- Matthew Fields

Licensed merchandise sales are hot at the "House of Mouse." Disney announced this week at the International Licensing Expo in New York that its global retail sales of licensed merchandise is currently on track to reach hit more than $30 billion this year. Last year it pulled in $27 billion.

The tween franchises of Hannah Montana and High School Musical are predicted to reach $2.7 billion in combined retail sales thanks to the upcoming 2008 theatrical releases High School Musical 3: Senior Year and Hannah Montana: The Movie.

Disney girl franchises, Disney Princess and Disney Fairies, are expected to reach $5 billion in retail sales. Contributions in sales are predicted to come from the direct-to-video/DVD releases of a Platinum Edition of Sleeping Beauty, Tinker Bell as well as related video game release.

Andy Mooney, chairman, Disney Consumer Products claims that this global growth comes from a strength in deepening diversified retailed distribution, broadening and refining consumer segments and bringing innovative products to the market. "In just five years, retail sales of Disney products have doubled," he said in a statement. "We have diversified our portfolio of brands [to] reach all ages with smash hits like High School Musical, evergreens like Disney Princesses and expanding franchises in Disney/Pixar's Cars and Disney Fairies."

Disney/Pixar expects its franchise Cars to generate $2.5 billion in global sales of licensed merchandise in 2008. Disney Consumer Products expects to reach a grand total of 5 billion in sales since the box office release in 2006.

New product lines for pre-school kids will emerge through the franchises of Little Einstein, The Mickey Mouse Club, Handy Manny and My Friends Tiger & Pooh.

Beyond 2008, The Disney Fairies franchise will release three more direct-to-video/DVD Tinker Bell movies. There will be theatrical releases of Walt Disney Studio's The Princess and the Frog in 2009 and Repunzel in 2010. Disney/Pixar will also have theatrical releases of The Bear and the Bow in 2011 and Cars 2 in 2012.  The release of Cars 2 will coincide with the grand opening of "Cars Land" in Disney's California Adventure Park of Disneyland's Resorts.

The International Licensing Industry Merchandiser's Association currently ranks Disney merchandise as the world's top licensor.