Happy 14th Webkinz Day everyone!
It just doesn’t seem possible that Webkinz World was launched on the web 14 years ago. I arrived at Ganz just over a month before the very first Webkinz Day, so I was lucky enough to see our little game grow into a huge phenomenon and become such an important part of an entire generation’s childhood.
The real rollercoaster ride began just before our second Christmas, when in December of 2006, Webkinz was being featured on all of the big TV morning shows as one of the “hot toys” for the holiday season. Our popularity after that took off like a rocket, and the rest is history!
I actually managed to record a couple of those shows from 2006, and for the first time, I’ve uploaded them to YouTube to share with everyone. Enjoy!
(*Sorry for the low quality—it was the early day of digital recording)
Do YOU remember when the “Webkinz craze” hit where you live? And what would you like me to report on next? Let me know in the comments below.
This is SO cool! I wish Webkinz were still in store. Thanks so much for sharing this with us Steve! Happy Webkinz day!!
I love these videos!!! I remember one year for Webkinz Day all the stores were running promos on pets. We were traveling out of town, but my amazing parents stopped at several stores so we could get bogo pets! I remember they also had real Wheel of Wows set up, and I won mousepads, charms, bookmarks, and all sorts of amazing Webkinz prizes. Such fond memories!!!
Thank you for all the wonderful memories, Webkinz. 2006 was the year we started playing. It is hard to believe you have spanned most of my kids’ childhood and we still all enjoy playing the game. Megamom12, my first webbie was a lil’kinz Persian too and I named her Muffy. She is still my most precious Webkinz, although over 13 years of playing I have collected many :).
The stores that sold Webkinz started to take the tags off the animals (due to theft of codes) , so when you brought a plush up to the counter to buy they would then give you the proper tag for it. At the time I was miffed that the stores had to do this. Another thing is it was getting more difficult to get Webkinz. It’s too bad we couldn’t have had more online options at that time. Happy 14th! Keep up the great work and I hope you’re here for many more years.
Thank you so much Steve Webkinz for the ‘throwback’ videos. (even if it’s not Thursday!) I checked my binder with my original Webkinz adoption and found that I did not get involved until 2008. My Li’l Kinz Persian Cat was my first adoption. She reminded me so much of the Persian cat toy that my grandparents got for me because I couldn’t have a real kitten due to my severe allergies. I saw this little nose in a pile of Kinz toys at our local drugstore. I fished it out and was immediately struck by how much she resembled her. ‘Muffin!’ I bought her and carried her home in my arms and fell in love with Webkinz from that moment on. My grandchildren and I have had hours of fun together since then. Thank you so very much for all that you and the rest of the team does. I’m looking forward to what happens next and am very proud of how the tech team has stayed on top of the inevitable changes that happen with the technology that supports our community. It’s not easy and I’m sure there have been MANY long nights. As I sit here with the Lucky Dino on my desk that is a memorium to my little brother, I thank you for being with me as I have fun with my family and in the dark times being a light for me. Love, Oma
And Share Centre Contest finalists? Who are they?
My son’s 1st frog doesn’t even have a Magic W on it’s foot. His aunt was a special needs teacher and got him into it. Then he got me into it so I inherited when he got “too old” for it. He did help me collect hamster stuff when the mazin’ hamsters were retired, though. Happy W Day!
My first golden retriever didn’t have a W on her paw either. :)
Not only poor technology but we had dial-up!!! Couldn’t even get on webkinz to adopt new pets Christmas morning!! Congratulations on 14 years of fun and fantastic improvements!!!
Christmas 2007… we had to “wait in line” to get on the website! Forget about trying to adopt, we were just hoping we wouldn’t miss our gift! lol
so nostalgic aH
I remember those episodes! It seems like a whole lifetime ago. <3
I have a friend who was born in 2007, so technically, it was a lifetime ago! ;)