The Florida Project: Retro Mickey Sneak Peek

WDWNT on March 15, 2011


Today the Disney Vinylmation Blog released this picture of an upcoming vinyl from the Florida Project trade show (Sept 9-11 2011 WDW). Clearly a retro color take on Mickey, it’s color scheme is the same as a previous poster advertising the project:
This might indicate that their will be a 9″ that has this poster wrapped around it (similar to the Disneyland Poster series) or maybe just a mickey that’s colored in these colors? What do you think?

Pictures from the Disney Vinylmation Blog
and the Disney Pin Trading Blog

“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” Sneak Peak Inside Disneyland Park

WDWNT on March 15, 2011

From Disney Parks Blog:

If you’re looking forward to the new adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” then you won’t want to miss the exciting new pirate experience coming to Disneyland park. Beginning March 25, you can join Jack and a crew of rowdy pirates for a Disneyland park-exclusive, extended 3D film sequence – a sneak peek of the new movie (opening May 20).

'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' Exclusive 3D Sneak Peek

It’ll be “all hands on deck” as park guests take on the role of pirates and enter Festival Arena to “set sail” for high adventure with Captain Jack and many of the new Pirate stars in the unique, immersive 3D film experience, featuring a scene from the new movie. Look for “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – Sneak Peek” on weekend nights from March 25 to May 30, and seven nights a week from April 15 through May 1.

Check the Disneyland park Show Times Guide for nightly sailing times, and get ready for a rollicking good time filled with action, suspense and laughter.

It’s fun for the whole family – and it’s only at Disneyland park!

Are any of you scallywags out there excited to join Jack’s crew?

You can follow the film on Facebook and Twitter to find out more about the upcoming Disney Pictures release “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.”

PICTURES: NEW Interactive Queue at the Haunted Mansion Open to Guests

WDWNT on March 14, 2011

The new interactive queue area for the Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion that we have been watching the construction of since October 2010 has finally been completed! WDWNT Reporter Taylor Martina was on the scene to bring us pictures and a first-hand report of the new elements:

The line was long, really a perfect day to open the new interactive queue

Read More about PICTURES: NEW Interactive Queue at the Haunted Mansion Open to Guests

More then an Earful

WDWNT on March 14, 2011

Here’s the second part of the preview Disney put out thanks to it’s 8,900+ followers on Facebook.

The Hollywood Studios Earful Tower.
This design is by Jason Zucker. No word on release date or size, but we think it’s probably a 9″. The design represents the water tower you can see in Hollywood Studios. At this point, the figure looks kinda dull. We won’t know till we see it in person, but for now it doesn’t do anything for us. I hope the final figure will have more detail in it. It would be really cool if the gaurd rail around it was actually three dimensional and was glued all around the head. Here’s what the real one looked like before the park’s name change:

Picture from mousellaneous.org

The tower was built in 1988 and was the symbol of the of the park until 2001 when the giant Sorcerer’s hat took over that role. The tower originally read “MGM Studios” but was painted over during the transition to the new name in early 2008. It’s a shame that Disney wouldn’t be putting the old logo on this vinylmation.

(In case you are wondering, the hat size for this feature is 342-3/8.)

Retro Weekend: 03/13/11

WDWNT on March 14, 2011

Lots of cool news from the world of vinylmation this weekend.
Here is a wrap up…
The Urban 6 Mickey Hats are now slated to be released on March 18th.

New Urban 6 Ear Hats

Then, a day later, Disney officially announced the two 9″ figures the hats were based on.

You’ve seen the hats, now see the 9″ figures.

The TRON: Legacy set (already out in Hong Kong) was given a release date in the US, March 25th.

TRON Release Date

And a listener told us more about the artists involved.

Tron Vinylmation Explained

We scored a big artist’s interview with Chris Chapman, which we first blogged about…

Spotlight On: Chris Chapman of the Disney Design Group

… and then we played the interview on our latest podcast. (Along with a review of Jrs. 3, Mystery Mailbag, and more!)

Destination Vinylmation Podcast
Ep. 013 El Raton

Finally, leader (listen/reader) Zoe sent in some nice pictures and information about the still not officially released Villains 1 9″/Jr sets.

Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty: Up Close and In Hand

Also worth noting is this week’s Destination Disney podcast. The gang talks with former Executive VP of Operations at Walt Disney World Lee Cockerell about Disney’s theme park’s disaster readiness. An informative listen.

Destination Disney Radio
Show 3/11/11

Maleficent and Sleeping Beauty: Up Close and In Hand

WDWNT on March 13, 2011

Here is a tweet from @zoekatherine on March 12:

“Sleeping Beauty Vinylmation! She is so cute! This is the first princess Vinylmation made! So exciting! :)”
She purchased these at the Mission Viejo, CA store. They also had the Jumba/Stitch and Julius/Minnie combos on the shelf as well. The Villains 9″ + Jr combos are not scheduled to be released until March 21st according to a Disney Blog post and the Disney Events page. Looks like some Villains escaped early. Here is a list of the stores Disney announced will be carrying these Villains:
Stockton Street, San Fransico, California
Mission Viejo, California
Cherry Hill, California
Fashion Valley, California
Montebello, California
Santa Monica, California
International Plaza, Tampa, Florida
State Street, Chicago, Illinois
North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Freehold, New Jersey
Times Square, NYC, New York
Roosevelt Field, Garden City, New York
Northpark, Texas
Zoe has been collecting Vinylmation since Park 2. Her favorite is Ariel from Park 2. Here are some more great pictures she sent into us.

Destination Vinylmation Podcast Ep. 013 El Raton

WDWNT on March 13, 2011

Ep. 013 El Raton
A big episode this week. Disney Artist Chris Chapman (Disney Afternoons) stops by to tell us about the creative process behind Vinylmation, his creations and much more. We chat about the potential Cutesters Too Variants. We review Jr Series 3 Good Luck Bad Luck. Of course we also deliver the latest news and release dates. As well as answer your questions in the Mystery Mail Bag.
Listen Now:
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Spotlight On: Chris Chapman of the Disney Design Group

WDWNT on March 12, 2011


We recently sat down with Chris Chapman 
of the Disney Design Group to talk Vinylmation and more. 
You can find the complete audio interview on the upcoming 
Episode 13 of our podcast.

In his role with Disney Design Group, Chris Chapman has designed and illustrated toys, logos, print, Vinylmation, pins, clothing, packaging, candy and more.  His work can be found at Disneyland Resort, Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Hong Kong Disneyland and World of Disney Stores.

Chris Chapman is also the artist behind the new Disney Afternoons series of Vinylmation.

He calls this series his best work at Disney. Why? “I have such an incredible passion around Disney Afternoons. Because of that I was going to put in the extra hours and fight for it. I always like to find, I call it the Disney rarities. The things that don’t get the coverage, but people have huge passion around these guys.”

Before Disney Afternoons, Chris created a one-of-a-kind piece for Trade City in 2010.
This Steampunk inspired figure, named Dr. Frumberlockle, was auctioned off at the event
Moai was a cancelled Chris Chapman figure that never made it into a series. 
It too went up for auction at Trade City 2010
9″ Park 5 Mad Hatter, designed by Christopher Chapman

What did Chris think of Vinylmation when it was presented to him? “The skys the limit. That mickey shape is a blank canvas for us, no different than a flat canvas, but obviously the difficulty is in the three dimensional form. We had to learn what worked and what didn’t. You have submit to the form and think three dimensional.”

We also asked Chris about the balance between 
Disney’s creative and business sides.
“You have to balance that right brain creative blue sky ideation 
and the left brain analytical. Letting both of those 
work together is vital to success. 
And Walt Disney was a master at this.”
Some of the pins Chris designed for a 2009 Haunted Mansion event
“Mayor Mickey” is a work Chris created for Trade City 2010

There was much, much more from Chris. He also gave us a sneek peak at the Florida Project merchandise and what other Vinylmation he has in the works. Listen to the full interview on the upcoming Episdode 13 of out podcast.