EPCOT 30th Merchandise

Somewhere over the course of the past couple years, EPCOT has seemed to replace Magic Kingdom as my favorite Walt Disney World park. It’s the one I end up at the most as it’s so enjoyable to just go, walk around, take pictures and have a bite to eat there. This October the park turns 30. It’s undergone many changes over the years… some of our favorite attractions have come and gone. I’m not sure if it’s just rose colored glasses, but today’s EPCOT attractions do not seem to be as cool as some of the extinct ones. I also enjoy the retro designs of EPCOT much more than styles we see today. That is why I was thrilled when I read the latest post on the Disney Parks Blog. It is a sneak peak at some of the upcoming merchandise, and very specifically, pins.

I’m really excited about all the retro inspired merchandise that will be coming out later this year. But I have to say, just as my bank account was recovering from last year’s WDW 40th and The Florida Project, I am afraid I’ll see another dip this fall. No mention of Vinylmation… but what would you like to see? Some single 3″ or 9″? How about an LE set? Coming on the heals of a few EPCOT related LE sets from the WDW-centric Park 7 (Kitchen Kaberet and Tapestry of Nations) I’m not sure how much we will see, but I would love it! Check out the full Disney Parks Blog article here. There are a few more designs revealed.

Toy Story Cutesations Released in Japan

Thanks to a tweet by @hinaloe415, we were treated to some pictures of Toy Story Cutesations that were released in Japan. If you missed it, Cutesations is a blind box plush series that debuted with Alice in Wonderland last year. It is sold at Disney Stores and this Toy Story set seemed to have debuted at Disney Stores in Japan.

They cost 790 Yen ($9.46 USD) per blind box.

Disney Cruise Line 2012 Explained

Disney Cruise Line 2012
This page will list and update the DCL figures released over the course of 2012.

Photo from Vinylmation World
DCL Fantasy 2012
Will be available on Fantasy ship.

This 3″ has the Fantasy logo in the head and 2012 on the body. 2012 is the inaugural year for the Fantasy.

DCL Fantasy Showgirl Minnie
Maria Clapsis
Release Date: March 31
Will be available on Fantasy ship.
LE 2500
$39.95

This Minnie Mouse combo features the statue that will decorate the Fantasy’s atrium as well as a full color version. It also comes with a JR:

9″ DCL Fantasy Bow
Release Date: March 31
Will be available on Fantasy ship.
LE 750
$49.95
DCL Key Chains Blue

Release Date: 1/1/12
$16.95
Will be available on all 4 ships.

DCL Key Chains Grey

Release Date: 1/1/12
$16.95
Will be available on all 4 ships.

DCL Key Chains Pink

Release Date: 1/1/12
$16.95
Will be available on all 4 ships.

DCL Key Chains Red

Release Date: 1/1/12
$16.95
Will be available on all 4 ships.

Big Hats City Exclusive Explained

Big Hats City Exclusive
Release Dates: Vary
Price: Vary
Details: This series of similar style figures will be released periodically at Disney Stores around the world. They will represent the city in which they are released.

Roman Warrior
London Royal Guard
Dublin Leprechaun
Paris Chef

Monorail Series 1: Cars Explained

Monorail Series 1: Cars
Released Date: March 27 (DLR APs), March 30 (WDW and DLR)
Price: $11.95
Details: 12 figure mystery box set. Each figure is shaped like a Monorail car and is 4.5 inches long. Maria Clapsis and Thomas Scott designed the figures, Lin Shih designed the mold shape and Eric Caszatt designed the packaging. I love the retro look of the artwork:

Update: 3/21/12 Here are some photos of the Orlando D-Street display case from Austin. In the first shot, you can see the underside of the monorail showing a space where the rail would be.
Underside of Lightning and Mater
Full Display
Ka-Chow! McQueen’s close up
Sheriff and Ramone
Lightning McQueen
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Chick Hicks
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Doc Hudson
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Filmore
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Finn McMissile
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Flo
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Francesco Bernoulli
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Red
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Mater
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Ramone
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Sheriff
Photo from Vinylnation.net and Damang6388
Holly Shiftwell
(Chaser)

Park 8 Photoshoot

Recently, we got a sneak peak at a figure from Park 9. Park 9! Hold on there Disney, we are still enjoying Park 8. It did force us to get in gear and finish up our Park 8 photoshoot. We of course took the most recent series around Walt Disney World for some photos… and this is how it turned out. Thanks to Austin for help with the shoot and for providing the captions. We also posted some variant pictures on our Facebook page.

Location: Magic Kingdom
It is, in fact, 100% true, we did steal a time rover from animal
kingdom to get this shot.
Location: Magic Kingdom 
It is not true that if you shake the castle it turns into
cake. (Believe me we tried.)
Location: Blizzard Beach
Say ICE, and pose for the camera before you melt.
Location: Magic Kingdom 
Since Buddy is a star, he has a nice high-rise in Monstropolis with a great view.
Location: EPCOT Center 
Back when EPCOT first opened this guy was the only thing holding up
Spaceship Earth.
Location: EPCOT  Center
Location: Fort Wilderness Campground 
When Walt Disney first bought land for the Florida Project one of the aliases he used was MT Lott. Mickey stumbled upon this crate in the process of discovering that info.
Location: EPCOT Center 
We know he’s an excellent chef, what we didn’t know is that he is also
an artist.
Location: EPCOT Center 
“Glub Glub Glub.” If you spoke fish you’d know that means. Even fish are
big fins of Vinylmation.
Location: Magic Kingdom 
Found this on the ground over 30 years after it was issued, Wonder how much it’s worth?
Location: Magic Kingdom 
Location: Magic Kingdom 
I think she’s trying to tell us something.
Location: Animal Kingdom 
Off the beaten path lies the greatest wonder of them all.
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios 
Everybody wants to be a star in Hollywood, including the icons themselves.

Character Star Wars Series 5 Review

Oh, what a find! It started as an ordinary day at Walt Disney World. I was just walking around Star Tours taking pictures of Vinylmation. But before I went home for the day, I decided to step inside Tattooine Traders. For months now, I check the Star Wars displays to see if Series 5 of the Disney Characters as Star Wars action figures show up. They were not supposed to hit shelves until Star Wars Weekends in May, but to my great excitement, they were there. Like all the previous series, it’s a five figure set, but for the first time, Clone Wars characters are featured. They retail for $9.95 a piece.

First up is the bounty hunter Cad Bane. I think Disney stepped up the detail a little in these characters. The figure poses well and stands on his own easily. That was not always the case with Goofy action figures from this line.

I like the two guns, I only wish the holsters could actually house the guns when not in hand.

The breathing tubes are well done and are a soft flexible plastic. His jacket and hat also fit well on the figure.

Another bounty hunter, Aura Sing, is portrayed her by Daisy Duck. A good choice for this under used Disney character. Lots of accessories here. Just like Cad Bane, Aura gets 2 hand guns, but she also gets the riffle. If I’m being picky, the right hand holds the gun well, but the left hand is a little awkward. And even though these figures seem to more poseable than past series, she can’t really hold the riffle correctly. It does however hang over her shoulder rather well.

The back features her ponytail and duck tail as well as her holsters.

She can only really hold the riffle with one hand, but not too bad. Again, I would like the holsters to actually be able to house the guns when not in hand.

Donald Duck takes on the role of Commander Cody. Just a little too much like the Donald playing the Stormtrooper for me, but still a cool figure. The helmet opens and closes in two pieces over the head just like his Stormtrooper counterpart.

The cool part is the little ‘hologram’ Stitch as Emperor Palpatine recreating the receiving of “Executive Order 66.” The icing on the cake is that the hologram can sit right on Cody’s turned up hand.

Wow! Perfect. Stitch makes the best General Grievous. The costume is perfect and the use of Stitch’s extra arms is great. But the best part are the four light sabers. They are all designed just a little bit different. That is a great touch given that General Grievous acquires his light sabers from different Jedi Knights.

The back of the cape has cool detail.

They even have some detail under the cape.

Not sure why you would want to, but you can pop out the four arms and replace them with two.

Jawas round out the 5 figure set. Huey, Dewy and Louie play the part here. They are a nice fit and costumes look great. I also love the variety of accessories.

There are a couple different robot parts. And each Jawa has his own facial expression.

There is also a hand gun accessory. Overall, Series 5 is a welcome addition with great detail, a ton of accessories, well posed figures and of course, the addition of Clone Wars.

Monorail Cars Released Early: Chaser Revealed

A picture of the presumed chaser for the Monorail Cars series has been posted on Vinylnation.net. It appears that at least one case of this series went on sale in Disneyland 10 days before it was supposed to be on shelves.
The design shown features Holley Shiftwell from Cars 2.

Monorail Mold: What’s your opinion?

Today Disney showed us a first look at the Monorail Model onto which the Cars characters will be applied.

“Before they announced the mold I was looking forward to the set on Mickey Mold. I thought it would be interesting to see. Now that the mold is announced I don’t think I’m as excited. I have connection to the Monorails themselves so I’m not sure I’ll get these.” -MC

“I love them. I welcome more forms into Vinylmation and can’t wait to see other characters on these too! The idea of using a Disney icon like the monorail is a great idea.” -Nick

What do you think of these models? Does this go even farther then the mold then Park Starz? Will you get these?

Also, obviously Mater and Lightning. Who else will be on this set?