Fantasia G8or and Hippo

We have been waiting for this one, and Thomas Scott left it for last. The famous Gator and Hippo from Fantasia are the 8th and final two piece combo in this wonderful series. It will be released at the parks and online on June 28. Like the rest of the series, it will be $24.95 and LE 2,000.

 There are many ways we thought the Gator could fit on the Mickey platform, and I think Thomas did a wonderful job. The color in the ears have always given this series and added flare. This combo is no different. The Gator's face extends down onto the body and fits on there so well. Its all about proportions to make it look right, and this is pulled off so very well. This series has and need accessories, so the cape is perfect.

The Hippo is simple and elegant. We do have two Hippos already, but this is the first normal 3". We have the 9" with fabric skirt and the 3" that was the chaser from the Disney Store's light up series. I do want to see this one in person. As much as I like it, I might have liked a lighter shade for the Hippo just to make it pop some more. I do love the purple eye lids and other highlights that really help the design.

Fantasia 7 Offers More Pastoral Symphony

Fantasia 7 will be released at D-Streets and Online on April 26. The combo was designed by Thomas Scott, will retail for $24.95 and is LE 1500. Today, we got our first glimpse of this pair.

First up is Zues. And here he is from the Disney film...

The second figure in the pack is Hephaestus.

And here is a screen shot of him from the film...

Fantasia 5: Bacchus and Donkey

On February 22, the 5th of 8 of the Fantasia combos will be released via the Disney Vinylmation Facebook Store.

The surprise here is Eric Caszett is credited with the design of Bacchus and Donkey. We were under the impression Thomas Scott did the entire set. Like the rest, it will retail for $24.95 and be an edition size of 1500.

New, Moved and Head Scratching Release Dates

This update, not going to lie, hurt my brain a little bit to process. Disney certainly does not make it easy for us. By the way, side note, and probably why I am in a bad mood while writing this... Did anyone else see that the WDW Premium Annual Passholder discounts will drop to 10% as of January 1, 2013? So as my discount gets cut in half, I can tell Disney that not only will they be getting less money from me at renewal, but I'll be sure to purchase at least half as much merchandise as I normally do. Anyway, how about those release dates... They changed some days. Changed some locations. Added new dates and even duplicated some. Take a look.


The Disney Vacation Club Exclusive 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $14.95 ) was moved from a January 11th release date to February 15th in the parks only. It is still supposedly set for a January 11th online release. The design of this figure is not known at this time, but is presumed to be from this this concept art.

As I have been presuming for a few weeks, the January 10th release of the 3" Run Disney figure (Commemorative / Retail: $12.95) and WDW Marathon Weekend Mini Medals (Open Edition /Retail: $1.95) will be at the Clubhouse Store at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during the Expo that takes place before the races. How do I know these releases better than Disney itself? The odd part is, they kind of took away the part about it also being available at D-Street in Orlando. I say "kind of" because, well here is the exact wording: "ESPN Clubhouse Shop, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex t Downtown Disney West Side in Florida". Um, ya, ESPN is not at Downtown Disney. However, there is a later posting on the Events page about the Mini Medal accessories being released at D-Street Orlando on January 22nd. But that still still leaves the 3" figure. I presume it will also end up at D-Street, if not on the 10th, then by the weekend. The 3" Run Disney figure remains on the release slate for January 10th at D-Street Anaheim  The January 13th signing with artist Maria Clapsis also remains in place for 5-7pm at D-Street Orlando.

On February 1st, the February 2013 Poster Art 3-inch figure by Patty Landing (Edition Size: 2,013 / Retail: $14.95) will be released at both D-Streets. In an exciting turn of events, the exact same figure is also listed for a February 11th release... but only in Anaheim  Sorry Orlandonians, you only get it once. Here is a look at the calendar art and Vinylmation figure.

On February 22nd, both D-Streets will receive a new 2013 Easter 3" figure designed by Billy Davis (Commemorative / $14.95). No photos of this design as of yet.

The left coast D-Street will also get a Mad T Party, Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum, 3-inch figure set (Edition Size: 1,500 / $24.95). No photos of this design as of yet either.

Photo from  Loren Javier's flickr

Lastly, the Disney Vinylmation Facebook page store will get the Fantasia Series # 5, Baucchus & Donkey from The Pastoral Symphony, 3-inch figure set (Edition Size: 1,500 / $24.95). We did not know until this posting what characters were in sets 5 through 8. I wish they accompanied this release info with a photo, but they did not. So here they are from the movie itself.

Episode 099 Carousel of Progress John

Ep. 099 Carousel of Progress John This week we give a run down of all the new January release dates just announced. We also let you know all about the merchandise and trading activities for the December 6th New Fantasyland Grand Opening. We also have an in-depth discussion on the Disney Store Online fire sales.

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New December/January Release Dates

With the announcements below we confirm there will be WDW Marathon figures this year as well as another Valentine's Day commemorative. We have yet to see the actual figures, but the marathons are called "mini medals." So here is a look at the 2013 medals:

The Valentine's one is anyone's guess. We also get details about the 2013 series, a Pixar LE combo and the third Fantasia. We have no clue what order the 2013's will be released in, but Disney released the calendar from which the figures were inspired in park stores. So i'll find it and take a look this week. I would assume the order of release would correspond to the months they appear on the calendar. Here is a look at the 13 figures as they were on display at Mickey's Circus.

We will have to wait until January for the 9/3 Crush and Squirt LE combo. It will have an edition size of 1250 and will retail for $64.95.

The third Fantasia combo is a Parks and Online release featuring Hop Lo & Gold Fish. There are 1500 of them and it will retail for $24.95.

Also in the mix is the seventh junior series installment and a new Disney Vacation Club Piece. The junior series is themed to space and was on display at Mickey's Circus.

We don't know for sure, but we can assume the DVC figure will be this design that we saw only in concept art on Vinylnation years ago.

JANUARY 4, 2013
D-Streets
2013 Series - 3-inch figure by Dave Keefer & Maria Clapsis (Edition Size: 2,013 / Retail: $14.95)
Valentine's Day 2013 - 3-inch figure by Maria Clapsis (Commemorative / Retail: $14.95)

JANUARY 4, 2013
Online
Valentine's Day 2013 - 3-inch figure by Maria Clapsis (Commemorative / Retail: $14.95)
Vinylmation Jr. Series #7 - In Space (Mystery Box / Retail: $9.95)

JANUARY 10, 2013
D-Streets
2013 Run Disney - 3-inch figure by Maria Clapsis (Commemorative / Retail: $12.95)

JANUARY 10, 2013
D-Street Orlando (And Wide World of Sports?)
Walt Disney World Half Marathon Mini Medal (Open Edition /Retail: $1.95)
Goofy's Race Marathon Mini Medal (Open Edition / Retail: $1.95)
Walt Disney World Marathon Mini Medal (Open Edition /Retail: $1.95)

JANUARY 11, 2013
D-Streets
Vinylmation Jr. Series #7 - In Space (Mystery Box / Retail: $9.95)
Disney Vacation Club Exclusive 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $14.95 )

JANUARY 11, 2013
Online
2013 Series - 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $12.95)
Disney Vacation Club Exclusive 3-inch figure (Open Edition / Retail: $14.95)

JANUARY 18, 2013
D-Streets and Online
Pixar Series #1 - Crush & Squirt, Finding Nemo - 3-inch & 9-inch figure set by Maria Clapsis (Edition Size: 1,250 / Retail: $64.95)

JANUARY 25, 2013
D-Streets and Online
Fantasia Series #3 - Hop Lo & Gold Fish, The Nutcracker Suite - 3-inch figure set by Thomas Scott (Edition Size: 1,500 / Retail: $24.95)

Release Day Friday: November 30, 2012

Only two items released today and they are both online releases of products already available elsewhere.

Next week is set up as a slow release day as well. According to Disney, all we will see is the Mad T Party LE combo in California.

D-Street Orlando Update 10/17/12

Just a few quick notes about some items at D-Street Orlando. They still have a handful of the LE 2500 Popcorns Clown Dumbo Variants around the store.

They also have a bunch of the LE 2000 Fantasia #1 Combos behind the counter.

And then this beautiful new 9" Custom Fortune Teller Mickey has shown up in the display case.

It comes in a real wooden box and lights up when plugged in. The manager on duty was able to tell me it has a $2,000 price tag and the artist is Mark Seppala. Mark made at least one custom around the opening of D-Street and is also the artist behind the Park 6 Wet Paint Donald.

Mickey's Circus- Fantasia LE Combos

Fantasia LE Combos will consist of 8 packs that will release once per month and retail for $24.95 each. They will have an edition size of 2000 each and the release will begin in October 2012. We know the first four.

Mickey and Yensid.
3. Stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus
4. Hoplow and Goldfish

2 packs costing $24.95. LE 2000 each.
Series 1 (Sorcerer's Apprentice) due October of 2012
Series 2 (Fawn and Unicorn) due November 2012 online only.

Are these the new Disney Afternoons?