Vinylmation Madness Sale at DisneyStore.com

There is a huge Vinylmation sale at DisneyStore.com. See what figures qualify under the sale here. They are running a Buy One, Get One Free sale. You can also get a FREE 3" Mystery Vinylmation with Vinylmation Madness orders of $40 or more. This means, you get a random, most likely on sale, 3" figure for free. It will not be some kind of exclusive figure. The third part of this sale is the opportunity to purchase a random mystery 9" with Junior combo for $19. Again, not any kind of exclusive figure, just a random one they have in stock. You must use the code MYSTERY for that one.

Director Mickey For Sale at DisneyStore.com

I try to stay positive. We all understood, after it happened the first few times, that "LocationSpecific" Vinylmation released at Disney Stores in NYC, Chicago, San Francisco and such would eventually end up at the online Disney Store. We all changed our vocabulary from "Exclusive" to "Specific." But Directory Mickey, released last year at the Burbank Studio Store on the Disney Studio Lot was supposed to be different. It seemed as though this was a limited time (not edition) item that would could only be picked up by Cast Members on the lot. Such other CM exclusive figures have never been available outside the cast only stores at WDW and DLR. But today, Director Mickey showed up available at the DisneyStore.com for $14.95.

I thought it might be an April Fools joke, but sure enough, I was able to add it to my cart and make it to the payment page. I have absolutely no problem making these "Location Specific" figures available to a wider audience online. But I do have a problem promoting a product as something it is not. With it's discounts and sale policies, the Disney Store continues to set a precedent that makes a mockery of something Disney itself tries to promote as a collectible. What knowledgeable Vinylmation collector will actually purchase any of the upcoming Wild West Vinylmation blind boxes within the first couple months of the April 20 release? There was no reasonable assumption Director Mickey would be available outside of the Burbank Studio Store, and coming on the heels of the "Through the Years" Mickey combo released this past weekend, it makes it even more shocking. By the way, more price drops on DisneyStore.com today as well including blind boxes for $5.99.

Save GREEN at DisneyStore.com Today Only!

The DisneyStore.com is running a special code today, St. Patrick's Day, that will save you 17% on your entire purchase. Just use the code GREEN at checkout.

They have the usual assortment of vinyl goodies, but of course, there are some sale items as well. John Carter, White Ape and Tars Tarkus now $3.99. Mechanical Kingdom 2 for $20. Spooky 2 Pluto and Goofy now $7.99. Myths and Legends, Zooper Heroes and Robots 3 are Buy One Get One Free (blind boxes and cases).

Disney Store's 40% Off Sale

So, Disney now calls Vinylmation a "toy" instead of "collectible?" Ok, fine, the banner for the sale does say "& More." 

Many Vinylmation is included in this 40% off sale. They include:

Under the Big Top

Nursery Rhymes

Extreme Wrestlers

Extreme Wrestler 9"

Robots 3

Robots 3 9"

Myths and Legends

Free Shipping on Park Merchandise at DisneyStore.com

Use the shipping code PARKFREE to get Free Shipping on your entire order when you buy any one Disney Parks item at DisneyStore.com.

This of course includes much Vinylmation as wall as pins and other merchandise.

Wrestlers and Nursery Rhymes Buy One; Get One Deal

Can't say we didn't see this one coming. All Disney Store blind boxes eventually make there way to this familiar sale shelf. All Extreme Wrestler and Nursery Rhyme blind boxes and trays are Buy One, Get One Free at the DisneyStore.com.

Two great things, you can mix and match sets and full trays are BOGO, however, that does not mean an individual tray is half price. You must buy 2 trays, and one is free.

This is perfect timing... you will see my New Years Resolution post a little later today. Are you surprised by this sale?

Vinylmation Cyber Monday Sale

It's time for the "Why the heck do I buy Vinylmation when they are released even with my Annual Passholder discount" sale. Today is Cyber Monday, so of course the Disney Store has a ton of stuff on sale. And of course, that includes Vinylmation. Here are just some of the deals, there are plenty more to look at. All Popcorns are just $5! So are Mascots and Mechanical Kingdom, including the online only Ludwig Von Drake.

2013 Poster Series Release Dates... Maybe?

Disney announced something... I know that's not specific but here are the details. According to the events calender on vinylmation.com there will be a release of a "2013 Series - 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $12.95)" on December 28th at D-Streets. They also have a January 11th release of a similar figure for the online Disney Store. We are assuming that means this is the first (and maybe second) release of the 13 2013 Poster figures we saw at Mickey's Circus (seen above). Only, at Mickey's Circus, they said there would be a limited edition of 2013 for each figure, not open edition like the website says. Maybe the website meant open box. We'll follow up and give out more information as it becomes available. 

Right now the events page is full of mistakes. They can't even spell December correctly.

Huge Disney Store Online Sale

The Disney Store Online is holding a huge sale on Vinylmation this week. Let's start with the $5 deals. They include a variety of items including Mascots, Sports Teams, Nerds, Keychains, Monorails, Phineas and Ferb and more.

Notice that all $5 Vinyls are also part of a Buy any 4, Get 1 Free deal. Next up are the $10 products. They include the Lightning CYO, DLR Space Man and Women, Various combo toppers, and Park Starz variants... among others.

Then there are some $15 and up deals. They include various 9" like the Contemporary, Mara and Yeti as well as Kitchen Kabaret, Fife and Drum and other LE sets.

All these deals can be found at the Vinylmation page on the Disney Store Online.

New November Vinylmation Release Dates

Lots of news today about release dates. Here is all the NEW info from the events page.

At D-Streets:
On October 19th
Park 11 and the Park 11 Combo topper will be released.

On October 26th
Park 11 9" Grizzly Peak ($44.95) will be released
"Disney-Pixar Toy Story 2" Buzz, Little Green Men, Jessie, and Woody ($12.95 each). I think this is the Japanese Andy's Drawings ones.

On November 2nd
Disneyland or Walt Disney World Resort Annual Passholder Series #3 ($14.95)
Villians Series #3 ($12.95 each)
Disney's Prep & Landing ($26.95)

On November 16th
Disney-Pixar Series #1 ($12.95 each)
Phineas & Ferb Series, Agent P (we assume the Christmas Tree variant) ($12.95)
In WDW, artist signing with Maria Clapsis, Ron Cohee, and Thomas Scott from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at D-Street.

On November 23rd
Disney-Pixar Series #1, Heimlich Combo Pack ($24.95) (Is this a combo topper?)

At the Disney Stores:
On November 9th
2012 Santa Mickey Mouse ($16.95)

On November 16th
Disney-Pixar Series #1 ($12.95 each)
Fantasia Series #2 - Unicorn and Faun (LE 2,000 $24.95)

On November 23rd
Disney-Pixar Series #1, Heimlich Combo Pack ($24.95)

On November 30th
Phineas & Ferb Series, Agent P ($12.95)
Fantasia Series #2 - Unicorn and Faun (LE 1,500 $24.95)

So first, it looks like there are two possible dates for the 2nd Fantasia Combo Pack, but it is ONLY online. (I'd try the 16th because it's got the right edition size). Which of these sets are you picking up? Remember that the Classics set also comes out this month. Any one's wallets feeling a bit thin yet?

Haunted Mansion Vinyl Spook the Net

The Haunted Mansion series ended up online when it was released last weekend. That's pretty cool, since we know a lot of people who wanted to purchase the set, but didn't live near the parks. But I can only find the individual boxes for sale. $12.95 each.

Did you pick up this set? What do you think of the variants?

Get them before they turn into a pumpkin!

Yesterday the Cinderella 7 figure set hit Disney Stores and Online. The 9" Cinderella Castle figure was also available yesterday (proof in screen shot above) but doesn't seem to be there today. It is an LE 1500 figure and quantities were available throughout US stores as well, so did the online allotment sell out in 1 day? I had a friend pick mine up at the local Disney Store, she also grabbed a 9", so they were there. I don't have the set in hand yet, but The Playwright sent us pictures from his pick up at the Times Square store in NYC.

As you can see, the display box swings open to give access to the figures and the back of the box is wonderfully decorated with artwork and an inscription.

HUGE Disney Store Vinylmation Sale

This latest sale at the DisneyStore.com moves me even further toward the question... "Why do we purchase these things at release?"

There are a ton of deals here, along with a few head scratchers. $5 figures include various Sports teams, So Tasty and even the just release Pairs 2 juniors! $10 figures include Mascots, Monorails and the Figment Park Starz Variant. $15 figures range from the Park 7 and 8 Combo Toppers to the Park 9 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 9/3 combo.

This constant price dropping and inventory dumping just leaves a very bad taste in my mouth. If this is the "collectible" that Disney promotes it to be, should there not be a more careful handling of inventory and production? I understand they have to clear inventory now and then, but that goes back to the argument that they need to produce less product. This just seems like a constant insult to the collectors. It now seems as if everything moves to the sale bin or the outlet stores. I now know that I can just wait and purchase what I want at a larger discount than my Annual Pass offers. I also pass on borderline wants because the value just is not there anymore. I have certainly changed my purchasing habits, have you?

Release Day: Friday, August 3, 2012

Today Park 10, the Disneyland Paris themed set releases at both stateside D-Streets.

Does this set appeal to collectors in the US? I love the designs even though I have never been to DLP. It is also fun to have another Park set out just months after the last one. Check out Park 10 explained for more info.

Release day was not without surprises. Remember that Urban 8 online exclusive Monster and Archaeologist? It finally released today for $74.95. It is an LE 1500. Wow, a bit high on the edition size there. Best bet would be to wait for this one to be part of a 2 for $50 deal.

The LE 1000 Urban 8 Toilet Paper and Kid combo also released online. This one of course had previously been available at D-Streets before moving down I-4 to the outlets for about $20.

The Japan Geisha Minnie also released today. This figure is the last installment in the "Magic Around the World" releases at select US Disney Stores and will retail for $9.95. Interestingly enough, we finally (from a random comment on the Disney Parks Blog) know where these are actually getting released. Only the New York Times Square, SF Stockton St., Chicago Michigan Ave and Burbank, CA stores are getting these releases. 

SDCC So Tasty Update

The Playwright wrote into us because he just received his SDCC So Tasty Vinylmation in the mail from the Disney Store Online.

I got my whole set of 8 comic con "exclusives" in the mail today.  As per your request on the podcast, here is a picture of the front and back of the vinyl.

It does have the comic con sticker and nowhere does it say it's limited edition of any kind.

The Playwright

Release Day: Friday, July 27, 2012

Roger Rabbit and The Land 9" figures are both online and at D-Street

Last night, the links to purchase these figures went live at Midnight PST, but were hidden from searches for a good half hour. People also had issues checking out to purchase Roger Rabbit, but there seemed to plenty of quantity of the 1200 total available online as it is still available today. Or at least we all think this morning? I, along with many others got our confirmation emails... but past experience makes us hold our breath until the package arrives.

The Park 9 Combo Topper is also out today, only at D-Streets.

Episode 082 Goofy

Ep. 082 Goofy This week we review the new Animation 2 Rhino LE figure. We also dive into the aftermarket debate and have an update on the Disney Store Online.

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Bad Taste in Collector's Mouths

Just when we thought the Comic Con release issues were in the past, the DisneyStore.com today made the 8 "Comic Con Exclusive" So Tasty figures available for purchase online.

According to the Vinylmation blog back on July 10th these were "very limited edition" and only "250 available of each design" at SDCC. Unfortunately, there is no mention of a limited edition size on the DisneyStore.com listing for these figures. The product shot does however show the Comic Con logo on the box.

So where exactly does the truth lie with these 8 Comic Con So Tasty figures? Was there a quantity of the 250 left over that they decided to sell online? It is really hard for me to believe there were any of these $10 figures left over from Comic Con. It seemed collectors and re-sellers where buying these up like candy. Maybe in some technical speak only 250 were available at Comic Con but the original production run was in fact much higher? That is possible, just would be nice if they were honest about that from the outset. Or how about the speculation that the 250 LE only applied to figures sold on site with the SDCC logo on the box? Again, valid. It still gives collectors something to look for, but what about the SDCC logo on the production shot online? Or, the most dreaded of all, will all who order these and get a confirmation wake up tomorrow to a "sorry, these were not available at the time of your purchase" email from the Disney Store? All these questions are valid, and they all have issues and more questions attached to them. But one of the most important questions is how upset are buyers who paid upwards of $500 on eBay for a full set of 8?

One way or another, it seems like the Vinylmation collectors were mislead once again. Just looking at screen shots from Disney's own Vinylmation Blog shows either a misscommunication or misdirection somewhere along the way.

Your thoughts on the SDCC Comic Con So Tasty 8?

Comic Con Boy & Girl Online Now

Purchase the Comic Con Boy and Girl combo no superpowers (or Comic Con ticket) needed. Just stop by the Disney Store where they unexpectedly popped up for purchase.

We were told non-attendees would have to wait at least a day, but that does not seem to be the case. Just a couple quick notes... The set is designed by Eric Caszatt. The LE on Disney Store says "LE 1000", the VM Events page says "LE 2000". Not sure which is correct or if this means only 1000 are available at Disney Store Online and 1000 via QR code at Comic Con. Also, you need to type in "Comic Con" into the search at the Disney Store website. A "Vinylmation" search did not show this set.

Villains Released... Robots Along for the Ride

Villains 3 was released at Disney Stores across the nation today. It is also available online. You can find the full lineup on our Villains 3 explained page. If you picked up some Villains, let us know your thoughts on this series.

There is also a great deal going on right now... buy any Vinylmation, get a Robots 2 free. This deal works both in store and online, but you may want to call your local Disney Store first. Ours here in Orlando had Villains 3 in stock, but was out of Robots.

The deal works with almost any Vinylmation purchased. Go to this link at DisneyStore.com for the complete list of eligible products. The sale lasts until July 7 or while supplies last.