WDWNT Podcast staff member Chris Lastrapes just returned from a short two day trip to the Walt Disney World and has some interesting photos and video clips to share with us:
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, preparations have begun for ESPN the Weekend
For those of you interested in Disney Pin Trading, the 2009 Pin Celebration at Epcot (titled the Museum of Pin-Tiquities) is just a few months away and registration opens today at 2:00 PM EST. Even though I have been involved in the hobby since it began in October 1999, this is the first major pin even I will be attending. John Rick and myself will be there on behalf of the Disney Pincast and hope to see you at the museum as well. All of the details on the event and how to register can be found below:
Disney Pin Celebration 2009 – The Museum of Pin-tiquities
June 26-28, 2009
Epcot® – World ShowPlace————————————————–
Disney Pin Traders from around the world are cordially invited to celebrate the “10,000” year history of Disney Pin Trading during Disney Pin Celebration 2009 – The Museum of Pin-tiquities. This three-day, grand opening gala will be held from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, June 28, 2009 in World ShowPlace at Epcot®.
Presented in conjunction with the Epcot® Committee For Celebrating Disney Pins, The Department of Tradeology and Fellowship of Happy Traders, this event will feature unique Disney pins created for the Museum’s opening, Disney pin trading activities, a silent and live auction of artifacts direct from the Museum’s vault and much more.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT
Registration Opens Feb. 25, 2009 (2:00 p.m. Eastern)Event admission is $115 per Guest.
**See below for special early booking discount**
(Event admission does not include Theme Park admission to Epcot® but is required to attend.)EVENT ADMISSION INCLUDES:
-Opportunity to pre-purchase limited edition pins designed especially for this event.
-“Purchase with Purchase” pin promotion for event Guests only featuring exclusive pins.
-Trading activities and games at World ShowPlace located at Epcot®.
-Limited edition commemorative gifts.
-Live and silent auctions of pre-production pins, artist proof pins and more.
-“First Trading Opportunity” to collect new Hidden Mickey pins.
-Opportunity to meet Disney Pin Partners from The Walt Disney Company.
-Two (2) $15 Gift Cards redeemable at Epcot® Food and Beverage locations.
-Plus extra special surprises throughout the event.EARLY REGISTRATION PIN:
Guests that register for this event by March 25, 2009 will received one (1) limited edition early registration pin. The edition size of this pin will be determined once early registration has been completed.EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT:
Guests that register for this event by April 25, 2009 will receive an early booking discount. The early booking admission for this event will be $100.00 per Guest. After April 25, 2009, the event admission will be $115.00 per Guest. Event admission does not include theme park admission to Epcot®.
Those of you attending any of the Star Wars Weekends events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in May or June will be happy to know that Disney will once again be releasing a collection of big figures featuring four of the fab five dressed as classic saga characters:
Mickey as Luke Skywalker with Yoda & Minnie as Princess Leia from Jabba’s Palace
Goofy as Chewbacca & Donald as Han Solo in Carbonite
Each of these is limited to 600 pieces, with 500 of each available at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and 100 of each at the Disneyland Resort. They will all retail for $195 and will be the final pieces in the long running Star Wars big figure series.
As many of you are aware, Figment is my favorite Disney character and I love to buy many Disney collectibles from the Art of Disney stores. Knowing this, you can probably guess that I’m pretty excited about this special release:
Product Release: Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination
Numbered Limited Edition: 750 pieces
Retail: $140.00 plus applicable sales tax
Product Release Date: Saturday, April 25, 2009
Product Release Location: Art of Disney, Epcot®Extend the boundaries of your imagination with Figment! The act of creativity is a never-ending adventure, especially when Figment is around. The very embodiment of imagination, the unpredictable purple dragon takes on many guises in the Epcot®Journey Into Imagination attraction. But, none represents the excitement of exploring creativity more than an astronaut in limitless space.
This new numbered limited edition of 750 Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture captures all the star-searching playfulness of Figment as he hitches a ride in outer space, just as in the attraction. Hand-crafted of fine porcelain, Figment features a hand-made glass portion on his helmet with kiln-fired metallic paint on his space suit. Sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales, Figment stands 6 1/2″ high and retails for $140.00.
A limited number of Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination will be available for pre-order. To pre-order Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination please contact Walt Disney Event Services at 407-827-7600. Walt Disney Event Services is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am – 12:00pm & 1:00pm – 5:00pm.
Guests may only purchase up to two (2) Space Suit Figments. All orders will be processed and charged on Friday, April 24. Please allow 2-4 weeks for shipping.
Add this intrepid traveler to your collection and set your imagination free into the infinity of outer space with Figment!
To view Space Suit Figment: Journey Into Imagination in closer detail, please click HERE..
Our on the spot reporter Jose Castillo was at the grand opening of the new Disney Design-a-Tee store in Downtown Disney Marketplace. Here are a selection of his photos from the event:
The store getting set up for the grand opening.
Read More about Jose Castillo’s Disney Design-a-Tee Photo Report
Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes
Only in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace
Event: Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes Grand Opening
Grand Opening Date: Friday, January 9
Grand Opening Time: 11:30am
The first 100 guests at the Grand Opening of Disney Design A Tee presented by Hanes will receive: A Complimentary Lanyard, Button, Mini Souvenir Tee, plus a $5.00* off coupon toward the purchase of your Design A Tee!
Disney Design a Tee Presented by Hanes allows you to design your tee your way! Choose a short or long sleeved tee shirt in a variety of vibrant colors and create your personalized tee by choosing from over 300 pieces of Disney art and add up to four lines of text! Here you can have your name imprinted on specially designed commemorative t-shirts. Your tee shirt is printed while you wait and you can event watch them being made on the video screens in the store!
So, whether you are celebrating your birthday, commemorating your recent nuptials or identifying your family members with our special “Family Reunion” tees, you’re sure to come away with a special memory that will last a lifetime.
WDWNT cast member Jose Eber has provided us with construction photos of the upcoming Characters in Flight balloon at Downtown Disney, which will take guest high above the ground for a small price beginning in the Spring:
Signs showing what the area will look like upon completion. As you an see, the balloon will be decorated with famous flying Disney chracters
Construction is still in the early stages at this point. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as we continue to get more information on this upcoming attraction.
Robert Ashburn of Figment’s Media.Net and FTN has provided us with some photos of the updated Wonderful World of Memories store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace, including the new Disney Design-a-Tee shop:
The exterior has been updated with signs for the “Build Your Own Ear Hat” feature
After a few months of delayed products and an already cancelled pin collection that was available for a very short period of time back in the summer, Disney Vinylmation pieces are ready to invade the Walt Disney World Resort with a kick-off event:
Event: Vinylmation Pre-Release Party
Guest Artists: Disney Design Group Artists: Randy Noble, Dan Howard, Monty Maldovan, Dawn Ockstadt, & Rachel Sur
Pre-Party Date: Friday, December 19, 2008
Pre-Party Times: 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Pre-Party Location: Art of Disney, Downtown Disney® MarketplaceVinylmation, the original vinyl collectible available exclusively at Disney Theme Parks has arrived! Be among the first to collect the newly released and highly anticipated Park 1 series that features art and designs inspired by the Disney Parks and available exclusively at select Disney Theme Park Merchandise locations. Vinymation is available in 3″ and 9″ sizes.
Packaged in blind packs, the 3″ Park 1 vinyls will feature designs such as Disney Design Group’s Monty Maldovan’s take on Kermit or Walt Disney Imagineer Kyle Price’s original Yeti design.
Also, check out the Limited Release 9″ Park Series 1 vinyls like the Safari Mickey created by Randy Noble of Disney Design Group.Each Vinylmation tray contains 24 packages randomly assorted with two complete sets of the Park Series One Collection, plus two mystery “chasers” per tray. Each package contains 1 of 12 different vinyl designs from one of our unique themed collections.
Series 1
Bad Apple
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Creepy Eyes
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Fireworks
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
ELP Mickey
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Magical Stars
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
SMRT-1
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Teacup
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Yeti Mickey
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Figmouse
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Monorail Red
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Kermit Mouse
3″ Collection
Park 1 Series
$9.95
Walt Disney World has just announced a very special sale that will be taking place on Saturday, December 13th at the World of Disney Store in the Downtown Disney Marketplace just for annual passholders and Disney Vacation Club members:
Shop unbelievable savings of up to 50% off select merchandise at the World of Disney® Store in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace for Passholders and Disney Vacation Club Members.
Discounted merchandise includes selected pins, apparel, toys, plush, holiday trimmings and so much more! In addition, Passholders will receive their 10% discount, subject to existing Passholder discount restrictions.
Hourly Door Busters Deals:
6:30am: Select plush and other items $3.00 each*
7:30am: Select jumbo mugs, 2008 dated merchandise and other items $5.00 each*
8:30am: Select adult and children apparel $7.00 each*
- The first 450 Guests at the World of Disney® Store on December 13, 2008 will receive a complimentary, limited edition pin!**
- In addition, the first 1000 Guests at the World of Disney® Store on December 13, 2008 will receive a complimentary silver or red Disney coil ornament.**
- PLUS, enjoy complimentary tastings of coffees, hot cocoa and delicious treats between 6:30am-7:30am.
* Door Buster Hourly Deals will last one (1) hour only.
Merchandise available while supplies last.
Items subject to change without notice.
**No purchase necessary.Disney Transportation from Resorts will not be available for early morning shopping hours. Offer available December 13, 2008 only at the World of Disney® Store in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace at the Walt Disney World® Resort.Please Note – All information is subject to change including but not limited to artwork, release dates, edition sizes and retail prices.
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