The Monorails: Live at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

WDWNT on June 1, 2013

Long before they made an appearance as our favorite 3″ Disney collectibles, The Monorails were a band that toured around the Walt Disney World Resort performing at the resorts on their grand openings. We recently dug up some of The Monorails old concert posters, CDs, Albums and publicity photos. On May 28, 1994, Disney opened the Wilderness Lodge on the banks of beautiful Bay Lake. The Monorails were of course on hand for both openings. Take a look…

Concert Poster
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CD Cover
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The Monorails: Live at Port Orleans Resort

WDWNT on June 1, 2013

Long before they made an appearance as our favorite 3″ Disney collectibles, The Monorails were a band that toured around the Walt Disney World Resort performing at the resorts on their grand openings. We recently dug up some of The Monorails old concert posters, CDs, Albums and publicity photos. On May 17, 1991, Disney opened the Port Orleans resort (now known as the French Quarter). Then, on February 2, 1992, Disney opened the Dixie Landings resort (now known as Riverside). Oh yes, the Monorails were on hand for both openings. Take a look…

Concert Poster
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CD Cover
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Concert Poster
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CD Cover
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The Monorails: Live at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort

WDWNT on June 1, 2013

Long before they made an appearance as our favorite 3″ Disney collectibles, The Monorails were a band that toured around the Walt Disney World Resort performing at the resorts on their grand openings. We recently dug up some of The Monorails old concert posters, CDs, Albums and publicity photos. On May 17, 2004, Disney opened the Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. Situated on the former site of the Disney Institute, it is the largest Disney Vacation Club resort. The resort was inspired by the city of Saratoga Springs, New York. The Monorails, of course, were there to commemorate the event.

The Monorails Concert Poster
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CD Cover

Monorails Back on Track?

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

We found an interesting article at Vinylmation Kingdom today. According to their source, “some Monorails cast chasers will start appearing in trade boxes around the parks.” This would be a very interesting development since we were lead to think the Monorail series was discontinued after seeing this auction at Mickey’s Circus:

Three of the Monorails in the never released series seen above are said to be the Cast Chasers. You can see a picture of them and read the original article here.

At Mickey’s Circus, Disney would neither confirm nor deny the end of the Monorails series. My opinion has always been positive toward this new platform… if it was used correctly. As popular as the Cars franchise is, it seemed like an odd move making the first set entirely Cars themed. Don’t get me wrong, the artwork was fantastic and I picked up a few, but the set did not make as big an impact as a Disney Parks themed set would have. I would have also enjoyed some movie variety in a set. I would be thrilled to see this platform still used, even if it is just for some special combos, LEs and traders here and there.

Monorail Sightings Confirmed in Trade Boxes

WDWNT on October 29, 2012

A few Walt Disney World guests have been finding a surprise in some clear trading boxes around Downtown Disney.

As rumored last week, some of the unreleased Monorail Urban Vinylmation are being made available for trade in clear trading boxes. The photo above was found on Vinylmation Exchange. You can trade a Mickey shaped 3″ figure for the Monorail if you wish. No word on how or why these are being made available. A lot of unreleased Monorails from this series were sold via silent auction at Mickey’s Circus in September.

A number of questions do arise from this development. Is this how they decided to get rid of a certain amount of inventory from a series they decided not to sell? How many of these are sitting back there? Are these just production samples or actually from a larger quantity produced? Is this a test to see if further Monorail series will be produced? Send us your pictures of Monorails inside trade boxes or ones you pick up!

Annemarie’s Catbus

WDWNT on September 12, 2012

We have not seen many Monorail mold customs yet, but Annemarie took a shot at one recently. She posted this Catbus Monorail on Instagram this weekend.

Catbus is a character in the Studio Ghibli film My Neighbor Totoro, directed by Hayao Miyazaki. And I think she nailed it…

 

The Monorails: Live at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

WDWNT on September 12, 2012

Long before they made an appearance as our favorite 3″ Disney collectibles, The Monorails were a band that toured around the Walt Disney World Resort performing at the resorts. We recently dug up some of The Monorails old concert posters, CDs, Albums and publicity photos. On August 1, 1997, Disney opened a resort inspired by the explorers who searched for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold. The resort features a Southwestern U.S./Mexican theme in elements, such as a tiled stucco lobby and a pyramid with water flowing from it, and a Mayan ruin-themed pool. The Coronado Springs Resort is home to the largest convention center on Walt Disney World property. On this day, The Monorails were invited to play.

The Monorails Concert Poster
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CD Cover
Check out The Monorails at the Grand Floridian

The Monorails: Live at Disney’s Grand Floridian

WDWNT on July 7, 2012

Long before they made an appearance as our favorite 3″ Disney collectibles, The Monorails were a band that toured around the Walt Disney World Resort performing at the resorts. We recently dug up some of The Monorails old concert posters, CDs, Albums and publicity photos. The Monorails were on hand when Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort opened on July 1, 1988. With that anniversary this weekend, we thought we would start there.

The Monorails Concert Poster
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CD Cover
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Smoke and Mirrors Hinder the Car Chase

WDWNT on June 22, 2012

There are many signs now that point to the fact that although Holly Shiftwell is the mystery figure on the side of the Monorail Series 1 box, she may not in fact be the most rare figure and therefor not the chaser.

We didn’t think too much of it when Zoe sent us this picture of the Monorails display at the DCA Merchandise Event last week.
After all, how often have we seen minor screw ups like putting the chaser out for display. In the above photo, Holly Shiftwell is in the case, but Chick Hicks is not. 
Couple that with the fact that I have seen many people, even in store pull Holly and get excited AND my friend Austin opened up his case yesterday to find 2 Holly’s and only 1 Chick Hicks (Matter is the triple by the way)… and it is easy to see the possibility that Chick Hicks is in fact the chaser and Holly is the mystery common.
This is reminiscent of the Jr. 5 This or That chaser mix up where Wing and a Prayer and Up and Down became the chasers instead of the PBJ and Smoke and Mirrors even though the box portrayed the opposite scenario. 
If you picked up a case, let us know your findings. I believe the Vinylmation Blog will be announcing a chaser change up sometime this week.