Easter Bunny Photo Experience Is Coming Soon At Woodfield Mall To Delight Families

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE:SPG), a global leader in retail real estate, is hosting its annual Easter celebration festivities at Woodfield Mall, offering families the chance to participate in both traditional and unique seasonal events.

The Bunny Photo Experience begins March 21 and runs through April 19 during regular mall hours in the Grand Court near Macy’s. Kids will have the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion.

The presenting sponsor for the 2014 Bunny Photo Experience is Gymboree.

“We love to hold family-friendly events at Woodfield Mall and we always look forward to watching children interact with the Bunny at Easter,” said Heather Lloyd, director of marketing and business development at Woodfield Mall.

Woodfield Mall’s Caring Bunny™ event will offer families which have children with special needs a subdued environment to participate in the Bunny Photo Experience. Caring Bunny has been developed by SPG and is guided by AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special needs community. Over 80 Simon® properties will host the Caring Bunny this season.

On April 13 from 8 am to 10 am, many steps will be taken to reduce sensory triggers, creating a more comforting environment for children’s cherished visit with the Bunny. The subdued environment is likely to include (specific elements or aesthetics may vary):

•       Turning off in-mall music, stopping escalators located near the photo set, dimming the lights and shutting down fountains for the duration of the event.

•       Eliminating queue lines through the use of a numbering system whereby guests approach the set when their number is called.

•       Special activities geared toward the needs of the child during the ‘wait’ period to help the child understand what activities will occur during the visit.

The Simon Kidgits Club® will also host a special Easter event on April 5 from noon to 2 pm, where kids can participate in various craft-making activities and games. Participants will receive a Kidgits® Easter bucket and Kidgits bunny ears as a keepsake to take home.

The Simon Kidgits Club is a fun and informative program that focuses on health, wellness, education, safety and entertainment for children ages 3-8.  The Simon Kidgits Club has kept children and parents alike amused for over a decade with various events and activities while providing incentives for club members, such as special offers, rewards and games.

For more information about the Simon Kidgits Club and Woodfield Mall’s Easter events, visit www.simon.com/kidgits, www.facebook.com/woodfield.com www.twitter/woodfieldmall.

About Woodfield Mall
Woodfield Mall, one of the largest shopping destinations in the United States, provides Chicago area residents and visitors with a distinctive collection of nearly 300 retail stores. The mega mall showcases five major anchors, including Lord & Taylor, Macy’s, Nordstrom,  JCPenney and Sears, plus popular stores Michael Kors, COACH, Apple, White House/Black Market, BOSS Hugo Boss, Anthropologie, Tumi, Lacoste, AIX Armani Exchange and J.Crew. Shoppers enjoy a delicious array of dining options such as Texas de Brazil, The Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang’s and Stir Crazy. Woodfield Mall, at 5 Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois, is located about 25 miles from downtown Chicago and in close proximity to O’Hare International Airport. Mall hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. For additional information, please contact Woodfield Mall at (847) 330-1537 or visit www.shopwoodfield.com, www.facebook.com/woodfieldmall or www.twitter.com/woodfieldmall.

Simon Property Group

Simon Property Group, Inc. (NYSE: SPG) is an S&P 100 company and a global leader in the retail real estate industry.  The Company currently owns or has an interest in more than 325 retail real estate properties in North America, Asia and Europe comprising approximately 243 million square feet. We are headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and employ approximately 5,500 people in the U.S.  For more information, visit the Simon Property Group website at www.simon.com.

About Simon Brand Ventures

Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's business-to-consumer arm, is pioneering the transformation of shopping centers into a medium where consumer brands can build relationships with Simon shoppers who make over 2.8 billion visits each year.  Simon's vast franchise of market-leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous consumer ventures. SBV and its affiliates have engaged in a number of consumer business initiatives, including the Simon Visa Giftcard® and the American Express®/Simon Giftcard; launch of Simon platform programs such as Simon dTour Live® and Simon Kidgits Club®; a national media delivery channel including static, digital and experiential marketing and advertising vehicles; and multiple national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola and Visa U.S.A. among others.

About AbilityPath.org

AbilityPath.org is an online hub and special needs community for parents and professionals to learn, connect and live a more balanced life. The website combines social networking features with expert content from AbilityPath.org’s team of educators, parents, therapists and medical professionals.AbilityPath.org was created by Community Gatepath, a nonprofit with over 90 years of experience serving families and children with special needs by fostering hope, dignity and independence. AbilityPath.org may also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Gymboree Corporation

The Gymboree Corporation is a specialty retailer operating stores selling high-quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 brands, as well as play programs for children under the Gymboree Play and Music brand.

About Gymboree Retail Stores

Gymboree has been dressing children since 1986. The brand's fashionable clothing and accessories are created to celebrate kids being kids in unique head-to-toe looks. Available in sizes newborn to 12 years, Gymboree clothing is designed with colorful, high-quality fabrics and detailed touches throughout. Gymboree currently operates 631 stores in the U.S. and Canada and we continue to expand internationally. You can also visit us anytime from everywhere at www.gymboree.com.