Friday, September 30, 2011

Park Starz Series 1 Explained

Release Date: October 21
Where: D-Streets (online in November)
Price: $18.95
Artist: Thomas Scott, Casey Jones and Lin Shih
Details: 12 figure blind tin set

Update: 10/12/11 Signing at D-Street WDW on October 21 from 5p-7p with Thomas Scott and Casey Jones. Also announced, Park Starz will have "variants" but not in the blind tins. They will be sold as separate LE figures in 2012. One clue to one such variant is "he will be copper in color." Hmmm, Partners statue is the first guess that comes to my mind. What about your guesses?

Lincoln
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
1964-Present

First debut at the World's Fair.

Robot Butler
Horizons
EPCOT 1983-1999

Horizons took guests through a vision of tomorrow. Robot Butler has his duster in hand.


Ice Gator
Blizzard Beach Mascot
1995-Present

I love the look on this guy's face. He has so much fun enjoying Disney's finest water park. His counterpart, Lagoona Gator from Typhoon Lagoon will be in Park 9.


Big Al
Country Bears Jamboree
Magic Kingdom 1971-Present

Big Al steals the show at this Frontierland musical treat.


Giant Squid
20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
Magic Kingdom 1971-1994

This ride always scared me as a kid. I always thought the squid was going to cause a leak in my sub.

Figment
Journey Into Imagination
EPCOT 1983-Present

Figment is one of the most beloved characters in all of Disney theme park history.

Yeti
Expedition Everest
Animal Kingdom 2006-Present

The giant yeti chases your vehicle through the mountain. At the end, he swipes (or is supposed to) down at your passing car.

Skeleton Pirate
Pirates of the Caribbean
Disneyland 1967-Present

The skeleton Pirates await guests aboard the underground caverns about the Pirates ride.
Bride
Haunted Mansion
1971-Present

This ghostly blue bride has a viel and is holding an axe. Appartly she is finished with her groom.
Jose
Enchanted Tiki Room
1963-Present

This green bird is your host for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room.

Boy and Goat
It’s a Small World
1966-Present

This tin gives you a “2 for 2″. Both pieces are counted as 1 figure. Great color and design on the goat.


Mystery Chaser
Highlight below to read, click figure to the left to see

This figure represents the icon of Pleasure Island at WDW's Downtown Disney in the 80's. A really great representation of an extremely obscure figure. Take a look if you wold like to see him.

I Guess It Will Have to be Trick

The 2011 Trick or Treat Vinylmation is Sold Out at D-Street Orlando and can not be found any longer in most stores that did have it in the parks. According to two different Cast Members at D-Street, the figure is Sold Out and no more shipments are expected. We will look into this further.

Food and Wine Fest 2011 Vinylmation

Update: 9/30/11 The Food and Wine figure was released today, on the first day of the festival, instead of being held until 10/14.


Update: 9/26/11 October 14 release date announced. The Food and Wine Festival begins two weeks earlier.

Finally! I've been waiting for this one for years...
Copyright Disney

It's the 2011 EPCOT Food and Wine Fest 3" Vinylmation. Not sure if I care for the look of this one... but I hope it at least comes in a tin. Your thoughts?

Disney just released some more pictures of this Vinylmation:
Copyright Disney
And we thought tins were making a comeback.

Noah's WDW Tour Schedule

After meeting Noah out at D23 in August, we were able to bring you some news about his upcoming Walt Disney World signings and product releases both at The Diamond Horseshoe for WDW's 40th and at the Room For One More Event. Now, we have more specifics on on his busy trip.

September 30th, 2011: Room For One More
This is an amazing ticked event celebrating the 40th anniversary of WDW's Haunted Mansion. Noah will be performing live and also signing and dining with guests. Here is a look at some of his event specific Vinylmation and paintings.
This 9" Vinylmation titled "Hitchhiker" will be available. It's designed using Noah's signature style. Although this picture doesn't show, it comes on a stand with a replica painting behind it. It is LE 13 and retails for $650. He will also have 13 three inch vinyls for $150.

Called "Room For One More", this painting really makes me hope there are some $50 prints released of it. It depicts the graveyard scene with the caretaker in the foreground, the hitchhiking ghosts in the background and the mansion standing tall behind them all. The colors used are simply astounding. That picture is also used as the backdrop of Noah's 9":
Here is a look at the 3":

This one was seen in the Room For One More catalog. It is titled "Crow." $10,000 for the original. $295 for an LE 99 Canvas Giclee. $35 for a Deluxe Print.


October 1st, 2011: WDW's 40th
A big day for the Vacation Kingdom of the World... MK turns the big four-oh. I'm sure there will be lots going on this day around the Orlando parks, and Noah will be at the Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland. You can check out our original announcement here, but now, we have some more details. Noah will be signing from 11:30am - 1:30pm and from 4pm - 5pm. Here is a look at his new work that will be released in limited quantities that day. (wristbands needed for Vinylmation; policy below)
Called "WDW 40th", this is a 9" version of the 3" Noah Vinylmation won by a lucky participant in a game at The Florida Project:
No price or LE yet on the 9" figure, and if past indications hold true, we might see some of these 3" versions for sale on 10/1 as well. The 9" will retail for $650 and is LE 40. The print on the stand the 9" comes on is a version of the Tinkerbell and Castle painting below. The 3", also LE 40 will retail for $150 and will look like this:
Wristbands will be handed out for the purchase of the Noah Vinylmation. You must have a wristband. Here are the wristband guidlines direct from Disney:

Wristbands will be distributed entitling bearers to the opportunity to purchase limited edition Vinylmation™ released in association with the October 1, 2011 product release at Magic Kingdom® Park.

Wristbands for the limited edition items will be distributed starting at 6:00 A.M. Once through security bag check, guests will be asked to line up on the west side of the turnstiles (closest to the Monorail station). We kindly ask that guests do not line up for wristband distribution prior to 6:00 A.M. In addition, holding a place in line for others in your party will not be allowed. Guests who wish to obtain a wristband to purchase limited edition items must be present when the line forms or they will be escorted to the back of the line.

Please note - the Magic Kingdom turnstiles will open at 7:45 a.m. for guests attending breakfast in Cinderella Castle. Guests who receive a wristband will be allowed to enter Magic Kingdom Park at that time. Paid admission is required to enter Disney theme parks.

Items will be released at Diamond Horseshoe Saloon in Frontierland which opens at 9:00 a.m. We kindly ask that guests who receive a wristband please proceed to the Liberty Square bridge to form a queue. At 9:00 a.m., guests will be carefully escorted by a cast member from the Liberty Square bridge to the main doors of the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon.

Wristbands are limited and available while supplies last. At 12:00 P.M., wristbands are no longer valid. Lost, stolen or damaged wristbands will not be replaced. Wristbands have no cash value. Restrictions apply. Subject to change without notice.

Shopping Times

Guests who receive wristbands for Group A will have the opportunity to purchase items from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Guests who receive wristbands for Group B will have the opportunity to purchase items from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Guests who receive wristbands for Group C will have the opportunity to purchase items from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Guests who receive wristbands for Group D will have the opportunity to purchase items from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Wristbands will be distributed for the release of these figures. Below are the wristband distribution guidelines. There will be a purchase limit of one (1) figure per style, per guest with valid wristband.

Say Happy Birthday to the Magic Kingdom with this print titled "40 Magical Years." There will be various sizes and print types available for purchase. If you are interested in purchasing any remaining Noah event product that is available, contact Walt Disney World Theme Park Mail Order 877-560-6477.

October 2nd, 2011: Disney Dream Cruise Ship
During this cruise Noah will be performing live, releasing his new High Seas Adventure Art designed for the Disney Cruise Line®. Noah will be giving a question and answer with guests, signing releases and talking the history of his relationship with the Walt Disney Company.
This is his special 9" DCL Vinylmation.
And the 3":

"High Seas Adventure" painting by Noah. 

Photos of Haunted Mansion Tributes

Update: More pictures from Johnna and Freddie from inside the event
Javier Soto custom

Our favorite haunts Freddie and Johnna... but there was only room for ONE of them to stay.


The ballroom organist

Noah

Noah performs live art

Noah performs live art

Noah performs live art


Noah's event painting


Update: More pictures from Johnna and Freddie







Update: Pictures just sent in from Johnna and Freddie from Room For One More:



Javier Soto's Vinylmation:



Yes, that is and auction for a "Personalized Performance Art" by Noah. Minimum bid, $9800.00.

With WDW's 40th coming tomorrow, Disney decided to celebrate The Haunted Mansion's 40th right along with it. Tonight is the ticketed Room For One More event at Disney's Contemporary Resort and last night I was lucky enough to attend the free after hours Trick or Meet up at the Haunted Mansion. So I would like to share some photos with you. First up, from our good Vinylmation Release Party friends Johnna and Freddie. They are attending Room For One More and made it over the Contemporary to pick up their merchandise and got a sneak peak at some of the decorations:








I am jealous. Hopefully they will give us a sneak peak inside the graveyard tonight! Next up, last night's Haunted Mansion Meet Up. The Disney Park's Blog hosted this free event. Last week they put up a Blog post and the first so many people to respond via email were invited to this special after hours meeting at the Mansion. Sorry for the bad iPhone pictures, my camera battery died. We should be able to update with some pics from the Disney Parks Blog soon.
We meet up at Blizzard Beach, many in costume. A DJ was on hand to spin music and ask trivia questions for prizes. The prize? A WDW 40th anniversary Vinylmation. The open window versions you can buy in the stores. Shortly after 9pm, we were bused over to the Magic Kingdom. It was a tiny behind the scenes tour as we drove past the buildings housing some Christmas and ELP parade floats. We ended up behind Splash Mountain and entered the park through Frontierland.
We were first guided into the Hall of Presidents theater where we were greeted by a guy in a Turkey Leg costume.
We then enjoyed a hilarious presentation by Disney Show Designer Jason Surrell. This guy, along with two of his Imagineer friends, gave an unforgettable presentation at May's Destination D: WDW at 40 event. He was supposed to give us a history of the Haunted Mansion, but it quickly turned into a stand up comedy performance where he just fed off the audience and answered questions. With people recording the show on iPads, snapping pics on iPhones, and tweeting his every sentence, he made many jokes about it before saying that 10 feet behind him is Abraham Lincoln and the founding fathers saying "We fought the Civil War for this?" It was a great time.
After the presentation, we were free to walk around the Liberty Square/Frontierland area. There were rice krispy treats and refreshments set up. And characters walking around. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Dr. Facillier (Princess and the Frog) and various ghosts from the Haunted Mansion interacted with guests.
Of course the Haunted Mansion itself was open for rides. But the real treat was the tour of the new interactive queue by the Imagineers who built it.
The Diamond Horseshoe was the site of an Imagineer meet and greet and select guests where treated to one of these posters signed by the artist. On the way out, all guests received an unsigned version of this same poster. Oh ya, and there was candy. Lots and lots of candy. Guests were given goodie bags that they could fill up at a few candy stations.
Hmmm, look at that. It wasn't all candy. All guests also received a Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkin King 3" Vinylmation. Thank you Disney and the Disney Parks Blog for this great free event. It was similar to the one for the re-opening of Star Tours earlier in the year. I look forward to more of these wonderful guest interactions in the future.