March 9, 2012

Disneyland Report—Part 1: Observations

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For my Spring Break, a few of my friends and I threw a quick trip to the Disneyland Resort together for 4 days, 3 nights. This trip to Disneyland Resort was the first trip for all three of us, and we all had a blast. Over the next couple of days (or weeks), I will be trying to post a few reports dealing with our trip to the West Coast, from a first-timers point-of-view. Mind you, we might be a bit skewed in opinions because we are (all three of us) Cast Members for the Walt Disney World Resort: working in Attractions in Magic Kingdom, Guest Relations at the Magic Kingdom, and Resort Activities at Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge.

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My first report, for today, will be a quick report, of observations that I noticed throughout our trip regarding the Disneyland Resort, both in its Cast Members and its Guests; mainly focusing on similarities and differences between Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Upon entering the resort area, I realized one thing right away: everything in this resort is so close together, there are no buses, no trams (unless taking from parking garage), and there is only a Monorail that is considered an “attraction” that takes guest from Downtown Disney to Disneyland, though it was closed for refurbishment when I was there. Everything in this resort is within walking distances of each other, this, in my opinion, is a great thing, as there won’t be a transportation problem, and you can easily move from place to place without waiting. I personally loved the ability to walk from our hotel—Disneyland Hotel—to the various parks and shopping district.

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Onto the parks! Throughout the park I noticed many things, including:

  • The proximity of everything to each other, though the parks are kind of small, the parks are packed with attractions and entertainment to be had. I personally enjoyed that everything was very close to each other, and you didn’t have to walk really far to the next attraction
  • The characters roam around the park with no attendants. Opposed to Walt Disney World, where every character within the park has at least two attendants (so it seems), the characters of Disneyland Resort roam around the park, like my encounter with Mad Hatter and Alice which just roamed around Fantasyland for what seemed like a while. They didn’t have an attendant around, that I saw, and when I took my picture with them, they queued up their own line, which was impressive in my book. It seemed that the “face characters” didn’t have attendants, while the “fur characters” (AKA fully costumed) had maybe one attendant, that wore that land’s attraction costume, which makes me wonder, were their attendants part of operations or entertainment (If anyone has an answer to this, I’d greatly appreciate an answer).

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  • When watching the parade, I was most intrigued by their Parade Audience Control cast members (mainly because I work in Main Street Operations in Walt Disney World). One thing I noticed, and was kind of told about was that when in the front row for the parades, you need to be sitting down. I like this idea, as working in Walt Disney World it would definitely enhance guests experience, and more guests could be able to see the parade with less obstructions, though I don’t think that it’d work in the Walt Disney World because of the different ‘groups’ that go to the two resorts.

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  • Another sitting in entertainment item includes sitting for Fantasmic!, which was my biggest frustration. While in a sense sitting is nice, for everyone, I was in the second row, and really couldn’t see that much because I had taller people sitting in front of me, so I could imagine what it was like for the guests sitting farther in the back.
  • By far, my favorite observation in this park were the WARNING SIGNS that seemed to be posted throughout the park for a variety of ways. From the smoking sections in the parks, to the cash registers in all of the shops, featuring information about items causing cancer. My friends and I were intrigued by the variety of warning signs, clearly it was for a California law (if anyone has an idea/reasoning of why they have the signs posted in the locations, please, feel free to educate my Floridian mind!).

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That it is for today, hope you enjoyed this odd take on my trip. Be on the look out in the next couple of days (maybe weeks) for a legitimate trip report including more pictures, information, and reviews.

September 11, 2011

The Florida Project: Vinylmation Previews!

I was able to attend the Vinylmation Showcase at the Florida Project this weekend on Sunday September 11th, lots of news and information as well as previews were released. Let’s just cut to the chase… here we go!

First, we have a preview of the upcoming Alice in Wonderland blind boxed mystery set.

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The set will also feature a limited edition 9in/3in Walrus and Oyster Cook set.279

As well as a limited edition, two-3in set of Disappearing and Re-appearing Cheshire Cat!

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Park 7 will begin represent important milestones in Walt Disney World’s 40 years.

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Some 9in figures, featuring River Country and the Elliot float from the Main Street Electrical Parade.

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It seems to me, a Kitchen Kaberat Set will be coming out…

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As well as an America On Parade set…

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Moving onto the Holiday Series #3!207

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And Animation Series #2!206

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Urban Series #8!201 202

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Special Figures released for a variety of occasions like the Halloween, Epcot Food and Wine Festival, Christmas, and the Disney Cruise Line Mexican Rivera cruise.

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A new Open Edition series titled “Theme Park Favorites” will be released in February.

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Light Up Figures!094

D-Tech Merchandise, from Computer Cases, to Computer decals, to phone covers (not pictured)

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Moving onto the Vinylmation Talk with Donald Ferro, who announced a plethora of items, like a Park Series #8 preview which will continue Park Series #7’s Walt Disney World inspiration.

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Cutesters at the Beach Preview…  222

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One of the most anticipated series, Casey Jones’ The Haunted Mansion! To be released next year, but NOT at the Room for One More event, Donald made that very, very clear.

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Some upcoming pins showcase more figures from the series, like the Hitchhiking Ghosts.

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As well as Master Gracey, the Bride, Knight, King Casear’s Ghost, as well as a few more.

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There will be a Robots Series #2, which will be released not only in Disney Stores like Series 1, but also in the parks.

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A new collection by the same designer as Have A Laugh is the Classic Collection.

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Two new nerds will be added to the Open Edition series, Stitch and Figment!

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A new Open Edition, Open Windowed set will be D-Tour, which will periodically change, here are some previews of graphic, and trendy versions of Mickey Mouse.

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Vinylmation Jr. Series #5 will be This and That, like Up and Down, Unicorns and Rainbows and Pins and Needles, they will tell both sides of story!

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Vinylmation Jr. Series #6 will feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

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New Open Edition, Open Windowed sets to be released in May 2012 featuring Disney Characters as Star Wars Characters.

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Star Wars Series #2 will be released in August 2012, based off New Hope.

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At end of presentation, Donald revealed what exactly Project Z was! To much what seemed to be disappointment in audience, Project Z stands for Park Starz, which is a new way that Vinylmations will be created, for Park Starz Series, the figures will be shaped like a variety of Disney Park’s original characters, like the Yeti from Expedition Everest, Big Al from Country Bear Jamboree, and Figment from the Imagination Pavilion. Also, Park Starz series will be blind boxed in a tin, and sold in trays of 12, so if you want to purchase a series, you will just have to buy the tray of 12 and have one set, with no duplicates.

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Finally, at the very end of the presentation, Donald revealed Mickey’s Circus for the Vinylmation Showcase next year as well, and showed a preview of a figure to be released, Ring Master Mickey!

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