End of an Era - WDCC Retires

Back on December 6, 2012, I received an email from a Walt Disney Classics Collection dealer stating that Enesco was no longer going to produce the popular line of porcelain figures of Disney characters. To the serious collector, this was not a huge concern. The WDCC series had already changed manufacturers on a few occasions over the last 20 years, and yet, the consistency of quality and artistic design remained at a very high level.

Enesco made it clear that while they were stepping down...

the Walt Disney Classics Collection brand is not ending. Disney will be appointing a new licensee next year. During the transition, Enesco will continue to sell the limited inventory of sculptures to allow retailers and collectors an opportunity to complete their collections.

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Then in March of 2013, it was announced that the new line of WDCC figures would be produced by Precious Moments. This news was met with extreme disappointment by many longtime collectors. While the Precious Moments company has it's own following, the artistic style of their typical sculpts did not match what customers had come to expect from the WDCC.

Images of the first Precious Moments WDCC series were released, and the negative feedback voiced by collectors was immediate and overwhelming. A very distinctive PM "look" did not sit well with WDCC customers.

Precious Moments ornaments.

The entire PM first series.

Stock catalog images copyright Disney/Precious Moments.

None of these pieces were ever released. Precious Moments promised customers they'd go back to the drawing board to create figures that were much more in line with what WDCC collectors were accustomed to.

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September 2013, a new Precious Moments catalog is supposed to be released.

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November 2013, an official announcement from Precious Moments that the WDCC will be discontinued...

We truly appreciate the fans and collectors who have been eagerly awaiting the Walt Disney Classics Collection product launch by Precious Moments Incorporated®. After extensive consultation with Disney®, we have jointly decided not to move forward with the release of the collection. The Walt Disney Classics Collection will be placed into the “vault” alongside other cherished Disney classics. We invite you to continue to celebrate Disney characters and stories with the beautifully crafted collectibles available in the Disney Showcase Collection by Precious Moments. These exquisite pieces are available at Disney Theme Parks, DisneyStore.com, PreciousMoments.com, and specialty retailers.

Thank you for your continued support of Precious Moments Incorporated.

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Over 70 Snow White pieces (including ornaments) were released during the 20 year run of the Walt Disney Classics Collection. The first was issued in 1994, The Fairest One of All. The last was the 2012 Fairytale Ending.

Here on the Filmic Light, you can view the entire collection of Snow White pieces by clicking on the WDCC figurine link.