Hallmark 2003 Roller Coaster Ornament

Heads up, y'all!

Hallmark is releasing an amusement park-themed Christmas ornament this year. It features sound, lights and motion - the coaster trains, ferris wheel, and carousel all move, there are lights that blink, and it plays a sound of people (and Santa) riding the coaster! It will retail for $42 at Hallmark Gold Crown stores and will release probably in August or September. Get them when you can, these types of ornaments are highly collectible and go quick!

Here's a picture. This has not been announced to the public yet (only Hallmark's special club members- not me, but someone I know -have access to it right now on the Hallmark site)

-Jim

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Jeff's Stalker
My K'Nex Coasters
Spring has arrived in Ohio...the Orange Barrels are blooming

Thanks for the heads up!! It's going to be a must for my roller coaster tree my wife and I have :)

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"The Future of Roller Coasters"
-RollerCoasterGod
IX Indoor Amusement Park!

I will definetly put it on my ornament list for this year. Since, I will have my own little tree in my barracks room. It will be my first Christmas in the United States Marine Corps.

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Rob

"Some people spend an entire LIFETIME wondering if they made a DIFFERENCE. The MARINES don't have that problem." -President Reagan 1985

Thanks for the heads up!!!! It looks great and i will be buying one when they come out!!

Hahahah. I like it.

The "Polar Coaster". Now that is a name Holiday World should use on their next woodie. Whadaya think Paula? :)

I take it that this is an ornament you put near the base of the tree. It looks to bulky to hang it from a branch.

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Arena football has arrived in the Windy City. Go "Chicago Rush"
*** This post was edited by Chitown 4/4/2003 12:24:38 AM ***

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ALF is cool said:
I will definetly put it on my ornament list for this year. Since, I will have my own little tree in my barracks room. It will be my first Christmas in the United States Marine Corps.

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Rob

"Some people spend an entire LIFETIME wondering if they made a DIFFERENCE. The MARINES don't have that problem." -President Reagan 1985

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Just wanted to say thank you for your service

Semper Fi

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It's like a Whirlwind inside of my head!

ChiTown & Rob: They had a similar Circus-themed ornament this past year that I got for Christmas. It is heavier than the average ornament, but I was able to hang it from a sturdy branch. BTW (for the pinball fanatics that frequent this forum) I also have the pinball machine ornament (SnowBall Blaster) from 1994.

Rob: I echo MagnumForce's sentiment. Thank you for your service to our country!

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Jeff's Stalker
My K'Nex Coasters
Spring has arrived in Ohio...the Orange Barrels are blooming
*** This post was edited by jimmybob 4/4/2003 12:41:19 AM ***

It's a neat ornament, no doubt, but I find $42 outrageous for osmething I'll use (maybe) one month a year.

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Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

GP...I guess I shouldn't tell you how much money my wife and I spend on Hallmark ornaments each year, then... ;)

Just put it this way, we buy all of the Star Wars/Star Trek ornaments they put out each year, plus countless others - we usually buy 30 or so ornaments each year. (Note that most ornaments are not $40+)...

We have two trees (8') filled with Hallmark ornaments

Also, like Jimmybob said, you need to have a sturdy branch to hang these behemoths ;) I have the other fair themed ornament as well as two train motion ornaments...They are so heavy that when I hang them I have to find a branch that has a good "shelf" of branches directly underneath...

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--George H
---Superman the ride...coming to a SF park near you soon...
Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)
*** This post was edited by redman822 4/4/2003 6:20:34 AM ***

I have been collecting Hallmark and Enesco ornaments for 29 years. I have all but the first Enterprise ship, all of the Star Wars ships, all of the looney tunes, and even the three stooges. Many of the ornaments I've got are now worth 2 to 3 times as much as they cost to buy originally because many increase in value.

I've got all the original boxes, takes me 2 hours to unpack them to hang on my tree and 4 hours to pack them back up again each year. I figured out that my family room tree, with all the ornaments, is worth close to $2K. That prompted me to catalogue all of the ornaments with the original purchase price. I still have to get the hallmark ornament book to check on the current value so I can send the info to my insurance company for a rider to cover them.

Yep...I'm also a Gold Crown member and will definitely be picking up this new ornament.

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I'd rather die living than live like I'm dead
http://www.webtechnik.com/ebony/CPLady.htm

My fiance is very into collecting Hallmark ornaments as well and while $42 is steep for an ornament, their ornaments (if taken care of properly and the box kept in it's original condition) can greatly increase in value. Like CPLady, we have huge collection that is worth a pretty penny...$42 may sound steep to a non-collector, but to collectors, it will be worth every penny. And considering our love for coasters and her love for ornaments, this will be a perfect addition to the collection.

Thanks for the heads up Jim.

Sean

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"Ever hear of Plato, Aristotle, Socrates...Morons!"

Holy Cow! I have a hard enough time finding a spot for the Enterprise to go, I don't know if I could get that baby on the tree! And $42! Sure would be cool, though. We're not big into the "official" collectibles, but we are into "unique." I think this would definetly count.

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I hear America screaming...

Do the cars go through the track on the ornament?

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Millenium Force- 1
Wicked Twister- 7
Magnum- 7
TTD- 0

If you're not desperate to have this, and it turns out to not be too popular, try checking your local Hallmark the day after Christmas. All ornaments go to 50% off.
I don't find it hard to believe that some of us are collectors as well as roller coaster enthusiasts... it all stems from the same obsessive compulsive compulsion, I think. Interesting, though, that there aren't too many roller coaster enthusiast marathoners (also obsessive personalities.)
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Pun is the death of wit.

Well the time is almost here - this Saturday, July 12th, is the Hallmark Ornament Premier.

You can go to www.hallmark.com to order your ornament, or you can go to a store this weekend and make your purchase.

If the $42.00 is too expensive for you right now - most stores have a layaway program (no interest).

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Let the good times roll - Zingo

That looks awesome! I want it! Does anyone have other coaster related ornaments?

here's what the Ornament sounds like

And since I couldn't get the link to the page to work, here is the text describing the ornament...

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Movement, lights, and sound. Slide the switch on the back of the ornament to the "on" position, and you'll set the scene in motion. The cars on the roller coaster move. The carousel and the Ferris wheel turn. The Christmas tree glows. When you push the button on the front, the sounds give you the feeling you're in one of the Polar Coaster cars!

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It can be found in their "2003 Dream Book" section, which can be accessed via their main page by clicking on "View our new keepsake ornaments", then it will be found under "Christmas Magic (Pgs. 44-45)"

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--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)
*** This post was edited by redman822 7/9/2003 10:01:28 AM ***

The ornament is already released. Hallmark stores here in Louisville already have them for purchase. It is a very cool collector's piece.

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Shaggy

Shaggy,

If they have it out already, they are in violation of release date agreements with Hallmark headquarters. The 2003 Christmas ornaments are not to be released for sale before this Saturday morning, nationwide.

The stores who have it available better hope they do not get a "secret shopper" because if they do, they could lose their franchise...

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--George H
---Currency tracking experiment... http://www.wheresgeorge.com (Referring to The "George" on the $1 bill - Not Me)

I visited Hallmark today to check out the ornament, and I must say it's a great piece! Yes, the coaster trains move on the track...there are actually two different places where separate trains move. Also, the ferris wheel turns. The coaster scream sound effects are bonus on top of everything. It's truly a unique ornament, and if I had the $42 plus tax to spend I would pick it up in a heartbeat.