Disney Pin Review: Elliott the Dragon

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: 3 pins featuring Elliott the dragon on a great card

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Triple Elliott

With great three pin collection

This fan is happy

A Pin Set a Pete’s Dragon Fan Couldn’t Resist

You might have noticed I haven’t been keeping up with the pins in the Disney Decades collection.  I just haven’t found them that exciting for the price they were charging.  However, when I saw the July release, I bought it without any hesitation.

By July, the releases were up to the 1970’s.  For the pins, they released a three pin set featuring Elliott, the dragon from Pete’s Dragon.  Like many others, I’m a huge fan of the movie, so I immediately wanted it.

Two of the three pins are close ups of Elliott’s face.  In one, he’s looking happy with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.  In the second, he’s looking perturbed.  His mouth is closed for this one.  Finally, we have a pin of the full dragon.  He looks upset in this one, with his wings out behind him.

All three of these pins are on a card that looks like an animator’s sketchbook.  We see seven other looks for Elliott.  This is cardboard so it’s a little stiff and will hold up to some handling, although you’ll still want to be a careful with it.

As a fan of the movie, I just couldn’t resist.  Elliott is such a fun part of the movie, and part of that is his expressions.  They are captured so well on the pins in particular and on the card in general.  Any fan of the movie will be delighted to have it.

I also felt a little better about the price for three pins than for one pin.  Yeah, some of the others had some nice looking bonuses to them, but I would have bought them just to buy them.  In this case, I really did want to get the set because I love the character.

If you are a fan of Pete’s Dragon, you’ll want to make sure you get this Elliott pin set as well.

Disney Pin Review: Fireworks at the Castle - Mickey Mouse is the Main Attraction #12 - 2022 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Fun and creative final pin

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Fireworks, castle

Great way to wrap up series

As a visit ends

Mickey Has an Explosive Finale to His Visits to the Parks

How do you end your day in the Disney Parks?  Okay, fine, I end it by trying to get in one last line a few minutes before the park closes, but for many visitors, it’s by watching the fireworks.  And that’s how Mickey ended his visit for the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series.

As usual, I just got the pin from this collection.  Mickey is in his standard pose with one foot out and his hands behind his back.  He’s dressed up for the fireworks, however.  He’s wearing a coat with tails and a sparkly bow tie.  There’s a hat on his head as well.  The colors are a deep purple and black, capturing night time.

And the other aspect that makes it obvious that he’s watching fireworks?  It’s all the fireworks on his coat.  There are even a couple of his right ear which is the only one we can really see.  And his hat has the castle on the band, which is fun.

I find the way they capture the fireworks and the castle to be great.  It’s completely what I expected, but that doesn’t make it any less delightful.  I also like that Mickey is so dressed up.  It is completely fun.

The final pin in the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series sends it off in style.  If you’ve been collecting the pins, you’ll be glad you enjoyed the fireworks at the castle with Mickey before ending the series.

Disney Pin Review: The Jungle Cruise - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #11

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great representation of a favorite attraction

Cons: Mickey’s still holds that same pose

The Bottom Line:

Mickey’s dressed to pun

As he honors Jungle Cruise

In this Jumbo pin

I’m Glad I Didn’t Skipper Over This Pin

The Jungle Cruise – the ride that is perfect for someone like me who loves a good pun.  (And there is no such thing as a bad pun.)  Even if I hadn’t been collecting the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction pins, I would have been tempted to get the entry for The Jungle Cruise.

This is a very tan and brown pin, which makes sense.  Yes, the plants we cruise by are green, but the skippers wear khakis.  Mickey is dressed up in brown boots.  He’s wearing stripped overall, and they are a reddish brown, paying homage to the stripes on the top of the boats.  He’s wearing a tan shirt and has a pouch slung over one shoulder.  And he’s wearing a tan hat with a band on it.

Yes, this is another pin that immediately connects Mickey with the attraction, and I appreciate that.  A couple more touches might have been nice, but I’m not sure what else they could have worked in.  Once again, I will say that it would be nice if Mickey had a different pose than he does here, but that’s been a standard complaint throughout the entire series.

Fans of the attraction will love seeing Mickey dressed up to honor a favorite.  This is a great way to celebrate The Jungle Cruise even when you aren’t in the parks.

Disney Pin Review: Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar - Decades Collection - 2023 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Two pins for almost forgotten Disney characters

Cons: None for me

The Bottom Line:

Two rare characters

Honored with a two pin set

For second decade

A Pair of Pins for Mickey and Minnie’s Early Friends

I was still debating about the Decades collection that Disney is releasing to celebrate the company’s 100^th anniversary when the second round came out.  The collection is celebrating the 1930’s.  Naturally, I was expecting things themed around Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  And they released some merchandise for that movie as part of the collection.  But when I saw the pins, I knew I had to get them.

You see, instead of featuring Snow White, they went with something even rarer in Disney history.  They released a two pin set featuring Clarabelle Cow and Horace Horsecollar.

Diehard DisNerds like me immediately got excited while everyone else was just scratching their heads, right?  If you don’t know who this duo is, they were early friends of Mickey and Minnie.  Horace actually first appeared as Mickey’s horse before slowly morphing into a more human character while Clarabelle was pretty much an anthropomorphized character for most of her screen time.

Basically, they were the early side kicks before Donald, Daisy, and Goofy came along.  They were used the most in the early 1930’s, making them perfect for this decade in the collection.  And yes, they have popped up at various times over the years, including an effort to bring them back more now, which I love seeing.

Anyway, these pins capture them in their early 1930’s form, including mostly black and white.  The characters have a red circle behind them and some blue highlights.  And they pretty much look like their characters did back then.  The only thing that really stands out is the bell hanging from Clarabelle’s neck.  And I do mean that literally since it is 3D and not a 2D pin element.  There’s even a little dangle in it, so it makes a noise.

With the first pin in the series, I complained about the price.  I don’t feel that is an issue here.  If sold individually, I can easily see these pins going for $14.95, so $29.95 for the two of them seems reasonable to me.  Maybe the pins would be a buck or two cheaper if bought in the parks, but it still seems reasonable.  And maybe I was expecting it this time, and it was just the surprise with the first pin that bothered me.

This is also filling a gap in my pin collection.  I don’t remember ever even seeing Horace and Clarabelle being offered as pins.  So, naturally, I had to snag them.

The result is a two pin set that I’m very happy to own.  Any fans of the classic shorts will also be glad to see Disney honoring Horace Horsecollar and Clarabelle Cow.

Disney Pin Review: The Haunted Mansion - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #10 - 2022 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Perfectly spooky entry

Cons: Nothing major

The Bottom Line:

Mickey in Mansion

Combines for a spooky pin

Collectors will love

Mickey Makes a Ghostly Visit to The Haunted Mansion

It’s hardly surprising when an attraction themed pin series from Disney lands in The Haunted Mansion in October.  In fact, it’s more surprising to me when they visit it any month other than October.  It makes sense, the attraction is incredibly popular, and October is peak spooky season.  Mickey landed there in the October entry in the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series, and it makes for a great pin.

As expected, the predominate colors are a ghostly green.  Mickey’s wearing a dark green suit with a green and purple tie.  He’s taken on a light green skin tone to better blend in with his surroundings.  And he’s wearing a dark top hat with a purple band on it.

One thing that does surprise me about this pin is that no part of it glows in the dark.  I’ve kind of gotten used to that with Haunted Mansion pins, but that isn’t the case here.  Not that it needs it, but it is a fun touch when it is included.

As always, my first criteria is how easy is the attraction to identify from the pin, and in this case, any fan of Disney would know what attraction Mickey’s visiting here.  The color scheme is a dead giveaway, and the costume is just as obvious.  He honestly looks like he is ready to welcome you to The Haunted Mansion.

As a result, I like this pin.  I will continue to wish that we had gotten some different poses in the series, but obviously, that was not to be.  Still, it’s a fun pin for collectors.

Anything related to The Haunted Mansion always sells out quickly, and this pin was no exception.  If you missed it, you’ll have to hunt it down.  But if you are a fan of the attraction or collecting this pin series, you’ll be glad you did.

Disney Pin Review: Steamboat Willie - Decades Collection - 2023 Release

Stars: 3 out of 5

Pros: Great design celebrating a Disney milestone

Cons: Size seems small for the price

The Bottom Line:

Celebrate the start

With first decade milestone

That is a little small

Celebrating the Start of the Disney Company With, What Else, Steamboat Willie

In case you haven’t heard (and if you are a Disney fan, you’ve definitely already heard), Disney is celebrating its 100^th anniversary as a company this year.  Naturally, they are doing lots to celebrate including special merchandise.  That includes pins.  They even have a special limited edition series that will celebrate Disney in the various decades.  The pin for the first decade celebrates the debut of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie.

The pin is the typical size for a Disney pin.  It’s all in black and white, and it features Mickey as he looked back then with his hands in the air.  He’s behind the wheel of the steamship.  In front of the wheel is a banner that says “Steamboat Willie” on it.

The pin is actually 3D, with several different layers.  Mickey is in the background, then comes the wheel as the second layer.  The banner is the third layer.

And get this, the wheel actually spins.  That’s a nice touch.

However, it’s small.  As I said, this fits in well with the rest of the Disney pins I have in my collection size wise, but I was expecting something more since it was the same price I was paying for the jumbo pins the last couple of years.  When I got it and saw the size, it was quite a surprise, and not in a good way.

I get that the 3D nature of the pin makes it more expensive to produce, and that costs have gone up due to inflation.  But that really doesn’t help my disappointment.

On the other hand, I do like the design of the pin, and the fact that the pin spins is a fun choice.  If it had been cheaper, I wouldn’t have this issue with it at all.

I’m trying to remember if I have another pin for Steamboat Willie in my collection.  I know I have a couple of ornaments, but I’m not sure about pins.  Anyway, it is a great choice for the first decade of the Disney company.  Yes, the company had been around for five years before Steamboat Willie premiered, but that cartoon is what really put the studio on the map in that first decade.

Ultimately, the first pin in the Decades collection gets the series off to a mixed start.  As long as you know what you are getting when you buy Steamboat Willie, you’ll probably like it better than I do.

Disney Pin Review: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #9 - 2022 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Great details for Big Thunder Mountain

Cons: Mickey’s still in the same pose

The Bottom Line:

Railroad visit

Finds Mickey in western duds

For a fun entry

Maybe Not the Wildest Pin in My Collection, But I Like It

Mickey Mouse is visiting several of the famous Disneyland mountains in his tour for the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series, and his latest stop is to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  This classic attraction in Frontierland is honored with a fantastic pin.

The reality is that this is a pretty standard roller coaster.  Even a tame one.  Which makes it perfect for kids looking for their first roller coaster.  It was my first coaster, and I loved it.  Anyway, what makes it special is the theming.  The fact that we are racing by a very detailed western backdrop is why it is memorable.  Honestly, I bet there are all kinds of details I’ve never noticed on this ride.

Anyway, this pin brings in that western theme, and makes it truly stand out.  Mickey’s in his standard pose, one leg out with his arms behind his back.  For this pin, he’s wearing tan chaps, and a western style hat.  He’s got a red bandana with the BTMR logo that Disney uses on it.  And his shirt has the red mountains that Disney often uses for this attraction on it.

The result is lots of fun.  It’s easy to immediately recognize which attraction Mickey is representing, and the little details I mentioned make it stand out.

Those who have been collecting the series will be delighted with the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad pin.  In fact, any fan of the attraction will want to add this to their collection.

Disney Pin Review: Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #8 - 2022 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Nice nods to Dumbo in Mickey’s outfit

Cons: Tie ins could be a little stronger

The Bottom Line:

A circus Mickey

Pays tribute to Dumbo ride

Some good elements

And in This Ring, We Have Mickey!

When you stop and think about some of the classic Disney Park attractions, you realize how simple they are.  But Disney has made them magic.  A perfect example is Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  It’s essentially a carousel which lifts you off the ground.  Yet it’s one that every kid wants to ride for the sense of flying.  And Mickey makes it a visit in the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series.

This month’s pin features Mickey decked out in reds and blues.  He’s wearing a circus master outfit with a blue jacket and red shorts.  He’s also got a hat on his head in a pin on pin element.  There are gold accents on the hat, and the feather on his hat is gold as well.  In a nod to Dumbo, Mickey’s ears are lighter than normal – they are gray.

There are some nice Dumbo elements here.  I’m not completely sure that I would make the connection if I didn’t already know this was Dumbo, however.  The elements are subtle.  The circus master costume is what you notice first, and the reds and blues.

This isn’t to say that I don’t like the pin.  When you know what Mickey is enjoying, the elements make perfect sense.  And it’s hard to capture the attraction in one pin of one outfit.

Fans of the attraction will definitely appreciate Mickey’s nod to Dumbo the Flying Elephant.  This is a fun entry in the pin series.

Disney Pin Review: Prince Charming Regal Carousel - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #7 - 2021 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good theme for the carousels

Cons: Mickey’s got to be tired of holding that pose

The Bottom Line:

Royal attraction

Gets a royal costume change

Mickey looks regal

Mickey Makes a Royal Visit

We are entering the second half of the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series.  And Mickey is kicking things off with a visit to the Fantasyland Carousel in this pin.

Back when they were releasing the Minnie Mouse the Main Attraction series, I took the releases to be Disneyland based, and I thought they referred to the seventh release as King Arthur’s Carousel.  However, I see that with this release, Mickey is visiting the Prince Charming Regal Carousel, which is in Fantasyland in Walt Disney World.  Either I got things wrong two years ago, which is possible since I live in Southern California and immediately think of Disneyland, or they decided to theme the new series around the other major Disney Park in the USA.  Obviously, I’m making a big deal about nothing.  The attraction is in both locations and it really doesn’t matter which carousel they officially theme this pin around.  I just found it interesting.

Mickey is dressed up for the occasion.  He’s pastel this month.  Instead of black, his ears, nose, and eyes are a minty green.  I don’t know why, but this also made that fact that his eyes are Pac-Man shaped in these pins pop out to me.  He’s got a cape flowing out behind him, and he’s wearing a royal vest in white and pink with some fleur de lis on it.  On top of his head, he’s wearing a royal crown.

The pin looks great.  It is easy to see which attraction Mickey is visiting, although, like me, most people will probably go with the carousel they are most familiar with.  Since both are royal themed, it doesn’t matter at all.  As usual, I wish that they had given Mickey several different poses for the series, but that’s a minor thing.

I know the Carousels don’t have the biggest fan base compared to other Disney Park attractions, so this one will probably appeal most to those completing the series, like me.  But it’s a nice addition to the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction pin collection.

Disney Pin Review: Sully's Safaris - Windows of Main Street - 2021 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good pin for a Disney legend

Cons: Slide doesn’t operate smoothly

The Bottom Line:

Disney parks career

Honored with window, now pin

With safari theme

You Don’t Have to Go on a Safari to Enjoy the Final Windows of Main Street Pin

We’ve reached the final pin from the Windows of Main Street pin series I haven’t reviewed.  As with most of the people in this series, it honors a Disney Legend I wasn’t familiar with, but I enjoyed getting to learn a little bit more about William Sullivan.

Bill “Sully” Sullivan started out at Disneyland in 1955.  He was only 19 when he applied, just days after the park opened.  He started out as a ticket taker for the Jungle Cruise, but he quickly moved up, helping Disney with the pageantry surrounding the 1960 winter Olympics and the movie premier of Mary Poppins.  By the time the company was getting ready to open the Magic Kingdom in Florida, he moved there and eventually became the president of the Magic Kingdom before he retired.

Obviously, his biggest connection is to the parks themselves.  As a result, they themed his window around his start at Disney.  This window is for Sully’s Safaris.  The rest of the window reads “Guide service.  Bill Sullivan, Chief Guide.”  This pin is a good representation of the window at the Magic Kingdom in Florida.  Since he was president of that park, it makes perfect sense his window would be there, right?  You’ll find it above the ice cream shop.

The safari theme continues with the hidden insides to this pin.  The window slides up to reveal Mickey.  He’s dressed like a guide for the Jungle Cruise, and he’s in one of the boats.  Since I love that attraction, I definitely like having that picture.  Mickey is the only character who was repeated in the pin series, but he’s Mickey.  That’s perfectly fine.

Unfortunately, the writing on the window is a little small.  It’s only on the bottom part of the window, which is exactly how it is in the park.  But that makes it small.  Either that, or I really need to check my eyes and maybe get some glasses.  Either way, the writing is darker than in some of the pins in the series.  You can still see Mickey through the semi-opaque glass of the window, but it isn’t impossible to read.

My complaint actually comes with sliding the pane up and down.  It doesn’t slide smoothly but instead sticks out to one side or the other, so you have to really fight it.

That aside, this is another fun pin.  I realize they won’t appeal to everyone, but DisNerds will geek out over getting to own a little representation of Disney history.

Disney Pin Review: Peter Pan's Flight - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #6 - 2022 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun details themed for Peter Pan’s Flight

Cons: A few details make me scratch my head

The Bottom Line:

Mickey taking flight

Some details don’t fit for me

Still good overall

Some Odd Choices for This Pin

We’re half way through Mickey’s visits to classic Disney attractions with the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series.  This month he’s visiting a Fantasyland classic that always has a long line.  Yes, I’m talking about Peter Pan’s Flight.  However, some of his choices seems a bit odd to me.

The first thing I spot when I look at this pin is the fedora that Mickey’s wearing on his head with a red feather sticking out of it.  The feather is a nice touch since Peter Pan has one as well.  But a fedora?  I don’t see that in the movie.  Likewise, his coat doesn’t really look like anything the characters wear – he looks too fancy.  He looks more like the father than anything else.

On the other hand, there are touches I do like.  For example, he is clearly wearing pajama pants like Wendy, Michael, and John do.  His coat has little golden stars on them, and in his ear, we can see the two stars that lead us to Neverland.  Overall, we have a dark blue and black color scheme that fits the attraction as well.

While a couple of things do make me scratch my head, overall, I like this pin.  It probably has something to do with the fact that I love the attraction.  Yes, I’m one of those people who will spend a long time in line waiting for it.

I wish the pin had been a little better overall.  But still, fans will enjoy the entry for Peter Pan’s Flight.

Disney Pin Review: Meteor Cycle Co. - Windows of Main Street - 2021 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Another good window pin

Cons: With writing too hard to read

The Bottom Line:

Vehicle maker

With Goofy inside window

Another good pin

Vehicles Now on a Window

Most of the people honored with entries in the Windows of Main Street pin series have been involved in the Disney parks in some way.  It makes sense that a series released in the parks would go out of their way to honor those who contributed to the parks, right?  We’ve got another one of those with the pin to honor Bob Gurr.

If you’ve been to a Disney park and ridden any of their vehicles, you’ve probably been in something that Bob worked on.  He was first brought in as a consultant to help design the original Autopia cars.  That went so well, he was hired full time and helped work on such things as the Main Street vehicles, the Matterhorn bobsleds, and the Monorail.  In addition to this, he helped design the original audio animatronic – Abraham Lincoln.

It’s fitting then, that his pin is all about vehicles.  The window itself is located in Disneyland above the Clothier store.  The inscription reads “Leading the Race to the Future – Meteor Cycle Co. – Our vehicles pass the test of time – Fast, Faultless and Fadless.”  Why cycles?  In addition to all the vehicles he worked on, Bob loved to mountain bike in his spare time.  Perfect, right?

While the pin looks very close to the original window in the park, once again, it is hard to make out the words written on the window.  Ironically, the bottom part, which is the part that slides up, seems easier to read to me than the top part, which is too translucent.

Yes, the bottom part slides up to expose a scene of Goofy standing next to the monorail.  Since that’s one of the iconic vehicles people associate with the park, and something that Bob worked on, that’s perfect, right?  No, I don’t know of any connection specifically to Goofy, but I don’t know of any connection that Bob has with any specific Disney character.  I love Goofy, and this is his only entry in the series, so I’m not complaining.

I wish they had figured out the windows before they started this series, but it is fun to have such an iconic part of the parks represented in my pin collection.  For that reason alone, I’m happy to have Bob Gurr’s Meteor Cycle Co. window in my pin collection.

Disney Pin Review: The Enchanted Tiki Room - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #5 - 2022 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Mickey visiting The Enchanted Tiki Room in Style

Cons: Nothing series from me

The Bottom Line:

Tropical Mickey

As he visits Tiki Room

With parrot on board

Mickey’s Making a Tropical Stop

For the fifth entry in the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series, Mickey’s making a stop at everyone’s favorite tropical show – The Enchanted Tiki Room.  The result is a lot of fun.

Mickey is in his usual pose, but this one really changes things up.  He’s dressed in a loud Hawaiian shirt.  It’s hard to tell for sure what is on it, but I see lots of birds.  There are two pin on pin elements here.  One of them is his tan hat, which has a few bird feathers on it.  The other is the parrot that is sitting on his outstretched foot.

Anyone who looked at this pin would immediately make the connection with The Enchanted Tiki Room.  The tropical element certainly is much of the appeal to me.  It makes it easy for me to dream that I am planning a tropical trip myself.  As usual, it would be nice if they had given Mickey more than one pose in this series, but that’s a minor complaint.

Fans of The Enchanted Tiki Room will be happy with this pin.  It’s a fun visit from our main mouse – Mickey.

Disney Pin Review: Palm Parlor - Windows of Main Street

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great pin for a Disney Legend

Cons: Glass could be easier to read

The Bottom Line:

A spooky window

With supernatural hints

A good addition

I’m Sensing a Good Pin in Your Future

As I’ve said in the past, I’ve been reviewing the pins in the Windows of Main Street series in pretty much random order.  I purposely saved this pin for October, however, given the theme.  After all, October is the perfect month to review the Palm Parlor entry in the series.

This is the one I knew exactly where was without having to look it up on the internet.  Fargo’s Palm Parlor is located near the Silhouette studio.  I’ve spent enough time around that area of Main Street to have seen the window up there.

What I did have to look up is who it is honoring.  Roland Fargo “Rolly” Crump started out as an inbetweener in the animation department in the 1950’s before Walt Disney moved him to Imagineering.  There, he was involved in many classic attractions for Disneyland, including it’s a small world, The Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Haunted Mansion.  No surprise on that last one, given the theme of the window, right?

Once again, the front of the pin does a perfect job of capturing the window from the park.  On the front, it says “Fargo’s Palm Parlor.  Predictions that will haunt you; Bazaar, whimsical & Weird. Designs to die for. Roland F. Crump assistant to the Palm Reader.”  There’s a palm in the middle of the window, and three cards.  They aren’t traditional tarot cards but instead changed to reference the three attractions I mentioned he worked on.

When you open the pin, you see Madam Leota inside her crystal ball.  The ball glows in the dark.  It needs some light to charge it, but then it will glow for a little while.  It’s a nice touch.  This pin is actually hinged and held together by a rather strong magnet. 

Sadly, this pin does have the issue I’ve talked about with some of the other pins in the series – the window isn’t opaque enough to be legible.  It helps when you have the window open, and at least here you have the option of reading what is on the glass.  I do wish they had fixed this flaw in so many of the pins in the series.

Earlier, I mentioned saving this pin for October.  Disney didn’t do that, instead releasing it in February last year.  I guess they were afraid of supply chain issues possibly making this one come out later if they had saved it for October, but it still surprises me a bit.

Overall, it is a fun addition.  The series has been a great excuse to learn a bit more about the Disney company history, which I’ve also enjoyed.  DisNerds like me will be glad they got it.

Disney Pin Review: it's a small world - Cuckoo for Disney Pins - 2021 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Instantly recognizable as related to it’s a small world

Cons: Could have done more with the clock theme

The Bottom Line:

small world becomes clock

Could have used some more details

But this fan still likes

I Have Some Small Complaints About This Pin

It seems like people fall into one of two camps when it comes to it’s a small world.  Either you love it or you hate it.  I definitely fall into the love it category.  However, I thought the entry to represent the ride in the Cuckoo for Disney Pins series wasn’t as good as it could have been.

In some ways, the designers for this pin had it easy since there is a big clock on the front of the attraction, at least how it looks at Disneyland.  And they expertly captured the look of the building’s front in this pin.  Yes, it is taller rather than wider, but anyone should easily recognize it.  They’ve got the numbers over on the right hand side, and the giant smiling face is front and center.  The doors are open, so the dolls are about to come out of the front and do their circle at the base of the clock.  On the left hand side up in the upper corner you can see the clock face.  It’s very small and very easy to miss.  Dangling from the clock, we have three weights.  On the outside, we have two flowers, and in the middle, we have the sun.

On the one hand, I do like this pin.  The front of that building is iconic, and it always makes me smile to see it or see it represented somehow.  On the other hand, I feel like they could have and should have done more with the pin.  It would have been nice to have a few more details that make it look like a cuckoo clock.  Honestly, if you didn’t know about it being part of a cuckoo clock themed pin series, it might not be super obvious why there are things dangling down from it.

Overall, I do still like this pin.  It’s not my favorite in the series, but fans of the ride will be glad they have it in their collection.

Disney Pin Review: it's a small world - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #4 - 2022 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Obviously represents it’s a small world

Cons: One element isn’t clear

The Bottom Line:

Mickey visits small

Overall, a good entry

But there’s one strange part

A Small Confusion in this Pin

Whether you love or hate the classic Disney attraction it’s a small world, it’s hard to argue it isn’t a major attraction people associate with Disney parks.  Mickey certainly agrees, so he is visiting as part of his Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction series.  Despite my love of the ride, I have a serious question about this pin.

In keeping with the color pallet of the attraction, Mickey is in pastels for this pin.  That includes his face, which is a pink color, and his ears, which are lavender.  He’s wearing blue pants with a large checkered pattern in them.  And on his ears, we have numbers just like on the outside of the attraction.

My question comes from the pin on pin element.  What the heck is it?  It’s just below Mickey’s chin, and my first thought was some kind of bow tie.  However, upon closer look, I spotted what looks like a pocket watch with the smiling face of the clock in the attraction on it.  But aren’t pocket watches kept in pockets?  Not up chest high?

That confusion aside, I do like the pin.  With the colors and the numbers, it is easy to tell what attraction Mickey is visiting this month.  I just wish they had thought through the one element a bit more to make sure it was obvious what it was supposed to be.

Overall, this is a good addition to the Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction pin series.  I just wish it were completely obvious what the one element is supposed to be.

Disney Pin Review: Ralph Kent Collection - Windows of Main Street - 2021 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Great pin to honor man behind early Disney parks merchandise

Cons: Doesn’t look quite like window in the parks

The Bottom Line:

Disney merchandise

Honors man who created

Much over the years

A Collectible to Honor a Merchandising Legend

I feel like many of the people honored by the Windows of Main Street pin series have been people who started working for Disney fairly early on in the company’s history.  As I was reading up on many of them to write these reviews, I felt like many had joined the company by the 1940’s at the latest.  Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I found reading about Ralph Kent, the subject of the pin I’m looking at this month, different for that reason.

You see, Ralph didn’t join the company until the 1960’s, and it was the fulfillment of a lifelong dream when he did.  As a kid, he grew up watching Disney movies in the theater, and it ignited a life long love of animation and art in him.  Once he got out of the army, he was thrilled to get a job working at the Disney company.  He spent much of his career working on Disney merchandise for Disneyland, and then Walt Disney World.  A fun bit of trivia – he created the first Mickey Mouse wrist watch, which was a limited edition watch.

It's no surprise, then that his window is a tribute to the “Ralph Kent Collection.”  That’s up at the top.  In the middle, we see “Fine Arts, Collectibles,” and at the bottom, we get “Anaheim, Lake Buena Vista, Tokyo.”  In the parks, this window is located above Casey’s Corner in Walt Disney World.

This is the first window that only partially looks like the pictures of the window I’ve seen.  While the window part itself looks fine, the surroundings of the window don’t look like what is in the park at all.  On the other hand, the window is opaque enough that we can read what is on it easily.

When you open the flaps, we see Geppetto and Pinocchio.  While Ralph obviously never worked on the movie, this is actually a great tribute.  As a boy, Ralph identified with all the trouble that Pinocchio got into.  As an adult, he loved wood working like Geppetto and identified with him.  The picture is cute with Pinocchio sitting on Geppetto’s shoulders.

And, can I say, how appropriate this pin is?  Disney merchandise to honor someone who contributed to Disney parks merchandise?  I would have been disappointed if they hadn’t included someone like this in the series.

While the window could have looked a little more like its real world counterpart, overall this is a fun pin.  Collectors will be happy to get it to honor Ralph Kent.

Disney Pin Review: Mad Tea Party - Cuckoo for Disney Pins - 2021 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Fun take on a classic attraction

Cons: A little more would have been nice.

The Bottom Line:

It’s tea party time

Fun cuckoo clock themed design

That fans will enjoy

I Believe it is Tea Time

Since the Mad Tea Party is an attraction that so many people associate with the Disney Parks, it’s no surprise that it pops up regularly in various pins series.  It got an entry in the Cuckoo for Disney Pins series, and it is a fun one.

The main part of the pin is a cottage.  It immediately looks like one that we saw in the Alice in Wonderland animated movie as well as the house that holds the operating booth for the attraction at Disneyland.  Now, I’ll admit, the cottage I’m picturing in the movie when I look at this pin isn’t from the tea party scene, but it’s been a while since I watched this movie, so maybe that’s on me.

Anyway, the clock itself is a pin on pin.  While we don’t see any numbers, it is pointing to 11:40.  Or is it 7:55.  It’s a little hard to tell which hand is the minute hand and which one is the hour hand.  Dangling from the clock we have the weights that make the cuckoo clock part work.  In the middle, we have a tea pot.  On the sides, we have stacks of tea cups.

This pin is immediately recognizable as Mad Tea Party related.  It would have been nice if they’d included a couple more nods to the attraction, although I’m not sure what.  The clock face is too small to really have much else on it, for example, and if it had been bigger, it would have hidden the rest of the cottage.  Additionally, it would have been fun to have the clock pointing to traditional tea time.  On the other hand, the tea party in the movie was non-stop.

Okay, so I’m being a bit nitpicky.  Overall, I do like this pin.  It’s a fun take on the attraction.

So, if you are a fan of the Mad Tea Party, you’ll be happy to add this cuckoo clock themed pin to your collection.

Disney Pin Review: Mad Tea Party - Mickey Mouse the Main Attraction #3 - 2022 Release

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Colors and design evoke a classic ride

Cons: Same pose (as usual)

The Bottom Line:

Mickey’s tea party

Extremely colorful pin

Fits attraction well

Join Mickey for a Little Mad Tea Party

If I’m being honest, there are many iconic rides at Disneyland, but one I most associate with the park in the Mad Tea Party.  It seems to be one that guests either love or hate, and it’s one that everyone has to do at least once in their lifetime.  So it makes sense that it is often included in the attraction based pin series.  And it’s the third stop Mickey makes in the Mickey Mouse, the Main Attraction series.

As always, Mickey is standing with one leg out and looking off in the distance.  However, he’s dressed very differently.  He’s wearing lots of pastels.  His pants are striped, and his jacket has the pattern that is on the cups of the Mad Tea Party attraction.  Speaking of cups, Mickey is wearing three as a hat.  They are stacked on top of each other at a weird angle, which is part of the fun.  Honestly, the bottom one almost looks like a crazy hat, not a tea cup.  These three cups are raised just slightly, giving the pin a bit more dimension.

I’ll admit, if I didn’t know for sure which ride this was designed to represent, it might take me a minute if I looked at Mickey himself.  The cups are a dead giveaway, obviously, but my eye is drawn more to Mickey.  I’m not sure why this is because I’m not sure what other attraction it could be.  And, once you know, it’s very obvious, which is great.  I’m not sure the colors would work together normally, but for the Mad Tea Party, they aren’t perfect and I can’t imagine anything else would work.

As is the case for this series, we get one giant pin instead of several smaller ones.  It is priced accordingly.

This series is proving to be fun.  Any fan of Disney will be glad they joined Mickey on his visit to the Mad Tea Party.

Disney Pin Review: Iwerks and Iwerks Stereoscopic Cameras - Windows of Main Street - 2021 Release

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Oswald included in window to honor two Disney legends

Cons: Writing on bottom half of window a little hard to read

The Bottom Line:

Oswald and Iwerks

Both rightfully honored here

Hist’ry in pin form

Dual Honors in this Main Street Windows Pin

If you’ve paid attention to the windows on Main Street in the Disney parks, you’ve picked up on the fact that they sometimes honor more than one member of the same family.  That’s the case with the pin I’m looking at this month in the Windows of Main Street pin series.  It is honoring Ub Iwerks and his son Don Iwerks.

I recognized Ub’s name immediately.  He was one of Disney’s early animators, working on some of the earliest animated shorts as well as helping create Disney’s famous multi-plane camera.  I wasn’t familiar with his son Don.  Don worked for Disney as well, focusing on cameras.  And he was responsible for the technology that created the Circle Vision films they used to have in Disneyland and still have in Epcot.

Once I learned that, it wasn’t a surprise to me that their window advertising a specialty camera shop.  In the upper part of the window is says “Iwerks and Iwerks Stereoscopic Cameras.”  Their names are at the bottom of this pane.  The bottom half of the window says “Repairs.  Modifications.  No two exactly alike.”  There’s a drawing of an old-fashioned camera on this pane as well.

As always, there’s a Disney character hiding behind part of the window.  In this case, the bottom half of the pane slides up to reveal Oswald.  I love that he got included here, and it makes sense because Ub worked on the Oswald shorts.

Unfortunately, the bottom pane is a little lighter than it could be, making it hard to read some of the writing.  It’s not as bad as some of the others in the series, and the upper part is very easy to read.  As usual, it is a perfect replicant of the window at Disney World, which is located above the bakery.

It’s wonderful to see Oswald and the Iwerks get recognized in this series.  As a result, I’m glad I have this pin in my collection, and I suspect that other Disney fanatics will be glad they got it as well.