Hello all! I am an old-timer in online MLP community--I'm basically inactive now though I stopped by to see if there was any new info on the Basic Fun ponies (I . . . just can't w/ the new Collector set w/ the logo from years later . . .).

I was active on Dream Valley in the late 90s and communicated with Kim and contributed to the site. Back then there was very little MLP info online. Like her, I had my own encyclopedic memory of MLP from the 1980s, so my occasional emails with her were fun b/c we often had nothing to go on but our own memories of what we got and when. I remembered some of the lyrics to various commercials and contributed those . . . after 15 years I still remembered that the original Rainbow Ponies commercial lyrics went through the names of all six ponies:)

One particular gift I had that helped with contributing to Dream Valley was remembering what year and what time of year it was when I first saw certain commercials or when I first saw something in a store.

I do remember that Kim said on DV that Year 3 was MLP's "most obscure," which I always thought was funny b/c from seeing lots on eBay it was obvious that Year 3 was incredibly popular and sold very well (think Megan & Sundance, the first baby ponies, the baby sea ponies, Lullabye Nursery, etc.). She was basing this on her difficulty getting the adult sea ponies when they were in stores in 1985. I'm not sure why exactly the adult sea ponies were in short supply but in my own limited experience my friends and I were totally enamored with baby ponies, ponies with curly hair, etc. The adult sea ponies and SHELLS looked quite beautiful in the ads but they were eclipsed by much more exciting sets.

Like Kim, I was raised in the US with knowledge based solely on what was available here, in the primary market for Hasbro. Perhaps she got too ambitious with including international sets, and I remember being truly shocked (as I'm sure she was) at the level of variety as more information became available. In the 80s I had known MLPs were sold overseas, but I had assumed they were the same ponies sold at the same time (learning of the existence of Baby Bow-Tie when I was a child would have blown my mind). I never developed an interest in the non-US ponies and I'm guessing Kim's heart, like mine, was with the US sets we knew from childhood.

I would be very curious to know how much email she got. She always responded to me, though again we didn't communicate that often. She did correct the few errors I brought to her attention!

In unrelated news . . . I am a college professor now and just brought a few G1s to my office . . . I am interested to see how the students respond

Hi! Congrats on your find! I sold mine in December on eBay as a Best Offer for $265 (I think) plus shipping. It was 100% complete and in nearly like new condition w/ a fairly tattered box. I had it up for $299 for about a week. Like most things it depends on who is looking. I think $200 for 99% complete is a fair price though I agree with SaraMai not a steal. The utensils and combs are tiny and can be kind of a bear to get but I don't think they are as expensive as they used to be (that is a loose opinion based on very limited observations). Quality of the set goes up and down based on completeness yet but also color as this set was often left out in a playroom for ages (due to size) and got yellowed.

Hello! I haven't posted in forever so hello to anyone who remembers me from long ago! I have a beautiful, nearly mint Paradise Estate w/ every accessory (including utensils!) + instructions + box (box is not in great shape but nice to see artwork). I may have interest on FB in it for $225, and it would be very easy to get rid of it that way. But I'm wondering if I should just list it on eBay and see what happens? The completed sales for PEs don't include any that were complete; an incomplete one in good shape recently sold for $178. I remember years ago the complete ones were going for $400+, but lately it seems like they aren't pulling in that much. Any thoughts? Obviously eBay would take its cut, so if it likely won't go above $300 then selling in person for $225 might be best.

FYI if anyone is looking to buy, I'm in central Virginia (but will be driving to Georgia tomorrow so could possibly drop it off in places like Greensboro NC, Charlotte NC, Columbia SC).

Thanks for any input!

Looks great! I admire your hard work! And so happy to see my ribbon post from 2013 living on

I had one of these growing up! It's hard to price b/c it doesn't come up very much, so it's fairly rare, but the number of people who would want it is probably somewhat limited. The damage doesn't help. If I was going to list it on eBay I might do $15-18 and see how it goes but that's not based on seeing it successfully sell.

Good luck!

Another "old" collector here! I just turned 40 actually I am also one of the oldies in terms of the online community (started in 1998) but I wasn't as active as many. I still come and go, but I'm always a G1 fan!

I got my first pony, Cotton Candy, for Christmas in 1984. I was completely hooked from then on. My second pony was Parasol, who I picked out b/c she came with a brush AND A COMB but I was never that crazy about her. My collection grew with Year 3-5--I can remember how excited I was when the new commercials came out!--but by 1988 or so I was mainly interested in Year 2. The problem was that these ponies were long gone from the stores and I never went to yard sales, so how to get them??? I finally got rid of my collection (including original boxes, etc.--ugh) in 1994, in part b/c I figured I would never be able to complete my Year 2 main set b/c I had never ever seen Bubbles or Seashell in the wild. I did keep my original Cotton Candy. Little did I know the INTERNET would soon bring any pony or accessory I wanted within reach! After a truly magical moment of finding SEASHELL (!!!!!!!!!!!!!) at a charity attic sale, I got online to see if there was anything about MLP out there, and the rest . . . is history!

I have a very good memory and I supplied some of the info for the old Dream Valley site including the words to some of the early commercials. When I was little I had a catalog knowledge of each brush and ribbon that came with each pony, and once I got online my encyclopedic knowledge came in handy

Hello! I'm looking for G1 CF Minty (no FF) in excellent condition. She does not have to be perfect but close and silky mane and tail are a must. Please send pics with any offers. US sellers only to avoid high shipping costs. i do have a number of G1s (all commons) that are available for trade if looking; please ask for a list.

May also be interested in CF Snuzzle and/or Blue Belle, similar condition.

Also: looking for rainbow shooting star sets for Parasol, Windy, and Starshine--mint or close only. Thanks!

I liked DV better when it was insert scans. I remember figuring out all the variants on the baby sea ponies based on the insert picture of the US pearlies looking  up and trying to explain that to my pose-blind trading partner over the phone xD. It was so much fun playing that kind of guessing game and also seeing all those insert images. I guess I've always loved those. The real pony photos somehow didn't do it for me.

Felt exactly the same way! I appreciate that she went for greater accuracy w/ the actual pics, but I preferred the scans, and of course over time the quality of the photos became a problem as much better images became available.

I started collecting again in 1998 and Dream Valley was there from Day 1 . . . I even contributed some of the commercial song lyrics b/c I remembered them from the 80s! Kim was always very generous and interested in what other collectors had to offer. I remember she even altered her MLP checklist based on my suggestion, which was especially nice since she probably got a lot of nutty emails from other collectors

Hip hip hooray for Dream Valley! I'll always remember you fondly.