I am a lifelong fan of all things Disney: the theme parks, the films, the music, and Walt himself, but especially Disney collectibles! Long before Vinylmation, I was an avid collector of the Walt Disney Classics Collection, Jim Shore Disney Traditions, Disney trading pins, Disney snowglobes, and more. I love going to thrift stores and antique shops to search for hidden Disney treasures. My biggest collecting problem has never been a lack of things to buy - it's where to put everything I've bought! Even though all collectible lines are different, over time you begin to see patterns that help you approach new collectibles in smart and financially sound ways. I look forward to sharing that knowledge with you.
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The biggest new Disney collectible craze is Vinylmation. These little vinyl figures resemble Disney characters and they're eagerly sought by thousands of folks some of whom know in their sleep the terminology, release dates, and arcane facts necessary to become a Vinylmation master. For the many who aren't so vinyl savvy, Kelly Firth is here to help. Her new column, Vinylmation 360, will indeed provide a full 360 degree experience from the bare basics of blind boxes to the tippy top of cutting-edge tips and teasingly true trivia. Ready? Get your Vinyl on!
FEB 2Vinylmation 360 takes a break from the in-depth vinyl profiles this week to provide readers with a brief overview of Disney Store.com sales, recent Vinylmation releases, and a major release mishap.
JAN 25Kelly checks into 2012 with a continuation of her series of vinylmation favorites. Today she heads to Park 5 and the Buzz Lightyear XP-37 Space Cruiser. This one is a take on the vehicle you ride at the park in Astro Blasters.
DEC 28More from Kelly on some of her all time favorite Vinylmation figurines. This week she touches on one of my favorites - a very well made and funny "Early To Bed" Donald Duck.
DEC 19Kelly continues looking at some of the best work by Vinylmation artists by heading over to Park Series 4 and a look at the Astro Orbiter vinylmation. Great work Kelly!
DEC 12Kelly dives back into writing with a nod to one of this year's best family movies - The Muppets - by taking a look at Kermit the Frog from the Park Series 1.
OCT 26Kelly explains why the Disney Princess Designer Collection is important to all Vinylmation collectors.
OCT 18Kelly wishes for her favorite "missing" vinylmations and her dream series if she had a fairy godmother taking care of business. What would you ask for?
OCT 8Football season is in full swing, baseball playoffs have just started and Kelly takes a look at the well made Vinylmation Sports Team Series.
OCT 3Kelly looks at an Epcot Vinyl - the 3" Epcot Center 82 from the Park 4 series. A fantastic piece.
SEP 27 Kelly gives us her monthly Q&A answers - Be sure to send in your questions to be included next month.
SEP 19 Kelly gives us her review of the Vinylmation 360: Park Starz and all its Oddities. As always, her articles is very in depth and a fascinating look at Vinylmations.
SEP 12 Kelly spends some time with the 9" Muppet set. If you haven't seen the detail in the packagaing on these, you're really missing out.
SEP 5 Kelly examines the new 3" mold.
AUG 31 Kelly wraps up her trading attempts with a visit to Breezeway and Chester & Hester's. Some final thoughts and tips on vinylmation trading.
AUG 7 Kelly spent much of a recent trip to Disney World trading Vinylmation figures. If you know what you're doing, you can acquire some choice vinyls. And if you don't, well, why take the chance: follow Kelly's adventures and become a master trader.
JUL 31 Kelly answers your Vinylmation questions at the end of each month, and her mailbag today yields a fun speculation about which movie might become the next vinyl series and a practical query about storing vinyls in small living spaces.
JUL 24 Collectibles like Vinylmation are collected, obviously, but they're also traded, and therein for most lies the greater thrill. During a recent trip to Disney World, Kelly did quite a bit of vinyl trading, and she recounts her techniques and her triumphs.
JUL 17 Release days of anything, not just Vinylmations, tend to be crowded, chaotic affairs, with the diehards jostling the novitiates. During a recent Disney World vacation, Kelly queued up for a coveted new vinyl release. Here's what happened.
JUL 10 Kelly returned recently from a trip to Walt Disney World, where she took time away from the rides, attractions, and shows to indulge her passion for Vinylmation. And where better to indulge in Vinylmation at Disney World than in D-Street?
JUN 26 Kelly gets questions all the time. Fortunately, at least for us, most of them are about Vinylmation. In this monthly 'special installment' of her column, Kelly reaches deep into the mailbox and pulls out the questions you asked.
JUN 19 People have traded since the dawn of time. You have what I want, I have what you want. Simple, right? Not always. Dishonest traders abound, even when it comes to something as simple, as innocent, as Vinylmation. Heed Kelly's cautionary tale.
JUN 12 Leaving soon for Disney World - and love Vinylmation? You're in luck! Kelly Firth has just returned from Disney World, where she scouted virtually every vinyl now available in the parks, the resorts, and the outlet stores. Here's her Field Guide!
MAY 29 Over the past three months, Kelly Firth has written some fantastic stuff about Vinylmation collecting, probably more than you'll find anywhere else, and she's just getting warmed up. See what Kelly has in store for June.
MAY 22 Collecting is the most personal of hobbies, and we typically collect things that hold memories important to us. For Kelly Firth, collecting Vinylmation is a way to relive magical moments from Disney trips she took as a child. She shares some of them.
MAY 15 The notion of a 'well-oiled machine' appeals to most of us, and manufacturers certainly strive for such precision with their products. Disney is no different with its Vinylmations. Consistency! Uniformity! Perfection? Ha! Kelly Firth ogles some oddities.
MAY 8 Did your vinyl figure arrive with two left arms and a missing face, or some other deformity that qualifies it for a role in a really bad horror movie? Is Disney skimping on quality control these days? Kelly Firth thinks so, and she's got the photographic proof.
MAY 1 Is there gold in them thar vinyls? Well, maybe not gold, but potentially a few extra bucks you can earn on the side by selling your surplus vinyls (or vinyls you buy in bulk) on eBay. Kelly Firth explains how to get started and how to do it right.
APR 24 The mailbag brims once more with Vinylmation questions, and Kelly's got the answers. This month, the topics include the new Vinylmation shapes, how to set up shop as a Vinylmation middle-man, and how not to get ripped off by Vinylmation middle-men.
APR 17 For many people, especially those distant from the Disney parks, the best way to collect vinyls is buying them through eBay. You can find some great deals - but you can also get burnt. Kelly Firth offers advice for avoiding the flames while scoring your fix.
APR 10 You can buy every vinyl ever made, but then you'd miss out on the social aspect of the hobby: trading! Not only can you trade informally with other collectors, but as in pin trading, you can trade with Cast Members, too. Kelly Firth explains how.
MAR 27 You've been submitting Vinylmation questions, Kelly Firth's been pondering Vinylmation answers. She's dipped into her March mailbag for the best questions, and her answers will elevate you one level higher toward the perch of Vinylmation master.
MAR 20 Why collect Vinylmation? That shouldn't be so difficult to answer, should it? You might be surprised. And once you know why you're collecting, what do you collect? Think you can collect 'em all? Kelly Firth asks, then answers, these essential questions.
MAR 13 We have already taken a look at the basic must-knows of Vinylmation and the history of the hobby. This brings us to another question: How do you collect Vinylmation if you do not live near WDW or Disneyland Resort and can't visit often? It's a dilemma faced by many collectors, new and old. If only buying... MORE
MAR 6 In the two plus years since Vinylmation debuted, this collectible has lived quite a rich 'life'! With so many different figures now available, it's easy to think of Vinylmation as a collectible line with constant new releases and a wide variety of products. But it wasn't always that way. Let's take a look back at the... MORE
FEB 27 For Disney Dispatch readers who collect - or who would like to start collecting - Vinylmation, I'm proud to present Kelly Firth's new weekly column, Vinylmation 360. Kelly has been collecting Vinyls from the start, owns hundreds of them, and knows more about Vinylmation than Mickey knows about Mouse... MORE