“Oh bother! I have a sore neck!” said Pooh. He had fallen asleep whilst sleeping in the passenger seat of Christopher Robin’s little red wagon. “What,” he wondered, “could I have done to avoid this bothersome discomfort?”
Well, Pooh, how about something with a little fluff within? Like this Winnie the Pooh travel neck pillow:
There isn’t much more to say about this little Disney-themed item. I picked it up at a local charity shop for a few dollars because it just looked so cute!
The tags tell us that although the pillow can relieve neck pain for an adult, it could cause suffocation for an infant. So care needs to be exercised in its use.
And now we have arrived at the back end of Pooh. I knew that didn’t sound right as I was typing it.
For a more traditional Winnie the Pooh plush, check out my earlier post of the silly old bear dressed for a Safari. But click over quickly, as Pooh is very likely to get lost, even with his safari gear!
I’ve ended up with quite an extensive collection of collector plates, and for a middle-aged man, I’m not sure how to feel about that. What’s next, thimbles? Actually, I have a couple of those…
But this vintage Disneyland large ceramic Pictorial Plate is just gorgeous, Dah-ling! I mean, just look at it:
Who could resist the old-timey look of the painted images, each depicting a Land, radiating off the hub in Disneyland? Let’s take a closer look at these inspiring images:
Now that we have familiarized ourselves with the images, let’s see if we can date this wonderful souvenir: First, as you’ll see in the final image below, this is trademarked ‘Walt Disney Productions’, so it was produced before 1986.
Second, we see the Matterhorn attraction behind Tomorrowland, which was added in the big 1959 expansion. So it likely wouldn’t have been sold before 1960.
Third, online research shows various sellers claiming anywhere from the late 1960’s to the late 1970’s. I would postulate that it would not be from any later, like the 1980’s, due to the style of the imagery. The online estimates could be correct, as Disney tends to maintain stock on popular items over a long period of time.
Conclusion: The only thing we can say with certainty is that it was sold between 1960-1986.
An example of this plate was sold by Van Eaton Galleries and Auctions for $150.00 US about five years ago as of this posting. I paid $40.00 CAN through a private transaction.
If you look closely, you’ll see two holes in the bottom rimming of the plate. This would have been so that the plate could hung on a wall without a plate frame or bracket. It would have originally come with a string attached, like this example. This is missing the string and has no vintage price tag affixed.
As is always the case when an item is reproduced over a number of years, you can find examples of this plate with more vibrant colours and images that look more like photographs. But I feel the more vintage look of this plate with its painted depictions of the park is by far more desirable!
Today we are so proud to announce that Little Mikey joins the Mickey Mouse Club, Monstropolis Chapter. Mike Wazowski is one pleased Papa!
And here is the little monster in his official MMC sweater:
Little Mikey first appeared in the trailer for Monsters Inc. by Pixar Animation Studios all the way back in 2000 before having a bigger role in the actual movie when it hit theaters in 2001. He is able to calm Boo when she is frightened after landing in the monster world.
But how did he come to join the Mickey Mouse Club, you ask?
I was on one of my rescue missions at a local thrift store when I found a very beat up and ratty Mickey Mouse doll wearing the sweater pictured above. He was only a few dollars but in his condition they should have paid me to take him! But the sweater was cool and was removeable. I knew I could find a new owner to sport this time-honored fashion statement!
Mike and I contacted the proper Disney people and after a very stringent vetting process, Little Mikey was a member of the club made for you and me. And him!
The Disney 100 promotion is in full swing as of this post and Disney keeps adding to the special line of merchandise. The Disney company, as we consider it today, had it’s official start in 1923. I’ve been sucked into collecting this new batch of stuff! Surprised?
Case in point, the Disney 100 Silver Edition 2-LP Record Set:
I’m delighted and disappointed. I didn’t expect it to have new music and instead it simply replays many of the most popular standards with Side 4 containing music from newer movies and shows. This doesn’t bother me as I purchased it knowing that this would be the case.
Front CoverBack Cover
The cover is cool with the silver foil yielding a rainbow effect when photographed. Not so much when you’re just looking at it. Also, be careful of fingerprints, this thing is worse than a stainless steel fridge!
To be honest, what sold me on this 2 LP set was the silver/grey vinyl. I’m a sucker for novelty! But it is a nice touch.
Inside Left SleeveInside Right Sleeve
Again, the playlist is nothing new. Now let’s get to the disappointing things:
The label could have been more dynamic. This is an image of Mickey that has been used on Disney music releases extensively. Something designed exclusively for this set would have been nice. Also, I was expecting a spectacular image inside the cover when I opened it up, and not just a repeat of the playlist that is already printed on the back of the cover.
Unfortunately, this product falls victim to the basic laziness displayed by Disney marketing and merchandising of late.
I would give this a 3 Out of 5 Stars. With a list price of $34.98 US the value is a bit shaky. I bought my copy through Amazon at a 14% discount, but the shipping to Canada drove the price up to where it wasn’t really worth it. But as an avid collector of vintage Disney LPs and as a completist, I still had to have it!
Yes folks, it was a time when WE all thought we were going to die in a computer Armageddon as all of our electronics crashed simultaneously, but Disney just threw another party.
Hey, if you’re going to go, why not go out with some sweet Disney Parks ‘Year 2000’ Merchandise:
If was uncertain if cash registers would work on the eve of the year 2000, but Disney was ready with stores full of souvenirs, no matter what happened!
Above, you can see a nice ceramic plate from The Art of Disney depicting both Walt Disney World and Disneyland castles. It may not be obvious at first, but I think the gang is perched atop Spaceship Earth from EPCOT. Safe? No, but then why worry so close to the end of everything?
I also found this commemorative pin. I wasn’t there during the actual celebration. It would be almost seven years before my wife and I would make our first trip together to WDW. But I have the keepsake anyway.
‘Celebrate the Future Land to Land’ is a reference to the two continental Theme Parks depicted on the front of the plate. As with most of these items, it is for decorative use only, so don’t be having any ‘Goodbye Cruel World’ treats on this if you don’t want to die of food poisoning. Wait…
Birthstones are popular as gifts for their beautiful array of colors and the personal sentiment they can represent. In the modern tradition, there are one to three gemstones representing every birth month of the year, but Enesco chose to use only one in this case. Birthstones can be crafted into rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, as well as other keepsakes.
We just knew it wouldn’t take Disney long to exploit this trend and create a new twist on the theme with these Mickey and Company Birth Stone Figurines:
Even though birthstones had already become an international trend rooted in centuries-long practice, some claiming even Biblical origins, there was still no consensus on the list of birthstones. But in the year 1912, the National Association of Jewelers met to officially standardize the list of American birthstones and each month that they represented. A primary concern was that the stones they chose would be practical for American jewelers to sell and promote in large quantities. Some changes have been made over the years with mainly stones being added.
Mickey is standing about 2″ tall but 2.5″ tall with the paper base. I have elected to leave him on his base as it lists the date and the stone being represented. I have seen examples for sale on the Internet with no base stating simply “Yellow Stone”, or some such, which isn’t very helpful if you are looking for your exact birth stone.
Enesco has partnered with Disney on many products and is especially known for giftware. In 1958, Enesco was the import division for the N. Shure Company. The name “Enesco” was an acronym from the N. Shure company, “N S Co”, so phonetically we have ‘EnEsCo’.
I have no intention of seeking out the entire set of twelve. The prices on the used market range from $10.00 – $50.00 US or more. I paid only $5.00 CAN for this one at a flea market. I can’t pinpoint a year of manufacture.
For the record, here is a complete list of the main birth stones for each month that Disney and Enesco used for this line of merchandise:
January — Garnet February — Amethyst March — Aquamarine April — Diamond May — Emerald June — Pearl July — Ruby August — Peridot September — Sapphire October — Opal November — Topaz December — Turquoise
Professor Ludwig Von Drake is a cartoon character created in 1961 by The Walt Disney Company. He is an uncle of Donald Duck who was first introduced as the presenter for the first episode of the Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color on NBC.
He is described as a scientist, lecturer, psychologist, and world traveler. The character offered his ‘expert’ knowledge on a variety of subjects whether anyone wanted to hear it or not. Did we mention that he is a genius? Well, make no mistake: He is!
Paul Frees was the original voice of Ludwig Von Drake. After Frees retired from the role, the character was briefly voiced by Walker Edmiston and since 1987, he has been voiced by Corey Burton.
And if you’re this famous, even if it is only in your own mind, you get a mug:
This vintage Ludwig Von Drake ceramic mug is a gem! He looks so cute in his top hat and spectacles. And of course he has to have his name emblazoned across the base so no-one mistakes him for Scrooge McDuck. I’m not sure who would be more insulted!
Most vintage Disney merchandise fails to print a production date on the piece, so it can make it hard to place a collectible in time. But this example clearly has the date listed as 1961 and the place of manufacture as Japan.
Here you can see the braided handle and most obviously the cracking of the glaze. This is quite common for ceramic items of this period, and I feel it just adds to the character and desirability of the mug.
I was planning a 21-gun Salute for the Duck of the Hour to end the post, but then I thought that the shock waves might break the mug! Sorry, Ludwig, you’ll have to settle for a single raspberry and a cup of tea.
There are two factions of postcard collectors. One group wants clean, empty cards, or NOS (New Old Stock) with no writing on the back. The other group only collects cards that have a story to tell. Which group are you in? I’m an equal opportunity collector and have both types in my collection.
I just couldn’t resist this Vintage Walt Disney World Castle Postcard with Writing on it:
I likely have this one already, without writing on it. But if one is good, two must be better! And what is the story that comes with this card? Let’s have a read:
June took a moment out of her vacation to let her mom know that the family had arrived in Florida safely after some car trouble. Next it was an assurance that the kids were fine and ‘full of the devil’. Wow! That must have been some road trip.
Lastly, June lets Mom know that the kids were having fun at Walt Disney World even though the lines were long. She signs off with ‘See you soon.’ As was the case back in the 1970’s, the family probably got home before the card did!
So, we complain about long lines at every attraction today, but apparently this isn’t a modern problem. WDW had been open only 18 months when this card was sent in March of 1973. Also, note the Florida flag over the logo. This is something I haven’t seen in any other Disney postcard.
The stamp depicts David Dwight Eisenhower (1890 – 1969). He was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. So he was not the current president when this card was sent, and in fact, had been deceased for almost exactly 4 years. Richard Nixon was the president at this time, serving as the 37th president from 1969-1974.
I especially wanted to own this postcard because it was mailed to the Ontario city of Windsor, which is just 45 kms (28 miles) from my current home. And who knows how many more stories are out there to be found and shared!
The Disney marketing machine is in full production with yet another Disney 100 offering. This time Disney has paired with LEGO to create tiny, and yes irresistible, plastic figurines. In a blind pouch, of course!
I was hoping for Robin Hood, but I got the LEGO Disney 100 Minifigures Cruella De Vil figure instead:
And they made me put it together! It’s a building toy. Okay: It was fun! And here’s how to put one of these figures together… basically:
And now a panel-to-panel progression of the creation of my Cruella De Vil figure:
She’s not quite done yet. But before we see the final figure, let’s have a look at some of the other characters you could get in your blind pouch:
I had a fifty-fifty chance of getting someone I wanted with this grouping. And now, the complete Cruella De Vil:
I don’t recall what movie or cartoon she was in where she wore a yellow outfit with feathers. And I have no idea what she is holding. Purses?
And don’t you think the Dalmatian puppy is just a little bit too happy to be with her?
I’m not usually a fan of blind boxes or packets or anything similar. It takes way too long and too much money to get a complete set, or the character you really want.
These packages cost $6.99 CAN, but I got $5.00 off with a reward bonus, so I figured for a couple of bucks, it was worth the chance at getting something great. I got something that was only okay to me. Will I try again? Only time will tell if will power or temptation wins out!
M – I – C, K – E- Y, and you know the rest. Since 1955, the Mickey Mouse Club entertained children in perhaps the most wholesome way in all of history! It was televised for four seasons, from 1955 to 1959, by the ABC Network.
All of these years later, it is still remembered fondly, even by those of us who were not around when it originally aired. So for us, there is really only the merchandise! Like this POST Limited Edition Disney 100Mickey Mouse Club Cereal promotional box:
This cost me a whopping $12.99 CAN plus taxes! I would never pay that for a box of cereal ordinarily, but Disney found a way to part me from my money once again. Nostalgia is my Kryptonite!
There are other boxes for the Disney 100 promotion, but I don’t think they are as magical as this version.
You can also be a part of the promotion by uploading a picture of your family enjoying the wonder of a magical Disney moment using the hashtag ‘SHARETHEWONDER’.
Does anyone ever care what kind of cereal is in these boxes? It always seems to be some weird tasting concoction that would never sell in any other packaging! I mean honestly: Confetti Cake Cereal? What even is that? The closest I can imagine is Kellogg’s Corn Pops.
We now arrive at the bottom of the post and the bottom of the box:
Will I gag down a bowl of this cereal or will I just pour it in a bowl for the picture below?
Okay… it definitely didn’t taste almost fifteen dollar good! If you like the taste of super-sweet cake frosting, it may be for you. I don’t. I lasted three spoonful’s and had to throw the rest out. I can’t get the taste out of my mouth!
Curse you POST and Disney! (Shakes fist in the air)
Disleelandia 