Wedding Week: Celebration Vs Maria Clapsis

WDWNT on March 21, 2011

With the reveal of the 3″ pieces from the Celebration set, we got to see the Bride and Groom that Stephen Miller hinted to back on February 1st. This however, is not the first time Vinylmation have been to a wedding. This week we will take a look at various version of the Vinylmation Wedding theme that we have seen hidden on the internet.

First up, a quick reminder of the Celebrations Bride and Groom.

An interesting pair of vinyl. The tux looks okay, reminiscent of the business suit from the Occupations set. (Although I liked Kermit 55th’s tux better, it had bling!) The wedding dress however seems a little plain, especially when you compare it to this:

This is Maria Clapsis’ Bride and Groom. A figure she had sitting on her desk at Disney, and a pic that has been seen in lots of places around the internet. This is a set she made for a college friend who was getting married. It is amazing! All the detail work is perfect, from the top hat to the tiara. I think Disney should convince Maria to make more of these, and sell them at a high price as part of the wedding packages they have at the parks. Amazing stuff Maria, keep up the good work.

All week we will have wedding themed posts (in addition to our regular news posts, so don’t worry about missing any news this week). Tomorrow we talk about another custom wedding piece that I recently saw online.

Maleficent 9″ Vinylmation Sold Out

WDWNT on March 21, 2011

Update: 10:30AM All the villains 9″/Jr combos are sold out online. Also as of this time, all the Villains 9″/Jr sets are sold out of the Tampa Disney Store (and we suspect any other EST store). Tampa only had 8 Maleficent sets (and the family in the front of the line bought like 6).
Well it didn’t take long. At some point between 2am EST and 730am EST the Disney Store Online put the Villains 9″/Jr sets up for sale. As of now, the Maleficent and Aurora set is sold out. Interestingly, they also put up a package where you could buy all 3 9″/Jr sets. That is currently sold out also! Each set is a Limited Edition of 700.

Retro Weekend: 03/20/11

WDWNT on March 21, 2011

Another weekend with lots of news. Here’s the recap.
On Friday, Urban 6 was released. The first thing on everyone’s mind… what’s the chaser?

Urban 6 Chaser Revealed
Front and back

The next thing everyone wanted to see was the variants. (With some help from our CA reporter Zoe.)

Blue Finger
Blue Nature Cycle
Clear 1337

While at D-Street Nick stumbled upon a clue to the re-release of Star Wars 1

Return of the Jedi (to D-Street)

While waiting for the Trade Event to begin, Nick and his newly acquired Urban 6 friends explored the Flower and Garden Festival.

Urban 6 goes to the Flower Garden Festival

Finally, the Trade Show started. Nick meet a lot of people.

WDW Trade Show 3/18/11

Then Sunday came around and we dropped by the Blind Box Studios to record the latest version of Destination Vinylmation.

Episode 014 Furr

Urban 6 Enjoyed the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival

WDWNT on March 20, 2011

On Friday, Urban 6 was released. They wasted no time checking out their surroundings. And who could blame them? I caught them walking around the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT. Click on the pictures for larger images.

Side Mickey couldn’t help
checking out the EPCOT ball

Green Thumb was right at home
at the Flower & Garden Fest
Cactus wishes she had more
than just one flower

Zipper poses for a picture
Nature Cycle’s favorite ride is in
EPCOT’s Land Pavilion

The beginning… and end
of language
Sunny Day feels at home

Be careful… something may be
hiding in those pretty flowers
Cry Baby… the 8th Dwarf?

Sundae got the scoop on the
Lightening McQueen display
Sumo enjoys the view from the
Japan pavilion

Griffen welcomed guests to the
Flower & Garden Festival

WDW Trading Event

WDWNT on March 20, 2011

WDW hosted a trading event at the Contemporary Resort yesterday. First off, we want to say thank you to everyone who stopped by our table to say hi or to trade with us.

It was great to see a couple hundred people lined up outside the doors to the room before the event. Once let in, collectors scrambled to find some table space to display their collections. Traders then walked around the room trading with each other.

The event was both a Vinylmation and Pin trading event and the pin traders sitting at the tables out numbered the Vinylmation traders. However, the crowd walking around the room, seemed to be comprised mostly of Vinylmation traders. We are not saying that Pin trading is declining, there were a ton of people trading pins, but the buzz just seemed to be with the Vinylmation. In talking to a few people at the event, they said traders seemed to be searching out the Vinylmation on the tables over the Pins and some Pin traders seemed frustrated. In fact, the Pin traders next to our spot were getting annoyed with the crowds of Vinylmation traders around them trying to see what figures we had and blocking anyone from seeing their pins. They eventually moved to another corner of the room, near other Pin Traders.

Disney did a wonderful job. They had a Vinylmation table set up displaying some Vinylmation you could purchase. There was also a Mystery 24 and Open box trade area set up. Disney also had a table promoting the Disneyland Sci-Fi Acadamy (still no word there on any event specific Vinylmation for that). Disney also will never allow a crowd to gather on property without some merchandise and cash registers nearby. They had some pins and lanyards for sale in the ballroom.

You don’t know what it means to us to hear people say they visit our site and listen to our podcasts. We do this because we enjoy collecting Vinylmation, love Disney and have fun doing it… but hearing the feedback that you guys enjoy what we do, makes it all worth it. And we couldn’t do it without you. Keep on contacting us with your questions, ideas and any news you find out about Vinylmation. We hope you enjoyed trading with us as much as we did with you. See you at the next event!

How did you do at the Trading Event? Was it like you expected? What was your best trade?