{"id":2137,"date":"2019-02-14T09:19:56","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T16:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/?p=2137"},"modified":"2019-02-14T09:21:26","modified_gmt":"2019-02-14T16:21:26","slug":"disney-collectibles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/disney-collectibles","title":{"rendered":"A Guide To All-Things-Disney Collectibles"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the first appearance of Mickey Mouse in the 1928 classic \u201cSteamboat Willie,\u201d Disney has become one of the world\u2019s most beloved brands. There are also few brands with as much merchandising power as Disney; from the early days, the company has released a new batch of <\/span>Disney collectibles<\/b> just about every year, with devoted <\/span>Disney collectors<\/b> quickly snatching them off shelves and adding them to their collections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to start your own <\/span>Disney collection<\/b>, estate sales<\/a> are a great place to start, especially if you\u2019re looking for more <\/span>vintage Disney<\/b> pieces. Depending on the piece, <\/span>Disney collectibles<\/b> can be worth anywhere from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, and you can often score much better deals at estate sales than you could ever find online.<\/span><\/p>\n

How a whistling mouse launched an empire (or how Disney became the most powerful company in the world)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Walt Disney had a few strikes before he hit it big; his Laugh-O-Gram silent films and his animated series featuring his first original character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, failed to connect with audiences, and Disney found himself and his company facing bankruptcy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Laugh-o-grams
The shape of things to come. Walt Disney’s “Laugh-o-grams” were the precursor to his Disney empire.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

But those failures are what lead to Disney\u2019s first million dollar idea: a mouse named Mortimer. Mortimer Mouse, who would become better known as Mickey Mouse, was a smash hit from his first appearance in \u201cSteamboat Willie\u201d and, seeing the opportunity, Disney created a merchandising arm of the company called Walt Disney Enterprises.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney continued to push the envelope on what was possible for animation when they released the first feature-length animated film, \u201cSnow White and The Seven Dwarfs\u201d in 1937, which went on to become the highest-grossing film of its time and signaled the beginning of Disney\u2019s legacy of creating the most beloved animated films of all time.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\"1938
In 1938, Walt Disney’s ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ premiered to a record-breaking audience at the Carthay Theatre in Hollywood, CA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Disney\u2019s roots began in animation, they went on to launch other wildly successful projects, including Walt Disney Parks and Resorts (which would go on to become the most successful chain of amusement parks in the world); the Disney Channel; \u00a0a live-action film division; and, of course, their merchandising division.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From the very start, Disney placed a heavy emphasis on pushing merchandise related to its characters and films. As such, the company spawned generation after generation of Disney fanatics and collectors seeking out the rarest and most valuable Disney treasures they could get their hands on.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, there is nearly 90 years of memorabilia and merchandise for Disney collectors to seek out and add to their collection.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Disney collectibles?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are very few brands who can stay as relevant and as well-loved for 90 years as Disney. Part of the Disney magic is that they create films and experiences that can be enjoyed by children <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> their parents, bridging the generational gap and bringing families together.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you ask anyone you know, chances are 95% of them will say Disney played a big role in their childhood. Thanks to that universal appeal – and the heavy nostalgia factor – many collectors enjoy adding finding and adding new pieces to their Disney collections.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because so many people are into all-things-Disney, there\u2019s a lot of competition for rare Disney items – and collectors are willing to pay a premium to add the rarest items to their collection. For example, at the <\/span>2016 \u201cCollecting Disney\u201d auction<\/span><\/a>, held by Van Eaton Galleries in Sherman Oaks, CA, the \u201cbronzed\u201d Mouse Ears worn by original Mickey Mouse Club member Annette Funicello fetched a whopping $14,000 while the original drawing from the Mickey Mouse short \u201cPlane Crazy\u201d brought in $4500.<\/span><\/p>\n

\""Bronzed"
These ears were given to original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello on the Mickey Mouse Club\u2019s 25th anniversary special, later becoming one of her most prized possessions.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Plane
Plane Crazy was one of the first Mickey Mouse cartoons ever made. This sketch is one of the first original drawings by animator Ub Iwerks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If those price tags are giving you a bit of sticker shock, take a deep breath – you don\u2019t need to drop your life savings to be a Disney collector. Thanks to the company\u2019s longevity and the sheer volume of its merchandise production, there are a virtually endless number of pieces you can add to your collection; you could spend a lifetime collecting Disney memorabilia and still find yourself discovering new pieces.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at some of the most popular – and some of the most rare – Disney collectibles that you might be able to find at an estate sale near you:<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney Parks<\/span><\/h2>\n

What\u2019s the happiest place on earth? Why, Disneyland of course! Disneyland was opened in Anaheim, CA in July of 1955 and drew crowds of Disney fans from around the world. After Disneyland\u2019s initial success, Walt wanted to create a larger park on the East Coast, and Disneyland was followed in 1971 by Disney World in Orlando, FL.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"1958
A 1958 Disneyland park map<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, there are six Disney parks around the world: Disneyland, Disney World, Tokyo Disney, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the recently opened Shanghai Disneyland.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Each park has their own unique features and attractions, including their own version of a beloved Disney castle (three of the parks have a spin on Sleeping Beauty\u2019s Castle, two have replicas of Cinderella, and Shanghai Disney has its own castle called the \u201cEnchanted Storybook Castle\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to its own unique features and attractions, each Disney park also has its own memorabilia and Disney collectibles (there are also universal pieces that were released at all or some of the parks). Each park releases park-specific memorabilia, often for a short period of time (for example, for the holiday season), which makes each piece a rare find – and super valuable to Disney collectors. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"1980s
This vintage sweatshirt was available sometime in the 1980\u2019s at Walt Disney World in Florida.\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Vintage
This vintage book that offers details about both Disneyland and Disney World was released in 1979 and features rare photos of the parks in their early days.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\u201cIt\u2019s
This ornament was a part of a toy highlighting \u201cIt\u2019s A Small World\u201d, one of the original attractions at Disneyland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"1955
This glass was sold at the opening of Disneyland in 1955. Items from Disneyland\u2019s grand opening are of special interest to collectors.\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Disney Films<\/span><\/h2>\n

Disney has done a lot of things over the years, but the heart and soul of the company will always be in film.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney took the film world by storm with the 1937 release of \u201cSnow White and The Seven Dwarfs,\u201d the first feature-length animated film to be released in Hollywood. The company continued to churn out timeless masterpieces like \u201cPinocchio\u201d in 1940, \u201cDumbo\u201d in 1941, \u201cBambi\u201d in 1942, and \u201cCinderella\u201d in 1950.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After the deaths of Walt Disney (1966) \u00a0and his brother, Disney CEO Roy O. Disney (1971), the company hit a creative rough patch. In the late 70\u2019s, one of Disney\u2019s lead animators, Don Bluth, left the company (taking 11 Disney animators with him) to form rival studio Don Bluth Productions, which would go out to create more critically and commercially successful films (including \u201cThe Secret of NIMH\u201d and \u201cAn American Tail\u201d) throughout the 1980\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

During this time, Disney struggled to find a hit, and many higher-ups in the company wanted to shut the doors to the animation department for good. But following the release of 1989\u2019s \u201cThe Little Mermaid,\u201d Disney entered its most critically and commercially successful era with what\u2019s known as \u201cThe Disney Renaissance.\u201d During this period (which spanned from Mermaid\u2019s release in 1989 through the release of \u201cTarzan\u201d in 1999), Disney released some of the most beloved and critically acclaimed animated films of all time, including 1991\u2019s \u201cBeauty and The Beast,\u201d 1992\u2019s \u201cAladdin,\u201d and 1994\u2019s \u201cThe Lion King.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney then went on to partner with Pixar to lead the charge on computer animation, releasing films like \u201cToy Story\u201d and \u201cThe Incredibles.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney films – particularly older, VHS films – have become one of the hottest Disney collectibles on the market. During the 80\u2019s and 90\u2019s, Disney would release limited editions of its films on VHS; after the limited run, the films would go \u201cback into the vault\u201d until future release dates. These limited edition VHS tapes are in high demand with collectors and can catch thousands on eBay, but can often be found for much more reasonable prices at estate sales.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"The
The Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection, which was a limited release of classic Disney films from 1994 through 1999, are more rare than most other Disney movie collections – making them especially valuable to Disney collectors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Disney's
VHS copies of lesser-known Disney films, like 1985\u2019s \u201cThe Black Cauldron,\u201d are few and far in between – especially limited edition prints like these, which makes it all the more valuable to collectors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Disney Toys<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since Disney is for kids (and people who consider themselves kids at heart!), it makes complete sense that a huge focus of their merchandising efforts would be on toys. Disney toys are one of the most popular (and profitable) arms of the Walt Disney Company.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney has released an insane amount of toys throughout the years across multiple distribution channels; they released toys through the parks, through their retail channel The Disney Store, and through partnerships with third-party companies like McDonald\u2019s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney partnered with McDonald\u2019s to release limited edition Happy Meal toys beginning in 1983, a partnership that still continues to this day. Some of the more popular Disney\/McDonald\u2019s collaborations include Disney\u2019s 100 years of magic (which features 100 different collectible Disney toys), Disneyland\u2019s 40th (which featured Disney characters riding famous Disneyland attractions), and Pixar\u2019s Cars.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Disney store toys are also a heavy favorite among Disney toy collectors. While the Disney Store still has retail locations today, the store hit its peak popularity in the early to late 90\u2019s thanks to reignited public interest as a result of the Disney Renaissance. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most popular Disney toys today revolve around the Disney Princess franchise; newer Disney princesses like Elsa from \u201cFrozen\u201d along with more classic Disney princesses like Cinderella and Snow White fly off the shelves (and off the internet).<\/span><\/p>\n

Most collectors, however, are more interested in older, more obscure Disney toys. Toys like Disney plushes of rare characters or limited edition items have been steadily increasing in value – and would make a great addition to any Disney collection.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Disney
Virtual pets were all the rage in the mid-90\u2019s. Disney partnered with Giga Pet to release a number of virtual pets, including this Little Mermaid edition, that proved to be extremely popular with children. Today, Disney Giga pets are one of the most sought-after Disney toys for collectors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Disney
These vintage Disney party face blowouts are a throwback to the 1950’s and 60’s.\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\u201cBeauty
This \u201cBeauty and The Beast\u201d tea set featuring Mrs. Potts and Chip was popular around the release of the original film in 1992. While additional Beauty and the Beast-themed tea sets have been released in the years since, the original is the most desirable for Disney collectors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Huey,
Huey, Dewey, and Louie were first introduced as Donald Duck\u2019s nephews way back in 1937, but it wasn\u2019t until the 1987 premiere animated series \u201cDucktales\u201d that they began to gain major popularity. \u201cDucktales\u201d is about to get a 2017 reboot, making these toys – released during the show\u2019s original run – even more popular with collectors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Vintage Disney Watches<\/span><\/h2>\n

Of all the varieties of Disney items on the market, none seems to have as much of a collector\u2019s following than watches. Vintage Disney watches are among the most sought after and in-demand Disney collectibles out there.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And they aren\u2019t in short supply. Over the years, Disney has released their own line of watches as well as partnered with well-known industry leaders like Fossil, Timex, and Invictus to offer a wide variety of high-quality time-tellers that quickly became a must for any Disney fan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Because there are so many vintage Disney watch designs out there, it\u2019s a favorite among collectors. There are arguably thousands of different designs, making the thrill of the hunt even more enjoyable.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to collect vintage Disney watches, it\u2019s important that you know the difference between a real vintage watch and a vintage design watch; many Disney watches with vintage designs have been released in recent years, and while they might look like they were created back in the day, they\u2019re really only a few years old. And while there\u2019s nothing wrong with having a new watch, if you really want to collect vintage Disney, you\u2019ve got to keep looking until you find the real thing.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Vintage
This vintage \u201cThe Little Mermaid\u201d watch has intricate ocean-themed detailing on the wristband of different types of shells.\u00a0<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Mickey
Mickey, who turns 89 this year, has gone through a number of changes and reanimations throughout the years. This watch features the Mickey animation style popular in the 1960\u2019s and 70\u2019s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Disney
This watch, which was likely released sometime in the 1980\u2019s, features a Mickey and Minnie that dance and shake their heads as the minutes tick by.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our company…<\/h2>\n

Disney is one of the most beloved brands of all time, and the sheer volume of merchandise they\u2019ve released over the years makes them an ideal choice for collectors of all types.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to get started on the path to becoming a Disney collector, estate sales<\/a> are a great place to start. Because Disney is such an institution around the world, most families collect at least some Disney memorabilia over the years – memorabilia that can be yours, if you know where to look.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that you know everything there is to know about all-things-Disney-collectibles, it’s time to say goodbye. Or, in the words of the Mickey Mouse club:<\/p>\n

“Now it’s time to say goodbye to all our company<\/p>\n

M-I-C (see you real soon!)<\/p>\n

K-E-Y (why? Because we like you!)<\/p>\n

M-O-U-S-E…”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do you have any rare Disney memorabilia in your collection? Share your photos in the comments below!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since the first appearance of Mickey Mouse in the 1928 classic \u201cSteamboat Willie,\u201d Disney has become one of the world\u2019s most beloved brands. There are also few brands with as much merchandising power as Disney; from the early days, the company has released a new batch of Disney collectibles just about every year, with devoted\u2026Read More<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":3529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2137"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3531,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2137\/revisions\/3531"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2137"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2137"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2137"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}