Tink's Pixieduster said:
Your aunt can open the boxes on the spot after purchasing them. If your aunt can find a case with three or more Vinylmation boxes in it, I suggest she get your three from there. Each case is not supposed to contain any duplicates. But if she makes separate purchases there may or may not be anything she can do about duplicates.
Just wanted to correct something from another dis'er above, basically you can purchase an entire case of 3". The case itself holds 24 blind boxes in them which you cannot tell which character you will get (Sort of!). The 3" case contains two sets of vinylmation, a chaser and an additional figure. For example:
22 Figures (Two Duplicates of the 11 basic vinyl figures)
1 Chaser (Sort of a mystery vinylmation figure)
1 Additional Figure (This is a duplicate or a third of the original 11)
24 Total
So, You can definitely get duplicates of the 3" figures within a case and it specifically says something similar to what I wrote above right on each case. The blind boxes are literally that...You don't know what is inside, and the vinyl figure is also wrapped in a foil bag, which also includes a collector card. In the earlier two series, They always had each case in the same order with the same figures so people knew where certain vinyl figure characters would be. This has changed and they are truly in random order now, except if you buy a case there is a way to tell what character is inside each blind box through a secret code. Not many people talk about this because most of us are hoping Disney changes their packaging so this is not seen in the future. Hope this information helps you...
I have been lucky enough to collect all three series that have been released so far (Park Series 1, Urban Series 1 and Park Series 2). I enjoy collecting mostly Disney vinyl figurine characters, so when Disney released Vinylmation I was pretty happy about it.
Park Series 1 (3") -
http://www.register123.com/event/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x14618765f5
Urban Series 1 (3") -
http://www.register123.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x14618765f5&varPage=location
Urban Series 1 (9") -
http://www.register123.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x14618765f5&varPage=info
Park Series 2 (All) -
http://psc.disney.go.com/eventservices/artofdisneyparks/event/wdw_vinylmation.html
There is also a website specifically dedicate to Vinylmation collectors if your interested in checking it out, not sure of the disboards rules anymore but basically it is called "Vinylnation" and you can find it by doing a quick google search.
The 9" Vinylmation figures are not blind boxed and you can phsyically see what character your purchasing right through the front of the box. I am glad these are not blind boxed because I wouldn't want to spend $39.95 to purchase a Vinylmation character I didn't want. Oh, Or even better they have some for $74.95. Here is a breakdown:
3" Vinyl Figure = $9.95 Each
9" Vinyl Figure = $34.95 Each
3" and 9" Vinyl Figure Combo = $74.95
Hope this helps answer your questions, and let me know if there is anything else I can help answer.
Thank you so much for letting us know. I would have NEVER thought they would sell them on-line. Thanks again!
I have been really wanting the toy story alien one. I wanted to get the whole set, but not for $238 plus tax. 
I ordered 7 Park 2 series from the Disney Store and received 3 Mickey Poncho, 2 Ariel, and 2 Pandas. Anyone out there willing to trade PLEASE let me know. My 7yr daughter was sooo disappointed with all of the duplicates I told her I would give this a try. Just PM me if you are willing to trade. She is looking for the Monkey, one that looks like a lion, the 3 eyed one. Thanks!
Thanks!
