Dedicated to the young at heart

WDWNT on January 22, 2011

“Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.” – Walt Disney

Another wonderful depiction of a vintage Disneyland poster has been released in Vinylmation form. Fantasyland is the 3rd in a 5 figure 9″ series released to celebrate Disneyland’s 55th anniversary. 
360 view
Three attractions are depicted on this poster. First is the famous Dumbo Flying Elephants ride. This Dumbo ride appears in all 5 Disney Theme Parks around the world, but the original is in Disneyland and was an opening day attraction in 1955.
The attraction on the stomach is King Arthur’s Carousel. Inspired by the Griffith Park carousel, Walt Disney wanted something similar for his new theme park. Therefore, a Dentzel park model carousel which had operated since 1932 at Sunnyside Amusement Park in Toronto, Ontario was purchased from Sunnyside and moved to Disneyland in 1954.

On the back, is the Mad Tea Party attraction. How fast do you like to spin your tea cup?

So far, the Disneyland vintage posters are well adapted to the 9″ Vinylmation, but they all need minor tweaks to effectively use the space. In Fantasyland’s case, artist Alex Maher turned the carousel to be directly under Dumbo. This minor change allows the carousel to take up the stomach and the Mad Tea Party to take up the back. If this change was not done, but attractions would end up in the armpits. And again, as with Adventureland, Alex chose to put the word “Fantasyland” on the back of the head instead of the front on the feet, where it would be if the poster was taken literally. One other notable difference is the absence of people in the tea cups on the Vinylmation. A great job was done depicting the children on Dumbo and the people walking around the carousel, so I wonder what the thought behind not putting people into the tea cups was.
Fantasyland is a Disneyland exclusive and is limited to 555 pieces. Tomorrowland and Adventureland have already been released and we look forward to the January 28th release of the Frontierland Poster Vinylmation.

Bacon!

WDWNT on January 22, 2011

While at D-Street this morning picking up my Flag Vinylmation set, I got a chance to snap a photo of the only Urban 9″ we haven’t seen yet. This I’m calling bacon. There is a LE of 600. Look for it soon.

Tom Corless’ 1/15-1/18/11 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on January 21, 2011

I was visiting Walt Disney World for the premiere of PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun and “Let the Memories Begin” last week and managed to find some time to take some newsworthy photos, so let’s take a look at what’s new around the parks:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

We begin at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Gnomio & Juliet was going to be a Disney movie, now it’s just a Disney promoted movie…

Read More about Tom Corless’ 1/15-1/18/11 WDW Photo Report

No Driving Required

WDWNT on January 21, 2011

The 9″ + 3″ Urban 5 Car and Driver set will be released tomorrow, Friday, January 21st exclusively online at the Disney Store.

The 3″ Driver looks great with a cartoonish smile, goggles and a racing jacket on with his car’s number.
Here is a close up on the figures ear which depicts a windshield wiper.
This set will retail for $74.95.
Remember the other 9″ Urban 5s that come out tomorrow too: Moon, Drippy, Hidden 28 and the Creatures 9″ + 3″ combo. Click here for our post with details and pictures of them all.

February 4th Releases

WDWNT on January 21, 2011

Today we found out a couple of Vinylmation that will be released in D-Street stores in Florida and California on February 4th.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Disney is releasing the Holiday 2 9″ Cupid.


Super cute. The little guy even has some 2 o’clock shadow on his cheeks. (Click photo to enlarge). I love that love is blind, and in one ear, he’s broken-hearted!

Also being released that day, and some might say in time to get your lady for V-Day, is the Cutester 2 series. We haven’t seen much from this series but this is what we have seen.


From the blog we’ve seen both of these pictures. The first is an interesting take on donuts. The second is a mushroom with a cute centipede underneath. I do like how they use the head for the mushroom.

At trade city, hidden in the back of the case, were these three kids dressed up (as animals?). Reminiscent of the Doll from Cutester 1, these guys are cute, but I’m not sure how I feel about them.

What do you think?

Disney Parks Blog Gives Us a Sneak Peak Inside DCA’s Little Mermaid Attraction

WDWNT on January 21, 2011

From the Disney Parks Blog:

As the exciting expansion of Disney California Adventure park moves forward, the Disney Parks Blog continues to give you a front row seat and backstage pass to all of the excitement. Since the expansion was announced, we have opened Toy Story Mania!, Games of the Boardwalk, Mickey’s Fun Wheel, Silly Symphony Swings and of course, the nighttime spectacular, “World of Color.” Now, Walt Disney Imagineering has turned its sights to the next highly-anticipated opening: The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, coming soon in 2011. In this video, Imagineer Lisa Girolami takes you behind the curtain (or under the waves) to give you a first look at Ariel’s world. From the drawing board to the incredible scenery, this is an attraction sure to make a splash with guests.

PIXAR Pals: Countdown To Fail?

WDWNT on January 20, 2011

The PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun parade debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday, January 16th. To say that reviews of the “new” parade have been negative would be an understatement. Imagine Block Party Bash at full speed, without guest interaction, without a number of floats, with horrible choreography, and with the toy block floats repainted to look like blocky explosions, cheese, & balloons. Oh, and I almost forgot to loop one of the songs from the PIXAR Play Parade. Can you imagine it? Neither could we, but that’s what is now running at 3:00PM everyday:

Rumors are still circulating that Disney is waiting for some Play Parade floats to arrive in Florida for the Spring, and we certainly hope these rumors are true. If not, one of the shortest and worst received parades in Disney history may have you squeezing in another ride on a DHS favorite instead of waiting for a parade.

Zombified!

WDWNT on January 20, 2011

We re-tweeted a link to this article on Tomopop a few days ago and we just wanted to catch anyone who missed that message. A great picture of a cool custom. The article is by Kristina Pino. Here’s just a snippet of the photo. Please follow the link to check out the full photo.

Braaaains post by Kristina Pino.
Vinyl by Squink!

Video of “The Magic, The Memories, and You” Castle Show Debut

WDWNT on January 19, 2011

WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee attended the media preview of the new (and might we add incredible) “The Magic, The Memories, and You” castle show on January 18th at the Magic Kingdom and has a video of the “Let the Memories” begin centerpiece to share with us:

Disney press release:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – In a dramatic new projection show filled with special effects and magic, Cinderella Castle will transform into a shimmering canvas for images of Walt Disney World guests and the memories they made that day at Magic Kingdom.

In the nighttime spectacle, photos of guests captured that very day in the park will be projected larger-than-life among the spires and turrets of Cinderella Castle. In similar fashion, guest images will be projected onto “it’s a small world” on select nights at Disneyland Park in California, beginning Jan. 27.

The ten-minute experience – called “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” – will dazzle park guests on both coasts in ways never before experienced, themed to beloved Disney stories and with playful animated sequences that seem to defy the architecture of the buildings. The spectacle is scheduled most nights with up to two shows per night depending on theme park operating hours and other special ticketed events.

As many as 500 images shot that day will project onto the castle each night the show is presented, producers estimate. Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture guests creating new memories as they “smile for the castle.”

“Disney parks create family vacation memories to last a lifetime,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “What better canvas for those memories than Cinderella Castle, one of the most photographed icons in the world.”

After the sun goes down, 16 high-powered state-of-the-art projectors will bring the castle to life as that day’s photos (and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub) seem to dance about the famous facade, explained Alan Bruun, associate creative director, Walt Disney World Entertainment.

As classic Disney music weaves in and out of the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song,turrets spin while the castle shimmers and magically transforms itself in playful and exciting ways to accompany the guests’ memories of fun, adventure and family experiences.

“The images dance to the music and culminate in a spectacular finale punctuated by animated and actual fireworks,” Bruun said.

As Disney Parks encourages families to “Let the Memories Begin,” guests have been celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their stories and by uploading photos and videos online at DisneyParks.com/memories.

Vacation memories hold a special place in the hearts of families, too, according to a recent survey of Americans and Canadians conducted by Ypartnership, a leading research firm that tracks consumer insights and trends in travel.

Nine out of 10 parents polled said they plan their vacations with the express hope of creating a lasting family memory. And most memories don’t fade with the passage of time. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they think back “often” or “very often” on their most cherished vacation memories.

BY THE NUMBERS: ‘The Magic, The Memories, and You!’ Nighttime Spectacle

* Height of Cinderella Castle: 189 feet
* Number of shows: up to two per night (select evenings)
* Length of each show: ten minutes (approx.)
* Projectors: 16
* Same-day guest photos per show: up to 500
* Total number of images projected per show: more than 5,000