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. 

Vinylmation Speculation: Rumored Release Dates

Disney Mozart has done some digging and has come up with some, as of yet unannounced, release dates for some upcoming Disney Store Vinylmation. These dates seem to appear on the store CM's schedules, but not on the Disney Vinylmation website. So again, we are just calling them rumor at this point.

January 29th

Just in time for Spring Training, we may see the MLB teams figures released. We know of 8 teams on the first wave roster (details). We were told at the Florida Project that all designs will be available at the theme parks and online, Disney Mozart is speculating on two things here based on his research... 1. The teams might only be released in their respective regions inside the Disney Stores. 2. Only the newly redesigned Disney Stores may be carrying these.

February 10th

The fourth set in the Cutesters series "At the Beach" should drop this day into the stores.

February 20th

I'm very excited about this set. Disney Store Tunes looks very well designed. According to Disney Mozart, we may see this in late February.

March 9th

We don't know much about Urban 9. Just a sheep and toaster shown to us at The Florida Project, but Disney Mozart says we may see this series in March. I find this surprising. March is about when we should see Park 8 and I thought they would like Park catch up to Urban before the 9s came out.

Urban 8 Photoshoot

There are so many little details around Disney's Animal Kingdom. So with Urban 6 photos at EPCOT and Urban 7 at DHS, Austin and I decided to take Urban 8 around AK. Many of the pictures here were taken inside the Kali River Rapids queue. As always, you can find some different pics from this shoot on our Facebook page.

This Thomas Scott design sat on the wall and watched us take pictures.

Thomas Scott's Barricades guarded the entrance to the treasure.

They also protected guests from dangerous turns.

And here they stood watch by Chester's and Hester's.

But the Barricades got into a little trouble by the Tree of Life.

The beads design sits atop a ruined hotel sign.

Frenchy gets home on his Schwinn.

Not a Rainforest Cafe, but the Tree of Life will do for this frog.

Casey Jone's Gnome is right at home in back of Chester's and Hester's.

Group shot! Just outside the Kali queue.

Monty's creation hangs by an antenna for better reception.

What food item temps you the most?

Look what trinket is found on this desk.

Rudos vs. The Dragon

Casey's squirrel finds a roof top to perch on.

Maria Clapsis designed this Aztec Warrior who slayed a mighty beast.

Episode 054 Blue Monorail

Ep. 054 Blue Monorail This week Annemarie stops by to review Furry Friends. We have the latest news on Park and Urban and the Animation 2 chaser is revealed. We also have the lastest release and event calendar. And read your comments and questions in the Mystery Mail Bag.

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First Releases of the New Year

Ah, it's a brand new year in Vinylmation. Time to get a fresh start. 2011 saw many changes in our hobby and 2012 will hold many surprises I'm sure. So as we enter our first release day of 2012 I ask, do you collect differently now, than when you purchased your first blind box? I know I do. I began by collecting only a few from each of the Urban and Park sets. Then I branched out into Have a Laugh. Then MC came along and before I knew it I was splitting cases and filling in my sets. I became a completest. Even buying sets I didn't fully like, but they came out, so I grabbed them. That started to change around Occasions, Celebrations and Sea Creatures for me. With the flood of different products hitting the market, I have made a resolution to be more picky about what I buy. It starts with the 9 inchers. There are many I would have bought 6 months ago that will not see my shelves. I've noticed a lot of collectors change their habits as 2011 came to a close. MC would not longer jump at a case with me. I've seen many people begin to sell off some of their collection. Our friend Matt over at Vinylmation Kingdom gave himself a $1000 budget for 2012! Good luck with that one buddy. And I've also seen some collectors swing the other way. I've seen them catch the fever over the course of 2011 and become completionists. I also think Disney has recently shown their hand and many collectors are now just going to sit back and take a chance that the figures they want go deeply discounted online.


Where are you as a collector as the 2012 release schedule begins in earnest? 


Technically the release week began yesterday at the Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL with the two 3" WDW Marathon/Half Marathon vinyls and the 9" Goofy's Challenge. 

Goofy 9" for sale at Disney's WWOS

Today, some great looking Park 7 LEs hit D-Street.

Horse and Trolley. LE 2500. $26.95

Read all about the history of River Country

Also on the schedule for today at D-Streets are four 9" Urban 8 figures.

Boxer, Fish Bites, Sabertooth and 50's Girl. Check them out in full detail here.

Then this weekend is the release of the much anticipated Furry Friends. (Saturday at the Costa Mesa, CA Disney Store and Monday at all Disney Stores). This blind box set retails for $10.95.

For more info, check out Furry Friends Explained

Release Day! A New 9" Park 7 Revealed and New Years On Sale

Today was a big release day at D-Streets and the parks. First, 9" Park 7 Goofy River Country went on sale and a look at the back of the box showed us the four 9" LE figures for Park 7.

MK 7 Adventures, Goofy River Country and 2 Main Street Electrical Parade figures. All figures are LE 1500. Not surprising there are only four with Disney's announcement of more types of LE sets besides 9" and 9/3 combos. We had seen 3 of these at The Florida Project, but the new one was a second Main St. Electrical Parade design featuring the train.

The train is one of the most recognizable floats in the parade because it carries the sign of the name of the parade.

Photo from LaughingPlace.com

The back will be interesting. Do they take an artistic approach and paint the sign on? Or just more lights like its the rear of the train going by? As I said, we saw the other figures at The Florida Project.

9" Park 7 Main Street Electrical Parade Dragon

9" Magic Kingdom 7 Adventures Retro Ticket Book

Also released today was the 3"/3" Horse and Trolley combo that celebrates a Magic Kingdom Main Street USA staple.

It is for sale behind the D-Street counter... and also at the Emporium inside MK where our friend Chris took the above picture. 9" Urban 8 figures The Boxer, Fish Bites, 50's Girl and Sabertooth also made their debut today.

D-Street display

D-Street Display

Upcoming 9/3 Urban 8 Archaeologist and Demon that will be sold Online

And in a semi-surprise the 4 open window New Years 2012 Vinylmation hit the shelves. We knew they would be released in early January, just not specifically today. They can be found at D-Street and throughout the parks.

Here is a look at the individual figures. The hat looks like a hard plastic accessory. If you bought them, let us know if it comes off and whats underneath!

Blue 2012

Black 2012

Pink 2012

White 2012

Did you/will you add any of today's releases to your collection?

Vinylmation Farms: Now Serving OJ and Milk

The delayed 9" + 3" Urban 8 OJ and Milk combo is now for sale at the Disney Store Online.

This tasty LE 1500 combo retails for $74.95 and was designed by Caley Hicks. Thanks to Nathan and Rachel for bringing this to our attention. We know a lot of people have been waiting for this great looking set.

Episode 050 Cinderella's Carousel

Ep. 050 Cinderella's Carousel This week we review the newly released Holiday 3 set. We also deliver the latest news about Urban 8, Disneyland Paris and more. We also have an up to date release date and events list.

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One more 9" Urban 8 unearthed.

Pic from vinylmationworld.com

The guys over at Vinylmationworld.com discovered something interesting on the side of the 9" Urban 8 package. A fan of theirs tweeted a picture of a new 9"/3" combo. It appears to be a 9" Devil or Demon with a 3" Archaeological. I think it looks very cool, although I'd love just the 3". Anyone out there want just the Demon?? At an LE of 1500, this is by far the bigger run of any 9" Urban 8.

Meet the Holiday 3 Artists in Orlando

Today, Holiday 3 comes out at D-Streets. Next Friday, December 16th, you can meet the artists! Caley Hicks, Thomas Scott, Eric Caszatt, Maria Clapsis, Lin Shih, and Casey Jones will be at D-Street Orlando from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. They will meet with and talk to guests as well as sign Holiday 3 figures.

Thomas Scott at Alice Signing

Also to be released on the 16th will be four 9" Urban 8 figures. Check out details here.

Toilet Paper Trouble

@Vinyl79 tweeted us a picture today of the D-Street Orlando display featuring the until now unknown Caley Hicks 9/3 Urban 8 Combo that drops this Friday, December 9.

Is this a troublemaker that just T.P.ed a neighbor's tree? We do know its LE 1000 and will retail for $74.95.

9" Urban 8 coming December 16th.. Er January 6th.

Update: 12/12/11 The Vinylmation.com blog updated their blog saying that all four of these pieces will be delayed. They will now all come out on January 6th, 2012. That's just more time to save up your Christmas money and Disney gift cards to pick them up!

Today Evilos tweeted a flyer of four 9" Urban 8 vinylmation that says they will be out on December 16th. (It's interesting to note that both the Boxer and the Sabertooth Tiger were priced at $39.95 at Florida Project.) Check out each figure...

	Sabertooth Tiger by: Maria Clapsis LE: 800 $44.95 We saw a reference to this at Florida Project in September, but there was no figure on display. I like this one. Great work with the teeth.
	50's Girl? by: Adrianne Draude LE: 1000 $44.95 Anyone know if this is supposed to be someone specific? There looks like there is a signature on her pants. Is that a Pluto skirt?
	Fish Bites? by: Monty Maldovan LE: 800 $44.95 Amazing! Great use of the space and canvas. If I bought 9"s, I'd get this one.
	Boxer by: Casey Jones LE: 800 $44.95 We saw this at Florida Project and it looked amazing. Best quality yet. And the gloves are removable. A must buy!