Disleelandia

Walt Disney’s Wonderful World Metal Lunch Box

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Dis-LEE

Who doesn’t love the metal lunchboxes (with thermos) from the 1980’s? They usually feature wonderful graphics depicting classic characters (not just Disney!) enjoying some sort of fun or mischief. This example shows our favorite Disney characters enjoying some classic rides at Walt Disney World:

Is Donald standing up on the boat in Pirates of the Caribbean?

Did Goofy fall out of his Jungle Cruise boat?

Has Mickey abandoned his Doom Buggy in the Haunted Mansion?

The top of this particular box is a little rough, with a lot of rust and a tape name tag, but you can still see that there was an incident on Space Mountain.

Open it up, and interestingly, the thermos is not held in with a clip. Is it missing?

Apparently not, for instead it offers a diagram for proper thermos placement:

As is the case with many Disney lunch boxes, the flip side usually contains a completely different theme. With this example, it takes an odd turn and decides to advertise World on Ice:

Now, I have nothing against World on Ice. It brings the Disney magic to many people’s hometowns. But, if I were a kid, I would likely pass if confronted with this as a lunch conveyance device. Mickey and Minnie ice skating?

Luckily, as an adult, I can display the box on a shelf with the World on Ice side facing inward, nice and hidden!

If you love Disney-themed metal lunch boxes (say that three times fast!) you might enjoy another example featuring the Magic Kingdom.

Posted in Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Food, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World | Tagged Aladdin Industries, Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Food, Theme Parks, Thermos, Walt Disney World, Walt Disney's Wonderful World, World on Ice | 4 Comments

Figment Journeys into Space beyond Imagination

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Dis-LEE

Just a quick post to share a Park Starz Vinylmation featuring Figment:

This Figment is from Park Series 7, representing Figment in his space suit from Journey Into Imagination.

And he has his tail painted on:

By artist Thomas Scott.

Who would like the original version of this ride to return with the Dreamfinder? Me too!

Posted in Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Figurines, Theme Parks, Vinylmations | Tagged Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Figment, Figurines, Journey Into Imagination, Park Series 7, Park Starz, Theme Parks, Thomas Scott, Vinylmation | 1 Comment

Mickey Mouse/Brave Little Tailor MUSICAL FIGURINES

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Dis-LEE

GUEST BLOGGER: NICK MAGLIO

My favorite Mickey Mouse cartoon is “The Brave Little Tailor”. Released in 1938, this was one of the last of the old, and in my opinion, best, Mickey cartoons, before his retooling for “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”. To me, this is Mickey’s finest hour. If you haven’t seen it, it can be found on the Walt Disney Treasures: Mickey Mouse in Living Color DVD set.

I have quite a few Mickey as The Brave Little Tailor collectibles. I picked these two musical figures up while working at a Disney Store in the mid 90’s.

Mickey didn’t battle the giant for 6 million golden pazoozas. He did it for the hand of Princess Minnie!

Wind her up and Minnie plays “Someday My Prince Will Come”

The killer of seven with one blow, Tailor Mickey:

Mickey plays “When You Wish Upon a Star”

And they lived happily ever after!

Posted in Collectibles, Figurines, Merchandise, Music, Shorts | Tagged Brave Little Tailor, Collectibles, Figurines, Merchandise, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Musical Figurines, Shorts | 7 Comments

100 Years of Magic in Glass from McDonald’s

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Dis-LEE

In 2001-2002, Disney celebrated what would have been Walt Disney’s 100th birthday with the 100 Years of Magic Celebration.

McDonald’s released this glassy, er, classy, set of glasses.

Each of the four glasses featured a park icon, with movie and character trivia, and even a quote from Walt!

This first glass features Spaceship Earth.

FUN FACTS: EPCOT originally stood for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow

The Walt Disney quote: “Today we are shapers of the world of tomorrow.”

FUN FACTS: Buzz Lightyear said “To Infinity and Beyond” only 2 times in “Toy Story”

FUN FACTS: Belle is the French word for ‘beauty’.

The inside bottom of the glass:

This glass displays Cinderella Castle.

FUN FACTS: Tinker Bell starts the fireworks nightly at the Magic Kingdom.

The Walt Disney quote: “Fantasy… lies beyond the reach of time.”

FUN FACTS: Pinocchio had to be “brave, truthful and unselfish” to become a real boy.

FUN FACTS: Dumbo’s real name was actually “Jumbo Jr.” Bambi was taught that “twitterpated” meant falling in love.

FUN FACTS: There are 325 animal carvings on The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The Walt Disney quote: “…nature herself writes the most interesting stories”

Goofy was first known as ‘Dippy Dawg’ and now stars in Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade.

FUN FACTS: “Simba” is the Swahili word for “lion”.

The outside bottom of the glass.

FUN FACTS: Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat at the Disney Studios is 122 ft. tall.

FUN FACTS: “Kiss Me” were the only words ever spoken by Pluto. Donald’s middle name is “Fauntleroy.”

“…it was all started by a mouse.” Walt Disney

Did you eat enough Big Macs to get all four of these glasses? Here’s to the next 100 years of Disney Magic!

Posted in Advertising, Anniversaries, Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Theme Parks | Tagged Advertising, Anniversaries, Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Glasses, McDonalds, Theme Parks, Walt Disney | 5 Comments

Lion King Buttons from the Disney Store

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Dis-LEE

Back before the pin collecting craze, there were buttons.

At the Disney Store there are often buttons given away to promote movies and introduce guests to new characters. There was a little movie called “The Lion King” that was released in 1994. Ever heard of it? Maybe these will jog your memory:

It was about animals apparently.

If you had the great fortune to see it during it’s Radio City Music Hall World Premier, then you could have picked up this next button:

Are you a Button Collector or a Disney Pin Trader?

Posted in Advertising, Animation, Collectibles, Disney Store, Promotions | Tagged Advertising, Animation, Buttons, Collectibles, Disney Store, Promotions | Leave a comment

Figment Bottle Opener and a Smile

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Dis-LEE

Drinking too much pop can be bad for you, but for special occasions, an ice-cold Coca Cola can certainly go down easy!

And what better way to open this treat than with a brass Figment bottle opener, bought at Epcot in the early 1990’s:

Figment is enjoying a beverage himself!

I just love old Epcot Center merchandise! It just has that vintage feel to it. If you like this look back at old Figment-related stuff, why not check out more of him, but in pewter!

Posted in Attractions, Characters, Collectibles, Food, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World | Tagged Attractions, Bottle Opener, Brass, Characters, Collectibles, Figment, Food, Journey Into Imagination, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World | Leave a comment

Walt Disney World’s 20th Anniversary Press Kit

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Dis-LEE

Walt Disney World’s 20th Anniversary Press Kit reflects a very exciting time in the history of Walt Disney World.

Let’s turn the handle and see what pops up.

Roger Rabbit! A character now sadly absent at Walt Disney World.

Inside is a packet of information, and a small calendar covering park hours for the three gates at that time: The Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, and Disney-MGM Studios. It covers the period from October 1991 to January 1992.

The information included would make anyone interested in Disney park history drool:

An overview of some of the new surprises awaiting guests, such as “Spectromagic” and “Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3-D”.
20 reasons to visit Walt Disney World, such as “Surprise in the Skies” a daytime extravaganza above and around Epcot’s World Showcase, and “Sorcery in the Sky”, a fireworks display at Disney-MGM Studios.
2 pages of Milestones, Attendance Marks, and Attraction Opening dates.
Park statistics and employment info. 33,000 employees at that time!
Pricing. A one day ticket? $33. 4 day pass? $111. Annual Pass? $190!
Personalities available for interviews, such as Michael Eisner, Frank Wells, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and Roy E. Disney.
A list of the celebrities that would be in the “Parade of Stars” in the 20 Year Homecoming Celebration at Disney-MGM Studios. Stars such as, Sally Struthers, Art Linkletter, and Eva Gabor!
Golf Course info
Information about a new concept in family vacationing called the Disney Vacation Club.

And if that wasn’t enough, there is a plethora of 8×10 glossy photographs, with information on the back.

The 20th Anniversary “Surprise” Celebration Parade:

Before it was Old Key West, it was the Disney Vacation Club Resort:

Muppets!

I hope Spectromagic returns soon!

Also included is a Vacation Guide:

The back cover of the folder:

I hope you enjoyed this trip with me down memory lane!

Posted in Advertising, Anniversaries, Attractions, Collectibles, Ephemera, Promotions, Theme Parks, Travel, Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World | Tagged 20th Anniversary, Advertising, Anniversaries, Attractions, Collectibles, Ephemera, Press Kit, Promotions, Theme Parks, Travel, Vacation Planning, Walt Disney World | 1 Comment

Humphrey the Bear Totem Pole at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Dis-LEE

Can you name the characters on this Totem Pole, which sits outside the Mercantile store at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge?

Got Mickey, Goofy and Donald pretty easily, I would imagine, but who’s that bear?

While staying at the Wilderness Lodge, you can take the excellent Ranger Guided Tour. When the ranger asks who in the group could name the characters, very few seem to know who the bear on the bottom is: he’s Humphrey!

Humphrey first appeared in a Goofy short from 1950, titled “Hold That Pose”, though he is bearly (pun intended) recognizable as the bear he would develop into. This short can be found on the “Walt Disney Treasures: The Complete Goofy” DVD set.

Next he went on to appear in four classic Donald Duck cartoons: “Rugged Bear”, 1953, “Grin and Bear it”, 1954, “Bearly Asleep”, and “Beezy Bear”, both from 1955. All four of these can be found on “Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald: Volume 4″ DVD set.

He even starred in his own cartoons in 1955,”Hooked Bear”, and the fan favorite short cartoon of all time, “In the Bag” both on the “Walt Disney Treasures: Disney Rarities: Celebrated Shorts: 1920s-1960s” set.

You can pick up a Humphrey collectible while visiting Disney’s Wilderness Lodge . Below is a 12″ resin reproduction of the real, full-size Totem Pole found outside the Mercantile:

A stuffed set of our totem pole pals in a canoe was spotted at The Meadows Trading Post at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge:

Which piece of merchandise would you take home?

Posted in Collectibles, Merchandise, Resorts | Tagged Humphrey, Mercantile, Merchandise, Resorts, Totem Pole, Walt Disney World, Wilderness Lodge | Leave a comment

Epcot Opening Day Guide

Posted on November 15, 2011 by Dis-LEE

I’ve seen this guide book, dated 1982, listed on eBay as the Opening Day Guide, although there is nothing on the cover to indicate as much. When I bought it at an antique store many years ago, the white label that someone annoyingly put on the cover, and which, as you can see, I unsuccessfully removed, stated that it was a pre-opening guide. I payed $10 for it.

The back cover.
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Regardless of what it is, I love it. It is like a time capsule, showing many beloved attractions, some still with us, others changed or extinct, pavilion sponsors, and those terrific Epcot Center logos.
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Some of the companies that were sponsors don’t even exist any longer.
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I miss Dreamfinder. Who am I kidding, I miss the whole original ride!

And perhaps my all time favorite ride, Horizons.

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On the World Showcase side, the artwork is even more stunning.

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There is even a preview for 3 nations that were planned, announced, but never made it.

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Finally the book ends showing some of the workmanship that went into what I consider a Wonder of the World, Epcot.

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Thank you for traveling back in time with me, and sharing one of my favorite pieces of Disneyana.

Posted in Collectibles, Ephemera, Walt Disney World | Tagged Collectibles, Dreamfinder, Epcot, Epcot Center, Ephemera, Figment, Guide Books, Horizons, Pavilions, Pre-opening guide, Souvenir books, Spaceship Earth, Walt Disney World, World Showcase | 1 Comment

Epcot Center Commemorative Pre-Opening Guides

Posted on November 13, 2011 by Dis-LEE

Many dream of a visit to Walt Disney World! And one Park that ranks high on the list of must-dos is Epcot. Upon arrival, the first attraction you see is Spaceship Earth. The park is fascinating!

These two guides, released to promote the Park prior to opening, are favorite collectibles for Disney fans:

This pamphlet from 1981 is filled with concept paintings and descriptions of the coming attractions for Future World and World Showcase. The artwork for Epcot Center is absolutely beautiful!

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This Commemorative Pre-Opening Guide to Epcot Center, from 1992, has mostly construction photos with a few concept paintings mixed in.

Oh, what might have been!