An Orange Bird Bank That Didn't Break the Bank

By Nick

I’ve been trying to get one of these Orange Bird Banks for a few months now, but the prices have been too high. Amazingly, I saw one at our local flea market last Summer, and it was even more expensive than I’ve seen on eBay!

I got this at a reasonable price off of eBay for a good reason.
It is missing it’s stopper.
But since I wasn’t looking to buy this as an investment, or to hold change, I was fine with that.



Copyright: Walt Disney Productions, but no indication of exact production year.



This very happy bird measures 5 inches high.

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Until next time, think orange thoughts!

My First Disney Souvenir

By Gaylin

My first trip to Florida, July of 1978, I was 18. The whole month visiting a friend and her family. One day she asks “Do you want to go to the Magic Kingdom for a day”? My response, “Sure, if it is not too expensive”. This was my first vacation away from my family, including my first airplane ride and much to my relief my first non-camping vacation.

A few days later 4 teenage girls, on a road trip to see Disney World. I had little clue what I was heading for, we didn’t yet have cable TV until I was 13 and my parents ruled what we saw. I had a few memories of the World of Disney but not much beyond that.

The shocker for me was how the magic hit right there on Main Street. I loved it, every ride, every line-up, the junk food and seeing characters, I was amazed. There was very little in the budget for souvenirs and my friends, being Florida natives, had little interest in shopping. I did manage to talk them into letting me look around a bit and I bought a beach towel. If memory serves me, it was $6.95.

As soon as I got home I started using the towel. I used it constantly, a new favorite.

The next summer, this lovely family invited me back! Of course I went and yes, we did go back to the Magic Kingdom for another day. This time I bought 2 towels.

I wore the first towel out by sheer overuse and then started using the other two. Thankfully I didn’t wear them out quite as much and then stopped using them because I wanted them to last.

This is the whole towel. Very thin cotton when compared to the plush, highly colored beach towels they make now:

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The top of the towel with Pluto and Minnie all ready for the beach.

The center with Mickey, hanging ten like the cool dude that he is.

And the bottom of the towel, including the Walt Disney Productions logo.

 

  

And, proving it was well made, the tag is still attached!

Finally, one of the few photos I have that proves I was really there, 1978, me and Tigger!!!

Walt Disney Character Map of the United States

By: Nick

My wife and I collect globes and maps. I bought this puzzle map of the United States off of eBay a few years ago.
It was already assembled, and glued on a piece of cardboard, and my wife framed it for me.

Made by Jaymar for Walt Disney Productions.

I'm not sure what year it is from, but as Hawaii is included as a state, it was made during or after 1959.

Also, Disneyland is very prominently displayed in California, and there is no indication of Walt Disney World in Florida, so it was very likely before 1971.

So we'll just say that it's from the 1960s.

While not in the best of shape, with pieces peeling, some seemingly missing bits, and pencil marks, I still love it for the graphics of our favorite characters.

Disney's Frozen : A Mostly Spoiler Free Review

By: Nick

Disney's newest animated feature film, Frozen, was released this weekend.
I went into this wanting to love it, and, well, I really, really liked it.
It's absolutely beautiful to look at.
The music is wonderful, the best in a long time. However, I was hoping for more songs featuring Idina Menzel, who played Elphaba in Wicked. Speaking of Wicked, there are several things that reminded me of that tremendous musical, in a good way. I also got a vibe that the song-writers were channeling other musicals, including Avenue Q, which was co-written by one of the Frozen's soundtrack's writers, Robert Lopez.
Olaf the Snowman is maybe one of the funniest Disney characters. Ever. As much as I wanted more Idina Menzel, I wanted even more Olaf.
Looking back, that may be my biggest issue, if you can even call it that: I wanted more of everything!

The story has many twists that I wish I could say I didn't expect, but, as I'd reviewed the Frozen Deluxe Storybook App , these surprises were spoiled, which may have contributed to my initial feelings.
I say initial feelings, because we bought the soundtrack when we got home, and listening to it has brought back just how terrific the movie really is.
I'm looking forward to seeing it again.

By: Barbie

Since I had no preconceived notions going into this movie, I have to say I was blown away! I mean, wow, I wanted to stay and see the next showing, but you have to reserve your seats in advance at the theater we went to. The cartoon short at the beginning of the movie featuring Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Get a Horse, well, I won't ruin it for you, but my mouth was on the floor it was so amazing, the 3D effects so well done I was on the edge of my seat, I didn't want to miss a thing.

The visuals and storyline to Frozen: awesome, as was the character development. I think the songs were the strongest and most memorable I've heard in a Disney movie since The Lion King.

Nick and I immediately went home and bought the soundtrack to hear them again.

So would I recommend this movie? The answer is absolutely! Come out and see it with us! We will be seeing it again!

Flea Market Find: Plastic Pinocchio Bank

I found this large plastic Pinocchio bank at the Flea Market a few weeks back.

When I asked a price, I was quoted $10. I picked it up, and flipped it over to find out when it was produced and discovered its stopper was missing.

As I set it back down, the seller said she'd forgotten there was no stopper, and I could have it for $5!
Sold.

Still, I had no idea when this was produced, so I went to eBay. I discovered there were several up for auction, and I got a very good deal! I also discovered this is from 1971, produced by Play Pal Plastics for Walt Disney Productions. Apparently this information can be found on the back of the neck, and indeed, it appears there is some writing, but it is so shallow, it's illegible.

Barbie cleaned it up, and it came out pretty nicely. There are only a couple of permanent marks and the paint is very vibrant.

Another great find at the flea market!

Flea Market Finds: Mickey and Minnie Banks

Weekends at the Columbus Flea Market are hit and miss. Some days, my wife and I walk the isles of stuff, and don't find a thing. Other times, we pick up several items, like these banks. Let's start off with this large, 8" x 6" (20.32  x 15.24 centimeters), ceramic Mickey bank.

I picked it up for $5.

You can make out the simple Copyright Disney under the price tag. Originally priced at $18!

I picked up these terrific Mickey and Minnie banks for $10.

Made of rubber, they measure 6" (15.24 centimeter's) tall. At their bases they are marked Walt Disney Productions, aging them to pre-early 80s.

Made in Korea.

No markings on the bottom. I'd love to know where they were originally purchased.

As a bonus feature, which I didn't even notice when I bought these, they each have one articulated arm! Minnie's raises up to her mouth. You can almost hear her giggle!

You can hear Mickey saying "Thanks for stopping by the Disney Musings Blog, hope to see you again real soon!"

Vintage Disney Story Books

These 2 books from the early 1940's belonged to my Father-in-Law, Dan.

Pinocchio. Given as a gift to Dan from his mother in 1944.

Copyright 1939, 1940 by Walt Disney Productions, Hollywood, California. D.C. Heath and Company, Boston.

Nice spot illustrations are throughout the book.

A very well loved book, several pages are loose.

Walt Disney Story  Books.

 
Bambi was given as a gift to Dan from his Grandmother in 1945.

Copyright 1944 by Walt Disney Productions. D.C. Heath and Company, Boston.

 

 

This book is in better shape.

 

 

These wonderful books were passed on to my wife, and then her younger sister. He recently re-discovered them, and has passed them on to me.