More Magical Vinylmation to Celebrate WDW’s Birthday

WDWNT on February 7, 2011

The Disney Vinylmation Blog released some treats for us today because their Facebook account reached over 7100 likes. If you haven’t liked them on Facebook yet, do so, because the more people who do, the more stuff we find out about. And now today’s stuff:

In 1981, WDW turned 10 years old. 1981 also marked the year Disney discontinued the coupon books in favor of these 1-Day Passports into the park. Here, courtesy of AllEars.net, is a scan of an original WDW 1-Day Passport.
For more looks at some really great old WDW tickets, visit http://allears.net/tix/tickethistory.htm. Especially check out the “Cast Member and Comp Ticket” page.
I can’t wait to see how the images are represented on the 3D finished Vinylmation figure! They have been doing a lot of great things with the painting and style and quality these days. I hope they capture the old, vintage feel of the ticket with a real stamp like quality for the date and ticket number.
Also a WDW 40th piece:
This is an amazing retro look at EPCOT Center. Both Future World with the iconic ball and the World Showcase are represented here. These Thomas Scott designed figures do not have a release date yet. I’m excited about all things retro when it comes to Disney… so I can’t wait to see what comes out this year at WDW. The 6 figure 3″ open window set was a good start, and these two new 3″ figures look incredibly impressive. (According to the blog they are 3″, but the designs are so cool we hope that’s a typo.)

Pictures from allears.net and
the Vinylmation Blog

The Un”bear”able Lightness of “Bee”ing

WDWNT on February 7, 2011

On the latest Destination Vinylmation show, 010 Teacups, we discussed the upcoming Florida Project, and whether or not they would have event specific Vinylmation. We concluded that they would, and not two days later Disney announced the same thing. Here is the first piece, of which we are sure, there will be many.

The head of this Casey Jones (Nightmare Before Christmas and Haunted Mansion) figure is a Hunny pot with a cute bee flying past in the ears.

The bottom half of the figure has Pooh’s lovable head and the word Pooh written on the bottom.

No idea if this is a 9″ or a 3″.

This figure is going to be released during “The Florida Project” trade show at WDW. The show runs from September 9th thru the 11th, and is the equivalent to last year’s Trade City show. There will probably be several more vinylmation announced as releases for this show, and I’m hoping that this is part of a set!

What do you think?

Info and picture from Vinylmation.com blog.

The Turtle Replaces the Pirate and the Parrot

WDWNT on February 7, 2011

WDW News Today’s own Justin Heyman is in WDW this week and will have a full report upon his return, but for now we bring you the new menu at Tortuga Tavern, which replaced El Pirata Y El Perico, across from Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland.  The Mexican-themed food remains, as well as the original sign featuring the pirate and the parrot.  A new semicircular cutout with the words Tortuga Tavern has been installed over the old name of the restaurant.  The new menu features beef, chicken, and vegetarian burritos as well as a taco salad and nachos.  Kids can choose from quesadillas or a PB&J sandwich.

Ep. 010 Teacups

WDWNT on February 6, 2011

Ep. 010 Teacups
MC and Nick review the Cutester Series, dicuss the Nerds Rock announcement, and answer listeners questions. (We also cover all the recent releases and review upcoming dates)
Listen Now:
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Spotlight On: Maria Clapsis artist of the Cutesters Too series

WDWNT on February 6, 2011

Maria Clapsis is the artist who designed the great looking Vinylmation Cutesters Too series. Recently, we asked her what her favorite piece from the set is.

“The 2 chasers are my faves. They’re based on art I did for my blog, so they’re special.
The Donut too. Hard to choose” – Maria Clapsis
Um, two chasers??? She then clarified that there is a variant to the chaser in Cutesters Too. So I checked out her blog at mclapsis.blogspot.com/ to search for her inspiration for the chasers.

****SPOILER ALERT****

Pictures of Cutesters Too chaser after the jump!

Read More about Spotlight On: Maria Clapsis artist of the Cutesters Too series

Love it?

WDWNT on February 4, 2011

The Vinylmation 9″ Holiday 2 Cupid “Love is Blind” figure came out this morning. It is designed by Quynh Kimball and limited to just 450 figures. This piece, just in time for Valentine’s Day, retails for $48.95 and can be found at D-Street in both Orlando and California. There are also some available at the Disney Store online. Here is your first up close look.

Cupid has exceptional detail all around. The paint job is great and there are little details all around.
The detail in both the ears is remarkable. Instead of just painting them on, the artist added red glitter inside the hearts. This figure really sparkles.
The blindfold is raised with a glossy paint… giving the blindfold an almost ribbon-like quality to it.
The wings on the back and the quiver of arrows are also painted with great detail.
The back’s of the ears have a “To” and “From” where you can write your special someone’s name.
On the front, the buttons also have the same red glitter as the hearts on ears.
On the “Heartbroken” side, Cupid has names crossed off his arm.
The bottom is even done with some extra flare. Quynh signs his name with a “Q” in the shape of a heart and adds some hugs and kisses “XOXO”

What are your thoughts? Love it? or Hate it? Tell us.

Cutesters Too Explained

WDWNT on February 4, 2011

Update: 2/13/11 The Disney Store Online will be releasing this series on February 16th, 2011.

Update: 2/9/11 Cutesters Too will be sold at the online Disney Store starting February 16th. You can order both full cases, as well as individual boxes.

Update: 2/5/11 The artist, Maria Clapsis confirmed that there is a variant chaser. Picture posted below of variant chaser. There is a purple Variant to the yellow Bubble Bath figure. And now that we have the set in hand we are changing the name of Bear Kid to Squirrel Kid because Maria put an Acorn on the bottom.

We also wrote up a nice blog about Maria Clapsis, her favorite ones from this set, and included some of her artwork so you can see where the vinylmation draws its influence.

2/3/11- Cutesters Too were on display at D-Street Orlando today! We have only seen about 4 of them so far, so this is the world’s first look at most of these figures. Lots of great designs and some awesome accessories. The set releases tomorrow, 2/4/11, at D-Street in both Orlando and California.

***We have confirmation that D-Street Orlando will open at 8am! Great news for those of us who want our Vinylmation fix before work.

Enjoy these photos and then tell us your thoughts on Cutesters Too.

 Donut Hole

Nick called it. There’s a hole in the center. Now it’s more of a clear space in the vinyl then an actual hole, but it’s definitively a hole!

The sprinkles remind me of Homer Simpson.
Happy Lollipops

Lots of fun candy floating around a white dotted background. Does this one go with the kids who are in costumes and might be Trick or Treaters?
Real Wonderland

When Alice went to Wonderland, one of the first creatures she met was a Caterpillar sitting on a Mushroom. It’s like that, but if it were real life.
Jacks

This is a brilliant concept. The body is filled with Jacks. The right ear is the bouncing ball and the head is the clear air with lines showing how the ball is bouncing. Perfect!
Bubble Bath

At first I thought they were snowballs, but after a closer look, it’s obvious they are bubbles!

(There is a purple Variant to this figure)
Gifted

Check out the extra bow on top. Then check out the left ear to see who the gift is for.
I Want S’more

We love this one. It’s a S’more. (Graham cracker, Chocolate, and a melted Marshmellow on top) The S’more is the head, and the body is the fire you use to cook it, with the legs as the logs. I’m just not sure why the fire is so happy?
Yellow Raincoat

One of the two weather dressed kids. This one has on a yellow rain coat. In the ears you can see how much rain there is.
Tiger Kid

This kid is wearing a cute Tiger outfit. Grrrr.
Red Scarf

This gal is dressed up for the cold. Look at the snow falling above her head, and while your eyes are up there, check out the cute pompom. This is the officially the first non-vinyl accessory. (The skirt on the Animated 1 9″ Hippo doesn’t count, cause it’s only in the Disney Store NYC and probably a mistake)
Squirrel Kid

This kid is dressed up like a bear squirrel, ready to get all those Happy Lollipops. I like the zipper on his belly.
Did anyone see Brita’s outfit from the first season Halloween episode of Community?
Chaser

No idea, and no real way to guess. The original Cutester’s chaser was the great Cinderella Castle with Jewels. We’ll find out tomorrow what this one is.

Update: 2/4/11 We added a picture of the chaser, just click. Also we know there is a variant of the chaser, or a “Super Chaser”. Check back for more details when we get it.

Update: 2/5/11 Variant Chaser pic below.
Variant Chaser

Click the mystery Vinylmation for a pic of the variant chaser.

Both the normal and Variant chasers are based off some 2009 drawings on Maria Clapsis’s blog. They are a little big more than just a color variant.

Think you knew about all the Vinylmation out there? Keep Dreaming…

WDWNT on February 3, 2011

Disney says the best kept secret is their vacation club, I’m beginning to think it’s Vinylmation. We knew about the 9″ Disney Dream figure, the Captain Donald 3 figure set (first pics of the Jr are later in this post!) and the Donald Aqua Duck. But it looks like cruisers on the Disney Dream’s Maiden Voyage were also treated to this:

Please welcome the Disney Dream Day and Night 3″ + Jr. Combo LE 1000
Both 3″ Vinylmation depict the Disney Dream cruise ship sailing the open waters. One has a daytime scene with rays of light and the other has a night time scene with a starry sky. Also included is a Jr figure.
We do not have a picture of the actual Vinylmation at this time. But you can see it has an anchor on it.
Disney Dream Day and Night set box back
Disney Dream Day and Night set box bottom
This set is only available aboard the Disney Dream Cruise Ship at an edition size of 1000 and retails for $24.95. I want to thank eBay seller cwd7761741b for these pictures.
As promised, here are the first pictures of the Jr figure that come with the Captain Donald 3″ + Jr combo set designed by Lisa Badeen. This set is also limited to 1000 and retails for $24.95.
The Jr says Disney Dream 2011 against a night sky.
Here is a close up.
Box Bottom
A thank you to eBay sellers addicted2e and joe4jen for these pictures.
And how about a first look at the packaging for the 9″ Disney Dream figure? This one is designed by Dan Howard, limited to 750 and retails for $44.95.
The boxes have a nice Inaugural Voyage logo
Thanks to ebay seller cwd7761741b for these as well.
And of course, the Donald Aqua Duck figure. No confirmation on it’s release yet… but here is Disney’s concept art:
Check back often as we hope to receive some higher quality pictures of these cruise exclusives.

Feb 11th Releases

WDWNT on February 3, 2011

Well it’s been a long time since we’ve gotten any info from Disney, but late last night the Events page informed us of a lot of new things, coming in just 8 days!

First off: Everyone in California, once again the WDW 40th Anniversary will be delayed another week. That means that this Friday (the 4th) California D-Street will only be releasing Cutesters Too and the Holiday 2 9″ Cupid. On the 11th they will be getting the WDW 40th Anniversary.

And now the big news!

On February the 11th both coasts will be releasing three things.


First, the Animation Combo Pack with the Simba Topper. We got teased earlier this year with the back of Simba (which has a tail) and now he’s here. (Although usually the Combo packs come out only 7 days after the set, so this has been a long wait.)


Second, the Urban 5 9″ Orange Gear Bear will be released that day. This is the first 9″ gear bear, I wonder how it will sell. This bear was designed by Maria Clapsis (not Dan Howard who usually designs the gear bears) and is LE of 600.

And third, the Urban 5 9″ Bacon will also be released. This vinylmation is by Thomas Scott and is a limited edition of 600. Who’s got eggs?

Stormtrooper of the Week #01

WDWNT on February 2, 2011

We’d like to introduce a new segment here at Destination Vinylmation. We like to call it, “Stormtrooper of the Week”. Each week on Wednesday we’ll debut a new stormtrooper that they left out of the Star Wars 1 series. (Basically it’s an excuse to break apart our vinylmation and try out different combinations.)

This week, it’s Leia the stormtrooper. Check her out with the crew of the Death Star. (That braid must hurt when she has to put the helmet on!)