Disney Infinity on sale today with free gift at Downtown Disney

Those of you who have been counting the days — um, minutes — until the release of Disney Interactive’s new gaming system Disney Infinity know that Sunday is the day when it goes on sale nationally. But guests at Walt Disney World can pick up the starter kit two days early and get a free character piece with the purchase.

Today, a gaming booth is set up at Once Upon a Toy store at the Downtown Disney Marketplace. From 4 to 9 p.m., guests can play Disney Infinity with creators of the game. (However, Disney Infinity will be available for purchase at the store when it opens.) My son, who is among those chomping at the bit to get his hands on Disney Infinity, was fortunate to have this experience back in June when a Disney Infinity gaming booth was part of Car Masters Weekend. (Read more about what he learned from one of the concept artists and a game designer here.)

At that time, my daughter asked the game developers a most pressing question: Will any Disney Princesses be joining the game? They hinted the royal beauties may be coming, and, at the D23 Expo last weekend, it was revealed that Rapunzel would indeed be released in the second wave of characters later this year. Other female characters include Vanellope von Schweetz (“Wreck-It Ralph”) and Anna and Elsa (“Frozen”). Additional new character pieces include favorite characters Jack Skellington, Wreck-It Ralph, Phineas and Agent P.

D23 participants were given a Sorcerer Mickey character piece, and, of course, some already have made their way onto eBay. Before you shell out the hundreds of dollars they are selling for, though, know that the Sorcerer Mickey character will be available for purchase in January.

Disney Infinity allows players to place physical versions of their favorite Disney characters onto an Infinity Base and seemingly transport them into the virtual worlds of “Monsters University,” the “Incredibles,” “Cars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” the “Lone Ranger” and “Toy Story.” What sets Disney Infinity apart from a similar game like Skylanders, though, is its Toy Box feature, which allows users to mix various Disney and Pixar stories and characters.

In other recent Disney Infinity news, it was announced Thursday that a series of collectible figures with enhanced gaming abilities — called Infinity Crystal Series — will be sold exclusively at Toys ‘R’ Us. These figures will help players earn bonus experience points and health to give their characters an extra edge and more play time, plus access a special in-game area to display their crystal figures. Additionally, Toys ‘R’ Us is the only retailer that will offer exclusive Power Discs, which when placed on the Disney Infinity base, unlock unique in-game powers, vehicles, gadgets and more.

Power Discs also unlock music. The Disney Infinity soundtrack includes: “Condorman Main Theme,” “Jessie’s In Trouble,” “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes,” “Peter Pan Ride Music,” “Sugar Rush Showdown,” “Re-Animation,” “Saving Metroville,” “End Title,” “Wow – Score,” “Gitchee Gitchee Goo,” “Sugar Rush,” “Recognizer,” “Zurg’s Planet,” “Wall-E,” “Mickey Mouse March,” “Something That I Want,” “All In a Golden Afternoon,” and “Tracks from Tron: Evolution.”

Anticipating great demand for Disney Infinity, the Toys ‘R’ Us will open an hour early on Aug. 18 — the official launch day in North America. On Sept. 7, all Toys ‘R’ Us stores nationwide will host a Disney Infinity Power Disc Trade event from noon to 2 p.m., giving kids the opportunity to exchange their own Disney Infinity Power Discs with other fans and receive special offers on Disney and Disney Infinity products.