>A Free Disney Collectible

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We were talking to a friend of ours this afternoon that got back from Disney about a week and a half ago. She asked if we got caught up in the Vinylmation craze. For those of you that don’t know about it, Vinylmation is a new Disney collectible. They feature original designs from Disney Theme Park Merchandise and are only sold at Disney Theme Park Merchandise locations. They basically are 3 inch (or 9inch) vinyl/rubber Mickey Mouse shapes, that have designs on them representing other Disney characters, park attractions, or other Disney related materials. This is a very big thing right now in Disney.

 It is kind of like the Pin Collecting, except in Pin Collecting, you know what

you are getting. With this, most of the boxes are sealed in what they call a blind box. Meaning you don’t know which figurine you are getting until after you have bought it and opened it. They have rules that go with these also. You cannot get your money back, after you’ve opened it and you cannot return it for another one. You may trade it, but even then you aren’t sure what you are going to get. It’s Disney’s version of Let’s Make a Deal. Vinylmation Collecting, like Disney World Pin Collecting can get costly. But there is something else you can collect when you are in Walt Disney World that is absolutely free. This Unknown Magic is something that you really don’t think about before you go to Disney for the first time, but once you get there, you need to get the materials and be prepared every time you go to a Park. At this point you’re Thinking, “What is he talking about?” I’m talking about the Unknown Magic of Character Autographs.

Every merchandise area in Walt Disney World, sells autograph books and pens. There are different kinds of books and book and pen sets that they sell, aimed at either your little Princess or the little man with you. These are very nice keepsakes from the Magical Experiences of meeting the characters.

One of our first Trips down to Disney World years ago, we got a gold autograph book. On every double page, there is a spot for a picture and a spot for the character to sign. It is neat to still look at this book and see my son standing with the character and have their autographs next to the picture.

Some of the characters make appearances all over the Parks. We have a few autographs of Chip and Dale, Goofy, and of course Mickey and Minnie. They are usually available somewhere in the parks throughout the day. Then there are some characters that are only seen at certain places. We’ve only seen Mary Poppins in England in the World Showcase in Epcot and we only have seen Jiminy Cricket at the Conservation Station in Animal Kingdom.

Sometimes you get autographs from characters from movies or shows that you don’t normally see or that are from attractions in the Parks. We have an autograph of Liver Lips from the Country Bear Jamboree; Br’er Bear and Br’er Rabbit from Song of the South, and Prince John form Robin Hood.

Not only is it neat to get the character’s autograph when you are getting a picture with them, but it’s neat to see how they sign the books. Pluto actually has to sign in a very unusual way, because of the size of his nose. Buzz Lightyear doesn’t sign, but Stamps his signature. Some add extra little things to their names such as flowers or hearts. But no matter how they sign, all of the characters take time with each kid they sign for or take a picture with. Some of them will hug them or high five them, but every time, they will give the kids and the adults who are there, a Magical Experience.

For those of you just going to Disney World for the first time, it may seem daunting when you first get to the Magic Kingdom and see the lines that the characters have around them. And outside the Magic Kingdom and at the beginning of Main Street as the park opens in the morning, there are quite a lot of people that will be in line for autographs. Most of these characters will be around later in the day, or someplace else during your trip, so that you can get their picture and autograph, But just remember, the interaction you will have with the character will make a more of a Magical Experience than being the first one on a specific attraction.

So, now you that know make sure when you first get to Walt Disney World, you buy an autograph book (or two) and prepare yourself for a few minutes of waiting, while you and your kids enjoy a Magical Experience that you can relive at home when you look through the Autograph Book.

For more information on the Vinylmation craze check out: VinylNation.net
Picture of vinalmation from Vinylmation.net

>Sign here Please.

>I’ve written about Disney Pin Collecting in a past blog. In that Blog I had commented that when you get caught up in that hobby, it could get costly. There is something else you can collect when you are in Walt Disney World that is absolutely free. This Unknown Magic is something that you really don’t think about before you go to Disney for the first time, but once you get there, you need to get the materials and be prepared every time you go to a Park. At this point you’re Thinking, “What is he talking about?” I’m talking about Character Autographs.

Every merchandise area in Walt Disney World, sells autograph books and pens. There are different kinds of books and different packages that you can buy. I know you’re thinking what kind of package could there be for an autograph book? Well they have the regular autograph book, then they sell special ones. Ones with the Princesses on the cover and they have a Princess pen that goes with them. They also have other book and pen sets that they sell. You don’t need to buy these autograph books, but when you get to see the characters, it is a nice thing for the kids to take home autographs from all the characters that they met.

One of our first Trips down to Disney World years ago, we got a gold autograph book. On every double page, there is a spot for a picture and a spot for the character to sign. It is neat to still look at this book and see my son standing with the character and have their autographs next to the picture.

Some of the characters make appearances all over the Parks. We have a few autographs of Chip and Dale, Goofy, and of course Mickey and Minnie. They are usually available somewhere in the parks throughout the day. Then there are some characters that are only seen at certain places. We’ve only seen Mary Poppins in England in the World Showcase in Epcot. We have an autograph of Liver Lips from the Country Bear Jamboree; he doesn’t leave the Magic Kingdom. Br’er Bear and Br’er Rabbit usually hang out near Splash Mountain, and We only have seen Jiminy Cricket at the Conservation Station in Animal Kingdom.

Not only is it neat to get the character’s autograph when you are getting a picture with them, but it’s neat to see how they sign the books. Pluto actually has to sign the in a very unusual way, because of the size of his nose. Some of the characters add pictures when they sign and some add extra little things to their writings to the kids. All of the characters take time with each kid they sign for or take a picture with. Some of them will hug them or high five them, but every time, they will give the kids and the adults who are there, a Magical Experience.

For those of you just going to Disney World for the first time, it may seem daunting when you first get to the Magic Kingdom and see the lines that the characters have around them, outside the Magic Kingdom and at the beginning of Main Street as the park opens in the morning, there are quite a lot of people that will be in line for autographs. Most of these characters will be around later in the day, or someplace else during your trip, so that you can get their picture and autograph, But just remember, the interaction you will have with the character will make a bigger memory than being the first one on a specific attraction.

So, now you that know make sure when you first get to Walt Disney World, you buy an autograph book (or two) and prepare yourself for a few minutes of waiting, while you and your kids enjoy a Magical Experience.