The Haunted Mansion series ended up online when it was released last weekend. That’s pretty cool, since we know a lot of people who wanted to purchase the set, but didn’t live near the parks. But I can only find the individual boxes for sale. $12.95 each.
Did you pick up this set? What do you think of the variants?
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Ep. 090 Strawberry Field This week we record live at Disney’s Boardwalk hotel with Zoe. We talk all about Haunted Mansion, Cinderella and the new Japan series. We get Zoe’s take on some of the Mickey’s Circus previews and fight about what is a Dole Whip. We also have an interview with custom artist Aaralyn. |
For the first time, the Disneyland Resort is awarding ten (10) $7,500 scholarships to high school seniors in Orange County. The Disneyland Resort Scholarship Program underscores the Resort’s dedication to volunteerism and community support, while furthering opportunities for students to attend college or a professional trade school. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate excellence in volunteerism, academics, and overall leadership.
Qualified applicants, who apply through Jan. 31, will receive two Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Tickets. If you know a qualified high school senior in Orange County, direct him or her to the Disneyland Resort Public Affairs website to apply.
October 1, 2012 is a big day in Walt Disney World history… Epcot celebrates it’s 30th anniversary. We got hints of a few Vinylmation customs, but today the Disney Parks Blog finally showed us some pictures of these inspired pieces.
Noah will have a few 9″ and 3″ customs with this design scheme. No word on numbers or prices. The 9″ will come on a stand with a print back drop. That Epcot print will also be available for purchase.
Artist John Henselmeier (who created the greatest pin set known to man, see below) designed the above set of customs for the event as well. All of these items will be released at MouseGear starting at park open on October 1. No Disney production piece Vinylmation announced. Now, if you are also into pins, you may have seen all the Epcot 30th pins that will available on October 1. We covered them extensively on the Once Upon a Pin podcast and have them all in a photo album on our Facebook page, but here is a quick look.
That is the John Henselmeier designed pin set I was talking about. It is Spaceship Earth, it is innovative, it has multiple Donalds… it is the coolest thing I have ever seen.
I also love the above double hinge, triple circle pin. Below are a few more Epcot pins that will be released on September 28. All LE pins come out on October 1, but some open editions come out a few days earlier.
Also from the Disney Parks Blog:
On Monday, October 1, we will release several “day of” items including three shirts that have “October 1, 2012” and the “Epcot 30” logo, as seen in the first image above. For those who can’t attend that weekend, those three dated shirts and the 11 World Showcase shirts will be sold via the Disney Parks online store from September 28 through October 4.
One of the more interesting items is something new called “Cover Your Ears.” This Spaceship Earth-inspired cover will fit over a regular Mickey Mouse ear hat. Additional special ear hat embroidery will be offered at Mouse Gear through October 1.
Now here, again from the Disney Parks Blog, is a schedule of events:
Throughout the day on October 1, guests can attend Epcot history presentations in World Showplace courtesy of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. These presentations are included in park admission and are limited in seating.
1-2 p.m. – Designing the Future – Past and Present: A panel of Disney Imagineers remembers 30 years of building tomorrow!
4:30–6 p.m. – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar
6:30–8 p.m. – Epcot: How it Changed the World with Marty Sklar
Guests can also attend an anniversary moment at the America Gardens Theatre at 3 p.m., which will feature appearances by Disney leaders and include performances by Mariachi Cobre and Voices of Liberty. (Seating for this presentation is also limited.)
That evening, the October 1 presentation of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will feature a special 30th anniversary tag.
I’ll see everybody there! What time will you be arriving?
The Playwright sent us this pic of the chaser to the Nursery Rhyme Set (click above image to view).
I really like the accessory. What do you think about it?
To our surprise, a new exhibit called Realms of Fantasy opened up today in The Disney Gallery on Main Street and I have a photo report of all the new art inside.
The Custom Artist Project is a group of 11 of the best custom Vinylmation artists in the world who have come together to make their own blind box series. Series 1 is called “Sidekickz” and is a mix of different Disney sidekicks from films or TV. It will be released on October 6th. Each day leading up to the release, we will spotlight a different artist from the series. Today we spotlight custom artist Mark Hoffmann.
Hometown:
Morgan Hill, California
Website:
Markhoffmann.com
What Disney Sidekick did you choose?
Grumpy from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Why did you choose that sidekick?
Honestly, because of his facial expressions. Plus I think the vinyl works well with the Dwarves shapes.
Favorite Disney Movie?
Tangled….although I do love all the old classics. It’s hard to just pick one.
Favorite Disney Theme Park Attraction?
I have so many, but I will have to say Space Mountain.
Favorite aspect of working on the Mickey shaped canvas?
I think the challenge of creating a piece so that you forget it’s painted on a Mickey shape. Many people don’t even notice the ears at first.
More info on the Custom Artist Project:
Website: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtistProject/
How to purchase: The price of one blind box is $65, including shipping within the US. We’re looking into international shipping right now, but it will probably be another $5-10 if it works out.Paypal is going to be the accepted payment. It is limited to one household per blind box.
What you get: You will get one blind box (yes, I’m actually making boxes) with one of 24 different figures. Some figures come with accessories. You will also get 11 different cards, 1 from each artist.
By Michele Himmelberg from the Disney Parks Blog:
Lots of people visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure parks in the spring or summer, and they never see Disneyland Resort all decked out for the holidays. A new kind of magic happens this time of year that can take your breath away! Take it from our Disneyland rep on the Disney Moms Panel, Ari Krell: the parks feel like a different place during this special season.
Ari has been playing at Disneyland Resort since childhood, but this year was the first time he brought his family to visit for the holidays. He has a few tips to share if you’re visiting in the next few weeks.
Keep an eye on the Disney Parks Blog for more updates on the holiday season at Disney Parks, and join the conversation on Twitter by using the hashtag #DisneyHolidays.
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Cover photo by Tim Alcoser
Starting on May 1st, select Walt Disney World guests checking-in for Magical Express at Orlando International Airport have been asked to complete a survey. If they choose to answer the survey, well, then the fun begins. A guest relations cast member will provide the family with two lists of select Magic Kingdom attractions, asking them to pick 2 from each list. Here are all of the attraction involved in the test:
After selecting 2 from each list, the cast member will ask the guest what day they will be visiting the Magic Kingdom, if they are celebrating anything, and then give the guests some plastic yellow cards that says FASTPASS. These cards contain a small RFID-chip inside that contains some information based on what information was provided. Among that info will be reserved FASTPASS times on the 4 attractions selected from the list above. Guests are to be sent an email at a requested address with their final itinerary.
Here’s what the email guests are receiving looks like
Guests then take their cards to the Magic Kingdom and are invited to put them to good use. When you head over to a corresponding attraction at the proper time, you will be scanning your card at a temporary pole with a Mickey icon on it or at a PDA device also sporting the same Mickey icon (Town Square Theater is using this system and not the poles). When the card is scanned, the icon should turn green to enter. If you get a blue icon, you have done something wrong.
One of the readers installed at The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
At every location they have an iPad or a PDA that will tell them if you are too early, too late, or on-time when you swipe your card at the reader. Should you be wrong or need to check your schedule, they will refer you to one of 5 locations where you can currently do this. The 5 locations set-up to help guests throughout the park are City Hall, and kiosks near Jungle Cruise, Stitch’s Great Escape, Splash Mountain, and Mickey’s Philharmagic.
Another interesting factoid is that cast members will see all kinds of information about you when you scan your card at the reader. They can see your name and even if you are celebrating anything. You’ll recall rumors we’ve discussed of Disney using the same RFID technology in attractions to make them actually acknowledge your name or what you are celebrating that day. Yes, the future has arrived, but only for a short time. The test is scheduled to end May 15th.
On October 5th, Disney Stores in Japan will release a set titled Walt Disney 110th Anniversary Series. This will be a blind box series with a 1200 YEN ($15 USD) price tag on it.
The set has a cute, love theme going on here. You can also kind of pair up a few of these such as Mickey/Minnie, Donald/Daisy, even Pongo/Cheshire if you want to go cat and dog. Pooh and Bambi are forest animals. But I can not link Goofy and Pinocchio no matter how hard I try. Then you have the Three Little Pigs which leads me to speculate on a Chip and Dale chaser as I stated in the last podcast. Here is a look at the individual figures.
