VM Speculation with Mike Boon: Chunk and Peas-in-a-Pod

WDWNT on January 12, 2012

The penultimate post of Mike Boon’s Toy Story series 2. Everything has been so good so far. Today’s pieces are a little off the beaten path but Mike’s made them into great vinyl.
  Chunk
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Jack Angel

This rock-like toy starts off as one of Lotso’s henchman, but is reformed by the time the credits roll. His expression changes with the press of a special head spike. I thought this played really well with the Sunnyside Daycare logo. One side (the Sunnyside one) shows a smiling Chunk. The other side shows an Angry Chunk with a variation on the logo to play up the prison-like atmosphere of Sunnyside. My only concern with this is the size of it. It may actually make a better 9”.
  Peas-in-a-Pod
Toy Story 3 (2010)
Voiced by: Charlie Bright, Amber Kroner, and Brianna Maiwand

The most minor character I chose for this series, mostly because my daughter sleeps with her own Peas in a Pod every night but also because I was happy with the end result. The peas – Peatey, Peatrice and Peanelope – are shown peaking out of their pod.
Mike Boon joins us every day this week with his speculation of a Toy Story Series 2 vinylmation. For past posts click here. You can also check Mike out at his own blog: baboondesign.blogspot.com

VM Speculation with Mike Boon: Babyface and Chaser

WDWNT on January 12, 2012

The last day of Mike’s Toy Story Series 2 speculation. We’d like to thank Mike again (for like the 7th time) for all the great artwork he allows us to post on our site. I hope you guys enjoyed this set, and if there is any other interesting set you think might be fun to see in the future, let us know!
  Babyface
Toy Story (1995)

The leader of Sid’s mutant toys in the first Toy Story, Babyface consists of a baby doll head atop a spider-like body made of an erector set. Though Big Baby in Toy Story Series 1 was a disappointment, I like the mix of dark and cute in this character design.

“Mike did a great job with the legs in this figure. This is what the robot chef should have looked like!”-M.C.

  Woody’s Roundup Woody
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Voiced by: Tom Hanks

I wanted to include either Buzz or Woody in this series. I thought about a Spanish Buzz, but the puppet Woody from the TV series Woody’s Roundup seemed like more of a treat. I tried to tie the design into the Woody from Series 1. This would be the chaser for the series.

“Prefect”-M.C.

Mike Boon joins us every day this week with his speculation of a Toy Story Series 2 vinylmation. For past posts click here. You can also check Mike out at his own blog: baboondesign.blogspot.com

Spotlight On: Custom Artist Crazy4Vinyls’ Toy Story Series 2

WDWNT on January 12, 2012

Last week we posted Mike Boon’s speculation on the vinyl sequel to the Toy Story Series. When he saw them, Crazy4Vinyl mentioned that he had done similar series. So, to continue the theme, here is Crazy4Vinyls’ Toy Story Series 2.

What do you think? These are some really cool characters. First he has Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead. Then Chuckles and Mr. Pricklepants. Then to round out the set of figures similar to Mike’s he has Dolly. I think the Chuckles came out magnificent. And Mr. Potatohead’s hat looks great (I think this set was done before Villains 2.

To complete the set he has Puck, Bookworm, and Stretch. Two additional awesome characters included are, Totoro (a Japanese Miyazak character who has a cameo in Toy Story 3) and the Troika nesting doll. Take a peek above at the full turn around of Troika. And then below look at the original character.

Crazy4Vinyl did a great job and found some really cool characters that would be a great addition to the Toy Story 1 series already out. Good job Crazy and let us know what you think in the comments below. Anyone else you would want to see in this set?

Toy Story Towel

WDWNT on January 12, 2012

Out friend Stephanie tweeted this picture of a Toy Story Vinylmation Towel. Any one have any ideas as to where this came from? It’s kinda cool….

PIXAR Pals: Countdown To Fail?

WDWNT on January 20, 2011

The PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun parade debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sunday, January 16th. To say that reviews of the “new” parade have been negative would be an understatement. Imagine Block Party Bash at full speed, without guest interaction, without a number of floats, with horrible choreography, and with the toy block floats repainted to look like blocky explosions, cheese, & balloons. Oh, and I almost forgot to loop one of the songs from the PIXAR Play Parade. Can you imagine it? Neither could we, but that’s what is now running at 3:00PM everyday:

Rumors are still circulating that Disney is waiting for some Play Parade floats to arrive in Florida for the Spring, and we certainly hope these rumors are true. If not, one of the shortest and worst received parades in Disney history may have you squeezing in another ride on a DHS favorite instead of waiting for a parade.

Bye-Bye Block Party, Hello PIXAR Pals!

WDWNT on January 4, 2011

The Block Party Bash came to an end on January 1st at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The parade/show was just approaching it’s 3rd anniversary at the park, debuting in March 2008 after a run at Disney California Adventure from May 2005 through January 2008. Luckily, Banks Lee was there for the final performance and captured it on video for all of us to enjoy:

Now that Block Party Bash is gone, we can turn our attention to the upcoming “PIXAR Pals: Countdown to Fun”. The new parade is scheduled to debut on January 16th, but as always, we can expect some early performances at some point in the days before the official first performance. There has been a lot of speculation as to what floats will be included in the parade since the announcement. We expect to see the existing Block Party Bash floats that carry characters from “A Bug’s Life”, “Monsters Inc.”, and “Toy Story”, but what are the floats carrying characters from “The Incredibles”, “Ratatouille”, and “Up” going to look like? Here’s our theory:

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Either Walt Disney World has built a new float for “The Incredibles” or we can expect to see these floats make their way to Florida from California Adventure this week

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Construction and new float height requirements are being cited for the removal of the PIXAR Play Parade from DCA, and this is one of the taller floats, so it would make sense to send it to the Studios.

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The “Ratatouille” float was the tallest in the parade and was only used during busy Summer months, so we can assume we will see this at DHS

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug

The “Up” float is another mystery, but the little seen pre-parade float from California in 2009 seems like a candidate

Another question is the parade soundtrack. Yes, we can expect to hear the PIXAR Play Parade main theme and the songs that were in that parade to play along with characters from “Ratatouille”, “The Incredibles”, “Monsters Inc.”, “Toy Story” and “A Bug’s Life”, but what about “Up”? These characters were never in that parade, so we should expect to hear something new for Carl Fredrickson and the gang. Again, this is all purely speculation at this point but are the most likely outcomes for this new parade we’ll see at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2 weeks. Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on the “PIXAR Pals Countdown to Fun”.

“Lot-s” More Details on Toy Story Mania Changes

WDWNT on April 28, 2010

The following press release from Disney gives us more details on the changes coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

New characters from the soon-to-be-released Disney•Pixar film “Toy Story 3” are being added to the joyful, toy-full adventure of Toy Story Mania! at Disney’s California Adventure and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition to playing with new characters in Toy Story Mania!, there will be opportunities in both parks for up-close fun with another all-new character from “Toy Story 3” – Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear. He’s the bossman at Sunnyside Daycare in the highly anticipated animated feature film.

Toy Story Mania! – the 4-D interactive ride-game attraction inspired by the Disney•Pixar “Toy Story” films – is extremely popular with Disney Parks guests on both coasts. This high-energy, immersive adventure puts players squarely in the action as their game play triggers surprises that deliver a fourth dimension of fun. Toy Story Mania! engages guests in a whole new way with delightful characters of “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2.”

Starting in late May, Woody, Buzz, Mr. Potato Head and the gang are joined by a whole new set of characters from “Toy Story 3.” The new game greeting guests, “Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts,” invites riders to shoot their virtual darts at all-new balloon targets in a primeval world filled with volcanoes and lava balloons, explained Sue Bryan, senior show producer, director, Walt Disney Imagineering.

Game players are welcomed by Rex (the nervous Tyrannosaurus rex) and his new friend Trixie (a blue Triceratops and one of the toy characters from the new film) cheering them on. The new game (it replaces “Bo Peep’s Baaa-loon Pop”) turns up the fun with more hidden surprises and the potential for volcanic levels of excitement. Other changes:

  • The “Hamm & Eggs” game will now be hosted by Hamm and Buttercup (a toy unicorn with heart-shaped nostrils).
  • In the prize scene, Trixie, Buttercup, Dolly (a doll), Mr. Pricklepants (a lederhosen-clad hedgehog) and one other surprise – all from “Toy Story 3” – will appear with Woody and Jessie.

“Our number-one goal in creating Toy Story Mania! was to come up with game-play challenges appropriate for all guests, from little kids to serious gamers,” Bryan said. “I love that we are keeping things fresh and new by adding these great new friends and fun to join some of the most popular characters of all time.”

More Fun in Store

Disney Parks guests not only get to play with “Toy Story 3” characters in Toy Story Mania! starting in late May – they get to see another new character from the film.

Starting May 9, Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear will join his “Toy Story” pals in the delightful “Pixar Play Parade” at Disney’s California Adventure and “Block Party Bash” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. In addition, Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests can pose for photos with Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear in the meet-and-greet area inside The Magic of Disney Animation. Over at Disney’s California Adventure, guests can pose alongside the “Toy Story” gang inside a life-sized “blister pack” as if they themselves are toys.

About the Movie

“Toy Story 3” welcomes Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz (voice of Tim Allen) and the whole gang back to the big screen as Andy prepares to depart for college and his loyal toys find themselves in… daycare! These untamed tots with their sticky little fingers do not play nice, so it’s all for one and one for all as plans for the great escape get underway. A few new faces – some plastic, some plush – join the fun. “Toy Story 3” disney.go.com/toystory/ is a comical new adventure in Disney Digital 3-D. Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story 3” debuts nationwide on June 18, 2010.