Dear Wolfgang and MMDers,

A year or more ago, you inquired about a Mr. Christmas automated
musical device in the form of a xylophone played by Disney characters.
At that time several people remembered them but none seemed to be
available.  We are currently visiting Walt Disney World in Kissimmee,
Florida, and I found similar pieces in the Christmas Store in Downtown
Disney.

The current model is in the shape of a treasure or toy chest.  When
the lid is opened, two lights come on and the figures begin to play
music on the xylophone.  There are five characters, each playing two
bars.  The characters are: Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Mickey Mouse,
Minnie Mouse and Goofy.  It plays 35 all Christmas songs and is
advertised as playing "harmony", that is, multiple notes
simultaneously.

The box is about 15 inches wide, 10 inches deep and about 8 inches
high.  The box has a 1998 copyright date leading me to believe that
it is new this year and is not the earlier version referred to last
year.  This box is very well done and is quite musical.  The price,
however, is very high (nothing is cheap at Disney !) at $125 US.
Purchased locally, there is a sales tax as well.  I think that if it
were shipped out of state or out of the country, there would be no
sales tax.

Disney does quite a large mail order business and I think that
anyone interested could contact: Walt Disney World Consumer Marketing,
Disney's Days of Christmas, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, 32830.  That
should be enough to get you in the door.

Keep in mind, I have not seen these in the usual department stores
either at home or in Florida.  However, unless this is an exclusive
Disney item, it is possible that next year they might be found in the
discount stores and elsewhere.  Most Mr. Christmas items available in
the general stores cost between $50 and $100.

Bob Conant
Endicott, NY
Temporarily vacationing at Walt Disney World in Florida

P.S.:  Today we found a second version.  Disney characters, and also
$125, but this one has the characters swing from side-to-side to strike
one of two notes of vertical xylophone bars.  The outside of the "toy
chest" looks identical.