1. Do you sell plates?
No, I don't sell plates. I am not a dealer, just a collector. I purchase or trade duplicate plates for plates that I am looking for.
2. Is there a retail source of plates on the Internet?
To my knowledge there is no source or site, other than Disney, that sells current license plates for retail. There are several Internet auction sites that have plates up for auction, selling both current and older items. The older items, depending on scarcity, often sell for a premium. Disney contact information is listed in the Resources section of the web site.
3. What is your source of information on the plates?
The information comes from a variety of sources: fellow collectors, Internet auction site listings and Disney Cast Members. The original list of Disney plates came from a fellow collector, Lou Smith of Whittier, California. I used the basic information in Lou's list to create the web site. Disney doesn't maintain any information on the plates it sells or has sold. There is no known official or complete source of information on the plates.
4. Why can't Disney Mail Order find a plate you have listed in the catalog?
Disney Mail Order only sells current releases. Once a plate has been discontinued or sold out, they no longer stock that plate. You may even find difficulty in locating current plates through Mail Order. Depending on how the plate information was entered into Mail Order's computer system, it can be nearly impossible to find the plate you are looking for. Their service is unlike a familiar catalog service and is primarily for those guests who have visited the parks and pre-viewed the merchandise. Park guests will need to provide them with an item number or a detailed description of the item that is being sought.
5. How can I tell if a plate in the catalog is a new release?
I don't currently have a definitive way to "date" plates, which makes it difficult to tell. Most generally, new releases and discoveries are added to the end of the plate categories. The best method I have in tracking new releases is by posting new catalog entries in the monthly DLPC Newsletters. Since there is no way to track Disney merchandise and when it was released, it is difficult at times to tell if the plate is current or an older release. Only those people who visit the parks on a regular basis have a chance of knowing what is new.
6. I have a plate that is not listed in the catalog, why?
As mentioned above, there is no official source to track new Disney merchandise as it is released. Since collecting Disney license plates is not real popular, many plates go unnoticed. I am constantly finding plates that were released several years ago that none of my fellow collectors have seen. If you find a plate not listed in the catalog, let me know so that I can add it to the catalog.
7. Is there a society or club for collecting Disney License Plates?
Not that I am aware of. I belong to the DFC, a club for Disney enthusiasts. They offer a monthly newsletter covering all aspects of Disney and collecting. A link to the DFC web site can be found on the main index page of the web site.
8. Do you have a mailing list?
The only mailing list that I have at the moment is for the DLPC News. If you are interested, I can add your e-mail address to the list. The DLPC News is a monthly newsletter keeping track of current plate releases and discoveries. If at anytime you no longer want to receive the newsletter, I'd be happy to remove your address from the list. The DLPC News is also posted on the web site.
9. Do you have a better quality image of a plate shown in the catalog?
Yes, I do. To save page-loading time, the images used on the web site are web-ready reduced images. Higher resolution images are available upon request.
10. What do you collect?
I collect just the standard size Disney license plates. Even though I list frames, bicycle and specialty items in the catalog, I am partial to the full size plates. I am attempting to make the catalog as complete as possible, listing all related items.