It’s summer! The trouble with Summer for me is that if it isn’t sunny then my mind begins to wonder and suddenly I can’t help but think of Christmas. Olaf may dream of Summer but I dream of Christmas – which is odd as I hate being cold. Christmas for our house is when I pull out all the stops and we decorate to the high heavens. One of our favourite things to do is add more decorations to our Disney tree. It began two years ago and has since evolved. A big help to our collection was the introduction of the Legacy Ornaments from The Disney Store last year. With not knowing what they were going to do and only expecting huge films I was happily surprised when they released a Sword in the Stone and a Who Framed Roger Rabbit Ornament. Bu this is a new year, so what could be on the cards for 2019?
I already know of four releases with the possibility of a fifth, so I will go through those first and then we will check out the anniversaries of films and those released in the US.
First up is The Lion King! Yes, a Beautiful Simba ornament that looks like he is in the middle of singing ‘Wait to be King’. The Film celebrated 25 years in July 2019, with the live action remake released on the Anniversary. This isn’t the only Lion King ornament to be released this year as we see the return of Rafiki holding Simba in he air. Although there are slight changes, this ornament has been done before.
We are travelling back to the late 1950s for our second ornament. Sleeping Beauty wasn’t a huge hit in 1959 but has gained popularity over the years. With the rise of the Disney Princesses she often gets forgotten behind the giants such as Belle, Elsa and Ariel. It is nice to see an ornament that looks at her and her story and this has been done really well. The design is similar to the Chip and Dale one last year so hopefully we will get more of these story book designs in the future. What is really nice is we finally have something that doesn't focus just on Maleficent, I never understood why is is at the forefront of villains when the film wasn’t a huge success and there are plenty of better villains out there!
Now for the saddest opening sequence of any film. Up gave us a lovely childhood meeting between Carl and Ellie and we then enjoyed watching the years of their lives pass in a lovely montage, Carl was to surprise Ellie with the tickets to paradise falls, a dream destination for her, but she collapses and Ellie dies. One of the sweetest moments of this sequence is captured within a glass bauble. Carl and Ellie making hand prints on their post box. Disney seem to be moving towards the figures in the glass baubles. Personally I am not 100% keen on them as I like the figurines but these are nice. I have quite a few glass ones now and they do look good but I prefer the figurines.
Back to the Disney Animated classics now and one that hasn’t been released online but was displayed at a convention a few months ago. Although there is no picture I can reveal that The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad will get two releases this year, with one being part of the legacy range. Mr Toad stands proud and is the exact type of ornament I like. He is of good size and stands in a character pose, rather than a scene from the film. Last year, Disney didn’t really do any of these for the legacy range as they all were doing something from the films or had a pose. The other half of this two part film is Ichabod, Although we are not getting a figurine of him we are getting a headless Horseman. This isn’t part of the legacy collection and looks like it might break easily. I would recommend buying this online as you will get the polystyrene packaging to keep this safe in storage.
So all of the above are approved and I have seen physical evidence of, so what can be next? Well we have 6 places to fill so let’s see what could fill those gaps…
Donald Duck will be getting an anniversary ornament. The one available in the US of our favourite duck is with his usual happy pose but compared through the years. He is stood in front of a banner that reads Donald Duck Club. I think this is one of my favourites that I have seen and I really hope we get this in the UK.
The Three Caballeros could also make an appearance, released in 1944 just 4 days before Christmas, this would most likely feature Joe or maybe the three main birds. With the inclusion of Mr Toad this makes this film a possibility. Although, Oliver and Company, the second biggest Disney Animated film of the 1980s, didn’t get included last year.
I would be very surprised if The Little Mermaid didn’t get a release. One of the biggest films at the time and one with a huge fan base. Ariel does appear on one of the singing ornaments which Disney try to make a success of each year, She is on the rock with the waves splashing and sings ‘Part of Your World’. I highly suspect that she will feature on a future release. In America they have released an ornament that shows Ariel and Eric on the boat during the song ‘Kiss the Girl’. As we received the Merlin one last year, I would assume this is the one we will get this year!
Tarzan may appear, released in 1999 this film wasn’t as huge as it’s predecessors and doesn’t have a fond following like Mulan but it is considered a funny and good film. I would hope that we get to see him on an ornament as he is often missed out. But with the 10 spaces filling up fast, he may miss the top 10 once more.
Toy Story 4 was a huge success in 2019, and already has multiple ornaments based on the film. Buzz and wood feature on one, Bo Peep and Woody, Bo Peeps lamp and Forky all have their own releases. There is also a box of designed ornaments so to feature one on 1999s Toy Story 2 may be the wrong decision. The film would have been a highly likely candidate if there wasn’t a 4th movie released this year. Also the film isn’t as widely regarded as the other films, although it is my favourite and would love to see a Bullseye or some of the original toys make it to my Christmas Tree.
The Incredibles celebrates 15 years this year but with a selection of ornaments released last year for the sequel I think this will fall in the same category as Toy Story 2. Last year we saw a boxed set with the entire family included so I am not sure what extra they can do this year. We might have to wait for a 20th Anniversary.
Home on the Range. I highly doubt this film will ever get an ornament. The film wasn’t a success and is not heralded as a hidden gem nor a high point for Disney. It is a shame because for collectors this will prove one of the harder ones to get but with a year with so much choice this film wont get a look in.
Princess and the Frog. The American Disney Store have released a 10 year anniversary ornament so, like Merlin last year, I would assume we would receive this later.
It all depends on how close Disney will go, as Big Hero 6 celebrates its fifth birthday this year. Baymax has already featured for three years running on ornaments, but then so has the Up house. I don’t think we will see a Big Hero 6 anniversary but we will almost definitely will for its 10th anniversary.
With the inclusion of Star Wars and Marvel Last year, along with Who Framed Roger Rabbit, I also wanted to look at the live action films that Disney own and some of the other areas of the company.
The first of which I think would be highly controversial. It wouldn’t seem right that amongst Ariel and Cruella Devill, Homer Simpson should sit on my tree. Although I would love a decoration with the Simpsons on, I still cant bring myself to think of the characters as Disney. It would be a great move but I think it would be too soon to include them in. plus with all of the great films celebrating this year, it would be a wasted space. This being said, I hope we do start seeing The Simpsons merchandised in the stores soon.
The Santa Clause celebrates 25 years and I can’t make my mind up if they will release anything from this film. It seems like a perfect marketing opportunity each year but they never do it. I would suspect that they wouldn’t do this for the legacy range but a new series of Pop Vinyls have been released.
20,000 leagues under the sea. Again a film that could be included but it isn’t remembered today. I can’t imagine any product being released for this anniversary, despite its success in its day.
Mary Poppins. I think this one is a given. With the success of the original and the recently released sequel, I would expect something for Miss Poppins. Each year she had at least one ornament dedicated to her. However as to what that ornament may be is beyond me. The flying with the umbrella was used last year and has been used multiple times since. Last year also saw her in the white gown she wears. It could be the Merry-Go-Round but who knows….?
The final option and I think that they might actually do this one is The Haunted Mansion. Officially opened in 1969, the 50th Anniversary would be 2019. With the huge following for the ride it wouldn’t be a huge surprise. On the other hand they may not include this within the legacy collection, but I think it would be fun to have some of the park rides and attractions incorporated into the UK merchandise.
So those are my thoughts, there are plenty of pictures with a lot of the first wave of ornaments on www.shopDisney.co.uk
I will be looking at all of the Christmas products that are Disney themed that I can find when they come out so please check them out.
Found this helpful? Know of any confirmed releases? Let me know!!