Jan,
That picture was taken on my honeymoon in 1998 when the "old" imagination ride was still in place (and dreamfinder was still a part of it). That was the ONLY character that we really took the time to meet and it was serendipity, he was just standing near the exit when we got off the ride and no one else was around. DH snapped off a few pictures. We got a new scanner and DH was testing it out and used that picture and put it into the lightbulb. I liked it so much I figured I'd use it here!
Last year was a weird pin year for us. We went on the first 7 day cruise after the NYE cruise in 2003 and were able to get the Christmas 2002 pin as well as the NYE 2002/2003 pin and the artist choice pin that they released on that cruise, so it definately seemed like things were holding over from previous cruises. Then it just so happened that friends of ours went on the DVC member cruise and they had valentine's day pins left over as well as pins from the AP cruise at the end of January, so they bought some of those for us (again leftover from previous cruises). My inlaws took a 4 day wonder cruise that included halloween, and they were able to get halloween pins for us (and said there was no line and it was no problem). Then we took the NYE 4 day wonder cruise this year and like I said, we were able to get pins from thanksgiving, christmas in addition to the NYE, plus some older LE 750 pins that I wasn't really familiar with. So from my experience and experience of friends and family who cruised this past year, a pin selling out the first night before everone in line has a chance to buy at least one is the exception and not the rule. In fact, every single time we and friends of ours have cruised, pins have been held over at least one if not two cruises.
I guess I just get a little defensive when people talk about "those" pin traders. We enjoy pin trading a lot. Sometimes we have even purchased a pin that we really like off of ebay because we find it impossible to trade for, because we collect a certain character and it would go perfectly in a set. We don't sell pins on ebay because I prefer to use them for trading, but there wouldn't be anything wrong with it even if we DID sell pins on ebay. Many collectors/traders do that to offset the expense of the hobby (which can be considerable).
Someone who is trying to scalp pins right there on the ship is the exception and not the norm. My guess is that if there were THAT many pin traders on board that the pins sold out the first night, if you asked around a bit during pin trading nights (and if people are that into pins, they will be out pin trading in the atrium from 7:30-8:30) that someone who has extras would be willing to sell/trade one to you reasonably (ie for cost). Most pin people are good people, especially where kids are concerned. We keep a whole book of pins that we are willing to trade with just kids so that there is no confusion about them asking for a super valuable pin and this way we can treat it like a CM trade and trade whatever they want for whatever they have.
The two per person rule just seems to work really well most of the time, and my guess is that disney would rather have people buy the pins then have them sit on the rack the first night because the people who want them can only buy one per stateroom rather than 2 per person. I've also never had to wait in line just to see if a pin was available. Generally you can walk right up to the pin cart and take a look and see what is there without waiting in line (of course you have to wait in line to buy). Like I said, I'm no expert, but around most of the major holidays at least this past year, there has been plenty of availibity in pins.
Lisa
They are really looking forward to this part of our cruise.. They are not planning on buying any pins......let's see how long that lasts
