Massive crowds and overnight campouts marked the global release of new Disney Lorcana trading card sets on Friday, with demand overwhelming retailers and even prompting store closures and police intervention in London.
In Anaheim, California, lines for the new Curator’s Collection: Heroines Edition and the Attack of the Vine set at Downtown Disney began forming Thursday night. By the time sales commenced around 7 a.m. Friday, the queue outside Pin Traders had stretched through the shopping district, reportedly reaching as far as Salt & Straw and doubling back on itself multiple times. The line was capped by 8 a.m. due to overwhelming demand.
"I’ve seen some massive lines at Disneyland but nothing that stretched this far before with this many switchbacks," one attendee posted on X. Another collector expressed frustration, stating, "I definitely won’t be getting any product."
The scene was similar at Disney Springs in Orlando, Florida, where crowds blocked rideshare drop-offs and parking garage access before 7 a.m. However, the situation escalated in London, where the Disney store on Oxford Street was forced to close its doors entirely. Police were called to manage the swelling crowd and issued a dispersal order.
The fervent demand for the trading cards is driven by a combination of nostalgia and the potential for significant financial returns. Rare cards from the Disney Lorcana game have been known to fetch thousands of dollars, turning each pack into a potentially lucrative find for collectors.
The newly released $99.99 Curator’s Collection: Heroines Edition features prominent Disney heroines including Ariel, Jasmine, Mulan, Tinker Bell, Elsa, and Anna. The Attack of the Vine set introduces popular characters like Mike Wazowski, Sulley, and Boo to the game.
The Disney Lorcana trading card game first launched in August 2023.