Onward: Mattel Hot Wheels Guinevere Premium Diecast | MY REVIEW

Onward Light-Up Guinevere Popcorn Bucket (Disney Parks)

Released last August at Walt Disney World within Hollywood Studios, here we have this super cool Onward inspired light-up Guinevere van popcorn bucket! I'm certainly not an avid collector of the Disney Parks souvenir popcorn buckets like some fans are, but once in a while there will be one that really stands out to me...and this is one of them. After resisting for a while, I finally broke down and ended up snagging one on eBay a couple months back. I paid only $25 for it, which isn't bad considering the original retail price was $18. 

Honestly, the real reason I got this was to use as a toy (even the tag says "not a toy") with the Mattel Onward 7" figures. Though I know it's not even close to being in scale with them, it's good enough for me considering there aren't any other options out there that are closer. In fact, the only other Guinevere toy that was produced is the Mattel Minis one (seen HERE). An official 7" scale Guinevere toy/playset from Mattel (with lights and sounds/music; maybe even an RC feature?) was always my dream, but at this point I'm almost certain that never happening. This is no doubt the next best thing.

It's actually very well done and surprisingly detailed/movie accurate for a popcorn bucket. It really does seem more like an actual toy. Check it out in more detail below!

This van opens up to a relatively spacey compartment (originally intended for popcorn, of course) and an attached Onward lanyard (for walking around the parks and snacking on popcorn at the same time). I tested it out and you can actually store both the Ian and Barley 7" figures in here at the same time. The van measures roughly 10" long x 4" tall x 5" wide and has rolling wheels.

The best feature though is that the headlights light-up as seen in my action shot and brief video below (just press the small button on the van's front grill)! My only big complaint—and it's a bummer for sure—is that there doesn't seem to be any way to replace the batteries. So once it's out, it's out and the best feature will be gone. That'll be a disappointing day, but I'll enjoy the lights while they last. 

If you're interested in grabbing one of these for your Onward collection, be sure to check out THIS direct link to current eBay listings. Let me know your thoughts and/or any questions you might have in the comments below!

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Onward Plush Collection (by Mattel)

Hey all! I hope everyone had a fantastic and safe Thanksgiving weekend. Tonight I just wanted to document and share my brief thoughts on the Mattel Onward plush collection that was released early this year! I received these for my birthday back in May and have been meaning to get to this post ever since. I sure wish I wasn't so behind on many of my posts, but man have things been busy around here. 

These were some of the first Onward products to hit shelves clear back in January and their cuteness stood out to me immediately. As soon as I saw the film and loved it, I was like, ok I'm gonna need those Mattel plush now. I actually favored these ones over the Disney Stores ones since 1.) they're smaller/more compact for storage 2.) they're less expensive and 3.) I really love the more overly cartoony/stylized designs! They're just too cute and super soft to cuddle.

 

This assortment includes five characters: Ian Lightfoot, Barley Lightfoot, Manticore (tavern mascot), a trash unicorn and Dewdrop the sprite. I do wish they had included Wilden Lightfoot (dad), but it's no big deal. They're between 9"-10" tall and each retailed for $9.99. These were originally available at Target, but I'm sure most stores are sold out at this point. Luckily Amazon still has most them (minus Dewdrop; unfortunately she seems sold out everywhere) in stock and I'll include the links to buy below! If you're interested in adding these plush to your Onward collection, I'd go ahead and snag them before they're gone. 

Let me know your thoughts down in the comments and be sure to check back weekly for more from my ever expanding Pixar collection! 

 

Onward: Willowdale College Pullover Hoodie (ShopDisney)

Here's another long overdue post I've been meaning to get to since February—this amazing Disney·Pixar Onward inspired Willowdale College pullover fleece hoodie from the Disney Store, an exact replica of the one Ian Lightfoot wears in the film! This was given to me by my friends over at Showcase Cinemas (back when I helped host the Pixar movie marathon event), so a huge thanks to them. It was such a cool surprise, especially since I had been eyeing this to buy for myself regardless. 

Unfortunately this hoodie has since sold out, but if you're able to track it down somehow, I highly recommend it. When my wife put it on to model it for my photos here (thank you for the help, Brita!), she exclaimed to me how soft and cozy it was. Then I had to try it on to feel it for myself—and she was right! This is one comfy sweatshirt. I'm very impressed with the quality; so much that I've been wearing it pretty much consistently all week.

 

Original retail price was $39.99. Here are some more official details taken directly from ShopDisney:

• 'Lightfoot'' embroidered on front
• Lined hood
• Drawstring tie with metal grommets
• Ribbed cuffs and hem
• 60% cotton / 40% polyester
  

Did you pick this one up for your collection? What are your thoughts? I'd love to hear it down below!

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Onward: "Gwinny" Van T-Shirt (BoxLunch)

*Paid support and free product provided by Disney* 

 
Hey everyone—once again, I hope you all had a great official first week of Pixar Fest! If you're not already, be sure to be following along with me on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news and updates throughout this exciting month. 
 
This week has been themed around Onward (leading up to tonight's Onward watch party on Disney+) and, to help me celebrate the film, Disney was generous enough to send a few new Onward products my way. Following yesterday's post, the next item I wanted to share with you is this super van-tastic Guinevere ("Gwinny) T-shirt from BoxLunch! If you recall, Barley's nickname for his noble steed/van is "Gwinny" and this shirt's design incorporates that (which is actually pretty unique). 

I really love the minimal graphic on this tee featuring three overlapping Guinevere vans—it feels very retro! It's made from lightweight 100% combed ring spun cotton, is super soft and has a really nice slim fit to it. I'm really picky when it comes to t-shirts, but I can honestly 100% recommend this one up for your Disney/Pixar shirt collection—especially for all you fans of Onward out there!

If you're interested in purchasing this tee, be sure to grab it on the BoxLunch website HERE (currently on sale for $20.23). I look forward to hearing your thoughts down below in the comments!

Onward: Barley's Denim Vest Inspired Water Bottle (BoxLunch)

 

*Paid support and free product provided by Disney* 

 

Hi everyone—I hope you're all having a great first week of Pixar Fest! If you're not already, be sure to be following along with me on Instagram and Twitter for all the latest news and updates throughout this exciting month. 

This week is all about Onward (leading up to a Disney+ watch party on 9/5) and, to help me celebrate, Disney was generous enough to send a few Onward products my way. The first item I wanted to share with you is this awesome water bottle from BoxLunch—directly inspired by Barley Lightfoot's denim vest (and the accompanying patches) seen in the film! This 16 oz plastic water bottle features a double-wall construction, sports cap and flip-up straw. It's the perfect way to help you stay hydrated on any of your upcoming quests!

 

For a full 360° look, check out the brief video I posted to my Instagram Stories below. If you're interested in picking this up for your collection, you can purchase the bottle on BoxLunch's site HERE for just $5.99 right now (originally $16.90). Let me know what you think and I'll see you tomorrow at the watch-along!

 

Magical Light-Up Onward Umbrella w/Flashlight

One of my favorite memories this year was helping host the Showcase Cinemas Pixar Movie Marathon Event back in February. It was a blast hanging with other Pixar mega fans, watching Pixar movies all day and seeing an advanced screening of Onward. Showcase Cinemas also hooked me up with a few free Onward goodies that were waiting there in my hotel room as a surprise for when I arrived—one of the items being this fantastic Onward promotional umbrella! A huge thanks to the Showcase Cinemas marketing team for taking such good care of me that entire weekend.

For the last six months, I honestly thought this was just your basic umbrella; really nice quality with fun character images, but basic nonetheless. That is until a couple days ago when I was prepping for this review and noticed a flashlight underneath the handle. How did I not see that before?? What a neat feature.

So yah, noticing the flashlight under the handle was a cool enough realization on its own. I had never seen anything like that in an umbrella! However, when I added the three AAA batteries it needed, I discovered something even cooler: the main shaft of the umbrella actually lights up as well, featuring bright and vibrant colors with the press of a button on the handle! Magical.

You can cycle through six or seven different colors (red, green, purple, blue, yellow...) buy turning it off and on repeatedly. There's also a mode where it continuously fades through all the colors. You can see exactly what I mean in this video demonstration I posted on Twitter. Sweet right??

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any additional information on this anywhere online and it doesn't seem to be sold anywhere. If you happen to find somewhere that sells it or have any other info, be sure to let me know in the comments below and I'll update this post.

That's it for now. I'll see you right here again soon with another new item from my ever-expanding Pixar collection!

Onward: Guinevere Van Mug (ShopDisney)

Behold, your chariot awaits! What's a quest without a mighty steed, right? Now as you start your day and prepare for its gauntlet of challenges, you can do so by sipping your favorite hot beverage from Barley's iconic van from Disney·Pixar's Onward—Guinevere!

This epic ceramic mug was released at the Disney Store (and ShopDisney.com), as well as the Disney Parks, at the beginning of the year when the Onward merch was first released. I waited too long to get it though and, by the time I went to order it as a birthday present for myself back in May, it had sold out online and Disney Stores were shut down at that point. Luckily my nearest Disney Store was frozen in time for the last five months, so when they reopened a couple weeks back, they still had plenty of these mugs left—and at an incredibly low sale price too! A huge thank you to my good friend Gabby who ended up purchasing this and gifting it to me as a late birthday present.

The mug has fantastically detailed screen art, is microwave & dishwasher safe, measures 3 1/2'' H x 4'' W x 6'' L (including handle) in size and holds 18 oz. Original retail price was $19.99. Instructions, as usual, state to wash thoroughly before first use.

Check it out in more detail down below! 

I honestly didn't need another mug in my collection (I have wayyy to many), but this one was too cool to pass up—not to mention I ending up loving how the van was portrayed on screen in the film. It was not only a mere vehicle, but a crucial character as well! The mug is perfect for obvious practical purposes (like drinking from), but it also makes for a super neat display piece on a desk or shelf as well (that's what I mostly got it for).

If you're interested in adding this to your Onward collection, be sure to visit your local Disney Store ASAP now that they've reopened to check availability! They just may have it still in stock, like mine does. You can also pick it up through third-party sellers on Amazon using the direct affiliate link below or eBay HERE.

Let me know your thoughts!

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Onward: Behold! The Majestic Unicorn (and Other Not-So-Magical Beings) Book Review

Behold! The Majestic Unicorn (and Other Not-So-Magical Beings) is a fun little Disney·Pixar Onward inspired book that holds true to one of the main themes of the film—that times have changed and that, while some things have stayed the same, "magic" has become something rare to be rediscovered.

Each spread features one of the film's many magical species; a page or two showing them and what they were like "before" (times of old) and then a page or two depicting them "now" (modern day). The creatures it touches on are: unicorns, elves, dragons, trolls, centaurs, merfolk, whispering trees, sprites and gnomes. This is not a long book or necessarily a storybook (a couple sentences per creature; 32 pages), but it's nicely/simply written with a touch of sarcasm (no author is attached) and with some really cute and colorful illustrations by Pixar's own Jeff Pidgeon and the Disney Storybook Art Team. It makes for a nice and quick book to read at bedtime, especially if your little ones are captivated by the fantasy world of Onward.

This hardcover book is also smaller in size, measuring only 6.8" x 6.8". I really like that, but was surprised when I saw it in person! I just figured it was more of a standard book size.

Enjoy my exclusive peek inside below!

I really liked seeing one of the whispering trees here, a classic fantasy creature that never made it to the final cut of the film (but can be spotted in the Art of Onward book and in a deleted scene on the Blu-Ray). I think this is such a hilarious and clever idea—to have them as some kind of a supermarket associate stuck in the ground outside the store handing out flyers. I do wish there was a bit more world building/gags like this in the movie. The teaser trailer had some great moments like this that were also cut, such as the garden gnomes doing actual yardwork.

For young fans of Onward, I can totally recommend this book. For under 10 bucks on Amazon, you can't really go wrong here! If you're interested in snagging this for your collection, you can help support my site by purchasing it on Amazon using the affiliate link below. Be sure to leave your thoughts and any questions you might have down in the comments!

Onward: Funko "POP!" Collection Review— PAGE UPDATE

Hey what's up gang?! Tonight's post is a page update to my Onward Funko "POP!" collection review. Even though I was originally going to pass on getting this Hot Topic exclusive "Limited CHASE Edition" version of the unicorn (which has a blue horn instead of the standard purple horn), I decided my collection felt incomplete without it and thought "why the heck not". Yah, it's not the most exciting Funko Chase out there—I mean, it's almost the exact same at the standard version—but it was the last one I needed and doesn't sell for too much these days anyway (only around $15-$20 on eBay). I actually asked for this for my birthday from my parents in-law back in May, so it was no skin off my back regardless ;) A big thanks to them for hooking me up!

Be sure to check out the original post featuring the [now] complete collection HERE. What are you thoughts?

Events: My Disney·Pixar Onward Themed 30th Birthday Party!

This past Wednesday (May 27th), I celebrated my 30th birthday! It's still hard to believe. The theme I ended up going for this year was Pixar's latest film Onward—we called it "30 & Onward", which I thought was pretty perfect. It was kind of a semi-surprise, since my wife and I had discussed using this idea for my party, but I wasn't sure if she was going to be able to find any party supplies due to all the shutdowns and slow shipping speeds. Well, with a little magic (and help from my mom as well), they pulled it off together in an even bigger way than I ever expected!

For obvious reasons, we decided to have the full party outside. It was a gorgeous day though and I'm so glad we did! I went rollerblading around the town where I grew up (which was my first time in a while; very nostalgic for me) while my wife Brita and mom set everything up. It was so exciting coming home to see all the party magic they created! I wasn't expecting them to go this all out.

I loved the color scheme of this party, different than anything I've done for any of my birthdays! There were essentially only Onward plates, napkins, balloons and a banner out there to purchase, so they color coordinated with those to tie in the generic tablecloths, napkins, cups, hats, party blowers and utensils which brought it all together. It looked grand and glorious! Really eye-popping.

Let the quest begin!

The Onward plates and napkins can be purchased at Party City HERE. I'll include an Amazon link below as well.

The party hats that my mom was able to find were striking. They were absolute perfection! The colors matched everything to a T (almost like they were made for this) and they had a really unique shine to them. They reminded me of some kind of magical gems or something when paired with this theme.

The minimal art on the balloons was so awesome!

My family starting to gather, waiting for dinner.

Brita had the idea of hanging up my Onward fleece blanket on my parents playground. It was a great touch!

My Willowdale College hoodie even made an appearance. Another solid detail bringing the world of Onward to my childhood backyard!

Kudos to my mom who spent who knows how long printing and working on this custom "Happy 30th Birthday Dan" banner! I felt very loved <3

Here are the classic party snacks (potato chips, onion dip and M&Ms are the tradition in my family) and festive purple punch to match the theme! That was another fun idea from Brita—delicious too!

This super sweet "Quest Seeker" banner can be purchased at Party City as well!

So happy to have my little Aidan with me on my 30th birthday! Last year on this very day was the day we announced our pregnancy to the family, so it was surreal having him here now and already such a big boy!

Brita found some perfect wrapping paper at Target that totally matched the Onward colors and magical esthetic. My ShopDisney reusable tote was used for some presents as well! 💜💙

We had shish kebobs for dinner which were deliciously outstanding and the perfect summer meal!

Present stash! A huge thanks to all my family for all the thoughtful gifts!

Some of my nieces and nephews made some seriously cool and creative cards...like the wizard staff with phoenix gem below!

I love the references to the giant cheese puff and gelatinous cube in this one made by my nephew Nathan. Wilden Lightfoot's legs as the "H" at the top in "Happy Birthday" was genius!

Oh my mom and her brilliant themed packages 😍 You'll be seeing more of these (and many more) items soon!

Even the box to my new speakers got a little Onward touch.

The sunset toward the end of the party was absolutely stunning! And notice how it's almost the same colors as the sunset seen on the Onward teaser poster? Meant to be!

I mixed things up a bit with my cake this year and had individual homemade strawberry shortcakes! I can't even tell you how tasty this all was. It's definitely going to be my new tradition year after year from now on!

Lastly I had to share this rootin' tootin' Toy Story card my mother in-law sent me! Totally nailed it.

Well everyone, I think that's it for this year! Another amazing Pixar inspired party for the books (if you want to see any of my previous years, you can explore the "Birthday Party" label to the right of this page). I have to give one last HUGE THANK YOU to my wife, parents and all my family who made this day so extra special! I couldn't have asked for a better start to this new decade.

Onward and Upward!