Ornament Review: 1942 - Saludos Amigos - Moments that Made Disney #8 - 2015 Disney Store Ornament

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great looking ornament around an almost forgotten Disney moment

Cons: Not quite a Moment that Made Disney

The Bottom Line:

Partying down south

Delightful colors. But is

This film iconic?

Colorful Tribute to a Lesser Known Disney Film

I’ve been enjoying the Disney Store’s Moments that Made Disney ornament series because it has included some true moments of Disney history that aren’t usually big moments for collectibles.  As a result, those were some of the first ornaments in the series that caught my eye.  But when I stopped a think about the latest in the series, Saludos Amigos, I have to wonder if it truly belongs in this ornament series.

Don’t get the wrong, the colors and ornament itself are outstanding.  The ornament features Donald Duck and his friend Jose the Parrot.  They are standing near a lovely seniorita is a red dress, green necklace, and a multicolored fruit hat.  There’s a plant behind her and they are all standing on a round base painted to look like sand.  There are even coconuts behind them.

Now if you are scratching your head trying to place this film, don’t worry.  This is one of the lesser known films from the 1940’s created as a result of the goodwill tour that Disney artists took to South America.  It features several segments about life in different countries there.  It’s a glorified travelogue and all but forgotten except by die hard DisNerds.

Naturally, those people are exactly the ones being targeted by this series.  It’s hard to find much merchandise related to this film, and those looking for the ornament will be delighted with it.  The colors pop and the sculpt looks wonderful.  Plus it’s hard to find anything with Jose on it period, so that’s a wonderful boost for those looking for this rare character.

However….  When I was reviewing the last ornament in this series, I floated the idea that this series misses a serious milestone – the opening of Disneyland.  This seems like the obvious ornament to cut to make way for that true milestone.  After all, the movie wasn’t super successful then or now.  It wasn’t especially technologically groundbreaking.  If it were switched out, no one would have thought it was a major hole in the series, certainly nothing like missing Disneyland.  It’s not that I don’t like the ornament, but it just doesn’t seem to fit this series as a true milestone.

Because of the base I mentioned earlier, you’ll find a flat bottom, so you can use this ornament in a display case or shelf year round if you want.  It does come with a red ribbon for hanging the ornament, and you’ll find it hangs straight.  As always with Disney company ornaments, it is a little larger in size and heavier, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when you hang it on your tree.

While it is hard to argue that Saludos Amigos deserves a spot in the Moments that Made Disney series, it is a beautiful ornament.  This DisNerd wishes that Disneyland’s opening had been included in the series while also loving this ornament with an almost forgotten Disney character on it.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Moments that Made Disney series.

Original Price: $19.99