FROM: MouseMerch Published Thursdays

Disney Antenna Tops

Chris Taylor feels top 'o the World with Disney antenna tops

- by Chris Taylor, March 10, 2011

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So, you went to a Disney resort - what did you pick up to remember your trip? A t-shirt? Coffee mug? A $900 crystal statue of Yoda and Pluto facing off?

If you're anything like me, you picked up some Disney antenna toppers, some to keep, some to give away. Along with decals and car tags, I think the Disney antenna topper is the ultimate "I just went to Disney, nanny nanny boo boo..."

The Fabulous Flying Mickey

In all seriousness, I dig 'em. On my last trip, my daughter picked ours. She got a flying Mickey: a set of ears with legs, arms, and a red cape. It sits at an angle so he's always flying upwards. Of course, when I'm on the road, he starts to weigh 200 lbs. and bends my antenna back like a fishing rod hooked on a marlin (HA! Marlin, see what I did there, with the Pixar reference...) I digress.

But I like it and I've not seen another one in town yet, so I'm firsties.

Plus, it came with a small spring and suction cup for attachment to the dash. I've also got a Haunted Mansion topper (It's your funeral) with bat wings. I've had others, including a pirate which eventually fell apart - which is always a good excuse to head back to Florida to pick up some new ones.

Car Decorations: Old School Style

I can remember back in the days when an amusement park or tourist trap would actually attach something to your car while you were parked in the lot. You had to signal the workers, usually by leaving your visors down, that you didn't want it.

Growing up in North Georgia, we went to Rock City and Ruby Falls often, and they actually would attach a thin metal plate to your bumper using metal bands! My dad had to use tin snips to cut it off. Can you imagine that today?

Six Flags over Georgia would put on a simple bumper sticker, and when I lived in southern California, parking at a Dodgers game meant coming home with a Phillips 76 orange ball on your antenna. Then Wal-Mart got into the act, with those yellow smiley faces. Then the ones with a Zorro hat. Sorry Wal-Mart, but I'm going with the Mickey ears.

The Allure of the Disney Antenna Topper

You see these everywhere, at least I do. And I understand why. At least I think so. Disney fans not only like to let people know of their love, they like to stick together, too. Ever been in a crowd and hear "only 3 days until I can make my ADRs" and know exactly what that means? Then you amble over, mention how many ADRs you've made, and you both share a smile and a laugh.

As far as I'm concerned, that's Disney magic.

The toppers tell the world you love Disney and you get to pick the one that best represents you as a person! Do you like Fantasia? They've got one of those. Tigger and Pooh? Check. Disney balloons, butterflies, ice cream bars, Christmas ornaments, Figment, Tinkerbell, Indiana Jones, or bats?

They've got 'em all. The list is nearly endless.

And like the trading pins, Disney brings out new toppers all the time and takes old ones off the market. Will antenna toppers reach the collectible status as Vinylmations or pins? Probably not. But based on the number I see around my fair city, people love 'em.

Want more antenna topper? Who doesn't! Read what Ashley Metz wrote about them in a recent installment of her column, Because I Stinkin' Love Disney World.

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