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/

Disney 20Q Game

I came across this fun game about mind reading by Disney called "20Q!" I'll add more as I play it later. In the meantime, give it a try...Play Disney 20Q It got me on my first try and predicted I was thinking about Stitch! Got me on my second try when I was thinking about Lightning, and even on my third attempt when I thought about Mater!!! It is addictive and fun. All you Cars lovers see if you think about Cars characters and it pegs them or not! Have fun!!

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Disney/Pixar Cars Motor Speedway of the South Set

Finally, Hotwheelscollectors.com put up a "Sneak Peak" of the Cars Motor Speedway of the South Set for their Red Line Club members. You have to be a Red Line Club member to be eligible to purchase this set. It is expected to be released next month, May 2008. I've cropped and sharpened the pictures so you can see the most detail. I've discussed the Red Line Club in the past, and you can find out more about joining at this link HotWheelsCollectors.com

The Disney/Pixar Cars Motor Speedway of the South set

The Thirty-Six (36) Piston Cup Racers Ready to Start the Race!


Each Piston Cup Racer's Number and Sponsor's Colors

The long awaited set contains many of the recognizable characters you've likely purchased long ago...Lightning McQueen, The King, Chick Hicks, Leakless, Nitroade, RPM 64 and Dale Earnhardt Junior. It features a few that have been in limited release such as Octaine Gain and Vinyl Toupee in a Target Set, and the Movie Moments pair Tow Cap and Gasprin. Five of the unreleased Cars have been put up with the Sneak Peak! The long awaited Apple Car, along with Faux Wheel Drive, Transberry Juice, Sputter Stop and the limited release Vinyl Toupee. As always, they look incredible!

Do you realize the Apple Car's number 84 was the year the famous Apple TV ad referencing George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four," came out? It was directed by one of my all time favorite directors...Ridley Scott! You may know some of his films...Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise and Gladiator! The famed ad heralded the launch of Apple's Macintosh. Funny how I've been a life-long fan of Apple, Ridley Scott and Pixar. They all stand for quality! Take a look at the famed ad below.

Faux Wheel Drive doesn't look too happy does he?

Transberry Juice sounds good enough for breakfast!

Sputter Stop looks like a relative of Chick Hicks!


Vinyl Toupee is one of the most unique Cars!

Writing this article has been fun. I hope you enjoyed it, and I'll certainly let you know when more information about the Motor Speedway of the South set is out. Hopefully, HotWheelCollectors.com will have a release date and cost soon. I'm certainly looking forward to adding this set to my collection.

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/

Scrooge is Giving you a Break!

Isn't it a relief to get your taxes off your back?! I know it is for me! DisneyShopping.com is giving you $15 off a $60 purchase or more for just 2 days. They know you want to blow some of that refund on something you really want!

I'll keep posting any discounts or deals I find that involve Disney/Pixar Cars merchandise. If you find anything to share with others, let me know and I'll add it to the list.

http://carsdiecasttoys.blogspot.com/