VIDEO: Disney Parks Testing Interactive Talking Meet and Greet Trio of Mickey, Minnie, and Donald Duck

While Disney California Adventure has been testing their own talking Mickey Mouse character for a few weeks now, just yesterday they threw in two of Mickey’s pals, for the first time ever all speaking to guests in one meet and greet experience:

While a talking Mickey Mouse meet and greet is nothing new, we have yet to see a multiple character experience like this, up until now. While this likely won’t remain a permanent offering at this spot in California Adventure, it is likely that this will be rolled out to Disney Parks around the world should the test prove successful.

Here is the current talking Mickey Mouse experience offered at Walt Disney World, in case you are unfamiliar:

SOURCE: Video by Guy Selga, TouringPlans.com

Disney Infinity 2.0 Toy Box Starter Pack & New 2.0 Individual Figures Available November 4th, Big Hero 6 Figures Leaked

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Disney Interactive announced recently that a new Disney Infinity 2.0 Toy Box Starter Kit will be available for purchase on November 4th. The Toy Box Starter kit includes:

  • Disney Infinity 2.0 game software.
  • Disney Infinity 2.0 base.
  • Disney figures: Merida and Stitch.
  • Disney Originals “Toy Box Game Discs” – Stitch’s Tropical Rescue and Brave Forest Siege
  • A web code card.
  • A poster.

The Toy Box Starter pack will cost $59.99 and be available for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC.

New Disney Infinity 2.0 individual figures will also be available for purchase on November 4th. They new individual figures are: Aladdin, Donald Duck, Maleficent, Merida, Stitch and Tinker Bell.

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Also InfinityInquirer.com has come across a leaked image of the characters from the upcoming Disney movie,Big Hero 6, (Hiro and Baymax).

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New NYC Jobs with Character Jr. Key Chains

Disney Store artist Enrique Pita has been a bastion for DS Vinylmation release info since the flow of updates slowed from the company itself. Recently, he Instagramed three new junior key chains he created specifically for the NYC Times Square Disney Store.

The three figures are sold individually. There is NYC Cab Driver Goofy, NYC Policeman Mickey and NYC Fireman Donald! Wow, what amazing detail on these 1.5 inch canvases. They are getting better and better. To actually convey emotion on the faces of these is incredible to me. Here is a photo via Vinylmation Kingdom of each of the figures in the packaging.

Donald Duck Popcorns!

The second series of Popcorns is almost upon us and it appears Donald Duck will lead the charge.

This figure is set to be released on August 9th. A few interesting notes… it will be an LE of 2500. Will all future Popcorns be an LE? Or is this a variant Donald? Only variants from series one had an LE. We did know there would be a Donald in Popcorns series 2, it was told to us by Disney and we saw his concept art on the boxes from series one. And this product shot does look a little different to me, so a variant is a possibility.

It will also retail for $19.95. Originally Popcorns were priced at $24.95, then went on sale online for $5 around Christmas, then settled in at $19.95 online and in the parks. So that is a welcome change. I love the look of the above Donald and Maria Clapsis is credited with the design. Doug Strayer was credited with all of series one. One final note, we do still expect to see a Stitch and Frankenweenie as part of this second series.

Thomas Scott Poster Art Signing on March 1

The collections by Disney page has already announced the date for the March Poster Art Series release and signing. On March 1st, Thomas Scott will sign the Vinylmation, Pin and Calendar from 5-7pm at Disney’s Pin Traders  in the Downtown Disney Marketplace. March features a Donald Duck inspired design. Take a look at the viny, pin and calendar page below. Take a look at the complete lineup here.

Donald, Chip and Dale Adorn New Christmas Vinyl

This Vinylmation will be available at Disney Stores on October 22 for $9.95.

This looks stunning. Hopefully it will be just as good in person. It appears to be Donald trapped in a snow globe with Chip ‘n Dale around him.

Another Variant for Donald Duck

Why did I not make this my actual prediction on the last podcast? In our preview for Park 11 I said an easy possible variant would be the different character Fun Wheel cars. Well it turns there is a Donald Duck variant of the Mickey Fun Wheel car.

I found this picture on the Vinylmation Exchange Facebook page. This marks the third variant (Park 6 Wet Pain, Animation 2 Noah) for Donald Duck. Does anyone know of any other Park 11 variants?

Donald comes with a sword?

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!

Donald and Pluto Mystery Combo

Update: 2/22/12 An email today sent out by the Disney Store gave us all a closer look at what a lot of our great comments already pointed to. The design scheme for this “Storybook Collection” of merchandise not on sale at the parks and online. It is a variety of magnets, lanyards, pins, frames, shirts, snowglobes and more all to this theme of the Disney characters like guests enjoying the parks. Here is a look at the autograph book.

Update: 3/21/12 Thank you to Cheryl for showing us a picture of the back of these figures from the Vinylmation Exchange Facebook page.

Donald has a backpack with little Vinylmation painted on peaking out. From a comment from Carol below, it seems we should also be on the look out for”a Mickey, Minnie (with a camera), Goofy (with balloons) and Tinkerbell (above the castle) also shown on the box.” These designs struck me personally as very generic and they do look like designs used on some generic park merchandise at DLR and WDW. A Cast Member, Trevor, mentions this looks to be part of the “storybook collection.” I know Disney has to expand to this market for profit reasons, but in my opinion it is sad to see such a niche piece of Disney related art go in the direction of generic merchandise. Say what you will about the movie tie-in figures or Monorail Cars but these move way over that line. I felt the same way about Theme Park Favorites as well. New molds and Park Starz are still unique and more like art. But figures like the New years, theme park favorites and now these are more like generic merchandise. I always welcome new things in Vinylmation and if Disney feels this is what they need to do, that is fine. I would just rather see the main Disney characters used for a reason besides a tie in the the generic park merchandise theme of the day. There are so many great things you can do with the Fab 5 if you want to have them in different designs.

3/20/12 The following picture was posted on the Vinylmation Exchange Facebook page. Jon Quon was the poster and said he found this at Disneyland. Thanks to Ryan for sending it our way.

No real clue what this set represents without more context from the box, but the person who posted this picture also asked if anyone knew what series this is from. Any ideas? Donald and Pluto appear to be in their normal outfits, except for the hats. Donald wearing a yellow cap and Pluto wearing a sorcerers hat.