Celebrate the Seasons with New Duffy the Disney Bear Items

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

By Steven Miller on the Disney Parks Blog:

“Celebrate
The start of a New Year brings many reasons to celebrate. This year, there are two months of back-to-back holidays including Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter. I caught up with Monty Maldovan, long-time artist with Disney Design Group, about some of the new merchandise coming for Mickey Mouse’s bear, Duffy the Disney Bear. Monty recently celebrated the release of three original art pieces, including one featuring Mickey and Duffy, at the Art of Disney in Downtown Disney Marketplace.

“I had a lot of fun designing some of the seasonal outfits for Duffy the Disney Bear this year,” said Monty. “We have some new things that our guests have told us they wanted including outfits for 17-inch bears and smaller sized bears that have been a hit!”

“Celebrate
The 9-inch Valentine’s Day bear has been extremely popular this year (at time of press there weren’t many remaining in merchandise locations). For St. Patrick’s Day, Monty designed a costume for a 17-inch bear that includes my favorite detail – a bow tie! Monty felt the bow tie was the perfect complement to the bowler hat (and here I thought it was because of my intense love for bow ties).

Monty also designed what may be my favorite Duffy item I’ve seen in the past two years – a 9-inch egg that unzips to reveal a 7-inch bear dressed as a baby chick. He said the design was inspired by previously released plush.

“We introduced Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse plush eggs about two years ago,” explained Monty. “Guests loved them, so we updated the colors this year and added a version with Duffy.”

“Celebrate
Other favorites will return this spring including two 12-inch bears. Gardener Duffy will be found at the start of theEpcot International Flower & Garden Festival on March 6. Monty said the pocket on the front of his overalls is big enough to hold a Disney Gift Card (smells like the perfect gift for someone with a green thumb). Graduate Duffy looks similar to last year’s design but features different colors.

“Celebrate
Finally, we released a series of new Hidden Mickey pins that has Duffy the Disney Bear sporting different Disney hats. These pins build on a collection introduced last year of Duffy wearing hats. Look for them on cast members’ lanyards at Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts.

Celebrate Gospel at Disney’s California Adventure Feb 16th!

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

Southland Choirs Perform at Disney California Adventure Park

Come celebrate the spirit and history of gospel music during a special one-day event that features many Southland choirs.

Date
Saturday, February 16, 2013

Location
Stage 17 in Hollywood Land at Disney California Adventure Park

Event Times
10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Choir Performance Times

  • 10:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
  • 1:45 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Featured Choirs

  • Amazing Grace Conservatory
  • Christian Community Cathedral Choir
  • Cross Word Christian Church
  • First AME Church – Voices of Gospel
  • Friendship Baptist Church – Voices of Joy
  • Friendship Baptist Church – Inspirational Voices
  • Greater Los Angeles Cathedral Choir
  • Greater Zion-Voices of Destiny
  • New Creation Church Mass Choir
  • New Spirit Church – Voices of Choir
  • Orange County Gospel Choir
  • Second Baptist Church-New Generation Choir
  • Spiritual Truth
  • Xtreme Purpose Choir

Rainbow Ridge Mining Town to be Refurbished During Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Update at Disneyland Park

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

By Erin Glover on the Disney Parks Blog:

“Rainbow

Earlier this month, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland park closed for a major refurbishment that includes all-new track and updates to the mountain itself as well as other visual elements. One area receiving an update will be the Rainbow Ridge Mining Town. Dating back to 1956 and the Rainbow Caverns Mine Train attraction, Rainbow Ridge Mining Town is a classic feature of Frontierland.

When the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishment is complete this fall, Rainbow Ridge Mining Town will look very much the same as it always has. It is being refurbished with new materials, but many items from the original area will be reused such as props, signs and select doors, windows and shutters. Several other items are being turned over to the Disney Archives.

“The wildest ride in the wilderness” reopens fall 2013, so hold onto your hats and glasses until then!

DLNT Turns Five This Friday!!!

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

This Friday February 8th, Disneyland News Today will be celebrating its fifth anniversary as a website and podcast. To celebrate, we are holding a live show on WDWNTunes.com starting at 8:00 PM PST. We will be holding some of our signature segments including The Disneyland Compendium. We will also have live discussions with the chat so be sure to stop b WDWNTunes.com. 

NRB Relic & Evilos Disney D23 Expo Event Page

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

The NRB Relic & Evilos Disney D23 Expo Event page is now up and EVERYONE is INVITED..!! Come join us on the event page to see event news, custom artwork, custom Vinylmations, Collector Vinyl display bags, giveaways and so much more. Even if you can’t go come join the event page and see all the fun event news and artwork that will be posted on the event page.

We are so excited and hope to see you there.
https://www.facebook.com/events/506532052740943/

Spotlight On: Brian Shapiro’s Sully Incognito

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

From custom artist Brian Shapiro:

I present my latest Incognito Series figure! This one’s abstract for sure. It is called “Mikey Mouse” in celebration of the upcoming movie, Monsters University, by Disney. With a lift from his friend, Sully, Mike Wazowski scares up some laughs as Mickey Mouse! Of course, things don’t go according to plan when poor Mikey’s vision is obstructed and Sully’s shoe doesn’t fit! 

Why is it the Lone Ranger, when Tonto’s always there?

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

At Mickey’s Circus, Disney announced a two pack of Vinylmation to represent the movie “The Lone Ranger” (in theaters July 3rd). Next month, on June 21st, these two figures will come to the Disney Parks. There will only 2000 of these and they will cost $26.95 each. Eric Caszatt designed both figures, which are pretty cool. I especially enjoy the bird accessory on Tonto.

So enjoy your second Johnny Deep Vinylmation. And if you get two sets, you can put the two Rangers together, and it will be like you have a Winklevoss twins!

Fantasia G8or and Hippo

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

We have been waiting for this one, and Thomas Scott left it for last. The famous Gator and Hippo from Fantasia are the 8th and final two piece combo in this wonderful series. It will be released at the parks and online on June 28. Like the rest of the series, it will be $24.95 and LE 2,000.

 There are many ways we thought the Gator could fit on the Mickey platform, and I think Thomas did a wonderful job. The color in the ears have always given this series and added flare. This combo is no different. The Gator’s face extends down onto the body and fits on there so well. Its all about proportions to make it look right, and this is pulled off so very well. This series has and need accessories, so the cape is perfect.

The Hippo is simple and elegant. We do have two Hippos already, but this is the first normal 3″. We have the 9″ with fabric skirt and the 3″ that was the chaser from the Disney Store’s light up series. I do want to see this one in person. As much as I like it, I might have liked a lighter shade for the Hippo just to make it pop some more. I do love the purple eye lids and other highlights that really help the design.

Independence Day 2013 Eagle

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

We got a sneak peek at this one a while back, but we now see the turnaround of the Independence Day 2013 Eagle designed by Maria Clapsis. Like most holiday event vinyls, it does not have an official LE size, but these really do vary in production size. Some stay in stores for months, some sell out before holiday the celebrate. This on will release on June 7th and retail for $14.95.

A few wonderful aspects here, let’s start at the top. The old school flag in the ears with the circle of 13 stars and there are actually 13 stripes!!!! The eyes look stoic. The beak looks almost 3D. The feathering on the body and head is amazing detail. The the talons on the feet… wow.

Animation 3 Clown Dumbo and Timothy 9/Jr. LE Combo

WDWNT on March 3, 2013

This one, like a stork delivering a baby, seemed to come out of nowhere. And there are some interesting release details here. This is a 9″ Clown Dumbo and Jr. Timothy combo for the Animation 3 series designed by Monty Maldovan. Here is the fun part… its a limited edition of only 250 pieces! AND, costs a whopping $99.95!

 If I’m being honest, I don’t know if this needs a 9″ platform. There is a lot of grey empty space and something aesthetically to me just doesn’t look quite right.

The junior Timothy makes sense size wise to pair with a 9″ Dumbo and he is designed really well.

This seems to be one of those rare times that Disney is pairing up a price with an edition size. We know that the Mickey Circus Lion and Seal last year were LE 100 with an inflated $150 price tag to reflect the rarity of them. Now, Disney does it again by charging a considerable amount more for a low LE. Now, we know they don’t always do this, as some LE 500 figures didn’t see a price increase. And we also know that even figures with an inflated edition size can get a very high price tag. Let’s look at a recent comparable, Jabba and Salacious 9/Jr. It is LE 1000 with a $60 price tag. That was the same price as the Villains 9/Jr combos a few years back, so that has stayed, while still high in my opinion, consistent. But then you have Han Solo in Carbonite as an LE 2000 and costs $35! That’s $10 above most double 3 inch combos.

I have stopped trying to understand Disney merchandise a long time ago. I never knew that all this asking Disney to give us lower edition sizes would increase the price tags! They just don’t get it. At $100, I think this will sit on the shelves for quite some time. At $60 with an LE 250, it would sell out. What do you think?