Jingle Smells, Jingle Smells, Vinylmation All The Way

WDWNT on October 31, 2011

Update: 10/31/11 Price: $11.95. Also, Jingle Smells were not out in many Disney Stores on the 10/30 release date. But good news, at many stores across the country Cast Members are stocking the shelves over night for a 10/31 release. Here is a pictures from a California Disney Store:

We do also know that many Disney Stores have already release Jingle Smells as early as a week ago according to Vinylnation.net. Also, here are some tweets from Sunday:

@OnlyLindsay – the Disney store by me didn’t have them out but I asked if they had them in back and was able to buy them!

@VMKingdom – There seems to be three different stories at Disney Store. Some sold last week, some today (Sunday), some tomorrow (Monday).


Update: 9/20/11 This Christmas Jingle Smells will hit stores. Its a line of four scented Vinylmation. They will be in Disney Stores on October 30 and at Disney Parks a few weeks later. The scents that will be available are Gingerbread, Marshmallow, Chocolate and Peppermint.

I know it’s summer, but bear with me for a second. Imagine it’s December. Snow falling on your windowsill. The sounds of your favorite Christmas tunes playing. The tree is up, decorated with your favorite Disney ornaments. Oh, and the scents of the holiday season all around. Sound good? Now imagine those scents coming from your Vinylmation.

Copyright Disney
What would Jack think if he stumbled upon these odd creations from our friends at Disney? Reports by Stitch’s Kingdom say this is a set of four, open window 3″ Vinylmation that are scented. The scents that will be available are Gingerbread, Marshmallow, Chocolate and Peppermint. No pictures available yet, but the figures will have Ornament hooks on top. Not sure if they are real or molded. It has also not yet been determined if these will be a Disney Store exclusive, or available at the resorts as well.
Disney Nerd Blog
Christmas and Disney, two of my favorite things. Not sure if I’ll be grabbing these Vinylmation, but I sure have a healthy supply of Disney Christmas decorations. What about you?

Variant in Wonderland

WDWNT on October 29, 2011

We have seen Alice in Wonderland released in Disneyland Paris. Now, thanks to the website Action Figure Times, we have a peak at one of the variants.

 Pink Hedgehog Variant Photo from ActionFigureTimes.com
Normal Green Hedgehog
If you want to take away the mystery (debatable if there was any about this one), here is the Alice in Wonderland Chaser:

The Variants & Chaser of Urban 8 Leaked

WDWNT on October 29, 2011

The website Action Figure Times has secured 14 figures from the yet to be released Urban 8 Vinylmation set. A set of 11, plus 2 variants and what appears to be the chaser. No word about where or how these figures were acquired by Action Figure Times. Urban 8 isn’t slated to be released until sometime in November. Click the image below to see the chaser. I have to say with this and the Villains 2 chaser, designers are back in business after some flops for that special piece in recent sets.

Mystery Chaser Photo from ActionFigureTimes.com

There is nothing blocking your view of the variants below however… take a look:

Barricade Variant Photo from ActionFigureTimes.com
Barricade Normal
Still wrestling with the desicsion to purchase Urban 8? Will this variant change your mind?
Rudos Variant Photo from ActionFigureTimes.com
Rudos Normal

Japan Exclusive Mushu

WDWNT on October 29, 2011

Update: 10/29/11 We have more info about this figure. First, it appears it will be released on November 18 in Japan along with the Disney Character Zodiac signs. We also have a price. 990 Yen, or about $13.07 USD. It is also an LE figure, but we don’t have an edition size.
9/28/11 A Mushu Vinylmation has shown up on eBay. It appears to be an unreleased figure. It also appears to be another “dumpster dive” figure. Meaning it was tossed out by the factory, but picked up and put for sale online.
It’s a great looking variation to the Animation 1 Mushu. No details yet where or when it will be released or as part of what set, if any. We can speculate that it has something to do with 2012 being The Year of the Dragon. I can say that it’s a brilliant design and I can’t wait to find out how to add one to my collection. I will toss out the same general warning we always give against bidding on figures on eBay before it’s release.

Vinylmationize Your iPhone

WDWNT on October 28, 2011

A few days ago, Steven Miller, on the Disney Parks Blog, announced some drop dead amazing retro D-Tech iPhone, iPad and Laptop cases.

So, DV reader David asked Steven about these D-Tech products we saw in the display at The Florida Project:

Vinylmation Laptop Decals and Laptop Sleeve
Vinylmation 3G and 4G iPhone Cases and Laptop Sleeve

Here is Steven’s response:
@David – How timely! We just announced the release date for the four covers – November 11. They feature two different patterns – an all over and a line up. Cases were made for the iPhone 3GS and the iPhone 4 (and they should also work for the iPhone 4S). Each case has a retail of $31.95. Look for them in the following locations:

Disneyland:
D-Street – Downtown Disney District
The Star Trader – Disneyland Park
Off the Page – Disney California Adventure Park

Walt Disney World:
D-Street – Downtown Disney West Side
Emporium – Magic Kingdom Park
MouseGear – Epcot
Beverly Sunset – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Island Mercantile – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park

Thank you David for asking that question of Steven and for sending us the response. These patters have been seen before on other merchandise, but I especially like the iPhone case with the Mystery Chaser figure. That would a great Christmas present for MC! We would also like to point out some possible prices for the Laptop Decals and Sleeves shown in the pictures above. Steven did not give a release date for these spcifically, but the placecard at The Florida Project said December 2011. The sleeves should retail for $26.95 with the decals at $8.95.

9″ Lady Liberty Will Be Online

WDWNT on October 28, 2011

It looks like some, non-LE Vinylmation will slowly makes their way to the new city specific section of the Disney Store Online. The latest is this 9″ Statue of Liberty figure designed by Jim Valeri.

This open edition figure was released earlier in the year at the Times Square Disney Store in NYC, but will be available online as of November 7… which also has the distinction of being the one year anniversary of the new Times Square store (and was just 2 days before our first podcast!). The retail price is $44.95. 
The Disney Vinylmation Blog also re-announced two figures that have already been for sale at the Times Square Store for awhile. They will be at the Times Square store on November 7, but were not specifically mentioned as being online.
I “Mickey Head” NY is a 9″ designed by Marcella Lau, LE 1,540 and a retail price of $49.95.
Bridges is a 9″ figure designed by Oskar Mendez. It is open edition and has a retail price of $44.95.

Jazz Up Your Location Specific Collection

WDWNT on October 28, 2011

The first Chicago specific figure blew into town in September with the brilliant Windy City 3″. On November 18, the Chi-Town hits continue with this number:

It’s a stylistic representation of the Chicago Jazz scene. The 3″ figure will be released at the Chicago Michigan and State Street Disney Stores. A man playing the saxophone takes up half the head and body, while black and red piano keys adorn the feet. There is a purple hat in one ear with music notes in the other. Gerald Mendez designed this figure that comes nicely packaged in a tin.

Even though I’m not a fan of Jazz music, this colorful piece may end up in my collection someday. Will this location specific make it onto your shelf?

New Vinylmation Series- Furry Friends?

WDWNT on October 28, 2011

Today the vinylmation.com blog teased us with a little tidbit about a new series coming up. According to them, a new series called “Furry Friends” will be coming out from the Disney Store in early January 2012. They say the series will be a mystery box series (so we expect 11 figures plus a chaser) and will be designed by the Disney Store artists. This includes Enrique Pita, Jim Valeri, Oskar Mendez and Gerald Mendez as well as two new artists Quincy Sutton and Matt Chittavanichprapa.

So we say “Welcome” to Quincy and Matt, and look forward to hearing more info about this series.

Any ideas about what these might be? And why wouldn’t the Raccoon from Urban 8 be part of it?

Park 7 Review: Celebrate WDW in Style

WDWNT on October 28, 2011

You can tell Park 7 is something special from the moment you lay your eyes on the packaging. Instead of the bland black boxes we are used to from the Park series, the Disney Design Group used the wonderfully designed 40th anniversary collage.

Park 7 was released today at the D-Streets. With Walt Disney World celebrating it’s 40th anniversary, Park 7 and Park 8 will be focused on milestones from the Florida resort. Now, we talked on a podcast not too long ago (ep. 040) about the disparity between figures representing WDW as opposed to DLR and other parks. Some fans in Disneyland complain that many more figures are WDW-centric… and the numbers do support this. From Park 1 through Park 6, 31 figures (44%) are specifically WDW. Only 7 (10%) are from Disneyland. With 27 (39%) shared between the parks. That is just using the 12 base figures from each set and does not equal 100% as some figures are not from WDW or DLR. But you also have to take into account that WDW has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a ton of resorts and Downtown Disney to pull from.

Let’s take a look at some highlights of Park 7. (Pak 7 Explained) In my opinion, the best design in the set is Philharmagic Donald.

It really takes Vinylmation to a different level. Some people might not like the huge bulky, outside the mold addition. But I think it is spectacular. I am biased, as this is one of my most favorite rides ever imagined.

I like Tink. I think this design is very well executed. The face is well proportioned. The outfit has that added sparkle. The wand and wings are icing on the cake.

Kali River Rapids is one of the more colorful Vinylmation you will ever see. It completely captures the art style used at the Animal Kingdom attraction.

I’m a big fan of the WDW resorts. I like walking around them, enjoying the food and shows they have to offer. The Polynesian Fire Dancer is a great representation of a classic WDW resort. The fire stick is unexpected and brilliant.

There really isn’t a miss in this set. Muppets 3-D is bright, colorful and spot on. America on Parade is a great nod to a long gone Magic Kingdom favorite and will go perfectly with the upcoming LE Fife and Drum set. Star Jets is awesome and uses the ears perfectly. World of Motion Sea Serpent really looks great up close and gives us EPCOT fans a little bit of nostalgia. I was a fan of the EPCOT 2000 ball with wand… and this figure, although a little awkward, actually works as a representation of that time. And the Earful Tower… if ever there was a no-brainer that just “fit” onto the Mickey-mold, it’s this. Then we have Figment. This one is the only area for minor criticism. But only that it’s my least favorite designed Figment we have gotten so far. It is still a well designed figure and as we know, comes with a variant.

Overall, Park 7 may replace Park 4 as my favorite overall set. I will figure that out and let you know by the next podcast. What are your thoughts on this milestone set?