Cars 3: Superfly ("Demo Derby")

Back in the summer of 2017, Mattel introduced a little side series in their Cars 3 1:55 scale diecast collection called "Demo Derby". This series was a Walmart exclusive and featured six unique demolition derby cars with "synthetic rubber tires"; each packaged on oversized cards and with a demolition derby inspired accessory. This past week I posted on Bill, Jambalaya Chimichanga, Airborne and Liability...tonight we're moving on to "Superfly"! This will be last one I post since I realized I didn't end up buying the Lightning McQueen as Chester Wipplefilter. I remember now that I figured he was essentially the same as the standard release and without any unique accessories, so I didn't need him.

As shown in the screen shot above, Superfly (racing no. 72) can be seen briefly during the Thunder Hollow Demolition Derby Crazy 8 race. He's the one that drives into some tires and then flies through the air saying "WOO-HOO-HOO! I'M FLYING! NO, I'M NOT FLY--[hits the ground]". As always with these racers, he has such a fun, colorful and unique character design! This diecast comes with two stacks of tires to help recreate the scene (the same tires that came with Jambalaya).

So far, this is the first and only release of Superfly. You won't find him in stores at this point, but it's possible he could get a re-release as a regular single in the near future. You can also check out current eBay listings HERE or Amazon using the link below if you interested in adding this one to your collection.

Happy hunting! Thanks for following along as I've reviewed all these "Demo Derby" cars. :)

Cars 3: Liability ("Demo Derby")

Back in the summer of 2017, Mattel introduced a little side series in their Cars 3 1:55 scale diecast collection called "Demo Derby". This series was a Walmart exclusive and featured six unique demolition derby cars with "synthetic rubber tires"; each packaged on oversized cards and with a demolition derby inspired accessory. Last week I posted on Bill, Jambalaya Chimichanga and Airborne—tonight we're moving on to Liability! I'll be posting on the last ones over the next couple days.

As shown in the screen shot above, Liability (racing no. 77) can be seen briefly during the Thunder Hollow Demolition Derby Crazy 8 race. As always with these racers, she has such a fun, colorful and unique character design (and hilarious name as well)! This diecast comes with two burning barrels to help recreate the scene.

At the time of this release, this was the only way to get this character. She has since been released as a single (without rubber tires) on the 2020 cardback and can be found in-store (Walmart or Target) right now! If you'd rather just pick up this diecast online, you can check out current eBay listings or Amazon using the direct links below.

Let me know your thoughts down in the comments! Do you have a favorite demo derby racer?

Toy Story Funko "Dorbz"—Complete Collection!

Aren't these a-DORBZ!? Last year (June 19th, 2019), Funko released these two limited edition 3-Pack bundles of Toy Story "Dorbz" exclusively on the Funko Shop website! These characters were not available to purchase individually, only as sets of three for $25 each. The first bundle includes Buzz Lightyear, Zurg and an Alien; the second bundle includes Woody, Bo Peep and Bullseye! They are seriously the cutest—I couldn't resist logging in and getting them that day. I've been meaning to post on them for a while now!

Bundle one boxes (red packaging) are marked with the Toy Story logo and bundle two boxes (blue packaging) are marked with the Toy Story 4 logo (even though there isn't anything specifically "Toy Story 4" about any of these characters).

Each figure, per the norm with Dorbz, stands at about 3" tall and features one point of articulation (the head can rotate a full 360 degrees). Take a closer look at these guys out of their boxes below!

BUZZ LIGHTYEAR (#499)

ZURG (#500)

ALIEN (#501)

 WOODY (#502)

 BO PEEP (#503)

BULLSEYE (#504)

If you missed out on either of these releases, no worries. Despite being "limited editions", they're very easy to track down for great prices on eBay. Check out current listings right HERE if you're interested in adding any of these Dorbz to your Toy Story collection.

If I had to narrow down my favorites, I'd say the Alien and Bullseye! What about you? Which ones are your favorite designs? Did you grab any of these last year when they dropped on the Funko Shop? Let me know all your thoughts in the comment section down below!

Stay tuned for more from my collection right here, every day. 

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Toy Story: Disney Store Blind Box Vinyl Tsum Tsums—Buzz Lightyear

This adorable Toy Story inspired vinyl Tsum Tsum of Buzz Lightyear was released February 7th 2017 at the Disney Store and ShopDisney.com as part of their exclusive Tsum Tsum mystery blind box collection. Buzz here was included in the Pixar specific series, which also featured five other standard characters (Mike, Sulley, Woody, Dory and Nemo—seen HERE) and two "chasers" (Wall·E and Eve–seen HERE).

I didn't get any of these at the time, but was gifted Mike and Sulley as part of my departure present when I left the Disney Store in late 2018 and then this Buzz Lightyear recently thanks to a thoughtful cast member friend! This was such a fun surprise and I'm so happy to have it now as part of my collection.

This Tsum is made of a hard vinyl material and measures about 2.5-3" long (for comparison, not too much smaller than the standard classic size plush Tsum Tsums). Original retail price for each blind box was $12.95, similar to Vinylmation (if you remember those).

If you're looking to add this or any of the blind box Tsums to your Pixar collection, be sure to check out current eBay listings HERE! What are you thoughts? Did you collect these blind boxes? Do you miss the good ol' days when "Tsum Tsum Tuesdays" happened each month at the Disney Store? Shout out your comments down below.

Cars 3: Airborne ("Demo Derby")

Back in the summer of 2017, Mattel introduced a little side series in their Cars 3 1:55 scale diecast collection called "Demo Derby". This series was a Walmart exclusive and featured six unique demolition derby cars with "synthetic rubber tires"; each packaged on oversized cards and with a demolition derby inspired accessory. On Wednesday I posted on Bill and yesterday I posted on Jambalaya Chimichanga—tonight we're moving on to Airborne! I'll be posting on the rest over the next few days.

As shown in the screen shot above, Airborne (racing no. 90) can be seen very briefly during the Thunder Hollow Demolition Derby Crazy 8 race (unfortunately the clearest moment I could find was him face down in the mud). Once again, such a fun, colorful and unique character design! This diecast comes with a break apart "Wild Bill's Racing Cones" sign to help recreate the iconic scene.

So far, this is the first and only release of Airbone. You won't find him in stores at this point, but it's possible he could get a re-release as a regular single in the near future. You can also check out current eBay listings HERE or Amazon using the link below if you interested in adding this one to your collection.

Happy hunting! 

Cars 3: Jambalaya Chimichanga ("Demo Derby")

Back in the summer of 2017, Mattel introduced a little side series in their Cars 3 1:55 scale diecast collection called "Demo Derby". This series was a Walmart exclusive and featured six unique demolition derby cars with "synthetic rubber tires"; each packaged on oversized cards and with a demolition derby inspired accessory. Yesterday I posted on Bill and now we're moving onto Jambalaya Chimichanga (what a name, right?)! I'll be posting on the rest over the next few days.

As shown in the screen shot above, Jambalaya (racing no. 27) can be seen during the Demolition Derby Crazy 8 race AND later on in the film when the Thunder Hollow cars are seen at a bar watching McQueen's final race on TV. Such a fun, colorful and unique character design! This diecast comes with two stacks of tires to help recreate the scene.

At the time of this release, this was the only way to get this character. She has since been released as a single (without rubber tires) on the 2020 cardback and can be found in-store (Walmart or Target) right now! If you'd rather just pick up this diecast online, you can check out current eBay listings or Amazon using the direct links below.

Let me know your thoughts down in the comments! Do you have a favorite demo derby racer?

Cars 3: Bill ("Demo Derby")

Back in the summer of 2017, Mattel introduced a little side series in their Cars 3 1:55 scale diecast collection called "Demo Derby". This series was a Walmart exclusive and featured six unique demolition derby cars with "synthetic rubber tires"; each packaged on oversized cards and with a demolition derby inspired accessory. I'll be taking a look at each one over the next week, starting tonight with my favorite—Bill!

As shown in the screen cap above, Bill can be seen during the Thunder Hollow Demolition Derby Crazy 8 race. He's one of the few contestants that gets a featured shot, his name stated and even a line of dialogue when he says "Hey Patty!"

This is one of my all-time favorite cars because he's also a double Easter Egg! Bill features the famed Pixar/Luxo ball (which was originally seen in the short film Luxo Jr., then Toy Story and is now something that is hidden in every Pixar film) and has the racing number 86 (a reference to 1986—the year Pixar was founded). SO COOL! I love that even his tires are painted to resemble the Pixar ball.

So far, this is the first and only release of Bill. You won't find him in stores at this point, but it's possible he could get a re-release as a regular single in the near future. You can also check out current eBay listings HERE or Amazon using the link below if you interested in adding this one to your collection. Even if you're not necessarily a Cars collector, this is just an awesome item for any Pixar fan to display! Highly recommend.

Happy hunting out there!

Onward: Disney Store Reusable Tote Bag

Hey everyone! To keep things real simple around here tonight, I just wanted to briefly document this Onward reusable tote bag that's available right now at the Disney Store and ShopDisney.com!

One of these bags always comes out right around the release of every new Pixar film and I always seem to go for them (I guess because they're pretty useful and super cheap). This time around it was given to me at the Showcase Cinemas Pixar Movie Marathon Event last month. They handed it out to attendees as the "swag bag" full of goodies, with the bag itself being part of the swag! Like usual, this is a roomy medium sized bag (15'' H x 12 1/2'' W x 6'' D) with reinforced stitched fabric handles and plenty of space inside. It's also eco-friendly, given that it's made from 80% recycled materials. Whether you're using this for shopping, as a gift bag or just as place to store your Onward merch in (action figures and other toys), this bag can come in handy for any fan of the film.

Once again (like several of the products I've been showing lately), the film's gorgeous teaser poster is the main art featured here on the front and back. I really love the minimal silhouette screen art on the sides as well (you can spot Ian, Barley, Blazey, the Phoenix Gem, the Guinevere van, pixies (plus one of their motorcycles and "Pixie Dusters" symbol), the Manticore and more.  

Pick this up before it's gone, either in stores or online! Retail is just $3.99 (however the price on these use to be $2.95, so it went up). Let me know what you think in the comment section below and be sure to check back daily for more from my Pixar collection.

Cars 3: Eric Braker & Spikey Fillups 2-Pack

Tonight I'm back with another quick Cars 3 Mattel 1:55 diecast review—this "movie moments" 2-pack featuring next-generation racers Eric Braker and Spikey Fillups! At the time of this release a couple summers back, these two were both brand new, never before released characters. That's rare for a 2-pack, as usually one is an old character/re-release. This set is part of the 2018 "Next-Gen Piston Cup Racers" sub-series.

As shown in the screen shot above, both these racers can be seen very briefly during the climatic Florida 500 race. From what I understand though, their names have been reversed on this packaging. The blue car is actually Spikey Fillups (no. 117) and is sponsored by Lil' Torquey Piston, replacing stock car Ralph Carlow. The green car is Eric Braker (no. 5), who races for team SynerG and replaces stock car Lane Locke. The card error was corrected later on (seen HERE).

Since then, Eric Braker (again, the green one) has been released as a single and this 2-pack has been released again recently in 2020 packaging (with the correct names). You can find them currently in-store at your nearest Target or Walmart if you looking to add these two to your Cars collection! If you'd rather just pick this set up online, you can find it on Amazon using the direct link below.

Have fun on the hunt and stay safe out there! 

Onward: Plastic Tumbler Cup (Pixar Movie Marathon Exclusive)

Welcome back everyone! Tonight I'm just doing a quick post to document this pretty sweet promotional Onward plastic tumbler with straw that was given out exclusively to attendees of the Pixar Movie Marathon event last month (leap day). A commemorative fleece blanket was also included in the "swag bag", which you can check out right HERE. I love the film's teaser poster (one was actually gifted to me), so I don't mind that it was used as the main image for both items. It really is stunning!

If you haven't already, be sure to check out my full write-up on this amazing event that I helped co-host with Showcase Cinemas HERE. Let me know your thoughts down below! I'll be back tomorrow with yet another item from my ever-expanding Pixar collection, so be sure to check back soon.

Stay safe out there!

Toy Story 4: Antique Shop Gift Set (Mattel 7" Action Figure Collection)

By now you all know the love I have for Mattel's 7" scale Toy Story 4 action figure collection. It's the best and SO fun! If you missed it, be sure to check out my complete write-up on this award winning assortment HERE. Last fall, one of the last items to be released in this line for 2019 was this "Antique Shop" gift set (sold exclusively at Kohl's for $49.99). I'll be honest, this set is both awesome and frustrating! I'll tell you why...

The only reason I got this set is because it includes two exclusive figures (two total must haves)— Combat Carl Jr. and Volcano Attack Combat Carl Jr.! Other than those two though, I already had the six others characters that are included here: Buzz Lightyear, Gabby Gabby, Bo Peep, Duke Caboom, Woody and Forky. So yah, frustration number one is that collectors need to fork out $50 to get two small characters they couldn't get otherwise (unless this is the first set in your collection and you use it as a starter). Luckily I got this on sale for around $30 after Christmas, but still. I get it though, that's just the life of a toy collector! Toy companies have done this kind of thing for ages.

The second reason I feel a little let down with this set is because they only included two of the three Combat Carl Jr. figures from Toy Story 4. I have no idea why Mattel didn't produce the Ice Attack Combat Carl here to complete the iconic trio. I mean come on, the Ice Attack Combat Carl gets no high fives and no figure?? What gives? ;) I'm still holding out hope he's made, but I'm just not sure why he wasn't included here.

I will say, the packaging for this set looks neat and I really like the antique shop backdrop/overall theming.

The only figures I'll be focusing in on here are the Combat Carls (since I already featured the other six in my original blog post). All my other complaints aside, these are totally awesome figures! They have great likenesses to the characters from the film and some surprisingly good articulation (the head can swivel, the arms/shoulders/legs are on ball joints and the knees can bend). The paint application could have been a quite a bit more detailed (compare to the movie screen shot above), but this line hasn't really been the most detailed when it comes to paint anyway. I just love that we have these characters as part of this line and I'm happy with how they turned out! Keep this line going Mattel, the more characters the better (especially more obscure side characters like this).

Both of the Combat Carl Jr. figures stand right at 3" tall.

What are your thoughts? Do you hope Ice Attack Combat Carl gets released in some way as well? Did you pick this set up for your collection? What other characters would you like to see made? Let me know down in the comment section below!

Find this at your local Kohl's or online HERE— still available and on sale! 

Onward: Commemorative "Leap Day 2020" Blanket (Pixar Movie Marathon Exclusive)

Disney and Pixar made some serious magic happen today!! Due to everything going on in the world, many moviegoers were unable to see Onward before theaters began shutting down over the last week or so. Disney's solution? Release the film early digitally for families to enjoy in the comfort and safety of their own home! As of right now, you can purchase Onward through iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Fandango Now and Movies Anywhere for $19.99. And it doesn't stop there! Disney also announced today that the film will start streaming on Disney+ in just two weeks on April 3rd (in the US). I had a feeling this was going to happen and all my hopes came true! My wife and several family members weren't able to see it in theaters, so this is absolutely amazing for us—not to mention I've been itching to see it again since I only had the chance to see it once.

So with all that, my wife and I (as well as our baby Aidan) couldn't wait to cuddle up and watch the film...and what better way to get festive and cozy than to bring out the super soft commemorative "Leap Day 2020" Onward fleece blanket that was given out exclusively at the Pixar Movie Marathon last month! This was the perfect time to share it here on the blog since I hadn't already. What do you think? I absolutely love it!

Will you be buying Onward to watch soon or wait till Disney+? No Blu-Ray date has been announced yet, but be sure to stay tuned for updates.

Lastly, what do you think of this move by Disney? It's pretty remarkable we live in a time where this can even happen. I'd love to hear any thoughts you might have in the comment section down below.

Now put it in "O" for ONWARD!

Cars 3: High Impact & Jimbo 2-Pack

Here's a Cars 3 1:55 scale diecast 2-Pack from Mattel that I've been meaning to post on here for years...demolition derby cars, High Impact and Jimbo! This "movie moments" set was released in late 2017/early 2018, but both characters have since been released on single pack cards as well.

As shown in the screen shot above, both High Impact (No. 12) and Jimbo (No. 13) make a couple brief appearances during the film's iconic Thunder Hollow Crazy 8 demo derby sequence.

You know I love any and all of the demolition derby cars. They have been the most fun to collect for me over the last three years—each one is just so unique, detailed and creative!

These characters aren't available in stores currently, so your best bet is finding them online. You can check out current eBay listings HERE or Amazon using the link below. Have fun collecting and best of luck on the hunt if you're looking to add these two to your Cars collection! 

Onward: Disney Store Event Activity Set Freebie (+ Unicorn Puzzle)

Onward to adventure! Each Saturday at the Disney Store (from February 22nd-March 14th), guests could RSVP to an Onward event for kids and families where they could learn all about the new Disney·Pixar film and play magically fun games to help Ian and Barley on their quest. But of course the best part of any in-store event at the Disney Store is the FREE prize at the end! For this event, guests were given a really neat little Onward inspired activity set.

I wasn't able to attend one of these events, but when I visited the Disney Store last week, one of my former fellow cast members was nice enough to give me a couple of the activity sets they had left over now that the event is finished. That was such a fun surprise! Not only that, but I was also gifted the "trash unicorn" promotional puzzle that was used as a game during the event (not an item available to purchase).

Check out the contents of the activity set down below! This 5" x 5" set includes:

• 3 Coloring Pages (Ian & Barley, Manticore & Laurel and Blazey)
• "Find The Characters Word Search" (I call it an OnWORD Search ;) 
• Sticker Sheet 
• "Find The Gem" Maze 
• Mini Jigsaw Puzzle

I thought the image used for this puzzle was so extra cool!

The stickers are actually pretty awesome as well.

And here's the unicorn puzzle all completed! It's bigger than I thought it would be, measuring roughly 12.5" x 18.5".

That's about it! While I would have loved to be there in person to see this event, I'm grateful I at least got to feel like I was a part of it in some way thanks to these prizes. Having worked there at the Disney Store for over three years, I got to run many of these types of events (I sure do miss that); and I have to say, this is one of the cooler freebies I've seen handed out.

What are your thoughts? Were you able to make it to the Onward event at your local Disney Store? I'd love to hear about your experience! Let me know down in the comments.

Toy Story: Pizza Planet "Food + Fun Space Port" Tee

What a spaceport! Pizza Planet merch is some of my favorite to collect—there's something just so iconic about that location from the original Toy Story. From the logo, to the delivery truck, to the crane game, to the aliens within...it's all so classic (heck, my license plate cover even says "I Brake for Pizza Planet" on it). Over the last few years, there's been a pretty big surge of Pizza Planet items released for some reason; especially in the t-shirt department! There are countless Pizza Planet inspired shirts out there right now. Here's one that my parents found stashed at their house recently, which was meant to be a gift to me a while back but somehow got tucked away and forgotten! This was a fun little treat to bring home last week after our family Sunday dinner.

The fit is honestly fine, but nothing special; not the best and not the worst. The sleeves are a little big/baggy and the shirt itself isn't the most trim, but it's certainly wearable. I really like the design, so I'll at least be wearing it for that! The shirt is 100% cotton and retails for $19.99.

Anyway, just wanted to share this quick post with you tonight in case you were interested in a fun new Pizza Planet tee that's somewhat more unique. You can find this one and many others on Amazon (direct link below). Be sure to check out BoxLunch, Target and ShopDisney for some other cool designs as well!

Let me know your thoughts down in the comments.