ZipZaps Micro RC CARS May Still Be Available!

I've seen all types of RC (Radio Controlled) Pixar Cars on the market. The best in this collector's mind are the ZipZaps from Radio Shack! I bought mine 2 years ago and thought they were sold for a short time and gone. I just went to ZipZaps.com and right there on the front page are the stars of Pixar's Cars! I attempted to place an order and couldn't. I called the 800 number and got a guy who claimed they were on back order. I don't believe him. He seemed like one of those guys who didn't know crap about his job. I also went to a Radio Shack today and they said they haven't been available for a long time. At this point, you'll have to call Monday through Friday, as they aren't open on weekends. When you get a hold of someone, immediately ask for a supervisor and ask them to give you a solid answer as to their availability. So, if you can still buy them, I'd highly suggest you do! They are great fun and simply irresistible!

They come with a remote, are packaged nicely and have good power! At this point they've only made Mater, Sally and Lightning McQueen. Since these have been the only characters released since 2006, I don't think they'll be releasing others until the sequel is released in 2012. It would be cool to see Sarge or Red released. I'm sure many of you would love to see other characters as well. They retail for $19.99 and I'm trying to confirm if they are still available online, as I have confirmed they can't be purchased at Radio Shack stores any longer. If you can still get them online, pick yourself up one, two or all three before the day comes that they do stop being sold.

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Speedway of the South Set - Numbered Holographic Stickers Coming to You Soon!

It has been reported on the Hot Wheels site that the Motor Speedway of the South set will be complete soon. The Holographic, individually numbered stickers have been processed and will be mailed out to the Original purchasers within the next few weeks! Congratulations to all of those who called, e-mailed, and made their displeasure known to Mattel for their oversight of the boxes sans the numbering. You are the reason the sets will be a bit more valuable, because when all is said and done, they will be numbered as you were originally told they'd be. The stickers will likely look like their other Holographic stickers as shown. Just don't mess up putting them on the box when you get yours. ;-)

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Need More Proof for a Cars Special Event?

I launched my campaign with Disney Special Events two years ago to convince them to do a "Cars" Special Merchandise Event at Disney World. I've talked to management I know very well and continue to be optimistic that someday they will do such an event. It may not be until the sequel comes out in 2012, but they'd be foolish not to strike while the tires are burning hot!

Do they need more proof that this is gold mine? Recently, the Motor Speedway of the South Set (Glad I got one!) has been selling on the secondary market for over $1000.00! One of the thousand dollar plus sets just sold for $1076.52 a few days ago. I've been e-mailed about how to get one of the sets that less than a month ago, originally retailed for $300.00. Unfortunately, the only way to get one now is to buy it on the secondary market or to try to trade for one. It was a Limited Edition set with just a 1000 piece run. Think about how many Cars collectors are out there!

The fervor over the First Limited Edition (15,000) Blu-Ray Lightning McQueen was very high. Collectors are constantly talking about the Lightning Storm McQueen coming out at Comic-Con in July! People are asking people to buy them one, talking about going to the convention, and speculating how much they'll sell for on Ebay. Collecting Cars die cast toys was reported to bring in $2 Billion in Sales for Disney and Mattel last year.

I had some people scoff at my suggestion of such an event saying people wouldn't go to Disney World and buy Limited Edition Cars merchandise. Funny, thousands of people have travelled to Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Paris and the World of Disney in New York for everything from pin events to Disneyana events! Let me tell you this...I've been collecting everything from comics to coins, and Disneyana to animation since I was seven years old, and I know a thing or two about collecting. I've been amazed at the completest attitude, the fevered pitch, and the plain old insanity I've seen during the last two years since Cars toys hit the market!

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Looking for Pixar's "Cars" all Over the Globe!

I'm back from my trip aboard the Disney Magic and California! I sailed from Florida through the Panama Canal and ended my journey in Los Angeles. Three weeks of fun and adventure! During my trip, I continued my hunt for Cars die cast toys! What kind of collector and writer would I be if I didn't search out the little die cast treasures throughout my trip. The first and obvious place I had to check was the ship's gift shop. What do ya know? I found Dudley Spare, and got two to boot!

The next place I found some treasure was in Acapulco! I went to a Mexican drugstore with a friend who was looking for some medicine. While she attended to her business, I milled around until I found a bunch of toys messily stacked on some shelves. I looked through them until...Eureka! I found a Flik and Flea Movie Moments!!!! I couldn't believe I finally found one! Then, to add to my excitement, the darn thing was also in Spanish!

When we visited Puerta Vallarta, I searched at both a Sam's Club and Walmart, and came up empty. I looked around Cabo San Lucas and only found sea lions and Pelicans! Finally, arrived at Disneyland and hunted around only to find hundreds of Peg Warmers! My last lucky find was up in Culver City, Cal-e-fornia! I drove by a Toys R Us a couple times and finally decided to drop in because my intuitive Cars sensors were going off! I went to the Cars display and found one Chuki! That was the last lucky find on my three week trip. I travelled roughly 7500 miles and these three were all I could track down. Do you think collecting these little guys is a bit popular?!

I visited the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles because they HAD a Pixar Cars exhibit that was to run through November. I got there and was about to go in when I saw a sign that said the exhibit was gone. The ticket seller had no good answer, other than to say Disney decided to pull the exhibit. I was very dissapointed and just turned and left. So, my article about that exhibit will not happen. I looked in the Auto Museum gift shop and they just had the usual Peg Warmers too!

I'm amazed at the staying power these toys have had after two years on the market! As I joked tongue in cheek, when I heard about Cars 2 being released, I'll have another six to eight years to write about collecting these fun folks from Carburetor County for some time to come!

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Motor Speedway of the South Set - Race Day

I'm either addicted to my blog, or I just love it! Love it sounds good! I've been monitoring and visiting HotWheelsCollectors.com around the clock so I'd know what I would have to do on my trip through the Panama Canal. Well, they announced the release date! It is May 20, 2008, and should be at the usual 9 am PST. Exciting and now, a bit difficult. I'm going to personally have to try to get it by using the Internet Cafe on the ship while sailing to Panama. Hopefully, I'll get one with no problem. So, my adventure will be twice the adventure. Good luck to those who want to get one!

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

The Art of Cars Exhibit in Los Angeles

I depart for the Panama Canal aboard the Disney Magic tomorrow. I will be travelling for 3 weeks. Two weeks will be spent sailing from the East Coast, through the Panama Canal, and finally arriving in Los Angeles. I will visit the Petersen Automotive Museum to see "The Art of Cars" exhibit. When I get home, I'll report on the entire exhibit in three weeks and resume publishing then.

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Looks Like Pegs Will Stay Very Warm

I was in the Walmart I frequent a few days ago and spoke to the Toy Department manager Annette. I asked her if she knew when newer cases of the die cast toys would start filling her shelves. She told me that until she sells through the cases of old stuff she has, that we wouldn't see anything new. So, depending on how well the "Peg Warmers" sell in your area, will give you some indication of how long you'll be waiting for new releases to appear.

I've still never seen Flea and Flick in a store, nor have I come across a Chuki. I have only found Mia and Tia in red once, as well as Tow only once. I have only seen Dudley Spare once and his packaging was damaged.

Mattel needs to keep the flow of New Releases coming. The last four to five months have seen collectors getting itchy for New Characters. There's been very little to get excited about. People lose interest very quickly when they get frustrated or bored.

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Cars Special Event Quest Continues

Today I'm attending a Special Event at Disney's Animal Kingdom, "Expedition Pins." I've long ago lost track of how many Special Events I've attended at Disney World, Disneyland and aboard the Disney Cruise Line since my first back in 2001. I'd estimate I've attended about 32 to date.

I'll continue my quest to lobby the Special Events managers to make a Cars Special Merchandise Event a reality as a future offering! They listen, they know I keep my finger on the pulse of things, and if they see the opportunity for a successful event, I believe they will execute on the idea. It may not happen this year, or next. It may happen in 2012 when the sequel comes out.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Cars 2 has been announced first. Consider this...Nemo, The Incredibles, Monsters Inc., and Toy Story 2 all grossed more revenue than Cars. Yet, out of these five films, Cars has been a merchandising behemoth. I heard that Cars toys generated $2 Billion in Sales last year! Soooo, I'm thinking Disney sees they can sell these little die cast characters for quite some time. And, guess what? That could easily mean a Special Merchandise Event may be around the next curve of the track!

Like Don Quixote de la Mancha, I will continue my quest to see a Cars event become a reality. I hope not to fight any windmills masked as illusions of Chick Hicks. Being optimistic, my eventual fate will be one in which I can join you all in victory lane at such a festivity, and share our own stories of Cars triumph.

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Disney Discounts and Other Deals!

If you're like me, I'm always e-mailing and calling Disney friends for Discount Codes. So, I figured I'd help everyone who buys far too much Disney stuff by posting Discount Codes and Deals! We can all afford to save some dough! I'll certainly keep adding to this list as I ferret out more, and publish this post as New with updates. If you find out about any Discount Codes or Deals, especially if they pertain to Cars merchandise, please e-mail me or comment to this post.

Short-Term Coupons/Discounts
DisneyShopping.com

DisneyOutlet.com
$5.00 Shipping on your $50 purchase or more (Expires: 11:59 pm Pacific Time June, 26 2008) Use SHIPFOR5


Toysrus





Long-Term Coupons/Discounts
DisneyShopping.com
Free Shipping with $75.00 purchase using Disney Rewards Visa Card (Expires: 11:59 pm Pacific Time September 30, 2008) Use VISA75


Target Stores
$5.00 off Toy purchase of $25.00 or more until October 1, 2008 click Target Web Coupon





KB Toys
Join KB Clubhouse and get a $5.00 off Coupon click Join KB Clubhouse


EToys.com
$5.00 off $40.00 or more order, some restrictions apply. Use SGPET5 (Expires 12/31/08)

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/