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One of the more popular Disney them park collectible lines is the large-scale resin snowglobe. They've done tons based on all of their various movies and characters and now finally, their rides. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first attraction-based snowglobe and it certainly doesn't disappoint. The thing stands about 9 1/4" tall and has circumference of 6 1/4 inches. I'm sure that's cast in resin, or maybe polystone, and as such, weighs a couple pounds at least.
The base sort of recreates the graveyard scene, though it is nothing directly from the ride. Its main feature is a big tomb, with ride-gags arranged around it. In the front there's the Caretaker and his dog, a version of the "let me out of here" coffin gag, and a skeleton arm holding a trowel sticking out of the tomb wall (a gag from the ride). The side features a fence, a couple headstones and the popular Opera-singing couple from the ride. The back has some more headstones, two big trees (which kind go up behind and cup the globe) with an owl (with glow-in-the-dark eyes) on the left side, bats hanging from the lower right tree's branch, and two members of the graveyard band. The right side features a third band member figure, another fence, and a headstone with the ride's infamous (once intended-to-be narrator) raven.
The globe houses the ever-popular trio of Hitchhiking Ghosts. They are based on their pre-mirror appearance and stand poised with thumbs stuck out. For snow, there are little translucent, reflective pieces of cellophane, or something. On top of the globe sits one of the demonic candleholders from the stretching gallery.
Sculpt on the whole piece is uniformly solid, but fairly simple and cute (particularly the character figures). The raven, coffin lid, skeletal arm and the Caretaker's lantern are all connected to their bases by springs, creating a jittery bobbling effect. The paint on everything is pretty cool and adds a lot to what could have been a really goofy item. What's neat is that the eight ghosts are cast in a translucent blue-green plastic and have a light blue airbrush on them for effect – which is pretty cool.
Now the cool stuff! This globe has a wind-up music box that plays "Grim Grinning Ghosts" (the Mansion theme). It's actually a really cool, really creepy thing because it's such a simple version of the song, plus parts are slightly off-tune and it all slows done as the wind-up wears off. It can be surprising eerie if timed right. What's more that, as the music plays, the base (and subsequently the three ghosts) gently slides side-to-side. But the best part is that the five ghosts on the base actually light up! They have a green LED in them or something that, with the flick of a switch, ignites them into a ghostly aura!
This piece is expensive ($70-$90) but it's actually fairly cool, especially for fans of the mansion. All the little extras (like light, music and motion) really help make this collectible endearing, and while it's not great it is pretty cool.
Post-Script:
I have to include this somewhere – it's a mini snowglobe based on the Disneyland (or, as I call it, "the one, true") Mansion and features one of the best small-scale, ride-accurate recreations of the Mansion out there.
It two has the three Hitchhikers in the globe, and its "snow" is a bunch of the same reflective bits as the big one, but with a couple little bats thrown in for good measure. Plus is has a little digital music box that plays an annoyingly long and loud version of "Grim Grinning Ghosts." This is one of my favorite pieces and something that every Mansion fan should have.
When you're cupping them, do you like your globes big or small? Tell us on our message board, the Loafing Lounge.
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