FROM: Vinylmation 360 Published Mondays

Disney World Vinylmation Field Guide

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!

- by Kelly Firth, June 12, 2011

Apologies for no column last week. Computer difficulties prevented me from writing one, and are forcing me to change the subject of this week's column. Look for the picture-heavy columns on trading in WDW, Florida's D-Street, and a look at release days (among other topics!) starting next week.

Since I recently returned from a much-needed vacation to Disney World, I thought it would be helpful to any out-of-towners with a pending WDW trip to know exactly what's available there, and where. Keep in mind the information is almost 2 weeks old, and merchandise stock can change in that time.

Park Series

I was surprised to see that Park 6 blind boxes were difficult to find at the start of my vacation. About halfway through my trip, they became easier to find, and I saw them at all of the theme parks, at most of the stores selling vinyls in Downtown Disney, and at some of the resort shops, such as the upstairs store in the Grand Floridian and Fantasia in the Contemporary. I didn't see them at my home resort for the trip, Wilderness Lodge.

Runaway Brain Mickey combo packs were plentiful at D-Street, and I also saw them at Mouse Gears in Epcot and the Animation Gallery in Hollywood Studios, but not in large quantities. Park 5 was nowhere to be found the entire trip. The Character Warehouse Outlet Store in the Outlet Mall on Vineland, near Downtown Disney, had discounted Park 3 blind boxes for $5.99 each.

Urban Series

Urban 5 and 6 blind boxes were essentially everywhere vinyls were sold. Some stores only had one or the other, but most stores had both. I saw both the brown and yellow Tonal Mickey combo packs at multiple locations, but the largest quantities were at D-Street.

Urban 6 9" vinyls were released while I was there, and I found them at both D-Street and the Contemporary's open-air store, Fantasia.

Urban 4 is seemingly long gone, as is Urban 3.

Cutesters, Muppets, Villains, Toy Story, Have a Laugh, and Holiday

Cutesters Too and Muppets Series 2 were the two series I saw most frequently. Even if resort shops didn't have the Park vinyls, they always had these.

Holiday 2 was not as plentiful, but they could still be found in shops such as Villains in Vogue at Hollywood Studios and the Emporium at the Magic Kingdom.

The Easter Egg and Birthday Cake 9" vinyls were still available in D-Street. Villains and Toy Story were plentiful everywhere. Have a Laugh was available in most locations. Cutesters 1, Muppets 1, and Holiday 1 are either currently not on the shelves due to lack of space, or they are sold out from WDW. Never saw any of them the entire trip.

Star Wars

The hardest series to find was definitely Star Wars! Re-released in time for Star Wars Weekends, it sold out quickly. On the opening day of SWW (May 20th), Disney had them in the Animation Gallery at Hollywood Studios and in Jabba's Hut, the special SWW merchandise tent located by Rock 'n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

By Tuesday, the vinyls at the Animation Gallery were long gone. They returned on Wednesday the 25th, and were gone again on Friday the 27th.

I do not know how stock held out in Jabba's Hut. I only went in there on the 20th.

Vinylmation Jr.

Jr. Series 3 was essentially everywhere, and you will have no trouble if you are looking to add some good luck-bad luck keychains to your collection.

Series 1 was more difficult to find, but was still fairly plentiful. Series 2 is either currently running low and needs a reorder or is close to selling out. The only place I was able to find any of these was in Fantasia and at the Contemporary.

Flags, Occupations, Celebrations, 40th Anniversary, and Animal Kingdom

I spent my entire vacation looking for the USA and UK Flag vinyls, and sadly I came up empty - which was particularly disappointing since those were the two that allegedly had the worst paint issues.

I admittedly had no interest in the Occupations Series, so I couldn't tell you what was still available with that (sorry, readers!).

40th Anniversary and 2011 vinyls were plentiful, but some stores would be missing one or two and yet have the others. Takes patience!

All of the Celebration vinyls were plentiful, including the popular 1st Visit Mickey Balloon vinyl. I found all of the Animal Kingdom vinyls, including the hard to find Zebra and Giraffe. I only saw one of the Zebra and two of the Giraffe the entire trip, though. The Zebra was at Wilderness Lodge's Mercantlile store, and the Giraffe was at Mouse Gears in Epcot.

Create Your Owns

The Character Warehouse Outlet Store had some 3" vinyls on sale, particularly the purple ones. The white ones were near impossible to find in WDW, but most of the other colors and glow-in-the-dark vinyla were available.

Have fun hunting vinyls on your next trip to Disney World!

On the last Sunday of every month, I'll devote this column to your questions and my answers. You can leave questions here as comments or else send them directly to me.

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