Tom Corless’ DLR Pin Report From The Museum of Pintiquities

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Tom Corless of WDW News Today attended last weekend’s Museum of Pintiquities pin celebration in Walt Disney World, which provided some exciting previews of pins coming soon to the Disneyland Resort. Here are some of his photos:

The upcoming Piece of History pins include the Main Street Train Station, the Emporium, and the Swiss Family Treehouse. Upcoming Walt’s Classic Collection sets include Bambi (out tomorrow), Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmations, and Cinderella

The next Celebrate Everyday pins include Maleficant, the Cheshire Cat, Goofy and Donald, the Hitchhiking Ghosts, and (it looks like) the Queen of Hearts). Upcoming Pin Trading Knights pins include Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Jack Skellington, Pluto, and Stitch

The first of what I’m sure will be many World of Color pins. This pin set featuring art currently on the construction walls for the show will be released on July 23rd

D23 Expo member exclusive pin

Read More about Tom Corless’ DLR Pin Report From The Museum of Pintiquities

D Street Set to Open December 15th

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Disney has announced the opening day for D Street a new store coming soon to Downtown Disney. Disney has released the following information about the store as well as upcoming events:

A place where urban art inspired product “intersects” with a Disney creative edge. This raw, unfinished industrial style space will showcase a mix of Disney inspired art created by local and underground artists. Also up for grabs is cutting edge apparel, pop culture novelties, vinyl figures, collectibles and more.

D Street will feature Disney vintage looks from Disney Couture, urban styles and artwork from Bloc 28, Surf and Skate inspired apparel, artwork and accessories, as well as Star Wars tees. Also available at this new hot spot are some of the latest offerings from jewelry designers such as Tarina Tarantino and Classic Hardware as well as fashions from labels like Mighty Fine and Harajuku Lovers. The location will also be home to the work of one of Southern California’s local Artists, Noah. Noah draws his inspiration from his love of Disney as well as his love of the forgotten era that we tend to cling to, which includes old movies, classic cars and rockabilly style Kustom Kulture.

This new urban-style location will also pave the way for everything Vinylmation. Considered one of the flagship stores for Vinylmation figures, D Street will showcase the latest releases from the various collections, including the Park Series, Urban Series, Holiday Series and more. Designed by the creative talents from our Disney Design Group, Disney Vinylmation takes on a whole new meaning in the world of collectibles. These 3″ and 9″ figures are often designed to represent icons, attractions and characters from Disney Parks & Resorts or have more of street feel with their urban-inspired looks.
So be sure to hit the “street” and see what’s in store for you!

Calendar of Events
December 16, 2009
 Goorin Hats Trunk Show
4PM – 7PM
December 17, 2009
 Ed Hardy Trunk Show
4PM – 7PM
December 18, 2009 
Junk Food Trunk Show
4PM – 7PM
December 19, 2009
 Create Your Own Vinyl Experience with Noah
10AM – 12Noon
&
Art Demonstration & Signing with Noah
2PM – 5PM

Let the Adventure begin!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

This Friday, December 17th D-Street in California will release 2 of the 5 Disneyland exclusive Disneyland ’55 Attraction Poster 9″ Vinylmations ($44.95). Yesterday I told you about Tommowland, today we travel to Adventureland.

Walt Disney loved nature and adventure. This is evident in his award winning True-Life Adventure documentaries. Adventureland was meant to be based on these films and feature real life animals in the Jungle Cruise attraction. Since that was not feasible, Walt had his imagineers create the automatronic animals we all enjoy today. This Vinylmation features the attraction poster from the famous Jungle Cruise ride.

Interesting to note is the placement of the world “Adventureland”. In the original poster, “Adventureland” is under the depticted elephant and boat in the brown space at the bottom of the poster.
What was designer Alex Maher’s reasoning for this? To fill up the empty yellow space on the back? Or was it difficult to write the word across the Vinylmation feet? Also, how about the missing hippo? I would have liked to see the hippo on the finished Vinylmation. There appears to be room to wrap him from the right side to the front, or even on the back… there is some empty green space there as well. Those are 2 questions I will ask him if I get the chance… or if there is an artist signing out at D-Street in California, maybe you can ask for us? A nice Vinylmation gift may be in it for you!

Journey into Awesomeness!

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

The much anticipated Dreamfinder 9″ Figment 3″ combo Vinylmation was released today at D-Street Orlando and California! This is a perfect use of the 9″, 3″ combo and the detailed depiction of these two Disney fan favorites in spot on.

Dreamfinder and Figment were the stars of the former Journey into Imagination ride at EPCOT. The ride opened in 1983 and the pair happily entertained audiences for 15 years. In 1998, the ride was refurbished and Dreamfinder was taken out and Figment’s role was reduced. Guests were very upset. One of the only places in Disney to get your Dreamfinder fix these days is in Mouse Gears. One of Dreamfinder’s flying machines now decorates the EPCOT Mouse Gears store.

And this detail in Dreamfinder’s right ear wonderfully depicts his blimp.
As another imagineer tribute to Dreamfinder, the name Dean Finder, appears on one of the lab doors in the current Journey ride queue. In 2002, Disney once again refurbed Journey and added more Figment for guests to enjoy. Now Vinylmation and Disney fans can enjoy this pair back together again with this Maria Clapsis designed Vinylmation limited to just 1,200 pieces. It retails for $74.95. And here are some of the first up close shots of the new 3″ Figment Vinylmation that accompanies Dreamfinder:
Also released today is the 9″ Retro Magic Kingdom for $44.95 at D-Street California and Orlando.

Line outside D Street California

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Thanks to listener weinbeezy for sending us this picture of people waiting for the doors of D Street in California to open this morning to get the LE Disneyland Ticket Booklet set.

The Future… as seen in 1961

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I love retro Disney merchandise… so this Friday, December 17th’s release of 2 of the 5 Disneyland ’55 Attraction Poster 9″ Vinylmations ($44.95) designed by Alex Maher is very exciting! These Vinylmation are only available at D-Street in California. Today, I will talk about Tomorrowland…


Here is Walt Disney’s vision of Tommorwland in his own words: “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.”

Tomorrowland opened with Disneyland in 1955, but didn’t feature many must-do attractions until its 1959 update when the Disneyland Monorail, the Submarine Voyage and the Matterhorn (later part of Fantasyland) opened. Oddly enough, this series of Vinylmation is named “Disneyland ’55”, but the ride depicted on this poster is from a ride that wasn’t built until 1961…

The Flying Saucers attraction only lasted 5 years, but became a cherished childhood memory for many who experienced it. Guests rode in these “Flying Saucers” and played a game of bumper cars. The Saucers floated on a cushion of air, similar to air hockey, and were controlled by the rider leaning in the desired direction of travel. Here is a vintage photo from Disney of the former attraction.
The ride was expensive to operate and was shut down in 1967 when the refurbished Tomorrowland opened. But the memories live on…
Coming to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure in 2012:
Luigi’s Roamin’ Tires concept art

Love is in the details

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

I know Valintine’s Day, and the release of the 9″ Cupid “Love is Blind” Holiday 2 figure, was a few weeks back, but I just noticed a sizable difference in the figure released for sale and the figure Disney posted on their blog. Just for fun, I’d like to share it with you and see what you think.

Here is the figure Disney posted online on February 14th:

Also, take a look at this close up, excuse the quality, of this picture of Cupid from Trade City last August:
Now, take a look at the released retail figure:
Note the 5 o’clock shadow on the chin on the first 2 pictures. However, on the released figure, they decided to go with a clean shaven Cupid. Also, there is no glitter paint on the hearts or buttons on the earlier versions. And the paint job isn’t as good. They went with a yellow paint instead of gold. The early figures also lack the glossy paint on the blindfold as seen in the released version. (check out more pics of Cupid here)
I would have liked to see the facial hair stay… it fits in the with tattoos on Cupid’s arm. It would have been a nice detail, but I will trade that for the upgraded paint job quality. The difference is in the details. And those details lead me to purchase a figure that I had decided to pass on based on the earlier prototype.
What do you think? Do you like the Cupid figure? Facial hair or clean shaven? And have their been other Vinylmation you originally passed on, but when you saw it in person in the store you decided to pick it up?

Update: Tail Spin Vinylmation Release Day moved to March 2

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Disney moved the Disney Afternoons Tail Spin release day once on us already (to March 5 according to the official Disney Vinylmation Blog) now they moved it again.

According to the Events page at Disney’s official Vinylmation website, the new release date is March 2nd.

screenshot from Events page
Check out our Events page for the latest release dates

Villains 9″ Vinylmation: “Where to find them”

WDWNT on January 1, 1970

Update: 3:30pm EST – We contacted Disney about some discrepencies in the store names / locations. Steven Miller was nice enough to get back to us and update the list. Please recheck for the store nearest you.

Disney announced today the select list of stores that will be selling the Villains 9″ Vinylmation figures when they are released on March 21. Here it is:

Stockton Street, San Fransico, California
Mission Viejo, California
Cherry Hill, California
Fashion Valley, California
Montebello, California
Santa Monica, California
International Plaza, Tampa, Florida
State Street, Chicago, Illinois
North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois
Freehold, New Jersey
Times Square, NYC, New York
Roosevelt Field, Garden City, New York
Northpark, Texas

Is there a store near you? If not, there is always eBay. We were wondering how 700 of each figure was going to be spread out.

Here is a link to yesterdays articles with all the details on the Villains 9″ figures.