Hi ForeverRed,
Welcome to vinylmation collecting! My hubby and I have been trading for a few years now too and have quite a collection going. Trading at the parks used to be so much better...they used to have a box at each hotel and multiple in each park! Now it is only one or two in each park....but it is still a lot of fun! Our local Disney store has the standard 3 clear box but also has a huge Rubbermaid bin full of additional traders in the back that they let us trade from...we've even gotten chasers from there! We use vinylmation connection for our trading... I would check them out. If you want, once you set up your trade and wish list...pm us on there...our name is: hiddentrader and we can try to trade if you like. I definitely understand about the Internet...luckily we have only been burned 3 times...and that is from sending out at least one vinyl a week for the last three years!
So to answer your questions
1.My favorite vinyl is: v2 shere khan variant...it is such an accurate depiction from the movie. My hubby's favorite is also the park stars 2 tot bellhop variant and the regular one as well! He loves those guys!
2. My favorite series is the holiday series...I have l three complete an I'm really hoping they come out with a series 4! My hubby's favorite series are the park series. He really loves all the "ride" figures...I think park 9 is his most favorite. I also really love collecting the junior vinylmations!
3. Hmmm....this is a hard one! Aladdin is a really great idea...I love all the characters from there. I think I would like a set with the characters from Mickey Mouse clubhouse. Just there regular, classic form. No alterations. I like how the artists are creative but I would love the characters just as they are currently drawn.
Have a great one!