DAK pin event -- Part Two

[Luv2Roam]

uuuuugh

Back from Part 2.
Tired....
The BIG drawing (a chest full of pins) was not until 10:30 and the winner had to be present to win.
By then most people were gone and those remaining wished they were gone too.
They could have cut it short by an hour and everyone would have been happier, I think.

The second part started out bad. As we were driving towards WDW, there was a large dark cloud nearing that area. By the time we reached WDW it was pouring hard. And it didn't really even let up until almost 7:30. It was still raining, just not POURING.
The heavy rain made the buses late, which made us who drove stand huddled under a small roofed area even longer.
We were to enter at 7:30 and could not until at least 15 minutes later than that. Many in the crowd were getting ugly -- esp those having to stand in the rain.
Free ponchos were handed out to those of us there early.
The rain had pretty much stopped by the time we were allowed in.
But everyone seemed wet, tired, cranky and hungry.
Most went for the food first. Lots of buffet areas. But seating ran out promptly. There was not near enough places to sit. Any place outside was soaked.
After getting our plates of food, we wandered around for 10 minutes and finally sat on the fake crate in the main atrium area.
I think all the trash cans were being used as tables, with those guests having to stand and eat over garbage. (How magical is that?)
Because of TRYING to find a table my food was cold. I threw most of that away.
Later I went and stoooood in line at another buffet area. At least that food was hot.
They ran out of Cokes. When I was done eating the sodas had been replenished. At least there was coffee.
They had nice, easy, fun (non-pin) games to play afterwards.
But really those could have been cut short by an hour with the whole event ending an hour earlier. And having pin related games would have been much better.
LOTS of characters and CMs around. Good live music and a stunning finale.
It was obvious a lot of time was spent on this segment.

Registration -- GOOD
Merchandise pick up -- Mostly good. Exception is the item I still don't have and will be mailed. Also I almost forgot our free AP pins!!
Food -- Good, but they were unprepared for bad weather. Very odd considering daily rain seems to be the norm here this time of year.

The worse part of the entire event was the lack of decent trade boards. Two subpar boards I had to wait an hour to trade from just don't cut it.
Glad we went. Glad it is over too.

 

[AngieBelle]

Did you happen to have your picture taken with any of the characters? I was "assisting" Chip this evening at the event.

 

[Luv2Roam]

OH -- Wish I had known!
We were in that area, but had no pictures snapped.
We really were not around C&D much. I think they walked by a few times.
We were surprised how long the characters stayed out!

 

[JudithM]

Wouldn't you like to know more about how WDW catering works? They must have had some idea how many guests to expect.

Last month at the DVC Member Homecoming we had a dessert buffet before Illuminations. It was hot outside, & they kept running out of cans of lemonade. They ran out of those little cocktail napkins, too. I aske a catering CM how one could run out of napkins when they knew how many guests to expect? Don't get me wrong overall we had a great time at MH!

 

[Luv2Roam]

Part of the seating problem was this ---
Even though we were one of the firsts at AK, we had to wait for the buses to come.
I can see why. Once we got in, then we were only allowed in AK so far and had to wait for hundreds to arrive. Then a parade vehicle came out with Donald and one of the Adventurer's from the PI Club.
Of course once allowed in, people are rushing in. But due to it being after 8:00 by that time, most everyone was very hungry.
We didn't hurry as we knew we had all evening.

Because of the time, almost everyone went for the food. They may also have been thinking of the MGM event where late comers were turned away, and food ran out early. I did not see either being the case here.

People were already seated when we walked in. And then what seating was available others had *marked* with their belongings.

So between the two there was not enough room to sit.

Outside was still slightly drippy, or threatening to. It had just stopped raining as we were walking back. So I don't think most had wanted to chance getting wet even more. (My tennies were still wet when we went home even. Blaine was smart and wore Tevas. )

They had just started resetting up tables outside and were not even done with that as we walked up, as I recall.
It was not only pouring rain earlier, it was lightening. I am sure they did not want to place anyone in harm's way.
I saw other outside tables tucked away, which were still turned up as if they were not being used.
I am sure we could have used them. But inside was at least dry and air conditioned. So that was where everyone really wanted to sit.

Too bad what they didn't do was allow those of us early/on scheduled time to come in, explaining if we go back we miss the entering hoopla. Due to the weather people would have done it.
And that would have gotten one wave of 100 at least out of the way and seating would have been fine, as it would have been more staggered.

Blaine kept saying there is no where in AK to seat 500 people in one place. And he is right!

It rains here daily, and does this time of year for months. So that is what baffles me. Why they didn't have a better plan. The weather report all day clearly stated to expect rain later in the day and in the evening.
Rain is very spotty here. It was dry at our place. But just seems a Plan B should have been fully prepared and run smoothly. They were very lucky it did stop raining. Had it kept pouring I don't know what they could have done they way it was set up.

During the night a young CM asked us what we thought. You could tell he was specifically fishing for his portion.
I asked what he would have done had the rain not stopped.
He replied they would have split the groups between Tusker House (where it took place) and Pizzafari.
Which would have been a pain. But I would have preferred that over no decent place to sit with hot food in hand.

Other than the Cokes that ran out for a short while, food and drink was plentiful.
At MGM they ran out of coffee, then cream, then this, then that. They did a good job. But didn't have it together quite right.

From these two events I have seen when they do run out it takes approx half an hour to get replenishments.

This was a good event. Much better than MGM.
But like most things could easily have been better if not beyond any and all expectations.
Lots of good points -- with the CMs being at the top. They really made this event good.

I recall when the event was first planned that guests would get a ticket for TtBAB too. That option fell by the wayside, as we did not get that.
Their finale was great. The music top notch. Characters were perfect and abundant.
I would have loved to been treated to a quick nightime ride or tour of some kind.

 

[Brer-Rabbit]

We attended this event as well and thought that the entire thing was handled well from start to finish. I do not do the trade board anymore and its not important to me. I didnt pay $125 to get a pin off a board that may or may not be an AP of a pin I already have -- so I am not concerned with the refreshment of those boards.

I think that the event was handled EXTREMELY well and that the other events need to be more like this one (in organization, not cost). They handled the problem with the rain as well as they could and accomodated everyone nicely. Now we traveled on the bus with everyone else (which was fun being with everyone) and they did a GREAT job!!!

Kudos to the event staff -- they did it right this time!

 

[dizpinlvr2]

HI! WE think this event was Awesome!!!
Keep in mind - this is the first pin event that Jack & I have gone to since the Sept. 2002 - Nightmare.

After the Sept. event - I had vowed not to go to another pin event, but decided to give the Animal Kingdom Event a try.

There was great decor. Very small wait time to pick up the RSP, and that was only if you got there before they officially opened the door.

The trading space was good. People could move from table to table easily.

Characters were there for pictures. There were games (Win Lose or Draw) - I got picked, but lost. and then 15 people got chosen for the trivia contest (Jack got in, but didn't place in the top 3)

Although those that have gone to many events, thought that the trade boards were not that good --- Jack & I thought they were ok. Of course, there was no Mickey For President --- or anything close to that, that people were raving about. But for those of us, that have never done the boards before -- it was a good experience. Granted the line was way too long --- Someone asked me if I was going up again, but I opted not to as I did not want to stand in line.

We met several old friends, and many new friends too!
The games that were at the Animal Kingdom Park -- although not pin related, were fun. Actually I would love to have gotten one of those wooden puzzles that we had to put together. It would be a very special souvenir.

And what made it even just a little more special, was that Steven the Pin Project Manager took the time to talk with my group. He asked our opinion, listened to what we thought was great and where things could have improved. Just before the buses wisked us to the AK, we took a group photo with Steven in front of the pin trading logo. I will post, when we get them developed (Sorry we did not have a digital camera, rather a disposable).

Now I am addicted to pin events!!! I wish we lived closer than NY.
Maybe we will try to make it down one more time this year.

Deb Meeker

 

[Luv2Roam]

There were many GOOD things about this event. The freebies alone were great. It went very smooth. Registration and merchandise pick up was VASTLY improved over the MGM event.
I am not even complaining about having to stand in line approx an hour for a trade board.
However.... at MGM, I wasted my time going to the pin board three times. I vowed I would go one time at the next event and if the pins were no better, I would pass.
They were not as *good* (I am using the term very loosely ) as the MGM event boards.
They were so bad last Saturday, they made the MGM pin boards look good. That is how sad it was. So I was wrong about the MGM pin boards. It CAN get worse!
I think at whatever next pin event I go to I will give the trade board one more shot. Still bad -- not wasting my time.
And again, would not had been a big deal if it hadn't taken so long standing to get to the pins.
Sure nice theming entering the pin area. That and $2.50 will buy me a Coke in the parks.
The surrounding area can look like the Taj Mahal. Who cares if the pins are ?
But if that is the WORSE I can say, That is pretty darn good and I am glad!!! Just bad timing on my part.
This was a very good pin event. The finale was great.
Blaine liked the AK dinner better than the MGM event dinner. I liked the MGM dinner better. Just shows different opinions on everything.

I REALLY liked how they had a drawing for participants. I thought that was a very good idea.

 

[chefmanny]

"WDW Catering" is an oxymoron people.................
Someone mentioned them...........BBQ mystery meat and Pasta w/ other mystery meat is NOT catering!!!!!!!
Other then the rain and the steam we had fun becuse we made our own fun!!!!!!