Disney let it slip on their events page that the Steam Park series we’ve all been waiting for since 2010 is finally coming out on July 8th. This will be at both D-Streets. From what we know of the set, it will be a 6 piece set that will be packaged like the Sushi.
One interesting question. On the Steam Park page on vinylmation.com they left out the Commandant. I wonder if that means anything. What do you think?
On June 20, 1995 Aliens invaded the Magic Kingdom. For eight years, guests to ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter were treated to a scary adventure that attacked all the senses. When the X-S Tech employees make a mistake with the teleportation device, a huge alien appears before the audience. Much of the same effects you feel in your chairs today while sitting through Stitch’s Great Escape, were used to make the audience feel like an alien was wreaking havoc all around and right next to them. Vinylmation will pay tribute to this great attraction on June 24 when the 9″/3″ Alien Encounter combo ($74.95 LE 1000) is released. Designed by Maria Clapsis, collectors can pick up a 3″ Skippy with a 9″ Alien.
The alien looks amazing. I hope it looks this good in person. Maria really captured the details of this scary creature. I can almost feel him breathing on my neck.
On the back, you can see the alien’s wings. The color scheme is perfect as well. A lot of little detail when into this 9″ figure.
The 3″ Skippy excited people when we saw him back on New Year’s Eve. His droopy expression is painted perfectly on the vinyl. I really like the eyes in Mickey’s ears, this character translates well to the mouse shaped vinyl.
Overall, it’s an intricately designed set that’s a great nod to a classic Magic Kingdom attraction. I’ll be picking up this set without hesitation.
It’s our highest honor to present, from The Muppet Show, Sam the Eagle, swooping into D-Street stores tomorrow.
From the pictures he looks really good. I love the little touches, like the talons on the feet and the single huge eye brow. The painting of the beak on the nose looks great from the front. It even seems hooked in front, which is an awesome optical job. Also don’t forget the most important part, Sam’s home country’s flag painted in the eagle’s ears. Sam is an American patriot and he wants everyone to know!
History
Sam first appeared as part of the cast of the original Muppet Show pilot in 1975. He also appeared on a number of the Muppet Meetings Films. His role on the Muppet Show was that of show censor, worrying about phrases and acts that he found might be vulgar. Later he started giving speeches of the American way and other politically motivated topics. He often found out that he himself was in violation of the very thing he was fighting against (see the Naked speech).
Sam went on after the Muppet Show to get cameo parts in many of the Muppet films, as well as being the only Muppet character to be seen on the Jim Henson Animal Show.
Jim Henson designed Sam and he was built by Don Sahlin. He was mainly performed by Frank Oz.
Details
Sam will be released at both D-Streets on Friday the 24th. The design is by Monty Maldovan and will cost $44.95. There is a LE of 1500.
Our own Adam Roth also does a fair amount of work over at Theme Park Review, and while taking an aerial tour of Walt Disney World for the site, he came across this:
This is Disney’s Art of Animation Resort which will be opening in phases beginning May 2012
The Finding Nemo buildings opens in May 2012, Cars in July 2012, The Lion King in September 2012, and The Little Mermaid buildings in December 2012. If you compare the two photos, you’ll see that the Nemo buildings are indeed the furthest along, so it’s not hard to believe that area will open first.
The back of the building has already been decorated with the character sketches we saw in concept art:
The buildings in the Cars wing seem to be on the same track:
Meanwhile, vertical building construction is still going on in The Lion King section, making it hard to believe that will open only 4 months after the Nemo building:
Unfortunately, The Little Mermaid buildings are not in the picture, but they were pretty far along last time we looked. Another thing to take notice of is that the facade of the main building is really coming along. Here is the concept art:
Here’s what it looks like now:
It certainly will be fun to watch this new resort grow over the next year! Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information on Disney’s Art of Animation Resort!
From the Disney Parks Blog:
As our 50th Grad Nite season comes to an end, we are excited to announce new twists and enhancements coming in 2012 and 2013 to this traditional rite of passage so many of us experienced as high school graduates.
In 2012, Grads will have more time, more flexibility and more room for their celebration at the Disneyland Resort including the opportunity to enter Disneyland park or Disney California Adventure park at any time during their Grad Nite visit. Students will receive a park hopper ticket allowing them a full day to experience both parks!
In addition, 2012 Grads will now receive a special FASTPASS option to use during their visit and a private showing of “Fantasmic!” to kick off the exclusive private party that begins when Disneyland park closes.
Beginning in 2013, the private party will move to Disney California Adventure park where Grads will enjoy all the newest offerings including an exclusive “World of Color” viewing and the new Cars Land.
As these pictures show, our Grad Nites have become an important milestone for millions of graduating seniors in the last five decades, and we are excited to share new experiences as Grad Nites evolve just like the Disneyland Resort continues to evolve each year. We look forward to celebrating many future classes to come!
For more details, please visit www.disneylandgradnite.com.
Let us remember that WDW’s Grad Night followed a similar course as they decided to move Grad Night over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2009 and was deemed a massive failure, they moved back to the Magic Kingdom in 2010 and Grad Night did not return to the East Coast for 2011. Let’s hope Disneyland does not follow the same path.
What’s your favorite Pixar movie? Mine is Up. It not only is a great Disney movie, but one of the truly great films ever made. What is it missing? It has amazing characters. You are emotionally connected to Carl from scene one. Kevin and Dug are comedic genius. Up has a beautiful storyline. It is real. It is sad and not everything works out as planned. But it is also uplifting. Up also takes viewers on a great adventure. It has everything… except an official Disney Vinylmation. Until now. Friday, June 24 is the release date for the 9″ Maria Clapsis designed Park 6 Up (LE 1000 $44.95) at D-Street Orlando and California. So the movie has it all, but does the Vinylmation?
Take a peak. At first glance it looks like a beautiful piece. It has the house. It has the balloons. The design is well placed. But Up is a beautifully SQUIRREL!
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| Copyright Disney and Pixar |
…drawn movie, and I would expect more beauty in this figure. Instead it just… gets by.
I would have liked to see more definition in the details. Like the clouds, the sky and the balloons. I really hope, when we see this figure in person, the balloons will not have poor, overlapping paint job that shows up in a few 9″ vinyls.
Flip it over and you see… the back side of a house and balloons. The big miss on the 9″ Up is the lack of characters. Up has some of the most beloved characters of any Pixar film, and they are not here. Carl peaking out the window. Russell on the front porch. Kevin on the roof. Something. Anything.
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| Copyright Disney and Pixar |
This figure is kind of stuck in the middle to me. I’d take the lack of detail for some characters. I’d take the lack of characters for more detail. Let’s be honest, as an Up fan, I’ll probably pick it up unless I really don’t like it in person. What about you? Is Up a must add to your collection?
Make sure you check back on Thursday for our Alien Encounter preview. Also, if this Up doesn’t float your house, check out these previously featured customs.
From the Disney Parks Blog:
We’re celebrating July 4th in a very special way at the Disneyland Resort! From July 1-4, guests can experience special nighttime spectaculars celebrating America. At Disney California Adventure park, we’ve got an all-new Independence Day “World of Color” pre-show which will run prior to each showing of “World of Color” and will combine video, water effects, lighting and fireworks to create a spectacular celebration of American independence.
At Disneyland park, guests can commemorate Independence Day with “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.” This special fireworks show combines patriotic music with bursts of red, white and blue to celebrate the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Be sure to check the Entertainment Schedule or the Entertainment Times Guide at each park for show times.
Are you celebrating Independence Day at the Disneyland Resort?
Dana Trujillo of the Disney Parks Blog shares a look at the retro-tastic line of merchandise SHAG has drawn up for Walt Disney World’s 40th Anniversary:
Back in January, I gave you a sneak peek at the newest artwork created by SHAG for Walt Disney World Resort’s 40th Anniversary. While we were only able to give you a one-day sneak peek then, I’m happy to tell you that the wait for SHAG’s 40th Anniversary collection is finally over!
On Friday, June 24, Uptown Jewelers at Magic Kingdom Park will host SHAG for the official debut of his latest 40th Anniversary collection. This will be the first time that guests will be able to find SHAG’s retro collection of Walt Disney World-inspired collectibles, home goods and apparel that pay homage to our magical kingdom.
SHAG’s signature art style is instantly recognizable on the newly developed collection that will only be available at the Walt Disney World Resort. He re-imagines original Disney icons and transforms them into colorful, bold and retro creations unlike anything seen before at Walt Disney World Resort.
His artwork will highlight a line of new keepsakes and must-haves that will appeal to any Disney fan, including new charm bracelets (with more than 30 charms), apparel for men and women and a postcard set, as well as home goods such as double old-fashion tumblers, a pillow sham and a coaster collection. There are so many amazing products to share that we couldn’t show them all in one Disney Parks Blog post, so be sure to check out www.ArtofDisneyParks.com.
If you want to be among the first to get your hands on SHAG’s 40th Anniversary Collection and meet him in person, head out to Walt Disney World this weekend for this very special artist signing and product premiere. SHAG will appear Friday, June 24, at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom Park from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturday, June 25, at Art of Disney at Downtown Disney Marketplace from 4-6 p.m.
What do you think of SHAG’s new 40th Anniversary product collection?
Here is a look at the entire merchandise line, including pricing:
Original Artwork
Retail: $20,000
Limited Edition Canvas Giclee
Edition Size: 95
Retail: $425
Deluxe Print:
Retail: $35
Double Old Fashion Glassware
Retail: $8.00 per glass
40th Anniversary Map Coaster Set
Set contains 5 Coasters in a collectible tin box
Retail: $14.95
Postcard Set with Tin Keepsake Box
Set contains 2 each of 5 postcard designs
Dimensions: 5″ H x 7″ W
Retail: $18.95
SHAG Pillow Sham
Pillow Sham features detail embroidery
Dimensions: 20″ H x 20″ W
Retail: $62.95
SHAG 40th Anniversary Charm Bracelet
SHAG bracelet features 33 individual charms
Bracelet Length: 7″
Retail: $124.95
Men’s Island Shirt
Sizes: Small – XXLarge
Retail: $74.00
Women’s Charm Tee Shirt
Sizes: Small – XX Large
Retail: $29.95
DV: Don’t worry, at Disney, Nerds Rock! So, what turned you on to working with Vinylmation?
Keith: I first heard about Vinylmation when I was a Cast Member at the World of Disney NYC. In a gallery meeting, only the name of it was brought up since it was still in development, but I immediately knew what to expect since my friend had been obsessed with the KidRobot vinyl toys. He actually tried to get me into collecting those, but I told him I will only collect vinyls if Disney starts making their own since I have to keep to the theme of my bedroom. Sure enough… it happened, and I have been collecting and creating since the first day of Vinylmation in 2008.
DV: What is the biggest challenge in creating a custom Vinylmation?
Keith: I think the biggest challenge for me is solidifying an idea. I don’t like wasting my time with customs that other people might make. For example, a character Vinylmation. I will always try to come up with a unique approach at translating a fresh design to the Vinylmation platform. While I have made many character Vinylmations in the past due to commissions, I prefer making fun designs that one wouldn’t normally think of when looking at a Vinylmation.
DV: Where can people go to view and purchase your work?
Keith: My official website is www.mametchi.com. I’m actually going to have a Facebook page soon. Keep an eye out for that! As far as customs for purchase, I do have a waiting list going on right now, but I am open for commissions.
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson visited The Magic Kingdom and Downtown Disney earlier today and has a plethora of newsworthy photos to share with us from his trip:
NO MORE STAR TOURS! Thank you…
