Depression Over Pin-O-Rama

[jojo_ct]

So I finally figure out a way to get to Orlando for a pin event this year. April at Animal Kingdom. It sounded like so much fun. Now I find out that Disney believes I can afford to spend $125 for food from a restaurant I avoid like the plague, a gift (lanyard and pin I assume) and the opportunity to spend more money that I don't have for pins, which, please forgive me, don't look all that great.

So, what say we all spend our Saturday night at the Poly!

 

[Mickey527]

Cynthia,
I totally agree.
I was trying to find some way I could get to WDW for the event until I got my mail today.
What are they thinking? They assume we pin people are desperate enough for a LE of 200 that we would pay $125 for it?
I can't imagine anyone from these boards going, we are all working stiffs. Maybe the guys who make all their money on e-bay can go, but none of us.
who knows who we can write to and complain. This one is just too much.
But can I really talk, I am paying over $500 to go on a cruise. But I plan on getting my monies worth on the food and fun, getting a few pins will be an added bonus.
I wonder what they have in mind for the September event? If they think we can afford $125 for one night what will they try to get out of us for 3 days? Peggie

 

[n2mm]

I received the info in the mail today and can't believe the price. I just changed my June vacation plans to include the Pin Event at the Resorts and have already made my room ressies for September. I'm starting to rethink these plans now. Maybe I won't be able to do these events now. I'm not particularly wild about the pins being released at the MGM or AK event. At the August event it was crazy, but am now thinking the craziness was all just a part of the whole package. If Disney decides to charge outrageous prices for the September event, I will probably pass on this event. Or just go to do some serious pin trading with the others like myself. Afterall, us non-locals already have to incorporate the cost of flying, renting a car, renting a room, and food, and pins. BTW, we get to WDW on April 20 for our next trip, and the way things look now, there just may still be some extra pins at the AK.

 

[LJC1861]

I have a trip to WDw planned for that weekend and was THRILLED that I was going to be in WDW for a pin event. There is no $#%%^^*** way that I am paying $125 for the privledge of paying more money on pins. Disney is going a bit to far with this one.......$25 I can see.....not $125.

Linda

 

[BeautyLLM]

Can't wait to hear what they are going to charge for the September event.....

Leslie

 

[GotAnyPins]

We live here, and don't have the extra expense..Rooms etc., and I STILL would not pay 125.00
to go to that event...pin trading at the Poly sounds good to me.. They said that they have
to charge that much because they will be closing the park...well it is always closed at that ime
anyway..what they mean is that they might have to pay overtime to the CM's

Anyhoo you can count us out.., and I too will be interested in what they have in store for
Sept.

When Disney was having trouble filling the parks, they could always count on the pin traders to help
out..we came in droves to all the pin events, and the pin trade carts, and anything else they had going
We came and bought all the mystery pins, even some were waayyyy over prices. (remember Christopher Robin??)
We were there for every pin release, and while we were there, we did the parks, and spent more money there..

Now is the time to pay back some of the support we have given...reducing that unbelieveable price of 125.00 would be a nice
start (Hey!! we can dream can't we??)

I'd rather save my money for the cruise in May..

And there is only 3 pins that I think are just OK from the MGM group.. Lets have some nice interesting Villians..
ala Disneyland..

Donna

 

[jojo_ct]

Linda!

Are you coming down to Orlando while I'm there (April 12 - 19)? That would be wonderful. I'm smiling for the first time since I opened my mail this evening. I can't wait to see you.

Cynthia

 

[JudithM]

I could not believe my eyes when I opened my mail this afternoon - $125 is an outrageous amount to spend for a pin event. I stated awhile back - I refuse to pay money for the ability to buy pieces of painted metal.

 

[LJC1861]

Cynthia,

I'll be down April 10-16 and doing some but not a whole let of trading as I will have a non-pin trading friend with me. I will be at the Contemporary on Friday night and probably the Poly on Saturday for a little bit now that I am NOT going to the Pin Event. I'll see you in WDW!!

Linda

 

[daber]

I had a hard time justifying an extra $25 pp for the March event. And the pins aren't half as nice as the ones next weekend! When I saw the $125 I'm glad I won't be in Orlando in April. There's no way this is worth that much. And like everyone else, I've got those dates in Sept blocked out, but if the cost to attend is anywhere close to this outrage, maybe we should all boycott!

 

[BeautyLLM]

"Outrage"....that's a good word for it!

Leslie

 

[eye R.N.]

I was depressed that I was missing a pin event by a week or so, now that I've seen the pins and the price I'm real happy the kids band is marching down main street when it is.

I wonder when they'll figure out they are killing the goose. . .. .
Denise

 

[daber]

Eye R.N.,
to answer your question, maybe when no one buys a ticket and they are left with all that merchandise that hasn't been sold. Of course, there's always Disney e-bay.

 

[Sorcerer]

I'm so glad others feel the same way. I opened the envelope thinking it was info for Disneyana since it felt like a brochure. I can't believe they are putting this much emphasis on a pin event and charging so much! People will pay big money for Disneyana b/c it offers such a wide variety of merchandise and experiences...these pin events are cool, but I feel the same way everyone else does. Why pay extra money for the privilege of buying pins? I might pay extra for activities, seminars, etc. - but not just for the mere privilege of purchasing pins. My invite to the AK event has already been tossed in the garbage.

 

[pin addict]

We were thinking of sending our parents because they are down there but sorry, can't see 125.00. We were also planning to do the Sept. event , plans are cancled. If Disney wants to put a stop to pin trading they are going about it the right way.

I'm sorry to see this going on because we have made a ton of new friends through pin trading.
Kris

 

[Mainepinpal]

Cynthia,
I agree, the price for the AK Pin Event is way out of line!
I was so excited when I learned that a major "pin event" was going to be held during my already scheduled WDW vacation!! But.. looks like we will just save the $250 entry ticket for 2, go to the Poly meet Saturday night - meet some pin friends old & new, and just buy a few pins that we really want while we are at WDW. My DH & I will be there from April 13 - 20, so we will miss the Contemporary Meet on the 12th, but will make the one on the 19th ( that's the plan, anyway). Hope to see some of you there. Maybe we can have a mini-New England meet for those of us escaping the Northeast during school vacation/Patriots Day week.??? For those of you not from Maine, NH, or Massachusetts ( CT, too ?), Patriots Day (April 19) is an official holiday in New England commemorating the Revolutionary War Battle of the Minute Men vs. the British at Lexington and Concord. Longfellow wrote a poem about it.
The Boston Marathon is run on that day,too. So - some of us celebrate by going to Disney World!
It shouldn't take Disney long to figure it out that over priced pin events won't fly if they "give a party and nobody comes". Here's hoping for some sanity from whoever plans these Disney pin events.
Penny

 

[goofymom/pop]

I was reading the mail and thinking these are some ugly pins. And then I saw the price. YIKES!!! I think the insanity in August was because it was a free event, maybe they should remember if you have to pay that much to get in you cant afford the pins.....dah!!! I for one am glad I couldnt talk my hubby into a trip this spring. As for Sept, its a wait and see.
As for the MGM event ....well $25 isnt too horrible but they could at least tell you what the food vouchers will be for and have a few activities that would be more in line with paying a seperate admission.

just my 2 cents

cindy

 

[LJC1861]

.....It will be at the Poly pin meet!! With all of us boycotting the Official Pin-O-Rama, the Poly pin meet will be hopping. I wouldn't miss this one for anything! We will be having a much better ( and cheaper ) time and trading for better looking pins too.

Linda

 

[dizneyusa]

We will see everyone at the Polynesian Saturday night!!

We were just as shocked as everyone else!! We have
read posts here and on other boards. I think everyone
should be able to voice there opinion and not be afraid
to say that they think that Disney is charging way to
much for the AK event.

Now I have read how some single people are in some
way saying " I am going or we are going and would go to
ANY DISNEY EVENT". That is fine and I really hope you
have a great time. But that is not the issue from what
I felt all these posts are about.

What everyones concerns are, is that Disney is raising
prices on the pins and they are mass producing in such
a fast quantity that everyone who LOVES the hobby and
LOVES the friendships that we have made and hope to
continue to make is going to all fade away!

To much to quick to soon will slowly scare people away!

YES, it is one of the best things Disney has brought to
their parks in years!!! YES, it is so cool how our children
have met so many people from around the world and
how we have made so many new friends. Our family
loves collecting and going to the events. BUT, $500.00
for all of us to go, that is not counting purchasing ANY
pins yet. We also, do not get to use our annual passes?
They could have at least offered it with a choice to have
it with the dinner or without the dinner. I can not imagine
what they are going to be serving at approx. $50.00 a
plate let alone to a CHILD?????

Just letting you know there are alot of concerned
friends, nothing harsh, just a concerned pin trader friend!!

We have our hotels booked for all the events. We will
just have to trade for any of the pins that we really like
from the event. We will love to see everyone at the
Polynesian on Saturday night and the Contemporary
on Friday night as always!! Otherwise we will be with
everyone at the parks.

****We are counting down the days to the Princess Event
and we have our attire ready to go!!!! Hope EVERYONE has
their cameras ready!!

See everyone there!! Cant Wait!!

Dana

 

[jojo_ct]

Although I know we are all really upset about the AK Event, there is one point I do want to make. I truly believe that the price Disney is charging us is probably what they need to charge to cover the cost of keeping the park open and operating the rides and shows. Remember that the cost of the Halloween and Christmas parties can be spread over many many thousands of attendees, which is why the price per person is fairly reasonable. If Disney is planning to keep attendance at the AK Event down to just a few thousand, then each person has to pick up a larger percentage of the total cost.

Unfortunately, the expensive things they are doing for us is not what I want to do at a pin event! I can see Tarzan Rocks and ride Dinosaur any day. All I want to do at a pin event is see my friends and trade pins, which I will be able to do at the Poly without spending $125. So please know I am not accusing Disney of trying to rip me off, just of not knowing what I want.