This is just a taste, we have seen more in pins and concept art, but some images of the Casey Jones designed Haunted Mansion Vinylmation series has popped up at D-Street Anaheim. (no reports of them following anyone home) For more images of 10 of the 12 figures, check out Haunted Mansion Explained.
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Ep. 079 Tower of Terror Elevator This week we get to reveal 2 wonderful upcoming figures, the line up of the Disney Classic Collection and the revised Comic Con lineup. We have a few questions and comments in the Mystery Mail Bag and we review the upcoming calendar of releases and events. |
We have featured John Ward before, and he just sent us some pictures of his latest work. Seeing that we have had so many stories on the Haunted Mansion turning 40 lately, we thought it perfect to share these with you now. We think the pictures tell the whole story…. or is your computer screen actually stretching?
A special thing happened to me while hanging around the Haunted Mansion today, but first, the Disney Vinylmation Blog has finally given us a release date for the Haunted Mansion pocket watch. On Friday, April 13th you may purchase this Caley Hicks designed masterpiece in the following locations: Both D-Street, World of Disney (WDW and DLR), Uptown Jewelers (MK) and New Century Jewelers (DLR).
This timepiece to me is a nice tribute to a classic attraction. The pocket watch itself is the highlight for me. A really unique design that screams Haunted Mansion. With this news, I also want to share with you a Magical Moment I had today at the Magic Kingdom. Austin and myself were taking pictures of the Nightmare figures by the Haunted Mansion. We also had the Park 5 Haunted Mansion Clock with us for a picture. While setting up a shot, we were approached by a Cast Member who had talked with us a few minutes before about our collections. He asked if we wanted to take a picture in a place not everyone gets to see. We of course said sure and followed him backstage. We entered the Servants Quarters. There we saw a board on one wall full of keys. These, he said, were the room keys for the mansion. On the opposite wall were numerous bells hanging off the wall all attached to a wire that went into the wall. These bells would ring when the master in that room had summoned a servant. One of the bells read “Uncle Davis’ Sleeping Salon”, a nod to the legendary Imagineer Marc Davis who created many of the gags you see around WDW attractions, including this mansion. The Cast Member prompted us to pose our vinyl figure for a photo with this unique off-stage prop.
It was a great experience and I appreciate kindness and willingness to make a guest’s day by this Cast Member.
The Haunted Mansion pocket watch and 3″ figure was released last Friday the 13th. Designed by Caley Hicks, this set has an LE of 750 and a retail price of $175.
The set includes a 3″ figure that features the tombstone of Trebor Llewe, a tribute to WED Imagineer Robert Sewell. This tomb can be found inside the graveyard scene.
That is a great photo I found on http://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com of the actual tombstone. Bob Sewell joined WED after Disneyland opened in 1955. Sewell was in charge of show installations at the park, and he was head of the Model Shop at WED for most of his years at Disney until his retirement in 1981. (thanks to http://disneydispatch.com for the info)
The head of the Vinylmation portrays one of those pop-up ghost heads inside the graveyard scene that appear above some tombstones.
It is painted with a gritty, glow in the dark paint (same as used on various previous vinyls) that looks terrific in the dark. The ears are clear with some purple paint that match the arms, both of which compliment the figure well.
The back is a simple backside of tombstone and clear head. The clear head allowing light to enter and gives the face a nice bright, light up effect.
Caley Hicks did a wonderful job capturing a Haunted Mansion tombstone for the figure, but for the watch, she chose a different mansion icon to portray.
The face of the grandfather clock was used to make this amazing timepiece.
This clock face awaits guests in the hallway of the Haunted Mansion.
With a push of a button at the top of the watch, the door pops open for a closer look at the clock. Caley designed it with the same pattern found on the original… a 13 in place of the 12 and of course the creepy figures that swing around keeping the time. It is designed with precision and both the figure and watch seem produced with great care. They come securely bubble wrapped and packaged in Styrofoam. Once opened, they can be displayed inside a plastic case.
The watch as a stand it fits upon and the figure has an indentation it sits in. The background is a nicely drawn graveyard scene. A great little addition and a step up from the patters on the cases of the previous watches. I think this watch and figure set transcends the Vinylmation collecting hobby and would surely find a happy place on shelf of a Disney memorabilia or Haunted Mansion collector as well.
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Ep. 069 Steampunk This week we review many sets including Snow White, Robots 2, Haunted Mansion Pocket Watch and the LE Alice sets. Urban 9 is released and the Brave set and some chasers are revealed. |
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There may be no windows and no doors, but Disney believes those under the age of seven should have an older guest sitting with them when they ride the Haunted Mansion or Toy Story Midway Mania. From TouringPlans.com:
Beginning Monday November 5, 2012 the Haunted Mansion and Toy Story Midway Mania attractions in both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will temporarily testing a new seating policy for the rest of the month and gauge guest reactions.
According to the new policy, children under 7 years of age must ride with someone over the age of 14 in the same row. The previous Toy Story Mania policy was that an adult must be in the same vehicle. There will be a sign near the entrance informing guests of the new policy. There will also be Cast Members at the ride exit surveying guests about how they feel about the policy.
Hey Haunted Mansion fans! Not only will you get a whole mystery set released (hopefully sometime this year) but today on the Disney Parks Blog they revealed this:
Wow! Designed by Caley Hicks, this LE 750 pocket watch and 3″ Vinylmation combo is simply amazing. A ghostly figure looms over a tomb on the vinyl. The watch is modeled after the grandfather clock inside the attraction. It will release “in a few months” and will retail for $175.
This will be a day one pick up for me. On an interesting note, Steven Miller wrote that this will be the “last” watch in the Vinylmation watch series. Interesting as there are only 3 others that were released about a year ago. I picked up all three of the Steampark, Park and Urban inspired time pieces (check them out here) and would like to see more. Especially if they are themed as well as this one.
From Super Bowl MVP parades to Animal Kingdom, WDWNT Reporter Zach Larson brings us around the world with him on a very busy photo report. Let’s take a look:
Land clearing continues for the Grand Floridian DVC wing
Meanwhile, some brush is being cleared from this island in the Seven Seas Lagoon
The main street characters were out entertaining guests waiting for Eli Manning to parade down the street. I really don’t like the new one in the beige shorts…
They were offering free balloons with every audio guide purchased! 😉
Giants fans out in force
Here comes the Super Bowl MVP
Congratulations to our hometown champions, the New York Giants… even though I’m a Dolphins fan… stop laughing…
The Big Thunder Mountain refurbishment rolls on
I love this sign
The Pecos Bill’s facade is out from behind tarps and looks great
More of the facade still covered
The Frontierland Trading Post still behind tarps
Pathway work continues and Electrical Parade takes a break and Celebrate a Dream Come True stays on Main Street
Work continues on the old Fantasyland Skyway
Restrooms are coming, but rumors say to expect more
Rumors indicate that a Tangled play area and an area for guests to rest and recharge electronics is coming
Work continues on the Peter Pan’s Flight queue
Crane up in New Fantasyland
The new Tomorrowland/Fantasyland vending cart costume is a better fit for Tomorrowland in my opinion
Work continues on the castle walls
The crane! The crane!
Storybook Circus
The Dumbo queue is coming along
Beast’s Castle
They are finally topping Prince Eric’s Castle at Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
A spire finally appears at the very edge of the castle! PROGRESS!
Fantasyland Station is looking great
The old Dumbo spinner is now sitting next to the completed new spinner
I really love the pastels
It’s hard to improve a simple spinner, but I think they have
Circus tents
Awww….
Bye balloons… sniff…
Main Street bridge work continues
Center Street still behind tarps
Chamber of Commerce/Package Pick-Up behind tarps as well
Cosmic Ray’s installed these screen menu boards a while ago
I like this shot…
Lights were on in Space Mountain
Long line for the Peoplemover
Something is missing…
Oooooo…
Walls still up behind the shrunken pet cemetery
Ooooo….
Another new Haunted Mansion shirt
On to Epcot
Test Track on the map, get them while you can
Kind of empty…
The screen works!
This scene may be gone soon…
GM cars out in the loop
Punch it Chewie!
Plenty of blue Chevy labeled cars out
The VISION House is coming to Innoventions soon
Habit Heroes is testing
Some clever puns… good thing this isn’t DCA…
There were quite a few bugs and they weren’t allowing pics inside, so listen to next week’s podcast for a full review
Doors locked for some reason
MINE!
No, they are not putting FASTPASS machines in…
Nemo?
In case you don’t know how to play Simon…
Preparations have begun for the Flower and garden Festival
They keep adding more and more signs for Kim Possible
The new Future World directional signs
The Canada facade refurbishment is done and it looks brand new
Leave a Legacy being fixed up
Over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, work continues on one of the paths in the Oasis
Kali River Rapids is closed for refurbishment
These were added some time ago, but the seating area at the Yak and Yeti counter service now has covered sections
I miss these signs that don’t say dream builders…
The drink window was open
