Kingdom Keepers

The Books

The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn Kingdom Keepers III: Disney in Shadow Kingdom Keepers IV: Power Play Kingdom Keepers V: Shell Game
Author	Ridley Pearson
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre	Fantasy, Young-adult fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Publisher	Disney Editions and Disney Hyperion
Published	2005 – present
Media type	Print (hardcover and paperback) Audiobook Kindle

The Kingdom Keepers is a series of novels for young readers, written by Ridley Pearson and published by Disney Hyperion. The first novel, Disney After Dark, was published in 2006, and the second, Disney at Dawn, was released on August 26, 2008, and the third, Disney In Shadow was released on April 6, 2010. According to Pearson's blog, The Kingdom Keepers was submitted to Walt Disney Pictures for a film in August 2006 and was resubmitted again around July 2008. Pearson has announced that there will be several Kingdom Keepers books coming out sometime in the future with Power Play being the most current as it was released on April 5, 2011. The franchise also includes Kingdom Keepers Online, a collaborative online game.

Books

Disney After Dark

Main article: The Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark

Many nights, Finn has been appear and a hologram, while he is asleep. Finn realizes that these are no dreams, and are actually happening. While in the empty park one night, he meets Wayne, an elderly cast member and original Imagineer who was once friends with Walt Disney himself. At first, Finn starts seeing Disney characters that are human size roaming around the park. When Wayne noticies this, he starts to ask Finn about what he is seeing. Then Finn decides to test Wayne and asks him what he saw. But then Finn finally tells Wayne he saw Chip and Dale and Goofy. After that, Wayne tells Finn that he must find the other kid hosts to fall asleep around the same time and therefore arrive at the park at the same time or else Disney is in grave danger. There is a mysterious group called The Overtakers, who plan to take over the parks and maybe the world. Finn doesn't believe Wayne, and Wayne sends Finn back to his real body by pressing a red button on a black fob. The next night he finds himself back in the empty dark park as his DHI. This time, he sees two of the other DHIs Charlene and Philby, and to make matters scarier, a group of pirate Audio-animatronics from Pirates of the Caribbean ride around in cars from Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and they shoot lasers at Finn and his friends. Finn wakes up and sees the laser burns on his real body, his mom asks him what happened so he lies and says that a bully burnt him with a cigarette.

During the day Finn and his strange new friend, Amanda track down the other four hosts Willa, Philby, Maybeck and Charlene. Finn tells them they're not alone in appearing to the park at night. He said they must all go to sleep at night at the same time and appear in the park at the same time. Finn and Amanda also decide to do investigating of their own, and head to the Magic Kingdom in the afternoon. Security guards see the real Finn and Finns DHI so they decide to chase after him. After Finn and Amanda reunite at The Haunted Mansion, the two decide something is wrong in the park.

That night, the five DHIs unite at the park and meet up with Wayne. Here they discover that the park comes to life after hours, and Wayne explains to them that something is going wrong in the parks- rides closing, costumes disappearing, Audio-animatronics coming to life, and padlocks being stolen. Wayne takes them into the Country Bear Jamboree, where he tells them how Magic Kingdom and the world outside its walls are endangered by the Overtakers.

After showing the kids a secret passageway through Cinderella's Castle called Escher's Keep that is a secret apartment to escape the DHI world. Wayne explains that the DHI system was created especially for this purpose, as they needed 5 teenagers to unravel an old fable by Walt Disney himself- The Stonecutters Quill. The fable concerns a stonecutter, who wishes to be: the sun, the clouds, the wind, and the mountains. Along with the fable came a quote- "I have plans to put this place in a different perspective". Realizing that all four subjects of the matter are in multiple attractions around the park, and must be what Walt meant, the five kids decide to set out to find clues to stop the Overtakers around the park.

The plot unfolds as the group searches through the park's attractions for clues as to what can stop the Overtakers. The kids look up information about Walt Disney, the parks, and research DHI technology. In the day time, the kids keep in touch through the online game VMK, and at night they meet up in the park as their DHIs and search. Unfortunately, as they search, they hit some road blocks; they can't find anything in the attractions, no matter how hard they look. Another problem is the Overtakers getting in the way- the kids ride in its a small world, and the animatronic dolls come to life and attack and bite at the kids. The ride ends up broken at the end of the night and closed. Another problem is the suspiciousness around Finn's friend Amanda. She follows Finn around, begging to know whats going on, and appears out of nowhere. Finn notes that when she runs, she seems to float. Another problem following the kids is one of the Overtakers, the evil fairy Maleficent from "Sleeping Beauty" (1959 film). Maleficent seems to have powers over cold- she can blast ice, freeze people, and create ice wherever she goes and whatever she touches. The kids seem to get colder than normal when she appears.

The kids also (coincidentally) play separate sports at the Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. At the sports games, Finn meets a girl named Jez-(she says it's short for Jezebel). She seems to take a liking to Finn and follows him around, and she and Amanda seem not to like each other. Meanwhile, Finn deciphers the quote from Walt Disney in the 50s, and realizes by "different perspective", he meant things being in 3D, as they were wildly popular in the 50s. Supposing that Walt planned this whole thing out, Finn gets 3D glasses, and the teens go around the attractions across various nights, looking for clues and letters:

• Finn and Philby float through the water of Splash Mountain, only to have Maleficent activate the ride. They go over the final drop and almost get killed, but manage to climb into an upcoming log and, using the 3D glasses, find letters on the walls in the cloud reference at the end of the ride.

• Charlene and Willa visit the park during the day and ride The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh for the wind reference. Maleficent gets their honey pot car alone in a scene, locks the doors, and sets off the water system, almost drowning and suffocating the girls to the ceiling. The two break the door foundation, and escape, but getting the clues on the ride along the way.

• At night, the girls recheck It is a Small World for the sun reference and find the letters.

• Finally, Finn and Philby, looking for the mountain reference, climb the tracks of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. However, Maleficent brings the attraction to life, bringing to life a giant skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex. While gaining the clues, the two boys outrun the dinosaur on the track and the skeleton breaks apart over the attraction.

Then one night before Finn and Philby go to sleep. Jez and Amanda show up at the same time at Finn's house. Making Finn stay up and have to wait until the two girls leave. Then Mrs.Whitman offers the girls cookies and Finn runs upstairs and goes to sleep.

Another problem in their journey occurs when Maybeck's DHI never returns one night. In real life, Maybeck is trapped asleep, as his DHI is still in the Magic Kingdom. Finn and Philby (as DHIs) realize that the Overtakers must've put Maybeck in a dark place where his screams cannot be heard - Space Mountain. Finn and Philby use a rope from Wayne's apartment over the Main Street Firestation to climb the building and scale the catwalks and tracks until they find him tied up in a closet. Using their DHI powers, Finn becomes light and rescues Maybeck. Maybeck reveals that it was Maleficent and Jez; he had agreed to meet Jez on a date, but she was really Maleficent's evil slave. This scare seems to make the kids stop coming back at night for very long, and the five resume their normal lives.

While riding bikes with Amanda days later, Finn catches a glimpse of Maleficent on a motorcycle, going after them. Riding through a skate park to escape, Amanda seems to create some sort of magic to help Finn escape, and leaves him speechless.

Eventually, the five kids return to the park at night again to get the rest of the letters on the attractions, which seem to spell out "MY FIRST PEN". They soon learn that the secret weapon they need is Walt Disney's first pen, which is kept at the One Man's Dream exhibit at Disney's Hollywood Studios (Disney-MGM). Finn infiltrates the exhibit after closing to get the pen. However, he grabs a whole handful of pens and pencils and tries to escape, when he hears security coming, and realizes he's been ratted out. Finn escapes and discovers that it was Amanda. Finn thinks Amanda is an Overtaker and has been setting him up. Finn leaves her in anger.

On an evening school field trip to Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, where everyone is in a costume, Finn (who brought the pens and pencils from the One Man's Dream display) meets up with the other four DHIs. While meeting up at the party, Amanda and Charlene suddenly faint at the same time. Finn spies Maleficent and Jez descending into Pirates of the Caribbean. Finn, Maybeck, and Philby follow the two into the corridors and underground passageways of the attraction and discover large jail cells, with brand new padlocks, reported to have been stolen only recently. The three realize that the witches must be planning to lock all the Cast Members in the cells below the ride. The three continue, only to be cornered by Maleficent and Jez, who purposely led the three down below. Using Walt's pen, Finn realizes it has some sort of powers, and stuns the witch and electrifies her with it. Maleficent faints and Jez is forced to revive Amanda and Charlene. However, before the three escape Maleficent and Jez, Maleficent has stolen Walt's original plans and designs for the parks.

Now knowing Maleficent's plans and what must be done, the kids and Wayne realize they must catch her and retrieve the stolen plans. However, when the kids and Wayne meet the next morning at the Transportation and Ticket Center, Wayne has brought along Amanda. Wayne has the five kids dress up as costumed cast members found around the park, and sends them into the utilidors for cast members beneath the park. While the two girls (and Amanda) man the park overhead, the three guys head for the coldest room of all in the utilidors- the computer room, seeing how Maleficent is all about cold. Luring her out of the computer room by pretending to give her the pen, Finn electrifies the witch again, grabs the plans, and the 3 boys rush off into the park with the plans and the pen, and Maleficent after them. Philby and Maybeck meet up with Charlene and Willa and escape back to Wayne.

In a battle outside Tomorrowland (which is believed to be a show by park guests), Finn becomes his DHI (during the day!) and knocks over the witch and spins around Jez really fast, slowly transforming her to a brighter girl, a girl identical to Amanda. Finn realizes the two are twins, twin witches, and Jez had been under a spell by Maleficent. Her real name is Jess. The two joyfully reunite and thank Finn, who escapes down a garbage chute with the plans and the pens, and Maleficent giving chase. Finn ends up in a large bin of trash and escapes, while Maleficent lands in a giant net, closed and captured by the Disney Imagineers. Finally, the witch has been caught and peace restores.

Hours later, Maleficent is locked up in her own jail cell in the queue of Pirates of the Caribbean, and the kids rejoice in the Cinderella Castle apartment because Amanda and Jess have reunited, the riddle has been solved, Walt's first pen has been found, and everything has been restored to normal around Walt Disney World. Finn touches Walt's first magical pen to the recovered plans of the park, causing the Magic Kingdom to illuminate, and the park becomes more magical as the rides magically become fixed, everything returns to tip-top shape, and the most elaborate fireworks the park had ever seen go off in the night sky. The five kids watch the park light up in the same path as they did on the map, and the plans illuminate as they celebrate a happy end. Wayne then returns to his desk, picks up the black remote and presses the button.

Disney at Dawn

Main article: Kingdom Keepers II: Disney at Dawn

The story begins with DHI (Disney Host Interactive, or Daylight Hologram Imaging) day at the Magic Kingdom. Finn and the other DHIs are riding on a float when Philby (a DHI) notices a gray balloon on the castle. Due to the growing thunderstorm, however, it disappears in the crowd. The kids also notice that Chernabog, a character supposed to be on one of the floats, has gone missing. As the parade continues, Finn sees his old friend Amanda, and her sister Jez (Jess). We learn in this book that the characters have begun to be called Kingdom Keepers because of an adopted name given from a local newspaper. Amanda is trying to warn Finn about something when Charlene notices a pair of monkey-like creatures in the crowd. Jez slows, and Amanda (still trying to warn Finn) puts a leaf to her cheek. Realizing what she means, Finn knows that Maleficent is in the castle.

Together with Philby, the boys go to Escher's Keep and make it to the apartment Wayne (an old Imagineer) had shown them months before. A Dapper Dan, (who Finn immediately guesses as Security) follows the boys up the stairs, Finn trying to trick him by crossing over to his DHI state. Meanwhile the boys are trying to find out what's going on in the castle, Maybeck, Charlene, and Willa go to meet up with Amanda. Amanda realizes that Jez is a matter of fact a DHI, and doesn't know where her real sister went.

Philby and Finn find Maleficent in the castle, who was moved there from the jail-cell from under Pirates of the Caribbean. Maleficent conjures her powers and breaks the bars on the window using the lightning storm, and she flies down the Tinkerbell rope from "Wishes" and flies off to the Animal Kingdom. Finn and Philby rescue the Tinkerbell actress and fly down the rope to Tomorrowland.Being scared they run off.

That night, as they await to meet up online, Finn receives an IM from Wayne. Wayne tells him to meet him on a website, DGamer, a private place where VMK is still open (being that VMK closed in the book and in real life.) Wayne talks to Finn on a webcam, and Finn tells him about the nights events. Wayne tells Finn that the Overtakers have managed to clone one of the original, messed-up DHI servers from the first book and hide it somewhere in the Animal Kingdom. The Overtakers are using it to make DHIs out of animals as their army, and if any of the Kingdom Keepers (or Wayne) fall asleep, they will become their DHIs, controlled by the Overtakers' server, and can be put into permanent comas, similar to what happened to Maybeck in the first book. Wayne tells Finn that he and the other Kingdom Keepers must find Jez and destroy the second server in the Animal Kingdom, before they fall asleep and are at the Overtakers' control, and must get to the Animal Kingdom at dawn, before opening, to get into the park. Finn warns the others, and they decide to use their Nintendo DS systems to chat using DGamer and meet up at the Animal Kingdom at dawn.

Finn sneaks out of his house at 2 PM, and uses his bike to get to Amanda's house. He discovers that they live alone in an abandoned church. She tells him that she and Jez, who are not really sisters, are Fairlies, which means they are 'fairly human'. They have special powers, but Jez's powers are much more powerful, even more so than Maleficent's, which is why the Overtakers kidnapped her. Finn believes her, promises not to tell, and Amanda also shares that she and Jez grew up in the same orphanage, and both ran away, being that both of their parents died, disappeared or vanished. She also tells Finn that Jez had dreams before, about the future. She drew dreams in her diary, on a page filled with monkeys, a castle being struck by lightning, a sticker, a mountain, other drawings, and the words "CHANGE ROB" written over and over. Finn takes the page, being that it will help them, since the castle being struck by lightning happened the night before. While in the church, Finn and Amanda spy a large bat, suspiciously watching them.

Later, at 4 in the morning, Finn sneaks back into his house and tells his mom he's going to the skate park and it is five in the morning. She believes him, and tells her he will probably go to Blizzard Beach later with his friends. He and the DHIs, along with Amanda, meet up at the Animal Kingdom an hour later. They go into a type of warehouse, and discover that the Dapper Dan who chased Finn and Philby in Escher's Keep is in fact with Wayne. They change into cast members' clothing, Charlene notably dressing up as DeVine, a costumed vine character on stilts. Charlene and Willa discover a bat in the girls' room the size of a bowling pin, the same bat who was at Amanda's apartment. Maybeck catches it, and puts it in a pillowcase. The DHIs set out into the empty park, each as a different person. With Cast Member ID badges, they are free to go anywhere backstage as long as they aren't found out.

In Animal Kingdom, Willa sets out into the jungle, she attempts to go to a feeding place disguised as a stump on the savanna. She is chased and nearly eaten by a dragon-type creature, but is safe once she enters the stump and zebras scare the dragon away. Willa notices that Jess is gone, and 'Change Rob' is written on the wall, just as in Jess's diary. Once the coast is clear, she goes back to the actual park to find Finn.

Maybeck has orders from Finn to put the bat-hostage in the bat enclosure. However, he is attacked by thousands of birds who were stalking him all over. He isn't hurt by them, but the bat is taken away by a monkey. He desperately chases the monkey, following it into the monkey enclosure. However, Maleficent is in the enclosure and stops him and Maybeck is sent running for his life back to Finn.

Philby, at the Conservation Station, has talked to Wayne on VMK and found out how to rig the cameras there and give him security camera access to all the cameras around the park. Charlene, who is posing as the DeVine character, is unseen by everyone, therefore giving her an advantage. She offers to watch the bat enclosure, because Amanda (who is at the Conservation Station) is watching all the cameras she can.

Finn listens to Willa and Maybeck's stories, but all are equally puzzled. At this point, the park has opened to guests, and suddenly, the song "Under the Sea" (sung by Raven Symone) begins playing on the speakers around the park. Amanda is in shock as this is Jess's favorite song, its on her iPod, and this song has never played anywhere in the Animal Kingdom,it's all out of area. Finn and Amanda deduce that Jess must be playing this song from her iPod, and that this must be a clue about something. Willa and Finn each decide to check out this mystery by following the song's clue to other parks.

Finn goes to Disney's Hollywood Studios and heads to the Voyage of the Little Mermaid theater show. While walking in the park, he notices a broomstick character from Fantasia is following him. Finn manages to hide in the show and watch, only to notice the broomstick character stop and study the show. Finn is confused. Meanwhile, Willa has gone to the Magic Kingdom to Ariel's Grotto, a picture station themed to The Little Mermaid. While there, she seems to cause a fuss by asking to open a fake treasure chest in the area, thinking it might contain something. It is revealed to be empty, and Willa is pushed away by a cast member, who remarks that a Captain Hook costumed character had also tried to do the same thing earlier.

Finn and Willa reunite at the Animal Kingdom, and realize that the Overtakers must have heard the song and been trying to follow the clues too, perhaps to find Jez.

Jez is eventually found inside the Animal Kingdom's tiger enclosure, and the DHIs must hurry to Expedition Everest to stop Maleficent from releasing Chernabog, using the final clue in Jez's diary. By the time they get to the attraction, the park has closed to guests, and the kids scale into the empty climactic end of the attraction. However, they are too late as Maleficent releases Chernabog from his trapped form as the animatronic ride Yeti. Chernabog tries to kill Finn, when Amanda saves him and the kids escape in an oncoming ride car. In the end, the Kingdom Keepers have failed to stop the Overtakers, who have reportedly hid away in Disney's Hollywood Studios in the back of an ice truck. The kids decide they must quickly find the stonecutter's quill if they want to regain leverage against the Overtakers, who have most likely been the cause of Wayne's sudden and mysterious disappearance.

• Jez's real name is Jessica. It was only changed to Jez after Maleficent put a spell on her.
• In the first book, it is not mentioned that Finn has a sister, but in this book, Amanda uses Finn's sister's DS

Disney in Shadow

The third Kingdom Keepers book, Disney in Shadow, was released April 6, 2010. It takes place primarily in Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The main characters battle the overtakers to find their hidden friend, Wayne Kresky. The book features an augmented reality component, allowing readers to hold their book up to their computer to see a virtual 3D map overlaid on the book.

After saving their friend Jess from the Overtakers, Wayne went missing. Jess also has the gift of seeing visions of the future like Wayne. She wrote down her visions in her diary, and knew they need her help to find Wayne. By hacking into the Disney computer system, Philby is able to make Amanda and Jess a DHI. By analyzing Jess’s diary, they see that Wayne is being held hostage by the Overtakers in Epcot. They find clues that Wayne had left, knowing he’d be captured, and that leads them to the Norway section of Epcot, looking for a sword. They see that many Overtakers are now guarding areas in Epcot including Gigabyte from Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!, Crash test dummies from Test Track, and Vikings from the Maelstrom ride. After retrieving the sword from the Maelstrom ride, the Kingdom Keepers found themselves wondering if they had the right clue. They then discover a fly on the sword, and they looked up some clues on the computer that could lead them further. Then, the Keepers chose to split up and go on rides at Epcot that have flying in them. There Maybeck and Charlene were able to go through a changed ride that only they could go through (being half the weight of a human due to their DHI stature), and they saw that Wayne had left them another message. He said that “the answer is keeping the rain off, it’s on your brain, and it’s where the stars never grow old”. They learn that he was talking about the Hollywood Studios. All the sudden, Jess got a vision that Wayne was being kept at Wonders of Life, an attraction area that’s inside a pavilion. They see many of the Overtakers guarding the pavilion. After Charlene helped to distract them, the Kingdom Keepers were able to get in. Philby went to the control room with Willa, and Amanda and Jess stayed back to help Charlene. Maybeck and Finn snuck through an air vent, and Charlene was able to run around and get inside to find Wayne through another path. Charlene saw Wayne tied up and tried to free him. Soon she realized it was a trap, and saw a lion and trolls start to attack her. Since Philby was watching everyone at the control center, he was able to get her out by turning on the sprinklers, and texted the others that this was a trap to lure them. The Keepers returned to a gift shop they had set as a checkpoint. Finn then realized a huge problem. They had left behind the control modulator that sent them back into their bodies sleeping, and it had been collected and put in a locked lost and found cabinet. They now knew they couldn’t get back until 7 o’clock and they decided they could fit one more try in. They looked back at the riddle and saw something they hadn’t noticed before. They were in Hollywood Studios, and the icon of the studio is Mickey’s giant hat. It keeps the rain away, it’s on your brain, and has stars that never grow old on it, just as Wayne’s clue had mentioned. Mickey only uses that hat during the performance Fantasmic!, and the two leaders of the Overtakers are in that performance, Chernabog, and Maleficent. Philby took the control room again, and Charlene, Willa, and Maybeck went around to distract Chernabog, who would appear as a dragon. Finn soon got onto the stage-as Disney was doing a rehearsal, except the real Maleficent was on stage- and fought Maleficent. Maleficent has the power to turn into any animal, and she morphed into a bird. Soon after fighting a little with the sword, Maleficent was hit and was wounded. Unfortunately, Philby had opened a trap door for Finn, except Maleficent went in it instead and escaped. Though Chernabog in dragon form was still there and about to breathe fire. Right before that happened, Wayne had for the first time appeared above him on a wall. He told him to surrender he couldn’t win. Though he said that Amanda had told him to fight back instead, and he didn’t back down. As the dragon was about to spew flames, Charlene had hit its Achilles heel with a prop spear, and it fell but still threw out flames. The flames missed everyone, except Wayne who combusted into flames and disappeared. Chernabog as well morphed back into its demon form and is defeated. Back at the gift show, Philby had taken the recording of it from the security camera via flash drive, and they all watched it and saw the same thing. That was not Wayne, it was a DHI. Then they realize where Wayne is, in a box, and rescue him.

Power Play

The book opens with Charlene, Amanda and Finn at a roller-coaster simulator. Charlene designs their rides. Finn and Amanda are put through an insanely dangerous simulation; they begin to suspect Charlene of messing up with them.

Philby is revealed to like Willa.

After a Kim Possible phone mission from Wayne, Philby, Maybeck and Finn decide that Charlene is under a spell by the Evil Queen from Snow White and that a kiss will break the spell. Philby manages to kiss her and the spell indeed breaks. Finn figures out that the Queen has more than Charlene under a spell.

Willa and Charlene are crossed over, but this is not supposed to happen. When they're brought back, they think the Overtakers are trying to put them all in Sleeping Beauty Syndrome to make them useless. While she's crossed over, Willa is saved from drowning by Ariel from The Little Mermaid and finds out that the "characters" from all Disney movies are in fact real, not Cast Members.

Later on, the Keepers decide that the Overtakers, the Evil Queen and Cruella de Vil from One Hundred and One Dalmations especially, are trying to free Maleficent and Chernabog from their prisons. The Evil Queen puts a spell on Finn, but believing he was all clear (a pure DHI) when she did, Finn thinks he's safe.

The spell, which was intended to eventually make Jess unconscious, messes up due to Finn being partially DHI and the fact that Jess is just a friend. Finn kisses Amanda - who he has feelings for - and she falls into a coma. Because the spell included the words "reverse the curse" and Sleeping Beauty's sleeping spell was started by being pricked by a spindle, the Keepers try to get Disney spindles for Amanda. She doesn't wake up. Philby crosses Amanda and Finn over. They meet Minnie and Pluto. They get Amanda's DHI pricked with the cotter of the waterwheel on Tom Sawyer Island and the spell is broken. They are manually Returned.

Over the course of the next events Finn realizes how the Overtakers are going to break Maleficent and Chernabog out. Because they engineer a power outage, the prisoners' doors open. Then they use the security cameras to project DHIs of sleeping Chernabog and Maleficent into the cells. The villains escape by wearing guards' uniforms and walking out. Finn gets to the prison and meets Wayne, but it's too late to prevent the two escaping.

The book ends with the Keepers, Ariel, Amanda and Jess realizing that a picture Jess drew earlier depicts Captain Peter Roseman of the Disney Magic, a cruise ship, the site of the next Keeper installment. Ariel reveals that Mickey Mouse is meant to be the characters' leader, but that he's missing. Finn asks Ariel to keep the Return fob button safe, and she agrees. Then he presses the button and they all Return.

Shell Game

Ridley recently stated on his Twitter to fan @Oblivion12345 that he had his fifth book with a tentative title, Shell Game, and a predicted release date of April 2012. This book will take place on the Disney Dream cruise ship, as stated on Ridley's blog. Ridley said in an interview that the DHI Software is going to be upgraded into 2.0. He also mentioned the Fantasia Brooms as Overtakers in his Facebook. Also he indirectly confirmed Hades and Ursula will appear as Overtakers in a tweet to @JoseMLuna.

Future installments

Fifth and sixth installments are currently being planned. Ridley has announced that he wants to involve the readers in the fifth book, using what he called the "Big Plan". Also in an interview he said the Big Plan had to do with Mickey Mouse's disappearance, and independent villains.

The fifth is going to take place on the Disney Magic cruise ship.

Ridley recently stated there will only be 7 books in the Kingdom Keepers series. The sixth book, as he said on his blog, will take place on the cruise lines, again, and the seventh in California.

Kingdom Keepers Online

On April 6, 2010, the Kingdom Keepers Online game was launched. Gameplay is single player, but all players are collaboratively working to clear a single map of levels. The game features 2500 levels which are each procedurally generated, and gameplay is action-based.

All five main Kingdom Keeper characters are playable, each with different strengths:

• Willa: Extremely fast, able to move across the level quickly or outrun enemies.
• Charlene: The tank. High HP.
• Finn: Balanced. Regains Charge quickly, thus able to trigger special attacks more frequently.
• Maybeck: Strongest attack. Highest DPS.
• Philby: The sniper. His attack has an extremely long range.

The game tells a new story in the Kingdom Keepers universe; the Overtakers have taken over the internet and are threatening to escape into the real world. Players must clear out the network from the Overtaker infection. Special videos are unlocked on the website as players make progress in the game.

A new game has come out on the website about Wayne giving Ridley a message. The Overtakers try to distract us by cloning the video, we have to figure out which video is the real one. We can make our own accounts now in this game too.

The community is just like a forum. You can post anything that you want there as long as it is approved. You need to register for this too.

Characters

The Kingdom Keepers/DHIs/Main characters

• Lawrence Finnegan "Finn" Whitman: Finn Whitman is the leader of the DHIs/Kingdom Keepers. He's not sure why he is the chosen leader, and sees himself as an equal to the other DHIs. As the series progresses, Finn realizes it's his responsibility to lead the group. Physically Finn is an average high school boy. He has brown hair, green eyes, he is slim, and he is about 5’6. He has a crush on Amanda, and is very protective of her. He is very brave and confident. He has a little sister, a mother, and a father. He seems to be kind of intimidated by his father, Donald Whitman. Whenever the Kingdom Keepers need a plan they always seem to turn to Finn. Finn also has an ability that is hard for every other DHI to do. When they cross over at night into Disney World they become part hologram, and part human. Finn is the only Keeper who can become full hologram for a good amount of time at the beginning. Eventually the other Keepers are able to do this, but Finn can do it best. Being in this “all-clear” mode means that Finn can walk through walls and be unaffected by things that can hurt him. He's the only one who can do it when he's not crossed over, and thinks ironically that it makes him part Fairlie himself. Finn seems to have the overall quality of the group. He has a balance of courage, smarts, athleticism, and control over his DHI powers.

• Amanda Lockhart: a girl of the same age who helps Finn locate the other four DHIs in their real life aspects; seems to have a few secrets of her own. She is very good with people and seems to be interested in Finn. Amanda is a very strong girl with a good head on her shoulders. She is occasionally sarcastic, but in a funny and charming way. Amanda is described as having "exotic eyes, a deep, natural, tan, and freckles on her cheeks." She is about an inch taller than Finn. Finn seems to have a slight romantic interest in Amanda, though the topic isn't discussed much in the first 3 books in the series (though the third one is close to that) in the fourth book she and Finn kiss. She is considered an honorary Keeper, and in the third book even becomes a DHI that can still use her powers to move things with her mind and control wind. She is also a "Fairlie" as described in the second book. Fairlies have special powers, and the word is a play on "fairly human". Amanda's power is to push things. She can levitate small objects and push things away from her even if they're not touching her. She also tells Finn that this leaks into her relationships and that she naturally "pushes" people away. Finn tells her he's like a yo-yo, and that he'll keep coming back.

• Charlene Turner: Blonde hair, blue eyes, and gorgeous. Also scared of anything under the sun, especially Malificent. Was chosen to be a DHI because "She has the look of the typical American Girl Teenager". Amazing athletic ability and awesome gymnasic. This girl is a cheerleader, dancer, track runner and champion gymnast. This athletic ability makes her an important contribution to the team and she is often used as a decoy. She can solve tough situations and has referred to herself as a "Scrabble wiz".[1]</ref> In the first book she is very soft spoken and quiet. Then in the 3rd book she tells the group that AK changed her look on things and now she is more involved. In the fourth book, she is put under a spell to spy on the Keepers for the Overtakers. In the fourth book, her feelings for Finn are much more obvious, but the feelings are one-sided. She describes herself as a jock in the third book and does indeed do many athletic, gymnastic activities for the Keepers.

• Terrence Maybeck (Donnie or Terry): Maybeck is an African-American boy who is fiercely proud of his heritage. He lives with his Aunt Jelly, tends to swear, and looks older than his age (14 years old) as he is about a head taller than everyone else. He believes many girls are attracted to him. He is skeptical about almost everything that is in Jez's diary, and is the first Kingdom Keeper to disagree with Finn (though he does follow through with Finn's orders). Willa calls him "Terry" in desperation when the two are in the Dinosaur ride under Philby's orders. Terry is his real name. Donnie is his stage name.It is hinted that he may like Willa.

• Isabella Angelo (Willa): Willa is sweet, geeky, and smart, though she can also be mean and moody. She is described as either Native American or Asian in the books. She does archery, climbing, and swimming, which, along with her skill understanding language and understanding clues, is useful to the team. C Her mother is very protective of her. She likes Philby and the two are the most technically smart of the Keepers.She also may like Maybeck.

• Dell Philby: He simply goes by "Philby". He is great with technology and is very smart, even referred to as "making everyone else seem dumb" by Maybeck. Finn thinks of him as a know-it-all who doesn't get into your face about it. He is mildly seen as second-in-command and he is the guy to go to for information about every inch of the Parks. He is great at climbing and is well liked by the girls at his school although he couldn't care less about them. His first name is mentioned by his mother in Power Play, and also appears in the "Keeper Profiles" on KKO. He has a British accent and red hair. His mother, Gladis, is paranoid about his safety. He also has a crush on Willa and is jealous that she and Maybeck are mostly together in most of the Kingdom Keeper missions.

• Jessica Lockhart (Jez, Jezebel or Jess): also referred to as Jezebel or Jez by the Overtakers, a mysterious, gifted girl who first appears in Disney After Dark. Not much is initially known about her until it is revealed she is somewhat of an apprentice to Maleficent, possessing "magic" of her own. Towards the end of Disney after Dark she is revealed to be Amanda's psudo-sister, by the real name of Jess, cursed by Maleficent to prevent her from using her powers. Though Jess is not biologically related to Amanda, since they were little they have always referred each other as sisters. Although her name is revealed to be Jess, she is always referred to as 'Jez', when the author is referring to her in thought throughout Disney At Dawn. However, in "Disney in Shadow", she is Jess. The author mentions that her name changes as often as her hair. In the fourth she is still considered Jess. She is considered an honorary Keeper. She also becomes a DHI in the third book. She is also a fairlie, with the ability to see the future in dreams, and sometimes daydreams.

• Wayne Kresky: an elderly Imagineer who acts as the group's mentor and guide. He speaks in mystical clichés. He helped come up with the idea of DHIs to save the Magic Kingdom. Finn thinks he knows more than he lets on to, but learns to trust him. Wayne also has come across many meetings with Walt himself, which makes him a great addition to the Kingdom Keepers team. He is in fact a real cast member at Walt Disney World, and was put into the novel after he showed the author Ridley Pearson around the Magic Kingdom.

Overtakers

The Overtakers are the main antagonists of the series. Not much is known about the Overtakers, other than their intentions of ruling the park and the world outside. Most of them are the definite antagonists of Disney movies and attractions. Now they know that they are trying to escape from the parks.

• Maleficent: The dark fairy from Sleeping Beauty who acts as the antagonist in the story. She gives off a large chill wherever she goes and possesses abilities of a high caliber. While the park is still open, she is derived from the Fantasmic! show. Despite her power and reputation, Maleficent is not the leader of the Overtakers. She is captured at the end of the first book, rescued at the beginning of the second, captured again at the end of the third, and released again at the end of the fourth. She has a DHI form, used to engineer her escape.
• Blackbeard: A minor overtaker, he and his crew of pirates serve Maleficent in their goal to rule the world. They were first seen by Finn, salvaging carts from the Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin ride to help with their cause. They came from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. He appears only in Disney after Dark.
• Stitch: Playing only a small role in the beginning of book 3, this gigantic blue alien confused as a dog, as Finn described it chases Finn followed by some of the earlier pirates. Thought to have come out of Stitch's Great Escape, he apprehends Finn and Maybeck. In "Power Play" the keepers suspect that Stich might have been put under a spell and may not actuallly be an Overtaker. He was supposed to lead a bigger part in this novel but was never fulfilled.
• Chernabog: He is the true leader of the Overtakers, and according to Philby, "The baddest of the bad. The most powerful demon Walt Disney ever created." At the beginning of the second book, Disney at Dawn, he was supposed to be on the Disney Villains float at the DHI-Day Celebration, but he disappears. He is caught at the end of the third, but escapes at the end of the fourth. He is also the demon from the Disney classic Fantasia. Chernabog also has a DHI form.
• Judge Claude Frollo: An Overtaker introduced in Power Play, who rules the Green Army Men. He is ruthless and mean, and tries to drown Willa.
• Cruella de Vil: An Overtaker in Power Play. She first appears in DisneyQuest at the beginning of Power Play. She follows the Evil Queen around. She has a bad temper. Cruella has a DHI.
• The Evil Queen: An Overtaker in Power Play. She also first appears in DisneyQuest during Power Play. A selfish woman. She puts spells on many of the characters. She is a trickster. Her weakness is her reflection. She becomes a temporary leader of the OTs in the fourth book. She had the idea of creating OT DHIs.
• Shan-Yu: In Power Play, appears to be working alone. He controls the Chinese warriors. He seems to speaks little English and wants the DHI's magic to himself. He also wanted to face Mickey in a duel for the magic. It is not quite known if Shan-Yu is really an Overtaker because of his fear and dislike of Maleficent and disregard of the Overtakers as one team.
• Jafar: Appears in Power Play. He can use his magical powers he has in his movie, including the ability to change into a snake. He does not follow the other Overtakers' agenda, and want the DHI's magic for himself. He was defeated by Willa's ability to charm him like a snake.
• Small World dolls: The Small World dolls are mindless assistants to the Overtakers. In Disney After Dark the Keepers look for clues on the ride It's a Small World; the dolls attack and bite the Kingdom Keepers.
• Crash Test Dummies: These Overtakers are mentioned in the 3rd book. They ride segways and come after the Keepers in Epcot. Also, they are seeming to guard Epcot.
• Gigabyte: This giant python is mentioned in the 3rd installment. An Overtaker in Epcot that has escaped from the attraction, Honey I Shrunk The Audience. He is featured with Finn on his tail on the third book's cover. He comes back in Power Play briefly with rattlesnakes.
• Jesters: The two court jesters attack Jess and Charlene while they are at Epcot's France Pavilion in Disney in Shadow. One jester comes back in Power Play.
• Country Bear Jamboree Bears: Are seen kidnapping Willa in Disney at Dawn after she falls asleep, and bringing her to Maleficent.
• Gargoyle: It comes alive in Disney in Shadow but Charlene destroys it after it attacks Jess and Willa.
• Vikings: This father and son duo escaped from Maelstrom and tried to attack Jess in the Mary Poppins Lounge at the Wonders of Life pavilion.
• Chinese Warriors: These Overtakers from Mulan take orders from Shan-Yu. At least, there are 8 Chinese warriors.
• Cavemen: Another father and son duo they also attacked Jess at the Wonders of Life pavilion.
• Dinosauar Skeleton: It attacks Finn and Philby at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Disney After Dark.
• Trolls: Attack Charlene at the Wonders of Life pavilion in Disney at Shadow. Later, attack Charlene, Philby, and Finn in Maelstrom in Power Play.
• Stone Lions: They corner Charlene at the Wonders of Life pavilion.They came from China and were trapped by the water sprinklers, because they hate getting wet.
• Toy Story Army Men:They are under the command of Judge Claude Frollo and attack Willa
• Big Bad Wolf: A blood-thirsty Overtaker who tries to eat Pluto, Finn, and Amanda in Power Play.
• Horned King: An Overtaker briefly seen in Power Play.
• Gaston: An Overtaker briefly seen in Power Play.
• Prince John: An Overtaker briefly seen in Power Play.
• Polar Bears: They attack Maybeck and Philby on the Maelstrom in Disney in Shadow.
• Jays: They dive-bomb Charlene and Maybeck in the Disney Power house in Power Play. The Evil Queen changes them into gorillas, but they're scared off by broken glass from Charlene and Maybeck.
• Rattlesnakes: They and Gigabyte chase Willa, Maybeck, and Finn in Epcot in Power Play.
• Spiders: Conjured by the Evil Queen to torture Willa in Power Play.
• Gnomes: Try to take Philby away from Maybeck on the Maelstrom in Disney in Shadow.
• Dragon: Attacks Willa on the Kilimanjaro Safari in Disney At Dawn.
• Traitor Imagineer*: Although not quite confirmed to exist, it is strongly suspected that one of the Imagineers is a traitor and helping the Overtakers, essentially being an OT him/herself, or that s/he is under a spell by the Evil Queen or Maleficent.

Additional characters

• Mrs. Whitman: The mother of Finn Whitman, hates lying, loves it when her son has a girl over for dinner. She is supportive of the Kingdom Keepers and helps Finn and the rest many times, bailing Wanda out of jail, solving a cryptogram, providing transportation, and untying a barge in Disney in Shadow.
• Donald Whitman: The father of Finn Whitman, very strict, telling his son about getting good grades all the time.
• Wanda Alcott: The daughter of Wayne, helps the Kingdom Keepers reach places and areas unaccesable without employee keys. Is introduced in the 3rd installment. In the 4th book she is arrested when she falls into a trap laid by the Overtakers and hacks into the DHI server to check activity. Finn's mother bails her out. She continues to help the Kingdom Keepers into the parks. At first, Wanda wasn't trusted, but her name - "Wand"a - and the genetic similarities convinced the Keepers she was really Wayne's daughter.
• Dillard Cole: Finn's best friend, although Finn begins pushing him aside as he gets drawn further into his adventures as a DHI. Physically he is somewhat overweight. He always questions Finn's adventures, offering the logical explanation of a dream. He isn't referred to whatsoever in Disney At Dawn. He is mentioned once in Disney in Shadow although it mentions Finn doesn't see Dillard that much anymore and for a while it seems that they might no longer be friends. In the 4th book Dillard helps Finn and the rest of the Kingdom Keepers on a mission at EPCOT. He wants to become a DHI.
• Gladis Philby: Philby's mother, very protective of her son. Goes crazy when her son is in a coma. Later, she understands and fights an Overtaker.
• Bessie Maybeck: A.K.A. "Jelly" she is a very nice lady who is also very protective of her nephew Terry Maybeck. She owns a pottery store.
• Ariel: Her first apperance was in Disney At Dawn when she tryed to help Willa, but failed to. Teams up with the Kingdom Keepers in 4th book. Also, friends with Captain Peter from the Disney Magic Cruise ship.
• Chip and Dale: Finn sees them when he first arrives the Magic Kingdom as his DHI.
• Winnie the Pooh: Finn sees him walking with Piglet during his first visits to the Magic Kingdom as his DHI.
• Piglet: Finn sees him walking with Winnie the Pooh during his first visits to the Magic Kingdom as his DHI.
• Tom Sawyer: Finn sees him walk into Cinderella Castle during his first visits to the Magic Kingdom as his DHI.
• Goofy: Finn sees him when he first arrives the Magic Kingdom as his DHI.
• Tigger: Mentioned by a security guard in Disney in Shadow to have been seen spying on Ursula.
• Mr. Potato Head: Mentioned in Disney in Shadow by security guards. They say that he likes to "mess around" backstage.
• Mulan: Helps the Kingdom Keepers escape from Shan-Yu in the 4th book
• Minnie: She helps Amanda and Finn get to Tom Sawyer Island. Minnie gets upset when Finn says Mickey's name in "Power Play"
• Pluto: He helps Amanda and Finn once they're on Tom Sawyer Island by standing guard and defending them from alligators and the Big Bad Wolf in "Power Play"
• Snow White
• Cinderella
• Aurora

Awards and Nominations

In April 2011, Kingdom Keepers: Power Play was the first book to be selected by WDW Radio Disney Book Club.

External links

• Ridley Pearson
• Kingdom Keepers Online
• Video interview with Ridley Pearson about Kingdom Keepers 3
• Radio interview with Ridley Pearson
• DGamer/VMK