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Rare Early Disney Animation Cel Up For Auction

Filed under: Auctions

disney animation cel
Animation cels have become popular collectibles, combining art with a heavy dose of nostalgia. Cels are transparent sheets which the images are drawn and painted and they were used for early traditional animation. They are available at a wide range of price points from around a hundred dollars to many thousands depending on the complexity of the image and the significance of the final work that it is part of. Disney cels are often among the most prized with the flagship mouse, Mickey, being particularly important. Disney discontinued the use of cels in favor of computer animation several decades ago.

Heritage Auctions is selling off a Mickey Mouse animation cel, that they term the world's most valuable. The Band Concert Production Cel Animation Art, Walt Disney, 1935 – will be part of Heritage Auctions Feb. 24-25 Signature Comics and Comic Art Auction. The Band Concert is a funny, short cartoon, showing Mickey's orchestra of colorful characters playing, no matter what is happening around them. It is estimated to sell for $100,000 and is thought to be the only production setup in existence from the first Mickey cartoon that features Mickey and the entire band. The image area measures approximately 12" x 9.5", matted and framed to an overall size of 26.75" x 22.75" and has been professionally restored. The cel comes to Heritage via the Kerby Confer Collection. Confer is known to be one of the most serious collectors of original Disney material. Confer bought the cel in 2001. The cel appears on a list of most expensive animation cels which says that it sold for over $400,000 back in 1999.

"This cel is, in many ways, the ultimate Mickey Mouse item a collector could ever hope to acquire," said Barry Sandoval, Director of Operations of the Comics category at Heritage. "The Band Concert was the very first theatrical Mickey Mouse cartoon in color, and has long been cherished by Disney fans worldwide."

Disney Creates New Mixology-Centered Cocktail Menu

Filed under: Spirits

The Disney parks continue to find ways to delight both adults and children. They've rolled out a new cocktail menu that brings the mixology trend to the happiest place on earth. The new beverage menu looks like an explorer's journal and features cocktails with fresh fruits, herbs and organic spirits. Options include the Raspberry Rain Cocktail made with Rain Organics Red Grape Hibiscus Vodka, Chambord, freshly muddled raspberries, lychee and fresh lemon juice and the Superfruit Martini with Van Gogh Acai-Blueberry Vodka, pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice, organic agave nectar and fresh lemon juice. The menu also includes non-alcoholic options. Many of the park restaurants already feature a wide variety of specialty cocktails including the always popular Glowtini, a bright blue mix of Skyy Citrus Vodka, Blue Curacao, peach schnapps, sour mix, and pineapple juice garnished with a souvenir glow cube.

FAO Schwartz Offers Once-in-A-Lifetime Experiences at Auction

Filed under: Auctions, Luxury Shopping

FAO Schwartz has launched
FAO Schwarz, the renowned luxury toy store which is known for providing one-of-kind shopping experiences, is building upon that legacy by launching the "Experiences of a Lifetime" online auction.

Four "Experiences of a Lifetime," auction items will be offered on FAO.com with 100% of the proceeds donated to Toys for Tots. The auction items are sure to delight die-hard enthusiasts of Disney, Nickelodeon, Smurf and FAO Schwarz alike as they are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that bring the brands they love to life. Bids can be placed now through December 1. Each of the packages would make a unique holiday gift.

The one-of-a-kind prize packages include:

Disney On Ice Party Package Extravaganza!
Offering the ultimate party for Disney fans, the winner of this auction package will have the opportunity to invite up to 25 children and 25 adults to a Disney On Ice show in any city where the tour is scheduled to stop! The winning child and family will be publicly acknowledged at the beginning of the show as special guests, and each child who attends will receive a Disney costume to wear during the show that they can take home as a keepsake along with a special Disney On Ice gift bag. The one and a half hour party package extravaganza includes catering and photo opportunities with a star from Disney On Ice.

The 'Disney Tattoo Guy' Puts His Disney Collection Up For Auction

Filed under: Auctions, Children

It's not surprising that a man who has over 2,200 authorized tattoos of Disney cartoon characters and film stars is a bit of a collector. George Reiger, known to many as 'the Disney tattoo guy,' is putting his collection up for sale through the William H. Bunch auction house. The auction is scheduled for November 15 and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Reiger is a former postal worker and accomplished magician who has spent the last 40 years amassing Disney limited-edition theme park and convention collectibles. His collection of as many as 8,000 pieces includes theme park props, limited-edition pins, bronzes, ceramics, animation cels, stuffed animals and just about anything Disney. Even his house is Disney-fied with a Mickey Mouse-themed decor and custom-designed doors, ceilings, knobs and fixtures that will also be up for sale. The auction will be broken into 400-500 cataloged lots and end with box lots available only to in-gallery bidders.

The collection features items that are both small and large. Two of the larger items are a 15-foot-long, custom-built Nautilus submarine and an eight-foot-tall articulated Jack Skellington figure from the movie "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The piece shown at right is a Paddy Gordon Cinderella's Castle sculpture, Disneyland. It's a limited edition and is number eight of 50 and originally cost $1,200 but is estimated at $600-$900.

Check out video of an appearance by George Reiger and his collection on "Housefiles" after the jump.

Disney's Fantasia Inspires New Jewelry Line

Filed under: Jewelry


Disney's Fantasia movie has had an indelible effect on the culture. Its madcap scenes set to classical music have a timeless quality. Walt Disney Signature and nOir jewelry have launched a capsule collection that springs from the exuberant 1940 animated film. The line takes direct inspiration from specific moments in the movie. Prices for the pieces range from $250 to $1000. The Snowball necklace shown above features balls covered in Cubic Zirconia stones in a pave setting. This necklace is inspired by The Nutcracker Suite scene of the Disney classic and sells for $900.


[via JCK Online]

Disney Dream Ship Gets A Fireworks Float Out

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels


The Allure of the Seas wasn't the only massive cruise ship on the move recently. The Disney Cruise Line saw its newest vessel, the Disney Dream float out of an enclosed building dock at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. The ship's debut after 20 months of construction was celebrated by a fireworks display and the appearance of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. The ship will now undergo testing on its stabilizers, rudders and other features while work on the interior continues. AOL Travel was on hand and captured video of the event.

The Disney Dream is the third ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and has 14 decks and a ship length of 1,115 feet. The 128,000-ton vessel accommodates 4,000 passengers in 1,250 staterooms along with over 1,450 crew members. Staterooms on board the Disney Dream feature contemporary amenities including split bathroom, a feature perfect for families. The ship has plenty of clubs and activity centers for all ages of children and in addition to the magically themed restaurants there is also elegant adults-only dining. Entertainment on the Disney Dream will include musical live shows, first-run films, Digital 3-D movies and pools for kids, families and adults.

The first voyage of the Disney Dream is scheduled for January 26th, 2011 from Port Canaveral, Florida. The Disney Fantasy is also under construction at the same shipyard. This is the largest ship to come out of the Meyer Werft shipyard which is also committed to build a pair of vessels for Norwegian Cruise Line.

"Tron" Inspired Jewelry and Fashion

Filed under: Apparel, Handbags, Jewelry, Shoes


The upcoming "TRON: Legacy" movie has inspired new fashion and jewelry lines. Disney Consumer Products is collaborating with designers Rousseau, Hayden-Harnett, Rotenier, TomTom and others to launch a luxury accessory and shoe collection for women inspired by the high-tech 3D adventure which comes out in theaters on December 17, 2010. The new couture line features sterling silver and leather statement pieces including a limited edition 5-inch high-heeled platform sandal inspired by the fearless female warrior--Quorra. The TRON Pop-Up Shop set to launch in Los Angeles this November will offer fans a one-stop shop for special and limited-edition TRON merchandise, including this new couture line for women. The shoe designed by Jerome C. Rousseau retails for $795. or Holiday 2010, the shoe will be exclusively sold at the TRON Pop-Up Shop and will expand to selected retailers worldwide in February 2011. Pieces range in from $90 - $2,600 and include earrings and necklaces from jewelry designer Robin Rotenier, handbags from Hayden-Harnett, jewelry from TomTom and unisex belts from Han Cholo.

"In developing these TRON-inspired collections, we saw a natural fit for today's modern woman who blends fashion and technology in her daily routine," said Pam Lifford, executive vice president of fashion and home for Disney Consumer Products. "The films' lead female character was also a great inspiration due to her strong and fearless attitude. Combined with the design talents behind these fashion labels and their affinity for TRON, we have the perfect mix to deliver a line that will resonate with women all around."

Gallery: Tron Fashion

TRON Round Icon EarringsTRON Long Icon EarringsTRON Long Icon NecklaceTRON Icon NecklaceTRON Belt Buckle

Dine With Farmers at the Equinox Resort

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events


Leaf peepers head up to Vermont each year to see some of the prettiest foliage around but another reason to visit is the Farmers' Dinner Series being held at a variety of locales in the state. The next dinner is October 23 at the Riverview Cafe in Dummerston Vermont.

The farmers' dinners bring people closer to the wonderful food sources available in Vermont with diners and farmers breaking bread together. On October 29, the charming Equinox resort is hosting a Farmers' dinner with Taylor Farm. The three-course dinner highlights the Fall Harvest of Vermont's farms as well as items from the garden of The Equinox's own Executive Chef Jeffrey Russell and the local farmers will share the story of the meal as it unfolds. An optional reception prior to dinner includes a tour of Taylor Farms with a wine and cheese tasting. The dinner is $50 per person and the wine and cheese reception is an additional $10 per person. Guests may also choose a weekend getaway for two which includes the dinner and two nights in luxurious accommodations for $579 per couple.

Disney Couture Shows Its Teeth for Shark Week

Filed under: Jewelry

Hinged Fish Jaw Ring, $32It's Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, and that has thinking about teeth. Fortunately, it had the good folks at Disney Couture thinking about teeth, too, and now as part of their The Little Mermaid collection, you can buy hinged jaws (like the Hinged Fish Jaw Ring at right) and sharp teeth as rings, necklaces, bracelets and more.

These gold-plated piece incorporate aquatic elements like mother of pearl and freshwater pearls, as well as crystals, enamel and glass to make fun, ferocious pieces you can wear all year long. At just $32 to $160, it's certainly not the most expensive collection we've ever showcased, but it is an excellent way to commemorate Shark Week and show your love for the fanged fish.

For more high-end shark and aquatic-inspired options, check out Lauren Wolf and the White Gold and Diamond Shark Tooth Necklace by Ewa Solarska, for starters.

Disney Announces New Luxury Home Development

Filed under: Real Estate Developments


Will luxury home buyers want to live in Florida's Disney World? The Wall Street Journal reports that Walt Disney Company has made the move into luxury residential real estate with a Golden Oak, a new 980-acre development that will eventually include 450 homes and a 445-room Four Seasons hotel. The homes themselves will be priced between $1.5 million and $8 million.

Florida's real estate has remained sluggish and the top-end of the Orlando market is already stuffed with multi-million luxury homes. But according to the WSJ article Disney is bullish on the concept and sees room for its expansion into the luxury market. The brand has made a few interesting forays into pricey items already, with expensive restaurants and wine bars in its parks and a line of diamond jewelry and high-priced bridal gowns.

Changes Planned For Disneyland Hotel

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels


The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California has announced more upgrades to its ongoing renovations of the Disneyland Hotel. The changes will include building a new pool and water play area, renovating an existing pool, opening a new restaurant and bar, and re-theming of the hotel's three guest room towers.

The changes will restore the original midcentury style of the classic hotel. The hotel's original two-story bungalows were built in 1955, just months after Walt Disney's first theme park opened its gates and the first tower was erected in 1962. The biggest changes will be around the pool area which will have a new water play area. "Disneyland" will be spelled out in blocks atop a platform supporting two water slides. At each slide's entrance will sit a replica Monorail Car that guests will glide through on their way to the water below. The larger of the two main slides sits 26 feet high and stretches 187 feet until it plunges into a splash pool. The second slide is 13 feet high and 112 feet long. For younger children the area will include a third two-lane mini slide that sits just 3 1/2 feet high and is 19 feet long.

Disney Mobile Diamond Cell Phones

Filed under: Gadgets

Disney Mobile Diamond Cell Phones
The latest in the Disney Mobile line is the DM005SH, which despite its boringly technical name is actually a very whimsical and fun design. The clamshell-model phone features your choice of 3 bright colors (complete with Disney-esque names like "Sunrise Pink", "Midnight Blue" and "Stardust White") with 22 diamonds in varying sizes scattered randomly across the case like stars. All random except for one little set of three that are arranged in the shape of a tiny Mickey Mouse (find it like Where's Waldo, can you see it in the picture?). Pricing hasn't been announced yet.

Tom Binns 'Alice in Wonderland' Inspired Jewelry

Filed under: Jewelry

Tom Binns Alice in Wonderland Jewelry
There's certainly no shortage of fairytale-inspired jewelry in the world but I would argue that there's a definite shortage of 'not-totally-silly' designs based on the favorite stories of our childhood. Tom Binns, however, has collaborated with Disney to come up with a set of jewelry designs inspired by the old story and new movie "Alice in Wonderland" and I think they're refreshingly grown up. The designs are each based on an event or character such as the evil Red Queen, who has a necklace of little red hearts interspersed with thorns and pins, or the bracelet shown here called "Smashing Time" that is made up broken tea party dishes. Look for the pieces to be on sale this spring in the Tom Binns New York store and other boutiques for $1000 - $1500 each.

Disney Gets Into The Wedding Ring Business

Filed under: Jewelry

disney ringA couple of years ago Disney entered the bridal market with a line of fairytale wedding dresses. The line is still going strong and now the designer,Kirstie Kelly is expanding into fine jewelry. National Jeweler reports that Kelly's new line of diamond wedding and engagement rings, "Kirstie Kelly for Disney by Mouawad" debuted this week as part of Bridal Fashion Week in New York. The line consists of six engagement rings with matching wedding bands that correspond to six Disney heroines, Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Princess Jasmine from Aladdin, Ariel from The Little Mermaid and Belle from Beauty and the Beast. The Disney rings are being sold as semi-mounts (center stone not included) and retail for $1,200 to $6,000.



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Auctions Scheduled For Condos In Disney Town

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

auction at celebration
The Disney-planned community of Celebration, Florida is the latest site of a condominium auction. The picture-perfect town seeks to replicate an idealized slice of small town American life but like most Florida towns it has become a victim of the real estate crisis. Now 27 condominium homes in the Artisan Park complex at Celebration which were once listed from prices of $480,000 to $600,000 will be auctioned off with suggested opening bid of just $95,000. The auction starts at 10 a.m on August 1 at the Celebration Hotel. Some units have a waterfront view and the complex includes a clubhouse with a swimming pool, cabana and restaurants all amid Celebration's cookie-cutter perfection.

[via The Ledger]

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