The sign of the Toys R Us store is seen in a Denver suburb March 15, 2011.
For procrastinators, last-minute holiday shopping can be a pain, but Toys R Us is on your side. The toy giant has extended its store hours before Christmas so that shoppers can grab deals on toys with stores open 24-7 until late Christmas Eve. REUTERS

Toys R Us plans to be the forerunner for Black Friday this year, as the toy retailer has announced it will open its doors at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening ahead of all other competitors.

For the first time ever, Toys R Us is planning a 9 p.m. opening, an hour before Wal-Mart opens at 10 p.m. and Target, Macy's and Kohl's open at midnight on Thanksgiving.

We know our customers like to get an early start on their Black Friday shopping, so we're offering more savings than ever and providing even more hours to save by opening our stores at 9pm on Thanksgiving night, CMO Greg Ahearn said in a press release. Black Friday is truly the kickoff to the holiday shopping season, and we're excited to welcome customers at ToysRUs stores across the country for what has become an annual tradition for many families after Thanksgiving dinner is finished.

Toys R Us said its plans to open at 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving cater to eager shoppers so they can get an early start on big Black Friday savings as soon as the turkey is gobbled and the dinner table is cleared.

The stores nationwide will also stay open for a whopping 26 hours on Black Friday, as stores will be open from 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving until 11 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 25.

Toys R Us also has plans for people not willing to cut their dinner and family time short, or those who prefer to sleep off their turkey before heading to stores, by offering doorbuster deals from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m.

However, The New York Times reported that some consumers are not going to take part of the holiday shopping extravaganza on Black Friday, as it cuts into their own family time on Thanksgiving or has become too overwhelming to endure, even for the immense savings.

Some retail workers, like Anthony Hardwick who works at a Target in Omaha, Neb., have even protested a Thanksgiving Day opening, as Target plans to open at midnight. Many others, like Macy's, Best Buy and Kohl's have followed suit by planning a midnight opening.

Basically what it is, it's a race for space, chief retail analyst at the NPD Group Marshal Cohen told ABC News. If retailers can be the first doors open, they're going to capture that enthusiastic Black Friday customer.

This race for Black Friday comes during a year when consumers are penny-pinching for savings, as more than 60 percent of shoppers say they are looking for savings stemmed from their position within the bad economy. This demand has retailers fighting to be the first stop for Black Friday shoppers.

If somebody is opening at midnight, well, look for somebody to say, 'Well, we're going to open at 11 p.m.,' and look for someone else to say, 'Well, we're just not going to close on Thanksgiving Day at all,' Cohen said.

However, not all retail giants are taking part of the extra early openings on Thanksgiving. Sears, which opened on Thanksgiving last year, will open its doors at 4 a.m. along with JCPenney.

Here is a list of Black Friday Sales offered at Toys R Us beginning at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24.

Free $50 ToysRUs Gift Card with purchase of any Apple® iPod® touch (Available on in-store purchases only; Limit one per guest; Valid 6 hours after activation and expires 1/28/12)
SAVE $120 on POWER WHEELS Boss or Barbie 12-Volt Ford Mustang Ride-Ons - Was: $319.99 each; Now: $199.99 each
50% OFF LeapFrog Leapster® 2 - Was: $49.99; Now: $24.99
50% OFF My Baby Alive - Was: $44.99; Now: $22.49
50% OFF Riptunes 2GB MP3 Player with Video - Was: $29.99; Now: $14.99
50% OFF Sylvania 7-inch Android Tablet or 7-inch Android Netbook - Was: $149.99 each; Now: $74.99 each
40% OFF ALL LeapFrog Leapster® Software - prices vary
40% OFF TRANSFORMERS Dark of the Moon Ultimate Optimus Prime - Was: $79.99; Now: $47.99
35% OFF Select LEGO® Construction Sets - prices vary
BUY 10 for $10 on ALL SquinkiesTM 2-Packs (Must purchase 10 to receive the deal; Originally $2.49 each)
BUY 2 GET 3rd FREE on Beyblade Metal Fusion Battle Tops - prices vary
$10 Special Value Pack of BabiesRUs® Diapers (48 - 96 ct) - Over $50 value (Includes $38 in coupon savings; Limit 4 per guest; Available at ToysRUs and BabiesRUs)