Disney Star Kyle Massey, Warren Spector to Launch ‘Epic Mickey’ at Disney Store Times Square Early Morning Event

Disney Interactive Studios today announced that Kyle Massey will be trading in his dancing shoes for a digital paint brush when the highly anticipated Disney Epic Mickey launches on November 30th for Wii. Massey will serve as the special celebrity cashier at the festivities taking place at the new Disney Store in Times Square.

“Kyle exemplifies the youth of the world that have grown up with Disney. He’s the perfect addition to this event that will allow adults and kids to experience the joy of Disney Epic Mickey together.”

The Disney Store is expected to open early at 7:00 a.m. to allow fans to line up in order for an opportunity to dance along the store’s pixie dust trail to meet popular Disney star, Kyle Massey. Best known for his roles in “That’s So Raven” and “Cory in the House” on Disney Channel, Massey is currently a season finalist in “Dancing with the Stars” and is the voice of Milo in the popular Disney Channel animated series “Fish Hooks.” He will serve as a guest of honor at the event, hand-delivering the game to the first several hundred fans that have lined up to purchase Disney Epic Mickey. Photo opportunities will be available.

In addition to Massey’s participation, renowned game designer, Warren Spector, will be on hand as commemorative E-Tickets are provided to consumers who purchase the game. Fans who arrive early in order to be one of the first to own the new Disney Epic Mickey will be kept warm as they wait in line with complimentary Mickey Mouse hand gloves, New York inspired mouse ears and special Disney Epic Mickey breakfast catering trucks. In addition, an artist from the Junction Point game development team will provide guests with custom sketches of the characters found in Disney Epic Mickey.

Guests will also be able to experience the epic world of Wasteland as they play the game for the first time and even compete to “beat the Clocktower” for prizes. Adding to the excitement, iPads featuring the “Tales of Wasteland” Disney Epic Mickey Digicomics will be on hand for fans to enjoy.**

“They say it takes two to tango, and I couldn’t be happier to have Kyle Massey on board to celebrate the launch of Disney Epic Mickey with us,” said Warren Spector, general manager and creative director, Disney Interactive Studios’ Junction Point. “Kyle exemplifies the youth of the world that have grown up with Disney. He’s the perfect addition to this event that will allow adults and kids to experience the joy of Disney Epic Mickey together.”

Disney Epic Mickey is an action-adventure platforming game for the Wii console that sends Mickey Mouse on an epic journey of discovery and redemption. As Mickey, the player is propelled into Wasteland, an alternate world made up of Disney’s long forgotten characters and attractions, and is given the power to wield paint and paint thinner to dynamically change the world while determining Mickey’s path to becoming an epic hero.

Through the use of this unique paint and paint thinner, the key components of animation and Mickey’s tools for impacting his world, players will have the ability to shape how the story unfolds as they discover the concept of “Playstyle Matters” – an innovative style of gameplay created by Disney Interactive Studios’ Junction Point, led by industry luminary Warren Spector, where players creatively tackle different challenges in the world to explore all the possibilities and storylines – but with consequences for their chosen actions.

Disney Epic Mickey will also mark the first time that Oswald the Lucky Rabbit has appeared in a new Disney story since 1928. Walt Disney’s first beloved cartoon character, Oswald once starred in 26 cartoons and is regarded as one of the most popular silent cartoon characters of the 1920’s. Disney eventually lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit due to a clause in a contract with cartoon distributor, Universal. In February 2006, The Walt Disney Corporation was able to regain rights to Oswald, bringing him back to the home of his creator. The launch of Disney Epic Mickey is expected to bring to light his past cartoon star status.