13 Retro Walt Disney Toys
01.03.08 By Deanna Dahlsad
Old catalogs aren’t just groovy to look at, a toy collector can learn a lot about what items are missing from the series or collection, and what pieces are supposed to be included. Here are some vintage Disney toys from the 1988 Sears Wish Book.
Most of the images have larger scans, so don’t forget to click to see them. (But don’t blame me if it makes you spend more money — or feel really old to realize these toys are almost 20 years old now!)
Disney’s Main Street Replica Toy Sets: Available only at Sears Land, this was the main toy feature in the catalog, covering the first two pages. There was the Town Square set, with buildings, the train and track, horse & trolley with conductor, lighting kit, furniture sets, a Christmas tree set, and of course, lots of Disney character sets — even a family of tourists.
Winnie The Pooh Train Set: I was super excited to see this set as my (now 18 year old) daughter had this set. I got it at a rummage sale, used, when she was a toddler and now all that remains are a few of the ‘people’, like Tigger who resides on my shelf as part of one of my dioramas.
More Disney Play Sets: Featured here are the Mickey & Donald 10-Lap Race (with controlers) set against the Disney World backdrop, the Disney Chef Mickey playset (with 5 figurines, 3 vehicles, foodstand, freezer, 2 tables with 4 benches, 2 umbrellas, a wallet with play money and clip “and much more”) and, the coolest one, the “Way back in 1955, Disneyland” set. The flashback set has authentic reproductions of Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Adventureland, and Main Street along with play mat, Disney characters & Disneyland animals — 50 pieces in all!
Disney Magic Omagles: Omagles are components that kids can use to build neat-o stuff, without tools. I suspect that very few of these pieces survived — especially the plastic ‘brick’ sheets — but it sure looks cool. (At the time this was written, the Omagles website, Omagles.com, was down.)
Disney Nintendo Games: The two Nintendo hand-held games featured here at Sears Land involve Mickey catching eggs and Mickey & Donald in the circus. The games sound super simplistic, but this was 1988 and definitely games for younger kids (ages 3 and up).
“Be a ’star with Jiminy Cricket!” These musical toys were a delight to see. Not only do I covet the phonograph, but I adore Jiminy. Over the years he’s nearly disappeared from view — and to purchase things with his image is rare. Also in this collection are Jiminy Cricket’s Dancin’ Banjo & Fiddle, cassette player/recorder, sing-along radio, AM/FM mike, and the Jiminy Cricket stand-up microphone/amplifier set. Rock on, Jiminy!
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Article Tags: catalogs, Disney, Donald, games, Mickey, Omagles, Thursday Thirteen, vintage, Winnie================
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January 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Disney, Disney, everywhere!!!
I went to Disney World once as a lad… and remember, near the OLD “Captain Nemo Sub Ride”, sitting on a rock and, to my horror, realising it was “white” with, I assumed, bird guano.
Well, I laughed… and brought it to the attention of my folks that it was “painted on” plastic bird poop! It was FAKE! Even as a kid, I made the comment… “Couldn’t they scrape together any REAL bird poo?”
I wonder if their miniature toy replicas also contain(ed) the fake bird poop?
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
A friend of mine looooves Disney Winnie the Pooh collectibles! I’ll have to let him know about the train set. (Thanks for visiting my TT)
January 3rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
i’m going to wdw next thurs!!
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
It’s amazing to think how cutting edge those video games seemed at the time!
January 5th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
i had one of those pooh train sets, and loved it. i gave it to my younger cousin, and i have never seen it again. i was wondering what it would take to find another set. would it be hit or miss at antique shops, and such?
January 5th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Those Game ‘n’ Watch handhelds are CRAZY collectible now, and on the list of my first acquisitions when I get rich.
January 7th, 2008 at 6:18 am
I’m glad you all dug the groovy Disney
Joe, I’ve not seen them at antique shops myself, but they should be showing up soon — 20 years is moving into the collectible area for certain. (But don’t rule out thrift shops & online outlets either.)
Matthew, fake bird poo at Disney? I bet that’s right collectible too!
January 7th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Thanks alot… i will try to seek it out there.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:33 am
[...] Tigger, a piece from the 1988 Winnie The Pooh Train Set. [...]
May 31st, 2008 at 10:21 pm
[...] Tigger, a piece from the 1988 Winnie The Pooh Train Set. [...]
August 27th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I have that Main Street set, does anyone know if it’s worth anything?
December 4th, 2008 at 2:21 am
I am trying to locate a Disneyland Play Set. This is a set I bought in 1988 that had 36 pieces. It had a battery operated train that ran on a four looped orange track. It had Disney characters that rode on the train and had little rides that the train powered when it went past them. Do you have any idea of where I can find one?
December 4th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Shatzie, I’m sure it’s worth ’something’, but we’ve all recommended eBay or other online sales sites for ideas of prices.
Susan, I suggest searching online and asking your local antique shops to keep an eye out for you. My daughter had one of those sets; but we’ve long since recycled that to another family with youngsters. It was/is an adorable toy!
December 8th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hi where can you find the mainstreet toy at? =)
January 4th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
Susan, I have that train set, but I’m trying to find the characters for sale somewhere online. The train cars say “Disneyland” on the sides. On the bottoms of the amusement park rides is imprinted the letters “MAC AU”. The bottoms of the yellow track pieces have “Walt Disney Productions” on them. There are four gear-operated rides; ferris wheel, paddle boat, merry-go-round, airplanes. There are little railroad crossing gates that direct the train. The engine is blue and yellow with the name “Mickey Mouse” on it. The characters are Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and the 3 Little Pigs, but I only have Daisy. Hope this helps.