{"id":10787,"date":"2025-07-02T12:54:16","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T16:54:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fran.learningexpress.com\/franchise\/?p=10787"},"modified":"2026-07-13T13:36:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T13:36:20","slug":"learning-express-toys-hosts-magical-2025-annual-convention-toy-expo-at-walt-disney-world-resort","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/learning-express-toys-hosts-magical-2025-annual-convention-toy-expo-at-walt-disney-world-resort\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning Express Toys Hosts Magical 2025 Annual Convention &#038; Toy Expo at Walt Disney World Resort"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Picture1-1024x183.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10788\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ORLANDO, Fla., June 30, 2025 <\/strong>\u2014 Learning Express Toys,\nthe nation\u2019s leading franchisor of specialty toy stores, proudly hosted its\n26th Annual Convention &amp; Toy Expo at the enchanting Disney\u2019s Coronado\nSprings Resort in Walt Disney World. The event, held from June 22nd to June\n25th, united store owners, managers, and more than 100 top toy vendors from\nacross the country for a dynamic week of inspiration, collaboration, and\ncelebration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Learning Express Toys Annual Convention &amp; Toy Expo\ncontinues to be a cornerstone of the franchise, offering a powerful mix of\nproduct discovery, business education, and community spirit. Attendees were\nimmersed in the latest toy trends, participated in hands-on vendor\ndemonstrations, and attended sessions designed to ignite growth, innovation,\nand customer delight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis year\u2019s convention at Walt Disney World was nothing\nshort of magical,\u201d said Lauren Derse, CEO of Learning Express Toys. \u201cFrom\npowerful keynote moments to unforgettable evenings under the fireworks at\nEPCOT, this event brought our entire community together with purpose and\npassion. We are leaving energized and inspired to bring even more joy to our\ncustomers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Convention Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Motivational Keynote Speaker<\/strong>: A professional Disney speaker delivered a powerful message on leadership, storytelling, and creating magical guest experiences.<\/li><li><strong>FAC &amp; MAC Committee Meetings<\/strong>: Franchise Advisory Council (FAC) and Merchandise Advisory Council (MAC) convened to collaborate on key initiatives for the year ahead.<\/li><li><strong>Vendor Expo<\/strong>: Dozens of vendors showcased and demoed their newest and most innovative toys, helping retailers prepare for a strong second half.<\/li><li><strong>Schmiesing 5K Memorial Run<\/strong>: A heartfelt and energizing start to the day, honoring a beloved member of the Learning Express family.<\/li><li><strong>PowerPlay Game Night<\/strong>: A high-energy, competitive evening where franchisees connected by learning and testing out new-to-market games. <\/li><li><strong>Private EPCOT Dinner &amp; Awards Gala<\/strong>: A celebratory banquet and awards ceremony held at EPCOT, complete with a private viewing of Disney\u2019s fireworks spectacular.<\/li><li><strong>Community Giving:<\/strong>  At the culmination of the convention, Learning Express Toys and vendors proudly donated hundreds of toys to <strong>Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children<\/strong>&nbsp;and <strong>Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women &amp; Babies<\/strong>, reinforcing the franchise\u2019s commitment to spreading joy and supporting families beyond the sales floor.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Award Announcements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Banquet Awards<\/strong><ul><li>Spotlight: Wireless Express<\/li><li>Toy of the Year: Silent Basketball &amp; Accessories<\/li><li>Vendor of the Year: Melissa &amp; Doug<\/li><li>Marketing Excellence: Learning Express Toys of the Woodlands<\/li><li>Founder\u2019s Award: Learning Express Toys of Scarsdale<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Sales Awards<\/strong><ul><li>Toy Network<\/li><li>DM Merchandising<\/li><li>US Toy<\/li><li>Fahlo <\/li><li>Hot Focus<\/li><li>Wireless Express<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li> <strong>Top Sales<\/strong><br><ul><li>1st Place:&nbsp; LEGO<br><\/li><li>2nd Place:&nbsp; Epoch<\/li><li>3rd Place: Melissa &amp; Doug <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li> <strong>Best Marketing Program <\/strong> <ul><li>Kawaii  <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>  <strong>Product Awards<\/strong> <ul><li> ARTS &amp; CRAFTS \u2013 Foil Fun<\/li><li> DOLLS \u2013 My First Playset<\/li><li> PUZZLE \u2013 Montessori Writing Lab <\/li><li> PARTY FAVORS \u2013 Mystery Dragon Egg &amp; Twiddle Dragon<\/li><li> PLUSH \u2013 DC Softies<\/li><li> PRESCHOOL \u2013 Vending Machine<\/li><li> SCIENCE \u2013 Pinball Gumball Machine<\/li><li> TRANSIT \u2013 Wild Style Remote Control Car<\/li><li> TWEEN 7+ \u2013 Jellyfish Speaker<\/li><li> TEEN 13+ \u2013 Mini Matte Crags<\/li><li> BOOKS \u2013 Taylor Swift Paint By Sticker<\/li><li> ACTION\/SKILL SPORTS \u2013 Silent Basketball &amp; Hoop<\/li><li> COMPOUNDS \u2013 Dopeslime Texture Pack<\/li><li> GAMES \u2013 Fast Push Game<br><\/li><li> INFANT \/ TODDLER \u2013 PlayTab<\/li><li> CONSTRUCTION \u2013 MicroMags Travel Set <\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Disney\u2019s Coronado Springs Resort offered an inspiring\nbackdrop, blending southwestern charm with Disney\u2019s signature magic. Guests\nenjoyed stunning accommodations, on-site dining, beautiful pools, and seamless\naccess to all the wonders of Walt Disney World.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About Learning Express Toys Inc. Convention<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learning Express Toys is the nation&#8217;s leading franchisor of\nspecialty toy stores with over 85 <em>locations, each<\/em>&nbsp;one locally owned\nand operated. Known for its exceptional service, curated toy selection, and\ncommunity involvement, Learning Express offers a magical in-store experience\nthat includes free gift wrapping, personalization, gift registries, and exciting\nevents for families year-round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To learn more about <strong>becoming a Learning Express\nfranchisee<\/strong>, contact Bruce Schneiderbauer at <a href=\"mailto:bruce@learningexpress.com\">bruce@learningexpress.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>For media inquiries, please contact:<\/strong><br>\n<em>Meghan Thompson<\/em><br>\n<a href=\"mailto:Meghan@learningexpress.com\">Meghan@learningexpress.com<\/a><br>\n(978) 889-1083<\/p>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ORLANDO, Fla., June 30, 2025 \u2014 Learning Express Toys, the nation\u2019s leading franchisor of specialty toy stores, proudly hosted its 26th Annual Convention &amp; Toy Expo at the enchanting Disney\u2019s Coronado Springs Resort in Walt Disney World. The event, held from June 22nd to June 25th, united store owners, managers, and more than 100 top&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":15563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convention","category-franchise-expos","category-franchise-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10787"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10787\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15580,"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10787\/revisions\/15580"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pos.learningexpress.net\/franchise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}