Update: Picture of back added. This is one of the best chasers in a very long time.
Villains 2 released at an artist signing in California today. It will be released nation wide on Monday. But if you would like a peak at the chaser, click below…
“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” is already getting a makeover after just 11 months, a holiday makeover. Available both during regular park evenings and those where Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is offered, the new show will be holiday themed. Disney currently has the show scheduled to begin performances on November 8th. No other details are available at this time. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
As you know, Park Starz, a brand new look at Vinylmation, was released today at D-Streets. (Check out my review and leave your comments here). Lead artists on the project Thomas Scott and Casey Jones met guests in Orlando today to sign figures from this latest set.
Guests had Casey and Thomas sign various figures and even the tins these figures were blindly packaged in.
The signing took place from 5p-7p and the line wasn’t too long. About 30 people deep at the start of the signing. Wristbands were handed out throughout the day as guest purchased Park Starz to ensure a place in line.
The Ice Gator, with it’s large blank spot on the back of head, seemed to be a popular choice to get signed.
Both Casey and Thomas collaborated on the designs and choice of characters in Park Starz, so no figure had an artist stamped onto the bottom. Some guests had both artists sign a single figure.
Here is Thomas Signing a Blizzard Beach Ice Gator. Guests in line were found trading Park Starz among themselves, trying to secure their favorites. No word yet from Disney on if Park Starz will be officially traded around the parks.
Is this a Hitchhiking Ghost? Nope, just a happy haunt named Cliff with his Park Starz. Myself and Austin (many of you know Austin from the release day lines) took Park Starz around WDW today for a photo shoot. I have to edit the photos and pick the best, but I can’t wait to show you. So here is a sneak peak at a couple photos:
From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:
We love it when our favorite spots expand, and as Erin posted in August, there are some big changes coming for Main Street, U.S.A., in 2012. Here’s what you can look for:
The Blue Ribbon Bakery is moving and getting a new name: Jolly Holiday Bakery Café, from the “Mary Poppins” song, “Oh, it’s a jolly holiday with Mary …” The bakery moves to the Plaza Pavilion (at the top of Main Street, U.S.A.) with plans to open in early January. In addition to the bakery and espresso offerings, the new menu has some delicious new tastes, such as an Angus roast beef salad with blue cheese; a Caprese sandwich with tomatoes, Buffalo mozzarella, basil, butter lettuce and garlic aioli on toasted focaccia bread; and a classic pastrami reuben on rye.
Carnation Café is expanding with more indoor seating – the Blue Ribbon Bakery move is part of that expansion plan, as Carnation Café spreads out to take over the space and offer more air-conditioned seating. Work starts in January, and they’ll have a new menu that will showcase longtime favorites (and we’ve heard it includes milkshakes).
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor is getting a little makeover, too, and adding root beer, Coca-Cola and orange cream floats to the menu. And the block makeover wraps up at Refreshment Corner – construction starts early next year. Stay tuned to the Disney Parks Blog for details.
You read correctly: FASTPASS service will be tested for the Magic Kingdom’s afternoon parade over the next few weeks. Don’t worry, you won’t need a FASTPASS to see the parade, it really just lets you into a prime viewing area somewhere in the Hub in front of Cinderella Castle. The location will change a few times over the test period as Disney looks to see where it would be best situated. Also changing will be the number of guests per day Disney hands the Fastpasses to, just to see what the right or wrong number of guests to let in might be.
The parade FASTPASS will be distributed starting early in the day at the Magic Kingdom by Cast Members presenting them as “Magical Moments” (Think Year of a Million Dreams prizes). The return time on the FASTPASS will be for between 10-30 minutes prior to the parade reaching the hub, around a 20 minute window.
If there was a more popular new parade or a nighttime parade running, you can see how this service may be quite valuable. Guests would have more time to enjoy the park while their viewing space is reserved. They would then only have to show up a few minutes before the to claim their space along the street. It will be very interesting to see how this works out…
The test is currently scheduled to take place October 23rd through November 12. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information as it becomes available.
WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson took a quick trip to Downtown Disney and Disney’s Hollywood Studio yesterday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:
There’s something new at Team Mickey…
Walt Disney World is tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney … and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together.
– Roy O. Disney, October 25, 1971
With those words, Roy O. Disney dedicated the park that would become the center-piece of the world’s most popular, and most unique, vacation resort. After 40 years of joy, inspiration, and new knowledge, Walt Disney World continues to bring us together and is truly, our “happy place.”
In honor of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary, we are proud to release issue 8 of WDWNT: The Magazine. In this issue, we look back at the 40 biggest moments in Walt Disney World History, as well as launch a new series of articles looking back at the attractions of the past in the Magic Kingdom. In a special feature, we also have the reflections of some of our staff about what Walt Disney World has meant to them individually. We also have a report on the Project Florida Vinylmation offerings, while our Eating WDW column provides a photo essay looking back at 40 years of Disney dining.
As usual, we also have a few of our reoccurring columns in this issue. Armchair Imagineering takes a slightly different tack to look at the work of legendary Imagineer Yale Gracey. The Time I looks at the runDisney event in Disneyland. Ask Dave Smith answers a few more of your questions in this issue.
We hope that you will find the 72 pages of content within both entertaining and educational. If you have any suggestions or feedback, we are always happy to hear from our readers. Just send an email to WDWNTthemagazine@wdwnt.com and share your thoughts.
As a reminder, the magazine is available in digital form from our website (http://www.wdwntthemagazine.com) or in printed form from MagCloud (http://www.magcloud.com).
Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney … and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together.
– Roy O. Disney, October 25, 1971
With those words, Roy O. Disney dedicated the park that would become the center-piece of the world’s most popular, and most unique, vacation resort. After 40 years of joy, inspiration, and new knowledge, Walt Disney World continues to bring us together and is truly, our “happy place.”
In honor of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary, we are proud to release issue 8 of WDWNT: The Magazine. In this issue, we look back at the 40 biggest moments in Walt Disney World History, as well as launch a new series of articles looking back at the attractions of the past in the Magic Kingdom. In a special feature, we also have the reflections of some of our staff about what Walt Disney World has meant to them individually. We also have a report on the Project Florida Vinylmation offerings, while our Eating WDW column provides a photo essay looking back at 40 years of Disney dining.
As usual, we also have a few of our reoccurring columns in this issue. Armchair Imagineering takes a slightly different tack to look at the work of legendary Imagineer Yale Gracey. The Time I looks at the runDisney event in Disneyland. Ask Dave Smith answers a few more of your questions in this issue.
We hope that you will find the 72 pages of content within both entertaining and educational. If you have any suggestions or feedback, we are always happy to hear from our readers. Just send an email to WDWNTthemagazine@wdwnt.com and share your thoughts.
As a reminder, the magazine is available in digital form from our website (http://www.wdwntthemagazine.com) or in printed form from MagCloud (http://www.magcloud.com).
At the New York ComicCon recently, a new line Vinyl Mickey’s were shown off.
These are licensed by Disney and produced by a company called Play Imaginative and were debuted at the Singapore Toys, Games and Comics Convention in August 2011. There are 5 different styles to choose from. These new vinyl Mickey’s stand 6.5″ tall, are individually packaged in open window boxes and include a “design your own” figure.
No word on price or where to purchase these vinyl figures yet. Now, Vinylmation has been my gateway to a ton of other Disney toy collectibles that I had never seen before, but I think I’ll personally leave these alone for now. I do like the look and a couple of the styles, but would have to see a price point before possibly adding one. Let us know your thoughts on this new collectible The first figure is called Vintage Mickey.
Next up is my favorite, Pinocchio Mickey.
 2011 DeeVee Awards The 1st annual Destination Vinylmation DeeVee Awards honors the best Vinylmation and artists over the past year. With the help of our listeners and readers, figures and artists were nominated in 23 categories You then voted for your favorites in a poll on our website. The winners were officially announced on our podcast Episode 46 released on November 16. We invite you to listen to this Oscar-inspired broadcast that featured celebrity presenters from the Disney podcast realm. I like to thank everyone who was a part of this show including the presenters, custom artists, Zoe and our announcer Michelle Wargo. Thank you to Sophie for our graphics, including the award above. We would also like to thank all the Disney artists and other Cast Members at Disney involved with the process of bringing Vinylmation to the guests. We wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for your amazing efforts. Here is the complete winners list. Please listen to our next podcast for a complete break down of the results, as well as the announcement of the winner of the Florida Project Pooh from the voters drawing. (The winner was Kerry. Check out her photos of the prize here.) |
|
| Favorite Disney Artist Maria Clapsis Some of Maria’s popular figures of the past year include: Up, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, Sonny Eclipse, Bolt, DCL, Cutesters Too. Thank you Maria for all your hard work. |
 |
 |
Favorite Custom Artist NOAH NOAH gave us customs such as: TRON, Villains Poison Apple, Muppets Mayhem, Haunted Mansion, Pirates and more. |
| Best 3″ Figure Ariel’s Undersea Adventure Artist: Maria Clapsis |
 |
 |
Best 9″ Figure Up Artist: Maria Clapsis |
| Best Jr. Figure Statue of Liberty Minnie Keychain Artist: Enrique Pita Thank you to celebrity presenters: Adam from DisneyBrit.com and Juz from OrlandoSkyRadio.com. |
 |
 |
Best 12 Figure Set Star Wars 1 Artist: Mike Sullivan |
| Best non-12 Figure Set Disney Afternoons Artist: Chris Chapman |
 |
 |
Best Chaser 3D Mickey Artist: Thomas Scott Thank you to celebrity presenter John Rick, host of the Disney Pincast Podcast. |
| Best Variant Ghost Obi Wan Kenobi Artist: Mike Sullivan |
 |
 |
Best Use of Ears Peter Pan Artist: Monty Maldovan |
| Best Trading Location Frontierland Trading Post This Magic Kingdom favorite features both 3″ and Junior trading. |
 |
 |
Most Likely to Be Found in a Trading Box Bearded Man Artist: Thomas Scott |
| Best Accessory Rafiki’s Staff Artist: Jim Valeri Thank you to celebrity presenter Stephanie Wojcik, the winner of Combo Contest #2. |
 |
|
Best Mickey 3D Mickey Artist: Thomas Scott Thank you to celebrity presenter Ricky Brigante from Inside the Magic. |
| Best Use of Clear Ghost Obi Wan Kenobi Artist: Mike Sullivan Thank you to celebrity presenter Tom Corless from WDW News Today. |
|
 |
Best Location Exclusive Tiki Mickey Artist: Enrique Pita |
| Best Packaging All Location Exclusive Tins Artist: Various Thank you to celebrity presenter Kristina Pino from Tomopop.com. |
 |
 |
Best Vinylmation Event The Florida Project September 9-11 2011 at EPCOT Thank you to celebrity presenter Matt Norris from VinylmationKingdom.com. |
| Most Anticipated Upcoming Series The Haunted Mansion Artist: Casey Jones Thank you to celebrity presenter Alan Hooper from Mousevent.com. |
 |
 |
Best DV Episode All of them The Dee Vee Awards was our 46th episode. Thank you for all your support. |
| Favorite DV Cast Member Nick Years on DV: 1 Thank you to celebrity presenter Jim Hill from JimHillMedia.com. |
 |
 Red Balloon Awards The Red Balloon Awards are one-time categories that honor special achievement in Vinylmation. They are named after the first chaser from Park series one. |
|
| Best Disney Afternoons Set Rescue Rangers Artist: Chris Chapman |
 |
 |
Best 3″ Muppet Kermit Artist: Monty Maldovan |
| Those are this year’s winners. Take note of future releases because we do it all again at our two year anniversary!
What do you think of the results? |
|
