Who is addicted to vinylmation?

[05MM08MM]

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/static/vinylmation/index.html

http://www.vinylnation.net/

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/?s=vinylmation&submit=

D-Street at DLR & WDW are your best bets for buying and trading Vinylmation. Other locations do sell and trade as well, but D-Street is more dedicated to them verses WOD, Park stores and your resort gift shops.

Vinylmation trading is also being done at the pin trading events that take place at both WDW & DLR as well that just took place this past Friday 7/23.

Collecting Vinylmations isn't any different than someone collecting snow globes, Jim Shore, Precious Moments, or anything else, except for the fact that they can also be fun because you can trade them as well, just like the pins.

You don't have to purchase the offical Vinylmation display cases to display them. There are many other cheaper alternatives. Many use some display cases you can get cheap at the Container Store, some display them on regular bookcase shelves. It's whatever you want. There are all different type of collectors as well. You have your completest, who must have every figure available, those who just buy them when they go to the parks, those who collect only the designs they really like, and many others that have their own strategy.

They can be purchased at the Disney Parks in various locations, DS.com http://www.disneystore.com/disney-parks/vinylmation/c/70998/ & now even at select Disney Store locations.

Most of the 3" figures that come in a complete series are "blind boxed" but some are now in window boxes like Sports, Oh Mickey, Big Eyes, and I believe the upcoming Animal Kingdom series as well, that way people can pick which design or character they like the most. The blind boxes come in a case of 24 figures (2 full sets of 10-11 designs), with one "chaser" or mystery figure. You can purchase a full case or just grab some blind boxes.

Oh and the jr's (mini's) as they call them come with keychain attachments, but they are just screwed into the top, so they can be removed from the figure if you so wish.

They also have Create Your Own figures in different colors as well in 3" & 9" sizes. Some people have bought these and gotten artist, characters, etc to sign them and others make their own designs on them.

As others said, there is really nothing to "get". Different things appeal to different people and that's really all there is to it.

 

[prncssmel]

There are 3 place that I know of where you cn trade. 1)D23 store in DTD 2)pin shop next to the gun saloon in DL, and 3) Tower of Terror shop in DCA. There's a clear case which usually holds 3 vinylmations that you can trade for if you like it and there's a mystery box where you choose a # and you get wht's behind that #. You can only do 1 trade per shop/per day for each case (myster box or clear case). So you can really trade up to 6 times a day if you didn't like what you got or are looking for a specific one.

I did not know this! I need to remember that for our trip next month because there are some ones I really don't like.

Didn't I read somewhere that mini's were coming out? Those I might be interested in..and also, I think it was on the blog awhile ago about 55th DL figures, but those may be limited, but they looked cute.

I love the mini keychains. I have Raindrops Jr. - best keychain I have ever had.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/static/vinylmation/index.html

http://www.vinylnation.net/

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/?s=vinylmation&submit=

D-Street at DLR & WDW are your best bets for buying and trading Vinylmation. Other locations do sell and trade as well, but D-Street is more dedicated to them verses WOD, Park stores and your resort gift shops.

Vinylmation trading is also being done at the pin trading events that take place at both WDW & DLR as well that just took place this past Friday 7/23.

Collecting Vinylmations isn't any different than someone collecting snow globes, Jim Shore, Precious Moments, or anything else, except for the fact that they can also be fun because you can trade them as well, just like the pins.

You don't have to purchase the offical Vinylmation display cases to display them. There are many other cheaper alternatives. Many use some display cases you can get cheap at the Container Store, some display them on regular bookcase shelves. It's whatever you want. There are all different type of collectors as well. You have your completest, who must have every figure available, those who just buy them when they go to the parks, those who collect only the designs they really like, and many others that have their own strategy.

They can be purchased at the Disney Parks in various locations, DS.com http://www.disneystore.com/disney-parks/vinylmation/c/70998/ & now even at select Disney Store locations.

Most of the 3" figures that come in a complete series are "blind boxed" but some are now in window boxes like Sports, Oh Mickey, Big Eyes, and I believe the upcoming Animal Kingdom series as well, that way people can pick which design or character they like the most. The blind boxes come in a case of 24 figures (2 full sets of 10-11 designs), with one "chaser" or mystery figure. You can purchase a full case or just grab some blind boxes.

Oh and the jr's (mini's) as they call them come with keychain attachments, but they are just screwed into the top, so they can be removed from the figure if you so wish.

They also have Create Your Own figures in different colors as well in 3" & 9" sizes. Some people have bought these and gotten artist, characters, etc to sign them and others make their own designs on them.

As others said, there is really nothing to "get". Different things appeal to different people and that's really all there is to it.

Great info! Thanks.

 

[figment_jii]

There are 3 place that I know of where you cn trade. 1)D23 store in DTD 2)pin shop next to the gun saloon in DL, and 3) Tower of Terror shop in DCA. There's a clear case which usually holds 3 vinylmations that you can trade for if you like it and there's a mystery box where you choose a # and you get wht's behind that #. You can only do 1 trade per shop/per day for each case (myster box or clear case). So you can really trade up to 6 times a day if you didn't like what you got or are looking for a specific one.

Last April I only saw trading at the D-Street store, but was surprised to see 15 places listed on the vinylmation website (http://eventservices.disney.go.com/static/vinylmation/faq.html#tradinglocations).

For the stores in the parks, are the clear case and mystery case easy to see or is it something that you have to ask about at each store?

 

[Prinny27]

Last April I only saw trading at the D-Street store, but was surprised to see 15 places listed on the vinylmation website (http://eventservices.disney.go.com/static/vinylmation/faq.html#tradinglocations).

For the stores in the parks, are the clear case and mystery case easy to see or is it something that you have to ask about at each store?

The trading boxes are usually displayed right by the registers of the stores participating, so check there!

 

[pixarmom]

Thanks to everyone for all the helpful links! Printed out the DL trading locations list for our boys to use next month. Last week, they ran into lots of WDW stores asking "Do you trade vinylmation?" because the cases were not always prominently displayed. This helps!

 

[AmyPond]

Is the trading thing somewhat new? In January 2009, I only bought one and it ended up being the only one I already had. I told the CM at the register and she pretty much said "Sorry" and there wasn't anything she could do. I thought for sure I'd be able to trade. I remember those little figurine mystery packs. The CMs let me trade with those a few years ago. I was kind of shocked I couldn't trade my vinylmation.

And at WDW this January I asked the CM at the register about trading and she also told me they didn't do that.

 

[brenda1966]

Yes, I believe it the trading is fairly new because the CM we bought from said "since we introduced trading -- they have been flying off the shelves!"

So, take the one you don't like or already have with you on your next trip and trade it!

 

[Sosai X]

Sadly, Vinylmation is just the latest Disney collecting fad. It's at its peak right now, but soon the bubble will burst.

 

[05MM08MM]

Sadly, Vinylmation is just the latest Disney collecting fad. It's at its peak right now, but soon the bubble will burst.

Well, the "pin fad" hasn't died out yet

 

[ahill004]

Ok - my kids never really got into the pin trading but their uncle bought them each a vinylmation this past disneyland trip and they LOVED trading. They preferred the mystery box trading and the castmembers were great about showing them the mystery vinylmation they picked and letting them decide if they wanted to go through with the trade. Whether they went through with it or not they couldn't trade again at that store though. It worked out well. My youngest did get upset when she traded her ladybug (about five minutes after we walked out of the store) but my oldest found a ladybug at another trading spot the next day and so everything turned out ok. I actually get trading these guys better than the pins because they are something they can play with - and the mystery box is kinda cool!

 

[APX]

I'm probably gonna get smacked or whatever, but I have not heard about this thing untill now.

 

[cyberbox2]

I had seen these for a year or so on our trips to Disney. On our last trip a couple of weeks ago, we went to DTD and ended up in D Street. I had never seen so much vinylmation! When my daughter sat at that cool vinylmation table and started drawing her own, I began wondering around the store.

Oh man was that it! I started seeing all kinds of cool designs that I just had never noticed before. Then I came across the Palm Tree Mickey in the Urban#3 series and I was hooked. I bought one and opened it, and it wasn't the palm The next day at the Animal Kingdom Lodge I bought another urban3 but it was the cheeseburger

The day after that at the Poly I bought another Urban 3 hoping to get the Palm Tree Mickey and it was the "gears" Mickey and I thought "man I just can't win" at that point we decided to hope on the monorail and head over to the contemporary and see if they had the one I was looking for in trade but they didn't. We hopped back on the monorail and got off at the Grand Floridian. We walked into the shop there and a CM greeted us and I asked about vinylmation trade and see said that they had the blind box of 24 I could pick a number from but before I did, she asked me what one I was looking for. The CM then slide the back of the box up and with a smile said that she thinks she has the one I was looking for. After a cute story about her quest for a july 4th decorated vinylmation, she gave me my long sought after Palm Tree Mickey for the "gears" mickey I had just gotten at the Poly
I just LOVE when a CM decides to go above and beyond what is required to totally make someones day and create a memory that will last a long long time.

 

[Disneylander55]

I don't get how big pieces of plastic that are painted somewhat ugly most of the time are so popular. I will admit thought that some are nice.

 

[brenda1966]

I don't get how big pieces of plastic that are painted somewhat ugly most of the time are so popular. I will admit thought that some are nice.

It's art -- and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I've walked through art museums shaking my head wonder how those paintings were considered art! I wouldn't hang them in my garage. LOL.

Cyberbox -- I love that the CM helped you find that special one!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Trading is available at just about all Disney shops now. I noticed it everywhere while at WDW last week.

 

[Cowgirlroy]

Yeah I got my first one back in Oct 2009 from the Pop Century. I ended up with a clear yellow one. I later bought another one during my week stay there. By that point my fiance got hook and we left that tip with 5 total. I had 3 he had 2.

I decorated one as the Trickster from Cirque du Soleil's Kooza show. Which turn out awesome. Though it is hard to paint on something 3".

We did a cruise back in April and that is when things got a little out of hand... I got the cruise one while on the ship and we each got 2 while out at sea. We then had a few days at the parks and we ended up leaving with at least 20 between the two of us. We got carried away. Have a lot of the park series and a few of Muppets. We traded when we got ones we didn't like. And were happy with what we had.

I recently got a black and white 9" one from the Disney Store online. We came up with the idea of using it for our guestbook at our wedding. Just get people to sign their names on the two figures. I'll probably make a top hat and a veil for the figures.

So in response to the topic of this post...YES VERY!

 

[05MM08MM]

Yeah I got my first one back in Oct 2009 from the Pop Century. I ended up with a clear yellow one. I later bought another one during my week stay there. By that point my fiance got hook and we left that tip with 5 total. I had 3 he had 2.

I decorated one as the Trickster from Cirque du Soleil's Kooza show. Which turn out awesome. Though it is hard to paint on something 3".

We did a cruise back in April and that is when things got a little out of hand... I got the cruise one while on the ship and we each got 2 while out at sea. We then had a few days at the parks and we ended up leaving with at least 20 between the two of us. We got carried away. Have a lot of the park series and a few of Muppets. We traded when we got ones we didn't like. And were happy with what we had.

I recently got a black and white 9" one from the Disney Store online. We came up with the idea of using it for our guestbook at our wedding. Just get people to sign their names on the two figures. I'll probably make a top hat and a veil for the figures.

So in response to the topic of this post...YES VERY!

I love your wedding book idea

 

[pixarmom]

Is the trading thing somewhat new? In January 2009, I only bought one and it ended up being the only one I already had. I told the CM at the register and she pretty much said "Sorry" and there wasn't anything she could do. I thought for sure I'd be able to trade. I remember those little figurine mystery packs. The CMs let me trade with those a few years ago. I was kind of shocked I couldn't trade my vinylmation.

And at WDW this January I asked the CM at the register about trading and she also told me they didn't do that.

At least at WDW, it's new. We were at WDW in March and there wasn't any trading. For our July trip, trading everywhere!!

We'll arrive in DL in a couple of days - sounds like D Street is an important stop for our boys!

 

[brenda1966]

I recently got a black and white 9" one from the Disney Store online. We came up with the idea of using it for our guestbook at our wedding. Just get people to sign their names on the two figures. I'll probably make a top hat and a veil for the figures.

Sounds cute! I hope you'll post a picture after the big day!

 

[figment_jii]

I just got back from DL last weekend and did notice that Vinylmation trading has gotten much bigger than last April (when it was only available at D Street). Some things I noticed/learned:

1. The mystery boxes and visible boxes are not necessarily in the same place. For example, at Star Traders, the mystery box is back in the Star Wars section of the store, whereas the visible trade box (the one with the three you can see) was near the entrance facing Tomorrowland Terrace).

2. The visible box is not always at the same cash register. During our three day visit, it moved around in many of the stores, so it pays to look at all of the registers.

3. There were conflicting rules about the mystery box. One cast member (at Star Traders) said you must trade. He took the vinylmation I had, I picked a number, and then he gave me the one in there. Two other cast members (at Tower of Terror store and Animation store) said I could choose to make the trade or not. You might want to ask the cast member before going ahead with the mystery trade what their rules are.

4. The keychains are not being traded official yet, but at the Animation Studio store in DCA, the animator in the back had a drawer with a few that they were trading (I think this was something the cast member was doing on her own).