 |
Ep. 073 It’s a Small World Chaser
We recorded this week’s episode at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the opening of Star Wars Weekends. Artist Maria Clapsis joins us for a can’t miss interview and we review her recently release Disney Character Star Wars set. There is also some big news about Mickey’s Circus. |
The Mickey’s Circus catalog updated today and as expected, there is a 3″ two pack and two 9″ figures added to the lineup. Check them out and leave your thoughts below… and don’t forget, registration for this huge yearly Vinylmation and Pin event begins at noon tomorrow. Check out our Mickey’s Circus Explanation page for the other Vinylmation and all the details you need.
So there you have it. A few new Vinylmation additions to the catalog. The two 9″ figures both break the bank at $150!!! But they have heard our concerns and have given us some extremely low LE collectibles. I just wonder who will pay the price for these non-Disney themed creations. The lion has some great lines and just has a wonderfully fanciful look to it, but I can not afford it. I may have opened my wallet at a $40 price tag. The seal is a great effort, but just misses for me. I know what the artist is trying to do with the ball in the ear balancing on the nose, but I can hardly tell what it is from straight on. Bongo and Lulubell surely fit into the circus theme, but not something I personally have enough of a connection to, to purchase as an LE set here. I would have welcomed them into an Animation series however, because the designs are great. The faces really come to life with expression. And here too, I like the low LE of 500.
I arrived at about 8:30am and Stormtroopers loomed over the DHS entrance make sure guests stayed in line. I headed directly for the merchandise. I’ve never hit up the merchandise tent on opening day before at Star Wars Weekends… good thing I wore my standing shoes. It was basically three and a half hours from park entrance to check out. I grabbed some pins, vinyls and toys… but there was a ton of great stuff. Take a peek at all the merchandise and fun found inside Darth’s Mall, the merchandise tent at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Unfortunately, no Star Wars 2 Vinylmation were on display at the start of Star Wars Weekends today at DHS. But they did a few interesting previews. The first of which is an addition to the Star Wars Muppets action figures from earlier this year. This 3 pack set will be out in August and will retail at $18.95.
Star Wars Weekends begins this Friday, May 18th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and along with all the Star Wars costume characters and actors on hand, Disney Design Group artists will also be meeting guests and signing autographs.
Maria Clapsis, the artist behind the designs of the Disney Character Star Wars series and Mike Sullivan, designer of Star Wars Series 1 will both be signing on select dates throughout the four weekends.
The signings will be held in two locations, both inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Darth’s Mall is the event merchandise tent set up behind Rock’n Roller Coaster.
Maria Clapsis and Mike Sullivan
Friday, May 18th
4-6pm at Darth’s Mall
Maria Clapsis
Saturday, May 19th
2-4pm at Darth’s Mall
Maria Clapsis
Sunday, May 20th
12-2pm at Darth’s Mall
Maria Clapsis
Saturday, May 26th
12-1p at Animation Gallery (DHS)
2-4pm at Darth’s Mall
Maria Clapsis and Mike Sullivan
Saturday, June 2nd
12-1p at Animation Gallery (DHS)
2-4pm at Darth’s Mall
Maria Clapsis and Mike Sullivan
Saturday, June 9th
12-1p at Animation Gallery (DHS)
2-4pm at Darth’s Mall
If you’ve heard either of the last two podcasts, MC will be teching an Orlando Fringe show called “A Long Time Ago, The Eighties Strike Back”. The first show starts tomorrow, May 17th, and we have shows at various times throughout Fringe which ends on Sunday May 27th. Check out the show, it’s really funny.
The link to the official Orlando Fringe site (where you can buy tickets): ALTA
Official Website: 80strikeback.com
Welcome to this week’s adventures in YesterEARS. Join professor Ludwig von Drake and his sidekick as they take you through this week in Disney history. They discuss numerous topics such as this week’s birthdays, the cartoon of the week, the musical number, Disney park highlights, the film of the week, and in memory of. And yes for those of you who are wondering, YesterEARS was a shop at Pleasure Island. Please subscribe to YesterEARS in iTunes.
Visit http://yesterears.blogspot.com/ to listen to the latest episode.
It was only a matter of time before the Monorail Cars decided to stretch their wheels (tracks?) and visit the parks. Austin and I caught them rolling around Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Mascots Series
Release Date: June 22
Price: $12.95
Details: 4 figure open window series. Foam fingers, flags and hats highlight this series.
 |
Mickey
Mickey comes with a baseball cap and is wearing a red sweater. |
 |
Goofy
Goofy has the most interesting design change ever, his right arm is bent and includes a foam finger design. |
 |
Pluto
From the HK dumpster dive we saw Pluto, but he was without his school flag. It seems like that flag would slide into holes in his mouth. |
 |
Donald
DOnald comes with a different type of hat and matching sweater. |
Surprise! The Disney Store Online today released the 9″/Jr Kidada we have been waiting for since last year’s D23.
An LE 500, this set comes with a colorful 9″ featuring Pinocchio having fun at Pleasure Island, a Junior Jiminy Cricket and a pin. It retails for $74.95 and is available online as well as the North Michigan Avenue Disney Store in Chicago, Times Square Disney Store in Manhattan and the Walt Disney Studio Store in Burbank.
The back of the 9″ is delicious with donkey Pinocchio inside Monstro’s mouth.
The Junior Jiminy has a great facial expression as he is watching Pinocchio. The pin reads “Official Conscience, 18KT”. A nice touch.
The box, as with all Kidada’s, is simply brilliant. A colorful design with quotes and such that ads as much to the figure as the design itself.
The back of the box reinvents the way 9″s SHOULD be packaged! A window in the back gives collector’s a look at the whole design. And the way it’s done, with the curtain, is fantastic. I have never purchased a Kidada yet, but this one I hit “add to cart” as soon as it loaded onto the screen. One of the best overall designs I have ever seen on a 9″ Vinylmation, toss in the Jr, pin and packaging… and this is one of the instant standouts of 2012.
