WDW Vinylmation Store to open at Downtown Disney

It's almost official. Downtown Disney is getting it's own Vinylmation store to replace one of the Planet Hollywood gift shops. Good news if you're a VM fan or just a Disney fan in general. Rumor has it, you'll find all the series plus a slew of new series ready to launch over this year. There's also rumor of a build your own section of the store. Since many stores sell the blanks, being able to customize a figure could be an even better way to remember your Disney trip.

Now just what is this Vinylmation thing that keeps popping up? It's a series of Mickey shaped 3 inch figures (also 9 inchers) painted in various designs or themes. There's everything from burgers to Monorails, but there's a catch. You pick the series (Parks, Urban, Holiday, etc), but the end result is totally random. In addition, there's a secret figure in every series that isn't revealed right away. Kind of a special edition. Bingo. Luck o' the draw here. And in an odd way, it's part of the fun.

I know what you're thinking. "What if I get a crappy one and I wasted ten bucks? Where's the fun in that?" Like any game of chance, there are some risks, and you assume them if you play the game. And, much like any chance game, there are some things that can sway the odds in your favor. Here are a few of my tricks:

• Pick a series or 2 where at least half to 3/4 of the artwork is something you could enjoy. If there's only 1 or 2 figures you like in a series of 12, chances are low you'll get them and you'll probably be unhappy with what you do get.
• Keep the so-so figures and trade them. Chances are, a sister or brother VM fan will be interested and you can get a better figure out of the deal. There are always the trade forums or eBay if nothing else.
• If you collect pins, particularly VM pins, you double your chances for a couple bucks more than the cost of 1 figure. There's 2 pins per pack, and a pack goes for about $12 (a single figure is $10). If you don't like what you get out of the series after employing the above tips, save the pins for trade, OR talk with a cast member in the area. They carry other Disney pins and will trade what they have upon request. You might just find something better.
• Since collecting this stuff can get expensive in a hurry, try setting aside loose change from other purchases. When you have about $12, pick up a box of VM pins, or a figure every so often. You get a prize now and then without breaking the bank. You also help out cast members who often NEED that loose change.

Really, you just have to have fun with the idea. I have 2 VM figures and 4 pins. Now I wasn't wild about my Cutester Series Apple or Urban Series 3 Watermelon (aka the Chaser or secret figure) at first, but they're growing on me. Thankfully, my Park Series 2 and 3 pins ended up pretty good (Castle, Winnie the Pooh, Fish Bowl, and Toy Story Green Guy), so no need to trade there. Oh, I still have my eye on the Urban Series 3 Burger and Diver and could be persuaded to trade. There are some others that might be worth a trade as well, but all in all, I've done well on the randomness table.

Hope this info is helpful to everyone. Drop me a line if you're in the Orlando area and wish to trade or just talk Pin Collecting or Vinylmation. As Carl Grisholm once said, "Maybe we can cut a deal." ;)