Vinylmation Park Starz 5 Coming 1/27; Alien Encounter, Tiki Room, Spaceship Earth, and More!

On January 27th, 2017, Vinylmation Park Star Series 5 will be released at the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts, and it features what is probably the most amazing character lineup to date:

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Figures in series 5 include:

  • Henry – Country Bear Jamboree
  • Pele – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
  • Mexican Child and French Poodle – “it’s a small world”
  • Computer Technician – Spaceship Earth
  • Goat chewing dynamite – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Waldo C. Graphic – MuppetVision 3-D
  • Phineas the Hitchhiking Host – The Haunted Mansion
  • Pirate with Map and Key – Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Skippy – Alien Encounter, Stitch’s Great Escape
  • Elephant – The Jungle Cruise
  • Trader Sam – The Jungle Cruise
  • Mystery Chaser

RoE: Park Starz Series 3

They always leave me wanting more. Only a single Park Starz 3 preview!!?? Really!!?? At least it is a good one. We now know that Harold from Disneyland’s Matterhorn will be in the third series. We got a look at some artwork and the injection mold. No figures were ready for preview, but I seriously hope that changes ASAP.

Like the Park Starz 1 Yeti, the arms should be movable so he can pose like the artwork.

Park Starz vs Uni-Minis!

Earlier this year, Universal Studios introduced a themed vinyl collectible of their own called Uni-Minis. While they are similar to the idea of Park Starz, there are many differences that actually equate them more to Funko’s Pop Vinyl. Uni-Minis are sold in open window boxes for $12.95, so you know what you are going to get. The soft vinyl they are made from is also much closer to Funko Pop than to the higher quality Park Starz figures. Each Uni-Mini is about 3″ tall and instead of being pulled from characters made for the parks, they are pulled from cartoons and movies. That being said, most of Universal’s park characters are from the screen and all of the figures in this first series can be found in the parks.

So, I thought it would be fun to compare the Uni-Mini, to what I saw as it’s corresponding Disney character from either Park Starz 1 or 2. All Uni-Mini photos are from the website Hollywood Gone Geek.

Minion from Despicable Me VS Figment

While there is technically only 1 of Figment, he can obviously become many as shown by the final scene of Journey Into Imagination. Figment also gets into trouble, as a Minion does. They both like using their imaginations and coming up with wild contraptions and both can be equally as annoying.

Woody Woodpecker VS Orange Bird

While they are both birds, there is quite a contrast of character here. Woody is fast and flamboyant. Orange Bird is more quiet and inviting. Woody has a loud, in your face laugh. Orange Bird has a soothing, catchy theme song.

SpongeBob SquarePants VS Jungle Cruise Elephant

I almost went with the Squid here, but decided on the Elephant for one simple reason… playfulness. SpongeBob is all about play. He just wants to have fun under the water. While the Elephant doesn’t live under the water, he sure likes to play in it. They both always have a cheerful smile on their face. But only one lives in a pineapple.

Betty Boop VS The Red Head

A pretty easy comparison here. Both are symbols of attractive women that are not real. While Betty Boop kept young boys glued to the screen many years ago, the Red Head has young boys wanting to revisit Pirates of the Caribbean over and over again. You didn’t really think it was for the pirates did you?

Chilly Willy VS Ice Gator

This match up was a no brainer. You have two animals that live in ice cold conditions. What makes this duo interesting is the fact that Chilly, a penguin, is always trying to get in from the cold. While Ice Gator, a gator, can’t get enough of the ice cold Blizzard Beach slopes.

E.T. VS Rex

Both of these characters come from space, but E.T. has the smarts. I never felt safe as a passenger in a space craft flown by Rex.

Park Starz Series 1 Will Not Be Reorded

It is funny at time what information Disney chooses to share and what they do not. Recently, they posted an update of sorts on Park Starz Series 1.

File this under the “going, going, gone” category.  We recently learned that Vinylmation Park Starz Series 1 is almost gone.  There is a few weeks’ supply remaining of these limited release mystery tins only at D Street in Downtown Disney West Side in Florida.  Once they are gone, there are no plans to reorder this series.

First of all, I like the fact that they will not reorder series 1 since series 2 has been released. Second, I like the update.

I wish they kept us more informed about the status of series for Vinylmation. I assume the post is meant to help move the product off the shelves and is less about informing the community… but I’ll take it.

Welcome Back Park Starz 1

So I was sitting in the audience awaiting the Vinylmation talk at Mickey’s Circus back in September. And all I could think of was Park Starz 2!!!! Well, we didn’t get much from the sequel, but we did find out the first series will make a reapearance in stores while we await the follow up next year. Today, unannounced, Park Starz 1 appeared online and at D-Street.

It’s so cute how they continue to call Pleasure Island Mr. Funmister a “mystery” chaser. It’s wrong on a few levels. In cased you missed this wonderful set, you now have a chance to pick it up. And in case you missed our Park Starz 1 photoshoot, check it out here.

Release Day: July 13, 2012

Excuse me if I’m a little jaded this morning and not rushing to my computer to order from the Disney Store Online today. Not much surprise, but the Carl and Ellie release yesterday went less than smoothly. That included a mid afternoon tease where we all flooded the DSO again to purchase the “now available” Carl and Ellie combo. Of course we woke up to emails from Disney apologizing for the mistake. I wrote them back with a little note of my own, did anyone else?

So today, a few releases hit the Disney Store Online once again… and once again I am reading grumblings of errors for a few figures that didn’t even have close to the hype or demand of Carl and Ellie.

The Comic Con release slate continues today with the Purple Park Starz Squid Variant. An LE of 1954 for $24.95.

As expected, Epcot’s favorite purple dragon popped up online today. This Figment Park Starz variant is an LE 2500 for $24.95. Varying reports say he was available at times overnight? The listing now says Sold Out. But there are issues with the listing description…

The edition size seems wrong and it doesn’t have poseable arms and head. A report on the Vinylmation Exchange Facebook page says the listing has been changed to Sold Out while changes are made.

Park 9 is available online and at your local D-Street.

9″ Park 9 Art of Animation Poster is at D-Streets. Check out my history of the Disneyland attraction here.

9″ Park 9 Feature Animation Building is at D-Streets as well. Check out my history of the Burbank building where Disney magic is drawn to life here.

Release Day! – June 22, 2012

A ton of releases today! Here we go…

Celebrate the 4th of July with a 3″ Uncle Sam figure. It’s designed by Thomas Scott and retails for $16.95. Available both online and D-Streets.

My favorite of the day, Mascots. A series of 4 open window vinyls that retail for $12.95 each and designed by Maria Clapsis. These are available both online and D-Streets as well.

Next up is the LE 2500 Golden Yeti Park Starz variant. This is available at the D-Streets but shows up as “Sold Out” online as of this post. He will set you back $26.95.

Next up, Nerds Rock! Figment and Stitch for $12.95 each. Available at D-Streets and the Disney Vinylmation Facebook Store.

Lastly, the 6 figure Disneyland set. Check out the full series here. And if there are Cast Member trader variants as assumed, please let us know as you find one!

Park Starz Yeti Rides Expedition Everest

Austin and I had the rare chance to tag along with the great and mysterious Yeti as he visited Animal Kingdom to ride Expedition Everest.

Yeti arrives at Animal Kingdom on a beautiful summer day.
It didn’t take him long to find Asia
Like most tourists, the Yeti could not resist a photo in front the fabled mountain range.
First he made sure he fit in the ride vehicle. Plenty of arm room. You know how those Yetis like to move their arms!
Then, with a 90 minute wait, it was wise to grab a Fast Pass. A nimble creature the Yeti is.
Respect the Yeti you will.
While waiting, he shopped at the Serka Zong Bazaar. “How dare they make me look cute!”
“Arrrg! Now I’m a Yeti!” He said it should shrink in the wash.
Now it was time! The anticipation grew! Let’s get in line, our time has come!
“Sorry sir, you must be one Yeti foot tall to ride Expedition Everest.” What!!! Grrrr! What does that even mean!? I AM a Yeti!
A very angry Yeti then spent the rest of the afternoon swatting at guests as they swooped off the mountain side. He didn’t hit much, but it made him feel better.

Episode 080 Tomorrowland Space Suit

Ep. 080 Tomorrowland Space Suit

In this episode we review all the news brought to us at the WDW Trade Night. Pixar, Park Starz, Comic Con, Park 9 and Popcorns all make headlines. We also have Annemarie stop by to give her two cents on the topics and talk about her latest custom. And of course we dive into your comments in the Mystery Mail Bag.

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Comic Con 2012 Vinylmation Explained

Update: 7/10/12

Disney Store will release two (2) of these very limited-edition figures during each day of Comic Con. For the lucky few attending “Preview Day” tomorrow (Wednesday 7/11/12), the head chef will showcase his street side buffet you can purchase all eight (8) figures on the same day! Be sure to stop by the Funko booth (#4829/4928) to pick them up. Each figure retails for $10.00. 250/each available per design.

Update: 7/6/12 Queen and King of Hearts shown at the WDW Trade Show. Also saw Park Starz Pink Squid Variant.

San Diego Comic Con is on July 12-15 in California and Disney has announced several Vinylmation releases spread through out the event. According to the Vinylmation blog, they will be available for purchase online. (But we assume they will also be at the event)

July 11

Comic Con Boy and Girl

Two 3″ Combo

LE 2000

$34.95A part of the Comic Con celebration Disney is releasing this two pack set of two kids dressed up in costumes (much like what many of the people who attend the event do). I like the girl’s use of a accessories, both a cape and glasses. Very cool.

The boy is a little more Robin themed. he’s got a mask and a little hat. He’s got the costume and a utility belt (which just happens to hold vinylmation).

This is a great set, although we had hoped this might have been the introduction of Marvel by having the kids dress up as Marvel characters.

July 12

Pixar’s Up Young Carl and Ellie

Two 3″ Combo

LE 2000

$26.95Amazing. Spot on. Perfect use of ears. Grape Soda cap!!!


July 13

Park Starz Squid Variant

LE 1954

$24.95We first saw this as part of Thomas Scott’s John Carter vinylmation interview video on 3/7/12. This will be the fourth variant to the Park Starz 1 series, I love the color. Prefect.

July 14

Alice in Wonderland Queen and King

3″ and Jr Combo

LE 2500

$24.95Inspired by the the size difference of the King and Queen, this set will portray the Queen at a full 3 inches and the King in a mini Junior. This will be the third Queen of Hearts 3″. The first one was with the Alice set and the second will be in the Villains 3 set.


July 15

Popcorns Mickey Mouse Pie Eye Variant

LE 5000

$24.95In celebration of the upcoming Popcorns series, Disney is releasing a black and white variant of the Mickey design. (Similar to Funko’s Metal Mickey from Comic Con last year)