Orlando Says "Yo Joe!" & Welcomes The 18th Annual G.I.Joe Convention

It has been seven years since its last tour in Orlando, but the G.I. JOE Convention – G.I. JoeCon, hosted by the G.I. JOE Collectors’ Club and Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), is excited to revisit Disney World for its 18th annual celebration. To kickoff the event, hundreds of action figures with fully-functional parachutes will be launched off the roof of the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and Convention Center and float safely to the spectators below – a spectacle that has become a fan-favorite at the convention.

G.I. JOE fans will gather at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and Convention Center on April 1st to witness the parachute drop to be followed with the convention opening to the public on April 2nd and 3rd. Then, thousands of fans will participate in events and activities that surround the brand’s almost 50-year history that includes action figures, comic books, animated series and a blockbuster movie.

This year’s convention will feature some of the original G.I. JOE vs. COBRA creators, industry guests, artists, and the Hasbro G.I. JOE brand and design team. The convention will celebrate G.I. JOE, the original action figure, and its journey through the decades from its origins in the 1960s, to the present and beyond.

“Every single year, fans are always so excited for G.I. JoeCon,” said Brian Savage, the director of the G.I. JOE Collectors’ Club, “To kick the convention off with a such a fun and magical sight, the parachute drop will set the light-hearted tone of the convention for the rest of the weekend,” said Savage. “There really is something for everybody here – it’s a family event and it’s a great time for fans of all ages!”

The convention will be held at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel and Convention Center, located at 1500 Epcot Resort Boulevard in Orlando, Florida. General admission tickets are available at the door, $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 5-12 (free child’s admission with a paid adult). And, as always, admission is free for those 4 years old and under. General Admission tickets provide access to the showroom on Saturday, April 2nd from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or on Sunday, April 3rd from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Additional details and pre-registration information can be found at gijoecon.com, or by calling (817) 448-9863.

Hasbro inaugurated the G.I. JOE Collectors’ Convention in 1994 to bring collectors, fans and the G.I. JOE team together to share in the history of the brand. The annual event attracts thousands of people for G.I. JOE-related presentations and activities, along with buying, selling and trading rare and vintage G.I. JOE action figures.

Check back to TNI starting tomorrow for complete coverage of this year's convention.