Book Review: WDPs Snowball Express

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Dis-LEE

Publisher: Scholastic Book Services

Year: 1980

Pages: 122

Type: Softcover

ISBN: 0-590-30359-7

“Riotous fun for everyone – that’s SNOW BIZ!”

Snowball Express is a 1972 screwball comedy from Walt Disney Productions that was directed by Norman Tokar. It follows the story of a man who leaves his middle class job to run a hotel left to him by his great uncle. We would have to wait 8 years for this novelization!

The full plot of the movie is far too convoluted to lay down here. But it was a fun ride in the tradition of Disney’s live-action comedies of the 1960s and 70s. Faithful Dean Jones (1931-2015) led the cast with many Disney regulars filling out the supporting roles.

These novelizations are usually condensed versions of the movie they chronicle and are written in a simple style so that even young readers can enjoy them.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to be a city slicker stuck in an artic environment trying to run a Ski Resort without being able to ski… then this story is for you! Oh. And you don’t have any money.

Harry Morgan (1915-2011) is never the star of these live-action romps but always seems to show up on screen as a rascally character, both good and bad. This performance predated his M.A.S.H. role by three years.

I would give this book a 4 Out of 5 Stars. It does what it sets out to do but offers little beyond the movie itself.

For more paperback fun, check out my review of Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N. But beware! There’s a monkey.

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Photo Spot: Roger Rabbit Statue at POP Century Resort

Posted on May 1, 2023 by Dis-LEE

Disney’s All-Star Resorts are a marvelous place to take pictures. Everything is larger than life and colourful and oh-so heavily themed! I took this shot in 2007 while staying at the POP Century.

I don’t want to simply go around and snap pics of stuff, full-figure in the frame, just like millions of tourists do. I like to find a way to frame the subject in a way that most others wouldn’t think of doing:

I severely cropped poor Roger Rabbit to force the viewer to focus on his one visible eye. I felt this made him look even more manic than usual.

For more fun with Roger Rabbit, check out our earlier post featuring the Walt Disney World 20th Anniversary Press Kit, where the wacky rabbit (not that other one) promotes the party from 1991.

Posted in Animation, Big Figs, Cartoons, Characters, Movies, Photo Spot, Photography, Resorts, Walt Disney World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pixar CARS End Credit Scene Diecast Characters

Posted on April 30, 2023 by Dis-LEE

Are you ready for the funniest Road Trip of all time? What could be more hilarious than Buzz Lightyear and Woody from the Pixar movie TOY STORY depicted as miniature vehicles from CARS? I say nothin’!

Behold the giggle-inducing wonder of the Pixar CARS End Credit Scene Diecast Characters:

I think I have the complete set of these consisting of Buzz, Woody, and Ham from Toy Story, Mike and Sulley and the Abominable Snowman from Monsters Inc., P. T. Flea from A Bug’s Life, and a little Volkswagen beetle as a bug from… something. Is that all that was released? I’m not sure, but it’s all I’ve got!

Let’s go in for their close ups:

Did you notice the PIXAR name on Buzz’s butt?

Disney has released numerous characters from the CARS franchise just to make money. Many of them are obscure characters that drove by in the background. But these are truly an inspired addition to any diecast collection!

Made in China with a good level of detail and finish.

I love how Buzz can remove his helmet with the rear spoiler attached:

Woody is, of course, a Woody Wagon. This type of vehicle is a wood-bodied automobile that became a popular type of station wagon in the 1930s and 40s. The bodywork is constructed of wood (hence the name. Duh!) or is at least styled to resemble wood elements.

I recently posted a plush version of Buzz. Have a look and you’ll be able to compare them for size and style.

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Disney Store Piglet as Pixar’s LGM Plush

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Dis-LEE

The Disney Store Piglet as Pixar’s LGM Plush is a great example of why the Disney Store was so amazing! The sheer variety of merchandise was always a treat to shop. Especially when they did exclusive mash-ups that you just couldn’t find anywhere else:

Piglet from the Winnie the Pooh stories certainly pulls off some serious Cosplay when you compare him to the originals:

I wonder if Piglet can tune in the 100-acre Wood on that antennae? “P-P-P-Pooh? Are you there? Oh, D-D-D-Dear!“

Made exclusively for the Walt Disney Company and sold through the Disney Store, this little plush was just too cute to pass up! And from the tag below, it appears it may have been sold in the UK as well:

FUN FACTS: Just what is ‘Cosplay’? It’s a shorter form of the words ‘costume play’. It’s an activity and performance art in which participants called cosplayers wear costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character. So a pig can dress up like an alien and it would be perfectly normal. And I’m using the word ‘normal’ in the loosest possible sense!

For more plush mash-ups, but this time featuring LGMs dressing up as Disney characters, check them out by clicking the link. But if it’s just the little green guys that you love, check out this unique and fairly rare LGM Candle. It’s light up your heart!

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Disney Store ‘Core Buzz Car’ Plush

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Dis-LEE

What’s the best way to protect a driver in the case of a car crash? Why, first you make the driver the car. Then you make the car out of a soft, squishy, material that will just bounce off any obstacle.

And you call it the Disney Store ‘Core Buzz Car’ Plush:

This medium-sized plush was produced by Hoop Retail Stores sometime in the Millennium and sold through the Disney Store outlet chains. It was made in China but designed by Pixar Studios.

Patterned after perhaps one of the greatest closing gags in any Pixar movie, this Buzz figure reimagined as a Cars character was just destined to be released as a piece of merchandise!

You can pick up one of your own for around $20.00 in today’s retail market.

There is a plush Woody version, but I haven’t found one in my area yet.

I never collect once what I can collect twice, so check out Buzz and his Mini-Him:

Unlike his big brother, Mini-Buzz has a removable space helmet.

Are you curious to have a closer look at Mini-Buzz? Be sure to check out this link as I dedicate a post to both him and his miniature sidekick, Mini-Woody.

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Yellow Circle Mickey Mouse Glass Mug Set

Posted on April 27, 2023 by Dis-LEE

I found these two mugs at a local Charity Shop recently. I’m always surprised what I can find, and in this case, that two related items would show up together.

Let’s have a closer look at this Yellow Circle Mickey Mouse Glass Mug Set:

The yellow circle (or sun?) Mickey Mouse logo is simply repeated on both sides of the mug and on both styles of mugs. I do love it when I can find an interesting pattern repeated on different pieces of merchandise!

In case your new to the blog, I recently posted a WDW Pedestal Mug featuring the old Castle logo and a set of YOU & ME Pedestal Mugs, also from WDW. Lays Potato Chips launched an ad campaign that taunted “Bet you can’t eat just one!”. Disney said ‘Hold my Mug’ and knows we can’t just buy one piece of merchandise of a type! Sigh. They’re right. I’m addicted to pedestal mugs!

Now let’s have a look at an interesting feature of these mugs:

The ‘Double-D’ trademark logo on the bottom of these mugs was the main reason I bought them. I’d never seen it before! The Walt Disney Productions branding means it was used prior to 1986, but perhaps longer. It shows the Disneyland ‘D’ connected to the Walt Disney World ‘D’ inside a black guitar pick? This could have been the start of cross-merchandising between the continental Parks.

For a look at far too many Disney logos and trademarks, check out the Wikipedia post that shows and explains all you could ever want to know about a Disney Logo!

Posted in Ceramics, Characters, Disneyland, Food, Mugs, Walt Disney World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Starbucks Kermit the Frog Finger Puppet

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Dis-LEE

I don’t remember where I picked up this little felt finger puppet, but at the time, I must have thought it was unique enough to warrant some more research and, well… play time!

The Starbucks Kermit the Frog Finger Puppet was released in 2003:

This would have been one of the last promotional tie-ins for the Jim Henson Company before they were acquired by Disney in 2004.

These weren’t just finger puppets, but also came with with a ‘candy treat’, as you can see below:

Some sellers on eBay are listing this finger puppet as one of a set of eight. The tag below lists Kermit as ‘1 in a series of 6’. So it is likely that there was at least two series released some time apart.

There doesn’t seem to be a manufacturer credited, only that they were made exclusively in China for the Starbucks Coffee Company.

Come back with us even further in time to the year 1977 to view the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational, Muppet Show Game by Parker Brothers. With a build-up like that, how can you resist?

Posted in Candy, Characters, Collectibles, Muppets, Plush, Puppets | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Photo Spot: Pitchforks in the Hay

Posted on April 25, 2023 by Dis-LEE

Well, let’s jump right in to this edition of Photo Spot with three pitchforks all-but hidden in a wagon full of foliage:

At least two of them have the tines facing down! Ouch! Any rambunctious child will learn the hard way to ‘look before you leap’.

I took this shop recently while on an excursion to Greenfield Village at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. This wagon and its dangerous, yet potentially educational, contents were on the Firestone Farm.

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HotWheels Premium Cruella De Vil Car Diecast

Posted on April 24, 2023 by Dis-LEE

“Cruella De Vil. Cruella De Vil. If she doesn’t scare you, no evil thing will!” These are lyrics from a song about Cruella, penned by the character Roger Radcliffe. Well, if you’ve seen the original animated 101 Dalmatians movie (1961), you may just feel that her driving would scare you more!

It was almost torture seeing the mad-driving villainess systematically destroy such a beautiful car! Let’s have a look at it from the animated movie before she started to bash it around:

As we’ll now see, Mattel did a marvelous job of recreating the De Vil Coup in this HotWheels Premium die cast model:

“The curl of her lips, the ice in her stare.” I think the front of this car well reflects the face and attitude of its driver!

It really is amazing the level of detail that Mattel gets into these cars. Even the paint job has depth!

I bought this at a flea market for $10.00 US but it was first released in 2018. This particular die cast was manufactured in Thailand.

This was produced for Hot Wheels collectors. So if any young children are reading this post, hands off! Only kidding. But seriously. Hands off.

“She ought to be locked up and never released!” This could quite possibly happen if we could ever get Cruella into Traffic Court.

Was Cruella De Vil’s car patterned after a real car? Check out my earlier post entitle Could This Be Cruella De Vil’s Real Car? to find out!

Posted in Animation, Characters, Die Cast, Movies, Toys, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Funko Rides Disney 100 Bert Figure

Posted on April 23, 2023 by Dis-LEE

As I mentioned in the earlier post featuring the Funko Rides Disney 100 Mary Poppins Figure, it’s time for yet another anniversary in the world of Disney. This time, it’s the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company itself (1923-2023).

And just as I couldn’t resist Mary, I just had to have her partner in song, this Funko Rides Disney 100 Bert Figure:

Like Mary, Bert has managed to do a face plant into the Carousel Horse bar. Ouch! But just as I did for Mary, I will fix the position of our Cockney friend later.

Onward we circle to the box graphics:

Backing Card

I will be taking both Mary and Bert out of their cardboard prisons for display, but I’ll be keeping the boxes for future storage or resell.

Are you ready for a Jolly Holiday with Bert?

Funko did a good job of sculpting these Disney 100 figures, both with Mary and Bert. Especially nice was the movie-accurate decorations for the Carousel Horses.

I paid just $19.99 US for this Funko Rides figure. In Canada, they are selling for almost $40.00 CAN. I’m glad I saw Mary and Bert while I was in the States!

He waved at me but wouldn’t look at me. Not as ‘jolly’ as I expected!

FUN FACTS: Cockney is an accent and dialect of English, mainly spoken in London and its environs, particularly by working-class and lower middle-class Londoners. You may also have heard of Cockney-rhyming slang? If not, you surely have heard people complain about how Dick Van Dyke handled the accent in the movie Mary Poppins!

Posted in Characters, Collectibles, Figurines, Movies, Parades | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment