I've just got back from the convention and it was great I had a humongouse pony haul, we got to ask hasbro reps questions about ponies plus we had a great preview of the new line. We had so many new breezies and they'll be coming with little train things ^_^ It was soo cute. Also a new so soft baby will be coming out that changes colour in the bath

There were loads of contests and i won two rosettes Anyway, i thought i'd start this post for everyone to post their brags, pics and questions....whatever you want to say about the convention This way we can keep it to one thread

Anyway, here's my pony haul for the three days This includes my prizes and a trip to TRU

Plush shenaigans
Plush Tink a tink a too
Silver Song
Baby Moondream
Baby sunset
A petite pony
Bon Bon
Music Time
Baby ribbons and hearts
Baby fun n games
Lightning
Thundercloud (both MB for £35 ^_^)
Cherry Sweet
Some pony wear
Skydancer
Baby ruby
Baby quackers
Baby sweetcake
G2 baby
Baby Surf Star
Royal Ribbon
Sno' Glo
Minty - winter
Cupcake
Toboggan
SHS Dainty
SHS Wild Flower
SHS sunblossom (my first lot of SHS's)

And of course, i won......
MOC Pocket pal wear bunny suit and Overalls
MIB Golden Delicious
MIB Juniper Jade
MIB Jamboree dancing blossomforth
MIB Savannah sage
MIB Kiwi Tart
MIB Piccolo (^_^)
MIB Ribbon wishes

I had a good pony haul lol

I didn't take my camera, but I'll see if I can nab Taff's photos, since she still has problems with the Arena.

My haul consisted of:

MIB Butterscotch (odd UK packaging)
Italian Twilight
Italian Moondancer
Baby Billie
Mummy Charm
Tutti Fruitti accessories
Drinking mat
lilac toothbrush
kitchen accessories
Pony Holiday hat
Blue pony top
pencil case and sticker (traded from Rainbow Magic)

I think that was it! I'll take pictures and put up my accout tomorrow - I'm shattered! (and cold!)

First lot of pictures are up in my art gallery. Some haven't come out too good because of my stupid camera, but they give a general idea ^_^ My album is on page 12

There is also a gallery at this link...

www.manchesteronline.c...357368&p=1

5.30am

I wake up after nightmares that not only had I missed my train because I was at work and had forgotten to text Taffeta to let her know we couldn’t meet up first, but that a teenage genie (who was annoyed because she wasn’t allowed by her genie parents to go to the cinema) had caused two trains to come off the rails at Leicester station (platforms 2 and 3). She then turned the station into something else and we had to throw flowers and water at the walls to melt them and get out.

6.30am

Get up. Can’t find anything. Panic. Finally leave the house, but forget lip gloss bracelet.

7.08am

After mastering the FastTicket machine, I get on the train to Brum, which is on time! Woohoo! Nice and empty for a change as well, though that’s most likely down to the obscenely early time! Briskly cold, but not so bad that I wish I’d brought a coat. Beginning to get nervous now – I’ve not been to Manchester for about 10 years, and never on my own!

I love it at this time in the morning, despite the tiredness. It’s so quaintly peaceful. Watching people collecting papers and walking their dogs in the half-light – only those who actively want or need to be up. A purpose.

7.44am

Only as I begin to read to I realise that one of the books I brought with me (Summer Term at the Chalet School) features a massive train crash early on. Oops.

8.05am

Arrive at Brum, only to find that my connecting train has been delayed by hald an hour. Doh! Am halfway through a text message to Taff (who I am meeting before we go into the convention), when I get a text message from her, saying that she is having issues with the trains as well! When WH Smiths opens at the station, I console myself with a packet of mini chocolate hobnobs, SFX magazine and the Daily Express.

8.48am

My train has been delayed even further, so I give up on that one and get on the next train, which is on time, and therefore is leaving several minutes before the one I was actually supposed to be getting! But, at least I’m actually on the way to Manchester now!

9.42am

Still going. I should have been nearly there by now, but I’m not. Taff is having still MORE problems and appears to be taking the scenic route through Cheshire.

Masses of people get on at Stoke. Stoke does not look nice at all, though there was some nice scenery just outside.

Another text from Taff. She’s having even more problems and is having to take the scenic Manchester route as well. We decide to meet by the hotel now.

10.30am

Finally get into Manchester.

10.35am
Find the hotel and wait outside for Taff’s taxi. Several people go in (all in pairs!) But I’m far too scared to say hi to anyone!

10.50am

Taff’s taxi arrives – yay! We go inside and look really, really, lost at everything, lol! Then we see a big pony room and surmise that it is probably the right place :-)

The Convention Itself

Was fabulous! I had a brilliant day and came back with lots of very cool stuff. I wish I’d been able to get there earlier to buy more, but you already saw my journey *grin*

LadyRuby’s Stall

What can I say but wow! I spent lots of money here, and I wish I could have got more, but I couldn’t spend too much! I did get a Butterscotch in odd UK packaging though – my favourite buy of the convention.

Thailand Tornado

I saw him quite late on, and what can I say but wow! He’s gorgeous! And squishy! And I’m incredibly jealous, as he was found in the same area that I grew up in! We had a nice conversation about all the carboots and things around there, and how Hasbro used to have their offices there as well. And her collection is to die for! We only saw pictures (except for Tornado) but so minty!

The People
I met so many cool people! There were the usual suspects, of course (Taff, Sebby, Brundog, Rainbow Magic), but also Sarah Ann Small, Archer, FlutteryValleyRescue Squad, LadyRuby, BabyKittenCandy (though I’ve met her before), GroovyGusty…. Oh I can’t keep track of everyone! It was fantastic to meet people in the flesh :-) I'm sure there were many people I wanted to meet and didn't though :-(

The Collections

Never have I seen so many droolworthy ponies in one place! I wanted to take them all home with me *grin* Highlights for me would be Brazil Baby Lofty (FVRS’s), MIB Amber Variant (BKC’s – and I was the second highest bidder) and the table FULL of the most beautiful Spanish ponies ever! Unfortunately, none of those were for sale! (darn, lol)

The Shop Next Door

Sebby, Brundog and I went into Affleck’s Palace next door later on… it’s massive! Sebby bought two stunning skirts, and I came away with a top and some jewelry :-)

We even found the MLP-related stuff in there, though I can’t really mention it on here!

Berating Hasbro

Taff and I had a very long chat with the Hasbro reps, and we got a fair amount of information from them.

Pony Points in Europe

This was an interesting one… and they gave a very good answer. The reason there is no pony points programme in Europe is because as the packaging is continent wise, it would have to be a continent wise programme as well, and the red tape was just far too much. They brought up examples of when Action Man tried to do it, and they had to cancel it because it was just too much.

A real shame for us, but I can see their problem.

Exclusives

They seemed to get a bit confused with this, as they thought there were some Euro exclusives (there is one now, as the rest got put into the US) and they weren’t aware that there was only one, and that they much have got to the US through unscrupulous means (Hasbro US???? :-). They did explain that there was the option for many retailers, but they may not take it up.

They kept mentioning Walmart and Asda (I don’t think Walmart gets exclusives anyway, really, do they?) Target and Tesco (though we still don’t get the Winters), and Costco, though they said that we would have different exclusives there from the US? The Entertainer came up a lot throughout the conversation with them, but this is no good for me, as there is no Entertainer in Leicestershire that I am aware of. I have to go home to my parents to be near one!

They did concede that it would be a good idea if we knew what was going to be where, and they promised to look doing some kind of announcement thing for us – yay!

Distribution

This was a tough one, as they had no idea why we never got some of the normal sets of ponies (Shenanigans’s set, and Cinnamon Breeze’s set, or why distribution on some sets i.e. SLHs was so random. They did explain to us about A/W and S/S, but also that there may be problems with shifting old stock if they hadn’t reached their sales figures. Again, this would be helped by knowing what was going where and when, since often we buy from the US as a result and

Breezies

Oh they’re so cute! Especially the blue one and the purple one! They did say that some would be sold separately – fantastic! They had a little train thing with them in.

Crystal Princesses

This line will start coming to us in December this year! However, most places won’t stock it until around February time, as that’s when the new stuff goes out for most people. The Entertainer will be the place to check before then though – guess where I’m going on Christmas Eve! :-) (that’s the only day in December I’ll be near an Entertainer)

Though I don’t know where that leaves us with the Cloud Climber and Thistle Whistle sets? Unless Hasbro were getting mixed up.

Question and Answer Session with Hasbro

This was a whole convention thing, not just me and Taff :-)

- There are no boys or sea ponies planned at present, but they have made a note of the request and have taken it back with them
- There are two unicorns coming up… Rarity the Unicorn A/W 2006, and a styling pony as well.
- Spike the dragon will not be a figure, but he may be some other form of media.

That’s all my notes! The journey back was much easier than going!

I got sick and couldn't go. I'm sad.

wow did you guys actually really "SEE" the new breezies ?
i hope there will be some pics!!
it sounds so much fun



tu

Yep, prototype breezies were there. They were so cute!! I had a good long talk with the Hasbro reps also and they are very happy with the support the My Little Pony line is receiving and have even vowed to look into the old 'pony cancer' if I send them a pony which is suffering - which is great news.

Next year's pony convention is already in the planning stages....so watch this space.

Thanks for the information! Any pictures of the new prototype breezies?? Would love to see them! Thanks once again!

The breezies were great Some of them even had little crowns. Oh and there was a pony with a light up crown if i remember right. I think she was purple and her crown lit up blue

Thanks for the link to the other gallery

Wow wow wow! What can i say? What an amazing day!

It was so nice to meet so many people, though like somebody already mentioned i didn't manage to meet everybody that i would have liked too. I think a lot of people met my mum though LOL, she was good enough to watch my stall all day for me while i went away to talk pony with people. I took an amazing amount of money from my stall, i was really shocked! Not to mention i picked up 3 of my ultimate grails (Baby Buttons, Cool Breeze and Flurry) all at exceptionally good prices and all in gorgeous condition!

The Beezies are so much nicer in real life than they are in photos, i've changed my opinion on them and now plan to get every single one of them, oh no! Lol

Album of photos here: photobucket.com/albums...anchester/ , and highlights:

My spoils of the day:

My favourites:

Some new Breezies (more photos in my album) :


And the best part of the day? .......

Oh yay! That's the blue Breezie I fell in love with

OMH, just as I thought I hadn't been been in any picture yet, I spot my back in one of yours, lol. Number 18... I'm standing with Taff and Rainbow Magic by FVRS's stall. We wereprobably drooling, lol.

I don't think I saw you... though I may have bought from your mum Was your stall by the windows? And your custom was excellent! A worthy winner!

Taff said I could borrow her pics when she puts them up.

My haul:

LadyGuinevere wrote:

I don't think I saw you... though I may have bought from your mum Was your stall by the windows? And your custom was excellent! A worthy winner!

Yes, it was! And i recognise some of the accessories from your photo

Also, you bought the butterscotch that i was debating over! I was tempted with her but decided against because at the time i hadn't been all the way round the room and thought it would be better to wait and see if there was something i wanted more (and as it happened there was ;)) She was a real beauty though! congrats!

Awesome! Looks like you girls had fun. Thanks for posting the pics...more stuff I'll need to own!

Hehe, i love the piccie of my stall with my sister gaurding it I love your pictures Joanna Your custom was really good. In fact all of your customs were lol ^_~

I can't wait to get my pics from pizza hut developed

And you bought one of my cards, LG I remember you and the Twilight with the funny head