

 

[Keepee]

Oh man, I LOVED Kingdom Hearts <3. I would love to see something related to this in the park. I wouldn't need a lot- just a leeeetle bit of something- a pin or three would be great hehe.

 

[bdoyledimou]

As good as KH is (i'm a fan myself), i think it's fair to say it's got a Niche audience (it's now a fairly old game) and it doesn't really cross-over the the type of person to go to WDW that much. Hence i think the amount of KH stuff will be very limited. If they do bring out another main KH title then perhaps they will have some KH meet & greet characters but otherwise don't hold your breath.

I see Oswald as being far more likely to become a meet & greet character

Considering KH-DDD (3-D) was just released, its a major marketing error in my opinion --