Spotlight On: Custom Vinylmation Artist Cesar Diaz

WDWNT on June 13, 2012

Cesar is becoming a staple of our Spotlight On segment. This prolific custom artist has put out another great piece… Syndrome, the villain from Pixar’s The Incredibles.

Syndrome was a request from a buddy of mine. I had a load of fun making him. I specially like working with his hair.

My original plan was to paint his cape. But I thought it would look so much better if it was fabric.



I am now thinking of characters that have hair because I want to start making more 9″ vinyls with hair.


Disneyland – June 29th; Schedule of Events

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

June 29th is a busy day for collectors at Disneyland. Up until now, we have only gotten bits and pieces of what is going on, now we seem to have the complete picture.

The day starts off with a treat for pin collectors. Gear Up for Adventure is part of a summer long series of pin releases at DLR. For a complete look at the catalog, please visit OnceUponAPin.com or listen to episode 2 of the Once Upon a Pin podcast (to be released on Tuesday, June 12).

Artists Monty Maldovan and Quynh Kimball will be at Pin Traders, Downtown Disney District from 9a-11a to sign those pins. Gear Up For Adventure Signing Opportunity – Guests who have obtained a Gear Up For Adventure Online Wristband will have the opportunity to meet the artists and have pins from the Road Trip to California collection signed.  For details, visit www.DisneyPins.com.

Then Vinylmation takes center stage with the release of Duffy the Disney Bear when D-Street opens at 10:30am. Also released this day is the (as of this post) unknown Color Block Series. The releases will be found on both coasts, however only Disneyland will get the following signings.

Monty Maldovan (Designed Duffy Vinylmtion) 1p-3p @ Treasures in Paradise inside Disney California Adventure

Quynh Kimball (Color Blocks???) 1p-3p @ D-Street

Monty Maldovan (Pin Signing) 3:30p-5p @ Little Green Men Store Command, Disneyland

Quynh Kimbal Disney Theme Park Editions – Game Signing) 3:30p-5p @ World of Disney, Downtown Disney District. Signed games will include Haunted Mansion LIFE, Disney Theme Park Clue, Disney Theme Park Monopoly,  Disney Theme Park Monopoly 3, Disney Theme Park UNO, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas Card Deck, Star Wars™ card deck.

Both Artists will then attend the free Vinylmation and Pin trading event from 7pm – 10pm at the Pacific Ballroom inside Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.

The fine print: Limit TWO (2) items signed per Guest. We ask that you bring no personal items to be signed. Event and information are subject to cancellation or change without notice including but not limited to dates, times, artwork, release dates, and retail prices. Merchandise for signing must be purchased on the event day at the event location. Valid Disneyland® Resort receipt may be required. Paid admission is required to enter Disney theme parks.

D23 Reveals Some Great Unseen Photos Of Cars Land

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

D23 recently posted some really neat photos of Cars Land and Radiator Springs. Take a look…

From the D23 Website:

Starting June 15, guests will enter Disney California Adventure along Buena Vista Street, a place that transports them to an era when Walt Disney arrived in California with new dreams: 1920s Los Angeles. Across the way, Cars Land expands Disney California Adventure by 12 acres and immerses guests in the thrilling world of the Disney•Pixar blockbuster Cars. D23 takes a first look at this immense expansion through these stunning new photos:


Buena Vista Street features Red Car Trolleys, inspired by the transportation system that once served Southern California, and the Carthay Circle Theatre, modeled after the site of the 1937 world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. 

The peaks of Ornament Valley rise up over the town of Radiator Springs.

Guests will feel as if they have stepped into the town of Radiator Springs as they enjoy three family attractions showcasing characters and settings from the movie.

Cars-themed dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Cafe, Ramone’s House of Body Art, and Radiator Springs Curios dot the map of historic Route 66.

One of the largest and most elaborate attractions ever created for a Disney park, Radiator Springs Racers is a twisting, turning, high-speed adventure through Ornament Valley and the town of Radiator Springs.

Max Guggenheim’s 3/8/12 DCA Photo Report

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

DLNT Photographer Max Guggenheim was at Disney California Adventure a few days ago giving us some neat photos of both Cars Land and Buena Vista Street…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Cars Land

So close….

Wow, this must be a first, reporting on Disneyland from DCA, the Matterhorn scaffolding is quickly coming down to the bottom half of the mountain

Pacific Wharf entrance to Cars Land

This guy is spending too much time in the Animation Academy

Moving on to Buena Vista Street

1…2…3.. Oohhh

Minnie’s Fly Girls is proving to be popular.

Yes, couldn’t go a month without a weather vane picture

First look at the North trolley station

May the force guide you back

Thanks for Reading!!!

Hayley Nance’s DLR Photo Report 3/4/12

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

DLR Photographer Hayley Nance was at the Disneyland Resort a few days ago and has some newsworthy pictures to share of the Matterhorn, Buena Vista Street, and much more…

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Matterhorn refurbishment continues

On Main Street, the Carnation Cafe expansion continues

Coke Corner reopened a while back

In Downtown Disney, The Lego Store has moved into its temporary space next to D street as the original Lego Store is refurbished

Over in DCA, work on the Parade route has completed in front of Mermaid

The Pacific Wharf lagoon has been filled again and bridge has reopened.

Cars Land

A look around the new Blue Sky Cellar exhibit

Over in the backlot, the facade next to the animation building is behind tarps

Yup, still here

Buena Vista Street

You can see that the Glendale Hyperion bridge framwork has gone up

Wrapping up the report is the first look at new signage installed at the bus loading area

Traffic Jam at Contemporary Monorail Station

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

Our friend, and soon to be contributor, Don Sawyer sent us this picture and caption:

My visit to D Street today in Orlando to purchase the 9″ Contemporary Motel and the 3″ Gold Monorail was especially exciting for me! I knew that I would get the chance to bring it home and display all of my other 3″ Monorails together as a set. They really look great together on my mantle. I am hoping that Disney will continue to release more monorail vinylmations in future park series because it one of my favorite collections!

New Video Give Us First Look At Red Car Trolley, Radiator Springs Racers, and Much More…

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

From Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

This afternoon, Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced that the five-year expansion of Disney California Adventure park will be complete on June 15 with the opening of Cars Land, Buena Vista Street and Carthay Circle Theatre!

Flo’s V8 Café Coming to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park
The Happiest Place on Earth will get even happier with four new attractions – Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi’s Flying Tires, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree and the Red Car Trolley – as well as new dining and shopping locations such as Flo’s V8 Café, Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream, Elias & Co. and Los Feliz Five & Dime. Disney California Adventure park will offer guests even more new experiences in addition to the attractions that have been added since the expansion began in 2007.

To accommodate a media preview and make final preparations for the opening, Disney California Adventure park will be closed for one day on June 14. Disneyland park, Downtown Disney District and the Disneyland Resort hotels will remain open for our guests on that day.

Take a look back at all the additions to Disney California Adventure park and a look ahead at all the new things to come this summer:

 

Next Free WDW Trading Night Announced

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

Looks like the every other month trend will continue. Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort will host a free trading night for Vinylmation and Pin collectors on the night of July 6 in the Fantasia G ballroom from 6p-9p. This will probably be the last free event until the ticketed Mickey’s Circus trading event.

New Disneyland Resort 6 Figure Set

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

Last year, Walt Disney World got an 8 figure set (6 regulars, 2 variants) celebrating the 40th anniversary. WDW then had two full Park sets dedicated to it. This summer however, there is a windfall of Disneyland figures. It started with a bunch of figures celebrating DCA. Now, on June 22nd, a set of 6 Disneyland figures will be available at D-Street California. Like the earlier WDW set, they represent the parks, establishing date and resort logo. These figures appeared in the Vault section of Disney’s Vinylmation website. So there were no details available. But it seems as if two of the figures might be Cast Member Trader Variants… similar to the way WDW had two variants that could only be found through trading with CMs.

 Disneyland

A red and yellow design that has Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in the head, “Disneyland” in the body and “1955” on the feet. It reads “The Happiest Place on Earth” on the back.

Disney’s California Adventure

A mostly yellow and blue figure with the retro style Mickey head found on the Ferris Wheel on the head. 
 

 Disneyland ’55

Very similar to the WDW version, it has the established date on the head, the same Mickey design on the body and a banner with “Disneyland” on the back.

Disneyland ’55 Silver Variant
Cast Member Trader?

Same as above, but silver.

Disneyland Classic D

The Classic D Disneyland logo on the head of a mostly yellow and blue figure. There are stars painted all around with Tinker Bell in the left ear.

Disneyland Classic D Silver Variant
Cast Member Trader?


Same as above, but silver.

Wonderground Gallery Opens Today

WDWNT on June 11, 2012

Zoe is at the Grand Opening of the Wonderground Gallery and is sending in pictures throughout the day…

Update 12:30pm PST

“A Bug’s Life” Vinylmation 95
Artist: Calef Brown
$900

“Boo Peep”
Artist: Miss Mindy
$3800

“Midway” Vinylmation 95
Artist: Miss Mindy
$2000
“Showtime”
Artist: Miss Mindy
$3800

Today, June 9, is the opening of the Wonderground Gallery at Downtown Disney California. It is an art gallery full of amazing paintings and various collectibles and will be the showcase for the new Vinylmation 95.

Noah and a few other artists will be the first to present their customs to the public for purchase, then a Create Your Own will go on sale on June 15 at D-Streets.

Late yesterday, our own Zoe took a peak inside the store.

You can see (besides Zoe’s reflection) Cast Members still setting up inside.

If you would like to get a custom Vinylmation 95 at the Wondergallery, Disney has posted the following information:
“Guests may line up for the Grand Opening of the WonderGround Gallery on June 9, 2012 behind the Rainforest Cafe. In addition, beginning at 7am, wristbands will be distributed for the Vinylmation™ 95 releases in conjunction with the WonderGround Gallery Grand Opening.  We ask that you please not line up prior to 6am.  Wristbands are limited.  Limits will apply.  Merchandise not guaranteed.  All information subject to change without notice.”

In addition to the Lightning mold customs, the Disney Vinylmation Blog gave us all a peak at a Mickey mold custom designed by Miss Mindy that will be available.

If you are just interested to go browse, or meet the artists, here is a schedule of today’s events:

The following artists will take part in a special appearance and signing on
Saturday, June 9, 2012 at WonderGround Gallery in the Downtown Disney District.

11 am – 1pm
Brigette Barrager, J. Scott Campbell, Martin Hsu, Amy Mebberson, Miss Mindy,
Noah, Genevieve Santos and Lyla Warren

3 pm – 5pm
Stacey Aoyama, Sean Chao, Sean D’Anconia, Danny Handke, Jerrod Maruyama, Michelle Romo,
Jared Andrew Schorr and Frank Svengsouk

If you attend, please send pictures… especially if you purchase one of the Vinylmation 95 customs!