It had been quite some time since the last Olszewski Studios release day, but it was finally time for the last set of floats in the Electrical Parade series to be released. When we arrived at Disneyland, the front turnstiles were already open, so we walked in and joined the line waiting outside of Disneyana. They started a little later than normal, but soon, we were let into the store. Travis and Bob were outside setting up the Fantasyland platform display. The process of making our purchases, selecting our pieces, and having them re-boxed all went very smoothly.
The last set of floats in the Main Street Electrical Parade -
patriotic finale with flag and eagle -
affectionately known by many as the "bacon float".
A close-up of the front of the float - "TO HONOR AMERICA".
A close-up of the middle of the float.
A close-up of the end of the float, with the eagle.
A front view of the eagle.
A back view of the eagle.
The patriotic finale with colored lights on.
One note of caution to collectors: if you plan to attend a release event and leave your purchases with Package Express while you spend some time at the resort without having to carry your packages around, you might run into a roadblock. The cast member at Package Express stated that she couldn't take the package once she discovered that it was signed. When asked how long they had started doing that, her reply was that it had always been like that. Ummm, no, actually, it hasn't always been like that because on many occasions over the past multiple years, we've left our signed Olszewski pieces at Package Express for some amount of time. I later learned that there is supposed to be some kind of policy wherein Package Express doesn't accept signed or limited edition merchandise, but the policy is rarely ever mentioned or enforced. So, you may encounter this problem, or you might not, but be warned in any case.
The next piece to be released in the Olszewski Disneyland miniatures collection is Storybook, which is expected to be released sometime in late summer, and the piece will include five or six of the specific boats that are used in the attraction. The piece is expected to be somewhere in the $700 price range. The attraction miniature had originally been contemplated to be two separate pieces, but it was decided that it worked better as one longer piece, so while the price isn't quite twice the price of a normal piece, it is more expensive than a single piece. It is longer than the Jungle Cruise miniature and about the same width, except for the part that is inset because of where the Dumbo piece sits next to it. It won't be as heavy as the Jungle Cruise piece because it won't have the same dense concentration of trees that Jungle Cruise does.
King Arthur Carrousel has been pushed to summer 2014 and is also expected to be in the $700 price range, though that could increase depending on multiple factors.
The character/vehicle packs are still expected to be released later this year.
The Fantasyland platform sign is due for release in the fall, around November, and will be in the $85-$95 range.
The Main Street seasonal accessory pack is due to be released in the fall, with an approximate price of $195. Earlier this year, the Main Street platform that is set up in the Disney Gallery was decorated with some of the elements from the Fourth of July pack. Currently, the platform is decorated with the Christmas pack.
The Olszewski Studios display of Main Street in the Disney Gallery was previously dressed with the patriotic pack.
The patriotic decorations at the front of Olszewski Studios' Main Street miniature.
Some of the detailed decorations on the Emporium and street of Olszewski Studios' Main Street.
More details of the patriotic decorations on the Emporium and street of Olszewski Studios' Main Street.
Another view of the patriotic decorations over the middle of Main Street from Olszewski Studios.
The Olszewski Studios display of Main Street in the Disney Gallery is currently decorated with the Christmas pack.
Another view of the Christmas decorations.
The front decorated with the Christmas pack, including on the monorail pillars.
A better look at the Mickey Christmas wreath on the pillars.
The Fantasyland Alpine chalet will include one stanchion and three buckets and is due out in 2014.
The chalet with one stanchion and one bucket.
The little clump of trees in front of the chalet will be included in the Fantasyland platform accessory pack..
The detailing on the chalet is pretty incredible.
Skyway bucket!
Extra stanchions and mock Skyway buckets.
Mock Skyway bucket.
The previously announced Fantasyland platform accessory pack has been changed somewhat. It will still include the Kodak kiosk/small world ticket booth as well as the Partners statue. The Fantasyland Theatre will no longer be included in the pack and is actually no longer contemplated to be made. The pack will include a little clump of trees right in front of the Fantasyland chalet as well as a block of foliage in front of the Toontown train depot and extra stanchions for the Skyway and several more Skyway buckets. This pack is due out in 2014 or 2015.
The Toontown train depot had originally been intended to be included in the Fantasyland platform accessory pack, but it will now be released as a separate piece with a base and the water tower behind it. The piece is due out in 2014 or 2015.
The Toontown train depot, with the train in front of it.
A side view of the Toontown train depot.
The foliage block on the right comes with the Fantasyland platform accessory pack.
The entrance side of the Toontown train depot, which is difficult to see given how it's situated on the platform.
Some collectors are waiting for the re-release of Carnation Plaza Gardens to complete their collections. Currently, Olszewski Studios is deciding whether to simply re-issue the piece or to do a new piece based on the Princess Fantasy Faire opening on March 12, 2013. In any case, the piece wouldn't be available until 2014.
For those who want a plexiglass cover for their Fantasyland platform, contact Armando or Robert at American Plastics at (805) 484-3333. They have the dimensions of the Fantasyland platform and can make the plexiglass cover similar to the one they made for the Main Street platform.
The next release in the Walt Disney World miniatures collection is Ice Cream Corner, which is being released this weekend, February 9 and 10, 2013. The release after that will be Casey's Corner, scheduled for release this summer.
In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Enchanted Tiki Room in June, Olszewski Studios will be releasing a new Gallery of Light as well as a paper clip box.
As previously announced, the Gallery of Light pieces for "Fireside Romance" and "Evil Queen with Mirror" have been released at Disneyland.
"Fireside Romance", with flash to show details.
"Fireside Romance", without flash to show natural lighting.
"Evil Queen with Mirror", with flash to show details.
"Evil Queen with Mirror", without flash to show natural lighting.
Olszewski Studios will also be releasing a new Gallery of Light for Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The piece will depict a scene from "Return of the Jedi", with Stitch as the Emperor, Goofy as Darth Vader and Mickey as Luke Skywalker. After Star Wars Weekends, the piece will be released at Disneyland as well.
Olszewski Studios has six new pokitpals (Chip and Dale acorn, Skyway bucket, Sorcerer's hat from "Fantasia", Minnie as teacher, Mickey golfing and Mickey baseball bat) that will be released (probably three at a time) this summer, each of which will cost $19.95.
The front of the Chip and Dale acorn pokitpal.
The back of the Chip and Dale acorn pokitpal features Donald Duck from the short "Out of Scale".
The bottom of the Chip and Dale acorn pokitpal.
The side of the Chip and Dale acorn pokitpal.
The front of the Skyway bucket pokitpal includes a view of the Matterhorn.
The back of the Skyway bucket pokitpal features the attraction poster.
The side of the Skyway bucket pokitpal.
The front of the Sorcerer's hat pokitpal.
The back of the Sorcerer's hat pokitpal.
The bottom of the Sorcerer's hat pokitpal.
The side of the Sorcerer's hat pokitpal.
The front of the Minnie as teacher pokitpal.
The back of the Minnie as teacher pokitpal.
One side of the Minnie as teacher pokitpal.
Another side of the Minnie as teacher pokitpal.
The front of the Mickey golfing pokitpal.
The back of the Mickey golfing pokitpal.
One part of the side of the Mickey golfing pokitpal.
Another part of the side of the Mickey golfing pokitpal.
Yet another part of the side of the Mickey golfing pokitpal.
The Mickey baseball bat pokitpal. It holds one toothpick.
Another side of the Mickey baseball bat pokitpal.
A pokitpal for Captain Hook was previously released but no pictures were available at the time.
The front of the Captain Hook pokitpal.
The back of the Captain Hook pokitpal has Skull Rock.
The side of the Captain Hook pokitpal.
The PlayScapes featuring the Piston Cup Stage and Tow Mater's do not currently have a release date but are anticipated to be released this year.
Catching up on some old news, Bob Olszewski had a collector's appreciation event at the Disney Gallery on the weekend of September 21 - 23, 2012.
So many collectors came out to see Bob that he stayed past the posted times - he was signing until 11:30pm on Fri. & 11pm on Sat. Our understanding is that many collectors were able to make it that weekend who'd never been to an event before to meet Bob. Hope everyone had a good time.
Please note that Olszewski Studios will NOT be in attendance at the Disneyana Show and Sale at the Crowne Plaza in Garden Grove on February 17, 2013. They do expect to be at the Show and Sale in July, and they also plan to be at the D23 Expo in August.
We'll see you in June for (hopefully) an Enchanted Tiki Room anniversary event, July at the Disneyana Show and Sale, August for the D23 Expo, and of course, at the release of Storybook.
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