Cars 2 Vinylmation Explained

WDWNT on August 8, 2011

Cars 2 Combo Pack
Release Date: August 26 at D-Streets
Online Release Date: September 2
Disney Store Release Date: September 19
Limited Release
Retail: $26.95


Update: 8/10/11 Disney announced today that the Cars 2 combo pack will be available at Disney Stores on September 19th! Good call Disney on what will be a popular set. Give us more Pixar combos as Limited Releases!

Cars 2 combo pack on display at D-Street Orlando
Side/Rear of Lightning McQueen

On the back of Lightning, you can see the flames, window and antenna. It looks like it might say “World Grand Prix” like the back of his car in Cars 2. On the sides, his wheels are painted on.

Mater

Mater’s back side has tail lights and a black and yellow caution bumper painted on. On the side you can see his mirrors, “Tow Mater” logo and his wheels.

Yum! Food Related Vinylmation!

WDWNT on August 8, 2011

Take a look at this picture. Notice a theme? Steven Miller posted this on the Disney Parks Blog today. What upcoming Vinylmation can you make out? Do any peak your interest?

Copyright Disney

Review: King of the Wild Frontier

WDWNT on August 7, 2011

I was never a huge fan of westerns, but for some reason Davy Crockett always intrigued me. As a kid, I would want to watch the Disney Davy Crockett movies over and over. So I was excited when I saw the blurry brown outline of a man with a hat on the side of a 9″ Park 6 box sometime last year and had the hopes it was really Davy. Well, it of course was.

This 9″ Park 6 Davy Crockett retails for $44.95 and was designed by Casey Jones. As simple as this figure is, every detail on Davy is done flawlessly. It really captures the look and feel of the old west and Davy Crockett.

By far, the biggest surprise was the hat. Not that it was there, or that it was removable. Both those facts we  knew. But the detail went above and beyond what it needed to be to be acceptable. Instead of just tapering off, the tail is actually layered with the jigsaw pattern plastic.

The hat also has a decent weight to it. That is quickly evident when picking up the box at the store.

Again, the figure is simple, but every step designed by Casey seems like a natural and perfect fit. you can see the knife on Davy’s belt and the detail on his shoes..

On his other side is a drum. The colors and shading are done very well throughout the piece.

This Davy is certainly worth picking up for any Disney fan. As for me, this easily makes it into my top 5 favorite 9″ Vinylmation. Sam the Eagle, Space Mountain 35th, Tiki Room, Sully and now Davy Crockett. I was also lucky enough to pick up a signed version of this figure. Casey signed the window on the box with a bold gold pen. Thanks again for leaving those at D-Street. He’s not one of the more popular figures these days, but this Vinyl is a winner to me. What do you think about this one?

Fantasmic! Refurbishment Has Us Imagining Some Possible Show Changes

WDWNT on August 4, 2011

It is now confirmed that Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios will not run from January 5th to February 12th, 2012. We have been getting a lot of questions about this closure and if it means the show will be changing. While everything is purely speculation at this time, let’s look at the facts. The show will only be closed for a little over 5 weeks. This is not enough time for any serious overhaul such as a new high-tech dragon, but is at least enough time for some technical upgrades. It is more than possible that new lighting, projectors, and props could be introduced to the show as installation time on items like this is not very lengthy. At this point, we should probably just be happy that the show is getting some TLC at all and will probably look a lot better following the brief closure.

If anything on this story should change, WDW News Today will keep you posted. For now, any major changes are simply “in your imagination”.

Doug in Hand

WDWNT on August 4, 2011


I got my Disney Afternoons Doug two pack yesterday. The package was a bit weather beaten, but the set was safe inside. The box art matches all the other Disney Afternoons sets with a black and white theme and characters from the show on it. The figures themselves looked pretty good. I was a little disapointed that Doug could not hold the “Beets” album. It just sits there at his feet. (So I don’t think it succeeds as a good accessory.)
The backs are really extra plain on the bodies. The only detail is Porkchop’s tail.
But check out the ears.
On the front of the ears are Doug’s diary with mentions of Patti and Skeeter. Maybe those will be the two in the next set?
On the back of the ears are drawings of Doug and Porkchop as superheroes. These are Quailman and Quaildog from several episodes of the series.
In case you wondered, this set is a LE of 1000 and designed by Christopher Chapman. (And apparently made in China)

Kermit and Animal on Display at D-Street

WDWNT on August 4, 2011

Both the Kermit and Animal 9″ Muppet 2 figures come out on August 5 in D-Street and Online. They are both LE 1500 and retail for $44.95. There was a nice surprise on Kermit’s back by the way.

Kermit and Animal 9″ Muppets 2
Back of 9″ Kermit’s hat

Look at that! Even tourist Kermit gets his name stitched into the back of his ear hat.

9″ Kermit Muppets 2
9″ Animal Muppets 2

Animal’s drumstick was a little smaller than we expected from the pictures, but it’s a nice fit in his hand and with the size of the figure.

9″ Animal Muppets 2

“Key to the Kingdom” WDW 40th Anniversary Ink and Paint Cel Premieres

WDWNT on August 4, 2011

Art of Disney Parks recently announced a new Ink and Paint Cel that is on the way just in time for Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary:

Event: Key to the Kingdom Ink and Paint Cel Premiere
Special Guests: Disney Design Group Artist, Costa Alavezos and Ink & Paint Artists, James Bonserio, Erin Magill, Theodora M. DeLaney, David Rippberger, Lynn Rippberger, Sharon K. Vincent
Event Date: Saturday, September 3, 2011
Event Times: 10:00am -1:00pm & 2:00pm – 5:00pm
Event Location: Studios Animation Gallery, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™

Celebrate 40 Magical years with the newest commemorative release from the Disney Studios Ink & Paint Team!

Key to the Kingdom captures the essence of wonder and excitement that comprised the magical kingdom since it opened its gates on October 1, 1971.

The talented Ink & Paint team hand painted the iconic Mickey Mouse and loveable Pluto onto each Key to the Kingdom cel in this celebratory release comprised of 1500 cels.

An exclusively designed pin has been created to commemorate the release of the new cel, the pin is available with the first 750 orders placed for a framed cel only.



Key to the Kingdom
Limited Edition Pin

The Ink and Paint cel frames are wooden frames with options of either black or gold finishing.  All Ink and Paint cels are framed in museum grade plexi to preserve the delicate art.

If you are unable to attend the premiere of Key to the Kingdom, but would still like to purchase the Ink & Paint cel, please contact Walt Disney Event Services to pre-order your cel.

All pre-orders must be placed with
Walt Disney Event Services no later than
Friday, September 2, 2011 by 3:00pm EST.

Walt Disney Event Services
at 407-827-7600
Monday – Friday
9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm

Key to the Kingdom 
IS AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING FRAME OPTIONS:

FRAMING OPTIONS & RETAILS
Unframed Cel $125
Black Frame and Cel $215
Black Frame with Pin and Cel $240
Black Frame with Pin, Postcard and Cel $265
Gold Frame and Cel $290