Buyers Guide to Disney Vinylmations

Vinylmations are vinyl characters, shaped like Mickey Mouse. Mickey is used as a blank canvas, and each Vinylmation has a unique appearance — you can even purchase blank Vinylmation characters, and decorate your own. The word "Vinylmation" is a combination of "Animation" and "Vinyl," the medium the characters are created from.

When you purchase a Vinylmation, you won't get to see what character you get until you open the box, so every Vinylmation is a surprise. Don't like the character you received? You can trade it in at some store and gallery locations, or with other guests.

Vinylmations are a hit with kids, and trading at events is fast and furious. At just under $10 each, Vinylmations are rapidly replacing pins as the collectible of choice for the under 18 crowd.

Ready to purchase your first Vinylmation character?

Vinylmations come in a variety of collections, including Urban, Theme Park, Cutesters, Minis, and Muppets. There are also some special edition Vinylmations, featuring events and characters you can only get for a limited time.

You can select the category you would like — all the boxes in a category look alike, with no hint to the contents. Once you have made a selection, pay for your Vinylmation character, and get ready to take your first look at your new collectible.

Open your box to reveal...a foil packet. Disney really wants to keep Vinylmations under wraps until the last minute!

A quick tear of the foil reveals your character, along with a collectible trading card, and the start of a new collection.

Don't love your Vinylmation — or get a duplicate? Don't fret, you can trade it in for a different style.