Let the Adventure begin!

WDWNT Author on January 1, 1970

This Friday, December 17th D-Street in California will release 2 of the 5 Disneyland exclusive Disneyland ’55 Attraction Poster 9″ Vinylmations ($44.95). Yesterday I told you about Tommowland, today we travel to Adventureland.

Walt Disney loved nature and adventure. This is evident in his award winning True-Life Adventure documentaries. Adventureland was meant to be based on these films and feature real life animals in the Jungle Cruise attraction. Since that was not feasible, Walt had his imagineers create the automatronic animals we all enjoy today. This Vinylmation features the attraction poster from the famous Jungle Cruise ride.

Interesting to note is the placement of the world “Adventureland”. In the original poster, “Adventureland” is under the depticted elephant and boat in the brown space at the bottom of the poster.
What was designer Alex Maher’s reasoning for this? To fill up the empty yellow space on the back? Or was it difficult to write the word across the Vinylmation feet? Also, how about the missing hippo? I would have liked to see the hippo on the finished Vinylmation. There appears to be room to wrap him from the right side to the front, or even on the back… there is some empty green space there as well. Those are 2 questions I will ask him if I get the chance… or if there is an artist signing out at D-Street in California, maybe you can ask for us? A nice Vinylmation gift may be in it for you!

Journey into Awesomeness!

WDWNT Author on January 1, 1970

The much anticipated Dreamfinder 9″ Figment 3″ combo Vinylmation was released today at D-Street Orlando and California! This is a perfect use of the 9″, 3″ combo and the detailed depiction of these two Disney fan favorites in spot on.

Dreamfinder and Figment were the stars of the former Journey into Imagination ride at EPCOT. The ride opened in 1983 and the pair happily entertained audiences for 15 years. In 1998, the ride was refurbished and Dreamfinder was taken out and Figment’s role was reduced. Guests were very upset. One of the only places in Disney to get your Dreamfinder fix these days is in Mouse Gears. One of Dreamfinder’s flying machines now decorates the EPCOT Mouse Gears store.

And this detail in Dreamfinder’s right ear wonderfully depicts his blimp.
As another imagineer tribute to Dreamfinder, the name Dean Finder, appears on one of the lab doors in the current Journey ride queue. In 2002, Disney once again refurbed Journey and added more Figment for guests to enjoy. Now Vinylmation and Disney fans can enjoy this pair back together again with this Maria Clapsis designed Vinylmation limited to just 1,200 pieces. It retails for $74.95. And here are some of the first up close shots of the new 3″ Figment Vinylmation that accompanies Dreamfinder:
Also released today is the 9″ Retro Magic Kingdom for $44.95 at D-Street California and Orlando.

Line outside D Street California

WDWNT Author on January 1, 1970

Thanks to listener weinbeezy for sending us this picture of people waiting for the doors of D Street in California to open this morning to get the LE Disneyland Ticket Booklet set.

The Future… as seen in 1961

WDWNT Author on January 1, 1970

I love retro Disney merchandise… so this Friday, December 17th’s release of 2 of the 5 Disneyland ’55 Attraction Poster 9″ Vinylmations ($44.95) designed by Alex Maher is very exciting! These Vinylmation are only available at D-Street in California. Today, I will talk about Tomorrowland…


Here is Walt Disney’s vision of Tommorwland in his own words: “Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.”

Tomorrowland opened with Disneyland in 1955, but didn’t feature many must-do attractions until its 1959 update when the Disneyland Monorail, the Submarine Voyage and the Matterhorn (later part of Fantasyland) opened. Oddly enough, this series of Vinylmation is named “Disneyland ’55”, but the ride depicted on this poster is from a ride that wasn’t built until 1961…

The Flying Saucers attraction only lasted 5 years, but became a cherished childhood memory for many who experienced it. Guests rode in these “Flying Saucers” and played a game of bumper cars. The Saucers floated on a cushion of air, similar to air hockey, and were controlled by the rider leaning in the desired direction of travel. Here is a vintage photo from Disney of the former attraction.
The ride was expensive to operate and was shut down in 1967 when the refurbished Tomorrowland opened. But the memories live on…
Coming to Cars Land at Disney California Adventure in 2012:
Luigi’s Roamin’ Tires concept art