Tom Staggs Updates Shareholders on Next-Gen Experiences in the Disney Parks

WDWNT on February 20, 2011

Tom Staggs took the stage yesterday to address shareholders just as he has in years past but now as President of Parks and Resorts. After reflecting on his past year as the head of Parks and Resorts Staggs proceeded to outline the capital investments that the Parks division has been making over the year and what we can expect as guests for the next few years.

Let’s take a look at some of the highlights for the resort:

-As Previously Reported the Snow White Mine Train coaster will take advantage of a newly patented ride vehicle, which twists and turns on its track.
-The new Art of Animation Resort will open sometime in 2013 (Still may be 2012, this was probably a typo) and contain 1,200 family suites and 800 value rooms
-New “tools” will allow guests to interact with the princesses in there new homes in a new immersive and highly personalized way

Perhaps the most exciting portion of Stagg’s presentation was the confirmation of what we can expect from the Next Gen Experience originally reported here on WDW News Today in December 2009:

“Further strengthening the belief that the guest experience starts from the moment guests book their trip[, they will be able to map out their entire vacation from the comfort of their home.” They will be able to use new tools to help them:

-Reserve times for Attractions, Shows and Character interactions
-Secure seats at shows and spectaculars
-Simplify the check-in process so that guests will arrive on property with their resort keys in hand getting them into the parks and resort quicker than ever before.
-Better route resources based on guest needs dynamically throughout the day helping to improve guest flow and improve the overall guest experience

While there aren’t many details available at this time this is the first time that park management has gone into any depth on the next gen initiatives. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more developments. To read the full transcript of Tom Staggs’ presentation click here

Episode 011 Yeti Mouse

WDWNT on February 20, 2011

Ep. 011 Yeti Mouse
On this episode, Nick and MC review the recently released series, Nerds Rock! They also review the Park 5 9″s and the 3″ exclusive figures from Hong Kong’s 5th Anniversary. This week they added a regular Online Disney Store section, to keep listeners not in either Orange County up to date on what they can buy. We also answer a special question in the Mystery Mailbag section.
Listen Now:
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Evilos Strikes Back

WDWNT on February 19, 2011

A while back we posted about the custom Mickey in Carbonite we bought from Evilos, showing a picture we took of Boba Fett pushing him to his ship. Evilos has one-uped us by creating one rad diorama with several of the Star Wars Vinylmation characters and his custom Carbonite figure. As always he fills the piece with lots of extras, like the guns for everyone and Boba Fett’s cape (see 2nd picture). This is a great way to show off the custom piece he’s created. The base also plays the Imperial March. Check it out.

We also got a chance to talk to Evilos about several aspects of the diorama’s construction.

Destination Vinylmation: We really like the guns you find for your pieces, where did these come from?
Evilos: The guns were from the 3 3/4″ product hasbro line, also Boba’s cape. The guns were dry brushed with silver to make them look real and glued
DV: The base is awesome, tell us about it.
E: The base was custom masked and painted, all figures are bolted to the base. Static but Heads and arms still move.
DV: You say the base plays the Imperial March. How was that constructed?
E: Low profile base stand legs used to help house (hide) the sound component. Sound works with a switch in the back of the base.
DV: Lastly, the floating Carbonite Slab looks magical. I know in my picture it was a camera trick, but here its floating from all viewpoints. If you can, could you explain how that happened?
E: The floating effect is achieved by pinning the block to the side of Boba, then bolting Boba to the base to hold the weight of the block.
DV: Wow. Amazing as always. Thank you for your time, and once again we appreciate the contribution to the Vinylmation community you and your art provide.
To purchase this detailed representation of the famous scene from Star Wars, just to to the eBay action here.
Evilos makes and sells his custom pieces at Evilos.com and is on twitter at @EvilosArt. Check out his stuff.

Nerds in Hand

WDWNT on February 19, 2011

Update: The glasses on all these figures do come off, and, as long as the figures are not moved a lot, they will stay on after the band is removed. It is similar to the 3D Mickey glasses. All you have to do is find the right spot of the head to sit the glasses on.

Disney’s Nerds Rock! series has been a popular theme for clothing and other Park merchandise and today they were released in Vinylmation form. Each figure retails for $9.95 at D-Street in Orlando and CA and will be released soon at the Disney Store Online. We got our hands on the 8 figure Doug Strayer (9″ Urban 1 Tin Mickey, 9″ Urban 2 Tiki Mickey, 9″ Urban 5 Moon) designed Open Window set today. So sit back, relax and take a trip into the world of pocket protectors, chess club and weggies. We present to you, Nerds Rock!

Mickey Mouse

Mickey’s cool (yes, these Nerds are cool) feature is the pencil in his ear!

Minnie Mouse
Minnie and Dasiy have removable clip-on bows! Just think of the other Vinylmation that can wear bows now.

Donald Duck
Donald has a cool Propeller Hat. It doesn’t spin, but its still a great addition.
Goofy
Goofy’s distinguishing feature is his braces.
Pluto
All the characters in Nerds Rock! have designer glasses with Mickey heads on them.
Daisy
All the character’s glasses are held on by the clear elastic bands we saw on the display figures awhile back. We thought they might just be for display, but it turns out the released figures have them. The bands are wrapped around the head and ears and lay over the sides of the glasses. The bands can be removed, but it seems to me the glasses would probably have a hard time staying on if you do and they do sit well enough to not require the bands. They are not too noticeable though, so I don’t see it giving most collectors a problem (if they want to keep them on).
Chip
Dale
What Nerd is complete without a place to protect his or her pens???
Other Nerds Rock Pictures
Disney Design group artist Doug Strayer put a ton of detail into this series.

One Final “Wishes!” from Toontown Fair

WDWNT on February 19, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee was at the Magic Kingdom on the final day of operation for Mickey’s Toontown Fair and recorded a pretty cool video of “Wishes!” from the now-shuttered land:

Another Holiday

WDWNT on February 17, 2011

The Vinylmation Facebook showed a sneak peak of another Holiday 3 Series. (We previously saw the Chanukah figure.) Today they revealed another Valentine 3″. I really like it. I think it’s better then the 9″ Cupid from the Holiday 2 set!


What are your thoughts?

With Those, Hungry (Pied) Eyes

WDWNT on February 16, 2011

Check out what we stumbled onto at the Disney Store. The rare Pied Eyed Mickey from the Big Eyes series. And only $9.95 at the moment! Get them while you can!

Another Cutesters Too Variant Confirmed

WDWNT on February 16, 2011

The Pin Connection on eBay has posted this Vinylmation up for sale:

There is a Yellow variant version of Happy Lolipops!
M.C.’s assumptions were correct! You can see the Blue Happy Lolipops on the right. We knew that was in the set. However, the boxes Cutesters Too came in had this picture:
So as it turned out, Disney tipped us off on a variant that was inside.

Goofy’s Back and Disneyland’s Retro

WDWNT on February 16, 2011

The official Disney Vinylmation Blog has just released a look at the backs of the 9″ Park 5 Goofy’s Barnstormer and Retro Disneyland figures. Here is our take:

Retro Disneyland
Artis: Monty Maldovan
LE: 800
Release Date: February 25th
Where: D-Street in Orlando and CA


I was on the fence about this one, mostly because I focus on WDW over DLR items, but…

The back of the head has a retro look at the DLR Castle
Tink is featured flying around on the back of the right ear
The iconic Tomorrowland Rocket Ship is on the back of the body
Goofy’s Barnstormer
Artis: Eric Caszatt
LE: 800
Release Date: February 25th
Where: D-Street in Orlando and CA
It’s funny how this became a tribute to a former Toon Town attraction. When it was designed, Goofy’s Barnstormer was not on it’s way to being re-themed as The Great Goofini.
Nice detail on the back of the head with the window and banner
Look closely, and you can see Goofy’s outline as he crashes through the barn