New, Moved and Head Scratching Release Dates

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

This update, not going to lie, hurt my brain a little bit to process. Disney certainly does not make it easy for us. By the way, side note, and probably why I am in a bad mood while writing this… Did anyone else see that the WDW Premium Annual Passholder discounts will drop to 10% as of January 1, 2013? So as my discount gets cut in half, I can tell Disney that not only will they be getting less money from me at renewal, but I’ll be sure to purchase at least half as much merchandise as I normally do. Anyway, how about those release dates… They changed some days. Changed some locations. Added new dates and even duplicated some. Take a look.

The Disney Vacation Club Exclusive 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $14.95 ) was moved from a January 11th release date to February 15th in the parks only. It is still supposedly set for a January 11th online release. The design of this figure is not known at this time, but is presumed to be from this this concept art.

As I have been presuming for a few weeks, the January 10th release of the 3″ Run Disney figure (Commemorative / Retail: $12.95) and WDW Marathon Weekend Mini Medals (Open Edition /Retail: $1.95) will be at the Clubhouse Store at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during the Expo that takes place before the races. How do I know these releases better than Disney itself? The odd part is, they kind of took away the part about it also being available at D-Street in Orlando. I say “kind of” because, well here is the exact wording: “ESPN Clubhouse Shop, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex t Downtown Disney West Side in Florida”. Um, ya, ESPN is not at Downtown Disney. However, there is a later posting on the Events page about the Mini Medal accessories being released at D-Street Orlando on January 22nd. But that still still leaves the 3″ figure. I presume it will also end up at D-Street, if not on the 10th, then by the weekend. The 3″ Run Disney figure remains on the release slate for January 10th at D-Street Anaheim  The January 13th signing with artist Maria Clapsis also remains in place for 5-7pm at D-Street Orlando.

On February 1st, the February 2013 Poster Art 3-inch figure by Patty Landing (Edition Size: 2,013 / Retail: $14.95) will be released at both D-Streets. In an exciting turn of events, the exact same figure is also listed for a February 11th release… but only in Anaheim  Sorry Orlandonians, you only get it once. Here is a look at the calendar art and Vinylmation figure.

On February 22nd, both D-Streets will receive a new 2013 Easter 3″ figure designed by Billy Davis (Commemorative / $14.95). No photos of this design as of yet.

The left coast D-Street will also get a Mad T Party, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, 3-inch figure set (Edition Size: 1,500 / $24.95). No photos of this design as of yet either.

Photo from  Loren Javier’s flickr

Lastly, the Disney Vinylmation Facebook page store will get the Fantasia Series # 5, Baucchus & Donkey from The Pastoral Symphony, 3-inch figure set (Edition Size: 1,500 / $24.95). We did not know until this posting what characters were in sets 5 through 8. I wish they accompanied this release info with a photo, but they did not. So here they are from the movie itself.

A Closer Look at New Fantasyland’s Princess Fairytale Hall Concept Art

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

Disney shared the concept art for Princess Fairytale Hall in New Fantasyland earlier today, one piece you probably have seen and one you probably haven’t:

The new home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom, Princess Fairytale Hall will feature walls of stone and stained glass windows, a spacious gallery adorned with portraits of Disney princesses and elegantly finished rooms where guests can meet Aurora, Cinderella and other princesses. Set to open in 2013, Princess Fairytale Hall will be located in the Castle Courtyard in the center of Fantasyland. (Disney)

 The first is the previously seen concept art of the facade

The new home for visiting royalty in the Magic Kingdom, Princess Fairytale Hall will feature walls of stone and stained glass windows, a spacious gallery adorned with portraits of Disney princesses and elegantly finished rooms where guests can meet Aurora, Cinderella and other princesses. Set to open in 2013, Princess Fairytale Hall will be located in the Castle Courtyard in the center of Fantasyland. (Disney)

This new piece show what the interior may look like when the experience opens in Fall 2013. If it stays true to this artwork, we can expect to see each Princess below a portrait of themselves and in front of a stained-glass window that represents something from their respective films. If you look closely, you’ll also see statues representing characters from Cinderella, Princess and the Frog, and Sleeping Beauty.

Dirk Wallen’s 9/16/12 Magic Kingdom Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen took a short trip to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday and has some newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

A look at the former Fantasyland Skyway site construction

Storybook Treats remains open during pathway work, but the Seven Dwarfs Mine shop is gone

Track is being installed on the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train roller-coaster

The second level of Village Haus that has been closed for some time is now being refurbished

The former Crow’s Nest in Adventureland is still closed

Tinker Bell is now in her winter clothes in Adventureland

Her sister Periwinkle is now doing meet and greets

Halloween cups are now being used for drinks

Frankenweenie merchandise has hit stores

Light-up trick-or-treat baskets now available

Some neat seasonal treats available at the Confectionary

Dirk Wallen’s 9/14/12 Downtown Disney Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen went to check out the progress on several projects happening at Downtown Disney right now, so let’s see what’s going on:

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Characters in Flight is still down

Phineas and Ferb and You is running currently at the West Side

Guests get super-imposed in the cartoon

A nearby merchandise cart

Work continues on Splitsville… does it seem like they are a bit behind to anyone else? They are supposed to open sometime in the Fall.

Not sure if these are new but these carts are located between Marketplace and Pleasure Island

Work moving slowly on the new exterior and bar at Rainforest Cafe as well

Some work is also being done on the exterior of T-Rex

Ads are already up for the D-Tech Me princess experience at World of Disney

Monorail Sightings Confirmed in Trade Boxes

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

A few Walt Disney World guests have been finding a surprise in some clear trading boxes around Downtown Disney.

As rumored last week, some of the unreleased Monorail Urban Vinylmation are being made available for trade in clear trading boxes. The photo above was found on Vinylmation Exchange. You can trade a Mickey shaped 3″ figure for the Monorail if you wish. No word on how or why these are being made available. A lot of unreleased Monorails from this series were sold via silent auction at Mickey’s Circus in September.

A number of questions do arise from this development. Is this how they decided to get rid of a certain amount of inventory from a series they decided not to sell? How many of these are sitting back there? Are these just production samples or actually from a larger quantity produced? Is this a test to see if further Monorail series will be produced? Send us your pictures of Monorails inside trade boxes or ones you pick up!

Alcohol Comes to the Magic Kingdom Along with the Be Our Guest Restaurant in New Fantasyland

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

Walt Disney World not only previewed some of the delicious dishes for the Be Our Guest restaurant opening November 19th as part of New Fantasyland today, but they actually revealed that assorted wines and beers will be served as well. This will make Be Our Guest the first restaurant in the 41 year history of the Magic Kingdom to serve alcohol.

“More than ever, we’re using storytelling and creativity as we develop our menus,” says Maribeth Bisienere, vice president of Food & Beverage and Merchandise for The Walt Disney Company. “We’re continually creating magical experiences, and Be Our Guest Restaurant at New Fantasyland is the next step in the evolution.”

As guests dine amongst either the Ballroom, Rose Gallery, or the West Wing, here are some of the offerings they can choose from:

Mussels Provençal

Grilled Strip Steak with Garlic-Herb Butter and Pommes Frites

Layered Ratatouille

Mousse-Filled Cream Puffs

Gourmet Cupcakes

Pan-seared Salmon with Leek Fondue and Saffron Potatoes

Assorted Cured Meats and Sausages

Lunch, Dinner, and Drink (complete with prices) menus are currently available online through the Walt Disney world website.

I’m sure you would like an explanation as to why they are serving beer and wines with dinner, so here is what Disney provided:

“As part of the overall theming, we wanted to offer wine that enhances the guest experience and complements the French-inspired cuisine,” says Stuart McGuire, Beverage Director, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “The wines focus primarily on France’s famous wine-growing regions, including Champagne, Alsace, Loire, Rhone, Burgundy and Bordeaux.

“We’ll also offer the leading French beer, Kronenbourg 1664,” says McGuire. “And, staying in the general region, we’ll also offer Belgian beers.”

So, what do you think of the menu and the bombshell announcement regarding alcohol in the Magic Kingdom?

Run Disney Figure with Mini Medals and Artist Signing

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

This is an absolutely brilliant idea. We finally have details on the 2013 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend Vinylmation. Normally, there is a separate 3″ figure for each race, the Marathon, Half Marathon and Goofy Challenge. This year, they put an interesting twist on things. We knew about the 3″ Run Disney figure that will be released on January 10th at both D-Street Orlando and California. The Disney Collection (former Art of Disney) Blog had recently released a 360 photo of this figure.

It is Mickey, all ready to run. Just like previous years, it has a space on the back to write in your finishing time. It is an open edition figure and will retail for $12.95. The Disney Vinylmation Blog also mentioned something about “mini medals” for $1.95. We thought this may be some kind of error; just alluding to Vinylmation that replicate the medals. But NO, MUCH better!!!

The Mini Medals are actual accessories you can buy, then hang around your 3″ Run Disney Vinylmation’s neck! As a person who participates in these races and loves to have these keepsakes… I love it! Those will also be released on January 10th. I am speculating the race expo at Wide World of Sports or the Clubhouse store at the complex will carry these. D-Street will have them for sure.

Then, in an exciting twist, instead of holding an artist signing at the expo before the race, the signing with artist Maria Clapsis will be held on January 13th, after the WDW Marathon, at D-Street Orlando from 5-7pm. So show up proudly wearing your medal. I may ask her to write my time in as well!

Lastly, if you are interested in the WDW Marathon Weekend pins, there are a ton of them this year, including a boxed set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the marathon. You can hear all about them on the last episode of Once Upon a Pin and check them out at Disney’s official pins page.

2013 Poster Series Signing with Dave Keefer

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

On January 4th at D Street in Orlando Disney Design Group Artist, Dave Keefer will hold a signing from 5 to 7pm. On that same day, the first 2013 Poster Art inspired Disney Pin and Vinylmation figure will be released.  Dave will be available to sign the Vinylmation, pin and Poster Art Calendar. The Vinylmation is LE 2013 and will retail for $14.95. The pin is LE 2000, costs $19.95 and comes with a display easel. The calendar includes some amazing artwork and has perforated pages to make it easy to remove the posters. It retails for $19.95.

Each month, a new Vinylmation and Pin (as well as other merchandise including iPhone cases) will be released based on artwork from the 2013 Poster Art Calendar. This previous article took a look at the entire Vinylmation set and the calendar pages.

Myths and Legends Photos Surface

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

Vinylmation Kingdom had recently posted some photos of the Disney Store’s upcoming Myths and Legends series. It is rumored to be out on January 7th with no announcement by Disney as of this posting. What are your thoughts?

To me, it is another excellent set of designs, but continues the Disney Store’s recent trend of non-Disney character themed sets. That is beating an old drum, but if the sets were spread out and not the last 5 releases, it would be a different story. They also seem like great designs to spread through an Urban themed series.