Color Blocks… or Jr Series 2 Remake?

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Last week, the mysterious Color Block series appeared on the Disney events calendar as a June 29 release. Intrigued, we anxiously awaited our first look at this series. Would it be an artsy series like the 6 piece Black and White set? No. No it would not. Here is the first look direct from the Disney vault:

Look familiar? Ya, you probably remember these designs from Jr. Series 2.

Pretty close. And the fact is the designs work so incredibly well on the 1.5″ figures! Sure we get more detail now on the juniors, but series 2 still stands as a great looking Disney themed set. But to blow those designs up to a 3″ figure and sell them for $12.95??!! We are so used to more and more detail and ground breaking designs that this almost, especially at that price, seems insulting. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for painting on representations of a character as an artsy take on a vinyl. But these designs do not have that much to them and there is an incredible amount of wasted space. With so many brilliant designs out there like Mascots and Star Wars, I can not see spending a dime on these. Here is a look at the rest of this 8 figure set that includes Buzz, Woody, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Nemo and Cheshire Cat.

La Brea Bakery Café New Menu Items

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

From Pam Brandon on the Disney Parks Blog:

Look for a late May opening of the expanded 

>La Brea Bakery Café in the Downtown Disney District at theDisneyland Resort, when lots of classics will be back on the menu. But it’s the new creations we can’t wait to try, like the brioche French toast or the Croque Madame sandwich made with gruyere cheese topped with a fried egg, both on the breakfast menu.

The centerpiece of the café is a new exhibition baking area, so guests can watch the chefs in action. A state-of-the-art wood stone oven will turn out new signature focaccia dishes, artisan flat breads, baked pastas, and other made-to-order dishes. And of course, La Brea’s fresh pastries and breads will be in the oven.

We checked, and classics like the turkey, avocado and arugula on country wheat bread, and the fresh mozzarella sandwich with basil and sun-dried tomatoes will stay on the menu. Ditto for Nancy’s Chop Salad, Cobb salad, classic Greek salad and Tuscan chicken salad, all with made-from-scratch dressings. For a heartier lunch or dinner, we recommend the seared salmon with crushed European potatoes, or Italian sausage pasta with crushed tomato sauce. The delicious menu is inspired by La Brea Bakery’s founder, Nancy Silverton.

The new décor features soft earth tones, highlighted by fresh food displays in the adjacent express area. Outdoors, new awnings, ceiling heaters and fans will offer expanded, comfortable seating.

What is your favorite treat from La Brea Bakery Café?

Spotlight On: Evilos’ UP and Topiary Customs

WDWNT on July 10, 2012


Recently we received an email with two special pieces Evilos has been working on. We asked him a little about each piece and this is what he said…

“I made this for the VMK custom swap. Its a 3” figure painted sky blue and with airbrushed clouds. The house and balloons is made from a block of wood painted to look like the house. (Next Limited versions LE10 will have a JR. in place of the painted wood block). The wood block example is just a one off for the swap.

All placed together in a glass dome with wooden base. This “look” will be a staple of mine over the next few years, glass domes. I have plans on doing 9″ custom dioramas in glass domes also.

I’ve made a Topiary version for Blind Bags Two LE10 and a One of a kind “Balloon Kid’ version for the epilepsy charity Art From the Heart held at the UCLA campus, that sold in a silent auction.

I found out about the “Art From The Heart” event through my artist buddy Mike Peraza (Art Director for the Little Mermaid). The event would be one night where Disney Artists would talk about Epilepsy, have a Disney panel where they would talk about the movies they worked on and donate art to raise money for Epilepsy. The roster of Disney Animators was amazing. From Mike Peraza, Rob Minkoff (Director of Lion King), Ruben Procopio (Famed Disney Sculptor) and many more. There was also a good amount of Disney artists not in attendance who donated art like Larry Nikolai (Art Director for The Little Mermaid Ride and Disney Pin Designer) and plus many more.

I asked if I could be apart of this event and represent Vinylmation. He was very excited and added me to the artist list. I quickly began work on my two customs for the silent auction. One being a Purple Candy 9″ Custom that would be signed by all the Disney panelist and a one of a kind Topiary entitled “From the Heart” where a little child holds a Red Mickey Balloon against a Purple/Green Mickey Topiary.

The event was a huge success, we raised awareness of Epilepsy. Both my Vinylmations sold at the silent auction to the biggest vinylmation collector in the world, Gabriel Luna.

The panelists talked for a couple hours about all the great times they had working on The Black Cauldron, Little Mermaid, Lion King and many more. It was very surreal to be grouped in with such Disney legends.”
-Evilos

Congrats on the great work Evilos! If you’d like to find out more about the things mentioned in this post check out the following websites.

Face Book “Art From The Heart” Page, lots of info here.
facebook.com/artfromthehART

Evilos’ Webpage
evilos.com

Evilos’ Ebay Store:
ebay.com/sch/eojcollector/m.html

DCA Grand Re-Opening Vinys Release Today!

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

What a time in Disney Parks history. New resorts opening and Fantasyland construction well underway at Walt Disney World. And Cars Land and Buena Vista Street opening at Disneyland today. As I write this post, Zoe is sitting in a sea of people outside Disney’s California Adventure waiting for the gates to open up. In fact, she has been there since something like 10pm PST last night. There are two lines, one to get into the park and one to get into the merchandise building… she is in the later. There are mostly pins inside, however there are two special 9″ Vinylmation (LE 500, $54.95):

The AP Limited Release 3″ Red Car Trolley will also go on sale:

The next group of vinyls has been in DCA stores all week, but officially release today.

Which are your favorite?

Mickey’s Circus Is Now a Must Attend Event!

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Awesome! Look at the latest item shown at vinylmation.com. This 3″/Jr set of Jumbo and Dumbo will be your free gift if you come to the vinylmation day of Mickey’s Circus. Both pieces are by Thomas Scott. If you haven’t registered yet, this will totally make it worth it! Do so now!!

What do you think of these pieces. They are perfect to me! Simple, straightforawrd, and extremely effective!

Donald comes with a sword?

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Our reader Luis recently wrote in and told us about an strange thing he found. He says that he opened up a sealed Animation 2 blind box that he got from his local Disney Store in Puerto Rico; and inside he found a Donald Variant, with a sword. We were able to identify the sword as from a Mother Gothel Villains 2 figure. Has anyone else found a packaging error like this? Let us know!

Villains Released… Robots Along for the Ride

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Villains 3 was released at Disney Stores across the nation today. It is also available online. You can find the full lineup on our Villains 3 explained page. If you picked up some Villains, let us know your thoughts on this series.

There is also a great deal going on right now… buy any Vinylmation, get a Robots 2 free. This deal works both in store and online, but you may want to call your local Disney Store first. Ours here in Orlando had Villains 3 in stock, but was out of Robots.

The deal works with almost any Vinylmation purchased. Go to this link at DisneyStore.com for the complete list of eligible products. The sale lasts until July 7 or while supplies last.

Episode 077 POTC Dog

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Ep. 077 POTC Dog

Another Park Starz variant is released, as is a new 9″ mold. Disneyland’s California Adventure opens up it’s expansion and we learn all about the Color Block series. A packed show is all topped off with Adam from Disney Brit to give his take on the Disneyland Paris inspired Park 10 set.

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Impromptu Signing

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Disney artists Thomas Scott and Casey Jones stopped by D-Street Orlando to pick up some Abe Lincoln Park Starz Variants (their latest creations) and left behind some treats for fans.

Casey Jones signed boxes of his 9″/3″/Jr Nightmare set
And his 9″/3″ Malficent and Prince Phillip

Thomas Scott signed his Alice collection including 9″ Crying Alice…

…9″/3″ Walrus and Carpenter… 
…and Alice Flowers set.
Also at D-Street:

Coming June 22 to a D-Street near you!

Once Upon a Pin Podcast #003 – June 19, 2012

WDWNT on July 10, 2012

Once Upon A Pin is a podcast all about Disney Pins. We deliver all the latest news, release dates and reviews with a fun Disney magic twist.

This week we discover the Mickey’s Circus free pin gift. The July Soda Fountain pins are full of Pixar fun. And a ton of new release dates are revealed with a Friday the 13th Jumbo, a 1950’s themed set and many more.

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