A Hauntingly Good Time

WDWNT on June 22, 2012

A special thing happened to me while hanging around the Haunted Mansion today, but first, the Disney Vinylmation Blog has finally given us a release date for the Haunted Mansion pocket watch. On Friday, April 13th you may purchase this Caley Hicks designed masterpiece in the following locations: Both D-Street, World of Disney (WDW and DLR), Uptown Jewelers (MK) and New Century Jewelers (DLR).

This timepiece to me is a nice tribute to a classic attraction. The pocket watch itself is the highlight for me. A really unique design that screams Haunted Mansion. With this news, I also want to share with you a Magical Moment I had today at the Magic Kingdom. Austin and myself were taking pictures of the Nightmare figures by the Haunted Mansion. We also had the Park 5 Haunted Mansion Clock with us for a picture. While setting up a shot, we were approached by a Cast Member who had talked with us a few minutes before about our collections. He asked if we wanted to take a picture in a place not everyone gets to see. We of course said sure and followed him backstage. We entered the Servants Quarters. There we saw a board on one wall full of keys. These, he said, were the room keys for the mansion. On the opposite wall were numerous bells hanging off the wall all attached to a wire that went into the wall. These bells would ring when the master in that room had summoned a servant. One of the bells read “Uncle Davis’ Sleeping Salon”, a nod to the legendary Imagineer Marc Davis who created many of the gags you see around WDW attractions, including this mansion. The Cast Member prompted us to pose our vinyl figure for a photo with this unique off-stage prop.

It was a great experience and I appreciate kindness and willingness to make a guest’s day by this Cast Member.

Haunted Mansion Watch and Figure Review

WDWNT on June 22, 2012

The Haunted Mansion pocket watch and 3″ figure was released last Friday the 13th. Designed by Caley Hicks, this set has an LE of 750 and a retail price of $175.

The set includes a 3″ figure that features the tombstone of Trebor Llewe, a tribute to WED Imagineer Robert Sewell. This tomb can be found inside the graveyard scene.

That is a great photo I found on http://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com of the actual tombstone. Bob Sewell joined WED after Disneyland opened in 1955. Sewell was in charge of show installations at the park, and he was head of the Model Shop at WED for most of his years at Disney until his retirement in 1981. (thanks to http://disneydispatch.com for the info)

The head of the Vinylmation portrays one of those pop-up ghost heads inside the graveyard scene that appear above some tombstones.

It is painted with a gritty, glow in the dark paint (same as used on various previous vinyls) that looks terrific in the dark. The ears are clear with some purple paint that match the arms, both of which compliment the figure well.

The back is a simple backside of tombstone and clear head. The clear head allowing light to enter and gives the face a nice bright, light up effect.

Caley Hicks did a wonderful job capturing a Haunted Mansion tombstone for the figure, but for the watch, she chose a different mansion icon to portray.

The face of the grandfather clock was used to make this amazing timepiece.

This clock face awaits guests in the hallway of the Haunted Mansion.

With a push of a button at the top of the watch, the door pops open for a closer look at the clock. Caley designed it with the same pattern found on the original… a 13 in place of the 12 and of course the creepy figures that swing around keeping the time. It is designed with precision and both the figure and watch seem produced with great care. They come securely bubble wrapped and packaged in Styrofoam. Once opened, they can be displayed inside a plastic case.

The watch as a stand it fits upon and the figure has an indentation it sits in. The background is a nicely drawn graveyard scene. A great little addition and a step up from the patters on the cases of the previous watches. I think this watch and figure set transcends the Vinylmation collecting hobby and would surely find a happy place on shelf of a Disney memorabilia or Haunted Mansion collector as well.

A Haunting Timepiece

WDWNT on March 31, 2012

Hey Haunted Mansion fans! Not only will you get a whole mystery set released (hopefully sometime this year) but today on the Disney Parks Blog they revealed this:

Wow! Designed by Caley Hicks, this LE 750 pocket watch and 3″ Vinylmation combo is simply amazing. A ghostly figure looms over a tomb on the vinyl. The watch is modeled after the grandfather clock inside the attraction. It will release “in a few months” and will retail for $175.

This will be a day one pick up for me. On an interesting note, Steven Miller wrote that this will be the “last” watch in the Vinylmation watch series. Interesting as there are only 3 others that were released about a year ago. I picked up all three of the Steampark, Park and Urban inspired time pieces (check them out here) and would like to see more. Especially if they are themed as well as this one.

It’s About Time

WDWNT on December 3, 2010

Vinylmation Park, Urban and Steampunk… or Steampark, as Disney terms it… watches were released at D-Street today. Steampunk and Urban come with a $150 price tag. Park retails for $125. All 3 are a Limited Edition of 750 each. Here are some first pictures and partial reviews: (listen to Destination Vinylmation podcast episode 4 coming out this weekend for more in depth reviews of the watches and Holiday 2)

Vinylmation Park Watch and 3″ Figure

As you can see, it’s a Steamboat Willie inspired design by Eric Caszatt.

The watch face is wrapped around the 3″ Vinylmation with Mickey on the side and they use the Vinylmation arm as an extension of the drawn on Mickey.

Back of the 3″ Park Watch figure.
The watch seems of good construction with a comfortable leather wristband. Also of note is the Mickey on the watch is raised off the background, not drawn on.
Vinylmation Urban Watch and 3″ Figure

The Urban Watch has a “face” like artistic design on the watch face. The 3″ figure just replicates the watch being strapped around it. The watch band is a sturdy rubber design.
Here is the back of the 3″ Eric Caszatt designed figure, as expected, it replicates the back of the watch face.
Vinylmation Steampunk Watch and 3″ Figure

This is an exciting piece! Look at the detail as they put a Vinylmation Mickey on the pocket watch lid.

Take a look at the inside of the watch. You can see all the working gears in this mechanical time piece.

Designer Mike Sullivan did a wonderful job on this Steampunk figure. The back of the 3″ figure has a Hidden Mickey in the ear and a splash of color on one of the gears.
Here is the back of the pocket watch




Steampunk News. And New Vinylmation Watches Announced!

WDWNT on November 16, 2010

I had the chance to speak with Steven Miller, Project Manager Disney Trading, at the Festival of the Masters at WDW this past weekend. Steven is a man of many hats… he works in Disney Merchandise and heads up trading of Pins and Vinylmation as well as some of the Disney social media sites such as the Disney Vinylmation Blog and the Vinylmation Facebook page. (if you haven’t yet, go “like” that page, they will keep giving us new stuff to look at!) Steven talked about some upcoming releases, new products, price points, tins or boxes?, ice cube trays, Star Wars, a behind the scenes look at the development of a Vinylmation and much, much more! We will be releasing a new clip from the interview each day this week. The full interview with Steven will air as part of Destination Vinylmation Episode 3, to be available for download on Sunday, November 14th. Subscribe now on iTunes or listen at our website. To see some pictures of some upcoming releases from Festival of the Masters, visit the Destination Vinylmation Facebook page.

In today’s clip, Steven announces a couple exciting new additions to the Vinylmation family.

Special thanks to Steven Miller and Disney.