When asked about Game Kastle Austin, owner Thomas said, “Disney Lorcana Weekly Play is where competitive strategy meets family fun.”
And I tell you, that brought the biggest smile to my face.
Weekly Play is held at local game stores worldwide and is where Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game players come together to play games and enjoy everything about Disney Lorcana—the cards, the game, and, of course, the wonderful community. Some local game stores are very competitive, others more casual. Game Kastle Austin in Texas is a place where families can experience the magic together.
Game Kastle Austin started Weekly Play during The First Chapter. Since then, it’s blossomed into a warm community full of social players, families, as well as highly competitive players. (Some have even made it to Day 2 at a Disney Lorcana Challenge event!) When you enter the store on a Thursday night, you’ll find players having fun with all kinds of Core Constructed games during weekly play.
In addition to Weekly Play, they hold Set Championships, Prereleases for new sets, and special events to help support their community in preparation for upcoming tournaments. Thomas says, “Pack Rush is a great way for retailers to engage Disney fans who might not be as familiar with TCGs to create a welcoming environment to learn the game.”
Beyond those, Game Kastle Austin has partnered with local creators to host special gatherings for their community. Coordinating with Liam and Erin from the popular YouTube channel, The Illumiteers, Game Kastle has invited Disney Lorcana card artists to their store for special signing events. They also partner with Daniel (who you may also recognize as Family Quests in the community), who hosts a weekly family event each Sunday for open play.
When Daniel began attending Disney Lorcana events at Game Kastle Austin during The First Chapter, he didn’t come alone. He also brought his young daughter with him. Neither had trading card game experience, so they’ve learned together and, as new players, they appreciated the welcoming community and helpful staff at Game Kastle Austin.
“When Disney Lorcana launched, we were fortunate to discover a store that made it easy to learn and keep coming back,” Daniel says. “From the start, the owner and staff/judge took the time to explain rules, walk us through formats, and answer questions without pressure.”
For Daniel and his daughter, a welcoming community truly made their journey with Disney Lorcana something special. So special in fact that Daniel wanted to create a similar experience for other families.
Over the last year, Daniel has been hosting “Disney Lorcana for Kids” every Sunday. It’s an open play format so families with kids can come in and learn how to play.
Daniel said, “As a parent, it’s difficult to consistently attend weeknight events.” As a mom of two myself, I can relate! Hosting this family-centered event on the weekends makes a big difference in reaching families with kids.
One of the young Illumineers at Game Kastle Austin mentioned how much they love the community. “Everyone is always friendly and helpful,” they said. This young player especially enjoyed a recent family event where players could team up to play Illumineer’s Quest: Deep Trouble, one of the co-op expansions of Disney Lorcana. With around 20 players, young and old, it was a grand time for all! “It was a lot of fun playing this multiplayer format with other families to defeat Ursula together.”
I also asked what advice this young Illumineer would have for other kids interested in learning Disney Lorcana. The answer is a wise one. “Start simple and then work your way up to more complex rules and strategies.
Another player at the store, Josh, is also a parent. Though his son doesn’t attend Weekly Play with him, he has been going to Game Kastle Austin since the start and loves the inclusivity of the GK community. “Everyone is welcome to play at the store,” says Josh. “All different types of events are held to accommodate all levels of play, regardless of whether you are an adult or a child.”
Josh has enjoyed Weekly Play at Game Kastle and playing in the Prerelease Sealed events they hold. He enjoyed playing so much that during season one, he attended Disney Lorcana Challenge Fort Worth. There, he recalls meeting a young Illumineer, and they were playing together when they both got their Dragon Fire promo cards.
