Some Event Surprises!

Among the surprises for the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon event is:

*Special alternative cover advance issue of Sketches Magazine just for event guests. This collectible issue of May Sketches magazine features a WDCC Pirates of the Caribbean cover and back along with the event logo on the front. Only a small production run were printed with this alternative cover, available only at the event in the guests' check-in packets and a few offered at Public Day.

The regular version of May Sketches Magazine will feature Ursula Villains Series piece on the cover and mail before the end of May.

*WDCC Pirates of the Caribbean Button featuring the Auctioneer & Redhead and the event name/date. Event guests will also receive this WDCC button at check-in and some may be available at Public Day.

Clarificaton of Pirates of the Caribbean Backstamps!

There has been some confusion on how the Auctioneer & Redhead and Pirate with Pigs are to be backstamped.

There should only be one Pirate logo backstamp on the Auctioneer & Redhead as well as the Pirate with Pigs. 500 sculptures each for the event have the Event Logo Backstamp (pictured above with sculptures). They do not have the skull and crossed swords Pirates logo. The Open Edition pieces will have the skull and crossed swords Pirates logo.

To help keep track, below is how each of the Pirates in the Caribbean Series releases thus far are backstamped:

Helmsman Pirate - Skull and Crossed Sword Pirate Logo

Captain of the Wicked Wench - Skull and Crossed Sword Pirate Logo

Auctioneer & Redhead - 500 sculptures will debut at the event with a Special Event Backstamp (pictured above). The remaining edition will be available with the special Pirates of the Caribbean backstamp (Skull and Crossed Sword Pirate Logo).

Pirate with Pigs - 500 sculptures will debut at the event with a Special Event Backstamp (pictured above). The remaining edition will be available with the special Pirates of the Caribbean backstamp (Skull and Crossed Sword Pirate Logo).

Daisy Turns In Her Baton!

Daisy Duck ("Twist and Twirl") from The Mickey Mouse Club, Limited to Production Year 2006 is now Sold Out!

Walt Disney Classics Collection introduced the Mickey Mouse Club sculptures in 2005. The first introductions were the Open Edition releases of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse. Mickey's Nephew, a 2005 Dealer Show Exclusive and Limited to Production Year 2005 was also released.

Daisy (5-3/4") joined the club as part of the 2006 introductions that also included J. Audubon Woodlore and Humphrey the Bear (both Open Editon Releases). 2007 (thus far) we will see the introductions of Pluto and a porcelain Mickey Mouse Club Logo Plaque. All Mickey Mouse Club sculptures have been sculpted by Bruce Lau. Daisy has a SRP of $99.00 US.

Collectors should check with their retailer regarding availability since Daisy is no longer in inventory.

Off to WDW!

All packed and in 3.5 hours will heading to WDW! Looking forward to spending time with family, meeting up with friends and seeing all the new product being unveiled!

I won't have a computer with me :( Be watching for updates upon my return.

Keep to the Code!

Wish List Sculpture Unveiled-Pirate on Cannon!

Registered guests of the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon will have first opportunity to make Wish List requests for Pirate on the Cannon (Mr. Coote): "Peligro, Explosivos!"

This arsenal scene with the Pirate on Cannon (Mr. Coote) appears at Disneyland® Park and some other Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at other Disney Theme Parks around the world, but not at WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort.

The Pirate on Cannon (9 ½" Height x 13" Length x 8" Base Width) with a SRP of $350.00 US is sculpted by Ruben Procopio. This is Ruben's 3rd Release in the Pirates of the Caribbean Series.

Ruben was also the Concept Artist on Pirates with Pigs, Pirate on Archway Bridge and the Pirate on Cannon. He is also the Concept Artist on the upcoming Jail Scene with Dog, sculpted by Tim Bruckner.

WDCC Sneak Peek & Retirements!

Today was the sneak peek of fall and winter releases from Walt Disney Classics Collection currently on display at the Art of Disney Gallery located in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace from Tuesday, May 22nd thru Monday, May 28th plus a number of significant retirements. The following were retired:

Captain Mickey: "Welcome Aboard!"

Pinocchio & Geppetto: "A Father's Joy"
Snow White: "Whistle While You Work"
Dwarf's Cottage Bench
Deer with Laundry: "Spring Cleaning"
Turtle: "Ticklish Turtle"
Belgium: "Gathering Friends"
Spain: "Hola, Amigos!" (Boy) and "Aldea" (Village)

July

Snow White Kissing Dopey's Head: "A Sweet Send-Off"

6-3/8"
70th Anniversary Release

SRP $199.00 US

Kent Melton

August

Little Hiawatha and Bunny: "Mighty Hunter"

4-1/2" (Little Hiawatha); 2-3/4" (Bunny)

Silly Symphony Series

SRP $175.00 US/Set

Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales

Jack Skellington: "Accolades All Around "
8-5/8"
$160.00 US

Corpse Child: "Ghoulish Glee"
3-1/4"
$50.00 US

Werewolf: "Howling Horror"
5-3/4"
$175.00 US
(Limited to Production year 2007)

Fountain: "Frightful Fountain"
13"
$150.00 US

Nightmare Before Christmas Town Fountain Scene sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons

German Girl with Dachsund: "Guten Tag!"
5-3/4" (German Girl); 2-1/2" (Dachsund)
It's a Small World Series
$99.00 US

September

Mulan: "Perfectly Poised"

8-1/4"
$150.00 US

Mushu: "One Family Reunion Coming Right Up"

5-3/4"
$140.00 US

Mulan and Mushu sculpted by Margi Wray

Pirates of the Caribbean Series

Pirate on Archway Bridge: "A Parrot's Life for Me!"

5th Release in Series

$250.00 US

Concept and Sculpt by Ruben Procopio

Fall 2007

Pirate on Canon: Peligro, Explosivos!

Registered guests of the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon will have first opportunity to make Wish List requests for this Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture.

Numbered Limited Edition of 500

$350.00 US

Concept and Sculpt by Ruben Procopio

Available September/October 2007

Jail Scene with Dog: "Here, Give Us the Keys ya Scrawny Little Beast!"

6th Release in Series

Price TBA

Concept by Ruben Procopio and Sculpted by Tim Bruckner

Winter 2007/2008

There are a number of other Third Quarter new introductions not shown as part of the Sneak Peak which will be announced soon as part of the official Third Quarter Launch including a full new scene. There is at least one more unveiling that will take place at the event.

Exclusive WDCC Sneak Peek at WALT DISNEY WORLD®!

During the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon Event (May 22-25, 2007), Walt Disney Classics Collection will have an Exclusive Sneak Peek and World Wide Debut of forthcoming porcelain sculptures at the Art of Disney Gallery located in the Downtown Disney® Marketplace from Tuesday, May 22nd thru Monday, May 28th.

One of the sculptures making its debut will be the 5th release in the Pirates of the Caribbean Series, Pirate on the Archway Bridge: "A Parrot's Life for Me!" (11-1/2") sculpted by Ruben Procopio with a SRP of $250.00.

This is Ruben's second release in the series. He also sculpted Pirate with Pigs: "Drink Up Me 'earties!." The Pirate with Pigs is the 4th release in the series and will be making it's debut May 22-25, 2007 during the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort Pirates of the Caribbean: Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon special event. 500 sculptures will debut at the event with a special event backstamp.

For anyone in the area this is a great opportunity not to be missed!

For guests who will not be registering for the event, be sure to stop by DISNEY's CONTEMPORARY Resort on Friday afternoon (May 25th) for Public Day where Dave Pacheco, Ruben Procopio and other artists will be appearing and signing WDCC sculptures.

Never Land: A Spellbinding Adventure!

Two new exciting sculptures were released this year from Walt Disney's animated classic, Peter Pan (1953) and when displayed together make an awesome grouping!

This years Of Dreams & Magic release, a Walt Disney Collectors Society Members Only Sculpture is straight from Mermaid Lagoon from that moment when Peter is boasting of his escapades to Never Land's bevy of beautiful mermaids.

"Spinning a Spellbinding Story," sculpted by Dusty Horner is available to active Society members from January 01, 2007 thru March 31, 2008.

In one of the most famous images in Disney animation, Captain Hook masterfully commands the rowboat as the bumbling Mr. Smee rows for Skull Rock. "An Irresistible Lure," sculpted by Tim Bruckner is a Numbered Limited Edition of 1,500.

Pictured with both sculptures is Skull Rock, a gift given to registered convention guests upon registering for the 2003 Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics aboard the Disney Cruise Line®, May 15-18, 2003. Skull Rock was a Limited Edition of 500.

Before Tortuga: Pirate Treasures from WDCC!

For t' past few months, many have been charterin' their course, ready t' set sail for Tortuga for WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort's Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon Event (May 22-25, 2007) seekin' t' Treasures of Tortuga!

For some attendees, this will be their second opportunity t' plummage exclusive Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise from t' Walt Disney Classics Collection.

In 2002, Walt Disney Art Classics hosted a Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics at t' WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort themed around t' Pirates o' t' Caribbean Attraction (March 23-25, 2000).

Pirates and Wenches alike had the opportunity to purchase the familiar “Dunking Scene” where one of the pirate leaders is interrogating the village’s mayor, consistently dunking the poor magistrate in the well. The "Dunking Scene" was a two-piece, Numbered Limited Edition of 1,500 matched, numbered set sculpted by Bruce Lau.

Landlubbers who signed on received a "Pirate's Life for Me!" Title Scroll (pictured above). The Pirate's Scroll (3") was sculpted by Bruce Lau. Each map has the Convention logo backstamp on the back with WALT DISNEY WORLD® logo and March 2000 underneath the Convention logo.

As ye set sail this weekend be watchin' those waters ... Aye Maties!

Captain Mickey Retires His Old Uniform and Debuts His New One!

In my blog entry on the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon WDCC Auction Offerings, one of the Auction Offerings was a pair of hand-painted finished porcelain Artist Proofs of two Walt Disney Classics Collection exclusives for the Disney Cruise Line®.

Captain Mickey: "Welcome Aboard!" (5-1/4" - red & blue uniform) was released in 2003 as part of the Celebration of Walt Disney Art Classics Event as an Open Edition release (SRP $99.00 US) and will be honored with retirement on Wednesday, May 23rd.

Captain Mickey: "Set Sail for Fun" (5" - white uniform) will be making his debut aboard the Disney Cruise Line® this summer also as an Open Edition release (SRP $99.00 US).

The original Disney Cruise Line® Captain Mickey was retired due to the Captain Mickey character on the ships has a costume update — the navy whites with the gold trim. Hence, the Cruise Line requested a new Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture reflecting the updated costume.

Available only on the Disney Cruise Line®. Disney Cruise Line® exclusive merchandise lives only on board the ships :)

More Spoils of the Treasures of Tortuga: WDCC Auction Offerings!

If it be more spoils of the Treasures of Tortuga ye' seek, gaze upon the rare offerings in the Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon AUCTION.

For a glimpse at the cache of rare Walt Disney Classics Collection treasure up for bid as part of the auction, follow this link...

Some items will be offered as part of the event live auction on Thursday evening May 24th, other items will be offered as part of a silent auction for registered guests of the event.

Chernabog: Symphony of Evil

When the 2006 Numbered Limited Edition release of Chernabog was announced in 4th quarter, the image available was of the prototype. Today, the Image Gallery and Secondary Guide was updated with a final paint image of this amazing sculpture.

"Symphony of Evil" (10-1/2") is a Numbered Limited Edition of 1,000 sculpted by Ruben Procopio with a SRP of $650.00.

Trivia: Chernabog was animated by veteran animator Vladimir "Bill" Tytla, a true pioneer of Disney animation and honored by the Walt Disney Collectors Society in 2001 with the Animators' Choice release of Dumbo & Mrs. Jumbo ("Baby of Mine").

Vacation Coming To An End!

The Numbered Limited Edition sculpture release celebrating Disneyland's 50th Anniversary is now Sold Out!

"Family Vacation" (5-3/4"H x 7-1/4"W x 4"D) featuring Donald, Daisy and Donald's nephews, Huey, Louie and Dewey made its debut at Disneyland® Resort in July 2005 and then released to all other retailers in late August and September that same year.

A Numbered Limited Edition of 1,955 in honor of the opening of Disneyland® was sculpted by Bruce Lau with a SRP of $299.00.

Fun Facts:

• Donald's classic red roadster (inspired by the auto seen in the last Donald Duck theatrical cartoon produced to date, 'The Litterbug') is complete with Donald's famous '313' license plate and Donald Duck hood ornament.
• Coloration of Donald's license plate was based on research of California license plates of that era.
• Nostalgic 1950's Davy Crockett 'coon skin cap, Mickey Mouse Ears and Disneyland® pennant worn by the nephews!
  

Collectors should check with their retailer regarding availability since it is no longer in inventory.

Watering Hole Drying Up!

The Numbered Limited Edition set from Disney's The Lion King featuring Simba, Nala and Zazu on a Base is now Sold Out!

In 2003, the Walt Disney Classics Collection unveiled this 4-piece Numbered Limited Edition Set. The boxed set included Simba (3-1/2"), Nala (3-3/4"), Zazu (2-3/4") and a routed Watering Hole Base (4-1/2").

The boxed set was a Numbered Limited Edition of 1,994 in honor of the year the film was released and was sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons with a SRP of $250.00.

Each piece in the set had it's own title. "No One Saying See Here!" (Simba) "No One Saying Stop That" (Nala) "Now See Here!" (Zazu) "The Watering Hole" (Base).

Collectors should check with their retailer regarding availability since it is no longer in inventory.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms who visit either the blog and/or website today.

The Walt Disney Classics Collection has released some significant sculptures over the year's depicting that special moment of a mother and child.

A very touching mother and child sculpture is this year's Silly Symphony Series release of the Ugly Duckling and his Mother ("A Loving Embrace") sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales.

My favorite is Dumbo and Mrs. Jumbo ("Baby Mine"), the 2001 Walt Disney Collectors Society Animator Choice, honoring veteran animator Vladimir "Bill" Tytla sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons.

Also released were Bambi and Mother ("My Little Bambi"), the 2001 Spring Event sculpture, sculpted by Patrick Romandy-Simmons and Perdita with Patch and Puppy ("Patient Perdita") a 1996 Open Edition release sculpted by Chris Peterson.

Latest Update on Special Wish List Release!

Since last week's update regarding the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean Adventures on the 7 Seas Lagoon Event at WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort, guests have inquired about the special wish list sculpture.

The special wish list sculpture will have a low limited edition limit and will be a new sculpture, not a special backstamp version of an existing piece, which will not be generally available after the event. Fulfillment will take place in the fall, approximately September, 2007.

15 Year Charter Member Exclusive Details!

The 15 Year Charter Member Exclusive is from the 1928 animated short, "Plane Crazy" starring Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

'First Flight' (6-3/8") is available with a Charter Member backstamp to Society Members with 15 years of consecutive membership and authentically portrayed in black and white, just as they appeared in the film, the first Mickey Mouse cartoon ever produced.

Charter Members who have already renewed for 2007 (Cinderella Membership Kit) will receive their redemption certificates inside the May Sketches (mailing later this month). If the Charter Member chooses to wait until their expiration date to renew their membership, they will receive their 15th Anniversary Redemption Certificate within 4-6 weeks after the renewal is processed.

The Plane is comprised of mixed media featuring a resin body, a steel propeller, pewter steering wheel, a brass tube and bronze wheel legs. Minnie has pewter legs and a brass wire tail. The sculpture is also accompanied by a wood base with a porcelain inset plaque.

Reminder: Should a member decide they would like to renew early, a full twelve months is added on to their membership's original expiration date. The member does not lose time or change their original renewal month by renewing early (which is a common mis-perception).

There will be another version (non-charter) for the 15-year consecutive Society Members that will not have the Charter Member backstamp and will have an altered inset plaque.

"First Flight" has a SRP of $299.00 US and is sculpted by Bruce Lau.