The D23 Expo is an even that features celebrities, movie sneak peaks, what’s new at the Disney parks, the Disney Legends ceremony, trivia games, archive exhibits and much more. This years expo will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center from August 19-21. It is touted as “The Ultimate Disney Event”. I’ll tell you, I attended D23’s Destination D event celebrating 40 years of Walt Disney World and they put on an amazing show. This is a must do for any Disney fan. There were a ton of surprised, like when Richard Sherman performed “One Little Spark” with the original Dreamfinder and Figment up on stage.
But we are here talking about D23 on this site because of the Vinylmation that will be on hand. D23 announced their Dream Store merchandise that they will sell at the event and Vinylmation is a large part of it. Like The Florida Project and Trade City, there is an RSP (Random Selection Process) for the Vinylmation. I’m surprised by the selection D23 is getting. They will have 4 pieces, just like the Florida Project. I think most people, like myself, expected more out of the Florida Project’s selection. Here are all the detail on the D23 Expo 2011 Vinylmation:
Update: 8/11/11 All 2500 Disney Store 25th Vinylmation will be available at the EXPO. Previously, Disney said 2000 would be available online to D23 members. Thanks to Michael for this update: “Disney just posted on their Vinylmation blog that “Good news! Due to popular demand, all 2,500 figures will be released at the Expo!”. Not “good” news to everyone.
Update: 8/10/11 Disney announced that Vinylmation lead designer Thomas Scott and Disney Design Group Artist, Alex Maher will be signing for guests at D23. Thomas Scott designed the 3″ Gladstone Gander figure available at D23 (see below). Alex Maher is more noted for his pins, but designed the 5 figure 9″ Disneyland Attractions Poster Set. Here is a signing schedule:
Friday, August 19, 2011 – 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. at the Product Showcase and Trading Area
Saturday, August 20, 2011 – 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. at the Product Showcase and Trading Area
Sunday, August 21, 2011 – 12 Noon – 2:00 p.m. at the Product Showcase and Trading Area
Disney also released a new product shot of the D23 Logo figure (details below)
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| Copyright Disney |
This, and the Gladstone figure, will both be released in these Open Window boxes. So no tins… not event the tin replacement boxes that we see other special event Vinylmation come in.
Update: 8/9/11 D23 will have the release of the Jr. 4 It’s a Small World and the 3″ 12 figure Lion King series. There will also be a signing with Lion King Vinylmation artists at D23 on Sunday, August 21 at 10am.
There will also be an exclusive Disney Store 25th Anniversary 3″ Vinylmation:
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| 3″ Vinylmation and Pin set. LE 2500. $26.95 |
ALL 2500 WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE D23 EXPO.
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| 9″ Metal Steamboat Willie. LE 350. $44.50 |
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| Add 3″ Flocked Lotso. LE 500. $14.50 |
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3″ D23 Logo (RSP #18) Artist: Maria Clapsis $13.95 (LE 4800) limit 5 per customer This is an example of a front not being as exciting as the back. We have Pixie Dust outlining Mickey’s features. Not very unlike the idea on 2009’s D23 Vinylmation:  |
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The back side of this figure is great. It might be a little plain, but I’m biased. Sorcerer Mickey is only second to Little Green Men and Donald Duck as my favorite character. He is the logo of D23 and here he is peaking out the top. the D23 Expo logo graces the body. |
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3″ Davy Crocket (RSP #19) Artist: Casey Jones $13.95 (LE 1200) limit 2 per customer Looks like the King of the Wild Frontier will not only make an appearance as a 9″ Park 6. This sepia tone smaller version is great looking. I like the knife and shine of the belt buckle. And what a facial expression. |
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It’s the hat that really tops this figure off. Great job Casey at including the tail. I have been so looking forward to the 9″ Park 6, but I hope to also get this one into my collection.
Not much detail in the clothing, but I don’t think he needs it. The sepia color choice was also a nice way to separate this from his larger counterpart. |
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3″ Gladstone Gander (RSP #20) Artist: Thomas Scott $13.95 (LE 1200) limit 2 per customer A lesser known character for sure. And I’m just going to say it, we would expect no less from Thomas Scott. But that’s what makes him a great artist. Perfect place to release this figure… to a convention center full of Disney Geeks! Gladstone is Donald Duck’s cousin. Scott’s version looks to be from the comic strips, although Gladstone appeared in Duck Tails with some minor appearance changes.  |
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9″ Butch (RSP #21) Artist: Eric Caszatt $44.95 (LE 750) limit 1 per customer Butch first showed up in 1940 and mainly plays Pluto’s antagonist. Lately, he has popped up in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse as Pete’s dog. Great looking face on this one!  |
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9″ It All Started With a Mouse (RSP #71) Artist: Noah $595 (LE 23) You can not go wrong with a Noah Vinylmation. His paint jobs are top notch. Look at the finish on this one. I really would like to see it in person. It features the D23 Logo and Tink on the head, a dancing broom on body front, and a sorcerer hat with Mickey’s silhouette on the back. |
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As with most of Noah’s 9″ figures, this one comes on it’s own display stand with some Noah art work serving as the backdrop. This is what the artwork behind the Vinylmation looks like. |
Is this the first duck on the new mold? I think it looks better. What does everyone else think?
ick, ick, ick new mold, can’t stand it!!!
I think it looks uglier than the other Ducks. McScrooge Duck is my favorite Duck vinyl. Thomas Scott did as good a job as he could INSPITE of the NEW mold.
I wish these 3″ were all in the old mold =(
Too bad NOAH’s 9″ vinyl was not be made into a 3″ version. Simply looking at NOAH’s Expo Mickey vinyl is certainly destined to be a CLASSIC in every sense of the word. Love it!!
yeah. i think the ducks actually look way worse on the new mold. i agree that Scrooge is one of my favorites.
also… i think Maria’s would look better if they were highlighting the mickey features…. not just trying to force the features to appear there. i think that front would look way nice on the old mold with the features already there.
I agree Konrad that Mickey’s features look forced. It’s like Disney asked Maria to do the Mickey features, from the old mold look, so we, SUBLIMINALLY, think they are ALWAYS represented on the new molds.
Although I really like the concept of the D23 Expo artwork, it just shows how far off the new mold is from being a CLASSIC Mickey vinylmation design, Overeating Mickey with a mouthful of food is just not attractive to look at everyday.
ahh!!! I knew I wanted to go to the expo before… but now I wanna go even more! I can’t believe there are going to be 4 vinyls there!
Hello, Since Davy is limited to 1200, will these be difficult to get? Should we get there early and wait in their line? Sorry this is the first time I am going to be attending this type of event.
There is an RSP (random selection process) for some of the merchandise, including the Vinylmation, for the Expo. People who bought the Sorcerer or Premiere packages can pre-order some of this merchandise. As far as I can tell, all other ticketed guests must purchase the Vinylmation at the event. So, you can expect some to be gone, but I’ve also read that only limited quantities will be released each day, so people on Sunday will have an equal chance as people on Friday. That being said, if I were going, I’d grab my merchandise first, then hit the Expo floor.
I’m the most excited about the Expo vinyl to go with my 2009 one. :) But, question… just to clarify, the RSP is only for Sorcerer or Premiere package holders? Do you know how many packages were offered? I’m really hoping that I don’t miss out on lots of the exclusive merchandise… I hope that not being able to afford the exclusive packages isn’t a game changer for enjoying the Expo this year. :)
To be clear, I think, overall, the new mold is a big mistake. However, to me, the ducks always looked off on the old mold. I don’t think the new mold solves all these problems, but I do think there is a slightly better translation on the new mold. That being said, I hope they give up this new mold and quickly return to the charm of the original mold.
Love the Gladstone Gander Vinyl. Nicely done.
Also a big fan of the Disney Store 25th vinyl. Are they D23 exclusive?
No, they are not D23 exclusives.
Hey everyone, I just received a reply on a note I sent into D23 a couple weeks ago regarding the release of the limited edition items at the Expo. I was given some very troubling news. Apparently, rather than splitting the release up over the three days (in order to give a fair chance to all of those attending) all of the limited edition items will be available for sale on Friday, 8/19. I purchased tickets for Sunday specifically to make sure I got a chance at the Lion King release, but it was switched to Friday as well AND I was told that the Lion King VMs will be released in limited quantity at the Expo!!! So now, all of those who bought tickets for Sunday thinking it was their only shot at getting the Lion King set early, are left to fate. Can we really expect a LE item of 1200 to still have ANY around on Sunday? And yet, somehow Disney feels justified in charging the same prices for each day, regardless of how blatently Sunday’s agenda has been downplayed compared to Fri & Sat, especially now that Lion King has been moved. The expo hasn’t even started yet and I already feel cheated out of my admission. This is just another prime example of the ways in which Disney cares far more for their dollar than they do for the customers who provide it.
Correction on my rant before. Disney has revised their revision on the Lion King release date. Now their blog says it will only be released for the artist signing on Sunday at the Expo. My point still stands for their handling of LE items though.