Collectors Beware: Capturing Yeti Comes at a High Price

On June 29th, the 9" Yeti from Park 8 will be released as an online exclusive. With an edition size of 1000, it will retail for $74.95. (Park 8 LE Explained page)

This is the second time we have seen the outrageous price tag of 75 bucks for a single 9" figure. Price aside, let's talk about the creature it is based on.

Expedition Everest opened on April 7, 2006 at Disney Animal Kingdom park at Walt Disney World. When completed, the mountain of steel beams and imagineered rock work stood nearly 200 feet tall. Here is a great article from Popular Mechanics Magazine with a peak inside the mountain. To me, the best part about this ride is the most detailed queue line at the Disney parks. Every inch of the path onto the train is fulled with treasures and artifacts from a journey into the Himalayas. It may be a bit of a stretch to say this, but I don't mind avoiding the Fast Pass line now and then to check it all out.

Inside the Everest queue. Picture from our Urban 8 photoshoot

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Once on the train, guests are sent up a hill offering one of the best views of the rest of the resort... if one is brave enough to take a breath and look around. The downhills are great and the ride backwards is a thrill, but the star of the attraction is the Yeti... the protector of the imagineered "Forbidden Mountain."

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The Yeti, standing at 22 feet tall, is the largest animatronic the Imagineers ever built. The story of the Yeti is a much publicized one. Dubbed "Disco Yeti", he now stands motionless with a strobe light on him to simulate movement. Here is an Orlando Sentinel article from 2010 highlighting the issue.

Park 1 Yeti

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We have a Park 1 Yeti and a Park Starz version, but none seem to capture the Yeti’s ferocity as depicted in the Exhibition Everest attraction as the new 9" Park 8 does.

Park Starz Yeti

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This Park 8 version has the straggly fur, glowing red eyes and big dangerous teeth. Where as the other versions depict a more cartoonish Yeti.

The 9" figure looks to take inspiration from both the animatronic Yeti himself as well as some of the artwork in the queue.

Photo from Jim Hill

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Photo from Mouse Planet

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But the big question still remains… will the Vinylmaiton Yeti’s arms move?

Comic Con 2012 Vinylmation Announced

Update 5/25/12 A ton of updates that clear up some of the size, price and other oddities we saw with the first post from Disney. We knew something was weird about much of the info Disney gave us, and almost all of it has been changed.... so take a look.

San Diego Comic Con is right around the corner (July 12-15) and Disney has announced some Vinylmation releases spread through out the event. And according to the Vinylmation blog, they will be available for purchase online.


July 11
Comic Con Boy and Girl
Two 3" Combo
LE 2000
$34.95
What will this be? We speculated on the podcast this may be the perfect introduction of Marvel into Vinylmation. Dress a couple fans up in some super hero costumes! How amazing would that be?


July 12
Pixar's Up Young Carl and Ellie
Two 3" Combo
LE 2000
$26.95
The first is a "Boy and Girl" 3" combo set. LE 2000, $34.95. The rumor found on Vinylmation Kingdom is in fact this is a Carl and Ellie from Up! When I heard the rumor, I was hoping we would see them in kid versions... and that will seems to be the case. What about you? Would you rather have the kids or an older version?

Picture Copyright Disney Pixar

July 13
Park Starz Squid Variant
LE 1954
$24.95
The next is the Park Starz Squid variant we all anticipated after that video that was released by Disney a while back. I guess this will showcase what new Vinylmation are all about. This new edition size represents the year the film hit theaters. (original posted LE was 2000)

Not the variant

July 14
Alice in Wonderland Queen and King
3" and Jr Combo
LE 2500
$24.95
We will also see a Alice in Wonderland, Queen and King, 9-inch and 3-inch set. LE 2000, $ 24.95. Um... is this a gift or a misprint? Heck of a price for 9/3 combo Disney. The sizes make perfect sense and with it being a 3/Jr and not a 9/3, it keeps the price down nice and affordable.

Photo Copyright Disney

July 15
Popcorn Mickey Mouse Pie Eye Variant
LE 5000
$24.95
Lastly, we will finally see what Popcorns is all about. The Events page is calling this one a Mickey Mouse Variant, 9-inch and 3-inch set. LE 2000, retail $24.95. I'm leaning toward another typo, but who knows... we really don't know what Popcorns are yet. But based on what we do know, this combo seem odd. I'm excited about the debut of Popcorn, but more for it being a new series, then me being personally into it. Disney is betting on a ton of people flocking to this new product with an LE 5000.

Is it just me, or are we all in for a few sleepless nights in July?

Collector's Corner: Annemarie

Name: Annemarie Brown

Hometown: Southern California

Collection size:
3 inch = 160
9 inch = 10
Jr. = 9
Park Starz =14
Customs = 27

How long have you been collecting? 
Since May 2011.

What is your favorite figure that you own? 
That's hard. I have to pick more than one. USC Trojans. Peter and the Wolf (My personal custom). All the Park Starz. Villains 2 Shere Khan variant. Park 5 Abominable Snowman. And I know this isn't fair, but the entire Alice in Wonderland series rules.

Which of these is the best feeling: Pulling a figure you want… from a blind box you just purchased, from a great trade with another collector, from a mystery trading box at the park or from a clear trading box?
Gotta go with blind box. I haven't had the most awesome luck with trading, but blind-boxing the John Henry variant, a pink elephant variant, and the Mother Gothel chaser were probably the best feelings ever.

Also, this isn't Vinylmation related, but I think I have to show you guys my Roger Rabbit room.

...and that's just one corner.

Alice Flowers at WDW

Oh, it's a rainy day here in Orlando. Let's brighten things up with some photos of the beautiful Alice in Wonderland Flowers growing wild in the rose garden at the Magic Kingdom.

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You Light Up My Vinyls...

One of our listeners, Greg, sent us a note and some pictures playing around with the 25th Anniversary light up base. I think my favorite is the Bubbles! Check these out, then send in your favorites.

Hey Guys! I remember you talking about how cool it was going to be to light up all the clear Vinylmation with the base from the Disney Store 25th anniversary L.E.D. base. Here are a few that I tried....

Clear Red

Cutesters Too Bubbles

Oh! Mickey

Urban 2 Confetti

Celebrations

Episode 078 SpectroMickey

Ep. 078 SpectroMagic This week we cover all the release dates announced for Park 9 and Animation 2. We also talk about the Villains 3, Mascots and Nerds releases. There is more news out of Japan and from under the big top.

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Park 9 LE and Blind Box Release Dates

We have a large slate of Park 9 release dates to share with you today.

July 13

Park 9 Blind Boxes will release at $12.95. See our Park 9 Explained page for the lineup.

Next up is the 9" Park 9 Feature Animation Building from the Burbank studios. The edition size is 750 and it will retail for $44.95.

Also on July 13 will be the 9" Park 9 Art of Animation Poster figure representing Tommorrowland at Disneyland. It will be an LE 550 and retail for $44.95.

JULY 20

First off is a Toy Story Mania! 9-inch and 3-inch figure set. An edition size of 1000 and a retail price of $74.95. Could this figure, that we saw about a year and a half ago, be part of this set?

If so, we have an article with a break down of this design here.

Next up is an un-named Park 9 Combo Set that is an Open Edition for $24.95.

And same day, a Park 9 Epcot, The Land 9-inch figure. Edition size is 1000. Retail price is $44.95. Most likely this figure we saw sometime last year.

All of these Park 9 items will be available via the Disney Online Store on July 20, except The Land which will wait until the 27th. I am disappointed The Land is not a 3". It is my most favorite spot in Epcot, but the 9" cost is just too high these days with all the other great vinyls. Not to mention the personally displeasure with the look of these new 9" figures. Same with the Toy Story one, but I am excited to see what is paired with it. Any educated guesses on the un-named combo?