Disney Pixar Cars - BLACK FRIDAY is THE DAY OF THE SHOPPING ZOMBIES!

People have been going nuts for weeks looking for some rumored pallet at Walmart, new Race O Rama cases that have been misglued, Oversized Cars that have been hardly seen, and they are frustrated to say the least! Well, here's what I advise you to do...Spend a peaceful, happy Thanksgiving with friends, family or whoever matters in your life. Sleep in, catch some of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, eat delicious home cooked food, watch the Lions game, go out and play some tag football to work off all that chow, come back in and eat some more, watch a great DVD like Wall•E, then hit the sack early. Tommorrow you have to get up at 4:00 A.M. and head off to Walmart for "BLACK FRIDAY!"

At 5:00 A.M. the shopping will begin!! The shopping Zombies will attack the stores by the millions! You have to be ready to deal with them. As many of you probably know, Walmart is advertising the Oversized die cast toys. I'll speculate that you'll find many of the single Cars you've been looking for lately, and maybe you'll be lucky and find some of the Haulers! I wouldn't sweat things for the next week, because frankly, I don't think you'll find anything until Black Friday anyway. I'd just relax for the next week and see what happens on the 28th. That's my plan!

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Disney Pixar Cars - The Pixar Story by Leslie Iwerks

I just watched Wall•E's Disc 2 feature, "The Pixar Story" by Leslie Iwerks, and it is SUPREMELY INSPIRING! It compelled me to write this article to tell you that this one story alone, makes purchasing the Wall•E 3-DISC Special Edition a MUST!! If you've been a fan of Pixar, John Lasseter, and Steve Jobs, you'll be highly inspired by their passion and triumph in building the animation power house that produced Cars!

The piece documents everything from John's time at CalArts, to his being fired because he was ahead of his time in seeing the potential of computer animation. It endears you to Ed Catmul, who is now head of Disney/Pixar Animation. It takes you on his journey from a being a fan of animation, to working with George Lucas, to being the head of Pixar, and culminating with his position at Disney today! It shows how critical Steve Jobs was in making key entrepreneurial decisions that would move the fledgling company along, and allow the team to do what it had to in order to succeed! You see Joe Ranft and Pete Doctor, Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird, and learn more about them! You are taken through time from the shorts to Cars. It is a superb story by Leslie Iwerks that I bet you'll watch over and over again!

I've been fortunate to meet and talk to John Lasseter and Joe Ranft. I asked Pete Doctor about UP at a press conference at Comic-Con this year! I hope someday soon I'll meet Ed Catmul and Steve Jobs! Maybe get a chance to sit down and chat with Andrew Stanton and Brad Bird some time! I share a passion for what they do, and how they do it! If you want to be inspired, buy Wall•E's 3-DISC Special Edition, pop in Disc 2, and watch "The Pixar Story!!" All I could do was smile, cheer, and shed a tear of happiness for their progress and triumphant success! I hope it touches you in the same way!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Maters Tall Tales "Tokyo Drift"

What do you get when you cross "The Fast And The Furious, Tokyo Drift," with "Mater's Tall Tales?" The fourth Cars Toons short, "Tokyo Drift!" In the next "Interstitial," Mater goes to Japan and becomes a great "Drifter!" I was told it is absolutely fantastic, and that the die cast toys will be equally superb!

I've already been informed that the sculpts for Mater the Fire Engine are terrific! How cool will Mater as Evil Knievel be?!! How about El Materdor?!! These all promise to be some of the best designs to be released next year!

I've yet to have the opportunity to see any of "Mater's Tall Tales." They all look to maintain the Pixar standard of quality and story! I haven't heard how many of the "Interstitials" will be done, but can't wait for them to be released on DVD and Blu-Ray! As soon as I get pics of anything, I'll be sure to post them!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Cars 1:55th Line Will Be Made With Lenticular Eyes

I've had quite a bit of news for you over the past few days. A NEW development coming next year is that the "Mainline" will eventually be made with Lenticular Eyes!

If you don't know what Lenticular means, let me tell ya! Lenticular printing is a technology in which a lenticular lens is used to produce images with an illusion of depth, or the ability to change or move as the image is viewed from different angles. An example of lenticular printing includes animation effects such as winking eyes. As you see below, the image would change as you move it back and forth.

Don't expect to see the Lenticular Cars until the entire line has finished being produced with the stationery eyes. They aren't likely to show up until late Summer. They could be a cool change! We'll have to wait to look into their eyes for the answer!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Will Matty's "Plussed" Cars Be Something You'll Want?

Next year MattyCollector.com will finally release their next item on March 17, 2009. I revealed to you that it would be a 1:24th Scale Lightning McQueen "Plussed" with rubber tires, painted lug nuts, pin striping, etc. coming to you in a clear display case similar to the Sidewall Shine case. I've given some thought about this release, which I've been told will sell for $40.00 to $50.00. I'm not sure this will be a home run for Mattel, and I'll tell you why.

• First off, it is another Lightning McQueen. I'm frankly sick of Lightning McQueen. How about you?
  
• Second, it sets you off on collecting an entirely new sized line. It is enough to try to stay up with collecting the 1:55th Scale "Mainline!"
  
• Third, it ain't cheap! Paying $50.00 for a larger over done character because of added detail and a case, isn't going to blow up my skirt!
• Finally, it is a high edition size in my opinion. An edition of 10,000 of a character that has been done over, and over, is just not appealing to a collector.

Then, a month later on April 15, 2009, they are going to follow up this release with the SAME EXACT THING, just smaller in the 1:55th Scale! This one will sell for $20.00 to $25.00. Does this excite YOU?!! It doesn't do a damn thing for me!!

I've said they should come out with a collector's version of Darth Mater! Deliver a UNIQUE version of a character such as Darth Mater and you can sell 10,000 of them! The thought of adding the same characters to my collection because of being "Plussed," simply doesn't do much for me. What do you think?

Disney botched this up royally over the years with pin trading. They kept releasing too many boring, over done, lame designs! How many damn Stitch on a surfboard pins do you think we want?! Not as many as they kept putting out! A very bad marketing strategy because they bored us! Yet, when they put out something ORIGINAL such as Stitch as a Gargoyle for the Haunted Mansion Happy Haunts event, they enticed me and many others to upgrade to a higher priced package because we wanted that pin!! That was smart marketing!! If it was another over done design, their strategy would have failed!

Why did Lightning Storm McQueen sell out? Because it was ORIGINAL! Why do people want the Blu-Ray Rangsberg McQueen? Because it is ORIGINAL! Why do collectors want the Red Rangsberg McQueen? Because it is EXTREMELY RARE! So, if you put out a common character, in a high quantity, at a high price, what do you think people will do?! Probably say whoopee and not give a damn!

I've been a "Collector" nearly my entire life, and what infuriates me about companies like Disney and Mattel is that they do these stupid things because of being out of touch with the collectors, being egotistical know-it-alls, foolish bureaucrats, and simply being lazy! The way to make millions is very simple, "Just listen to the collectors!"

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Disney Pixar Cars - MattyCollector.com Will Offer A Cars Collector's Display Case

I know that a lot of you would love to own a Display Case like this one auctioned off for the Children Affected By Aids Foundation! I certainly tried to find out how to get one and was disappointed I couldn't.

Well, you're going to get your chance to get one that will be made specially for MattyCollector.com! I don't have a release date yet, but I can tell you some tantalizing things...The case will hold a large number of Cars in the 1:55th Scale size. Since it is still in development I can't give you an exact capacity, but can say somewhere in the range of 50 to 60. It is expected to be made mostly out of plexi, as far as the finer aesthetic details, it is too soon to tell you. It is expected to sell for $300.00. Here's the incredible thing, it is expected to come with three EXCLUSIVE chase Cars! Heck! I'd drive over glass to git me sum o them! What will those three Cars will be? I don't know at this point. I can simply say that this will kick butt!

You can count on me to report on any further developments here at Alternator Valley! MattyCollector.com has been like a goofy unreliable teen, but here's hoping next year will see a more mature Matty who'll deliver some great things!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Mattycollector.com To Brush Off The Dust On St. Patrick's Day '09

MattyCollector.com was launched back in July at Comic-Con 2008. Lightning Storm McQueen was the first offering and sold out immediately. I was told that the next Cars item would likely be released in October of 2008. Ok, it is now the middle of November, and in four hours I'll be off to see the latest Bond film, "Quantum of Solace!" I was told at that same Comic-Con, that the newest Bond flick would be out in November and Sony delivered! So, many, many, many collectors are not pleased that MattyCollector.com has not 1.) Delivered a New Cars item for us all to plop our dough down on! 2.) Not delivered on the promised Newsletter! 3.) Has literally had nothing in the form of updates to inform us about anything! As I read somewhere, someone would like to punch Matty in his big head! The visual alone is enough to make you chuckle!

Finally, I've got some News for you all, but it is tempered by the fact that we might as well wait for the proverbial "Slow Boat From China" before MattyCollector.com will be populated with the next release. This is good stuff! And, don't let anyone ever tell you that we bloggers aren't important disseminators of News! In many cases, we make the News! So, do you want the lowdown? Say paaalease? Who's your daddy? Ok, just gotta be a tease don't I? Here's what I found out for now...

It won't be until next year before we see New Cars items appear on MattyCollector.com. On March 17, 2009 we should expect to see the first "Plussed" Lightning McQueen done in 1:24th Scale! Back in 2006 there were two 1:24th Scale releases. One of Mater, and one of Lightning, both done in die cast. I actually saw them at the World of Disney Store, but passed on them. The NEW Plussed releases will be done in a super detailed manner! Details like painted lug nuts, detailed pin strips and rubber tires will be elements you'll see! Lightning will come in a cool display case which will allow you to see the bottom of the Car as well! This first release is expected to be a Limited Edition of 10,000. Five thousand will be exclusively released on MattyCollector.com, while the remaining five thousand will be exclusive to Toys R Us! No, I don't have a price for you yet. That wasn't able to be told to me at this point. When I learn the price, you can be certain I'll let you know.

On April 15, 2009 you can feel better after paying your taxes by spending your refund on the first 1:55th Scale "Plussed" Lightning McQueen. Same great detailing will be done...Rubber tires, painted window frames, pin stripes, and the cool display case! This release will be different in that the expected Limited Edition of 10,000 will ONLY be released on MattyCollector.com. Again, I don't have a price for you at this point. What is expected to happen after these initial releases is that we should see a NEW release about every six weeks thereafter. I have more Matty news, but will wait until tomorrow so you have to come back and visit moi!!

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Disney Pixar Cars - Where To Buy Them When You Visit Disney World

For all of you who plan on visiting Disney World, I'm going to tell you the reality about finding Cars Die Cast Toys while in Orlando! You'd think that Disney World would have the BEST selection and latest releases, but just the opposite is true. Since Cars came out in June of 2006, Disney World has had a pathetic inventory, and has been months behind the Newest releases. Not only that, but they charge double what you'd pay at Walmart!! Got to love the management decisions at the Mouse House. Whether they have deals with Walmart, Target, Toys R Us, or whoever, we should be able to find the finest selection at Disney World. I think it is stupid that they don't meet the demand! They'll catch on and listen to us once the second movie is out and three years have past. So, where can you find Cars in Orlando while visiting Disney World? I'm going to give you a few locations with addresses where you may get lucky! Here's the list...

Walgreens
12100 South Apopka Vineland Road

Orlando, FL 32836

(407) 238-0600

Walgreens
13502 South Apopka Vineland Road
Orlando, FL 32821

Get Directions(407) 827-1004

Walgreens
12650 International Drive South
Orlando, FL 32821

Get Directions(407) 238-4677






Walmart
8990 Turkey Lake Rd
Orlando, FL 32819

Get Directions(407) 351-4142

Walmart
3250 Vineland Road
Kissimmee, FL 34746

Get Directions(407) 397-1130

Walmart
4311 West Vine Street
Kissimmee, FL 34746
(407) 390-1888





Target
4750 Millenia Plaza Way
Orlando, FL 32839

Get Directions(407) 541-0020

Target
4795 West Irlo Bronson Memorial Parkway
Kissimmee, FL 34746

Get Directions(407) 594-0030

These are locations I've been to and are close to the Disney World Resort. Again, you may find Cars at these locations, and you may not. I've never understood the lack of inventory in Orlando. As a whole, the entire area can be three months behind the Newest Release at times. It is really a matter of dumb luck if you find something highly sought after.

You can try Once Upon A Toy at Downtown Disney, but that's where you'll pay double the normal retail price and likely to find Cars that have been out for a long time. I've yet to find anything at this store. Also, they don't get the items that are store exclusive like the oval carrying case Target carries. Frankly, their selection stinks!

There's one other store on Disney property that may have some of the same poor selection with the same high prices...The World Of Disney, also in Downtown Disney. This huge store is the focal point of Downtown Disney and sells everything. Everything but a good selection of Disney Pixar's Cars! No, I'm not happy with them?! It is ridiculous!

Finally, let's take a ride over to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Here you'll be able to see Mater and Lightning McQueen as full size working Cars! They are part of the "Stars and Motor Cars" Parade! I can tell you that you'll be amazed at the detail in the lifesized versions! They are a highlight of the parade.

After the parade, you can go over to Luigi's Casa Della Tires to hangout, take pictures and see them greet guests! Luigi's is in the back of the studios near Mama Melrose's Italian Restaurant. If you've been to the Studios in the past, Luigi's took the place of Al's Toy Barn. A small supply of Cars toys may be in the Stage 1 Company Store that primarily sells Muppet merchandise.

Have fun while at the "Happiest Place On Earth!" Hopefully, I've given you a few places that you may have some luck finding Cars for your collection. If things change or there's news about Disney Pixar Cars, you can be sure I'll tell you about it here at Alternator Valley!

http://www.CarsDieCastToys.Blogspot.com

Disney Pixar Cars - Bubbles Delay New Inventory

As we all wait for more of the Oversized line to show up in Wal-Marts, the latest cases with Dexter Hoover and Sally with Cone, the next case with Impound Snot Rod and whoever, the reason we aren't seeing more New Cars is due to the issue I wrote about a few weeks ago. The plastic bubbles aren't staying glued to the card backs! This is supposedly being corrected, but in the meantime, New supply is scarce to non-existent due to the problem. China has to get moving and ship all the corrected cases back to the United States. That slow boat from China is making me hear Carly Simon..."Anticipation, anticipation, is makin' me late, is keepin' me waitin'!"

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