If there is one license that is going to define action figures across the board in 2008, it's going to be Indiana Jones. With the fourth movie in the franchise Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull hitting theaters this May, interest in all things related to the most famous fictional archeologist ever is at an all time high. Hasbro, Sideshow, Gentle Giant, and Lego all have ambitious plans for Indy this year, but Disney theme parks beat them to the punch!

A new 7" scale action figure of Indiana Jones has been released as a Disney theme park exclusive, and it's available now at a retail price of $12. If you're fortunate enough to have a trip planned to either Disney World or Disneyland right now, chances are you'll have no trouble scoring one for your collection. However, there are other ways of getting this "exclusive" action figure into your collection.

First of all, be sure to check with Disney DelivEARS. By calling 1-800-362-4533, you can check to see if they have the Indiana Jones figure or any other theme park exclusive available. The parks get the first shipments, but some stock is usually reserved. If there is a direct link to the website, please let me and other collectors know through the forums!

Second, if you are close to the flagship Disney store in New York City, you may have some luck, since they occassionally stock theme park exclusive merchandise. This is not true for traditional Disney Stores that are found in shopping malls around the country.

Third, there's always eBay. Everything related to Indiana Jones seems to be climbing in value, and so this brand new figure is commanding a lot of money. While it may be less than a trip to Disney World or Disneyland, make sure that you determine the price that's right for you before buying.

Be sure to check out Michael Crawford's review of the Indiana Jones figure for plenty of pictures of this first Indy collectible of 2008!