Bitten By the Vinylmation Bug
When I first saw a Vinylmation figure on-line, almost two and a half years ago, I thought, how silly! Â Who would ever want something so strange? When I saw them in person about a year later, I thought, well, those are actually kind of cute, maybe I’ll get one. Â At the end of that trip, I had 12 “cute” figures tucked nicely in my suitcase… I guess the rest is history. Â My collection is now nearing triple digits. Â Sometimes, I think those little vinyl Mickeys must be infiltrating my brain because I can’t stop buying them!
So, what changed my mind? Â Before I had seen them in person, I just didn’t “get” it. Â But, the detail on the real things is really quite astounding. Â Who would think that three inches of vinyl could capture the entire essence – the magic – of one very specific snippet of the world of Disney?
That’s what they are for me… a tiny piece of Disneyland that I get to take home. Â Every time I look at one in my collection, I am transported to a tiny place where the magic lives – put them all together and it’s a snapshot of all of my favorite pieces of a Disney puzzle.
My favorite new tradtion in the Parks is buying one vinyl to open at every meal while at Disneyland. Â I shared that on a Disney forum once and was promptly blasted for having such a “ridiculously expensive” tradition. Â Maybe… but when my anxious breath catches in the instant before pulling that little Mickey from its temporary foil home, I not worried about ridiculous or expensive (at $9.95-$12.95 per piece they are rapidly becoming one of the least expensive collectibles in the park, by the way).
Opening a vinyl during a meal has even become a staple tradition at home. Â I try to keep a few vinyls on hand from DisneyStore.com and we open them from time to time – at breakfast before a long day or at dinner after a particularly tough day. Â It’s the ultimate way to bring the magic home.
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, I would love to hear your Vinylmation thoughts! Â Do you have a favorite piece, a favorite tradition, or maybe a reason why you just don’t “get” it? Â Share it in the comments below!
© 2011, Rays of Disneyland. All rights reserved.
September 11th, 2011 at 8:40 pm
My husband LOVES Vinylmation! I actually had no idea what they were back when they were first introduced. But he had spoken to a Cast Member who told him all about it and got hooked. Our house is now home to God knows how many. I personally am not the collector of them, but they are really fun to open and see what you get!
September 11th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
They are so much fun!! There are a few open-box ones that I like, but I really love the blind-box concept and the thrill of the hunt!