Fall Savings - 40% Off at The Disney Store Online

There's a bonus 40% off at The Disney Store Online from now until Sunday! The offer includes select Vinylmation listed below. Just type BONUS40 at the checkout to get your discount. Happy fall!

Here's the list:

• Duffy Bear Series #1
• Indiana Jones
• Park #13
• Pirates of the Caribbean #2
• Silly Symphony
• Theme Park Favorites
• Urban Redux #2
• Villains #5

Offer expires 11:59 PST on Sunday November 2, 2014

Trick or Treat!

Holiday 2014 Gingerbread Duffy Bear Release

The third and final Holiday 2014 Vinylmation has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online. Gingerbread Duffy Bear was designed by Caley Hicks and has a Limited Edition size of 2,500. Each open window box retails for $16.95

Holiday 2014 Santa Tinkerbell Eachez Release

The second of three Holiday 2014 Vinylmation, Santa Tinkerbell Eachez, has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online where it has already sold out. This is a limited release Eachez, meaning the exact number of figures produced has not been announced. There is a 9 in 10 chance of pulling the common figure (Tinkerbell in the red Santa outfit) and a 1 in 10 chance of pulling the variant figure (Tinkerbell in a green Santa outfit). Each blind box retails for $14.95 and both Tinkerbell figures were designed by Ron Cohee.

Holiday 2014 Mickey and Minnie Snowmen Set Release

The first of 3 Holiday 2014 Vinylmation has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online. This is a set of two 3" figures - Mickey and Minnie as snowmen, both designed by artist R Bristol. The set retails for $29.95 and has a Limited Edition size of 2,500.

Annual Passholder Exclusive Mickey Waffle Vinylmation Release

 

 (Photo credit: Vinylmation World)

The Annual Passholder exclusive Walt Disney World Mickey Waffle figure has been released today at D-Street in Walt Disney World. This figure will not be available online or at other locations. This is an Eachez blind box figure with a 9 in 10 chance of pulling the common waffle figure, and a 1 in 10 chance of pulling the variant figure with chocolate syrup and whipped cream. These figures have a Limited Edition size of 1,000 meaning 900 commons and only 100 variants. Each blind box retails for $16.95 and you must have a valid Walt Disney World Annual Pass to be able to purchase one.

Throwback Thursday - Jack O' Lantern

Series: Holiday #1

Artist: Maria Clapsis

Released: September 2009

The Backside of Vinyls - Halloween 2011

Today I'm looking at the back side of the Halloween Vinylmation released in 2011. This is an example of a neat little touch that makes all the difference to a figure. This figure is a pumpkin bag for collecting Halloween candy.

The back of the figure is much like the front: black arms and feet, candy in the figure's head and ear, and a pumpkin body. But the back of the vinyl's body reads "Trick or Treat" in a spooky Halloween font. While it's not detail that will stop you in your tracks, it certainly saves the back of the figure form being plain and boring. Trick or treat is the perfect phrase to add on the back of Vinylmation representing a trick or treat bag.

Online Savings on Disney Parks Merchandise

Enjoy 15% off when you spend $50 or more, 20% off when you spend $100 or more, or receive 25% off when you spend $150 or more at the Disney Store Online from now until Wednesday, October 29. You must buy at least one Disney Parks Authentic item. Use the code PARKTREAT at checkout. If you spend over $75, use the code SHIPMAGIC for free shipping too! Most Vinylmation are included, look for the blue "Disney Parks Authentic" banner to see if the item is eligible. Offer expires 11:59pm PST on October 29, 2014

Vinylmation Stories - Happily Ever After

Today's Vinylmation story is about how the Happily Ever After figure from the Theme Park Favorites line joined my collection. The Theme Park favorites figures are not always as park related as the name suggests. This figure however caught my attention and I just had to have it.

A year ago (today to be exact), I got married at Walt Disney World. After our wedding ceremony and reception, we spent the evening and night at The Magic Kingdom. This figure seemed just perfect for a Disney Bride as a reminder of my wedding day.

For starters, the figure is pink which was one of our three wedding colors. I think the stars in the ears and feet of the figure look magical, dreamy and romantic which is a cute touch. The silhouette of the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is a Magic Kingdom attraction - where we spend half of our wedding day. The silhouettes of Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle and Tiana, serve as a representation of Disney fairytale weddings and romance.

The detail below the silhouettes is a great reflection of the detail in Fantasyland, especially around the Carrousel. Of course, to make this vinyl even more appropriate, "Happily Ever After" is written across the body of the figure. I bought this Vinylmation before our wedding and it featured in several of our wedding pictures!

Throwback Thursday - Halloween Minnie

Series: Halloween 2012

Released: September 2012

The Backside of Vinyls - Nitrokoff Portrait

It's time for another Haunted Mansion installment of The Backside of Vinyls! This time I'm taking a look at the Nitrokoff Portrait, one of the 4 figures from the Park #13 Haunted Mansion Portraits set. I love how this figure shows the painting in his "corruptible, mortal state" on the front, while the back of the figure shows the remainder of the painting as it stretches.

On the back of the figure's right ear, we can again see the curtain from the right side of the portrait. (My Type A personality is pleased that the curtain is on the same side of the figure as it is in the painting). On the back of the figure's body is the barrel of dynamite from the bottom of the painting, complete with the "danger" label on the left side.

On the back of the vinyl's right foot, is a candle sitting below a fuse, just like it is in the bottom right corner of the painting. I love the accuracy of the painting's portrayal in this Vinylmation and how no detail has been spared.

Snapshot Sunday - Tower of Terror Elevator

D-Tour #2 Release

The second D-Tour series was released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online. This is an 8 figure series of 7 commons and 1 chaser. The artists who designed the figures in this series areL Caley Hicks, Maria Clapsis, Eric Caszatt, Thomas Scott, Anne Marie and Leah Mutchlev. Each blind box retails for $12.95

Free Shipping this Weekend at The Disney Store Online

Free shipping is available at The Disney Store Online with the purchase of any Disney Parks merchandise, which includes Vinylmation. The offer is valid from today until 11:59pm PDT on Sunday, October 19. All you need to do is add a Disney Parks item to your basket and use the code PARKFREE at checkout.

The following Vinylmation are part of the offer:

• D-Tour #2
• Toy Story #2
• Pirate Princess Eachez
• Park #14
• Duffy #1
• Pirates of the Caribbean #2
• Theme Park Favorites
• Park #13
• Indiana Jones
• Silly Symphonies

Throwback Thursday - Snow White Old Hag

Series: Villains #1

Artist: Gerald Mendez

Released: January 2011

The Backside of Vinyls - Dr. Finkelstein

It's time for another installment of The Backside of Vinyls! Today's post looks at the back of Dr. Finkelstein from The Nightmare Before Christmas #1. I am impressed with this vinyl that Casey Jones added these little but important details on the back of this figure.

The back of the head is nothing special, but since this is a character, there's not a lot of room for additional creativity. However, Dr. Finkelstein is in a wheelchair and Casey has incorporated this in the back and sides of the figure.

We can see the wheelchair on the back of the figure's body, with the arms of the wheelchair stretching from the back to the sides of the vinyl. His wheelchair is a little makeshift, which we can see by the handle at the top, the stretched cloth between the wheelchair's frame, and the stitching on the back of the wheelchair. On the back of the vinyl's feet we can even see the small wheel at the back of the wheelchair.

As a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas, I think the back of this vinyl has some neat little touches that have been accurately portrayed on this figure.

Vinylmation Stories - Tower of Terror Elevator

Are there some Vinylmation that you look at and think "just wow!" For me there are a lot that I think are fantastic, even more that I think are great, but very few that I look at and they blow me away. The Tower of Terror Elevator from Park #4 was one vinyl that I can remember seeing and thinking it was incredible and I absolutely had to have it no matter the cost.

I love the Tower of Terror because it's still so scary in a good way. I love absolutely everything about it. The era of the building, the story behind it, its connection to the Twilight Zone TV show, the intricate detail and theme of the lobby, the authentic music that plays, and of course the thrill of the ride itself.

It will always be one of my favorite attractions because of how immersive it is. From the moment you step up to the gates it feels like a deserted hotel. The overgrown greenery in the hotel grounds, with broken water features and dim lighting. The creepy, haunting music that echoes in the background. I always get scared in the library when the pre-show starts. The TV always makes me jump and the narration gives me goosebumps.

The hotel remains just as ominous as you enter the boiler room. The service elevator has a foreboding orange glow and the eerie demeanor of the bellhops helps continue the unsettling atmosphere of the hotel. The now unpredictable sequence of the ride keeps me guessing and keeps the thrill level high. I love the mystery of how the ride works (I know there's an explanation, I choose not to research it) and there are still things in that elevator shaft that freak me out. The ventriloquist dummy at the end is another of those things that legitimately scares me.

The Tower of Terror has been and always will be one of my favorite attractions, and Dan Howard has captured some of the most memorable aspect perfectly in his figure. The elevator, the hotel logo, the hotel name and font, the lightning striking which is an integral part of the story, the dark colors - I will never get tired of looking at this vinyl and I love the memories it holds for me. And that is why the Tower of Terror Elevator Vinylmation has a place in my collection.

2014 Halloween Mickey & Pluto Set Release

 

The Halloween 2014 Mickey and Pluto set has been released today at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online. This is a set of two 3" figures, Mickey and Pluto, dressed in their Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party attire. The set has a limited edition size of 2,500 and was designed by Maria Clapsis. It retails for $29.95

Halloween 2014 Grave Digger Eachez Release

The Halloween 2014 Grave Digger Eachez has been released at D-Street locations and The Disney Store Online. This is a limited edition Eachez of 2,500 with a 9 in 10 chance of pulling the common figure pictured left (LE 2,250), and a 1 in 10 chance of pulling the black and white figure pictured right (LE 250). The figures were designed by Dave Perillo and each blind box retails for $14.95

Throwback Thursday - Sally

Series: The Nightmare Before Christmas #1

Artist: Casey Jones

Released: September 2010

The Backside of Vinyls - Quicksand Portrait

You might have noticed that this past week, Vinylmation Isle has had a Halloween theme going on. I love Halloween! Now that it's October, I have chosen to give my articles a Halloween twist for the month. That continues today with this post on The Backside of Vinyls.

Today's Vinylmation is one of a set of 4, The Haunted Mansion Stretching Room Portraits set from Park #13. This particular vinyl is the Quicksand Portrait, and only by looking at the back can you see how the figure represents one of the Haunted Mansion's stretching room portraits perfectly. I honestly would not have bought this vinyl going off of the front of the figure alone.

As the name suggests, this portrait is of three men sinking in quicksand. The front of the vinyl shows the first man in the bowler hat. On the back of the figure, we can see the second and third man on the back of the vinyl's body. Further down on the back of the vinyl's feet, we can see the green, bubbling quicksand from the bottom of the portrait that the men are sinking in to.

Finally, one important detail that hasn't been neglected in Ron Cohee's figure is the quicksand sign sticking out in the bottom right hand corner of the portrait. The same sign can be seen on the back of the figure's right ear. This is an incredibly detailed figure where the back is just as important and well designed as the front.

Snapshot Sunday - The Haunted Mansion Stretching Room

Vinylmation Review - Mystery Bakery Haunted Mansion Ghosts

It's October and that means Halloween is right around the corner! So for today's Vinylmation Review, I'm taking a look at the Mystery Bakery Haunted Mansion Ghosts. 
 

Released: July 12, 2013

Blind Open Window

The Haunted Mansion Mystery Bakery series is one of the better "flavors" in my opinion. Having 3 different characters actually warrants this style of a blind open window series. It may also persuade you to buy more than one box because you might pull another character, rather than the same character with a different face.

The Hitchhiking Ghosts have a gray cupcake case that reminds me of the tombstones at the attraction. The icing is an eerie mix of dark blue and a lighter, greenish blue that matches the color of the ghosts. All around the icing are stretched ghoulish faces just like the ones that seep out of the organ inside the Haunted Mansion. 

All of the ghosts wear green shirts like they do in the attraction. The ghost on the left in the picture is Gus, who looks just like his counterpart in the attraction. He has the same long, white beard, bushy eyebrows and white hair. He's missing his ball and chain but I think that's ok. He has some of the dark blue icing on his nose. Ezra is the ghost in the middle of the picture. I love his evil expression with his signature smile. He has icing on the top of his head.

Finally, Phineas is the ghost on the right in the picture. He has the same round face and big nose like he does in the attraction. He has icing on his head too that has also dripped down onto his nose. I think this series is very well done. All of the ghosts look fantastic, exactly like they do in the attraction. I also think the icing is perfect. It looks creepy and you can tell it represents The Haunted Mansion. 

While I didn't get any of these myself, I think they are great figures that I can still appreciate. 

Throwback Thursday - October

Series: 2013 Poster Art

Artist: Eric Caszatt

Released: October 2013