New December/January Release Dates

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

With the announcements below we confirm there will be WDW Marathon figures this year as well as another Valentine’s Day commemorative. We have yet to see the actual figures, but the marathons are called “mini medals.” So here is a look at the 2013 medals:

The Valentine’s one is anyone’s guess. We also get details about the 2013 series, a Pixar LE combo and the third Fantasia. We have no clue what order the 2013’s will be released in, but Disney released the calendar from which the figures were inspired in park stores. So i’ll find it and take a look this week. I would assume the order of release would correspond to the months they appear on the calendar. Here is a look at the 13 figures as they were on display at Mickey’s Circus.

We will have to wait until January for the 9/3 Crush and Squirt LE combo. It will have an edition size of 1250 and will retail for $64.95.

The third Fantasia combo is a Parks and Online release featuring Hop Lo & Gold Fish. There are 1500 of them and it will retail for $24.95.

Also in the mix is the seventh junior series installment and a new Disney Vacation Club Piece. The junior series is themed to space and was on display at Mickey’s Circus.

We don’t know for sure, but we can assume the DVC figure will be this design that we saw only in concept art on Vinylnation years ago.

JANUARY 4, 2013
D-Streets
2013 Series – 3-inch figure by Dave Keefer & Maria Clapsis (Edition Size: 2,013 / Retail: $14.95)
Valentine’s Day 2013 – 3-inch figure by Maria Clapsis (Commemorative / Retail: $14.95)

JANUARY 4, 2013
Online
Valentine’s Day 2013 – 3-inch figure by Maria Clapsis (Commemorative / Retail: $14.95)
Vinylmation Jr. Series #7 – In Space (Mystery Box / Retail: $9.95)

JANUARY 10, 2013
D-Streets
2013 Run Disney – 3-inch figure by Maria Clapsis (Commemorative / Retail: $12.95)

JANUARY 10, 2013
D-Street Orlando (And Wide World of Sports?)
Walt Disney World Half Marathon Mini Medal (Open Edition /Retail: $1.95)
Goofy’s Race Marathon Mini Medal (Open Edition / Retail: $1.95)
Walt Disney World Marathon Mini Medal (Open Edition /Retail: $1.95)

JANUARY 11, 2013
D-Streets
Vinylmation Jr. Series #7 – In Space (Mystery Box / Retail: $9.95)
Disney Vacation Club Exclusive 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $14.95 )

JANUARY 11, 2013
Online
2013 Series – 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $12.95)
Disney Vacation Club Exclusive 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $14.95)

JANUARY 18, 2013
D-Streets and Online
Pixar Series #1 – Crush & Squirt, Finding Nemo – 3-inch & 9-inch figure set by Maria Clapsis (Edition Size: 1,250 / Retail: $64.95)

JANUARY 25, 2013
D-Streets and Online
Fantasia Series #3 – Hop Lo & Gold Fish, The Nutcracker Suite – 3-inch figure set by Thomas Scott (Edition Size: 1,500 / Retail: $24.95)

Say Aloha New Vinylmation!

WDWNT on December 3, 2012

A few news and notes out of Hawaii. The release date for the Aulani figures we saw previewed at Mickey’s Circus have appeared on Disney’s Events page. Disney has two figures listed and call them both “Minnie” but we are going to assume one is supposed to be “Mickey.” A misprint is a safe assumption since they also say “open edition” with an LE number of 1,500 right next to it AND a price tag of $24.95 which is ridiculous for a 3 inch figure. They also list them under the “Disneyland” section, but we believe they are an Aulani Resort in Hawaii specific (again, based on info given to us at Mickey’s Circus). AND, one more caveat, Aulani is a DVC resort so we are not sure if you must show your DVC membership or not to purchase these. Ok, enough explaining… here is what they look like…

We have also seen pictures from various sources of a wonderful 3″ Minnie Mouse with a grass skirt accessory.

As you can see, she comes in a beautiful Hawaii themed tin. It seems this figure was unceremoniously released on October 29, 2012 and is only available at the Ala Moana Shopping Center Mall on Oahu, Hawaii.

Dirk Wallen’s 10/19-10/21/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen did some park hopping this weekend, so let’s take a look at some newsworthy photos from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

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Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

Princess Fairytale Hall

Work continues on the upper-level of Village Haus

Work continues on the new restrooms coming to the former Skyway site

Modifications are taking place at “it’s a small world” related to new guest flow for when stroller parking once again moves next door at the old Skyway site

More metal guardrails are being installed on the Tomorrowland bridges

Magic Carpets of Aladdin is closed for refurbishment

Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing

EVEN THE WALLS HAVE WALLS!

Moving to Epcot, work continues on in Innoventions central

Still nothing up on the canopy at Test Track

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the facade of Legend of Jack Sparrow is looking much better than when we first checked in

A large mural of the circular map from “At World’s End” covers most of the soundstage

Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope will start greeting guests on October 28th

AWESOME

Guests can color while the meet and greet is being installed

Plenty of Wreck-It Ralph merchandise available at Mickey’s of Hollywood

children’s shirt

Most of this stuff can be picked up at your local Disney Store

Scented plush

Adam Roth’s 9/24/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited Downtown Disney, Epcot, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios yesterday and has a ton of newsworthy photos to share with us from this trip, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on Splitsville at Downtown Disney

Spotted construction workers

Still looks nothing like the concept art…

The Phineas and Ferb topiary from Epcot is now near the Phines and Ferb & You attraction

Guests were waiting for it to open

Blink has been open for a while now, don’t think we have shown it yet…

John Carter Vinylmation is now at D Street

Adam is probably the only person who has bought them

They had better hurry up…

Moving over to Epcot

Some work going on at both ends of the turnstiles

A great Epcot 30th anniversary display is up in the window at Art of Disney

They are pretty much ready for the Food and Wine festival, starting Friday

You can still buy these

The Cool Wash near Test Track is out from behind walls and now features the new “Sim Car”

The area got fixed up nicely

The dummy sports the new logo

A large hole is now in the front of Test Track

Goodbye old entrance

A new chimney installed at the Norway pavilion… we assume Agent P related…

The work on the Norway waterfall is done

Some other roof work is wrapping up

The new American Adventure cast costumes have debuted… these ones are pretty bad. Did somebody say McDonald’s?

The attraction host costumes are actually very nice

The Festival Shop actually has real doors this year…

Chase seems to be a sponsor ready to burn cash

All of the booths are ready to go

The DVC booth near Canada is just about complete

Told ya’ it was a DVC booth!

Work going on next to the Refreshment Port as well

Display at the front of World Showcase

Framing props…

WATERMELON PATCH

Apparently the cranberry bog is coming back

Moving over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Celebrity 5 & 10 is behind tarps

FastPass+ installed at Indiana Jones

New, Moved and Head Scratching Release Dates

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

This update, not going to lie, hurt my brain a little bit to process. Disney certainly does not make it easy for us. By the way, side note, and probably why I am in a bad mood while writing this… Did anyone else see that the WDW Premium Annual Passholder discounts will drop to 10% as of January 1, 2013? So as my discount gets cut in half, I can tell Disney that not only will they be getting less money from me at renewal, but I’ll be sure to purchase at least half as much merchandise as I normally do. Anyway, how about those release dates… They changed some days. Changed some locations. Added new dates and even duplicated some. Take a look.

The Disney Vacation Club Exclusive 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $14.95 ) was moved from a January 11th release date to February 15th in the parks only. It is still supposedly set for a January 11th online release. The design of this figure is not known at this time, but is presumed to be from this this concept art.

As I have been presuming for a few weeks, the January 10th release of the 3″ Run Disney figure (Commemorative / Retail: $12.95) and WDW Marathon Weekend Mini Medals (Open Edition /Retail: $1.95) will be at the Clubhouse Store at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during the Expo that takes place before the races. How do I know these releases better than Disney itself? The odd part is, they kind of took away the part about it also being available at D-Street in Orlando. I say “kind of” because, well here is the exact wording: “ESPN Clubhouse Shop, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex t Downtown Disney West Side in Florida”. Um, ya, ESPN is not at Downtown Disney. However, there is a later posting on the Events page about the Mini Medal accessories being released at D-Street Orlando on January 22nd. But that still still leaves the 3″ figure. I presume it will also end up at D-Street, if not on the 10th, then by the weekend. The 3″ Run Disney figure remains on the release slate for January 10th at D-Street Anaheim  The January 13th signing with artist Maria Clapsis also remains in place for 5-7pm at D-Street Orlando.

On February 1st, the February 2013 Poster Art 3-inch figure by Patty Landing (Edition Size: 2,013 / Retail: $14.95) will be released at both D-Streets. In an exciting turn of events, the exact same figure is also listed for a February 11th release… but only in Anaheim  Sorry Orlandonians, you only get it once. Here is a look at the calendar art and Vinylmation figure.

On February 22nd, both D-Streets will receive a new 2013 Easter 3″ figure designed by Billy Davis (Commemorative / $14.95). No photos of this design as of yet.

The left coast D-Street will also get a Mad T Party, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, 3-inch figure set (Edition Size: 1,500 / $24.95). No photos of this design as of yet either.

Photo from  Loren Javier’s flickr

Lastly, the Disney Vinylmation Facebook page store will get the Fantasia Series # 5, Baucchus & Donkey from The Pastoral Symphony, 3-inch figure set (Edition Size: 1,500 / $24.95). We did not know until this posting what characters were in sets 5 through 8. I wish they accompanied this release info with a photo, but they did not. So here they are from the movie itself.

Dirk Wallen’s 9/10/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Dirk Wallen was on the scene at the Magic Kingdom earlier this morning and has some newsworthy photos to share from his trip:

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Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC wing

Lampposts installed in the new parking lot

If you closely, you can see the new children’s water play area themed to Alice In Wonderland that is being installed

There is a new Fall trolley show running every morning at the Magic Kingdom. We have a short video clip:

Everyone likes to point out budget-cuts and declines in show, but offering seasonal new shows like this prove Disney still cares despite what you may read elsewhere

Speaking of declines though… the bears are gone from the Brave meet and greet

This is a permanent change as Merida may not have much longer at the Magic Kingdom anyway

No one wants to color?

The new Fantasyland restroom facility project keeps chugging along

A new walkway through the Castle Walls has been set up to accommodate pavement work and other minor things

New directional signs on the walls

Work continues very slowly on finally installing the Storybook Circus entrance. Looks  like we won’t be getting the ticket booth in the concept art as there just isn’t enough path space…

Adam Roth’s 10/22/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

WDWNT Reporter Adam Roth visited the Magic Kingdom and the surrounding resorts on Monday and has a TON of newsworthy photos to share with us, so let’s take a look:

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Work continues on RFID turnstiles at the Magic Kingdom

Walls up on the other side too

Holy…

That’s more like it…

That isn’t Osh Popham…

These “black and white” plush have been out for a few months now

We look at Wreck-It Ralph stuff for the 40th time

Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom shirts are selling well

Still gross…

Wow…

Magic Carpets of Aladdin closed for refurbishment

A lot of guests want to see mermaids!

Walls still up at the Crow’s Nest

Golden Oak Outpost closed

I’d rather not…

This would be why

Holy lines Batman

You know what doesn’t have lines?

The new, shorter Country Bear Jamboree!

It will never break 12 again…

Lobby wasn’t touched

The theater is another story

New lighting is quite noticeable

These guys look brand new

All of the bears got new fur and clothing

They look incredible

The bad part of all this is the cutting of much of the show

The Five Bear Rugs no longer sing “Devilish Mary”

“Fractured Folk Song” was also cut, then the song order was changed as well

Lines from some songs were even cut

HE LOOKS AWESOME!

A lot of dialogue was cut as well…

It’s great that the attraction was completely restored, but it’s a shame we had to lose so much of it

The Gaston’s Tavern mugs are being repurposed at Sleepy Hollow

I think it’s a neat idea

Work continues on the new restrooms on the former Skyway site

There’s a chimney

The construction walls now extend to the “it’s a small world” exit tarps

Tarps still up at Village Haus

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

Cast Member previews are currently taking place

Guests are confused! EVERYONE SAID IT WAS OPEN!

I hope something will be done with pavement land at some point

Work continues on Princess Fairytale Hall

The exit test is still happening

Work continues on the Grand Floridian DVC addition

A beautiful sight at your wedding!

The parking lot is just about finished

Let’s head over to the Polynesian

RFID is in full use over here

Let’s go shopping

A lot of the 40th anniversary merchandise has been rebranded

Toothpick holders!

Let’s go eat

BACON CUPCAKES!

IT’S BACON! Well, not completely…

Adam had to get one…

A nice secluded spot to enjoy a Dole float

A look across the Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian DVC

We have our first wall

I think it will blend nicely

DVC Key

WDWNT on September 12, 2012

At the WDW Trade Night, a new DVC exclusive was shown to the crowd.

It retails for $14.95 and will be available at D-Street soon. Guests must show a DVC card to purchase. It is a golden Mickey Ear Key against a purple backdrop.

DVC Members Get New Keys on 8/24

WDWNT on September 12, 2012

The Disney Vacation Club 3″ Key figure will be released at both D-Streets on August 24. We first saw it previewed at last month’s WDW Trading Night.

The figure will retail for $14.95. And of course, in order to purchase this figure, guests must present a valid Disney Vacation Club ID at time of purchase. Remember, we still have never seen the DVC white picket fence figure Disney released, and shown on Vinylnation.net, the wrap around for years ago.

Are the DVC members out there going to pick up the key vinyl? Just for fun, here are the other two DVC wrap arounds.

An Aerial Look at New Fantasyland – March 2012

WDWNT on September 8, 2012

Courtesy of Scott Keating and scottkeating.net, we once again have some fantastic aerial photos of Fantasyland to share with you:

The base of the old Dumbo is still lingering, guess it isn’t that easy to completely remove…

A lot going on here: The bridge that will serve as the entrance to the Be Our Guest Restaurant is nearing completion, the Mermaid queue entrance is out from behind scaffolding and appears mostly complete with the exception of pavement, and we can now make out a distinguishable footprint for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train

Another angle shows that Gaston’s Tavern is far behind the other buildings in the village

We can now see where the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station is going in Storybook Circus, but what lies beyond it in the tents is mostly a mystery…

Getting away from Fantasyland, the Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment rolls on with most of the queue being rebuilt, all track being replaced, and a visible fresh coat of paint being applied to the entire mountain

Work continues on the DVC wing of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa