The Inside Scoop: Where to Stay for Pony Fair 2019

We are so very happy to share with you that Pony Fair will be back in 2019! We've been hard at work negotiating a great room block rate and special perks for our attendees.

Where should I stay?

The 2019 Pony Fair will take place on July 27th and 28th at the Double Tree Tampa Airport Hotel in Tampa, Florida.

This year's official hotel is the Double Tree Tampa Airport Hotel. We ask that attendees consider staying at the host hotel if possible to help us fill our contracted room block.

Does The Pony Fair offer a discounted group rate?

Yes. The Pony Fair has negotiated a discounted rate and added amenities for Fair attendees. In addition to a complimentary airport shuttle, and a shuttle that take guests within a 2 mile radius, we have also negotiated breakfast vouchers for those staying on property.

    

                    

How can I make RESERVATIONS?

Attendees may use the following link to make room reservations:

www.TampaDoubleTree.com  using the code LPF

Attendees may also call 1-800-514-3956 to make reservations. Be sure to tell them that you are part of the MY LITTLE PONY Fair group (group code: LPF). 

A First Look At Fair Feathers, the 2018 Pony Fair Mascot Figure

After months of waiting, she's here! What started out as a whim along with a late night designing session in Microsoft Paint, is now in my hands. Researching tropical color palettes, all things flamingo, and messaging  back and forth with both Mary and Jenny when we should have all been in bed, resulted in designing our Pony Fair mascot that we are now calling, Fair Feathers.

Once details were settled with the HQG1C Project peeps, she could be actually put into production and the waiting began. Each step of the way, every detail had to be approved.  Body shade, symbol colors, symbol positions, and scale determined. Hair shades, hair texture, and length were all decided.

Then, we waited and we waited some more.

Names were submitted by community members and this pretty filly was given her own name that both gives a nod to the event she represents as well as incorporating the details of her "backcard story" that will be revealed at this year's event in Orlando.

We hope you love her as much as we do, but even more so because of the amazing community that she represents.

-Summer

A Pony Shopping Spree: Target Edition

Yesterday, Target had all toys 25% off and I went a little nuts on buying up the My Little Pony the Movie Collection. I've been holding out for a good sale, and aside from the 40% off that Toys R Us runs every so often, this was the next best thing. I'm still missing the Seaquestria Playset (which I really hope shows up for a good price on Black Friday somewhere) and a few other items, but I'm sure they'll make it into my shopping cart soon. Now onto the part where I catalogue and photograph.

Christmas Decorating:My Little Pony Style!

We have five inches of snow outside. Instead of hunkering down under a pile of blankets, I decided it was time to break out the Christmas decorations. We have three trees to house all of our ornaments: one for my husband's Star Wars ornaments, one for the MY LITTLE PONY ornaments, and the main tree which is a hodgepodge of Hallmark ornaments gathered and gifted over the years.

The PONY tree is undoubtedly my favorite and I'm always so happy to unpack them each year and enjoy them during the Christmas Season. Out of all of my MLP merchandise items, I feel like the Christmas ornaments have the most purpose because it's not like I brush my teeth with a vintage Heart Throb battery operated toothbrush or use a G1 duffle as my gym bag.

I've added some new additions to the PONY tree this year including this awesome Fluttershy holiday light set! I picked this set up at Toys R Us and love it. My PONY tree is only four foot tall, so I only purchased one set and it was just the right size. The packaging claims that the light set is approved for indoor and outdoor use, so I suppose someone could go nuts and Fluttershy their house for the holidays, but it won't be me.

My mother-in -law gifted me the Hallmark Cotton Candy ornament this year and I've picked up a handful of new G4 ornaments as well that will be finding their way onto the tree as soon as I remember where I put them...

Do you have a MLP Christmas tree or do you use Ponies to decorate for the holidays? If so, I'd love to hear about it and see pictures if you have them!

New Aurora Plush Ponies Hit Stores

I first came across these adorable plush clip on Ponies at an airport gift shop on my way home from Florida. With their small scale, they are perfect to take along on the go. They come with an attached clip that allows you to secure them to whatever you wish. I imagine they will find their way attached to many a backpack or purse strap, and if my child was still itty bitty and in a carrier, I have no doubt that they would have been clipped to his car seat. What I like best about these small scale huggables is that Aurora didn't skimp on the details. From Rarity's tiny mane curl to Applejack's hair bows, they really did a nice job making sure to add the extra touches.

 

Back from 2013, are the 10inch plush Ponies and the smaller scale Pony with carry bag. Both are beautiful and it is no wonder why Aurora released them as part of their 2014 line-up. The unique feature of the Aurora plush Ponies compared to the other plush Ponies out there is that Aurora's are girly and pretty. They add a little sparkle and shine with their fabric choices and the result is something a little unexpected and a little fancy.                                                                   

 

My favorite addition to Aurora's MY LITTLE PONY product line for 2014 is the new sitting pony pose. Aurora is the first company to attempt G4 sitting plush ponies and they have executed them beautifully. I just imagine this lovely Twilight Sparkle sitting on top of a little girls duvet waiting for her to return from school and it makes me happy. Again, the quality and detail on these is superb. The only suggestion I'd add is that I'd like to see a few additional characters join in the mix just for variety. Even if it was just 2 or 3 different Pony characters, it would add some fun and novelty when you are out and about when you spot a character outside the Mane 6. 

 

A few of these lovelies will be added to a free giveaway on the MY LITTLE PONY Fair Facebook page later tonight! Click on the Giveaway tab to enter and remember, you can enter once per day until the contest ends so enter often to increase your chances of winning!

 

 

You're Invited to the Royal Wedding!

Just a reminder to mark your calendars for the My Little Pony Royal Wedding this Saturday afternoon at one o'clock. I've been enjoying all of the pomp and circumstance leading up to the event on the Hub network and can't wait to see Tori Spelling host. I'm loving the hats in the promo banner based on attendees of Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding. All kinds of awesome.

It's Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie's hats.

Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy rock these.

We mustn't forget stylish Rarity!

I also love that they kept Applejack in her cowboy hat and just added a flower to "dress it up."

"Equestria Girls" Friendship is Magic Video

If you haven't yet had the chance to watch the new My Little Pony cartoon series, Friendship is Magic, on the HUB network, you have been missing out!

Check out this fun My Little Pony parody of Katy Perry¹s "California Girls", "Equestria Girls". This video celebrates The Hub¹s new summer programming including "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic" at 6:30 p.m. ET weeknights and Saturdays at
8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. ET.

MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC (Hub Original Series) Monday - Friday

6:30 PM ET / Saturdays at 8 AM and 8:30 AM ET

In "My Little Pony Friendship is Magic," Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn pony
with a talent for magic spells, discovers the most important magic of all -
friendship. Each episode follows Twilight and her friends Applejack, Rarity,
Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie as they embark on wondrous
adventures in the magical world of Equestria, guided by the nurturing advice
of the magnificent Princess Celestia, as they learn what it means to be true
friends. Produced by Hasbro Studios

New Pony Designs Revealed at 2009 France Toy Show

While I despise winter and cold weather, there is something to be said for a "snow day". The weather here is a mix of rain and ice and I'm happy to be warm and stuck at home with my laptop. I'm taking a short break from pouring over the new proof for The 2007-2008 My Little Pony Collector's Inventory because blogging about the 2009 France Toy Show just can't wait! Magicfeuilledethé, a new member of the MLPArena, posted some interesting photos from the event.

Remember this poster that was leaked by an artist that was contracted by Hasbro last year?

See how Cheerilee's hair is all crazy pigtails and the ponies' bodies are all squished and their heads are gigantic and their eyes are enormous? Initially, collectors assumed that this would be a new direction for the Ponyville line. However, after seeing this photo it seems that this is what is in store for the regular G3 line:

If you thought crazy pigtails Cheerilee was different, check out enormous eyes Rainbow Dash:

In addition to these photos of displayed products, Magicfeuilledethé, also managed to take photos of the 2009 product catalogue. Here are a few highlights.
More photos of the new 2009 designs:

New Ponyville designs:

I really liked this Newborn Cuties house, but that is probably because I adore the Newborn Cuties:

To see all the the photos and read what collectors have to say about these new designs, click here to follow the discussion on the MLPArena.

Toy Fair 2009 Preview Creates Controversy Among Collectors

Scans from a 2009 Toy Fair preview guide have surfaced online and its discovery brings with it mixed reactions from My Little Pony collectors. The article states that both Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony will have "strong reinventions".

The preview guide article states:
"My Little Pony will also be getting an update and the introduction of a new range, the Newborn Cuties, which are a similar version of the popular Newborn range. The main figures are set to be more distinctive, with slimmer frames, larger eyes and more defined feet. For the second half of the year the whole range will be brought together with a new packaging style."

While the majority of collectors seem to be dissatisfied with this this new direction, there are a handful that remain optimistic. Time will tell if this is, in fact, the right move for My Little Pony.

Bee-Chan (a member of the MLP collector forum, www.MLPArena.com) attempted to make sense of the radical changes in store for the My Little Pony line. She posted the following to a forum discussion:

"Hasbro is doing what they think they must in order to just stay a-float. They are a business, they make what they know is going to sell. Who says they have to listen to the collectors, who are a very small portion of their income.I'm not saying we have to LIKE what Hasbro is putting out, but understand that they are a BUSINESS, they have to cater to their target audience, and as much as we might like to think we are, we are NOT that target audience. If they only targeted us, they'd be out of business in a heartbeat, because let's face it, we're still a SMALL fandom."

With several collectors vowing to boycott future My Little Pony purchases, emotions are high and discussion is lengthy about the proposed changes.

Click HERE to follow the discussion started by Sweetcakes on the MLPArena.

In case you are curious, I haven't taken a side on this issue at present. I'm sure I'll have plenty to say in the future, but right now I'm trying to let everything sink in.

I think I may need to get these!

I think I'm going to have to get these! My favorite pony + pajamas = awesome!

MLP Scrapbook

I spent Saturday afternoon packing all of the items I'm bringing to the Fair. It was like My Little Pony exploded on my dining room table. I also put the pictures from the San Francisco Pony Fair and the Pony Live pictures in my MLP scrapbook. I ordered some more prints this morning so I can finish the MLPC section. I'm planning on bringing the scrapbook to the Fair for others to check out. There are so many collectors in it, they are bound to find themselves or at least someone they know. Here's a sneak peak:

Now on Amazon!

The My Little Pony G3 Collector's Inventory is currently available for sale on Amazon for $21.77. If you are thinking about purchasing a copy, I recommend you take Amazon up on this awesome deal. The book retails at $32.99 and it is a mystery to the publisher and myself how they can discount it so much, but I'm not complaining! Books-A-Million have the title listed at $36, and I've seen it listed from anywhere from $35 to $46 on other sites. It is yet to be available on Barnes & Nobel although it is listed and I've been told the publisher is looking into the delay.

Amazon has also added a "Look Inside" feature so visitors can preview select portions of the book before they buy. So check it out!