Gear

The Best ‘Star Wars’ Toys to Buy for Your Kids (And Yourself) This Force Friday

Droids! Landspeeders! Action figures!

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landspeeder

Can you sense it? A disturbance? Maybe it’s just your toddler bouncing around the hallway with menace in her eyes. Or maybe it’s because tomorrow is the second-annual Force Friday, the day when all the new Star Wars properties and products are unleashed on the world. From now until the end of 2017, we’ll see new episodes of Star Wars Rebels, new video games including Battlefront 2, and not to mention a little movie called The Last Jedi.

RELATED: Holiday Gift Guide: The Best ‘Star Wars’ Toys, Figures, and Droids

Force Friday II, however, is truly being anchored to the flurry of new kids toys and gadget. Licensees are filling the shelves with everything from previously mentioned gear fans have been waiting for (helloooo Radio Flyer Landspeeder!) as well as new R/C droids, action figures, and more stuff that will accelerate your midichlorians. In addition to the new swag comes an interactive promotional feature within the Star Wars app, “Find the Force”. It’s an augmented reality treasure hunt, that when used in select retailers, lets fans hunt for secrets about The Last Jedi characters as they buy sweet action figures.

Of course, websites and big retailers are jumping on the hype spaceship with exclusives and doorbuster sales on Star Wars gear at midnight tonight. To make sure you’re one with Force Friday, here are the most notable announcements and deals on Star Wars toys and gear, as well as what you can expect from major stores.

  1. The Luke Skywalker Landspeeder is available on Radio Flyer’s website, but look for the $500 mobile machine to be available at Toys R Us this Friday. And sorry, its max weight capacity is 130 pounds so it’s definitely not for adults. Buy Now $0
  2. Speaking of Toys R Us, the retailer is hosting a midnight opening event at all stores and all attendees will receive a free Star Wars shirt and The Last Jedi poster. Freebies aside, the toy retailer will also have all of the new space drama swag available on ToysRUs.com.
  3. Target is also hosting a midnight unveiling, the difference being there will be Target exclusive toys (and those details are still tight-lipped). Plus, Target is the only place where you can add Star Wars shirts, lunchboxes and yes, Star Wars mac and cheese by Kraft to complete your Force circle.
  4. LittleBits is releasing a build-your-own R2D2 kit. With step-by-step instructions you and your kid can create a moving, talking and beeping custom Artoo, which can then be controlled via your smartphone. The $100 kit also has adventures for you and your droid to explore together. Buy Now $100
  5. Pottery Barn Kids is your place for kids Star Wars chairs, lunchboxes, bedding, backpacks, bookshelves, and pillows. They’ll have a load of The Last Jedi gear on Friday.
  6. Star Wars Galaxy Heroes is a free mobile game by EA (with in-app purchases) where users collect their favorite Star Wars characters from any film to battle the opposition. The game’s newest update, out this week, “Territory Battles” focuses battles on Hoth with new characters to try out.
  7. The Star Wars Battle Drones by Propel are getting a facelift. Previously, the beautifully crafted $200 drones let you recreate the classic speeder bike chase from Return of the Jedi, but the newer models will get improved tech, a global battle game, and a top-secret multi-layered app. Also, new packaging, if you’re into that.Buy Now $200
  8. Select Walmart stores will host a parking lot event dubbed “Be Ready Jedi” through the holiday weekend. There will be free giveaways including Topps trading discs and Battlefront 2 posters. And a Walmart in Orlando will have a six-foot-tall Lego Luke Skywalker. Other ‘marts will not be as exciting, but they’ll still be loaded with new Star Wars swag.
  9. Star Wars Destiny Dolls are based on the new Disney Channel micro-series, Force of Destiny, which solely focuses on female characters Leia, Rey, Jyn Erso and Sabine Wren (Star Wars Rebels). The 11-inch poseable figures will be available at retailers on Friday, but they’re already up on the Disney Store site for about $20.Buy Now $20
  10. Every Disney Store in North America will have books, toys, apparel, and more merchandise based on the new film. Select Disney Store locations will offer an R2-D2 drawing course, free posters, and a Star Wars theme story time session throughout the day.
  11. Take a look at Sphero’s new droids! Oh man, oh man, oh man. The company that’s gifted the world with such awesome smart toys as R/C BB-8 and Ultimate Lightning McQueen just announced their new The Last Jedi drones, which include teched-out versions of R2D2, BB-8, and BB-9E. The force is definitely powerful with them, even if they’re not available until October 1st. Buy Now $0
  12. LEGO isn’t messing around this year, releasing seven new Star Wars vehicle sets in anticipation of The Last Jedi, including Kylo Ren’s Tie Fighter and a First Order Star Destroyer. The showstopper, however, is a massive 7,500-piece collector’s edition Millenium Falcon that retails for $800. Buy Now $800

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