Back It Up in Style

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Do you trust your Vinylmation with your most important data? Disney sure hopes so. The nifty tech gadget we saw in Japan a few months back has made it stateside. On March 2, Disney will release 8GB flash drives designed as Vinylmation. At $64.95, the price seems a little steep for an 8GB USB drive. A quick search on Best Buy’s website shows that most 8GB drives can be had for $35 or less. There are more expensive ones, but they seem to come with special encryption and other data back up or security software that I doubt this one comes with. So Disney is banking on the fact that you will pay for the character. They have chosen three designs for this release.

Photo from Vinylmation World

Oopsy was the design released in Japan. He is originally a Thomas Scott figure from Urban 1. The second USB takes a design from Cutesters 1.

Lisa Badeen designed the entire Cutesters 1 series, and Disney seems to like to use this Owl design on various other Vinylmation products such as a women’s bag that is available in the stores. The third design is from the Cast Member Exclusives collection.

This retro Mickey design was the second first CM exclusive to be released. So there is really something for everyone here to choose from, but will the USB drives be a hit? At the $65 price point, will you pick one up? If so, to use or display? And if you have used one from Japan, how are they? I’m assuming they are flat on the back of the figure so they fit easily into a laptop or back of a tower?

Future World Mickey Tops Off the March 2nd Releases

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

We saw him visit the shelves of DLP before the US parks, but now, the Park 8 combo topper featuring EPCOT Future World Mickey will be available at WDW and DLR beginning March 2.

The combo topper will cost $24.95 and will of course be packaged with a blind box of Park 8. The design in a nice choice for this WDW themed set and even the face looks a bit retro and differently designed than other Mickeys we have seen. Is it just me, or does the face actually look more costume like than the other Mickey faces?

Collectors Corner: Nick

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

MC has been on me awhile now to post some pictures of my collection, so I took some initiative this morning, counted them up and took some pictures. We always welcome you to submit pictures of your collection and over the next few weeks, the DV staff will share ours.

Name: Nick LoCicero

Hometown: Orlando, FL

Collection size: 750

3″ = 628
9″ = 64
Jr. = 58
Park Starz = 12
Watches = 3
Ear Hats = 4
Customs = 7 (3 I made myself)

My Stormtrooper army is up to 22!

How long have you been collecting?
Since July 1, 2010. I remember the day well. It was the return of Captain EO to Epcot. It was raining all day. To stay dry, I hopped inside Mouse Gears where I saw they started to trade Vinylmation. That hooked me. I went home with 10 and was back just about every couple days for weeks. Now I’m over 700. The 750 figure above is pretty close to accurate. It doesn’t include my like 20 traders, 10 sitting there to be repainted customs, 14 Urban 6 Killer Bees awaiting an Epcot Flower and Garden photo shoot and a few other random doubles I hold onto because I like them. (It does however include to 22 Stormtroopers)

One row in my case is dedicated to my favorite Park figures with the chasers gathered to the far right.
One row has various figures including Muppets, Urban chasers and DCL.

What is your favorite figure that you own?
My first one, Park 4 IASW Leopard.

Another row used to be Urban, but now shelves my movie themed pieces.

Which of these is the best feeling: Pulling a figure you want… from a blind box you just purchased, from a great trade with another collector, from a mystery trading box at the park or from a clear trading box?
A blind box. Because I split cases now, that feeling is largely gone. But it was the best.

I have stuff all over… these Villains sit on top of a speaker
This stuff is stacked on top of my display case.
And more still sits in labeled boxes waiting for that addition on my house.
The top of my computer desk is crowded with Disney collectibles. Stormtrooper Donald is one of my favorites.
More stuff on top of my desk.
Way up top, all kinds of Buzzs and Woodys hang out.
One of my favorite sections is my retro Disney themed area.
I even have stuff on my TV stand.
Vinylmation was my gateway drug… pins were the next logical step. Here is my just full pin board.
That Alex Maher designed framed collage is wonderful, but the crown jewel of my Disney collectibles is that WDW 1/2 Marathon medal. One, because I love Donald and the design is brilliant, but mostly because I earned it. Send us an email to DestinationVinylmation@gmail.com to have your collection featured.

Episode 061 Cookie Jar

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Ep. 061 Cookie Jar

This week we talk more about Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, the exciting new game at MK. We also give the latest news updates about Park 7, Disneyland Paris and more. We have the latest release and events calendar. And we play your voice mails in the Mystery Mail Bag.

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Trading Nights at Disneyland Paris

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Thanks to @VM_Paris, we have a couple Disneyland Paris Vinylmation and Pin trading nights to announce. The first is tonight at Hotel New York!

The next trading event will take place on April 28th at Walt Disney Studios.

Release Day: February 24, 2012

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

I don’t know about you, but I kind of like the surprise of recent release days. Not knowing what’s to come only days before Friday, or in some cases on the day itself. Today, the 9″ Park 7 Main Street Electrical Parade LE 1500 figure was released at D-Streets and Online.

Thanks to the Online store posting, we also got a look at the reverse…

Are you all aboard this Lin Shih design? Also released both in stores and online, the 7 Adventures Ticket Book.

I was on the fence about this one… until I saw the back.

This Thomas Scott designed LE 1500 figure has great detail and a retro figure. Both have a nice $44.95 retail price! Very nice to see that. Also very nice to see, D-Tour available online…

I can tell you from the couple I purchased, these are excellent designs and look great in person.

More 9″ Park 7 Release Dates

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

9" Park 7 LEs 7 Adventures MK and Main Street Electrical Parade Train to release on 2/24 at D-Streets. CM quoted me price of $44.95 out of book. The 2 figures sit on display in Orlando.

Animation 2 Photoshoot

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

We couldn’t keep them boxed up. The figures from Animation 2 wanted to check out Walt Disney World. So Austin and I took them around the parks to see their favorite spots. Austin added some captions too. And as always, there are plenty more pictures from this shoot on our Facebook page.

Attention: We found the Bear Necessities.
Chicken Little got so tired of saying the sky is falling, he decided to make a sign.
Now only if there were two of every instrument in the Philharmagic Orchestra … or is there?
Where a million diamonds shine! Or in this case four, but they ARE realllllllly shiny.
Flower is just simply twitterpattered by all the flowers.
Beware whilst walking in Liberty Square at night you might come home without a head.
A rare moment where Jiminy Cricket gets time to himself.
I can guarantee you he whistles while he works and so do those trains.
Jose and Donald enjoy a little siesta.
Nobody monkeys around with Monkey Fist and lives to tell the tail, that’s just Kim Possible.
Sebastian got caught in a net, best be careful Chef Louis doesn’t catch him.
It ain’t too long a walk to Tiggr’s mailbox when you’ve got a spring in your step … or is it tail?
Tinker Bell welcomes guests to the Kingdom.

New Star Wars Figures Coming Soon

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

by Nick LoCicero

I’ve been waiting so long for these! The Disney Parks Blog has announced a March release for the Disney Character Star Wars Series 5 set.

Series 5 will feature Huey, Dewy and Louie as Jawas and then, for the first time, a few Clone Wars figures made the cut. Donald Duck as Commander Cody, Daisy as Aurra Sing, Goofy and Cad Bane and Stitch as General Grievous.

Park 8 Limited Edition Explained

WDWNT on March 5, 2012

Park 8 Limited Edition

Update: 5/23/12 9″ Contemporary and Birthday Cake Castle get June 1st release dates. Contemporary will cost $89.95 and comes with a 3″ Gold Monorail. Castle will price at $54.95.

 9″/3″ Contemporary Resort
and Monorail Gold
WDW (1971-Present)
LE 2000
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Price: $89.95
Artist: Lin Shih
–
One of the original three resorts to open at Walt Disney World (Fort Wilderness and Polynesian). The side of the resort is featured on the viny’s front. The resort is famous for it’s A-Frame design and unique room construction. Each room was built off site complete with electrical and plumbing and then just inserted into the frame.

Picture from D23 WDW 40th slide

Picture from D23 WDW 40th slide
The resort is also famous for the monorail track that travels right through the building. So it makes sense, a 3″ Monorail would accompany it. We have 4 Monorails (Red, Blue, Green and Orange), but this will be the first in new mold.

9″ Yeti
Animal Kingdom (2006-Present)
LE 1000
Release Date: TBA
–
We have a Park 1 Yeti and a Park Starz version, but none seem to capture the Yeti’s ferocity as depicted in the Exhibition Everest attraction as this one does. It has the straggly fur, glowing red eyes and big teeth where as the other version depict a more cartoonish Yeti.

Picture from JimHillMedia.com

Picture from MousePlanet.com
The figure looks to take inspiration from both the animatronic Yeti himself as well as some of the artwork in the queue. But the big question remains… will the Vinylmaiton Yeti’s arms move?

9″ 25th Birthday Cake Castle
Magic Kingdom (1996-1998)
LE 1000
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Price: $54.95
Artist: Mike Sullivan
–
To celebrate the 25th birthday of MK, imagineers transformed Cinderella’s Castle into a giant cake.

Picture from leagueent.com
400 gallons of pink paint, 26 giant glowing candles, 30 3ft. tall lollipops and more decorated the castle for 15 months. This figure seems to represent one of most debated renovations in Walt Disney World history.

9″ Mickey Mouse Revue
Magic Kingdom (1971-1980)
Artist: Alex Maher
LE 1500
Released: May 2012
–
An opening day attraction that featured audio animatronic performers lead by Mickey Mouse. This figure portrays the dressed up conductor Mickey with accessory baton. The rest of the orchestra was made up of classic Disney characters.

Picture from Walt Dated World
The attraction was replaced by Magic Journeys, The Lion King and eventually Philharmagic. The show now resides at Tokyo Disneyland.